Wedding Woes

Wednesday!

What's up people?

DH doesn't have strep, yay!!
I'm off work, YAY! 

I have to go in for my 30 day IUD check up...Meh. 

And I'm going to try to put a dent in my Christmas shopping today.  :D  I have the Target toy catalog at my side and my cartwheel is loaded up.  ;) 

My neighbor is a Mary Kay lady and invited me to some product preview last night.  She's an older lady (my mom's age or so) and so I was the youngest person in the room by like 25-30 years?  It was fun though and my neighbor is super duper nice.  She gave me home made applesauce and apple butter and I promised her a pan of my homemade cinnamon rolls.  ;)  She's built an entire MK studio/small apartment behind her house.  It's really nice. I was like, "So, can I come here when I'm tired of boys?"  :D 
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Re: Wednesday!

  • @mrsconn23  yay no strep, yay no work and yay free things!! My friend sells Younique, she has a huge stash. {and yet, some how I have more makeup than her ... I may be a hoarder.}

    @Heffalump  boo cold :( start drinking lemon tea with honey. Yay for your DH being off :)


    So fyi, I have a really hard time referring to my H as "H" so from now on I'll refer to him as M - it's more natural lol.

    Last night M picked me up. My eye is looking better, but I'm really sensitive to things like lights. Might be side effect of drops or just a thing with pink eye. While driving home, I had to keep ducking my head down to reduce the strain and gave up after awhile and put on my sunglasses. I felt stupid, but the strain I'm getting is giving me a headache.


    Anyways, not much last night. I cleaned the bathrooms and started the grocery list for next week. Realized that some how when he got gas the other day, they charged his card then credited it right back. He may have gotten free gas? We're not complaining, but I told him to keep an eye on his card just in case there's issues.

    We're having a house warming this weekend for family, and because it's almost xmas I'm hoping to sell some tea things as well. A few people that are coming typically buy stuff, so it wouldn't surprise me. I'm just hoping it's enough to get some money off of a few things I'm ordering for xmas gifts.
    M and I are talking about xmas stuff this weekend. We need to get on top of finding gifts and getting them. I have an idea for a few people, but not 100% sure. I'm likely getting my nana a Charmed Aroma body butter to go with her calendar, and I may bake some lemon bars again for her. She liked them last year.

    Who does xmas baking for gifts? I need some ideas! I bake for a few people, and need ideas. I'm doing brookies {brownie-cookie hybrid. If you're not familiar, I can link you to my youtube page where I made them 2 yrs ago}

    Are short breads hard to make?
  • @mrsconn23, I used to sell MK!  I actually like most of the products. especially the soft hands and soft lips.
    @shessocold. Yes. Yes trader joe's is better.  Not that i shop anywhere besides jewel, aldi or walmart supercenter.....but TJ's has great pricing and great selection.  they have a good organic selection but the frozen foods are amazing. unique and delicious.   When I host a party, I'm in the frozen section of trader joe's buying up all the unique apps.

    Yesterday was OK.  the hubby and I saw "Shut in" which was an OK thriller.  Kinda slow.  Towards the end someone was talking very loudly on their phone and then after that - it rang again.  WTH is wrong with people?  It wasn't an emergency. It was like, a casual conversation but he had to talk loud over the movie. 

  • tawillers said:

    My sister's baby shower is this weekend.  Everything is planned, I just need to finish the shopping for the tableware and I'll have to bring the cakes.  Oh, and I still need to grab a present.

    I'm also hoping for some good news in the next few days about the school job, so fingers crossed.


    Fingers crossed!  Good luck!
  • @atomicblonde, my heart breaks for you.  Take all the time you need!

  • @ShesSoCold  yay free detailing :smiley:

    @CharmedPam  people are rude ...


    Side note:
    Question for those who do the cooking in your house, do you do everything and every day?
    M and I had this discussion about dinners. It's typically defaulted to me and I actually hate cooking. M was bitching we "never have the right ingredients for things" and I told him that he never tells me. Which turned into this convo:

    M: I tell you to buy stuff with groceries and you tell me it's not in the budget
    Me: You tell me AT the grocery store. 99% of the time I'm asked there, I will say no. You need to tell me ahead of time, when I'm making the list. We shop every second Thursday, I have the list done by Tuesday and just wait on the flyer to see what's there we can save on. You want to make something? Tell me the weekend before so I can put it on list. List is God. We do not stray.
    Plus our ideas of a meal are different.
    M: your idea of a meal is like just a pork chop without a side
    Me: Excuse me for being tired. Get off your ass and make dinner or make the side. I ask but noooooo you're fucking tired. Sorry but I worked all day also.
    M: *silence*
    Me: *mutters* fucking right ...


    So .... thoughts on solution? My only actual idea is him doing all the damn cooking so he quits bitching, but I doubt that'll happen. Any middle ground or suggestions?
  • Ditto yay for no strep or work!

    Can I confess that I have never been to Trader Joe's? Is it really that great compared to other grocery stores?

    So, because we are totally out of control, I'm making another new recipe tonight. I'd planned on just frying pork chops for H (baking mine :( ) but H has been on this crazy pregnant woman style caper kick so I'm making pork piccata.

    H's boss and a car wash owner are super good friends and basically trade work. H called Boss to see if he'd get us a deal on detailing my car and waxing his truck and dude is going to do it for free, as long as it's during the week - fuck yeah! I'm hoping to drop my car off tonight, drive the truck tomorrow and swap tomorrow night.

    I know people who loooooooooove TJ's, but I'm not quite that extreme.  But I do like them.  I think everyone has their little favorites that TJ's carries.  (I resisted the cookie butter yesterday, but only barely.)  I really love their frozen croissants.  As @CharmedPam said, their appetizers are good.  They have a good selection of nuts and dried fruit.  I like their maple syrup.  Their fresh flowers are gorgeous.  Good wine and beer selection.  Oh, and cheese. 
  • @ShesSoCold  yay free detailing :smiley:

    @CharmedPam  people are rude ...


    Side note:
    Question for those who do the cooking in your house, do you do everything and every day?
    M and I had this discussion about dinners. It's typically defaulted to me and I actually hate cooking. M was bitching we "never have the right ingredients for things" and I told him that he never tells me. Which turned into this convo:

    M: I tell you to buy stuff with groceries and you tell me it's not in the budget
    Me: You tell me AT the grocery store. 99% of the time I'm asked there, I will say no. You need to tell me ahead of time, when I'm making the list. We shop every second Thursday, I have the list done by Tuesday and just wait on the flyer to see what's there we can save on. You want to make something? Tell me the weekend before so I can put it on list. List is God. We do not stray.
    Plus our ideas of a meal are different.
    M: your idea of a meal is like just a pork chop without a side
    Me: Excuse me for being tired. Get off your ass and make dinner or make the side. I ask but noooooo you're fucking tired. Sorry but I worked all day also.
    M: *silence*
    Me: *mutters* fucking right ...


    So .... thoughts on solution? My only actual idea is him doing all the damn cooking so he quits bitching, but I doubt that'll happen. Any middle ground or suggestions?


    We plan out what we're making (well, what I'm making) and make the list accordingly. We shop every week and I plan for five meals. I'll try to stretch ingredients, like if I'm buying ginger for one thing, I'll try to make another thing with ginger.

    But, I like to cook so that works for us. And I like to make lists so I do basically all the planning aside from asking H what he wants to eat this week.

    Another thing that helps me is doing a lot of prep on the weekends. If I need three chopped onions during the week, I chop three onions and put them in three baggies on Sunday so all I have to do is dump it in the pan. On a good week I won't even use a knife any other day.

    Image result for someecard betting someone half your shit youll love them forever
  • @Misskittydanger, you may not like this alternative, but DH LOVES cooking from Homechef (hellofresh, blue apron etc. etc).  In fact, it's the only time I've seen him cook.  It's convenient and delish.  At $10/meal we don't find it that expensive.  No grocery shopping and the cooking is fun (I cook sometimes too!)

  • @AtomicBlonde  Thinking of you! I completely get the watching a pet slowly get ill and debating on having to make the decision. We had that with 2 cats. One went on his own at home {day before my parents decided to take him the vet} and the other we ended up taking him to the vet because he was slowly getting ill and quality of life wasn't there.
    Take all the time you need before deciding on anything <3
  • @ShesSoCold  yay free detailing :smiley:

    @CharmedPam  people are rude ...


    Side note:
    Question for those who do the cooking in your house, do you do everything and every day?
    M and I had this discussion about dinners. It's typically defaulted to me and I actually hate cooking. M was bitching we "never have the right ingredients for things" and I told him that he never tells me. Which turned into this convo:

    M: I tell you to buy stuff with groceries and you tell me it's not in the budget
    Me: You tell me AT the grocery store. 99% of the time I'm asked there, I will say no. You need to tell me ahead of time, when I'm making the list. We shop every second Thursday, I have the list done by Tuesday and just wait on the flyer to see what's there we can save on. You want to make something? Tell me the weekend before so I can put it on list. List is God. We do not stray.
    Plus our ideas of a meal are different.
    M: your idea of a meal is like just a pork chop without a side
    Me: Excuse me for being tired. Get off your ass and make dinner or make the side. I ask but noooooo you're fucking tired. Sorry but I worked all day also.
    M: *silence*
    Me: *mutters* fucking right ...


    So .... thoughts on solution? My only actual idea is him doing all the damn cooking so he quits bitching, but I doubt that'll happen. Any middle ground or suggestions?

    I do most all of the cooking, H does the clean up and most of the grocery shopping (although I do all the Costco trips because he hates that place). We make a list (actually keep a running list on the chalkboard in the kitchen) and do not stray. 

    I found doing a lot of prep on Sunday evenings has helped. I make a soup each week so we have something to take for lunch, but also for nights when I get home late or we both have something to do. I also do a ton shredded chicken breast with a sauce and freeze it so I can take it out in the morning and then all I have to do is make the side and not do a main+ sides all in one night. 

    I'd also say keep some easy meals in the freezer. We always have frozen shrimp or fish, which can thaw quickly so all I have to do is take that out then do a quick, easy stir fry or pasta for a meal. I rarely cook anything that takes longer than 30 minutes, because there just isn't time in the evening. 
  • @CharmedPam  I've toyed with the idea, but tbh I'd like to get into the habit of cooking more before deciding to do it. I don't want to decide to order it then it going bad because we aren't into the habit yet :(
    It's just super frustrating because I have to do groceries, meal planning {ie; take something out night before or morning of} then cook it and him winding up bitching about it or not eating. Legit makes me want to kick him in the face - and he knows.
  • @charlotte989875  I've thought about doing huge meal prep once a week but don't know how to really start. How did you start doing it? I've seen a bunch of pins on pinterest about crock pot meal preps, but the idea is soooo daunting!
  • yeah, we stopped using the service last year because we just got so lazy and ate out so often.  On the same note of the trader joe's discussion, do you have one near you?  They have super good frozen meals that are pre-made or semi-pre made.  The orange chicken is the bomb.  You wouldn't use them every night, but maybe pop something into the oven on nights when neither of you feel like cooking?




  • Side note:
    Question for those who do the cooking in your house, do you do everything and every day?
    M and I had this discussion about dinners. It's typically defaulted to me and I actually hate cooking. M was bitching we "never have the right ingredients for things" and I told him that he never tells me. Which turned into this convo:

    M: I tell you to buy stuff with groceries and you tell me it's not in the budget
    Me: You tell me AT the grocery store. 99% of the time I'm asked there, I will say no. You need to tell me ahead of time, when I'm making the list. We shop every second Thursday, I have the list done by Tuesday and just wait on the flyer to see what's there we can save on. You want to make something? Tell me the weekend before so I can put it on list. List is God. We do not stray.
    Plus our ideas of a meal are different.
    M: your idea of a meal is like just a pork chop without a side
    Me: Excuse me for being tired. Get off your ass and make dinner or make the side. I ask but noooooo you're fucking tired. Sorry but I worked all day also.
    M: *silence*
    Me: *mutters* fucking right ...


    So .... thoughts on solution? My only actual idea is him doing all the damn cooking so he quits bitching, but I doubt that'll happen. Any middle ground or suggestions?
    We have the same problem, though somewhat reversed. He had said he didn't mind doing the majority of cooking since he is home way before me but I should be the one to meal plan. Fine but then some days I come home and he ate a big lunch and doesn't want to cook or is just so tired that he can't cook (eye roll). I've never minded cooking, he's the one who brought up him cooking most of the time anyway. But he doesn't communicate any of this in advance so I never know if I'm going to be coming home and he is cooking or if it's one of his magical days where he eats too much, is tired, or just doesn't want what is planned. And then eventually it leads to a big fight. Or he says well sometimes I just need a break from cooking - uh dude it isn't like you're cooking every single night, let alone making anything gourmet or difficult and I step in plenty of times despite working later, going to the gym, oh and being pregnant. 

    So no, I have no thoughts on a solution or compromise, just solidarity 
  • @charlotte989875  I've thought about doing huge meal prep once a week but don't know how to really start. How did you start doing it? I've seen a bunch of pins on pinterest about crock pot meal preps, but the idea is soooo daunting!
    I started with something really easy-- crockpot soups. H and I both like this one http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/potato-soup. And this Roasted Red Pepper one, http://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-red-pepper-soup/; it doesn't need to be done in a crock pot, but I liked it better that way.  Both Cooking Light and Skinny Taste have really easy soup recipes, many of which can be served alone, or on a bed of rice if you need something more fulfilling. 

    Here's an easy way to do shredded chicken in a slow cooker, http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-easy-shredded-chicken-in-the-slow-cooker-231481 or in a pan http://www.food.com/recipe/my-famous-shredded-chicken-205760. When I first started doing this I used bottled BBQ sauce or Buffalo wing sauce, that way it was easier to freezer and have ready to go during the week. 

    I usually pick a recipe that has fewer ingredients, less more me to buy and prep. 
  • @MissKittyDanger, I do most of the cooking in the house.  DH USUALLY cleans up.  

    I do my grocery shopping, alone, on Fridays.  DH will pick something up if there's a "food emergency," but we're so far out of town now that it's become quite an ordeal to go to the store, so the last thing we want is to realize, SHIT WE'RE OUT OF MILK.  I plan the list very carefully throughout the week.  Inventories of things like pantry items, freezer foods, and spices are critical.  

    Once a month, we go to Sam's Club or Costco and load up on meats (chicken, beef, pork, I get my fish at Harris Teeter) and then freeze it.  The freezer is organized by protein, and before I go to work in the morning, I'll just pull some kind of meat out of the freezer, throw it in the fridge to thaw with a recipe already in mind (or spend about 10 minutes looking for something new if I'm feeling ambitious and know I have all the ingredients), and we'll typically have a rice or pasta side to go with it and a fresh veggie dish.  All in, including prep (which I love, for whatever reason), dinner takes about 30 minutes to prepare and cook each night.  I only cook 3-4 nights out of the week, and we eat leftovers the other nights.

    I don't really get all fancy schmancy with new recipes, unless it's like a Friday or Saturday when I have the time to experiment/get the random-as-hell fish oil or other obscure ingredient I'll never use again that it calls for, but that's more of a mental effort rather than a physical thing for me.  We have a binder of go-to recipes we use, and I make sure that I always have what I need for those meals on hand.  We have also toyed with the subscription meal service idea, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

    I have tossed around the idea of those freezer meals you see all over Pinterest, where you do all the prep for like a month of crockpot meals in a day, and just dump it in the crockpot in the morning, but I haven't gotten around to doing that yet (not sure we've unpacked it yet, anyway).

    Oh, and pizza night is every second Friday.  Homemade, of course.


    "And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me..."
    --Philip Pullman

  • @MissKittyDanger, I do most of the cooking in the house.  DH USUALLY cleans up.  

    I do my grocery shopping, alone, on Fridays.  DH will pick something up if there's a "food emergency," but we're so far out of town now that it's become quite an ordeal to go to the store, so the last thing we want is to realize, SHIT WE'RE OUT OF MILK.  I plan the list very carefully throughout the week.  Inventories of things like pantry items, freezer foods, and spices are critical.  

    Once a month, we go to Sam's Club or Costco and load up on meats (chicken, beef, pork, I get my fish at Harris Teeter) and then freeze it.  The freezer is organized by protein, and before I go to work in the morning, I'll just pull some kind of meat out of the freezer, throw it in the fridge to thaw with a recipe already in mind (or spend about 10 minutes looking for something new if I'm feeling ambitious and know I have all the ingredients), and we'll typically have a rice or pasta side to go with it and a fresh veggie dish.  All in, including prep (which I love, for whatever reason), dinner takes about 30 minutes to prepare and cook each night.  I only cook 3-4 nights out of the week, and we eat leftovers the other nights.

    I don't really get all fancy schmancy with new recipes, unless it's like a Friday or Saturday when I have the time to experiment/get the random-as-hell fish oil or other obscure ingredient I'll never use again that it calls for, but that's more of a mental effort rather than a physical thing for me.  We have a binder of go-to recipes we use, and I make sure that I always have what I need for those meals on hand.  We have also toyed with the subscription meal service idea, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

    I have tossed around the idea of those freezer meals you see all over Pinterest, where you do all the prep for like a month of crockpot meals in a day, and just dump it in the crockpot in the morning, but I haven't gotten around to doing that yet (not sure we've unpacked it yet, anyway).

    Oh, and pizza night is every second Friday.  Homemade, of course.
    We do this Thursday. Thursday Night Football and homemade pizza. 
  • I wish I could help @MissKittyDanger but I can't relate.

    DH works 4-7 nights a week depending on the time of year.  When I'm not working dinner time myself, I'm solely responsible for my own dinner.  The  times DH is home, he is kind-of anti-planning.  Actually gets annoyed if I ask at breakfast what he wants for dinner.   Not really into left-overs either. It's so annoying.   At least he does cook.  At least one night we go out.

    I do a combination of bulk cooking and very simple meals.    For bulk meals my Food Saver is my BFF. I will make a huge batch of mini-meatballs and sauce.   We will eat that for a day or so.  Either as sandwiches (mostly DH) or paired with pasta (mostly me).  Then I will make about 7-9 individual packs and freeze them.  I do the same with pulled pork.      All I have to do is pullout a pack, throw it in boiling water. Maybe add pasta or something else and in 15-25 minutes I have a hot meal with little work. 


    Other meals are just simple proteins, starch and veggies.  I just simply grill or bake the proteins.     I'm known to buy the microwavable rice bowls (they are more expensive, but worth it too me. You can make your own and freeze them.) Might be potatoes which are easy to cook.  Veggies are simple.  Including prep most of meals are around 30 minutes, with little prep.  

    At least once a week it's a simple sandwich or salad.     I always have a general plan on what I will be eating, but not hard core that Tuesday HAS to be 'x'.  I'm flexible based on my schedule and wants at the time.  

    I'm not one to eat the same meals (or even proteins) every day.   Some people will make a roasted chicken.  The first night just have that. Next night chicken tacos, next night a soup made from the chicken.  Next night, whatever.  Or they will make chill for the whole week.  Nothing wrong with that, it's not me at all.  I like a little more variety.  

    For me the key is to get a good freezer stock pile.  I always have something in my freezer than I can just pull out if I'm not in the mood to be a creative cook that night.  






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I would cook every day if it weren't for the prep work. 

    I baked a cake and made frosting last night for my son's birthday. He wants to go to El Chico which used to be really popular here, but now there's only 3 in the state and none are conveniently located. I'm not sure H is going to be able to be there because he works such odd hours. 

    Speaking of H...his boss pulled him into the office yesterday and told him that next year they'll be hiring another warehouse manager and he's the top pick!

    Went for my glucose tolerance test this morning and feel wonky. I hope this feeling goes away quickly.
  • @AtomicBlonde - Loved your post for the picture, not the sadness you are going through.

    @MissKittyDanger - Who gets home first?  I used to do all the cooking, but that was when H ran his karate school and didn't get home until late.  Now that its closed, he is home first and usually has dinner ready when I'm home from work. I will offer to cook when I get home, usually if he had a hard day or gets a migraine.  I will also start crock pot meals in the morning to give him a day off as well.  I usually do most of the cooking on the weekends.

    Another thing is stuff we prepare ahead of time.  We bulk buy our meats at BJs and vacuum seal them at home.  We will usually pre marinade half of the meat so that as it thaws, it marinades itself and that's one less thing to worry about. I also bulk make meatballs and pre-portion them, so on pasta night, just grab the one packet of meatballs and start cooking them with the sauce.  I also bulk make and can my sauce each fall and its lasts the whole year.  I also rely on Knorr pasta and rice sides to make easy side dishes. 

    Yesterday our day was mostly uneventful.  Got home, ate dinner, headed to my sisters to get cake, and then a Target run.  The cake was so good! 

    We then settled in to get our new car insurance set up.  I was then supremely annoyed that after we paid our initial plan premium, they told us my car, which is only a 2011 needed to be inspected by one of their approved facilities.  Uh, what the heck? Thanks for taking my money first - jerks!  I have never had to have a car inspected prior to getting insurance coverage!  And I just had it inspected by the state last month, why isn't that good enough?  H was nice enough to offer to switch cars so he can take it on lunch or after work.

    After my annoyance wore off, we watched some TV and then went to bed.  Got the stethoscope out and listened to baby's heartbeat before drifting off.  I let H get a listen in as well.  Just hearing that beat helps when my anxiety starts up.

    Yoga tonight after work and then more vedging out!

  • @OliveOilsMom we used to have to have people come in for inspections to be sure there wasn't any existing damage when I worked for GEICO. I can't remember the reasons behind it because it wasn't every time. 
  • @OliveOilsMom  same time. He typically picks me up, unless he works late and I bus - then I make dinner.
    Seems like best idea - like you and others mentioned - is prepping meals. Might be easiest :)
  • @MissKittyDanger - I do a lot of bulk cooking over a weekend and freeze stuff into dinner portions. i usually get home later than DK, so he will defrost something and maybe make a side or 2. (generally sides take less than 10-15 minutes and require minimal chopping/cooking/etc.)

    i plan ahead for the cooking day and pick out like 4-6 different dishes to make on average - usually have both crock pots going, something(s) in the oven, and something on the stove. I might also grill, or use the smoker. (on smoker days, we usually have no less than 3 things in there - and multiple portions of each). 

    I make enough of each meal that we can get ~3-5 dinners out of it. (e.g. if i'm going to the trouble to make lasagna, i might as well make 3 lasagnas, if i make soup it's going to be a stock pot or crock pot full, i'll make a massive ham or turkey even though there are 3 of us).

    I maybe do this once every 6 weeks or so - depends on how much we're travelling and how well stocked the freezer and chest freezer are.

    for the most part, our sides are steamed veggies (either fresh or frozen), fresh fruit, and/or maybe some sort of starch/pasta - all of which are pretty simple. 

    i like to cook and try new things, but i also don't usually feel like it on weeknights. 
  • HeffalumpHeffalump member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited November 2016
    Hugs, AtomicBlonde.

    @MissKittyDanger, have him shop for whatever he's making. DH usually cooks on Sundays, and he'll go out and buy whatever we don't have on hand. I always tell him I'll pick up whatever he needs when I'm putting in our weekly order, but he's a last minute kind of guy, so that doesn't happen. Your H is a grown up: if he wants something specific, there is no Magic Dinner Fairy, it's all on him.

    We use the crock pot a lot, to save time. I do as much prep as I can on the weekends and then just dump everything in before I walk out the door. If I cook on the weekends, I always try to make enough for leftovers. And there are some quick go-tos I keep around: the kids are always delighted with hot dog wraps or breakfast for dinner even though it feels pretty fuckeffort from my side.

    ETA: we also do Switchin Kitchens, which is like Dream Dinners or whatever other chain where you buy the prepped meals and make them at home. Those are great when we're busy.

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