The Post Consumer Project

Back Track

2010-05-10T21:11:00.007-04:00

Goodness gracious, has it been that long? So much has happened over the long winter months that I don't quite know where to begin. The Post Consumer Project is officially over, but unofficially I'm still doing my darndest to not buy new. I'm preparing a long-winded post with some summative comments about the project but for now, I'll just say WE'RE STILL HERE!

So to give you a sampling of what we've been up to, here are some pictures that go way back, first from Halloween, then some of Christmas, and Ezra's third birthday party.

Hallowe'en: I thought it was fairly obvious that we were thematically dressed as Red Riding Hood, the wolf, and Grandma but you wouldn't believe how many people thought Ezra was Eeyore, or that C was an "old drunk flashing pervert", to quote my neighbour. Granted, his wig was a bit scraggly, and he was mashed into my small flannel pajamas, but still. Come on, people!

Christmas: For Ezra's gift this year, we sourced a huge lot of Thomas the Train tracks and accessories from Craigslist. There is so much, that we could probably lay tracks from Guelph to Toronto. Instead of wrapping it up, C and I spent hours on Christmas Eve setting up an amazing configuration of bridges and tunnels around the tree. When Ezra saw it, he exclaimed: Holy Mackerel! So cute. And speaking of mackerel, Ezra also got fish oil in his stocking. Vitamins were allowed and little ones need their Vitamin D!

Ezra's Party: This year, I sweated and toiled for weeks before the party. It wasn't so much the preparations that stressed me out, it was the baking part. I'm a bad baker. Like, epically bad. Bakers should never say such things as "I wonder if I can substitute this for that", or "that's probably a cup". But I do.

So I started preparing for disaster, in the hopes of avoiding it. I ended up baking 4 cakes, just in case! And I want to thank everyone who I badgered for advice. You saved me so much heartache! I didn't settle on the easiest cake to make, either. Behold, the banjo cake. The cakes are chai spice cake and chocolate (neck), with white chocolate cream cheese icing. Oh, and fudge brownies around the edges! Yummmm!

I also made these cute little felt hats. We can use them year after year, and they're sweeter than the store bought ones if I do say so myself!

Dig in!

Project Complete

2009-12-16T14:49:00.006-05:00

Behold, the motley crew. Not bad for a first effort but something's a tad amiss. Is it the eyes? Too light? They look like they're up to no good. Which is probably the case.

The red guy needs a little contrasting cache-pot for his head and I should also throw a running stitch around his neck to taper. He's got a body builder's neck!

Hand In Hand More Monkeys Come
Dum Diddy Dum Diddy Dum Dum Dum

Handmade Holiday

2009-12-15T13:33:00.003-05:00

I must be crazy. Between cleaning and packing (we move in less than a week!), I have convinced myself that there is time to make Christmas crafts. Behold, my Xmas gift tags! I picked up the fabric last year from Value Village. It's a curtain panel but I really liked the funky lines and shades of green. Perfect for these mini Christmas trees. I added some colourful beads from the bead jar (everyone should have a bead and button jar!) and then zigzagged the edges onto homemade paper. Some are a bit wonky but I like them like that! The paper also has an interesting history. I got it from my neighbour Carolyn, who made a huge batch of it for her wedding invitations. She ended up calling off the wedding (tells me she narrowly missed a bullet there), and was left with stacks of the stuff. She sold it to me at a garage sale for five bucks. I have so much of it, you'll be seeing it for a long time!

The Dala horse at the end is one of the felt Christmas ornaments I did last year. Can't wait to get the tree up! Huge priority once we move in.

Anyway, I'll shut up now and just show you. Time to get back to work!

Miss Thrifty

2009-11-27T14:13:00.012-05:00

To some people (not mentioning any names), it may appear that I spend my days combing Craigslist and Kijiji for used stuff. OK, I admit it. I do spend an unhealthy amount of time searching for stuff like retro sofas, used dishes, and of course, the perfect living room lamp that continues to elude me.

So we went ahead and bought the house in Guelph. My first inclination was to just give up on the project in despair. After all, we just bought a HOUSE. A used one, sure, but a HOUSE nonetheless. That's the purchase of a lifetime and the greatest failure for a family who has sworn off buying anything for a year. And then there's the stuff to go inside it!

Still, before we pack it all in and label this experiment with a giant FAIL, I will do my utmost to outfit my house by thrifting. I have to keep reminding myself that it is a work in progress that will require patience. Gradually, it will all fall into place. And it's OK to have it looking a bit bare for the time being. It's tempting to run to Ikea for the quick fix but I will persevere. In the long run, if I hold out for pieces that are unique, eclectic, whimsical, and well-made, they'll come together to make our home feel more like ours. I will use Made With Love By Hannah as my thrifty inspiration. I love her house. It's lovely and crazy and quirky all at the same time and yet, it's not me at all. It's her. And if you haven't already, you MUST meet her.

OK, so I would totally love her mushroom garden furniture but I also have to live with Christopher. And only in an alternate universe could Christopher live with Pookie and velvet paintings. But the Goodwill is full of treasures waiting to be found and loved again. My design aesthetic leans towards mid-century modern with a crazy impulse for kitschy atomic accents. Think boomerang coffee tables and fiberglass lampshades. I'm just getting started but check out my latest scores. Jumpy claps!

Set of 4 retro blond oak dining chairs. $20 bucks each.

12 piece set of Kathie Winkle vintage dishes, 99 cents a plate at Value Village. SCORE!

Retro 60s Sectional on Craigslist. She's a BEAUTY! Just have to get those portobello mushroom pillows recovered.

Right now I'm in the midst of cleaning up the set of chairs. I plan to cover them in this fabric.

And last, but not least, here is my sewing work in progress. Got my monkeys' bodies all sewn up and their appendages stuffed. Now just have to sew them together and put on their faces! I would say cute but in this state, they look very very creepy. I'll post the before and after shots later. For now, check out those stubby legs!

The Home Front

2009-10-22T19:32:00.010-04:00

I have a sneaking suspicion that this year I will eat my words. It's going to hurt when this happens, like dipping those words in tabasco sauce and rolling them in a marinade of glass shards. I will wince and crunch them down and confess to you: "We're thinking of buying a house". And just when you recover from the shock in time to deliver a mocking--well, it's about time or you gotta grow up sometime--I'll take another swig of that broken glass like a Hells Angels biker and finish my sentence. Wait for it--

IN GUELPH.

I never thought I'd be ready to leave my beloved city and indeed, I am not. But this apartment is getting cramped and wouldn't it be nice to have a burrow of our own. I know, I know. I've always sworn this way and that that I am a free spirit unencumbered by such mundane responsibilities as paying a mortgage or mowing the lawn. Hell, you still won't get me to mow the lawn. I'll pluck my own dandelion greens to make a salad before you get me to run a mower but you get the point. It's time to turn a new leaf.

The whole process has been kind of weird. We take Ezra to look at houses and people nod appreciatively and spout nonsense like, good choice, RIGHT choice, you can't raise a child in the city. And C braces himself as my colour rises and I say YES, you ABSOLUTELY CAN raise kids in the city and have access to AGO day camps and Night At the Museum at the ROM and author series and Nuit Blanche for kids and way better schools where all the kids aren't just white but that renting sucks and if we had half a million dollars laying around we wouldn't be there having a surreal conversation about high efficiency furnaces and the likelihood of vermiculite in the walls.

I love Toronto and I've lived here for a long time. This city is a true love of mine so don't ever ever rag on her. I would be lying if I said it wasn't hard to leave it behind. It is. But the time has come to court a new suitor, and Guelph has caught my eye. I don't think I'm settling. I like Guelph and am hoping that like will soon grow into love. Comes a time when you settle down.

Ezra's Room

2009-10-13T00:04:00.007-04:00

The time has come for my little man to move to a big boy bed. And since I never got the chance to do up a baby's room, I'm getting pretty darned excited about choosing bedding, and decorating his new digs. The theme I'm going with is Canadiana-nature-camping-hunting lodge. Here is some of my inspiration. I figure I can source a vintage log cabin quilt, or at the very least, a quilt top which I can finish. I'm eyeing C's old plaid shirts too for throw pillows and appliques. Time to put on my thinking cap and figure out how to do this within the framework of the project! Keep you posted. Here was some of my inspiration...

Of course, I'm trying to source everything vintage. I also can't wait to try my hand at those log pillows. Anyone want to show me the fine art of quilting?

Quickie

2009-09-30T12:14:00.003-04:00

Gah! It's been ages and I owe you a post. It's getting hard now. For one, I'm THIS CLOSE to buying some hair conditioner. Ezra won't let me near him with a brush and he has three tiny dreadlocks that may need to be cut out. And I'm starting to have the same problem.

There's also the mattress situation. I forgot that this year we would have to transition Ezra to a bed. The frame part was easy but there's something kind of yucky about buying a used mattress for him. We may just have to give in on that one.

The sewing is going very well but not quite fast enough. As Christmas looms on the horizon, I'm breaking out into a cold sweat. I plan to make sock monkeys and bean bag chairs and kids pjs and all kinds of fun stuff. We'll see how far I get. The kids may get passes to the zoo instead. As long as we don't buy "stuff", I guess it's OK.

Take a look at the dress I made for myself. Without the belt, it's kind of a sack but hey, it's my first garment!

Fruits of our labour

2009-09-02T15:20:00.008-04:00

I have all but abandoned this blog but fortunately not the project. Summer is a time for doing, not for writing. Right now I'm up to my ears in Italian plums from the tree in the backyard, not to mention Tom's enormous zucchini (sounds dirrrty). Today I baked up a fruit crumble, adding wild blueberries, and peaches from Frank's tree two doors down. I plan to take it out back with some forks and see who emerges. If all goes according to plan, it'll be plum tart tomorrow!

Update! The crumble was a success. So much so that Tom and Frank got out the ladders, and Ezra went a pickin' again. Who likes pie? Check out what a trip to Frank's garden can yield!

In other news, Ezra is obsessed with guitars and watching old reels of Bob Dylan on You Tube. How in the world did that happen? PS: That's a library copy of Rolling Stone--I didn't break the rules!

In Honour of Hillside

2009-07-31T14:05:00.008-04:00

I’ve decided to take this occasion to finally introduce myself on this blog. Indeed, this buy-nothing project is a family affair. There is more than one of us contributing to this endeavour, although my better half has very much taken the initiative and lead to make sure this thing sticks. She is the environmental engine with endless enthusiasm that keeps us ticking along. I’ve tried my hand at making toothpaste, but my bicycle maintenance skills have certainly fallen well behind her sewing productivity.

So what of the occasion that finally solicits my first contribution? It seems fitting that following our fourth visit to this fantastic festival, I should file a post. The Hillside Festival is a three-day music festival that takes place annually in July at Guelph Lake Conservation Area in Southwestern Ontario. The diverse, top-notch music presented at this unique festival should in no way be downplayed; however, Hillside goes beyond the music to encompass a sense community and consciousness that serves as a noteworthy model for what is possible. The Hillside community has grown up from its early days at an area park in Guelph more than 25 years ago to a full-blown music extravaganza that is run by an army of more than a thousand volunteers. You won’t find any corporate concessions or ads at Hillside. Aside from the logos of some local brews and the purveyors of very tasty food served up on site, you’d be hard pressed to find much in the way of a profit motive save the eclectic artisans offering their wares and the guys running the honey wagons, keeping the port-a-potties clean. Hillside takes its environmental impact very seriously and has undertaken extensive initiatives to lessen it. From reusable dishes washed by those ubiquitous volunteers, to the plentiful refreshing water dispensed free of charge from a large tanker, this festival proves what is possible.

And possibility is the point of this project. It is not about perfection. It is about embracing the possibility of living more in tune with our natural world. Our challenge is finding alternate ways of doing things to lessen our impact. Hillside encourages us by demonstrating solutions to this challenge. The Festival is not about denying oneself in the name of eco-consciousness, but rather living it up responsibly. Hillside’s solutions serve as a refreshing and courageous counterpoint to most other large-scale events where tap water is bottled in indestructible plastic for your convenience and beer cups overflow from garbage bins. The wasteful alternative was highlighted for me during a recent visit to check out the Jays at the Rogers Centre, where sometimes living it up includes a few beers. Not surprisingly, this posed a challenge to the project. I was left to scavenge a used cup from my friend with the hope that he didn’t have a cold and that this would qualify as less impactful. The problem was that the bartender refused to refill a used cup, despite the fact that the keg was tapped and she was pouring from cans! Yes, we reached a fine level of absurdity as we were not only wasting energy to recycle a can, but now we must pour it into a brand new cup too. Now to some this may seem a small detail hardly worth the trouble. To me, who has a serious eco-anxiety surrounding waste, particularly of the spatial kind, this small detail needs to be multiplied by all the beer patrons that night, this year, and at all the other sporting events around North America. This ridiculous waste doesn’t have to be. Hillside is an example of what’s possible.

Hillside is a shining light for what is means to care about the planet. It was great to spend a weekend at a place where you were encouraged to bring your own dishes, rather than scoffed at. You were required to reuse your beer cup (had to be purchased for $2), rather than feeling slight embarrassment for trying. And that is a key message for me from Hillside: we’re not the only ones. It’s okay to take these things seriously. In fact, I suspect future generations will appreciate it. So it’s time for me to hold my head a little higher when I take my reuseable container to pick up pizza slices; being the change is good. Thanks for making it fun, Hillside! See you next year.

Dropping Acid

2009-06-27T13:00:00.008-04:00

A trip to Value Village proves how limited the thrift option can be. Check out the sweet jeans C had to choose from. I had to BEG him to try on this pair of acid washed AWESOMENESS. All it needs is a fanny pack and the look is complete.

I'm Sew Excited

2009-06-09T17:22:00.005-04:00

And I Just Can't Hide It.

Carine and I hired a sewing tutor. Every Monday we turn the apartment into a sweat shop and sew our little asses off. Last week we sewed an apron. Next week we tackle a pattern.

Trudy has come through in a BIG way here and has supplied the sewing machine, tools, and other goodies, as pictured below. Yes, that is a pattern for underwear. Granny panties no less. It's what all you bitches are getting for Christmas. In red velvet. Mwahahahah.

Lost Art of Canning and Preserving

2009-06-08T15:02:00.003-04:00

I'm going to sign up for this workshop in August. Let me know if you want to join me!

A Musical Quandary

2009-06-06T14:10:00.015-04:00

I can't stop listening to this Angela Desveaux song. I keep thinking it's Martha Wainwright though. Can you hear it too?

Music poses a bit of a quandary for the project, does it not? Music, as it's played live is not a tangible or physical object but when it comes to reproducing its sound, it's inextricably connected to raw materials such as vinyl, polycarbonate, and other plastics. And in this sense it is a "thing"--a record in a jacket, a cassette or a CD in a jewel case.

The recent emergence of the mp3 format has changed things entirely. An mp3 file is not nothing, but it's no longer something that requires manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and eventual disposal. It's a sound byte, a lossy algorithm, compressed digital data stored in a virtual universe. Yeah, trippy. So what does this mean for the project? Is music stuff, or isn't it?

Vote and discuss.

poll by twiigs.com

Bad Hair Day

2009-06-02T19:53:00.007-04:00

Life is pretty bad without conditioner. In fact, without conditioner this girl's a ratty, tangled, and static mess who's just emerged from a wind tunnel. And as if the hair gods weren't having enough of a laugh already, my hair blower died today. I even went so far as to scout out a viable replacement at Value Village but all I saw was a tangled mess of cords and dead hair in appliances resembling this one:

And to add insult to injury, it appears as if C now has the best hair of his life. We're talking epic hair. Amazing hair. R-Patz hair. It's wavy and tousled and HOT. I'm trying very hard to be happy for him.

Bells' Angels

2009-05-31T18:01:00.013-04:00

Today we took the whole fam damily down to High Park for the 2009 Bells On Bloor protest event. Not sure how many riders turned up, but a seemingly endless stream of cyclists poured out of the park, taking over Bloor St. on our way down to Queen's Park. Amazingly amidst the chanting, singing, and ringing of bells, Ezra still fell asleep right off the mark.

WHAT DO WE WANT? BIKE LANES!!!
WHERE DO WE WANT 'EM? HERE!!!
WHEN DO WE WANT 'EM? NOW!!!

RING A DING DING AMEN!!!

Here's the view from behind. Guess I should have told C to hike up his pants...

I don't recommend anyone simultaneously film, ring a bell, and steer a bike. Sorry for the wobbly footage.

Biblio-Blues

2009-05-28T12:26:00.017-04:00

Summer is the season for juicy paperback novels. You know the kind. The kind you can't bring yourself to pull out on the subway. The bad kind. The totally embarrassing kind. The kind you don't even want to read in front of your husband. Because he is a non-fiction/literature type; a Ralston-Saul-Rohinton Mistry-reading man who can crack walnuts with his enormous brain. He would not be interested in a book that could quite possibly kill brain cells. Unlike myself.

The latest book to strike my fancy is entitled Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, and is the first book in The Southern Vampire Mysteries (yes, the same books that inspired HBO's True Blood). But getting my hands on this one is easier said than done. I can no longer zip into my local Chapters and stock up on some light reading with the leftover Christmas gift cards littering my wallet. Now I only have one place to go. And it's called the public library.

It will be a long time before Sookie Stackhouse and I are reunited. I'm number 44 in the queue. At this rate, I'll be able to author my own fan fiction, entitled Dead Until Your Fines Are Paid For That Damaged Copy Of The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Or something like that.

Lucky Me

2009-05-27T19:59:00.006-04:00

I should really buy lottery tickets because I always win free stuff. And the timing couldn't be worse. Carine and I checked out the Spring Handmade market a couple of weeks ago at the Gladstone. I went to get inspiring gift ideas that I could make and sew myself. I didn't expect to win the damn door prize.

So now I have a voucher for a piece of jewelry from Zippan Designs. This tree pendant is so purdy. I can see it dangling before my eyes, temporarily hypnotizing me. But alas, time to snap myself awake and let it go.

So which of you readers would like the voucher? Write me a haiku and I'll choose a lucky friend!

One Month Sum Up

2009-05-22T20:08:00.010-04:00

One month down. To be completely honest, it hasn't felt like much of a challenge so far. And strangely enough, I'm kind of disappointed about that. I keep thinking to myself, is this too easy? Should we dream up other sadistic ways of depriving ourselves? But then I remember; like all long distance runners, we're in the zone right now. Right off the mark, we're sailing, we're optimistic, and we've barely broken a sweat. I imagine that in a few months we'll be looking to the sidelines for a cup of water, some Icy Hot, and a bag of frozen peas to soothe the burning holes in our pockets. Apparently it's as painful as a couple of torn hamstrings. OK, so that analogy can only go so far. But you do see my point. To borrow a line from the Carpenters, "We've only just begun".

That said, we have still endured some minor hardships this month, namely giving up paper towel and plastic wrap. Paper towel is just so handy for cleaning toddler messes off the floors and walls--like mashed up pieces of banana, sticky mango wedges, and chewed up pieces of eggplant. Who wants to handle that?

Saran wrap has also been greatly missed, and there are now a million old yogurt containers in the fridge harbouring everything from mystery leftovers to green peppers and onion halves. I have to brace myself every time I open one. Nothing like going for a little leftover lentil soup and finding a piece of moldy tempeh. As for cheese, it now lives in old bread bags and I'm not sure how effective this method is. Suggestions?

C has something else to refer to the Complaint Department but he intends to write an appeal of his own. I'll tip you off: the new Bob Dylan album just came out. What's a fanatic to do?

Update: Thanks to Trudy for loaning us a cheese keeper. These mice sure appreciate it!

Tossed and Found

2009-05-19T22:32:00.016-04:00

It is with mixed feelings that I announce the end of my relationship with my beloved Delilah. Sniff sniff. We had some great times together, her and I. I will miss skidding around on her coaster brakes. And doubling my drunk friends on her back. And the cheerful ding dong of her giant bell that made me feel like I was driving the damn Dairy Belle. I will not however, miss Christopher yelling at me to keep up the pace. Or having to drag her 100 lb metal ass up every incline.

I will be moving on to greener pastures (quite literally). Delilah will be replaced by this sweet new bike I found leaning against a tree for someone to adopt. Behold this 70s girly Peugot. With gears. Now I only need to find the perfect name.

Picnic Dress

2009-05-13T12:29:00.009-04:00

Summer is upon us and it's time to evaluate the wardrobe situation. We have a couple of weddings/parties coming up so I have to plan ahead. I picked up a couple of used dresses that I thought had some potential. Christopher is not a fan of either dress, and referred to this one as particularly "heinous".

Admittedly, this dress is a bit...dated, for lack of a better word. I have been tossing around the idea of shortening it, and doing away with the whole picnic motif. I can't decide. Let's put it to a vote!

poll by twiigs.com

White Teeth

2009-05-10T13:23:00.005-04:00

This morning we officially squeezed the very last pearl of toothpaste out of the tube. Luckily, it took exactly a minute to whip up this easy formula found at Pioneer Thinking.

6 tsp baking soda
1/3 tsp salt
4 tsp vegetable glycerin
15 drops essential oil such as peppermint, wintergreen, or anise.

Mix, brush, and spit!

Update: Hmmm, it's kind of salty when you brush but the minty aftertaste is refreshing. Feels clean and polished too. I guess you can't go wrong with baking soda--same as I use for cleaning my sinks!

Morning Vistas

2009-05-08T08:42:00.012-04:00

I am unabashedly a morning person. I cheerfully announced this to my bleary eyed husband this morning as he dragged his ass out the door to work. "Good for you" he grumbled. To which I replied: "No, that's good for you". Even he has to concede that point. Work aside, it's almost always me who gets up with Ezra and gives him an extra hour of zzzzzs.

This morning was glorious, and with the garden underway, Ezra and I now have a new routine. Get up. Eat breakfast. Make coffee. Fill watering can. Spend an hour on the deck with the plants, watching rush hour Go-trains whiz by.

Our garden inventory:

sweet basil
thai basil
cilantro
tarragon
lavender
thyme
oregano
dill
mint
calendula
cherry tomatoes
Roma tomatoes

And here is the view we took in from the back deck, around 7:30 am:

On The Line

Frank's Garden

Later, we hitched up the bike trailer and flew down to High Park for a little exercise. We ran down the big hill, watched the ducks, picked dandelion greens, chased red winged black birds, ate some crisp Fujis, and then Ezra crashed some wedding photos that were being taken by the pond.

Now we're enjoying some quiet time and I will set about washing the dandelion greens for our salad tonight. I would also like to make some Mother's Day cards and gifts to accompany them. I plan to do a potted floral arrangement for my Grandma in one of our pretty Chinese ceramic pots. As for the other moms, my stove will be aflame this evening as I try my hand at mixing up a magical elixir. I never took chemistry in high school so we may be in for a disaster!

In food news, Ezra and I spied some fiddleheads and wild leeks at the Thursday market. Won't be around much this weekend to cook, so next week we'll pick some up for sure! Oooh, and before I forget, I came across a source of bulk olive oil. Dufferin Grove, Thursdays year round. Score!

Critical Mass

2009-05-07T14:43:00.004-04:00

Christopher and Ezra took part in the Critical Mass bike ride in celebration of Earth Hour. It made our local paper if you care to check it out. Yes, Ezra's still a boy, don't believe everything you read...

Green Things

2009-05-07T13:48:00.006-04:00

My urban garden is in the works. Because we live so close to the train tracks, the quality of our soil is questionable to say the least. Instead, we will plant everything in pots. I prefer a utilitarian garden with herbs and vegetables. I've never been crazy about flowers, unless you can eat them. For this reason I think I'll only grow some French lavender and calendula. They're great for infusions, such as my lavender infused honey. Yum.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup honey
1 Tbsp dried lavender blossoms or 2 Tbsp fresh lavender

1. Heat honey in a small pot over low heat until it turns to liquid.

2. Add lavender and continue to heat gently for 10 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and allow the honey to infuse for a few hours.

4. Reheat honey to a liquid and strain out the flower blossoms. Enjoy in salad dressings, teas, or homemade creams and lotions.

Now if I can only stop Tom's cats from coming up on the deck and peeing in my pots. Short of poisoning them, what can I do? Was thinking of picking up some citronella oil and making up a spray for the stairs. Or is that just a bug repellent? Thoughts?

WANTED: Dutch clog(s) to use as planters. Keep your eyes open at Garage Sales and the Good Will!

Drying Up

2009-05-04T13:20:00.008-04:00

I'm running out of everything at the same time. Toothpaste will be first, followed by hair conditioner and moisturizer. I don't know what I will do with my dry, chapped, winter white legs and grey knees which I have kept concealed under knee socks and tights. And now that flip flop season is here, it's also time to unveil the feet, which is perhaps my scariest feature. Hiking in the mountains in the Philippines, we came across a venerable old man in his 90s who had spent his life barefoot working in the rice terraces. My husband was quick to point out that we had the same feet. They're THAT BAD.

As a remedy to this, I have considered bathing in olive oil. But I want to have glowing, hydrated skin. I don't want to be slippery. Instead, I will attempt this homemade concoction that I found here. Try it with me.

Ingredients:
1 ounce calendula infused extra virgin olive oil (or plain olive oil)
1 ounce shea butter
1 ounce mango butter
1/2 ounce avocado oil
1/4 ounce jojoba oil
1/4 ounce beeswax

Blending Procedure:

Melt all ingredients over a low flame in a double boiler until the beeswax is nearly completely melted. Remove from heat.

Stir to melt the rest of the beeswax and to fully incorporate all the ingredients.

Use a handheld mixer to mix the ingredients together at high speed. This will whip up the ingredients, especially the shea and mango butters, and add a bit of air to help promote more of a a whipped texture for the finished product. You can add fragrance and/or essential oil at this time (about 1/2 teaspoon or so should suffice depending on your preference), but I prefer the natural scent of the calendula by itself.

Pour into jars while the mixture is still warm and pourable. Label and enjoy!!

UPDATE: Holy Hannah, does this cream ever STINK. The Shea butter is natural and unrefined but it comes with a big old stinky smell that no amount of essential oil can hide. Overall, good cream (my legs are smooth) but next time I may go with Cocoa butter/mango butter and coconut oil and use the Shea sparingly. Or on my enemies.

Survivor: Bonnet Edition

2009-05-03T20:00:00.004-04:00

I don't watch TV very often but I just happened to stumble on this show on TVO tonight. Brilliant. I want to be on a reality show like this. Pick me. Don't they just put our little project to shame. I'm hoping to steal the recipe for boiled pigeon and pudding. Yum.

Description: Five archaeologists and historians take on the challenge of running a farm for a year, as it would have been 400 years ago in the reign of James I. Wearing period clothes and using tools from the time, they kick off the agricultural calendar, using a team of oxen to plough and then sowing the seed by hand. They learn to make bread in a 17th-century style bread oven and cook up a contemporary rustic feast.

Airs on Sundays at 7pm

Tis The Season

2009-04-25T13:07:00.005-04:00

To be thrifty. Yes, it's that time of year when people drag all their crap out of the house, strap on a fanny pack, and try to earn a weekend's beer money.

The garage sale. A delightful way to spend any Saturday morning. I'm not certain, but it felt like today kicked off the official garage sale season. This morning Ezra and I set out with Carine and Dustin with a list of targets to hit. I didn't have anything specific in mind, I just wanted to get a feel for the whole garage sale scene, learn the etiquette, and attempt some bartering.

From the get-go, it was clear that I am an amateur with a lot to learn. And Ezra wasn't helping any. He made a beeline for the Fischer Price Village (pictured above) and declared "MINE" in a loud voice. I told him we were trying to play it cool, that he had to feign disinterest. To which he responded: "MINE!!!!" Thanks, buddy. Well played.

In the end, we came home with the village and a set of Lincoln Logs. All for 5 bucks. A small price to pay for tantrums averted.

Carine came away empty-handed but Dustin scored some kitschy travel souvenirs from decades past, including a cool little Jamaican doll and a weird Asian backscratcher. Hoping he'll send me a picture to upload.

Next week I will definitely have to bring my camera. It's astounding what people try to sell. I think the best thing we saw on display was a couple's framed wedding photo from the 80s. Hilarious. I should have asked how much but I already knew the answer.

Priceless.

The Post Consumer Project: Game ON

2009-04-22T11:56:00.021-04:00

Happy Earth Day, folks.

Here's where the fun begins. As of today, the rules apply. And the rules are as follows: for one year, we will refrain from buying or receiving anything new. This of course applies to non-essentials. We do need to eat. And drink wine. For the exceptions, see the sidebar.

This year-long commitment will be both a challenge and a sacrifice, but we hope to achieve a few things along the way.

Perhaps the most obvious aim of the project is to lessen our environmental footprint. One way to do this is to drastically cut back on the goods we consume. There are too many "things" in this world being manufactured, packaged, shipped and sold to consumers with little consideration for humanity and sustainability. We live on a planet with limited resources. By sharing, trading, foraging, salvaging, rescuing, and scavenging for used goods we will not only redirect these things from the landfill, but also cultivate a relationship and open a dialogue with our neighbours, friends, family, and members of our community. This is a huge step in the right direction.

DIY is also a big part of this project. Cutting off our access to consumer goods will motivate us to get creative, and learn how to do more things for ourselves. We will be learning how to sew, knit, embroider, can, and make our own cosmetics and home remedies from scratch. This is the survival instinct kicking in, and the recognition that we've lost valuable knowledge from our elders that is worth the effort to reclaim.

There is also the hope that through this experience we will undergo a spiritual transformation, or at the very least, an improvement. This project is about making a conscious effort to buy nothing. But maybe one day we will wake up and discover that it isn't a sacrifice at all. That it requires little to no effort. Still, these are habits we are working towards changing. Can we take it one step further? Can we really wake up and see that we have everything we need, and always have. Can the wanting and coveting be quelled? I can only imagine the stillness and peace of mind this can bring. Elusive as it is, it's a goal worth pursuing.

Birthday In Pictures

2009-04-16T21:07:00.009-04:00

The hardest part of today was getting Ezra to put on some pants. The easiest part? Indulging every birthday whim...

Malta Park

Grace let's Ezra test drive her bike. But only because it's his birthday.

Culinary Adventures Part 1

Culinary Adventures Part 2

Ride in Dad's car with my cool shades.

Toy Store! (Note: Ezra wasn't really into the gift we had in mind. Instead, he goes bananas for a recycling truck. What's a parent to do?)

Good decision.

Good decison, aerial view.

Not pictured: Culinary Adventures Part 3, a.k.a. Ezra throwing forks at innocent bystanders at Vesuvio's pizzeria.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

2009-04-16T00:05:00.014-04:00

OK, so he's more like an impish dictator who orders me around, but for the purpose of a catchy title, I'll call him El Presidente. These days, the operative word of this now two-year-old is "MORE". More Atulfo mango. More dill pickle. More rehearsal cake. Rehearsal cake, you ask? Yes, this is me. Scared to death that the train cake will be a moistless (not a word according to blogger), inedible, and crumby mess. I watched two videos on frosting techniques today. Remind me to get a life.

Anyhoodle, this one's a rambler. I'm halfway into a 2007 bottle of Cab Franc and if you know me, you don't even have to ask from where. And boy oh boy they were right. 2007 really was a magnificent year. Wish I had the discipline to age some bottles in my wine cellar. Heh. That would be the closet.

It's 12 minutes past midnight and I've just finished hanging some hand-sewn streamers and the Japanese chiyogami birthday banner that took me countless hours to make. Not very flashy but warm and charming I'd say. The felt ball garland is on my to-do list and that should jazz it up some.

Thank goodness Ezra's birthday falls just before April 22nd. We can justify buying him a big ol' present, right? Acutally, here is the special gift we've selected: a model of my dream home. Adorable, yes? This will perhaps be the last non-essential shopping we do for the next year. So glad it's this, and not something mundane like oven mitts.

You still here? Yeah, so am I. Just sitting here quietly celebrating two years of momhood. Trying not to grow too misty eyed whilst reliving my 18 hours of labour and every single deliberate breath that pushed my son closer to this world. He belongs to it now, and every day I struggle just to leave him be. Leave him be. Leave him be. This is a kind of mantra. Leave him be. And he will become. What he will be. This is my hope.

Damn, here come the tears.

Happy birthday, sparrow. Love Mama.

Le Chandail

2009-04-01T14:26:00.015-04:00

Earlier in the winter, I picked up this little gem at the Value Village 50% off sale. I know what you're thinking. 50% off? Isn't it already cheap as sh-t? Yes, I'm that person. Instead of paying a whopping $2.99 for this sweater, I had to sharpen my elbows and fight throngs of pushy bargain hunters to get it for $1.50.

Hand knitted and adorable as it is, there is just one problem. Ezra won't wear it. He has a particular aversion to THIS SWEATER. Is he embarrassed to wear it? Have the Leafs played that badly this year? Don't answer that.

It finally dawned on me that he is comprehending everything we say. And now I regret reading him this story.

He is so totally a Habs fan now. Merci Roch Carrier. Maintenant j'ai un p'tit Rocket Richard.

Bulking Up

2009-03-30T13:16:00.012-04:00

I've been doing a bit of legwork for the past couple of weeks and trying to source items in bulk. While yes, there are some things we are allowed to buy, we would still like to be mindful of the waste it creates.

Bulk is a great way not only to save $ but to cut back on excessive packaging. Most bulk stores carry the staples like seeds, nuts, flours, sugar, coffee, cereals, etc. At some grocery stores and independent delis, you can also buy olives, cheeses, meats, and pickles in bulk. They may be hesitant to use containers you supply but be assertive and don't take no for an answer!

In addition to the obvious, here are a few other things I learned along the way:

Ice cream

I can take a large yogurt container to my local ice cream place and ask them to fill it up. I don't see why other ice cream parlours wouldn't do the same. If Baskin Robbins sells by the litre, just bring in a litre container.

Tofu

Some Asian markets and bulk stores keep tofu in large buckets of water in a refrigerator. Bring your own container and get as much as you need!

Milk/Yogurt

Harmony Organic and Pinehedge Farms sell its dairy/yogurt in glass bottles that can be returned for a deposit.

Cleaning/Household

Luckily, I live in the biggest city in Canada where I can get my hands on bulk laundry detergent, vinegar, borax, shampoo, liquid soap, etc. Here's a snapshot taken at my local Grassroots store. Sure, it's a bus and a subway ride away but I will make each visit count, and refill big containers. No need to worry if you're not quite out of something either. They'll weigh your container and just charge you for the quantity you've added. Have a look!

My dream is to see this kind of set-up in every grocery store across the country.

Handy Handkerchiefs

2009-03-29T14:22:00.011-04:00

Looky looky what we scored on the weekend. My awesome mother-in-law came through big time and gave us a collection of old handkerchiefs. They're purdy too, see? Now that allergy season is upon us, we can start honking into these babies. I like imagining C at school, whipping out one of the daintily embroidered ones from his pocket. I know the kids will pounce right on that.

So now that you know that Kleenex is out, I'm sure you're curious about Kleenex's rough, uncouth cousin who comes on a roll.

Yeah, no.

While we gave the old left hand/bucket of water a shot in our travels in Indonesia, I think we'll keep the t.p. around. Especially since we're in the midst of potty training. Teaching a toddler to wipe with his hand is just asking for trouble.

From Rags To Stitches

2009-03-27T13:24:00.017-04:00

I have always wanted to learn how to sew, and taking a vow of poverty is a good way to get my ass in gear. Doubtless in a year I will need a few things. I have a toddler whose feet grow sizes in the night. In fact, his Ferrigno toes are probably bursting through his pajama feet at this very moment.

Fortunately, I've enrolled myself in a sewing class to start off on the right foot. My first project will be something small and easy, like a pillow cover. I like the idea of using vintage and reclaimed fabrics, like this scrap (above) rescued from a tattered 1970s bedspread. Just think, if I could get my hands on thick drape panels I could make play clothes for the entire family!

Hopefully I can progress to the point where I'm like Molly Ringwald in Pretty In Pink. Though, if I'm honest, I would have totally held onto the gorgeous vintage gown in favour of patching together a formless, shoulderless feed sack. But that's just me.

Cheaters Stink

2009-03-22T21:56:00.007-04:00

With one month to go, the countdown is on. I tell C: no hoarding, no stockpiling, no getting your mom to take a trip to Costco. Why? Because, well that would be cheating. Here's what I'm talking about:

C: I'm going to need deodorant.

S: I'll look for a good recipe on-line.

C: What!? No. Oh god. Sarah, I have to WORK. I can't smell.

S: You work with Grade Nines. The Drakar Noir scent should mask yours ten fold.

C: That's not the point. I don't want to be able to smell myself.

S: I like the way you smell.

C: You're not listening to me.

S: Yes I am--I wonder where I can find rock salt in bulk...

C: It's going to be a long summer.

poll by twiigs.com

Bedtime Stories

2009-03-21T20:14:00.013-04:00

I picked up a duvet cover at Value Village (pictured here). Is it not fab? The vintage floral pattern is so bright and cheerful and it was evidently handmade. And yet, as I snuggled down under it last night, I began to wonder if I had crossed some kind of line, like the time my Dad purchased a used bathing suit from the Good Will. (Ewww! That once cradled another man’s junk!)

Our beds are the most personal and intimate sanctuaries in the home. It’s where we spend a great deal of time in a state of unconsciousness. And I don’t know about you, but when I’m unconscious I fart a lot. I also drool and sweat. And in addition to all that unconscious time, what about the time spent doing other “activities” in bed.

When C and I visit hotels, one of the jokes we play is taunting the other with the hotel bed spread. C may push me on it after I’ve had a shower, or I may drape it over his face while he’s sleeping. I know, childish. And gross.

I fell asleep with these thoughts in my head. I don’t remember what I dreamed about. Perhaps Monica Lewinsky holding a black light?

I’m happy to report that I woke up warm and cozy underneath my new spread with sunshine pouring in through the window. Those dirty soiled thoughts were scrubbed from my mind and all that I breathed in was freshness. And that’s how I know that it now belongs on my bed.