Thrifty V-Day Gift: DIY Date Jar

I'm a romantic, and Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. With February 14 just around the corner, I hereby present this fun DIY gift for your loved one. It's easy on the wallet too!

Date Jar

Contrary to popular belief, we are not assembling a jar of Middle Eastern fruit. It's 52 free or cheap date ideas, one for each week of the year! I gave this to my husband last Christmas. Blake and I, in efforts to save money, spend too much time at home watching TV instead of getting out and exploring our lovely city, so I thought this would help inspire us to get out of the house without breaking the bank. I was inspired by a few different posts on Pinterest, but many of them involved several steps (i.e. painting popsicle sticks) and looked a little too elementary school. Naturally, I fancified it.

Materials:

• Small mason jar
• 2 pieces of 12" x 12" scrapbook paper in different colors. One paper will be for indoor activities, one outdoor. Pick complementary papers that are distinguishable from one another. Make sure paper is thick enough that writing won't bleed through.
• Exacto knife & cutting mat OR scissors
• Ruler
• String, yarn, or twine
• Pen
• Curious cat (optional) (probably remove him before you bring out the string)

Steps:

From the first sheet of paper, cut 26 strips, 3" wide x 1" tall. (This is a piece of cake with a grid cutting mat, cork backed ruler, and Exacto knife.) 

Move cat as needed.

Do the same thing with the second color of paper. You now have 52 strips, half indoors and half outdoors. (I figured that half of the year in KC, the weather is appropriate for outdoor activities. If you live in a different climate, adjust your indoor/ outdoor ratio as needed.)

Make a tag from each color of paper. Label indoor and outdoor, respectively. Tie tags onto the mason jar with string.

Now research 52 free or inexpensive (my limit was under $10) date ideas that you and your love will enjoy. Customize it to your tastes, since this gift isn't awesome unless you'll actually use it. 52 ideas seems like a lot, but it took me less than an hour. I referenced this smart article and did a Google search for free date ideas in our city.

Write 26 indoor date ideas on the "wrong" side of the first color of paper. Do the same with the outdoor activities. Tri-fold strips into squares with pattern facing out. Drop them in the jar. Put on the lid. Draw an idea at the beginning of each week and plan to do it the following weekend.

Presto! A thoughtful V-Day gift that keeps giving.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

xoxo,

Maggie

Happy 2013!

Hi kids. Sorry for disappearing the past month. Moving during the holidays made for a crazy month! Thankfully, we are loving the new condo and have mostly settled in, with just the finishing touches left (my favorite part)!

I'm also thrilled to let you know (all 3 of you? ha) that my business is progressing again after getting a couple issues worked out. More details to come soon, I promise! I'm excited to pursue something I'm passionate about and that will make the world a slightly better place. I've been keeping myself surrounded with inspirational quotes and supportive people. It keeps me motivated. Which brings me to a shout-out to my wonderful husband, Blake. I wouldn't have gotten here without you. Thanks for encouraging my happiness through my "WTF am I doing?" moments.

Our Christmas went a little differently than we'd planned. We prepared to make our usual trips to Columbia and St. Louis when our favorite feline, Champ, got sick. Poor buddy had gotten a UTI and a virus just after our move, probably due to the stress of all those new rooms to sniff out.

Mom, what are these boxy things? New scratching surfaces?

Here he is at his most pathetic:

Congested kitty.

Two animal clinic visits later, we decided we didn't feel right about leaving him alone for days. So we broke tradition and stayed in Kansas City over the holidays. Christmas morning was more low-key than I'm used to, but it was nice. We felt grateful for our new home and relieved that Champ was okay. I made these amazing muffins from my favorite vegan cook, Isa Moskowitz. They're worth writing home about.

Here are some photos from Christmas. We stayed in our pajamas all day. :)

Blake got a new pot for brewing beer.

Champ and me, excited about the cat comic postcards.

Out of the woods!

Presents were wrapped simply with brown paper, yarn (P.S. Much cheaper than baker's twine. Thrifty Maggie strikes again!), and stamps.

It was a cozy little Christmas indeed.

2012 was a memorable year. Blake and I got married and went on a life-changing trip to California. I finally got the nerve to quit my corporate job and pursue a career that works better for me. We bought a home and are planting roots in Kansas City. Even with all that under our belts, I have a feeling that 2013 will be just as amazing! 

Happy New Year!

In the air, there's a feeling of Christmas...

Sorry, I'm still alive. Between buying a home (moving mid-December to a condo yay!), work, the holidays, and some transitions with my startup, it's been slightly hectic. But I'm back to talk about one of my favorite things- Christmas! <3 <3 While I'm not religious, I really enjoy the warm and fuzzy feelings surrounding the holiday season. I also love finding the perfect gift for family and friends. This year is somewhat of a challenge, with "The Budget" (cue doom music) still needing attention. (If you want to feel broke, buy a home around the holidays. Oops.) Thus, here are a few strategies I'm using to simplify the holidays this year:

1. Give sentimental gifts to family. We can't wow our families with big ticket items this year. Instead, we'll be incorporating our wedding photos into gifts using Shutterfly. It won't cost much, and it will be a nice memento. 

2. Streamline wrapping. Perusing the gift wrapping aisles at Target, I have internal conflict. While the fancy papers and trimmings are pretty, they create a lot of unnecessary waste. This year, I'm planning to wrap with only brown kraft paper and recycled bags and boxes. Not only is this eco-friendlier, it's less expensive too.

3. Give things they'll actually use. No matter how great of a deal, it's not really valuable if the recipient won't use it. Put yourself in their shoes and focus on items you know they can use, like food, drinks, clothing, and entertainment.

4. Spend less. Really. When I add up how much I historically spent on holiday gifts, it's a small fortune. When you think about it, time and money are opposite forces in most people's lives; you're usually only rich in one of them. Putting in a little more time and effort on the front end to make a custom or crafty present can yield the same surprise and delight as a big ticket item. Well, hopefully. I'll report back in a few weeks. ;)

5. Simplify gifts for friends. Get them all the same thing in a different color or flavor. This lets you cater to each person's taste without sending you on a shopping spree all about town. Tip: When in doubt, homemade cookies never fail. 

Enjoy the lovely sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season! What's your strategy for the holidays this year? Anything you're doing a little differently?

My Political Rant

Let me start by saying that I'm thrilled with the results of last night's election. President Obama is a true leader who supports many things I feel passionately about:

• Keeping and creating American jobs
• Women's reproductive rights
• Marriage equality
• Affordable healthcare
• Reasonable taxes based on one's ability to pay
• The importance of education
• The health of our planet

He's a hardworking, conscientious person doing his best at a very challenging job. Progress takes time-- usually more than four years-- and change can be daunting, but our country needs change.

That said, I do my best to respect others' political beliefs. While I may not agree with their views, I remind myself that they feel as passionately about their opinions as I do. I'm open to listening to their thoughts as long as they do two things:

1. Back up their position with specifics
2. Have a mind of their own! It seems so many people just regurgitate what their family and peers believe, afraid to go against the grain. This approach doesn't receive my respect, because life is too short to take everything at face value. If my education taught me anything, it's the importance of critical thinking. (Shameless plug: Woo Nerinx!)

And while I'm disappointed in some of the immature posts on social media today, I also don't agree that the solution is to keep to ourselves. Politics are important; they represent our ideals. As many have reminded us during the past few days, much of the world doesn't have the luxury of free speech and democracy. So let's exercise our freedom and participate in mature political conversations. Being engaged in these issues is the only thing that will move us forward.

But let's not behave like children on either side of the fence. Otherwise you get time out.

One Green Thing

Each week, we'll look at a simple tip to keep this Earth inhabitable! Hopefully, this will prove that it IS easy being green! Sorry, Kermit.

Photo: muppet.wikia.com

Today's Green Thing: Bring your own bags to the store.

Those who have shopped with me will vouch that I'm a stickler on this. What's the big deal? Well, it's an easy way to reduce waste that's absolutely unnecessary. Check out this article for the facts. Highlight: "There's actually a giant garbage heap made mostly of plastic floating in the ocean that's twice the size of the United States." W! T! F!

Many people use the excuse that they can't remember their bags. But I promise you can! Once you unload the bags, hang them near your purse or by the door so you remember to bring them on the next trip. You may want a few spares to leave in the car. There are even bags that fold up for carrying in your purse, if, for example, an impromptu shopping spree should occur. (Hey, it happens.) Look for mesh drawstring bags for produce- I got 4 at Target for under $10. And let's not forget vino: grocery and liquor stores sell special compartmentalized bags for carrying 4 glass bottles at once. These are the things in life that excite me...

Bonus #1: I find that cloth bags are much more comfortable to carry. Good riddance, violent plastic bag handles.

Bonus #2: Getting rid of those pesky bags will declutter your life! And you'll have a clean conscience to boot.

What do you think? Do you bring reusable bags to the store?

Happy Thoughts

Time for this week's happy thoughts!

1. Fall!!!
Brisk weather is here, the leaves are turning...

...apples are in season, pumpkin muffins baked, new boots are ordered and on the way to me!

2. Budgets Aren't All Bad
Blake's and my nemesis, "the budget," has taken some adjustment, but we are showing discipline and being thrifty! We are hoping to save up $$$ for a condo! Remind me not to succumb to Kate Spade's temptations... Bad Kate.

3. Trader Joe's
While Whole Foods still has the key to my heart, I admit that TJ's is more affordable for routine grocery trips. Cheers to healthy, organic food for all! Tonight we are making lentil chili, which is an old standby for Blake and me.

4. Squeaky Clean
My OCD has reached new heights. I made cleaning checklists for the kitchen and bathroom, and it's kind of the best thing ever. I modified Real Simple's template to take out the ridiculous steps and put the tasks in optimal order (like wiping the bathroom mirror after cleaning the counter). If I ever figure out how to upload a document, I'll post them here.

5. Pinterest
As my free time has increased, so has my obsession with Pinterest... which, interestingly, now eats up a lot of my free time. Oops. But it's beautiful, organized collecting! Genius.

Recipe Re-Creation - Butternut Squash Pasta

Autumn brings my favorite flavors to the table. Last Fall, I had a delectable meal at a restaurant in Seattle that I couldn't stop thinking about: pasta with butternut squash sauce and kale. The sauce was sweet, creamy, complex, and just perfect for Fall. I kept pondering what was in that sauce (probably butter and cheese). Last week, I decided to attempt the recipe myself! Since we are mostly vegan, I wanted to make a delicious sauce without dairy. I chose my good friend, roasted garlic, for a complex sweet-savory note. To my delight, it was pretty darn good! I'm talking mac-and-cheese good, with less guilt. Behold, I bring you:

Pasta with Butternut Squash and Roasted Garlic Sauce
Serves 4 (Yummy as Leftovers)

1 medium butternut squash
1 head garlic (8-10 cloves)
1 shallot (optional)
1/2 cup nondairy milk (optional, I used coconut milk)
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
2 tsp Nutmeg
2 tsp Rubbed Sage
4 servings bowtie or spiral pasta
A few tablespoons olive oil
2 cups kale or spinach

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil.

Slice squash in half lengthwise. Scrape out seeds with a spoon. Peel skin with a vegetable peeler. Chop into 1-inch chunks.

Peel 8-10 cloves of garlic.

(optional) I added a chopped shallot to the mix, but I don't think he stood up to the more flavorful guys, so you can choose to omit.

Put veggies on baking sheets. Coat with olive oil, salt, red pepper, nutmeg, and sage. It will look like this:

Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, flipping the pieces over halfway through. They should be tender and caramelized. Reserve a handful of the cubes and garlic for topping the pasta. Try not to eat all of them.

Boil water in a large pot. Add 4 servings pasta and cook according to directions.

Now for the fun part! Puree those veggies up in the food processor!

I added 1/2 cup of coconut milk to the sauce for a little creaminess, but it will still be tasty if you leave that out. :)

For color and nutrition, I quickly sauteed some kale and spinach. The greens were delicious the first night but didn't reheat well. If you're planning for leftovers, I suggest packing those up before adding the greens.

Strain your pasta and return to pot. Add sauce and greens. (I had about a cup of leftover sauce, and I'm okay with that!)

Mix it up!

Plate and top with reserved squash and garlic.

Devour! 

Thanks, Mother Nature!