Buying Organic Groceries

I've been pleasantly surprised by the organic ranges that some of the supermarkets have these days. Now that I am actually looking for this kind of food, it seems to be everywhere.

But I won't lie to you, it's not cheap. I estimate I'm probably adding around $50 a week to my grocery budget. But I figure what's more important than putting clean, healthy food into your family? Aldi has the cheapest range of organic food.

This is what I got from Aldi this week.

This is my haul from Coles which has just put out its own Organic range.

Combined with my fruit and veg from the Organic Grocer I have a lot of the food groups covered. Meat and other protein products are available from the Organic grocer but the cost is unbelievable. For example the chicken breasts are $36 a kilo. So we are not going there just yet.

Instead, I am trying to cut down our consumption of red meat, do at least 2 vegetarian meals a week and use a lot more sustainable fish.

My hope is that as consumer pressure increases the larger supermarkets will continue to increase their ranges and organic products will be as easily accessible and as cheap as non-organic.

Meatless Monday

I picked up my game a little this week for Meatless Monday. I had a bit of a think through the week and managed to produce this - Ricotta and baked vegetable canneloni. Very yum.



And for dessert, one of my closest friends, Julie brought me this little box of chocolates for doing her a very small favour. There was actually more than 3 in the box but Julie stayed a while and we had some coffee and well, we ate most of them...... But if you are ever in the Blue Mountains, pay this store a visit. You won't be sorry.

Going Vintage

In my journey to become greener and also to save money I have come to appreciate vintage goods. Besides loving the whole "look" of old things, I can appreciate the workmanship that went into things.


Some of the items I have come from the 1930's. That's over 70 years old and still going strong. It's hard to imagine something from IKEA lasting that long.


These are my vintage bakelite cannisters. It took me two years to find some on Ebay that were in mint condition. My Mum and Grandmother each had a set of these and I love to remember days spent baking with both of them when I look at this set. The cabinet they are housed in is a 1940's dresser which we picked up in an antique store in Hazelbrook.



My vintage tablecloth collection (it's in its early days). I'm also collecting and using linen napkins.
Some of this crockery and glassware is very old and some is just from Spotlight and I liked the pattern. The depressionware pink glasses were a find from an op shop for $4.

This gorgeous eiderdown is from a shop in Springwood called Frou Frou. It's full of vintage wares and my girlfriend and I spend a lot of time in here ohhhing and ahhing over things. The shawl is from a flea market and the vintage bag from another vintage store in the mountains.

I got this old fashioned lamp off Ebay for $20. The shade was an aqua colour so I bought some fabric that matched my home a bit more and recovered it. You might think its a bit naff but it really suits my house.

I am absolutely loving collecting vintage stuff and plan to do a lot more this year.

Another award - this time from Debbie at http://www.mylittlemogo.blogspot.com/

I am now supposed to nominate 12 others for this award and link to them. Let's see if I have 12.

http://www.libby.withnall.com/

http://www.melissagodsell.typepad.com/

http://www.nospendin2010.blogspot.com/

http://www.sandflatfarm.blogspot.com/

http://www.lala2074.wordpress..com/

http://www.thelifeandtimesofanordinarygirl.blogspot.com/

http://www.budgetconfessions.blogspot.com/

http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/

http://www.myyearwithoutspending.blogspot.com/

http://www.snickerdoodlecreations.blogspot.com/

http://www.strivingforasimplelife.wordpress.com/

http://www.plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for the award Debbie

More Water Saving Strategies

I have shown previously how I have a plastic bucket in my shower to collect grey water for the garden. Some other strategies we employ to save water are:

A small bucket that fits into the sink. This catches water that runs while waiting for the hot water to come through, general hand washing water and the water used to wash vegetables - then I just carry it through to the outdoor plants.

This little timer costs about $4 and sits in the shower. The sand gives you 4 minutes and boy does it go fast when you have to wash your hair and shave your legs as well as the other jobs you have to do the shower.

This pipe runs from outside our laundry to the garden. It is connected to our washing machine and runs directly to the grass. Both the wash cycle and the rinse water are diverted to the garden.


The end of the hose just lies on the grass and as you can see the greywater is producing some fantastically healthy grass.

Is anybody doing some stuff to save water that I haven't discovered yet?

Family Fun Saturday

We have a few traditions that we like to do on the weekend and luckily they are low cost and good for the environment.

Today we went to some local garage sales. We only go to the ones in our immediate suburb as otherwise the cost of the petrol negates the savings we make on any items purchased.

We found a storybook which was perect as a home reader for Rhianna, 3 long sleeved tops, also for Rhianna and a little alarm clock for me. Total: $8. One of the garage sales even had their kids selling homemade lemonade and muffins out the front of their house. Breakfast and a bargain - how good is that?

Then onto some baking. This was a necessity as we had no bickies or cake in the house and therefore nothing for morning teas. We made some jam drops and a chocolate cake mostly using all the organic products I sourced last week.

Jam drops

Chocolate cake

Bill takes his turn as the "student" at Rhianna's school of learning. He's a good dad and knows he has to raise his hand to speak. Finn on the other hand, refuses to play.

The rest of the afternoon was spent trampolining and reading stories on our bed.

Hope you all had a great Saturday.

Meet the Love of my Life

About 18 months ago we got ourselves a little spoodle (cross between a poodle and a cocker spaniel). We got him in the Winter time and as it can get quite cold up here in the mountains little "Finn" liked to snuggle into the hood of my jacket while I surfed the net.

And when it all got too much he had a little nap there too.

I found these old pics while clearing out my folder today and couldn't resist posting them.

Have a great weekend.

Vanessa