Busy!

Before last Christmas, I broke my one-day record for "Most stops made in a single shopping day" and it was 9. 5 in the morning, 4 in the afternoon. Today, I covered 3 stops in about 2 hours, spending 20 minutes at the first one, 90 at the second and 15 at the third, arriving home within 3 minutes of the school bus. I am good.

Just a little venting

You know, when I'm tired, I don't have much option of sleeping on the couch for an hour. I pretty much have to keep going until my head hits the pillow at bedtime, no matter if I've had 3 hours of sleep, or 8 hours of sleep. Meals are still prepared, dishes cleaned up, homework done, laundry (always in progress), random disciplinary measures, etc. Even then, when I go to bed, what, I'm actually tired, and have little patience for anything else? Gee, I'm sorry, I didn't take a nap after dinner, or lunch, or whatever.
Just had to say something.

By the way, budgeting for me is going fine. I'd have to disagree for things that have come up in the last week that have to do with the house, car, and children, but groceries and household junk are still well in check. I'd also have to say that this is for ME only, if you get my drift.

Save away

Well, the update is that I've been overall pretty good and stingy. I'm not so bad that I will sacrifice fresh fruit or veggies yet. Thanks be to God, we haven't had to go there in a very very long time. But I managed to go to Wal-Mart about 10 days ago, and have only been back to the store for milk, juice, bread and apples. We go through about 3 gallons of milk a week, so I'm at Costco weekly doing that. We have been eating our way through the pantry and freezer, and so far, these have been our meals, plus or minus a few I've forgotten:

Soup last week: Lentil, sausage potato chowder
Soup this week: Chili

Chicken cutlets
Roasted chicken
chicken salad sandwiches
potato boats (like potato skins, but I keep the potato in)
Brats
Turkey sausage
Sliced roast beef sandwiches
chili dogs
spaghetti
fish sticks

Lunches for the Mr. have been leftovers, plus a splurge on turkey breast pastrami which is yummy-good. Lunches for the boys have been pb/j, turkey pastrami, cheese/crackers, chicken nuggets, you know, the usual. Fruit/veg for each meal, breakfast has been cereal or whole grain pumpkin bread I made (that was good), and snacks generally goldfish, nuts, bananas, homemade cookies. I keep finding crackers I bought before Christmas, so we'll have snacks for a bit, yet.

A few expenses of course this week: renew Costco, piano lesson tuition, and I believe we're in the market for brakes for my car, and ER copay. Those were expected and unexpected. My splurges this week: I bought lunch for Bear at school--I did this for Buzz a month ago, so it was his turn. I also bought a soda, after about a month-long hiatus from soda. Yea, that was pretty good.

Lunch with the Bear was fun--the thing about elementary school is that they want you there, and are thrilled to sit with you. They don't necessarily want to talk to you, they just want to say to their friends: "look, my Mom's here, and she brought me McDonald's!!" And the friends ooh, and ahhh. It's a good place to be, and I'm glad to do it.

Another update: Yes, yet another ER visit for the family: Bear decided it would be interesting to kneel in the shower (who knows why) and slipped and cut open his eyelid. After much debate between me and the Mr, I conceded, "you won't rest until an actual professional assesses the situation, will you?" and he and Bear were off. I apparently got compliments on my Steri-strip job (thanks to my sis-in-law, the dr., for telling me to do it), and the doctor agreed that while it wasn't a "have to" situation, she'd give the stitches anyway, since it was his eyelid. Maybe I'm ready to do my stint as a medic at the frontlines. Oh wait, that's sort of what I do anyway, isn't it?

Ode to Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

Frigid hands grasp the mug
And fill it with water and chocolate
And wait for it to get hot

Soothing warmth running
First through my hands
Then to my lips
And down my throat

Creamy Smooth Happiness
Chocolate with a whipped cream twist
Because no one is watching
And I can drink it alone
Watching the cold day pass by.

Eats for Cheap

Here's a recipe for lentil soup that I made over the weekend--about 12 servings is what I got--but I can't quite recall. Anyway, we ate it with cheese garlic bread and it was lovely.

Lentil Soup

1- 1 lb bag lentils (I used the standard green)
1 medium onion
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup tomato sauce (or canned tomatoes chopped)
6 quarts chicken or vegetable broth (I used chicken)
3 strips cooked bacon, crumbled (optional for garnish)
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp ground mustard
salt/pepper to taste
olive oil

Heat oil in large pot, add all the veggies and cook until the onions are translucent. Season veggies with salt/pepper. Add everything else and bring to a boil. Then, cover and simmer about 45 minutes until the lentils are softened. Add salt/pepper to taste again. Garnish with crumbled bacon.
I don't have exact figures, but I'm estimating the following costs:
1 bag lentils is about $1, and a bag of carrots around here is $.80 (you only use 2-3), onions--I bought a bag for $2.00, so a fraction of that, celery again, a bag is about $1.30, but only need 2-3 stalks. The bacon is probably the most expensive item, and I bought the precooked bacon on sale for $2. Tomato sauce is about $.50 can, broth is about $.80 a can and you need about 3. To me, salt/pepper/mustard and oil are freebies, because I always have those on hand.
Here's my guess:
$1+.20+.25+.25+.50+2.40= $4.60 Add a piece of bread or the bacon bits, and the price goes up a tad, but considering this makes a ton of food, it averages about $.38 per serving. Not bad at all. And my bread was a store brand which gave me 8 pieces of texas toast, compared to the name brand which only gave me 5. I came out way ahead!

2010: A Odessey, Yes, But Not in Space

I'll have my odessey right here in my own home, thank you very much. It's always an adventure being here and I can say that I'm never bored. The kids give me plenty to do, plenty to laugh at, and lots to love (and hate) about homemaking and life in general. On with 2010!

2009 wasn't a bad year, all in all. Lots of good things happened, lots of bad things and sad things happened, too. I wouldn't say I was happy or sad to see it go--it's just time to move on. I do hope and pray the 2010 is a peaceful year--that'll be the prayer of the year, and, contrary to my very character, I am making a few simple resolutions.
1. I resolve to be more resolute. There. (Ha ha ha ha--no one is laughing but a few of my very close friends).
Seriously, I am going to implement more methods of frugality--as much as I can stand. I will still not concede certain things--I like to get our meat from our local butcher--it is more expensive, but I think it's better. But I can do better on the number of trips I make to any one department store, and list-making helps, coupons, planning, all that stuff goes along with it. I already do this to a degree--but I am trying to make a concerted effort to do better.
Because of this frugality, I will make some financial changes (things I don't want to discuss on a publicly viewed blog) as well.
I am going to figure out what to do with this blog and the other one.
I am going to make some sort of plan for when all the kids are in school full time. (More with the financials, don't you see)
I want to read more (the other blog will help this).
I will finish my professional development requirement early. (Due in November)
I will attend more. (More what? No, Attend. Pay attention.)
So, nothing really new. Just more effortful living--doing the above things a little bit better.

Happy New Year--I hope I remember to check back and see how well I've done. :)