Friday, April 29, 2011

Do You Drive Like That Around Your Kids?

Before I start, just wanted to point out the new share button on the left side of this page above the "About Me" section.  Now you can share your favorite posts with friends on facebook and twitter!!



No one follows the rules of the road anymore. 

Before you get all defensive, take a moment and really think about it.  Can you honestly say that you obey ALL the rules of the road, ALL of the time?  If you answered yes, I still don't believe you.

As most of you know, I ride a bicycle as my primary form of transportation.  I put myself at great risk on an almost daily basis by sharing the road with hundreds of distracted, tired, lazy, careless and just plain stupid people.  And I'm not talking about my fellow cyclists.



Driving is not a right.  It is a privilege.  When you obtain a driver's license, you agree to abide by the rules set forth by the state in which you are driving.  They are not rules that are meant to be followed some of the time, or when cops are around, or when you feel like it.  They are meant to be followed ALL THE TIME!!!

Do you drive like that around your kids?  Is that how you want other people to drive around your kids?  Is that how you want your kids to drive?  These are just a few of the things I say to people when they almost hit me with their cars.  In order to ask these questions, I chased a woman down Foothill Boulevard for a mile after she came within inches of hitting me one day last year. 



















She seemed shocked that I confronted her, and explained that she hadn't seen me and that she was sorry.  I asked her if those words would make her feel better if someone said them to her after hitting her daughter.  Because I didn't think my husband or parents would be very comforted by them.  I told her she would have been really sorry if she had hit me, or killed me.  How can you be so sorry about it, when you could have so easily prevented it? 

Two and a half years ago, I was hit while cycling in Pasadena.  I was on my way to meet my husband about a mile away.  I was not wearing a helmet.  The car was only going about 15 mph.  I was thrown face first into the middle of the street.




After that accident, I didn't ride for almost a year.  It took a few months to physically recover, but it was the psychological scars that prevented me from riding.  I felt utterly betrayed by humankind after the driver who hit me sped away and several other drivers drove around me while I was lying in the street.  After a lot of time and a very cautious transition, I bought a new bicycle AND a new helmet and began to ride again.  I have never ridden without a helmet since then.  And I make it a point to proselytize for driver and cyclist safety. 

I want to address some of the most commonly ignored rules of the road.  They might seem simple and harmless little violations, but it really doesn't take much to seriously injure someone.

Distracted Driving
We are all aware of the real dangers that distracted driving poses, and yet everyday I see several  people on their cell phones while driving.  Is there a phone call or text message that is worth causing an accident and potentially injuring or killing yourself, your loved ones or anyone at all, for that matter?  I don't think so.

Unfortunately, distracted driving can occur even when using wireless technology like bluetooth.  Simply having a conversation distracts you to the point where you are not 100% focused on the task of driving.  And when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, that is the only task that matters.

Coming To A Complete Stop
Red lights and stop signs are signals for drivers to STOP.  Always.  Even if you are turning right.  While you are allowed to turn right against a red light, you are only allowed to do that after you have come to a complete stop and have yielded to pedestrians and cyclists.

And then there is the matter of where to stop.  You are supposed to stop before the first white line you come to, not in the middle of the crosswalk!  If you can't see intersecting traffic, you are still supposed to stop behind the first white line.  Then you should slowly move forward to spot where you can see intersecting traffic.

Using Turn Signals
It amazes me how many people ignore this one.  It is essential to safe driving as it lets everyone know what you are planning to do.  It takes so little effort, and has such obvious safety benefits. Just turn your damn blinkers on, people!

Speed Limits in School Zones
The speed limit in school zones is 25mph.  Obey it.  Its just that simple.  I don't care where you are going or when you need to be there, it is your responsibility to plan accordingly.  SLOW DOWN in school zones!

Yielding to Emergency Vehicles
It's common knowledge that you have to pull over to the right when an emergency vehicle has its lights and/or sirens on.  That's where the common knowledge ends.  I have observed that several people think that you do not have to stop, but rather, drive slowly in the far right lane.  Another common misconception is that you only have to pull over when the emergency vehicle is travelling in the same direction as you.  You must pull over and come to a complete stop when an emergency vehicle is approaching from ANY direction.
 
Yielding to Pedestrians
You must always yield to pedestrians.  ALWAYS!!  Most intersections have crosswalks, whether or not there are painted lines on the street.  When you see pedestrians standing at the corner waiting to cross the street, you are supposed to STOP and let them cross. 

 It is NEVER okay for a car to be in the crosswalk when there is a pedestrian there.  You must wait until both of the pedestrians feet are out of the street, before driving through the intersection.

Yielding to Cyclists
When you get behind the wheel of an automobile, you are strapping yourself to a potentially deadly weapon.  You are relatively protected by a seat belt, a steel frame and a completely enclosed space.  Cyclists are completely exposed and vulnerable, and they deserve your respect and consideration.

Cyclists have just as much right to be on the road as you do.  Cyclists are allowed to ride in the center of the lane when:  they cannot safely ride against the curb, when they are passing parked cars or when they are travelling at the posted speed limit. 

Keep in mind that cyclists are using tons of muscles all over their bodies to propel themselves, while you are using a couple of muscles in your right leg to control the gas pedal.  Once momentum is lost for a cyclist, it takes a lot of work to regain it.  Don't make cyclists yield to you.  I am constantly forced to slam on my brakes because some jackass wanted to shave a few seconds off his commute by NOT yielding to me.  BTW, slamming on one's brakes while cycling can be extremely dangerous.

In general, just slow down and be respectful of the people with whom you are sharing a road.  Have patience.  How much are a few seconds worth to you? 

Helmets
Cyclists of all ages should wear helmets when riding.  A helmet CAN prevent serious brain trauma and even death.  I was extremely lucky that I was not more seriously hurt in my accident.  My right eye socket has permanent damage and is noticeably different from the uninjured eye.  If I had been wearing a helmet, my facial injuries may have been prevented.  My mom cried when she saw me after my accident and my dad had a hard time looking at me.  No one wants to see their child (even an adult child) hurt or in pain. 

Think about that, the next time you let your child, spouse, roommate or friend ride without a helmet.  In most states there are laws requiring children to wear helmets.  While I am not a fan of laws that infringe on our personal freedoms (seat belts, helmets, etc.), it is still the law.  Parents have a responsibility to teach their children respect for the law of the land in which they live.  No one forces you to live here, you choose to.  That choice implies an agreement to abide by the rules.  So abide.

And if the law isn't enough to get you to comply, then just use an ounce of common sense!  It is obviously safer to wear a helmet!

In Closing
Please drive safely and obey the rules of the road.  Your kids spend 16 years watching how you drive.  Lead by example.  Be the kind of safe driver you would want them to be.  Drive as safely as you would if every cyclist or pedestrian you pass was your child, spouse or best friend.

For all of my readers of faith, you should employ the WWJD method (or similarly faith-appropriate sentiment) every time you get behind the wheel.  For everyone in general, drive the same way you want people to drive around your kids.  Be respectful, courteous, and patient.  It takes such little effort and has endless benefits!

And the next time your kid gives you crap for having to wear a helmet, please feel free to show them my accident pictures!

















Friday, April 22, 2011

Simple Living Doesn't Have to Mean Boring Living


Tony Award-Winning musical Cabaret at The Met Theatre

Living on a limited budget does not mean that one cannot enjoy the finer things in life.  I have been known to spend the equivalent of one month's groceries on a single night of indulgence.  Though, I still never pay full price for ANYTHING!  Last summer, I saw In The Heights four times in two weeks, which cost me a total of $194 (less than 50% of the tickets' face value!)


















Of course, those nights of extreme indulgence are few and far between, and in the meantime my aesthetic appetite needs to be appeased.  Contrary to what many might believe, there are several ways to enjoy the arts for little or no cost!

Goldstar is an invaluable resource for art lovers on a budget.  Sign up for free and get discounted or comp (free) tickets to a myriad of events in your area.  Goldstar helps people get out more to enjoy live entertainment, like theater, comedy, sports, music, performing arts and even things like wine tastings, sushi making classes and rodeos.  Their website is easy to navigate, the service is reliable and service fees are low and fair.  Yes, there are service fees, but they range from only $2-$5.  The service fees can be on the higher side for comp tickets, but ultimately you still pay far less than full price! 



Lanford Wilson's modern classic Burn This at the Mark Taper Forum

But wait, there's more!!  After you sign up for Goldstar, you can tell all of your friends about this great new money saver you have found.  For every friend that signs up, you earn a $1 credit towards service fees.  This means your comp tickets can truly be complimentary if you have earned enough credits to cover the service fees.  There is no limit to the number of friends you can refer or the credits you can earn.


The next Goldstar event my husband and I will be attending is "The Autry Celebrates Earth Day:  Sustainable Living in the West".     The Autry celebrates Earth Day with a museum-wide festival designed to inspire simple changes for a healthier planet. Drawing on Native cultures and traditions, this family-friendly event includes local environmental groups, community organizations, and hobbyists offering practical tips on how to get started on an Earth-friendly path. The day also includes tons of live entertainment geared towards children and adults, including storytelling, music and film as well as Kid's Planet activities, lectures and demonstrations.

Full price tickets are $11, but Goldstar is offering comps with a $3.75 service fee per ticket.  If eight of my readers sign up for Goldstar, our field trip to the Autry National Center will be completely FREE! 

Make sure you check out this website today!  Goldstar has been an invaluable part of my life for more than five years, and its time to share the savings!!  Sign up today!!

Goldstar serves the following cities and surrounding areas:

Monday, April 18, 2011

Diapering Our Way to a Better Planet


The Great Cloth Diaper Change in conjunction with the anniversary celebration of Claremont's premiere natural baby boutique, No Sugar Added, is happening this Saturday, April 23, 2011.
 As a local sponsor of The Great Cloth Diaper Change, and since Earth Day is fast approaching, I decided it would be a good opportunity to discuss cloth diapering.  My goal is not necessarily to convert every reader to cloth diapers.  Rather, I hope to educate people about the viability of cloth as an option. 



















Cloth diapers have changed exponentially since I wore them 30 years ago and they have never been easier to use.  Upon starting my research for this article, I was shocked and a bit overwhelmed at the copious types of cloth diaper options.  There are all-in-ones, hybrids, pocket diapers, prefolds, and many more!  However, it doesn't take long to form an opinion about which kind is best for you.  Each type has specific features and conveniences that appeal to almost every mom.

Of course, the most common roadblock for people considering cloth, is the unpleasant task of cleaning the diapers.  However, this part of cloth diapering has never been easier.  I was amazed to find a brilliant product called biodegradable diaper liners.  It is a roll of material that visually resembles a dryer sheet, but it is made of biodegradable materials.  Just place the liner in the cloth diaper before you put the baby in.  When it's time to change, you simply pick up the corners of the liner and conveniently place it (and your baby's deposit) into the toilet to flush.  This eliminates the need to dunk diapers in the toilet to rinse them out.

Laundering diapers does take some time and energy, but can be worth it, when you consider the benefits of cloth.  Also, diaper services still exist and will do the dirty work for you. In Los Angeles, we have a few organic diaper services including Blessed Bums and  Luludew!  Both have the added bonus of setting aside diapers just for your baby, so you get the same ones every week.  This can give you the peace of mind of knowing that only your baby has worn those diapers.  And, Luludew diaper service is less than $20 per week!

Cost
Of course, it can be more convenient to be able to dispose of every diaper you remove from your baby, but there is high price to pay for such a convenience.  As a nation we spend more than $3 billion on 18 billion disposable diapers every year!  A baby can easily use 8000+ in the first 2-3 years of life.  While it is certainly possible to spend more on cloth diapers, than on disposable diapers, the opposite is usually true.  All things considered, cloth diapering is usually much less expensive than disposable diapers.  If you make your own cloth diapers, or buy them secondhand, you can save even more!

The graphs, below, show the average cost of several different diapering options.  The following was assumed to calculate costs:  8 diaper changes per day, and 3 disposable wipes OR 1 reusable wipe per change.  When calculating cloth costs, I assumed 1 flushable/ biodegradable diaper liner per change, unscented dye-free detergent, 50 reusable cloth wipes, 5 wet bags, and 30 all-in-one cloth diapers.  I did not include the cost of laundering the cloth diapers, because water and energy rates are too variable for me to do a decent national analysis.  I did, however, include the cost of an $80/month diaper service in one category.  The costs listed are the total cost to diaper one baby/child for two and a half years.

The first graph shows the costs of two categories of disposable diapers and wipes.  The first is a basic, no frills, bleached, scented, cheapest you can find diaper and wipe.  The second is a more "eco-friendly," undyed, unscented, partially biodegradable diaper and wipe.


The second graph shows the cost of four different cloth options.  Online w/ Service: purchased online plus the cost of diaper service.  Local:  Purchased locally at a non-chain store or boutique.  Online:  purchased online.  Secondhand:  previously owned or you make your own diapers and wipes.


Cloth diapers offer even more saving possibilities if you plan to have more children.  If you think ahead and buy gender neutral cloth diapers, you can use them for your subsequent babies.  If you don't or can't use them for subsequent babies, you may still be able to save money.  No Sugar Added, a natural baby boutique in my beautiful city of Claremont, California, has a trade-in program, in which they offer store credit to customers who bring in "slightly-loved" cloth diapers.

Environmental Impact
Studies are varied regarding the comparative environmental impact of disposable versus cloth diapers.  Though, common sense can go a long way when making your decision on how to diaper. 

70% of a disposable diaper is made from trees.  Unless you are spending extra money on eco-friendly diapers, you can safely bet that the trees responsible for making your disposables were not sustainably harvested.  30% of a disposable diaper is made of synthetic petroleum based plastic, which is very much non-renewable.  The manufacturing of disposables also negatively impacts the environment.  There are several dyes, scents and chemicals used in disposable diapers.

 And then, of course, there is the most obvious impact of disposables:  we throw them away.  Ah, that magic place:  "Away..."  After all of the time and resources it takes to make, a disposable diaper is used for mere hours before excrement is snugly entombed in its undegradable plastic and dumped, primarily in landfills, where it sits for hundreds of years.

Health
There are several obvious reasons why cloth may be healthier for your baby.  As I mentioned earlier, most disposables are bleached, scented, and contain synthetic petroleum based plastics and chemicals.  So when you use disposables, your baby is constantly exposed to those things for the first 30 months of life.

Here's something you may not know:  It is illegal in most states to put human waste in trash bins for collection.  Did you know that you are supposed to dump the poop out of disposable diapers into the toilet before you dispose of said diaper?  It's true!  Sewage belongs in the sewer, not in your garbage can.

What Now?
Like I said at the beginning, I am not suggesting that everyone needs to exclusively use cloth diapers.  Many families use both cloth and disposable depending on the setting (home or away) or time (night or day).  I am a big supporter of parents making decisions that are best for their families.  I can't tell you what is best for you, but hopefully I can open a few eyes to alternative options.

I want to hear from you!  Please share your experiences with diapers.  What factors did you consider when deciding what method to use?  If you exclusively use disposables, did you ever consider cloth?  Would you consider cloth in the future? 

Have a wonderful Earth Day!  Hope to see you Saturday at No Sugar Added!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Living Simply Magic: Making Something Out Of Virtually Nothing

Sundays at the Living Simply home are the one day when we can spend an entire uninterrupted day together.  We love going to the farmers market in the village and then Fresh & Easy to do our grocery shopping for the week.  I usually try to plan our meals for the week, so we know what groceries to get.  But I never plan for Sundays.  Sunday is the day when we make sure we have finished all of our food from the previous week, so nothing gets wasted.

This morning, I looked to see what we had left.  I was greeted by slim pickings:  no leftovers, just 1lb ground beef, carrot & celery sticks, an onion, eggs, bacon, a small piece of angel food cake and 4 slices of stale bread.  We always keep staples in the pantry, like rice, pasta, pasta sauce, flour, sugar, cereal, etc.  But we were still left with very limited resources.  I momentarily ignored the need to plan our meals for the day, french-pressed my morning coffee, and turned on PBS for our Sunday morning cooking shows!

Lidia was in the middle of making something when I tuned in.  She was putting carrots, celery and onions in a food processor.  Then she added pancetta, and I thought, I wonder if she's making bolognese?  Bolognese!!!  Of course!!!  It turns out she was making stuffing, but the seed had been planted.  I had almost all the ingredients I need to make a kick-ass bolognese sauce! 

I have never attempted to make bolognese, but I know what the basic ingredients are, and decided I would take on the challenge.  We picked up the few remaining necessary ingredients (basil, garlic, cream) when we went shopping.  We found artisan rosemary bread & organic berries on clearance at Fresh & Easy.  (FYI-  Fresh & Easy reduces the price on food items that are about to expire.  If you are planning on using the item the same day, it can be a wonderful way to save money.)

When we returned home from shopping we made a simple yet tasty brunch of eggs and bacon.  Then we started to prepare dinner!  As usual we used bread leftover from the previous week, to make croutons for the next week.  If you have never made your own croutons, you are missing out.  They are so easy and delicious.  Just cut bread into small cubes, pour about 1 tablespoon of melted butter per slice of bread over the cubes and toss.  Sprinkle salt and garlic powder to taste and toss again.  Put the bread cubes on a cookie sheet and place in oven preheated to 400.  You will know when they are done, usually 10-15 minutes.  They get darker and your house starts to smell wonderful.

Homemade Croutons, Before & After Baking
 The base of the sauce is pretty easy and can be made in bulk, so you can freeze some for those busy days when you just don't feel like cooking.

Bolognese Base
1 lb ground beef (crumbled, browned & drained)
4oz Italian sausage (crumbled, browned & drained)
4-6 strips of regular bacon or 4 oz of Pancetta (crumbled & cooked, SAVE THE FAT)
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery (peel strings off for best results)
1 cup diced onion (sauteed til soft in 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat)
3-5 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely diced
6-10 basil leaves, finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE, the cream is the glue that holds the sauce together)

All of the above ingredients (except cream) need to be put through a food processor or blender.  I processed the meat first, set it aside, then processed the veg.  Then I mixed them together.  You can process the ingredients however you want, but I found the way I did it to be ideal.  After you have mixed the meat & veg in a large bowl, add the cream and stir it in.  The base is now complete!  It is not the most visually appealing concoction (Mr. LS lovingly called it meat paste), but it is a necessary part of the journey to an amazing bolognese. 


Bolognese Base

Once you have the base completed, you may freeze it and use it at a later date.  Or you can finish making this sauce and enjoy it right away!  To complete this sauce, all you need to do is dump the base in a large skillet and add some basic pasta sauce (pomodoro or marinara). 



I used about half of a 25oz. jar, but you could use more or less, depending on your tastes.  Stir over medium high heat until it bubbles.  At this point, I added more cream, but you don't have to.  Once the sauce is heated through and bubbling, remove it from the heat.  There is very little water left in this sauce and it will reduce down to a very thick mix, too thick to be a good pasta sauce.  It's finished!  toss with your favorite pasta and then spoon a little more on top for good measure!  If you want to get fancy you can garnish with fresh basil and parmesan.


If you have any room left in your tummy after this delicious meal, I suggest something light for dessert.  We shared a fresh and cheery springtime treat thanks to those berries that were on clearance. 


Spaghetti Bolognese has been a favorite of ours for many years, and I am so upset that I waited so long to try to make it myself at home.  Don't make the same mistake I did, try it this week!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

How to Get Publicity For Less Than $1.50


Last fall, I started a new business venture and new life journey as a birth doula.  It is such amazing work, and I love every minute of it, but marketing myself and my services is hard work!

I recently became aware of an opportunity to sponsor The Great Cloth Diaper Change. which is being held locally in conjunction with the anniversary celebration of No Sugar Added (a local natural baby store).  I wore cloth diapers as a baby, and I'm so happy to see that they are making a comeback!  The requirements for being a sponsor include: a donation of cash to cover expenses or a prize for a raffle drawing and "goodies" to go in 100 goody bags that will be distributed to participants.  This sounded like such a great idea, but I have no marketing budget, so I wondered if I could pull it off. 

I decided to donate a gift certificate for the raffle and coupons and breastfeeding cards for the goody bags.  "What is a breastfeeding card?"  Glad you asked.  It is a small card displaying the text of CA civil code section 43.3 which states in part "...a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private..."  Its a wonderful thing to have on hand as a breastfeeding mom.

Breastfeeding Cards

I was then faced with designing and printing all of the these things!  The designing part wasn't difficult, as I have some graphic design experience.  But the potential prohibitive price of paper and printing was posing a problem, given my budget of almost nothing.  I needed a strong cardstock or thick paper for the gift certificate and BF cards, as well as some nice paper (preferably undyed and recyclable) for the coupons.  I decided to print at home, hoping I had enough ink left in my printer.

As I mentioned in my very first post, I am not a big fan of shopping at big chain stores and I purchase secondhand goods as much as possible.  I decided to make the round of local thrift stores to look for paper for this project and asked my mom if she wanted to join me.  She seemed so confused when I told her what I was shopping for, commenting that she didn't think that thrift stores sold paper.  I assured her that one can find almost anything at a second hand store, including paper.

The very first thrift store we visited had a small, ugly, journal type book with the most beautiful papyrus-like paper inside.  There were 52 sheets of  4x6 paper; enough to make 100 small coupons for the goody bags.  And, it only cost 49 cents.  After a little more searching at the same store, I found a never-used 8x8 scrapbook with 20 pages of heavy cardstock, which cost me 99 cents.


So, for only $1.48, I purchased all the paper I will need for this project! 

I designed the BF cards small (2x2) so I could fit 9 on a single page of cardstock.  They came out great, but now I am debating whether or not to laminate them.  It is definitely an added expense, but durability would benefit the pass-it-on nature of the card.  Hmmm. That's a tough one.  Any thoughts? 

Unbinding the little book of paper took patience, but wasn't too difficult.  After creating a custom page size on my printer, and a few trial runs with scrap paper, I successfully printed 100 beautiful little flyers with coupons to go in each of the goody bags!

At the end of the day, I felt so proud of myself.  I spent less than a day and $1.50 to launch the biggest marketing campaign my little business has seen yet!