Author Archives: mbajane

Gaining Ground

Posted on June 26, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

The first time I heard of composting, I was like, whaaaa? Seriously? Talk about bizarre. Then I realized some benefits: If I quit using the garbage disposal so much, I wouldn’t have to deal with my dumb cereal spoons getting caught inside and scaring the living daylights out of me when they make that horrible metal grinding sound. Plus, it’ll be like I am giving back to the earth somehow … which, of course, is very green and eco- friendly of me. I mean, I’m not, like, ready to chain myself to a tree or quit shaving my legs or anything, yet, but still. Progress. Score one for Granola Chick Jane!

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get it together

Posted on June 13, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

My kitchen cupboards are a wreck.

Not on the outside, mind you. No, no, it’s the inside of those masters of disasters that leave me whimpering in the corner when I need to pull out the juicer.

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Not So Wet Anymore

Posted on June 3, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

This week for my Merit Badge, I’m conserving water. Sounds simple enough, right?

With me … not so much.

If there was a 12-step recovery program for H2O addicts, I’d be a member. Actually, I wouldn’t just be a member, I’d be the president. I have a need, you see: a need for cleanliness and all things water-logged. Not to mention, all things bubbly and scented.

So, I decided first to forego my …

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Pilgarlic

Posted on May 27, 2012 by mbajane

Hey fantastic farmgals! MBA Jane here. I’m hearing lots of talk about garlic today.

I like garlic. It’s not good to eat when you’re on a date (learned that one the hard way), but it’s pretty delish.

Anyway, speaking of garlic … I remembered a story about my Auntie Anna and Uncle Umberto.

Uncle Umberto was a big, handsome guy. Good intentions … but between you and me, sometimes he was a little late to the party, if you know what I mean …

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Lend a Hand to Farm Families

Posted on May 17, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

In order to earn this Lend a Hand to Farm Families Merit Badge (helping a farm family by donating six hours of my time, either in feeding their animals or cleaning up around the farm), I first had to find a farm family. Driving around slowly through the countryside is nice and all, but at the price of gas these days, not conducive to a girl’s budget. Why, just the other day, I had to hang out the window at the pump and shout at the gas station attendant to shut it off before he spent my unborn children’s college fund. Also, driving around in slow motion staring at country houses made me feel like I was an escaped lunatic, casing the joint.

So, I switched tactics and started …

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Icing on the Cake

Posted on May 9, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

Some badges are just plain tasty. Homemade potato chips, organic grocery shopping …

Did someone say “icing on the cake?” Count me in, and quickly!

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Backyard Farmer Merit Badge

Posted on April 25, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

Well, my little chickadees, I’m moving on to successful Farmgirl in a speedy fashion! I’ve done it: I’m an animal owner (Ms. Twinkles doesn’t count, she thinks she’s a person and I hate to dash her hopes and dreams of world domination by telling her she’s a Pomeranian).

I brought home three of the cutest, spunkiest, most adorable baby chicks EVAH!

Now the requirements for my newest badge, Backyard Farmer, are a no-brainer.

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MBA Jane gratitude journal

Posted on April 17, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

Dear Diary,

It’s Day 1 of my Gratitude Journal challenge! You have no idea, dear diary, how difficult it is to write words in their entirety instead of shortening them to text-speak. But I am determined to break the habit, lol! Oh, drat. Well, anyway, this is all about being thankful, so here goes:

I am thankful for …

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Homemade Potato Chip Recipe

Posted on April 11, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

After the trauma I endured turning off all my electronics in my last badge attempt, I decided to try a merit badge that would be a little less on the stressful side, a little more on the yummy side: namely, the Unprocessed Kitchen badge—purchasing a guilty pleasure item at the grocery store and then replicating it (organically, of course) at home.

Now, I’ve never been much of a cook, but I am motivated by some things, and salt and vinegar potato chips are one of them! Nothing has put me in the gym faster than a midnight binge of salty, greasy goodness. Maintaining my figure would be a heck of a lot easier without them, you know what I’m saying? They may, in fact, be …

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Disconnect to Reconnect

Posted on March 31, 2012 by mbajane

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …

I’m doing it, hens. The impossible. The never-before attempted. The merit badge requirement that leaves me nervous, weirded out, and full of butterflies in my stomach. More than sewing, more than getting greasy with my car, more than the thought of tent camping …

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