The Savvy Life

A  few months ago Sunset magazine ran a story about the Johnson Family of Mill Valley, CA called The Zero Waste Home.  The day-to-day intention of the family is to live simpler and lighter on the planet.   

One of the quotes I loved the most from the article was made by Bea Johnson who decided she wanted to truly love, use and know everything she kept in her home. “Even down to the vegetable peeler,” she says.  

To live a savvy life is to live intentionally, which also means to buy intentionally.  Everything you bring into your home – from the clothes in your wardrobe to the vegetable peeler in your kitchen drawer - should be something you love.

When I originally read The Zero Waste Home article, I was particularly inspired by how the family manages their kitchen.  When they go to the grocery store, they take their own jars and buy bulk snacks and pantry supplies.  In addition to the glass jars, they also shop with fabric bags and canvas totes.

Another thing I enjoyed is their philosophy about cooking equipment.  The majority of what they own is multipurpose to ensure their kitchen stays clutter free.  For example, their cheese grater doubles as a zester.

A lot of what they do speaks to my heart.  I haven’t had paper towels in my house since 1999 – except when my mom comes to stay to take care of Dante while Paul and I travel.  It drives her crazy that we don’t have them so she brings her own.  I just hate purchasing something I am going to use once and then throw away.  I feel it’s a waste of money and makes a negative impact on the environment.

I keep the gadgets to a minimum using our strainer to do everything from sift flour to wash rice.

I put much of our dry goods in 3-quart sized Mason Jars, but it is more to keep the items fresh and organized rather than from an environmental standpoint.  Also, I love how they look on the shelves. 

The Johnson family’s lifestyle may not be for everyone, but I appreciate the fact that they are living with purpose and focusing on what is important to them – to live simpler and lighter on the planet.  

* The Johnson Family's Kitchen Pantry

By Jason Steele

Money Talks News

Did you know that new gift certificates are posted on Restaurant.com at the beginning of the month and once they're sold out - they're gone?  If you are a fan of the coupon site, mark your calendar to visit at the beginning of each month and save 50% or more at your favorite restaurants!

For more tips, read the article at http://bit.ly/pBWmze

By Teri Tsang Barrett

Rachael Ray Magazine

With so many berries in season right now, this article is a perfect resource for making the most of them.  One tip mentioned in the article that we already do is to purchase berries in season when they are affordable and at the height of flavor, then freeze them to enjoy year round.

Read the article at http://bit.ly/oNBsJz

By Alton Brown

FoodTV.com

Paul and I had been living together for about three years when we went out for that fateful breakfast.  We didn't have any groceries in the house so we decided to try a median priced chain restaurant that everyone had been raving about.  It took 10 minutes for us to be seated and another 15 minutes before our meal was served.  The food was awful.  Paul's french toast was soggy and my pancakes were rubbery.  The $30 bill at the end of the lousy meal was the last straw.  

As we drove away, we realized that if we had the right groceries in the house, we could have had breakfast at home and been doing the dishes by the time we sat down at the restaurant.  In addition to the time saved, I knew I could have cooked that same meal for $5 or less. That was the last time we left our home to eat breakfast out.  From that day on we became much better at keeping our fridge and pantry stocked.  Now, big weekend breakfasts are a tradition in our house and we only eat our morning meal out when we travel. 

If you love breakfast, but are a little intimidated by making it at home, Alton Brown is your guy.  In his geeky, but fun way, he explains the science behind cooking which demyistifies the secret behind cooking bacon perfectly or how to properly flip a pancake.

Watch his videos on cooking breakfast at http://www.foodnetwork.com/breakfast-with-alton/video/index.html