Absence

Hiya! Sorry I haven't been around nor have I shared any menu plans for this week nor any recipe. My aunt & uncle are here from IL and she is DS's favorite person on earth. So we've been spending a lot of time with them and menu plans are for the birds when you have company in town! And shhhhhh! Don't tell on me but I let DS stay home from school today. They fly back home tomorrow and I figured one missed day of school wouldn't be the end of the world if he got to spend the whole day with his favorite person.

Sunday I did make a yummy meal of marinated pork loin, roasted asparagus and mashed potatoes. It was the DESSERTS I spent all day on though and I will share those recipes with you now. I've been using a lot from the Williams Sonoma Essentials of Baking cookbook and attempting to bring my baking to the next level. So far, I am pleased with my progress! I've been making baking powder biscuts quite a bit and they are so easy and yummy. Then the other two desserts I made on Sunday were not exactly difficult but required me being careful and taking the time needed for each step.

Baking Powder Biscuts
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3/4 cup whole milk

In bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the butter. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter just until the mixture forms large, coarse crumbs the size of small peas. Pour in the milk and mix with a fork or rubber spatula just until the dry ingredients are moistened.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead gently a few times until it clings together. Roll or pat out the dough into a round about 3/4" thick (I make a rectangle and then just cut the dough into squares so I don't waste any bits).
Using a 3" round biscut cutter, cut out biscuts and place on prepared pan, spacing them 1" apart (prepared pan = 1/2 sheet pan lined with parchment paper). Then you can gather and roll out the scraps but by making a rectangle and square biscuts I eliminate this step and therefore do not have any tough biscuts from working the dough too much.
Bake in 425 degree pre-heated oven for 15 - 18 minutes until lightly browned.

Rich Tart Pastry
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into 3/4" pieces
2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon heavy cream
(and I added 1 teaspoon almond extract with the liquids)

In food processor combine the flour, sugar and salt. Pulse to mix. Add the butter pieces and pulse until mixture forms large coarse crumbs the size of peas. In a small bowl lightly beat the egg yolks then stir in the cream and extract until blended. Turn on the food processor and add the egg mixture in a steady stream. Process just until the dough begins to come together but does not form a ball.
On work surface, shape the dough into a 6" disk. Wrap in plastic and refridgerate until firm (45 min. to overnight).

Plum and Almond Frangipane Tart
Rich tart pastry
1 cup blanched almonds
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 large egg
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temp
8 prune plums, pitted and quartered

Roll out tart dough and prebake partially (400 degree oven. Line tart crust with foil and weights. Bake about 15 minutes until foil will pull back from crust easily. If foil sticks to the crust, it is not done baking yet. Reduce heat to 350 degrees)
In food processor, process almonds and sugar until the almonds are finely ground. Add the salt, vanilla and almond extracts and egg and process until blended. Add the butter and process until it is smoothl blended into the mixture.
Scrape the mixture into the prebaked tart crust, spreading evenly. Arrange the plums quarters, cut side up, in a circular row on top of the frangipane. Sprinkle with 1 tablepoon of sugar (I used tourbinado (raw) sugar).
Bake the tart until the frangipane is goldend and set when you give the pan a gentle shake. 30-35 mintues. Cool on wire rack completely. Unmold tart and serve at room temp or cold.


Ok, my fingers are tired and that should keep you busy for awhile. I'll save the Quick Puff Pastry and Palmiers (Elephant Ears is what I always knew them as!) recipes for another day. Suffice it to say, they were EXCELLENT!

Menu Plan Monday

This week is yet again not too exciting but I do have a YUMMY recipe to share! For more ideas check out the menu plans at Organizing Junkie!

• Sunday - Fried Chicken, roasted rosemary & garlic red potatoes, corn, pecan pie bars
• Monday - Grilled burgers (yay! It's warm enough today for the grill!), asparagus, roasted potato wedges
• Tuesday - Balsamic pork chops, pasta, steamed broccoli, rolls
• Wednesday - Cubed steaks with grilled onions, mashed potatoes, veggies (didn't get to this last week)
• Thursday thru Sunday - my aunt and uncle are coming to visit from out of town so the rest of the week is up in the air. I'm sure we'll be at my parents house and out to dinner a few times. If they come over here I'll most likely make a baked ziti and some homemade bread and salad.

The pecan pie bars were a hit with FG and SMA. They both love pecan pie so I tried the recipe I got from my friend Shannon. Easy and YUMMY!! Here's the recipe - enjoy!

* Exported from MasterCook *
Pecan Pie Cookie Bars

2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt 1

1/2 sticks butter (cold -- cut in pieces)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 stick butter

3 large eggs -- lightly beaten 2

1/2 cups finely chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine flour, sugar & salt in large bowl; cut in 1 1/2 stick butter thoroughly with a pastry blender until mixture resembles very fine crumbs. Level and gently press mixture into a greased 13" x 9" pan. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 20 minutes ( or 325 for glass) or until lightly browned. Set aside
Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, corn syrup and butter in saucepan; bring to boil over medium heat, stirring gently. Remove from heat. Stir 1/4 of the mixture into the beaten eggs; then add back to the remaining hot mixture (so as not to scramble the eggs). Stir in the pecans and vanilla. Pour this stirred filling over the above-made crust. Level and bake again uncovered at 350 (or 325 for glass) for 25-35 minutes, until appears set and brown at the edges. Cool completely in pan and then refrigerate.
Prior to cutting & serving, remove from refrigerator for 20 minutes. Cut into desired size servings.
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All I seem to have time for are Random Thoughts

First off, my heart is aching for the family of this girl. They confirmed the body found was her. So very sad and I hope to God they catch the sicko and string him up by his shaven balls!

FG is out of town and you can bet I'll have some trouble sleeping tonight. They found her body waaaayyyy too close for comfort!

We had a good time last night. Once in awhile it's nice to get all gussied up and feel good about myself and how I look. I cut my hair yesterday - well *I* didn't do it, I had it done. Got my who-ha waxed. Visited my friend's wine shop and bought some wine and got an invitation to brunch for me & the kiddos to her house tomorrow (I have great friends).
Me and SMA last night with my new 'do. Don't ask me why FG took the picture all sideways but at least my double chin is hidden well. SMA needs to cut his hair - ugh.

You know, people who aren't familiar with him or FG think "THEYare friends?" Yep. Spend 10 minutes with them and you forget they look completely different when they start finishing each other's sentences and laughing at the same dumb shit. Anyway, it's all I got at the moment to show off my new 'do and it's not even a very good view of it!

I had to force my MIL to talk to me last night. She's still peeved from the other day when I told her off about stressing out FG and being pretty inconsiderate of his feelings. So I made her talk to me because I could tell she wasn't going to last night. Hee hee hee. FG noticed too and thought it was funny. I think he felt a bit embarassed that he was the "damsel in distress" with me coming to his rescue the other day. But at least he found it funny last night that I could be the bigger and better person than his mom who was going to hold a really silly grudge.

I need a nap.

What to blog, what to blog? Ok Random thoughts again!

Today is cold and rainy. After an amazing day yesterday of bright sun and warm temps, this is soooo depressing. I know, it could be worse. At least our snow is melting!

We have a missing girl in our community. This makes the mother of my babysitter VERY scared. See, she's a single mother doing the best she can. Thankfully she has lots of family around - blood related or otherwise. Since I am home she has asked me to collect her daughter from the bus stop and get her to her aunt's house safely. The Girl is not so pleased with that at all. I see both sides. Sure, The Girl only needs to walk about 1 block total in a very safe neighborhood full of kids and parents that stay home, work from home etc. But I also see Mom's side of thinking that her beautiful daughter could easily be a target for some psycho that sees her get off the bus and walk that block alone every day. So for the next few months, I'll collect her from the bus stop and get her home. Scary scary.

My son never ceases to amaze me. While he can drive us, his parents, absolutely INSANE, I hear daily from other parents how their kids adore him and they "just have to meet him, Mom. He's so funny and great!" Even the Angry Girl in his class is sweet to him. She's a little bitch to everyone else! Last night at a school function I heard it again a few times. They finally get to meet the Infamous ______. How the heck did it happen that *I* got this one? It does help me to hear those things because then when I want to wring his neck (like this morning) I remind myself that people would actually miss him if he was gone. I just can't do that to society.

Friday should be interesting. FG and his brother are SO different it's amazing they came from the same gene pool. FG is an independent businessman who doesn't do so well in the corporate world or having a boss at all. BIL drives a forklift in a warehouse and is one of the lowest on a large totem pole. FG thinks about other people. BIL hasn't a clue that other people exist. I could go on & on but suffice it to say that BIL's girlfriend and I are polar opposites as well. Size being the most noticable factor. So Friday will be very interesting when BIL's friends get to meet FG and I at his birthday party. We have in the past had to ban some of BIL's friends from coming to our home. BIl used to stop by with his friends and they frankly made me nervous with "FUCK YOU" tattooed on their knuckles and the long prison records to go with it. I guess that particular one isn't around again (back in prison I figure) so I'm hoping that his choice of friends has improved a bit over the years. Can ya tell I'm a bit nervous?

Alrighty, I must get off my blogger butt and go buy supplies for DS's Valentine party tomorrow. I somehow signed up to be in charge of it without anyone else signing up to help! Oh, I'm a lucky girl, yes I am.

Grocery Shopping made Easy

Big Brother is watching! Of course, "he" always is anyway but this takes it to a higher level. At least one that makes everyone aware that we are being watched 24/7. :)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-05-03-smart-carts_x.htm

Karly's post over at Wiping Up Snot reminded me of this article. It also made me think of the monotony of grocery shopping. I usually like it but yeah, that is a lot of in & out, in & out. And I bag my own groceries!!! I take my own bags to the store too so I have to take the bags into the store and put the bags back into the car after I empty them. More in & out, in & out. This cart would at least eliminate the need to take it back out of the cart and onto the belt to be scanned. I could just pack it as I scan it. Cool. Too bad the article is from 2005 and I haven't seen one of these carts in my area nearly 3 years later!


Also, an update. I am now going to attend BIL's party this weekend as my sitter is just going to stay at our house for the evening. I told her mom that I appreciate that she wanted to take the kids and have the whole family help out but I would rather the kiddos just stay home for the evening. So if her daughter/our sitter wanted to go where the rest of the family was going, that was perfectly fine and ok with me, but I would just stay home with my kiddos. I guess my sitter decided she would rather have the $$ than go to yet another high school basketball game to watch her cousin (again) and will hang out at my house with my kids. :D Heck, if I was a kid who wanted to make some spending money and was sick of basketball games, I would too!!

~Menu Plan Monday~

This week I'm hoping to cook lots! I need to be creative and use up what is in the freezer too. We went out to eat a bit too much the past week and dang is it expensive! $100 for BAR FOOD for 4 adult meals and 2 kids who split a pizza??? Yikes!

• Sunday: BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, salad, scalloped corn, brownies
• Monday: Chicken & broccoli alfredo over whole wheat egg noodles
• Tuesday: Kielbasa sausage w/ saurkraut, mashed potatoes, veggies
• Wednesday: Cubed steaks w/ fried onions, spiral noodles w/ cheese sauce, veggies
• Thursday: the kiddos and I will have a baked wild salmon filet, roasted potato wedges and corn.
• Friday: BIL's birthday party dinner
• Saturday: I'm hoping it stays nice enough to grill steaks! roasted red potatoes, salad

A little of this 'n' that

Now onto the this 'n' that. I'm "homesick". Even though this is my home and I've lived here for 20 something years, I still get "homesick" for where I was born and where so much of my family still lives. Thankfully, my aunt is coming to visit next week! And we have plans to go back to the midwest at the end of June, beginning of July for my cousin's wedding. I'm dragging FG along this time. He doesn't really care for going back there the way I do and doesn't get any longing for the area like me. He says it smells there. I guess he just doesn't appreciate a good corn processing plant and the fermentation smell! He laughs because we always go to this dumpy place where they sell "unclaimed freight" and because I can wolf down a few chili dogs and ice cream treats at this awesome little independent ice cream place I've been going to since I was born. He rolls his eyes as I say I HAVE to get a gondola and a fried catfish, drive by my great grandma's house and take the back roads because the freeway wasn't there when I was 5 and could tell my parents how to get from one grandma's house to the others. But he'll go because he loves me. The kids love to go visit the family. DS wants to move in with my aunt (the one coming to visit - I have lots of aunts back there!). He's spent a lot of happy times with my family there so he has nothing but positive thoughts for the area and people. DD was a baby when we last went to visit so she doesn't remember anything.

I'm torn as to what to do about the end of this week. I am supposed to go to BIL's birthday party but my parents can't take the kids, MIL will be at BIL's party so she isn't an option and my sitter is going to watch them along with her whole family. But if she does that, that involves them going all over the place with our friends (sitter's family) for the evening. They all want to take them but I'm thinking they are nuts and it's really not that important I go to the party. My sitter's mom just emailed me back saying that she doesn't mind picking up the kids and taking them..... but still I'm thinking it would just be better if I stayed home with them. FG can go to his brother's party alone. So I'm not sure. It's not that I don't trust my friends with my kids I just think it all sounds like a huge PITA!

I'm feeling awfully spoiled right now! I'm getting my house cleaned once a week for the next month. And I'm not paying for it! It's a business deal-io that is just a great benefit. So I'm feeling so spoiled that I walked in after taking DS to school and running some errands and my house is sparkly clean. And I didn't have to do any of it! Ahhhhhhhh.

Save me, save my kids

Can anyone help me NOT freak out when DD has an accident? OMG, I was doing so well not losing it with the kids. I have actually found some patience with them lately. Until last night, I was upstairs doing the usual girl thing before we head out to dinner. I was thinking, "I should go downstairs and make DD go potty. It's been awhile. Ok, right after I put on my lipstick I'll go take care of her." I guess my own vanity could be what got me upset but next thing I hear is a sad "Mooooommmmmmyyyyy!!!!! Ohhhhhh I had an accident"
A few select words came flying out of my mouth before I raced down the stairs and said, "Where?!" "On the couch again." A few more choice words. In the playroom we have a great futon cusion on the platform that has hinges and serves as the couch and bed. Thankfully the fairly waterproof cover comes off. Thankfully I have a good carpet cleaner with upholstery attachments. Regrettably, it's a big PITA to deal with it all.
And DD got in major trouble. She had an accident because she didn't want to stop watching the SpongeBob cartoon she was engrossed in. So she lost cartoons today for it.

When I am calm and not cleaning up pee, I KNOW that she doesn't do this on purpose. I know that she's not sitting there thinking, "hmmm, Mom's had it a bit easy this week, I think I'll pee on the couch so she's got something to do. I know how much she loves to clean this couch." I know she doesn't want to get in trouble and feel all icky.
But when she does it I just completely LOSE IT. I mean, screaming and cursing and furious. I scare her, I scare DS, heck I scare me! I have got to find a way to calm down when this happens. Rationally, I know it's not good for her, for me or anyone. I know all of the psychobabble stuff about it. In the heat of the moment though, my brain goes down the drain.
I do think I will pick up a waterproof mattress cover for it though. The waterproofing is sure to wash off the decorative cover if I keep tossing it in the washer once a month!

Slacker Mom gets an A

"Mom, what are we having for dinner?"
"I don't know yet."
"Please Mom, NO MORE CHICKEN! We eat chicken chicken chicken. I don't want any more chicken!"
"Well, I was thinking of making us burgers."
"Yeah! In-N-Out!!!"
"No, I was going to make them, you know, AT HOME."
"In-N-Out! In-N-Out! In-N-Out!"
"Ok fine, give me your birthday money. I don't have any."

We hopped in the car and drove to In-N-Out with DS's cash in hand. I guess being a big sucker runs in the family.

"Ok, how about we watch a TV show tonight instead of reading stories before bed?"
"Yeah!!!"
"We've still got some Kid Nation to watch ok?" (we are soooo behind but my hairdresser's kid is on it so we had to record them and watch them. I DO use it for teachable moments with my kids - "see, no one likes her because she's acting like a brat and won't do her work. Everyone has to work together to get things done ya know. There's no mom there that will follow them around picking up the trash and doing their dirty laundry! You have it sooo easy kid.")
"Yay! Let's watch Kid Nation!"

Then after it was done, I made FG put the kids in bed. Yep, S-L-A-C-K-E-R M-O-M, that's me!

(In my own defense, I have a scratchy throat and voice and am so worn out from this cold. FG was gone for a meeting in the evening and came home at bedtime so it was also a way for him to get to see his kids for the 5 minutes it took to put them to bed. Am I redeemed?)

Eh, not feeling so well

I caught a Mommy cold. DD has a green snot nose too which preschool ever so politely told me if it is green on Wednesday I should keep her the hell away from there. Great. DS has a Dr's appt that morning for his 7 year check up and I have some heavy duty things to go over with the Dr. about him. I don't need the tiny tornado interruption! I've got my dried snot covered fingers crossed that FG can keep her with him. I also am hoping my head is cleared enough to rationally talk to the Dr.
So I have no menu plan this week. I know you are all terribly disappointed because they've been such winners lately! I did make a super easy dinner yesterday, knowing my poor body was not going to be up to cooking much and my family still expects food. I threw 3 frozen chicken leg quarters in the crock pot and dumped some BBQ sauce on them. By 6 pm, they were tender and juicy and everyone was happy. FG did all the dishes :D
This week is a bit crazy as far as FG's schedule so the kiddos and I are on our own for dinners a lot. I'm hoping to muster up the energy to cook some burgers for them tonight. DS has stated that he has never had meatloaf and would like to try it. I was going to attempt some mini ones in a muffin tin but no energy for that either. Frozen burgers will have to be a decent substitute. As long as there are pickles, the kids will eat them. I haven't had meatloaf since I was about 5 I guess. I can't say it sounds particularly appealing either! A loaf of meat? I love the cow and all but ewwwww. The things we do for a kid who doesn't usually branch out and try new foods!
I have to go over-exert myself and open a can of soup for DD for lunch now. Thank goodness she's being fairly easy on me and only made me play 12 rounds of her teapot game this morning. She patiently waited while I vacuumed the upstairs and sucked up the 3 inch layer of dust from everyone's dressers and nightstands and bookshelves. Amazingly enough, she didn't even ask for the TV on! That's a big struggle here as she is completely and utterly addicted and I feel terribly guilty about it 1/2 the time. I'm always a happy mama when she plays without her face glued to the TV!
She's back!!!! "Mom, make it right now. My soup. I'm waiting for it."

Review.....

I thought I would review some of my past meals whether they were hits or misses....

The Artichoke Baked Chicken was "OK" per FG & our friend SMA. I didn't eat it so I can't give my opinion. They said it lacked some flavor. The chicken was tender and juicy but the flavor was apparently not overwhelming. That same evening I made some roasted chicken leg quarters with a BBQ sauce glaze and DS asked for seconds on the chicken (yay!!!).

I hadn't made a smoked sausage in a long time. I figured the kids would just suffer through it. DS ate more of it than either FG or I did. DD gobbled hers up too. I even cooked it in saurkraut! Yay! Now I would like to find an option that is a tad bit healthier with less nitrates. I'll have to try some out at Trader Joe's. Speaking of that, does anyone have a good recipe for homemade corndogs? My Grandma used to make them when I was a kid. I don't mind the deep fryer part, it's the healthier hot dog part I'd like to work on. Then again, once in awhile can't be that bad. Still, in my attempt to still eat fairly frugally I'd like to try for healthier too. Such a difficult balance sometimes! Regardless, I bought another smoked sausage and we'll eat it again soon - probably next week. DS certainly needs the FAT!

I never did make the ravioli or the chicken parmesan. Neither sounded appealing at the time. So I made something else with the that I found on another blog. Cynthia at "What's for Dinner?" posted Monterrey Chicken. It was good. Anything with bacon and bbq sauce is good with DS (the pickiest in the family with DD beginning to follow his footsteps!). Except I screwed up and added the cheese too soon. oops!

Those Heath Bit Peanut Butter Cookies did NOT last long. I have oatmeal raisin sitting on the counter now and they are going fairly fast too. At least I figure they are somewhat healthy cookies (yeah, I know, I kid myself but hey, it's fun to live in dreamland!).

This week got messed up already. I was so busy yesterday and gone most of the day that I never got the pork chops in the crock pot (or found a really appealing recipe either). So they are saved for tomorrow night when I know we are going to be home. Tonight I'm going to throw together some chicken & veggie stir fry if I can get off my butt and get the chicken breasts out of the freezer. I think I'll do a teriyaki marinade/sauce. The kids will bitch & moan but too bad. I'll appease them with a treat at the basketball game if they eat a decent amount. Then I still need to search for a good pork chop recipe. I'm leery because whenever I try to do pork in the crock pot, it comes out very dry. These chops have bones and I'll look for something with a lot of sauce to hopefully keep them moist. If I don't find anything then I'll either bake them or do the Balsamic Pork Chops that FG loves so much.

Pork Chops with Balsamic Vinegar

2 1 1/2-inch thick boneless center pork loin chops (I am using bone-in chops)
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chicken broth
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons butter
Pat chops dry. Coat with lemon pepper. Heat oil in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add chops; brown on first side 8 minutes; turn and cook 7 minutes more. Remove chops from pan and keep warm. Add broth and vinegar to skillet; cook, stirring, until syrupy (about 1-2 minutes). Stir in butter, blend well. Spoon sauce over chops. Serve immediately.

Works for me Wednesday

I have no idea where I originally saw that title but it's stuck in my little pea brain today so sorry to whomever I am pilfering it from!

I use a pastry blender to mash up the eggs to make egg salad. It's done in a flash!

MPM

Ok, I know, I know it's TUESDAY! But I can at least share my menu a few days late. We were at our family cabin for the weekend and FG was on death's door (or so you would think the way he acted! Men are such babies when they get sick!) so I was sole working woman of the household/entertainer of the children. Then yesterday was a "snow day" for preschool because the county public schools had a 2 hour delay - thus preschool is cancelled. DS wasn't feeling 100% so I kept him home. Again, sole working woman of the household and entertainer of the children when I really really didn't feel like doing any of it anymore! (How many paper airplanes can a person make in a day you ask. Well, it felt like 10,000 but I'm sure it was closer to 20. All difficult too from But I did cook and I will cook again tonight and hey, maybe even tomorrow too!

Sunday - Picked up soup and salad from our friend's new soup & salad restaurant down the street. We were really hoping he would have his yummy hot & sour soup but no such luck. :( I wasn't about to cook after doing all the work for the weekend away AND roller skating at a 7 year old's birthday party AND taking care of a sick FG.

• Monday - Bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breasts, corn, parmsean noodles

• Tuesday - Spaghetti, fresh bread, salad (DD and I may even bake some cookies today. I'm in the mood. ;) )

• Wednesday - crock pot pork chops, baked butternut squash, green beans (salad for FG)

• Thursday - Basketball game so either I'll whip up some quick tacos before we go or we'll get take out.

• Friday - We are making plans to possibly go out. If we stay in with the kiddos, I'll make homemade pizza

• Saturday - roasted chicken thighs, sweet potato fries, salad (green beans for the kiddos)

• And heck I'll throw in Sunday for you and then I'll be ahead of the game for next week! Sunday - football food at our friend's Superbowl party. I am thankful I don't really give a damn about the game this year so I can chat with the girls, nibble on all the yummy food our group contributes and drink some wine!

Happy Week everyone! And hey, I know you are reading so leave me a comment once in awhile ;)

"I don't know how you do it!"

That was a statement from a family member of FG's. His father, to be exact. He said he doesn't know how we live on the money we have. Well, it's decent but it's not huge. They work together so FIL knows exactly what comes in to this house. He doesn't know what goes out and where.

Then he looked at me incredulously the other day when we were talking about books. I said, "I just go to the library and grab. I don't have a lot of time so I just grab a few that seem good from the flap and check them out. If I don't like them, I stop and move on to another one." I think he was amazed that I go to the library instead of the bookstore. He loves to read. So do I. I don't care, at this stage of my life, to read things that upset me or are overly deep. I'm not in a book club or anything. I read for my own enjoyment and escape. When I quit working, I started taking my son to the library for story time every week. We would check out books for him and books for me. Videos too. And the best part, it was FREE (well, relatively so. It CAN be free if you remember to turn the books in on time. Me, not so often so I generally have a fine but it's a helluvalot less than what it would cost for me to BUY the books!). But I think the thought just never occured to FIL to use the library.
That got FG and I onto a discussion of where we save money and FIL and his wife waste it. FIL and his wife have made very good livings for the past several years. Money has not been too tight for them. Until now. FG took over the business and FIL is going to semi-retire. FIL's wife quit her job recently. So now, I wonder if they will make any changes to their lifestyle or continue to be oblivious to the fact that they simply waste money.
Here are some little ways I save money. I had to when I left my career. I no longer get my nails done (didn't really want them with babies anyway) but I do still get my body waxes (bikini & eyebrows) and I get my hair cut & colored. I do still wear makeup though lately I have been trying some less-expensive drugstore stuff instead of the fancy makeup counters. I've found cheaper versions of the hair and body lotion products that still work well.
I go to the library. I've even found that they offer audio books directly from the computer that I can download to my MP3 player!
I shop at the less expensive grocery store where yes, I have to bag my own groceries but I LIKE that, being the anal retentive control freak I can be about my groceries. I'm buying that same package of noodles, just for $2 less than the fancy grocery store up the street where they kiss my ass and load my car. I'm not much for paying for ass-kissing anyway. When I get home, that package of noodles tastes exactly the same.
I don't spend a lot on my clothes or the kids clothes. I will for me on good jeans and classic pieces but flash in the pan styles? - nope. I can find stylish stuff by shopping sales and discounted stores. I still get compliments and still think I look good. Would I love to shop at fancy exclusive shops? Sure but I realize that's not possible so I do what I can.
I use Costco as much as possible.
I use coupons. Coupons at Costco are even better!
I drive 3 extra minutes to the cheaper gas station.
I turn off lights when we aren't using them.
I run the dishwasher on a full load.
I do laundry once a week - when the loads are full.
I use cold water for laundry as much as I can.
I don't send things out to the dry cleaners if I can wash it safely myself.
In the summer I use the clothesline to dry 90% of the laundry. In the winter, I use a drying rack and/or hangers. It saves our clothes too as they last longer not being tumbled in the dryer so much.
I cook. We don't eat out as much as lots of people I know.
When we do eat out, if we have a coupon or a g/c, we use it!
I bargain shop online using codes and ebates.
I close up the blinds as soon as the sun sets and open them when I get up in the morning - in the winter.
I close up the blinds and keep the blinding hot sun out in the summer.
We sleep with the windows open in the summer. It gets cool here at night in the summer so why would I pay for cool air when I can get it for nothing?
We have programmable thermostats and I rarely turn the heat up if I'm cold. I will add a layer and make some tea. I do keep it warmer than we did before kids though. I don't want them to be cold.
I don't belong to a gym. I have stairs in my house so I go up & down those instead of paying to fight someone to go up & down the stairs (that go nowhere) in a gym. I have some light weights that I tone up with. I have arms that can do pushups (quit laughing, yes they are the girl kind!).

I'm sure there are plenty of other things I do that save us money that FIL and his wife don't even think about. And I'm not sure I would stop doing those things (except maybe the clothes shopping ;) ) if our income increased to where theirs was. I think there's some frugality in my blood.

Random Thoughts

• My "baby" is too big for her carseat so we got her a booster. What's next? Driving the car? She's so proud that she is in a booster like her brother. I just can't believe she has gained nearly 5 pounds in two months! And people told me I should consider letting her outgrown her tonsil problems and not take them out. Um, sure, whatever. YOU come over and listen to my kid stop breathing at night and see her sick all the time. Obviously the end result has been that she is now using all that energy to grow instead of fight off infections. Not that she wasn't growing but she obviously wasn't growing as much as she could!


• FG gets excited at little things like me texting him a message with the word "urge" in it. He gets excited easily huh?


• FG and I actually flirt up a storm while texting. Keeps things exciting. So if you happen to see me with my phone in my hand and a sneaky little grin on my face you know it's probably something naughty. And if I blush, watch out because then it's really naughty! We've been together for 16 years this spring. We have to do something!


• If I'm not grinning or blushing, I'm most likely dealing with a text (or series of them) from a person who lately has felt like my "other husband." Certainly not in any sort of sense of attraction, just in a "I must take care of you" and a "WTF do you want? I am clearly busy, can you stop being so needy?" sort of way. I guess that is why we consider him family around here.


• Speaking of above mentioned person. It's about that time to freak out another potential girlfriend. Gosh I sure hope I have the same effect on my kids' dates! There's only been ONE girl of his I've liked and she knows who she is. Too bad he's a dumbass and now I am stuck taking care of him for the rest of my freaking life.


• Irony. I went to a website about depression in hopes to get some questions answered on how to deal with someone who is depressed due to medical issues. I had to submit sort of an application in order to post on their discussion boards. I did as asked and never got an answer back from them. So if I was actually seeking help for depression for ME, that would really push an insecure person right over that close edge wouldn't it?


• I haven't felt like a great parent lately. Then I tried to read a book about disciplining my kids in a "nice" way and it just made me feel even more like crap in the first 10 pages. So I returned it's sorry ass to the library before I ripped it up and then got mad because I would have to pay for that crappy book. My new approach - try to act like I have a nanny cam on me at all times, with sound. So far, my kids seem to think that I am a replacement for Real Mommy and are now crying because Real Mommy actually threatened to leave one day and never come back and now they think it really happened. They aren't sure how to respond because, hey, they LIKE New Mommy but are grappling with the idea that Real Mommy really did leave and it was because of them. There's a therapy bill I'll be paying for later. Maybe I should just go back to yelling at them.


• I am fully aware that I have run on sentences and most likely poor grammar and punctuation. Deal with it. This isn't an English paper for a grade - it's Random Thoughts!


• Ahhhh. Dinner out with friends tonight. But I still got out some of my spaghetti sauce from the freezer so FG and the kids don't eat the crumbs from the bottom of the chips bag, the moldy cheese or dust bunny stew.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. :)

This week's fabulous menu!

Ha ha!
Yeah, right.

Sunday - My mom's 60th Birthday. I slow cooked a chuck roast in the oven w/ carrots & onions. I made twice baked potatoes too. We had asparagus and the kids wanted to make this:


Monday: Beef stew (leftover roast!), cheese & garlic biscuts
Tuesday: FG & the kids are in charge of dinner. It's my birthday. I'm turning 3_ on a Tuesday. Not real exciting anyway.
Wednesday: Going out to dinner - sans FG & kids - with some girlfriends!
Thursday: FG works
Friday: I have no idea at this point.
Saturday: out, again :D

See, told you it was a fabulous menu. Sorry I'm not much help this week!

Some kid funnies....

I really should write these things down. I know there were more this week but at the moment my brain is in a fog from DS making explosion and car noises INCESSANTLY! Oops! So much for not yelling at my kids anymore.

Anyway, some funny things DD has said lately:

"Mommy, fix my sock. It's got a wedgie."

"Mommy, carry my hand so you don't get away from me."

"Whahhhh!"
Me: What's the matter sweetie?
"My Brudder said I can't ever be pwesident! I wanna be Pwesident!"
Me: Yeah, well, he's not in charge and doesn't make the rules. You can be president if you want to!
"But he said I can't. My life is over. All I want is to be pwesident and I can't so it's tewerble and I can't go on."
Me: Yes you can. You can be anything you want to be.
"But I can't. It's OVER, all over. But I can still be a pwincess right?"
Me: Sure sweetie. You already are a princess.
"Yep. Dat's wite! It's all about ME."

And she had a little bit of diahrrea (how the HELL do you spell that word?!) a couple of weeks ago. When I went to check on her in the bathroom and discovered what was going on she said, "Whoa Mom! That was FAST poop!"
Then she hopped out of the tub the other night to go as she does almost every bath (maybe the warm water helps move things along for her???). When I came in the room she was getting back in the tub and I asked her if she was ok or if her tummy hurt again. She said, "No. It's fine. It was perfect poop this time."

So cute what they come up with! Like I said, there were a couple more but there goes that mommy brain again.

Looking for opinions!

Hi all! I am in the market for a new bread machine. I've worn out my old one that I got as a wedding present over 13 years ago. It's a rare week that goes by that I don't use it in one way or another. I make a lot of pizza dough and a lot of another type of dough that I bake in long french bread type loaves. Then sometimes I'll use it to actually mix and bake the bread. But I do use it a lot! My mom attempted to get me a new one for Christmas but the one she tried to buy the store didn't have in stock but told her they would order it for her. A couple of weeks ago she got a letter saying that they couldn't get it. So now I'm on a search. She gave me a price of what she was going to pay and I can work with that. If I find one cheaper that has the features I want, great! If I find one for more money, I'll simply make up the difference because I do want a good machine that will last me another 13 years.
The features I want are simple, I don't care what shape the loaf is as mine is tall & round now. I've dealt with it so it's not a big deal. I want a timer and different crust settings. An "add in" feature would be good whether that's a timer that goes off for me to add it or it automatically adds is fine. Mine has a timer that beeps at me to add in raisins or whatever at that time. A viewing window would be good for the kids because they always want to look at it (so do I, I admit it!) though I suspect DS really just wants to smell it. He looooovvves the smell of the yeasty dough and loves to nibble on raw dough.
So I'm not too picky I just want fairly durable. Gluten free or jam or several of the other fancy features I've seen don't matter that much. If they are there, heck I may try them but if not, I'll live.
Thanks much in advance for your advice!

Menu Plan Monday!

What a weekend - I didn't cook all weekend. Too many crazy birthday parties to go to. Then a playdate at a friend's house to watch the movie that our boys are performing in their next acting class session. So I was "kidded" out this weekend and had zero energy or desire to cook. I DID manage to bake two batches of cookies to take with us on Sunday for the movie. A batch of traditional Snickerdoodles and then these that I got from the back of the Heath Toffee Bits package - YUUUUMM!

* Exported from MasterCook *

Heath Bits Peanut Butter Cookies


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup peanut butter -- creamy
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces Heath milk chocolate toffee bits

Heat oven to 375 degrees

Beat shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, mil and vanilla until well blended. Add egg. Beat just until blended. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. Sir in 1 cup of toffee bits; reserve remainder for topping.

Drop by heaping teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet; top each with reserved toffee bits. Bake 7-8 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely.

Yield:
"36 "


Here's this week's menu:

Sunday - take out
Monday - SOMETHING with the smoked sausage I have in the fridge, most likely mashed potatoes, saurkraut and another veggie for the kids. Time to go read some recipes!
Tuesday - Baked Chicken Parmesan w/ sauce, buttered noodles, veggies
Wednesday - Ravioli w/ spagetti sauce & meatballs, bread, salad
Thursday - Basketball game so take out before hand
Friday - another birthday party so more pizza for DS and me, DD and FG will fend for themselves.
Saturday - another birthday party so same routine as Friday! (This is getting ridiculous!)

Things are looking up, thank you!

That's my BABY! OMG, did he really turn SEVEN?!!!?!?! I'm so blessed to be a part of this kid's life. I get a front row seat for the performance (and believe me, it's actually a performance!). He had a good day. I need to remind myself just how much I wanted him and how blessed I am to have him - you know, on those days I want to send him back to the hospital and tell them to keep him. Or at least perform some sort of labotomy on him so he shuts up once in awhile. But you gotta love him - almost everyone who meets him does. No, not almost, EVERYONE who meets him does. The big kid at school that went from picking on him on the playground to giving him a sweet little nickname and becoming his friend and playmate. Yep, that's my guy, he turns you around and makes you love him if you have any inkling of dislike toward him. HA! That kid thought he could pick on the little guy and now he loves him! He was such a sweet (and quiet) baby too. Just look at that Charlie Brown head! Now he's an intelligent, sensative, sweet young man. Ok I just made myself cry....


I just love this picture of him too. It's not recent but my MIL took it on one of their hikes a couple of summers ago. They were hiking and he saw a guy fishing. So he walked up to the guy, because he has NO fear of talking to an adult at all, and asked if he could try to fish. The guy just handed over his rod & reel to some kid he didn't even know and showed him how to cast. I do believe it's in his blood somewhere with all the fishing my family and I have done. So Grandma snapped this pic and I just love love love it!

Happy Birthday Big Guy! You stole my heart and made me a Momma and you'll always be my little baby!


Onto other things as I blubber on my keyboard. I don't need it shorting out on me. Went to a fun playgroup today. I'm still "feeling out" (get your mind out of the gutter - I said feeling OUT, not feeling UP) the other moms as I'm sure they are me. But it was just awfully sweet to hear DD engage in a conversation with the other little girl about her age. They were just darling and it was so nice for her to have a girly girl to play with! We stayed over 2 hours. I hope it becomes a regular thing for all of us.
Now back to the mundane of life - laundry, cleaning, etc.