7 Quick Takes: March 26, 2010 (Vol. 35)

~ 1 ~

At the end of last week, I declared to Eric one night at dinner, "I need a PDA." Then, in my defense, I did follow that up with, "Hang on -- did I see need?  I meant I want one."

I went looking around on Amazon that night and saw that one of the things that came up again and again as something that other customers bought instead of one of the PDAs was an iPod Touch.  Hey!  I have an iPod Touch! 

That's when I sat down and realized that all of the things that I really wanted from a PDA were also things that my iPod Touch can already do.  I did buy one extra app, but $4.99 is definitely a lot cheaper than a PDA. 

I was so proud of myself!

~ 2 ~

I have yet to find anything to watch regularly from 11:30 pm - 12:30 am on TV. 

I still miss you, Conan.

~ 3 ~

I've been having a strong desire lately to unfriend some people on Facebook.  It's not that they have annoyed me or even that I know specifically who it would be (I have some ideas though).  But, when I have people that I only kind of knew in passing on an online message board or people that I went to school with but never remember talking to, it just seems silly.  But, then I don't want to make waves and take the chance at hurting anyone's feelings.

Then again, if I feel like I barely know them and would likely never comment on their statuses, they probably wouldn't notice if we weren't "friends" anymore.  (And, chances are, if you're reading this and feel that we actually are friends, I'm probably not thinking about unfriending you.  So, don't worry.)

Thoughts on this?

~ 4 ~

Holy Cow!  This week's episode of The Big Bang Theory was hilarious!

"A neutron walks into a bar and says, 'How much for a drink?' The bartender says, 'For you - no charge.'"

I laughed at this episode until I almost cried.

(I was extra thrilled then to find a Flash Gordon shirt for Noah at Once Upon a Child this week.  If you watch the show, you will understand my excitement.)

~ 5 ~

In anticipation for moving my blog to self-hosted WordPress, I am going to start selling ads for Many Little Blessings more actively.  They will be higher on the page than they are now (much higher), and I am starting the pricing off pretty darn low.  (Really low, especially considering that I tend to get my best traffic at this time of year.)

If you have a small business, this is a great opportunity to get a great rate on advertising.  Please contact me if you want more information about advertising here (or on any of my blogs, such as Catholic Mothers Online or The Homeschool Classroom).

~ 6 ~

Last weekend found us at my new favorite furniture store.  I mentioned it in #5 of my quick takes two weeks ago.  (It was the furniture store that gives a huge discount for paying with cash.  Love it!)

I'm now not allowed in there for a while. 

No, I didn't cause a scene or anything crazy like that.  It just seems that what with buying a desk for Molly and an awesome bunk bed last time, and then buying a love seat and a head board at our last trip, Eric thinks it's best for us not to go there for a while. 

On the up side though, the kids now have a great love seat for the play room (which used to be the school room), and we saved $45 off the price by using cash!  Love it!

~ 7 ~

I had realized that today (the 26th) was going to be my Grandma's birthday a few weeks ago, but then forgot about it until my Mom mentioned it on the phone.  I don't know why the whole thing still seems pretty surreal.  What I seem to have the biggest mental block on is that I just can't imagine that someone else lives in her apartment now.  That seems like such a funny sticking point, doesn't it?

Happy Birthday, Grandma.  We miss you.







This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.


lemonade stand photo by shaletann

7 Quick Takes: March 12, 2010 (Vol. 33)

~ 1 ~

I got to have the loveliest experience this week.  I sat for two hours in the waiting room of an occupational therapy/physical therapy clinic while Jack had two different appointments.

That may sound like I'm being sarcastic, but, the beauty in it was that Eric had taken the afternoon off of work.  So, it was just me and my iPod.  I listened to some of my playlists while I did things like cutting out little books for my preschool co-op class and making felt cookies (and text messaging Eric from time to time).

It was just the kind of break I needed.  Not just from the kids, but from the computer too.  It was nice to just be.

~ 2 ~

This week, we had not only our first thunderstorm of the year, but also the first time that we ate at a restaurant and sat outside too.  I keep thinking that it's going to suddenly snow again, because this just seems too good to be true.  It's been an awfully long winter.

What are some of your signs of Spring?

~ 3 ~

I am already in the mood for the chocolate molten lava cakes again.  That is not such a good choice for working on eating better and losing weight.  I think I just need to wait until we have my parents over for dinner again, that way there is less of them to go around.

~ 4 ~

On Saturday, we went to Home Depot for their monthly kids workshop.  We made rain gauges, and they are so cool! (This was more fun than the time we went and they ran out of the project, so we had to make a project with paint stirring sticks.)

It was so fun to see the kids working on projects.  And, even more fun was watching Eric show them how to do it.  I love that man.

If you have kids in the target age for Home Depot's kids workshops, they are the first Saturday of each month from 9 am until noon.  You don't have to register -- just show up!  (And it's free!)

April's project will be a butterfly house and May's project will be a picket fence planter.

~ 5 ~

After we whipped up some rain gauges, we went to a furniture store that we have never been to before.  They have a lot of discounted new furniture, as well as used furniture.  It was just about the coolest thing ever!

One of my favorite parts was that they give a discount for cash.  And, I'm not talking about a tiny discount either.  It made me absolutely giddy for some reason.

We left with a child size desk (Molly sized) that has five drawers, is made of real wood, and was too cute.  It looks like it has been painted at least five times -- so it has obviously seen a lot of use.  It was $45.  Or, for cash, it was $30.  That little girl has been using it constantly.  That is best $30 I have spent in quite a while.

~ 6 ~

While we were at the furniture store, we also saved about $40 by paying cash for a (new in box) bunk bed!  It was one of their most expensive bunk beds they had, but it was still far below what bunk beds cost elsewhere.

Do you know my favorite part?

No, you're wrong -- it wasn't the $40 cash discount.  It's stairs.  This bunk bed doesn't have a ladder -- it has stairs!  And the stairs each have a drawer in them.  So cool!

~ 7 ~

If you're Catholic, you absolutely must go check out one of my new favorite sites -- Catholic Icing.  Not only does it feature the coolest Catholic projects and crafts, but Lacy (the gal that runs it) is super sweet.




The only thing I don't like about Catholic Icing is that I get hungry every time I go visit the blog.  Be warned, you might get hungry too.







This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.

7 Quick Takes: February 12, 2010 (Vol. 29)

~ 1 ~

I still haven't gotten caught up from Blissdom 2010.  I promise that it is my intention to write about it very, very soon.  But, here is a sneak peek of my Blissdom experience (one of the few pictures I got)...

 

That's me, George Duran (formerly of Food Network's Ham on the Street and now on TLC with Ultimate Cake Off), and Holly from Saving For Eight (who is super sweet and was a pleasure to meet).

~ 2 ~

In my quest to get caught up on life after Blissdom, I was almost relieved to have not one but two snow days this week.  I have a strong stance on taking snow days in our homeschool, although by the second day, I did ask the kids if they wanted to go ahead and do school anyway.  I was not surprised to get an immediate, "No," from them.

~ 3 ~

In all the busyness of getting ready to go out of town, being out of town, and then trying to get caught back up, I have over 800 entries waiting to be read in my Google Reader.  *gulp*

Have any great tips for working through it more quickly (short of just hitting "mark all as read")?

~ 4 ~

I have a confession to make.  I am 33 years old, and I bought my first pair of high heel shoes about two weeks ago, per Eric's request, after we went through and got rid of about 1/3 of the clothes in my closet.  They are about 2.5 inch heels, and that allows me to wear them and be a lot closer to looking Eric right in the eye.  Very fun. 

And then, after wearing them to church one evening, along with a dark pair of flaired jeans, a black blazer, and a red top, I got several compliments (including someone who noticed that I had lost some weight).  This was definitely a sign that we were right in trying to cull some of the things out of my closet and find better choices of what to wear.

~ 5 ~

Are you a Catholic homeschooler or Catholic Mom of children who are still at home?  Would you be willing to check out a cool resource that we've been working on?  If so, drop me an email.

~ 6 ~

I'll never be one of those women that can go to the grocery store and get $400 worth of groceries for $1.85.  It's just not going to happen.  But, I was thrilled this week to go to Kroger and get $300 worth of groceries for $200.  WooHoo!

Between some great coupons, Kroger plus card sales, and then a deal they were having where you got $5 off for every 10 items you bought from a certain list of items, I saved us $94 on our grocery bill. 

But, don't feel bad if you're not a great grocery shopper -- I'll spend way too much money next time I go, I'm sure.  So, it will all even out in the end.

~ 7 ~

A tiny little Blissdom take away message that really spoke to me (about why people come to your blog)...

They come to hear your voice.

 

 

 

 

 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.

photos by: shoes mania  /  piggly wiggly supermarket

7 Quick Takes: December 11, 2009 (Volume 24)

~ 1 ~

I have recently read about a lot of people doing more relaxed schooling during December (or some portion of December).  I thought this sounded like a great idea, and so we started doing just that this week.  Of course, with having had a busy week, it was an easy decision.

While we have continued with math lessons and practicing piano each day (and social studies read alouds for the week), our days this week having also been filled with activities like: games, Legos, problem solving at the grocery store, going to Mass, a science lesson of watching someone's heart on an echocardiogram (thanks for taking one for the team, Jack), some video/TV watching (MythBusters one afternoon, and The Nativity Story one night after a Reconciliation Service), lots of free reading time, crafts, and whatever else pops into our head that has educational merit that is something we don't normally do.  Can I just tell you how fun it has been?

Next week, we are looking forward to doing some baking as part of school, as well as Christmas "party" school day with one of our favorite homeschooling families.

~ 2 ~

Happy Birthday today to one of the best men I know -- my Dad.  We love you like crazy!

~ 3 ~

 Why is it that my kids all name jobs that they want to do when they grow up that have nothing to do with going to college?  It's not that I'm a snob about it, but darn it -- I want those kids to all go to college.  When I was their age, I was saying that I wanted to be a teacher.

What do my kids want to be?

1. A Walmart employee (or maybe a hotel owner -- so there may be some hope for college there!)

2. A Build-a-Bear Workshop employee

3. A hair stylist, ballerina, tap dancer who works at Noah's hotel (see number one)

Good thing you aren't allowed to pick your profession when you're five years old, huh?

~ 4 ~

I love kids books that crack me up.  This week, we read Falling For Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox, and that's exactly what happened.  Everyone in the house laughed about it.  It is such a cute story, works on rhyming, and is just down right hilarious.  (It would seem that Rapunzel just can't hear what Prince Charming is saying while she is high in her tower.)

If you haven't read it, be sure to either pick it up or check it out from the library.  Too cute!

"Rapunzel, do you have any rope?"

Rapunzel dropped a cantaloupe. 

~ 5 ~

 Just love the new Dockers "Wear the Pants" campaign that they started.  If you haven't seen it yet, go check it out.

~ 6 ~

 The baby shower that I threw for my sister-in-law last weekend went really well!  It was nice to have so many people over, and she and her husband got a lot of great things.

And, as a side bonus -- we got our house so clean!  Thanks to everyone in the house (and my Mom too!) for helping to clean the house and get food ready.

~ 7 ~

I've been working on knitting (with my loom) a blanket for Christmas.  Christmas is now two weeks away, and while it is the correct width, it is only about nine inches long right now.  I'm either going to have to get to work or I'm going to end up wrapping it still attached to the loom with an IOU with it.

Wish me luck! 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday at Conversion Diary.

Photos by: yarn shop - missteee / manipulatives -  jimmiehomeschoolmom

Great Deal Alert: Nintendo DS Game Deal

I'm not sure how much longer this deal will be up, but the newest Club Penguin game for the Nintendo DS is marked down from $34.99 to $9.98 at Amazon.com!  And, not only is it the game, but it the bundle pack, so it comes with the game, a Club Penguin DS skin, a special Club Penguin stylus, and a code for 2500 coins on ClubPenguin.com. 

I just knew I had to pick up one of these at this great price!

7 Quick Takes: November 20, 2009 (Volume 22)

~ 1 ~

All of the sudden, this week, I woke up one day with a sore throat.  Then, my throat got better, but my sinuses started to clog up.  It just went downhill from there.

Still no fever, and my sore throat is basically gone.  But, oh my heck -- the sinus pressure!  And I have no idea how many tissues I have used at this point.  Do you know how I know it's really bad?  I had to try twice to use the Neti Pot last night and couldn't (it wouldn't flow through).  I finally had to take Sudafed and try it again an hour later.  So not good!

~ 2 ~

Loved the Advent Conspiracy video last year, so I was happy to see a new one this year.  (I tried to post it right here, but it was tried to take over the sidebar too.  So, I'll just link you over to it on You Tube.)

~ 3 ~

Speaking of Advent reminds me of Christmas.  Can you believe that I got my first Christmas card for the year last week?

Okay, before you freak out and think about how far behind you are or have to wonder why someone would send them out so early, I actually got this one much earlier than the sender would have meant for us to get it.  While we were cleaning out my Grandma's apartment, we found a stack of Christmas cards that she had been working on.  She said she figured if she did five a day, then she wouldn't get too tired doing them.  My Mom is planning to send them all out before Christmas and include a note with them.

I left that card sitting on the counter, unopened, for about a week.  But, this week, I opened it and I cried.  Jack, my ever emotional guy, cried too.  After all we've been through since the beginning of the month, it was just still surreal to think it was the last Christmas card we would ever get from her.

~ 4 ~

These last few months have been so crazy busy, and I'm just so tired.  So very tired.

~ 5 ~

While I do hope to get a little down time this weekend, I have vowed that this weekend will be the one to get some things done.  I have a lot of things to work on, and I would love for this to be the weekend that I could look back on and say, "Wow -- look how much I got done!"

 Then again, based on how I'm feeling right now, I think I'll just be happy to sleep in one day.

~ 6 ~

Did I show you guys my date book for 2010 yet?

I love this thing!  It is so cute.  And, I really like that each spread covers two weeks, instead of a more standard one week.

~ 7 ~

Time is almost up for voting in the 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards.  Be sure to pop over there and check out some fabulous homeschooling blogs!

If you haven't yet voted in the family/group blog category, we'd love it if you would consider voting for The Homeschool Classroom.  Thanks!

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Pictures by: Amazon (date book)  /   Chiot's Run (neti pot)  /  CherrySoda! (sleeping doll)

Disclosure: The links to Amazon are affiliate links.  Your purchases on Amazon through this blog helps to support this blog (and our homeschool!).

7 Quick Takes: November 13, 2009 (Volume 21)

~ 1 ~

Thanks so much for all of the kind words on my Grandmother's sudden passing.  It was so helpful for me to be able to write about it, and I appreciate all of the kind words that you guys have left.

We had the funeral last Friday, and spent this week continuing to clean out her apartment.  It has all been tiring both physically and emotionally, but it has also offered so many small moments of joy, as well as time to be with family.

~ 2 ~

In my quest to say yes to the kids a whole lot more often, I have found myself spending a lot more time doing things like listening to books that the kids have written (especially by Molly, who has to read them to me, since they are mostly scribbles with a "mom," "dad," or "cat" tossed in occasionally), playing rock paper scissors,  and drawing with the kids.

Though I have felt so behind in many things I need to do lately, it has also been nice to say yes a lot more often instead of saying "in just a little while," which becomes "how about tomorrow?"

~ 3 ~

  

Speaking of being busy -- how can I always be busy?  And, really -- if a person is always busy, then are they actually busy or is it just their normal?

~ 4 ~

After struggling with whether to get the H1N1 flu shot for the children or not, we finally had the immunizations.  They had been very scarce around here.  So, when the county had a mass immunization, I knew we just had to decide.  Since Jack has a heart defect (and Molly now has a small murmur), I thought that it was probably a good move for our family.

So far, so good -- no side effects.  And, while the shots were free, we did spend an hour and thirty minutes in line.  We also spent $16 on books for the kids as rewards (seriously -- what kid wants to wait in line that long for a shot?), and then $25 on lunch from out.  Those were some expensive shots!

~ 5 ~

The Homeschool Classroom has been nominated for the 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards!

Help us move up a few more places in the Best Homeschool Group or Family Blog category -- we would really appreciate your support! 

~ 6 ~

It was with a lot of sadness that I read this week that my favorite online scrapbook store, Lifetime Moments, is closing in less than a month.  Not only is this an amazing store with great selection and fabulous customer service, but their message board has introduced me to a whole new family and their yearly crops have left me with memories that will probably stick with me forever.

If you're a scrapbooker and have never shopped at Lifetime Moments, you might want to check out their closing sale.  They have 25% off everything in the store with the code of 25-011 at checkout.  Go quickly though -- they are already selling out of an awful lot of things.  To make it easier to browse though, it does appear that they are trying to keep up on deleting products that have sold out.

Goodbye, Lifetime Moments, I'll miss you.

~ 7 ~

One of my favorite song lyrics lately is from You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie by The Submaries:

Love can free us from all excess, from our deepest debts, 

Cause when our hearts are full we need much less.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.

Photos by: [ henning ] (cemetery statue) / kelvin255 (stressed out doll) /  Brent and MariLynn (candy hearts)

Support Your Favorite Bloggers This Holiday Shopping Season

My Works for Me Wednesday tip this week is something that is quick, easy, and helps out fellow bloggers.  And really, who doesn't like all of those things?

With the Christmas shopping season coming up, Amazon.com is one of my favorite places to shop.  (I especially love shopping there since I sprung for buying a Prime Membership at the beginning of 2009!  Love that -- it's a Works for Me too!)  When I shop from Amazon.com, I try to use affiliate links from some of my favorite bloggers.  That way, my shopping experience is just exactly like it would have been normally, but then that blogger will receive a percentage of what I spend.

While not all bloggers are Amazon affiliates, many are.  (These links to Amazon are actually affiliate links for me.)  If you are not familiar with the program, if you follow their affiliate link (to a specific product or even just to the site's homepage or to their own A-store, or Amazon store that they select the products for), then the things you order will benefit them. 

It makes me happy when I shop through affiliate links of fellow bloggers, knowing that they will get to check their stats and see some new orders, and it didn't cost me a thing!  What a great way to support some of your favorite blogs and blog friends! 










photo by Rignes

7 Quick Takes: September 18th (Vol. 16)

~ 1 ~

The free piano that we totally refinished, built new parts for, and prayed that it would actually be able to be tuned has now been serviced by a piano tuner.

I was so nervous that after all of the hard work we had put into it that it wouldn't be able to be tuned at all.  Honestly, I asked her to just get it "as close to tuned as possible."  The tuner said she would tune it, and then we could just make an appointment for 4 - 6 weeks for her to tune it again.

Except, then she actually started to tune it and told me it was in much better shape than she thought it would be from what I had told her about it.  As a matter of fact, she ended up telling me that we can probably just have it tuned twice this year, and then move to yearly after that.  I was beyond thrilled!

~ 2 ~

 Eric and I watched the movie Maxed Out about a week ago.  It was both maddening and sickening.  It was also a very interesting to watch knowing the state of the economy now.

Anyone else watched it before?  What did you think?

~ 3 ~

I am really considering instituting a "family night" around our house.  I don't know what it would consist of or when it would be, but I just think it might be a really nice idea.

We tried to do a game night when the kids were very little (and Molly wasn't even around yet), but that was short lived.  Now that everyone is older, I think it might be really nice to start up again.  I know that every time we bring out some game or activity for the whole family to do together, the kids get so excited.  Probably a sign we need to do it more often, huh?

~ 4 ~

I got to go to a consignment sale this week, and paid $69.50 for 27 pieces of clothing  (well, some were two piece sets, but I'm counting those as one) and two toys.

Rock on!

~ 5 ~

 So, how is it that Christmas is only about three months away?

I have purchased the big gift for one of the kids and also been working on some handmade gifts.  (Plus, I may know the big gift for the other two kids, but am not sure about one of them.)  But, otherwise, I'm unprepared.  I really think I need to start buying some things every month now, so that I can just pay cash for everything.

You know, especially after watching Maxed Out.

~ 6 ~

How is it possible that I have been so busy but have so little to say?

I really had to think very hard about what to write for my 7 Quick Takes this week, yet I feel like I have been crazy busy.  I think that might indicate that I am living the same day over and over again.

Do you ever get so busy, but yet feel like you aren't really doing anything?

~ 7 ~

One thing that has actually been really wonderful lately is that I have had a couple of opportunities to get together with some of my gal pals.  There is just something about sitting in a restaurant for three hours just talking to friends.

While I think family night is going to be really important, I have to say that I think that I need to get together for girls' night out a little more often too. 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Photos by: heart cup -- Bob.Fornal, Christmas gift -- stephbond

7 Quick Takes: September 11th (Vol. 15)

~ 1 ~

I have never played Rock Band (or Guitar Hero, for that matter), but I have a strong urge to buy the Beatles Rock Band game.

Mind you, I have decided that it is definitely not something we need. And, quite frankly, not even something I actually want to spend the money on. But, I would like it, all the same.

As an alternative, I did dance around the kitchen this evening while I loudly played Beatles music on my iPod (through speakers). Not really the same, but at least they could then drown out my horrible singing.

~ 2 ~

I am so psyched. I have been collecting books to use for Winter Promise's American Story 2 for next school year. I have been primarily doing it through Paperback Swap, and have picked up tons of them already. I ordered almost all of the ones they had "in stock," and then put the rest on my wishlist (several I have already been able to order of those on my wishlist too).

Yeah for trading books instead of buying brand new!

~ 3 ~

Now, before I sound too thrifty though, I must admit that the kids and I went to an actual book store after Jack's violin lesson last week. I offered that I would buy each of the kids two books. (And, then I was thrilled when Noah wanted to use allowance money to buy extra books.) I even got a couple of books for myself.

I knew that I could have purchased all of those books cheaper on Amazon.com. But, there was just something so nice about touching the books, looking through them, and being able to instantly buy them and walk out the door. Totally not frugal, but really fun to watch the kids look through books while trying to pick their perfect purchases.

~ 4 ~

The other day, things were just crazy. (When aren't they though?) We had been working on school for several hours, and then school related things longer (lessons and such). Still, we had things left to do.

Then, as I was driving us home from some gym time to just go work on my school work (before we had another activity to go to later), I realized, "This is enough." Not everything needs to get done, even if it is on the schedule.

Granted, this didn't buy us a ton of free time, since our day had already been packed full, but it was still freeing. It gave us just a tiny bit of down time, but it was great.

(This should probably be a sign to me that I need to adjust our schedule. I am, apparently, not reading that sign.)

~ 5 ~

I cannot stop eating these pickles.

They are tasty. They are sweet. They are plentiful in my refrigerator. They make me want sandwiches at just about every meal.

I haven't eaten any since Tuesday, and quite frankly, I might be going through withdrawal. Do they have a 12 step program for pickle addiction?

~ 6 ~

I was so excited to see this week that The Homeschool Classroom (the group blog that I started last summer) has just gone over the 1000 subscribers mark. (Wouldn't you know that Feedburner would have a glitch on our site just after I said that? Several days over 1000, and then in the 800's after I said it. Thanks, Feedburner.)

It's been exciting to watch the blog grow over the past year. It is nice that most of the original writers are still writing with us. I learn so much from all of the writers. What a great group of women they are!

~ 7 ~

There are some subjects where there is so much to say, but just not enough words to ever express the emotion that exists about that subject.

Today is one of those subjects.

Nothing I try to write seems quite right, or quite enough. (Believe me, I have tried over and over.)

And so, I'll stop trying to write something. Instead, I'll just pray.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes.

Photo Credits: book store by MyEyeSees, beatles by Colony of Gamers, pickles and flag by Angie @ Many Little Blessings.

7 Quick Takes: September 4th (Vol. 14)

~ 1 ~

Noah had his very first piano lesson this week, and has been practicing faithfully on our newly refinished piano.

If you missed out how the pictured piano went from multi-colored to high gloss black, make sure to check out the renovation.

~ 2 ~

My friend Misty informed me that she reads three blogs every morning, with mine being one of them. (Apparently my blog must not really make her feel too bad about herself.)

She told me one day this week that she was perturbed because one of the blogs did not have a new post that day. She pointed out that my blog also did not have a new post that day, and that it just throws off her morning. Somehow, based on how many days I miss posting, I'm thinking that I throw off her morning a lot.

Sorry about that, Misty.

~ 3 ~

Just today, for the first time ever, I made bread and butter pickles. Now, I have to admit, I usually think sweet pickles are disgusting (though I love dill pickles). But, when I had some of this particular recipe last week at my Mom's house, I was shocked. Not only did I like them, I liked them enough to make them! (I'll post a recipe soon.)

Of course, it did help that I had a personal shopper (my Mom) who went and bought everything I needed for it and brought it to me.

I kind of wonder if I could pay her to be my personal shopper in general, because that was really handy. Really, really handy.

~ 4 ~

My Mom didn't, however, pick up the celery seed or mustard seed that I needed for the recipe. She suggested that I go to a local natural food store and check out what they offered in bins, rather than buying a big bottle at the grocery store when I only needed one teaspoon.

They didn't have the celery seed that I needed (I bought a half size spice jar for $2.50 at the store), but they did have mustard seed. Just to be sure I had enough of that mustard seed, I even bought three times what I needed -- three teaspoons.

My big total at the natural food store?

$0.22.

I paid my quarter, left three pennies in the penny dish, and left as a happy camper.

(Mental note: Next time I need a herb or spice, but just a small amount, make sure to check out the natural food store.)

~ 5 ~

I recently got out a yellow index card and a robin's egg blue sharpie marker. On it, I wrote the depression era motto:

use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without

I posted it on the bulletin board that we all walk by many times throughout the day. I'm hoping it will be a much needed reminder.

~ 6 ~

Last weekend, Eric and I watched the movie The Singles Ward. We both really enjoyed it. It was nice to watch a movie that was both funny and sweet and totally clean.

Of course, it did help that I have known (and am friends with) many Mormons (LDS). So, there were times when we had to stop the movie and I would make some explanations about what was happening or to explain a joke. Still, it was refreshing to watch a movie that we wouldn't have had to shut off if they kids had woken up and come into the living room.

~ 7 ~

In what was surely a sign of the Internet savvy times we live in, I had a funny conversation with four year old Molly this summer.

It would seem that she really enjoyed a little girl that she met at Vacation Bible School. So, one day right after VBS, Molly excitedly told me, "Mom -- I met a girl named Cathryn and she is the most beautiful Cathryn ever."

"How nice!" I told her.

"Yeah, and do you know what?"

"What?"

"I asked her if she wanted to be my friend, and do you know what, Mom?" (insert dramatic pause) "She accepted my friend request!"

Be sure to check out more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary!