Bits of Pieces

I’m not exactly a fashion plate, although I do try to be semi-stylish when I head out for dinner or a night on the town.  I find fashion is more important as I age… trends no longer work for me.  Now I choose items that work for me, based on my age, body type and the occasion.

Nonetheless, I like to keep my eye on fashion.  And one of my favorite fashion blogs is Go Fug Yourself.  These gals find the fugliest celebrity outfits and accent them with biting commentary.  It’s a hysterical read, and highly recommended.

So I’ve been battling a bit of 3rd trimester insomnia (most nights I get to see it slowly grow light outside). Since TV at 3AM tends to be a bore, I often crawl into bed with some light reading (which probably contributes to my insomnia… but I never claimed to be perfect).

For the last few nights I’ve been re-reading the Tightwad Gazette books. Those who are old hands at frugality have probably already read these classic tomes… and much of the advice is of a been-there-done-that nature. Nonetheless, I always find them inspirational. Amy Dacyczyn took her tightwaddery to a level that I will never achieve… partly because of laziness, partly because of squeamishness, and partly because of convenience. It’s great fun to read about all the ways she managed to save 43% of their income a year.

And now, with Hubby going through some job problems, it’s more important than ever.

Although I have a little freelance writing income, it’s not enough for us to live.  (It’s barely enough to keep our “emergency fund” padded with cash.)  So, basically, Hubby’s income is our only real means of support.

Unfortunately, a new company is coming in and taking over the business.  As a result, Hubby had two choices:

• Sign on with the new company.  He’d stay at the same job and the same pay rate.  However, he’d have to work swing shifts (sometimes first shift, sometimes second shift, sometimes third shift).
• Sign on with a nearby competing company.  He’d work a similar (but not same) job with regular shifts (all first shift), but he’d also get almost a 25% pay cut.

It’s really a dilemma for us.  On one hand, swing shifts are just terrible.  Hubby is the kind of guy who needs regular sleep.  I know it would tear him down physically after a while.  And with Baby on the way, it doesn’t bode well for our family life.

On the other hand, a 25% pay cut is significant.

I hate these types of decisions.

Ok… I admit it.  I’m about ready to have this baby.  Everything–bassinet, crib, diapers, etc.–is ready for her, so all the material/tangible things are prepared.

And since I’m starting to feel quite uncomfortable, I’d say that she can make her appearance at any time.

The other day someone told me that driving my car over railroad tracks can get labor started.  Frankly, I have a hard time believing it.  Other people have mentioned sex, walking and spicy food as labor inducers.

Anyone else have any other tricks to get labor started?

Rather than spend $1-$2 each for photo baby announcements, I have decided to go the route of make-my-own.

I bought Staples brand printable notecards–they’re the size of a standard thank-you note.  I intend to print Baby’s photo on the front (we have a photo printer) and her stats on the inside.  Simple and basic.  Probably not as nice quality as real baby announcements on glossy photo paper, but they’ll do the trick.  I need about 60 total, which would easily cost me $90 or so from a baby announcement store.  The price was $30 for a pack of 100, which means I have plenty of extras, too (which can be used for everything from thank-you notes to birthday cards to holiday greetings).

So I sacrificed quality but saved $60.  Not a bad deal, especially since Hubby thinks I’m crazy for even wanting to send out baby announcements.

The absolute cheapest way would have been to set up a website… but not everyone I know is tech-friendly.

When I was deciding on nursery furniture, I looked long and hard at changing tables. On one hand, they were practical and provided storage (a must for anyone who cloth diapers). On the other hand, they were expensive ($99+) uni-taskers (once Baby is out of diapers, most changing tables can’t really be used for anything else).

Since I’m a pretty practical person who prefers to buy items with longevity, I decided against the changing table. Instead, I opted for a solid pine platform twin bed. At the cost of $99–the price of most changing tables–I got a piece of nursery furniture that could be used:

• As a diaper changing spot
• As a place to nap while Baby is in her crib
• As a first bed for our toddler/young child

We left it unfinished and unstained. Once our child gets to the “I want to pick a room theme” stage, I figure we can paint it pink or purple or whatever she wants. Easy peasy! (And who knows… it may even become a guest bed one day.)

As a platform bed, it only needs a mattress (no box spring). Yes… I did have to buy a mattress ($199). But in two years or so we would have needed one anyway for our toddler, so it’s simply an “early” purchase.

We also had to buy something for cloth diaper storage. I opted for a shelf with bins that–after she’s out of diapers–can be used as toy and book storage. At the cost of $40 (with $10 off coupon), it was totally worth it.

Ultimately, my initial investment was much higher ($99 for changing table versus $338 for bed, mattress and storage). But we’ll definitely use the bed for 10+ years, and the storage bins will probably last through most of her young childhood. Overall, I think spending more money now was the wisest choice.

This is a favorite recipe of mine during the summer… all year, actually. It’s frugal, it’s healthy and it’s easy, too. I make a big batch of it, then eat it for lunches and snacks all week long.

COUSCOUS SALAD

Ingredients (measurements are approximate)

• 1 cup uncooked whole wheat couscous
• 3-4 roma diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup frozen corn
• Cilantro (fresh or dried)
• Parsley (fresh or dried)
• Salt & Pepper
• Olive oil

(For the most part, I just toss this together by taste.)

Cook whole wheat couscous according to box directions with frozen corn. (I usually just throw the corn into the couscous water before it boils, and it cooks fine.) Fluff couscous/corn mix and allow to cool. Toss in black beans, diced tomatoes and diced onions. (Onions and tomato amounts should be to taste… I like lots of onion.) Stir in herbs (chop first if using fresh). (I tend to think that fresh cilantro is a must-have, but I’ll also add in a few shakes of dried cilantro to boost the flavor.) Salt and pepper to taste. Lightly toss with some olive oil. (I probably end up using about 1 tablespoon of oil.)

That’s it! Loaded with nutrients and fiber… and sooooo tasty! I highly recommend it.

CRUNCHY ———-ME——————————-SOFT

That’s probably about where I fall on the crunchy/soft continuum.  To define…

CRUNCHY: AKA “granola” or “hippie.”  Typically embraces the principles of Recycle, Reduce and Reuse.  Attire generally includes tie-dye shirts, broomstick skirts, and Birkenstocks.

SOFT: Sometimes known as “yuppie.”  A big consumer who believes “global warming” is a scam.  Vehicles are purchased based on appearance and status rather than gas mileage.  Prefers disposable items for convenience.

I tend to lean a bit more to the crunchy side, although I have my softer tendencies.  My crunchy style is generally based on things like environmentalism, health and ethics.  My softer side shows up when I want convenience.  Here are a few examples:

MY CRUNCH SIDE: I switched out my reusable plastic water bottles for stainless steel versions in an effort to avoid BPAs.  We plan to use cloth diapers and cloth wipes on our baby.  I do not eat beef, chicken or pork.  Whenever possible, I buy used books, clothing and household items.  We switched many of our lightbulbs to CFLs.  I usually use soaps, shampoos, cleansers, toothpaste and cosmetics that are animal-friendly, vegan and/or all-natural.  I tend to buy organic foods when possible.

MY SOFT SIDE: I sometimes buy cases of individual, disposable bottles of water that are easy to grab on my way out the door.  (Although I recycle the plastic.)  I use a harsh, commercial cleanser for cleaning the kitchen and bathroom.  I eat seafood, dairy and eggs.  We have regular lightbulbs in the bedroom and bathroom, where I want to avoid the weird cast of CFLs.  There are plenty of non-organic foods that make it into my grocery cart, especially if the organic version is not available.

So, you see, I’m a little bit of both, I guess.  I’d like to be crunchier, but I’m not quite sure I have the motivation or dedication to take the plunge.  I like to think that every little bit helps, though.

So for my previous Fight the Frump Friday at Fussypants post, I discussed my 5-minute makeup routine.  To kind of stick with the theme, this week I’m sharing my general thoughts about mineral makeup.

For a few years I’ve been using Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup.  I just use one color of foundation–no mixing for me–and will sometimes apply a light dusting of Mineral Veil, too.  The Mineral Veil is a translucent powder that’s supposed to give you that “air brushed” look.

I have not tried any of their eye makeup or other cosmetics.

So does it work?  Well, there are a lot of things I like about mineral makeup in general.  I prefer the application of mineral makeup over regular liquid foundation.  I also think it looks a lot more natural, and it’s easier to find a matching shade.  Personally, I also like that mineral makeup can be applied very lightly–it’s simple to avoid that caked-on appearance and that weird line of definition between chin and neck.

However, Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup isn’t the best for dry skin.  I have super dry skin, and sometimes it ends up looking flaky after I apply the foundation.  Also, in some cases I think Bare Escentuals actually enhances my fine lines instead of covering them.

Just recently, however, I heard of a company called Everyday Minerals.  According to some reviews I’ve read, this brand of mineral makeup tends to be better for dry skin.  It’s also a lot less expensive than Bare Escentuals.  As a bonus, the company offers a sample kit that includes 3 shades of foundation, 1 shade of blush, and 1 shade of concealer–all for free!  You just pay the shipping cost (about $3).  It’s a really inexpensive way to try out mineral makeup and find the shade that suits you.

I ordered their free sample kit, and it recently arrived in the mail.  I haven’t had a chance to try any of it yet, but plan to do so this weekend.  I can’t wait!  I’m really hoping Everyday Minerals solves my dry, flaky skin issue, as well as does something to minimize my wrinkles instead of spotlighting them.  (Note:  The sizes of the free samples are very decent, too.  I expect a free sample size of Everyday Minerals foundation could last me a month since I use it so infrequently.)

We’re thinking about using an alternative vaccination schedule for our baby… probably the one recommended by Dr. Sears.  Our reasons:

• Reported allergic reactions or negative side effects
• Inability to determine which vaccination is producing a negative reaction if given numerous injections at one time
• The possibility of an “overload” of aluminum from some vaccines

The schedule we’ll use will give our baby all of her vaccinations… she’ll just get them at different intervals so they’re “spread out” over the years.  I tend to think this combines the best of both worlds: She gets all the necessary vaccinations, but side effects and negative reactions are minimized.

Now I just need to find out if the pediatrician we chose is okay with this alternative schedule.