Thrifty Sister Newsletter Vol 11, Issue 4 – July 15, 2018

Thrifty Sister Newsletter Vol 11, Issue 4 – July 15, 2018

Greetings, Thrifty Sisters! I hope that each of you are taking time to enjoy the summer months. While this particular summer has provided a lot of unexpected adventures and responsibilities, I am fighting like mad to enjoy my favorite season. Twenty minutes of glorious garden time is better than no garden time, so enjoy the things you love while you can.

Recently, my hubby and I had an opportunity to take one of those “once in a life time” trips to Iceland. We knew that we were going to have to stay hydrated, but we were not sure on the regulations of bringing in your own reusable containers and international travel rules. We played it safe, and bought water at the first airport, and managed to travel with those plastic bottles all the way through Iceland. One our flight from New York to Iceland, I was pretty shocked to see the passengers in the seat across the isle from us with their own refillable containers, neatly tucked into the seat pocket in front of them.

Which has made me super curious about bringing your own reusable containers. This link is recent, although it was posted after we had already departed to our destination. https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2018/05/16/tsas-5-essential-summer-travel-tips says, “Did you know you can bring your empty favorite water bottles and fill them up in the gate area? They don’t need to be clear and they can be metal, plastic, etc. What to expect: You’ll need put your water bottle through the X-ray for screening. Just make sure it’s completely empty when going through the TSA checkpoint.”

While we were in Iceland, we were told not to buy the bottled water. The water from the cold faucet side was the purest water one would ever be able to drink, and it is the same water that they commercially bottle. Interestingly, we were reminded to not drink the water on the hot water side, as this hot water comes from the geothermal pools underground. The hot water in certain parts of the country certainly smells like sulphur, but one gets used to it rather quickly. Drink the cold, not the hot.

While we have all been warned about the dangers of bottled water, and how it’s not as pure or safe as one thinks it might be, and the plastic usage and waste is a problem, and it’s a drain on our wallet, one needs to remember that it also saves lives. Consider those in the US who do not have safe drinking water (Flint, Michigan, for example), or possibly those who have been in flood disasters where their drinking water has been contaminated.

While I am not running out to the store to stock up on bottled water, I realize that I am also very fortunate to live somewhere where the water from my tap is safe and tastes good. Although, I would strongly not recommend drinking water from my local streams or lakes, like they can do in Iceland (really, Icelandic tap water comes from streams! No sanitation needed!). I am very content to get to use my reusable drinking vessels here at home, and now I know that as of today, empty water bottles are allowed on international and home flights. But do check the TSA site in the future. It seems like the rules change all the time, and if you don’t want to be forced to toss your favorite water bottle in the trash at the security counter, maybe buying the bottled convenience is for you. But, please recycle and get as many miles as you can out of that purchased bottle. We put on about 4,000 miles on those plastic bottles, and have the bragging rights to say that we have drank some of the cleanest water on Earth.

Before I let you all go, here’s a recipe that I dug up out of the 2016 archives. I have been meaning to share and try it myself! With the season in full swing, this might make a delicious way to enjoy all that summer zucchini. Note that this dish will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge, or you can freeze it for a full year. Zucchini Butter: http://foodinjars.com/2016/09/zucchini-butter/

And with that, my Thrifty Sisters, remember to stay hydrated! Take this opportunity to consider your refillable water options. Mason jars make great traveling companions, especially if you have those cute little drinking tops! One can even invest in mason jar koozies. Be kind to yourself and each other and keep on keepin’ it thrifty and fun!

 

Thrifty Sister Newsletter Vol 11, Issue 3 – July 1, 2018

Greetings, Thrifty Sisters, and Happy July! As I sat down to write today’s post, I am astonished that today is July 1. Where did May and June go?! How is it possible that this is the week that we will be celebrating the 4^th of July?! Wow.

In our last newsletter we chatted about coffee, and I asked if anyone had any favorite iced coffee recipes. Thanks, Madonna K, for sending in this note:

“I haven’t done the “cold brew” method of making coffee that you showed but I do make my own iced coffee drinks and have been for years. I make my pot of coffee in the morning because I need a hot cup of coffee to get me going and then pour the rest into my mason jars and put it in the fridge. Then when I need my iced coffee I just add my “fufu” and a few cubes and wala I have my drink. The coffee is not as strong so hence the fewer ice cubes.

Also, Austin is a big k-cup user and he informed me that some of the k-cups are now recyclable. You have to take the time to tear them apart and I am happy to report that he does!”

I have no idea what this “leftover” coffee must be, but one some days, after the second pot in my house was brewed, I made a conscious effort to save some coffee and get it in the fridge, in my lovely mason jars. It was just as dreamy as I imagined! And Madonna was right, it’s not as full strength as a cold brew coffee, but it sure tastes like a fancy iced-coffee! Just add your favorite fluff and ice cubes and enjoy. Thanks for the idea, Madonna!  AND, tell your son that he gets a Thumbs Up Stamp of Approval from the Thrifty Sisters for taking the time and effort to fully recycle his recyclable K-Cups!

With the start of July, I shall be tackling a new minimalism challenge. 31 days of stuff, here we go! I have my fingers crossed to fully complete this game by Christmas. It’s a realistic tortoise pace. Want to play along? Here are the rules: https://www.theminimalists.com/game/ This challenge I am going to continue in the big hallway linen closet. With the task of tackling that closet comes the need to figure out why my sheets don’t fit my bed.

Has anyone else noticed that the quality of sheets has drastically declined? I’m not talking about the fact that we now have super-sized mattresses and shopping for sheets is already a challenge. Although, did you know that old mattresses were uniform at 10” deep and new mattresses can range from 7” to 24”. I have measured my mattress depth and purchased sheets accordingly. But the current quality of sheets is terrible. Depending on the fabric composition, they stretch, shrink, pill up, and my favorite, slip off the corners of the bed during the middle of the night. WHY?!?!?!? Seriously, sheet makers, get with the program! It is so disappointing to buy what appears to be nice sheets (double bonus when you get them on the clearance rack!), only to discover that they slip off the corners, stretch out or shrink, or my other favorite, get pilly. I can’t stand that pilly texture in my bed. If I wanted to accept sandy feeling things in my sheets I would just live in my tent.

Are you curious if you have the right sized sheets for your bed? Check out this video to help you correctly measure your mattress depth. I am in no way promoting this company, but their measurement video is spot on: https://www.verolinens.com/do-your-luxury-bed-linens-fit-your-bed-properly/

So, this month I am going to be testing out all the sheet sets in my closet. If they are subpar, they are gone. Why would anyone willingly choose to keep sheets that make your precious evening slumber a disappointing event? In the meantime, I would love to hear if anyone has found sheets that they love, and don’t require a loan to purchase.

Yikes, apparently, I’m more passionate about bed linens than I thought! Although, do you know that my favorite sheet sets are the ones that were either given to me, or I purchased on a super-clearance rack about 20 years ago. If the elastic is still good, I’m still using them. Apparently, I am on the search for more of the cotton Martha Stewart sheets circa 1999.

Tired of talking sheet? (haha!) Ok, bad joke, I know. But I had to toss that one in there!

With grilling season in full swing, check out this delicious and versatile sounding recipe: http://foodinjars.com/2016/08/peach-habanero-hot-sauce/  This is a recipe that Marisa shared on line in 2016, and I love her small batch canning recipes! I imagine this would be amazing as a grilling sauce, or just a side sauce!

And with that, my Thrifty Sisters, may you enjoy discovering new iced and cold brew coffee ideas, contemplating the quality of your sheets, and please enjoy some grilled foods. In my neighborhood grilling season is rather limited, so take advantage of grilling time! Make a party of it and invite those friends you haven’t been able to visit because of demanding schedules. Remember to be kind to yourself and each other and keep on keepin’ it thrifty and fun! And please be careful with fireworks this week.

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