"Modern comforts, once known, are not that easy to discard." -Charles Long
Having simplified our possessions, now I find myself with the hard work really beginning.... how to simplify our lifestyle and habits. :(
Since a major goal of this is to save money, I have been reading The Complete Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn, which is fascinating and full of helpful hints on how to save money. Unfortunately, many many of these hints are aimed at someone who doesn't mind complicating life in order to pinch pennies.
Today I find myself weighing the advantages and disadvantages of such a lifestyle...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Coupons
Yesterday and today I spent WAY too much time looking for online coupon sources. It's irritating that so many sites want you to install their toolbars, give them your address and sign up for their newsletter before they'll let you download coupons. BOO!
I like this site: http://www.couponmom.com/
and this one (and its sister site) for organic meat and dairy:
http://www.organicvalley.coop/coupons/
Recently I made the choice to feed my cats organic food. This was a hard decision for my wallet, but after losing my Kinnug to cancer I feel that my pets deserve wholesome organic food just as much as we do. The more I learn about the pet food industry, the less I want to know. :( By- products are GROSS. A $16 dollar bag of organic cat food lasts my 3 cats about 2 weeks. Why didn't I convert sooner?!?! Coupons for organic cat food are non-existant... but if you give Blue Buffalo your information, they'll mail you a $3 off coupon: http://bluebuff.com/
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A few excellent books...
The Circle of Simplicity (Cecile Andrews)
Walden (Henry David Thoreau)
The Simple Living Guide (Janet Luhrs)
The book that sparked my interest in living simply.
the not so big life: making room for what really matters (Sarah Susanka)
Read this book!!!!
The Artist's Way (Julia Cameron)
Vein of Gold (Julia Cameron)
The Sound of Paper (Julia Cameron)
I will not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion (Dawna Markova)
Simple Abundance (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
Moving On (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
Romancing the Ordinary (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
This author's works are very potently authentic, very personal, and I highly recommend them.
The Comfort Queen's Guide to Life (Jennifer Louden)
The Life Organizer (Jennifer Louden)
The Woman's Comfort B0ok (Jennifer Louden)
Wherever you go, There you are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (Jon Kabat-Zinn)
Spiritual Housecleaning: Healing the Space within by Beautifying the Space Around You. (Kathryn L. Robyn)
Walden (Henry David Thoreau)
The Simple Living Guide (Janet Luhrs)
The book that sparked my interest in living simply.
the not so big life: making room for what really matters (Sarah Susanka)
Read this book!!!!
The Artist's Way (Julia Cameron)
Vein of Gold (Julia Cameron)
The Sound of Paper (Julia Cameron)
I will not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion (Dawna Markova)
Simple Abundance (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
Moving On (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
Romancing the Ordinary (Sarah Ban Breathnach)
This author's works are very potently authentic, very personal, and I highly recommend them.
The Comfort Queen's Guide to Life (Jennifer Louden)
The Life Organizer (Jennifer Louden)
The Woman's Comfort B0ok (Jennifer Louden)
Wherever you go, There you are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (Jon Kabat-Zinn)
Spiritual Housecleaning: Healing the Space within by Beautifying the Space Around You. (Kathryn L. Robyn)
Ascetical practices 1
" Tis the superfluity of one man that makes the poverty of the other. "
-Vernon Lee
Today I was blessed with an unexpected day off work. I spent the morning reading and writing notes, then made myself a gourmet lunch (recipe below). And even though I love the gift of solitude and the privilege to putter about my home, to clean, to dream, to work on whatever I feel pulled to do, well, I also felt the nagging urge of my least favorite foe on this path of simplicity: the desire to go shopping.
Why is shopping our national past time? Why do we let ourselves be defined by our desires, the insatiable want, the never ending demand for more or better or new? I have sat with this feeling so much, I know that it is a distraction, an addiction, and a coping mechanism... I know that it doesn't serve me or the earth... but yet still, my guts twist in reaction and irritation to the little voice that says: "let's go buy something!"
Recently I have been combatting my shopping addictions with cleverness. When I feel the need to go shopping, I pull out the grocery list or the Target list, and head out to buy necessities only. This is especially effective if I remember to eat before I go, and take a drink with me in the car. With my digestive system occupied and the drink there to distract my thirst for the ever present need for a Starbucks cup, I am well armed. I spend money, but only on what we actually need. Of course I'll treat myself occasionally to something small that's not on the list, but the damage control is HUGE compared to how I might have spent extra dollars at the bookstore... or worse yet, the discount clothing store.
Today I am determined to stare compassionately into the face of my desire and gently tell it to let go of me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RECIPE: Penne with Brown Mushrooms and Kalamata Olives
(serves 2)
*The Muir Glen tomatoes are the crux of this recipe. Their fire-roasted deliciousness can't be matched!
1.) Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil on the stove.
2.) While the water is heating, in a deep skillet, add 1/4 teaspoon of minced garlic to 2 Tbsp of olive oil and cook until golden brown (about 1-2 minutes).
3.) When garlic is golden, add 1 12oz can of *Muir Glen Fire Roasted Crushed tomatoes* to the skillet, 1 cup of sliced crimini mushrooms, and 1/3 cup of pitted and halved Kalamata olives. Top off with a pinch of sea salt and stir gently over medium heat until most of the extra liquid has simmered away (about 5-10 minutes)
4.) Add 1/2 package of whole wheat or gluten-free penne and 2 Tbsp olive oil to the boiling water in your pot and cook approx. 10-12 minutes, until "al dente."
5.) Drain your pasta, top with the tomato mixture. Add a few leaves of fresh basil if desired.
-Vernon Lee
Today I was blessed with an unexpected day off work. I spent the morning reading and writing notes, then made myself a gourmet lunch (recipe below). And even though I love the gift of solitude and the privilege to putter about my home, to clean, to dream, to work on whatever I feel pulled to do, well, I also felt the nagging urge of my least favorite foe on this path of simplicity: the desire to go shopping.
Why is shopping our national past time? Why do we let ourselves be defined by our desires, the insatiable want, the never ending demand for more or better or new? I have sat with this feeling so much, I know that it is a distraction, an addiction, and a coping mechanism... I know that it doesn't serve me or the earth... but yet still, my guts twist in reaction and irritation to the little voice that says: "let's go buy something!"
Recently I have been combatting my shopping addictions with cleverness. When I feel the need to go shopping, I pull out the grocery list or the Target list, and head out to buy necessities only. This is especially effective if I remember to eat before I go, and take a drink with me in the car. With my digestive system occupied and the drink there to distract my thirst for the ever present need for a Starbucks cup, I am well armed. I spend money, but only on what we actually need. Of course I'll treat myself occasionally to something small that's not on the list, but the damage control is HUGE compared to how I might have spent extra dollars at the bookstore... or worse yet, the discount clothing store.
Today I am determined to stare compassionately into the face of my desire and gently tell it to let go of me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RECIPE: Penne with Brown Mushrooms and Kalamata Olives
(serves 2)
*The Muir Glen tomatoes are the crux of this recipe. Their fire-roasted deliciousness can't be matched!
1.) Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil on the stove.
2.) While the water is heating, in a deep skillet, add 1/4 teaspoon of minced garlic to 2 Tbsp of olive oil and cook until golden brown (about 1-2 minutes).
3.) When garlic is golden, add 1 12oz can of *Muir Glen Fire Roasted Crushed tomatoes* to the skillet, 1 cup of sliced crimini mushrooms, and 1/3 cup of pitted and halved Kalamata olives. Top off with a pinch of sea salt and stir gently over medium heat until most of the extra liquid has simmered away (about 5-10 minutes)
4.) Add 1/2 package of whole wheat or gluten-free penne and 2 Tbsp olive oil to the boiling water in your pot and cook approx. 10-12 minutes, until "al dente."
5.) Drain your pasta, top with the tomato mixture. Add a few leaves of fresh basil if desired.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to this blog!
Here I will share with you my thoughts on the simplicity movement, integrating simple choices into my life, simplicity as it relates to art and artful living, and the interplay of simplicity and spirituality.
I became interested in simplicity about 3 years ago, but looking back, can see how it has always touched my life, again and again, until I was ready to look at it fully, and to really accept it as a way of life.
My choice for simplicity is rooted in a desire to be in touch with my inner knowing, to be calm and quiet enough to listen to my heart's yearnings, and to be open to the possibilities of gentle change and self-realization. It is also supported by my longing for spiritual experience (knowing "god"), which as an Agnostic, I don't pursue through dogmatic beliefs or practices of any particular religion. And lastly, it is rooted in the grief that I hold in my heart for what is happening to our planet, and a hope that we can somehow heal the damage we are causing before it is too late.
I hope you find inspiration in my musings...
Here I will share with you my thoughts on the simplicity movement, integrating simple choices into my life, simplicity as it relates to art and artful living, and the interplay of simplicity and spirituality.
I became interested in simplicity about 3 years ago, but looking back, can see how it has always touched my life, again and again, until I was ready to look at it fully, and to really accept it as a way of life.
My choice for simplicity is rooted in a desire to be in touch with my inner knowing, to be calm and quiet enough to listen to my heart's yearnings, and to be open to the possibilities of gentle change and self-realization. It is also supported by my longing for spiritual experience (knowing "god"), which as an Agnostic, I don't pursue through dogmatic beliefs or practices of any particular religion. And lastly, it is rooted in the grief that I hold in my heart for what is happening to our planet, and a hope that we can somehow heal the damage we are causing before it is too late.
I hope you find inspiration in my musings...
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