Category Archives: Uncategorized

Frugal Friday and other things.

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, cash envelopes, frugalism, Uncategorized, velcade by

So I spoke to soon. The shots are starting today at the infusion center. My daughter is taking him today and tomorrow as I have my Flu/COVID shot today and almost always have muscle aches and feel lousy for 24+ hours. Then Sunday the center is closed so then I will take him on Monday. The only time they had Tuesday was 4:30 and I said no way am I driving Ca 65 at that time. So I do hope they can change it otherwise he’ll have to skip that day. He absolutely cannot drive himself as he’s really not computing.

It is very stressful to have so many appointments. I really dislike having so much scheduled. It makes me kind of crazy. But hopefully, after these shots at the infusion center, they will be at home for the next cycle. Plus, this week I have Velcade so then the next 2 days are Dex days and I don’t drive or go out.

Back to what’s frugal. Well, after Stanford, which cost quite a bit for food, gas, and hotel, hopefully, this week has been better. I filled the Santa Fe up at Costco, but since we’re driving so much that will add to gas expenses. Then I shopped at our Holiday Market and that’s always more expensive than Winco. But I needed stuff so that’s that. I particularly wanted miso to make B miso soup. I spent $55 on food. Then earlier in the week I spent $47 at Bel Air. Again these are stores I try and avoid but if I’m not in Rocklin then I have to make do. I will go to Costco next week to get milk etc. B is drinking a lot of milk and using it in protein shakes.

A number of annual bills are coming due and the the biggest will be house insurance. We still haven’t gotten the Fair Plan cost which I hope comes soon. Our annual PO Box is due and that’s a whopping $182 just for a box at the PO. I did have the money in a cash envelope at least. Plus Barclay’s motorcycle insurance is due. He is going to have to sell his bike at some point but not right now so the insurance needs to be paid.

How frugal was your week?? Some weeks are definitely better than others.

An article I contributed to.

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Apartment Guide blog by Freda Nkrumah asked me to contribute to ways to make meal planning easier and faster, so here’s the article.

13 Easy Weeknight Menu Ideas to Try at Home: Save Time and Eat Well

After a long day, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. Fortunately, focusing on weeknight menu ideas can save you time and stress, making it easy to enjoy healthy, delicious dinners even on your busiest nights. 

With a little planning and some smart strategies, you can whip up meals in minutes in your apartment in New York, a rental in Philadelphia, or home in Seattle. Here are 13 practical weeknight menu ideas and tips to make meal prep easier—without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.

1. Batch cooking for the win

Lily Nichols, RDN, recommends preparing large batches of essential meal components, particularly proteins and vegetables. “Roast a chicken or make slow-cooker pulled pork, then pair them with roasted vegetables or a simple coleslaw,” she suggests. Prepping these key ingredients allows you to quickly assemble meals throughout the week, saving time and ensuring you’re eating balanced, nutritious meals. This is one of the best weeknight menu ideas for anyone looking to streamline dinner time.

2. Plan a well-rounded grocery list

Meal prep starts with good planning, according to Wendi Irlbeck, MS, RDN, LD, CISSN. “Take stock of your fridge, pantry, and make a list of what you need,” she says. “Your list should include a variety of food groups—fruits, veggies, proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. Prepping veggies, meats, and carbs in bulk means you’ll have meals for the whole week. Whether it’s a Greek yogurt parfait for breakfast or roasted veggies with grilled chicken for dinner”, these weeknight menu ideas will make your meals hassle-free.

3. Keep it simple and start small

For beginners, starting with easy-to-make meals is key. JM Nutrition advises beginners to start with easy recipes that only require a few ingredients. “Implement easy, simple recipes that don’t take a long time to prep and cook. Once you master a few quick meals, start adding other ingredients.” By making more than you need, you’ll also have leftovers for lunches or quick dinners, saving you even more time.

4. Make meal planning a fun habit

Lifestyle blogger Julie Lopez of La Mami Life inLos Angeles, CA suggests dedicating one day, like Sunday, to meal prep. “Set aside one to three  hours to cook proteins and grains, making it easier to enjoy fresh meals throughout the week.” With some planning, you can whip up delicious meals in no time while reducing food waste by using recipes with similar ingredients.

5. Use tools to simplify your process

ChefPassport’s Matteo Ressa suggests leveraging technology to simplify your meal prep with apps like ChefPassport Family, which provide ultra-personalized, easy, and healthy recipes. By setting aside time on weekends to chop vegetables and cook proteins, you can streamline weeknight meals. Batch cooking and freezing individual portions also ensures you have ready-made meals for those extra busy nights.

6. Let someone else plan your meals

Jessica Braider, recipe blogger at The Scramble in Silver Spring, MD says, “Have someone else do the meal planning for you. Services like hers deliver fresh weeknight menu ideas to your inbox each week, saving you the hassle of deciding what to cook. Each meal is seasonal, healthy, and family-tested, and can usually be made in 30 minutes or less.”

7. Boost flavor with homemade beans

For vegetarians, Letizia Mattiacci from Madonna Del Piatto suggests cooking beans from scratch in an aromatic broth. “Use cooked beans and their broth for soups, curries, or pasta sauces.” This method is a flavor-packed way to get more out of a simple ingredient while saving time on weeknight menu ideas.

8. Stick to a repeating weekly menu

When time is tight, keeping your meals consistent can simplify weeknight cooking. Jess Creatives  keeps meal prep simple by sticking to the same meals throughout the week. “We’ll prep a few pounds of chicken, then shred or chop it up to use in different ways—like tacos, wraps, or rice bowls.” This is one of the easiest weeknight menu ideas that minimizes meal variations, saving time and mental energy.

9. Whip up a quick garlic fried rice

Maricel’s Kitchen from East Brunswick, NJ offers a quick recipe for a flavorful weeknight meal. “For an ultra-fast weeknight dinner, Filipino Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag) is a perfect choice,” says Maricel’s Kitchen. “Using leftover rice, garlic, and a bit of oil, this dish comes together in under 10 minutes. “Heat garlic and leftover cold rice in a pan, then add leftover meat for a complete meal in under 10 minutes. Serve it with a fried egg or leftover meat, like grilled chicken, for a quick, flavorful weeknight menu idea.”

10. Set a weekly prep day

Consistency is key when it comes to successful meal prepping. Miguel from The Simple Paradise recommends setting a specific grocery and prepping day each week. “Consistency is key. Once you have your plan and tools, like an air fryer or meal prep containers, you’ll stay on track and avoid eating out.” Choosing 2-3 easy go-to meals can also simplify your weekly prep routine.

11. Mix and match for variety

With a few simple components, you can create nearly endless combinations for meals throughout the week. Ryan Jordan (@Gmarketchef) in Chicago, IL loves mixing and matching proteins, veggies, starches, and sauces to create endless weeknight menu ideas. “For example, use roasted chicken with quinoa and veggies one night, then turn them into tacos the next. This keeps your meals interesting and saves time.”

12. Plan your meals in advance

Christina Neumann, a seasoned meal planner in Tahoe, CA, emphasizes the importance of menu planning. “I use a monthly template to plan out meals and make my grocery list accordingly. Basics like frozen pinto beans, tomato sauce, and tortillas are always on hand.” Her tip? Keep a few meals that don’t need a recipe, like roasted chicken or tacos, in your rotation for easy weeknight menu ideas.

13. Focus on basic recipes

When planning meals, Angela Houlie from My Fruitful Body Nutrition advises focusing on simple, basic building blocks like salmon, chicken, and stir-fries for weeknight dinners. “Prep ahead when possible, like crockpot meals, and reduce stress by mapping out a weekly menu.” Sticking to core recipes can help you enjoy healthy, stress-free weeknight menu ideas without overcomplicating things.

Quick and easy meal prep ideas: Wrapping up

With these 13 weeknight menu ideas, you can save time, reduce stress, and still enjoy delicious, homemade meals during busy weeknights. Whether you batch cook proteins, embrace meal planning services, or stick to simple, rotating menus, you’ll find a strategy that fits your lifestyle and makes dinner a breeze so you can live more mindfully.

Friday things

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, swimming, travel, Uncategorized by

I think the week was fairly frugal. But as usual, there are always things.

I did do another Costco stop but that was not too much. I bought a workout set for B( zipped hoodie and sweatpants) so he has something nice to wear to Stanford. Actually, If I get back in there I’ll buy another set for him.

Then my son paid for the movie and I paid for the pizza.

This is the empty theatre.!!

Since we had pizza on Wednesday, I won’t do pizza tonight. I’ll figure out something. I made some of the homemade pasta and I might try that. It needs to dry but can be used. I’m not too sure how it will come out. The Imperia pasta machine did work great though. I guess the true test will be how it cooks and tastes.

I’m trying to decide if I’m swimming tomorrow. These weeks have just been so off with appointments; next week is the same. I guess I’ll see how it all looks if I swim on Monday and then the gym on Wed.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, books, budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, cash envelopes, cooking, decluttering, Flylady, minimalism, reading, Uncategorized, Walking by

We had a wonderful walk this morning with very cool temperatures and it was quite breezy. We were the only ones there except for the one runner who we like a lot. Very nice woman and a beautiful runner. She has a great pace.

I could feel the Dex drop of energy though so I was tired and knew I wasn’t going to go to the gym. Taking the 4 mg of dex on Friday and Saturday is good and keeps my energy pretty good but it’s still a tax on my system. So today, being Sunday, I’ll do my morning routine and then chill.

I decided to finish the kitchen zone so that’s done. And I did a quick swish and swipe in the bathroom.

I’ve been re-reading ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear because a YouTube I watched did a review of his book and I didn’t really get what his premise was initially but she explained really well so I got it from the library. Basically, so far I get, that he’s saying it’s the system of how to get to where or what you want not so much the goal. So on reflection, I thought about how the Flylady system and regular decluttering( like one in and out) is really the system I use to maintain a clean and tidy, and uncluttered home. I only started the book so I feel there might be more thoughts about all this to come.

B’s had a few good days and a few bad days with energy. He did go on the Mayo clinic site to read about the drug he’ll be taking and a lot of people had input and comments. That is the best way to really find out about some of these things are from real people taking that chemo. He was encouraged.

We had a fun night last night with my son, his girlfriend, his other friend who’s transmale( a wonderful person BTW), and my daughter. My son got out the OONI and I had made pizza dough so he manned the OONI handmade 4 pizzas which all came out great. Then he set up an outside movie screen and we all watched Alien!!! It was fun!! They left about 10. All in all a fun night.

Tomorrow I get my labs and then I plan to swim if my energy is good. I’ll just have to see how I wake up. I also need to get into Costco for eggs and coffee. I might add a few other things on, but not too much as the food budget is almost gone.

The wonder of aging.

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When we’re young we don’t think about aging or getting old. Yet, some of us are lucky to live to be 70 + years old.

“ I wish it need not happen in my time,” said Frodo.

” So do I, “said Gandalf,” and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

So we all just have to decide what to do with that time given us. When we’re young we don’t think about such things unless we are facing some mortality.

I have always been an avid exerciser and loved it. In my twenties, I ran, did ballet, and tennis, and hiked and backpacked and did Yoga. In 1976 I took one of the very first Vipassana meditation classes. Basically, it’s just watching your breath and letting your thoughts go. Pretty much like Zen Meditation. It’s always been a practice of mine. Nowadays they call it Mindful Meditation so it doesn’t sound so foreign to the average American. In my thirties, I did lots of hiking, yoga, and then swimming. Not too much running then . In my forties, much of the same and then started weight lifting at a local gym. Now in my 70’s I swim and do weights and walk almost every day. I was also a vegetarian at 18 till my mid-forties and then ate a little fish and chicken so maybe a modified vegetarian. That’s what I still do.

When I was diagnosed with Myeloma at 52, who with my background would have thought? Certainly not my young self. But there I was and here I am 20 years later. I still exercise and eat mostly a vegetarian diet. So is there a clue to being cancer-free? I doubt it. I think DNA breakdown is the most likely reason and why that is, is anyone’s guess.

I can’t do what I used to do and sometimes I feel age is creeping into my body. I’m certainly stiffer and more arthritis-y but I still can get around. My balance sometimes feels slightly off and I have to watch going up or down stairs. So there are lots of ‘old age’ things creeping in. So accepting limitations is a good thing. It’s hard to do but necessary.

So the wonder of aging, is that we get to be that older person. I wish I was a ‘cool’ old person who was sophisticated and always looked chic. But in my world, yoga pants or jeans and T-shirts are it. I look at people like Helen Mirren and go wow, how beautiful and chic she is. Well, that’s not me but I am wonderous of getting to be 72 in a few weeks time. And I will decide, each and every day what to do with the time that is given me.

It’s cross-quarter, Happy Lammas

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I thought I’d add this to today’s post since I do follow the Celtic calendar.

Lammas is basically celebrating the harvest. So although I didn’t bring in the wheat, I did bring in the tomatoes and there’s more to come:)

I always feel the change in the air and the earth. Maybe, it’s the witch in me. Or as I always said to my daughter when she was young” you are priestess born”.

My father’s side was all from Ireland so who knows??

Thankful Thursday

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Wow, I am so thankful he was able to get in to get the PET scan so quick. I think that this will be all telling. The PET scan machine is the newest on the market and very sophisticated. I’m pretty sure it’s going to locate the source of the cancer. We may even have the results tomorrow. Today B is fasting for the colonsocopy and will start drinking the stuff this evening. We haven’t had confirmation yet whether the endoscopy will be done but I guess he’ll find out tomorrow.

I’m thankful we are getting lots of tomatoes for sauce and I just finished canning 3 quarts and 1 pint. We are still getting lots. It seems early this year. I sort of remember canning in September last year.

I’m thankful for all the little things in my life. Our yard with flowers, an owl feather dropped by our nightly owl, our last lonely chicken( who seems to be doing fine BTW), a good cup of coffee first thing, a walk, and noticing all the geese families in the park are gone except one. The last family is still there waiting to start flying.

Today is a home day with canning and then just a general tidying up. I have some ears of corn I want to freeze as well. I might start a loaf of sourdough later, but we’ll see.

Quick Update:

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The doctor put on urgent on the PET scan and lo and behold he got a call yesterday to come in and get the PET scan this morning. So he’s off to UCD at 7:30. This is important as the radioactive dye lights up the cancer and it should help locate the origin. So even though this a shit deal for Barclay to have to go through, maybe we’ll have some answers by early next week.

On a positive note, my labs came back with kappa in the NORMAL RANGE at 19.2 so exciting. My ratio was out of range though at 1.76 ( high normal is 1.65). The reason for this is if Lambda also goes down the ratio between the two goes up. But I’m grateful this is ok now since we have so much to deal with and as soon as he starts treatment there will be lots of trips to infusion. I need to be strong enough to get through this. My daughter and son can also drive him if needed. She’s taking him Friday for the colonoscopy so that’ll give me the morning home.

Nothing Yet!

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So we had the oncology appointment yesterday with the new doctor. She seemed nice but unfortunately, there is nothing new to report. Basically, the bottom line is there are cancer cells in the abdomen but the origin is not known so that’s the problem. Treatment can’t be figured out till that is done. It’s obviously very frustrating for us, especially Barclay, it’s his body.

So she said the colonoscopy could show something and at the same time will try and schedule an endoscopy to look at the upper GI. That could also prove important. The last piece of the puzzle is to do a PET scan as the hot spots show up and then after that would be another biopsy. He could be dead by the time all this is done. I mean it’s tough to just wait while these things are scheduled out. I’m sure we’ll soldier on but SHIT it’s not easy.

The drive down in the afternoon was awful. So much traffic!! Then parking at the cancer center is all valet because they are building a parking garage where the old parking was. So you definitely need to add time for that.

Frugal Friday

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I spent almost $200 at Costco this week. That should keep us in coffee for the month. Plus I got some stock-up things too. I bought organic crackers, Bourisan, a block of Tillamook, and lots of other things I can’t remember.

I spent $48 at Target and that was all food. I was specifically there to get their brand, Good and Gather organic milk, and half and half. I think their prices are comparable to Winco’s.

This morning I’m pressure canning chicken tortilla soup( of course, you don’t add tortillas, it’s just called that). I had bought a Costco chicken and so this was what I wanted it for. I got 4 qts in the canner right now.

Yesterday, I roasted a big tray of tomatoes to get ready to can. I used some for the soup but have enough to do a few pints in the water bath tomorrow. I think I’ll roast another pan later and then add that to the ones I can. We are getting a lot of tomatoes right now.

Finally, our weather is cooler. What a relief. The light certainly is different in the morning and evenings. We’re still walking around 5:30 but I think next week we’ll start going later. I feel like I’ve lost some mojo to get out there but maybe it’s the stress of everything.

Next week is busy as B has his first appointment with the new internal medicine oncologist. This will be at UCD and is a 1 pm appt. Definitely not my style but needs must and then he’s scheduled for the colonoscopy on Friday. I’m not sure if the new doctor thinks that he should do it or not. I suppose if there’s something in there they can remove it at least.?? Although that would be polyps so not sure his cancer is in the colon. From the radiologist’s report, it is abdominal. I did read about 2 drugs that shrink tumors so maybe that’s what will happen. I guess we’ll know soon enough one way or the other.

My first set of labs, CBC and CMP came in all looked good. Nothing unusual except it said at the bottom, I didn’t have an account and that’s why it was late. HUH??? I’ve been using Quest for 20 years. I think it was the new kid who put it in wrong but I’ll check next month. Now to get the kappa/lambda numbers and ratio.

I might go to the pool tomorrow but undecided right now. I guess it’s just been a hard summer and I’m feeling it and it’s not even over yet. The best thing for me is usually just keep to the plan and then I do ok.