A New Year Approaches

So we have been discussing this cool thing that we might do next year. After an interesting year (see posts about job layoff, etc) and even more interesting financial discussions we have come to certain realizations. 1) Times are tough and we made it. 2) Times will most likely get tougher. 3) Why do we have some much stuff?

We are contemplating what I like to call “A New Year without the New”. Essentially, we will not be purchasing anything new for an entire year. Of course there are some conditions and caveats with this. Exceptions are consumables like food, medicine, diapers, etc. and emergency situations (which will be evaluated on a case by case basis). For everything else we will either 1) do without 2) make due with what we already have 3) make our own 4) borrow 5) buy used 6) get from Freecycle or other free sources.

We are still discussing all the details. We have also stocked up on a few items that we deem “unable to due without or willingly buy used”. These items include (but are not limited to) underpants, socks, and tires.

More on this later… I think that it sounds like a fun and fruitful adventure.

Buy Nothing Day

Thanksgiving was really nice, but a little sad being without family. Thanks Navin family for your wonderful hospitality!

Today, I almost got suckered into a doorbuster at Sears, but I restrained myself. Most know today as Black Friday, but Adbusters likes to call attention to the mass consumerism and they have a campaign called “Buy Nothing Day”. You can go here for more info. It’s a subtle way to stick it to the man. We were successful!

Happy Thanksgiving! We have lots to be thankful for this year. I've begun posting some of them on Facebook. Mostly we are thankful for Ronin, Nico finding a job, and my Dad's recovery from his heart attack. We are also thankful for all the wonderful friends we have made here and all the family that we miss dearly.

The IKEA kitchen is here...

Well 1,000 IKEA boxes anyway. Nico is getting good at putting together items with simple Swedish pictures.

"Before" pictures to post soon.

Our love to all!

New Kitchen

Last Saturday we ordered new cabinets and appliances for our kitchen. We've got lots of work a head of us, but you know how much we like projects.

Nothing else is really going on with us. We've got another busy weekend planned, including a trip to the Henry Ford Museum after Church on Sunday. Maybe we'll get some good pictures!

Here's an excellent one of Ronin on his birthday (thanks Anthony).

Birthdays, words, and dragons

Well the joint birthday party was a success. We enjoyed seeing all the family and friends who helped us celebrate! Ronin and I got lots of nice gifts, but spending time with all of you was the real treat.

As of today, Ronin can say "uh-oh," "mama," "dada," and "ball". He's obsessed with balls right now. Even round objects (like fruit) are "ba" and he want to try to throw them. In addition to these words, he signs "more" and "milk".

We also had a nice Halloween. Roni was a dragon and I was a zombie.