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‘Advice & Reviews’ Category

  1. Madison Vegan Fest

    June 8, 2014 by admin

    IMG_6306We had a fun visit this past weekend to the Mad City Vegan Fest– an small scale trade show of vegan foods, vegan businesses, and vegan products that is held annually at the Goodman Community Center .

    As a vegetarian family, we have always been sympathetic to the vegan lifestyle, so we enjoy attending the festival and sampling the many vegan treats available while learning new tips and recipes.

    This year’s event was a particularly good time for us.  Our young Bluey was very excited and eager to try out new foods.  He eagerly filled up on free samples of everything from vegan cookies, vegan pizza, and vegan snacks.  We had a nice chat with the operators of a vegan food truck from Milwaukee.  We look forward to tracking down The Next Level Vegans when we need to find lunch in their town.

    Bluey was especially happy to try out the vegan candy and snacks he found in the main exhibition hall.  Comfort Candy gave out little nuggets of candy that Bluey adored.  Lucky for him that we met up with these candy makers the next day, and they generously gave us a small bag for Bluey.  Another snack that you might not realize isn’t vegan, or even vegetarian is marshmallows!  Bluey downed a few sample cups of Dandies before racing on to the next vendor.

    Seeing all these food options, and watching our youngest sample them with such vigor, has us reconsidering our stance on veganism.  Is it the right choice for us?  We’ve been leaning further and further in that direction lately.  It seems like a healthier diet that meshes even better with our thoughts on animal welfare and food safety than our decades of devoted vegetarianism.IMG_6303

    For now it will continue to be an ongoing home debate, as we consider if and how to bring this change into our family.  We eagerly await the next Madison Vegan Fest next June.  And we encourage you to explore vegan choices within your family.


  2. Pippi, Pippi Longstocking

    May 30, 2014 by admin

    IMG_1865We’ve been thoroughly enjoying discovering the world of Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim’s Daughter Longstocking. What could be more delightful than reading about the escapades of a confident, incredibly strong, insightful, and energetic young woman?

    Pippi lives in her inherited home, Villa Vellekulla, located in Sweden. Her mother is deceased and her father is presumed lost at sea. Pippi’s only home companions are a monkey and a horse, and she is quite content with her living situation. Pippi has also made good friends with two young siblings that reside next door.

    Pippi’s daily adventures usually leave us chuckling. And her sassy comments made to overbearing or presumptious adults will leave you cheering for Pippi. She will not be forced into a cookie cutter existence. Pippi demands to be allowed to romp outdoors rather than attend daily schooling. And she loves her appearance-  a freckled, red headed, shoes-to-big, mismatched stockings, pigtailed girl.

    We haven’t explored the tv or movie versions of Pippi. Perhaps we never will. But we love the girl we’ve met on the page. Pippi is a fabulous role model for any child!


  3. Woof! Woof! Reading Dog Books

    February 19, 2014 by admin

    IMG_1512Somewhere along the line, we started reading ‘Dog Book’ stories to Bluey.  It might have started with  The Incredible Journey, which we enjoyed after viewing the movies.

    We now have a bonafide tradition of reading dog books over breakfast and lunch-  we read just a few pages (maybe 10) at each meal.  It gives us a chance to mellow out in the middle of the day and prepare for whatever adventures our afternoon may bring.

    We go through quite a few books.  On average, it takes us about 2 weeks to finish one.  So there seems like there is always a new story to begin.

    We enjoy these books because we love animals.  Most of the stories go into some detail about animal care and animal illnesses and that helps spark conversations about the animals in our world.

    Here are a few of our favorites from the past year:

    Clarence the TV Dog:  This funny, upbeat book from Patricia Lauber covers the antics of a TV loving pup growing up in the 50’s.  We love Clarence’s  many adventures, and how he always seems to be a step ahead of the people who try to reign him in.

    Animal Ark:  It is a series set at a veterinary clinic in Wales.  The series revolves around the vets’ daughter Mandy and her friend James, who have a knack for finding lost animals and solving animal related mysteries.  With its vet clinic setting, these books contain tons of real world info about all sorts of animals.  And the recurring cast allows us an easy starting point at the beginning of each book.IMG_1514

    Star-Dog:  Star Dog took us in a different direction: science fiction!  With aliens and government agents afoot, we were able to explore a whole new genre while using our dog book theme.

    We are about halfway through our stack of dog books, gleaned from shops and book sales over the years.  We are having a great time with them.  It is so much fun to explore the many worlds of these stories.


  4. Netflix

    February 7, 2014 by admin

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    This TR Family has a tendency to end up at the finish line well after most people are already celebrating.  We take out time.  We wait until we are ready.  We are methodical and like nothing better than closely examining all aspects of any decision.

    So it is only this year (2014) that we join the vast majority of our friends in saying goodbye to cable TV.  We couldn’t be happier with our change to internet TV via Netflix.  And for those that are still debating the switch, consider the following:

    • We now have an extra $75 per month.  Seventy Five dollars.  It is a ton of money for our budget conscious family.
    • You will never have to watch another commercial.
    • You aren’t tied to any viewing schedule.
    • There is no contract.
    • You can set up separate lists for each member of the family, making it easier for each person to find an enjoyable and appropriate selection.

     

    We have had a very positive experience moving to Netflix.  But it might not be for everybody. We suppose that if you are sports obsessed, you might not be happy with it.  Netflix doesn’t offer “live” programming.

    Also, since using Netflix there’s always something you like on TV, this means you can’t use ‘there’s nothing good on’ as your primary reason to turn the TV off and do something else.  So you may need to find new reasons to limit TV time for your family or yourself.  We suggest a simple: “That’s enough TV for now, let’s do something else.  Your shows will still be available later.”

    Give Netflix a try.  You can always go back to cable.  But we bet you won’t!


  5. Do You Hear The Music?

    February 2, 2014 by admin

    It’s no secret– we love music at our house.  We have songs playing constantly.  We are singing along, or making up our own songs, too.

    IMG_7825TRMom and TRDad began an experiment some ten years ago.  We created our own, joint list of the 100 Best Songs Ever.  It was a fun project that we worked on via email.  We’d alternate at five song intervals, listing the best songs that came to mind.  This way the finished list wasn’t “in order”, but it did include all sorts of songs we adored.

    It allowed us to share our musical love with each other and confess secrets- Madonna?  Yes, Madonna is on the list.  Neil Diamond? Yes, no list could be complete without him.

    Here’s a small sample from the original list, circa 2003/4:

    1.) Crimson and Clover – Joan Jett

    2.) Possibly Maybe – Bjork

    3.) Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad – Meatloaf

    4.) Someone’s Daugher– Beth Orton

    5.) Honeysuckle Rose – Rose Murphy

    6.) Dizzy– Throwing Muses

    7.) I Believe In You– Neil Young

    8.) Accept Yourself– The Smiths

    9.) Flag Day– Housemartins

    10.) Ingrid and the Footman– Jane Siberry

    Recently, we started all over again.  It’s the same process, but ten years later.  What songs will repeat?  What songs will be replaced?  What new voices have we uncovered in our last decade of musical exploration?

    Here’s a sample of the 2014 Version:

    11.  Lose Yourself – Eminem

    12.  Stay Monkey – Julie Ruin

    13.  Gunpowder and Lead – Miranda Lambert

    14.  Get What You Give – New Radicals

    15.  Radioactive – Marina and the Diamonds

    16. Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit

    17. Untouchable Face – Ani DiFranco

    18. Pounce – Nellie McKay

    19. Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead

    20. Everlong – Foo Fighters

    Maybe when we’re done, we’ll post the entirety of both lists!

    Meanwhile, tell us what you’d include!  What are the absolute best songs ever?  Let us know, and introduce us to your favorites!


  6. Ramona and Half Pint

    January 29, 2014 by admin

    IMG_1395We love sharing some of our favorite book series with our youngest as a read-aloud activity.  So everyday we take Bluey to Klickitat Street and Walnut Grove.  He hears about  adventures with Mr. Edwards,  Uncle Hobart, and Picky-Picky.  Bluey loves these stories and always wants more.

    Although many of these books are actually marketed towards kids several years older than Bluey, we love being able to read them to him.  He follows the plots quite readily and enjoys hearing about, and picturing, the trials and tribulations of kids a bit older than him. Since we are reading long series of books, it really gives Bluey a chance to connect with the characters and locations.

    We started with the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary.  Ramona is a precocious and independent spirit with a love for art.  Her struggles as the youngest member of her family resonate for Bluey.

    After finishing all the adventures of Ramona, Beezus, Henry, and Ribsy, we moved on to the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The Little House stories take Bluey to another time and he learns abut how people lived in the past.  There is an amazing amount of detail about the settlers struggles that we had forgotten as adults.  And, of course, Laura is really dealing with the same issues as people today: siblings, family issues, bullies at school…  in many ways it is also very familiar to our Bluey.

    Tip:  Be prepared to discuss racism and sexism with your child when reading the Little House books.

    We treasure these times, snuddled up together, experiencing these worlds with our young child.  We think he does too.

    When he is older, maybe Bluey will reread all these great books.  Or maybe he’ll turn to other series, other authors.  Regardless, he’s experiencing the worlds of Laura and Ramona now, and he loves every moment.

     


  7. Shout It Out

    January 22, 2014 by admin

    imagesOne of the reasons that we began ThriftyRambler was to build upon our community.  We hope to encourage conversation, thought and support amongst our readers.

    Here at ThriftyRambler, perhaps like you, we are always looking for new ideas and improved ways of doing things.  So we are regular readers of the vast content of the web, always seeking people who can put their ideas into words that make sense to us.

    In that vein, we wish to draw attention to some people we’ve met on the internet who are out there doing intriguing things.  We believe they are uber-cool, and hope you that you think so, too.  Check them out and see how they impact you!

    Instagram:

    • madcitymom–  This Madison mom captures a lot of cool places in our town that we haven’t yet discovered.
    • man_from_farm– This Russian farmer and gardener posts beautiful and funny pictures of life on a Russian farm.

     

    Twitter:

    • Katie Austin @madisontraffic– Katie Austin helps us navigate our midwestern city with ease with regular updates on construction, accidents and weather.
    • Madison On The Cheap–  Sales, freebies,and cheap event notices will keep you following this feed.

     

    Facebook:

    • Roost Realty–  Roost posts about all aspects of buying homes, not houses.  They are dedicated to their community and working to make it a better place.

     

    Google+:

    • Toddlers on Tour– This Australian mom offers real experiences and advice for travels with kids, whether down the road or to a different continent.
    • Lauren Markman– Lauren’s parenting oriented blog, “ididntlisten,” is funny and insightful.
    • Visit Flyover Country–  Adam Sommer writes travel pieces for Visit Flyover Country, a blog devoted to midwest points of interest.

    We’ll do this again in a few weeks with more of our favorites!


  8. Culver’s Secret

    January 19, 2014 by admin

    IMG_4662Did you know that all Culver’s Restaurants have a secret veggie burger that you can order?  No, it’s not on the menu so don’t bother searching for it.  We don’t have any idea why they have chosen to completely hide this item.  We’d like to believe that we’re beyond the days when people sneered at vegetarian choices.

    Since we enjoy an occasional affordable lunch out, we appreciate this hidden menu item.  Especially given the prevalence of Culver’s in our area.

    Culver’s does a great job with their veggie burger.  It comes with all the typical toppings, including mayo.  We order the veggie burger value basket.  But it would be worth experimenting to see if you can order the swiss mushroom burger as “veggie,” etc.

    Do you know of any other chains/restaurants that hide away their veggie friendly alternatives to their advertised menu?


  9. Gifts that Give Back

    December 25, 2013 by admin

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    Educational gifts can be tremendous fun.

    Bluey and Plum share an intense love of animals.  When doing our holiday shopping, we considered their connection to critters of all kinds.  TR Dad found an owl pellet in a IMG_4458local shop and knew instantly that it was a perfect gift choice.

    An owl pellet is relatively small and rather inexpensive to purchase.  Our Bluey was incredibly excited to learn that he could find animal bones, fur, and who know’s what else as he carefully scrapped into the pellet.  The pellet gave Bluey a chance to learn more about owls eating habits and why it’s important to have predators.

    And it also lets him practice the art of patience.  An owl pellet cannot be ripped apart in two minutes.  It requires a slow and careful hand to uncover the tiny, tiny bones that belong to the owl’s last few meals.

    When it comes to gift giving, we recommend you step away from the “normal” and see what you can discover!

     

     


  10. Santa’s Workshop In Your Home

    December 7, 2013 by admin

    As our kids get older, and their flocks of friends grow, we increasingly hear them say they want to buy holiday presents for all of them.

    We’re touched.  Our kids love their friends and they want to prove this love via trips to Target and ToysRUs.  But we can’t afford to buy these old and new friends gifts from the store.  And we wouldn’t want to make all of those purchases, even if we could budget for it.IMG_1251

    We’re trying to help our kids to grow up to see more value in People rather than Things.  We want Bluey and Plum to value the stuff people do for each other, or experiences they have with their friends, rather than some product they might get.

    So we plan to create homemade gifts in an attempt to teach our kids that a well thought out, hand-crafted gift, is better than a new toy from some random box store.

    We start our efforts by example.  Recently, TR Dad’s friend gave us passes to get into the World Dairy Expo.   How did we thank him?  We baked him some cookies and offered to walk his adorable dog if he ever needs a favor.

    And we know that not all of our friends will follow the same guidelines for their holidays: and that’s OK.  Part of the holiday season is about learning to graciously accept all gifts: whether they are over the top, or underwhelming, or unexpected.

    It really is the thought that counts.  Love your friends.  Give them your time.  Give them a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, a hug when they need it, and perhaps a homemade gift.