Well Sayward, as hard as this is for me to admit, since my divorce, I have been living on a very tight budget. Sometimes when I read your posts, I cannot help but wonder, "How does Satward afford all of this on a part time job???." I don't really want to know. However, what I would like to know is this: How can a vegan like me, who lives outside of Boston, pays a mortgage et al. afford to eat a healthy organic diet on a budget. I used to shop at Whole Paycheck (Foods) every week but have since cut back to once a month. During the summer I grow some of my own stuff and supplement the rest with the Boston Farmer's Market (which is super expensive btw). When I have time, I will visit other FM's outside the city which are much cheaper. When my CSA came up for renewal last month, I had to let it go as I just couldn't fit it into my budget. I live within my means; however, keeping fresh produce in my fridge and on my counters every week is costly. This is the primary reason why I do not juice or do smoothies everyday like most of my favorite vegan bloggers. I follow Wise Bread and when I see writer's posting that they can feed a family of 5 on $100 I say to myself, "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?" "What am I doing wrong?????"
Any help/wisdom/advice you can offer on this matter would be really helpful. I work 50 hours a week, not including my 2 hour commute (round trip in/out of the city 5 days a week).
Other than this rant, I like everything about your blog and really wouldn't change a thing.
If I had to vote something out, I'd vote out the gardening posts, but only because your sunny Cali weather makes me so jealous here in grey, damp England! :-)
Morgan - 11 years ago
Of course at this time of year I want to see everything you can throw at us about gardening! I love your recipes and WIAW posts of course, they are what brought me to Bonzai Aphrodite in the first place. Recently you have become a lot more open about your personal life and it is completely inspiring. You share struggles, triumphs and mundane life with equal honesty. SO glad you are blogging again!!
Theresa - 11 years ago
While I really LOVE all of it, I find the WIAW, essays/thoughts, recipes and tutorials most intriguing, inspirational, and helpful. Though really, since I adore your writing and the way your mind works Sayward, you could probably write some kind of technical manual and I'd want to read it :P
Just glad you are back in the blogosphere! Big love from The Bay :)
Sarah - 11 years ago
Oh and I LOVE the links to music, and TED talks, and books and all the cool things you find interesting!
Sarah - 11 years ago
I love what you write already and I cannot even begin to tell you how much you have inspired me in so many ways. I love your personal reflections on vegan living, sorting through your health issues without compromising your ethics, how you relate to the world as an introvert, and all the various the personal reflections you have on life that come from reading and your life experiences - even the ones that seem ordinary. Everything you write about speaks to me in so many ways. I am always wanting to read more and the more details the better!
EK - 11 years ago
I general I think your balance is wonderful, but I do miss the outfit posts. Regardless you never fail to inspire me!
I love the food stuff but I'm also interested in the other bits and pieces too. I do miss the outfit posts - you totally inspired me to embrace my own style after a couple of years where I was too blue to care about clothes.
Your blog is perfect, I always look forward to reading a new post. Keep it up! I missed you a lot while you were on a break :)
Well Sayward, as hard as this is for me to admit, since my divorce, I have been living on a very tight budget. Sometimes when I read your posts, I cannot help but wonder, "How does Satward afford all of this on a part time job???." I don't really want to know. However, what I would like to know is this: How can a vegan like me, who lives outside of Boston, pays a mortgage et al. afford to eat a healthy organic diet on a budget. I used to shop at Whole Paycheck (Foods) every week but have since cut back to once a month. During the summer I grow some of my own stuff and supplement the rest with the Boston Farmer's Market (which is super expensive btw). When I have time, I will visit other FM's outside the city which are much cheaper. When my CSA came up for renewal last month, I had to let it go as I just couldn't fit it into my budget. I live within my means; however, keeping fresh produce in my fridge and on my counters every week is costly. This is the primary reason why I do not juice or do smoothies everyday like most of my favorite vegan bloggers. I follow Wise Bread and when I see writer's posting that they can feed a family of 5 on $100 I say to myself, "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?" "What am I doing wrong?????"
Any help/wisdom/advice you can offer on this matter would be really helpful. I work 50 hours a week, not including my 2 hour commute (round trip in/out of the city 5 days a week).
Other than this rant, I like everything about your blog and really wouldn't change a thing.
If I had to vote something out, I'd vote out the gardening posts, but only because your sunny Cali weather makes me so jealous here in grey, damp England! :-)
Of course at this time of year I want to see everything you can throw at us about gardening! I love your recipes and WIAW posts of course, they are what brought me to Bonzai Aphrodite in the first place. Recently you have become a lot more open about your personal life and it is completely inspiring. You share struggles, triumphs and mundane life with equal honesty. SO glad you are blogging again!!
While I really LOVE all of it, I find the WIAW, essays/thoughts, recipes and tutorials most intriguing, inspirational, and helpful. Though really, since I adore your writing and the way your mind works Sayward, you could probably write some kind of technical manual and I'd want to read it :P
Just glad you are back in the blogosphere! Big love from The Bay :)
Oh and I LOVE the links to music, and TED talks, and books and all the cool things you find interesting!
I love what you write already and I cannot even begin to tell you how much you have inspired me in so many ways. I love your personal reflections on vegan living, sorting through your health issues without compromising your ethics, how you relate to the world as an introvert, and all the various the personal reflections you have on life that come from reading and your life experiences - even the ones that seem ordinary. Everything you write about speaks to me in so many ways. I am always wanting to read more and the more details the better!
I general I think your balance is wonderful, but I do miss the outfit posts. Regardless you never fail to inspire me!
I love the food stuff but I'm also interested in the other bits and pieces too. I do miss the outfit posts - you totally inspired me to embrace my own style after a couple of years where I was too blue to care about clothes.