My name is Katy Wolk-Stanley and I am a big reader.
I always have a book or two going at a time, and have become addicted to reading audio-books while doing dishes. (The addiction is so bad that I’ve been known to not do the dishes because I need to make a library trip.)
I’m going to [...]
I’m in Seattle visiting my sister Jessica right now, and we’re winding down from a pretty terrific day.
First, we hung out in the A.M. with the kids, chowing down on delicious challah french toast for breakfast. We then corralled the youngsters and ventured out on a treasure hunt to Goodwill. (I bought a 79 cent copy [...]
The snow and ice have melted, and I drove my crazy offspring and myself up to Seattle to hang out with my big sister for a few days.
But first, I worked a little of that hypermiling magic.
What? You’ve never heard of hypermiling?!
Hypermiling is the Oxford English Dictionary’s 2008 word of the year.
It is defined as:
“Hypermiling” [...]
The following is a reprint from an previously published Non-Consumer Advocate blog. Enjoy!
Who among us has not heard that unmistakable riiiiip as a favorite garment turns into a favorite rag?
Crap!
For want of a needle and thread, pajama pants were lost.
Our grandmothers knew how to mend. Period. Even boys knew how to sew a button back on.
Socks [...]
I ventured out in the snow and ice on Christmas Eve to buy the fixings for a lovely Christmas dinner. I was thinking salmon with a nice big salad. (My husband drives our only snow-worthy vehicle to work, and I have to wait until he gets home to do any driving.)
Unfortunately, both the grocery stores [...]
Learn a foreign language?
De-clutter your house?
Lose that nagging extra 20 pounds?
Yup. It’s new year’s resolution time. That yearly ritual to better oneself.
I’ve never made official resolutions, although I did start a plan of consistent tooth-flossing a couple years ago that I’ve actually kept up on.
Of course, the number one resolution is to lose that weight. [...]
Merry Christmas to all consumers and Non-Consumers out there.
Giving used and home-made presents. Putting presents in reusable wrapping, (I was able to scare up enough gift bags for all my gifts.)
Not going into debt.
Have a great day!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Portland Oregon has been snowed under for the past week, and my holiday shopping went kaput. I was mostly done with my shopping, but I desperately needed to get more things for my 13-year-old. And because I do The Compact, (buy nothing new) shopping is a self-imposed complication.
So after dinner tonight, I got into the chained-up Subaru [...]
My hometown of Portland, Oregon is experiencing a snowy winter wonderland the likes of which has not been seen for 40 years. (It was fun a week ago, less so with each passing stuck-at-home day.)
My entrepreneurial ten-year-old went door to door today charging $2 to shovel the neighbor’s stairs and walkways. I was happy to [...]
Want to know the hippest element in green design and building these days?
It’s passive solar energy.
Simply put, this means large south facing windows that warm a room even when winter months creep into our lives.
I like this. It’s simple, and doesn’t require a ginormous bank loan. Just open your curtains and enjoy the green life.
Ahh [...]
