~ Aug 2013~ Sew what... We've gotta find a way back! Part I!!

[nowellsl]

Really really wish there was a DIS app for the Kindle Fire.....waiting until the weekends to get caught up really sucks!

Yikes that's alot of medical stuff going on I hope everything goes well Thursday. I will be thinking of you. And how long until you get the results from the sleep study? Did they give you some idea?

You get yourself all fixed up so we can have fun in May...or else we will have to deploy Mo's "Operation Bubble Suit"

I use my Kindle fire to DIS

 

[DMGeurts]

Due to excessive smiley overload... I had to remove almost all of my smilies... So, hopefully everything I said comes across correctly. <smile>

I've read ahead so I see you are going with the surgery, but I was going to chime in with the others and say a few gall stones can definitely cause the pain you are describing.

Everyone keeps saying that, but I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around it.

I've As for your doctor, you do need to feel comfortable, but don't dismiss her just for passing you off to the surgeon. It is the trend to refer to a specialist and not make generalized assumptions about one's health. I found that with my dermatologist, and she is the specialist. She sent me right off to the surgeon, who has so much more experience with this stuff. (btw, I am hoping to hear today and how I thought I'd be off my feet for a day or so I don't know. I still can't get a regular shoe on - I walked the dog in socks and open toe sandals this morning - now that's a fashion statement! lol). But back to you...the surgeons see this stuff constantly where a GP comes across it once a week or two or less along with all the other things they see on a daily basis.

Excellent point... I am not sure how I feel about the Dr... I was a bit disappointed that things I thought were important to talk about - she didn't really spend much time on, or adknowledge at all.
But now that I have met with the surgeon, and read your response - it does make a lot of sense. Thanks for taking the time to explain that.

I've Good luck, and make sure you let the anesthesiologist know you have had problems. They have different meds they can use. Good luck with the surgery! I'll be praying it goes smoothly and your pain goes away!

As time goes by, I am getting more and more aprehensive about the surgery. I really wish there was some way they could/would do it with out knocking me out completely... They could cut me open in a trillion places and it wouldn't bother me at all... But I am terrified of the anestesia - and no matter how much they reassure me that things will be ok - it honestly does not make me feel any better. Sigh.

I've Hope you get your nap!

I did! It wasn't a very long one, but it was nice.

I've Oh, and I had to laugh at the girls not liking the Jeep. Clara has a convertible and the boys love going "top down". Difference between girls and boys!

LOL

talk to them about your previous issues...many different things they can do to help you recover!

Very true...

hope they can give you some answers soon from your results! enjoy your nap!

The technician did share with me to make sure that my surgeon is aware that I had the study done... As there could be issues with my air ways and such while I am under anestesia... Which does NOT reassure my fears at all.

I've been a lurker, but wanted to say hi! I've read through your TR and your sewing journey. I love all that you create! I just wanted to let you know, I've gone through both the Gallstones and CPAP. Gallstones removal is pretty easy except for worrying about the anesthesia. Recovery was definitely faster than a c-section. As for the CPAP, my DH complained years about the snoring. And finally after an uncomfortable night of sleep study. I am now on a CPAP for three years now. Sleep deprevation can affect so many things, including high blood pressure, being overweight and depression. It is amazing after you start... I actually had dreams! I didn't realize that I wasn't having dreams before. Anyway.... Just wanted to tell you that I love your ideas and creativity and that everything will be okay.
-Virginia

Hi Virginia! Welcome! Thank you for sharing your story... It seems to be very parallel to mine. When I was getting hooked up for the sleep study, the technician put the CPAP machine on me - just so I knew how it felt if she had to put in on me during the night... And WOWSERS... Yah - nothing like hanging your head out a car window at 90mph... It was so uncomfortable and I was gagging on my own breath. Part of the reason my sleep study didn't go well (I don't think) is that I was so worried she would have to come in and put that thing on me. Now I understand why they ask you if your are claustrophobic in the pre-check in questionairre... It's not because of the room, it's because of that darned mask. I am not sure that I could ever get used to it, if I was reqiured to use it.

Again - thank you so much for stopping by to share your story... I hope you'll continue for follow along.

Sorry I haven't checked in in a while. Been really busy at work. I've been reading but just no time for replies.

Hi Ariana! I know the feeling... I feel like I am behind on everything!

I just wanted to let you know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers next week for your surgery.Anesthesia makes me sick too. I wonder if you told them about it if they would give you some kind of anti-nausea drug?

Thank you... Yes that is a very good idea... It's the nausea and that darned headache that are the worst for me... I just hate it! Not only that - but I just laughed when the surgeon said I would be home in a few hours... Um, not me... If my surgery is scheduled for 7:30am and it's an hour long... I'll bet I won't be home until 2 or 3, because it just takes me so long in recovery.

Really really wish there was a DIS app for the Kindle Fire.....waiting until the weekends to get caught up really sucks!

No worries Suzi... I know you are so busy. How is your little man doing? Is he feeling any better?

Yikes that's alot of medical stuff going on I hope everything goes well Thursday. I will be thinking of you. And how long until you get the results from the sleep study? Did they give you some idea?

Thanks! Well, I am supposed to have my results back in 2 weeks, but because of the schdule at the clinic, I won't hear anything until well into April... The scheduler said that they have no openings for results until, at least then... Which makes no sense, because they should know exactly how many results they have to give.

I do know a few things about my sleep study that my technician shared with me - but only because I have my surgery coming up, and she knew I wouldn't have my results back in time for that - but she felt it important that I know, and she seemed insistant that I share this info with the surgeon and anestesiologist. IMO - it was very nice of her to do that... However, what she did tell me is very "unofficial", and hadn't been reviewed by a specialist yet.

You get yourself all fixed up so we can have fun in May...or else we will have to deploy Mo's "Operation Bubble Suit"

ROFL! I love ya!

I sure hope you got a nap today and soon have an answer for your snoring.

I am afraid of doctors ,hospitals and anesthesia (and I work in a hospital and recently have spent time there as a patient).
The one thing I've found is that the fear of what might happen is usually worse than what does happen. There are some new medications used in anesthesia that have less side effects.

Have a great weekend!

Thank you Ruth... I know you are right. I am just a big fraidy cat... I need to learn to get over my fears - and I know that this is a major reason I have put off these Dr. visits for so long - I knew they would lead to some sort of surgery...

Thanks for letting me know about the new meds... Hopefully they can find something that will work better for me... What I really wish - is that they could give me an epidural...

D, Good Luck with surgery next week. My 20 year old niece had a gallbladder attack on Feb 7th and had surgery the next day.

Wow Sheila! I hope she is doing OK now.

My dh went to a sleep clinic...they were not able to help him with his sleep issues. He told us that he didn't know how they expected anyone to sleep hooked up to wires and he said they keep a bright light on and all he could think of that he needed to go to sleep but couldn't

LOL... There was no bright light for me... They actually just remodeled their sleep center, and that was the 2nd night they had used it... I had a gorgeous bedroom and a bed that was much softer and comfier than my bed at home - had I not had all those wires hooked up to me, I would have slept like a baby. I agree with your DH though... I really felt the pressure of "having to fall to sleep" and I was getting so upset with myself because I couldn't. I do have to say that the technician was very awesome... If I had been working with me - I would have been annoyed with me... but after about 3 hours of me trying to fall to sleep, she finally came in and just told me that they would get what they could get from me, and if I never fell asleep - that would be OK... She just kind of relieved me from the pressure of "performing" and then I fell to sleep. It's something that you'd think would be so easy to do, but once you get there - it is so hard.

I, also have a problem with plantar fascitis. Oh the pain I was in for your youngest son's wedding 5 years ago A month after the wedding someone told me about the Good Feet store. Went there-they took prints of my feet and figured out what size and shape inserts I needed. I have a thicker instead for sneakers or shoes that will fit them, a thin one for dress shoes and a super thin one that I wear in my bunny slippers that have a sole. They are costly (and I discovered they were not cover by my insurance) but they are so worth it.

Take care of yourself,
Sheila

Thanks Sheila. I feel like I have tried everything, and nothing helps me. To be quite honest, I don't have any problems with my feet at all, except on the days I work at Target and the following day... There is something about their floors that just wreck my feet. Pretty sure it's the standing on tile on top of concrete for hours at a time... I have spent such a fortune on shoes and inserts over the last few years, and it seems like nothing helps. Hopefully I can find something soon...

D I so understand about anesthesia I am horrible with it. I was super sick after my gallbladder surgery they wound up giving me zofran in the middle of the night which totally helped and then when I had Jimmy the spinal block they gave me made me ill again. I was talking to G, a nurse and the anesthesiaologist and all of a sudden I turned deathly pail and yelled I need a bucket now and was sick this happened about 10 seconds before they started my c-section. They asked if I wanted to wait I said no lets get it over with and then the minute they took J out I was sick again then fine.

I also had an extremely bad experience with nitrous oxide at the dentist. I freaked out. So I hate it and now I really try to spend a lot of time with the doctor explaining what has happened in the past and my fears and a good anesthesiaologist will listen to you and explain everything they are doing.

Good luck with your surgery and glad your sleep study went well.

Yikes! Sounds like me after I had given birth to V... I had a very bad reaction to Darvoset - which - come to think of it, is the exact same reaction I have to anestesia... Hmmm - maybe I am alergic to anestesia? You are right... I should take the time to explain all of this to the anestesiologist, maybe there is something they can give me (besides the verset, used to get me to go under in the frist place) to make my coming out of the anestesia a little better?

I use my Kindle fire to DIS

Hi Stephanie!

**********************************************************

Yesterday was just crazy... There is no other way to explain it.

It started off with me coming home (exausted) to get all of that goo out of my hair...

V and I met up with my bff to grocery shop...

I cannot even begin to tell you how many great deals I got this week... I have been planning this trip meticulously all week long... Comparing ads and clipping coupons.

We started off at Walmart... I needed 2 things there... Peanut butter and fruit for V's breakfast smoothies... No coupons for any of those items - but they were necessities.

Then we hit Target... I should have taken pictures - it was insane. Maybe I will scan my receipt? OK - I've scanned my receipt... I do want to say - there were a few things I purchased that were not on my list... Target has their bulk area going on right now, they had just marked a bunch of 3 packs of deoderant down to 50% off... I had coupons on top of that and my discounts... I think I purchased 5 total packages, for a total of $15 (less actually, because of my discounts) - which was less than $1 per deoderant... I shouldn't need to buy deoderant for the girls an I for quite some time.

OK - all that time spent scanning my receipts... and I can't even read them... Target sub-total was $208.13 - all of my coupons and discounts of $83.73 = $124.04 Savings % = 40%

Then, we hit our local grocery store... They have a pretty good store coupon book out right now, and to top that off - you can use manufacturer coupons on those items... Then, in their weekly flyer, they had TONS of BOGO offers - which you can use manufacturer coupons on those too... So, I went out an specifically searched for those manufacturer coupons this week. Once I got to the store, there were a few items I had on my list that I changed my mind on... But overall, I am very happy with my savings.

My sub-total at the grocery store was $177.63 - minus all coupons, discounts and in store specials - $81.16 = $96.47. Savings % = 46%

Now, the problem with this... Our bi-weekly grocery budget is $160... Clearly, I went over - by a lot. However, I was able to pull out of our "eating out" budget, because I don't think we will be eating out at all over the next couple of weeks... And now we can't afford to. By adding our "eating out" budget $$ into our "grocery" budget $$... I am only over by a little, which I've made up from other little spots in our budget. I don't like doing that, but...

So, then last night, Alli and I cleaned out all of our food cabinets and reorganized... Checked dates on all of our food... Combined spices that we had duplicates of... It's a task that took us nearly 3 hours to complete, but (especially the spice cabinet) - it was somthing that I've been procrastinating about for months, and something that irritated me greatly... While we were going through the cabinets, I took stock of what we had, and tried to plan more meals for our next meal plan, that use up some of our existing food... I also made a list of things that were expired that would need to be replaced... Which - thankfully - weren't that many items.

I should have taken before photos - but I didn't... Please don't mind our horrible cabinets - they were put into this house in the 50's - and they are OLD.

This is our spice cabinet that is on top of our stove... Allison and I agonized over this forever last night... We had so many duplicate spices, and no organization at all - which is a problem, because I am short, so not only coudn't I find anything, I couldn't reach it ether.

The close-up photo is that little spice bin on the bottom right of the main photo... Allison's brilliant idea to label which spices were in there, so I am not digging around forever to see if what I may need is in there or not.

Then, the breakfast cabinet... Yes, we all like Life (a lot). Seriously - I had no idea that we had this much Life cereal, until we reorganized.

So, with all of this organizing... dinner was late... So, I put the pizzas in the oven - only to discover that my oven is no longer working. Not sure what is wrong with it? Possibly the thermostadt? It warms up, but doesn't get hot... Maybe up to 150°? So, we need to get that figured out xxxFXxxx that we don't need a new one and we can just have this one repaired - as I LOVE my oven.

I plan to get up to my sewing room to finish up my current bag this morning... Then I hope to get started on my auction bag - since my auction is this Thursday, and I haven't started on it. However, the bag scheduled for this week is one of V's park bags for our trip (and the fabric isn't here yet) - so I can work on my auction bag at the beginning of the week, then work on her's at the end of the week.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

D~

 

[solana131]

I use my Kindle fire to DIS

But there's no app for it...right? You just go online and I have to blow it up so I can read it and then I can't see the whole screen so there's constant moving left-right and up-down....it drives me crazy. But on my phone app I don't have smilies...oh the dilemmas I face

D only $160 every two weeks? Tell me your secret! We are more than that for one week and we only have 3. Even if we make a list and stick to it with coupons! This is an area I am in serious need of help. I just can't get our grocery bill down

 

[nowellsl]

But there's no app for it...right? You just go online and I have to blow it up so I can read it and then I can't see the whole screen so there's constant moving left-right and up-down....it drives me crazy. (

Right! It is pretty annoying, and I don't use it a lot. An app would be great!

 

[NiniMorris]

One thing that is a combination of the surgery and grocery shopping...did you get the extra stuff that you will need after the surgery?

The one thing about the recovery from that thing...you have NO appetite for weeks...you have to be careful about what you eat, and for the first day or so I could only eat clear liquids. Then the trick is to gradually work up to eating regular foods...I still heat less than half a meal at each sitting... no appetite at all (which makes me furious that I am still not loosing weight!)

For me, it was jello and sprite for several day...and only when they forced me to eat. Then I worked my way up to pudding and yogurt. Might want to think about it.


Nini

 

[Iamthequeen]

You are an inspiration to me to get my pantry organized. Every time I open the doors, I think "I really need to clean this out", but I'm usually doing something else at the time. I did just clean off my desk so I can get the taxes started though

I have lots of duplicate spices too. One of my cousins works for McCormick spices and she used to give me gift baskets with spices. I don't think I've bought any spices for quite a while. My youngest dd, Shannon, organized them all for me and put them in alphabetical order. Most of them are in a shelving unit that hangs on the door, so they are easy to find.

I know you are anxious about the surgery and anthestia coming up this week. I think the anxiety and apprehension will be way worse than the actual event. Try not to dwell on the "might bes" too much. Go out and have a snowball fight with the girls and Josh!

T

 

[DMGeurts]

But there's no app for it...right? You just go online and I have to blow it up so I can read it and then I can't see the whole screen so there's constant moving left-right and up-down....it drives me crazy. But on my phone app I don't have smilies...oh the dilemmas I face

D only $160 every two weeks? Tell me your secret! We are more than that for one week and we only have 3. Even if we make a list and stick to it with coupons! This is an area I am in serious need of help. I just can't get our grocery bill down

Honestly - this saving $$ thing is all really new to me...

The first thing that "saves" us $$ is that we buy all of our meat in bulk - so there are very few instances where I ever buy meat at the grocery store. Meat is never figured into our grocery budget - because it's a seperate line item that we save seperately for - but when we do buy it - we usually pay about $400 which gives us meat for about 6 months (dinner every night for a family of 4). There is no way, if I had to purchase meat on top of this, that I could make the $160/bi-weekly work. The only meat items that we don't purchase in bulk are the bagged chicken breasts, fish (which I don't normally buy unless it's Lent - which is it now - so I had to this week), and things like lunch meat and hot dogs (which I only purchase at the meat market)...

So, what I've been doing lately is clipping coupons. Please do not think I am some super coupon gu-ru, because I am not. There is NO way I could do this with out bff's help.

I peruse Target's website almost daily - as they are constantly adding and subtracting coupons. Target's coupon policy is 1 Target coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon can be used per item. Normally, Target's website allows you to print 2 coupons of each coupon per computer... So, if you are like us and have 2 computers, you could potentially print 4 coupons of each - which I don't normally do, unless it's some sort of uber good deal.

Then, I also get the sunday paper... clip those coupons... I don't clip anything that we wouldn't use normally - unless it's something I want to try.

I know that I always shop on the Friday of pay week... So, the previous Sunday, I take all of the grocery store ads and the Target ads, and I plan our bi-weekly menu off of the sales in those ads. Once I plan our menu - I go through our cabinets to see what we have here and what I need to buy. Then I make my master grocery list. Once that is done... I reference the ads again - to make sure I am getting my items from the store with the best deals.

Most of the time, the bulk of our groceries are purchased at Target... With their ad match policy and my discounts + coupons, usually their prices can't be beat. And to be honest - they do a great job of shopping their competitors, and anything that I've ever planned to ad match - I haven't had to, because they have already done a TPC on it.

Produce I always buy at the grocery store - not Target - their produce it just too expensive, as a rule.

So, here is our bi-weekly menu for the next 2 weeks... I do not plan specific meals specific days, I just plan 12-14 meals and I choose whatever I feel like making that night from this list. It is always assumed that we will have 1 night of left-overs... and since it is Lent, we will have 2 fridays of fish. So, technically - there are 14 meals planned for that list, but only 12 listed.

And this is the grocery list I shopped off of yesterday made from the above menu, when I make my list - I notate in parenthesis what kind of coupons I have - you can kind of see where I have (coup + T coup)... Which means I have 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 Target coupon. I also notate how many I need to purchase to make my coupons valid and if there is a size requirement. Then, I also notate my price matches by **PM - then the price, because then I know when I grab it off of the shelf if I need to pm it or not.

I knew this would be a grocery trip that was above and beyond our normal budget, just because there were so many great deals - and there were many things I purchased that were not part of the current bi-weekly menu plan but... The BOGOs were incredible... And I was super happy to get the deals I was able to get.

I also purchased many health and beauty items because the coupons I had made them very inexpensive. Normally - H&B is also a seperate line item on our budget, however, it was not this week.

I think that the most important thing is that I have been building our menu based off of the sales, then making my list based on the sales & coupons too... It's a TON of work and a TON of planning - which I don't always have the time to do (which is where bff comes in) - most of the time I give her my list and she does the research - this grocery trip was the first time I have ever done everything on my own.

HTH!

D~

 

[solana131]

Sounds like it all comes down to planning....I need your bff too! Thanks D. It really was a big help. I love Target, but our closest one is an hour away. In fact our closest grocery store is 45 mins away...so it really takes some good planning. Then having a 6 yr old in tow makes it oh so much fun!

 

[dianemom2]

Wow, very impressed with your grocery shopping bargains! My grocery budget is about $150 per week for the 4 of us. Of course, that includes feeding all 4 of us 3 meals per day plus snacks. DH works from home so he eats lunch here every day and my girls carry their lunches to school too. I'd do better if I planned out my meals for 2 weeks like you do but I generally only plan for one week at a time.

Don't worry about the anesthesia making you sick. Just tell them when you are at the hospital. They can inject stuff into your IV that will keep you from getting nauseous. Also, I know that codeine makes me particularly sick so they always put a band on me saying that I am allergic to it. That way they don't use anything with codeine in it.

I found the gall bladder surgery relatively easy and I hope it is the same for you.

 

[ladylyons]

WOW!! I wish I could become that organized!! Meals consist of whatever I happen to pull out of the freezer and whatever happens to be in our cabinets at the time!!

Glaed you were able to get a nap in!!

 

[lovingeire]

I like how organized your list is! I was really into couponing and have fallen off the wagon, but tomorrow I'm going to pick up the paper and get back on track. I can no longer use the holidays or moving as an excuse! And I must save for Disney!

 

[DMGeurts]

One thing that is a combination of the surgery and grocery shopping...did you get the extra stuff that you will need after the surgery?

The one thing about the recovery from that thing...you have NO appetite for weeks...you have to be careful about what you eat, and for the first day or so I could only eat clear liquids. Then the trick is to gradually work up to eating regular foods...I still heat less than half a meal at each sitting... no appetite at all (which makes me furious that I am still not loosing weight!)

For me, it was jello and sprite for several day...and only when they forced me to eat. Then I worked my way up to pudding and yogurt. Might want to think about it.


Nini

No - I did not think of this... I did ask the surgeon about a special diet, and he said I would be on clear liquids for about a day, then soft foods for about a day and eating normally by the 3rd day. Yikes - I didn't plan for any more than that.

You are an inspiration to me to get my pantry organized. Every time I open the doors, I think "I really need to clean this out", but I'm usually doing something else at the time. I did just clean off my desk so I can get the taxes started though

I try to do this a few times per year... My issue is that I don't have a lot of storage space... In our old house - I had an entire room for a pantry... So to get it all down to 2.5 cabinets and a modified broom closet (shelves added for canned goods) - it's been rough. So, if I get too much stuff in there - I don't have room to put anything when I get home, it was definately time to purge.

I have lots of duplicate spices too. One of my cousins works for McCormick spices and she used to give me gift baskets with spices. I don't think I've bought any spices for quite a while. My youngest dd, Shannon, organized them all for me and put them in alphabetical order. Most of them are in a shelving unit that hangs on the door, so they are easy to find.

That is awesome! I thought about getting something that hangs on the door... I do plan to get another one of those bins to use for spices... Right now, I have all the meat spices in a temporary bin - so I would like to get those put into a coordinating one... Then I would like to get one more for the most used spices. Possibly today when we run to town?

I know you are anxious about the surgery and anthestia coming up this week. I think the anxiety and apprehension will be way worse than the actual event. Try not to dwell on the "might bes" too much. Go out and have a snowball fight with the girls and Josh!

T

I know - I get so anxious every time I think about it - so i am trying really hard not to even let it enter my mind.

Sounds like it all comes down to planning....I need your bff too! Thanks D. It really was a big help. I love Target, but our closest one is an hour away. In fact our closest grocery store is 45 mins away...so it really takes some good planning. Then having a 6 yr old in tow makes it oh so much fun!

Yes, planning in huge... And that is why I don't always do it, I just don't have the time.

What a bummer that Target is so far away from you.

Wow, very impressed with your grocery shopping bargains! My grocery budget is about $150 per week for the 4 of us. Of course, that includes feeding all 4 of us 3 meals per day plus snacks. DH works from home so he eats lunch here every day and my girls carry their lunches to school too. I'd do better if I planned out my meals for 2 weeks like you do but I generally only plan for one week at a time.

Wow Diane! I don't know how you do it on $150/week at 3 meals a day... Yikes! Do you have any tips for me? Sounds like you are much better at stretching a dollar!

Don't worry about the anesthesia making you sick. Just tell them when you are at the hospital. They can inject stuff into your IV that will keep you from getting nauseous. Also, I know that codeine makes me particularly sick so they always put a band on me saying that I am allergic to it. That way they don't use anything with codeine in it.

That is an excellent idea... I will ask about that.

I found the gall bladder surgery relatively easy and I hope it is the same for you.

Thank you - I hope so.

WOW!! I wish I could become that organized!! Meals consist of whatever I happen to pull out of the freezer and whatever happens to be in our cabinets at the time!!

Glaed you were able to get a nap in!!

That's how I was last year... This is sort of a new concept for me - something I started with the new year. I was the type who would open my cupboards at 4:30pm and just pull something out. Very rarely would I plan any meals at all.

I will admit this is easier... The only hard part is that now I usually only buy for those specific meals, so if someone is hungry for something else and decides to make it (ahem - Josh), and he uses the supplies I have purchased for another meal (or two) - then it messes up the whole menu for the week. This happened a few weeks ago, and it did throw everything for a loop.

I like how organized your list is! I was really into couponing and have fallen off the wagon, but tomorrow I'm going to pick up the paper and get back on track. I can no longer use the holidays or moving as an excuse! And I must save for Disney!

Thanks! I hope you are able to get back on track... Truthfully - I am not that organized... I would like to be a little bit moreso.

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Another crazy day at our house yesterday...

I managed to finish my next bag, but I didn't get around to taking photos. I hope to do that this morning.

Josh took V up to the Mpls Convention Center for the Pheasant Show... She hopes to hunt with him this fall - if she can earn respectible enough grades to take the firearms safety course.

While they were there, Allison and I organized more cupboards...

I started with the "liquor cabinet" - which is a loose term... We also store other things in there like pitchers and our blender... The girls like to have smoothies for breakfast, and it's sometimes difficult for them to get the blender in and out... So Alli and I reorganized and made it easier to access.

Then we moved to the cabinet where I store napkins, disposible silverware, paper plates and misc extra small appliances... We managed to take everything out - donate a TON of stuff that we haven't used in years, and make room for most of the small appliances that we were storing on top of the fridge... It looks really awesome, and works so much better.

Then our last cabinet... The pots/pans/pyrex... We just reorganized so that everything fit.

It looks great and I am happy to have it done. Alli was an awesome help.

Then, Alli and I took a break to watch Forrest Gump - she has never seen it. I really think she liked it a lot.

Our plans last night were to go our for dinner with my next door neighbor... As things worked out - I took Alli too and she brought her dd...

As I was getting ready... Josh called - he and V were stuck on the highway - the Jeep had broken down. Thankfully - Josh knew it was starting to act up - so they were able to get out of the City. They were supposed to go to a hockey game last night, but decided to head home instead. Thankfully - they were able to get partially on the exit ramp before the Jeep died completely. So, I had to run up there to pick them up - I waited with them for the tow truck (it was cold) and I couldn't believe that the insurance company sent a flat bed... oh well - whatever - at least we didn't have to pay for it. In the foreground of the photo - you will see the rose Alli gave me for Valentine's.

So, not only is our oven dead... The Jeep is dead too.

The girls and I were supposed to go to the MOA with my bff today, but before we can do that - Josh and I have to run to town to get parts for his Jeep...

So, last night... Josh took the Edge and V to the hockey game... Then A and I went out for dinner with the neighbors - it was a lot of fun. We all came back here afterwards to watch "The Help" - it was a good movie. I'd read the book earlier in the year, but had forgotten parts of it - so it was fun to watch.

I'd forgotten to share what the girls gave Josh for Valentine's... Alli saw the idea on pinterest, and thought it was cute... She asked me to buy his favorite beer and decorated the box for him.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day today!

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

I really love the colors of this one... and I really love the lining fabric! This one was ordered to be more of a diaper bag than a park bag.

D~

 

[Luvchefmic]

just stopping in to say hi so you know I'm alive I haven't reead much past few days
been crazy very cold here in fl 38 degrees right now
xrays taken past thurs really no change it was day 16 at that point so didn't expect much improvement just had a lot of annoyances had phone & internet access turned on for
house service has been on & off past 4 days apparently one computer in their office kept overriding 'connect service' with 'disconnect service' work order at one point one technician was up pole disconnecting while another was in house 'trouble shooting'

you can't make this stuff up a real 'Green Acres' tv episode
all good now

tomorrow I go to work 'light duty' not sure what that means my regular job is security, but no light duty in that dept oh well I'm nervous but have to put big girl panties on and deal
should be for 2 days a week until see dr again 3 weeks


have to catch up on reading now hugs to you all

RuthIE

 

[cogero]

No - I did not think of this... I did ask the surgeon about a special diet, and he said I would be on clear liquids for about a day, then soft foods for about a day and eating normally by the 3rd day. Yikes - I didn't plan for any more than that.

I try to do this a few times per year... My issue is that I don't have a lot of storage space... In our old house - I had an entire room for a pantry... So to get it all down to 2.5 cabinets and a modified broom closet (shelves added for canned goods) - it's been rough. So, if I get too much stuff in there - I don't have room to put anything when I get home, it was definately time to purge.

That is awesome! I thought about getting something that hangs on the door... I do plan to get another one of those bins to use for spices... Right now, I have all the meat spices in a temporary bin - so I would like to get those put into a coordinating one... Then I would like to get one more for the most used spices. Possibly today when we run to town?

I know - I get so anxious every time I think about it - so i am trying really hard not to even let it enter my mind.

Yes, planning in huge... And that is why I don't always do it, I just don't have the time.

What a bummer that Target is so far away from you.

Wow Diane! I don't know how you do it on $150/week at 3 meals a day... Yikes! Do you have any tips for me? Sounds like you are much better at stretching a dollar!

That is an excellent idea... I will ask about that.

Thank you - I hope so.

That's how I was last year... This is sort of a new concept for me - something I started with the new year. I was the type who would open my cupboards at 4:30pm and just pull something out. Very rarely would I plan any meals at all.

I will admit this is easier... The only hard part is that now I usually only buy for those specific meals, so if someone is hungry for something else and decides to make it (ahem - Josh), and he uses the supplies I have purchased for another meal (or two) - then it messes up the whole menu for the week. This happened a few weeks ago, and it did throw everything for a loop.

Thanks! I hope you are able to get back on track... Truthfully - I am not that organized... I would like to be a little bit moreso.

**********************************************************

Another crazy day at our house yesterday...

I managed to finish my next bag, but I didn't get around to taking photos. I hope to do that this morning.

Josh took V up to the Mpls Convention Center for the Pheasant Show... She hopes to hunt with him this fall - if she can earn respectible enough grades to take the firearms safety course.

While they were there, Allison and I organized more cupboards...

I started with the "liquor cabinet" - which is a loose term... We also store other things in there like pitchers and our blender... The girls like to have smoothies for breakfast, and it's sometimes difficult for them to get the blender in and out... So Alli and I reorganized and made it easier to access.

Then we moved to the cabinet where I store napkins, disposible silverware, paper plates and misc extra small appliances... We managed to take everything out - donate a TON of stuff that we haven't used in years, and make room for most of the small appliances that we were storing on top of the fridge... It looks really awesome, and works so much better.

Then our last cabinet... The pots/pans/pyrex... We just reorganized so that everything fit.

It looks great and I am happy to have it done. Alli was an awesome help.

Then, Alli and I took a break to watch Forrest Gump - she has never seen it. I really think she liked it a lot.

Our plans last night were to go our for dinner with my next door neighbor... As things worked out - I took Alli too and she brought her dd...

As I was getting ready... Josh called - he and V were stuck on the highway - the Jeep had broken down. Thankfully - Josh knew it was starting to act up - so they were able to get out of the City. They were supposed to go to a hockey game last night, but decided to head home instead. Thankfully - they were able to get partially on the exit ramp before the Jeep died completely. So, I had to run up there to pick them up - I waited with them for the tow truck (it was cold) and I couldn't believe that the insurance company sent a flat bed... oh well - whatever - at least we didn't have to pay for it. In the foreground of the photo - you will see the rose Alli gave me for Valentine's.

So, not only is our oven dead... The Jeep is dead too.

The girls and I were supposed to go to the MOA with my bff today, but before we can do that - Josh and I have to run to town to get parts for his Jeep...

So, last night... Josh took the Edge and V to the hockey game... Then A and I went out for dinner with the neighbors - it was a lot of fun. We all came back here afterwards to watch "The Help" - it was a good movie. I'd read the book earlier in the year, but had forgotten parts of it - so

I'd forgotten to share what the girls gave Josh for Valentine's... Alli saw the idea on pinterest, and thought it was cute... She asked me to buy his favorite beer and decorated the box for him.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day today!

D~

Totally love the Valentines day present it is a great idea.

I really love the colors of this one... and I really love the lining fabric! This one was ordered to be more of a diaper bag than a park bag.

D~

.

This is just awesome. I love the Lion King. Great job.

 

[sewmess]

Love the simplicity of the silhouettes on the bag.

I'm seriously toying with the idea of greater meal planning. I make dinner 4 nights a week sp that would make sense. The only problem is DH does the shopping. He will follow any list I make though.

I hope your March is better than your February. Wow.

 

[dianemom2]

Hooray for cleaning out and organizing more cupboards! I really need to get to doing that too. But I'd much rather sew instead.

Your newest bag is great. The applique is wonderful and the inside fabric is perfect.

 

[DMGeurts]

just stopping in to say hi so you know I'm alive I haven't reead much past few days
been crazy very cold here in fl 38 degrees right now
xrays taken past thurs really no change it was day 16 at that point so didn't expect much improvement

RUTHIE!!!!!!!!!!! So glad to hear from you! My week has been so crazy - I apologize for being out of the loop for several days.

just had a lot of annoyances had phone & internet access turned on for
house service has been on & off past 4 days apparently one computer in their office kept overriding 'connect service' with 'disconnect service' work order at one point one technician was up pole disconnecting while another was in house 'trouble shooting'

I sure hope it's all figured out now and your internet is being good.

you can't make this stuff up a real 'Green Acres' tv episode
all good now

I am glad to hear this.

tomorrow I go to work 'light duty' not sure what that means my regular job is security, but no light duty in that dept oh well I'm nervous but have to put big girl panties on and deal
should be for 2 days a week until see dr again 3 weeks

I hope all goes well for you tonight... I will be thinking and praying that all goes well for you. Please check in and let us know.

have to catch up on reading now hugs to you all

RuthIE

Totally love the Valentines day present it is a great idea.

.

This is just awesome. I love the Lion King. Great job.

Yes, that was a cute idea, I agree.

I really like this bag too, it turned out very nice - as usual my photos are wonky - but I am trying to overlook that.

Love the simplicity of the silhouettes on the bag.

Thanks Ruth!

I'm seriously toying with the idea of greater meal planning. I make dinner 4 nights a week sp that would make sense. The only problem is DH does the shopping. He will follow any list I make though.

That is cool... I think my DH would follow my lists? I am not sure though... Maybe he would if he knew there was a meal behind it.

I hope your March is better than your February. Wow.

Me too... Thanks Ruth.

Hooray for cleaning out and organizing more cupboards! I really need to get to doing that too. But I'd much rather sew instead.

I know the feeling... But I am glad that Alli and I did it... I used to do it every spring - but I didn't get to it last year... So it was really nice to get it done now.

Your newest bag is great. The applique is wonderful and the inside fabric is perfect.

Thank you - I really love that interior fabric too.

**********************************************************

I didn't do too much exciting yesterday.

We went and purchased a new alternator for Josh's Jeep, and he installed it yesterday. It's up and running now.

He plans to get the part for our oven this morning... We are praying it's the thermostadt... This really is such a bummer, but we use our oven for EVERYTHING... Almost all of the meals I have planned over the next two weeks involve the oven - so I am really having to rethink how to prepare some of these things, and think outside the box. My bff was going to loan me her toaster oven, but I forgot it when I was at her house yesterday... So, I might end up making a trip up to her house in the next few days to grab it. We'll see if Josh is able to fix our oven today though. Thankfully the stove top still works...

The girls and I, along with my BFF went to the MOA yesterday... V had earned a MOA gift card with all of the tokens from her braces, and it was burning a hole in her pocket.

She ended up with a tank top from Gilly Hicks, and that is all. There was an adorable shirt at Hollister that she wanted, but it had a hole in the strap and that was the only one they had in her size... So, we will keep looking.

We also had lunch while we were there... We were home by about 3pm. We had salads for dinner and then we watched Water World with Kevin Costner.... I haven't seen it in years, and the girls actually enjoyed it. It's so nice that we can watch a little bit more "adult" movies with them now - and they acutally like them. Although - I am in the mood for Monster's Inc soon.

**********************************************************

Trip stuff...

Well, Wednesday is my ADR day... As of this moment in time, the WDW website is not working. So, I may end up calling in to get all of my ADRs.

Here is what we are trying for (in no particular order)...

CRT dinner
LTT lunch
TH breakfast (twice)
Sci-Fi lunch
Chefs de France lunch
CP breakfast
BoG dinner
Ohana breakfast
Chef Mickey's breakfast

There are several restaurants above that are new to us... CRT, Sci-fi, CdF, BoG & CM. Then there are a few of our must do favorites... LTT, TH, CP, and Ohana. I think we have a very good mix of new and old.

Josh and I had a good talk about this trip yesterday... I really have not enlightened him about the cost of this trip being double of what our trip was last year, or how much I have been stressing about how I am going to come up with the funds. Saving really isn't going as well as I had hoped it would, and I have had to dip into my trip savings for a few more things than I had anticipated... Josh assured me that after we purchase a few necessities for the house, that I will be able to put some of our tax $$ towards this trip. Hopefully airfare will come down, so that the cost is even less... Right now airfare really sucks.

I am very fortunate that Josh enjoys going on his hunting and fishing trips, and in turn, he tolerates the girls and I going to Disney. As long as we compromise and agree to allow each of us to do our own thing - with out questions - then each of us have no problems with using funds for that purpose. It's just really hard to choke down the cost of the girls and I going because it's so much more expensive than his hunting and fishing trips combined... OTOH - there are 3 of us going to Disney and only 1 of him (+MM) going hunting/fishing - however - this year V may get to do both.

So, anyways - I am very glad that Josh and I had that talk yesterday... I've been kind of down in the dumps lately, because I feared I would have to reschedule our trip (yet again)... and this time, rescheduling would mean waiting another year until summer vacation... So, I really don't want to do that.

**********************************************************

I plan to work on my auction bag this morning...

Then Alli has a dermatologist appt this afternoon...

I hope each and every one of you has an amazing day today!

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

Wish I could help you make the online dining reservations...but the agent site is not working right either...you pretty much have to call to get it done...of course I CAN call for you if you like......


Nini

 

[miprender]

Great job on organizing and planning your meals. DH always says we need to plan our dinners but it is so hard coming up with something.

Glad you don't have to reschedule your trip. I just finished my taxes and I was quite surprised that we are getting back a little more than we have in the past few years.

Don't worry about the anesthesia making you sick. Just tell them when you are at the hospital. They can inject stuff into your IV that will keep you from getting nauseous.

So true... I remember during one of my C sections feeling so sick and they just injected something and in less than a second I felt OK