I have a drawer full of gift cards. Unused, and losing $1.95 a month in service fees.
We got a million gift cards for our wedding, and I just don't want to spend them! What if I don't get the perfect item? What if I use it and then something new and amazing comes out the next week?
The thing is, honestly, the gift cards are to stores I would never shop in because they're so expensive. Even though it's technically "free," I still feel like I'm getting ripped off!
It's time to take a deep breath, let go, and go on a shopping spree!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Worse than Seasickness, but Eerily Similar
I'm more than a little ill at the moment.
I had my most intense initiation into farm life.
I watched the pig slaughter this morning. And I watched my husband collect the blood for the blood sausage. And I watched the butcher skin and gut the animal (saving the hearts and livers for sausage).
And I was doing great.
Until now, when I got home and there's a pig leg (who I saw walking around this morning) in my refrigerator.
It's time to make the sausage but I can't even stand up... I'm confined to my bed, not to be disturbed.
(Yeah, I'll get up in a while and try to get into it with great gusto, but I need a moment to... recover).
Am I a vegetarian now? No. But I won't take meat for granted anymore.
I had my most intense initiation into farm life.
I watched the pig slaughter this morning. And I watched my husband collect the blood for the blood sausage. And I watched the butcher skin and gut the animal (saving the hearts and livers for sausage).
And I was doing great.
Until now, when I got home and there's a pig leg (who I saw walking around this morning) in my refrigerator.
It's time to make the sausage but I can't even stand up... I'm confined to my bed, not to be disturbed.
(Yeah, I'll get up in a while and try to get into it with great gusto, but I need a moment to... recover).
Am I a vegetarian now? No. But I won't take meat for granted anymore.
Friday, November 27, 2009
New Hobby
I haven't picked up a new hobby in a while, but I think I've found one I can't resist.
I've made rope rosaries before, but have always wanted to do chain rosaries. I never have because it's so intimidating! It requires *gasp* TOOLS.
If I started with a chaplet though, I might actually do it (less to mess up, see).
I'm off to Michael's to get supplies.
I've made rope rosaries before, but have always wanted to do chain rosaries. I never have because it's so intimidating! It requires *gasp* TOOLS.
If I started with a chaplet though, I might actually do it (less to mess up, see).
I'm off to Michael's to get supplies.
--------
Free Friday continues.
This weekend, get a free slice of pie at Bob Evans.
Get a free cookbook just for stopping by Costco (this weekend only).
Those in the NW can still get free cookie dough at Papa Murphy's.
Get a free Steaz tea at Target.
AND TODAY ONLY: (while you're shopping up the Black Friday ads)
Get a free sample of Ocean Spray Craisins at Macy's.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Selfishness
Before we were married, my husband and I discussed several times what we would do for holidays. With the whole family, by ourselves, or some of both? Despite the fact we agreed (4 times) to do them by ourselves and "make an appearance" at family gatherings, I knew in my heart that agreement would go out the window at the first invitation to the extended-family feast.
I grew up hundreds of miles from any extended family, so all of our holidays were strictly our immediate nuclear family. I liked it that way; it was quiet, it was comfortable.
Up here, everybody lives within 10 miles of each other. Family gatherings mean excessive amounts of food, excessive amounts of noise, and for me, a lot of stress. I love these people! My husband's family is incredible. But even with these people I really love, it's stressful to for me to be in somebody else's house, eating somebody else's food, sitting on somebody else's couch, laughing at somebody else's jokes, and living somebody else's traditions when I just want to be at home with my own turkey on my own couch with my own husband.
I'm not going to lie. Since I was a little girl, I've dreamt of cooking at holidays for my husband. I love the excitement of making several dishes; the hubbub of timing each dish perfectly; the joy of a meal well prepared. My mother takes such pride in setting her beautiful table, making her mother's stuffing, glazing her candied yams... it was a delight to watch her. I looked forward to the day when I was married and could do it myself.
Now? Any dish I make to bring will get swallowed up in the cruise-like buffet. To make an entire meal here and then go over there for Round 2 would be wasteful and absurd. But what is the alternative? Making a grand feast and sitting here at home by ourselves when the party of the millennium is going on a few miles away? To be anti-social and hurt my husband's feelings by shunning his family... all because I want to stick a bird in an oven and put out my Thanksgiving napkins?
Despite the initial smarts and stings of accepting this fate, I've come to see that if we were back in the big city, I'd be at my parents' house in a heartbeat. We'll have years to ourselves later on; for now, I am so grateful I have a loving extended family who has welcomed me as one of their own.
I am so so grateful for the wondrous gift of the Sacrament of Marriage; the gift that helps rid us of our petty selfishness! The gift that takes the focus off of me, my wants, my desires, my ideas... and shows me how to die to self so as to best serve and love another. What a wonderful gift to be thankful for!!
I grew up hundreds of miles from any extended family, so all of our holidays were strictly our immediate nuclear family. I liked it that way; it was quiet, it was comfortable.
Up here, everybody lives within 10 miles of each other. Family gatherings mean excessive amounts of food, excessive amounts of noise, and for me, a lot of stress. I love these people! My husband's family is incredible. But even with these people I really love, it's stressful to for me to be in somebody else's house, eating somebody else's food, sitting on somebody else's couch, laughing at somebody else's jokes, and living somebody else's traditions when I just want to be at home with my own turkey on my own couch with my own husband.
I'm not going to lie. Since I was a little girl, I've dreamt of cooking at holidays for my husband. I love the excitement of making several dishes; the hubbub of timing each dish perfectly; the joy of a meal well prepared. My mother takes such pride in setting her beautiful table, making her mother's stuffing, glazing her candied yams... it was a delight to watch her. I looked forward to the day when I was married and could do it myself.
Now? Any dish I make to bring will get swallowed up in the cruise-like buffet. To make an entire meal here and then go over there for Round 2 would be wasteful and absurd. But what is the alternative? Making a grand feast and sitting here at home by ourselves when the party of the millennium is going on a few miles away? To be anti-social and hurt my husband's feelings by shunning his family... all because I want to stick a bird in an oven and put out my Thanksgiving napkins?
Despite the initial smarts and stings of accepting this fate, I've come to see that if we were back in the big city, I'd be at my parents' house in a heartbeat. We'll have years to ourselves later on; for now, I am so grateful I have a loving extended family who has welcomed me as one of their own.
I am so so grateful for the wondrous gift of the Sacrament of Marriage; the gift that helps rid us of our petty selfishness! The gift that takes the focus off of me, my wants, my desires, my ideas... and shows me how to die to self so as to best serve and love another. What a wonderful gift to be thankful for!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tossin' the Pigskin
Well, this Friday and Saturday when others are shopping the Black Friday sales, taking post-Thanksgiving naps, watching football games... I'll be tossing the pigskin.
Football?
No.
Pigskin.
It's butchering time, and we're going to be making fresh sausages. I really hope not to witness the slaughter itself, but I've got to be around the day of because we're making (don't gag) blood sausage, boudin, bratwurst, Italian sausage -- they all need fresh meat (and blood and liver).
If I actually go through with this thing, I'll try to post some non-gory pictures!
Football?
No.
Pigskin.
It's butchering time, and we're going to be making fresh sausages. I really hope not to witness the slaughter itself, but I've got to be around the day of because we're making (don't gag) blood sausage, boudin, bratwurst, Italian sausage -- they all need fresh meat (and blood and liver).
If I actually go through with this thing, I'll try to post some non-gory pictures!
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