1 Millions Trips to the Store - update

The beef broth was sitting right in front of my face in the cupboard the whole time. Now I'm really annoyed.

1 Million Trips to the Store

On Monday, I made a grocery list. I planned my meals. I knew exactly what was needed. Although all the items were crossed off when I returned home, I have been to the grocery store more than ever this week.

Tuesday afternoon. I rush home from work to start the chicken marinating for Chicken Makhani. No garlic. I decide to just go without the garlic and sprinkle some not nearly as good garlic powder in. But wait, I also have no limes. So, I grab my keys and shove the dog in the car to get these [2] items.

Home again. Make the marinade. Hours later, Hubs comes home. I remember I had promised him I would pick up some medicine for his cold. Back to the car, Ransom and I head to the store.

Home again. Two minutes later I start supper and realize I don't have tomato sauce or diced tomatoes. Ransom and I get back. into. the. car. and go to the store for the third time that night.

Thursday afternoon. I need to make 2 dozen cranberry orange scones but notice the orange juice is gone. I go to the grocery store afterwork. Then, rush home to start the [pioneer woman's] pot roast. And realize I have no beef stock, which I KNOW I bought. Ransom is happy to tag along again to the store. On the way I wonder if the beef stock is in Hubs's truck, since I used his truck on Monday but don't have keys so just head straight to the store.

Home again. No powdered sugar for the glaze on the scones. Determined NOT to visit the store again, I find a friend that is willing to lend me 1/2 a cup and bring it to Bible study that night. Study gets cancelled, but I am still not willing to take myself back to the store. So Hubs runs the errand for me.

And, I'm pretty sure I have to go to the store again today.

[Sigh.]

A meal my dad would love

Every time I make this meal, I think, "Dad would love this." Hubs and I love this, too.

You start with some brightly colored veggies (the onions are only for Hubs).

Add some thinly sliced marinated steak, which I broiled in the oven, but grilling would work, too. Pioneer Woman's marinated flank steak works perfectly.

Then some corn and black pepper to make the colors even brighter.

Add a tortilla and some rice and you've got steak fajitas! They are very delicious and these ones are not spicy or mexican-tasting at all.

You could use brown rice and whole wheat tortillas to be really healthy. And, you could add black beans, or guacamole [yum to both] to add some healthy aspects and to mimic Chipotle.

Hearts

No matter what the angle.

Or the toppings.

I [heart] Hubs.

[Both tasted great, by the way.] Thanks to my mother for the heart shaped cookie pan.

Great Escape

It is common for my friend and I to have coffee together. And at times, we like to bring our dogs together for a play date. So, it was natural to get together right after the giant snowfall and watch our crazies romp and play together in the cold while we sat inside chatting.

Just as I put the hot cocoa on the table, I saw it. And I yelled inside at him, even though he couldn't hear. For the first time in 2 months, Ransom had tried to jump the fence. I opened the back door and yelled for him to get inside.

He tried again.

I said, "Ransom, come on. Let's go inside!" because even though he needed scolded, I was using the "come in and get a treat" tactic. He turns around to acknowledge that he knew exactly what he was supposed to do, then took a [last] leap at the fence.

He made it.

In shock, I take off out the garage in my slippers, without a coat. [The temperature is in the teens.] I run around the corner to find him but there is nothing. I hear my 7-month pregnant friend behind me. We both yell for Ransom and don't see him anywhere. Everything is white; surely we will see him!

We take off towards the house again and I know that I have to go to the spot where he jumped. So, I trudge through the snow - which is up to my knees - around the front of the house to the back of the fence [in my slippers].

Not even noticing the cold yet, I follow his tracks until they lead me to a shoveled driveway and then I lose him. By this time, knowing my crazy dog's running capabilities and speed, he could be a long ways off. My sacrificing 7-month pregnant friend also trudges through the deep snow and we decide that I will take my car around the neighborhood while she keeps searching around the house.

I get in the car and drive around the block, when I hear my friend yell from the back yard that she found him. So, I turn around as fast as possible [on unplowed streets in my little dodge neon]. By the time I get around to the other side. Ransom is playing chase with my pregnant friend.

In the end, she caught him. We were snow covered and cold. He had been high-centered on a neighbor's 6-foot wooden fence. And, he whined to go back outside for the remainder of our time together.

This leaves me wondering what we will find that can actually contain him inside a yard.

Worth it?

I love trying new products. Especially if the marketing is appealing. I am one of those people who is sucked in just by how it looks. So, I thought I would continually share my findings so that you can know whether it is worth it, or not.

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Bear River Valley Cereal

This cereal is located right with the rest of the cereals and as I was standing in the aisle trying to decide what to get, it popped out. Mainly because it is the only bagged cereal on that side of the aisle, but also because it looks so healthy and earth-conscious. Then, when I saw the bear-logo, I could not pass it up (I love bears).

The cereals have such cool names, too: "Frosted Tumble Wheats" and "Marshmallow Avalanche." The best part was that the cereals tasted good.

I paid $2.99 per bag, which isn't cheap. Although I liked the cereal, if Frosted Mini Wheats are cheaper, I will get them instead.

They are only worth it if they are cheaper.

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Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber

The worst household chore is cleaning the tub. Why? It's gross to say it, but it is the hair; and how I never feel like it is absolutely clean. 

So, when I saw these at the store and because I love regular magic erasers, I tried it out. I know you are thinking that I could just use a regular magic eraser instead of spending extra money on ones marketed to clean the bathroom. But, I ended up liking these for a few reasons.

These eraser are a bit bigger. They fit in my hand nicely. I feel like I see a difference in the shower when I am done and don't have to wash towels or sponges out afterwards. They have ridges on them for added scrubbing benefit. They smell clean and you can throw them away when they are nasty! 

I'm a big fan and use these for cleaning the shower. I can't remember what they cost and can only find them at 1 store in town.

It's worth it, to me.

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Microplane Zester

One of my favorite kitchen items of all times. I love zesting citrus and grating hard cheeses now. It is easy and effortless and I have thrown my old zester out! I had a zester from Pampered Chef and it looked nothing like this and worked no where near this good. My cheese grater was a pain when it came to grating parmesan, but this little contraption is a dream. 

This was a great purchase at only $14 (only $11 on Amazon). Don't compromise. Get this if you zest or grate frequently. Get it if you zest or grate occasionally. 

It's worth it!

Winter Wonderland

Oh, how I wish it was December 24th! This is the most snow I have ever seen in Kansas, and of course that means that things are closing down. But this snow is fluffy and beautiful and plentiful! Hubs and Ransom have been having some fun!

They wrestled, they chased, they flew snow up in the air.

Ransom burrowed in the snow in search of his toys. Hubs would throw a tennis ball and Ransom would search for it in the falling snow. It was a good physical and mental exercise for him.

Hubs had lots of fun out there. So much fun that after shoveling the driveway and playing with Ransom he ran 8 miles. Outside. While it was snowing and blowing. When there was already 10 inches on the ground.

Ransom gets so playful in the snow. He twirls and bows and prances around

And now for my favoritest picture of them all. My little snow dog.



Let the randomness begin

I have very carefully been spending my Christmas money. This is the main gift I got from everyone and it is nearly half gone. I want to be very smart in spending it because it is gone so fast. A few more things need to be bought before Israel and I am still researching and waiting for the best deals. But it will be so sad when it is all gone.

Oh, and if you were wondering if the mideast turmoil has change our trip plans, it hasn't. We are still just as excited as ever!

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I do sometimes wonder if anyone reads this blog anymore. Mostly because the quality of my posts have gone down the drain. I do realize that. But also because I rarely get any comments, at least online. I get lots of face-to-face comments from people I never knew were reading.

So all of you who still keep up with this. Thank you. Hopefully our life will get more exciting and provide me with more material.

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I think we need another dog. I have good reasons.

1. Hubs and I will both be gone most of the day in St. Louis. When we get home, the pups will be ready to play and what better way to wear him out than having another pups?

2. Hubs and I can walk in the mornings together, each with a dog.

3. Because they are just so cute.

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We are house searching. What an emotional experience - and we haven't even seen a house in person yet! When I find one I like, it is usually already in the process of being bought. Or, it is in a neighborhood with a high crime rate. Or something else will come up. Now that we have found the neighborhoods that we do want to live in, it is exciting to think about the houses on our list. We'll keep you updated.

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After my own heart...

Looks interesting. I should smell it.

Smells good, too. Now for the lick-test.

That is really good.

I mean, really good.

I could have one of these everyday!

If it tastes this good. I should bite it.

No, don't take it away!!!

He's a dog after my own heart. But let's see how well you know me. What was I drinking?

Sick

2:10 am - I wake up. I toss and turn for a while, then decide to visit the bathroom. It was then I tried to swallow to only realize that my tonsil are inflammed enough to make swallowing difficult and painful. Even worse, a glob of mucus seems to have lodged itself right behind the gigantic tonsils. I gag a few times to try and get the mucus out [in case you forgot, I hate snot, even my own). Then I sprayed way over the suggested dosage of chloreseptic spray into the back of my mouth.

I lay back down and immediately knew that was a bad idea. the mucus raced to the back of my throat and swallowing was not any easier. I head to the couch.

2:20 am - The floors squeek [still getting used to that] as I walk around gathering a blanket and pillow and start the hot water boiling for some "cold therapy" tea. I bring Ransom out with me so he doesn't wake Hubs anymore that we already have. Ransom curls up and falls asleep - obviously annoyed that we were up in the middle of the night. The wind howls around the house and I sit on the couch sipping my tea - wide awake.

3:00 am - How did it get to be 3 already? I know I need to try and sleep. This is the 3rd night of tossing and turning. I situate my pillow behind my head and drift off to sleep sitting straight up, head in the blanket in an effort to breath hotter hair into my sore throat.

4:00 am - Wake up to the clock dinging completely sore from the position. Adjust and try to sleep again.

6:10 am - Hubs gets up. "No yoga this morning?" he asks. I realize I could have slept another hour or so, but wake up. Hubs actually bundles up and walks the dog despite the cold temperature, 24 mph wind gusts and blowing snow. I take a long, hot shower to soothe my throat.

I don't like being sick.

5:20 pm - Hubs brings me a hot cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks. He's the best.