I received a book in the mail today (Thanks, Mutti!) titled 12 Steps to Raw Foods. My in-laws have switched over to a diet that consists mainly of raw foods, and are seeing the advantages of such a lifestyle. I'm still hesitant that I can do it, but I want to try to incorporate more raw fruits and vegetables.
We've already switched to raw milk, which tastes better than any milk I've ever had. Except fresh whole goat's milk. And that's probably because the raw milk we purchase is skim.
Guy and I have started eating more raw fruits and vegetables, too. I find that's an easy way to get a lot of food that's filling for not much money. I can go and spend $20 on produce that will get us through the week with significant amounts of raw fruits and veg every day.
Josh really likes the food processor salad idea, where you grate or slice everything using a food processor, resulting in smaller and more manageable pieces. I'm still getting used to it. I would love to start drinking green smoothies, but Josh is rather hesitant. I should just start making them for myself and Guy, then. I haven't yet, though. But I will. Next week, I promise I will make at least one green smoothie.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Go Pistons!
Tonight we're going to the Jazz v. Pistons game in Salt Lake. We weren't planning on going, despite wanting to, since Guy doesn't go to bed until 7 and that's when the game starts. But Tom bought tickets and isn't in town to use them, since he'll be starting his leave later than he originally anticipated.
So that means that at 5:30 we'll be on our way to Salt Lake. This means I've had to arrange for three different baby-sitters, and I'm praying that Guy will be good for all of them. I'm nervous, understandably, because the last five nights he's gone to bed literally kicking and screaming. It only lasts five or ten minutes before he's asleep. Or at least until he's quietly talking to himself. But still, if it drives me crazy will the sitters be able to handle it? I hope so.
Our saving grace is a wonderful community of people who love helping each other out. It means free baby-sitting when we need it. The only cost is love and a helping hand whenever someone else needs it.
It's going to be a long night, but one way we're trying to save money is Josh and I are packing dinner to be eaten in the car when we get closer to Salt Lake. This will save us the eating out cost, and hopefully keep us satisfied long enough to avoid wasting money on concessions. I hope.
So that means that at 5:30 we'll be on our way to Salt Lake. This means I've had to arrange for three different baby-sitters, and I'm praying that Guy will be good for all of them. I'm nervous, understandably, because the last five nights he's gone to bed literally kicking and screaming. It only lasts five or ten minutes before he's asleep. Or at least until he's quietly talking to himself. But still, if it drives me crazy will the sitters be able to handle it? I hope so.
Our saving grace is a wonderful community of people who love helping each other out. It means free baby-sitting when we need it. The only cost is love and a helping hand whenever someone else needs it.
It's going to be a long night, but one way we're trying to save money is Josh and I are packing dinner to be eaten in the car when we get closer to Salt Lake. This will save us the eating out cost, and hopefully keep us satisfied long enough to avoid wasting money on concessions. I hope.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Corn. And Laundry. And more Corn.
I finished reading the first part (of four) of Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma. What a mind-boggling read. I love his style, the information is fascinating, and yet it turns my stomach.
I really desperately need to fold the three loads of laundry left to go (one already folded and put away!) and put away the dishes drying on the counter and tidy up the toys, but I had to get this out while I'm thinking about it.
After reading about how the beef industry works, I never want to buy conventional beef again. Really truly. I probably will continue to buy it. At least sometimes. But I am newly committed to finding new ways to make vegetarian meals. I'm sure the chicken industry is just as bad. And yet it's so hard to think about revamping our menus to exclude sale-priced chicken and beef. Especially since there's no extra money to buy grass-fed beef and free-range chicken.
Sure, the sale-priced chicken I buy is usually pretty flavorless. At least compared to the roasted chickens I make myself. (Who knew chicken could taste like chicken?!?) But the easiest way I can think of to include more meals without these ingredients is to add soups.
Guess what? My husband doesn't. Like. Soup. I know. Weird. And frustrating! I'm sure my fellow Tightwad Gazette readers are groaning. Soup with bread is CHEAP! And HEALTHY! And NOT AN OPTION!
I'm thinking it's bed time. The world is starting to look more and more gloomy and formidable.
I really desperately need to fold the three loads of laundry left to go (one already folded and put away!) and put away the dishes drying on the counter and tidy up the toys, but I had to get this out while I'm thinking about it.
After reading about how the beef industry works, I never want to buy conventional beef again. Really truly. I probably will continue to buy it. At least sometimes. But I am newly committed to finding new ways to make vegetarian meals. I'm sure the chicken industry is just as bad. And yet it's so hard to think about revamping our menus to exclude sale-priced chicken and beef. Especially since there's no extra money to buy grass-fed beef and free-range chicken.
Sure, the sale-priced chicken I buy is usually pretty flavorless. At least compared to the roasted chickens I make myself. (Who knew chicken could taste like chicken?!?) But the easiest way I can think of to include more meals without these ingredients is to add soups.
Guess what? My husband doesn't. Like. Soup. I know. Weird. And frustrating! I'm sure my fellow Tightwad Gazette readers are groaning. Soup with bread is CHEAP! And HEALTHY! And NOT AN OPTION!
I'm thinking it's bed time. The world is starting to look more and more gloomy and formidable.
WOPS
The Natural Mommy has started a little bloggy group, titled WOPS. It stands for Wives of Perpetual Students. Boy do we fit in there!
Josh just decided last week that he will be pursuing a Master's Degree, and then we'll move back East to get his PhD. This means a little over two more years here, and then four (possibly five) years back East going to school.
He'll be just barely thirty when we're done, and by then I'm willing to bet we'll have four kids. Lots of student loans, although hopefully not too many. And if all goes well, with a job as a professor we'll have them paid off within a year or two of graduation. Or do they call it matriculation? I don't even know!
At any rate, it means that to stay home with my baby (and any future babies) I do a lot of economizing.
Josh just decided last week that he will be pursuing a Master's Degree, and then we'll move back East to get his PhD. This means a little over two more years here, and then four (possibly five) years back East going to school.
He'll be just barely thirty when we're done, and by then I'm willing to bet we'll have four kids. Lots of student loans, although hopefully not too many. And if all goes well, with a job as a professor we'll have them paid off within a year or two of graduation. Or do they call it matriculation? I don't even know!
At any rate, it means that to stay home with my baby (and any future babies) I do a lot of economizing.
Enchanting
So Friday night we went on a real date! And it was so much fun.
We went out with Josh's school group and their dates/wives to see a dollar movie.
Then we went out to dinner! And had pie! It was really a magical night.
My favorite part was after the movie, sitting at the restaurant beaming at each other while we discussed the finer points of the evening's entertainment. We decided that it was a good reminder of the fine balance between optimism and so-called "realism" as well as the importance of continued courtship (and FUN!) in a marriage.
We spent more on dinner than I would have liked, but the price of the movie was great. $3 for the two of us to see a film. I love the dollar theatre.
We went out with Josh's school group and their dates/wives to see a dollar movie.
Then we went out to dinner! And had pie! It was really a magical night.
My favorite part was after the movie, sitting at the restaurant beaming at each other while we discussed the finer points of the evening's entertainment. We decided that it was a good reminder of the fine balance between optimism and so-called "realism" as well as the importance of continued courtship (and FUN!) in a marriage.
We spent more on dinner than I would have liked, but the price of the movie was great. $3 for the two of us to see a film. I love the dollar theatre.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sick, Sick, Sick
I'm really struggling with the sinus headache from hades today. I've done pretty well, all things considered. I got up and dressed, fed the baby, had my visiting teachers over (who luckily didn't bring their children--no use in other people getting sick), fed the baby again, washed some dishes, fed the baby, dozed on the couch, fed the baby, and washed some more dishes. Guy's finally fed and down for a nap. I have an hour until he wakes up and I have to go to the Community Aide meeting.
But dinner last night was a success. Thank you, America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. My absolute favorite cookbook ever, right up there with the Ultimate Mormon Cookbook and Dining on a Dime. We had chili and cornbread. I made one batch of cornbread from a mix, and the other from this recipe. I think it'd be better without the two TBSP of sugar, and two TBSP of honey, instead. Honey is a bit sweeter ounce for ounce, and I like the flavor better.
The goal this week is to work more raw food into our diet. We've done pretty well the last few days. Yesterday and Tuesday we had raw lunches, and this morning I had a raw breakfast. Josh isn't yet home, so I'm guessing he bought something on campus.
Thanks to Mutti, we have a new and fun way of making salads. The food processor! I use the slicing blade for lettuce and grape or cherry tomatoes, and then grate cucumber, pickles, olives, mushrooms, and whatever else sounds good. Throw a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top and it's delightful. It's a much denser salad, requires less spearing and chewing and leaves you feeling more full than with your standard salad.
But dinner last night was a success. Thank you, America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. My absolute favorite cookbook ever, right up there with the Ultimate Mormon Cookbook and Dining on a Dime. We had chili and cornbread. I made one batch of cornbread from a mix, and the other from this recipe. I think it'd be better without the two TBSP of sugar, and two TBSP of honey, instead. Honey is a bit sweeter ounce for ounce, and I like the flavor better.
The goal this week is to work more raw food into our diet. We've done pretty well the last few days. Yesterday and Tuesday we had raw lunches, and this morning I had a raw breakfast. Josh isn't yet home, so I'm guessing he bought something on campus.
Thanks to Mutti, we have a new and fun way of making salads. The food processor! I use the slicing blade for lettuce and grape or cherry tomatoes, and then grate cucumber, pickles, olives, mushrooms, and whatever else sounds good. Throw a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top and it's delightful. It's a much denser salad, requires less spearing and chewing and leaves you feeling more full than with your standard salad.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Saturday's Warrior
"The Circle of our love extends beyond the reach of ti-i-ime. . . "
I saw about thirty seconds of that on KBYU today. Now I've got the song stuck in my head. Woo-hoo. Or not.
So Josh is feeling better. Which is great. But now Guy and I are coming down with some kind of respiratory infection. I'm loading up on the vitamin C and E and the fluids to try to keep it at bay, but I don't know how well that will work.
In other news, after a Priesthood blessing last week, Josh and I decided he needed to quit his job (which he did) and that he needed to get a Master's degree here to prepare him for his Ph.D. So we stopped looking at graduate schools for now.
It's exciting. I like BYU, and I won't mind being here another two years. To think that we've got another four years after that is a mite daunting, but it means he'll graduate when he's 30 and I'm 28. Guy will be six, and we'll probably have two more kids. Probably several tens of thousands in student loans, but we'll just try and do what some of his professors did--pay them off in your first year of a real salary.
I feel like there's so much in my head that I can't readily commit to paper. I've been really moody the last few days. Odd, because when I should have been PMS-ing like mad, I was really cheerful. And now that I should be more normal, I'm a roller-coaster of emotions. Go figure.
Today I had ice cream for lunch. And I spent exactly as much on groceries as I said I would. And I bought more than I thought I'd be able to. That's about all I have to say for the evening.
I saw about thirty seconds of that on KBYU today. Now I've got the song stuck in my head. Woo-hoo. Or not.
So Josh is feeling better. Which is great. But now Guy and I are coming down with some kind of respiratory infection. I'm loading up on the vitamin C and E and the fluids to try to keep it at bay, but I don't know how well that will work.
In other news, after a Priesthood blessing last week, Josh and I decided he needed to quit his job (which he did) and that he needed to get a Master's degree here to prepare him for his Ph.D. So we stopped looking at graduate schools for now.
It's exciting. I like BYU, and I won't mind being here another two years. To think that we've got another four years after that is a mite daunting, but it means he'll graduate when he's 30 and I'm 28. Guy will be six, and we'll probably have two more kids. Probably several tens of thousands in student loans, but we'll just try and do what some of his professors did--pay them off in your first year of a real salary.
I feel like there's so much in my head that I can't readily commit to paper. I've been really moody the last few days. Odd, because when I should have been PMS-ing like mad, I was really cheerful. And now that I should be more normal, I'm a roller-coaster of emotions. Go figure.
Today I had ice cream for lunch. And I spent exactly as much on groceries as I said I would. And I bought more than I thought I'd be able to. That's about all I have to say for the evening.
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