I believe that in order to make this successful, the meals will have to be simple to make, and of course, tasty!

I was able to put together a list of vegetarian ingredients that I plan on using to create various wraps, sandwiches, pastas, and salads. My main inspiration came from the following three books, which provide excellent vegetarian meal ideas.

Simple Vegetarian Lunches is a post from: Modest Living

Batteries aren't exactly the most environmentally friendly consumables. They contain toxic chemicals and elements like lead and mercury. Instead of using traditional alkaline batteries, which have to be thrown away when their energy is depleted, consider using rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries are an excellent replacement for traditional batteries, because they can be used over and over. However, the key to using rechargeable batteries is to get the right kind.

Best Type of Rechargeable Battery

There are several types of rechargeable batteries. The main rechargeable batteries on the market include Alkaline, Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad), and Lithium. By far, out of all the types, NiMH rechargeable batteries provide the best performance and value.

The mAh capacity of NiMH rechargeable batteries meets or exceeds traditional household batteries, and they only cost about twice as much. That means you could buy a single use AA battery for $1, or a rechargeable NiMH AA battery for $2, and save $98! That's because NiMH AA batteries can be cycled 100 times!

NiMH Rechargeable Batteries

When looking for NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, look for the mAh capacity. The higher the number, the longer the battery will last between cycles. For example, Sony AA rechargeable batteries last 3 times longer than traditional alkaline batteries.

When you buy rechargeable batteries, don't forget to buy a battery charger. If you think you'll be cycling through a lot of batteries, consider buying a charger that can hold a lot of batteries.

What’s the Best Type of Rechargeable Battery? is a post from: Modest Living

If it seems like a waste to flush the toilet every time you pee, you're right. People who want to save money on water can choose to not flush after they urinate, but that can get a little gross if there's more than one person in your home.

There's now a better solution than letting your urine sit in the toilet for hours on end. It's called the HydroRight Dual-Flush Converter. The HydroRight device can be retrofitted with your existing toilet, and lets you control how much water is used when you flush. You can use less water when flushing just liquid, and the full amount of water for poop, I mean, solids.

It takes about 10 minutes to install, and can be used on all standard flush valves. The dual-flush device can reduce water usage by up to 30%.

Save Money on Water with New Dual-Flush for Toilets is a post from: Modest Living

In fact, I got so used to using reusable cups, that I also got a very cool loose leaf tea mug that I carry around now. With my tea mug, not only am I not wasting a cup, I'm also not wasting a tea bag, because the filter is built right into the cup. It also looks cool to drink from.

Life with a reusable loose leaf tea mug not so bad is a post from: Modest Living

Using a dishwasher to clean your reusable bottles isn't really the best way go. Not only does it use an excessive amount of water, most metal travel coffee mugs and plastic drinking bottles aren't dishwasher safe. A simple way to keep your bottles clean is to fill up the kitchen sink with warm, soapy water. You can then soak them overnight, and wash them off in the morning. That works well, but it uses up a lot of water, and it also makes my bottles smell and sort of taste soapy–even after I rinse them off thoroughly.

Best Way to Clean Travel Mugs and Drinking Bottles

I've found that the best way to keep my reusable bottles nice and clean is to use a bottle brush. While I like the bottle brushes that come with disposable ends and allow you to fill them up with liquid soap, I find that they don't last very long. Instead, I prefer to use a simple brush, like this Oxo Good Grips Kitchen Brush. It's seems to last a lot longer, and it's not a big deal to drop a little soap in the bottle and then scrub away.

How to Keep Your Travel Mugs and Drinking Bottles Clean is a post from: Modest Living

I just finished watching the documentary No Impact Man with my wife. The documentary definitely got us thinking about our own impact on the environment, and how we could lessen that impact. Leading up to watching it, we were already discussing the idea of starting a compost and also using less plastic.

One of the things I'm going to start doing this week is using reusable containers for coffee and water. When I make or buy coffee, I'm going to do my best to use a travel mug, instead of using and throwing away so many cups (which usually includes both paper and plastic.) I'm also going to use a water bottle for keeping myself hydrated, instead of drinking from plastic water bottle or soft drinks.

If you do use a water bottle, make sure it's BPA free. If you have an old water bottle, it probably uses BPA, so you'll want to buy a new one, like the Camelback water bottle I use.

Ditching Disposable Cups for Reusable Cups is a post from: Modest Living

What Will You Do With Your Stuff?

As you sift through your stuff, each item will fall into one of four categories.

1. Keep it, because you will use it regularly
2. Throw it away, because it's junk
3. Give it away, because someone else could use it
4. Sell it on eBay, because it's still worth something

There's one thing I didn't include in the list, which is things you use occasionally. This one is tricky, because things we use occasionally contribute to our clutter. With each of these items, you'll need to decide if it's something you can simply buy or borrow from a friend when you need to use it again. You'll need to also consider the cost of the item. If it's expensive and not easy to borrow, and you're sure you'll need it again in the near future, then you should probably keep it.

Selling Your Stuff On eBay

I've had very good success selling my stuff on eBay, and I generally get a good price for things that actually have value and are still in demand. If you end up having a lot of things you want to sell on eBay, then you may want to consider getting a label printer. Label printers, like the Brother QL-570 Professional (which is the one I own), make is quick and easy to make mailing labels and also print out postage. These label printers can also serve other organizational purposes, which I'll describe further in the coming weeks.

	Brother QL-570 Professional Label Printer Sale Price: $75.99 You save: $93.01 (55%)

Getting Rid of What You Don’t Use is a post from: Modest Living

It's something that I don't do well, but I remain intrigued by. What would it be like if I could simplify my surroundings, buy and own less stuff, and if I could rid myself of the clutter in my life? Starting January 1st, 2010, I'm going to begin to be more mindful of what it means to live simply. This website, Modest, will act as my public journal as I discover new ways to simplify my life.

I predict that while I'll pursue buying less and using less–including selling items I no longer need–I will also recommend buying certain things too. For example, if an e-reader can store thousands of books, magazines and newspapers within a small physical space, versus having shelves of books throughout your home, I'm going to suggest buying an e-reader, like the Kindle.

Kindle Keyboard 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display

When I do mention products and services on this blog, they may be accompanied with affiliate links. I will only suggest and promote things that I would use myself. So if items show up on this blog, it's not because because I may be getting a percentage of the sale (which will help me support this blog mind you), it's also because I like and recommend it. For the most part though, I'm going to do my best to keep this blog as commercial free as possible. I want it to be a public journal of my discovery of what it means to live a modest, more simple life, and I hope it will inspire you in your own life.

The Idea of Modest Living In 2010 is a post from: Modest Living