Monday, June 28, 2010

GSD Conclusion and Randomness

Yeah... so I forgot to blog about Day 7 of the detox --- as I recall, I was back at the store for something, but can't remember what.... All I can recall was a general level of disgust and the thankfulness that I was all done.

I have become more mindful, however, of what I am purchasing while I am there. I do believe, minus any valid statistical evidence, that I have cut back expenditures and have become slightly more restrained. Yippee!!

I concluded reading "that book" and my mind has almost returned to "normal." For several days after concluding it, I could NOT stop thinking about time travel. I'd see a lone glove or a random shoe on the sidewalk or street and think "Hmpfh. I wonder where that person is time-travelling to. I hope that they are in a pretty field with Clare*" And then, I'd immediately get sad thinking about my child being a time-traveller and how scary and lonely that must have been at 5 years old.... Thank goodness for a reasonable subconscious, because at this point in my pontificating I would remind myself that this is ONLY a book AND a confusing movie.

I'm blogged out. I shall open the next post up to reader questions. If there are no questions, then I shall simply tally up the contents of my purse.


(*For the devotees out there, I DO understand that this would mean that the person was ONLY wearing that glove or that shoe prior to the time travel)

Friday, June 18, 2010

GSD: Day Stupid 6

**Warning** Major Relapse Ahead.

Preamble/Justification: Brandon has had a fever since midnight on Wednesday. We originally just thought it was teething issues and gave him ibuprofen. The fever went away, he woke up chipper. We thought the crisis was averted… until we got a call from daycare on Wednesday afternoon letting us know the fever was back, and it was 102. So, today, lovely Thursday, the Husband had to stay home with the bubby because the fever was still raging*. I had a mandatory attendance conference (the kind I have to go to if I want to keep my law license in tact with enough education hours) and would not be available all day.

We had no milk.

We had no caffeine.

OH NO!

So, prior to my conference, I went to the grocery store with Brynn and we picked up the following: Milk, Cereal, Mountain Dew, and… 2 packages of donut balls for Brynn to bring to daycare to share with her friends. The last item was pure frivolity, but …eh.

So, here it goes:
Breakfast: Donut-balls for Brynn. Cereal for Jeremy. I ate a string cheese and a diet Cherry Coke at my seminar.

Lunch: I had intended upon going home and checking in with the bubby and the hubby, but my seminar attendees decided that we should keep on forging through lunch (and take no bathroom breaks – boot camp style), so I quickly ran to Erbs n’ Gerbs and got a sub. (sidenote: I tried the new “Cally” sub. It’s a vegetarian sub with sweet-chili sauce and red peppers. I think I like the traditional veggie “Jacob Bluefinger” better).

Supper: I broke rank AGAIN today and went to the store and bought a steak for husband to grill for supper. He said it sounded delicious and he was home with a feverish baby all day. It had to be done. I additionally made some smashed potatoes with chives cut fresh from our garden. Brynn loved the “chicken” and kept asking for more even though we kept telling her it wasn't chicken.

Snack: I oinkishly finished the Princess Teddy Grahams… with a Mountain Dew while I obsessively kept reading The Time Traveller's Wife as this has been on my to-do list since TelegaWoman was all psycho over it in a post months ago.

* Jeremy took Brandon in to see Dr. Love (who I'm sure was relieved to see Husband rather than this psycho-mom) and diagnosed him with a very typical case of "Roseola" and said that the fever should break soon and the non-contagious body rash would soon appear. YIPPEE!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

GSD: Day...Um..Five? This is way too long...

Breakfast: Chocolate Peppermint Luna Bar and hot-chocolate.

Lunch: INVITED to Subway for lunch! Yeah! However, the Subway was at a Wal-Mart….I started drooling over the extremely cheap Pop-Tarts (I can’t remember the last time I ate or purchased them) and luckily, my supportive joint-venture’er removed me from the breakfast bar aisle and we made our way to the check-out….where I bought a Snickers bar for 50 cents.

Afternoon Snack: I ended home with the kids because Brandon came down with a fever. Brynn depleted the milk supply with a chocolate milk concoction, and I shared the candy bar with her.

Supper: A very unbalanced meal of Lipton Beef Noodles, Baked Beans, and chocolate pudding. We ate later than we normally do and we were all hungry and desperate. I started to make mac n’ cheese, but realized we were out of milk. Oops. I almost volunteered to run out and get something…. But that vanished when the sick baby uber-barfed all over me and he required a second bath.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

GSD: Day Four

Breakfast: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Luna Bar. (Brynn had a couple bites of oatmeal as she was going to the Dentist and I was going to be bringing her to daycare after they served breakfast.)

Lunch: Major fudge-up. I invited Jeremy to have lunch at Qdoba. BAH! However, to alleviate some of the naughtiness, we used a 2-for-1 coupon and saved $6. Let me take this opportunity to endorse Qdoba’s extremely nummy Mexican Gumbo.

Supper: Italian Wedding Soup (aka “Meatball Soup” to Brynn) and an English muffin with cheese. I still felt rather gross from the lunch feast.

Snack: Princess Teddy Grahams

Addendum: we are out of all fresh fruit and vegetables. I do have some canned and frozen stocked up, however. The milk is holding up okay so far, but one or two bowls of cereal will deplete that! I’m getting grumpy and tired of this game.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

GSD: Day Three

Breakfast: Caramel Brownie Luna Bar and hot chocolate (from my work’s coffee bar). The kids ate at daycare.

Morning Snack: soda from vending machine and some fruit snacks I found in my purse. I wanted desperately to go to the gas station across the street for a red bull (keyboard motorboating was about to begin), but I didn’t. So, I kinda “fudged” and got a soda. Gasp.

Lunch: The last 2 pasta shells from the night before and a string cheese.
Afternoon Snack: Pilfered donut balls from a coworkers desk.

Supper: Chicken (only had 1 breast left!! Brynn & JP shared it… they might have to be vegetarians like me for the rest of the week), broccoli cheese rice, corn on the cob, & watermelon.

Night Snack: Popcorn – while watching the Bachelorette. Please know that I guarded and protected my heart while I watched the show. I did not guard and protect the popcorn bowl. My food aggression issues had been calmed enough with the rice from supper that I was willing to share.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

GSD: Day Two

Breakfast: Pink pancakes, as requested by the four-year old princess.

Lunch: Brynn had a Bowl-Appetit four-cheese rotini microwave meal, and Jeremy made a sausage pizza. I had a sausage-less piece of pizza and a soda...maybe?? I don't remember. I'm very busy and important.

Afternoon Snack: More Cheez-its and a Coke

Supper: I had everything for lasagna shells (basically "lasagna" in a noodle shell) EXCEPT for the spaghetti sauce. Any other day, you know where I'd be... and I'd also be picking up some more soda as we're are just about out (I love me some bubbly caffiene), and I'd be picking up some more milk... and some bread... and some canned vegetables. So, to remedy my sauceless shells, I made some sauce like Martha Stewart would.. .well like she would if she were poor and in college and had no car or money. I put 2 cans of canned 'basil oregano' diced tomatoes, 1 small yellow onion, the leftover fresh tomatoes from Taco Wednesday, a spoonful of minced garlic, and a handful of chives from the garden into the blender, and VOILA! I made some pasta sauce. Brynn liked it so much that she started eating it straight from a cup! I liked it because it wasn't so salty.

I had to cook the lasagna shells for a bit longer in the oven than normally because with all the freshness oozing from the sauce, it got a bit soupy. However, end result, it was the tastiest I've ever made it - which now poses a problem because we don't have a lot of leftovers.

Problems: The husband is only, eh, 30% on-board with this no-grocery store game. He is out of Mountain Dew, which is like a regular person being without milk? water? So, he is whining like an injured puppy and is now drinking my soda. To thwart the rapid decrease in soda stock, I have started to drink ice water. I think he's gonna cave very soon.

I also have neglected to fully specify my "eating-out" intent. When I drafted my rules, I intended to not have take-out for supper for the family. I typically eat out for lunch a couple times a week. (yes, bad. i know) But since I didn't clearly state this discrepancy, I figure I better play along as best I can and not eat out for lunch this week either.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

GSD: Day One

Today was difficult.

I drank my last red bull....so unless I get "gifted" one, I shall be bull-less until Friday?? OMG.

I have no lettuce and a boat load of feta cheese. I love feta cheese. No, actually, I LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEE feta cheese. However, I checked the expiration date and since it is unopened feta cheese, it should be good for several more MONTHS (gross, eh?). Okay, so that hurdle was hurdled.

So, here is what we ate today:

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Mac n' Cheese. (Well, that's what everybody else ate. By the time I got to it, it was all gone. I ate some cottage cheese at 2:30 this afternoon)

Afternoon Snack: Cheez-Its that my weekend visitors left in my cupboard from last weekend, and Brynn ate 2 packages of Gerber baby cheese n' spinach ravioli. (She loves it. It grosses me out)

Supper: Jeremy and Brynn ate a Schwan's casserole entitled "Goulash" (I take issue with this because there is nothing "Goulash-y" about it. It's noodles, beef, and tomato sauce). I ate ramen noodles, and now I feel gross.

I did go to Target this afternoon and get the baby some food -- dried fruit, baby cheese puffs, formula, and rice puffs. I will not be tempted to eat any of this food.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Grocery Store Detox:

I’ve attempted this once before.. .on my own. It was not successful. I think I made it 3 days or so. (the “or so” part could possibly be interpreted as 2 days.) However, after learning about TelegaWoman’s similar affliction, I have decided that the time to act is NOW.

Here are my rules:

1) Beginning Saturday June 12 and ending Friday June 18, 2010 I will not purchase any food items at any grocery store or local retail chain (fancy words for Target and Walmart).

2) I will buy something from Tom the Schwan’s Man on my Wednesday night visit, however I promise to not consume it until after my detox is complete. (He has to work on commission doesn’t he?? I feel bad…)

3) I will not preemptively stock up on any groceries prior to this date. (Full disclosure – in anticipation of my detox, I did buy 2 packages of gnocchi last night when I would normally only buy 1, BUT IT WAS ON SALE).

4) I will not go out to eat, unless a family member (other than my husband and child) invites me.

5) I will not send a substitute family member to the store as a proxy.

6) The detox cannot begin now because my house is pretty stocked up as "Brynn’s Family Birthday Party" is planned for tomorrow night…. And I figure the left-overs will run out by Friday.

7) I am allowed to buy 1 gallon of milk prior to Friday should the gallon I currently have in the fridge run out.

Monday, June 7, 2010

The Freak-Out Update.


I’ve been away because I’ve been freaking out.

The calm has subsided, and the Tums have been returned to the medicine cabinet.

Brynn’s room has been painted. As I started to paint it, I was horrified. It looked like Amoxicilin. After it was done, it looked like a Victoria’s Secret box. The middle part was torture and involved crying children, day trips to the lake, sick husbands, and klutzy husbands. (he held me up on two different days, so he has to be accounted for twice.) The final product, Victoria’s Secret box aside, is rather cute and charming. Brynn loves it. If my computer wasn’t on the fritz I’d download pics to show you….

We also have 1 birthday party under our belt. I started rocking back and forth at my desk last week chanting like RainMan over how much I had to do to get everything ready – luckily my coworkers reminded me that there are these cool places called “grocery stores” that can make and sell you cupcakes! Yeah!! So, I gave up the dream of making the cupcakes and called one of these neato establishments. Thus began the “Great Birthday Party Delegation of 2010”!! Anybody who asked “Can I Help?” (and a couple who didn’t) were given tasks.

All of the kiddies showed up on Saturday for the party (and my dad even remembered to come back from the golf course for it) and they had a great time…. I think… I had a long list of games to play and had the “prizes” laid out all carnival style, but after about 15 minutes the kids were all looking longingly at the trampoline and swingset in our backyard. I asked the kids if they wanted to play games or go play – they all chose to go play!!! WHEW! and OMG!! all wrapped up into one (Read: All my planning was for naught) I kept waiting for the kids to smack their heads ‘Gallagher-watermelon style’ on the trampoline and praise Allah, Jesus, and Mohammed that they did NOT.

So, her actual birthday is on Wednesday – and this is the one where I’m going to “host” dinner for 10 adults. I’m taking TelegaWoman’s advice and we’re doing a TacoBar… and come hades or high water, I WILL be making cupcakes for this party.

BUT, I may call one of those “computer repair places” that I’ve also been told about so I can post some pics….