michelejo.com

Category: Uncategorized

  • Why I’m using up my stockpiles these next couple months…Part 1

    I’ve coupon’d (in a serious way) off and on over the last 20 years.  Before Internet match-ups, I found it all very confusing and didn’t really keep it up longer than a month or two at a time.  It just took way too much time.  Once I discovered match-ups and places to buy coupons I…

  • Weight Reduction + Wardrobe Reduction = Less Laundry?

    My clothes are a little tricky as a no-spend item, because I’ve recently lost 40+ pounds and hope to continue to lose through 2012.  I DO NEED CLOTHES right now however.  My pants finally are to the point where I can’t keep them up without constantly hitching them (which looks so attractive, I’m sure) so…

  • Money Management for Dummies

    *I’m the dummy.  I’m terrible at following a budget.  Even when I think I’m doing awesome, I usually end up with some sort of shortfall.  That was taking a toll on our savings account, so T and I put our heads together and came up with a brilliant (mostly his idea!) plan. I sort of…

  • Smothered Primal Pork Chops

    This is only the third official “dinner” I’ve made from scratch since I’ve introduced my family to the paleo/primal style of eating.  I’ve been making lots of lunch-y items but dinner?…that’s been harder.  Since taking away their beloved breads and pastas was difficult enough, I haven’t taken away dairy and thus I understand we’re closer to primal…

  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Mousse Pie

    I had a slice of French Silk pie from Village Inn a few weeks ago and I didn’t really enjoy it.  I used to love it, but since giving up most sweets over six months ago, I’ve found my tastes have changed quite a bit!  The VI pie was cloyingly sweet and tasted sooooo processed…

  • New year, new leaf 😉

    I know it’s only August, but it’s the start of *my* new year. 🙂 In 2011, my birthday cake was the last thing I ate before starting a new journey into a paleo/primal diet. I ‘fell off the wagon’ over the 2011 holidays and never really got back on. I was 50 pounds lighter than…

  • Primal Urges

    It occurred to me tonight that it’s a bit crazy that I’ve thoroughly researched healthy dog food and treat options for our new puppy, Lily, and I have purchased only natural preservative-free products for her…yet at the same time I let my children eat: corn dogs processed chicken nuggets processed waffles things like syrup soda…

  • I’m Jammin’ | Freezer Jam

    Have you checked the price of commercial jam lately?  Ouch!  Especially if you’re looking for a brand that does not have HFCS as, like, the first or second ingredient. I’ve wanted to try freezer jam–FOREVER.  (I’ve bought and discarded several packages of pectin that have sat in my pantry for years unused!)  I’m afraid of…

  • Sell, Sell, Sell!

    A popular tip to help pay down debt and/or ramp up savings is to find things you’re not using and sell them.  It’s easy to fall into the “I don’t really have anything worth enough to justify the effort” mindset.  That’s what I often do.  I’ve held a few all-day garage sales that have yielded…

  • What is “secular homeschooling?”

    I think there’s a lot of vague information out there about just what secular homeschooling is.  I operate a secular homeschooling support group for my area and I get quite a few inquiries and I’ve also been told that some people are put off because our group’s description on our website says we’re secular. First…