Monthly Archives: November 2017

Simple Sunday

Posted in decluttering, travel, Uncategorized by

The decluttering count is up to 850. This is since October 1st I think.

My husband cleaned up his office and threw tons of stuff away( yeah B!!!!). Then I had him get the Christmas bins and reduced from 4 to 2. My goal is always to reduce by half. I didn’t go thru the ornaments just cleaned up boxes and threw away some things I know I won’t use.( in thrift store box). ( 3 tree candles, a computer mini tree that lights up, and some other things I threw out(boxes and a leaking snow globe. At one point I collected snow globes but realized this wasn’t for me. I have a few left and when I open then at decorating time I’ll decide whether to give them to goodwill.

So all in all a win-win.

We went to Costco pre-Holiday time and won’t be back till probably after Christmas. I spent @ $300 on just food. This includes beer for B and wine (4 bottles) for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So lots of butter for baking, cheese, cuz it’s cheese, organic tofu, Starbucks winter blend of coffee, mayo on sale( I love that). So all good there.

It’s interesting going to Costco as a non-consumer advocate (as much as possible for us, right now), and seeing ALL THE STUFF! Wow, it is a little overwhelming. It’s important to just get what you need and go. So for instance. I use some mayonnaise and the coupon was for, I think,$2.00 off. So a giant mayo for $4 something. I will get thru it actually as I make egg salad, tuna salad, dressings etc with mayo. So a good purchase.

Dinner is grilled tofu with golden gravy, a salad of kale, spinach, chard, walnuts, and pomegranate things. Plus mashed potatoes.  I was disappointed Costco didn’t have the huge bag of russets.  One of the best freezer meals to make are double stuffed potatoes. We use these all the time. So, I’ll have to wait till next time.img_0496

Exciting news, tomorrow we head up to South Lake Tahoe for B to work and I get to tag along. Lucky me!!! At the condo, I’ll cook some dinner and we’ll do breakfast.  Just simple scrambled eggs and toast!!

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Beautiful Lake Tahoe!!

 

 

My world on Friday

Posted in budgeting, cooking, Flylady, Uncategorized by

Well, I got up at 5am. Actually, I think it was 4:53

Emptied the dishwasher, clean the few stray dishes and had coffee.

I went out to walk at 5:25 am.

I came back, got the pizza dough going for Friday night pizza.  Then from the comment yesterday, I got out the oxo and put it in my Le Creuset and simmered and scrubbed and voila, it worked pretty darn good. Thank you for that tip. It’s not back to white, but looking at the other one, I don’t think it was white white, more of a tannish white. But not sure. Anyway, it looks lots better.

Last night I ended up making scrambled tofu with celery, carrots, onions, pumpkin seeds and, a sprinkling of cheese.

I swished and swiped the bathroom, my daughter vacuumed and I tidied the kitchen. So far 2 small loads of laundry done.

I went to the gym and it was crazy busy so I didn’t do a whole lot. All the machines were constantly being used. Too many people for this introvert.

It’s a cloudy day and it may rain. I’m going to go read.

Update on YNAB. So far I’m liking it. One difference from last time I used it is I’m not linking my bank accounts because the total would get all messed up and I spent more time reconciling accounts than not. Last time since the accounts were linked, I’d put in the amount and then Ynab put it in from the linked account and it was not working for me. I like to put it in manually. So for instance, I spent $ 37 at Safeway Wednesday, but I put in $40 for groceries. Since I am always doing bank updates in by bullet planner, I know where our account is daily. So that makes it easier for me to keep things straight. I like the categories for annual bills and that will prove useful once we have money in those accounts. So far my assessment is that I will pay for the subscription when the 30 days is over.

 

Pizza is just cheese and ? tonight. I’m thinking for winter to switch up Friday night pizza to Italian Friday. That way we can do some other things on Friday night. Or any ideas?? What do you do for a weekly theme? It does really help me stay on track with meal planning ( unless I’m too lazy).

 

A Good Doctor visit

Posted in cooking, Myeloma, Uncategorized by

Today was my regular oncology appointment in Sacramento. I drove down in B’s Santa Fe since it was supposed to rain and I didn’t want to risk the ‘ole pink van’. But I think she would have made it just fine. But still, it’s nice to drive a newer car!

All is good in Myelomaville. He doesn’t seem too concerned about the small increase. Still Normal and for now that’s all I can really focus on.  But I did ask for another blood test in December and then not see him again till January. Unless something unusual occurs this will work and then I can obsess about it or not.  (I’ll try not too even if there is another increase).

Right now it’s pouring out so at least I didn’t have to drive in that.

Dinner is a big question mark?????? It’s usually crockpot Thursday but I forgot to put anything in this morning so now I’m stuck with what’s for dinner. The most likely scenario is pasta with butter sauce.  Maybe grilled cheese??? I guess I’ll figure it out in 3 hours time.

Yesterday, I made a lovely cauliflower cheese soup, maybe that used all my creativity for the week.

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That’s the cauliflower cheese soup in my almost 30-year-old Le Creuset dutch oven.  If you’re going to buy a dutch oven go for the best you can afford or save up until you can afford a Le Creuset.  The inside is browned from making the bread and I’ve tried cleaning with Barkeepers but it just doesn’t budge. Any ideas?

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This is my other Le Creuset which is also 30 years old and is still clean in the inside as I’ve only used this one for things like the above which is chicken and sweet potatoes a few onions and mushrooms.

I LOVE Le Creuset!!

Is the world or people getting crazier?

Posted in Political things, Uncategorized by

After this last church massacre, it’s hard to find the words to express the craziness and horribleness of such a crime. What would motivate someone to do this heinous act on children and adults in a church?  It seems the world is spinning out of control..

One thing I feel for certain is there is no need for semi-automatic guns. When the 2nd amendment was written, HELLO???, they had pistols and muskets. The right to bear arms is relative and needs to be addressed in context to the world we live in. Somehow people and the NRA don’t see this as relevant.  Automatic weapons and semi-automatic weapons are for one purpose, to kill as many people as possible. Useful in combat undoubtedly, but for the average person, I don’t think so.

Somehow the hate seems to be growing and that’s a scary thing.

 

Simple Sunday

Posted in cooking, simple foods, Uncategorized, Walking by

A cool day after the rain but sunny.

We were out walking by 5:30 ( or 6:30) Daylight savings time. It wasn’t completely dark. Our other regular usually doesn’t walk on Sundays so we had the park to ourselves and the geese and ducks. But sort of as expected the regular 7am crowd showed up at 6 am. Tomorrow will be interesting to see who’s there.

Then it was the Kitchen Zone this week, so I wiped all the cabinets, top of the refrigerator and did the windows and stove hood. All I need to do is mop the floor tomorrow.

We had pumpkin pancakes for breakfast with some bacon and veggie sausage and scrambled eggs. Quite yummy really.

Then it was on to the gym and Target.  I needed to get twinkly lights. I only got 2 packs because they weren’t on sale. Plus cat food, of course. PLus a couple of large Xmas bags to put gifts in. I decided this would be a good way to just have the simple gifts in a bag for each person. We’ll see how that goes.

I came home and got the pork roast in the Lodge to cook for a few hours and made homemade mac and cheese and I just finished the salad. I’m guessing were eating a little earlier tonight than usual.IMG_0386.jpg

Here’s a cute picture of Rocky and Ollie( the cat)!!

Rainy Saturday

Posted in cooking, Uncategorized by

It’s raining in Northern California and snowing over the summit in Tahoe. It’s a nice change. We certainly need it after the destructive fires in the Napa/Santa Rosa area.

We certainly need it after the destructive fires in the Napa/Santa Rosa area.

I’m reading a good book today “The child Finder”. Very intriguing and I finished it in about 3 hours.

I’m making a lovely minestrone in the crock pot for dinner and we’ll have left over pizza on the side.

My new oven is like magic and seems to be cooking everything better. Last nights pizza came out remarkable.

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Cheese and pepperoni pizza with basil.

 

the journey towards minimalism

Posted in Death, decluttering, simplicity, Uncategorized by

Life is certainly a journey with its up and downs and in-betweens.

For me, I guess, it really did start with ‘death decluttering’ ….ha ha ha.  Before I was diagnosed in the early 2000’s I became obsessed with collecting things from the 30’s,40;s 50’s and 60’s. I had a lot of fun going to estate sales and looking for buttons, Melmac, old fans, dishes etc. I had some really nice stuff. And my absolute love is mid-century furniture and still is actually. image

So in 2005 when I went thru the gut-wrenching process of getting diagnosed( I would not recommend a biopsy of a plasmacytoma in the back with a neurosurgeon using a hammer), I had a very tiny house with lots of stuff.  With a prognosis of 3-5 years survival, I think at some point, I just wanted it gone but it wasn’t right away.

It probably wasn’t until @ 2010 when I relapsed that the idea sprung into my head, that I didn’t want my kids or husband to deal with this stuff. So….it slowly was tossed, given away or donated.  Thus, the ‘death decluttering’.  Don’t wait till it’s too late to purge, and simplify.   Really, really, DO IT NOW.

 

I still have more than I’d like. In October my challenge was 1000 things gone. I got to 700 and then I just didn’t find any more or at least motivated too.  So, it is a journey of discovery.

I guess there is a balance with it too.  I kinda need a couch at this point.  There was a time sitting on the floor was fine but now I’d probably need a crane to get up so that’s out.  Also, I’ve always loved all things Japanese, so I wanted a low table on the floor but again, crane anyone?

Where am I with it all?  I want only what I use and need and fits our house.  We have given away thousands of things and it feels so good.

I am enjoying adding house plants which are adding oxygen and greenery. A win-win….

 

Dinner is leftover wild rice chicken soup and twice baked potatoes with a salad.

 

 

Going back to YNAB

Posted in budgeting, budgets, Uncategorized by

I decided to try another month free of YNAB to see if I wanted to use it again.

Originally, I bought the program when you could do that but now it is really all revamped and it’s a monthly subscription. Generally, I do all my budgeting with paper and pen, but I thought maybe I’d give this another try.

I started yesterday and the trial goes for a month. I like the visuals of the new program and it is very user-friendly. I put in all my line items for the month but one thing they want you to do is not put in future pay days as that is money not yet received. I always budget paychecks( several times actually) to see where the money is going.  But I put in the amounts and just not the check yet. I’ll have to wait and see if this gets confusing.

My main goal is to have enough money in our checking account to be one month ahead. That really has never happened so YNAB really promotes this idea and so I’m going to give their budgeting approach a try.

Right now toward the end of the year, our budget starts to include lots of annual bills, property tax, Allstate, house insurance, so that’s an area I want to change for next year and have all the money in accounts for that ahead of time. In the past, its always been we’ve relied on B’s bonuses to pay that stuff.

So, I’ll give an update in a week or so. ( Next payday is next week, so that’ll go into YNAB and we’ll see how it looks. Since I have the whole month of bills in already, that check won’t cover it all so I’m not sure if that will help or confuse me.  But I like trying new things or at least revisiting this again. BTW, I think it’s $5.00 for the monthly subscription. Also, right now I don’t have bank accounts linked but if I join I will.

Dinner is pumpkin pancakes, bacon and maybe scrambled eggs.