T Minus 2 hours till departure

Two days ago I gave Archie a much needed bath. With the lack of rain the yard was dusty, grey, and very dry. Archie, who is in need of a grooming session, pretty much has dust mops for paws right now. And because he sleeps on the bed with us, and us noticed the dusty puppy smell, it was bath time.

So into the tub he went, out of the tub he came, the dryer was pointed in his direction, the towels were scrubbed all over his body and then came the flea treatment.

Apparently this time I either got water in his ear(s) or a flea crawled in one because he went nutty yesterday. The dog who sleeps about 14 hours a day was incredibly restless. I timed him, he couldn't sit still for more than 10 seconds. He paced, he tossed his head, he bit at the air, he rubbed his face on the carpet, he twitched, and he even growled a couple times. He was miserable. We were miserable.

I think he finally passed out around 1:30am only because I rubbed his ear for a good ten minutes until his breathing evened out. And then Casey came to bed. And Archie was up again and again with the twitches.

So none of us slept well last night except Alex and Betty. Both sleep through the crazy tornado weather we get here too.

Starting 15 minutes ago, I am settling in for bed. I am blogging, cleaning up the kitchen, tucking in Alex, taking a bath, watching the news, and then plan on being in bed reading by 8:45.

Because I am SO NOT A NICE PERSON when I am tired.

And because Archie is better today, mostly I think he is too exhausted to be another other than mellow.

Straight

All the way to my belly button.

A Recipe Collection

I have been reorganizing the pantry over the last couple of days. It got way out of control during Alex's birthday weekend, I have no idea how that happened. This time I focused on the appliances side of the pantry. I have been culling out what we don't need, like two extra crock pots, and what we haven't used.

One thing that took up a lot of prime real estate in our pantry is my cook book collection. Which I use, but only a fraction of the library itself. Slowly I have been moving my most used cook books out to the hutch in our dining nook. Yesterday I moved it all out there, removing the books that I never use.

Here is the space, three shelves of books. A handful used much more than others. I am going to pay attention to the books that I am not using, and weed them out, because really what use are they.

My top shelf: The Cooking with Jamie book is a new acquisition from Christmas. Gotta love the Brits! Which moves me onto the Nigella books, every single one is well used and loved.

My Second Shelf:Front and Center, the cooking bible, The Better Homes Big Red Book. Seriously, any new cook starting out needs this book. They update every couple of years to current food trends. My moms has Salisbury steak in it. :) The illustrated Cookbook is a great resource for HOW to cut, chop and work in my kitchen. It's ancient and there are plenty of newer versions out there. But really who wants to pay $75 for a reference book. The Nourishing traditions book on the far right is a FABULOUS resource for how to make anything and everything from scratch. She is hardcore against processed foods and believes in a protein and fat loving diet, but if the Apocalypse every happens, I will know how to make ranch dressing from scratch.

My third Shelf: Joie de Vivre is not only a great introduction to French cooking but a joy to read. Of course everyone should have the spiral of Crockpot meals. But my favorite thing on this shelf is the Cooks Illustrated magazine for American Classics. Best magazine I have ever bought, that issue alone is amazing!

And inside the cabinet on the left I have my pile of magazines and Everyday foods. Plus my recently rebuild recipe folder. Previously this pile was messy, rarely used and had print outs of various recipes all over the place. I sat down and filed all paper recipes into paper protectors and put them in the binder. Eventually I will go through the magazines and rip out and file the recipes I want.

While weeding out books I stumbled across this Vegetarian cookbook that I had forgotten all about. I snagged it from my mom probably 16 years ago. It is so 70's, but full of great veggie recipes.

The TOC is awesome, really you can make so much just veggie. And with a whole chapter devoted to Cheese, I knew I needed to keep this book around.

But this final paragraph in the introduction had me laughing my ass off. You know a cook book is from the 70's when there is open pot references and even food recommendations for munchies.

A frugal conversation

I spent some time with my moms neighbor on Friday. Jenny is a wife and mother to four kids, whose husband just had a 20K drop in pay due to cut backs in the automotive industry. Jenny needed to know how to eat cheap, good, and live a bit more frugal. Enter Mormon mom of 6 from the cul de sac and Me! I will be sharing Robbie's tips as soon as we can get together again, she is sick with another pregnancy, you will love her tips! Like how to make a roast chicken feed 7 for two meals. ONE CHICKEN!

Anyways, here are my tips!

1. Shop in Bulk. Costco is my bulk source of choice. We have been members since it was called Price Club. Even with just our family of three, we SAVE so much money shopping wisely there. Typically we pick up these door busters: Milk ( $2.55 a gallon), Eggs ( Always around $1.80 for 18), Block cheese( don't buy the preshredded crap, it is covered in a wax, and block is a much better value per pound), dog food ( 40Lbs for $20), toilet paper ( yeah you have to store it, but come on, who looks under your bed anyways?), all laundry products ( use only half the recommended amount, I swear you won't notice a difference and it will last you FOREVER!), ground beef cubs ( 5 lbs for $10, 90/10 fat), and garbage bags. We rarely buy produce, besides potatoes, breads and meats at Costco. I will pick it up if there is a coupon that month or a special occasion, but mostly we pass the meats up due to storage space. Costco is also a great source for sheets, comforters, certain clothing items, kitchen wares and appliances, and bath items like shampoo. Seriously worth it!
2. Meal plan. Now Jenny all ready meal plans, but she also has a tough situation with her husband, he wants a restaurant type meal at every meal. Meaning, full cut of meat, side, veggie, and salad. No casseroles or meatless items. I say, SUCK IT UP, he can totally get by on one night of grilled cheese and soup. So plan your menu, at least dinners, for the week and try to stick to it. If you can make a cut of meat stretch to two meals, AWESOME! For example, Roast a chicken one night, and then save the carcass to make chicken noodle soup with the next. Simple and Easy.
3. Shop from the sales. Now where we live we can not unfortunately take advantage of price wars between groceries. We pretty much have one grocery, Target and Walmart. So we always look through the circulars to see if there is items we can add to our menu for the week. Also, we ALWAYS look through the meat case for mark downs not published, and our store has meal deals. Don't buy what you won't use!!
4. Budget. Keep a grocery budget for the month. Jenny is trying to stick to a $450 a month budget for a family of 6. She can totally do it now, because her kids are little, but might need to adjust it as they go through growth spurts or if they are out of school. For instance, Alex is eating SO MUCH right now due to a growth spurt. Well I am not going to say No to him, so I have planned on buying more milk and lunch meats. Because an extra bowl of cereal or a ham sandwich does him good and won't destroy our budget.
5. Get your family on board! Which means, remind them all the time, that there is a budget and things will have to change. Jenny for example has never bought canned OJ concentrate. She always bought a jugged name brand. Well with a savings of $4, BUY the concentrate! Buy bagged cereal versus boxed, it tastes the same anyways. Start serving sandwiches at lunch, not full meals.

More to come later after I have talked to Robbie. She is the QUEEN of FRUGAL Meals. I can't wait to share her tips with you!

Listed Again, Mmmm Blah!

• I am listing again because paragraphs feels like too much right now.
• My mom has been really sick, out flat on her back for over a week with at least another week to go. It was bad, is still sort of bad, I am worried about it all.
• Casey is in Canada, so far away.
• I have been feeling domestic.
• I kicked our unorganized pantry's ass today, but I don't know if I like the new flow.
• Alex has been talking in this weird "duck" voice that his friend Joshua does, driving me crazy.
• Our garden is planted, yay Spring produce.
• Half our garden won't be producing till late Summer. Go onions, shallots, and garlic.
• I miss Sharon. Really bad. Starbucks is not the same.
• This morning the flannel sheets felt perfectly perfect.
• Fast Food is the devil.
• I don't like the way orange peel feels under my nails.
• Jon and Kate plus Eight's Kate is really bitchy in her interviews now. hate that.
• My neighbor has three rabbits.
• I think I listed just to blog.
• PPPffftttt!

Where our visitors go to hide.

Mom, Mom!!! Someone came to play with us?!?!?!
But they won't come down from the tree! Does she look like fun?!

I have to much to tell you, why don't you come down for a spell?

Really, we just want to play and talk!

See we even have a nice little place to play!

Needless to say, our Squirrel guest didn't come play, and I had to give her some time to escape the girls. Oh, but the excitement level was HUGE!

A Listed

• I love the sounds of the wind outside the house, our house seems to be stretching and bendingwith each gust.
• I loved watching the stars and moon last night with Casey in the Bounce house. It was not to chilly, zero bugs, and the bounce house made a good cushion. :)
• Alex's birthday party was fantastic, so many fun friends, yummy cake, fun games, and of course the sleep over with a friend was a late giggly night.
• Home made pizza rocks my socks.
• DS games that Mommy can play too are great!
• We are enjoying a lazy Sunday with Casey before he starts another string of trips.
• I was only able to sleep last night due to the wonders of Nyquil. Damn sinusitis. UGH
• I want to purge STUFF.
• Laundry has over taken our bedroom.
• The news is no longer fun to watch.
• My best friend moved to Korea this week, she will be gone for over a year. :(
• I need a facial.
• I'd love a massage.
• I think I love hedgehogs.

Positive

Just 15 minutes ago I was sitting on the deck, contemplating a major business decision with Casey. we both had cups of coffee in our hands and a pup by our knee. The sun was shining on our new berry bushes and I was making a mental note to water them. Casey was talking out the business issue while taking apart the automatic sprinkle.

And I thought to myself, "Self, this is what having a small business is all about. Working in the midst of our daily life, at any time of day or night. Making the decisions, weighing the positives and negatives, all while enjoying coffee and pups."

So nice to be doing it with Casey. The guy who I balance, the guy who balances me. Hard and Soft, Bulldog and Retriever. Some days I am the bulldog, some days he is the retriever, but we always try to balance. Without even thinking about it. Nice.

Birthday Prep #9

It is Alex's 9th birthday tomorrow! How did these past nine years fly by to fast?

I got everything ready tonight for his birthday breakfast of waffles, pears and eggs. I decorated his chair and set the table with party blowers!

His pile of presents are wrapped and ready to be oogled in the morning. How we could come up with more things to buy so shortly after Christmas is solely due to the genius of Lego not releasing all of their new lines during the holidays.

And then I got us, the Birthday Gnomes busted, while we were in the middle of streamering his bedroom while he slept. I stepped on a box that I couldn't see, Casey and I both froze with our arms in the air and streamers hanging from our finger tips. I watched Alex, slowly wake up and spy the streamers over head and then lay back down with a sly smile on his face. He knew, and we were busted. So we went and snuggled down with our birthday boy, gave him hugs and kisses and told him to enjoy his room in the morning. Dang it, we were so busted!!! But at least I know he knows he is going to have a great birthday!

February Goals

I love lists and I love list even more that have a timeline attached to them. Not that I follow that timeline, I just like the "count down" factor of it all.

February Goals! Starting February 2nd, because we all know that Super Bowl Sunday doesn't count.

• Plant spring crops.
• Make one more raised bed.
• Clean out craft room closet.
• Organize linen closet.
• Prep last year's job info for taxes.
• Take books to used book store for resale.
• Stick to grocery budget!
• Shred everyday!
• Go to Church each weekend.
• Finish Proverbs 31 bible study.
• Cook two new recipes a week!
• Meal Plan for each week.

Okay, I will check back on this post in 28 days!