Observation:
Fruit placed in a wire basket on the dining table gets eaten much quicker than fruit which remains in bags in the kitchen to rot.
#themoreyouknow
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Lessons
Every trip back home brings some kind of lesson. This year?
Crap.
Lots of crap.
I have too much crap, but not enough of the right crap. Lots of junk, not enough things I love or actually need.
But I'm working on it. I've been better lately about not buying stuff just for the sake of having stuff. But I also need to not be scared of stuff.
For instance: encyclopedia. I have a big classic World Book encyclopedia set. I've tried to not bring it back up to Illinois with us because really, everything you want to know is online, and we have single CDs that supposedly have the entirety of that huge selection of books. So it's stupid to have them, right?
But paper is different. The tactile nature of real books makes me process the information differently. You can argue that it's superior or inferior, but I think we do our kids a disservice by shifting to electronic sources exclusively. Oh, sorry. Rant pause.
So yeah, I'm bringing home the paper books. And I'll find a place for them. And we'll love them.
And they will not be crap.
(Note: this crap is crap. But it's Mardi Gras memory crap, so some of it will come home, and we'll love it, and it will become not-crap.)
Crap.
Lots of crap.
I have too much crap, but not enough of the right crap. Lots of junk, not enough things I love or actually need.
But I'm working on it. I've been better lately about not buying stuff just for the sake of having stuff. But I also need to not be scared of stuff.
For instance: encyclopedia. I have a big classic World Book encyclopedia set. I've tried to not bring it back up to Illinois with us because really, everything you want to know is online, and we have single CDs that supposedly have the entirety of that huge selection of books. So it's stupid to have them, right?
But paper is different. The tactile nature of real books makes me process the information differently. You can argue that it's superior or inferior, but I think we do our kids a disservice by shifting to electronic sources exclusively. Oh, sorry. Rant pause.
So yeah, I'm bringing home the paper books. And I'll find a place for them. And we'll love them.
And they will not be crap.
(Note: this crap is crap. But it's Mardi Gras memory crap, so some of it will come home, and we'll love it, and it will become not-crap.)
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Analog geekery
My husband, for Christmas, gave me an empty fountain pen box with a note that when I was ready to pick one that was right for me, we'd get it. So when I recently realized that digital planning and I don't work so well together, I figured now was as good a time as any to start looking at pens.
I started my research at Neil Gaiman's blog. He's a pen geek. He writes his novels longhand. I love him. Anyway, a post of his pointed me toward a Lamy 2000. Researching it led me to something I'd not yet encountered online:
Consensus.
Apparently, the Lamy Safari is regarded as a great starter pen by, oh, everyone. It was freakish in the genuinely good reviews that did NOT accompany freakish cult properties. Sure there were debates about nib sizes, heated exchanges about inks, but as a pen, the Lamy Safari was pretty well received by everyone from students to pen geeks. It can be found for under $30 as well, which makes the universal support even stranger.
So, what to write in? I'll spare the long process of elimination and tell you I chose a daily page 5x7 journal from Paperblanks. It's gorgeous. The paper is quality. Did I mention it's beautiful? I went with that format because I was never so organized in the midst of insanity as when a previous boss forced me to use an At-a-Glance red hardback "Standard Diary". It's almost exactly the same, except sadly, Paperblanks uses one page for Saturday/Sunday.
But that's okay. It's pretty. See?
I started my research at Neil Gaiman's blog. He's a pen geek. He writes his novels longhand. I love him. Anyway, a post of his pointed me toward a Lamy 2000. Researching it led me to something I'd not yet encountered online:
Consensus.
Apparently, the Lamy Safari is regarded as a great starter pen by, oh, everyone. It was freakish in the genuinely good reviews that did NOT accompany freakish cult properties. Sure there were debates about nib sizes, heated exchanges about inks, but as a pen, the Lamy Safari was pretty well received by everyone from students to pen geeks. It can be found for under $30 as well, which makes the universal support even stranger.
So, what to write in? I'll spare the long process of elimination and tell you I chose a daily page 5x7 journal from Paperblanks. It's gorgeous. The paper is quality. Did I mention it's beautiful? I went with that format because I was never so organized in the midst of insanity as when a previous boss forced me to use an At-a-Glance red hardback "Standard Diary". It's almost exactly the same, except sadly, Paperblanks uses one page for Saturday/Sunday.
But that's okay. It's pretty. See?
Sunday, February 9, 2014
MEAT!
So, I've been in conversations a lot lately about protein. To preface this whole thing: I don't currently buy grass fed, pastured, blah blah. But I've been finding that there is a difference in what I've been buying as far as conventionally raised meat goes. And I find the better quality I seek out, the less I spend. I don't know if it's psychological, or because it's more filling, or nutritious or what. I just know that our grocery bills have overall decreased.
I can't eat Tyson or Kroger store brand chicken. I get sick every time. Not E. coli sick. Just blah. Listless. A touch of tummy problems. Sometimes headaches, moodiness, and sometimes it even sets off my rosacea.
Other meats are like that as well. Generally I keep the buying of my proteins to Costco or Schnucks, or Kroger (for beef and pork). I avoid Aldi or Walmart or other chain stores. The quality is seldom as good. The taste often seems off. And the sales at Schnucks beats just about everywhere else's meat prices. It just takes planning to buy when it's on sale. If something I like isn't on sale for a while, I'll stock up on a trip to Costco.
I have prices in my head that I'll pay for things, and even if I can afford more at the time, I don't usually buy it. I know I'm the only person who reads this, but here are my protein buying price guidelines:
Whole chickens: 1.19 is my max. 99c is my buy price these days.
Bone-in breasts: seldom buy anymore, but $1.29 is my max.
Thighs: 99c max. I don't like dark meat. I use them for broth and save the meat for family members who like it and use it for quesadillas, adding to pasta, etc.
Boneless skinless breasts: $2.99, which hurts. But $1.99 breasts are often the ones that make me feel icky. The frozen (cheaper) ones often have a LOT of broth added and so the real value is lower, and they often make me sick (possible gluten in the broth, I think).
Ground pork: $1.69
Boneless Pork Loin: 2.19 max, but I try to buy up when at $1.89, which happens every 4-6 weeks. We make chops from this cut on our own, as the center cut chops at the store are $3.60 and up.
Boston Butt/ pork shoulder: 1.29, but try not to buy unless 99c.
Chuck roast: $3.69 is my happy price. I've paid $4.19 when needed for company, etc.
Other beef roasts (bottom/top rounds, etc): $3.69 max. Not my fave, but when $2.99 I'll pick something up usually.
Ground beef: Breaks. My. Heart. I've been buying it at Costco for 2.99, but it's gone up to $3.19. Locally we have an Amish store which sells it for $4.49, which makes me choke. But it tastes amazing - like a roast, even though it's lean, not random ground - and I use it in chili. Our ground meat consumption has decreased greatly.
Steak: I'm a steak snob. I grew up on ribeye like other families eat meatloaf. It's seldom of good quality AND on sale, so we buy it only a couple of times a year. My exception is every now and then, the local Kroger sells super thin (4-5 oz) "breakfast ribeye" for $7.99. I buy a pound or two, rewarap individually, and so have a freezer to plate in less than 10 minutes hearty meal for myself. Yes, I buy them only for me.
A goal for the next couple of months is to check out local butchers. Butcher shops scare me. But I'm getting comfortable enough, I think, to make the plunge.
I can't eat Tyson or Kroger store brand chicken. I get sick every time. Not E. coli sick. Just blah. Listless. A touch of tummy problems. Sometimes headaches, moodiness, and sometimes it even sets off my rosacea.
Other meats are like that as well. Generally I keep the buying of my proteins to Costco or Schnucks, or Kroger (for beef and pork). I avoid Aldi or Walmart or other chain stores. The quality is seldom as good. The taste often seems off. And the sales at Schnucks beats just about everywhere else's meat prices. It just takes planning to buy when it's on sale. If something I like isn't on sale for a while, I'll stock up on a trip to Costco.
I have prices in my head that I'll pay for things, and even if I can afford more at the time, I don't usually buy it. I know I'm the only person who reads this, but here are my protein buying price guidelines:
Whole chickens: 1.19 is my max. 99c is my buy price these days.
Bone-in breasts: seldom buy anymore, but $1.29 is my max.
Thighs: 99c max. I don't like dark meat. I use them for broth and save the meat for family members who like it and use it for quesadillas, adding to pasta, etc.
Boneless skinless breasts: $2.99, which hurts. But $1.99 breasts are often the ones that make me feel icky. The frozen (cheaper) ones often have a LOT of broth added and so the real value is lower, and they often make me sick (possible gluten in the broth, I think).
Ground pork: $1.69
Boneless Pork Loin: 2.19 max, but I try to buy up when at $1.89, which happens every 4-6 weeks. We make chops from this cut on our own, as the center cut chops at the store are $3.60 and up.
Boston Butt/ pork shoulder: 1.29, but try not to buy unless 99c.
Chuck roast: $3.69 is my happy price. I've paid $4.19 when needed for company, etc.
Other beef roasts (bottom/top rounds, etc): $3.69 max. Not my fave, but when $2.99 I'll pick something up usually.
Ground beef: Breaks. My. Heart. I've been buying it at Costco for 2.99, but it's gone up to $3.19. Locally we have an Amish store which sells it for $4.49, which makes me choke. But it tastes amazing - like a roast, even though it's lean, not random ground - and I use it in chili. Our ground meat consumption has decreased greatly.
Steak: I'm a steak snob. I grew up on ribeye like other families eat meatloaf. It's seldom of good quality AND on sale, so we buy it only a couple of times a year. My exception is every now and then, the local Kroger sells super thin (4-5 oz) "breakfast ribeye" for $7.99. I buy a pound or two, rewarap individually, and so have a freezer to plate in less than 10 minutes hearty meal for myself. Yes, I buy them only for me.
A goal for the next couple of months is to check out local butchers. Butcher shops scare me. But I'm getting comfortable enough, I think, to make the plunge.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Peek-a-Boo!
So, MIA for months. That's okay. Here's the latest skinny:
Still vapeing. I love it. I also love that I'm spending less than a quarter than I did on cigarettes. I've stepped down the nicotine, and I'm about to do so again. I think.
My house is still a wreck, but some things have improved and I'm getting up some gumption.
Working hard on money things. Trying to save, mostly. It's not going to be too easy this year, as we have a lot of places to go.
It's still lonely here. I'm riding a bit high from a trip this week to Fort Wayne, where I got to see friends for a whole 48 hours (and a "little sister" came with us, so we had extra time to visit with her as well). Sadly tomorrow is back to the daily grind. So here are some daily grind goals:
~~~~~~~~~~
Continue to attempt to eat better, including trying some new things.
Stay on top of money stuff - bills, paying things off, finding better ways to save.
Stay in better touch with people I care about, both because I love them, and it helps me stay out of a funk.
Try to find more ways to help others. It's too easy for me to get wrapped up in our own issues.
Try to be more domestic.
Try to be more active.
Carve out more time to read.
~~~~~
No pretty picture today. I'm posting from the phone. Maybe next time... You know, months from now. :)
Still vapeing. I love it. I also love that I'm spending less than a quarter than I did on cigarettes. I've stepped down the nicotine, and I'm about to do so again. I think.
My house is still a wreck, but some things have improved and I'm getting up some gumption.
Working hard on money things. Trying to save, mostly. It's not going to be too easy this year, as we have a lot of places to go.
It's still lonely here. I'm riding a bit high from a trip this week to Fort Wayne, where I got to see friends for a whole 48 hours (and a "little sister" came with us, so we had extra time to visit with her as well). Sadly tomorrow is back to the daily grind. So here are some daily grind goals:
~~~~~~~~~~
Continue to attempt to eat better, including trying some new things.
Stay on top of money stuff - bills, paying things off, finding better ways to save.
Stay in better touch with people I care about, both because I love them, and it helps me stay out of a funk.
Try to find more ways to help others. It's too easy for me to get wrapped up in our own issues.
Try to be more domestic.
Try to be more active.
Carve out more time to read.
~~~~~
No pretty picture today. I'm posting from the phone. Maybe next time... You know, months from now. :)
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Vapeing!
I totally forgot to mention the biggest thing from the last month.
I QUIT SMOKING.
Yep. I have a hard time actually saying that though. I'm vapeing. In other words, I'm using nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavoring in a personal vaporizor, ie: electronic cigarettes. I'm inhaling, I'm getting nicotine, so it's kinda hard for me to say "I quit smoking".
But that's what I did.
And it's been a month today.
It's much cheaper. Really. Even with startup costs for the hardware. I've spent about the same I would have spent on cigarettes for this month buying them the next state over. Buying them here I'm about $60 under.
My sense of smell is coming back. Honestly? This sensory girl doesn't like it. It's another thing to input and process and I get overwhelmed sometimes. I'm assuming I'll get used to it. After all, everyone smells things and they don't go crazy, right?
After leaving a really heavy meal a couple of days ago, I walked up a steep flight of parking garage steps with a friend who has been walking several miles daily, is partially jogging, doing 5k's, etc., and who is at least 75 pounds lighter than me, and I was less out of breath.
I can vape while sitting watching a movie.
Seriously, I'm loving it. It's still hard to think of myself as a "former smoker" though.
Strange the paths life throws you on, huh?
I QUIT SMOKING.
Yep. I have a hard time actually saying that though. I'm vapeing. In other words, I'm using nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavoring in a personal vaporizor, ie: electronic cigarettes. I'm inhaling, I'm getting nicotine, so it's kinda hard for me to say "I quit smoking".
But that's what I did.
And it's been a month today.
It's much cheaper. Really. Even with startup costs for the hardware. I've spent about the same I would have spent on cigarettes for this month buying them the next state over. Buying them here I'm about $60 under.
My sense of smell is coming back. Honestly? This sensory girl doesn't like it. It's another thing to input and process and I get overwhelmed sometimes. I'm assuming I'll get used to it. After all, everyone smells things and they don't go crazy, right?
After leaving a really heavy meal a couple of days ago, I walked up a steep flight of parking garage steps with a friend who has been walking several miles daily, is partially jogging, doing 5k's, etc., and who is at least 75 pounds lighter than me, and I was less out of breath.
I can vape while sitting watching a movie.
Seriously, I'm loving it. It's still hard to think of myself as a "former smoker" though.
Strange the paths life throws you on, huh?
Internal Debates
I don't know where I've been. Oh wait, I do. I went to Higher Things. I came home and then my best friend came came to visit, then another friend came to visit, and she just left.
Yep. About sums up my last month and a half or so.
Well, and The Husband and I have actually been out on dates lately. We slip away during the day and run a couple of errands and have dinner together and that's been nice. I'd forgotten what that was like. It's kinda like, oh look, hi! I know you!
So yeah, internal debate. Diet, mostly. I'm a junk food junkie. Being gluten-free is all fine and dandy, but I'm not one of those that got rid of the gluten and oh whee watch those pounds just melt away. Nope. Not me. Low carb works great for me. I know this. I've had amazing success in the past. And I skirted around Paleo/Primal long enough that I know that I really need to get the processed foods totally gone and get to eating real food.
Guess what? I hate real food.
Not hate. Hate is too strong of a word. But I've already had to give up all things gluten, and honestly? I miss it. Not bad enough to go on a gluten binge, but that's just because I have to have three weeks recovery time and very, very few things are worth that. (I do, however, have a really nice list of things that I will gorge if I get accidentally badly glutened. If I'm gonna be utterly miserable, it won't be because of some tiny cross-contamination. I'm gonna pull out all the stops. Really.) But low-carb? Meh. I want rice. I want potatoes. I want carby happiness.
So yeah, bah. Low-fat and low-calorie makes me miserable too and frankly, I don't know how I'd do that without gluten, or products that are so crazy processed to make up for the missing gluten. More bah. So low-carb it is, but I don't wanna.
So, yeah, no purpose. Just whining.
Yep. About sums up my last month and a half or so.
Well, and The Husband and I have actually been out on dates lately. We slip away during the day and run a couple of errands and have dinner together and that's been nice. I'd forgotten what that was like. It's kinda like, oh look, hi! I know you!
So yeah, internal debate. Diet, mostly. I'm a junk food junkie. Being gluten-free is all fine and dandy, but I'm not one of those that got rid of the gluten and oh whee watch those pounds just melt away. Nope. Not me. Low carb works great for me. I know this. I've had amazing success in the past. And I skirted around Paleo/Primal long enough that I know that I really need to get the processed foods totally gone and get to eating real food.
Guess what? I hate real food.
Not hate. Hate is too strong of a word. But I've already had to give up all things gluten, and honestly? I miss it. Not bad enough to go on a gluten binge, but that's just because I have to have three weeks recovery time and very, very few things are worth that. (I do, however, have a really nice list of things that I will gorge if I get accidentally badly glutened. If I'm gonna be utterly miserable, it won't be because of some tiny cross-contamination. I'm gonna pull out all the stops. Really.) But low-carb? Meh. I want rice. I want potatoes. I want carby happiness.
So yeah, bah. Low-fat and low-calorie makes me miserable too and frankly, I don't know how I'd do that without gluten, or products that are so crazy processed to make up for the missing gluten. More bah. So low-carb it is, but I don't wanna.
So, yeah, no purpose. Just whining.
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