22, 23 and TGIF

I can't make this long. I spend all day working from the computer. I spent so much time on this thing today, that little man was climbing the walls to get my attention. (poor guy!)

I wanted to post last night, but I just couldn't. I'm under a big deadline right now with work and it required all of my attention until the wee hours. Same thing tonight, but I just couldn't go two days without an update - lest some of you start assuming you could find me at the local "On the Border". (and come 7 more days, you just might indeed!)


Day 22 Menu:

Breakfast - Cereal. Cereal. Cereal. I luv cereal.
Lunch - Leftover Chili (and mister Q ate him a whole little bowl of it! - that cutie!
Dinner - AB made a lovely steak, with pasta and spinach. Sooooo good and filling. The steak was both seasoned to perfection and cooked perfectly. Best steak I've had in a while...


Day 23 Menu:

Breakfast - Cereal. Cereal. Cereal. I luv cereal. I also love the cut and paste feature.
Lunch - Beef and Cheese Taquitos w. sour cream. (frozen)
Dinner - We were on our own tonight, as AB had to work late. We stuck with Mommy's standby dishes: Grilled Cheese for Quint and Mac n Cheese for mommy. Boo!


I'm thinking the next two days will be better, since Anton will be around to make us some scrummy yummy dishes. Whahoo! I'm also thinking that if I can get this work project over with, I'll have more time to tell you all about my sucky tax return, my latest thoughts on motherhood and how they've morphed over the last year, and why I love Lost.

Yeah, yeah...ok...21

So we made it to 21 without spending...or "incident" as we like to call it. Here in the cocoon of 30 Days, I'm feeling more and more itchy to be done. I feel like it's so close I can taste it...err...smell it? I'm gonna have to stick with taste it. Yeah. Chipotle...mama's comin'.

I bet you're thinking I've learned nothing - but in fact, that is a whole post unto itself and I am giving myself the full 30 days to perspective-ize (not a word, but it is now) on how this process has impacted us for the good and not so good.

Skipping to the food part - here was today's menu ~

Breakfast: Cereal. I know you must think I'm either cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs or just a really bad creature of habit. But the truth is, I don't even really like breakfast. I'm not a morning person in the slightest small iota of a morsel and I prefer very much to have the blissful option of sleeping through the morning hours - traffic, school buses, coffee, morning papers, and all that AM nonsense that I like to be in R.E.M for. (zzzzzzz.....zzzzzzzz) Because I no longer have that option and since my son and his father rise with the sun - I must convert to eating the only meal of the day I am happily prone to skipping. So since I have to get energy somehow - I grab the easiest and quickest form I can find - and one that does not involve pots, pans, heat of any kind, and/or effort beyond open and pour then scoop and crunch. There. Got that off my chest. Whew.

Lunch: Picnic Lunch at AB's work - pics to follow because that little boy of ours is a genuine CUTIE.



I love this picture below - they were having an intent conversation as only a Daddy and his little boy can over a picnic lunch. Love it!



Dinner: Ok party foodies - AB is back! Take a gander at this one:


Let me describe this meal to you as only my pallet, which so very recently enjoyed the very plate of food you are gazing at, can. It was such good pasta. I could go on and on - but perfectly cooked and very slightly al dente. It was a garlic and herb blend from our local pasta store. (Yes, I said local pasta store) What? You don't have one? Seriously, pack up your stuff and move. Because this was some of the best pasta I have ever had - and I am a carb junkie. It was just so good. BUT: AB made this incredibly tasty chicken and lemon cream sauce to go with it. It was light and wonderful. Anton used the word "bright". And that was true...it was a bright flavor. Not to be forgotten was a dollop of AB's homemade Creme Freche. OMG. People. Seriously. It is not right that I get this food all to myself. Just not right. I swear to you - I can't make this crap up.


On another note!

I received two different awards this week from friends and so I must at least share my good fortune and pass a little love back to them for having nominated my blog.

First, from Cora over at "Waiting for Little Miss What's Her Name" who kindly nominated Bushel and a Peck for the "Fabulous Blog Award". Thank you so much my friend! I'm so glad we've connected through this crazy blogger road map. I am honored to receive such kudos from you and appreciate the props mucho mucho!


Second, I also received a "Lovey Award" from Vickie over at "Our Journey to Jadyn Nicole". Thank you, thank you my dearest! It is a small world and such a wonderful way that we found each other. I can't wait to meet Jadyn! It's amazing the people you meet and find along this winding road of adoption and life, isn't it?

Here's the problem I run into with the awards. It is darn near impossible for me to nominate just 3 or 5 or 8 of you for these. I love so many of you and follow your blogs faithfully (despite being a terrible, terrible commenter). I hate breaking award chains for fear of bad karma, hurt feelings, or flat tires. But I just can't do it. I absolutely can't leave anyone out. It just kills me. Not withstanding the fact that if these two lovely ladies hadn't been kind enough to nominate others, then I could not be selfishly lamenting now about my woe. So, rather than nominate 5 or 8 - I'm just going to pick one for each and leave it alone at that. Picking five leads to eight leads to twelve and then I'm just listing my entire blogroll. I love you all!

For the "Fabulous Blog Award" I would like to send a shout out to my girl Eloise over at "Weasel's Journey". She is just a beautiful person with a beautiful family and so many rich stories to tell about their travels around the world. Every time she posts about another cool place they've been to, I feel like I've been there too after reading her blog. I just think she's the cat's meow! Also, meeting her and Dots at Meisey's homecoming was a very cool treat for my little blogger self! Hugs my sista!

For the "Lovey Award" I simply must give this to my gal pal Stephanie over at "Wises 3". Love her. Love her blog. Love her artwork and creativity. And love day-dreaming that we could travel together and lean on each other in China when our girls are handed over to us. That would be so freaking cool. Meanwhile, she is a lovey, and I'm so glad to know her - even if we are separated by 3000 miles. Big smoocharoonie SW!

Now, if you both play by the rules (which I shamefully did not) you must nominate some fabulous blogs on your own blogroll. You pick the number, but I think it's supposed to be between 5 and 8 nods. Either way, I award you just the same. Consider yourself duly awarded. Other than a graphic and knowing I luvs ya, I'm not sure what else you get, besides maybe a few extra hits to your blog as the curious wander over to visit you.

Meanwhile, I'm off to bed and day 22. Lord help me, I can hear Chipotle calling my name at 3am.

Seacrest out. (I'm so glad he doesn't say that anymore...it really was lame-o)

Speaking of American Idolfixedriggedshow - can you freaking believe whoseitwhatshisname last night blubbering and telling the judges what a hard life he's had and how singing is.... "It's on my skin and bursts out of me every time I'm on stage and I don't know why". Oh gag me with a spoon. I wanted to vomit into my hat. What's even worse is that his sorry stankin' backside is still around even after tonight when he was another pukefest with his drama for your mama in his sucky group. Was it just me? Did anyone else want to fast forward once he started crying again...I was in agony. Pure awkwardness. Shudder. But I love it!

Two thirds and just plain tired of it...

Gosh. For the first time in 20 days, I was really tired of this challenge tonight. Not just a little bit tired of it...a lot tired of it.

After spending a day dealing with my cranky teething toddler man, I decided we needed to get out of the house. So we took a nice long walk around the neighborhood. Wear him out a little, you see. Well, it worked and second nap came and went. But still, the need to get out came upon me and I decided to get creative.

We packed a little lunch for Q-man and Momma grabbed up a $5 gift card for Sonic that I had been sitting on since my birthday. I figured, heck - if we're not spending money, what can it hurt.

So off we went to the mall and started our time by playing in the kiddo area. He had a ball - until he remembered he was hungry - which led to a mini-meltdown. So we went to the food court and headed for Sonic. Now here's where my story takes a "tired" turn. After carefully ordering three items from the $1 menu, (a small tot, a jr. burger, a small drink...seeing a theme here?) I handed over my gift card, only to find out that it only had a few dollars left on it and that I would owe $.08. Fine. Whatever. Here's your $.08. As we sat down, and I began to nosh on my burger and tots, I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself. (insert chagrin and rolled eyes here). I was just so sick of this challenge, I could have puked. How silly was it that I carefully plucked through their stupid $1 menu and then couldn't even "afford" that? Even my attempt at being good, back-fired a little. And it left me feeling tired of it. Sick of trying to be good. Sick and tired of trying to figure out where our money goes every month (ahem). Tired of having to count out every expenditure and add up every penny. Just tired of it. I freaking have the money in my bank account to pay for a stupid meal at Sonic. I even felt a little self-conscience standing there at the counter and ordering so painstakingly careful while Quint whined and cried in his stroller. Just pitiful.

Once we finished eating, and I had some time to process how I was feeling - I did recall the real reason we are doing this. Because we spend too often, on too little, and have nothing to show for it. Because all those little swipes add up to an empty checking account. Not because we can't afford a burger and some tots...but because we can afford them that we all too often over-extend ourselves without even realizing it. The end of the month comes and we wonder "what the heck?"

Now we have an adoption to miraculously fund in the next six months, and if we don't suffer a little self-pity and strong willpower - then we'll find ourselves sitting out come referral time. And I'm not even kidding. The challenge wasn't just about eating out. It was about spending all the time - when there is likely no reason whatsoever to. And all that "no reason to" spending has really got to stop. Much better to say...bring our kids home. Or fund their college accounts. Maybe reduce some ridiculous debt that's just hanging on for dear life? But to look back and say..."yeah, we spent it on burgers and tots". Just pathetic.

Today's Menu: Sorry, once again - no pics. AB couldn't be home for dinner - so that's the reason I even had some gush to whine about above.

Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Egg Salad Sandwiches with Pringles. They were delicious!
Dinner - well, you already know - but burger, tots, and drink. Quint had pb&j with cheese and crackers

Ten more days and two thirds down...

Sorry, sorry...the days are getting away from me

I'm not used to posting daily - those of you who have followed for a long time already know this. I'm actually a little bit lazy in the blogger dept. so this is highly unusual behavior - for me to post daily. So, sorry, sorry, apologies all around...

I'm going to keep this short and sweet again, in the interest of time and taking me weary derriere to bed.

The last two days have gone by smooth sailing - no slip-ups or breakdowns.

Day 18 was easy, because I was feeling pretty miserable with this ugh I've got. I skipped church (oops) to get some extra sleep, which really did give me a boost. AB took Q to church and Mommy had some quiet time - it was really nice to sleep...I can't remember the last time I slept so sound, knowing that Quint was taken care of.


Yesterday's Menu ~

Breakfast: Nuttin' - slept through it - yaaay!

Lunch: Hotdogs and chili

Dinner: AB's 40 Clove Garlic Chicken - let me just say that even though I have no picture - this is the best stinkin' chicken ever. I can't even put it into words - you'll just have to trust me. And I'll get a pic next time. Ohhh, it's soooo good!

Superbowl was exciting, but I was truly bummed that AZ couldn't pull it out in the end. Boo hoo!

Day Nineteen ~

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: What a miserable joke. We tried to eat the rest of the frozen mini pizzas, but the crust was hard, and they were a little bit freezer burned. It just didn't work out. So we tried some hotdogs, but Q-man had a major meltdown and it was all lost appetite from there...sigh.

Dinner: I made chili again and cornbread (thanks, V! for the tip) and we took it over to a friend who is presently minus his other half. She's traveling on business and he's got the twin boys (under a year!). So we had a nice visit with him and we all loved the chili. Yum! And yes, in case you're thinking it, we have been eating a lot of chili lately - but what the heck - it's good!

I did make a trip to the grocery store today and spent $40. We needed eggs, bread, water, and some other small necessities. I was pretty proud of myself for getting out of there and not being tempted to invade their Valentines isle. Ok, I was tempted. But to help myself out, I didn't even go down the isle. Gulp. Can't say it wasn't hard to just look. But you and I know that looking would have led to the justification of 3lbs of devine chocolate in various heart shaped containers as a necessity. And you might even tend to agree with me out of pity or depending on the day/time of the month, right?

For those of you taking on the 30-days of Nothin' or Empty Pantry - please let me know how you're doing - I love getting your updates and seeing your progress!

Back for day 20 and some thoughts on the challenge...