Menu Plan Monday: January 7th Edition

I have to admit...although I have my menu planned, I don't know exactly what will be happening on each day. I have several things that are working on thawing, so that will effect some of our day choices.

But, here are our seven dinners (plus on the weekend, we'll probably end up having sandwiches and the like for lunch, since we'll have leftover turkey):

1. Lemon and Artichoke Chicken (from Dream Dinners)

2. Maple-thyme Porkchops with Rice Pilaf (from Dream Dinners)

3. Spaghetti

4. Breakfast Stuff

5. Dinner from Out

6. Turkey (as in big ol' 13 lb turkey purchased on sale before Thanksgiving)

7. Something with Leftover Turkey

My Saturday clothing finds (a couple new, mostly second hand)

As I mentioned already, I found out that a nice looking second hand women's clothing store had plus sized stuff, so I decided that I would have to pop in. So, after showing up at closing time on Friday night, I ended up making another trip there on Saturday.

My main purpose for my trip was to get some shirts. I seem to periodically stain shirts beyond the point of them being cleaned. (Lucky me.)

Well...first, I actually stopped at the mall and went to Lane Bryant and CJ Banks. Although I tried on several things at Lane Bryant, I ended up just buying two basic long sleeve shirts for a total of $30.

After that, I went to the second hand store, and I ended up picking up a brown blazer as a splurge, since it was $26. It was very cute though, and would look great with jeans. So, I finally thought, "Okay -- I rarely get myself clothes, and this is a nice piece." Then, I also got three black shirts, a long black skirt, and a pair of brown pants. See a pattern here? So, if you count the long floral skirt that was on clearance that I got the night before (right at closing time), I spent $80 at the second hand store and got: a blazer, two long skirts, one pair of pants, and three long sleeved shirts.

I was pleased, particularly since it is hard to find good thrift store closing in plus sizes. I'll definitely have to go to that store again sometime, though it will likely be a while, since I don't often buy clothes for myself.

Wow! I wish I had known that before!

So, I was just complaining about being able to get great thrift clothes for everyone in the family except me, since it's hard to find decent second hand plus sized clothing. And that got me thinking -- why not just call a local second hand store that always looks nice from the outside and see if they have plus sized clothing. (This store is a pseudo-consigment type store -- kind of like Once Upon a Child, where you just sell your things upfront.)

I will admit, I have never gone in when I have been by it, because I was afraid I would walk in, look for my size, not find it, and then have to turn and leave, feeling silly for walking in. So, instead of looking silly, I just wouldn't go in.

Finally, today, I just decided to call them. I thought I would just ask what size ranges they had. Then I realized that was just dumb. Why not just be direct and ask if they have plus sizes.

Well, of course, they do. And, darn it -- not only could I have been shopping there before, but there have been many times I have gotten rid of clothing (garage sale, Goodwill, etc.) and could have taken it in there instead.

I was able to pop by there tonight, but hadn't asked their hours, and showed up right as they were closing. Oops! Except, they didn't say they were closing (we didn't notice the hours when we walked in) and let us shop for about 10 minutes before they very politely kicked us out.

I will definitely have to go back, as it seems like a really nice shop. I only got a chance to check out the clearance in the plus sizes and a section of blazers/jackets. There were still a lot of things to check out, and I will definitely be back!

My one quick buy was a cute, long flowered skirt. It was originally $20 at the second hand store. Then, had been marked down to $10 on clearance. But, since all of their clearance is now marked down for $2, that's what I got it for. Heck -- it was only when I got home that I noticed it still had the original store price tag attached -- $39.50!

Oh...and while I was out doing errands, I stopped by Once Upon a Child and got a pair of slacks and three shirts for each of the boys (as in total of 2 slacks and 6 shirts) and also a scarf/hat set for Molly. I picked those all up for $40. But, since I had received Christmas money that I didn't want to spend on myself (I had used some of it to buy lunch for the family one day), I ended up just spend $13 of our own money.

The moral of the story (before I digressed into my kiddie shopping finds) -- you'll never know until you ask, so don't be shy. I'm so glad that I called and checked on the size selection!

Not that I'm looking for a fight...

Oh my goodness! I saw this on I Have to Sit Down and was intrigued. Why would I want to get on an airplane with a bunch of five year olds?

Then I realized, "Oh -- how many five year olds could I take in a FIGHT, not ON A FLIGHT." Oops.

So, then I was very intrigued, and had to find out. I don't think the results are right, because, darn it, I think five year olds are pretty darn scrappy. But, here are my results:


18

Go to Ultrasound technician schools

Oh, and a warning -- I was trying to eat while taking the quiz. When I got to the "moral compass" section, it was difficult to keep eating because I needed to laugh too much.

Looks like this quiz isn't working anymore -- bummer! We tried it a couple of times, and it doesn't give results anymore. Sorry!