Would You Live the Simple Life? A couple who owns just 100 things got me thinking about my consumption
Ysolt Usigan ON Aug 19, 2010 at 5:39PM
Last week, I read an article in the New York Times about a couple who gave up luxuries -- two cars, wedding china to serve two dozen people, a two-bedroom apartment -- and started to live the ultimate simple life. Inspired by blogs and web sites, Tammy Strobel and Logan Smith streamlined their belongings to a -- gasp! -- 100 items. They donated books, sweaters, shoes, pots and pans, even a TV to charity, and soon enough accomplished their goal. It has been three years and the Portland, OR couple now live in a 400-square-foot studio with a nice-sized kitchen, have traded in their cars for bikes, and are debt-free (they owed about $30,000 when they began to make these changes).
Because of their simple lifestyle choices, Strobel and Logan have money to travel, can contribute to their nieces and nephews' education funds and work fewer hours. Strobel has since realized that one doesn't need to live "bigger" to be happy.
So what's the moral of the story? That you don't need stuff to make you happy?? Hmmm... This got me thinking... Can I ever live the simple life -- as in, own only 100 things? I have 100 pairs of shoes alone! And for that matter, can living "simple" make me happy?
I turned to an expert for clarity. "I do believe happiness is more fundamentally about relationships than stuff," says Wanda Urbanska, simple living expert and author of Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska. "Face it, we all gravitate toward favorite outfits and things, so simplifying for a fashion maven is about zeroing in on those favorite things and letting go of the excess."
My take: I do believe that you are not what you buy, and you certainly are not what you wear. In fact, I'd much rather spend my hard-earned money on an experience (a fun vacation, a delectable meal or a soothing spa treatment). An amazing experience will definitely make me more happy than buying stuff -- stuff that I'll use now and forget about, stuff that I probably didn't need at all, stuff that came out of an impulse purchase.
But, wait a minute... For me, shopping for my fall wardrobe is an experience in itself. The act of buying a crisp new trench coat or a chic yet comfortable pair of boots feels pretty awesome. It's like I'm celebrating my favorite season and getting ready for the experiences to come, which just happens to include wearing that crisp new trench coat and cute pair of boots. There can be a rewarding sense of self when one buys stuff. The idea that I can express myself through what I wear, for instance, helps my self-esteem, too.
Give me life, give me stuff!
I understand the idea of living "simple," but I don't think I'm quite down with living deprived. I guess the moral of the story -- for me, anyways -- is to (simply) spend wisely.
MY THOUGHTS
i don't think cutting it down to 100 items is doable. well, not immediately. but i do know that cutting down on a lot of things is possible. the things we buy, the things we possess-especially if we don't need them - become a burden eventually.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Could Your Coffee Make You Fat?
Could Your Coffee Make You Fat?
from www.ivillage.com
Let's say you start your day with a large latte from your local coffee shop. You feel like something a little sweeter today, so you add some vanilla syrup. Bad news: You might have just downed more than 400 calories!
Even if you branch out from coffee with a green tea or strawberry blended drink, a large size can contain nearly 20 teaspoons of sugar. Adding whipped cream ups the calories—and the fat content—even more.
But don't worry—there's no need to give up your morning java. You just have to know how to avoid ordering a sugar bomb. Here are three tricks to try:
1. Always ask for a smaller size and specify nonfat milk.
2. If you're craving a flavored syrup, try one that's sugar-free.
3. If you're up for it, go for the most straightforward yet healthiest option of all: A black coffee or tea with no added anything!
MY THOUGHTS
i prefer to have my cafe mocha- but not everyday. once a week will probably do no harm. the rest of the week i have my black coffee.
from www.ivillage.com
Let's say you start your day with a large latte from your local coffee shop. You feel like something a little sweeter today, so you add some vanilla syrup. Bad news: You might have just downed more than 400 calories!
Even if you branch out from coffee with a green tea or strawberry blended drink, a large size can contain nearly 20 teaspoons of sugar. Adding whipped cream ups the calories—and the fat content—even more.
But don't worry—there's no need to give up your morning java. You just have to know how to avoid ordering a sugar bomb. Here are three tricks to try:
1. Always ask for a smaller size and specify nonfat milk.
2. If you're craving a flavored syrup, try one that's sugar-free.
3. If you're up for it, go for the most straightforward yet healthiest option of all: A black coffee or tea with no added anything!
MY THOUGHTS
i prefer to have my cafe mocha- but not everyday. once a week will probably do no harm. the rest of the week i have my black coffee.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Simple Ways to Slash Your Grocery Bill
By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide
Struggling with a too-big grocery bill? Here are simple ways to slash it down to size:
Only Buy On Sale - Start a stockpile, and only buy items when they are on sale.
Plan Your Menu Around the Sales - Enjoy cheap meals throughout the week by planning your menu around the weekly sales flyers.
Be Willing to Substitute - Have a recipe that calls for an ingredient that you don't have? Then, see if you can substitute it for an ingredient that you do have. It'll save you money at the store and space in your pantry.
Buy Ingredients Instead of Prepared Meals - Frozen dinners and boxed mixes may be convenient, but they're also more costly. Get in the habit of buying the ingredients that you need to prepare the foods that you eat, and watch your grocery dollars go further.
Shop Seasonally - Foods are cheapest when they're in season, so learn when all of your favorite foods are in season, and buy them then.
Switch to Generic - Make the leap from name brand to generic brand, and you'll shave an easy 25% or more off of your grocery bill. Some generics worth trying: cereal, spices and baking supplies.
Buy Reduced-Price Items - Want a true bargain basement price? Then, scour every aisle of the store for reduced-priced groceries. Ultra-ripe produce, scratch and dent items, closeouts, food at or near its use-by-date – it's all reason for a reduced-price sticker. Not sure you'll be able to use something before its use-by date? Then, toss it in the freezer, and you won't have to.
Shop at Drug Stores - Grocery stores aren't the only place to look for grocery bargains. Get in the habit of checking the drug store ads for deals on cereal, oatmeal, raisins, spices, baking supplies, soda, paper goods and more.
Cherry Pick - Stores tend to sell a few items below cost each week to entice customers to shop. Learn to spot these bargains, and snatch them up – even if it means going to more than one store.
Shop Locally - Local produce stands, farmer's markets and u-pick farms can be a great source for low-cost, high-quality produce.
Grow Your Own Foods - Fill a few containers or a garden plot with the fruits, vegetables and herbs that you use most. It's a great way to reduce your produce bill, and a great way gain control over how your food is grown.
Check Your Receipt for Mistakes - Mis-rings are common and costly. Bring all receipt errors to the store's attention, and you may just get your mis-rung items for free!
Make Your Own Ingredients - Baking soda, brown sugar, even flour can be made at home. Challenge yourself to make more of the ingredients that you need, and enjoy tastier foods at a fraction of the store-bought price.
Never Pay Full Price for Meat - Something is always on sale in the meat department. Focus in on those items, and you'll shave an easy 25% off of your tab
Go Meatless - Add more meatless meals to your menu, or experiment with recipes that use less meat.
MY THOUGHTS
worth trying! tho i can't imagine growing my own food and maing my own ingredients. first of all there's no space. worse, i don't even have a stove. and then there's a question of time...
By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide
Struggling with a too-big grocery bill? Here are simple ways to slash it down to size:
Only Buy On Sale - Start a stockpile, and only buy items when they are on sale.
Plan Your Menu Around the Sales - Enjoy cheap meals throughout the week by planning your menu around the weekly sales flyers.
Be Willing to Substitute - Have a recipe that calls for an ingredient that you don't have? Then, see if you can substitute it for an ingredient that you do have. It'll save you money at the store and space in your pantry.
Buy Ingredients Instead of Prepared Meals - Frozen dinners and boxed mixes may be convenient, but they're also more costly. Get in the habit of buying the ingredients that you need to prepare the foods that you eat, and watch your grocery dollars go further.
Shop Seasonally - Foods are cheapest when they're in season, so learn when all of your favorite foods are in season, and buy them then.
Switch to Generic - Make the leap from name brand to generic brand, and you'll shave an easy 25% or more off of your grocery bill. Some generics worth trying: cereal, spices and baking supplies.
Buy Reduced-Price Items - Want a true bargain basement price? Then, scour every aisle of the store for reduced-priced groceries. Ultra-ripe produce, scratch and dent items, closeouts, food at or near its use-by-date – it's all reason for a reduced-price sticker. Not sure you'll be able to use something before its use-by date? Then, toss it in the freezer, and you won't have to.
Shop at Drug Stores - Grocery stores aren't the only place to look for grocery bargains. Get in the habit of checking the drug store ads for deals on cereal, oatmeal, raisins, spices, baking supplies, soda, paper goods and more.
Cherry Pick - Stores tend to sell a few items below cost each week to entice customers to shop. Learn to spot these bargains, and snatch them up – even if it means going to more than one store.
Shop Locally - Local produce stands, farmer's markets and u-pick farms can be a great source for low-cost, high-quality produce.
Grow Your Own Foods - Fill a few containers or a garden plot with the fruits, vegetables and herbs that you use most. It's a great way to reduce your produce bill, and a great way gain control over how your food is grown.
Check Your Receipt for Mistakes - Mis-rings are common and costly. Bring all receipt errors to the store's attention, and you may just get your mis-rung items for free!
Make Your Own Ingredients - Baking soda, brown sugar, even flour can be made at home. Challenge yourself to make more of the ingredients that you need, and enjoy tastier foods at a fraction of the store-bought price.
Never Pay Full Price for Meat - Something is always on sale in the meat department. Focus in on those items, and you'll shave an easy 25% off of your tab
Go Meatless - Add more meatless meals to your menu, or experiment with recipes that use less meat.
MY THOUGHTS
worth trying! tho i can't imagine growing my own food and maing my own ingredients. first of all there's no space. worse, i don't even have a stove. and then there's a question of time...
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Healing Power of Weekends
The Healing Power of Weekends
Why you feel less pain and more joy from Friday to Sunday. Plus, how to make weekdays happier
By: Stacey Colino
We all love weekends—just listen to songs by Lily Allen, Alanis Morissette or the Black Eyed Peas. But did you know that you’re less likely to feel aches and pains on weekends? And more likely to feel energy and joy?
Those are the surprising results of a new study in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. Tracking the moods and physical symptoms of 74 adults three times per day for three weeks, researchers found that both women and men experience better moods, a higher sense of vitality and energy, and fewer physical symptoms (such as aches and pains, and digestion and respiratory problems) from Friday evenings through Sunday afternoons. “It was really surprising to see how strong the weekend effect is—there’s so much of a difference for most people in terms of happiness and physical symptoms between the weekends and the weekdays,” says study author Richard Ryan, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at the University of Rochester. It’s true no matter how much money people earn, how many hours they work, what type of work they do, how old they are or what their marital status is.
What’s so healthy about weekends? It’s not exercising more, catching up on your sleep or any particular activity, at least not directly. It’s doing what you want, with the people you like. “Being able to connect with people you love and having more of a sense of autonomy on the weekends improves people’s well-being,” Ryan says. Compare that to workdays, especially in certain kinds of jobs: “It’s stressful to be working in an environment where you don’t feel connected to other people or you feel oppressed, and people feel time-pressured during the week, which also contributes to negative moods.”
That’s why it’s important to try to reap maximum enjoyment, recovery and restoration from your weekends—by spending time with people you love, doing activities and hobbies you enjoy and making your own decisions about how to spend your time as much as possible.
You might even be able to take a little of the weekend’s magic to work. “We could do a lot more in the workplace to improve people’s well-being and their sense of voice and empowerment,” Ryan says. Look for ways to enhance your satisfaction during and after work, he suggests. Volunteer to participate in a work project that really interests you. Take a fun class after work (yoga, origami?). Meet your girlfriends for lunch or coffee during the week.
By creating some freedom of choice for activities that will bring you satisfaction and carving out a bit of quality time with your favorite people, says Ryan, you just might be able to bring some of the healing power of weekends into your weekdays.
MY THOUGHTS
so what's the trick? Make a work week a weekend? Why not? By doing what you love doing, the work week won't be that bad. Still, weekends are weekends. I so look forward to waking up without the alarm clock, having a leisurely breakfast (Uh brunch), wearing pajamas the whole day, no make-up, no nothing! Weekends do heal!
Why you feel less pain and more joy from Friday to Sunday. Plus, how to make weekdays happier
By: Stacey Colino
We all love weekends—just listen to songs by Lily Allen, Alanis Morissette or the Black Eyed Peas. But did you know that you’re less likely to feel aches and pains on weekends? And more likely to feel energy and joy?
Those are the surprising results of a new study in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. Tracking the moods and physical symptoms of 74 adults three times per day for three weeks, researchers found that both women and men experience better moods, a higher sense of vitality and energy, and fewer physical symptoms (such as aches and pains, and digestion and respiratory problems) from Friday evenings through Sunday afternoons. “It was really surprising to see how strong the weekend effect is—there’s so much of a difference for most people in terms of happiness and physical symptoms between the weekends and the weekdays,” says study author Richard Ryan, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at the University of Rochester. It’s true no matter how much money people earn, how many hours they work, what type of work they do, how old they are or what their marital status is.
What’s so healthy about weekends? It’s not exercising more, catching up on your sleep or any particular activity, at least not directly. It’s doing what you want, with the people you like. “Being able to connect with people you love and having more of a sense of autonomy on the weekends improves people’s well-being,” Ryan says. Compare that to workdays, especially in certain kinds of jobs: “It’s stressful to be working in an environment where you don’t feel connected to other people or you feel oppressed, and people feel time-pressured during the week, which also contributes to negative moods.”
That’s why it’s important to try to reap maximum enjoyment, recovery and restoration from your weekends—by spending time with people you love, doing activities and hobbies you enjoy and making your own decisions about how to spend your time as much as possible.
You might even be able to take a little of the weekend’s magic to work. “We could do a lot more in the workplace to improve people’s well-being and their sense of voice and empowerment,” Ryan says. Look for ways to enhance your satisfaction during and after work, he suggests. Volunteer to participate in a work project that really interests you. Take a fun class after work (yoga, origami?). Meet your girlfriends for lunch or coffee during the week.
By creating some freedom of choice for activities that will bring you satisfaction and carving out a bit of quality time with your favorite people, says Ryan, you just might be able to bring some of the healing power of weekends into your weekdays.
MY THOUGHTS
so what's the trick? Make a work week a weekend? Why not? By doing what you love doing, the work week won't be that bad. Still, weekends are weekends. I so look forward to waking up without the alarm clock, having a leisurely breakfast (Uh brunch), wearing pajamas the whole day, no make-up, no nothing! Weekends do heal!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)