99,241.34

We're back...

2011-09-23T21:58:00.001-04:00

You won't believe what we've accomplished these past couple months. First and foremost, Elsie is 1! WTH. How did that happen?!

I actually finished making her a happy birthday banner and this sweet crown made from a thrifted sweater. The highlights of my year as I actually got to do some crafting. Oh, and this was made for her present. It was also made from a part of that same sweater, as well as a couple others. It's freakin' cute.

Secondly, we did it! We set a goal way back when, and we did it. Early I might add. Just, FYI, I'm pretty good at setting close to insurmountable goals and then being disappointed when it doesn't pan out (as Sam so endearingly notes). I also would like to point out that not only did we meet this insurmountable goal, but we "freekin' rocked it." We paid off my graduate school loans in the amount of roughly $25,000 since April. We are now down to about $65,000. This whole thing is seeming a bit more doable.

We would love to hear from you if you somehow stopped by and are on this journey with us.

It feels good to make progress.

Lonely.

2011-06-03T21:54:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how to write this. I don't want to sound pathetic or pitiable. I don't feel that way, I just feel sad and I miss my friends. Seriously, we pretty much don't see people anymore. We hang out with the family weekly but other than that pretty much everyone has been abandoned. Not on purpose. I want all you friends to know, we had no idea that we would be unreachable.

For the past week or two it's consumed me. I'm afraid doing this, this crazy 2 year journey of intensity towards paying off debt, is going to cost us our friendships. I am usually the social director of our marriage. I am too tired, with all my new duties w/ 50-60 hour work weeks to get anything done once I'm home. It makes me sad since what I'd like to be doing is connecting with the people I love. This lack of contact becomes clear when I meet up with friends after a long absence and realize I've missed weeks or months of their lives and them mine. Ugh. I am not built to live in superficial relationships. I thrive on community and intimacy.

This is going to be harder than I thought. Anyone want to do this crazy journey with us? We could use the camaraderie. We make a mean rice and beans.

Hard Core

2011-05-29T22:11:00.000-04:00

We are in the thick of it. I know what you're saying, "You just started, how can you be in the thick of it?" But we are. I've got one more day of a 6 day in a row work week (where 2 of those days included 10 hour days). We are in the THICK of it. June is going to be hard core. It's pretty much 6 day work weeks for me all month. Once July rolls around I'm going to start a new job. Yes, a third job. It's at a skilled nursing facility (which I've never worked at before, which means new paperwork and learning the system...ugh...more stress) about 35 miles away from home. It's guaranteed hours weekly, and let's just say, they made the offer too good to refuse. We're in the thick of it.

Sam called me while I was at work today and said "I was listening to Dave this afternoon and I just want you to know that you're hard core. Going from 2 days a week to full-time was a huge change and I appreciate you're willingness to do this for our family." I appreciate him loving on me but really, this is totally a team effort. Basically, we never have days off together anymore. We can't. It's a waste of too much money. I know that sounds ridiculous but daycare is expensive so if I can work on a day when there are no daycare expenses I need to do it. Secondly, Sam has taken up a huge amount of household responsibility. Since I'm really not home anymore Sam has picked up the grocery shopping, laundry, diaper washing and most of the cooking responsibilities. As difficult as it is for me to be away from my family (it's not how I'm built...I don't want to be a working mama. I yearn to be home and be a homemaker) it is such an amazing feeling to come home to an amazingly cooked meal, happy children and a satisfied husband who kisses me hello and then says "we had a great day together."

We're functioning in the THICK of it. We can do this. I tell Sam "you're hard core." He says "you know why I'm hard core, because I do this (pointing to the amazing dinner he's come up with) in this piece of shit kitchen." Yes, I quote.

I wanted you to witness the piece of shit kitchen. We've already decided that when we're debt free this will be the first room we'll save for to gut and re-do. Oh the beautiful thoughts. Here is my beginning ideaboard. Any ideas?

8 is less than 9

2011-05-10T21:13:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to update the title up there. The one that is more than $90,000. I've been trying, but I can't remember how to update file formats and SaveAs commands to get platforms to talk friendly to each other. I've been trying to post our new title, the one that is just under $90,000 - the one with an 8 leading the long march.

Our shift has been interesting. April was furious and startling - a cycle of dinner times and bed times and cleaning times and very little down times. We have commented to each other, more than once, that we are living exactly the life we never wanted to live - busy, and fractured and, least palatable of all, focused on money. Even as I sent off our extra payment to the loan sharks tonight, it struck me how much I dislike how much we have been thinking and talking and working for money. Nevertheless, this is the cost of our decisions: to live for a while with discomfort and distress. I am thankful for the opportunity to embrace them both.

Kedzie has entered the WHY? phase of his verbal journey. When I am walking out the door to work, or when Nicole is pulling a 3-day weekend stint, he'll often ask "Where go, papa?" To work. "Why?" Because I made some short-sighted decisions and I want to make them right. Our future is too full of possibility to do anything else. "Oh. Bye, papa. La you." I love you, too, Kedzie.

Mama's Day

2011-05-10T12:39:00.001-04:00

I never thought a day could be so perfect. It's funny how when you go into something without expectations...perfection.

The day began when my ~~husband~~ personal chef had eggs betty (a play on eggs benedict from this restaurant) with local asparagus from the farmer's market, canadian bacon from our meat CSA, and homemade biscuits from here. Needless to say it started out quite yummy.

Next we spent the morning playing baseball with our son (if that's not Americana...) and laying under the shade of our new trees.

I get this face a LOT.

The whole afternoon was spent with family: Sam's brother and family and his parents. We went to our community park and had a picnic. It was glorious. It's walkable from our house through a little wooded trail and henceforth will keep us from ever living in the city again.

Gammy & the babies.

Classic mama's day photo, blurry and all. I love it.

Freebies.

2011-04-26T21:12:00.001-04:00

So, I know y'all probably know this already but Netflix is rad. Yes, rad. So, we're trying to pinch pennies as much as possible, as you might be aware. On Tuesday nights I usually abandon Sam and my children and head to yoga class. While I love most things about this such as, getting out of the house with some adult time, and furthering my yoganess, the whole paying money for the class is a bummer. Tonight I opted to see what yoga class Netflix might have on its "watch instantly" list. This one was awesome. My abs are still burning. (Which isn't saying much I guess. When one allows said abs to be stretched to oblivion for 2 years and then barely does anything to get them back; I hardly feel I can complain.) Basically, I need to get back on the exercise train. Mostly for myself and my health but a little bit because I'm a physical freakin therapist and I feel like a bit of a hypocrite. No longer.

Any ideas for freebies?
N.

In other news Kedzie is now in a big boy bed. He's not my baby anymore. All those women in the grocery store are right, they really do grow up fast.

Jailbird...

2011-04-25T20:48:00.000-04:00

No, she didn't get arrested. She had us worried for a few days (and sleepless nights) at home and finally when Monday rolled around we decided to head to the MD. Her pediatrician (4 days prior) had diagnosed her with asthma/reactive airway disease and she'd been on steroids (oral and inhaled) all weekend. Nothing seemed to be working and she constantly sounded like a 95 year old frail woman with pneumonia. Not good. Anyway, long story short, she was breathing with great difficulty and a nebulizer treatment did nothing for her in the office so off to the hospital we went. Thank God for family, Kedzie had a grand ol' time with his cousins while Sam, Elsie and I hung out in the hospital. Scary, institutionalized bed and all.

She's doing fine. We really only stayed about 6 hours and they let us out. They monitored her O2 saturation and she maintained well. Her respiratory rate decreased and she calmed down a bit once she took a nap in the Beco. (She was having none of that bed).

So, a bit scary but made us all thankful that she doesn't have cystic fibrosis or any number of chronic diseases that went through our heads. As Kedzie said to his auntie when we heard we were all coming home to have dinner with everyone, "Elsie happy now?" Elsie is happy now.

The Basement Wins.

2011-04-06T20:51:00.000-04:00

So, small hiccup. About two weeks ago, Sam and I both noticed a small wet spot on the carpet that's in the spare bedroom in the basement. I chalked it up to the dog peeing there (I'm not sure why now that I look back on it...he does NOT just pee willy-nilly in the house). Sam, luckily, didn't easily let it go. Come to find out we had a leaky pipe that needed to be repaired immediately. The water had been leaking for a few weeks, it had soaked the floor and seeped under the carpet in the bedroom next door to the utility closet. Long story short, we got it fixed, pulled up the carpet and got everything nice and dry. We totally thought we'd lucked out. Not that big of a problem and we thought we'd salvaged the carpet. We'd just need to clean it and we'd be in business for a renter.

Then, Murphy, (as Dave says) knocked on our door. A few nights ago, Sam poked his head down the steps because he thought he heard something. Yeah, he did hear something. A burst pipe with water shooting EVERYWHERE. A couple inches of water coated our basement floor, many of our packing boxes with many of our belongings, and the carpet is dead. I'm not really into mold so the carpet, along with a few of the walls/drywall has to go.

It's fixed. Everything's OK. It really only cost a few hundred dollars (so far) but mostly, the basement is going to take a bit more work than planned. I'm OK with it. The basement, in its current state, is one of THE ugliest places I've ever been in. It needs some love. I'm learning to be as frugal as possible thanks to these sites. Check them out. Sweet inspiration.
Young House Love
Bower Power
Barefoot in the Kitchen
Ana White
And thanks to Sarah: Man vs. Debt
Happy perusing. Try to not be inspired.

That's where we're at. There will be before and after pictures.
n.

Life...

2011-04-03T21:01:00.000-04:00

We've been diligently working towards our goal this last payperiod. I've been working a lot more so our life has been much less like I'm a stay-at-home mama and more like a full-time working mama. This seems to have taken a toll on more than just the expected. Mostly, though, it's difficult to come home, make dinner, pack lunches, clean up dishes, put babies to bed and have any time for each other. And do it all again the next day.

I can hear you..."wah, wah, wah." I know. Our life is blessed and I am thankful for this moment of sleeping babies, a husband (who played house husband all weekend) who is currently tending to our household needs by folding laundry, and a nice chunk of change to show for all this hard work.

Kedzie 8 months

Elsa 7 months

So, this totally goes against Dave Ramsey philosophy, but I think we're gonna hold onto the money until:

1. we figure out what we're going to do to the basement in order to get it in rentable shape. We don't think this will take very much. Replace the windows, clean the carpet, new shower curtain and LOTS of organization. We're hoping to not have to throw too much cash into it but if we can get it fixed up and rentable by August we will be quite pleased with ourselves.

2. We're totally going to save enough to pay off my graduate student loans, which is a whopping $24,000. I know, ridiculous. That loan is currently our highest monthly payment of around $240. Basically, when we get that baby paid off we'll have $240 extra dollars per month. Awesome. That's what Dave calls a Debt Snowball.

I'm not sure it's possible, but I'd love to be able to pay that baby off by my birthday. I'm not sure there could be a better present. Goal is set, it's out there in cyberspace. October 12th, here we come!

We've probably earned that

2011-03-23T21:21:00.000-04:00

It's a surprise to none of you, I'm sure, that we are at this point - this do-over, start-again, once-more point. We are dramatic people, people of passion, we know that and acknowledge that, and dramatic people tend to act in fits and starts. We deserve your skeptical glances, we've earned your doubtful sighs.

But, people of passion, once steered and provided the tools for the task, are also capable of crazy, passion-driven things. This year behind us has served as both rudder and depot. We find ourselves another year into our lives but still unable to live the lives we want, the lives we are called into, because of the choices we've made to jump into our holes of debt. We also, however, have a system in place that, with the addition of more than a little determination, perhaps even a lot of passion, equips us to plunge headlong into the task. We've mastered the art of cash-living in a plastic world. We've tweaked and tuned our spreadsheets and charts. Now, it's just a matter of choosing and changing; saying yes to living with less. When all is said and done - and it will be said and done because it must be said and done, we have too much living to live to let it be otherwise - our hope is to lift our heads from our work and realize that we are free, not only free of this load but really, wholly free. I don't think anyone can earn that; that is grace.

So, I come to you again, dear friends, to seek your support, your solidarity. Sigh all you'd like in the privacy of your homes, glance skeptically, just do it behind our backs. I'm not asking for financial contributions or standing dinner invitations, I'm asking for encouraging pats on the back, a shared understanding that it is difficult to change a lifestyle but that change is possible and good. We definitely have not earned that, your support, but we're hoping for a bit more grace.

Like I said, we're dramatic people. Thanks for loving us anyway.

Change is in the air...

2011-03-21T20:50:00.002-04:00

We're back! And in normal Rule fashion we're diving in head first.

Spring is here, and that makes us itchy for change. What we've been doing just doesn't work anymore. We're "sick and tired of being sick and tired" as Dave Ramsey so lovingly puts it. I've been crunching numbers...we can do this. We've moved, we're still living out of boxes and our current bedroom has got to be the ugliest bedroom on the planet, but I don't care. No more expensive house projects. I will live in that ugly room for 3 1/2 years until that last debt is paid off. We can do it.

I've recently started a new job that has me in my car driving quite a bit. I, not realizing what I was in for, loaded up the iphone (which is now a glorified ipod...more on that later) with about 25 podcasts of the Dave Ramsey show. I've plowed through about 12 of them already. I'm ready to start over. Sam and I have both realized that when we thought we were doing the Dave Ramsey plan, we were slowly working up to the Dave Ramsey plan. We were not intense and intense is what it takes to make this work.

We're intense. We've got a plan and we're sticking to it. Some realizations:

We can't have everything and we're not entitled to anything. Just because other people live a certain way does not mean we can or are entitled to. We have got to pay off those student loans before we can choose our lifestyle.
"We've got to live like no one else so that later we can live like no one else." Yes, Dave said that. It's so true, though. So, we live without cable tv, we don't go out to dinner, we rent out our basement for some income...we do those things now so that we can be who we want to be as a family later.
I didn't spend $25,000 in student loans to be a stay-at-home mama. Yeah, it sounds a bit harsh but it's true. When the $25,000 is paid in full, than I can justify staying home. I don't plan on working ALL the time but I need to work more to bring up our income level to create that gigantic debt bomb we need per payperiod. And then, I can be home with my loves...

Part of our plan: (yes, it includes haircuts by mama).

$93,000 (our new total) paid off in 3.5 years = roughly $1020 per payperiod.
Rent out our basement by June. We've got some fixing up to do down there but here's hoping some reliable person finds it too good a deal to pass up.
Nicole works more. More income = more debt bomb.
Live on less. No more iphone. I'm mourning already. We got rid of our at&t plan and switched to us cellular allowing us to get rid of our home phone, too. (at&t cell phones don't work well in the woods). We're getting rid of direct tv. We're cutting our budget down to bare bones and attempting to live on Sam's salary only. This shouldn't be that difficult as family's often live on less. No more eating out. No more frivolous spending. Really, we're broke. You can't have $93,000 in debt and live like you're rich. It's ridiculous. It's going to be difficult...but it has to be done.
No more house projects. I keep telling myself, once those debts are paid off, it'll be so easy to save up for a project and get it paid for with cash. It'll take no time at all because our income will be so much larger without those pesky loans. Small projects will still be happening but I have got to contain myself and learn to decorate on a very, very, very tight budget. Another challenge, I can do it!

We'd love to hear what ya'll have to say. Crazy? Brilliant? Somewhere in-between? Any good ideas?

Time flies...

2010-11-04T14:37:00.000-04:00

Has it really been almost 2 months...crazy what a newborn, renting a home, buying a new home, packing, unpacking and DIYing a new house will do to your free time. Whew.

We did move. We're loving it. We're about a 10 minute drive from downtown Asheville and while it's been weird to not be able to walk to a coffee shop or live in a city center, we're loving the amenities the woods offer.

Here are some recent pics of life:

before:

after:

Its astonishing how 1 project can make someone else's house, feel like my home.

Next up, the front door. Ugh, black. How inviting, right?

Elsa, almost 3 months old already.

Halloween 2010

Hiking from the backyard is a beautiful thing.

Seriously, where did he get those eyes?

So, we're doing well. Just ridiculously busy with house projects, unpacking and returning to work. We're trying to slow down a bit now that we live in the "country." It doesn't seem to be working so well, when all I want to do is work more so we can save for that next project! We'll keep you posted on before and afters as they happen and the return to paying off debt...no, we haven't forgotten about Dave Ramsey! But, it sure is nice to have some space!

Life as usual...

2010-09-21T15:35:00.000-04:00

What we've been up to...

The Mountain State Fair with family...if only they had rat race (shout out to AK fair)

Growing & smirking...

The nature center with friends...

clowning...

sliding...

cooking compost scraps...

spackling holes with elsa in tow.

we've rented our house & move to our new pad October 9th. We're beyond excited.

We LAAFFed together

2010-09-07T14:12:00.000-04:00

The Annual LAAFF fest proved to be fun as always this past weekend. The weather was gorgeous and we all had a great time watching the bike jousters and the balloon bender.

Kedzie's balloon Elmo.

PS: Did we mention we're buying a house and closing October 1st? We ~~can~~ will pack all of our belongings and rent our current house in (less than) a month!

Apple Picking 2010

2010-08-31T13:09:00.002-04:00

So, I know what you're thinking. "Apple picking? It's barely September and the weather hasn't been below 80 in months." Sure, it's not ideal weather, and there was no hot apple cider and homemade donuts while sitting in the barn cozied up around the wood stove, but the apples are still really tasty. Even tastier when you take your children and nieces and make a family outing of it.

Truth is, we haven't got time any other weekend. We're under contract on a house. Yes, we took the plunge, and for a mere $300 more mortgage per month we're getting 3 1/2 times the house. We're psyched, but there's so much to do Sam and I giggle (we don't want to panic) anytime we think about it. How in the world is all of this going to get done? (We're keeping our current house and turning it into a rental...lots of little projects to finish up...Sam's already started). Thankfully, we have lovely friends and family who have already offered to do whatever it takes...like taking our kids for an hour so that we can pack without interruptions, or bringing us food, or making sure we get all our stuff from this house to the new house. All this to say, it was either pick apples now or perhaps, don't pick apples this season. If you know me, the latter was not an option. (Although I did give up making applesauce this season, as Sam kindly pointed out...something's gotta give).

The house is in a neighborhood called Bent Creek about 10 minutes from West Asheville. While we're sad about leaving our little community, we're excited about the opportunity of a new one. We have great friends who just moved there and we're excited about being next to them again.

Without further ado, here are some adorable pictures of our family...my heart swells when we all do things together. What lovely times.

It was a good weekend.

3 plus 1

2010-08-21T20:24:00.000-04:00

Six days into his life:

Six days into her life:

Elsa Dorothy was born just short of August 12. While there may be a resemblance to her older brother as a newborn (excepting her olive skin and absence of the trademark Rule 7-head) her arrival was all together different. Planning on a multi-day marathon session similar to Kedzie's labor, Nicole skillfully managed a Wednesday of on-again/off-again contractions, resting, eating, preparing. The storm mounted through the evening, until it took a dramatic turn after she felt a pop deep down inside. Looking back, I wish my response had been something, anything other than: "Are you sure you didn't just pee?" With intense contractions lining up on top of each other, we somehow coordinated our late-night babysitter for Kedzie, our midwives on call, and the 3-mile drive to the hospital. "Love," she told me through gritted teeth, "the bumps are really, really awful."

After wrangling a wheelchair at the emergency room and cajoling a hospital employee to help Nicole get to Labor and Delivery, I raced to park the car and make it up to the fourth floor. Armed with her ancient wisdom and sensitive intuition, Kirstin, our sister-in-law and midwife, had made it to the hospital in time to prepare a room and the nursing staff. Six minutes after arriving on the ward, with one intense push, Nicole delivered Elsa into the arms of her aunt. I am still speechless.

The past 10 days have been similarly intense. It is, as they say, different with two. Gone are the hours of sitting beside my bride staring into the eyes of a newborn as she nurses. Instead, we are tag-team wrestlers bouncing between a toddler and his new partner. More than time management, though, we are learning how to love our children fully and freely. It is not a question of having enough love, it is only a process of learning how to express it. It is a good lesson to be learning.

Things will change, I'm sure, when I return to work at the end of the month. But, for now, and I'm trying really, really hard to live right now, these are the greatest days of my life. I am grateful.

Lots of words.

2010-07-31T15:32:00.001-04:00

As we unloaded the cache from our weekly trip the market, the grocery and the still surprising secondary market wunderkid, I commented that Saturdays are when we hit the reset button around here. By the weekend, our small fridge is little more than a cooler for ketchup, a shriveled carrot or two, some yogurt starter and some leftover steak from the tacos on Thursday. The bathroom is long past time for a scrub. The dog hair is ready to sweep up and spin. On special reset days, like this one, as the rain falls and breaks the heat of a difficult summer weather pattern, Nicole and Kedzie are both able to embrace meaningful naps (Kedzie, at the time of this writing, is approaching 3 hours and 10 minutes), and I can rest in a quiet moment that is so hard to find during the week.

It seemed like a good day to hit the reset button on this little journal as well.

When we embarked on this blog, our hope was to take this trip with you beside us. I don't know how many of you there are, it doesn't matter really. The point was to expose our hopes and failures and commitments and joys and fears, to be accountable and buttressed by the publicity of this very public place. Then, life happens.

But, finally after 33 years, I'm beginning to understand that life is for living not for reacting to. This little blog is a mini-representation of how I chose to live my life - intentionally pursuing community, remaining vulnerable and honest and open. I must, I am painfully aware, make that choice every day. So, be it.

Now, let me catch you up on a few things:

1. Nicole is just about ready to pop. She's struggled through one of the hottest summer's on record, limped after an energetic toddler and held together a home with grace and beauty. It's safe to say, 38 weeks into this pregnancy, it's been a challenging second-go. She's amazing. We'll keep you posted on the results. If anyone has tips on how to help a sensitive, mama-centric 20-month-old adjust to a whole new life, we're all ears.

2. Interest rates are low. Really, really low. When we jumped into this journey, we settled into the notion of settling into this tiny house for the long haul. There was, I will admit, a bit of self-congratulatory arrogance when I explained to family and friends that our 780 square feet was more than enough - look at families the world over...we're living in luxury. Our mortgage is such that we can be a family free of anxiety while still working toward our goal of being a family free of debt. Interest rates, though, are really, really low. The thought of finding a home that could be ours for decades rather than years, one that could let our friends sit on something other than the bed in our living room, is a nice thought. As the real estate market is prone to do, we're nervous that in 10 years, when we're debt free "things" will have "recovered" and we'll be priced out. But, if we find a house now, our debt bombs will be much, much less and our debt load much, much more. We spend a lot of time at night looking at each other saying "arrrrrgggghhh."

So, friends, walk beside us. What do you think? What would you, a piece of our sacred community, have us do? Let's hit this reset button together.

Strawberry Season!

2010-06-01T11:20:00.002-04:00

So, last week was strawberry week at the Rule household. Kedzie and I went to the farmer's market and picked up 2 gallons of strawberries from a "local" farm in nearby South Carolina. The town is really only an hour drive, so I consider that local. (Compared with the usual Florida or California berries found in our supermarkets). I knew I wanted to freeze some and also make some jam.

These buckets started out heaping...Kedzie and I had already gotten into them a bit.

Self-portrait of me and baby 2 canning in my grandmother's old apron. I am always very nostalgic for her whenever I put food up.

Pre-wash of strawberries in Fit fruit wash. Since we can't afford a large amount of organic strawberries, this is my attempt at cleaning as much residue off these bad boys as possible!

Here's the after picture of our booty. A gallon of frozen strawberries, 6-7 pints of strawberry freezer jam and a small bowl of cut up strawberries (for Kedzie and) for strawberry shortcake that was to be devoured that night. To freeze the strawberries so that they could be taken out of the freezer one berry at a time, they were washed and dried and then placed in the freezer on these cookie sheets. Once frozen solid, we put the strawberries in old yogurt containers we've been saving through the winter. So far, so good. As for the freezer jam, I simply followed the recipe found on the insert of Sure-jell low sugar recipes. The pink box is the one that we prefer as it's a low sugar recipe that still jells nicely. Easy peasy and so delicious. Everyone who tries it, raves about how fresh the jam tastes. It's true, it beats cooked jam in my book.

To make the shortcake we usually follow this recipe (we omit sugaring the strawberries as we like it a bit more fresh) but we had some leftover scones that we crumpled up, put sliced strawberries on top and then whipped up some cream. So fresh, simple and scrumptious.

Sam's parents have a huge mulberry bush in their backyard that is currently overflowing with fruit. I'm thinking Kedzie and I might head out there this afternoon and do some picking and eating and, perhaps, some jam making.

Oh, and this morning we worked on this homemade money saver. I'm about to use it for the first time on some cloth diapers. I'll let you know how it goes. We used Dr. Bronner's baby Castille soap so it would be unscented. I love scent in my laundry but little Kedzie's skin is very sensitive. We thought we'd keep it simple! Oh, and the washing soda (found in the recipe) can now be found at Ace Hardware on Merrimon Avenue, the lovely lady said she'd had two people special order it (including us) and will now be carrying it on the shelves! All you Asheville people who want to make your own laundry detergent, now's your chance!

n.

this week in a moment

2010-05-28T17:35:00.000-04:00

[a friday ritual: the week captured in a single moment to pause and remember always. something that made us smile, reflect, love more fully]...inspired by soulemama.

this week in a moment

2010-05-21T14:04:00.000-04:00

[a friday ritual: the week captured in a single moment to pause and remember always. something that made us smile, reflect, love more fully]...inspired by soulemama.

p.s. if you don't have this app, you might want to think about investing.

The Perks of Pregnancy

2010-05-19T13:39:00.001-04:00

Today was my test for gestational diabetes. At New Dawn, pregnant women get a choice. Option 1: fast for 12 hours, come in and drink a super sweet orange drink and then get your blood drawn an hour later. Option 2: fast 12 hours, get blood drawn, go out to eat wherever you want and indulge in as sweet a breakfast as you want, come back in 2 hours later and again get your blood drawn. Needless to say, both pregnancies I've went with option 2.

This year Sam took the morning off work and finally got to go to one of the prenatal visits with us. After 20 or so minutes of drawing blood (I'm a difficult stick), we headed downtown to Tupelo Honey. Most people have heard of this restaurant, even if they don't live here. Tourists don't leave Asheville without eating here. Usually, Sam and I opt for something else as the line is around the block most days and hours. Today, we walked right in a got a table. Good start for a fasting pregnant woman.

It was delicious. I gorged on the homemade black raspberry jam and biscuits along with a large glass of OJ (I threw in some protein here and there). I think the happiest out of our bunch was Kedzie who ate an entire biscuit (loaded with jam) and then got the kids order of sweet potato pancakes (once again loaded with jam). He was a sticky mess.

We had to wait a couple hours before I could get my blood drawn, so we walked around town a bit. Lovely day with my lovies.

hope your day is lovely.

homemade food is good.

2010-05-12T13:36:00.000-04:00

As Kedzie naps and my house fills with the sweet aroma of homemade granola, I had this overwhelming urge to share this recipe with you all. It's a recipe that Sam got from one of our friends (thanks Heidi) who got the recipe from a summer camp she worked at. It doesn't sound too spectacular at first, but then you make it and tweak it to fit you, and then it ends up being your favorite breakfast. Mine includes a bit of plain yogurt, fresh fruit and a sprinkling of chocolate chips...you CANNOT go wrong.

Let me just preface this by saying, I was not a granola eater. Never. It was always way too crunchy and not quite delicious enough. It had raisins (yuck) or weird seeds I just wasn't interested in consuming. Then, Sam made this. It doesn't get all stuck together, it has just the right amount of sweet and salty and is only packed with outrageously good for you things. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.

Oh, and as you can see from the picture of the granola roasting in our turkey roasting pan, this recipe makes a lot. 1/2 it or give some away. As for the two of us, we keep it in a huge mason jar and run out every 3-4 weeks. Kedzie's even started to enjoy it (now that he has some molars!).

GRANOLA (adapted from recipe from Covenant Point):

Mix all of the following ingredients together:
3 oz. brown sugar
7 oz. slivered almonds
2 oz. sesame seeds
4 oz. sunflower seeds
2 oz. flax seeds (we added this)
1/2 oz. wheat germ (I've omitted this when I didn't have any on hand)
5 oz. shredded coconut (we use unsweetened and the granola is still plenty sweet)
1/2 T. salt
1 t. pure vanilla extract
1 t. pure almond extract
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup salad oil (we've used evoo and canola oil, both are delicious...we've stuck with canola lately to keep costs down)

Once all this is mixed then add:
1 lb. 5 oz. rolled oats (the original recipe calls for quick oats but we use regular rolled oats without a problem)

Spread the mixture on pans 1/2 inch deep. (Like I said, we use the turkey roasting pan and I think it might be deeper than 1/2 inch). Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour (usually takes 1 1/4 hours for my thickness of granola) or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.

Hope you enjoy!
n.

First Haircut

2010-05-11T12:47:00.000-04:00

First, let me just say, I didn't think it'd be as difficult a decision as it was. I mean, boys need haircuts, right? Those sweet curls and baby soft hair lasted for 17 months...but recently the humidity and sweaty head got me thinking more seriously about a haircut.

Sam needed one also, so we headed to our local salon and got both boys matching appointments. (No, Kedzie was not allowed to indulge in the free pabst...although, you'll see he did enjoy his first sucker).

BEFORE:

DURING: (note the rad retro barber chairs)

AFTER:

Such a little man now. When I'm out in public with him I have to do a double take and make sure he's my child...I'm so used to the back of his head being full of curls.

Square in Squares Gender Neutral Baby Quilt

2010-05-01T21:06:00.001-04:00

Square in Squares Gender Neutral Baby Quilt
Originally uploaded by handmadebyalissa

This quilt is so super duper sweet and eye pleasing. I LOVE it.

I may have to work on one of these for the coming bun in the oven. That is, if the nesting ever starts happening. (our house is such a mess, I'm completely overwhelmed). Or...it would look super cute on Kedzie's new big boy bed (the bed he'll be moving into when the baby needs a crib...hopefully?)

this week in a moment

2010-04-30T13:51:00.007-04:00

[a friday ritual: the week captured in a single moment to pause and remember always. something that made us smile, reflect, love more fully]...inspired by soulemama.

Nurture

2010-04-25T21:18:00.002-04:00

The City Market is back, and my heart is happy.

Nay, it is more than happy - it is full of hope. I realize that sounds a bit dramatic, and I am the first to acknowledge my more than intermittent flares toward the arts, but I really, really, really love the Market. Sure, I love the City Market, but I love the Market at large - it symbolizes all that I aspire to: community, health, justice, sustainability, deliciousness, and, I think, is the answer to many of our ills (well summarized by Mr. Pollan here). It is good to be back.

This weekend, then, was well suited for some food adventures.

Kedzie, touting his Lebanese heritage, took hold of his first dolma (a pickled, stuffed grape leaf) and mowed through it like a table saw.

Nicole, with market-fresh asparagus in hand, crafted a tart with Filo, potatoes and cheese. Jamie Oliver supplied the recipe (if you didn't get a chance to catch his Revolution, please try; it will remind you that there are still earnest, creative people working for good. At the very least, think about signing the petition).

The picture of the tart was poorly lit and censored, but it was delicious.

And, we have been in the garden. A lot. I stumbled over something I wrote in my journal last year, and it is as true, probably more so in fact, today:

That is why I want to love gardening so much - it is an outward expression of how I want to be. Every season is new, full of promise and possibility. With patience and nurturing, life unfolds and lives boldly.

So, here's to living with patience and nurturing - the boldly will come on its own.

this week in a moment

2010-04-23T13:56:00.000-04:00

[a friday ritual: the week captured in a single moment to pause and remember always. something that made us smile, reflect, love more fully]...inspired by soulemama.

spring has sprung.

2010-04-13T11:26:00.002-04:00

We have been amiss lately...here's why!

We've finally begun planting our herb/strawberry/flower garden above the deck retaining wall. It is lovely. I can't help but think of my grandparents every time I smell, eat, touch, see an herb. It feels so right to have this garden be a reminder of them.

I don't think we ever posted finished pics of the deck. Here's a couple views. It's probably more square footage than roughly 1/2 of the inside of the house.

Kedzie has fallen off this corner twice now...both much more traumatic for his parents. He's fine, but we have a friend coming over tonight to discuss a small railing and gate. We were trying to avoid that...but with Kedzie and another on the way...probably better safe than sorry. Oh, and the pile of dirt on the left is not finished or planted yet. We're hoping to terrace it with dry stacked stones. We're not sure if it's in the budget this year or not. Probably not.

Sandbox in all its glory. We love it.

Sam even built some steps...so cute. Our neighbor came over and said "that is a Rule sandbox." Compliment I think.

Finally hung up Kedzie's swing. He and the neighbor love it already. Don't mind the mess in the back of the picture. Old compost pile that Sam is currently working on building bins for.

Our cherry tree we planted a couple years ago. I'm hoping for cherries this year.

Blueberry flowers..aren't they lovely?

My sweet boy. I can't believe how old he's getting. Closer and closer to being a big brother!

Hope your spring has been lovely so far.

the little bunnies

2010-04-04T07:26:00.000-04:00

yesterday was the 10th anniversary of hickory nut gap farm...a local farm we've been supporting for 5 years now. we get most of our meat there: chickens, beef, pork, and turkey for thanksgiving. (lamb comes from east fork farm). we went out to hickory nut gap yesterday and enjoyed time gawking at the horses, pigs and baby chicks and dancing to the old time mountain music.

afterwards we headed to two spoons for their grand re-opening...if you live in west asheville and you like ice-cream...the season is upon us.

this morning kedzie woke up (too early I might add) to this easter basket. My inspiration came from here.

the basket innards were either from the goodwill clearance store...all for $6 or homemade like these little guys. there's one for each cousin at easter dinner tonight.

sam also made one of these but i couldn't get a good picture of it...it doesn't like to stand up. the only candy i could bring myself to give a 16 month old was this...they're mighty tasty if i might add.

happy easter all.

this week in a moment

2010-04-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

[the week captured in a single moment to pause and remember always. something that made us smile, reflect, love more fully]...inspired by soulemama.

Sandbox in progress.

Baby Two (fondly referred to as Pulaski Jr or PJ)

2010-03-28T14:43:00.000-04:00

We had our Ultrasound this past Thursday. Per the Doctor: "there's a perfect little baby in there." We agreed. We're not huge fans of the 3D pictures but the ultrasound tech just printed them for us...Sam calls those pictures "PJ's smoke monster pics" (from LOST). They're fairly creepy to me.

A friend asked me yesterday what it was like to get an ultrasound on the second child...was it not quite as exciting? I have to say it was just as exciting and magical and beautiful and emotional the second time around. I am in love with this baby. I didn't think I could be. I've been stuck on how much I love Kedzie and confused on how I could love a second baby as much...it all became clear last Thursday. There's really another person in there. A person that Sam and I created. What an amazing gift.

Boy or girl you ask...surprise we say. We couldn't bring ourselves to spoil that experience of exhilaration that comes after 40 weeks of waiting, hours (days in Kedzie's case) of labor and that moment when Sam/I slowly pick him/her up to finally see if Kedzie has a brother or a sister. 20 weeks down...20 to go!

this week in a moment

2010-03-26T18:13:00.000-04:00

[the week captured in a single moment to pause and remember always. something that made us smile, reflect, love more fully]...inspired by soulemama.

too many to chose from after our trip to Denver...

Babies on the brain...

2010-03-16T16:19:00.001-04:00

In two days we leave for Denver. Mostly for a wedding and a baby shower, but also for a tiny family reunion. Weddings in Sam's family are an awesome reason for a family get together. They're really fun and loaded with far away relative reunions. This will be especially fun as there is a baby shower included! I love making baby gifts!

Here's the baby shower gift I've been working on for a few days now. Dustan (Sam's cousin and the father of the baby) is a firefighter, so for the longest time I tried to think of a way to applique some sort of firefighter emblem onto a onesie...I just never got inspired and therefore no onesie came out of it. The onesie that did come out of the thought process was this one:

The tiny owl is appliqued onto a clearance baby Gap onesie...I love how soft all their cotton is...using felt and straight stitch of embroidery floss. I love hand stitching. Kedzie will be getting one of these, that's for darn sure.

To go along with the onesie, I had to make some burp cloths. I loved my homemade burp cloths. They made the whole spit up thing so much more manageable with their prettiness. These are, by far, my favorite.

The patchwork was inspired by this book. It's made entirely from scraps and the finished projects makes me smile every time I see them. I think I might have to make a few for the new babe.

I've also been working a few things to keep Kedzie happy & quiet (it can happen) while on the plane ride to Denver. Stay tuned. I hope they'll get done before we have to leave!

Things From Then

2010-03-13T20:53:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while, something arrives, or appears or is stumbled over that makes me fall into my childhood.

The smell of Oven Fried Chicken baking.

Watching the little fat kid at the county fair show his sheep - eyes on the judge, control the animal, rub her belly, eyes on the judge...eyes on the judge.

My parent's Christmas decorations, particularly the Simpich Dolls.

The bubblegum pinkness of ammoxicillian, which I have had the opportunity to experience several times per day as we try to beat back Kedzie's ear infection (a childhood legacy of mine I wish he didn't have to encounter.)

And, from Bend, Oregon via eBay, another reminder came today:

Yes, a Fisher Price record player to go with the read-along records Nicole found at Goodwill. Our library is limited, but it includes many of the greats - Robin Hood, The Wizzard of Oz, Brer Rabbit (do you remember his tar baby?). Kedzie loves it - at least as much as his short attention span and general sickness-induced crankiness will allow. The records are scratched, the pages worn, we're pretty sure the player needs a new needle. It's beautiful. Nicole is now on the prowl for thrifted 45s - keep your eyes open for us, won't you?

{this moment}

2010-03-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

As inspired by SouleMama, a beautiful moment from the week. In her words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. "

She's very inspiring.

Here's ours.

The News

2010-03-02T14:55:00.001-05:00

About a week ago now, (I know, I'm not very punctual), Sam came home from work and said:

"Guess what...I found out that Dave Ramsey is on the radio on my way home, and, guess what I learned."

Here's the story he heard: A woman called in who is in the exact situation we're in: She and her husband are currently living on the cash system and are trying to pay down their debt. She is pregnant right now and wondering what she should do to prepare for the little one coming soon. Dave told her that she should stop with her debt bomb and take each monthly bomb and put that into savings for the little one (just in case). Once the baby is born and the bills are paid, take that giant pot of leftover money and put it into your debt in one huge bomb. BAM.

While this is good news in that, we'll be prepared for whatever might lay ahead (financially anyway), it's a bit disappointing to work on the budget and feel like we're not getting anywhere with our debt. Sam set up a little table on our Numbers spreadsheet to add up each debt bomb so we can keep track of what's in that pot.

All this to say that our number up there on that banner will be staying stationary for a while. Come this fall we'll have a new baby and a giant debt bomb to put forth (pending no problems)!

Here's some pics of my current baby (yes, he's still my baby):

Oatmeal and Yogurt is delicious.

Happy Day of Love.

2010-02-14T15:11:00.000-05:00

Finally finished. Not a moment too soon, seeing as how today is Valentine's Day! Here's the tutorial I used. I thought it would be fun to use this idea for other special occasions or to just tell someone they're special.

Most of you probably know this, but for those who don't, the story behind the tiny little fire is as follows: On our first Valentine's Day as a couple Sam made me a card. Inside that card was a picture of a huge bonfire. The gist of the subtle message was he felt more than a spark between us...he felt "a Kansas wildfire" raging. Very romantic, and no beating around the bush with this one. It's fun to still be so in love with someone after so many years (8).

Oh, and thanks to Sam's lovely parents we are heading out on a double date tonight with our friends Dave and Ann Lee to Sunny Point's Valentine's 4 course dinner. Here's the menu. It's sick how good this place is.

Happy Valentine's Day and make sure you tell someone today that they're special to you.

It is finished.

2010-02-11T09:44:00.001-05:00

Celebrating the boy!

Kedzie's airport backpack. More awesome than I thought it would be. It's huge on him right now but it'll do until he grows into it. He will actually let me put it on him and he'll walk around the house with it. Very grown up (but still adorable). I ended up just following this tutorial. It's written pretty well. I only had one major bout of seam ripping.

I didn't have an old pair of khakis so I ended up using an old pair of jeans that had made it to the scraps pile. I love how the seam of the jean is down the middle like a sweet little stripe. As for the fabrics, I wanted to use one of these fabrics (especially the sweet blue elephants) but decided I didn't want to spend money on fabric when I have a gigantic stash to choose from. Sam helped me pick out the manliest fabric I had and off I went.

Here's an inside pic.

When Kedzie wakes up from his nap we'll be heading to the goodwill clearance center to find some goodies to fill it up with. This will be his key to keeping busy while on our upcoming flight to Denver.

As for the recipe for the bread we Sam made the other day...it is a super detailed recipe. Awesome, but not good for blogging. When I say super, I mean 14 pages long with tons of pictures. I highly recommend the book if you're interested in getting into bread baking. Great instructions for the basic bread and then many other variations on how to turn the basic into things such as cinnamon rolls, pancakes, focaccia, etc.

The Return of Craft

2010-02-06T21:34:00.000-05:00

He's been lovingly dusted off and is currently assisting in a Valentine's gift for Sam. I'll say more when Sam is not looking over my shoulder.

Also, has anyone noticed the "celebration of boy" happening on a couple of blogs I follow? It's definitely difficult to find boy themed tutorials in this craft blogosphere. Most tutorials include ruffles and a dress of some sort. Anyway, these two bloggers have dedicated the entire month to boydom. Awesome. (Sarah, I can't wait to see what you whip up for your upcoming bundle of boyness!) Look here and here. I'm thinking about combining this and this to make a backpack of surprises to keep Kedzie busy on our upcoming flight to Denver.

Anyway, inspiration has struck and it feels good. It also feels good to not be nauseous 24/7...although the heartburn has kicked in.

Sam was also motivated to be crafty today and after some inspiration from Soulemama took to his favorite craft of bread baking. We have very expensive taste and prefer home baked bread to any type of processed bread. This leads to a much higher grocery bill as the bread we prefer is from either City Bakery or Annie's and runs anywhere from $4.99-5.49 per loaf. Yeah, we know, but so good. Anyway, needing to decrease our grocery bill without buying wonder bread we decided to take matters into our own hands. Sam, already having the Tassajara Bread Book on hand, read a couple chapters and got to work.

The results:

So large that no ziploc bag could contain it. Hasn't been tasted yet, but I'm thinking french toast in the morning. I'll let you know.

Perhaps we'll have to add this to the craft project to-do list.

Oh, and Kedzie is a walking fool. So proud of himself.

Thank you all for the well wishes about baby two. It's exciting and amazing and we can't wait to meet the little peanut.

Love,

Back at it.

2010-02-05T08:23:00.000-05:00

Let's be honest. My posts have been few and far between. I want to keep up the regularity of posting, for myself to have this tiny online journal, but also for the both of you who actually read this thing. I miss writing and hearing from you all.

So, here are my plethora of excuses:

Kedzie and I have had the flu for about 10 days now. Not cool to watch a one year old vomit and not eat.
I've been trying to pick up more shifts at work right now. They're extremely shorthanded so I'm trying to help out while still keeping a balance at home with peanut.
Our computer got eaten by a bear.
On top of the flu I'm 13 weeks pregnant! I've been much more nauseous than I was with Kedzie and have been non-functioning for about 3 months now. We are so excited! We heard the heartbeat last week. Our sister in law will be our midwife again.

Enough excuses. My flu/morning sickness has finally begun to die down and I'm ready to jump back into the land of the living.

Like we said in the last couple posts there is no update for January because we're donating it all to relief efforts in Haiti. We're also going to start working out how to somehow give monthly to Haiti. That's not been figured out yet.

Feels good to talk again. I promise to get back into the habit of blogging. It's been nice to hear from some of you and know that you actually read this stuff. As long as you keep reading, we'll keep writing.

Love,

N. (& Kedzie who is sitting on my lap enthralled with fingers typing on the keyboard).

(gotta love Photo Booth!)

It's been too long.

2010-01-24T15:58:00.000-05:00

Goodness. I can't remember the last time I spoke on this lovely arena for thoughts. Here I am finally ready to give it my all and I'm at a loss for words. So, here is our day in pictures.

Raining.
Our rain barrels overfloweth.

Sleeping.
Sweet little boy.

Reading.
The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway. Sam doesn't read many novels, he's enthralled with this one.

Thinking and praying.
Haiti: about thousands of people who now have nothing while I waste potable water while doing laundry and dishes.

This month there will be no debt bomb. Sam and I have decided to give everything we can this month to the relief efforts in Haiti. Our avenue for doing this is through our "in-laws" Steve and Nancy James who have lived as medical missionaries in Haiti for years and years. They are lovely people who are genuinely altruistic. If you'd like to give to them see Sam's previous link to their donation site.

Hope you and yours are well. We would love to hear from you.
N.

When We're Not There

2010-01-16T12:06:00.000-05:00

I've been intending to post dramatic screen shots of a crossed-off loan, discuss the universal truth behind the awkwardness of first days as I transition to a job at the local VA hospital, and wax philosophical about the merits of a wholesome breakfast.

Instead, I would like to use this little white screen as a opportunity to light a candle for our extended family.

Haiti, the tiny half-island, is a special place to us. Kirsti (my brother's lovely wife, Kedzie's deliverer, and our beloved sister-in-law) spent most of her childhood in Limbe, in the northern part of the country. Her parents, Nancy and Steve, have been medical missionaries there for decades. After several years back in the states, they returned to Haiti to work as community organizers, helping small clinics offer needed medical care. Steve and Nancy have taught us what it is to hear a call in your life and follow it. They are intentional, peaceful, gentle, genuine and honest. Steve and Nancy, the entire James family, has taken us into their fold, and we are better because of it.

Nancy and Steve were here when the earthquake happened, scheduled to return to Haiti the next day. Somehow, they made it back, and early reports indicate that the northern margins of the country are much less affected then the southern devastation. Knowing the culture, the language, the gatekeepers and the way there, Steve immediately packed up a truck, including a few fellow doctors, and headed toward Port-au-Prince. His goal is to survey the scene, work with organizations already there, assess the needs and return home to develop a plan. And that's where we are now. Needless to say, communication is difficult. Steve's satellite phone is spotty and inconsistent. Nancy is in their home in Limbe doing all she can to not wonder herself silly.

So, we light a candle for our family, who are following a call that takes them very, very far away. Hopefully, the light will hold them up, and maybe even spill into the shadows of a place that was already desperate before this horrible week.

If you're interested, you can support Steve and Nancy directly here:

internationalministries.org

Money update.

2010-01-08T20:30:00.001-05:00

So, it's been a while since we updated the money banner. Here's what we did last month in the way of bombing our debt: $695.39. A bit smaller than usual, but with the holidays and Sam switching a job (his last couple paychecks were smaller) not bad.

New grand total of (insert drumroll): $96,187.36. The better number is that we've paid off $3,053.98. Rad. We've actually paid off one of my student loans in full already! It feels good to make some progress.

I hope you all have warm fires burning in your stoves and you're snuggled up with the one you love.
n.

unintended silence

2010-01-06T11:46:00.001-05:00

I'm sorry for the unintended silence. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. We sure did. I thought I would take a moment to share some of our holiday with you. Our holiday in pictures!

This is another photo of the huge snowstorm that hit us. Since then (like the rest of the country) there has been a hardcore cold front. There's snow dustings often when we wake and below zero weather with the wind chill. This may sound like nothing to you northerners, but down here it's COLD. So cold that people don't do things. For us it's been fun to bundle up again.

Holiday crafting was in full swing. Sam made a quilt for our niece Kyleigh (in CO). (I forgot to take a picture of this...it was awesome and pink). The first pic is of a dress and shawl I made for niece Eily's doll we gave her. Turned out well I thought. Idea for the dress is from here. Altered a bit to make it fit the doll given. Other pics are of the advent calendar I made for my sister in law. It turned out so lovely and I think she was thrilled. Now I need to start working on one for us for next year! We've already been thinking of what we'll put in the sweet little pockets!

Christmas Eve service. Made me a bit weepy this year. Silent Night sung by many and candles lit with the help of your neighbor...that's what Christmas is all about. Oh, and yes, that's Sam in a pink robe. He was Joseph this year. The second pic is our niece Skyah who turns 6 this month! Where does time go?!

Our friend Andy came in from Chicago for 48 hours. Quick but good visit. What is it about old friends that just makes your heart full and feels so easy?

Well, that's what we've been up to. What about you? Drop us a line if you're so inclined.

And Our World Was Quiet

2009-12-20T16:43:00.000-05:00

They said it was going to snow on Friday. For the nearly 8 years we've lived here, they've often said it was going to snow. At the mention of it, the groceries become crowded, the schools shut down and hysteria rules the roads as people race home. More often than not, the poor weather workers are wrong. We've had the occasional dusting; I think one year we even got a couple inches - enough to race to the park, sled a few times and roll around before it all turned to slush and mud.

So, the Friday forecast was laughable - 4 to 10 inches. I'll believe it when I believe it, I said to Nicole as I left for work. By mid-morning, I think I started to believe it.

For a kid from Colorado, watching a good old winter storm unwind and unleash made me smile and think back to late nights staring out windows, wondering if it would be enough to make the School Officials give us a break. For many of my co-workers and patients at the hospital, it was simultaneously mesmerizing and terrifying. People kept talking about the Blizzard of '96, when the town shut down for a week and havoc was king.

The kid from Colorado, I realize 11 inches later, was surrounded by flat roads, underground utilities and an armada of strong trucks with enormous blades to clear the way. Around these parts, the power lines run under trees, there's not a flat road to be found and I can count the number of snow trucks the county owns on three fingers.

Unlike many, many, many people throughout the region (including my parents' house and my brother's house) we never lost power. I think now, three days later, the weary utility pros are still picking up the pieces. Our little wood stove has burned steadily through the days. We have eaten well and enjoyed the quiet unique to fresh snow. We were able to pack the entirety of our family, and a couple more, into our tiny house for a meatloaf bonanza last night. We don't understand our lot in life, but we are thankful.

Free Yoga

2009-12-17T10:39:00.001-05:00

Tightwad Tip:

So, a friend of mine recently told me about the yogatoday website. I'd been looking for a yoga class I enjoyed and that I deemed worthy of my 8-10$ per class. I haven't found one. I finally decided to try out the free class at yogatoday. Pretty good. They offer all sorts of classes for a monthly fee, but they always have one free class that you can stream from your computer. They change it every week. If you like yoga, I definitely recommend it.

Oh, and there's been lots of Christmas crafting going on in our household. I don't want to post pictures yet, as that might ruin the suprise. Stay tuned.

n.

Gingerbread Houses

2009-12-16T08:32:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, Sam, Kedzie and I made our way to the lovely Grove Park Inn. Sam and I always comment: we forget how beautiful that place is until we visit. It really is amazing.

This is the size of the firewood needed for their gigantic fireplaces.

They had this sleigh set up in one of the 2 giant fireplaces.

Every year the Grove Park hosts a national gingerbread house competition. I'm not sure of the official rules, but I am pretty sure that everything in the house must be edible and partly made out of gingerbread. These houses are amazing. So creative and so meticulous. Here are a few examples. (It was hard to get pictures of most of them with all the people gathered around).

It's hard to tell but this one was the First Family's holiday home. That's Obama on the roof going down the chimney. (It really did look like him!)

A little creepy, but amazing nonetheless.

Kedzie had a blast crawling all over and checking out all the Christmas trees (they had about 30 in the area we were in all decorated with a different theme).

The displays are laid out around the Inn and there is no charge to come see them. I think we spent a few dollars to add a hot cocoa to the merriment. It's a beautiful place that really put us all in the Christmas spirit.

Holiday Fest in West Asheville

2009-12-15T16:50:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday we convinced our neighbors (and friends) Chad, Marissa and Eloise (who is about 2 weeks older than Kedzie) to walk up to Haywood Street with us and check out this Holiday Fest they were having. It wasn't all we thought it would be as it mostly entailed some window displays and free samples of beer. It didn't quite live up to the Chicago window displays but it was a lovely, local, walkable activity which we will continue supporting in the future. We did have a good time and enjoyed a walk in the brisk air with the babes. We topped off the evening by finally getting to try out the UJ. Good wings + good beer + good friends + well fed babies = happy parents.

Ship to Shore window display...love the antique doilies.

Happy boy.

Sweet Eloise.

Blue Barnhouse Letterpress Christmas Card: This one says "Rudolph...where are we?"

Burgermeisters had the awesome window display featuring "The Snowy Day" one of Kedzie's faves currently.

A good, festive time was had by all.

Month 2: Results

2009-12-13T13:02:00.000-05:00

I just made a payment to the dastardly Direct Loans for a whopping $481.42. Not as high a payment as I'd like, but it's where we're at this pay period. New grand total of $96,882.75. Slowly but surely.

Bike Commuting

2009-12-09T09:26:00.001-05:00

I finally made an appointment to get my hair cut. Recently, I was looking like Cousin It with the astronomical amount of hair growing from my head. It was ridiculously long and I was not able to style it very often because of the time commitment involved. We finally had enough money in our Hair Care envelope to get both Sam and I haircuts. We go to the same place (The Blue Ribbon) and to the same stylist. She sweetly gives a 10% discount to anyone who rides their bike to the shop. As her cuts are already on the cheap side (but still awesome), and she offers a free Pabst to anyone who comes in, her place is where we now frequent. Really, it's probably only 1 1/2 miles from our house. There's no reason not to bike.

Yesterday, on the other hand, there was a reason...it was raining and it was December. That rain was COLD. Being the tightwad that I am, I donned Sam's bike rain gear, red-blinky light and headed on down the road.

I neglected to realize that by the time I would be riding home it would be dark, and even colder. My fingers and face were frozen by the time I got home. You see, the ride there is uphill mostly and therefore very warming. The way home is downhill with icy breezes freezing every part of you. Nothing some hot cocoa can't cure!

I would say biking there was worth it, but come to find out we had a free haircut waiting for us. Beth also does a punch card and every 8th cut is FREE. Awesome, but the whole riding the bike was a bit pointless this go around. Not pointless, I'm sure the earth and my heart thank me.

Side note: That's my relatively new bike I got for commuting and tooling around town (like biking to the hair salon). THANK YOU to Ann Lee and Dave for selling my old bike (more of a road bike) for a sweet price! We celebrated last night with an annual trip to our go-to restaurant Heiwa and a nightcap of sweetness at the Chocolate Lounge. Thanks again you guys!

Another side note: If you're looking for something to do this Saturday check out the Holiday Bazaar hosted by West Asheville Businesses. There's sure to be some great bargains, and you'd be supporting those awesome local businesses that I can bike to! Also, the City Market is having a holiday bash. Hopefully, you'll see us at both, perhaps on our bikes with a Chariot in tow.

Christmas is here!!!

2009-12-05T08:21:00.002-05:00

First let me say a hearty thank you for all of the wisdom you shared. It's funny how fear works. It starts by making you doubt everything you believe in. I'm back on track and know that we will make the best decision for Kedzie when the time comes. If it turns out to not be the best decision...we can change it. No need to be afraid. Thanks again for all you shared.

Now, let's get down to business. Yesterday was Christmas decorating night. We've been trying to get a day that both Sam and I had off together and it just wasn't coming together that way. So, we scratched that plan and made a date for last night. It was awesome. I wasn't into it at first...not sure why, I was just grumpy. Then the tree, and lights and stockings and snow globes came out and I was in heaven.

We almost made an unfrugal move. You see, the Christmas tree we've had since our second year of marriage (a tiny, tabletop, artificial tree with lights built in that I got on clearance for $15) would only light the bottom half of itself. It was pitiful. This tiny tree has kept its place in our life so long mostly because our home is 770 square feet. Have I mentioned that before? Our house is small cozy.

So, we said, perhaps it's time to step into the world of adulthood and get an adult sized real tree. A tree that smells of Christmas. A tree that would help support our local economy. (Christmas tree farming is a huge crop in Western NC). Yes, that's it, we need to support the local economy. We had just read our friend, Sarah's blog. (Try to read that post and not want Christmas tree wafting through your home.) We were getting all excited to go out and cut down our own tree. After about 15 minutes of this we realized the expense involved. I've been reading and reading and reading the Tightwad Gazette (which Sarah sent us). In our old life we would've tossed the miserable little tree out to the curb and went and got us a shiny new one. "How can we fix this?" We had a string of lights we could put around the top of the tree to make it good as new. That's what we did. We stayed true to our frugal roots and the tree is lovely. While I may need to go out and get a Christmas tree scented candle, the tree itself still makes me smile.

A friend got Kedzie this stocking for Christmas last year. It's awesomely roomy. It already has some treats for Christmas day in there! Thanks Robin!

Not the best picture but I wanted to show you all the Christmas jammies I whipped up for Kedzie. I thought it would be a fun tradition to buy Christmas jammies every year and maybe have that be day one on the advent calendar (whenever I finish it). So, I was about to purchase some jammies when I found this sweet little red number at goodwill for $1.50. I quickly cut out a snowman and felted on some accessories. Put all this together you have Tightwad (adorable) Christmas jammies.

Hope you're enjoying your family's Christmas traditions.

Life in Motion

2009-12-03T21:22:00.002-05:00

How can you not laugh with him?

Kedzie's Movie

Preschool?

2009-12-02T14:51:00.001-05:00

I know a couple people (friends) visit us regularly and so, to them and the void, I'm asking for some guidance, help, love nudges...

I just watched Nursery University while I was addressing Christmas Cards during a much needed nap of Kedzie's. It scared me. Sam & I obviously don't live in New York City (as lovely as Asheville is), and we really haven't talked about school much at all. I've had a desire to homeschool long before Kedzie showed up on the scene. I think that desire fits in with my desire to live in a much more simple world.

I guess what scared me about the movie is, it got me wondering if I'm going to ruin Kedzie by not giving him a preschool education? Will he miss out on too much if his social interaction is limited to playdates, cousins and homeschool groups? My gut says no. Why does a 2 year old need to know her ABCs & 123s? Does this make her smarter? Does this make her a more compassionate and loving human being?

I was on Soulemama (again) this morning and recently her family has been visiting and tending a farm. This is my dream. I'm not sure we'll ever have all the animals, but the simplicity of the lifestyle is what I want for our family. I also found this website recently. It's helped me stay grounded and true to who we are as a family.

Sorry about the stream of consciousness typing. I had to get it out there.

What do you think oh mighty void (and friends)?
n.

P.S. Here's a Franciscan Benediction that Sam regularly prays for Kedzie.
Try to not be inspired. Can traditional preschool help him with this?

"May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen."

King for a day. King for a year.

2009-12-01T20:53:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was Kedzie's birthday. While we are still sorting out our details of raising children in a material world, we are certain that birthday's can, and for our family, should be celebrations. Of course, Kedzie will not remember a thing about the day, but we sure had fun celebrating him.

Inspired by her cursory look at Soule Mamma, Nicole transformed a ratty old sweater into a felted crown in less than 2 hours. It was quite a sight - both the making and the wearing.

Of course, the birthday king deserved a tour of his realm to check on his subjects. And, no tour is a tour worth anything without a first stop at the scrap yard.

I think I was happier than the king, but jesters are a strange lot. And, I was able to sell some copper pipe I tore out of the basement during some plumbing reworking a few weeks ago.

With our $6 in hand, we took the king to his favorite coffee shop, for a bagel, an Americano and a latte for the court.

(As the mission of this blog is to document our financial transformation, I feel obliged to acknowledge the questionable decision to spend instead of save. The morning, though, was a wonderful family date, and I wouldn't change it for anything.)

Next, the king requested a respite, and proceeded to nap for nearly two and one half hours, an eternity for a kid who tends to pop up after an hour on the dot.

Eventually, it was off to gammy and papaws for dinner and drumming, not to mention some cupcakes, cousins and a friend or two.

Cousin Eily

It was a beautiful day, worthy for a beautiful boy.

Of course, nothing lasts for long; we took Kedzie to the doc today for his 1-year check up and walked out with a sobbing, angry little mess with four immunization holes and a toe prick for a blood screening.

Payperiod 11/8 Payoff

2009-11-28T20:31:00.001-05:00

I needed to see that we've made some progress. I don't like waiting a whole month to get some satisfaction out of our new journey. So, Sam helped me crunch the numbers (not really crunching as his spreadsheet is pretty much idiot proof) and took me on a tour of the direct loans website and we put another $543.17 into our loans.

Awesome. Check out that new total on the banner.

n.

Food, glorious, food.

2009-11-28T20:10:00.000-05:00

Today was grocery day. Kedzie and I trek around town and head to 3 different grocery stores in order to keep costs down and just get what we need. I've learned what's cheapest where and have really brought our grocery costs down by visiting all 3 grocers. All this to say that our house is packed full of food. I've been craving making some bread, so the menu chosen for tonight's dinner included Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls from the cookbook "Simply in Season." This is a cookbook written by a Mennonite woman who cherishes local, sustainable food. The Mennonite philosophy is "to promote the understanding of how food choicer we make affect our lives and the lives of those who produce the food." I know you can purchase this cookbook at your local "Ten Thousand Villages" store, as that's where we purchased ours, but you can also get it here. OK, technically this book is not ours as we gifted it to Sam's mama a couple years ago. But, in an effort to be frugal, we stole it out of their kitchen on Thanksgiving. Sorry guys! (To my in-laws: We'll invite you over for dinner soon!)

I digress, the rolls were amazing. Fluffy, healthy, easy and delicious. I paired them with a simple spinach, tomato, gruyere quiche with hash brown crust. Sounds fancy, but super easy and most of the ingredients I got from Amazing Savings...which means, organic and cheap.

Here are the rolls before we got into them. Quiche in the background. I jazzed up the rolls by adding a sugary glaze on top. I think that put them over the edge. I know my sweet tooth. This soothed it. (I think they would also be delicious with butter.)

Here they are after. Yes, there were 8, now there's 3 1/2. Sooooo gooood.

I'm not sure this is legal, but Sam assures me that since I adapted the recipe a bit, I can post it. Here it is, if you're interested.

Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls

Yields 2 dozen (Mine yielded 16 b/c of how I cut them)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat bread flour (I used farro flour, because that's what we had)

1/4 cup sugar

1 T. active dry yeast

1 t. salt

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/4 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. allspice

Combine in large bowl. (I put everything into the Kitchen Aid and gave it a quick stir)

1 Cup Sweet potato cooked and mashed (I cooked a whole sweet potato and gave Kedzie the leftovers for dinner)

1 Cup Milk

1/4 cup butter

Combine in saucepan, cook over medium until butter is melted and mixture is warm. Add to flour and beat with mixture set on low 1-2 minutes until everything is moist. (I did this in the Kitchen Aid)

1 large egg, beaten

Add and beat at medium speed for 3 minutes.

2 1/2 cups bread flour

Stir in enough flour by hand to make the dough easy to handle. (Once again, I did this all in the kitchen aid...I just watched for the dough to start to come together and not be so sticky on the sides...I used the dough hook) Place dough ball in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled.

Our dough got to rise outside in the sun for a bit...It was beautiful today.

Punch down. Divide the dough in half. Roll out each 1/2 into a 12 inch circle. (I saved one ball and put it into the freezer for another time).

2 T. Butter melted

Brush each circle with 1 T. butter. Cut into 12 wedges (Like I said, I did 8). Tightly roll up each wedge wide end to point. Place rolls on cookie sheet point side down. Cover and let rise until doubled. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

I added the glaze after they came out of the oven. For 1/2 batch rolls I made a glaze by mixing 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 1/2 T. half and half. (You can use water, or cream or whatever you'd like)

I'd love to know if you make them...and if you have any suggestions!

Enjoy.

There is hope...

2009-11-27T19:47:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure it could be said any better.

"And the Pursuit of Happiness." by Maria Kalman

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T14:35:00.001-05:00

When I ask most folks, Thanksgiving is the most common answer to the Favorite Holiday question. Occasionally, I'll get a 'Halloween' or an 'Arbor Day;' rarely do I get 'Christmas.' It's like the Flight or Invisibility question - we get a glimpse at the hearts of others with a simple query. I'm not sure if their answers show the person they are or the person they want to be.

For me, when I answer 'Thanksgiving,' it's both.

To be thankful I must look out. Sometimes, it's a natural, instinctual movement for me; other times, it can be a bit more difficult. For the past two months, thankfulness has been my theme. Like my faith, that theme has less to do with my choice and more to do with some inescapable pull into Mystery.

While my hope is to become a person who gives thanks in all things, I appreciate this day of focused, socially accepted gratitude. I am thankful...

for the inordinate amount of food cooking in our kitchen, for the healthy family who will help us eat it, and for the consistent electricity, running water and technological marvels that will make cleaning up a breeze.
for a wife that has loved me, in spite of me, more every day for 8 years. She has changed me, and I am better for it.
for streets free of landmines, a government that lets me say what I will about it, neighbors who let me borrow what I need and the ability to walk outside without certain catastrophe.
for a son who is developing his own personality with panache and grace, and who informs every decision I make.
For friends who abandon plans to pay for a local Turkey Trot, donate the money to the food bank instead, and chart a 5k course of their own to establish a new tradition.

Dave, Ann Lee and the rest of the motley crew post-trotting

The local 'sponsored' Turkey Trot, which we drove by on our way home. Needless to say, we did not have police escort.

Nicole's t-shirt logo, ironed on and ready to roll.

I am thankful.

Where'd my baby go?

2009-11-24T19:23:00.001-05:00

The day is approaching quickly. My baby is not so much a baby anymore. Today, he didn't nurse at all. Not once. He's over me. As a matter of fact, this afternoon, he had the option of nursing or goat's milk from a bottle...he chose the goat. He's practical (he gets that from me)...he enjoys the portability. He's on the move. I get it.

I love him. Everything about him, but I'm going to miss our time.

n.

Happy Anniversary.

2009-11-24T15:07:00.001-05:00

Today marks 8 years for Sam and I. It's funny how fast time passes when you're all grown up. I think it's one of those things "you know you're an adult when...time passes so fast you can't keep up with it." Don't you remember being a kid and thinking a month was SOOOO LOOOONG. You couldn't possibly wait that long. A month in adult time, is more like a day. So fast.

All that rambling to say that these past 8 years have been the absolute best 8 years of my life. I love and am in love with my husband, our baby is ridiculously sweet, and we have the privilege to pay off debt, when most people are fighting to pay their rent. We are truly fortunate.

My mom sent this edible arrangement for our anniversary. Those are dark chocolate dipped pears...delicious. Thanks mom!

Other good news includes we finally saved up enough in our Savings envelope to purchase Jamie Oliver's new cookbook! Oh my, it is more beautiful than either of us ever imagined. His philosophy about food mirrors ours AND he's passionate about getting others to love good, natural, wholesome food. This book is all about getting non-cooks to begin cooking from scratch. There are about a billion pictures to ensure good results for each recipe. If you've been intimidated to begin your cooking adventure, invest in this book (or check it out from your local library)! You will not be disappointed. His writing style is super friendly and laid back.

The recipe from the book to make the menu this week is called:

Asian Chicken Noodle Broth. We'll let you know how it goes. I have to say, his recipes have NOT ONCE let us down.

One more thing, please, please, please, if you enjoy Christmas music go to pandora.com and type in "Blue Christmas" by Elvis and you'll get the most dreamy Christmas music station ever created. Awesome!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Holidays are Here.

2009-11-22T15:00:00.000-05:00

Hooray! Holidays are here. Hard to believe with our recent weather of sunshine and 70s, but it's upon us. Thanksgiving is just a few days away. Yesterday, Kedzie and I (Sam was at work) rang in the beginning of this season with Asheville's holiday parade. I haven't been to this parade for years...now that Kedzie's here, I have a good reason to get out there. It was sweet. It was packed with people. It was raining candy. It was the South once again.

Fairview Flyers (unicyclists)

Junior ROTC

(made me sad...and a bit nationalistic at the same time)

yes... a llama

Kedzie LOVED the marching bands.

This was the caboose. Santa's float with all the reindeer.

Santa was singing...pretty good voice, actually.

This was Kedzie for 1 1/2 hours. Eating pirate's booty and watching everything!

Yesterday evening we went to our good friends' house for Hot Turkey Party. It was duly named and created by Dave because his Thanksgiving usually consists of cold turkey cooked the day before. You see, his wife is vegetarian and doesn't do turkey so she could care less about the temperature of the turkey. Nevertheless, Hot Turkey Party was born a few years back. We missed last year because of the little man, but this year it was back in full swing. Dave and Ann Lee are the perpetual hosts, and this year was a delicious feasty potluck.

Kedzie couldn't hold back his hunger.

Turkey, dressing, gravy & vegetarian gravy, baked tofu, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with caramelized apples, green bean casserole, rolls and cranberry poundcake and apple pie with cinnamon whipped cream for dessert!

Dave helping Kedzie wash down his turkey with a porter.

Shelby and Jonah.

Right this minute we are thankful for a cozy home, full of heat and love and safety. I think it's our home that's on our mind mostly because it's 40 degrees and raining outside and inside we have a nice cozy fire. And, I think, we're both very conscious of our home as this morning we spent some time volunteering with our church and serving homeless men & women breakfast. I spent yesterday hard boiling eggs and buying juice boxes and today was spent pondering what life would be like if my circumstances were different. I am thankful...very, very thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Eat Less Meat.

2009-11-21T11:32:00.003-05:00

Sounds ridiculous for Americans, doesn't it? Why would I eat less meat?

I'm glad you asked, let me tell you.

First, it is Tightwadian to eat a few vegetarian meals a week. Beans are definitely cheaper than meat. Even if you're buying the cheapest meat you can find, you can usually find beans cheaper. Especially if you're OK buying dry beans and soaking them overnight. MUCH, MUCH cheaper than canned.
There are some amazingly yummy vegetarian meals out there. This is one we made 2 nights ago for dinner. They were really easy, tasted a bit like falafal and had plenty leftover for all of us to eat them for lunch the next day. They're called the Ultimate Veggie Burger. We served them with some sauteed kale and roasted sweet potatoes.

Here's Kedzie chowing down the day after.

WARNING: I'M GOING TO GET ON MY SOAPBOX FOR THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH: Saving money on a few meals allows you to have more money for other meals. What I'm trying to say is, this allows one to perhaps spend a bit more on the meat they DO buy. It would allow you to buy local, free-range, organic meat vs. the conventional meat sold at ridiculously rock-bottom prices. Have you ever thought to yourself..."there's a lot of energy that goes into producing that pound of ground beef, how can they possible sell it for $.89/pound?" It's true. You know the farmer isn't seeing the bulk of that money. Why not pay $3/pound for delicious beef directly from your farmer? Every time we do this, we put money directly into a farmer's family and support sustainable animal husbandry. (I won't go into the details of how awful conventional animal rearing is...I think you probably already know). Plus, you'll notice a difference in fat content of the grass-fed beef vs. the grain-fed (cows were not made to eat corn!) Something we notice with the grass-fed beef is when we saute, say ground beef, we never have to drain the beef of grease...there just isn't any. Try it. Eating an animal that eats what it's supposed to and gets plenty of exercise=healthier you.
Another money saving tip is to buy local meat in bulk directly from the farmer. Usually farmers offer 1/4 cow and such at much lower prices. We buy our beef this way and split it with another family. The 1/4 side can be anywhere from 75-90 pounds. The benefit is that it only costs $5.50/pound for all of it. It includes steaks, roasts, ground, stew beef, etc.

So, that's my Tightwadian tip for the day. Eat less meat. Buy dry beans instead of canned. Buy local meat with the extra money. You won't regret it.

Our To-Do List

2009-11-20T14:36:00.001-05:00

Today, I began a To-Do list. I know what you're thinking, "ugh, those make me think of being too busy, and having too much STUFF to do." Well, here's what I was thinking: "If I want to be a true tightwad, I need to be able to fit more things into my day." You see, do-it-yourself begets tightwadness. I'm trying to add more things to my day, but I would easily lose track of all I had to do. I thought, I'll make a list. I know myself, you see. I absolutely love crossing things off a list. Try it sometime, it is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

Here is my To-Do list (I titled it Kick A@# List) for today:

Blog
Email...
Make Pizza Dough for dinner
Run 3 miles
Laundry
Make Menu for next week's dinner
Clean Off Craft Area
Sweep
Empty & Fill Dishwasher

Look at all that STUFF crossed off my list. It's only 2:30!

(Making your own pizza dough and letting it rise by the fire=tightwad.)

Another tip from Ms. Tightwad was to keep your home tidy. This hit me hard. Our tiny house gets messy easily. Everything has a spot and if it's out of that spot, things spiral out of control quickly. If our house is tidy, I love it here. Loving it here is vital to accomplishing our goal of paying down debt. Along with a small home comes a small mortgage...allowing a greater percentage of income to go towards debt. Good advice. Also, I've noticed that when the kitchen is clean I'm much more excited about getting in there and cooking (cooking for yourself is definitely money-saving).

But really, I'm writing because I wanted to post these pics of Kedzie: he loves taking the mason jars of dried beans and grains and throwing them. Good thing mason jars are virtually indestructible...right?

Hope your day is full of things crossed off your list.

"The Tightwad Gazette"

2009-11-20T09:18:00.001-05:00

First, let me start with this, as this is what I deal with everyday. Two Sams. Be still my beating heart.

Second, let me tell you what I've been learning. Our friend Sarah sent us the book "The Tightwad Gazette" after reading our desperate plea for help. While sometimes I feel the author is a bit out of touch when she says things like, "I can feed my family of 6 on $150 per month;" I have to remember the newsletters (later compiled into a book) were first written in the early 90s. Aside from the numbers, there are some great tidbits in there.

One thing we are already doing (thanks to my sister in law's inspiration), but it's nice to hear we're not the only crazies out there, is to re-use plastic zipper bags. We wash them out after each use (if it needs washing) and then hang to dry on our back porch where we've strung a little baggie line. I know this saves money over the long run, but it also helps keep junk out of the landfill. We don't re-use if the bag was carrying raw meat or anything else that might pose a health risk. Funnily enough, I've found the best bags to re-use are Target brand freezer bags. They last the longest. Bonus, they're cheaper.

Second inspirational idea from the tightwad, is to have birthday parties on an extreme budget. I decided to try that for Kedzie since he turns 1 on the 30th! Here's what I came up with: I made this little invitation to send via e-mail (FREE) and it's to be a potluck dinner. (Just family (less craziness), since he's only turning 1).

The decorations are half made. I made this banner from Soulemama's inspiration in her new book "Handmade Home," and I may make some type of party hat for Kedzie.

(These pics are from the joint birthday party we had for all the babies in my mama group. It was a great time.)

Last idea I'm going to share with you all, is a Price List. This is something I've always wanted to do but figured it was a bit overboard. What Ms. Tightwad suggests is to go to the grocery stores you frequent and price check everything that is your regular. For us that includes things like: yogurt, milk, Pirate's Booty (Kedzie hearts their veggie booty), etc. I've updated her list and began making a price list for each store in my iPhone. I always have my phone handy, less paper, and I can compare all the prices right there. Genius. I'm sure this price list would work for other non-food items. Let me know what you come up with.

I'll continue updating as I glean other Tightwadian gems from the gazette.

THANK YOU SARAH!

Cheap date night

2009-11-12T15:34:00.000-05:00

A new mama friend recently told me how she and her husband used to (perhaps still do when the baby allows) do Cheap Date Night. They give themselves a certain amount of money and then, go wherever the wind blew them. They did some really creative things. Sam and I had an hour or two to do something fun this past Sunday. We decided to head downtown and walk around with the little man. Here is what we did:

First, we headed to the chocolate lounge. (We have a hard time being downtown and not stopping in here!) We split a chewy gingerbread cookie dipped in dark chocolate and I got a peppermint latte with house-made peppermint syrup. I've been wanting a seasonal latte since the weather turned and "you know who" has all those delicious syrups. I wanted to support a local shop but no one seemed to have the seasonal syrup. What a lovely surprise! It was outstanding. Just the right amount of sweet and peppermint. Highly recommend if you're in Asheville.

We walked by the new fountain downtown. And made a trip around the new Pack Square. They're starting to make some progress! It's looking lovely.

Then we took a stroll down Wall Street. It's lovely and all the gingko leaves were bright golden yellow. Gingkos are nostalgic for Sam and I. I put them on our wedding invitations and programs. They bring me back whenever I see them. Very romantic. It'll be 8 years for Sam and I in just a couple weeks. I think it deserves a celebration.

Not a gingko, but a Sweetgum tree. Classic southern tree. The more Sam and I live in the south, in this town, in this community, the more we feel it's part of us. It's beautiful. Go out and take a walk through your community with the people you love. It's cheap, romantic, nostalgic and yummy!

nicole.

Out thwarting the thwarters

2009-11-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

I feel like an idiot.

The only thing I can figure is that after staring at this computer screen for so many hours so early on so many mornings, I neglected to catch onto the simple arithmetic of the the whole thing: three pay periods = more income. Or, more pressing, three pay periods = smaller amounts toward monthly fixed expenses.

To add vinegar to our already salted wound, we also discovered that the Federal Government, the same one that can process our taxes and track satellites and employ millions of people, cannot apply extra loan payments to specific disbursements. Forgive the boring explanation: our graduate loans, which are not consolidated, are a BUNCH of little-ish loans disbursed at different semesters as we slogged through PT school. Our plan was to look at each disbursement as a separate loan, order them from smallest to largest and start ticking them off. Our first extra payment the other day, knocked out three of mine and a huge chunk of one of Nicole's. On our spreadsheet, we changed the balances to 0.00 and struck a big, beautiful red line through the account numbers. It was visually stunning; inspiring, really. A few days later, I received an email explaining that it doesn't work that way and would I please contact the nearest customer service representative to discuss. More Charlie Brown music in the background, more slumped heads.

Still, we are here.

After such a successful first month, we both started counting down calendars and planning a celebration for the specific day the last payment would be made. Now, we've returned to our original approach of looking past deadlines or timelines. More than anything, I think, more than debt reduction or simplification or pretty envelopes, this process is about faithfulness. I think Nicole will agree, we are not known for our tenacity. We are known for our passion and excitement and multiplicity. Unfortunately, those qualities are not naturally a part of a life of faithfulness. So, we've taken a deep breath, looked at our son, stared into each other's eyes, turned toward the most profound call either of us has ever heard, and taken the next first step.

Thanks for walking with us.

Reality Bites.

2009-11-09T20:04:00.001-05:00

We are being thwarted.

October, you see, has three payperiods. Somehow Sam and I both overlooked that three payperiods = a lot more income than two payperiods. So in response to my earlier question of "where the h@$l did all that money go?" we now have an answer.

If you've seen Arrested Development you'll understand what I mean when I say we are currently hanging our heads while the depressing Charlie Brown music plays. We have not given up, but are figuring out how to fight back.

We are going to have to sacrifice...more than originally thought. This sacrifice is relative, as we're still richer than most Americans and nearly all of the world. Nevertheless, this debt hangs heavy around our necks.

Please, we would love to hear any suggestions you might have. We're open to anything that follows these rules: give more away and support our local community (especially with food).

All of this is for the little man. He's worth it.

Pretty Bird

2009-11-08T10:19:00.002-05:00

This is not really a post about money. This is not even a post about esoteric, abstract longings for a changed life.

This is a post about food. Delicious, perfectly cooked, simple, fulfilling food.

Dinner last night: roasted chicken, sauteed kale and sweet potatoes wedges.

When we sat down to orient ourselves toward this financial overhaul, we committed to two things: giving away more money and continuing to eat as locally, seasonably and tastily as possible. The former is our attempt to resist the potentially suffocating self-centeredness of this endeavor. The latter is our attempt to resist the potentially community-destroying, health-destroying, and taste-bud destroying nature of eating poorly. With the help of some friends (Jamie & Alice & Molly & Heidi & Martha), our resistance is strong.

A roasted chicken is a hymn to simple delights. Our preferred preparation, drawn from Alice Waters and perfected in the anatomy labs of graduate school, requires just a bit of forethought: remove the neck, loosen the skin along the breast and thighs and stuff in a load of chopped thyme and garlic, rub a generous amount of salt and pepper over, under and in the nooks and crannys, and let it sit in a bag in the fridge overnight. With a light glug of oil in a heavy pan just big enough for the bird, roast at 375 for 50ish minutes, flipping the chicken a couple times during its transformation. After shredding the meat we didn't devour and saving it for later, we introduced what was leftover (skin, bones, and all) to a quartered onion, some celery and a couple chopped carrots, covered them in water in our crockpot and let them think about things overnight on low. The strained stock is cooling outside; in a bit, I'll skim it and have a few quarts of delight for a tortilla soup (also ala Alice) on the menu later this week.

As I write this, I am overcome with gratitude. I am thankful for the farmers that raised the chicken, for our friends that produced the veggies, for the privilege that allows us to live like this. Simple food has become a sacrament for me. It is a physical reminder of a very Mysterious thing - the endless blessings that comprise my days. Second only to watching Kedzie unfold into life, and holding Nicole's hand just because I can, planning, preparing, sharing and enjoying a meal takes my breath away with thanks.

Month 1: Results: UPDATE

2009-11-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

I was a little bit off in my first calculations. I'm not the budget wizard like Sam. Excuses aside, our new total, which Sam already sent off to the appropriate student loan sharks, is: $1334.00. Awesome.

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement already. It means a lot to us.

n.

Month 1: Results

2009-11-03T14:38:00.002-05:00

In one month we were able to "gather" $1166.10 to put towards our debt.

I'm not sure you heard me. Allow me to spell it out: one thousand, one hundred sixty-six dollars and ten cents.

Seriously!!!!

I know what you're thinking..."those two must be eating rice and beans and never having any fun." So not true. That's why I thought this blog would be a good visual of how full our life is even while trying to live more simply. That's what it really comes down to...living more simply. For me, this first month has been freeing. It's helped me to see that perhaps I don't have to give everything up for 5 years (or until this giant debt gets paid off). Sam and I have this overwhelming sense of calm because we're totally in control of all of our money. As Dave Ramsey says "make your money work for you." It's so true. It feels awesome. Where the h#*l has all that money been? What did we do with it before?

(On a more random note: Thank you to Ann Lee for the birthday gift of Barbara Kingsolver's new book - which was your entrance fee to her book tour event - you are so thoughtful!) Last night we went to the event put on through our local bookstore, Malaprops. Some of you might know, Barbara Kingsolver is my favorite author. She released a new fiction book yesterday called The Lacuna. Her first stop in her 2 week book tour was in Asheville. She was as lovely as I thought she would be. She read from her book for about 45 minutes and just chatted for the rest of the time. She has a very sweet, genuine laugh. I felt like a little kid at Mother Goose Time at our library. I'll just say, the book sounds very interesting...it's historical fiction; half of it taking place in Asheville. I love how poetically she writes. Her words produce beautiful images. Check it out, if you're so inclined.)

Please, let us know what you think about our first month!
nicole.

I heart exercise. (the way exercise makes me feel)

2009-11-01T20:49:00.001-05:00

Here's the envelope I was speaking of in the earlier post of unfinished business. It's an envelope to help me get back on track with my exercise. Before Kedzie came along, I was, apparently, in pretty good shape. If you would've asked me back then if I was a good runner I would've vehemently stated, "NO." As I look back, I was a good runner. Now, everything is SO hard. This envelope is for things like: yoga class, race fees, running paraphernalia, etc. Mostly, I need races to train for in order to get me out the door and pushing a 15 pound stroller with a 21 pound baby up (and down) our extremely hilly neighborhood. Here's a race I did pre-Kedzie that I'm think might end up being my first race post-Kedzie. It's a fundraiser for my niece's school, plus you get hot cocoa at the end. Do races get any better?

Also, as I recently turned 32, I've come to a realization: I need to challenge my body in order to stay in shape. Not even stay in shape, but just keep up my fitness level for my lungs and heart and joints. Yoga helps me do that. There's a great yoga studio up the street that I took prenatal classes from and loved every minute of it. A friend also recently told me about the mama-baby yoga they offer there. I think Kedzie would make a cute little yogi. It's only about a mile from our house, so I can bike or jog if I have more time.

Hilarious, right? This is Kedzie and his cousins yesterday. Ladybug, skeleton, black cat and monkey. Awesome night. I personally can't wait until Kedzie is actually panhandling. The girls were blissed out from having so much fun (and perhaps from ingesting so much sugar)!

Everyone watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" at the end of the night. So sweet.

Hope you all had a fun holiday.
n.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T11:20:00.000-04:00

This isn't a post about money. Strictly about crafting. I know some of you appreciate that part of the blog so I thought I would keep up with it, mainly because I really love hearing what you have to say and it's nice to have someone to share these things with. Around here lately, as you know, we've been really busy. Part of that busyness involves a LOT of unfinished craft projects. I never know which one to pick up when I have some time. It's almost overwhelming. First up:

This is going to be a "happy birthday kedzie" banner. For those of you who might already know this, I'm a bit obsessed with a blog called soulemama. She is full of amazingly crafty ideas, photography is lovely and, someday, I hope to be a homeschooling mama of four children. Check her out, she's inspiring. Anyway, I recently acquired her new book Handmade Home. It's full of awesome ideas. This first one is her banner idea. I found an old wool blanket at our goodwill clearance store, for probably $1.50/pound. Awesome. I'm slowly appliqueing each letter of happy birthday kedzie onto the little rectangles I cut out of the blanket. Slow going, but I absolutely love sitting around and hand appliqueing. I think I'd like to try hand stitching a quilt someday. I'm hoping to be finished by November 15th, when my mama group and I are having a joint birthday party for all the babes. 8 babies. Tons of fun!

Second:

a new envelope in the works. I'll explain more once I finish it!
Third:

a quilted advent calendar. You can download the instructions here. (You can also buy amazingly beautiful Christmas/Holiday fabric from her website: Sew, Mama, Sew.) I altered it a bit, because I didn't like the busyness of the original pattern, so I have way less fabric choices and I hand appliqued on each number. Sam helped with one number...it takes him a bit longer than myself. No judgement, just observation.

Last, in the spirit of Halloween:

the doll of the undead I mean, unfinished. Not too much about her, as she's going to be a gift and I don't want too much of the beans spilled. Here's the pattern, called Poppy Doll. (That bunny pattern might get purchased for some Christmas presents!) I did purchase the pdf...she's not a freebie. So far though, worth the bucks.

That's all of my crafting in a nutshell. Here's hoping something gets finished soon, as our house looks like a Martha Stewart whirlwind. Fun, but hard to get an 11 month old from grabbing needles, scissors and pins. He's fast!

Love, nicole.

Busyness...

2009-10-28T15:15:00.001-04:00

This has been a very busy two weeks. I don't like it. I've picked up a few extra shifts at work...gazelle intensity as Dave Ramsey would so lovingly put it. Because we work pretty hard to live off of mainly Sam's salary, any extra shift I pick up will go straight to our debt bomb. Sam has also picked up a couple extra 1/2 shifts a week at an outpatient clinic. Basically covering for a friend of a friend. "Debt bomb" we tell ourselves over and over. I was created to be a stay at home mama. I am a homebody and I adore puttering around the house and creating, loving on my baby, cleaning, designing, whatever. I love my home. (Not to say I don't enjoy my job, I do actually. I enjoy it more when I'm not there very often). Anyway, the week is almost over and Sam only has one more week of extra shifts. Thank goodness.

Kedzie found Bosha's floppy ears. I have to say those are some soft, super floppy ears. Really fun to play with!

Here are a few little goodies I created last week. There are two women we work with that are due about the same time. There was a work baby shower, so I sent these goodies in with Sam. (I wanted to go, but I was not about to cart Kedzie off to a major hospital which is not allowing kids under 18 to visit...H1N1 outbreak!) I love making baby gifts. These were especially fun as I think I'm perfecting my appliques.

B is for Boone (cute name, right?)

Easiest burp cloths ever.

No money was spent in the creation of these gifts. I had gotten the onesies a few weeks back at Baby Gap. Every few months they clear out their organics for a new shipment and everything goes at ridiculous prices. I think I got these for $4 each. I used fabric and felt that I had lying around the house and the cloth diapers were here also. Easy peasy.

There has been a recent addition to a friend's family. He's just a few days old now. I'll have to get to work creating him his own specialty onesie. I've got a few ideas in mind.

Hope you're all well. Leave us a comment if you have a chance.
nicole.

P.S. We recently hit a new payperiod. When we have the numbers crunched, we'll update you on our total.

First Fire of Fall

2009-10-21T08:20:00.002-04:00

A couple days ago was our first fire of the season in our wood stove. It feels good to have the warmth fill the house again. It also feels good to be a bit chilly and be able to cozy up with a sweater, some tea and the wood stove.

It was a rager.

We took the opportunity to clean out our files and get rid of unwanted papers. Burning all those old credit card statements (why did we keep them for so long?) felt like unloading a huge burden. It felt good to just clean out some clutter, (We have to do this periodically to keep our 762 square foot house from feeling like the walls are closing in on you.) but, mostly, it felt like the last step to committing to this journey we've embarked on.

We are committed and loving every minute of it.

love, n.

P.S. I've been at work the past couple of days and found out a couple of co-workers are also on the Dave Ramsey plan. It's like we're in the Secret Money Club and we have these pow-wows about how awesome it feels to have control over your money. They've been on the plan much longer and still love it. Still feel like they're not being deprived. Good to hear.

P.P.S. If I may add to my wife's excellent summary.... In an act of serendipitous wonder, the fires lately have done more than turn the physical reminders of our crediting ways to ash; they have given us a miraculous, accidental joy - Slow Food Popcorn. Simply: Let a heavy, lidded pot with a healthy dose of olive oil and a single-layer depth of kernels sit on a raging stove for about 10 minutes. Unless you're burning jet fuel, it's unlikely that your stove will be putting out enough radiant energy to convince the kernels to blossom. It will, however, heat the oil enough to roast the seeds. Once they're a rich mahogany, with the oil popping, transfer to a Med-High stove top, shake and vent the steam as the corn dances to life, and enjoy a well-earned delight.

Family Fun Day @ Carrier Park

2009-10-18T14:44:00.001-04:00

To celebrate the first real chilly day of fall, Kedzie and I walked down to Carrier Park with our friends Marissa (baby Eloise) and Robin (baby Asa). They had Family Fun Day going on. A few vendors, dancing life-size Elmo, a bouncy castle and hot chocolate for the mamas; what more could we want? Enjoy the pics.

Kedzie was not that big of a fan of the baby bouncy castle.

He did enjoy his swinging.

The City Market

2009-10-18T10:35:00.001-04:00

In case you haven't noticed, I'm digging the blogging. I've been an avid reader of mostly craft/mama blogs for some time now but didn't think I would ever get into this as much as I have. Mostly, it gives me a reason to put my thoughts into words and get out into the world and take pictures. Photography has been a passion that has gone to the wayside a bit. It's coming back. It's good for my soul.

Yesterday, Kedzie and I made our weekly trek to the Asheville City Market. There's many markets in Asheville, but this is the one that's closest to us and also the one our farmers (the farm we bought a CSA - community supported agriculture - share from this year) are at every week. Their produce is always so lovely and absolutely delicious. We've been quite pleased with them, plus Kedzie just loves seeing Christina every Saturday morning!

In case you can't see everything: kale, lettuce, sweet potato, radishes, carrots (red & yellow), fingerling potatoes, apples(lots of orchards around here), fresh hand-made porcini gnocchi and pasture raised bacon. (Free Range Eggs are not pictured)

So, our weekly ritual is Friday night make a menu, Saturday head to the City Market first and buy all the ingredients we can, then head to the grocery store to pick up the rest of our needs off the list. This is a very time saving, money saving way to do things. You never wonder what's for dinner because it's all planned out and all the ingredients are in the fridge waiting to be made into a feast.

Here's the menu for this week:

Hamburgers with sweet potato fries and sauteed kale
Omelets with fingerling potatoes hash and bacon
Chicken Pot Pie
Kale and Potato Soup with white beans
Gnocchi with gorgonzola dolce sauce and side salad
Mushroom Casserole

This is what I mean when I say we eat like kings.

This is my half eaten breakfast I picked up at the Market. I had to save half for Sam because I knew he would swoon. This picture is horrid, but the Jimmy Nardello roasted pepper and butternut squash croissant was divine. The absolute best croissant I have ever had. Hands down. Sam agrees.

(If you have time make sure you click on the link for Asheville City Market, there are some gorgeous pictures taken by a local photographer. AMAZING!)

Market aside, here are some pictures of the deck in progress. Sam and Charlie (our awesome designer/constructioner) are currently working on decking. Totally house changing.

We'd love to know how y'all keep down costs but still eat healthy meals. Please share!

"Empty Bowls feeds empty stomachs"

2009-10-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we did something fun. We went to a fundraiser called "Empty Bowls." It's a national fundraiser held on World Food Day that our local food bank (MANNA) has participated in for years. After our stint with AmeriCorps, Sam worked at Manna for a while. We both volunteered there while in AmeriCorps, so it's quite dear to both of us. The whole organization is lovely and addresses a huge need in our community. The need for healthy, free food has gotten larger since the economic downturn. We are so thankful for Manna and everything they do for our community.

Now, with our giving pouch in hand, we headed down to Empty Bowls to pick up some tickets. Every dollar donated in the purchase of tickets goes directly to MANNA. The way this can happen is through many, many donations! Amazing local restaurants, such as Table, 12 Bones & Corner Kitchen (some of our faves - just an aside, come visit us and we'll take you to these fine establishments!) donate huge vats of amazing soups. Soups like creamy sweet potato with bacon and creamy smoked tomato(seriously!). Local bakeries donate bread and homemade cookies. Local potters donate hundreds of their hand-thrown bowls.

The way the whole thing works is, you buy your ticket (whatever you'd like to donate with a minimum of $20), you get a hand-thrown bowl made by a local potter, then choose your soup and enjoy. It's lovely.

Sam's favorite: creamy smoked tomato from 12 Bones.

The bowls we both chose. Beautiful aren't they?

How generous for an artist to donate their crafts.

I just wanted to take a moment to be thankful that we can contribute to this organization in even a small way. It's been interesting, in just these two weeks of keeping solid track of all of our money we've been able to give away MUCH more than we have been and still have almost $300 to put towards debt bomb. We live a blessed life and we are constantly thankful for it. What are you thankful for?

2009-10-16T10:56:00.000-04:00

I took a few minutes while Kedzie was napping and created our 18th money pouch. I wanted a pouch to save for items that won't take months to save for but may take a couple payperiods. I thought it deserved a pretty pouch.

I'm thinking the first thing we're going to save up for is the new Jamie Oliver cookbook. We have 2 of his other cookbooks and they have both been absolutely outstanding. They help us to eat like we're in our favorite restaurant, Table, every night. He's got very simple, but always delicious flavors. He's big into sustainable, local food. Both are very easy to find in Asheville. I think I'll post more on that tomorrow!

Anyway, if you like to cook, Jamie is the man for you. Outstanding!

The Numbers

2009-10-16T09:53:00.001-04:00

Today is the day we go to the bank and get out our cash for the next two weeks. I love this part. It feels a bit awkward and a bit wrong all rolled up together. I'm sure bank tellers deal with this all the time, but I can truly say, I have never gone into a bank and taken out this much money in CASH...and asked for it all in small bills. "You sure you don't want any large bills?" pleads the teller. Um, sorry, no. I walk out with a small baby and a huge wad of cash. I feel like I'm going to be mugged on the walk from the bank lobby to my car.

Anyway, I wanted to update everyone on our progress towards crushing that dastardly debt. In just two weeks we managed to save $294.78 to put towards our "debt bomb" as we've so lovingly nicknamed it. My initial reaction was "that's it!" But then Sam reminded me that this was just a two week period. My second reaction was "where was that money going before?!" How can we possibly have almost $300 to put toward debt in just two weeks. I never felt like I was an over spender. Apparently, that was a lie I told myself to continue my spending habits.

(Kedzie hearts watching Blue's Clues. We don't have TV, but we have Netflix and you can watch Blue's Clues instantly. He loves it. I hate to say it, but I think it's adorable. He gets soooo excited.)

I just want to qualify this $294.78 for you. This does not include any excess from the cash envelopes. Our envelopes have a roll-over system so that if you want to save up for a nice outfit per say (just an example), you can save over a few pay-period's time and voila, money for a nice outfit! This money is completely excess. This is on top of the normal payment we make each month to our student loan sharks. Awesome.

Lastly, let me say, I'm not sure how it happened. I don't feel like we sacrificed at all. We're eating like kings (literally, it's ridiculous); we're clothed well; we have a sweet house...really, the only thing I wanted for this week was some wine with dinner. I ran out of grocery money a few days ago. Today, I will celebrate. Wine anyone?

The Privilege of Choice

2009-10-15T21:46:00.002-04:00

I have started this posting several times now. Each time, it quickly turned into drama and angst and unanswerable musings on the mysteries of life. That, though, is not the point of this...all of this: this blog, this commitment, this new life. I have spent a long time stuck in hyperbole.

I choose to change.

The problem, though, is the very real existence of my seemingly exaggerated examples. There really are people cooking their dinners over cow-crap fueled fires. There really are single dads staring into empty cabinets wondering how to help their kids feel a little better. That cough, after all, has been keeping them up for a month now, shouldn't it be nearly finished? There really are people ducking bullets, ducking militia, and ducking under the overpass to sleep tonight. How can I do anything like this, this self-centered act of correcting my poorly made financial decision, when there are people who can't do anything at all?

Even now, as I type this, I am on the verge of defeat and paralysis.

O, I am made of multitudes. You see, I am not about to sell all I have and give it to the poor. As long as I'm being honest, I'm not sure I even want to take the time write a letter for an Amnesty Campaign, or, may God forgive me, to my Compassion kid. I think I suffer from a poorly prescribed cocktail of fashionable woe, politically correct dread, good old fashioned selfish ambition, and a profound, undeniable calling to a simple life of compassion, justice and love. It's not pretty. And, unfortunately, the intellectual, social-climbing argonaut in me, the one who likes to talk about how rotten the world can be, the one who likes to wax poetic about injustice abroad (while rarely working to correct injustice down the street), the one who likes, yes, likes, to be paralyzed by the enormity of the sufferings of strangers, has guided this ship for a long, long time.

I choose to change.

My privilege - my white, male, middle-class, educated, American, heterosexual, healthy, loved privilege - can be a weight dragging my into the depths of despair, or it can act as a boost toward something new. I am struggling to mute the argonaut - "of course it can boost you, you're standing on the shoulders and heads and bones of the oppressed." And, the argonaut is right. But, I don't think we are intended right now to commit our lives to radical displacement. I don't think. I know, however, that we are intended to change the way we deal with our finances. I know we are intended to restructure our priorities. I know we are intended to live with our eyes clear, our ears open and our hearts full so that we can be, if only for a moment, undivided.

It requires privilege to make so many choices. It is a privilege to make this one.

I choose to change.

Lessons from everyday life.

2009-10-13T16:11:00.000-04:00

Today is payday. Not technically, but it is the day that our electronic paychecks get sent to our e-mail accounts to let us know how much our paychecks are going to be. So, today is the day that I work on the budget for the next two weeks. I have to say, this hasn't been so bad. I definitely like doing a new budget for every paycheck vs. monthly. I can add/subtract money as needed. One realization I had is that we need a bit more money in the entertainment pouch. The other day I made Sam really nervous by saying "this isn't sustainable!" in reference to the empty entertainment pouch. He thought I meant in reference to this whole Dave Ramsey escapade. Needless to say, I wish I would've gotten his face on camera for you all to see.

I won't go into numbers. I'll leave that for Sam. I think he's planning on updating the total we owe, monthly. What I wanted to share was a couple lessons from everyday life. Those things you randomly notice about your life that you love and hopefully thank God (or whomever you choose to thank) immediately for them. Those things that just make you feel like this is what you're supposed to be doing.

There's nothing better than cloth diapers on the line. Except maybe baby clothes (so cute).

First, if you don't have one already, I highly recommend a clothesline. Frugalista says: this is definitely cheaper than using your dryer (which I did learn is sometimes the #1 household appliance for guzzling electricity). Mostly though, it's calming. I love the way I feel when I'm hanging up laundry. It's quiet, simple, smells of crisp fall air are everywhere. It's a multi-sensory experience. It just feels right. It's a nice change from the mechanization of life. Everything we do seems to involve a "device." (Not to say this is all bad. I do love my iphone.) Just saying, it's nice. (An added bonus, sunlight helps fade stains and is a natural white brightener... especially important with cloth diapers!)

Second, we're building a deck. Those of you that know Dave Ramsey's philosophy, you know that the first step is taking your savings (except a small emergency fund) and putting it into that darned debt. We decided to put some into a house renovation and then put the rest into the darned debt. This was decided for a couple reasons:

Our house is currently 762 square feet. The deck will add about 450 square feet. We believe this will help us reach our goal by giving the illusion that our living space is larger than it is.
It was previously a muddy mess. It needed some type of solution.
Decks are nice in the south. You can pretty much be outside on them 9 months out of the year. It WILL get used.

Lastly, I just wanted to share some pictures of a hike we went on a couple days ago. Not really a hike, just a chance to be outside and enjoy the weather and changing colors.

I just love the way this moss was blanketing this log. Lovely.

What have you learned from living lately?

Frugalista Rants.

2009-10-07T08:35:00.000-04:00

Hello friends,

I'm not sure why I'm so surprised. I should have had more faith in you. The support we've received from you all (or ya'll, as we so lovingly say it now) has been monumental. Everyone, literally everyone, who wrote regarding our blog's unveiling, was ridiculously supportive. It has been lovely to hear the "heck yeahs" and the "we're so proud of you(s)." We will forever come back to those e-mails and comments to help us continue on our path. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have to say, so far, so good. Granted nothing huge has come out of the woodwork to tempt me off my path. I'm currently thinking about the next house renovation (only small ones) that I want to SAVE for. It's been a good lesson in patience for me. I didn't realize what an instant gratification girl I am was.

I thought, perhaps, this would be a good time to share one way I'm attempting to be more frugal. To be a frugalista, if you will. My first tip is, if you're at all handy/crafty, make your own gifts. Awesome fun. And people usually appreciate them more. Even kids. Taking it a step further, make those gifts from repurposed materials. Currently I have been working on some baby onesies for all the new babes being born around me: plain onesies (usually found on clearance) with appliques made from a pair of old jeans, some felt and fabric scraps. LOVELY. Parents love them. You wouldn't believe the sense of satisfaction you can get from creating something new from something old. Apparently, when money was scarce in times past, this is what people did.

I already gave the gifted onesies away, but here's one I made for Kedzie for his first birthday which is coming up Nov 30th!

There's a goodwill clearance store in our neighborhood where you can buy gadgets and clothes by the pound. It's ridiculous, like $1.50/pound. I have a fellow frugalista who scours the place for cashmere sweaters which she quickly repurposes into adorable hats, crafts, whatever. Genius.

Now for some pictures for your enjoyment. We walked to the park yesterday for some free entertainment. I have never seen a child have so much fun in a swing. No joke, Kedzie was belly laughing while he was swinging. My heart was full.

This is Kedzie signing "more". I'm not sure he can smile and sign at the same time yet.

Thank ya'll for your support. It means more than we can express with words.

We Are Embarked

2009-10-01T20:38:00.001-04:00

Something must change.

That number up there...the really, really, frighteningly large, nearly six-figure number...that is not some abstract or fictional representation of the crushing load debt might play on a family's life. It is the painfully real, straight from the source sum of our student loans. Well, as long as we're being honest, it also includes a few thousand dollars of interest-free balance we owe the hospital from Nicole's emergency appendectomy when we were without health insurance a few years back. Regardless, it is the bottom line of a spreadsheet's column on our computer.

We've been ignoring it for a few years now. Making our payments silently through auto-deduct. We don't even get statements in the mail any more. The mantra of America has supported us - school loans are good debt...school loans are good debt. Finally, early last month, we looked at each other, the hypnotic glaze lifted from our eyes, and we decided to stop, to change. The impetus was a discussion with our friends, Brian and Angela, about their decision to go cash-only. They had been inspired (or convicted) by reading a book by Dave Ramsey, the AM radio prophet of budgets and debt reduction. After that conversation, we borrowed their copy of one of Ramsey's books and set in motion a reorganization of our finances.

While we had rationalized our all credit, all the time ("we pay it off every month... and we get the miles... and it's easier than cash") money had become only a concept, a notion. I can't help but wonder if that's the hope of the banks - wield our plastic widely and without regard, please. Our budget was broken every month. We weren't paying down our loans, we weren't saving, we sure weren't giving away anything more than our automatic payments to Compassion. We were comfortable and stuck.

Ramsey's plan is not really his plan at all, and he's the first to admit it. He just packages the scheme in language that appeals to common sense. In short: use cash. If you don't have any cash left, don't buy anything. Live on less than you make and use the rest to dig out of the damn hole you jumped into. Change. Now.

So, we did. We cut up our credit cards. Even though none had balances we called and yelled at the automated systems: "CANCEL CAAAARRRDDD." Once, I even had an opportunity to explain to a living being why we would cancel after so many years of valued "membership."

We made a budget. We have tried different budgeting programs, but we're always left feeling a bit blighted; too much of somethings, with not enough of what we seem to need. So, with some overzealous panache, I (Sam) spent what seemed to be too many hours relearning spreadsheet software to create a dynamic, realistic budgeting tool. It's really quite cool (even Nicole thinks so).

With less overzealousness, but with much more panache, Nicole set about to make envelopes. Envelope, actually, may a bit limiting. "If we're doing this," she said with her characteristic pragmatism, "it needs to be beautiful." Every day for a week, I came home from work to find our supply of original, stunning cash sachets growing into the requisite 17 for our out-on-the town needs.

Which brings us to today. October 1 also happens to be the first day of the federal government's fiscal year. We both (the government and us) have a history of making short-sighted financial decisions. Tomorrow, after all, is always tomorrow. We've both had questionable priorities that, when the wool is lifted, are more self-serving than community based. Our hope, our prayer, is that by changing our family's approach to money, maybe there's hope our nation can too?

Today also, however, brings into stark relief, the privilege of our situation. We have stable jobs, good health coverage, a secure and manageable mortgage, and really very little threat of any of that changing. We aren't ducking sniper bullets or roadside bombs. We aren't losing sleep over our baby's health. Our fridge is full of food, we have allocated some money for entertainment and cable internet and two cell phones and our car is sound and without liens. On Maslow's hierarchy, we are very much near the top. Still, we feel called into this. Whether that call is from the Mysterious God, or from the very concrete reality of wanting our family to be so much more than indentured to the Direct Loan Servicing Center, is unclear. Probably, they're the same thing. Regardless, we are called. We are embarked.

Now, dear friends, we need your help. That is the purpose of this little diary. Walk with us, cheer us, heckle us, do what it takes to help us hold the course. Right now, we're excited. It is good to follow a call - it feels full and true. Later, I'm quite sure, we will be disheveled and frustrated. That number up there - that real, embarrassing number - is huge. It won't be quick or quiet in going. It will be years. But, it will be. It will go.

After no fewer than 3 other failed attempts at blogging, we are keeping our plans for this blog reasonable. We want to post monthly updates, quick snapshots. By retelling our stories to our far-flung community, we hope to remain centered in the joy of living rather than the frustrations of perceptions. Thanks for walking beside us.

Nicole, Sam & Kedzie

99,241.34

We're back...

Lonely.

Hard Core

8 is less than 9

Mama's Day

Freebies.

Jailbird...

The Basement Wins.

Life...

We've probably earned that

Change is in the air...

Time flies...

Life as usual...

We LAAFFed together

Apple Picking 2010

3 plus 1

Lots of words.

Strawberry Season!

this week in a moment

this week in a moment

The Perks of Pregnancy

homemade food is good.

First Haircut

Square in Squares Gender Neutral Baby Quilt

this week in a moment

Nurture

this week in a moment

spring has sprung.

the little bunnies

this week in a moment

Baby Two (fondly referred to as Pulaski Jr or PJ)

this week in a moment

Babies on the brain...

Things From Then

{this moment}

The News

Happy Day of Love.

It is finished.

The Return of Craft

Back at it.

It's been too long.

When We're Not There

Money update.

unintended silence

And Our World Was Quiet

Free Yoga

Gingerbread Houses

Holiday Fest in West Asheville

Month 2: Results

Bike Commuting

Christmas is here!!!

Life in Motion

Preschool?

King for a day. King for a year.

Payperiod 11/8 Payoff

Food, glorious, food.

There is hope...

Thanksgiving

Where'd my baby go?

Happy Anniversary.

The Holidays are Here.

Eat Less Meat.

Our To-Do List

"The Tightwad Gazette"

Cheap date night

Out thwarting the thwarters

Reality Bites.

Pretty Bird

Month 1: Results: UPDATE

Month 1: Results

I heart *exercise. (*the way exercise makes me feel)

Happy Halloween!

Busyness...

First Fire of Fall

Family Fun Day @ Carrier Park

The City Market

"Empty Bowls feeds empty stomachs"

The Numbers

The Privilege of Choice

I heart exercise. (the way exercise makes me feel)