Gratitude

We've been fortunate to have over a week's worth of weather that has been truly "Spring like". The highs have been in the high 60's, low 70's and it's been just gorgeous. Seeing as how, according to the almanacs, it should be raining cats and dogs right now, how can you not take advantage of it? I mean, isn't this what we pay exurbanite amounts of money for housing and taxes for to live in this beautiful state?

Thursday afternoons we have a playgroup that seems to be faltering. Like, as in it's usually us and one or two other families there. But, I just couldn't keep my kids home on a gorgeous afternoon. So, we went to playgroup, all by ourselves, to a park in Pleasanton. After the park, we met Lance at Sweet Tomatoes for dinner. Now, it's amazing that this little girl of mine who used to ask every day if we could go out to dinner (since we went out so often), was so excited to be GOING OUT TO DINNER. I mean, this must have come a close second to Disneyland, judging by her reaction. And the fact that it was SWEET TOMATOES! Well, that's just her MOST FAVORITE PLACE! LOL

It's amazing, isn't it? When you get something so frequently, you quickly fall into a state of expecting it to be that way. Over the spring and summer, and even most of the fall, we get to enjoy gorgeous weather. And we just expect it to be that way. Sometimes, we aren't even grateful for it. But when it's been cold or frosty or raining and then we get a week's worth of sun, we can totally appreciate it. Much in the same way that when going out to eat is cut back to only occasionally (like once or twice a month), how much more we appreciate it.

I wish I could capture the gratitude and unload it on a day of greediness. Because it makes everything so much sweeter.

Girls gone wild!

Last night, my friend Kristin asked me if we were going to go to Bingo for Books at the school tonight. I guess it's the kick off to next week's read-a-thon. I had missed the information that came home about it, with everything else going on, but she told me it was free and it sounded like something Morgan would enjoy. I asked Morgan this morning if she'd like to go and she told me that she was a little nervous because she didn't know how to play Bingo exactly. She used those exact words. That girl of mine! I told her that it wouldn't be a problem since I would be there with her and told her that I thought it would be something fun for us to do together, without Bennett and with her friend, Kaitlyn. At this point, she declared it a "Girls Night Out" and was really looking forward to it. Woohoo!

It was so much fun! Morgan loved Bingo and caught on right away. It was really great for number recognition, too, so also educational. Kristin and Kaitlyn ended up getting FOUR Bingos and we got none, but they gave us two of their Bingos, so we could pick out books. Morgan picked out a Robin Hood book for herself and a Dumpy the truck book for Bennett (how sweet!). Once we had the books, we decided to move the party to Peet's for some hot chocolate for the wee ones and coffee for the adults. I was able to use a gift card I had for Peet's so we didn't even have to spend any money there. We chatted and sipped and had a good time. And I'm not at all embarrassed about it being with five year olds!

For free!

Viva La Girls Night Out!

Viva La Budget!

Another very cute and sweet moment was when Kaitlyn gave Morgan a thank you note for the gift Morgan gave her for Christmas. She hand wrote the card and told Morgan that she did it herself. Morgan told her she loved it and they hugged. Then Morgan told her she did a great job and Kaitlyn said thanks. It was so cute watching the two of them. So cute!

The new math, aka "The Chicken Experiment"

Attention idiot employers of my husband: You may be able to take 20% of our monthly pay, but you cannot take away my ability to stretch a dollar! Here's our new math:

$27.10 for 28 servings = $0.97 per serving!

Roasted chicken with potatoes and salad

1 whole chicken ~$6
15 small red potatoes ~$1
20 baby carrots ~ $0.25
2 lemons ~ free from my tree
fresh rosemary ~ free from my bushes
1 head of romaine lettuce ~ $0.50
2 tomatoes ~ $1

4 Servings ~ $7.85






Chicken noodle soup, salad, and cornbread muffins

Meat from roasted chicken ~ Free
Broth ~ Free, made from roasted chicken
1 bunch of celery ~$0.80
6 carrots ~ $2
1 lb rotini pasta ~ $1.50
fresh flat leaf parsley ~$0.50
fresh minced garlic ~ $0.10
spices ~ free from my cabinet
cornmeal ~ $1
milk ~$0.25
butter ~0.25
1 head of romaine lettuce ~$0.50
2 tomatoes ~$1

16 Servings!! ~ $7.90


Goat cheese chicken pasta with roasted red peppers and artichokes

Chicken ~ Free from roasted chicken
1 lb. bow tie pasta ~$1.50
1 can artichokes ~$2
1 can sliced olives ~$1
1 jar roasted red peppers ~$3.50
fresh sliced mushrooms ~$0.25
goat cheese ~$3
olive oil ~ free from my cabinet
fresh minced garlic ~ $0.10

8 Servings ~ $11.35




Woohoo! I am woman. Hear me roar!

On my soapbox: The Economy

While we all watch the stock market plummet on a daily basis, it's so easy to get wrapped up in the nation-wide panic. Particularly when you have the DRAMA of it broadcasted practically all day long, every day. How many times do we have to hear the words "worst since the Great Depression" or "recession" before we start to feel the weight of it on our shoulders? It seems to me that this 24/7 shoveling of crap in our faces is definitely having it's effect on people. I have several friends who are panic stricken over what will transpire over the coming years. And while I understand their worry and concern, I can't seem to get myself in such a frenzied state.

Maybe it's because, unlike many other Americans, Lance and I live in a house that we can actually afford. When everyone else is living the "American dream", which apparently includes upside down mortgages and buying everything on credit, we've been buckling down. Budgeting and scrimping. I have to admit that sometimes I would go to my friends' houses and think to myself how nice it would be to live in a brand new house. In a new development with new decor and which didn't have an embarrassing 1970's bathroom with gold-flecked mirrors and chandeliers. We even talked about moving into a new house in a better neighborhood before I quit my job. But we agreed that what we wanted most was for me to be able to be at home with the kids, and that sacrifices were necessary. Thank God that we made that decision. Because, I can see how easily it would have been for us to get in over our heads. Trying to keep up with America.

But right now? As those people are worried about making their mortgages, Lance and I are not at all worried about our home, which is still valued much more than what we owe on it. We can focus on the other stuff - cutting corners more at the grocery store as costs increase, making sure we don't overspend in other areas of the budget; but overall, I know we'll be just fine.

While I realize that it may sound callous of me to say this, I am almost looking forward to this "recession", which I see as a correction of the overall economy to get back to what is true. I guess you could even say that I see it as the great equalizer. And I am feeling much more comfortable in my skin. And in my 1960's home that still needs lots of work. Because we can afford it. I'm looking forward seeing people put an emphasis on quality of being, rather than quantity of possessions.

My main challenge right now is to look within to see what I can give. Because there are a lot of people who haven't been nearly as blessed as we have and who where already living barely paycheck to paycheck. They are going to get hit hard by the rising prices of groceries and fuel. We don't have the excess money that we had when I was working, but we certainly have more than we absolutely need. And sometimes, what you need is to help someone else who's in trouble. Even when you don't feel like you can afford to. This is what pulls people together and makes communities one. I'm looking forward to, what I consider, getting back to basics.

I guess that makes me old fashioned? Just picture me; I'm like an 80 year old woman in my "new" 1960's house. If I start sewing our clothes, please be concerned.

Just to "close the loop"

Gosh, I haven't used that term since quitting my high-tech-high-acronym job. But, I didn't want to leave my readers hanging. So, here is the ending to the lamb breast story.

I boiled it up for the dog on Saturday. Made with extra love and care. Not sure what this level of fat would do to her system, I carefully cut off one of the ribs and brought it outside. I let her out there and had to practically DRAG her over to where it was.

She sniffed it, licked it, and then walked away.

EVEN MY DOG WON'T EAT IT.

I was relaying this story to my mom on the phone a little earlier and when I said to her, "Take it from me, don't ever buy lamb breast", she responded with "Don't worry!" Because I'm the only idiot who didn't get the clue when the butcher looked at me like I was crazy when I had to "special order" it because they didn't have any out. On the last day of the sale. Gosh, they'd probably just sold so much of it that they now had to get some more out and cut it up special, just for me.

Lesson learned. Loop closed.

She's going to give me a complex

Yesterday, while we were eating lunch at the pool, we were sharing our pretzels with our friends Melissa and Clare. I made an offhand comment about having a five pound bag of them at home. Morgan took that opportunity to become part of the conversation, saying, "They are really cheap".

Today, after eating a lunch of bologna and cheese sandwich and veggie sticks, Morgan asked for pretzels. I told her that if she was still hungry, she could have one of the apples I just got from Costco (you know - they 16 pack of apples?). She said okay. I washed one up for her, asked her if she wanted it whole or cut up and then gave it to her whole. She looked at it and pronounced it to be "huge" and then followed that with, "I bet they are really cheap."

Wonder where she's getting that kind of language from.

SHUT UP ABOUT THE LAMB BREAST!

Newsflash: Shopping without kids is good for sanity, but not for wallet

I took advantage of Lance working from home yesterday to do my big Costco trip without the accompanying "he touched me" or sippy cup throwing that comes like a package deal with my two kids. I was sort of on a timeline since I wanted to be back before they woke up, so that Lance wouldn't be interrupted from his work. But, I also sort of had time to peruse. And did I peruse!

I started in the dry foods section and had at least five items in my buggy (yes, it's a buggy, not a shopping cart - I'm from the south, people!) before I even got to the main reason for the trip - produce, dairy and meat. I need MORE snack options. Ooohhh, look. There's fruit leather. That will be good for the kids. Oh wait, dried apricots without sugar added? Excellent choice! CRAISINS will make a nice change of pace from the raisins! Apparently I am afraid that we are going to run out of dried fruit! And am also trying to give my kids the shits...although I will say that it made it easier this morning to convince Morgan to try to eat oatmeal when she had all these "goodies" to put in there.

So, I spent probably at least $30 more than I normally would have if I'd had the kids there with me. It's a total survival mission when they are with me. Get in and get out. Only the essentials. Maybe that's not such a bad thing.