Costa Rican Sunset

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Am I Doing This Right?

Is it better to shop at Big Y and use coupons or to shop at Aldi's?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Big Y!
Big Y has sales to go absolutely bananas over! Buy one, get one or two free makes me feel like something has been accomplished.

I pack up my girls with just enough necessities to last one week on a deserted island

Organize coupons in a haphazard style (cramming into used envelope works)

Shove everything into an already overflowing carry-all

Make sure kids are wearing enough clothes to avoid stares from "got it all together" moms in store

Quick memory review of when boas, plastic Tinkerbell heels, sparkly tiaras and tutus over jeans became acceptable out of the house attire

Realize she is four and if you start to question her you'll never get out of the house

One fast glance around the kitchen to assure conscience nothing has been left on that will leave your home a smoldering mess upon you return

Let dog in or out according to his sporadic whims of that exact moment

Buckle up car seats and we're off!

Shit! You're still donning ten year old yoga/sweat pants, husbands flannel top complete with unidentifiable baby stains, tired old smelly Uggs, not a spec of make-up to cover signs of aging and your hair looks like it hasn't seen a salon or a brush for that matter in a very long time

Sigh...

Too bad, hopefully no one will be looking or recognizing you

15 minutes later...

Grab loudest, heaviest carriage equipped with giant red germ harvesting plastic car attaches to front

Pack in kids

Take out coupons

Begin to shop

Beg four year old repeatedly to remain in the vehicle at all times

8 month old begins and finishes first bottle only to begin wailing approximately three aisles before you are ready to choose the slowest line for checking out and which is only calmed by being held
So now you are pushing, begging and carrying your load

One mind numbing hour later your total is...fulfillment!

Once you've loaded kids, groceries and self back into car...
Horror strikes!

At this point you have about five good solid seconds before your four year old starts questioning...EVERYTHING!

Would I have gotten more food for my buck at Aldi's? Did I buy things only because I had coupons for them? How long will my husband rub his superior shopping skills in my face this time?

Hmmmph!

Next time I am going to Aldi's

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Need to Eat

I have been thinking a lot about writing a food blog. I don't want to come off as some boho foodie (if they even exist). I want to strike a cord with people just like me. Where are the people who understand when I say, "broke doesn't even begin to explain it and my kid still needs to eat,"?

Even as I type I am listening to my 7 month old wail away in her crib, oh not because she is starving I assure you, it's because she is so over tired and well, that is a whole other blog. My four year old has asked seven times to use the computer to play games and poor mommy never gets a second in edgewise! No wonder it has taken me this long to start a food blog! O.k. enough complaining!

I am sure everyone has had a struggle in their lives even if it doesn't have to do with money, but my main issues seem to only deal with money right now (always) so here we go.

If you need to eat, and I assume you do, then you need money right? Well what does a mother, do when money is tight and dinner needs to be on the table regardless? Check it out:

I am going to break this down into a sort of process, I am still working out the steps myself. Maybe I'll use Roman numerals or some other way to make it easier on all of us. Ignore my grammer while we're at it too, I graduated from college over 10 years ago and I haven't really used my brain since then.

My first blog (starting tomorrow if I am lucky) with deal with the tools of cooking. What should you use? Use what you have. What do you have? Where to get what you need on the cheap cheap cheap!!! All that good stuff!

Hey I just started using a used electric frying pan. I am going to look into newer versions of the super cooker tonight and get back to you tomorrow! Stay tuned and all that garbage! Oh and don't worry I have plans for you even if you don't have the means for the electric fry pan too!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Nog It Up!

I feel obligated to have a positive jot because Christmas is right around the corner, and well, it seems like the right thing to do. And so...

My BFF Head Wade loves her some Hood Golden EggNog. Unfortunately because the mid-west is dumb she is unable to enjoy her Nog until she comes home to the great snowy abyss of Tucitcennoc.

I happen to have some Hood Golden EggNog in my fridge at this very moment, and soon will be enjoying a glass while reading Forever Odd before the library sends out it's Hench men to gather what is rightfully theirs. (I don't go out in the snow, and since it won't STOP snowing...well you get the point).

Before the next storm dumps another expected foot of snow on us tonight, I would just like to say I am grateful that this state sells Hood Golden EggNog!
Positive blog complete!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

I don't have a title

My life is pretty low right now, in fact, if it weren't for my daughter I would be licking the pavement. I have this master plan that I have been working on, but it is taking way too long and I have no idea how much longer I can wait.

Right now I have 0 dollars in the bank and the 10 that are there came out of my assh&^% husband's paycheck (which he reminds me of everyday since June when I left my job). I can't find a job to save my life. I actually applied to Blockbuster! I am pretty much done with the whole, "oh it's the economy," bullshit, because I think it is all just bullshit at this point. I also don't think Obama is our savior...I think it is going to be the same shit different day scenario for the next four years. I also don't think McCain would have made a difference either!

So, you read this blog and think I am just bitching...well let me give you a little insight. Ten minutes ago I got screamed at for not buying dinner while I was at the store buying diapers and milk for my daughter with my last 20 dollars. Then when I wanted to make tea in the microwave, I had to unplug some battery my assh^&* husband plugged in the microwave spot...Because I did that, my husband threw the charging battery (cord and all) across the room and then opened the closet door directly under my sleeping 2 year olds room and slammed it as hard as he could. My 2 year old is awake now. All because I didn't use a different plug.

Tomorrow my loser of a husband is taking his 2 older daughters and ex-wife to a modeling agency almost on the NY line... my 2 year old has no food and I had to be screamed at for buying only diapers with my 20 bucks! Modelling agencies...wonder how much that is going to cost them...we'll just add it to the $1075.00 he gives monthly for child support and all of the "extras" they are always in need of...last week it was a new keyboard for piano lessons and Angie's $1,700.00 class trip!

My daughter just needed diapers.

My mother thinks I should go back to school and learn a trade to better mine and Karis' life. That's all well and good, but what do we do now? I am trying so hard to be strong about this, and I know I have always bitched about money...but this is serious. People think I should move in with my parents, but that is not an option. Along with the stress of my daughter and I living in one tiny bedroom, what would I do with my entire house filled with stuff? It won't work.

I need a job that pays well so Karis and I can get the hell out of here and start our lives stress free. I don't know why I keep ending up in these f'd up situations, but I must have done something to someone because I have been miserable for a very long time and I am at the point where it is impossible to sugar coat.

So, if anyone knows how I can get out of here (belongings and all) please let me know.

Monday, December 8, 2008

That's What I'm Talking About!

Sometimes a girl needs a little comfort food. Check out the link for pictures, because this just looked too good to pass up when we were watching the show!

On the menu for tonight...


Ingredients
2 pounds lasagna sheets
2 cups hand cut 1/8-inch slices pepperoni
4 cups tomato sauce, recipe follows
1 pound ricotta
16 ounces shredded mozzarella
2 pounds bulk Italian sausage, cooked
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Boil 6 quarts of water, add pinch of salt, and cook pasta to almost done. Remove from water and shock in ice bath.
In medium saucepan add pepperoni and saute over medium heat until crispy. Remove from heat and drain on a paper towel.
In a 10-by-14-by-3-inch baking pan or dish, pour 1 cup of tomato sauce in bottom and around sides. Layer lasagna sheets on the bottom of the pan, overlapping by 1/2-inch. Add 1/3 amount of ricotta, 1/3 amount of mozzarella, 1/3 amount of sausage, then sprinkle generously with the Parmesan, add 1/2 cup tomato sauce, and 1/4 cup of pepperoni. Repeat this 2 more times.
On the very top sheet, top with remaining ricotta, tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and dust with Parmesan. Bake for approximately 45 minutes. Remove from oven; let sit for 15 minutes. Cut and serve immediately.
Tomato Sauce:
3 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, minced
5 medium-sized garlic cloves, crushed
6 cups skinned and diced Roma tomatoes
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano leaves
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil. Add onion and cook over medium to low heat until transparent. Add garlic and cook until almost brown. Then add tomatoes and cook for 1/2 hour over low to medium heat. Add the basil and oregano and continue to cook for another 1/2 hour. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, cool and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Good Morning Sunshine!

I have a lot running through my mind this morning. I need to get this swarm on paper before it recesses to the back of my foggy under worked brain!

-Start dinner in crock pot so Nick has something to eat when he gets home
- Get Karis to my mother by 11:00 so she can go meet Santa at the mall.
- Shower, dress and go to different restaurants around town looking for P/T work
- Run in Barnes & Noble to look at cookbooks for Christmas present and possibly start a list for people who don't know what to get me. (Pick up address book)
- Dr. appointment at 1:45.
- Grab Karis after she wakes up from nap at mom's


My days are pretty jammed and I really hate the comments about being home all day and having plenty of time! Let me tell you, if you are a stay at home parent I understand that you have less time than someone who works 40 hours a week! I REALLY love the comment about finding a job and why hasn't that happened yet! OK, sure, my day starts at 6:00 every morning, I find about 30 minutes right about now to search for a position then it's whoosh off to crazy land I go!

Enough ranting! I have to go run a household, take care of a two year old, find a job and maybe have a little time to shower before 8:00 tonight!