Santa's not stuffing us with toys

Santa's not stuffing us with toys this year. And I am so excited.

We've really tried to watch our consumption of toys and stuff, and have been doing considerable purging of late. Even this Christmas has been lighter from a "stuff" perspective. We still got the kids three gifts each, but they were smaller, like small Lego sets and photo books of our day at Disney World. It was a relief to have October arrive and not have to sweating Christmas gifts for my kids - or where to put them.

But what about from Santa?

We realize this may be the last year both my children "believe," and we don't want to diminish the joy of stockings on Christmas morning. But again, we didn't want to fill our kids up with candy or lots of trinky toys.

Our solution: Simple. Santa got each child a book for their stocking and a small item to quietly play with Christmas morning (my daughter is getting washi tape; my son a mini Lego set that was free with purpose.) But the "Santa gift" will be the best surprise of all. We found a Living Social deal for a trip to an indoor water park to knock off the winter blahs.

We're excited that this year Mr. Claus is giving the gift of experience. Hopefully it will be lighter on his sleigh, too.

Looking for experiential gifts? Here are some ideas:

 Family Experiences

• trip to a museum
• trip to the zoo
• an afternoon movie
• tickets to a children’s show at a local theatre or the movies
• ice skating
• rollerskating
• tobaggoning
• going to a minor league baseball game
• train ride
• trip to the beach
• skiing

Two-ingredient upholstery cleaner that works

Finding the months-old puke stain in my van was the final straw. My car needed a serious scrub-down. And of course, I was out of Resolve cleaner, which I admit is my usual standby.

On this evening, I decided to bypass the store and see if there wasn't a way to make this easily myself. And what I found impressed me: a two-ingredient option that was worth the attempt even if it didn't work.

Homemade upholstery cleaner
2 cups warm water
squirt dish soap

In a mixer, blend on medium or higher until foamy.

Sounded easy enough, but did it work? I put my dirty, puke-stained floor coverings to the test.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I may never buy Resolve again.

The only challenge with making your own upholstery cleaner? It's your 8-year-old discovering how easy it is to make, and coming out with extra bowls of the cleaner that she's whipped up herself. Before I knew it the kids were slipping and sliding all over the back of the van. But then again, I have to say, my floor hasn't looked this clean since the day I brought it home!

In praise of Papa's tub

When my first child was born, my mother trotted out an old tub, hidden in the attic for years. It was used by at least two previous generations of Johnsons and for a quarter of a century had waited for the next.

I remember all too vividly the comments by friend when I mentioned I didn't need that cheap plastic bathtub from the baby store, that instead we'd use the old enamel tub.

But what if she falls? I was asked.

Hmm...I thought that was why we watched our kids.

We sadly noted that some of the coating had been scraped over time and it was beginning to rust. This would be the last generation - and child - to use it. Still, the tub managed to make the move with us to our new home.

Last night, though, I noticed the tub in my daughter's closet and got it out, thinking I at least could get a photo of the baby in it, just like his sister, mother and grandfather before him. I set it down on the floor, and sat the baby, fully clothed inside. He was almost too long.

My daughter asked what he was doing. I said,without thinking, that he was playing boat. Before I knew it, they were "toot-tooting" all around her room, the normally serious baby banging his hands against the sides and laughing.

Yes, I could have bought that plastic tub, which would have been tossed aside or shared in mere months. And I'll admit I actually considered buying one this time around. But then I would have missed a moment.

Independence Days

It is far from July, but Casaubon’s Book last week proposed an "Independence Days" challenge to promote what she calls food independence. It's an interesting concept - something we ought to do anyway, given soaring food and gas prices.

Sharon offers these ideas:

1. Plant something.
2. Harvest something. "Independence is really appreciating and using the bounty that we have."
3. Preserve something. "The time you spend now is time you don’t have to spend hauling to the store and cooking later."
4. Prep something.
5. Cook something. (Sad that she has to spell this out, but the reality is so many people rely heavily on take-out, frozen dinners and other convenience foods."
6. Manage your reserves. "Clean out the freezer.... Find some use for that can of whatever it is that’s been in the pantry forever. Sort out what you can donate, and give it to the food pantry... Independence means not wasting the bounty we have."
7. Support local food systems - the local CSA, farmer's market, farm stand. Share seeds. Support a community garden.

I originally thought, Nice idea, but I don't have time. I have work, two children, swarms of family coming in for Memorial Day weekend... But unemployment set in, and I'm realizing rather quickly that having the comfort of where your next meal is truly is important. (We're not that bad yet, but realize how quickly our situation could progress if our limited savings run out.)

What I've learned in the last week that, like any other thing we want to be committed to, change can happen in baby steps. And while I am focusing on stretching our budget at this time, there are lessons that can be learned.

What have I done in the last week or so?

My oldest and I planted (finally) our onion sets in our backyard and added 100 strawberry plants in an area where grass hadn't been growing. (Strawberry purchase obviously pre-change, and more as an experiment in ground cover.)

We've done serious meal planning and prepping, stretching things in ways we hadn't before. The leftover steamed broccoli became tomorrow's cheese broccoli; the leftover rotisserie chicken shredded and frozen for future use. (Hey, three consecutive days of rotisserie is enough!)

We've definitely managed our reserves, what we have of it. Our deep freeze is seriously accounted for, and we're actively planning our menus to stetch those contents and break up the monotony.

Admittedly, I guiltily admit while I've refrained from any eating out, I have resorted to eating leftover ice cream sandwiches in the office freezer for lunch a few days, when schedules and meal planning didn't work out. I'm getting better. Where I used to just run out before, with $3.98 a gallon gas and limited incomes, I am figuring out how to make due.

Sadly, I'm still waiting for our CSA to kick in. There's been a two-week delay due to weather, but the company promises to start up Memorial Day weekend, just in time for our massive company.

If you haven't had a chance to read it, check out Sharon's post on her "Independence Days" challenge.

Tuesday morning updates

A couple of updates on this blustery Tuesday morning:

• Political paper count: So far, I've gotten two direct mail pieces from each campaign/campaign symapthizers. Frankly, I'm surprised that it's so low, but we do have another week until the Indiana primaries.
• Buy nothing challenge: Not so good. There's buying stuff to buy stuff, and there's buying stuff to replace stuff. And, honestly, as a new mom, I still have to fit into clothes for work (and things have shifted).
• CSAs: I'm counting the days until our CSA kicks off. I also learned that Mallow Run Winery on the south side of Indianapolis (Center Grove area) is starting a CSA this year. It appears to have more than produce and will include occasional meats, eggs, baked goods and more.

More on the shrinkage at Sam's

We stopped by Sam's Club Friday, and yes, in Indiana, bags of rice are going quickly. Nearby, pasta wasn't being touched.

Quick thought: Wouldn't it be great if people didn't panic? By spending money on rice, we're forcing prices to go up more quickly, causing more panic about prices, resulting in more people buying quickly at higher prices...

And we're hurting the people who might rely on rice as a staple the most.

It's that whole supply-and-demand thing missed when sleeping in Economics.

Your challenges this week: Branch your menus out of your comfort zone of rice and pasta. Try a new grain. Or, at the least, refrain from stocking up on high-demand items at the grocery.

International Downshifting Week: A reminder to slow down

International Downshifting Week, not surprisingly, starts on a weekend. What better way to begin than on a lazy (or it should be) Saturday morning.

The sad thing is, we apparently now need a week to remind us to slow down. And it's no wonder. With two children under the age of 3, it takes me three hours to get to the office, I cram in my eight hours, rush back to daycare, do dinner, fight over how we don't have to watch a movie, begin the bedtime routines, attempt to clean up and go to bed, only to begin again. And my friends with older children only say it gets worse as homework and activities collide.

International Downshifting Week is a great notion. Slowing down doesn't mean turning in your notice to be a stay-at-home mom or move to a rural area. But ut does entail being cognizant about what resources you spend - financial, environmental, emotional and timewise.

Just a few ideas on how I can downshift in my life:

• Reduce - or at least don't add to - my extracurricular commitments. Not saying no, particularly when it's a cause I am dear to, adds extra stress in my life as I work to squeeze those projects in on a hectic schedule. Not to mention I expend a lot of gas going back and forth to activities.
• Prep my meals on a weekend. By doing my shopping and chopping in one day, I'm ahead of the game for the week. This reduces extra trips to the store and the stress of a "starving" child as I'm trying to get meals started later in the evening.
• Use some of my scrapbooking supplies and create my own cards. It saves an extra trip, and I'll have cards on hand when I remember at 10 p.m.
• Buy in bulk when it makes sense. It can save money and reduce packaging.
• Try that slow cooker again.

Read other tips on how to get started on downshifting your life.

Buy nothing update

I've decided I should be a politician. I'm finding too much "gray" area into a buying nothing challenge.

• Is it "buying" if it doesn't cost anything? The baby needs shorts for the summer (don't want to toast legs in a car seat when it's 90.) Had a $10 coupon for the used kids store that went for that purchase.
• What is "essential?" I guess that's more of a philosophical question for me to answer.
• Do gifts count? Such as, the Mother's Day gift for my mom I have to order because it has to be produced (not discussing in case she reads it), and I'm not sure if waiting until May will give us enough time. And, the baby's baptism is in May, but the Christian bookstore in town will gift a percentage back to the church if an item is purchased this month. Obviously, it makes more sense to make a difference with what you buy.

Anyway, just a little rambling, partly because I'm not in the happiest mood. During a 15-minute or so nap, my expensive-but-worth-it aromatherapy lotion that got me through the back pain of pregnancy treated a Care Bear's back instead, and I figure about 1 cup of it was used by my toddler, between her belly, her blanket, the bear and my sheet! There may be a whopping tablespoon left. Frustrating. I guess that's not essential, either, though maddening.

I did have a few successes this week, though:

• Planned to go to the local Mothers of Multiples sale to pick up a double jogging stroller. Decided en route the 2-seater we already have is pretty sturdy and will likely work through this summer. Took the toddler to the library instead to arm up with books.
• Have decided to hold off on buying any work clothes, even though it's desparately needed.
• Called in to a board meeting instead of wasting the gas to drive downtown. (OK, that one was less about environmentalism and more about the downpour outside, but I will count it.)
• Decided to plan my meals for the week.
• Held off on buying any NCAA National Championships gear from the University of Kansas bookstore. Now if that's not sacrifice, I don't know what is!

Buy Nothing Challenge - a scrapbooker's complex

I stumbled on the "Crunchy Chicken" blog during a break at work (quite possibly the most unusual blog name ever), and the writer is proposing a month of buying nothing that's not edible, essential, or previously owned.

Facing a cluttered house from Hurricane N. (my 2 year old) and quite a large gas bill from 28 hours in the car two weeks ago following a death in the family, I think it's worth a shot. Better late than never.

Of course taking part in the Buy Nothing Challenge means delaying one of my favorite pasttimes, scrapbooking. While I love it, I told my husband the other day that it's interesting that for someone who wants to make a more positive impact on the environment, that I engage in a hobby based on the use and accumulation of paper, lots of paper. My children's scrapbooks take far more space than the photo album I have of my childhood through eighth grade, and neither of them have hit the age of 3 yet.

But, I think this challenge is worth a shot. Maybe I'll tackle those previously printed photos. Dig deep into my stash of papers and embellishments to use them up. Or, gasp, take my latest and greatest photos and create the pages digitally.

And until May 1, I will stay away from the hallowed aisles of Archiver's. Unless of course, the coupon for the five free sheets of paper doesn't count...!