December Friends and Foes

The friends: family, food, gifts and celebrations
The foes: family, food, gifts and celebrations

Hmmmm. What does that mean? This time of year can be a great time to reconnect with friends and family. The parties are joyous and a great excuse to buy a new outfit! The food and drink are delicious and special and a fun indulgence. Opening gifts, shopping for gifts....oh how much fun it is for so many people!

This is also the time of year that brings about difficult emotions for many people. Perhaps it is the first holiday season without a loved one who has passed. It may be a tough time for people to refrain from alcohol and food that are problematic when consumed in large amounts. And of course there is the economy. The pressure of buying gifts for everyone when money is so tight. You may be worried about paying the mortgage.....and you need to worry about your secret Santa recipient at work too. Job loss, family changes; it can all impact our ability to buy gifts.

If you are dealing with any of these issues or are close to someone who is, here are some tips to practice or pass along:

Gifts: Consider handmade and meaningful gifts. If you are not crafty, go online for ideas. One great gift to give is your time. Give gift certificates to people with offers of a service you have a talent for: two hours of cleaning, cooking dinner one night, or an offer to babysit. These are all things that mean a lot to busy people and are virtually free for you to give. And if you are exchanging gifts with someone who is having financial difficulties, give them useful gifts like certificates to their favorite grocery market or bakery or a month at their gym. And be sensitive to their self respect. Don't spend too much on them or they may feel embarrassed.

Take control. You are not obligated to spend any money if you simply can't do it. Take a look at your financial picture and set a budget if there is one. And pay in cash. Otherwise you will be facing an ugly picture in January when your credit card bills arrive.

Food and Alcohol: If you are battling the bulge and are afraid to attend parties with the fear that you will pop your buttons by night's end, consider upping your exercise. Or adding exercise if you currently do none. You may be able to fight off a little of the indulgence with added exercise. Let's face it, we will be faced with some delicious options. And it's not fun to abstain. And we shouldn't say no to all of it! Before you attend a party, consider a big bowl of vegetable soup before you leave the house. It is filling and satisfying. Starving yourself all day in anticipation of the party will only make you over hungry, it will slow down your metabolism, and will cause you to make bad choices. Eat light and healthy all day and have a low calorie snack before you get to the event. Party givers are much more hip to people choosing non alcoholic drinks these days. You will not offend your host if you choose soda. Why not make your hostess gift a beautiful bottle of sparkling soda and bring a second one to enjoy? It will look festive and taste special. Whatever your weakness, attend parties that are going to be more meaningful to you, creating more of a diversion from the food and beverage table. If your mouth is busy with laughter and conversation, you will be less bored and less apt to eat and drink.

There are some issues that are unavoidable during the holidays. Combat as much as you can with good mental and physical health. It may be your only weapon and one that gives you a sense of control. Exercise releases endorphins which is nature's way of keeping you in balance mentally. Just a brisk walk can do a lot for you. Eating certain foods can also boost happiness and a feeling of well being. It can also keep you further away from catching viruses that an otherwise weak system can fall victim to. Volunteer for people who don't have family, food or shelter. It feels great to give and can put your own issues in perspective. Homeless shelters and senior living facilities are usually grateful for your help this time of year.

This is also a wonderful time for many, many people! So I don't want this to be a downer......the reality is that we hear more about the festive parts of the holidays and less about the other. Enjoy all that you love about the holidays! And while we enjoy it, let's also keep in mind that some people struggle.

As you shop for your gifts, please remember all the LOCAL business that needs your dollars. Local business also offers better customer service, more unusual options, and it creates more economic strength in the community. That strength comes full circle and ends up affecting your own wallet.

Recycle!! I am using newspaper this year and buying beautiful ribbon to accent my gifts. It may sound odd or even cheap.....but it really looks funky with the mix of cheap, bland newspaper and ornate ribbons. And most important, it reuses paper.

Any more tips I should add to this blog? Feel free to write to me by clicking this link!! 

Be happy, healthy and well this holiday season. 

Kate Lowry Designs and DateStaging gift certificates are available!!! They make great gifts!

Small Steps for Big Changes

When you think about all the waste and useless expenditure that we become accustomed to, it's no wonder we are searching for spare change under the cushions. 

As people are becoming more hip to being cost efficient and energy efficient, I am HUGELY aware of how to do more for less when I stage or redesign someone's home.  And it gets me thinking about how I can save money for me, and for my family as I perform everyday chores in my own life.

LAUNDRY:

I was always taught to wash my whites in hot, mediums in warm and darks in cold.  But honestly, if the whites are not soiled, cold is fine.  And how often do you use the "short" cycle?  When I wash my sheets and towels, it is usually for freshening them up.  A short cycle will do that.  Save the regular cycle for the kids' mud caked jeans and the dogbed cover.

Dryers can  be set on lower settings and do a good job.  And there is less wear and tear on your clothing if things are subjected to less heat.  I also have purchased a clothesline to hang in my laundry room.  I airdry all my delicates so nothing shrinks and the elastic will last longer.  I airdry most of my pants as well.  A quick tumble dry at the end and some ironing and they look great. 

EXTRA FREEZER:

I have one in my basement.  It's full of stuff that is too old to ever use again.  And I shop frequently for mostly fresh food, so the frig/freezer is fine for my needs.  I am going to clean out the extra freezer and turn it off. I can't imagine how much energy it is costing me, needlessly! (anyone want to buy a freezer??)

APPLIANCE MAINTENANCE:

Make sure you keep up to date with manufacturer guidelines in upkeep of your appliances.  Remember to clean out the lint filter in your dryer.  And clean out under your refrigerator.  Take off the plate in the front of the frig and vacuum out all the dust and dirt.  It will run much more efficiently.

CLEANING PRODUCTS:

Boy, we are made to feel that we need to buy different products for every cleaning need!  Honestly, the things you need to keep on hand are white vinegar and bleach for the most part.  I also have a gentle cleaner for wood furniture. My biggest pet peeve is disposable cleaning wipes.  You know, the kind that pop up from the container?  They are extremely expensive and wasteful.  Even paper towels, while they have their purpose, can for the most part be replaced by reusable cleaning cloths.  Old fashion Comet, which is about 88 cents the last time I checked, has replaced my SoftScrub (about $4) for cleaning sinks, toilets and tub.  Use fewer, cheaper products (the ones we grew up with) and reusable cloths.  You save money and save the planet.  Keep it simple.

SNACK FOODS/SNACK SIZES:

With kids' lunches, it is always tempting to buy items that are packed for individual servings.  But take a look at the price difference between a large bag of junk and a container of small bags of that same junk.  You are better off to portion it out on your own. And speaking of junk, try not to buy it at all.  We end up spending more money at some point for weight loss, dental issues and general health problems because of processed food.  There is long term cost for short term pleasure. Think about how much processed food is in your house and try to replace some of it with fresh items.  Buy water bottles for your kids.  They can fill them up from the tap and they will get the flouride they need.

BUY IN BULK.......BUT NOT ALWAYS:

Sometimes bulk items are more expensive per unit than smaller sizes of the same thing.  I don't get it, but just be aware of it.  Get in the habit of looking at "unit cost" which most of the stores have on their shelves beneath the item.  And don't buy in bulk if it's an item you have never tried before (in case you don't like it) or one that may spoil before you get to finish it.  But if it makes sense and you have the room, buy in bigger sizes for items you always use.

RECYCLE:

Ok, if you don't already do this to some degree, shame on you.  All our towns are making it increasingly easier for us to recycle. And town trash bags are expensive, so let that be an incentive to do even a better job of recycling.  It's easy to toss today's paper in the bin. But do you take the time to rinse out your cottage cheese and yogurt containers or do they just go in the trash?  Habits can be made or broken in 3 days or after 3 events of the activity. Anything that can be recycled should be.  And if you're not set up to make it easier, take the time to prepare a system.

In my house, the town-issued recycle bin is way too small.  I bought a large garbage can on wheels, labeled it "Recycling" and keep it right inside the garage, next to the trash.  I wheel them out on trash day.  I have small bins in my home office and by the kids' computer.  And it's great to see the impact this has had on my kids.  If they ever catch me being lazy and putting a piece of paper in the trash, they come down hard on me!  To them it's second nature, as it should be for us all.

Make the changes slowly, set up systems that will make you more apt to implement the changes, and praise yourself for doing so!  If you have anymore ideas, write in to me and I will add them with your name to my blog!!  Write to: info@katelowrydesigns.com and put "Blog suggestion" in the subject line. 

All my best,
Katie

Be sure to visit my website at  http://www.katelowrydesigns.com/

YOUR WRITE-IN SUGGESTIONS: 

Brian L: "Just use HALF the amount of recommended laundry soap!! "

Lisa M:  "Alternative to Soft Scrub that is not only cheap but environmentally sound as well. Mix 1 cup baking soda with ½ cup castille soap (you can buy this in any health food store in bulk). Mix this into a paste and then add a few drops of essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus etc). This is great for tubs, tile, toilets and sinks. Anything you’d use Softscrub for. It cleans beautifully and smells wonderful. Leaves no residue and it’s like an aromatherapy treat. I make this in big batches and put it into glass jars (recycled salsa jars, jelly jars are great) and it keeps for months. Sometimes you need to give it a stir if the oil rises to the top but other than that it lasts for months.

Cindy K:  "In addition to recycling you should compost. Anything that is not meat or fat can go in a compost pile. Even if you don’t use it for your garden it greatly reduces the amount of trash."

Soup is on!

When the weather starts to get cold............like right now.........it is time to put away the ice cream maker and take out the crock pot.  Long simmering stews and soups are a great way to end the day at the dinner table.

There is something about the fall colors, textures and tones that make this the most cozy and wonderful season.  We are not yet housebound by icy roads.  But we are not outside by the BBQ either.  We are inside, wearing soft and warmer fabrics and smelling the fire in the fireplace.  We are wrapped up in wool and fleece and showing less skin that is now turning that lovely winter pale color of life in Maine!

We can look outside and see the bright colors of the leaves and the changing position of the sun. 

I always love the smell of soup cooking while the game is on.  I love the kids coming inside, cheeks all rosy and asking for hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows).

Soup of the day:

Katie's Versatile Vegetable:

I like this soup because it has virtually no calories and I add to it differently for each meal.  You can make it in the crock pot or a dutch over.

Start with garlic and onions sauteed in a large pan with extra virgin olive oil.  Once cooked through, add some shredded cabbage and exotic mushrooms.  When everything is soft, reduce heat and combine with a large can of pureed tomato and a large container of broth (chicken or vegetarian).  Let it all simmer for as long as you want.  Add salt and pepper, herbs and spices to taste. 

It contains no protein or starch, so other ideas that you can add individually to make it a meal:

Leftover rotisserie chicken
Chick peas
Can of tuna
Black beans
Brown rice
Israeli coos coos

The vegetable soup alone is a great snack when you need flavor and no calories (like at 3 pm!). It's also a great appetizer to fill you up before your main course if you're watching your calories.

The options are endless to what you can add.  Spice it up with pepper, tobasco, horseradish.....

Enjoy.

Katie

Summertime Blues and Autumn Reds

Fall is fast approaching with mixed emotions. 

I find it hard to say goodbye to the air and sun on my skin, my barefeet, the salt water, the sand, cookouts, daffodils and the warm rain.  And having a tan! I will miss the feeling of the indoors and outdoors having no barriers.  I hate to say goodbye to the ease of getting outside, getting to the store, or taking a trip without worrying about weather related cancellations. 

With winter, everything takes longer.  It takes time to dress for the outdoors and sometimes it takes just enough time that we can change our minds in the process (should I pull on my second smartwool sock and boot or take the first one off and call it a day?)  It gets dark early and sometimes I forgo an evening event in favor of my fireplace and flannel pj's.  I eat more in the cold months and exercise less.  I long for my skin to be bare to the elements which only works by going south (and I don't mean  a trip to South Portland).

So we must look forward to all the seasonal changes with enthusiasm, and perhaps a better attitude than we sometimes have.  I am bound and determined to make this winter as much fun and as fit and active as my summer was.  I plan to continue running and fill in with XC skiing.  I may take up snowshoeing as well.

And there are some wonderful things about the cold months that no palm tree or pina colada can replace.  SOUP!  Hearty, hot, robust soup that nourishes our souls and hearts, and warms our toes as we watch the game.  Stay tuned for some great soup recipes coming in the next several weeks!   

Meanwhile, in between the seasons, I find myself wearing shorts one day and kind of enjoying a day cool enough for jeans and a sweater the next.  It's fun to change with the seasons.  And it's not just the wardrobe.  I like to take a step back from my decor and clean up the remnants of summer. It feels good to put away the wicker.  Yesterday I pulled the light slipcover off the couch to expose the darker, autumn colored cover that has been waiting to breath again.  It was like getting a new couch (well not really!).  I also have started to rearrange the furniture again, which I do often, but have not done since early spring.   It's a good time to get to the indoor projects and clean out those closets.

And in the winter there is no more yard work to do or to pay someone to do.  I for one have a hard time taking care of the inside and outside of the house.  Winter precludes having to care for the outdoors other than clearing the snow several times.

I am aslo looking forward to the autumn county fairs, Thanksgiving, and the different light that we see in the sky.  That winter sky is oh so pretty.

Yes, I think fall and winter will be good this year.  I have decided that it will, in fact, be the best ever.

Kate Lowry Designs, LLC is a full service staging and redesign firm.  "I will bring your home's best features forward,  for funtion, beauty or resale."

Be sure to visit my other site: http://www.datestaging.com/  and  my blog: http://www.datestaging.blogspot.com/