Our camping holiday was a little simpler than what I intended. I couldn’t get a signal anywhere and we didn’t have access to a vehicle.

To top it off, our old coleman stove didn’t work because the tank was the wrong size. I suggested we use the lid of it to cook our food over the fire since it was metal. There was also a grill that fit along the top so between both we could fit two pots and a frying pan over the fire.

The first night we just roasted hotdogs on sticks over the fire, the second night I made burgers and baked potatoes wrapped in foil and the third night I made chili.

We also managed to make oatmeal, bacon and eggs, coffee, hot chocolate and soup.

Making smores was the most fun. We roasted our marshmallows and put them between two graham wafers along with some chocolate chips.

It was great to get away from everything and we did a lot of walking, a little fishing and some swimming. Monday night there was a huge thunderstorm and at one point it was so loud I swear lightening stuck right beside us.

The kids found this great spot behind the campsite with soft grass so they asked if they could go there to chill. I said sure but they came flying back straight away because there was a skunk there who also liked the spot.

It was my husband’s birthday yesterday and I was happy because he finally caught a couple fish. I was starting to wonder if I had steered him wrong about fishing there but I guess it just takes time. It probably helped that he was alone this time because when we were with him we probably scared the fish away with all our racket.

Tags: General // Add Comment »

Our family went to Canada’s Wonderland yesterday (Tuesday) thinking it might not be too busy. Wrong.

Luckily we did land in there early so the kids weren’t stuck waiting for hours to get on the Behemoth. If you haven’t heard of the Behemoth, it’s an insane roller coaster that loops and speeds all over the place with one crazy steep spike that goes straight down. You can see what it’s like on this video and here’s a pic I snapped of it.

Arriving early saved us time but our picnic saved us money. I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to bring our own water or food so I was nervous when it was my turn to go through the gate. My giant purse/tote bag set off the metal detector so I proceeded to open my bag for them to check it.

Some of the strange stuff in my purse:

• First aid kit

• Sun block

• Insect repellent

• Rain ponchos

• Granola bars

• Rice crispie squares

• Water bottles

We got through the gate anyway. That was a relief because a drink of water costs 3 or 4 dollars a bottle which I think is insane. There were seven of us and we needed at least three bottles each. Even at $3 each that’s $63 for water alone. (edited this even though I know my times tables)

For food we brought pita bread and humus, granny smith apples, cheese, submarine sandwiches, potato chips, baby carrots, granola bars and rice crispie squares. If you want a  hot dog at Canada’s Wonderland, you’re looking at $5.50. The things we brought were also much healthier. I know potato chips aren’t healthy but nobody’s perfect.

We went back to the van a couple times to raid the coolers and eat but the granola bars kept us going in between. That was a workout on its own because we usually had to walk half a mile just to get out of the park and the parking lot is huge.

Once there though it was great because there were beautiful big trees for shade and grass beside the parking lot. We set out our stuff after putting blankets on the ground and enjoyed a quiet picnic. If you eat inside Canada’s Wonderland, it’s convenient in that it’s fast but it’s also crowded. You’re lucky if you can find a place to sit.

We arrived at about 9:00 am and left at 9:30pm so by that time we were beat. They all went on a bunch of other insane rides and we hit the water park to break up the day.

I went on the Backlot Stunt Coaster, which I suppose is a tame roller coaster. It used to be called the Italian Job and I don’t know what’s up with the name change but it was good enough for me. My husband was funny because he held onto his baseball cap the whole time.

I’m not sure what other amusement parks are like but if you can bring your own food and water it can save you hundreds of dollars. I can only imagine how much we would have spent since we were there for 12 hours.

Tags: General, Holidays // 3 Comments »

I have mint growing everywhere in my front garden and I don’t even know where it came from. Since I have so much of it I thought I would look into what I could do with it besides make tea.

Mint is very soothing on the stomach so try making a tea with it if you have an upset tummy. Pour boiling water on a couple spoonfuls of dried mint and leave it steep for a few minutes. This would also be perfect for iced tea although I would also add black tea, lemon juice and sugar.

For more information on medicinal uses of mint, see Gardens Ablaze. Apparently mint is good for relaxation, dandruff, stimulating appetites, cramps, face wash and more!

Mint in food

Besides traditional mint with lamb what other ways can you use it in food? How about peppermint candy? I vaguely remember watching a woman in Quebec make this from scratch.

Use it in ice cream. Mint is excellent when combined with chocolate but it would be tasty in vanilla ice-cream and/or combined with fruit.

Mint is also good combined with some vegetables. Try adding a few leaves to the pot when you’re boiling potatoes or add some to a lettuce or spinach salad.

Do you have any favorite recipes using mint? I haven’t used it much in cooking but I would like to try since I have so much of it.

Tags: Gardening, General // 5 Comments »

I read a zillion laundry soap recipes and decided just to wing it with one of my own that’s similar. I’ll save some money because you only need 1/3 to 1/2 cup of soap.

All the ingredients are much kinder to the environment and you can reuse containers to store the laundry soap. I used a few coffee cans with lids.  I swear the kids were pouring the liquid stuff straight out of the jar and the waste was driving me crazy.

I combined one 3 kg. (6 lbs, 10 oz) box of Arm and Hammer washing soda and one 2 kg. (4 lbs, 6 oz) box of Borax in a bucket. Then I grated a bar of Linda’s laundry soap and added that.

That and Sunlight were all they had to choose from at the grocery store.  Because I like the laundry to smell fresh I also added three teaspoons of lemon essential oil.

Some have suggested putting the grated soap through the blender.  I skipped that step and stir it up once in awhile so the grated soap blends in. The bottom line is that it works, it smells good, it saves you money and it’s earth friendly.

If you have a tried and true laundry soap recipe that works for you, let us know.

Tags: Homemade Cleaners, Saving Money // 5 Comments »

We have so many soup and coffee cans to recycle so I thought I would explore different ways of reusing them.

• Bake bread. Soup cans make cute little round slices of bread. Try banana bread, zuchinni bread, raisin bran or carrot cake muffin/cake recipes.

• Use them as a candle mold. Either insert a tabbed wick and fill with wax or punch a wick hole through the bottom and use putty to secure before pouring wax into it. Wait to set and remove for a perfect pretty pillar candle.

• Soup cans are the perfect size for a pencil holder. Decoupage a family photo, flowers or some funky animal prints onto it for décor.

• Make a tin candle lantern by punching holes into the can with a nail and a hammer. Add a tea light and a wire hanger. Try fun easy shapes like hearts, stars, diamonds or circles. You could also use a pattern to trace. See detailed instructions by Rachel Paxton: How to Make a Tin Can Luminary.

• Make a “buddy burner” or a little emergency heat source or stove. Find detailed instructions at Justpeace.org (The Buddy Burner). This would be handy in an emergency, if you were stuck out in the cold or for cooking and camping.

• Flatten out a can and paint something onto it. Check out Patti’s Flattened Can Flag project.

• Some people have made houses and furniture out of tin cans but that would take a lot of them. See these houses and tin can products for examples and ideas.

Tags: Crafts, Recycling // 1 Comment »

It’s family movie night here but thought I’d check in to let you know I’m still kicking. I just finished a long writing project and went for a hike to load up on computer CDs.

It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed the scenery. I found a sturdy chair by the curb for my husband to sit on outside because he busted up a couple of a neighbor’s flimsy ones.

I thought someone might enjoy this tune by Lynryd Skynyrd, Simple Man, so here it is.

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I found an excellent instructional video on how to make a self watering container out of a bucket. Restaurants and other businesses throw these out all the time and they do make great planters. Sometimes I slack off, forget or am just not around to water my plants so this would help hold them over.

Tags: Gardening, General // Add Comment »

In the last month I purchased a computer for fifty bucks, several books on crafts and some candle molds. I know I’m supposed to be purchasing less but most of this stuff is assisting me in my creations.

The computer was worth it for the hard drive alone and the kids love it. Their old one was filled up with all kinds of crap and they simply didn’t have enough space.

Oh yeah, and some Canada’s Wonderland tickets. We’re going in August and it’s going to be a blast. They have this new massive roller coaster called the Behemoth. We’ll be bringing our own food of course. It costs too much for one greasy burger, and who wants to eat that crap anyway?

Buyer Beware

It’s important that you read the fine print before purchasing on eBay. Sometimes they will try to hide the fact that shipping costs fifty bucks on something that you won for a dollar.

You might have to message the seller to find out what the shipping is if they failed to mention it. Also, pay attention to the seller’s feedback score. Ideally, it will be 99% positive or higher.

If you want to get rid of some things, selling them on eBay is a great option. There aren’t many garage sales in the winter months so I bet that would be a good time to buy or sell.

If you have an ongoing little business, an eBay store is another alternative. I’m considering it for my candles but am also working on a website.

eBay can become addicting since it’s similar to gambling and everyone likes a bargain. It’s still fun in moderation.

Here’s a funny video by Weird Al with his slant on eBay, done to the music from Backstreet Boys I want it that way.

Tags: General, Saving Money // Add Comment »

Instead of pitching all your paper in the recycling bin, try some of these creative ways of recycling.

Wallpaper

Use old wallpaper to decorate boxes, photo frames and shelves. Create a makeshift crate out of a sturdy wallpapered cardboard box or decoupage a candle. Make and decorate a dollhouse with cardboard and wallpaper.

Magazines

Make gorgeous beads out of old magazines. They’re easy, colorful and make pretty bracelets and necklaces. See Paper University for more on creating recycled paper beads.

Cut out pretty pictures and use them to make mobiles, decoupage a container or just make a fun collage.

Toilet Paper Rolls

Toilet paper rolls are extremely versatile. How about using them as molds to create chalk? (Chalk Recipes)

Newspaper

Create a paper mache sculpture or a piñata as pictured here. To make paper mache paste, mix 1 cup of flour with 4 cups of water, add 4 cups of boiling water and six tablespoons of sugar. Reduce or double as needed. You could also use wallpaper paste. For more recipes see Planet Pals Paper Mache Recipes.

Heat on the stove until the paste has thickened. Remove to cool. Dip your strips into the paste and start shaping them on your frame. You can use wires, balloons or even paper tubes to help create the skeleton structure.

Use newspaper to protect your table and prevent spills when painting and crafting.

• Paper is handy for using in your garden for mulch. It’s good for preventing weeds as well. If you want to save your back and get rid of some grass, line the area with damp newspaper and it will eventually kill it.

• If you have a paper shredder, use it for your pets bedding. This would work for cats, rabbits and even lizards. Alternately, simply line your pet’s cage with full sheets of paper to absorb messes.

Michael Nolan from Frugal Living has written a helpful post on recycling paper called Stop Throwing it All Away & Recycle! I don’t have a paper shredder but I will get one now thanks to Michael.

Tissue Paper

Use tissue paper you get for gifts to make colorful decoupage crafts with a stained glass effect. Recycle yet again with an old baby food jar for a coin collector, candle holder or use the tissue to decorate a glass vase.

You can also use paper for origami, windmills, hats, fans, paper lanterns or to start fires. If you’re feeling ambitious you can even create some new recycled handmade paper!

For more ideas, see MakeStuff.com

Tags: Crafts, General, Recycling // 2 Comments »

The word freegan came from combining the words free and vegan.

“Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.” (What is Freegan, Freegan info, 2007)

• Freegans share resources that would otherwise be wasted which minimizes the impact of consumption on the environment. Freegans are very community centered and focus on cooperation rather than profit driven competition.

• They refuse to succumb to advertising that tries to convince them to buy things they do not need while trying to obtain what they do need free. This voluntary simplicity reduces their financial needs giving them more time for family, friends, community activities and activism.

Profit driven economies often sacrifice the environment and the well-being of animals and people at any cost. Freegans strive to contribute to communities by reducing pollution and refusing to support sweatshop and child labor as well as abuses of animals, humans and the earth.

• They help reduce waste by recovering usable items that people needlessly discard. This helps promote independence from the profit driven economy. While they are most known for dumpster diving, many are involved with other activities that put waste to practical use such as:

Wild foraging

• This involves finding food and medicinal plants growing in the community. “Wildman” Steve Brill is one of the most famous wild foraging naturalists. He has authored many books including the “Wild Vegetarian Cookbook”. He has been leading foraging tours through parks in New York since 1982 and has even been arrested for it.

Squatting

• They seek abandoned buildings turning them into rent-free housing, community centers, arts and educational programs for low-income communities.

Free Markets and Free Stores

• These are events that people can go to and obtain free goods, exchange skills, socialize, dance and network.

Guerilla and Community Gardening

• Abandoned lots are converted into useful beautiful fruit and vegetable community gardens, which help feed others, improve the environment and add beauty to what was previously a polluted eyesore.

Community Bike Program

• People get together and share bikes, restore broken bikes and exchange bike parts. Volunteers also teach others how to repair bicycles, which increases people’s skills as well as promotes an environmentally friendly form of transportation.

Food Not Bombs

• Food Not Bombs has groups in over 200 cities and feel strongly about feeding hungry people because money seems to be found to provide for war yet not for food. Food is found and recovered to distribute to hungry people that would otherwise go to waste. They have had some problems with laws which specify that only a certain number of people can be fed at one time in public.

Entertainment and Education

• Freegans plan many free events and network together to spread the word about free parties, educational events, discussions, skill building workshops and more.

Freegan.info is a project of the Activism Center at Wetland Preserve founded in 1989. They’re active in promoting compassion, justice and protecting the environment. They fight for human, animal and earth liberation through various means such as advocacy, protest and educational activities.

While Freegan practices are radical, their dedication and contribution to protecting the environment, promoting community centered lives and creating an ecologically sustainable lifestyle is admirable.

For more info see: Freegan.info, 2007

Tags: General, Recycling // 1 Comment »