Sarah's Favorite Things

Do you ever wish you had deep pockets like Oprah?  I would love to invite all of my favorite people to a big auditorium and hand out iPads, cars and pashminas. Her "Favorite Things" episode was always THE best.  I don't know why I like it so much... it's pretty much a 45 minute commercial.

Here are some of my 'favorite things' right now (and I am not receiving any compensation or good vibes for endorsing these items.  I just genuinely like them!):

1. Revlon Age Defying Targeted Spot Concealer
I am a big fan of Make-up-Forever concealer.  It's the best hands down.  However at $42 a tube (even though it lasts a really long time) I needed to find an alternative. I'm a casual CVS couponer and was able to get a tube of the Revlon (after coupons) for around $3.50.  I've been so surprised by how much I like it! It's quite creamy and the coverage is almost as good as the Makeup Forever foundation.  The concealer dries really quickly and goes well under other makeup.

2.  My Home Soda Maker

When the Soda Stream came out like 5 years ago, I saw an ad for it in Sky Mall magazine and thought it was the dumbest concept ever.  Why would anyone want to make their own soda when you can easily buy a 2-liter or cans at the store?

Then I got really hooked on flavored sparkling water.  La Croix Lime is my favorite and at $3.99 for a 12-pack, I was adding on at least $15 a month to my grocery bill.  I was able to purchase a discontinued "Primo" Soda Maker for $20 and I LOVE it.  I make tangy soda water at home all day.  Sometimes I get creative and cold brew herbal tea and add carbonation.  It's truly helped me stay more hydrated and drink lower calorie beverages.

3. Etsy

I love supporting small businesses.  Entrepreneurs are some of the bravest, most creative, hard-working people I know.  Etsy is full of creative entrepreneurs with really unique products. 

One of my favorite fashion blogs (http://www.cashmerekangaroo.com/) introduced me to one of my favorite sellers: https://www.etsy.com/shop/iloniti.  The owner of the shop is SO kind and goes out of her way to make happy customers.

4. Albion Bathing Suits

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a cute bathing suit company, Albion Fit.  They make beautiful, well-made modest bathing suits.  After having a baby, the last thing I want to do is parade around in a bathing suit.  Pace got me the Show Stopper for Mothers Day  and it's definitely lessened the blow.

5. The Public Library

You might be thinking... "REALLY?? The library?  The public library doesn't belong on a list with Swarovski earrings and sparkling water".

Trust me, the library is one of America's true hidden gems.  Next week, I will have a special post dedicated to (drumroll, please)... the awesomeness of the public library.

 

 

Activities to do with a 6 month old

As I come across articles or links, I will post them here.

http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/06/baby-play-ideas-and-activities-6-18.html

http://whatwouldshethink.com/2013/05/24/fun-activities-to-do-with-my-6-month-old/

http://www.powerfulmothering.com/simple-activities-for-6-12-month-olds/#_a5y_p=1676884

 

Bedtime and Sleep Articles and Links

As I come across interesting articles on baby/kid sleep I will post them on this page for reference.

http://www.sleepsisters.com/bedtimes-by-age/

http://www.familias-madeira.com/Elizabeth.Pantley.The.No.Cry.Sleep.Solution-1.pdf
Free Online version of the book "The No Cry Sleep Solution"

The Solution to the World's Problems: Book Review and Call to Action

I have about ten pages left in the New York Times bestseller,  "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character" by Paul Tough.  The book is about two things: first, an emerging body of research that shows the importance of so-called non-cognitive skills in children’s success; and second, a new set of experimental interventions that are trying to use that research to help improve outcomes for children, especially children growing up in disadvantage. It's been FACINATING!  It left me with more questions than answers and made me hopeful about the difference that we can make in the lives of those with limited opportunities.

I was especially struck by the section (starting on page 31 if you own the book) on attachment.  He referenced the work of a neuroscience researcher from McGill University named Michael Meaney.

(Hang with me on this... )

"When baby rats got stressed out — when they were handled by lab technicians, let's say — there were some mother rats who would lick and groom their baby rats and others who would not. And so the scientists got interested in this one particular behavior, and they tried to figure out what kind of difference it made. As they did a series of experiments, they found out it made a huge difference. The rats who as babies were licked and groomed did much better on all sorts of things when they reached adulthood. They were braver, more curious; it had actually changed the shape of certain parts of their brains.

"I think there's a real parallel there for humans — we don't know for sure that our brains work exactly like rat brains, but I think there's a lot of parallels between that and research on attachment. Psychologists who have studied attachment have found that when human kids have that same kind of licking and grooming-style bonding with their parents, especially in the first year of life, it gives them all sorts of psychological strength, confidence [and] character that, when they reach school age and even into adulthood, will make a huge difference in how well they do."

On page 37 of the book, Tough references the research of Byron Egeland and Alan Sroufe.  In 1972 they recruited 267 pregnant women to participate in a study.  All of the women were first time moms, all had incomes below the poverty line. They studied and tracked their children for thirty (!!) years and found that for most of the children, attachment status at one year of age (as measured by the Strange Situation) was highly predictive of a wide range of outcomes later in life. Children with secure attachment early in life were more socially competent throughout their lives: better able to engage with pre-school peers, better able to form close relationships in middle school, better able to negotiate the complex dynamics of adolescent social networks.

The researchers found that they could have predicted with 77% accuracy, when the children were not yet four years old, which ones would drop out of high school.

With this new knowledge, I've been thinking a lot about my role as a new mom and the importance of the bond I have with Elizabeth. I've also been thinking about how I-- as a mother-- can encourage mother-baby attachment with other new moms.

What if... by just reaching out to ONE struggling new mom I could change the outlook of her child?

(Call me idealistic, but the reason I've written this long--and maybe boring post-- is to inspire you to think about how you too can encourage this in new mothers and potentially change the outlook for a future generation)

Ideas on Encouraging Attachment

1.  Be Pro-Baby Wearing!  (10 Benefits)

 

2.  Learn infant massage and be willing to demonstrate to others

 

3.  Volunteer to mentor new moms through a non-profit Pregnancy Center like Augusta Care.  They are ALWAYS looking for volunteers.

 

4. Be mission-minded when attending playgroups at the library or out in the community.  Invite moms (who may not fit my typical friend description) for a walk or a play date at the coffee shop with the intent of encouraging her.  

 

5. Sit down with pregnant friends and share honestly experiences breastfeeding.  It's hard. It takes work. But isn't it one of the sweetest experiences? Breastfeeding is considered one of the most important psychological ways a child bonds with their mother. 

 

6. Don't chastise or alienate moms who have made the decision not to breast feed.  Formula is not the "F" word and these moms need support and encouragement too. Encourage baby bonding through meaningful eye contact at feeds.

 

7. In the 1950's, a researcher named Erik Erikson shared his theory that if you hold a baby too much they become over dependent on their caregivers and become "spoiled".  Last week, I had a pretty heart breaking conversation with a new mom, who happened to be my waitress, about this antiquated theory. She and I bonded over the fact that we both have babies around the same age.  She proudly told me that she never holds her baby because she is afraid that she will spoil him. Because we had been talking for a while and we seemed to have a good rapport, I gently told her that new research shows that it's impossible to spoil a baby by holding and loving it and encouraged her to do it as much as she wanted. In some communities, this outdated theory is still a best-practice.  We can strengthen attachment by educating moms and restoring mother-baby bonding time.

 

I would love to hear from you as I think about this very important topic. What are some other ways we can encourage mother attachment?  How have you bonded with your baby in a special way?

---

I found several national organizations that have a mission of supporting new mothers.  These include:

Help a Mother Out

Help a Mother Out is a nationally-recognized public organization raising diapers, awareness, and promoting for long term change in the social safety net. They are committed to increasing access to diapers for families in need. Their vision is a day when every single baby has a healthy stock of diapers.

Their leading “diaper bank” is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, having issued diapers and other hygiene supplies to over 22 agencies in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano counties. They have sister chapters in Southern California and Arizona. To know more, please visit their site: http://www.helpamotherout.org/

 

The Restoration House

At The Restoration House (TRH), they are working to help return single mothers and their children back to God’s good purpose for their lives. By way of transformational housing, team mentoring and familysupport, TRH is helping single mother families end phases of poverty and distress. In turn, TRH's Participating Families are encouraged to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

At TRH they trust that God did not create us to besolitary. TRH envelops the whole family, offering them with networks of support and answerability. So instead of feeling isolated and powerless; each family feels a motivating sense of fellowship while also earning the benefits of a network of support. To know more, please visit their site: http://www.therestorationhouse.net/

 

Safe Horizon

Safe Horizon is the leading victims’ services agency in the United States, changing the lives of more than 250,000 children, adults, and families affected by crime and abuse throughout New York City each year. They provide support to victims through 57 program locations, including shelter, in-person counseling, legal services, and more.

Right from 1978, Safe Horizon has offered victims of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, rape and sexual assault, as well as homeless youth and families of homicide victims, with a broad range of comprehensive support. Their programs also associate with governmental and other community agencies to extend further assistance, including locating resources for those residing outside New York City.

Safe Horizon also promotes for policies on a local, state, and national level on behalf of those distressed by violence and abuse.

To know more, please visit their site: http://www.safehorizon.org/index/about-us-1.html

 

 

 



 

On Being a "Gramma"

The mother of one of my very dear lifelong friends, Noah Harrell, wrote a touching guest blog post for Liza in the Lou on being a Grandmother.  I think that it will resonate with many of you as you reflect on your relationship with your own mother or mother-in-law.

---

My daughter called me from Italy to tell me I had “jinxed” her. In less than two seconds flat I screamed so loud she could have heard me in Verona without the phone! She and her husband were barely 23 and I was 47…and we were all starting into a journey that would forever change our collective lives.  She was pregnant.

When she was about 8 weeks along, I flew to Italy for a week to visit.  She was beautiful and she still had a flat stomach, but every day I talked to the little “bean”. I told him how much I loved him and that I was his Gramma. She laughed at me and said he could not hear…but I knew he could. The connection was made and we were forever entangled in this messy, beautiful place called love. 

 

When they got back, she was in her 6^th month and I spent quite a bit of time photographing her bump.  She told me that she wanted me in the delivery room but her husband had not decided on it completely, so I would have to wait and see. I was as patient as I could be but when she was in labor and going into transition, and he still had not decided if I was in or out, I figured I needed to bring it up. I simply told him that she was getting close and I understood if he wanted me to leave but he would have to tell me...soon! Instead, he asked me to stay and take pictures because he realized he could not be with her and photograph the birth too. I was ecstatic, but just kept on trying to help until it was time. I grabbed my camera and witnessed the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life.

 

 I had four kids, the first (his mom) was born by c-section and I was asleep…so I missed that one. The others had the rear view mirror thing to look into but I was too busy to notice what was happening, so this birth was a first for me in many ways. When thy put him in the warmer, and put the gook in his eyes, I was right there. He held my finger while I talked to him and took a million pictures of his first few minutes. When he cried, I whispered his name and cooed to him that everything would be fine. I told him how much I loved him and I stayed with him until they could wrap him up and give him to his mommy and daddy. To this day I tell him I was his first friend, while the doctors and daddy were tending to Mommy, I was with him. 

 

I spent the first week with them to help out and for a year, I came every Friday and stayed the weekend so they could get some sleep and have a date now and then. I still think about those Saturday mornings when he was so tiny. I got to get up with him and just talk to him (and take more pictures) until his parents got up.

 

 I loved being a grandma, but it took a while before I figured out why I loved it so much. I loved him but it was not the same intense love I had for my own children. I kept waiting to feel THAT feeling…but it never came. One day, I watched my child with her child and I figured it out. Loving him, gave me another way to love HER! Through him, I could continue to be a mom to my daughter, teaching, helping, sharing and growing with her as she learned the very things she had taught me about motherhood and unconditional love. I could show how much I loved her by giving her a night off every now and then, by clapping every time he hit a new milestone and by cheering her on every step of the way as she chartered the murky waters of first time motherhood. Mostly I could be a support in the way that only I could be. She knows I understand everything she goes through as a mom…because she remembers me going through it all those years ago as I navigated first time motherhood with her.

 

I now have three grandchildren and I can honestly say that the love I have for them is completely unconditional. It is not the same love I have for my own children, but it is pure and sweet and honest. I love watching them run from their parents to me and back again. I delight in their screams of joy when I come in their homes and when my oldest asks me if he can spend the night on school nights, I wish with all my heart he could. I can take it when they cry and I can tell them no when I have to. I spend my weekends and my summers and my vacations watching them, playing with them, taking them places and helping their parents as much as I can…because six years later, the same thing is still true. My love for my grandchildren is another way to show love to the people in my life I love more than anything in this world…my children.

 

--

 

The author of the post, Dana Harrell, is a super "Gramma",  Athens, Georgia resident, teacher, musician, photographer-extraordinaire and occasional blogger. You can find her blog here or her photography page here. If you just want to look at pictures of her beautiful grandkids, I took the liberty of posting one below!

Don't Ask When

It is hard to wait for something that might never happen; it is harder to give up when you know it is everything you want. --Unknown.

 

A guy friend recently contacted me about writing an anonymous post about their struggle with infertility. This often unspoken topic affects a staggering number of families. Some estimates suggest that worldwide between three and seven percent of all couples or women have an unresolved problem of infertility. Many more couples, however, experience involuntary childlessness for at least one year: estimates range from 12% to 28%. 

 

His post below is a reminder that infertility affects a family.

 

______

 

 

We are happily married… have been for a long time. We work hard, we travel, we try to have fun. Try. Because deep down there is a giant, gaping hole in our lives, our marriage, and while we are aware of it – shit, we talk about it – we are reminded of it on a weekly basis by others who don’t understand.

Please, I’m begging you… stop asking “When.”

Invariably we meet up with friends, or friends of friends, or, worse, friends of parents – and they go through the checklist of every ‘get-to-know-you’ conversation. We know it’s coming, we can sense it before they know they’re getting there. We tighten, we stiffen, and brace for those words…

“WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE KIDS?”

Then it’s pure self defense mode. Smile. Laugh. Rote response about not being ready. Laugh more. Change subject to their pet. Drink another beer.

Every month she cries herself to sleep when our attempts fail. Expensive, intrusive, painful attempts at using the marvels of modern science to bypass God. Every month I tell her that we’ll be OK. We have each other. It’ll be OK. More tears. More heartache.
 
It’s not OK. It’s been too long. It’s been too hard. It’s not an emotional roller coaster if you only go down, right? It flat-out sucks.

I don’t know whether women discuss staying away from this topic at some point. Surely they do. There has to be some sort of sensitivity around older women with no kids, right? I have no clue… but I assure you, that sensitivity goes out the window when they talk to a guy. And ladies (I presume ladies read this, not men) you have to know that it hurts just as much for the man. I know you’re being sweet. I know it’s because you care...or have absolutely nothing else to say… but I can’t handle talking about it anymore. I want to scream. I want to cry. Instead, I just grin, make a joke, and wait to write some overly emotional, sappy blog.

So please, next time you feel those words forming…

Don’t ask when.

 

 

----

 

Some other blogs or websites on this topic that you might find helpful:

 

http://www.theinfertilityvoice.com/

 

http://infertilityqueen.blogspot.com/2011/03/things-you-really-shouldnt-say-to.html

 

http://lifewithoutbaby.com/2012/07/05/locked-out-of-the-mommy-clubhouse/

 

http://lifeandloveinthepetridish.blogspot.com/2009/01/nitty-gritty.html

 

 

 

 

I made my own yogurt... who am I !?

One of my good friends, Lauren, recently blogged about making your own yogurt.  She promised me that it was SUPER easy and that "anyone" could do it. I can assure you that I am not "Suzy Q Homemaker"-- but Lauren was right, anyone can make their own yogurt!

If I haven't convinced you yet, here are some other things to consider:

1. Many popular commercial yogurts are made with high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, gelatin, artificial flavors, artificial dyes and more. When you make your own yogurt, you can control the ingredients and can choose to adjust the sweetness to your liking.

2. Yogurt is inherently a super food, rich in protein, calcium and probiotics. If you're on a weight-loss mission, the protein in yogurt can help you feel full longer and eat fewer calories. Research suggests that the probiotics (active cultures) that are teeming in yogurt can reduce the risk of colon cancer, improve immune system function, aid in alleviating constipation and diarrhea, prevent yeast infections and promote the absorption of vitamins and minerals.

3. If your family eats a lot of yogurt, you can save money (although it IS more time intensive than picking them up at the store).  One gallon of milk produces 4 quarts of yogurt at essentially 75 cents a quart.

Before I started on my yogurt making adventure this week, I read a few interesting posts about how to do it. I found them to be spot-on and easy to follow.  I will spare the time of posting my how-to pictures and just direct you to the websites below:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/06/243014945/yes-it-s-worth-it-to-make-your-own-yogurt

http://www.makeyourownyogurt.com/

What can you do with all of this yogurt?

Here are some ideas:

1. Make your own frozen yogurt!  This recipe for "Luscious Lemon" looks yummy and easy

2. Some of my St. Louis friends who are apart of a Baby Led Weaning group called "Little Foodies of St. Louis" enjoy making yogurt bites for their babes.  Elizabeth is too young to enjoy these-- but I am sure that she will LOVE them when she is a bit older.

3. There are plenty of yummy meat recipes that use yogurt as an ingredient including this Tikki Masala Recipe.

I hope that you enjoy making yogurt as much as I did!  Please let me know if you get a wild hair and decide to make it.  I would also love to hear your success stories and tips!

Elizabeth: 5 Months

Size

Diapers:  2
Clothes:  3-6 month

She's still on the smaller side (25%), but when she is wearing a bubble outfit, her kissable cheeks make her appear bigger.

Eating

Breastfeeding. We introduced solid food at 5 months.  So far she's tried oatmeal, rice cereal, pureed bananas mixed with oatmeal and sweet potatoes. The banana-oatmeal-breastmilk combo is her favorite.

 

Sleeping

She is a pretty consistent napper.  She still needs 3 naps a day. She is still not sleeping through the night but I am coping. 

Favorite things

Elizabeth loves to jump and bounce. I let her play in a Johnny Jumpo for 15 minutes a day and she acts like I took her to Disney World. Even when she is in my arms, she likes to be moving. She also loves a good diaper change and laying on her changing table--probably because she bounces on the mattress pad.  She also loves other children and babies.  She usually laughs or smiles at other kids. The nursery worker at church tells me that she "talks" the whole time.

 

Memorable Moments

 

Five months has by far been the best. She laughs out loud often and can focus performing specific "tasks" (like picking up a block).  One of my favorite moments with her was watching her interact with Paul Hess, one of my friends kids.  Paul is 3 years old and is ALL BOY.  She thought he was so funny and laughed and cackled at him for almost an hour.

 

We also recently took a trip to visit Grandparents in Georgia.  Elizabeth and I survived another plane ride together--this time I flew alone with her.  She did really well on the plane and made friends with all of the other passengers.  She does not do well on car rides.  I think she doesn't like facing backwards in the car and needs more stimulation.

 

I am very grateful for my sweet, joyful little girl!!

 

 

Should you wait until you are married to start saving?

I recently went to dinner with a very good friend of mine who confessed the subject of "money" overwhelmed her.  She always assumed that her husband would take care of the family finances.  But what happens when your spouse is money-illiterate?  Or .. if you marry later in life? Instead of waiting until the next season, my friend Stephen Kuzniak from the Simple Economist would suggest that it's never too early to start saving. 

Stephen's blog is one of my FAVORITE money blogs.  He writes interesting articles that always give me a fresh perspective on being a good steward of money.  I highly suggest that you become a follower of his blog!

I asked Stephen to write a post for Liza in the Lou to help my readers better understand money... because it can be overwhelming!  Hope you enjoy his writing as much as I do.

Money can be pretty confusing. Between 401k, roth IRAs, budgets, futures, options, interest rates, and credit scores- the acronyms and implications are mind numbing. However, the one thing we can all agree upon is that money is a useful tool (when used correctly) that can make our lives better.

As important as money has become in our society, it is strangely absent from our school or public curriculum. Some were fortunate to have family members that understood money and were able to teach about its power. But the vast majority of Americans have never really been taught the basic principles of how money operates.

Often we default into our money habits and patterns. Rarely do we actively align our spending, savings, and overall consumption with our goals. We tend to follow our friends,facebook, family, sally mae, marketers, and bankers. My point is simple. The value in understanding money is more about understanding the priorities in our lives and figuring out what is actually important.

Buy Your Freedom First
Money works pretty hard. It is either working for you or against you; but it is always working. Money can buy a lot of things- butone of the most valuable things money can buy is freedom. Having a little bit of money gives you an incredible amount ofchoice. That is the primary driver for our family's money decisions. We love the idea of having lots of options. Move across the world? Go on vacation? Help a friend in need? Quit our jobs? Retire at 40? With a little bit of forethought, all of these crazy options can be available. It simply takes a little bit of planning, prioritizing, encouragement, and excitement. 

One of the biggest decisions my wife and I made when we got married was to consider and prepare for the idea of having a stay-at-home parent. My mother worked outside the home throughout my childhood and my wife’s mother primarily worked at home. We knew going into marriage that children were important to both of us and we wanted to have the option to stay at home if we desired. So we planned ahead. We started by getting completely out of debt and living only off one income. We predecided a percentage of our income we wanted to live off of (you already do this whether you realize it or not) and have stuck to that. In addition, we keep our fixed expenses low by sharing a car, riding our bikes, using cloth diapers, planning meals, cooking at home, staying fit, using $10 a month IPhone plans, growing food, living in a modest house (850sf. for 4), buying quality goods, pay no interest, and having lots of incredible relationships.

The Process
I often write about various aspects of the process of being intentional with your money. Finish this section and you will have all you need to get started. The first step is simply to clarify your goals. This begins with understanding why you want to be successful with money. Is it about living stress free? Traveling the world? Providing for your children? Feeling under control? Have enough to not work when you are 95? Giving it all away? Define what it means to be happy with money. If you are in a relationship, you must understand what your significant other thinks as well! It is imperative to get on the same page.

The next steps are simple but not easy.

(1) Build an Emergency Fund

(2) Get out of Debt

(3) Invest and plan for the future.

Unexpected things will happen every few years. When you don’t have money, every negative event is not only a crisis but also a financial crisis. If you are really sick or wreck your vehicle, it is much easier to heal when you are not completely worried about money. I’m not a big fan of debt. I love the idea of being completely debt free and the burden that decreases with that freedom. Debt sucks the life out of your income. Whether it iscredit cards, student loans, or house payments, they all affect your cash flow and risk. It is never easier than today to get out of debt. But it does take prioritization or we will all still be in debt when we get ready to retire. The last component is planning for the future. This includes purchasing a home, saving for kids’ college, retirement savings, and investing. Each aspect is part of an overall plan to be strategic about your money and time. Think through where you want to be in five or ten years. If you like where you are, continue; but if you want to be in a different place ten years from now you must begin the process today.

Reading

I’m a reader. And chances are good that if you are engaging with this text you have the incredible ability to read as well. That is good news. You can learn almost anything about money if you are willing to spend just a tiny bit of time reading about it. I try and read every popular book written about finance so you don’t have to. Really, if there is one book that boils all the information down into entertaining and manageable steps it would be Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. No book is perfect, but big Dave does a fantastic and humorous job of working through all the steps to become financially successful. The best part is that it is easy for a complete beginner or seasoned financial veteran to read. It also makes great reading for a reluctant spouse, parent, or friend. If you are looking for Stage II advanced reading you can check out the classic Your Money or Your Life.

Giving
One of the joys of having money is the ability to give it away. It is pretty neat how lucky we are to live in a time and place filled with so much abundance. I think one of the best ways to generate peace with our money is to start systematically giving some away on a regular basis. It obviously benefits the organizations or individuals that we give to, but it equally helps us prioritize our money and be more intentional. Kali and I still view ourselves as managers of the money we receive. This makes it much easier to take care of what comes in, enjoy a little bit of it, and help lots of other people. If you had lots of money to give away, who would you help out?

Money is powerful. It is worth your time and energy to understand how it works. It is either working for you or against you and the earlier we take control the better lives we will live. I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for a little financial independence and thinking. Feel free to hit me up on twitter orfacebook if you have any questions. And, when you are financially free in a few years, travel the world, work any job you would like, give lots of money away, and live a stress free life. Get the process started today.

About

Stephen is a runner, biker, writer, teacher, student, and father. He enjoys being outside, eating delicious food, traveling the world, teaching people about money, and fixing things that are broken.He and his wife Kali write weekly for Simple Economist, a blog about personal finance and simplicity. He is currently finishing his PhD in Behavioral Economics and Financial Planning.

Relentless Baker

Family vacations as a kid were always a lot of fun!  One of our family traditions involves this yummy French bakery in New Smyrna Beach, FL.  They sell delicious croissants and breakfast sandwiches.  Growing up, my dad would always wake up early during our family trips to sneak out and grab breakfast.  Sometimes, he would surprise me with my favorite treat-- meringue cookies! These crispy, airy, sweet delights became synonymous with summer to me.

I've tried-- at least a half dozen times-- to make them myself and have FAILED miserably.  Once or twice the house was too humid, once I didn't bake them long enough, another time I baked them too long... the list goes on. Despite all of these failed attempts, every time the weather changes from winter to spring I get the bug to make these treats.

Well friends, I am happy to say that TODAY is the day!  I finally made French bakery worthy treats!!

Recipe:

• 2 egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon salt                                                    
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar                                                                     
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                                     
• 3/4 cup white sugar                                                                     
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). To prevent burning you can bake on an air cushion baking sheet or put parchment paper on a regular cookie sheet
Beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla until very firm. Gradually add sugar and mix. Fold in chocolate chips.
Drop by teaspoonfuls on pan. Bake 300 degrees for 25 minutes. They should only be lightly browned.

Tips:
* You can use an icing piping bag and a large icing tip to pipe your meringue onto the baking sheet to give it a more professional pastry look.
* To avoid a gooey center, keep your cookies in the over for a few hours or over night.  I recommend baking for around 5 minutes at 350 and then turn off the heat.  Do not open the door to the oven.
* Make sure that there is no butter, water or oil on your utensils.  One of my past failures was because I washed my mixing bowl and then put the eggs in the bowl while it was still damp.  Bad idea :(

What are some recipes that you've tried several times before you finally got it right?

 

 

8 Reasons Why this Sorority Girl Uses Cloth Diapers

I have several friends who are pretty well-known "bloggers" who I recently asked if they would be willing to write a guest blog for me on a topic of my choosing.  I was excited when my friend Stasia agreed!  I consider her my "go-to" friend on all things cloth diapers.  She (and Lauren) really normalized cloth for me.  Without their good influence, I would have never considered going the cloth route.  Stasia has recently started a side business as a cloth consultant. She's super sweet and helpful... so if after reading this blog you have questions, feel free to message her!  She's great. I hope that you enjoy her post.  If you are interested in doing a guest post for me, please let me know!
-Sarah


Hey!  I am Stasia from Our Life on a Budget.  Sarah and I went to UGA together and are sorority sisters. Blogging has been a fun and easy way to keep connected.  She so graciously invited me over to her blog to tell a little about cloth diapering.  So without further ado...

 "8 Reasons Why this Sorority Girl Uses Cloth Diapers" 

So let's cut to the chase… I pretend to be crunchy, but I am not as crunchy as I would like to be.  We (yes, my husband is on board) have been cloth diapering our baby girl since a week after she came home from the hospital.  I am telling y'all cloth diapers are not hard and I'd even venture to say they are pretty easy :).  


1.  Cloth diapers are SOOOOO cute….  

Of course I would start with how stylish they are.  Pampers has been trying lately with the Sesame Street diapers, but they still don't even hold a candle to the prints on cloth diapers.  I mean just check out a few of my latest favorites.

The non-print diapers… awesome too! They can be used as bloomers, making your life easier with every diaper change .

You might have seen the trendy baby legs around lately… those are also especially cute with cloth, or as I like to call it fluff.

2.  Cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables...
I tell people all the time.  These are not your grandma's cloth diapers; they function just like disposables. We {being those in the cloth diaper world} call these "dad-proof," "babysitter-friendly" diapers all-in-ones and pockets.  Those are the ones I recommend because they are easy. Directions: Put under your baby's bottom, pull top up, fasten via velco or snaps… that's it.  

3. Cloth diapering does not make your laundry that much harder…

Do you have a baby?  Then you have more laundry to do, plain and simple.  Throw in another 3 loads a week, not that big of a deal.  Washing goes like this- throw them in the washing machine, give them a good rinse on cold, and then throw in your detergent of choice (I use Tide, see I am not that crunchy) do another cycle on hot. To make sure I get all the detergent out I sometimes do another rinse and spin.  So basically I have to hit 3 buttons to get them clean.  I like to line dry mine, but I also line dry most of clothes.
4.  Cloth diaper or disposable-  "Poop is still poop"...
But what about the poop? This is usually the first question I get.  Did you know that you are supposed to flush the waste even if you use disposables? 




Source 
Okay so nobody does that, but really the poop can be easier to deal with in cloth.  First of all if you are breast feeding it does not smell and you can wash the diapers as is because breast milk poo is water soluble (fun fact, right?). Once your baby starts eating solid food you have a couple of options:

*plop it into the toilet

*rinse it in the toilet

*or use these super convenient flushable liners

I generally go with option one or three… they are just a little easier!  And the good thing about flushing the waste, is the smell is gone.  No need for a diaper genie, no lingering smells, no "honey, please take the trash out  RIGHT now."  That is what makes me think that cloth is so much better than disposables here… less stink to deal with!
5.  Cloth diapers are accepted a daycares...
After the question about poop, the next comment I usually get is, "I work, cloth diapers aren't accepted at daycare." In most cases this statement isn't true!

Source

The website I listed above is awesome.  It tells which states allow cloth diapers and provides specific links to the regulations for each state!  So, in most cases you can cloth diaper in daycare!  My little wears them to her preschool and the teachers don't mind at all.



6.  Cloth diapers save you money... Cloth diapers are an investment that will save you money in the long run. I have spent about $400-$450 total on a supply of cloth diapers and all the accessories that will last me from birth to potty training (I also buy quality brands new, you can cloth diaper for cheaper). When you have to shell out that money up front- it does hurt a bit. But when you calculate it out you are saving SOOOO much money- like thousands of dollars.  And if you cloth diaper with a second child, you will save even more by reusing the diapers again!


You can see here just how much you can save depending on the brand.

7.  There are no late night trips to CVS…
You have everything you need, in your house, all the time, one less thing to worry about… and as a mom this is HUGE :).
8.  Cloth diapers really do help the environment...
Okay so my last point is completely crunchy, but it is also completely true.  I got into cloth diapers to save money and because they are cute, but this has had a great impact on me since I have started cloth diapering.  I really love that I am helping the environment!

Source- And that is just one year… just multiply those disposables by 2 or 3 and make them dirty...

If this girl can cloth diaper (and love it) you can too!  Interested and want to know more? Want me to help you get started?  Just have a question?  I would love to hear from you!

stasia08 [at] gmail [dot] com

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Travel like a Local

Traveling like a local means experiencing a new location just like a local would: immersing yourself in the culture, doing what they do, eating what they eat, and avoiding the cookie-cutter tourist experience. Sure, trying out the neighborhood coffee shop instead getting your standard Pike's Place Roast at Starbucks is definitely riskier--but I would argue that your reward is greater than your risk.

Would you rather sip on a cup of Joe here... or here?

  

 

The picture on top is of the Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL.  It is one of the coolest coffee and tea shops I've ever been to. How did I know to try out this unique establishment? A few minutes of time on the following websites can mean the difference between a hamburger at Chilli's for dinner or a hand-crafted BBQ Bacon Burger from a neighborhood restaurant.

 

Some ideas:

 

Yelp.com:  Yelp is hands down one of my favorite websites.  In fact, I am not embarrassed to admit that I am an Elite Yelper (meaning I've written enough reviews that Pace and I get invited to Elite city events). Never heard of Yelp? According to American Express, other than Google, there is no other website more critical to the success of a local business than Yelp with 78 million website hits per month (source).  Yelp has a mobile app that allows you to search for "best Chinese food" and will give you a list of nearby options along with helpful reviews. I recommend sorting your search by either "Elite" reviews on top or "Most Reviewed" instead of the standard "Best Match".

 

Every major city has a weekly city newspaper.  St. Louis has several including the Riverfront Times and Sauce.  Before making a trip, browse the local alternative paper for unique events, road races or restaurant openings.  For example: if you are in St. Louis this weekend, be sure to check out all of the Earth Day events at Forest Park.  Apparently St. Louis has one of the world's largest Earth Day celebrations in the world! http://www.saucemagazine.com/blog/?p=35916

 

Know what you like... and know where to get it!  For example, if you like BBQ, make it a priority to find the best BBQ on your trips. Travel and Leisure came out with a guide to BBQ in 2009 with their favorite smokehouses.  I've known foodies to literally build trips around food! 

 

If you like to shop, find out where the local markets are and avoid the malls! St. Louis has one of the oldest public markets still in existence  (I'm really making a push for people to come visit me in St. Louis). My favorite Saturday involves fresh donuts and an OJ with a splash of a little something extra at the Farmers Market.

 

Many cities have unique markets--including Charleston (although there's can be really touristy!), Chattanooga and Kansas City.

 

And lastly, if you really want to feel like a local... take the local transportation!  Boston, New York, Denver... all have great public transportation systems.

 

 

 

 



How to Travel on the Cheap

I just looked up the weather on my phone. 53 degrees. In. The. Middle. Of. April. BLAHHhhhh! This has been the longest winter EVER. Days like today make me really miss college Spring Break beach trips.  Ooooh what I would do to be in a lounge chair on the beach right now.

While I daydream about tan lines and pina coladas, I would love to share with you my money saving tips for travel.  For the last few years, I worked as a fundraiser for Washington University where I travelled a lot for my job.  I've travelled enough to earn gold status at Marriott and Starwood Hotels, A+ Status on Southwest Airlines and Yelp Elite. Here are some of my best suggestions:

Rental Cars:
I'll be honest, this is an area where it doesn't always save you money to go with the cheapest option.  Priceline's "name your own price" used to be my go-to for rental cars, but TRUST me, their pricing model is deceiving  and the frustrating forty-five minutes you spend waiting for the car at the counter isn't worth the $10 you think you might save. I am a very big fan of Hertz Rent a Car and am a "Gold" member (it's free to be gold. Just sign up online: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/member/enrollment). When you rent a car as a gold member, most airports will let you by-pass the long rental car line. They will have your car and paperwork ready and your name literally in lights above your rental car. The Hertz at Hartsfield in Atlanta is truly the best.

 You can save an average of $10 a day by saying "no" to the optional rental car insurance. According to USA Today, 34% of consumers surveyed by telephone bought a rental car company's insurance just to make sure they were covered. For most of you, this is a waste of money.  It is likely that the credit card you are using to secure your rental car provides free rental car insurance. If this is a new concept to you, I recommend reading this: http://thepointsguy.com/2013/03/maximize-monday-choosing-the-best-credit-card-for-car-rental-insurance/

Many car rental companies offer incentives for casual weekend travelers.  Enterprise Rent-a-Car (my second favorite car rental company) offers a $9.99 a day Friday through Monday special http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?bid=002&cust=MSWSRTA.

Hotels:
I have so much to say on this topic and would be happy to answer any of your individual questions.

For the casual vacationer, I have a few favorite sites:

BetterBidding.com is one of my favorite websites.  Their primary goal is to promote informed bidding on Priceline and Hotwire.com.  You can search their active message boards to get a good idea of how much hotels are going for in your search area. For example: Hotwire.com listed a 4 Star St. Louis Ballpark area hotel with a 95% rating for $59 a night. According to BetterBidding, it is likely the Hilton as several recent travelers purchased a similar deal.

Travelzoo.com is another website I often refer to when booking personal travel.  They not only list great deals from other travel websites (their free weekly e-mail has the Top 20 Travel deals each week) but they have great local deals--similar to Groupon--but often much better!  Check out this list of Fort Lauderdale deals as an example: http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Fort-Lauderdale/deals 

When traveling for work, I do not recommend using a discount website like Priceline because they will not let you cancel your reservation if your trip plans change.  My recommendation is to pick a brand--Marriott, Hilton or Starwood-- as the loyalty travel perks really are worth it! In my opinion, Starwood is the most generous with their loyalty travelers.  Once you reach gold status, they will upgrade you to the best room available, offer free Wi-Fi and an alcoholic beverage at check-in, free breakfast and their hotels are generally in fun areas. If the idea of "earning" your gold status sounds exhausting, try calling their customer support line and explain that you will be traveling a lot for work and want to be a loyal ___ customer.  Ask if they will extend gold status to you in exchange for your promise to stay at their hotel when you travel (it worked for me!). The downside to Starwood is that their hotels are usually only in larger markets (i.e. Dallas, Orlando, Chicago) or resort areas (Scottsdale, Fort Lauderdale, Vail). There is a Marriott hotel in just about every city in America in some form or fashion (Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence, etc.).

If you work for the government, you likely qualify for a state or federal government discount. This can save you A LOT of money!! If you are traveling for work and you work for a 501C3, you likely qualify for the state government discount at hotels. For example: If I want to book a room tonight at one of my favorite Atlanta Hotels, the JW Marriott, it would cost $299.  If you qualify for the government discount, the room rate is only $133 a night. Big difference! Even though I was never questioned or carded, I only used the government discount when traveling for work-related travel.

Sometimes, you can actually get a better price or a more unique experience if you stay in a Bed and Breakfast instead of a hotel.  For example, when I travel to Dallas, one of my favorite places to stay is about $100 cheaper than a comparable area hotel (http://www.baileysuptowninn.com/). Innkeepers are also more willing to negotiate on the price if they you make last minute reservations. For a directory of B&Bs, check out: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/.

If you are traveling to a town with a university, don't discount the university hotel.  In my opinion, these are sometimes the best! The Georgia Tech Hotel is located on 5th Street in midtown Atlanta and is often half the price of the nearby Marriott Courtyard.  I can vouch for the university hotels in Durham, Athens, Ann Arbor and Atlanta.

If you are traveling alone (especially if you're a female!) I recommend staying at a hotel near or inside a mall. The Westin at the Houston Galleria is one of my favorites!  The reason for this suggestion is 1) it's nice to be near a mall if you forget something  and  2) after a long day of travel, I enjoy working out or going for a walk.  It's not always a safe idea to walk/run outside by yourself in an area you're not familiar with. If you stay at a hotel connected to a mall it's easy to "power walk" the air-conditioned mall floors. Many malls even have security during the wee-hours of the morning in case you decide you want to run the stairs before the mall officially opens.

This post is getting rather lengthy... later this week I will blog about finding great restaurants on the road, site-seeing on a dime and will give you more advice to help you plan a budget trip.