Yesterday, though chilly, was a great day for a drive, so when Dave and I were trying to decide what to do for our day of fun, we settled on pointing our car north and going however far we felt like going.
Our Sunday drive began with a stop at Sonic for their happy hour deal. I scored a small vanilla Coke for 50 cents and some yummy mozzarella sticks. After we finished our afternoon snack, we headed north, driving through towns I'd heard of but never been to as a proud southwest suburbanite. As we drove farther and farther, we wondered if we'd make it to Wisconsin. Sure enough, we hit the state line, and Dave entered his sixth state. We headed west toward Lake Geneva but missed most of it when a poorly marked street forced us to turn right--and right out of town. Oops!
That "mistake," however, led us to Piggly Wiggly, a grocery store that holds fond memories of grocery shopping while on vacation in Kentucky. The northern version of the store wasn't quite the same, but it was still fun to pick up some food and avoid paying tax on the snacks!
As the sun began to fall, we headed home, taking a new route and discovering new parts of northern Illinois. Our GPS-free drive was an adventure and a great way to relax on a Sunday afternoon.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
No Eating Out Month--A Review
Well, here we are at the last day of January and the last day of our no-eating-out challenge. We started the month with the goal of not spending our monthly allowance on eating out. How did we do?
For the most part, we did really well. There were a few exceptions, such as the celebration lunches I was invited to at the beginning of the month. Things were going great--until last Sunday. We'd had a pretty busy day, so busy that we had to skip lunch because there was no time between church and our community group. Faced with the prospect of going grocery shopping on empty stomachs, we caved and went to Qdoba. Oops! I was 50/50 relieved I could put food in my tummy and frustrated that I'd caved with only 7 days to go. Oh, well. It's in the past, so all we can do now is learn from our actions and move ahead.
What did I learn this month? First, I learned that the cravings for fatty fast food do go away the longer you avoid them. At the beginning of January, I kept craving the grease, but by the end of the month, I could drive past Taco Bell without a second glance. Second, and I think most important of all, I learned that you can still have fun going out with friends without breaking your budget. Before this month, I could really only join my work friends for a couple of lunches out a month because they ate up my budget (no pun intended). After the celebration lunch when I ordered a $1.97 coffee, I realized that I could stretch my money by ordering a special treat at the restaurant instead of a whole meal and eating the rest of my lunch at work. Sure, this means I'll have to make my lunch instead of taking a day off, but being able to hang out with my friends every Wednesday means more to me than the convenience of having someone else make my lunch.
All in all, it was a good experience. We've discussed other things we could give up or add on this year, so you may see some similar posts in the future.
For the most part, we did really well. There were a few exceptions, such as the celebration lunches I was invited to at the beginning of the month. Things were going great--until last Sunday. We'd had a pretty busy day, so busy that we had to skip lunch because there was no time between church and our community group. Faced with the prospect of going grocery shopping on empty stomachs, we caved and went to Qdoba. Oops! I was 50/50 relieved I could put food in my tummy and frustrated that I'd caved with only 7 days to go. Oh, well. It's in the past, so all we can do now is learn from our actions and move ahead.
What did I learn this month? First, I learned that the cravings for fatty fast food do go away the longer you avoid them. At the beginning of January, I kept craving the grease, but by the end of the month, I could drive past Taco Bell without a second glance. Second, and I think most important of all, I learned that you can still have fun going out with friends without breaking your budget. Before this month, I could really only join my work friends for a couple of lunches out a month because they ate up my budget (no pun intended). After the celebration lunch when I ordered a $1.97 coffee, I realized that I could stretch my money by ordering a special treat at the restaurant instead of a whole meal and eating the rest of my lunch at work. Sure, this means I'll have to make my lunch instead of taking a day off, but being able to hang out with my friends every Wednesday means more to me than the convenience of having someone else make my lunch.
All in all, it was a good experience. We've discussed other things we could give up or add on this year, so you may see some similar posts in the future.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Blessings
This past weekend was nothing like I expected our weekend to be. It began on Thursday, really, when I noticed floaters in my right eye and was scared enough to call my ophthalmologist's office to schedule an appointment for the next day. I'd have to get my eyes fully dilated, which meant my dad became my designated driver for the day and my parents' place became my home again until I could see well enough to drive home. Although I would have rather had no medical issues, I can see now that having to take Friday off was a blessing.
After my doctor's appointment, which confirmed that my retinas were still attached and these floaters were simply an inconvenience, my dad took me out for coffee. We've had plenty of "dates" at Dunkin' Donuts, and we've had plenty of great discussions while sitting among the donuts. Last Friday was no exception. I'd mentioned that Dave and I were starting to look at cars because our Sebring was requiring more and more repairs lately. The latest sound it was making was of metal scraping against metal whenever we made a right turn. My dad, in his usual, wise way, helped me think through the situation and weigh the pros and cons of keeping our old car or buying a new one. I started wondering if Dave and I would be buying a car the next day.
Once my dad and I got back to my parents' house, he grabbed the auto section of The Chicago Tribune, and I took my place in front of the computer (which I could see clearly enough). We looked up many car deals, including one for a Hyundai Tucson. I had secretly wished for an SUV as our next car, but I knew Dave was more interested in cars that didn't guzzle so much gas.* (He's a smart guy!)
Imagine my surprise when, upon returning home, I found the exact same Tucson for even less than the original deal and Dave loved it! He asked for an e-quote, we considered the financial aspects of buying a car, and then we hosted our Burns Supper, all while being giddy about this potential new ride.
The next morning, we got up early enough to arrive at the dealership right after it opened. Armed with the knowledge that it was already a great deal, we took a test drive to make sure it was also a great vehicle, then haggled with the salesman to get a bit more off the price. By noon, we drove off the lot in our new car, christened Churchill a few days later.
It may sound cliche, but God truly blessed us with this car. Through all these months of going back and forth, I never imagined we'd be able to buy a brand-new car (it had only 27 miles on it). While I miss my Sebring, I'm grateful to have a dependable car once again. My Sebring got me through years of long commutes and driving to the city for grad school. She served me, and later Dave, very well over the last 7 years, but it was time to move on. Now we have a car that will hopefully be with us as we expand our family in the coming years. It will be neat to see the memories that Churchill will bring in the next few years.
*The Tucson is technically a CUV, so its fuel economy should be much better than those massive SUVs.
After my doctor's appointment, which confirmed that my retinas were still attached and these floaters were simply an inconvenience, my dad took me out for coffee. We've had plenty of "dates" at Dunkin' Donuts, and we've had plenty of great discussions while sitting among the donuts. Last Friday was no exception. I'd mentioned that Dave and I were starting to look at cars because our Sebring was requiring more and more repairs lately. The latest sound it was making was of metal scraping against metal whenever we made a right turn. My dad, in his usual, wise way, helped me think through the situation and weigh the pros and cons of keeping our old car or buying a new one. I started wondering if Dave and I would be buying a car the next day.
Once my dad and I got back to my parents' house, he grabbed the auto section of The Chicago Tribune, and I took my place in front of the computer (which I could see clearly enough). We looked up many car deals, including one for a Hyundai Tucson. I had secretly wished for an SUV as our next car, but I knew Dave was more interested in cars that didn't guzzle so much gas.* (He's a smart guy!)
Imagine my surprise when, upon returning home, I found the exact same Tucson for even less than the original deal and Dave loved it! He asked for an e-quote, we considered the financial aspects of buying a car, and then we hosted our Burns Supper, all while being giddy about this potential new ride.
The next morning, we got up early enough to arrive at the dealership right after it opened. Armed with the knowledge that it was already a great deal, we took a test drive to make sure it was also a great vehicle, then haggled with the salesman to get a bit more off the price. By noon, we drove off the lot in our new car, christened Churchill a few days later.
It may sound cliche, but God truly blessed us with this car. Through all these months of going back and forth, I never imagined we'd be able to buy a brand-new car (it had only 27 miles on it). While I miss my Sebring, I'm grateful to have a dependable car once again. My Sebring got me through years of long commutes and driving to the city for grad school. She served me, and later Dave, very well over the last 7 years, but it was time to move on. Now we have a car that will hopefully be with us as we expand our family in the coming years. It will be neat to see the memories that Churchill will bring in the next few years.*The Tucson is technically a CUV, so its fuel economy should be much better than those massive SUVs.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Happy Haggis
We had a few friends over last night for a Burns Supper. (I'll ask Dave to post more about it later.) Part of the meal is haggis, and we were fortunate enough to find some canned haggis at an imports store in Chicago. It looked pretty gross at first, as you could see on the video, but it was delicious and tasted just as good as the haggis I've had in Scotland. Our guests were brave enough to try it and liked it, too. Hooray!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Girls' Night In
One of my favorite parts of college life was the opportunity to hang out with friends whenever you wanted. I spent so much time at my friends' apartments, just watching TV or chatting about life, and friends often stopped by my place just to chill. Hanging out in college didn't require marking a date on your calendar or making plans for an expensive night out. None of us had money (or, in some cases, transportation), so our social lives had a simple approach.
I've been thinking about how I miss that simple life, but the last few days, I've opened my home for the classic hanging out I loved so much in college. Last Friday, I had a couple of work friends over to watching one friend's wedding video, eat pizza, and chat about married life. It was simple but fun. Last night, I had a couple of friends over to watch The Bachelor with me. Those two hours of commenting on the latest dramas on the show and catching up on life were nothing fancy, but it did my soul good.
Sure, I may not be able to stop by my friend's apartment on the way home from class anymore. Our get-togethers have to be scheduled because we have pretty busy lives. But my friends and I can still enjoy a simple night of hanging out without all the glitz and glamour of a girls' night out. And that's what I'm most grateful for.
I've been thinking about how I miss that simple life, but the last few days, I've opened my home for the classic hanging out I loved so much in college. Last Friday, I had a couple of work friends over to watching one friend's wedding video, eat pizza, and chat about married life. It was simple but fun. Last night, I had a couple of friends over to watch The Bachelor with me. Those two hours of commenting on the latest dramas on the show and catching up on life were nothing fancy, but it did my soul good.
Sure, I may not be able to stop by my friend's apartment on the way home from class anymore. Our get-togethers have to be scheduled because we have pretty busy lives. But my friends and I can still enjoy a simple night of hanging out without all the glitz and glamour of a girls' night out. And that's what I'm most grateful for.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Bat Cave
We all know, thanks to this post, that I'm terrified of skunks.
Well, folks, I've added another creature to the list of things that make me so crazy scared I pretty much lose my mind.
On Monday night, I lugged our laundry basket full of towels down to the basement of the building, where our washers and dryers are located. It's really no big deal, even with the occasional clangs and clatters of whatever machinery is down there and the creepiness factor of being in a dark basement by yourself. Anyway, as I was saying, I walked down the stairs and toward my favorite washing machine (yes, I have a favorite), when I noticed something hanging out on the side of the wall right across from the washer.
I crept a bit closer to see what it was, and in a feat miraculous to me, I realized what it was, ran all the way up to our third-floor apartment, and slammed the door behind me in seconds. Friends, I've never seen a bat in person (other than the shadows in the darkness at Brookfield Zoo's Australia House), but I instinctively knew what it was. Of course, right after I told Dave what had happened, I did an image search for "resting bats" to make sure my instinct was correct.
Needless to say, the laundry did not get done that night, and I wondered if I would have to go to the laundromat, or at least the building next door, to do laundry from that point on. There was no way I'd go back to that basement with a bat out and about! I made the mistake of Googling "how to get rid of bats" and found out that when one bat is spotted, there are likely more bats around. Great!
After work yesterday, I bravely went to the basement (with my winter coat on and hood ready to throw on) to see if the bat was still there. It wasn't. Oddly, this made me even more certain what I'd seen the night before was a bat, so I marched over to the rental office to report it.
In an anticlimactic moment, the woman told me the bat had been spotted by workers earlier in the day and removed. I was happy to know I wasn't the crazy lady whose eyes were playing tricks on her. (That reminds me of the time my college roommates and I were certain that a shredded bunny or squirrel had been left on our front porch. Then someone pointed out it was just insulation. Oops!)
Anyway, I ended yesterday with a load of laundry done and the knowledge that I am now not only afraid of ladybugs and skunks but bats, too.
Well, folks, I've added another creature to the list of things that make me so crazy scared I pretty much lose my mind.
On Monday night, I lugged our laundry basket full of towels down to the basement of the building, where our washers and dryers are located. It's really no big deal, even with the occasional clangs and clatters of whatever machinery is down there and the creepiness factor of being in a dark basement by yourself. Anyway, as I was saying, I walked down the stairs and toward my favorite washing machine (yes, I have a favorite), when I noticed something hanging out on the side of the wall right across from the washer.
I crept a bit closer to see what it was, and in a feat miraculous to me, I realized what it was, ran all the way up to our third-floor apartment, and slammed the door behind me in seconds. Friends, I've never seen a bat in person (other than the shadows in the darkness at Brookfield Zoo's Australia House), but I instinctively knew what it was. Of course, right after I told Dave what had happened, I did an image search for "resting bats" to make sure my instinct was correct.
Needless to say, the laundry did not get done that night, and I wondered if I would have to go to the laundromat, or at least the building next door, to do laundry from that point on. There was no way I'd go back to that basement with a bat out and about! I made the mistake of Googling "how to get rid of bats" and found out that when one bat is spotted, there are likely more bats around. Great!
After work yesterday, I bravely went to the basement (with my winter coat on and hood ready to throw on) to see if the bat was still there. It wasn't. Oddly, this made me even more certain what I'd seen the night before was a bat, so I marched over to the rental office to report it.
In an anticlimactic moment, the woman told me the bat had been spotted by workers earlier in the day and removed. I was happy to know I wasn't the crazy lady whose eyes were playing tricks on her. (That reminds me of the time my college roommates and I were certain that a shredded bunny or squirrel had been left on our front porch. Then someone pointed out it was just insulation. Oops!)
Anyway, I ended yesterday with a load of laundry done and the knowledge that I am now not only afraid of ladybugs and skunks but bats, too.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Adventures in Grocery Shopping
Tonight after church, Dave and I stopped by Meijer to do our weekly grocery shopping. Everything was going well. We'd already written our menu and grocery list, and were sticking to it. Then we stopped in the vacant baby department (where we wouldn't be in anyone's way) to add up our spending, just like we do every week.
I'd mentioned that we'd probably spend more than usual this week, based on how full the cart was. I had no idea. As Dave finished up the addition, he said, "You're not going to like this." Had we gone $5 over? Nope. $10? Try again. We'd racked up a total almost $20 over our budget. Oops!
That started the fun of reworking our menu in the middle of Meijer, then proceeding to return quite a few items, including some fresh produce. We ended up being only $2 over budget, and we'll still eat well this week. Now I know not to include so many adventurous recipes on my menu.
I'd mentioned that we'd probably spend more than usual this week, based on how full the cart was. I had no idea. As Dave finished up the addition, he said, "You're not going to like this." Had we gone $5 over? Nope. $10? Try again. We'd racked up a total almost $20 over our budget. Oops!
That started the fun of reworking our menu in the middle of Meijer, then proceeding to return quite a few items, including some fresh produce. We ended up being only $2 over budget, and we'll still eat well this week. Now I know not to include so many adventurous recipes on my menu.
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