Friday, August 27, 2010

Life Update

I'll start with the garden. That two weeks of 100+ degree heat killed the green beans, and almost did in the tomatoes. Mike kept watering though and the pepper plants seem to be doing well. I think the tomato plants are going to make a comeback.   I read somewhere that you can put down newspaper and cover it with compost to keep the weeds from taking over your flower beds.  Since there has been a bit of a chill in the air the past couple of days, that's what I did last night where the green beans used to be.  I'll let you know how it works. 

Molly's first parent teacher conference was Monday. She's doing very well. Her teacher said  it was obvious that we'd worked with her and she's pretty much ready for kindergarten.  Yay for Molly!  I shouldn't take too much credit for letting her watch PBS all day though.  :0) If only I can get Molly to understand that it's okay to tell on other kids when they hit you(or bite you, or bend your thumb backwards), and that if they tell you they don't want to be your friend anymore, they are being emotionally manipulative, and you don't need friends like that anyway.  Sigh.  Seems too complicated for a four year old.  

I'm taking the week before Labor Day off and hopefully I'll come back with some stuff for etsy and some new ideas for more exciting posts.  Have a good week and holiday!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Reading

I used to read a lot when I was young.  It helped me escape my boring, depressing life.  I'll not dwell on how I spent my youth. (I stick my tongue out in disgust.) I've read lots of books, some I would be proud to list, others I would not be proud for anyone to know about. That first year after Molly was born I spent a lot of time reading, until I figured out how to knit. After I finished that last Harry Potter novel, fiction just didn't do it for me anymore. I've been reading a lot of articles and such ever since the economy went all to hell, and I realized that I did actually need to pay more attention to what was going on in the world.  

Now, Molly has started back to school and I find that I have about twenty minutes of free time five times a week while I wait for her to get out of school. Hmm, I thought. Maybe I can catch up on my reading. So, I picked up a book that Mike had laying around and now I've actually gotten sucked into it. Of course, it takes place in London, and everyone knows what an Anglophobe I am. Wait. I mean Anglophile. Whatever. Anyway, it's called A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon.  I would like to share this lovely passage from the novel with you.

   With blinding clarity he realized that everyone was frolicking in a summer meadow surrounded by a dark and impenetrable forest, waiting for that grim day on which they were dragged into the dark beyond the trees and individually butchered. 
    How in God's name had he not noticed this before? And how did others not notice? Why did one not find them curled on the pavement howling? How did they saunter through their days unaware of this indigestible fact? And how, once the truth dawned, was it possible to forget?


 I'm still only on page 119, and have quite a ways to go still, but I highly recommend it.  I think I may have just been re-introduced to my first true love.  Fiction.  :0)

And I hope that my quoting the book is legal, because I'm really blatantly giving it free publicity, albeit to a very small audience. :) Smiley face, smiley face, smiley face!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Grocery Store


I finally went to El Super Mercado on Saturday to have a look around. I'm excited by the produce prices. I'm also excited by the bottle of Coke that I bought with sugar in it. It was lovely, but I had to share it. :0) I don't know if they have a website and I can't remember the whole name yet, so I might have to get back to you on how my future shopping there goes.

I would like to share my paprika experience at the Asian super market that I go to now and again. It's called Super Cao Nguyen. I like to get rice noodles and baguettes there. Oh, and potstickers. But I ran across this paprika there when I happened to be out, and I bought it for $1.99. It seems like it will last forever. :0) Anyway I highly recommend shopping around at different stores. There is much savings to be had. Happy Shopping!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Tofu Tacos

Here it is my tofu taco recipe just in time for Meatless Monday. This can also be done with different meats if you just can't live without meat, which some days, I find it impossible.

Mistake number one, I forgot to see how many ounces the tofu package is. Sorry. But I use half a package. Don't worry it's really a throw together kind of recipe, so the amounts don't have to be perfect. First I mash up the tofu with my (clean) hands and put it in a pan with a little olive oil. Brown the tofu until it looks kind of like well done scrambled eggs.


I used the following seasonings: salt, pepper, red pepper, cumin, paprika, and onion powder. Then chop up your vegetables of choice. I like to use different colored bell peppers. I also usually use mushrooms, but I was out on this particular day. My husband hates onions, so I have to settle for onion powder, although, for some dishes I cook some separately and add it after I've gotten my portion. If you don't have a four year old, you could also add some jalapenos or other hot peppers.



Add the peppers to the browned tofu.



When the peppers are hot and softened a little, add one can of black beans, do not drain.


Add more spices if necessary. Spoon into a taco shell and garnish to your preference. One thing I love to do is cut up an avocado and put a couple pieces in each taco.
Just a reminder. It's best to eat local meat, if you can afford it. However, if everyone who eats corporate meat were to have one vegetarian meal a week, the effect would be well worth the effort. Just something to think about.

Happy eatings!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday

It's been a rather uninspired week of blogging.  I apologize.  Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the wealth of information out there just waiting to be clicked on, and I think, "What could I possible have to add to that?"  And then I get distracted by a four year old who wants me to play MarioKart for her. And then there's the sinus headaches. 

Anyhoo, I'm making a pair of baby tube socks, so hopefully I'll have them up on etsy by this time next week.  We'll see how the weekend goes. 

Signing off with a heavy head, and another link to an interesting article about James Baldwin.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Babies R Us

A friend of mine complained the other day that the manager at our local Babies R Us threatened to beat her mother.  I don't know the whole story, but this particular friend had already started a blog about how much she hated Babies R Us.  I've never had a bad experience there, but I can't say that service has ever been good, either.  If you are interested in airing your views, go to my friend Jenni's blog.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I hate writing titles.

I'm still a bit ill, and having trouble using my brain for intelligent intercourse.  So here is another link that I found on Facebook that I thought would be interesting.  It's about Niagra Falls.  Happy reading.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Sinuses

The sinus headaches are back.  Everyday since Saturday, and they seem to progress with each day.  Bleh! 
I'll leave you with this link to a story a friend posted on Facebook that I managed to read about morality.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Baby Shower Gifts

Here they are! The projects I've been working on for the baby shower I attended on Saturday. The bibs are made from a random bib pattern that I picked up along the way.  I came up with the pocket idea based on some plastic ones Molly had. 








The hat, sweater, and booties were from a pattern that I got out of the Fall 2010 issue of Knit Simple.  I decided it was finally time to learn how to do a sweater. I think wool is mostly unnecessary here in Oklahoma, so I made it with mercerized cotton since it's soft and light.  I can't remember the brand name now and I seem to have lost the label, but I got it at SWAK.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Blah!

I got all depressed yesterday and I didn't feel like writing.  I'm in a bit of a slump.  I guess I'm trying to adjust to Pre-K.  I have lots of time to myself to do work.  I can't use Molly as an excuse now. I still have to make the time and do the work.  Sigh.  I'm also PMS-y and the effin heat is driving me crazy.  Anyway, I'll come back on Monday, August 16.  It's supposed be in the mid 90's that week.  :)


Signing off for now.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Meatless Monday!

I decided after reading an article on NPR to stick with the food theme from last Thursday. I don't usually pick a specific day to do it, but I have been making a vegetarian meal for dinner one night a week for awhile now. I read or heard somewhere that it's good for the environment. My husband also doesn't like to eat red meat all the time. Apparently there is a movement going on started by the guy who convinced us to squeeze Charmin so long ago. The Meatless Monday website has lots of recipes though to get you started. I think I might sit down and write out my own recipe for tofu tacos that my husband I have developed over time starting with boiled chicken breasts and substituting tofu later. Now I go back and forth. I'll get on that soon. I took the weekend off and I have so much to do!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Deep Breath! That's It!

Okay, so.  The heat is wearing me out.  My heels are so cracked, and I can't even enjoy my Dr. Pepper with real sugar in it, because I just get so thirsty!!!!!  Enough complaining.  

I thought I'd try a slow-cooker recipe, Adobo chicken, that turned out awesome!  (I came in my pants!- OUCH! that was vulgar!)  I used split breasts instead of a whole chicken, and I think, as a result, cooked them too long, but they were like butt-ah! Well, tangy butter.  I chopped up the leftovers a couple days later and made sandwiches with mayonnaise. That was awesome too.

Taking the day off tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Coupons

Crest Foods now accepts internet coupons. I can't express my excitement.  I'm sure I'll still take them to Target, as it is so much closer to my house, but sometimes Crest is so much cheaper.  


My favorite site from which to print coupons is www.coupons.com, it's very slick and easy.  I also checked out www.GoGrocery.com and www.Coolsavings.com, but they weren't as user friendly, and they all had pretty much the same coupons.  I don't remember all I the sites I went to but I got a few of those pesky netflix pop up adds, which I find very irritating.  I don't think I'll ever be a netflix customer. 

Of course, there are still Target coupons at www.target.com.  I found a $1 off glass baby bottles that I may try and use for an upcoming baby shower.  Depends how much they are. 

Happy Saving!



Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Etsy Update 8/3/10


I finally got the dusting mitts up on etsy.  I also put up a listing for 2 for $15.  The dust mops are also available for the twofer special. 

I'm excited because now that I've got some stuff up, I can do some more creative things.  :0)  I've also got a couple baby shower gifts left to make.

Monday, August 2, 2010

The First Day of School

And here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for.
I am currently enjoying the peace and quiet. And the
neighbor kid is in the afternoon class as well, so that
worked out. Yay!