Archives for the 'Miscellany' Category
What’s cookin’, Toots?
Before I go grocery shopping, I try to make a list of meals I plan to cook for the next week or two, and use the recipes for the foundation of my shopping list. Having a list makes sure I buy only what I need and nothing more. With the rising costs of food these days, it is really important to stay on track while at the grocery store. With that said, I DO put cookies and ice cream on the list so that they are not impulse buys. 
Here’s what’s cooking at the Harris House over the next two weeks:
Monday: Tacos and Refried Beans
Tuesday: Tamale Pie
Wednesday: Tilapia, Israeli Couscous with spinach Oops, forgot to defrost the fish. Will swap with Friday’s dinner plan.
Thursday: Tamale Pie leftovers
Friday: Veggie Hot Dogs, Baked Beans
Saturday: Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans
Sunday: Chicken and Biscuits
Monday: Spinach Lasagna
Tuesday: Veggie Chili Dogs
Wednesday: Enchiladas
Thursday: Spaghetti and Veggie Meatballs, Broccoli
Friday: Frozen Burritos
Saturday: Halibut
Sunday: Soup and Sandwiches
Testing, testing
I downloaded the WordPress app for the iPhone and am trying to post my first entry. This could be pretty cool if it becomes more stable–the app crashed several times before I made it to the write screen. I’m hardly ever at my computer any more. If this works, I can post entries while I’m feeding Izzy.
You are now entering a shoe free zone.
We are shoe-free in our current apartment and have been for many years. We remove our shoes upon entering and most of our guests do the same without us asking because they know the rule. We live in the Tender Nob and the sidewalks near our building aren’t the cleanest–they are downright foul. Because we have carpet and I sit on the floor a lot, I didn’t want the dirt from outside tracked inside so that is why I instituted the No Shoe rule.
Lately, Mitch and I have been a little more lax about no shoes in the house. If we forget something in the living room for Izzy as we’re on our way out, we’ll just dash down the hall and grab it even though we have our shoes on.
After reading this article on Eco Child’s Play, we’re not allowed to be lazy anymore. Shoes come off. I don’t care how long it took to get Isadora ready for an errand.
When we move to the new place, I am going to be hyper-vigilant about no shoes. I’m going to buy house slippers for regular visitors. For less frequent visitors, they can run around in socks that I will have on hand and wash after each use. And for those few who really don’t want to take their shoes off (the cable guy, the plumber, etc), well they’re going to be putting plastic bags on their feet. I don’t care how ridiculous it makes them feel. I would love to get those shoe covers used in hospitals. I wonder if they’re available to the general public. I’ll have to conduct a Google search later.
Oh, and by the way, before you jump the gun and start railing me about how we need exposure to germs to build up our immune systems, blah, blah, blah. I’m totally in agreement. I don’t use antibacterial products. Plain soap and water will do just fine, thank you very much. I use hippy green cleaners when I clean the house, there is no need to use harsh chemicals that strip the environment of all living microbes. It’s just that when I know people use the sidewalk in front of my house as a toilet, and we walk on said sidewalk, I don’t want it tracked in my house where Isadora will no doubt be crawling and dropping and subsequently picking up and eating cheerios in the very near future.
Read the article and tell me if you still refuse to be a shoe free convert.
Wendy 3 | Target 0
Our first big adventure to Target was a success!
1) Isadora slept the entire time we were shopping. Not a single fuss.
2) She didn’t dirty her diaper until we got home. Yay!
3) I got 10% off nearly my entire purchase.
You see, I received a coupon for 10% of anything that was on my baby registry so when we showed up at the store, I got a registration gun and scanned everything that went into the cart–tons of baby items we still needed, underwear and a hat for Mitch, batteries, people food, pet food, etc.
The clerk was having problems entering the coupon in the register and called a manager over for help. The manager got mad and snippy at me because I put “non-baby” items on the baby registry.
She told me that the baby did not need a Fedora. I thought that was a very judgmental statement and replied, “she most certainly does too need a Fedora. She thinks her daddy looks really cute in it.” The manager also argued against the batteries. I told her that a baby swing takes 6 batteries and eats them like candy–they are absolutely baby related. And so the conversation went with each and every item–her judgment and my justification
Eventually she just stopped questioning, but she kept muttering that I was only supposed have baby items on my registry. I told her that was not my problem. I scanned items and the gun accepted them. The coupon clearly stated “Come in to the store and add items to your registry for 10% off your shopping all day.” Notice how baby is no where to be seen before items?
I also explained to her that when I registered for my wedding at Target, I added things I would actually use like toilet paper, cat litter and trash bags. I had I nice set of dishes and cookware already, so I certainly didn’t need more. Not your typical wedding registry fare, but I only put things that we needed on the wedding registry. With that, she gave the go ahead to give 10% off my entire cart.
The funny thing is, she was mad because she had to go line by line for every item I bought to give the 10% discount instead of just giving 10% off the final total. Then she barked at me, “You know, you’re going to end up getting a much bigger discount because I have to do the entries this way.” I looked at Mitch; he looked at me and we both shrugged our shoulders.
Walking out to the car, Mitch started shaking his head and said, “she obviously doesn’t understand the transitive properties of multiplication and addition.”
Ya think?
When I got to the car, I took a closer look at the receipt. The manager cheated me out of about $10 worth of discounts. She flat out refused to give me a discount on the 4 pack of Red Bull. How does she not see that is absolutely baby related!? How else is Mitch going to stay up through the night with the baby so I can get some much needed sleep!
Miscellaneous Updates
1) I gave birth 8 days ago and I already lost “the baby weight.” I weigh three pound less than my pre-pregnancy weight yet, I still look like I am 5 months pregnant.
2) The Baby Bjorn = Freedom. Why didn’t I think of this before? It took me two hours to sort half the laundry. When I finally put Izzy in the Baby Bjorn, I finished the job in 5 minutes.
3) I’m still having breastfeeding issues. The lactation consultants over at Newborn Connections have been extremely helpful, encouraging and non-judgmental with their advice and guidance. Update: This issue is related to the rapid weight loss I experienced. Thanks for the tip Brian! I’ll be sure to ask the milk ladies about it tomorrow when I talk to them.
I’m a lucky girl.
I haven’t had a proper shower in a week. I’ve been wearing the same nightgown for two days, and I’m starting to smell like onions. And yet, my husband still tells me I’m the most beautiful woman in the world.
Neither kid nor kitty
but really damn cute!
Baby Shower Recap.
The day started out pretty amazing. Kirsten and I headed over to Cafe Royale to set up for the party. I took a small break to stretch my legs, and was looking out the window. I spotted someone walking by the window and the sight just made me squeal! JOHN WATERS was in the neighborhood. I knew that he loves to shop at Kayo Books, and always hoped to spot him and today was the day.
Unfortunately, I don’t handle star sightings well. Kirsten and Dan kept telling me to go next door and say hello. I just couldn’t do it so Dan went next door, and invited John to the shower. He declined, but Dan returned with a well wish…
When Mitch came down to the Royale, I told him that John Waters was next door. He went to the shop and took a sneaky little photo of John perusing the stacks.
The Baby Shower was one of the best parties I have ever had! It was beautiful day. The food we had catered from Askew Grill was delicious. Everyone had such a great time. The party started to wind down around 4:00, which was great because I was getting a little tired. Then, in comes the second round of guests! We ended up having a six hour party! I was wiped out at the end of the day.
If you took photos, please send them to me. I didn’t take any.
Strawberry Shortcake and 12 Angry Men
Rearview Mitch
Mitch was installing our new license plates.
