I have been posting a weekly report on how it's going with using cash to buy our groceries.  Since one of the reasons I am behind on tracking our finances is due to spending Friday out with Mr. A, in lieu of the weekly report, I'm going to share my idea of a fun and cheap date.  I am hoping to get back on schedule in time for next week's report. And now, without further adieu… Mr. A and I… Read the rest

I discovered a couple of years ago that the most popular brand of vanilla, McCormick's Pure Vanilla Extract contains corn syrup.  Ingredients listed: vanilla bean extractives in water, alcohol (35%), and corn syrup. I was actually surprised to find that pure vanilla extract contained (along with the alcohol) water and corn syrup. I've been making my own vanilla since January 20th, 2007 when I made my first bottle.  On February 2nd, 2008 I started my second bottle, and we were… Read the rest

I don't actually want one in my home, I'd like to have one installed into an outhouse.  Mr. A and I have talked about building an outhouse before.   The other night he was saying he needed to get around to putting in that outdoors toilet.  I again reiterated to him that I wanted him to put in a composting toilet. I like the idea of having an outhouse for when company comes over and we're having fun outdoors; it's a… Read the rest

In a recent post over at Mrs. Money's, she had a conversation with her neighbor's teenaged boy who asked “Why are you always hanging those little cloths outside?  What do you use those for?” and then she links to another post titled Cloth Toilet Paper. I honestly have never heard of such a thing before!  I thought I was pretty “up” on this green and frugal stuff. My first thought was EWWWWWW. But then I thought maybe I could at… Read the rest