Run your kitchen like a restaurant

One of the biggest savers of time and money for me is to run your kitchen like a restaurant and trust me, some days, especially the weekends, I feel like a short order cook! I try to avoid this though by keeping meals very simple on the weekends but I plan what I’m going to cook and what I’m going to buy by keeping the same things stocked in my pantry all of the time. I have the same quantity of ingredients and restock every fortnight. Meals are always varied and many different dishes and cuisines are achieved through these basic ingredients.

I’ve never worked in a restaurant before but I do have domestic cooking experience on my side. I think from watching so many cooking shows and reading so many cookbooks, I’ve realised that most of the cuisines in the world and most of my favourite dishes all contain the same basic ingredients.  You’ll find that restaurants would stock these same basic ingredients and plan the menu based on seasonal produce exactly the same as I do in my domestic kitchen.

An Indian household’s pantry would differ greatly from say a family of say Thai origin, but mine has a little bit of everything. I maintain the same level of these pantry basics and that’s what makes up my shopping list. I have learnt very well to substitute with these basic ingredients. My favourite web site is A Cook’s Thesaurus.  You enter an ingredient and it offers a substitute. As I mentioned previously, my fruit and vegetables are bought in season and meat (or protein) bought on special for $10 per kilo or less. Meat isn’t always on the menu. I substitute the protein with pulses.  You might be thinking that we eat the same things day in, day out. Well, we don’t.

There are quite a few online pantry lists you can use or print your own. For example, one called Pantry is available for free to download and can be synced to your iPhone. (I haven’t tried this as I don’t have an iPhone but it’s worth a look.) Create a simple spreadsheet or word document breaking up your pantry contents into Pantry, Fridge and Freezer. Laminate them and write in whiteboard marker the contents and quantities of your pantry cupboard, fridge and freezer. Create your shopping list each week/fortnight/month from these documents and also create your weekly menu plans from these lists.

Found out more about how I manage to cook a wide variety of meals for $150 per fortnight on ALL of my groceries.

 

Boy's African Safari Themed Budget Bedroom Makeover

Finally, I can share with you my boy’s African Safari themed budget bedroom makeover. It’s been 6 months in the making. It’s taken a while to hold out from buying new and finding just the right things I needed but it was worth the wait. If I would’ve had to buy a lot of these things new, it would’ve cost me a fortune. He is extremely pleased with the results so that’s the main thing.

His sister’s bedroom got a makeover last year so it was only fair he got the same. When I first asked him what he wanted he said a ‘zebra’ themed room. I thought “great”. Black and white, that would be easy. But it wasn’t as easy as I thought. I had such a hard time finding black bedding, especially for a reasonable price and then, just like that, I had the opportunity to review the bedding range at Just Bedding (not sponsored) and when I saw they had a plain black comforter, I grabbed it. By then, I had accumulated a lot of African bric-a-brac and found a lot of things already in my collection, that it evolved into an African themed room.

The Details

The first thing I found was this framed cheetah print from my local op shop. It basically set the theme that followed. I also had a ‘broken’ branch of quite a large artificial plant that I have in my living room. (“No one” in the house knew how it got broken.) So I grabbed a pot from the shed, filled it with mulch from the garden and found a cheap plant stand to pop it in. If I had to buy something new in the makeover, it was under protest.

I really took my time to search for secondhand items or items I already owned and most of the time I was lucky. I could’ve gone without but with the money I saved sourcing the items cheaply, I didn’t think it was too bad to splurge on a couple of cheap purchases. If and when my boy tires of the African theme, these items can be used for something else. The stuffed tiger was already in his collection. (My kids are so attached to their stuffed toys.)

1. Framed cheetah print – $6

2. Faux potted plant in stand – $6 for the stand from here

3. Stuffed tiger toy – already in collection

The clock was an op shop purchase. I was looking for that ‘just right’ clock. Something that looked a little rustic and antique and this already had that finish. Someone had painted it and the paint was starting to chip and crack so it fits perfectly. I only had to insert a new battery. The faux zebra skin wall art was a little more than I would’ve liked to have paid but I bought the fabric myself and covered a print that I picked up cheaply.

I picked up quite a few cushion covers that were priced at anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar, gave them a good wash and used inserts I already had. The only new cushion was the one above of the giraffe. (I figured I’d bought my daughter a brand new cushion cover so it was only fair I bought my son one too. You know, sibling rivalry and all that!)

4. Battery operated wall clock from op shop – $2

5. Faux zebra skin wall art – $25

6. New and second hand cushion covers – Priced from 50 cents to $2 including a brand new cover priced at $5

Repurposed Items

This bookcase has been ‘in the family’ since forever. It has been used in so many places, in so many rooms. I can’t even tell you when or where I bought it from. It was one of those ‘put it together yourself’ types and it was always in it’s raw form of unfinished pine timber. I decided to paint it black (eeek!) because I don’t like painting furniture because I figure that it’s hard to reuse in another room if I have to but I’m sure a plain black bookcase will be used again, for sure.

The African object d’art has been picked up from the op shops over the last 6 months. I haven’t been looking for it, rather just in there having a browse or looking for something else in particular and these items just popped up. The mini stereo system is a very simple one we picked up from our local tip shop for $2 and it plays CDs and the radio.

The rocks my son collects (or rather, they just so happen to be in his pockets and I find them just before that item of clothing is going into the washing machine). The globe has been around since the kids were born and the globe bookend was something that belonged to the ex-husband a long time ago. 

 

7. (My counting isn’t too good.)

8. Bric-a-brac from collection and op shops – $10

9. Painted bookcase – from collection

I spotted this leopard photo on canvas in the op shop and it was brand new and sealed in plastic. It was perfect for filling this narrow space on one of the walls.

10. Leopard photograph on canvas (new) from op shop – $2

This bedside table, again, has been in the family since forever. It was previously painted in “Dinoco” blue, “Lightning McQueen” red and blackboard paint on the drawers but I decided to cover it up with a small tin of black gloss. I replaced the door knobs with raw pine knobs and lined the drawers with wrapping paper I already had.

11. Bedside table already in collection – $10 for paint and new knobs

Bedding

The black comforter was received for free in return for a review on Just Bedding, the online bedding store. The zebra canvas was picked up from an online garage sale. I had in mind some motivatonal ‘adventure’ themed prints which I’d frame in photo frames I already had but when I started googling for prints, these two banners came up for sale from one of the local discount variety stores. By the time I printed them I figured, for the price, these would suit just fine.

As much as I hate the thought of buying new, if the price is right and it can be used for something else, I’ll buy it. I figured these will last my son for at least the next few years no matter what theme his bedroom is.

12. Black comforter from Just Bedding – gifted

13. Zebra canvas – $5

14. Two printed hanging banners – $7 from KMart

When googling ‘animal prints’ one day, I stumbled across these cute animal foot prints so I printed that out and put it in a frame already had. I searched and searched for a suitable lamp for makeover and I was going to glue the plastic animals on it and spray paint it but I just couldn’t find one. I stumbled across this LED battery operated lantern which I thought fit in well with the theme and it was reasonably priced. No need to worry about electricity. The plastic animals were in my son’s collection.

15. Framed animal prints – free

16. LED Battery Operated Lantern – $10 from KMart

17. Plastic African animals – in collection

Curtains

You won’t believe how long I searched for curtains. (Well, about 6 months!) Even brand new, I couldn’t justify the price. The window is quite wide and I would’ve needed at least 3 ready made or metres and metres of fabric. I just didn’t want to spend that kind of money and I wasn’t having much luck at the op shops. I had in mind a ‘palm tree’ type print and I seemed to be having flashbacks that I’d seen something like that before. Then it dawned on me. These actual curtains, believe it or not, were curtains I made back when I was about 18 years old (some 34 years ago) in a new room Mum and Dad had built for me.

I must’ve bought metres and metres of the fabric because I remember lining a large cane chest as well for winter clothes. I asked my sister (who still lives in the family home) if she still had them and she did. The thermal lining was still intact. They were still hanging in the downstairs space that was once my room. Can you believe it? They were absolutely perfect. I gave them a good soak and gentle wash and they came out like brand new. Thirty four year old curtains! Who would’ve thought? It pays never to throw away curtains. You never know when you might need them again.

18. Palm print thermal lined curtains – in collection

I had all sorts of ideas for a mat. I had a few old carpet pieces I was going to hand paint in either leopard or giraffe print and then one day when I was out and about, I spotted this plush bath mat for $2. It was the perfect colouring and no need to paint mats that would probably no longer be used if they were in animal print.

19. Second hand plush bath mat – $2

Toy Storage

The Lego & Toy storage was made from a trolley that we had scored for free at my husband’s last place of residence. Someone was just going to throw it out. It’s come in handy for so many things. I had struggled to find suitable containers to fill it for some of my son’s Lego and his toys until I spotted some kitty litter trays, of all things, which fit perfectly. You can read about that makeover here.

The striped chair was already in my collection and it has a handy storage section underneath for all sorts of things. When the kids were babies, I bought two string bags for about $3 each which keeps all their soft toys in one spot, something my kids can’t seem to part with. I think they inherited the sentimental hoarding streak from me. Oh well, they don’t take up much room.

20. Lego & Toy Storage Unit – $10

21. Striped storage chair – already in collection

22. String bags for soft toy storage – already in collection

So there you have it, finally. I do have one more project I’d like to do, to really finish the makeover but I thought I’d better post what I’ve already done or you could be waiting another 6 months for the post. The total cost was just over $100. That amount spread over time didn’t put a dent in the budget but if I would’ve gone out and bought all new, it would’ve cost a lot more than that. I did get the comforter for free as well but I did have another one for back up which only cost $6 I could’ve used if the bedding review hadn’t have come along.

Beware of the wild animal in the bottom right corner.

 

As much as I could probably afford to just go out and buy all new things when I get a theme in mind, I find it quite challenging to make do with what I already have and buy second hand or makeover where I can. I get a real kick out of it. The next challenge is the main bedroom. It’s quite okay but I’d like just a quick makeover using what I’ve already got. 

 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was gifted a comforter from Just Bedding and all photos, thoughts and opinions are my own. The items purchased from KMart are also not sponsored.

How to feed a family of 4 with 1 chicken breast

One of the things I’m most proud of, in the kitchen is my ability to make something out of nothing. In fact, I thrive on it. I find it so challenging and fun. Having only a little meat has never bothered me. I only ever make our family bolognese sauce with a handful of mince. Meat is so expensive these days and I don’t believe you need a lot of it. Sure, you need a certain amount of protein every day but it comes in all forms not only meat. For example, a female aged between 31 and 50 years of age, the recommended daily intake is 46 grams per day (source). So, on average, 100gm of chicken breast contains around 33gm of protein. You could say an average chicken breast weighs around 200gm so even if you split that 4 ways, you’re all still getting a quarter of your recommended protein. (Calculation: Average 200gm chicken breast = 66gm protein / family 4 = 16.5gm protein per person if divided equally) 

If you count your other protein sources throughout the day like milk, cheese, other meats, eggs, Greek yoghurt, fish, nuts, seeds, some vegetables and pulses, one chicken breast is really all you need to feed a family of four. 

I buy a kilo of bacon and divide it into smaller portions and freeze. It’s easy to defrost a pack of bacon to make a meal go further. Chicken and bacon go together really well so for this dish, I fried an onion, the chicken breast and bacon until cooked through.

Another way to stretch your meal is to serve it in a sauce. You don’t need a packet mix. If you’ve got plain flour, that and a few herbs and spices or even just salt and pepper is enough to make a tasty sauce. Sprinkle the flour directly onto the meat/onion mixture and fry off for a minute or so.

Add about a cup of chicken stock and stir until thickened. I checked my fridge and had about 1/2 a cup of sour cream so this finished off my sauce nicely. Yoghurt or cream is another option to make a sauce more creamy or just use less stock and a little milk for a creamy sauce.

Serve with some vegies and you can see there’s quite a plate full. I got rave reviews from the family about this one. You’d think they were at a fine dining restaurant from the comments I received but honestly, it’s just stretching your meat further, using up bits and pieces so you don’t throw them out and waste money. The whole meal came together in just half an hour so there’s no slaving away over a hot stove.

Always think outside the box and make do in the kitchen. No need to go out and buy special ingredients or serve everyone a whole chicken breast. You’ll save a heap of money on meat, which is already an expensive item to buy.

A place to call H.O.M.E.

Welcome to the new Domesblissity, a place to call H.O.M.E. – Homemaking, Organising, Making-do Education. I’ve been working behind the scenes to introduce a whole new look here at Domesblissity and I can’t wait to share this new and exciting program with you all.

So, what’s it all about?

When I started the Domesblissity blog, 5 years ago today, it was going to be nothing more than a place to store recipes I cooked for my family so they had something to refer to when (and if) they leave home. I soon started getting followers and I learnt all about ‘blogging’ and it just grew from there. Even the name Domesblissity is a take on what I’ve always strived to achieve wherever I’ve lived and that’s domestic bliss.

 

I could go on for another year 5 years sharing another 100 different ways to make my basic muffin recipe or share with you yet another recipe for a pretty ordinary meal which is just an attempt to get my very picky daughter to eat. But, Domesblissity, for me, is a whole lot more than that. Everything you’ve read on my blog is what goes on in my home. I only share the recipes mainly, a few DIY projects and, occasionally, something like how to wash thermal lined curtains, for example, but so much more goes on behind the scenes.

I’ve sewn my own clothes, been creative, redecorated with things I already have in my home and I’ve enjoyed a rich and rewarding life full of wonderful experiences, even more so since having my children.

I consider myself very, very lucky to have been raised by wonderful teachers in my mother and grandmothers and learnt how to keep house and a whole range of crafts, how to cook, clean, organise and, most importantly, make do. 

I feel I have a very rich life. I want for absolutely nothing. Having this attitude throughout my adolescent years and adult life has put me in good stead to have a very comfortable and happy home, something I believe is very important. Even when I did have a very successful career and lived on my own, I still op shopped for designer clothes, cooked from scratch and spent my money on experiences rather than ‘stuff’. I’m passing this knowledge onto my children and already the effects have been noticed with their knowledge of cooking the basics and reusing and recycling.

Over the years, I’ve picked up on things on the interwebs from time to time and read some really unusual things from people who ask, for example, how to put together a basic meal or the exorbitant amount they spend on their weekly groceries. I want to help these people, and anyone else who needs it, to show how easy it really is.

I also want you to know that my house isn’t perfect. It’s far from it sometimes but what’s most important to me is how I look after who is in my home and not what is in my home.

How can I help?

I want you all to know it doesn’t have to be like this. I am very much a lover of all things vintage and this includes a lot of my grandmother’s ways but we are so blessed in this day and age to have modern gadgets and appliances to help us. We also live in an age where the internet, smart phones and a wide choice of electronic entertainment is at our fingertips so we don’t want to be spending days on end cleaning and tidying our homes. I want to make it easier for you.

I want to introduce you to a few new habits, teach you how to cook from scratch, have a well stocked pantry so you will never go hungry, organise all aspects of your home life, use simple methods to keep on top of your housework and how to make do with what you have already and avoid the temptation to buy ‘stuff’. I hope this will change your life.

My home is your home and you’re always welcome here at Domesblissity, a place to call H.O.M.E.

Also, I’ll still be sharing family friendly, frugal recipes, reviews, the Thriving on Thursday linky party will continue and the usual things you’ve grown accustomed to seeing on the blog.

Thanks for sticking with me over the last 5 years.

 

Menu planning from the pantry

 

I’ve spoken about menu planning before, offering various ways to menu plan but just lately I opted not to do it. I’ve menu planned off and on over the years and, up until now, always preferred to think about what I was eating the night before or on the day. But, for the last 14 months I’ve had so much on my mind. I’m finding it best if I can empty my mind of thoughts by writing them down and not worrying about them until I need to. Menu planning has now become one of them. 

Years and years ago, I took part in a “Secret Santa” and my partner made this gorgeous menu planning kit for me. A clipboard covered in this delightful Michael Miller fabric and filled with heaps of blank menu planning pages and laminated pantry and freezer inventory pages.

Before I get into in ‘full swing’ I really need to get rid of what I already have on hand. So, instead of going through recipe books to organise my weekly menu plan, I did a quick inventory of my pantry, freezer and fridge (just a really 5 minute quick one) using the my newly created ‘inventory’ sheets and planned my menu from that. As I used up an ingredient, I wiped it clean from the inventory. This will be used to add ingredients as I buy them and assist with planning my menu this coming weekend.

You’ll always find these ingredients in my pantry so that will never change. I had the freezer stocked with cooked rice and pasta so that also dictated what I would be eating this week. I just thought of the protein, the vegetables and/or carb. I added in breakfasts and lunch too. Most of the recipes are in my Recipes list above. Oh, and the shopping I did yesterday included some butter, cheese, milk, fruit for lunches and 1 capsicum is all I needed for my weekly shop. I’m hoping doing this will free up some space in this old brain of mine.

Buying second hand, first

 

[photo source]

 

You really should be buying second hand, first. Things break. Things deteriorate. Even when I was a child back in the 70’s, when the television stopped working, you called the repair man to the house and he fixed it (for a reasonable price, mind you). Now, when the television stops working, you throw it away and get a new one. It’s just mind boggling how we’ve become a throw away society.

 

source

 

I try to buy second hand whenever I can. If the egg flip snaps, I head to my local thrift store to replace it. If my son needs football shoes, I head to the thrift store. (Which, by the way, I picked up for $4 the other day.) Some of the dollar stores have excellent priced goods for these sorts of things but the biggest problem I have, is I tend to walk out with a lot more than I really need. I don’t think I’m alone there.  I do like collecting things like depression glass and vintage linen so the thrift stores can be a bit of a temptation to me as well but I try to show restraint, don’t go over budget and only get what I need.

[photo source]

Big ticket items such as televisions, refrigerators and furniture can often be picked up for free on Freecycle. I picked up 3 seater and 2 seater lounges for free on Freecycle. It’s like brand new. I also picked up a second hand second fridge for nothing from Freecycle. You really can get by on second hand, most of the time. I don’t go second hand on everything, for example underwear, but in order to live within my means and enjoy most things most of the time, this is how I manage it.

Best places for buying second hand

ebay, Gumtree, Facebook and Craigslist are also wonderful options for searching for second hand items as are yard sales and the classified ads in the newspaper. When the children were small, I got nearly all of their clothes as either hand-me-downs or from second hand sources. As they’ve got older (now 7 and 5) clothes aren’t holding up to the rough and tumble so I look at end of season sales, in the next size up.

[photo source]

 

Think about buying second hand next time. You never know what treasures you might find and they’ll probably last a lot longer than what the things that are made nowadays do.

 

 

What did we do before Tupperware?

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Women probably never spoke to each other, never entertained, never baked or, more importanly, had more money than they knew what to do with. Just kidding. It paved the way for the direct selling system, gave stay at home Mums an income they wouldn’t have had available to them and women all over the world enjoyed meeting up for a good old Tupperware party.  I’ve loved Tupperware all my life. I went to a party last Sunday and it was heaps of fun. This demonstrator wasn’t so interested in telling us all what we could do with the lovely new range but rather what was on special and what was going to be available should you have a party.  But that’s not the point of this post.

[photo source]

I’m in awe of so many pantries and kitchens and how well organised they are. I can remember having the full range of Tupperware Modular Mates for my pantry some years ago and my pantry was in pristine condition. I didn’t take them with me when I moved but I’ve gone back to old fashioned ways of making do with how I store things in my pantry without the unnecessary expense of Tupperware and other plastic products.

What we used to do

Years ago, meat used to be stored in a meat safe. My mother grew up with one of these. Meat was salted and cured in many different ways and not a bit was wasted.

[photo source]

Flour was purchased in sacks made from cloth. This cloth was then used for so many things like tea towels, aprons and even children’s clothes. Nothing was wasted.

[photo source]

Other food products were left in their box or container and just stored in the pantry as is. Now that’s a novel idea? (Sorry for the sarcasm but sometimes I think we were brainwashed into thinking that we needed all this Tupperware when for hundreds, even thousands, of years before us, food was stored perfectly well without all this plastic.

Old tins and boxes

[photo source]

I can remember my grandmother having very little Tupperware. I think she had the salt and pepper shakers and that’s about it. Instead, she reused other containers to store her food in, for example, margarine and yoghurt containers for stewed fruit, metal tins for cakes and biscuits, glass jars for anything from buttons to rice, syrup cans for hair pins or in my grandfather’s garage. The list goes on.

My pantry is in a bit of a ‘state’ at the moment and needs a good tidy up, but you can see from the above few examples, you don’t need plastic ware to store goods in your pantry. The box they were purchased in works just fine. Pegs or bag sealers clamped on the plastic bag are okay. I’ve got shredded coconut in an old dog biscuit container and baking items in old glass jars.

But never let it be said that I always do everything right. I weakened for a couple of items from the party on Sunday and I did buy a Shake It Quick and some Snack Cups in pretty colours.

 

Food clothing shelter

Food, clothing, shelter? I can remember when I started high school, I was so excited that I would be studying Home Economics. It was going to be my favourite and best subject. I so loved cooking, baking, sewing and homemaking as an 11 year old at home and looked forward to learning more at school. One of the very first lessons we learnt in Home Economics was about food, clothing, shelter.

Christmas Dinner – Great Depression

This is all I need. This is all my family needs. We need food and water. That’s a given. Without it we’re dead. Clothing to protect our bodies from the elements, in summer or winter and shelter to further protect us. These are our needs. Anything else really is a want and should be only purchased, budget permitting. This is how I now live my life.I said “what’s that you say?” Food, clothing and shelter? That’s not cooking, baking or sewing! How boring! It’s made more sense than ever since I had a family of my own and trying to make ends meet that this has become my priority when it comes to spending money. If I’m at the shops and feel tempted to buy something that’s not on the budget or I don’t need, I ask myself does it fall into the food, clothing or shelter category.

Stick to your budget

Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing I love more than the delights of an antipasto platter and the temptations of an Italian delicatessen. Just like the siren’s song, this is one of my downfalls and this stuff ain’t cheap. I guess it’s all in moderation though. My grocery budget is tight but sometimes I buy one or two of an ingredient I really like. Cooking everything else from scratch means I only purchase basic pantry ingredients, fruit and vegetables in season and basic cleaning and personal hygiene items.

Clothing

Clothes for everyone are basic. I don’t think I’ve purchased any clothes for my son since he was born (other than school uniforms) because I’ve been fortunate enough to get hand-me-downs from friends. Same with my daughter. I’ve picked up some beautiful ‘girly’ dresses for her from second hand shops and second hand clothes for myself (other than underwear etc).  We only have the basics. Gone are the days when I tell myself that I need an orange top, for example. I guess I try to stay abreast of fashions and styles but try to manage well within my budget and only having what we really need.

Shelter

Our house is a modest 3 bedroom home, with ceiling fans, air conditioning and a nice backyard for the kids. I dream of a home with a pool and large wrap around veranda, but this is our home. Our home would be where ever we all are together, happy, healthy and loving and caring for each other. I prefer to try to keep this one tidy and organised.

Gone are the days when I feel the need to fill my house with matching towels, bed linens, furnishings, matching crockery and cutlery (even though I do have that sort of stuff) but I don’t follow interior design trends. That’s not where I want to spend my money. I don’t feel it’s necessary. All too often some people get caught up in catalogues and junk mail brochures, thinking that they might need some of those home decorator items from Target. Yeah sure. Maybe you do. Maybe that’s where you like to spend your money. But to have a balance, be on top of your finances and be able to provide your family the basic necessities of life, this is an area of spending that you might be able to cut back on.

Avoid the dollar stores

With Valentine’s Day next week, Easter next and every other occasion just around the corner, try to avoid the dollar stores. These are just a money pit, designed to convince you of all the things you need. I know I’ve gone in there for say a pillow protector and came out with more ‘stuff’ than I needed and less money in my purse. I avoid these shops like the plague. Try to make things from recycled items around the house before you think you need to buy up big on Valentine’s themed paper plates or Easter egg hunt baskets.

Keeping in mind your basic needs, that is food, clothing and shelter, this will help you avoid temptation and help save for other areas of your budget that might be lacking. Since having my family, I returned to thinking the way my Nanna would’ve lived. She survived the depression with 3 young children, albeit not as harsh as those photos above but on the land as a dairy farmer’s wife nonetheless. I’m filling my book of life with pages from hers.

Shopping (and stuff)

Want to know how I thrive through frugal living? It’s about shopping (and stuff).  It’s how I’ve lived most of my life but in particular when I stopped work to have children and reduced our income to one. Getting back to a more thrifty way of living is so liberating and makes you feel in control of your financial situation.

Who doesn’t love to shop? I know I do. Being in control of your spending and avoiding temptation you’ll look at shopping in a totally different light. To me, shopping is both a necessity and a recreational pursuit. You don’t have to spend a lot of money (or any for that matter) when you think about it as something to do.

The Story of Stuff

One of the most liberating pieces of video I’ve ever seen which changed my shopping habits forever was “The Story of Stuff” by Anne Leonard. It’s a 20 minute movie on the story of, well, stuff. If you have the time, watch it and let me know what you think. It might help you think twice about buying up big at post Christmas sales, buying all the Easter/St Patrick’s Day/Valentine’s Day/[enter any occasion here] paraphernalia, children’s toys, craft supplies, new dinner sets, extra towels and sheets just because they were on sale. These are all the areas I have cut back or eliminated from my spending and don’t regret at all.

 

Shopping is no longer retail therapy for me. The only therapy you’ll need from shopping is wondering how you’re going to pay back your credit card. If you haven’t got a credit card, you’ll wonder how you’re going to pay for the other bills you should’ve paid. And, you’ll have a house full of ‘stuff’ you don’t need which will probably be thrown away or sent to the thrift store.

 

Once you think about shopping for the necessities only and living within your means, you’ll never have a problem again. Your wallet and the environment will thank you for it.

 

 

Repurposing old school bags

We decided to change schools this year. With our son starting school for the very first time, we made the most of the opportunity and took our daughter out of the private school she was attending and started them both at the local public school. Doesn’t matter which school you go to, there’s always a lot of up front costs initially. We had bought a school bag for her when she started at the private school 2 years ago and it was in great condition so why buy a new one?

With our son starting school too, I could’ve quite easily gone and bought him a brand new bag (maybe even for Christmas) but there was a perfectly good one here. (Taking up way too much space at the bottom of the wardrobe and not been used for who knows how many years.) It too needed something over the logo. You know how it is with kids? You do it for one, you’ve got to do it for the other. (Not always in our house.)

 

How to

 

I picked up a couple of iron-on transfers and ironed them onto felt which matches the shape of the logo. (Trace the shape directly from the bag onto tracing paper and used that template to cut the felt.) Add a bit of green felt cut like grass to the Bambi patch.

 

 

I wasn’t quite sure how strong the glue was going to be so for added strength, I went around the edge of both the felt and the transfer with a clear thread and some embroidery thread for my daughter’s bag.

 

 

Cost:  $5 for 2 cloth iron-on transfers
Felt and thread was on hand

Hopefully we’ll have these individualised school bags around for a while yet.