What Did You Do? Wednesdays - No Purchase Necessary

I like stuff.  I like stuff a LOT.  No, I actually think I love stuff.  They say "things" can't make you happy.  But I believe I would beg to differ.  Shopping for the stuff has actually made me VERY, VERY happy.  It's one of the few things I'm quite good at.  Ahhhhh, shopping.  And it's not just going to a store and laying out bookoo bucks for something.  For me, it's the bargain searching, the clearance finds, the garage sale treasures, the discovering the last one left, the thrill of the hunt....you get my drift?  I'd never feel good about an expensive purchase on, say, a pair of boots.  What I would feel pleased as punch about is the excellent sale plus coupon plus rewards I used to get a zillion dollars off that pair of boots.  Do you do the same thing at all?  I think many of you bloggers do.  We're a thrifty bunch with some seriously shrewd spending habits.

But here's where it got me in trouble.  That stuff I love has, over time, brought me down to the point of being really kind of miserable.  I'm not a serial shopper.  I'm not out there every day shopping and only shopping.  It's actually not even that often that I go, but like I said, when I go......I'm goooood.  And it's hard for me to turn down a good garage sale, or go to Super T A R G E T and come away with things I really only needed.  I mean, come on ~ the other day they were changing out aisles of merchandise.  We're talkin' shiny, new STUFF here folks!  THAT'S exciting!

However, after looking closely at my basement.....and closer and closer still, I sheepishly admit that I am embarrassed.  I can laugh about it, and I can get rid of it, but I truly do know that I have an addiction.  I'm also not one to waste, so many items I think I can fix or do up pretty like so many on the blog-o-sphere can.  Truth is, some of it I could put a snazzy touch on, and other things I couldn't.  I guess because I don't have the space, the time or the talent.

My goal, in the next year, is to comb through my belongings with a fine tooth comb, so to speak, and be wary of all things I purchase and where the money actually goes.  My mom had a great idea for me:  keep a list of all the things I didn't buy, and keep that money separate in a special fund.  What a motivator to know how much I would have spent on stuff crap I just. didn't. NEED!

I think it might be a little hard considering we're approaching the biggest sale season of the year, but staying out of stores in general, sticking to my list of necessary items when I do go, and keeping track of the money I saved when I didn't buy all seem like a good plan.  See?  Money in my pocket for vacations or all new flooring or a kitchen remodel....no purchase necessary.

What do you think?  Anybody with me on this one?

**This post brought to you by a bin of 20 childrens', clearance Valentine's boxes.  (For the record, I have 2 children, not 20.)

What Did You Do? Wednesdays - Back In The Saddle

Well folks, I think I'm getting back on track with some things after a full and fun summer, and after the start of the school year (one started preschool, the other started in a new school district). I've had my nose in my Google reading list regularly, and had a ton of posts swirling around in my head. But by the time I actually had time to focus for more than 3 minutes to write for my own blog, I was way too tired. (Again, thank you CFS...always at my side, aren't you?)

Anyway, I've missed you and I see from the ol' blog site posts that yesterday was my one year anniversary. Go figure. Just 6 short months of that, I'd have told you that I had zero interest in writing a blog. However, THAT was before I knew about "all ya' all".  So, in one word....WOW to you, and you, and you, and you, and......    such creativeness.  I just swoon over it.

Also, I'm personally hoping to keep things rolling here on a more regular schedule.  My biggest problem is overcoming the perfection I want to achieve in each and every post.  Do you experience that too?  I want it to be the funniest, the most thought provoking, the most helpful, the most interesting, the wittiest, the most photogenically awesome.....and the list goes on.  Instead, the reality is that sometimes it won't be any of those, and my pictures will most likely stink.  (I am seriously trying to improve those....might mean a new camera, which probably means that it'll be awhile on the awe-inspiring photos.)  But I'm thinking you can always rely on honesty, humor and desire to improve.  I wholeheartedly thank each one of you who have chosen to read along!  I'm honored to have you share my journey with me.

Not yet Practically Spent?  Do so in a reader or via e-mail.

Egg Cups

I probably shouldn't label posts like these as recipes.  Recipes are exact, measurement-by-measurement, precise instructions.  However, the label "recipes" is a lot shorter than "I made this up and threw in a bunch of ingredients about 10 minutes before I knew people in this house were REALLY going to want to start gnawing on some type of food unit and going to get super grumpy".  So, off we go with easy egg cups.

It's kind of WYSWYG...what you see is what you get, but I made them kind of Tex-Mex, so I'll fill you in a bit.  First I put a piece of roast beef (Healthy Ones brand at Super Target doesn't have any nitrates ~ hooray.) in some of the muffin cups. And let me tell you, after having cooked some without such a base, DO NOT DO THAT in metal. Without the meat "crust", it ate my muffin tin in a way that I could not have imagined egg would be capable of doing. So, Mr. Egg obviously needs some sort of security blanket, or he gets very angry and does naughty things.

So back to the roast beef base, or ham or whatever you want....even a rolled out English muffin works...   In a bowl I combined some black beans (canned), along with fresh diced tomatoes, cilantro, cumin, black pepper (or cayenne pepper), garlic powder, and a dash of sea salt.  I added that next to the muffin cups.  Finally, I just cracked an egg on the top of each one and sprinkled shredded cheese to finish it off.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, serve with a veggie and some yummy, crusty bread if you like and you have, once again, fed the troops.

See? Egg eyes and avocado nose and mouth. Yeah, I know. I'm easily amused.

The Last Hurrah of The Birthdays

 

Seven.

7.

We have 4 birthdays almost back-to-back in our small family. My oldest daughter's always marks the end of our "birthday season". Seven is an exciting age to me. I remember seven, and I really liked it. As my friend Kim said, at this age they're not even little kids anymore. They're just kids. I can see where growing up really begins to occur around this time. It's bittersweet.

Seven years ago you changed my entire life in a way that I could have never, ever imagined. You were the missing piece to my puzzle of life.  You are one of the most unique, resourceful, witty and all-around fun people I have ever met.  May you always be as passionate and determined as you are now, for it will take you as far as you choose to go in life.  Although, you're already at the top in my book.

Happy Birthday, kiddo.  I love ya'!!

Thank You For Being A Friend

See this beautiful lady?

This is my mom, and today was her birthday.

I recently read a parenting book that made the point, during one chapter, that parents should not be their childrens' friends. I guess I understood the logic behind it as the author laid out his argument. But I've got to tell you, I don't really believe it. My mom is my best friend, and she has been for as long as I can remember.

I'd have been lost time and time again had it not been for you, Mom. You've provided me with everything I could have ever needed...physically, emotionally and mentally.  I look up to you....always have.  I admire your class, enjoy your humor, appreciate your love, marvel at your abilities, cherish your advice and value our times together.  I'm just so very proud to be your daughter, and I love you more than I'll ever really be able to tell you.

So, today especially, Mom, my hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow.  Thank you for being a friend!!  (click for cute tribute)  Here's to a year of easy sailing, great times and good health!!

Makes my heart smile.....

Citrus Pasta with Ham and Shrimp

I haven't posted a recipe in awhile, so here's a very simple dish for a busy August night.

Citrus Pasta with Ham and Shrimp

(Keep in mind I don't measure....you don't need to either. You know how you'd like it to taste. Just flavor accordingly.)

Deveined shrimp

Ham pieces

Halved grape or cherry tomatoes

3 small zucchini

Linguine or any sort of pasta

Olive Oil (1-2 Tbs)

Butter (1 Tbs)

Garlic

Sea Salt

Ground Pepper

White Wine

Lemon Juice (1-2 Tbs)

Lime Juice (1 Tbs)

Parsley (1 Tbs)

Saute zucchini, shrimp and ham pieces in olive oil, butter, and remaining ingredients. After a couple of minutes, add tomatoes until fully heated.

Add to cooked and drained pasta.

Shred parmigiano reggiano on top of each serving.

What Did You Do? Wednesdays - Avoiding Aging

 

I've been coasting into a certain age I do not want to be for some time now. I hate everything there is to hate about aging.  I always have.  Even my name, Julie, means youthful.  Now, before I give you the wrong impression, I want you to know that I appreciate life in general and the life I that lead.  Just because I dislike aging does not mean that I am not grateful for all that I have.  My list is extensive when it comes to the privileges I enjoy on a regular basis, and I'm well aware of how awesome those things are.

I loved turning 30.  Thirty meant leaving the 20s behind, and that alone was a nice feeling.  A decade later, approaching the "F" age, I'm not feeling the same way.

Maybe every milestone is challenging, and I'm just now realizing that.  My 30s were almost as altering as that first year of a baby's life, just different.  I traveled around the east coast a bit, flew to various places such as Monterey, CA and Saskatchewan in Canada for work.  I got married and my husband and I moved cross-country (again), but this time it involved buying a house.  I got a sample of one of the coolest jobs I've ever had.  I got pregnant, had a (big) baby via emergency c-section.  I wigged out with fear and insane cautiousness over that new, precious bundle and thought for sure my marriage wouldn't last because of it.  We joyously moved back to Madison, sold and then, once again, bought another house, all the while living out-of-state (again).  I suffered through the loss of my dad to pancreatic cancer.  I took on a new job that allowed me to (finally) run my own business and be my own boss.  I birthed baby girl #2 after 52 (no lie) hours of labor with the use of a forceps (instead of the c-section I was supposed to have, and which, 3 years later will require 2 types of surgery for me this fall), which damaged me in several ways, for life.  And, also, in my 30s, I realized that I had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Although, in hindsight, it started in my 20s, the fibro/CFS has gotten progressively worse.  I don't know if it's turning the age after 39, or the fact that I feel like I've got one foot in the grave most days that makes me want to go back to true youth.  (18 anyone?  Well, at least knowing what I know now anyway.)  I suppose that it's a mix of both.  Overall, I'm not unhappy, and I'm certainly very appreciative of all the wonderful things in my life, but it's hard to feel 100% great when your body fails you and you already feel about 50 years older than you are many days.

I do what I can to combat this demon, but knowing that age is creeping in, makes it, well, just plain upsetting.

But maybe, just maybe, this next decade will be the one to settle me.  Maybe I'll get to figure out what I really want to be when I grow up, maybe we'll be able to move into a house that I absolutely love, maybe I'll find some time for myself when the girls are both in school, maybe there will be more solutions in helping my body feel better.

Although I've got the brakes on....(hard)....right now, hoping to slow down the whole getting older thing, I'm still hopeful about the upcoming decade.  I've got 2 beautiful girls to raise, a super-duper husband to share them with, and a mom/partner in crime to enjoy more time with as she semi-retires this year.

....but honestly, I'll still be hoping someone invents a time machine.