The Gamble Life

Review: The Dinner Diaries

The Dinner Diaries by Betsy Block

My review

 

rating: 3 of 5 stars

A mom tries to improve her family's diet, mostly focused on what's healthy for them, but also focused on what's healthy for the planet. She's a funny writer and shares some really funny stories about her family that made me laugh out loud.

Her kids and husband are really picky eaters. I don't have such picky eaters to deal with but I still found the steps she took really interesting. Parts (the chapter on which fish to eat in particular) were informative and gave me information I'll use in my own shopping.

For me there wasn't anything earth-shattering or that I didn't already know was an issue or something to think about. For someone just getting interested in food and where it comes from and what it does to us I think this would be a great book--it won't make you feel guilty either. A fun read even if you already have a good handle on our food production and health issues.

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Carrying Cases

I finished up some sewing before the holiday rush...one for my crochet needles (in fabrics to match my latest bag) and one to hold my glass, not plastic!, straws.  I need the case for the straws so I will carry them in my purse instead of forgetting them at home and having to go straw-less.

I love little projects like these; quick and easy and satisfying.

Holiday Break

I've got so much going on--enjoying all this time with our families; last minute gifts; lounging.  I'm taking lots of pictures and I'll have tons to share...but I probably won't be checking in this week. 

Have a wonderful week!!!

Bitten!

 Oh man, have I been bitten by the washcloth bug!  I cannot stop knitting these things.  I've always thought they were kind of silly, but I was wrong.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, cleans up Abe after a "meal."  And they are so so soft too.  I love them.  They are the perfect portable project, and a cute little stack like this will make a great present.  Hopefully whoever I give them to will not be like the old me, but instead will use them--on their dishes, or their faces, or their floors.  Where ever you use them, they clean up.

Confessions of an Eco-Sinner

Confessions of an Eco-Sinner: Tracking Down the Sources of My Stuff by Fred Pearce

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fred Pearce chooses some of the "things" in his life and tracks down their source, exploring the people and places affected for him to get his stuff. It's truly fascinating to learn where things from gold to shrimp to cotton come from and what it takes to get them to us. It's also truly horrifying, for the most part.

I don't know anyone who is willing to trade someone else's misery or destroyed land for the ability to buy food or clothes cheap ... but it seems that is what most of us are doing. It isn't quite that simple, of course, but my first reaction is along the lines of "Oh my god, I can never buy anything again." Interestingly, that is not the message the author is trying to communicate and is not the message many of the workers in foreign countries (like Bangladesh) would want us to hear. But even though making $1 sewing jeans is an improvement over making 50 cents a day farming for shrimp (which also harms the environment) doesn't mean to me that it's okay for me to buy $20 jeans and feel good about it.

A wonderful friend of mine from law school, one of the most consistent and ethical people I've ever known did not buy any new products that were made outside of the US. (She did allow herself to buy them used.) For her, workers were the priority and she was not going to contribute her money towards the poor working conditions and pay of anyone.

This book is great for going behind the store, the marketing, the assumptions, and showing (at least in these specific instances) where this stuff actually comes from and what it's costs are. I think it's a great read because it's so hard to figure this stuff out on your own. The global market is complicated, trade routes are convoluted and sometimes hidden, green-washing is rampant, cost does matter, it can be tempting to make like an ostrich and say "I can't figure it out!"

Hiding isn't going to fix anything, and it won't make me less culpable or guilty if I end up spending my money on things I wish I hadn't. I am a long, long way from perfect (just ask my husband) but I'm hoping this book and it's information will help me get a little further on the path I'm trying to follow.

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Scenes from a recent walk.

We're so lucky to live where we do.  It isn't the country by any stretch (we're less than five minutes from a huge mall) but thanks to the trails built into our neighborhood we get to experience the outdoors in a really natural way just outside our front door.

 

Things may be a-changing!

We hired our first babysitter last night!  Not our first babysitter since the baby was born, our first babysitter.  It was very exciting and this morning Gus said "Christine was great." so I feel it was a success.  Chris and I enjoyed a very nice time out together at his company's Christmas party.  All around great.  In Austin we got some time out without Gus because of grandparents, but we don't have family here so a babysitter is really the only way that will happen.

Babysitters aren't exactly cheap, but I think it is going to be something we need to budget for occasionally.

Abe is so different from Gus in a lot of ways, but especially in sleeping.  He's just easier--he falls asleep on his own more often, he naps more often and longer, and consequently I don't stress as much about his sleep or his missing some sleep as I did with Gus.  Question whether my relaxed attitude has contributed to Abe's better sleeping...I think it has.  Regardless it means I feel more comfortable leaving him with someone else. 

It's all pretty exciting for me.  I still want him to spend most of his time with me...but the occasional break is going to be good for all of us.

Under the weather

Blug.  It's rainy and gray.  We're all sick.  It's just not a very inspiring time over here right now.  I think (hope) that the illness is a short run since Gus had it first (of course) and is already over it and Abe seems to be almost already over it.  Leaving just me and Chris to hopefully be better by tomorrow or the day after.

I have so much I want to do before we leave to visit family in less than a week!  I don't know if I'll be able to get it all done.  I have bags to sew, things to knit, stationery folders to sew, coasters to sew, holiday hards to create, address, and send, husband to bother until he writes a letter for said card.  Oh, and food to cook, house to clean, laundry (lots of laundry) to do, and lots to pack.  Packing is such a chore now.  I have this dream of boarding the plane with one bag over my shoulder.  But we're bringing the cat.  I am not comfortable checking my camera.  I need a diaper bag and a boppy and a carrier and a stroller and activities and snacks (because no thank you American Airlines I will not be purchasing a $3 container of chips or cookie).  I already feel like I look like a sherpa and none of it is packed, it's just in my head.  Oh well, we'll get through it fine and Chris will be there to help carry everything and Gus will carry his own carry-on bag.  And then we'll be in Austin so it will all be worth it.

Here is a little bag I just made for my knit club gift exchange.  I paired it with a Starbucks gift card...for taking your knitting to the coffee shop.  I thought it came out cute.  I'm going to make one for me too!

 

Advent Activities

This year I put several notes with activities on them in the advent calendar.  The other day it was "make paper snowflakes" and to say that Gus got into it would be a major understatement.  I was thinking he'd make one or two...we almost wiped out our stash of origami paper!

He really concentrates when he is involved in something.  After I cut one, to show him how to do it he cut the rest and would have me suggest shapes like triangles, zig zags, squares, or whatever for him to cut.  Then he started coming up with his own.

Our in-progress pile:

Too young to help, but happy to watch from his high-chair perch:

Some of the snowflakes are so original and creative.  Most adults who sat down to do this project would have some idea in their head of a dainty snowflake look, but Gus didn't have any ideas so he just went to town with his shapes.

I asked which were his favorites and he identified these two, plus another one that he chose not to hang up but instead secreted it away somewhere (he likes to hide things).

If you are interested in doing this project it is very easy!  Origami paper is great because it is thinner than regular paper, so easier to cut when folded.  First fold in half and cut a half circle shape (don't cut the folded edge!).  Then fold in half again three more times and you'll have a little triangle shape.  Start cutting your design making sure to leave at least some of the folds uncut or you'll have snowflake pieces instead of one snowflake.  Have fun!  I think these would also be very pretty hung from string and then hung from a mantle, along a staircase, or even like a mobile.

Thanksgiving Book

This year I made our family a Thanksgiving book.  These pictures are before Thanksgiving so they don't have our entries yet.  The idea is for us and whoever we're with on Thanksgiving to record some of the things we are thankful for that year.  And while I hope it will be true that we're all thankful for each other every year (ie., family) I think it might be a little dull to record twenty years of "I'm thankful for our family."  Or at least dull to go back and look at it.  So I've written a 'what I hope this book will do' page at the front that says that I want to use this book to record those things we're thankful for that are unique to the particular year.

I'm really excited about this project!  I chose to make it an accordion style book because I'm imagining it being displayed in future years all spread out with our notes showing in different inks and different hands, maybe with a drawing or photograph or two glued in. 

Both covers are the same; the book is reversible until written in, no official front or back.  Although I may add a title to one cover, I haven't decided yet.  I'm worried about the title not looking the way I want and then feeling like I've ruined the book.

My book-making skills are rudimentary, but this isn't about the perfect book.  I fully expect some gravy or cranberry stains to add their own mark as the years go by.  This book is about remembering to be grateful and about recording our gratitude.  And also about recording all the cute things our kids are sure to say they are grateful for!  I can't wait.  The inside covers look like this; they are both the same.  Gus helped me pick out the papers I used to make the book.

I've always loved paper, loved pens and writing.  I remember when Chris and I were planning our wedding he had the brilliant idea of each of us identifying those things that were most important to us so that we could focus our energy (and money!) on those and let the other things go by the side.  It is so easy to get caught up in thinking and feeling that every single part of your wedding has to be a certain way when more likely you only actually truly care about certain parts.  For me, I wanted to be married outside, with everyone I knew (only slightly exaggerating there) invited, and with beautiful, beautiful paper (invitations, notes, place cards, etc.).  I got all of those things, and the massive amount of money we spent on paper still sort of appalls Chris, but I know it was worth every penny.  I have neglected paper since then; I'm excited to get into book-making!