How to Use a Bucket to Save Some Bucks

You know how every time you turn on the shower you have to wait for it to get warm enough to slip into it? And allll that water gets wasted while you're waiting?

Yeah, Caitlin, I know, and it bugs me!

We bought a 2.6-gallon bucket that we placed under the flow of water from our shower head to collect as much of that water as possible. What do we use it for? Two main uses:

1. Watering plants: it's already in a bucket, so no more filling up at the hose or the sink!
2. Adding it to the laundry: YES! just put it in the washing machine with your laundry and less water will be needed to start the cycle!

Hopefully you have a bucket at your house already that you're not using. We had to buy one ($3 for a nice, sturdy one at Big Lots), but hopefully the gallons of water we save throughout the year and the other things we use this handy dandy bucket for (like making our own laundry soap!) will even out the cost!

We fill up about half the bucket every morning and have been very good at using the water. We could even give it to our cats to drink! We just need to be careful not to get shampoo in it :)

How to Live a Life at 80%

Put your thinking caps on. We're gonna do some math.

You may have heard of the 80/20 "principle" --where if you eat well 80% of the time, you can splurge the other 20%... some people have cheat days where they eat anything they want for one day, usually the same day, every week. Is this good? Does it help you stay on track? Maybe. But the more I have thought about this supposed principle, the more I think it could end up hurting you more than helping you. Think about it:

If you subscribe to the 80/20 principle, that usually means that 20% percent of your food, or more than an entire day's worth of meals, is just plain bad food. Little to no nutrients. Processed. Greasy. Fried. Artificial. Or maybe you just ate too much.

If food what we need to give us energy, we should want to eat the food that will give us the most, and the best, energy.. I know we don't always want to eat those kinds of foods--but 20% bad food per week is a lot. A serious amount. Even 20% of $20 is $4-- I could buy a lot for $4.

Essentially what we do to ourselves each time we insert edible foodstuffs, or stuff posing as actual food, into our mouths (processed, fried, fatty, farmed, cholesterol-laden foods would be examples of these foodstuffs), we are basically saying to our bodies "I don't care how this will make me feel." Usually when I eat something high in sugar, like ice cream or a slice of cake, I feel like taking a loooooong nap. What's wrong with this picture!? Food should be giving me energy, not taking it away.

So if we say "I don't care" to 20% of what passes through our pieholes (I hate that word), I believe we are limiting ourselves and our health. If I want to have a health level at 80%, an energy level at 80%, heck, even a sex drive (yep, I said it!!!) at 80%, -- then I will strive to feed my body properly at least 80% of the time. But I don't have time for that. Twenty percent of my day is a lot. Twenty percent makes a huge difference. Can you imagine if  our savings accounts had 20% interest rates?! Back in my school days, an 80% grade on a test was as good as failure for me. It was one point away from a *gasp* C! I can't afford to sacrifice 20% of my health and energy level every day of my life because I am causing my body to struggle to cleanse itself 20% of the time because I fed it garbage.

I really want to at least aim for 100%. I will probably never, ever get there. I'll still have my cravings, and I'll still give in to them now and then. And you know what, they come less and less often these days--because the more good, wholesome food I give my body, the more of that kind of food it craves. 

I've got to aim higher than 80%... because if I'd like to live at 100% for 100% of my life, I think need to care a bit more than that.

[Product Review] 100% Pure Cosmetics

I first bought makeup from this cosmetic line in December 2010, and I've been hooked ever since. I first used the fruit-pigmented Healthy Skin Foundation and I swear that my skin literally cleared up overnight. I had been using a makeup from Max Factor that lots of women swore by, but I had come to the conclusion after reading the label (I do that with foods, and I had started doing it with what I put ON my body as well) that these women were simply misinformed. Sure, the makeup does the job to cover up the spot and is the color of your skin... but what are its long term effects? Not good. Chemicals and preservatives all over your beautiful face, all day every day? No thanks.

My first bottle of Healthy Skin foundation is STILL half full, making it more than worth the $32 I spent on it back in December. You need very little. I apply it over my St. Ive's Timeless Skin moisturizer and 100% Pure's antioxidant primer. I love knowing that I am not putting chemicals into my skin and that it is all fruits and veggies! Here is a list of my old makeup's ingredients vs. my current makeup's ingredients... it is shocking the difference!

MAX FACTOR LASTING PERFORMANCE STAY-PUT MAKEUP

• Water
• Cyclopentasiloxane
• Propylene glycol
• dimethicone
• talc
• aluminum starch
• octenylsuccinate
• sodium chloride
• methiconelaureth-7
• PEG/PPG-18/18   otherwise known as WTF
• arachidyl behenate
• trihydroxystearin
• dehydroacetate
• silica
• ethylene brassylate
• synthetic wax
• methylparaben
• polyglyceryl-4
• isostearate
• propylparaben
• PVP
• hexyl laurate
• ethylene/methacrylate copolymer
• stearic acid
• aluminium hydroxide
• cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone
• isopropyl titatium triisostearate
• titanium dioxide
• iron oxides

"MADE IN USA OF US AND IMPORTED PARTS"

VS.

100% Pure -- HEALTHY SKIN FOUNDATION WITH SUPER FRUITS, SPF 20 

• Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide (sunscreen)
• Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Juice)
• Rice Starch,
• Peach extract
• Apricot extract
• Cocoa bean extract
• goji berry extract
• Acai oil
• pomegranate oil
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
• Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate)
• Candelilla Wax
• white tea leaf extract
• coffee cherry
• maqui berry
• muscadine grape
• mangosteen
• acerola fruit
• elderberry
• grapefruit seed
• japanese honeysuckle

When I started using 100% Pure, my skin literally cleared up overnight. My skin is smoother, softer, there are less flakes, and it actually glows. I love the SPF in it, as well. I really do not like being in the sun. You will never find me tanning or "laying out" purposely to get a tan. I have been to the beach once in the last two years where I laid down on a towel with SPF 50 for less than 3 hours. The sun and I are not friends. But when I'm 50, 60, 70 years old, I will thank myself. Heck, I'm thanking myself already :)

Why I Love Being Ben's Wife

Us, totally elated in love on our wedding day

So this post isn't like the others that have come before it. But I was feeling just so blessed this morning as Ben and I laughed and giggled like crazy while getting ready for work, I just felt so blessed that I was alive, that I met someone who is truly my best friend. I have a lot of moments where I kind of sit back and listen as a conversation is going on, or as we're eating a meal, or working out together at 5:30 in the morning... and I think to myself, "Wow, this is so much more than I ever thought I would have."

I can't tell you how many times I doubted God on this one. Although I had quite a few "power surges" of faith over the years that had me committed to knowing that God was going to bless me wildly in ways I never thought possible, many times I fell back into believing that no one would find me, with all my, um, uniqueness, appealing enough to commit to. But someone did, and he is my MAN!

He is sweet, thoughtful, incredibly supportive, I love making dinner for him, I love that we are partners in life, in love, and in prayer. We are committed to each other and our future family by setting healthy examples for children that don't even exist yet. He loves healthy eating (more than I do!), loves to share knowledge with me, and he is great to snuggle with.  I never thought I'd be blessed/lucky enough to find someone that loves me so dang-on much, that finds it delightful when I geek out about The Gymbox, or whatever book I'm reading, and does not criticize me. He is patient, loving, kind, and as honest as they come. I respect him, love him, and am just tickled to death that he is all mine.

I just never thought I'd ever meet him.

But I did.

I love being Ben's wife.

So-Good-I-Forgot-To-Snap-A-Picture One Pot Pasta!!

This was the kind of meal Ben and I agreed our future children would beg me to make. Kid-friendly taste, full of veggies with vitamins & antioxidants, protein, fiber, good carbs... the whole works.  I love this recipe because it is ridiculously easy to throw together on a week night, and even suitable for a meal with the in-laws (I'm considering it!)... my only regret was, since this was a spur-of-the-moment kind of meal that I hadn't planned on making last night, I didn't have any fresh baked bread! It would have been INCREDIBLE to have soft bread to mop up our bowls with after we finished the meal. Next time... next time!

Absolutely wonderful flavor. The TVP absorbs whatever it is cooked in, and it has an outstanding texture that would honestly be mistaken for bits of ground beef by most. The frozen veggies cook perfectly with the pasta and add a nice little crunch into the otherwise relatively smooth sauce.

This recipe was inspired by One Pot Pasta on FatFreeVegan.com .

Ingredients:
1 tbsp EVOO
1 cup chopped onion
2 large cloves garlic, minced
2 15-oz cans organic diced tomatoes, pureed in a blender
1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cups water
2 cups frozen mixed veggies (i was DYING to get rid of the organic corn, carrot, green bean mix I had left from a Costco trip!)
1/2 cup dry TVP (I used the Bob's Red Mill kind. Available at W.F., not sure about Publix)
1 tbs italian seasoning/Herbs de Provence
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp fennel seeds, crushed (i used the bottom of a jar to crush them the best I could)
3/4 tsp sea salt
2 cups whole grain or whole wheat pasta (or pasta of choice -- I used whole grain rotini)
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, with more to taste for garnish

Directions:
1. Heat the EVOO in a pot with a lid over medium heat.
2. Saute the onion and garlic until just beginning to soften.
3. Add the pureed tomatoes, vegetables, TVP, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, sea salt, basil, and pasta.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and cover the pot.
5. Simmer for about 12-15 minutes, or until pasta and TVP are tender.
6. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes, serve garnished with more chopped basil.

Makes 4 servings.

Next time I might add in almond milk for some of the water or even 1/3 cup nutritional yeast to make it even creamier!

[My Own] RECIPE! - Pan-Seared Tempeh with Carmelized Onions + Seasoned Quinoa

Mmm, mmm, GOOD!

Sometimes I am too darn lazy to seek out a recipe in one of my many cookbooks, because I have been avoiding grocery shopping, trying to live off of my staples, and only buying fresh produce and almond milk. This was one week that I was really good at that! This meal is my very own, I-thought-it-up-while-reading-a-transcript bona-fide original.

It tastes even better the next day with extra hot sauce!

PAN-SEARED TEMPEH

Ingredients
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 small onion, coarsely chopped (you can use pretty much as much as you want)
1 8-oz package tempeh, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices (at Publix or Whole Foods... like $3 a package, I used a coupon)
Bragg Liquid Aminos, to taste (tastes JUST like soy sauce but is very good for you)
hot sauce of choice, to taste (I LOVE TEXAS PETE!)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp lime juice

Directions
1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a medium skillet.
2. Add the onion and fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring and reducing the heat as necessary.
3. Shake the Bragg Liquid Aminos all over the onions and coconut oil.
4. Add the tempeh into the skillet, cook for 4-5 minutes, turning the tempeh to cook evenly and stirring the onions to prevent burning
5. Shake the Texas Pete (or your own hot sauce of choice) to taste over the onions and tempeh.
6. Once the onions are beginning to caramelize, reduce the heat to low and sprinkle the cilantro and lime juice over the top. Serve warm with a side of quinoa, prepared as follows...



SIMPLE SEASONED QUINOA

Ingredients:
1 cup organic quinoa (rinsed if not rinsed already)
2 cups water
2 tsp or more of Vegebase   (I use this to make veggie broth, if you don't have it... buy it! And in the meantime, use regular veggie broth)
1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients into a medium, deep-sided skillet with a lid.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and let cook for about 15 minutes until the spiral "tails" of the quinoa are visible and the liquid is mostly absorbed.

SERVE and ENJOY! I think next time I will serve it with a wedge of lime :)

I don't have nutrition facts on this meal, but it is very high in fiber, protein, iron and essential amino acids.

Couponing-- Dollars & Sense

I love coupons. Am I an extreme couponer? Not really. With the way I eat, it's not as possible as I would like it to be. Although I've managed in the past to get $25 worth of stuff at Publix for just $10,  most of the products that have the extreme couponers going crazy and stockpiling are processed snacks and products from companies that I avoid purchasing from for various reasons. Most coupons in the Sunday newspaper are Proctor & Gamble products or other big name brands-- Gillette, Skintimate, Listerine, etc. by way of hygiene products, and Kellogg's, ConAgra, etc. dominate the frozen foods and processed snacks. Not very often do you find coupons for pita chips, hummus, almonds, soymilk, Terra chips, Stevia... stuff I actually buy. Don't get me wrong, when I see these coupons, I clip them right away! But I pass on the vast majority of coupons from the paper. I don't care if it's free. If I can't pronounce half of your product's main ingredient, your company tests on animals, or a serving of your cereal has more sugar than a can of Coke, I'm not buying it.

I do always check the Publix and Winn Dixie ads for Buy One Get Ones on products that I actually use. Toufayan wraps and Arnold Sandwich Thins go on BOGO and I stock up. Smart Balance Light, BOGO with $1/off coupon, I stock up. I especially love BOGO pasta deals with coupons. Especially on Ronzoni Garden Delight or Healthy Harvest. Two boxes for $0.79? Please and thank you! Sometimes, stores will actually help you out with coupons. Walgreens does this. My favorite Publix near my home does this. They were doing a BOGO on 28 oz cans of tomatoes (I needed diced) and the store had literally TAPED $1 off coupons onto the cans. So I got two large cans of diced tomatoes for 87 cents. I felt good that day. I start keeping a record of which products generally go on BOGO and then I just don't buy them until they're on sale. It's just common sense... or cents :)

Sites like http://www.iheartpublix.com/ and http://www.totallytarget.com/ are really helpful when it comes to pairing deals with coupons. I check these sites weekly. I also love the Publix and W/D iPhone apps when I can't get online to check the ads. It's great when there are ingredients you need for a meal that week on sale at a local store.

CVS has been known to purposely put things with coupons on sale. Generally, their prices are higher for stuff, but when something is BOGO and you get a coupon for $1 off two, you can save big. I recently got two 11-oz containers of Emerald Cocoa Roasted almonds BOGO minus $1. It was a great deal for really delicious almonds :)

For items I buy often, like almond milk, I go to sites like The Krazy Coupon Lady to check for coupons before I go. When I saw that Wacky Mac (veggie pasta in crazy shapes... I like the shapes, ok?!?) was on sale for 99 cents at Publix, I checked out this site for a coupon and scored 40 cents off. Also, when it comes to printing coupons, know which ones have a limit and sign up on other computers! I am about to download software to print coupons on my husband's computer just so I can print more almond milk coupons.

As for really extreme couponing, where you can get things literally for free by stacking coupons and taking advantage of loopholes in stores' coupon policies, and even making profits on purchases... I think that's just wrong and manipulative. Of course... if you're just buying processed crap, then it's not really worth much anyway.