A Culinary Adventure

As I've written in the past, the culinary realm is where my creativity falls short. I have never been a good cook, and while I can follow a recipe, it's always seemed a bigger hassle than what it's worth. As a part of "being good to me" this year I want to explore flavorful healthy food. Peter and I split equally the task of cooking but it's been quite a challenge to prepare quick (a must for our busy lifestyles) meals that fit the criterion of "healthy" and "flavorful". As I move away from the "utilitarian" view of food I've held for all these years and start to adopt "creative" it is my goal to become more self sustaining. I'm planning a garden this year (more on this later) and while I'm looking forward to growing my own food I'm left trying to figure out how better to funnel our resources toward healthier choices now. Two weeks ago I joined a co-op with a weekly buy in option. You make your produce purchase on Monday or Tuesday of each week and pick up the following Saturday. The mystery of never knowing exactly what will be included in the basket leaves me with feelings akin to Christmas; the mystery, the anticipation, the excitement!!! Here's our basket for this week:

It's crazy the amount of food we obtained for only $15! Adding to the fun is the task of building a weekly menu around whatever happens to be in our basket. Nearly all the recipes we are trying this week are new dishes we've never tried before. And thanks to SuperCook.com I didn't have to relent my desire for "nutritious and flavorful" in the name of "quick and easy".

Free Shopping and Eco-Friendliness

If you are anything like me, you like a good bargain! As spring quickly approaches and the spring cleaning commences, you may be trying to figure out exactly what to do with all that "stuff" you want to get rid of. Here are a couple of online options I can't get enough of:

Swapping.
I have long been a fan of clothing swaps. Not only is it a good way of getting rid of the things that you can no longer use, its a good way to give your wardrobe a free face lift. Yesterday I became a member of Rehash, an online clothing, accessory & book swap site. Check it out by clicking here. You simply photograph and list items you want to swap and then let the fun begin. As long as you have items in your profile anyone can contact you to swap. See something you want? Offer one or two pieces in exchange and let the negotiations begin.

Bidding.
I also recently joined Listia. Listia works similarly to e-bay but instead of paying cash for stuff you trade with points. You can earn points a myriad of ways. You get 50 points when you sign up, another 50 if you link your account to facebook and more when you list items. There is even an option to buy points. Unlike Rehash, Listia allows you to post virtually any item you want. Click here to check it out!

The best part about both of these sites is that you don't have to pay a dime. Simply use what you already have!

Happy online anniversary...

COFFEE SLEEVES!!! Today marks the 1 year anniversary of our online shop of reusable coffee sleeves! Be sure to order today as it is the last day for free shipping on all sleeves.

Green Alternative: Straws

For some reason I really like straws. It could that they remind me of my childhood or it could be that I'm too lazy to drink out of a cup like an adult. Regardless of the reason I've totally been on a straw kick lately.

Unfortunately plastic straws aren't eco friendly at all. You can only use them once or twice before they need to be tossed. This leaves me with a dilemma. Do I partake in the cool rush of sipping my summer drink through a straw or do I forgo this pleasure in the name of being green. Thinking that there must be some compromise, I did a little research and found some helpful eco friendly alternatives to your run of the mill plastic straw:

Eco Products has produced a compostable straw made of corn. Go Iowa! You can see their assortment along with other eco friendly paper products here. While I always lean more toward reuse and longevity, this biodegradable option is a definite step in the right direction.

These glass straws may not be very kid friendly but they are definitely reusable and can last a long time if taken care of. Aren't they chic?

Glass straws can be purchased here.


These stainless steel straws from Steel Function seems to have the whole package. Not only are they reusable and durable but they are well suited for kids and adults alike.

Stainless steel straws can be purchased here.