Colour Me Happy

second-hand *give away* / DKNY frames

Growing up, I hated the idea of used or second-hand items.  Going to DI with my grandma was one of my least favorite past-times.  It smelled weird.  Honestly, it still sort of does, but it is actually a really cool concept, intermingling vocational rehab with a thrift store setting.  This post isn't actually about DI or thrift stores or anything like that.  It is just interesting to note how much certain tastes, preferences, & discriminations have changed over the years.  Now I LOVE consignment shops & thrift stores & gently used items; so much so, I physically miss some of my favorite little shops in SLC.  Vintage is actually pretty rad, right?  I wish I were offering you an awesome pair of truly vintage eyewear.  Alas, these frames are only a few years old.

I only keep glasses on hand as a back up & to give my eyes a break from my contacts every couple weeks, so these are in pretty new condition & haven't been worn all that much.  My lens prescription (for my glasses) has been outdated for more than a couple years, so I decided it was time to update it.  Let's just say, there was a lot of squinting going on if I ever needed to drive while wearing my glasses.  Maybe not the safest.  Instead of just replacing the lenses, I got a new pair of glasses; which means my old frames are up for grabs.

I know there are a lot of great non-profits out there that take old glasses, but I also know what it's like to not have insurance & be among the middle class.  We usually don't qualify for state assistance; & while we are capable of taking care of ourselves, some months are tighter than others.  Even though I know to expect it every year, it always seems like expenses such as glasses, contacts, exams...creep up suddenly or at very inopportune times.  I have insurance again, thanks to Dave, & want to pass along what I can to people I care about.

So...if you are interested in taking my DKNY frames off my hands, please leave a comment or send me a message, & I will send them your way!  The color is "brown on honey" - sort of dark tortoise around the eyes with silvery-taupe stems.  Obviously you will have to replace the lenses with your own prescription, but at least it will save you the cost of frames.  If there is more than one response, I'll do a random drawing or something.  I will give everyone a week to reply, so the give away "closes" next Wednesday, May 9th, at 5am.  Anyone can join in, but really this is meant more for someone who needs new frames or hasn't been able to afford a new pair in awhile. 

Believe me, I know they are an expensive, necessary accessory, & it is fun to switch up your eye glasses!  This is my new pair.

Is this totally weird of me?  Does anyone even want my old glasses?  I really hope someone will take me up on my offer if it will make her (or him) happy.

a.

diy natural dye easter eggs.

I got it in my head Monday I just had to dye eggs.  Dave & I have never dyed our own Easter eggs together before, & I wasn't planning on eating eggs this week, but I wanted to try dying them naturally & share my experience before family & friends celebrate Easter this weekend.  If you are dying eggs, I hope you will try doing them naturally. 

I don't like artificial stuff in my food, & that includes dyes.  Did you know synthetic food dyes have been known to cause hyperactivity in children?  The UK requires a warning label on all foods containing artificial dyes.  Often derived from coal-tar, they are toxic & carcinogenic (cancer causing) with a slew of specific health risk, such as tumors & nerve damage (see more risks listed here). 

Using foods to dye your eggs is comparatively safe though -- no big deal if a little color leaks through the shell -- plus it's fun to see what colors arise from different foods.  You definitely get more interesting variations this way.  I think kids might enjoy this experiment & get a kick out of preparing the dyes with you.

There are a lot of foods that will work, but I made a challenge to find & use only what we already had on hand.  Refer to the photo for our color - ingredient matches.  I talk a little bit more about some of the foods we used, how we prepared them, & how they worked below.

The starred* ingredients were combined with water & boiled for an hour to extract the color.  I did not strain the powders.  The chlorella & turmeric I did not actually boil, because I realized I didn't want to wait for all the powders to boil.  Instead, I poured steaming kettle water over, covered, & then let steep for 30 minutes to one hour.  This seemed to work fine.  The chlorella left a faint green on the eggs but this was mostly due to some of the powder sticking & then drying on the shell.  I liked the light speckles.  You could try boiling spinach or other greens for green.  I'm not sure what makes bright green.  Parsley also only faintly colored the egg a green-yellow-tan, similar to eggs you find in nature. 

The teas I steeped as I normally would but for much longer to get deeper colors.  I poured hot water directly over loose hibiscus then strained it once we were ready to dye.  It created cool swirls & textures on the egg; this was Dave's favorite.  Green tea also made neat textures.  Red wine left crystals after dying, but our wine had been "breathing" for some time.

There aren't any specific recipes to follow.  For fresh ingredients, I used a couple handfuls & covered to about an inch or two with water.  I wanted to end up with about 2 cups of water (so keep in mind some will evaporate during boiling).  For powders, I added a tablespoon or so.  Just let it boil or steep until it is the color you want; I waited at least an hour.  I also added about a tablespoon of vinegar to each before we dyed to help the shells absorb the color.  We let the eggs soak overnight in the fridge.

Get creative!  Cabbage water turns blue.  Grape, pomegranate, or cherry juices would be awesome.  I've heard boiled red onion skins work for violet-blue & yellow onion skins for orange. 

Experiment, have fun, & let me know what you come up with!

less waste / kitchen / meal planning & a homemade chalkboard

I wonder how many people hate planning meals.  With my own busy schedule, there are moments it is more stressful than I'd like to admit; but in general, I love doing it.  It is because so much of it involves pouring over food blogs I adore, tagging appealing recipes or ideas I come across, flipping through my favorite cookbooks, gathering inspiration from the CSA or farmer's market, & perusing special ingredients at our natural marketplace.  All favorite past-times.

I used to use blank weekly calendar sheets to plan meals, which worked well, but were fairly wasteful.

Months ago, we made a chalkboard from a large metal sheet Dave found at Home Depot.  I did not share this project before, because it's not "perfect".  I even had trouble with the actual painting, because I wasn't using enough paint when spreading it over the sheet.  Dave saved the day & finished it for me; he hung it on the wall with mirror brackets.  (A bit of leftover cork was needed to fill the space between the board & bracket.)  I've learned to love our shabby chalkboard & its blemished nuances.

It is fairly rough & not the smoothest surface for writing, which gives it a sort of rustic look.  At least this is what I tell myself.  

A bit of paint occasionally scrapes off; I think this might be because it's on a metal surface.  I love we went with metal though, because Dave recently found awesome day-of-the-week magnets at Target.  Now we can write meal ideas anywhere on the board, even before we know which days will go with which meals.  We can simply swap magnets around as moods or other risings change our meal schedule during the week. 

I write needed ingredients below meal titles & keep a list of the produce we have on hand on the left side of the board.  This spurs ideas when brainstorming meals & helps us not let food go to waste, because it is forgotten in a drawer or back corner of the fridge.  I hang a rag for erasing from a magnetic clip in the bottom corner.

The huge size of the board & ease of writing, erasing, & crossing out ideas & lists with chalk make me so happy with this addition to our kitchen.

You can buy chalkboard paint or make your own like we did.

Simply mix together:

• 8 ounces paint (1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon tile grout*

My mom shared this recipe, & it's cool you can make your own chalkboard paint with any paint.  I'm really happy with ours, though the homemade version might be why ours is rougher textured.  I'm not sure but think it's worth mentioning in case you decide to make your own.  I've also heard calcium carbonate powder works, though I do not know the proportions.

~

Another overly simple, long overdo element we added to the kitchen was a spot to jot down meals we love & want to have again.  Maybe most people don't have this problem, but often when we are enjoying dinner, we comment how much we'd like to repeat it; then much later when we are trying to come up with a menu for the week, we go blank on those meals we want to make again.  The simple ones are often the most elusive.  We needed a note in clear view to keep track of those meals, with the intention of adding to the list the night we make something worthy of repeating. 

Now this hangs on the fridge, & it has already been used.

What tactics do you use to reduce waste in the kitchen & help with meal planning?

~

*Tile grout usually comes in a large bag, so it might not be worth buying it for only a spoonful.  We found a ripped/spilling bag at Home Depot when we were shopping, so they gave us a small handful at no cost.

**This is part of a series I am doing while we strive to embrace a simple life & home.  We are committing to analyze & consider every item in & coming into our home, the ultimate goal being to come to as close to a zero waste home as possible & comfortable.

decadent & simple nut butters (from scratch)

Few things (food-wise anyway) make me as happy as a little spoonful of nut butter, or a date stuffed with the creamy, nutty stuff, or even just a tart apple dipped into it.

I used to buy almond butter in bulk from my natural food grocer until it started tasting burnt to me, so I have sort of lost the flavor for theirs.  Jars of nut butter contribute to more packaging waste, can have extra stuff added, or simply be expensive for high quality spreads.  I am not perfect with eliminating all items that create unnecessary waste in our kitchen; but when I can easily make something myself, I am moving that way more & more.

It might not always be less expensive, but I can control the ingredients completely.  It also helps me monitor my intake of nut butter, because I only make a small portion each week.  Once it is gone, it’s gone until I make it again.

I haven’t turned to making almond butter though.  Walnuts & pistachios have been taking turns in my food processor.  This is really such a simple way of making something that tastes decadent & fancy but requires only minutes of "work".

I was giddy over the pretty green powder that quickly formed after several pulses.  I’m excited to cook with pistachio meal if I can resist the urge to continue pulsing until nut butter forms.  The eye-catching puree was lovely stuffed into dates & topped with flakes of coconut.  I also smeared it over the top of the delicious, lemon zest oven pancakes pictured.  I did not toast these nuts, but made raw pistachio butter.

They are one of the highest protein & lowest fat nuts, which does mean it takes a little longer than most to create creamy nut butter.  It is certainly worth the wait though.

They look like little brains after all.

They are loaded with Omega-3 essential fatty acids, a vital nutrient many of our diets are deficient in.  A lack in Omega-3s can contribute to hyperactivity in children, PMS, difficulty getting pregnant or carrying to full term, prostate problems, auto-immune dysfunctions, depression, & inflammation [University of Maryland, Medical Center].  Read this recipe post by Sarah Britton, a holistic nutritionist, for a simplified version about how Omega-3s & our brains work together.

Walnuts do not seem to be very popular for nut butters.  They can taste slightly bitter, but I have found a couple tricks for cutting this: toasting & salt.  My current batch is raw though, & it is not too bitter for me.  Usually the first time I make a raw version, I don't like it as much as the toasted (which is the case now).  Interestingly, my taste usually shifts though: now, I only really like raw almond butter.  We'll see if I stick to raw walnut butter.  Many caution about toasting walnuts because it destroys or at least diminishes the Omega-3 fatty acid content of the nut.  I snack on plenty of raw walnuts & try not to worry too much about roasting them at my oven’s lowest temperature.  I do not stress about removing all of the skins; but if they flake off during toasting, I will separate them out.  I think leaving them out helps with the bitterness too.  I don’t know why sea salt seems to help, but adding a couple substantial pinches to the food processor goes a long way in balancing out the bitterness as well.

Because walnut butter has such a distinct flavor, I only eat a little at a time.  This helps keep my nut butter addiction at bay.

I started making these nut butters for their decadent taste, but the nutritional benefits don’t hurt.

There are endless “recipes” online for making nut butter, this post isn’t meant as one more to add to the bunch.  I wanted to share an idea I thought some of you might enjoy as well, because these have been fantastic.  Mixing up the nuts you use is not only fun but a way to ensure you get all of the various nutrients different nuts offer.  Has anyone tried macadamia butter?  This might be next on my list.

For those who might like instructions:

Blend nuts in a food processor, scraping down the sides as needed, until creamy nut butter forms.  That’s it!  Some nuts (like walnuts) take only a couple minutes; others (like pistachios) take longer.

blogging / thoughts on daily posting, a detox / & a yoga mat cleaner for you

 I used to think I had to post every day when I first began blogging.  Then I tortured myself (& still fret over it sometimes) with one of the most common "successful blogging" tips: whether or not you post daily, be consistent.  Find a schedule & stick to it.  We owe it to our readers. 

What I think we owe readers are quality posts.  My inspiration does not run like clockwork.  Sometimes it is there; other days not.  I prefer to take time, thinking about my photos & not rushing through the words, forcing a post out.  This means I do not really have a regular posting schedule.  It may not be the best method if you are trying to make your blog successful in the way many are (trying to drive traffic to it), but it feels more authentic to me.

I have also realized -- other than a couple exceptions -- I would prefer to not have to stay caught up daily on the blogs I read.  In other words, I wish most bloggers didn't post every day.  Full disclosure: if I have to "read" your blog everyday, I scan it more than actually read it.  Unless I want to be tethered to my computer more than I already am, I simply don't have time to really absorb every bit every single day.  I assume most of you don't either.  This is one reason why I lean toward shorter posts myself.

Most of us stay pretty busy between all of our responsibilities.  I like to do more in my free time, not surf more.  I love reading blogs & blogging myself, & these are two ways I like spending some of my free time, but it is so easy to get sucked in & distracted.  I need to study; I love to climb & workout; I have recently increased my yoga practice; I ordered piano sheet music over the weekend; & last week, I even started a sketch/musings journal-of-sorts.

Sadly, it has also become difficult to differentiate my online friends from those who simply contacted me in the early stages of their blogging lives to increase their readership.  I feel like I've lost touch with some of those I thought were friends. 

When I get too caught up in virtual living & online social life, I miss out on the real essence of life.  While I'm fretting over who my friends are & getting distracted by pins, links, & staying caught up, I miss out on real people & real experiences.

I still love blogging & many of the amazing people I have met through this crazy medium.  I don't intend to end it.  I have developed real, authentic relationships too; though I'm just not sure which those are right now.  I am simply trying to be honest & hope I don't offend anyone.  This next decision wasn't easy.  For the next two weeks, while I am doing my dietary detox, I am going to include a digital detox as well.  I will still be answering emails & phone calls if you need to reach me; but I will not be reading blogs or blogging myself.  (This vlog, answering questions about myself, will be on Tuesday Trainer at Lindsay's List this week.)  I will not be Pinning or FBing.  I don't tweet.  I need to clear my head & reassess my online presence & interests.

I want to spend more time studying, climbing, turning real pages, scribbling actual ink into notebooks, walking with Eisley, talking to Dave, "tickling the ivory", & bending into more downward-facing dogs on my new mat (a thoughtful gift from Dave).

On that note, I leave you for a couple weeks, with a simple recipe that I hope will inspire you to get offline & onto your mat.

I have always loved my Gaiam cleaner & realized I had nearly everything on hand (other than witch hazel, which is inexpensive) to make my own.  It's a nice way to keep your mat clean, fresh, & smelling calming yet invigorating.

• 1/4 cup witch hazel*
• 1/4 cup distilled water
• ~20 drops essential oils (total) of your preference

I used, in the following order:

lavender oil (calming)

eucalyptus oil (uplifting)

tea trea oil (cleansing, antimicrobial)

Mix all ingredients in a small, opaque, 4 oz bottle with a spray top.  Use, as needed, to clean your mat by spritzing directly on & wiping with a clean, damp cloth or old t-shirt.  *Because there is alcohol in the witch hazel, I worry about drying out my mat.  After using the cleaner, I usually rinse my cloth & wipe my mat down with water.  For a deeper cleanse, I will let the cleaner sit for a few minutes before wiping off.  Be sure to let your mat dry fully before rolling it.

less waste / personal spaces / writing

I am smitten by handwriting.  Have you ever noticed how certain pens or pencils make your handwriting rock?  It might be neat & even, or curvy & playful, or accented & bold.  It's all about the ergonomics of the pen, how the ink flows, & your own personal style.

I am mildly obsessed -- & inevitably particular -- about the pens & pencils I choose for writing.  For general writing & note taking, I go with a super fine tip -- not your typical "micro", which is often mislabeled on even a 0.7mm -- I mean something close to an oft hard-to-find 0.25mm.

 

It is ridiculous how head over heels I am about Pentel's Mechanical Drafting Pencil.  I use a 0.3mm in both my planner & workout journal.  It felt like a splurge when Dave treated me to not one but two.  It almost felt silly spending so much on a pencil.  Now I realize how much less wasteful it is, though this was not my initial incentive.  The selling point for us was the retracting pencil tip, which you can see (above) retracts when the clip is pressed.  I've had other fine-tipped pencils before, but the tips can get bent so easily.  If this happens, they are finished.  I actually dropped one of my Pentel GraphGear 1000s when the tip was out, & it did bend slightly.  Dave was able to straighten it.  We have never been able to save others, so I'd say this pencil is extremely durable.  It's also nice because our local art store sells the lead in varying degrees of hardness.

I have also become addicted to the Pentel Slicci 0.25mm gel ink pens, which have ink refills, but they are hard to find in black.  We also have to order this pen online.  

I decided to transition to a technical or art pen with ink you refill from a bottle.  My art supply store sells the Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph Pen.  Though I have heard mixed reviews, I decided to take a chance on the 0.3mm.

I am still getting a feel for this pen.  It is meant for artistic detail rather than writing, so it is not as smooth as other fine pens I have used.  It also writes slightly thicker than standard 0.3mm.  I have had to slow my writing, & it doesn't look as "pretty" right now.  I think it will come with practice though.  It is suited for heavy-weight paper (I use grid-ruled composition notebooks for class notes) as it has a tendency to bleed through regular paper, as you can see on the lined sheet (above*). 

A lot of people consider this a high maintenance pen, but it hasn't really felt like it to me.  You can't store ink in it for more than a couple days without using the pen; you must empty the ink completely using the ink cleaner if you plan to store it.  The tip will clog, which is nearly as expensive as the pen itself.  I use it daily, so storing it isn't an issue, & I leave a drop of ink cleaner in the lid as a sort of lubricant to protect against Arizona's lack of humidity drying it out.  Some complain of leaking, but I have not had problems.  I notice the tip bevel(?) is long; it takes several twists to secure it, plus I use the included crank to tighten it further.  Perhaps people have neglected this?  Since I bought it from our art store, I was lucky enough to get a short but thorough tutorial from the owner.  An instruction sheet is included, but I have not had to refer to it.  If there is any interest, & as I become more comfortable with the pen, I could do a short video on how it writes & some maintenance tips.  I only offer this, because I could not find much in the way of thorough reviews or examples using this rapidograph pen when I was considering it.  It was hard to spend $30+ on a pen I was afraid I would hate.  It has been worth it though.

Another less wasteful option are fountain pens, which seem less expensive & are, perhaps, less maintenance, but I'm not sure how I write with one.  I imagine it being similar to a roller-ball pen (hate), which makes my handwriting messy.

*If you click on the pen photos, it will take you to a new window where you can zoom in for a closer look.

**I (or Dave) paid for these products, & all opinions expressed here are my own.  Affiliate links used; to read more about affiliate links, go to my FAQs page.

***This is part of a series I am doing while we strive to embrace a simple life & home.  We are committing to analyze & consider every item in & coming into our home, the ultimate goal being to come to as close to a zero waste home as possible & comfortable.

less waste & truly living / inspiration

I hope you are all having a wonderful week.

I am back in classes, starting yesterday, so I am still trying to get my bearings.  I will try to have a little something climbing-related from our trip up on Friday & have a somewhat regular posting schedule figured out & under way next week.

In the mean time, I thought I would share this quote. The image is by Erin at Perfect Sentiment*.

I find the Channing quote incredibly inspiring.

I hope you are inspired today too.

a.

*clicking on the image quote will take you directly to the original source page, where you can download a copy.

less waste / personal spaces / something for your pocket

I am continuing on from Monday's discussion & considering this a personal (rather than bathroom) area, because I think it has a lot to do with what we keep in our purses or pockets & the wasteful items we encounter there.

I don't really have a purse I use daily, filled with standard items, lying ready when I head out the door.  I either grab this over-sized tote or my backpack (for school) & stuff it with what I need for the day when I leave the house.  I think this helps with reducing some waste by not having duplicates or items that get lost at the bottom of a bag & remain unused.  However, I could be more mindful of what I use & keep here.

We don't keep actual tissues (like Kleenex) on hand, but I find myself going for toilet paper to blow my nose daily.  In a bind, I might grab a napkin or receipt (gross, I know).  My nose ring has a tendency to make me stuffy, so I use little bits of tissue often.  I am not about to give up toilet paper completely, but it is extremely wasteful.  It cannot be reused, & even if you buy recycled tp like we do, every new roll still requires water & electricity to produce.

When I first met Dave, I was amused by his use of handkerchiefs.  Even now, he always has one in his back pocket.  It was strange but cute & reminded me of my grandpa.  Dave picked up the habit from his father who always had one at hand.  He started carrying them himself while serving a mission & never stopped.  It makes sense.  How often do you wish you had a tissue?  Or something to wipe away the sweat on a hot day?  It's perfect for replacing those wasteful oil-blotting tissues too.  He has been nice enough to share one in an emergency, but I decided it would be nice to have my own.  We had a little money left on a Kohl's gift card from last Christmas, which I used to buy my own set of 9.  If I hadn't had the gift card to use, I probably would have found soft organic cotton fabric & asked my sister to make some for me.  Some people might be grossed out by carrying a handkerchief; it's not like you're eating off of it, just blowing your nose & folding it back up.  To clean them, I simply throw them in the washing machine with the other whites & a little extra tea tree oil.

Also, I have a Neti pot, which I will use more often.  Honestly, I have not used it since I was sick last March; but I think a more regular "nasal irrigation" regiment wouldn't be a bad idea.  I am sure you can overdo it, but once weekly or every other week should be fine.

*This is part of a series I am doing while Dave & I strive to embrace a simple life & home.  We are committing to analyze & consider every item in & coming into our home, the ultimate goal being to come to as close to a zero waste home as possible.

less waste / personal spaces

Having a lot of extra stuff is distracting.  We got rid of many of our belongings when we moved from Utah, but we held onto a few things we are ready to let go now.  It is also easy to start accumulating things again, slowly & over time, so I am trying to stay mindful.

I started with personal belongings, because they are often the most difficult to let go.  We carry a lot of attachment, nostalgia, & identification in personal items.

This week, I thought we could focus on a few personal areas we can tackle easily.  It takes only a couple hours to go through these, & the weight it lifts is liberating.

We are book fanatics.  Dave & I love to read & love owning books.  Our books were the one major item not purged in Utah; boxes & boxes made it to Arizona to be sorted through after the move.  A year later, we finally did it.  We took three medium boxes of books & one over-sized box of dvds to our local, used-bookstore.  Even though they only bought a handful, we ended up with almost $100 in store credit.  I was reluctant to accept credit; I would have gone with cash, even though it was half the amount.  We are trying to reduce not exchange, but Dave reminded me it will be nice for gifts & records.  He took the remainder of the boxes to his office to give away, along with the dvds for $2 a pop.  Whatever is left after a week, we will donate to the library or a second-hand store.

Does anyone else keep certain books you like, because it looks good on the shelf?  Why are we attached to how people will view us based on the books lining our shelves?

There are a few books we kept of course, but I have a feeling a couple of them will eventually find new homes as well.  I love the smell of paper & the feeling of it as my fingers flip through pages.  The library has been the perfect option for me the last couple years.  I have been content to borrow novels & even cookbooks & kitchen reference books, some of which I would love in my own collection.  For this, I am considering getting an e-reader.  I might hold out for a tablet though, like the iPad2, once the iPad3 comes out. 

~

Watch for another *less waste* tip on Wednesday.

Will you join me?

*This is part of a series I am doing while Dave & I strive to embrace a simple life & home.  We are committing to analyze & consider every item in & coming into our home, the ultimate goal being to come to as close to a zero waste home as possible.

'Spring' Cleaning, Reducing Waste & Feedback Needed from You

Have you had the urge to spring clean as well?

Maybe it had to do with the approaching new year, but immediately following our trip to Utah, I dove into closets, boxes, & corners & have spent much of the past week sorting, cleaning, donating, & even contemplating "styling" our simple home.

I started with my closet.

I would venture to say, my wardrobe is smaller than a lot of women's (maybe even some men's) -- & the bulk is probably functional outdoor & active wear -- but there are still more clothes in there than I'd like to have.  More frustrating than that is the fact there are only a couple pieces I really love:

My (newish) knee-high boots.  The $10 mini-skirt that makes my legs feel strong & awesome.  The flattering Anthropologie tank I'm wearing in this video.  My cozy Patagonia hoodie, so worn I have holes in the end of my sleeves where my thumbs press.  My favorite jeans.  A pale, flowy, below-the-knee corduroy skirt. A pretty blue halter passed down from my best friend, Ashley, along with this dress I have to wear with the straps pinned together to hold it up.  Maybe a couple others.

It has made me stop & think: I would love to have only a few (maybe a dozen) outfits I really love, rather than a closet full of clothes I'm only medium about. 

This idea transfers to the rest of our home as well.

 One year ago, I was inspired by a family featured in Sunset magazine who had greatly reduced the amount of clutter (in) & waste (coming out of) their home.  We have done a lot this past year to reduce our own, but I have become a bit neglectful & want to refocus my efforts.

I want to truly love, use, & know everything in our home.  So I guess the closet was as good a place as any to start.

I will be sharing ideas & what is working for us, moving through one room at a time.  I think we'll start in the kitchen Monday, unless there is anything more you'd like to know about the closet or bedroom.  I will post it as a series, every couple weeks, called "Less Waste" or "Reducing Waste" or something like that.  Please let me know if you have specific questions, concerns, or ideas for this project.  I am becoming a fan of 'short & sweet' posts more & more, but what do you like?  For this series, would it be better for me to do specific, short posts tackling one/a few item(s) OR room overviews/lists with several ideas?