If I didn't have friends and family nearby, I would have given the issue of "What am I going to do without a kitchen for two weeks" more thought BEFORE I packed it all up. But as things often do, it didn't work out that way.I ended up thinking about the "what will I need" and "what will we eat" questions as I emptied each kitchen drawer into a box. Literally. ... Continue Reading
Viewing Your Life in Terms of Boxes
I don’t think it's possible to really comprehend what you own until you view it in terms of boxes. We had 27. Plus 4 big storage bins, 2 smaller bins and one bin that rolls under the bed. ... Continue Reading
The Art of Selling Everything You Own
One of the bigger challenges of moving from Texas to California 7 years ago was figuring out what do to with all of our stuff. Each of our 3 bedrooms in our Texas home was fully furnished. There was baby furniture, an office, two dining sets (one in the kitchen, one formal) and a complete living room set with tables and lamps. Granted, our furniture wasn’t luxurious. Most items were either bought off of ... Continue Reading
How to Dehydrate Cranberries
My love for cranberries extends far beyond the sauce (or chutney or jello mold, depending on where you're from) you typically find on Thanksgiving tables. I love them in scones, in salads and homemade trail mix. I love them in granola bars, in biscotti and even in potpourri! I've been known to buy a bag or two when Costco has dried cranberries on sale, but I really go crazy in November because it's the ... Continue Reading
A New Chapter in Crumbs
I have a story to tell. And it's personal. It's not an awesome recipe or an easy DIY. And to bare it all here on the web where everyone can see it is kinda scary. But I'm hoping that by sharing it, you'll see that I'm just like you. I struggle. My family goes through hard times and we have to make tough decisions too. Still, there is hope to be found. It’s hard to know where to start ... Continue Reading
Delicata Squash Salad with Apples and Cranberries
Delicata squash = my new favorite vegetable. Oh wait, you haven't met delicata squash yet? Allow me to introduce you. ... Continue Reading
One Week $50 Meal Plan for a Family of Four (number 2)
Every month I write meal plans that are designed to feed the average family of four for about $350. While that number is low for many families, it's a dream budget for others. There's no doubt about it. The cost of food is steadily going up. Organic milk has gone up by one dollar per gallon in the past year and eggs have doubled in price in the past 3 months alone. It's only $4, but even this small ... Continue Reading
9 Creative Ways to Save on Water
I'll tell you what - nothing makes you think twice about turning on the faucet than seeing your water bill go up. I guess that's the price to live during a drought. In the desert. In California. Go figure. Still, I like hot showers and to be clean and to eat pasta. All of which require water. So if any of that's gonna happen while keeping food on the table, we're gonna have to get creative with saving water. ... Continue Reading
Kinda Crunchy – 31 Day Challenge to Frugal Natural Living
I'm a competitive person by nature. There's satisfaction that comes from beating my own expectations, as well as those of nay-sayers. My husband knows that if he REALLY wants me to do something, challenge me to do it. But I have a sneaky suspicion I'm not the other one who operates this way. I REALLY want you guys to be healthy and enjoy the benefits that come from it. So I have a challenge for ... Continue Reading
How to Make Soap from Soap Scraps
About a year ago, we ditched over the counter body washes and face soaps and switched to all natural goat milk soap from Bend Soap Company. It started because I struggled with acne. Two days of washing with goat milk soap and my acne-prone skin started to clear up. Then I figured out how to turn it into a liquid soap (making washing my face at night much easier) and started shredding it to make ... Continue Reading