I've managed to find out about 2 different groups that do kids consignment sales in the Twin Cities and they have been LIFE SAVERS. Or maybe I should call them Dollar Savers.
I don't think any sale will ever beat that first one. I don't know if I was just excited but we had the best luck that sale. We had recently visited a friend's house and they had this playhouse thing that Addy played with for over an hour one day. If you have a kid, you know how significant that is. But the house brand new is around $70-90! So C & I made it our mission to find one at the baby sale.
We did! I think we paid $25 for it. SCORE!
C & I have since developed a strategy. He takes Addy (usually in the backpack carrier) and looks at all the big toys, the strollers and the little toys. I run off and do clothes and shoes. Usually he'll finish first and come find me and then we'll take Addy out of the carrier and he'll let her explore the big toys again until I'm done.
There's another one this weekend near my work so C is picking Addy up from daycare and taking her home so that I can hit the sale on the way home. Being by myself means I won't buy any new toys probably but I'll come home with winter clothes for Addy and they also carry maternity clothes (never hurts to be prepared).
For those of you with kids, the two organizations are: Munchkin Markets (MN only) and Just Between Friends (24 States). Hope this helps someone as much as it's helped us!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
I Got Better
Whenever I try to think of clever titles, it's like this monumental task. My last post was all whiny and "Why me" so I thought I would let you know that I'm better now. Which got me thinking about Monty Python where they're trying the witch and the guy's all like, "She turned me into a newt!" and everyone looks at him and he says, sheepishly, "I got better..."
So, I'm better. This whole family/work/class/life thing is getting to me for sure. It's hard leaving the house at somewhere around 6:45am and not pulling back into my driveway until 13+ hours later. I miss my family, I am tired, and I feel guilty.
Guilty because C is picking up the slack from me being gone. He's Single Dad 2 nights a week, cooking dinner, entertaining Addy, cleaning up, getting her off to bed, etc.
What I need to focus on is that in 2 months, this will all be over. The class will be done and we can try to resume our normal lives where I'm home after work. Dec. 12th is the last class and I will have a final after that but that will be the last night I spend in a classroom for a while. I'm not signing up for another class when this one is over. Not for a while.
It's time to enjoy my family.
So, I'm better. This whole family/work/class/life thing is getting to me for sure. It's hard leaving the house at somewhere around 6:45am and not pulling back into my driveway until 13+ hours later. I miss my family, I am tired, and I feel guilty.
Guilty because C is picking up the slack from me being gone. He's Single Dad 2 nights a week, cooking dinner, entertaining Addy, cleaning up, getting her off to bed, etc.
What I need to focus on is that in 2 months, this will all be over. The class will be done and we can try to resume our normal lives where I'm home after work. Dec. 12th is the last class and I will have a final after that but that will be the last night I spend in a classroom for a while. I'm not signing up for another class when this one is over. Not for a while.
It's time to enjoy my family.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
In Which I Complain A Lot
I might actually throw up today. Wouldn't that be lovely? I feel awful. I felt bad last night and wanted to do nothing more than lie on the couch feeling sorry for myself but I have a 2.5-year-old and she won't let me.
Oh, and by the way, I don't know if it's a 2.5-year-old phase or what but she repeats everything 17 TIMES until you finally snap and yell, "YES ADDY, YOU CAN GO UPSTAIRS!" and then you feel bad cause you yelled and it's a mess.
In addition to feeling ill, I forgot my lunch today. Those normally wouldn't go together but I had some crackers in there that I could be eating to see if it helped but now I can't. And I have nothing. No apple, lunch, snacks, etc. It's just sitting at home on the counter going bad.
Oh, and it's my long day where I have class tonight and skipping it is NOT AN OPTION so hopefully I start to feel better or class will suck hardcore.
PS. I have homework due that I have barely started which is my own fault but we seriously turned in our last assignment 1 week ago and now another one is due?!
PPS. Yes, I am a horrible whiny baby. Deal.
Oh, and by the way, I don't know if it's a 2.5-year-old phase or what but she repeats everything 17 TIMES until you finally snap and yell, "YES ADDY, YOU CAN GO UPSTAIRS!" and then you feel bad cause you yelled and it's a mess.
In addition to feeling ill, I forgot my lunch today. Those normally wouldn't go together but I had some crackers in there that I could be eating to see if it helped but now I can't. And I have nothing. No apple, lunch, snacks, etc. It's just sitting at home on the counter going bad.
Oh, and it's my long day where I have class tonight and skipping it is NOT AN OPTION so hopefully I start to feel better or class will suck hardcore.
PS. I have homework due that I have barely started which is my own fault but we seriously turned in our last assignment 1 week ago and now another one is due?!
PPS. Yes, I am a horrible whiny baby. Deal.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Drama
Addy has this book entitled, "Llama, Llama, Red Pajama" which is a very cute story about a little llama who doesn't want to go to sleep. It all rhymes and Addy loves to sing-song along with the verses.
Llama, llama red pajama
Reads a story with his mama
Mama kisses baby's hair
Mama Llama goes down stairs
As the story progresses, the llama wants his mom and becomes scared when she doesn't come back and fears that she's gone forever. She runs back upstairs and scolds him, "Baby Llama what a tizzy! Some times mama's very busy. Please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama".
Anyway, the point is that there's some crap going on at work today and I just want to tell everyone to stop the drama. The jist is that we're having a baby shower for a girl at work who is expecting her first baby. We kind of put out feelers to see if there was interest and one lady said that she wasn't going to participate because she couldn't really afford to give $20. The co-organizer told her she didn't have to come and not to worry.
Well, now the first lady is upset that she's not invited and it's a huge misunderstanding. We're definitely not telling people they can't come. I'm not going to stand at the door and turn people away just because they didn't contribute. Its' about wishing a new mother well.
Ugh. Please stop all this llama drama!
PS. I visited the website and saw there's a book called, "Llama Llama Mad at Mama" and I'm dying to know why the little llama is so mad!
Llama, llama red pajama
Reads a story with his mama
Mama kisses baby's hair
Mama Llama goes down stairs
As the story progresses, the llama wants his mom and becomes scared when she doesn't come back and fears that she's gone forever. She runs back upstairs and scolds him, "Baby Llama what a tizzy! Some times mama's very busy. Please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama".
Anyway, the point is that there's some crap going on at work today and I just want to tell everyone to stop the drama. The jist is that we're having a baby shower for a girl at work who is expecting her first baby. We kind of put out feelers to see if there was interest and one lady said that she wasn't going to participate because she couldn't really afford to give $20. The co-organizer told her she didn't have to come and not to worry.
Well, now the first lady is upset that she's not invited and it's a huge misunderstanding. We're definitely not telling people they can't come. I'm not going to stand at the door and turn people away just because they didn't contribute. Its' about wishing a new mother well.
Ugh. Please stop all this llama drama!
PS. I visited the website and saw there's a book called, "Llama Llama Mad at Mama" and I'm dying to know why the little llama is so mad!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Oh My Gosh
I made this White Chicken Chili for dinner last night and words can't even express how good I thought it was (C agreed and Addy ate a whole [little] bowl)!
I mean, I could try to tell you things like
I hope you like it as much as I do!
Note: Instead of whipping cream I just added in about a cup of shredded white (Mexican blend) cheese and it didn't seem to matter. We topped our bowls with cilantro, more cheese and crumbled tortilla chips and then had crusty rolls with it.
I mean, I could try to tell you things like
- fighting over leftovers
- licking my bowl clean (that happened)
- stealing bites from my daughter (bad momma!)
- wishing I had made 1.5x the recipe instead of just one regular batch
I hope you like it as much as I do!
Note: Instead of whipping cream I just added in about a cup of shredded white (Mexican blend) cheese and it didn't seem to matter. We topped our bowls with cilantro, more cheese and crumbled tortilla chips and then had crusty rolls with it.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Here's the Thing
I never should have told anyone that we were even thinking about getting pregnant. I feel like everyone is watching me and waiting for us to make an announcement.
And to be honest, it takes some of the thrill out of it then. Because when it happens and it's finally time to tell people, I'm going to hear "Yeah, I thought you were" a lot. I mean, I don't know for sure but I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to go.
I feel like I'm under more scrutiny now, like people are watching to see if I'm eating or extra tired or gaining weight. I also feel like when I'm pregnant, I'll want to keep it to myself a bit and savor it and maybe I won't be able to because someone will have figured the whole thing out.
It's this fine line between wanting to share news (we want to get pregnant!) and wanting to enjoy it for a while.
And the real question is, should I even care? Who cares if someone figures it out, it doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It doesn't make me any less excited.
But I still think I should have kept my stupid mouth shut.
And to be honest, it takes some of the thrill out of it then. Because when it happens and it's finally time to tell people, I'm going to hear "Yeah, I thought you were" a lot. I mean, I don't know for sure but I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to go.
I feel like I'm under more scrutiny now, like people are watching to see if I'm eating or extra tired or gaining weight. I also feel like when I'm pregnant, I'll want to keep it to myself a bit and savor it and maybe I won't be able to because someone will have figured the whole thing out.
It's this fine line between wanting to share news (we want to get pregnant!) and wanting to enjoy it for a while.
And the real question is, should I even care? Who cares if someone figures it out, it doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It doesn't make me any less excited.
But I still think I should have kept my stupid mouth shut.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Totally random and quick, but I made this for dinner last night and it was good! C even went back for seconds, which is semi-rare for him.
Some alterations I made included, adding garlic and mushrooms and diced tomatoes to the sauce mixture so it would be more chunky and sauteeing the peppers right with the rest of the stuff. Oh, and I used ground turkey in an effort to be healthy. I also added a few spices since the recipe really didn't call for any like Italian spice and garlic powder.
It ended up kind of juicy, so next time I'll be sure to drain the canned tomatoes first and also drain the cooking juices before adding everything else.
Oh, and I think cost-wise it clocks in around $6-7 depending on what you have on hand and what you choose to add. If you grew the zucchini and chose to omit mushrooms it'd be very affordable.
Enjoy!
Some alterations I made included, adding garlic and mushrooms and diced tomatoes to the sauce mixture so it would be more chunky and sauteeing the peppers right with the rest of the stuff. Oh, and I used ground turkey in an effort to be healthy. I also added a few spices since the recipe really didn't call for any like Italian spice and garlic powder.
It ended up kind of juicy, so next time I'll be sure to drain the canned tomatoes first and also drain the cooking juices before adding everything else.
Oh, and I think cost-wise it clocks in around $6-7 depending on what you have on hand and what you choose to add. If you grew the zucchini and chose to omit mushrooms it'd be very affordable.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)