Although I love the idea of a growing my own food, my deeply shady backyard and lack of sun have kept my garden just that — an idea.

However, my front porch area get lots of afternoon sun, which means that I am able to grow a few pot of edibles to redeem my name in Portland, a city known for our eco-friendly choices.

The recent purchase of a lovely thrifted flowerpot prompted me to buy an envelope of cilantro seeds. Kristen from The Frugal Girl has written about how easy it is to grow your own cilantro from seed, and I wanted in on the action.

See how the tiny seedlings are starting to show their cilantro leaf shapes? I’m not sure why only half of the seeds grew, but I did plant a few more to ensure a nice healthy crop. (I probably overwatered.)

This flowerpot will hopefully grow sweet potato vines. A couple of my sweet potatoes were starting to sprout, so I cut those bits off and planted them here. I won’t actually be eating them, but sweet potato vines are so pretty when planted, with their rich red leaves.

I like that I’m taking what others might see as food waste, and turning it into my own test garden.

For decorative gardening I prefer to spend zero dollars and zero cents, which is why I am HUGE fan of hens and chicks, which self propagate are impossible to kill and need no watering. How do I get them for free? Umm . . . a neighbor has a wall crusted with them and there is almost always an escapee chick that is sitting on the sidewalk, often already stepped on. I bring the poor guy home, stick it in a pot and it will always come back to life.

I do cheat nature by growing lettuce in a soil filled wheel barrow. This year my neighbor gave me a few seedings, which I planted and then promptly forgot about.

Like my lettuce tree?

Fear not, food waste haters, I picked those leaves off and we ate them in a lovely summer salad last night.

And yes, that is a thicket of raspberries growing from a gardening space that is approximately four inches wide and runs along my neighbor’s garage.

Delicious!

Are you challenged when it comes to your gardening opportunities, or are you blessed with sunny acreage? Please share your gardening prowess in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

1. I hosted a neighborhood barbecue potluck at my house yesterday. I made my share from scratch which included curry lime chicken satay sticks, peanut sauce, fruit salad, hummus and kale pesto on crostini. I did overspend on Trader Joe’s beer and wine, but we’ll have it for awhile as leftovers.
2. My recent night of theater with my mother was topped off by nibbles at Jake’s, normally an insanely expensive treat. However, we ate in the gorgeous bar, which meant we were able to order from the Happy Hour menu, which ranged from $2.95 – $5.95.
3. I just bought a Rejuvenation Lighting fixture at Goodwill for $2.99. It looks to be a discontinued item, but is similar to this $149 one. I recognized it because it’s from the same line as our kitchen ceiling fixture for which we paid oodles of money. Reminded me of when I scored my wonderful thrift shop Rejuvenation porch light shade.  (And by the way, that $1.50 glass globe I bought a few months at Goodwill? I just realized that it’s also from Rejuvenation, and is priced at $200!) I guess I’m complete and unapologetic fan of Rejuvenation Lighting products!
4. Inspired by my resale prowess, my mother recently picked up a $10 vintage Palecek Elkhorn chair from the Goodwill Outlet and sold it within a week through Craigslist for $150. Way to go, mom!
5. My husband loved his Father’s Day collage print from Walgreen’s. It was free, and he is happy.

Now you. What frugal activities have you been up to? Please share in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

Today I am . . .

• Taking the bus downtown to get my hair cut by the cheapest and best hairdresser in town.
• Taking my mother to see a play of Somewhere in Time. It’s her Christmas gift, and I even found 50%-off coupons in The Chinook Book.
• Picking up a FREE 8X10 “Collage Print” at Walgreen’s as a Father’s Day gift for my husband. This is a national deal, and you only need to use the code DADCOLLAGE and place your order by Saturday night.
• Starting to eat the ripe raspberries from my garden.
• Reading “Wedding Night” by Sophie Kinsella.
• Thinking about I have yet to start my Goal of The Week. Although I am cutting myself some slack, as I’ve put in a lot of hours at work this week.
• Excited that today is the last day of the school year for my 9th and 11th grade sons. Both guys did really well this year, and my younger son absolutely rocked his first high school final exams and projects.
• Going to put new locally purchased, made in the U.S.A. casters on my antique couch, as the current ancient ones are scarring up the hardwood floor. This will actually raise the couch up a bit, and help my living room to look like a theater set. (For quick set changes, all theater set furniture are on casters.)
• Buying donuts. This is our traditional after school snack on both the first and last days of school.
• Dreaming of sleeping in and the break from school lunches. Ahh . . .

Now you. What are you doing today?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

I know that I logically have no more free time during summer months, and realistically I probably have less time to read as the kids tend to be underfoot. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t consider June, July and August to be the perfect months for cracking open a book and shutting out all distraction.

I’m in the middle of reading Jennifer Weiner’s The Next Big Thing right now, which I plucked from the library’s Lucky Day shelf, as Weiner’s novels never fail me. I have three weeks to finish the book, (although I’m zipping right through it, as it is true perfection!) And when I finish this book, I have Overdressed: The Shockingly High Price of Cheap Fashion waiting for me at the library.

Because I like to always be reading a book, and I like to have a fresh book at the ready as well.

I’m greedy that way.

And if I’m laying it all my cards on the table at once, this is what I like prefer demand:

1. A current novel.
2. A new novel on the sidelines.
3. A non-fiction book.
4. A gripping audiobook.

The quatrafecta! (Is that a word? If not, I decree it so!)

I know I am not alone in my reading peculiarities. Just yesterday a Neonatologist at work joined into a conversation about how much I hate eBooks, (I need to physically leaf through a book) and started waxing poetically about the smell of paper books. And this was from a man who normally cannot be paid to say “boo” to me, even though I once took care of his wife in labor!

People love their books!

I love asking friends for recommendations, even though I often forget who by the time the books come in at the library. So here I am asking of you:

What books do you recommend? These books can be on any subject, big or small, old or new. They just need to be something you have read and loved. Please share your suggestions in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

It’s Monday, which means it’s time for Goal of The Week. A new weekly segment where Non-Consumer Advocate readers set and then reach small attainable goals.

“Not a soccer goal, but a personal goal. A single do-able, not overwhelming goal. A concrete goal. A reachable goal. A realistic goal.”

So no huge vague goals like “organize the house” or “lose weight.” A single attainable goal.

My goal for last week was to “tidy up and organize the backyard.”

Here’s what I did:

• I cleaned up and then sold the play structure slide through Craigslist. (Hello . . . fiddy bucks!)
• I cut up all the twigs from the crap wood pile and put them into our curbside yard debris pickup. I then made a big “Free pile” of thick branches and sodden cut logs in front of the house. I put together a Craigslist listing, but the slide guy ended up taking all of it anyway. Win-win!
• I borrowed my neighbor’s pressure washer and sprayed down the rock wall and brick patio. I then swept new sand in between the bricks for a nice new surface. (The bricks had become super mossy, slimy and dangerous.) For better detail, click on the photos.
• I also raked, swept and power washed the deck of the tree house, which was covered with leaves and filthy.

So how will I celebrate the shiny new fantastic-ness of the backyard?

With a backyard barbecue of course. I’m thinking just the neighbors and to make it a potluck. And yes, I’ll take down the clothesline.

This week’s Goal of the Week is to address the horizontal surface issues in my dining room. Ya’ll know that I try really hard to keep an organized home, but our dining room is always a catch-all for this, that and everything. Our dining room is where we eat all our meals, (there’s no kitchen table) do all our homework, draw all our pictures and pretty much anything else that requires a table. So when dinner’s ready, chances are there’s a cacophony of clutter that covers the table. And where does that clutter get stashed? Onto the piano, that’s where!

See?

And lest you think it’s just a piano issue, here’s a shot of the dresser from across the room:

And like all Goals of the Week, I am choosing a project that works within my available time for the week.

Are you participating in The Non-Consumer Advocate’s Goal of The Week project? Please share your goals in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

Today I am . . . 

• Holding a fresh new certification for Neonatal Resuscitation in my hand. I chose to take the online exam at a close-by hospital instead of at home (which would have been unpaid) or the hospital where I work, (long drive.) Being paid for the work that I do is a must.
• Happy to not be working today, as twelve hour shifts are kicking my butt lately.
• Pleased to have noted that I just received a raise. My last paycheck was surprisingly large, which made me note a pretty new hourly wage. Gotta love automatic raises!
• Excited that next Friday is the last day of school for my 9th and 11th-grade sons. I love being able to put aside my “What do you have for homework” style of parenting for a few months out of the year.
• Remembering that it’s hard to get much accomplished when the kids are home for the summer.
• Proud of my older son, who will be lifeguarding for the third year in a row.
• Looking forward to taking my mother to go see a theater adaptation of Somewhere in Time on Friday. This is her Christmas present, (experiential rather than solid matter) and I was even able to use a 50%-off coupon from The Chinook Book!
• Planning a backyard barbecue for next Saturday afternoon to celebrate A) The kids being out of school, B) the backyard being a thing of beauty and C) marinated meats. Must take time to celebrate the meats.
• Off to watch my younger son play soccer.

Can you tell that I’m already in a summertime state of mind?

Now you. What are you doing today?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

It’s time again to for Goodwill, Badwill Questionable-will, where I marvel at the wealth of oddity and treasure provided by my local Goodwill thrift shops.

First up is a brand new exception to my buy used exception list, which will now read:

• Underwear, socks and bras.
• Personal care items.
• Perishables.
• Harmonicas.
• Hookah pipe tubing.

Because a proper lady has to draw the line somewhere.

The second goody to catch my eye was this skillfully painted Mrs. Butterworth bottle. And yes, that is a custom hand crocheted mantilla on her head. Cause Mrs. Butterworth doesn’t buy off-the-rack. She’s a lady and she’s got standards.

Like the art of hand painted Mrs. Butterworth bottles? Then you need to click HERE, HERE and HERE.

The oddest find of the day has to go to this handmade Nelson Mandela throw pillow. Because of course there’s nothing better than coming home from a hard day at work, laying on the couch and propping your feet up on the face of Nelson Mandela.

Humanitarian. Role model.  Inspiration to millions. Throw pillow.

What did I buy? Well, I couldn’t resist the temptation of this vintage milk glass shade. With its classic art deco lines, it will look perfect in my soon to be built might get it before I retire second bathroom. This style of shade usually pairs with chunky ceramic sconces, and sell new at Rejuvenation for $40, and on eBay for $20. So $1.99 is a smoking good deal! Especially since my mother paid for it.

Thanks, mom!

My other purchase was very much a inpulse item, as I was unable to resist the groovy power of this Urban Outfitters pillow. Fat with a down insert, this pillow now brightens up my spare bedroom.

She’s huge, bright, loud and unapologetically bold and I love her!

Mwah!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

I know a lot of women who de-stress by indulging in spa days and others who find calm through knitting, but I am and forever will be someone who relaxes through decluttering and attractive organization. That’s right folks, my skin is un-exfoliated and my yarn stash is, well . . . I own no yarn.

But there is nothing more freeing than getting extraneous stuff out of my sightline, and to make that which stays be pleasingly stored. A cathartic lifting of the mantle that weighs upon my shoulders.

Ahh . . .

Just yesterday I sold a play structure slide that had been relegated to the rear of the backyard for at least a year. Swept up in the momentum, I donated a bag of gifted Japanese decor and doo-dads to the Japanese elementary school and then swept the house for library materials. My evening was capped off by reorganizing all the small plastic bins that live in my built-in buffet while watching Alias with my son.

Ahh . . .

My compulsion for attractive matching storage is easily supplied from my local thrift shops. Cute glass jars in the kitchen for bulk items and squared baskets with white liners for everywhere else. They’re both extremely common to come across and neutral enough to avoid becoming dated. I’m fully aware that matching storage can be bought all at once, but I avoid the temptations of The Container Store and Storables like a recovering alcoholic from her favorite watering hole.

I’ve noticed that it becomes painful to hold onto items once I’ve decided to part with them. This being true for everything from a pile of branches in the backyard to fussy lamps and unwanted books.

Like Lady MacBeth:

“Out, out damned spot clutter!”

I do not want to give the impression that my house is clean and perfectly organized, as I suffer from the malady of seeing potential in many, many objects. (“Don’t throw away that tiny scrap of vintage map, it’s enough to cover a clothespin!“) But for the most part, objects have logical homes and tidying up is not an endless stream of “Where does this even go?!”

Where was I?

Oh yeah, decluttering is cathartic; and attractive and matching storage is pleasing to the eye and calming.

Much more relaxing than a silly ol’ spa day.

Ahh . . .

Katy Wolk-Stanley

It’s time again for the Goal of Week here at The Non-Consumer Advocate. And for those who missed last week’s post, “Goal of The Week,” it was described as:

“Not a soccer goal, but a personal goal. A single do-able, not overwhelming goal. A concrete goal. A reachable goal. A realistic goal.”

My goal from last week was to clear this clutter-some corner of my bedroom, which had become a catch-all for . . . well . . . everything.

Here’s what I did:

• Sold the folded duvet cover.
• Moved boxes into our storage area.
• Reorganized wrapping paper, and stashed it in our other clutter corner of the bedroom.
• Brought one drying rack downstairs to replace the one my son kicked a soccer ball into and broke. (I plan to repair it, but haven’t taken the time to figure it out yet.)
• Tidied the baskets which hold my husband’s camera paraphernalia.
• Moved extra fabric to my sewing/crafting area.
• Moved miscellaneous doo-dads from a plastic bin and put them into a pretty vintage bowl.

The area is not perfect, (I actually hate the white dresser, but it holds all of our family photos and I’m hesitant to move it into our unheated storage area) but it’s a whole heck of a lot better than it looked a week ago!

This week’s goal is to tidy up and organize my backyard. 

This will involve:

• Power washing the rock wall and slimy brick patio. (The neighbors let me borrow their power washer.)
• Clearing the tree house from its layer of dead leaves and twiggery.
• Selling the unused slide.
• Getting rid of the unwieldily pile of dead branches and cut wood.
• Putting teak oil on the patio umbrella pole, as the wood is horribly dry.
• Weeding.

I am loving this new bite sized goal approach, as it’s just so darn reachable! So much better than expansively horrible goals as “clean my house” and “organize everything.”

Did you work on a “Goal of The Week?” And if so, are you ready for a new goal? Please share your projects in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

It’s been a month and half since I wrapped up Zero Waste Week, and although I am no longer buying the $4.50 half-gallons of glass-bottled milk, I am incorporating some other permanent Zero Waste changes into my life.

As you may recall, I had already made most of the easy changes. I use my own grocery and produce bags when food shopping, I pack school and work lunches in reusable bags and containers; and by only buying used I avoid almost all product packaging.

The easy choices.

But there were a number of thing I planned on buying in bulk when I ran out of their packaged counterparts, one of which was cat litter. Yes I know that there is compostable cedar cat litter, but I went that route once only to be rewarded with secret kitty urine spots which included the back of the coat closet and an upholstered chair.

That was a short experiment.

We’ve been buying Costco clumping litter ever since. However, it comes in a big thick plastic non-recyclable bag, which has always irked me. But when a reader commented about the scoop-your-own litter at Petco I was intrigued to give it a try. Happy to discover that there was a Petco not too far from the house, (I am loathe to drive long distances for a single errand) I pointed the ol’ mini-van to Petco in the name of research. And sure enough, Petco does sell scoop-your-own litter for the packaging adverse. You are required to make a one time purchase of a pre-packaged hard plastic tub of litter, but it then forever refillable.

The cost?

$11.99 for a 30-pound tub of clumping litter, which can later be refilled for $9.99. This ends up costing 2¢ per pound more than the Costco litter, but even I am not that cheap to forgo this packaging-free option.

So far the cats have not put up any protests, although the new litter is mixed in with the old, which should help to ease the transition.

Because peeing throughout my house is not an option. Ever.

The next Zero Waste change will be bulk tea, as I’m still using up the last box-and-a-half of Red Rose tea bags. And I have continued to have New Seasons put all meat purchases into compostable deli containers.

We’re currently putting out around 3/4 of a grocery bag of garbage every other week. Which for a family of four is pretty damned good.

Have you continued to make Zero Waste changes in your life? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

And don’t forget to check out the Zero Waste Home blog for endless Zero Waste ideas and inspiration!

Katy Wolk-Stanley