Cleaned and tidied the baby/toddler plate, bowl, and utensil drawer and lost about twenty more plastic Gerber baby food lids. Why? Why? Why? Why would one hoard baby food lids?
Note to self: Stop saving baby food lids, crazy lady. Straight into the recycling.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sip-e-dee Doo Dah
"Lose It!"
* various lids to sippy cups -- cleaned out the "baby food drawer" and made room for more baby food by tossing about five lids to sippy cups, no idea what happened to the cups -- probably weren't BPA-free anyway
* two dozen plastic lids to Gerber baby food containers -- again, why were these still around? am ashamed to admit that I thought about giving them to Bub to play with and hesitated before tossing them into the recycling, but then realized that with a drawer full of baby food, there's more where those came from
* various lids to sippy cups -- cleaned out the "baby food drawer" and made room for more baby food by tossing about five lids to sippy cups, no idea what happened to the cups -- probably weren't BPA-free anyway
* two dozen plastic lids to Gerber baby food containers -- again, why were these still around? am ashamed to admit that I thought about giving them to Bub to play with and hesitated before tossing them into the recycling, but then realized that with a drawer full of baby food, there's more where those came from
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Freezer Pleased Pantry Princess
"Use It!"
* ground turkey from the freezer -- again, any time I use meat from the freezer, I am very proud of myself
* taco seasoning -- another of the Wildtree Products I tend to hoard, turkey tacos were on the menu
* another can of the 12 pack of tomato paste I bought at Costco -- the taco seasoning recipe calls for tomato paste as did the vegetable soup I made this evening
* frozen chopped onions -- thought I was going to go without onions in my soup because I threw some out yesterday that were starting to sprout, but then I found a bag (actually two) of frozen chopped onions, nice surprise
What has your pantry or freezer pleased you with recently?
* ground turkey from the freezer -- again, any time I use meat from the freezer, I am very proud of myself
* taco seasoning -- another of the Wildtree Products I tend to hoard, turkey tacos were on the menu
* another can of the 12 pack of tomato paste I bought at Costco -- the taco seasoning recipe calls for tomato paste as did the vegetable soup I made this evening
* frozen chopped onions -- thought I was going to go without onions in my soup because I threw some out yesterday that were starting to sprout, but then I found a bag (actually two) of frozen chopped onions, nice surprise
What has your pantry or freezer pleased you with recently?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tour de Pants
"Use It!"
* recumbent bike -- used to ride it frequently while watching television in the basement, but I have not been on the bike since this time last year. Since I really want to be able to fit into the jeans and pants I already own, I figured it was worth a try to take a spin. I only had fifteen minutes, but better than nothing, right?
* recumbent bike -- used to ride it frequently while watching television in the basement, but I have not been on the bike since this time last year. Since I really want to be able to fit into the jeans and pants I already own, I figured it was worth a try to take a spin. I only had fifteen minutes, but better than nothing, right?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Double Feature
No time for a post yesterday. After a few delays, we arrived home from Florida late last night. We walked in our front door about 10:40, and both sleeping boys were awake by 10:45.
"Lose It!"
* Belkin ipod charger purchased at O'Hare on way to Florida -- both hubby and I were sure we would be walking so much during our trip that our respective ipods would need to be re-charged while we were there. We took a few walks in attempts to get one or the other boys to nap, but nothing that I would characterize at exercise. Is it exercise if the walk ends at Dairy Queen or with the purchase and consumption of a huge caramel apple? So anyway, last night when we passed Brookstone on our way to baggage claim, I returned the charger. Not a big thing, but something that the old MEP would not have bothered to do (would have rationalized that I could use the charger sometime and it's only $25 and blah, blah, blah).
"Use It!"
* In part because, in the spirit of vacation, I ate more than I exercised last week, I made a new recipe today out of the Weight Watchers Turn Around Program Cookbook: Broccoli Waldorf Salad. Great texture, great flavor, and very easy to prepare, especially if you use broccoli slaw instead of chopping broccoli.
Cookbook Challenge Stats: 7 down, 48 to go
"Lose It!"
* Belkin ipod charger purchased at O'Hare on way to Florida -- both hubby and I were sure we would be walking so much during our trip that our respective ipods would need to be re-charged while we were there. We took a few walks in attempts to get one or the other boys to nap, but nothing that I would characterize at exercise. Is it exercise if the walk ends at Dairy Queen or with the purchase and consumption of a huge caramel apple? So anyway, last night when we passed Brookstone on our way to baggage claim, I returned the charger. Not a big thing, but something that the old MEP would not have bothered to do (would have rationalized that I could use the charger sometime and it's only $25 and blah, blah, blah).
"Use It!"
* In part because, in the spirit of vacation, I ate more than I exercised last week, I made a new recipe today out of the Weight Watchers Turn Around Program Cookbook: Broccoli Waldorf Salad. Great texture, great flavor, and very easy to prepare, especially if you use broccoli slaw instead of chopping broccoli.
Cookbook Challenge Stats: 7 down, 48 to go
Friday, February 20, 2009
Rebel without a jacket . . .
"Lose It!"
* A month or so ago, I was still thinking about whether to give away my turn-of-the-century (phrase borrowed from blogger friend cake) leather jacket, and now I am doing it. It's no longer stylish and it can no longer accommodate my rack. Gone baby gone.
* A month or so ago, I was still thinking about whether to give away my turn-of-the-century (phrase borrowed from blogger friend cake) leather jacket, and now I am doing it. It's no longer stylish and it can no longer accommodate my rack. Gone baby gone.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Scrap Metal
"Lose It!"
* Several years ago, my mother-in-law came for a visit and brought a pan of lasagna. She left behind a metal rectangular thing with holes in it that I assumed was part of some kind of pan. I put it on top of our toaster oven, and it has lived there ever since. When she visits, I always mean to ask her if she needs it. I always forget. I just asked her now if she needs that piece of metal. The short answer is "no" and that she had not even used it for the lasagna, but rather to help support the pan when it traveled to Chicago. So anyway, soon it will be leaning against our garbage cans in the alley where the men who drive the scrap trucks will surely nab it.
My mother-in-law thought the scrap metal was sort of a lame "lose it!" so suggested that I also lose the old fry daddy that she bequested to us a few years ago. Homemade donuts would be divine but also dangerous so consider it lost.
* Several years ago, my mother-in-law came for a visit and brought a pan of lasagna. She left behind a metal rectangular thing with holes in it that I assumed was part of some kind of pan. I put it on top of our toaster oven, and it has lived there ever since. When she visits, I always mean to ask her if she needs it. I always forget. I just asked her now if she needs that piece of metal. The short answer is "no" and that she had not even used it for the lasagna, but rather to help support the pan when it traveled to Chicago. So anyway, soon it will be leaning against our garbage cans in the alley where the men who drive the scrap trucks will surely nab it.
My mother-in-law thought the scrap metal was sort of a lame "lose it!" so suggested that I also lose the old fry daddy that she bequested to us a few years ago. Homemade donuts would be divine but also dangerous so consider it lost.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Oh thank heaven?
Holiday Edition
"Use It!"
* read two issues of People and one of InStyle, borrowed from the community library in my in-laws' condo complex -- there are some Reader's Digests as well, but I don't think I'll need to go there unless I finish all the novels I packed
"Lose It!"
* 7-11 habit. Last year in Florida, my pregnant belly and I went to 7-11 for a Slurpee and other impulse buys every single day. I'm not saying I won't cave and get a Slurpee this week (I am on vacation after all), but I know that the new and improved MEP of 2009 will likely spend less than $10 at 7-11 this trip.
"Use It!"
* read two issues of People and one of InStyle, borrowed from the community library in my in-laws' condo complex -- there are some Reader's Digests as well, but I don't think I'll need to go there unless I finish all the novels I packed
"Lose It!"
* 7-11 habit. Last year in Florida, my pregnant belly and I went to 7-11 for a Slurpee and other impulse buys every single day. I'm not saying I won't cave and get a Slurpee this week (I am on vacation after all), but I know that the new and improved MEP of 2009 will likely spend less than $10 at 7-11 this trip.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Flip Flopper
I'm not near my closet as I write this, but I know there are at least two pair of high, wedge-type sandals -- one black and one brown. They live in the basement closet and have for at least three years now. I keep them there because I don't need to access them. I don't need to access them because I never choose to wear them. I never choose to wear them because they are too high, great shoes for helping one turn an ankle. I especially don't want to turn an ankle while walking with Little Bit in my arms. So, why am I keeping them? I'm not. Welcome to the "lose it!" pile, wedgies.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
"Bin" there.
The boys and I were hanging out in the basement yesterday, you know, chilling on the "ferris wheel."** I saw a half full clear, lidless bin in a closet and set to losing.
"Lose It!"
* scrapbooking scraps -- bunch of scrapbooking paper with random shapes cut out. Yes, I did toss some full sheets as well and, yes, I suppose I could have cut more shapes from these scraps and glued them in a collage on a shoe box that could then store more junk**, but instead, I just scrapped them.
* deck of Peanuts playing cards -- may have had 52 cards, but with Bub around, it was better just to toss them before he found them and, well, tossed them.
* a playbill from the musical Winesburg, Ohio -- was a great show, and I know I kept the playbill for the same reasons I have saved others: the idea that I might someday frame and display them. But really, I won't ever do that so I am now vowed to toss the rest of the playbills when I across them, except for a couple that remind me of special times and people (Les Miserables and Avenue Q).
* a bunch of other, little stuff that I don't need and won't miss
What are you losing and using these days? Please share.
**In the world of Bub, the guest bed is a "ferris wheel."
***I used to do shit like this before I had kids -- decorate shoeboxes with scraps of paper. I'm sure to unearth one soon and will share a pic.
"Lose It!"
* scrapbooking scraps -- bunch of scrapbooking paper with random shapes cut out. Yes, I did toss some full sheets as well and, yes, I suppose I could have cut more shapes from these scraps and glued them in a collage on a shoe box that could then store more junk**, but instead, I just scrapped them.
* deck of Peanuts playing cards -- may have had 52 cards, but with Bub around, it was better just to toss them before he found them and, well, tossed them.
* a playbill from the musical Winesburg, Ohio -- was a great show, and I know I kept the playbill for the same reasons I have saved others: the idea that I might someday frame and display them. But really, I won't ever do that so I am now vowed to toss the rest of the playbills when I across them, except for a couple that remind me of special times and people (Les Miserables and Avenue Q).
* a bunch of other, little stuff that I don't need and won't miss
What are you losing and using these days? Please share.
**In the world of Bub, the guest bed is a "ferris wheel."
***I used to do shit like this before I had kids -- decorate shoeboxes with scraps of paper. I'm sure to unearth one soon and will share a pic.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Elephant in the Room
I am proud to report that all of the "Lose It!" items since this blog's inception have finally left the house. Since I began, all the donation items have been piling up in front of the basement crawl space. The past two weeks, hubby had taken to asking about their final destination fairly frequently. I think he fully expected the pile to remain until we could no longer access the basement. But no, MEP is on fire this year. I loaded the car on Monday, drove around all week with a huge box sitting shotgun, and this afternoon finally put my hazard lights on in a bus lane so I could drop off the stuff (5 bags of clothes, 1 bag of shoes, 1 box of home decor items, and an artificial Christmas wreath) at The Brown Elephant. Feels good to clear some space. I look forward to starting a new pile soon.
In the spirit of full disclosure, all my giveaway books are still in a big box in the guest room as I try to decide whether (and where) to donate them or take them to Half Price books where I might earn as much as $4.00 (based on past experience).
In the spirit of full disclosure, all my giveaway books are still in a big box in the guest room as I try to decide whether (and where) to donate them or take them to Half Price books where I might earn as much as $4.00 (based on past experience).
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Bubbing Artist
Here is a photo offering a glimpse of Bub's Valentine handiwork from yesterday's "Use It!". He started out strong with the glitter paint ("Pink my favorite color"), but was less than enthusiastic about the stickers. The crayon period was a chaotic time for him. As the card-making continued, his aesthetic became more minimalist and even a bit brooding (see black crayon card).That's all I've got for today. Hubby's flight is delayed after two nights away from home, and it is a miracle I have not lost my mind yet.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sealed With a Kiss
"Use It!"
* card-making supplies, paint, and crayons we already had in the house to produce some Bub-designed Valentine's cards (photos to come tomorrow when he can show them off to the Mac PhotoBooth himself) for grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Here's hoping I can get them addressed and in the mail on time.
* Sesame Street valentines purchased two years ago with the good intention of sending them out from Bub -- his classmates will be receiving them on Thursday at their party. I was tempted to take him to CVS to pick out his own Valentines, but I thought, "He has years to pick out his own Valentines. Use the ones you already have."
* card-making supplies, paint, and crayons we already had in the house to produce some Bub-designed Valentine's cards (photos to come tomorrow when he can show them off to the Mac PhotoBooth himself) for grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Here's hoping I can get them addressed and in the mail on time.
* Sesame Street valentines purchased two years ago with the good intention of sending them out from Bub -- his classmates will be receiving them on Thursday at their party. I was tempted to take him to CVS to pick out his own Valentines, but I thought, "He has years to pick out his own Valentines. Use the ones you already have."
Monday, February 9, 2009
Testing the waters . . .
On Saturday, we're leaving for a week in Florida. Due to pregnancy and childbirth, I did not wear any of my regular summer clothes this past summer. I went through the summer clothes bin today. I have a large pile of "start getting with the program so you can zip these capri pants by summer" clothes; a small-ish pile of "these fit and I can wear them next week in Florida" clothes; a "let's move these to the fourth trimester bin"; and a pile of "whether they fit or not, I don't see myself wearing these clothes ever again." So, end result is "Lose It!" of about eight items. Plus, after having pawed through the boys' bins, I also found some Florida clothes for Little Bit that used to be Bub's ("Use It!"). Then, I pushed all but two bins back into the closet, creating a more convincing appearance of order.
Assuming I can fit into the clothes in the "start getting with the program so you can zip these capri pants by summer" pile, I will have to use this blog to answer the question of how many pairs of capri pants one woman really needs. Any thoughts?
Assuming I can fit into the clothes in the "start getting with the program so you can zip these capri pants by summer" pile, I will have to use this blog to answer the question of how many pairs of capri pants one woman really needs. Any thoughts?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Don't let the bed bugs bite.
"Lose It!"
* three sleep books -- I read many when Bub was a baby. I really did not care when he slept through the night, but I was desperate for him to begin taking regular naps that did not involve motion. In my experience, no parenting book "fits all." When I consult them, I tend get start a cycle of reading hoping for solutions and reassurance and often end up feeling more anxious and obsessive than when I started. I ultimately found a sleep book that was a keeper for my family. I know people who have had success with the books I'm tossing, but I know I probably won't need to consult them again.
If anyone out there is interested in these books, please let me know. I would be happy to send them media (super snail) mail. Leave a comment or send an email to mep at nottobrag dot net . . . If any mom is desperate as I once was, I hate to think of her being desperate and spending more money than she needs to.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Bunch of tossers?
"Lose It!"
* large red plastic tumbler-type glass with crack on side -- seems an obvious candidate, but has taken up valuable shelf space for years now where we weren't using it because, you know, it was cracked . . . it's still cracked but now it's in the trash
Obviously, I'm losing a little steam or, more accurately, shying away from "losing" things that are more difficult to let go of . . .
I'm pretty close to losing all my VHS tapes, but have been wondering whether or not they are good items for donation or not. I worry that Salvation Army and Goodwill personnel everywhere are tired of tossing other people's donated copies of Weekend at Bernie's and Mannequin.*
I'm also considering losing the response cards to our wedding. What do you think?
I'm counting on you all to help me out. What kinds of things should I put to the lose it/use it test? What are you losing of late?
*I do not own either of these movies.
* large red plastic tumbler-type glass with crack on side -- seems an obvious candidate, but has taken up valuable shelf space for years now where we weren't using it because, you know, it was cracked . . . it's still cracked but now it's in the trash
Obviously, I'm losing a little steam or, more accurately, shying away from "losing" things that are more difficult to let go of . . .
I'm pretty close to losing all my VHS tapes, but have been wondering whether or not they are good items for donation or not. I worry that Salvation Army and Goodwill personnel everywhere are tired of tossing other people's donated copies of Weekend at Bernie's and Mannequin.*
I'm also considering losing the response cards to our wedding. What do you think?
I'm counting on you all to help me out. What kinds of things should I put to the lose it/use it test? What are you losing of late?
*I do not own either of these movies.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Not the "other one."
"Use It!"
* I used Anne Byrn's What Can I Bring Cookbook and made "Tex-Mex Chicken Spaghetti." I found it quite tasty and asked my hubby to give his review, "It was good, but I think I like the other one better." I asked some follow-up questions and determined that "the other one" is Chicken Tetrazzini, a casserole I have only made once, at least as far as I can recall. All the same, "good" is a very strong review.
* three pounds of chicken -- only noting this because any time I can use proteins (do you like my Top Chef-speak?) before they need to go in the freezer, I am pleased with myself . . . once items enter the freezer, there are no guarantees they'll make it on to a dinner plate -- also, I ended up with eight pounds of chicken, due to a sale at Jewel and now it's (almost) all been used
Cookbook Challenge Stats: 6 down / 49 to go
* I used Anne Byrn's What Can I Bring Cookbook and made "Tex-Mex Chicken Spaghetti." I found it quite tasty and asked my hubby to give his review, "It was good, but I think I like the other one better." I asked some follow-up questions and determined that "the other one" is Chicken Tetrazzini, a casserole I have only made once, at least as far as I can recall. All the same, "good" is a very strong review.
* three pounds of chicken -- only noting this because any time I can use proteins (do you like my Top Chef-speak?) before they need to go in the freezer, I am pleased with myself . . . once items enter the freezer, there are no guarantees they'll make it on to a dinner plate -- also, I ended up with eight pounds of chicken, due to a sale at Jewel and now it's (almost) all been used
Cookbook Challenge Stats: 6 down / 49 to go
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Scrap it.
"Lose It!"
* two craft books -- one about scrapbooking and one about photo crafts. It's all I can do right now to take photos, upload them, and try to share them online. The next level for me is deciding what's next: photo DVD with music? design an album on Kodak Gallery? place in album with clever captions? create and frame a collage? I don't lack inspiration or ideas, just time.
For the record, I made the executive decision to stop scrapbooking before Bub was born, and I'm okay with that choice for me.
* two craft books -- one about scrapbooking and one about photo crafts. It's all I can do right now to take photos, upload them, and try to share them online. The next level for me is deciding what's next: photo DVD with music? design an album on Kodak Gallery? place in album with clever captions? create and frame a collage? I don't lack inspiration or ideas, just time.
For the record, I made the executive decision to stop scrapbooking before Bub was born, and I'm okay with that choice for me.
Monday, February 2, 2009
That's a Wrap
"Lose It!"* overly complicated wrap sweater -- have had it a full year and tried to wear it the other day, attempted to wrap myself in it and kept ending up with an extra 16 inches or so of belt no matter what I did -- hope it finds a good home with someone who is smarter or possesses better dexterity than I
* turtleneck with horizontal stripes -- not doing me any favors, especially with postpartum rack
* Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor -- I started reading this book, one of The "Lingerers", but I wasn't feeling it. I've read and enjoyed two of Naylor's other books and that will have to do me. Plus, the cover is seriously bad. Now, I'm judging the book by the twenty pages I read, not by the cover. It might have gotten better, but sometimes life feels too short to gamble on that.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
(Re)Discovering Dayton
I'm not a Junior Leaguer, but I do have two Junior League cookbooks, both of which I really like and use. Every recipe I've tried from the Cincinnati one -- I'll Cook When Pigs Fly . . . and they do in Cincinnati! -- has been fairly successful, especially the Hot Bacon and Swiss Dip (which I affectionately refer to as "Fat Dip"), oh so easy and cheesy. Causing a Stir, from the Junior League of Dayton, has also served me well, most notably for its Proscuitto Pinwheel recipe, a great success at a wine-tasting party in 2005.
Causing a Stir also includes favorite recipes from Discover Dayton, an earlier JL cookbook that my mom used quite a bit when I was growing up.
I was in the mood for chocolate chip cookies this weekend and happened upon a recipe in Causing a Stir. "Best Chocolate Chip Cookies" were soft, which is how I like my cookies, but not crumbly or insubstantial. I liked them enough to eat at least a dozen myself, and my husband dubbed them "fine" (fairly high praise around here).* I gave half the batch to our nephew, who was sweet enough to babysit for us last night.
The special ingredient in this cookie recipe is a 1.7 ounce package of instant vanilla pudding. I had pudding on hand, but only in 3.4 ounce packages. Do they even make 1.7 ounce packages? The 3.4 ounce box yields 4 servings of a .5 cup each, which is really not a lot of pudding. Would one really buy a box of pudding that makes 1 cup of pudding? I'm not buying that.
Do you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie? Which of your cookbooks have you used lately?
Cookbook Challenge Stats for anyone keeping track: 5 down / 50 to go.
I have the rest of 2009 to try one new recipe in each of the cookbooks I don't want to "lose."
Causing a Stir also includes favorite recipes from Discover Dayton, an earlier JL cookbook that my mom used quite a bit when I was growing up.
I was in the mood for chocolate chip cookies this weekend and happened upon a recipe in Causing a Stir. "Best Chocolate Chip Cookies" were soft, which is how I like my cookies, but not crumbly or insubstantial. I liked them enough to eat at least a dozen myself, and my husband dubbed them "fine" (fairly high praise around here).* I gave half the batch to our nephew, who was sweet enough to babysit for us last night.
The special ingredient in this cookie recipe is a 1.7 ounce package of instant vanilla pudding. I had pudding on hand, but only in 3.4 ounce packages. Do they even make 1.7 ounce packages? The 3.4 ounce box yields 4 servings of a .5 cup each, which is really not a lot of pudding. Would one really buy a box of pudding that makes 1 cup of pudding? I'm not buying that.
Do you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie? Which of your cookbooks have you used lately?
Cookbook Challenge Stats for anyone keeping track: 5 down / 50 to go.
I have the rest of 2009 to try one new recipe in each of the cookbooks I don't want to "lose."
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