Found Nativity or Celebrating the Holidays Without Dusting Off the Stuff

A couple of years ago we were doing just fine, financially speaking. And by just fine, I mean, just barely fine, with a few extra pennies each month.

This is one of the best experiences we could have had, because it served as an important reminder that some things aren't necessary to have a loving home with happiness and health and all that jazz.

A nativity set is one of those things.

I've never liked the idea that there are boxes of "things" in a crawl space or attic space (or more likely for me, next to my couch) that only come out once a year. Call me a Scrooge, but I prefer decorating with food (also known as "not putting food away") or bits from nature. Bowls of apples are lovely. So are bowls of squash. I've learned that a bowl of onions isn't quite the same, but you get my drift. Keep it seasonal and you don't even have to think about decorating.

However, we were feeling rather saddened by our lack of Christmas tree, our lack of holiday ornaments and statuary and wreaths and such, and we decided to try to assemble a nativity scene based on the various statuaries we had around the house.

And this is what we created:

I know what you're thinking. For someone who doesn't like to have a lot of "stuff" around the house, what the heck am I doing with a 12" statue of Isis, a small St. Francis, two lobster-shaped napkin rings, and not one but TWO dragons?

Simple. We have and hold onto things that hold meaning for us. I married a man who used to play Dungeons and Dragons (and by used to, I mean a few weeks ago). Some of these items are marriage baggage.

But the great thing about this, is that THIS nativity holds special meaning to us. Each of these icons is relevant to us for one reason or another, either because The Three Yoga Ladies were gifted to me by one of my favorite women of all time, or because they represent an important "gift" in my life. Also, they are way nicer to look at than some old codgers toting stanky spices.

According to anthropologists, sociologists, and the Ben, Isis represents an earlier version of Mary. St. Francis loved animals, and so do we. Lobster napkin rings were gifted to me by an ex-boyfriend (don't tell the Ben), but they also remind me of the movie "Love, Actually" which is a holiday favorite involving lobsters. Dragons and turtles are just the more traditional aspects of the nativity, to keep it real.

And, to top it off, the goose flies overhead reminding us all that there are angels among us, that geese talk to people, and that some animals mate for life. Something we aspire to do as well.

May your holidays be bright, cheery, and full of whatever meaning you are looking for.

House Rules: What to Tell Your House Sitter Before You Go

Leaving your home under the watchful eye of a house sitter is a great relief. No worries about crispy plants, sad pets, appliance meltdowns, or uninvited guests.

However, house sitters can also bring a sense of stress to the trip. You need to prepare a place for them to stay, advise them on proper care, and make sure they don't do more harm than good to your sanctuary. Setting some guidelines offers an additional layer of security for you and confidence for your house sitter. Mine are below:

Dear House Sitter,

Welcome to our home! Caring for it is really quite simple, but because we know we might be out of touch, we want you to know everything you need to know if anything should go amiss.

IN GENERAL
- We keep the house locked when we are not home, which includes the doors and windows. Please do the same.
- Park in this space ________.
- All important numbers (including the code to our top-secret Swiss bank account) are _____________________ (tell them where they are located or leave them attached to the rules).
- Please check the mail daily or every other day. Place all mail and packages in this handy basket -->. (also indicate if you'll be receiving anything special or large and include tracking numbers and care instructions, if needed).
- Leave the lights on during this time/day/etc.
- Please water the outdoor plants daily, and the indoor plants every third day.
- You should not need to move our cars, but in case there is something funky, the keys are ___________________.

THE PETS
The feeding schedule and appropriate diet:
The care for bathing/toileting/medication:
Companionship activities like walking or snuggling:
Emergency contact (I include both a local contact who knows more about our pets to help determine whether the emergency is actually an emergency AND the veterinarian's contact information):
When to contact us: (include any circumstances you'd like to be alerted about, like transportation to the vet, injuries, etc).

PERKS
- The code to the internet is _____________ .
- Feel free to use the computer using the "guest" account.
- The video game console downstairs is connected to Netflix (here is the password). All relevant games are in the console below the TV.
- The food in the fridge is all fair game, as is anything else you care to eat. We'll provide some snack-ens for you, but help yourself to whatever you'd like. (add any limitations here and indicate clearly if there are foods that are off-limits).
- If you have a pool, hot tub, or other amenities, include the benefits and limitations for all use as well. This is a nice way of stating the "rules".

ODDITIES
- If you have any broken appliances, or if there is a secret way to make the back door lock, this is where you share that information. It will likely be updated with each trip.
- If there are dishes you'd prefer your house sitter not use, or use with caution, include that information here as well.
- If you have scheduled any house work, other visitors, or anything else out of the ordinary, include that here.

RELEVANT NUMBERS
To be kept in a place where the person can easily access them (I recommend sending an email and printing a copy somewhere in the home).
Emergency pet contact (friend/family)
Vet's number
Name of friend/family who can assist with other minor needs/questions
Utility information
Shipping/packing numbers
Your itinerary and contact information for the duration of the trip, as well as guidelines about when you'd like to be contacted.

Depending on who is house sitting for you and whether or not they will be staying in your home, you may want to prepare some meals or buy some snacks/drinks for them. It is the hospitable thing to do to show your appreciation for their time and effort. It is almost always reasonable to compensate the person financially, unless you have negotiated a trade or are doing them a favor by providing housing during a time when the would otherwise need to secure short-term housing. Arrange the details in advance depending on the level of care needed.

Next week: how to be a great house sitter.

Before You Leave List-ing

I love lists. When I'm stressed, I make lists. Bored? Lists. Stuck on an airplane? Lists.

While you may prefer witty banter, crosswords, or internet-based pinboards, I think packing is one area where you may want to take a step closer to me.

With the advent of amazing apps, packing lists are even easier than they were before. I use Awesome Note, but you can use a notepad app or (if you are super old-school: index cards).

I have many flavors of lists, from Yoga Conference, Yoga Training, Fancy-Pants Work, Family Holiday, Cabin, and Beach Vacation. Some items will come with me everywhere I go, but you can see that each list is different. I'll give you my unique essentials for each of the trips above in upcoming posts, but here you get two additional important lists: Before We Leave the House and Things We Must Take.

Before We Leave the House:
(night before)
- Check the fridge for anything that will spoil and freeze it, eat it, or toss it.
- Run the dishwasher.
- Remove any extra keys from key rings.
- Pack completely, then unpack only chargers and essential toiletries.
- If you take medications in the morning, consider leaving out pills in a bill box by your toothbrush and packing the remainder.
- Make morning packing list.
- Email itinerary to a friend/mom/whoever will make sure you make it back ok.

If you have a house sitter:
- Make up guest room.
- Leave list of House Rules* on the counter with plenty of snacks.
- Write any special instructions for this time only.
- Print or email itinerary and best contact details for this trip.
- Set out a basket for incoming mail and papers.

(morning of)
- Water plants.
- Check any automatic lights or watering to be sure it will go on schedule.
- Pack any chargers and last-minute items needed.
- Lock all of the windows and doors.
- Change the thermostat.
- Empty the dishwasher (or leave it full of clean dishes, but don't start it as you walk out the door in case it decides to breakdown during your trip).
- Wash any breakfast dishes.
- Grab any refrigerated meals/road snacks/pack cooler.
- Everyone goes to the bathroom!
- Take out the garbage/compost.

Universal Packing List (or the Things We Must Take):
- Credit cards
- Driver's license/passports
- Medications
- Toothbrush kit
- Ear plugs
- Itinerary and/or maps
- Cell phone (and charger) and/or something to read (sometimes the same thing)

Those are my travel essentials, and depending on where I'm headed, I'll add a little or a lot to that list. Check out the upcoming blog posts to see what is added on!

* coming next week!

Spork!

I have a confession: I hate plastic ware. You know, forks, spoons, knives, chopsticks that are designed to be used once and then live forever in a landfill? As an anthropologist I have a legitimate concern that when the aliens come to Earth in a million years they will believe we worshiped plastic because it will be all that remains.

Reflecting back to a travel day that included oatmeal for breakfast, an airport salad for lunch and a burrito bowl for dinner (taken back to the hotel) I counted two spoons, two forks, and two knives that entered my custody. And I was smart enough at the time to stir my coffee with my spoon rather than a stir stick. My dinner wouldn't have been so bad except the restaurant only distributed those "handy" packs of a complete set of plasticware accompanied by a paper napkin and salt and pepper.

My aversion got so bad that when I was on the run I started to order food based on whether or not it required the use of utensils. This was an enlightening way to travel and I ate lots of bananas and burritos. Now, I'm a big fan for one-handed-foods, like fruits, bagels, burritos and sandwiches, but there comes a time on the road when one wants to mix it up and eat a salad or soup.

The answer to all of my problems was a small piece of bamboo formed into a fork on one end and a spoon on the other. Not only was it small and convenient, it fit nicely into my purse and didn't draw any unwanted attention from security professionals. I keep one in the inner pocket of my purse and use it whenever I have a meal on the go. I also keep one in my car and a bag of many others to give as gifts.

Sustainable, reusable, handy, and very easy to wash in the sink, the travel-spork has been all over the country with me. Maybe you should buy a pack, too?

I use Bambu reusable sporks. I hear they also make some 'single use' varieties, but that doesn't make any sense to me. Here is a link to the product on ReUseIt.com (note: I get no kickbacks from either company).

Happy travels, and let's keep those aliens guessing!

Matryoshka is My Middle Name

The famous Russian doll, the Matryoshka, is the best packing inspiration totem I've found. Everything has a place, everything fits, and there is no wasted space. These "nesting" dolls have inspired the way that I pack, and perhaps you'll find these darlings helpful as you reorganize your bag. I'll use mine as an example.

Everything Has A Place: Rather than cramming or stuffing, first start with the dimensions of your bag and then add smaller zip-top bags. Nothing smaller than your fist should have to swim alone in a large bag, so compartmentalize.

Everything Fits: If all articles are contained in smaller containers, then you know that everything will fit and you'll easily locate what is missing if your bag takes a tumble. Choose the smallest containers you can that will supply what you need on any given day.

No Wasted Space: By choosing zip-top bags, you don't fill hard cases with lots of air and make your bag bulkier than it needs to be.

Smaller inner bags are better than compartments because they can transfer from bag to bag. They also limit the amount of "things" that can collect in purses, like business cards, pens, receipts, shoes, the Titanic... whatever comes your way. In my purse, I have my wallet, a tan zip bag (which contains most "purse" things), my blue/green snack bag, tissues, a coin purse, a pen, my sunglasses, and my phone.

The "tan bag" has most purse-like items: business cards, chapstick, ear buds, Listerine pocket packs, pain relievers, lotion, a hair tie, lipstick, and a nail file. The lotion and lipstick are in the contact lens case because I don't need large quantities, and the file is actually just a small piece of a file, because that's all I need on the go.

The "snack bag" is where I keep my on-the-go snacks and drink mixes. It keeps the quantities small and prevents the snacks from opening and spilling into my purse. I have Larabars, peanut butter (which needs to be removed for air travel because it is a liquid), instant coffee and drink mixes, a fruit leather, ginger chew, mints and gum. It is like a tiny vending machine that goes with me. It is also a nice, small bag that I can easily use as a small purse if I'm headed somewhere fancy and just want to have my driver's license, a credit card, lipstick and mint.

The outer pocket of my bag is reserved for small items I use all the time: hand sanitizer, lip gloss, a perfume roller, pen, and my travel spork. I wouldn't be devastated if I lost any of these items, and it is nice to have them easy to reach.

Three other features I didn't photograph include an inner zip pocket, which is great for my wallet and boarding passes during airline travel, a small zipper pocket on the inside that fits my phone (so it doesn't sink to the bottom and is carried close to me... I can feel when it vibrates), and a key clasp. I can hook my keys onto my purse which makes them easier to find and less likely to fall out if my bag is turned upside down.

Diva Time

I wish I would have read this post years ago. Because I didn't, and because it isn't information that we regularly share, I've decided to write it.

Packing friends, let me introduce you to the Diva Cup. When I first considered writing this, I wasn't sure where it would make the most sense: prenatal blog? yoga blog? certainly not recipes. Packing seems to make the most sense.

The Diva Cup, for those far outside of the loop, is akin to a silicone shot glass that one wears internally during the Time as a "Time" management device (instead of tampons). It is washed regularly and reused, and remarkably effective.

When and Why the Diva Cup is Awesome:

1. Packing: if you are headed out on a trip and know that the Time is coming, you can avoid the arduous task of budgeting, guestimating, and making space for the requisite disposable supplies. This saves you space and prevents you from locating a drug store on vacation OR trapsing unnecessary details back and fro.

2. Waste: How much excess waste do you create during the Time, and how much of this will easily biodegrade. I used to give myself a pass for wasting resources because I was in fact still angry at God... but regardless of my personal beliefs that this plan of action is insane, it continues to create actual physical waste that the rest of the inhabitants of earth find equally unjust.

3. Money: The Diva costs roughly $30, and the special soap (which is not required, but is handy) is about $8 per bottle. This will last me about a year, with only the soap recurring on an annual basis. Conservative comparison: $38 Diva, $96 minimum for an annual supply of disposables.

4. Comfort: With the exclusion of a couple of uncomfortable learning moments, it is by far the most comfortable option. Trust me and allow me to spare you the details.

5. Logistics: for most women for most days, the cup only needs to be addressed every 12 hours. Restroom trips will be initiated and governed by numbers one and two, and not by the Time.

The Learning Curve:

There are countless online resources about appropriate placement, fears about the Lost Cup, and other helpful and humorous articles. I leave you to the whim of the Googles to surf at your own risk.

1. It will take THREE months to become proficient at the use of the Diva. During this time, thou shalt not leave home without a backup plan (tampons, etc).

2. Many successful users agree that in the beginning, showers make for the easiest placement/removal spot.

3. Errors in placement usually result from a lack of "turning" the device as you should. It works because it seals, so if it doesn't seal, it doesn't work. If there are no problems during the first hour of use, you've likely got it in the right place.

4. If you will be out of the house AND believe that you will need to remove/replace during the day, you will be most comfortable using a restroom with a toilet and sink in the same space (not a public restroom with stalls). A water bottle and wet wipes are helpful in the event that you must use a stall-based restroom.

5. For TSA approved travel (and even about town) I recommend a small squeeze tube of the special soap, just to keep things easy. This is the GoToob mini.

When it Just Ain't Right:

1. There is some debate in the yoga community about whether or not the Diva is appropriate during various poses, such as inversions. My personal experience is that this has not been a problem, but it is worth awareness as it likely depends on aspects of one's anatomy that one cannot fully describe.

2. Camping presents a few challenges, as the Diva must be washed with hot, soapy, potable water. The logistics of refuse are also a bit complicated, but may in fact be better than the alternative. The same is true for travel anywhere that potable water is not easy to come by.

3. Day One: there is much debate about whether day one is more easily managed via Diva or not, and I suppose this depends on personal experience. In the event that Day One is not workable for you, consider the benefits of using the Diva part-Time.

BYOB

Bottle, that is. It is astounding the number of disposable water bottles people use, particularly when traveling. We all become hobos, and cling desperately to anything people are willing to give us (including free tiny water bottles on the airplane). Convenient as they might be, they are certainly no good for the planet. I'll help you break down some barriers that I had:

Barrier 1: Ick.
Reusing a water bottle for a week without washing it is disgusting. Agreed. I thought for a bit about carrying a small bottle of dish soap with me for this purpose, and was not terribly pleased with the idea. Then I found these little alka-seltzer-like tablets sold by SIGG to clean their bottles. Fill the bottle with hot tap water, allow to fizz, rinse and voila.

Barrier 2: Taste=ick.
Last summer I went to an unnamed theme park in the deep south with my husband. In July. As a friend recently said, the weather "felt like it licked me." In an effort to encourage the purchase of cool, crisp, clean spring water, said amusement park had no interest in cooling or filtering their drinking fountain water. Warm and slightly metallic in taste (although up to standards and perfectly potable), I thought desperately about solutions. Two exist: purchase gallon (or three gallon) containers at the grocery store and load up before you head to the park, or purchase some tiny flavor packets to help mediate the flavor. We did both: cool, delicious water in the morning, and purple-flavored water in the afternoon, when we were too hot, tired, and crabby to care much.

Barrier 3: Airport shenanigans.
It is true, you cannot transport large quantities of liquids through airport security. You can, however, transport an empty water bottle. Just dump it out before you walk through and refill on the other side. Too clumsy? Get one that clips to the outside of your purse/backpack.

Barrier 4: lazy.
I can't help with lazy. Maybe there is a blog that can. Just give it a try? Buy a small, resealable water bottle (kids size) and try it on the next trip. If you like it, buy one for everyone you know next holiday season.