Lady Celestina's Book Reading Method

My friend, Lady Celestina, reads a lot of books. When I asked them how they did it, they let me in on thier special method. It’s quite simple, really, but I was excited to try it, especialy bc I have more time to read than in many years. After using this method since the end of March, I can say that this totally works! I’ve read 8 books in about 7 weeks as of writing this.

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Lady Celestina’s method has more to do with commitment and a mindset change than it does with an elaborate trick.

Simply, take the total number of pages of your book, divide by the number of days in which you want to read it (7 is suggested), and read that amount each night rounding up to the nearest chapter or page break.

Super easy, right? But if you stick with it, it gives you the right motivation to get thru books super quickly while being attentive and engaged. My previous problem was that I would read only a few paragraphs or pages at a time. I thought any reading was better than none. Reading so little never gave me enough to sink my teeth into. I was easily distracted, and would put the book down right away. Once I was on to The Lady’s trick, once I committed to trying it and using it, it allowed me to really get into each session and often times I would read more than the allotted number of pages. Having a method to rely on, I found it easier to put away distractions. I would highly recommend Lady Celestina’s Method for anyone trying to read more productively!

Do you have any tricks for reading?

The Problem with Wanting Too Much is Having Too Much

I really want to buy new underwear. New fresh, cotton, ethically made, sustainable underwear. I would love to get rid of basically all my old ones and buy all new.

I would love to go on the internet and buy every little thing I want, like artisen jewelry, zero waste skin care, a comfy tye died sweatshirt, all the jeans, even more of the records. And now that most of us are spending basically all our time at home, this is even more tempting.

There are several reasons why I don’t do that but what they all boil down to is that we should do now what we want for the future. People’s greed and shortsightedness definitely played a part in getting us into our current situation and certain people are taking advantage of the situation in which we now live. It’s up to us as individuals to think more carefully and mindfully about our decisions and how they impact the world, especially while we have the time to make really informed, thoughtful, decisions. While the whole world is forced to move a little slower, let’s move slower within ourselves.

I am now even more mindful of my space, and what I want from it. Our spaces are directly related to ourselves. We’ve all heard the expression “cluttered home, cluttered mind” and we know that for the vast majority of us this is true. I see that in my own life, even more clearly while I’m spending so much time at home. I won’t be becoming a minimalist, but I’m working on ways to decide what is most important in my space. People who are busy buying instead of thinking might come out of this time of covid 19 with more stuff but feeling less safe and whole and “decluttered” in their homes and minds. The problem with being taught to want so much is you will end up having too much.

One of the biggest changes zero wasters and minimalists have to make is the mindset shift from what society has taught us (bigger is better, more is never enough, buy stuff to feel better), to what we know to be true (simple is satisfying and we have a responsibility to ourselves, our world and our community to be better then before, self reflection is healthy). Now that you have a minute, take that time to think about what you want to survive from this time and how to best achieve that in your mind, life and the world.

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Something New: Sourdough Starter

Here’s a controversial statement. I want to make a sourdough starter but I don’t want to make bread.

I might have gone thru a brief period where I thought making bread was cool (don’t get me wrong it IS cool), but working at a restaurant that makes great bread, I’d decided to put my efforts elsewhere. I have amazing bread professionals around me to make the bread.

But since my work was closed for about 5 weeks, I finally broke down and got started making starter.
It wasn’t lack of bread that convinced me. Some friends have been kind enough to gift me bread, and we have been buying it on grocery trips. It was seeing all the other things you could make with the starter.

Pancakes, biscuits, flat bread, pita, crackers! So many items that one would otherwise have to buy in plastic can be made at home more easily with a sourdough starter!

So start a starter I did, it’s been a few weeks now and going well! I used King Arthur Flour’s sourdough starter recipe, which is simple and easy. I particularly like it bc it doesn’t require a scale. I’m not much of a measure-er let alone going to scale things out. I also have only been feeding my starter once a day. It’s cool enough in my house, and I’ve only been making a small amount to reduce waste, so this has been working for me.

Have you made a sourdough starter? If so, share your thoughts and tips in the comments! Have you made bread, or are you focusing on the lesser uses of your mix?

I’m excited to share more about my starter and much more about the recipes I use it for!

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Pandemic Pantry - A Trip to the Supermarket Has a Whole New Vibe

I love supermarkets. I’m a supermarket tourist. I love to visit them, see new ones, go to them when I’m traveling, or seek out interesting ones near me. We used to hit the supermarket 2-5 times per week. Whenever we were thinking of something, wanted to get out of the house, needed an item or two, we would head to the grocery, sometimes stopping at a more local shop in between. We did this bc we liked it and bc we could.

But visiting the supermarket has become a whole new experience in the time of covid 19. It’s become something we must all plan for as we make our Pandemic Panty. Here are some tips for your next visit!

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Plan what day you want to shop and stick to it!
There are several benefits to plan what day and when you will take a trip to the supermarket. While we are social distancing, it’s best to leave the house only when absolutely necessary. By planning your day to shop, you will know when you have to go out and you can plan other chores around that day (post office, pet store, etc…). You will also have a better idea how much food you have left in the house. If you plan to go shopping and stick to that day, you may find yourself getting creative in the last meals before your trip and this is a good thing! Another good reason to plan your day to shop and stick to it is that you can coordinate what days/times are the least bananas at your grocery, or will be the most productive for you. With all the restrictions placed on times to shop (senior hours, long lines, early closing hours, restocking or sanitizing days, etc…), being strategic so you are sure to get everything you need and not get overwhelmed is key.

Make a thorough list.
We talked all about that in our last pandemic pantry post.
Remember it’s very important to only buy what you need and avoid hoarding.

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Be prepared.
Once you have you list, make sure you have your cloth bags, for produce and groceries. Make sure you have your mask and gloves (if you use them). Come equip with a sanitizer for before and after. get everything you need together before your trip, so you are not scrambling around at the last minute or feeling flustered. The vibe at most groceries is now super tense, we want to eliminate this in ourselves as much as possible. You know when your shopping trip will be, so gather your gear early.

Stick to your guns.
Many groceries now require certain items and disallow others. You can bring reusable bags, but you must bag you own groceries (no big deal, you were prob doing that already). Some require masks and gloves, make sure to wear your own reusables, to avoid waste. Many supermarkets have done away with their bulk sections, so you might have to get creative. The important thing is that you are still thinking about how to shop the most sustainable and zero waste under the current circumstances. This will def require some extra work, but putting aside our own convenience is still a big part of this endeavor. It’s easy in this time to give into thinking, why does it matter? But it matters more now than ever, and what we demand as consumers now, could change the face of consumption after the pandemic.

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Do the best you can.
The above being said, it has become harder to be sustainable in this time so, as always, we must start where we are and do what we can. Can’t wear your own gloves? Take the disposable but make sure they get thrown away properly. Can’t bring your own produce bags? Use the groceries paper bags (often where the bakery items are). Can’t find items in bulk? choose the same item with cardboard packaging or has the least amount of plastic. Can’t use cloth bags at check out? Ask for paper so they can be recycled. This is a useful time to think about all the easy swaps to be made. resourcefulness is a huge part of sustainability.

Stay calm.
or as we like to say at MCQ, Don’t Panic. This is going to be a frustraiting visit to the supermarket. They may not have what you need. They might only have it in plastic. They might be crowded. People might be rude. It’s hard to tell what people are saying, thinking and feeling when everyone is covered up and apprehensive. Remember to communicate clearly, smile, take your time, and don’t panic.

With these tips in mind, you are sure to have a successful shopping trip. Do you have any ideas or experiences to share?

Zero Waste | Trash Sorting - This is Not an Audit

In 2017 I started my zero waste journey. Zero Waste is the goal, mindful practice is the action. When I use the term Zero Waste, that is my ultimate goal, but Less Waste would be a more  accurate description of my evolving lifestyle. 

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Ok, this kind of IS a trash audit. 

But now, while you’re staying home, is the perfect time to assess what trash you are creating and how to reduce it! We did a trash audit in our 6 More Months of Zero Waste series more than a year ago. Even if you were following along back then, it’s a good time to see how far you’ve come!

An audit sounds so serious. I picture sitting in the middle of a pile of garbage, sifting thru it, to see what’s in there. I prefer the idea of trash sorting. I find this to be more sustainable kind of audit. My advice is to take 3-4 bags, preferably paper, depending on what you want to sort, and replace your normal trash method with these. Label the bags if you like, or just remember which is which. Labeling might be helpful, especially if you are not the only one who throws items away in your household. Set a time limit for your sort. Maybe a week, if that’s how long it take for you to throw out the trash. Maybe a month to get a better idea of your trash habits.

Normally, I have 5 bags or places that I sort garbage into. One bag is for recycling (luckily, we don’t have to sort our recycling into categories. We put glass, plastic, metal and paper together). One bag for general trash (items that go into landfill. This is plastic that doesn’t get recycled, cat waste, human waste, and other items that don’t fit into any other spot. This area is where we generate the least waste). Compost is another area (this is where we put all food waste to be taken out to the compost pile). We keep one bag for plastic film recycling, which we drop off to our local grocery as our city doesn’t recycle it curbside (we try to reduce this as much as possible, but we still have cheese wrappers, bread bags and chip bags). Lastly I put aside plastic items like milk cartons, yogurt cups, and other items that can get a second life at the private alternative school where my mom works (they use cups for paints, create models from milk cartons and other “junk”).
Having this many avenues for waste, when I do an audit, I don’t have too much more to sort. When I audit, I like to make another space to see what plastic I’m throwing away, I like to track how much cat waste we generate. I also like to see how much of each recyclable items we have. I divide the recycling into categories; plastic, (the least), glass, and metal (the most).

If you’ve never sorted your trash before start with the basics. Let’s assume you already recycle (if you don’t, get started!) so you’re starting with two trash bins. Think about the areas you want to reduce. Here is a few good things to identify:

Sort your recycling into categories to see how much disposable plastic you’re using.
Start composting all food waste (except for meat).
Put plastic that can’t be easily recycled in a separate bin.
Pick a non sustainable item to track, like paper towels, and see how much you’re using.

Once you’ve seen how and what you throw away, here might be some next steps:

Try to cut back on disposable plastics in your recycling and trash.
Take you compost to a local farmers market, or start a compost in your backyard.
See what plastic garbage that you could love without buying or find alternatives (instead of buying tortillas, maybe make them at home?).
Try using an sustainable alternative to generate less waste (like rags instead of paper towels).

Write down your findings or leave them in the comments. What did you learn? Where were you able to reduce? What did this exercise teach you about your waste consumption?

My Favorite Books | Going Places

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

Recently Treehugger posted an article about some of their writer’s favorite books about travel or different parts of the world. Since we are all sequestered in our homes (hopefully!! Stay Home!) for a while, I thought this was a great idea. If you are like me, you’re taking this time to read more and recommendations for books are always good! Here are my favorite books about travel and domestic or foreign lands.

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Travels with Charley by John Steinback
Steinback wrote books that are about America. In 1960, he decided that he hadn’t actually seen America in a long time. He sets off with his dog, Charley, and his modified camper truck, Rocinante, to see the country again.
One of my favorite books of all time. If you like Steinbeck’s writing style, this travelogue is the real life version of his novels, and you will love it. One of my favorite things about traveling in America, being American, is that every place you go is both exactly the same, and totally different to, where you are from. It’s amazing to see that that tis has been true for many years.

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Travels with my Aunt by Graham Greene
When Henry Pulling, drab and conventional, meets his estranged Aunt Augusta, he doesn’t expect his world to be turned upside down. But being drawn to his mysterious and outrageous aunt, this is exactly what happens.
I haven’t read this one in a long time, maybe it’s time to revisit. Written in 1969 this is an imaginary jaunt in Europe and beyond from a master of overseas observation, Graham Greene.

The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell by Mark Kurlansky
This non fiction follows the history of oysters and how we eat them. Told from the perspective of New York through history, this is a good reminder about how everything is connected.
This isn’t a travel book, but it is a facsinating look at the Manhattan estuary and it’s history. When I want to read a book about a place, I often come back to reading about places I love.

What are your favorite books about travel or set in wonderful places that you can travel to with the book? I would love to read more books about places taht I love, while I know I can’t travel there. I’m always looking for books about or set in Brooklyn, New Orleans, Bermuda and many more places. Where is your favorite setting for books?

If you have some favorite books on this subject leave them in the comments!


Mad Cat Quilts | Pandemic Pantry - Planning is Key

Having to self quarantine is interesting. I miss things I expected to miss, like going to restaurants and bars and going to work, but I didn’t realize how much I would miss being able to thrift whenever I want and go to the grocery 2-5 times per week. On the other hand, having an unprecedented amount of time to be home, pet cats, take long walks, and cook and eat great homemade food has been pretty wonderful.

Like many (hopefully everyone by this point), we’ve been trying to drastically limit how often we go out in to the world. We have dropped from going to the grocery whenever we please to going once every week or more if we can get away with fewer trips. This means that we have had to change a lot about how we shop. We used to buy things multiple times a week whenever we thought we might need something. Now we have to really plan what we need and what we will get. We also have to figure out how to do that.

The first thing I did before our first big shopping trip was to make a list of everything we already had. I didn’t write every single items down, but I did write down a lot and everything I thought was going to be relevant. While I was taking this inventory, I also jotted down a list of meals that we usually eat, as a reminder to myself, a list of items that we needed to eat asap and dishes they might be good in, and a list of a few recipes that I want to try in the future.

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Having all these lists in front of me helped tremendously when I wrote a very detailed shopping list. I actually remembered to take the shopping list with me when we went on our first trip! Having the items and the list of meals made remembering what I was buying and why I was buying what I did very easy. I reused the same paper, with a new list for the next week’s shop.

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For the second shop, I also took a new inventory that was more thorough than the first. We ended up eating a few of the things between making the list and going shopping. I just crossed those off. Our second shop was bigger and even more thorough than the first and I anticipate a longer time between shops, which is a goal. From the first shop to the second was 8 days. We will see how long between second and third. I plan on making another inventory a day or two before we go.

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This inventory/sticking to a list method is very different from how I normally shop. Perhaps you always shop like this. Using this method allowed me to buy everything I needed but not over buy or buy duplicates. Here is my advice in easy steps:

1) Take a thorough inventory - write down everything you already have. Take note of meals you want to create, items that need to be used up, and things you want to learn to make. Remember the goal is not to hoard items, just to get you through a week or more of nutritional and pleasurable eating.

2) Write down a list of meals you can make/want to make with what’s in your inventory - You could plan it out by day and meal, or just write down the meals you normally like to eat or can make. I prefer to be spontanious, so I’ll often write meals that overlap and I can choose from when the time comes.

3) Make a shopping list based on what you still need - Think about getting thru a week or more but be careful not to over buy! We have to be even more concerned about food waste at this time. Waste not, want not.

4) Don’t forget your list! - And you reusable bags! Many groceries are not excepting refillable packaging or have done away with bulk items (in my area, at least). I do understand that these are hard places to ensure cleanliness. There is some debate about cloth bags, but most places will let you bring and use your reusable bags, as long as you bag your own groceries.

Now you are ready to brave the grocery! Good luck!

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Don’t Panic.

The current state of the world is a perfect time to utilize the simple living skills we have been working on. Reducing waste and conserving resources will be very key in the coming weeks and months. Food preservation, minimum living, community mindedness, practical skills, crafts, gardening, homesteading, shunning conventional products and shopping, shopping small business and local, using traditional medicines and remedies when possible and practical, foraging, home schooling, self education, nature observations, meditation, mindfulness, caring for our animals and family and ourselves will be especially important and we have already started on that journey.

Since we are already mastering a slow, low impact, sustainable, low waste, mindful, lifestyle this is also a good opportunity to show others how to live this way and to support them in their journeys. And who knows, this might be a tuning point as people realize all the benefits of this lifestyle. The change we see here, might make the world a better place. At least we can hope.

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