2011 Year Review

This has been an interesting year for us.  In many ways it's been better than the years in the past.  We managed to stay in one place for almost one full year.  That may not seem like much, but with all the moving we've done since leaving my ex, that's actually pretty good.  We're in a place that isn't perfect for us, but it will work.  We've learned to cook healthier, eat healthier, and shop more wisely, though we haven't been as good as we could be.  I've been building up a small list of recipes I know my family likes and home cooked meals made from scratch or from very few premade additives are becoming more common.  We're making progress.

On the homeschooling front, it may not seem like we did much this year in a lot of ways.  The year started off with a bang.  We did tons of arts and crafts, but as time went on we slowed down.  The summer was full of a lot of nothingness and idol time.  Thankfully, the fall picked up with the co-op.  We got to see just how smart the kids really were, and how good they are at what they can do.  Bunny Boo proved (finally) that she can read and is actually pretty good at it (when she's got the right motivation.  She's been reading Meet Marie-Grace from the American Girl collection.  She got the doll and book series from her grandmother for Christmas.  Link (as my older son has requested to be called on this blog) has shown that he's already learning some good reading skills and can already read a little bit here and there.  The littlest one is finally learning to talk and apparently has quite a bit to say.  They've all come a lot farther than I'd realized, and have grown so much too! Looking back at the past year, it's hard to think how much smaller they all were.

We didn't make a huge move towards sustainability this year, but we have been forced to make a few changes.  Given that we're without a car for the time being we've learned to do as much of our grocery shopping in bulk as possible.  As a result, we've cut back on grocery trips a good deal.  There's far fewer needs to run out for some last minute items forgotten.  Thanks to slippers for everyone under the tree this year and wonderful afghans sent by my aunt, we've also decided to keep the house cooler than usual this winter.  We're probably going to keep the house as warm as we can bear again this summer, since that worked out fairly well for us last summer.  We're looking for other ways to save on electricity too, but that's going to be hard with Chesh and his forgetfulness.  He has a bad habit of leaving the closet light on, as well as every single light in the kitchen.

Financially, we've made some progress on the debt-free thing without intending to.  Without having a car payment, we're going to be that much better off every month.  Living where we are now, rent is cheaper and water is included.  That means we're saving a good deal every month.  Unfortunately, Chesh is also out of work again, but I'll be employed as a nanny during the first half of the year.  That should buy him some time to find a new job and to keep pulling us that much farther out of debt.  The debt collectors from my past have finally tracked me down, so I've got all the contact with them I need in order to start working off my past debts.  This will put us in good standing when we finally decide to buy a home of our own.  I know the debts from my past can't technically hurt me any right now, unless I go for a line of credit somewhere, but it's better to have them all paid off and taken care of.  You never know when you might need your credit in good standing in the future, especially as many jobs do credit checks now.  I can't wait to have some of this consolidated and behind me.  Thankfully, moving to this place was our first step.

Overall it's been a wild ride of a year.  It's had it's ups and downs.  It's been interesting, that's for sure.  We've had to keep on our toes, but as a result, we've gotten a lot accomplished.  I can honestly say I hope the new year brings in better luck than this passing year, but I'm not too upset about the year we're leaving behind.  The challenges only helped us all grow.

Energy Saver: Plastic Window Insulation

Our current home is drafty.  From what I've heard, most trailers are.  We don't have a central heater or anything, so we're kind of reliant on electric heaters.  From what we've seen, everyone pretty much is.  I suppose in some ways we're doing better for the environment because our energy provider uses 100% green energy, but we'd still like to conserve a bit more.  There's no point in taking up resources we don't need, even if it is green energy.

To combat the draft, I remembered my aunt using some plastic window insulation stuff on her windows.  I don't know if she still bothers with it now since she owns her own home and may have some pretty decent windows, but I'd still remembered it.  When our houses here in Texas have been so incredibly drafty I'd often thought about looking it up, but I never did.  It never got cold enough to make a difference in the house, so I figured a bit of a cool draft wouldn't hurt anyone.

Things changed when we moved into this little trailer.  We originally ordered two heaters for our house. Our Lasko heater was just fine. It really cooks even the largest room in our house. The Lasko Stanley wasn't as helpful. It arrived with a broken fan so we had to replace it (which wonderfully came pretty quick!)  Thankfully that one cooks too, so we've got the advantage of keeping warm.  Unfortunately, the drafts can make things challenging.  The heaters have been constantly running since we got them to keep the place a tolerable temperature.  In hopes of saving electricity, we decided to look into that plastic stuff.

We decided on the Duck Brand Window Insulation Kit.  It was inexpensive and functional.  I was a little worried about using such a thin plastic with kids in the house, but I thought it would be worth a shot.  We ordered enough kits to deal with all our windows and hoped for the best.

When the kits arrived we went to work.  We started in the kid's room.  The double sided tape was a great idea, but we worried since there was supposed to be an inch left on each edge around the perimeter of the window.  However, the stuff was great.  Just insulating one window made a huge difference.  Given there are four windows in the kids' room, we could only imagine how great it would be when we got them all done!  We decided to put tape down on the outside edge of the windows as well.  The plastic was getting pulled up by the kids as we expected, so it wasn't going to be much help.  We also found that the littlest one likes to puncture it with pens, pencils, his fingers.  One of them pretty quickly got a pretty decent sized rip.  It's obviously not an ideal solution with kids and something sturdier would probably have been a better option, but they were inexpensive, so it's not like we wasted a lot of money.  That and repairing the one spot that needs repair isn't going to be that big of a deal.  There was some extra plastic from the edge so we're figuring we'll fashion a patch and that will be good enough.  They look pretty clear, so it's almost as though there's nothing over the window at all, or would look that way if we weren't going to need to patch the one.  I think this would be great for anyone who wants a subtle window insulation that's pretty clear.  Once you hit it with the hair dryer to "shrink wrap" it, it looks pretty sharp!

Next year we might start looking into more expensive solutions, like thermal curtains.  We'll have to save up for them since they are so expensive, but they keep in cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, so they're a year-round benefit.  They should save us enough money to be worth it, and there's nothing like curtains to make a place feel more like home!  Combine that with these simple window kits and we should be able to minimize the use of our little electric heaters!  Now all we need is a place we can throw some solar panels up on the roof and we'll have incredible efficiency!  Of course, that's not really an option until we own our own place.

Simple things, like sweaters, warm blankets, slippers, and insulation can make a huge difference in energy usage through the winter months.  Common problems such as drafts aren't such a big deal when you've got an option to dress a little warmer.  Slippers keep feet from feeling the effects of drafts and from cold tile and wood floors.  Blankets can be pulled over a lap while sitting in front of the television or working with a project.  Sweaters can always be thrown on if there's a chill in the house.  As much as I prefer the ability to have my house so warm I can sit around in a short sleeved shirt and barefoot all winter, it's not practical unless you have the luxury of sitting by a fire all winter long or don't mind spending a fortune to heat your home.  It's better to dress like it's winter outside!

It may not seem like much to keep temperatures low in the winter, better insulate the house, and dress a little warmer, but these little things can make a huge impact on your energy bill.  Just remember, the more you have to work to heat your house, the more energy you expend.  This is both costly for your wallet, and the environment (unless you use 100% green energy like we're privileged to do...)

How I Miss Nice Weather and How Fast They Grow

This week we had some pretty nice weather.  It got down to the 80's, which meant we were able to open the windows and let in some fresh air.  It was nice not to need the air conditioning running all day.  Hopefully that will save us some money.  It's not easy living in a state where air conditioning is required in order to live or you'll get sick from the heat.  This week it's going to be back up to the 90's, which is better than it was through most of the summer.  Yes, the weather is finally turning towards something nicer.

As the weather changed we decided it was time to sort through old clothes.  The boys will probably both need a new winter wardrobe.  My older boy has pretty much outgrown all of his clothes.  It's not that he's too wide in the middle.  Actually, clothes that fit him around the middle are too short on him.  It's that everything is too short.  My younger one will probably be set for another few months, but he's starting to not fit his pants around the middle and his shirts don't want to go over his head.  Since he's been born that's been a sign that he's about to shoot up like a weed, and if he does that he probably isn't going to fit anything in length much longer either.  Thankfully we can still manage on shorts and t-shirts for a while longer.  I guess that's the good thing about Texas!  The warm weather means summer clothes really last.

The whole thing has me thinking about the weather.  I love the weather back home.  This time of year we would soon have lessons on why the fall leaves change and all of that.  Things would be getting cooler and we would have to start planning to bundle everyone up for the cold.  This time of year is filled with shopping for winter jackets and snow boots and knitting mittens, scarves, and hats.  We might even be in the weather for long pants, sweaters, and light jackets.  My daughter would probably want tights with some of her skirts.  My littlest and I would be starting the fight over whether or not he has to wear a hat.  He doesn't seem to think there's a need.  I, on the other hand, would realize that his ultra-fine baby hair isn't going to do much to keep his head warm and he needs something to make up for that.

It was a little sad going through the boy's things.  I'd forgotten how much of the clothes I had in a 2T I'd already given away to a friend of mine whose son grew into them sooner than mine did.  We're going to have to start carving out a little bit of money every month to start getting him some new clothes a little at a time.  Thankfully there are plenty of places with low cost clothing for a toddler his size.  I hate thinking about the new size he'll be in.  2T typically fits a toddler at age two.  That means he's no longer my baby and is now considered a toddler.  He's almost two, which seems nearly impossible!  It doesn't seem like it's been so long since he was born.  How incredibly fast time has flown this year.

My older son is going to be jumping into boys clothes this year.  Things sized at x-small are just the right length.  I know I could still shop for him in the toddler section and look for things that are 5T, but the only reason to truly hold on to that is to attempt to hold on to his youth.  I keep wanting to think that he's still a toddler, but he's a preschooler.  He's taking an interest in reading.  He loves super heroes and dinosaurs.  Pokemon and Transformers are favorites of his.  He's even starting to get interested in sports.  He's no longer happy with the simple things that used to please him.  He's growing up before I know it!  He's growing to match in size too!  He's jumped from a 3T being perfect in size to a 4T being a little too short in all of a year!  It's good to see him growing.  Maybe he won't be the shortest boy in his classes at the co-op this year after all!

Then there's my daughter.  I can't call her my little girl anymore.  She's much too big for that.  Thankfully, she's got enough in hand-me-downs and in clothing from Marrok's mom to last her through the year.  My only problem is going to be in keeping her in shorts and pants for the homeschool co-op.  She's got PE first thing when we get there, so she'll need to be wearing something suitable.  You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get her to dress warm when it's cold out!  She'd prefer to wear skirts and dresses all the time, even better if they're sleeveless.  She's really starting to develop her own sense of style, and it's a lot more feminine and girly than I could ever imagine any child of mine being!  Every day it seems like she's just more and more adult, and she's only eight!  I can't help but think she'll be all grown up before I know it.

In all of this, I don't think I would have taken the time to reflect if the weather hadn't started to turn already, even though it's turning back before we know it.  I'm really homesick already.  I wish I could be looking forward fall leaves and snow this year, but I know that's not going to happen.  I don't have very many options for that in Texas.  Even so, as the weather turns cool, I know I'll at least be able to enjoy taking my children to the park.  The kids and I can enjoy going for walks.  It will be nice to get outside.  I can't wait until we can throw open the windows and let the cool air in instead of spending a fortune in electricity to keep the house a bearable temperature.  I can't wait until things start feeling a little bit nicer.  Now if only that could speed up and my kids could slow down on growing for a little while!

Sustainability Tip: Thermal Curtains

As we were moving some stuff to our new house last night, I made note of something my downstairs neighbors have done that just got under my skin.  They have foil up over the windows of one of their rooms downstairs.  Now, I have to admit, after living in this military town I see foil over the windows and think one thing, drug houses.  It's a common trait around here, but I didn't think our neighbors were that sort of people.  As it turns out, they're not, thankfully!  They're just using it as a quick-fix way to keep the sun from over-heating their game room.  This came with the additional warning that those front rooms get hot during the summer.

I started thinking about this whole thing.  It's winter, so I'm not too worried about keeping our house cool.  Yes, during the day Texas homes tend to get warm regardless of the time of year, though there are plenty of cool, rainy days too.  When I was in our apartment, though it was cool outside, it wasn't terribly cool inside even without heat, but it definitely wasn't a comfortable temperature for taking off coats and settling in.  We're definitely going to need heat in the winter, and air conditioning in the summer is a must all across Texas.  Of course, heating in winter and cooling in summer can get quite expensive and I don't know how well these homes are insulated.  We've already been informed that the boys room will likely have a tendency to get quite hot in the summer, so this is something I need to think about.  How can I afford to keep my family comfortable without spending a fortune on our electricity bill.

About a year ago I found the perfect solution.  There are some thermally insulated curtains for sale at most places you can buy household goods.  They do come with the down side of not allowing light through, but for napping children, or rooms you're not in at the time, these are perfect.  Yes, they won't help too much when you have them drawn away to let light in, but again, you can retain all the benefits of heating or cooling at night instead of dealing with drafty windows.

This is more than a benefit to creating comfort for our climate controlled lives.  This is also a huge thing for sustainability!  The less you have to make use of your heater or AC, the less electricity your house is consuming.  If you're running off strictly solar or wind energy, this may not be that big of a deal for anything but your wallet, but if you're running off of standard energy sources, you're doing your small part to benefit the environment and the world around you.

However, on the side of the wallet, these curtains are expensive, running a minimum of $60 per set for your average drape curtains.  I've been able to find a tie-up shade variety for $40, but that's still expensive for most families budgets.  I do have to say, there is a huge advantage to the tie-up kind, aside from the reduced cost.  Tie-up shades can still cover half the window even when they're opened   While they may not be trapping the heat or cool air so much at that rate, they are still performing the function of reducing the light that enters the room turning the space into a virtual oven in the summer.  The early darkness in the winter allows for much earlier use of the curtains during the day to trap in the heat, especially if you're in a further northern area that gets more cold than we do here in Texas.

Another advantage to these curtains is that, aside from the thermal insulation part, there are many varieties and colors available on the market.  While they may be pricey, they can match the decor of almost any room, so if having a home that's aesthetically pleasing is important to you, this is also a great benefit!  You can pick a style that really works for your home!

For those of you, like me, who would love to do this for their family, but simply don't have the money to spend on expensive curtains, you can always make the investment a room at a time.  Start with the rooms that need the benefit of these insulated curtains the most.  In my case it would be the boys' room, but there was one place I lived where the first choice would likely be the front entry way and living room.  This will give you the biggest benefit on controlling the climate in your house early on.  I would also avoid the area the thermostat is located until last as that will effect how regularly your heat or air conditioning comes on, which is a benefit, but could leave you with hot or cold spaces in your home.  Of course, in the winter that may be ideal if you prefer to sleep in a cool room, or if you spend very little time in the rooms you're not taking the time to insulate first.

While this investment may sound like a lot of money, in the long run it will definitely help save on your heating and air conditioning bill, and as a result, save on the resources that provide those services.  If you own your own home, this also comes with the benefit of only having to be done once, unless you decide to redecorate and the curtains no longer match to your liking.  For those of us who are in apartment spaces it can be a lot more tricky, especially as the number of windows you have in each room may change if you decide to move.

However, if you're so inclined and know how to sew, insulated curtains can be made just as easily as anything else!  Simply purchase some insulating material (often found in the home and garden section from what I've heard, but you may need to ask) and sew it on the inside of the curtains you already have!  You can also make your own curtains complete with insulating material.  This may be more cost effective for your family and allows for greater variety in color, texture, and shape.  Just avoid sheer drapes as they would show the insulating material below.  If you really want sheer drapes, you can always put insulated drapes over the sheer ones and simply pull them back when not in use.  Of course, I have no idea how well these would work for blocking out the heat as this would also require blocking out the light, but in colder climates this could be a good fix for the crafty people out there.

When trying to keep out cold and reduce drafts, here's a couple more things to think about.  Any place the air can seep through, there's a good chance it will.  A good way to minimize drafts is to attach the curtain to the wall on either side of the window.  Tacking the curtain down with tacks or nails just looks tacky and could damage the curtains, but there are alternatives, especially if you're in your own home and don't need to worry about removing things from the walls.  The first and least expensive is Velcro.  You can purchase Velcro strips at just about any craft store.  Even if you choose to sew them into the curtains, you'll want the ones with the sticky back to attach to the wall.  Another alternative, which may be more expensive would be the use of magnets.  Pretty much anything that will hold the curtain as closely to the wall as possible is needed.  This will minimize the draft allowed through when the drapes are in use.  Another thought is the length of the curtains.  A short curtain may look nicer with your decor and window size, but floor length drapes will minimize drafts at the bottom of the window as well.  Any draft that seeps through will then have to travel down the length of the drape to the floor.  As it's warm air that rises, not cool, there's little need to worry about the draft escaping through the top of the curtain.

Something as simple as insulated curtains may not make a huge difference for your energy bill, so it may or may not be a choice that you'll quickly reap the benefits of.  In some cases, insulated curtains really can start making a big difference right away!  It all depends on your home and your circumstances.  However, every little bit helps when combating the use of fossil fuels and reducing energy consumption.  Over time, this choice will also make enough of an impact to pay for itself, and even save you money in the long run.  Obviously, better insulated homes (like those that already have insulated windows) won't see as much of a benefit here.  Very poorly insulated homes may not see a massive change either, especially as the drafts are entering from more than just the windows.  It never hurts to truly assess your home to see what other changes may need to be made in order to best conserve energy in your home, but every little bit counts for something!

Adjustments: I'm not a Morning Person!

My schedule has never been what one would call "average".  I had a horrible habit of staying up way too late and not getting up early enough in the morning.  As a result, my kids would end up staying up well past a good bed time for children and getting on a regular routine was all but impossible.

I have to admit, in certain living situations, it's been all but impossible to get onto a regular sleep schedule.  With my partner working late at night for some jobs, or room mates who would want to stay up all night and chat, it's been all too easy to find myself in bed far later than I needed to be.  Getting up in the morning was always a struggle, and if I got to exhausted during the day, I could always take a nap, not something that would ever help me get a good night's sleep.

I'm sure it doesn't help that staying up is how I deal with stress.  I push myself to the point of exhaustion if that's what it takes so I can sleep at night.  I'm not exactly the kind of person who drifts right off into a blissful sleep, or just plain knocks out from exhaustion.  Stress has me up all night long, and there's been a lot of that in my life.  I'm not saying my life is miserable or anything like that.  It's definitely not!  However, moving, getting on a new schedule, and all of that does come with it's own special brand of stress, not something I'm particularly good at handling, but definitely need to work on.

For the past week or so, I've been making an effort to get up early.  We're not talking "cock's first crow" kind of early.  We're talking about being up before the alarm goes off to remind me about homeschooling.  I'm usually up by eight these days, if I can at all manage, even though that has still been a struggle.  By next week I hope to make it an hour earlier.

This whole up in the morning thing has helped in a lot of ways.  The kids are going to bed earlier, and are up earlier, so I'm able to be up with them.  We're able to start school bright and early in the morning so we can get more done during the day.  I feel so much more accomplished.

A side of this whole morning thing that I hadn't much thought of until now is energy conservation.  Energy usage tends to be lower when you're up in the morning, making the most of the sunlight, and sleeping when it's actually dark.  Of course, there's the obvious way to save energy.  Opening up the curtains and blinds to let the sunlight in will save money on electric lighting.  Day time is also typically warmer than the evening.  On a nice day you can open up the windows and let some fresh air in, saving on your heating or air conditioning bill.  Sun filtering in through the windows can also warm the house, which can also save on expenses and resources.  Turning the temperature down slightly at night will mean the heater doesn't have to work quite as hard for that time period, and it's far easier to sleep bundled up in blankets than to run around bundled up all day long.  It's the best way to make use of natural resources.

Being awake in the morning also has other advantages.  Just like the old farming communities, any gardens, compost, or anything like that is easier to tend during daylight hours.  Any crop watering should be done first thing in the morning or in the evening, so this is an excellent time to tend the garden and care for that which you're producing on your own.  Getting out and getting everything done in the morning means having the freedom to spend time with the family in the evening while trying to wind down, instead of trying to get it all done in a hurry before everyone's bed times.  For those who homeschool, starting in the morning means there's more time in the afternoon to take care of errands and all of that.  Bills can be handled and mailed out before the mailman comes to pick it all up, if you're even the sort of person to send bills in the mail anymore.  Of course, they can also be done early while still fresh in your mind.  Cleaning can be done bright and early so there's very little to worry about until the end of the day.  Best of all, there's no reason to worry if stores and banks will still be open by the time you get there.

I'm finding the longer I'm in this habit of getting up in the morning, the more ready I am to face the day.  Who knew such a small habit change would have such an impact on my whole life?

Sustainability Tip: Warm and Woolies

The weather change has once again got me thinking.  As the temperatures drop in other areas of the country, heat will start coming on.  It will seem like no time at all before our own heat comes on.  For some families, this can be a time of excess and waste of energy.  I know I'm usually guilty of that one.  I'll admit, I'm happiest when the temperature is about seventy-five.  In the summer, that's great!  I save a good deal on my electricity bill because my air conditioner isn't cranking as much as every other house on the block.  I'll be honest, in the summer I sometimes push my home temperature all the way up to eighty.  Some find it too warm, but I find the amount I save on electricity to be worth it.  In the winter, on the other hand, that's one of the worst things you can do.

When I was younger my family liked to keep the house warm.  I remember someone saying that they didn't feel right having to put on a sweater to keep warm in their own home.  They would rather be warm enough from the start.  In other people's homes I always felt quite chilly and I hated it.  I didn't see the point in keeping your home so uncomfortably cold.  It made more sense to keep warm on cold days.  I didn't realize then how many reasons there could be for this.

Keeping a house set at a cool temperature in the winter, of course, will save on your bill.  It's one way to shave off a few bucks on electricity, gas, or oil bill every winter, just as I do with my air conditioner in the summer.  That extra money can go to so many different things, towards financial freedom and living a debt free life to sustainability improvements to practical things like the grocery bill or savings.  This is a huge help to families who use oil heat, as oil can be quite expensive.

On another side of things, turning the heat down a bit in the winter will also help the environment.  No matter what you use to heat your house, there is a likelihood that it's related to some form of pollution.  Because of this use of electricity, gas, or oil, more must be produced or processed.  These facilities to produce or process that which brings us warmth produce their own impact on the environment.  Even wood burning and pellet stoves produce their own pollution.  Only those who use environmentally friendly means to heat their house, such as with solar heating, or use thermal insulation from the earth, can crank the heat however they like it without negative impact to the environment.

So remember as this year comes in, keep that thermostat turned down.  If you don't like living in a cold house, bust out the warm and woolies.  This is a perfect time to show off that cute pair of slippers you made for yourself.  What better time to pull out your favorite sweaters or sweatshirts?  Start the fashion trend of wearing a beret, hat, or even a decorative scarf or shawl in the house.  There's no reason dressing warm should make you feel like you've got to "dress like a mom".  Have fun with it.

Energy Saving with Laundry

It's surprising how many people think the only ways to save money through laundry are Energy Star appliances.  Those are expensive and not everyone can afford the cost.  Personally, I wish I could just run right out and buy an Energy Star certified washer and dryer!  But this is the real world and I don't have the money for that.  However, there is one small thing I can do to save energy with my laundry!

Everyone knows the basics.  Washing only full loads ensures that the most is made of the water and energy used for each washing.  "Free and clear" laundry soaps are generally better for both our bodies, clothes, and the environment.  Obviously, chemical-free green laundry soaps are the best option, as they do the least damage to our environment and our bodies.  Bleach can also be avoided in most cases.  These are just a few things that most people already know.

However, did you know that there's almost no reason to ever wash your clothing in hot water?  It's not like we need to sterilize our home laundry.  Whatever germs are on the clothing should come out with a good washing.  Many detergents are very adept at killing germs.  Heat can also fix some stains into the clothing, rather than helping to remove them.  Most importantly, by using cold water to wash your laundry instead of hot, you're reducing the environmental impact of washing your clothes!  Just think of all the energy spent to heat that water.  Instead, it can be saved for some other purpose, reducing your own drain on the electric grid, gas lines, or oil reserve, all depending on how you heat your water.  Since there's no reason to wash most clothing in hot or warm water, it's a logical choice!

As for the need for hot water washings, certain items do require a hot wash, just to be safe.  Medical facilities use hot cycles in their wash to ensure that their linens are as sterile as possible.  Cloth diapers should also be washed in hot water for the same reason.  Anything likely to harbor more than the usual amount of bacteria and germs that would not normally be present in your home should be washed in hot water.

For the most part, washing in cold is just as good as everything else, and good for the environment!  So next time you go to throw in a load of laundry, take a look at your settings.  Crank it down to cold water wash and let the savings begin!