For being such a small country, Costa Rica is amazingly ecologically focused. From unlittered roads, to restaurants and hotels - both large and small - each with a full complement of recycling bins. These outward signs, along with more than a quarter of the land area in the country designated as protected, both reserved as… Continue reading Costa Rica Travel: Eco-Tourism
But Wait There’s More About Paper Towels
While Go Gingham is my platform for sharing my "Stylishly Frugal Ways" and how we live well on less, I've learned so much from reading the comments everyone else leaves. What you write has improved our methods and helped us realize there's more to be done every day. The comments readers wrote about "Eliminating Paper… Continue reading But Wait There’s More About Paper Towels
Home Organization Project 10
Who invented the in-box? I'd like a word with them. In our house, my in-box is where everything gets piled. This piling into my in-box doesn't count as "home organization" either. Once it goes into my in-box, everyone thinks they are absolved of all personal responsibility. Wrong! We had a serious discussion about my in-box,… Continue reading Home Organization Project 10
Debt Free Isn’t for Everyone
There's a lot of talk about being or becoming debt free. It's usually framed as an all or nothing decision and that you must do it, at all cost. It's a good discussion to have. However, the discussion needs to focus on whether or not to be debt free, not immediately settled on the foregone… Continue reading Debt Free Isn’t for Everyone
5 Tips for Cooking and Freezing Foods
Home cooked dinners in the freezer are like money in the bank - that's what I always say! The only difference is food, unlike money, has a shelf life. Don't leave it in the freezer too long otherwise you'll end up with freezer burn. Making more than one night's worth of a great meal, to… Continue reading 5 Tips for Cooking and Freezing Foods
Monthly Meal Plan
This was a great month of eating. We began with Super Bowl Sunday leftovers, had a dinner at grandma's house, and then Valentine's Day dinner with pureed beets and arugula salad. Next, we hosted our dinner group with a fancy dinner and then had our kids' school auction. Our lives revolve around food, don't they?… Continue reading Monthly Meal Plan
Home Organization Project 9
Here's what the 9th week of this home organization project has taught me: The less I have, the more I want less. It's a think piece. Things I've been keeping and holding onto for one reason or another are now going, going, gone! Once we finish an area, it feels so good. During it and… Continue reading Home Organization Project 9
Sew a New Blanket from an Old Blanket
Do you ever buy something and wonder why? Me, too. I should not have bought this adorable table cloth but I couldn't help myself. With those fresh colors and gingham; it was too cute! Plus, it was from a shopping trip with girlfriends to the Goodwill Clearance Center so was inexpensive. Once I got it… Continue reading Sew a New Blanket from an Old Blanket
Holiday Dinner Group Gathering
Here's an easy formula for frugal living and entertaining - dinner group. Good food + good friends = dinner group. It's always good fun - and doesn't break any budgets! Rotate hosts, rotate homes, and rotate who's bringing what and you've got dinner group. Find some friends - 8 people is a good number -… Continue reading Holiday Dinner Group Gathering
Home Organization Project 8
Shoes, glorious, shoes - oh, how I love shoes! How many pairs does one person actually need? How about an active family? This week's home organization project is - you guessed it - shoes! When every activity seems to require a different pair of shoes, we certainly own our share. Remember when we just went… Continue reading Home Organization Project 8
Go Gingham 