Frugal Friday - The Misto

 I find myself looking more toward the future lately.  I find myself looking at a future where I actually get out and FINALLY see the world.  I want to see so many places.  I want to visit so many national parks.  I want to experience what this world has to offer!    I also want to buy a house.  I want to put aside money for my retirement.  In essence, I have dreams.   We have been talking about ways to reach these goals and dreams.  Some of it requires planning.  Some of it requires changes in our lives.  Some of it is just simply being frugal and wise with our purchases.  So I thought it might be fun to do a Frugal Friday thing...or maybe I should call it a Financial Friday.....talking about ways to save money, ways to be frugal and ways to get closer to some of our goals....many of which are tied with finances!

I bought a Misto Non aerosol Kitchen Spray

Today I am going to share my new purchase.....a Misto! (amazon link)  The Misto is a replacement for the traditional aerosol sprays that are frequently used for their non-stick abilities in the kitchen.  Yes,  I have gone back to using a non-aerosol non-stick spray in my kitchen!   

The misto is a bottle that can be filled with an olive oil (or any oil that you chose) of your choice.  The device uses a pump that is built into the cap to pressurize the bottle. The pressure in the bottle will enable the olive oil to be dispensed as a spray through the standard spray nozzle.  It works like a charm.   

Now, let me be honest here.  (sigh)  Aerosol sprays are bad for birds and this purchase was initially planned to safeguard the health of our bird.   And of course, if it is bad for the birds lungs, it can't be good for ours....so I guess it's helping us too!   But once I made this purchase, I started to think about the financial ramifications. 

The Benefits of a Misto

There are so many benefits to using a Misto.  

**I have personally been buying a non-organic aerosol spray for my kitchen.  But with the Misto, I am able to fill the bottle with organic olive oil.   One more organic product is always a good thing!   

** This is a healthier option for my bird.  Birds have more fragile and delicate lungs.  Aerosol sprays are a big no no.  I want to keep my bird healthy because...well he is part of the family!  (Plus, vet bills are NOT cheap!)

**If aerosol spray is bad for the bird, it can NOT be good for me!  So eliminating this will be another step to a healthier life!

**This helps our environment!   It will reduce the non-recyclable waste going into the landfills.  It reduces the harmful pollutants that are going into our air.  It is just a good choice!

**Financially this is a cheaper option.  The cost per ounce of NON organic cooking spray in an aerosol can is $0.42.  The cost per ounce for the organic olive oil that I typically use is $0.30.  That makes it a cheaper option!  (I was using the prices from Aldi)

This purchase is not one that will make me rich.  (I wish I could find one that did!)  But using this Misto is a simple wise choice.  It benefits my health, my environment, my pocketbook and my bird!   It's a win win situation!  

  

Birds of a Feather and a fearful finding

I've been thinking a lot about the food that I'm eating.  Am I wrong to approach my lifestyle change by still eating 'anything' I want, just in moderation.  I lost 140 pounds doing just that.  I didn't have pizza everyday.  I did have to manage and limit my bread. I did it all and I honestly did well.  When I wanted to have one of the items I worked it into my schedule.  Last week, I made the brownies in the morning. I KNEW that I would want a piece of brownie that night.  I managed my food all day to allow for my brownie.  This is what worked for me in the past and this is the route I plan to take this go around.   

For me to take food away and put it on the 'extinct' list in my life is just not feasible. I know me.  You say I can't have it and I will move heaven and hell to get it!!!!   I spent some time on my morning walk today talking to my side kick about this.  Her words to me were "it worked for you before and why bother with elimination diets when you don't have health issues that need elimination'.   She is also not doing any elimination diet....not in the strictest sense of the word.  Yes, she's giving up diet soda because of the chemicals.  She's giving up ingredients in food that are un-natural.  She's moving to a natural lifestyle.   So I guess birds of a feather flock together. 

That said, I eat mostly natural and organic foods.  I cook from scratch, so that eliminates much processed foods.  I eat a healthy diet.  I just don't eliminate.  God gave us these foods.  I'm a firm believer that he gave us these NATURAL foods for a reason....and everything, in moderation works together to create a healthy and vibrant lifestyle.

Cravings?   Really?   I honestly don't have cravings.  My binges are usually not based on a craving mentality.  They are usually born from emotions.  Any cravings....I've always said when I'm taking my multivitamins the cravings disappear anyway.  Cravings are our bodies telling us we need something...so if we are getting our proper nutrients...bye bye cravings.  :-)

So as I went through this thought process  I went home and started folding laundry.  Out of my husbands pants pocket fell this packet of Pure Via.  Stevia. You know, we've all seen it.  We've all seen the ads. We've all heard about the product.  I picked it up off the floor where it fell and sat amazed that the package was somewhat intact after going through the washing machine AND dryer!  But as amazing as the package was...there was something that absolutely shocked me to no end!

I opened up the package and poured out the contents.  Holy cow. It poured out onto the surface like I had just poured it from a sugar bowl.  The grains of sugar were pure and unadulterated.  This sugar had been through the clothes washer AND dryer.  What?  It didn't dissolve in water??????   It didn't melt in the heat of the dryer?????     How can this be??????   OH wait....that's right.  While they say it's 'natural' there is something intrinsically wrong with this picture.  VERY wrong.  I think I'll stick with straight up sugar...because, oh wait.....that's natural too...but at least I know that organic sugar melts and dissolves in my gut!






I got out hiking yesterday and I walked with Sherry today.  Ok, so lunch ended up being at Bucca di Beppo.  Yummy Italian.  But my breakfast was really light as was my dinner.  Moderation and management!  

The awesome thing today????   This big boy was just hanging out near our house.  Gorgeous!!!!