And the frogs are (about to get) greener.

So I picked up a used fish tank about two weeks ago.   I picked it up with big plans for my little frogs- to make a cricket house.  Intentions: a. save time by not having to drive to petco every 3-ish days b. save gas by not driving c. not use the plastic boxes crickets come in because I can buy a bunch now in one bag and d. feed crickets good food to make my pretty frogs healthy and happy.  

But I still have not put it together!  Why?  The tank was surprisingly huge!  And I love my Vincent and Louise (the frogs) and want them to have this huge new tank.  However, they are currently on an old piano bench and that bench cannot handle the weight of the new big frog house.  SO I have to find a very durable shelf to hold the frogs then switch them into the big tank then put the crickets into the old, little tank.  But here is my eventual plan.

Soon!!!  I can't wait to have a Cricket Haus. 


Tomorrow, after some really fun volunteering which I have to wake up for in 7 hours (goodbye Saturday) I am going shopping.  But I have regained some self-control after my last post and will be going to thrift stores- not beautiful, fashionable J. Crew.  Oh well.  At least my favorite fashion blogger has tons of good thrift store inspiration.  


Being "green" is hard because once I get in the habit of doing the goals I set, like not eating fast food, not buying new clothes, questioning where my food comes from and eating local meat, I start to forget why I do those things.  I get a mindset, why can't I have that McRib (it just came back and I've never had it...) or why don't I have a pair of beautiful cropped blue pants?  


I have to remind myself, the reason I am doing this is because I care about the planet and don't want to just mindlessly consume everything and anything that looks appealing (most of the time, after a little bit of thought, those things are actually completely UN-appealing).  I can't control what other people choose to buy or choose to do but I can choose what I do.  


So yea, I really want new J. Crew pants.  And I really love avocados and cashews, which I'm pretty positive are not local in the midwest.  And I have a huge weakness for fast food french fries.  But I have to remember that I am not going without- I don't need those things anymore.  In college, a snack was a 0.99 Burger King whopper.  Why?  It was cheap.  Today, I know that that is not only unhealthy but a whole burger for ninety-nine cents can't be good for anything but profit.  


Tomorrow I will go to thrift store and I will have fun finding my creative fashion self.  I'm excited.  And the cricket haus is coming- and it is coming soon. 

Inspiration Lacking

Well...I have decided today that I am tired of not shopping.  I made a goal in June not to buy anything new for myself for a year.  It has been approximately five months and four days...which means six months and 27 days to go.  I wanted to not want (hm...) anything after that time.  BUT I want things very badly all of a sudden.  Like everything.  Reading fashion blogs really is not helping either.


One of my friends told me the other day too that I had lost my NY style, which I'm not sure I ever had but still, it hurts. 


So, to attempt to cure this really un-fun feeling, I'm going to the thrift store tomorrow and I'm taking the camera since the blog is getting too full of words and too empty of pictures (exception: my beautiful paint art).


Side Note:  I started my morning off by reading an article about a poultry magnate which turned into me reading the poultry company's website and eventually got me reading Wikipedia's page for 'Slaughter Houses'.  I unfortunately had chicken for breakfast so this really was all around a 100% a poor choice.  But meat is really grossing me out right now. 

Meatless October

For the month of October, I abstained from eating any meat all month for both National Vegetarian Month and to reduce my energy consumption.  Not eating meat for the month was surprisingly easy and was actually fun because I tried a whole bunch of new recipes.  Last night I made this squash tart and had planned on eating it for lunch today.  However, my extremely persuasive coworker convinced me (aka just briefly suggested) going out for lunch today.  So, I celebrated with the most delicious Chicago-style hot dog I've ever eaten.  I have no regrets, minus that it made me so full that I've been fighting to stay awake all afternoon in my office.  

However, I am going to keep my meat consumption down.  Not only is good for me and the planet, it is also fun to cook new foods (I've become obsessed with squash....with the exception of zucchini, see last week) and it saves me money since buying ethically-raised, local meat is costly and difficult to find.  I was going to say to myself, "you will eat meat on Saturday and Saturday only!".   But after making goals like that in the past, I know that that will set me up for failure because I'll start bartering with myself about which day, how much meat, blah blah and soon I'll be only eating meat like four times a day.  So, I'm just going to cut down.  Or in positive terms, start eating meat once or twice a week.  

Also, I'm finished with my cricket house but just waiting to take pictures and fill it with crickets.  Guess what?  Crickets apparently really like to eat squash too :)

Zucchini!

This weekend, we visited the farmer's market on a mission to get broccoli and cabbage.  We got that but then saw the box of zucchini.  For $4, we got a ridiculous amount of one of my favorite vegetables.  When we got home, we went a little crazy with our purchase. 

While cooking, we talked about where the zucchini came from.  I had assumed it was local, since it looked like the last of the crop in farmer's garden.  However, Gregory said it could have come from anywhere, since most of the "farmers" at the market are wholesale sellers.  I wish it was easier to tell exactly where everything came from.  We are going back to the market next Saturday, and when we go I want to see if we can find out where what we are buying is being grown.

Recipes for some (the cupcake is Gregory's creation) of the above zucchini creations:

Quick Pickles, Latke, Butter, Meatballs

P.S. After making all of the above in large quantities, we still had enough left over to freeze a large bag for later and have five currently waiting to be turned into bread.  Best four dollars I can remember spending.

The Futura II

I'm really excited about this 1976 Singer sewing machine I bought from Craigslist.  I have absolutely NO idea how to sew.  It took me about thirty minutes to thread the needle last night (but I'm going to blame the red wine for that).  Then I somehow broke it.  Luckily, Gregory's mother taught him how to sew so tonight is my first sewing lesson!

So, now that I am about 1/3 of the way through a year of not buying new clothes, it will be super helpful to know how to fix little holes and hem pants.  I am very excited to get started!

What I'm Eating

This weekend, Gregory and I spent most of the day in his kitchen making a mess, breaking the garbage disposal (oops), and successful cooking enough vegetarian food for our whole week.  We spent about $35.00 dollars on all the groceries.  The recipes came from my new book obsession: Veganomicon.  Everything so far has been delicious and has challenged me in the kitchen.  Also, before the picture of our weekly menu, I have to at least mention my second obsession which is acorn squash.  I could eat it every meal (and most likely will be eating half of one with every meal this week) because they are a. good for both me and my taste buds, b. cheap (try 2 for a $1.50), and c. LOCAL!  Yay!  I really cannot find any reason not reason not to completely overindulge in this amazing fall produce over the next few weeks.  

Insane!

Life has been insanely busy and stressful later.  I am waiting to hear back from dental schools at the end of this month and its so stressful.  I can't take my mind off it.


I am though "celebrating" National Vegetarian Month this October and so far have been having a great time making squash pot pies and vegan po'boy sandwiches.  :) 


Christmas is approaching as well which is really hard for me since 1. I love clothes so very much and 2. love buying other people presents.  Its been almost 4 months since I've purchased a piece of clothing and I am starting to miss J. Crew a lot.  I'm proud of myself though for keeping up with the goals I set, like buying nothing new (unless its is essential like toothpaste), not eating a fast food establishments, and staying aware of trying to waste as little as possible.


Little reminders that make me proud of the things I've kept up with since I started this blog are my growing set of dishes I keep at work, my silly pink cow-print reusable napkins from the thrift store and my removal of diet coke cans from my life (and office desk).


So, I am stressed but also proud!  I hope I can come back to blog more often soon and get to work on more dyi projects.  It will be so nice to know what my life is going to be like next year!