Grazie il mio amore!
Showing posts with label husband. Show all posts
Showing posts with label husband. Show all posts
Best husband in the world!
Yep, I got him! He remembered the Festa della Donna (Festival of the Woman) and had flowers sent to me!
Executive Homemaker Series: Goals
Mission Statement has been created with the help of Tsh Oxenreider's post Back to Basics: Create a Family Mission Statement on her blog Simple Mom. Next step is creating family goals a.k.a. objectives. Writing the mission for my family made us really think about who we are, where we are, and where we want to be. Creating the statement was that first step to build the momentum of getting to the real guts of our family plan.
According to the textbook Small Business Management "Objectives are the purposes, goals, and desired results for the business [family] and its parts."
As my husband and I talked about our goals and desired results, we realized a bit more understanding of our individual, husband & wife needs should to be presented before committing our family's path to paper. (Of course, if you have older children then they should be included in the goal setting. For us, B, though she may think she's 12, is only 2 so we have a proxy vote for her!)
Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr Marriage Builders has created 5 pertinent questionnaires for spouses to complete. In preparation for setting The Demetrio Family, Inc.'s Goals, we are answering these questionnaires to make sure where we think we are is correct and what tweaking needs to be done to make our objectives clear, concise, realistic, and achievable.
We'll be doing this over the next couple evenings and then create our goals!
Did creating your Mission Statement make you think about your family's goals and directions?
As my husband and I talked about our goals and desired results, we realized a bit more understanding of our individual, husband & wife needs should to be presented before committing our family's path to paper. (Of course, if you have older children then they should be included in the goal setting. For us, B, though she may think she's 12, is only 2 so we have a proxy vote for her!)
Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr Marriage Builders has created 5 pertinent questionnaires for spouses to complete. In preparation for setting The Demetrio Family, Inc.'s Goals, we are answering these questionnaires to make sure where we think we are is correct and what tweaking needs to be done to make our objectives clear, concise, realistic, and achievable.
We'll be doing this over the next couple evenings and then create our goals!
Did creating your Mission Statement make you think about your family's goals and directions?
Frugal=Homemade Sausage
Homemade Sausage on the Cheap!
We had a huge zucchini, large bell pepper, and onion from the garden and thought, some Italian sausage would go great with these goodies. So we found a recipe and bought the needed ingredients.
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| Giuseppe |
To my point. It turned out fabtacular! He cored out the zucchini, stuffed it with the sausage, baked it, covered it with homemade marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
The best part? Making our own molto buono sausage cost $1.71 a pound! Around here if you find good Italian sausage at $2.99 a pound it's a great deal! We ended up with little over 5 pounds of sausage plus about a pound of "rib tips" to use later.
Yes, it took some time to make, fortunately we have the Kitchen Aid attachments which made it a ton easier, but in the end it was worth it as we enjoyed the meal with Friemly and beaming with pride of our Frugal-Fantabulousness!
Want to make your own? You can find the recipe at Becoming Italian
FruGal is Freedom
Overall cash spent outside of utilities and mortgage, we are going to finish about $200 less than July! High Five to us!
We did eat out a few times this month, I will admit...but we had coupons for everything! The 3 of us ate lunch at Steak and Shake, during their happy hour- half priced drinks, and with our 3 coupons we ended up saving over $6.00 off the total bill...that's an entire meal there! We walked out of there paying $11.00. Sweet!
Dryer? I have one? I've plumb forgot about having an electric dryer in the basement next to the washer. Everything gets line-dried...even socks now! Am I going overboard yet?
"Do you have your coupons mommy?" This is the question B asks before we leave the house now. She's my little FruGirl.
The only major hurdle is getting my husband to get receipts for things he purchases, no matter how small the bill. Today he said "Oh, I forgot. I did good the first two weeks." Well sweetie, those first 2 weeks were SIX weeks ago. Get with the program my dear Hubby; consider this your verbal warning. ;-)
My mind set has gone from "I'm doing this 'cause I ain't bringing home the bacon anymore and the baby needs a new pair of shoes" to "I'm doing this out of love for my family and myself."
This ethereality hit me yesterday while B played in her sandbox and I sat on the patio removing oregano leaves from their stems to dry them for the winter. It was a long, tedious task but I was enjoying the outdoors, the quiet, and my daughter building birthday cakes in the sand.
Frugal is freeing causing fear to be fleeting.
I'm on top of the world!
For the love of meds!
This past weekend seemed extra trying with my journey into toddlerhood. Seriously, for all the moments, which are a ton, that I just love being part of a 2 year old's world, I have an equal amount of moments that I really feel like calling my happy helper for a stronger script.
Then daddy & daughter go for their nightly walk to feed the ducks and show her doll the moon, I have some time to myself , not once uttering "No", "Be nice to the cat", "You have to wear a diaper or panties", "One more episode of Calliou then it's naptime", etc., etc. and I put down the phone, put the tequila away, and realize my script is strong enough.
Then daddy & daughter go for their nightly walk to feed the ducks and show her doll the moon, I have some time to myself , not once uttering "No", "Be nice to the cat", "You have to wear a diaper or panties", "One more episode of Calliou then it's naptime", etc., etc. and I put down the phone, put the tequila away, and realize my script is strong enough.
Free is better than Frugal!
Once again another Free is better than Frugal Blessing shout-out!
Our 100 year old house does not have central air-conditioning. The 30+ year old window unit it came with works enough, but it started to smell moldy and the electric bill nearly put me in the ER.
Last night my husband and his brother installed a less than 1 year old energy efficient unit that 1. looks nice 2. doesn't smell like 30 years of ick and 3. WAS FREE! Yes, it was given to us!
My husband's work policy is if it'll take more money to fix something than to get a new one, they get rid of the old one. So, because it was under warranty he got the new part it needed and during his off the clock time he got it up and running and brought it home yesterday!
My financial fears keep trying to come to the forefront but then something like this happens and gives me a sense of calm and lets me know that we are going to be just fine!
Our 100 year old house does not have central air-conditioning. The 30+ year old window unit it came with works enough, but it started to smell moldy and the electric bill nearly put me in the ER.
Last night my husband and his brother installed a less than 1 year old energy efficient unit that 1. looks nice 2. doesn't smell like 30 years of ick and 3. WAS FREE! Yes, it was given to us!
My husband's work policy is if it'll take more money to fix something than to get a new one, they get rid of the old one. So, because it was under warranty he got the new part it needed and during his off the clock time he got it up and running and brought it home yesterday!
My financial fears keep trying to come to the forefront but then something like this happens and gives me a sense of calm and lets me know that we are going to be just fine!
Another Frugal Feast!
Once again, another frugal dinner success! For $6.00 we have 2 nights of dinner for the 3 of us! That's right, a $3.00 dinner tonight. For less than 1 value meal at that fast food joint with the clown a pseudo healthy meal was created. Here it is: (And yes, my hubs created a delish dipping sauce for our falafel!)
Fried Falafel with fresh made Naan and a Parsley Lemon dipping sauce, served with a scoop of sour cream, fresh radishes, and red bell pepper strips.
The recipes are posted here, at Becoming Italian if you are wanting to try it for yourself!
(Except for the falafel-I buy the box mix you just have to add water to!)
"I'm bringing the kids presents"
On July 13th we loaded the car with a really big box full of toys, games, stuffed animals, and video and headed to Adventist Hinsdale Hospital's Pediatric Unit.
Its like Fort Knox getting into the unit so once the big doors opened Bianca pranced in and screamed "I'm bringing the kids presents!" The nurses came running in delight and B was ready to distribute.
There was a write-up in the Hospital's newsletter about our annual donation, encouraging others to be blessings as well.
I'm excited for year 3. Better start planning that big bash! What theme should it be?
Its like Fort Knox getting into the unit so once the big doors opened Bianca pranced in and screamed "I'm bringing the kids presents!" The nurses came running in delight and B was ready to distribute.
There was a write-up in the Hospital's newsletter about our annual donation, encouraging others to be blessings as well.
I'm excited for year 3. Better start planning that big bash! What theme should it be?
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| Setting up some of the goodies for a photo op. |
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| Going to distribute a gift |
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| Baby Noah getting a stuffed animal |
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| The nurses told her to hold the baby's hand. She's trained not to touch babies' hands or faces. Confusion. |
FruGal August Update
We are into Day 5 6 of our August No Spend Challenge and I think we have the hang of it now. Only took a full month but hey, we're learning. The biggest thing we have a grip on is telling people "No, we can't go out to eat, we'll gladly have you over or vice versa for a homemade meal."
Couponing is going well. The issue is I don't buy most of the products there are coupons for. I'm a big advocate for store brands/generics and shop mostly at Aldi. Shoot, I'm the girl who while single ate yogurt for breakfast, salad for lunch, ramen for dinner, and a skinny cow ice cream sandwich for a nightly snack...for a year! Can someone say creature of habit? The lure of the products with coupons is tempting, but I just cannot justify buying something just because there's a good deal. Am I thinking wrong?
Our Farmers Market is still going on but we have noticed the prices are not very good and our favorite stand isn't there anymore. Luckily, our garden is starting to birth some good produce so we're making up for the FM's slack.
I have been making some killer (as in good, not lethal) frugal "gourmet" meals! My culinary prowess astonishes me! Our kitchen does a happy dance when I make a dinner $8.00 or less for the three of us! Oh wait, it's not dancing, that's just the 100 year old floors creaking. I'll still think its celebrating with me.
Today we are utilizing our zoo membership with our sack lunches in tow. Another Free day for Me!
Couponing is going well. The issue is I don't buy most of the products there are coupons for. I'm a big advocate for store brands/generics and shop mostly at Aldi. Shoot, I'm the girl who while single ate yogurt for breakfast, salad for lunch, ramen for dinner, and a skinny cow ice cream sandwich for a nightly snack...for a year! Can someone say creature of habit? The lure of the products with coupons is tempting, but I just cannot justify buying something just because there's a good deal. Am I thinking wrong?
Our Farmers Market is still going on but we have noticed the prices are not very good and our favorite stand isn't there anymore. Luckily, our garden is starting to birth some good produce so we're making up for the FM's slack.
Today we are utilizing our zoo membership with our sack lunches in tow. Another Free day for Me!
Frugal Confession
I must confess that I'd cut back on groceries, cable, phone, gas, clothing, whatever, in order to continue the following:
- I cannot give up getting my hair cut & colored monthly. Nope, can't do it. This expense, which for many people would be seem quite lofty, $600+ a year has to be budgeted in to our Frugal Lifestyle. Even if no one sees me, I still must be well coifed.
- Once a month Date Night. Me and the Hubs need some time to date each other. We plan on being wise with our date night choices but we still have to do it! So, this too must be budgeted into our Frugal plan.
- Our annual weekend away in December. Each year we stay at a hotel in Chicago and go to the Christkindlmarket and some fine dining locale. This is also my Godson's Christmas gift from us...an annual experience. Fortunately for us, the Hilton offers Christmas in July specials so we book the hotel for dirt cheap in July and enjoy it in December.
What things can't you give up for the sake of Frugality?
July Wrap Up
Tomorrow our No Spend July Challenge comes to an end. What an eye opening, liberating, and shameful experience it's been! We are starting the No Spend August Challenge now that we have a feel for things, and we really want to do better than we did this month.
July Wrap Up:
1. We haven't a clue what we spent all our money on before and are quite embarrassed by this.
2. It was nice spending more time as a family and focusing on us.
3. I received my FIL's yummy pizza dough recipe!
4. I still haven't fully decluttered the basement!
5. No one wants to buy our stuff.
6. My daughter will eat anything we put in front of her! (tonight she ate shark)
7. My daughter gets excited about broccoli!
8. We still spent too much $
9. I'm starting to feel like I live in Italy with my clothesline outside my kitchen window
10. We have all we need
11. It feels great to be in control of our lives
12. I'm starting to become a good cook
13. I've been keeping up with my blogging!!!!!!
I'm excited to start August! I'll keep you updated on how we are doing!
Frugal is the new Black baby!
Work, Mom, Guilt
Back Note: Let's learn another KimD created word: SWAHM: Stay Work At Home Mom-an "in limbo" mom trying to balance both staying and working!
Here's the deal, I get a little nauseous when I say it. Yes, there are some "issues" about this that I'm addressing with my Happy Helper and I have the utmost respect and awe for the women who from the gate chose to be SAHMs, but just me calling myself a SAHM makes me disappointed in myself! Mind you, I had a SAH mom growing up and couldn't imagine life without one. I know, f'd up, right?
Work. I love it. I love anything and everything having to do with business. I have 2 degrees in business and will one day have my doctorate in business administration. I do have an at-home biz that I envision growing gangbusters and not actually be out of my home. I get a warm fuzzy feeling thinking about getting back out there in my expensive business attire, having meetings, closing deals, forecasting, planning, and implementing. I miss wheeling and dealing. I miss the challenge. I miss the money!
Mom. I love it. I love stopping everything I'm doing when I hear her feet hit the floor in the morning to get ready for our "Good morning baby girl. Did you sleep well? Did you have any dreams?" conversation. Our morning cuddle makes whatever crap is in store for the day a bit more bearable. I love being here when she delights in something new. I love being here when she gets hurt and needs a hero. I love being her best girlfriend. I love the giggle-fests we have daily. I love hearing her say "Mommy".
Guilt. I've got it! When I first transitioned into being unemployed (back in January) I focused obsessively on Shortycake Creations...like 24/7. My husband almost held an intervention! For those weeks B was a cranky mess and it's because I didn't give her the attention she needed. So, I sat down and marked off blocks of time that are work hours and family hours. I've stuck to it mostly, but as B is getting more and more interested in things the guilt of me sitting here at my computer creating promotions, editing pictures, returning emails, confirming orders is growing larger than my business! I can't even get into the guilt of not contributing to the family finances...that's a whole other gotta-get-a-grip-around-it-with-my-Happy-Helper issue!
So, it's Wednesday. It's supposed to be my No work, all about B day. I have orders that need to be finished by tomorrow night. I have a cupcake promotion I need to work on and get it ready for August 1st. I have another business op I want to get up and running. I have a zoo membership that has not been used much this summer. I have bills that need to be paid. I have dishes that need to be washed. I have a 2 year old who needs lots of lovin. I have a headache!
Am I the only SWAHM out here? Is this just a phase I'm going through? Somebody PLEASE intervene and put me on the straight and narrow!
I hear footsteps, gotta go!
Cumin Get Happy!
My culinary adventures are usually documented in my other blog, Becoming Italian, but I had to share this one! OMG!
Pretty much 90% of the food we cook is of some Mediterranean influence, with about 98% of that being Italian. Well, tonight I pulled out my bible of Med cooking, "The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" by Nancy Harmon Jenkins and made the most delish meal so far to date!
Seriously, we are adding it to our weekly meal plan, it's that good! Let me share it with you!
As a side my husband made Bruschetta on French bread that I made yesterday. All ingredients from our garden...can't get any fresher!
Pretty much 90% of the food we cook is of some Mediterranean influence, with about 98% of that being Italian. Well, tonight I pulled out my bible of Med cooking, "The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" by Nancy Harmon Jenkins and made the most delish meal so far to date!
Seriously, we are adding it to our weekly meal plan, it's that good! Let me share it with you!
Kousbariya-A Lebanese fish baked in a tomato-cilantro sauce
OK, seeing it in a picture makes it look a bit scary, but from my mouth to G_d's ear it is good!
Want to try it yourself?
Here's the recipe (page 259)
2 pounds firm-textured white fish (I used cod)a little flour for dusting the fish1/4 cup olive oil1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced1 garlic clove, chopped3 very ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped (I used one 28oz can of diced tomatoes)1 tablespoon ground Cumin1 cup minced cilantrosalt and pepper to taste
Cut the fish into serving size pieces about 1 inch thick. Lightly dust the fish pieces with flour. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a heavy saute pan over medium to high heat and, when it is almost smoking, add the pieces of fish. /saute the fish, a few pieces at a time, for 2 or 3 minutes to a side.Then dig in!
When all the fish is done, discard the frying fat, wipe the pan clean. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan and over medium-low heat gently saute the onion and garlic until soft but not brown-about 10-15 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have given off their juices and started to thicken-about 10 minutes. Stir in the cumin and cilantro. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if necessary.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the fish pieces in a shallow baking or gratin dish and cover them with sauce. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the fish is thoroughly cooked and the sauce is bubbling.
As a side my husband made Bruschetta on French bread that I made yesterday. All ingredients from our garden...can't get any fresher!
Shout out to my Hubs!
Thanks babe for picking up and installing that new stove/oven in the basement for me! My baking won't heat up our main living area any more! Now, if you'll just pick up your socks. Love ya! xoxo
I'm addicted to blogging
Let me break it down: I have 4 blogs that I actively update, 1 that I haven't launched yet, 1 that is private and just for my pictures for other blogs, and the remaining are I don't know what.
The most recent blog I started I gave great thought about. After writing a post for The Mom Standard (not yet published...still debating if I should) and the topic it covered I realized that maybe I should start a blog that allows this topic to be more front and center. So I did! Living with depression isn't all doom and gloom, I know, I've lived with it for over 30 years. Living with it and trying to not let anyone know about it is the unhealthy part of it. I'm finally getting healthy.
If you're not managing more than 11 blogs yourself and have a few minutes to read another one, stop on by...leave a comment, become a follower, or just secretly check in. It's up to you! This new blog is titled: Depression & Cupcakes: Turning depression into something sweet.
Taking the time: Our Frugal Challenge Update
Nineteen days into the challenge. Seems like it's been a full month already! We've surpassed the naive initial budget I had set, but when we continue this challenge next month (yep, we are doing this again in August) we know our needs better and can make a realistic budget that won't break the bank!
The biggest eye opener so far has been that being a good steward means taking the time. No matter what we do, there will always be 24 hours in the day, the quality of the time spent is the key! I used to think that going out to eat or ordering in saved us time and let us get to more important things quicker. What was so important? Sitting our butts on the couch watching "our" TV shows everyday! How sad. Today one of the important things is deciding when we are going to start cooking dinner and what is on the menu. I still don't have a good grip on menu creating but I'll get there.
The past 18 days we have missed many of our shows on TV, but we've spent more quality time together even if it was while drying the dishes, hanging the clothes on the line, or having a toy instrument parade through the house.
The past 18 days we have missed many of our shows on TV, but we've spent more quality time together even if it was while drying the dishes, hanging the clothes on the line, or having a toy instrument parade through the house. Some goals for the next couple weeks:
- Keep stockpiling coupons and getting awesome deals on necessities
- Use the dryer no more than 2 times
- Freeze our debit cards so we can't use them last minute-which we've done a few times so far
- Look into our cell phone and cable/Internet plans so we can lower those bills.
- Drink more coffee and eat less sweets! Being in the kitchen more has made access to sweets too easy!
To baby or not to baby, that is the question
I'm hunkered down and ready for the on slot of wise-arse remarks from friends and friemly about this post but I have to write it.
And for that reason is my argument. It's the 2 year old Jedi mind trick stage. Because of all the awesome stuff your new toddler is doing (even when it's horrible...like repeating every cuss word you utter under your breath) you are made to forget the horrible baby stage that lead up to this awesomeness. YES, I'm going to try and use the word awesome as much as possible in this post so grit your teeth and just keep reading. Pretty please?
It's like a magic trick...we all know magic isn't real, it's all about the slight of hand, the "hey look at my left hand while I do a switch-o-roo with my right". You fall for the trick anyway, you actually are awe struck about it, then you realize you had been taken as a doop and feel like an idiot knowing you fell for the whole "look over here" bit and that it wasn't as awesome as you thought and remember "oh yeah, its a slight of hand, there's no such thing as magic dust".
I'm trying my hardest to avoid my hub's invitation to join the float in the baby bandwagon parade. Everyone knows how much I love parades, but hey, I can sit on the side in a nice comfy chair with some cold beverages and watch the bandwagon go by, all while thinking "well that was nice."
Obi Wan was strong and steadfast until the end. I am like Obi, I am like Obi, I am like Obi...
There are many more arguments I can debate, both for and against this topic. I'll save that for future witty banter amongst followers! Until then, I've got a lightsaber lesson to teach.
Healing Hurts
This morning I woke myself up from crying. The dreams I was having of course were the reason. I have been down all day and it is because of the disturbing dreams and emotions they created. Without going into great detail my happy-helper has started some major CBT with my first assignment going to be the hardest! My dreams last night were just an accumulation of my thoughts about this assignment and going through my memory file cabinet to get things in order.
As I go through this journey, of course I will write about it. I always write...journals that I alone have ever read to blogs that I let the world read. Writing has always been my escape, my encouragement, my legacy. I am doing this for my daughter, my husband, my family, myself. Healing hurts but without pain your body doesn't know there is something that needs to heal.
And while I go through this process, I will continue to smile, joke, exude happiness and love. I will continue to fall in love with my daughter and make sure healthy love is all she experiences. I have to, that is my job right now.
I'm known to say it like it is. So, I've said it. Not a very uplifting post, but it's me. :-)
Here is a Twila Paris song that over the years has been my calming song, that told my story, that keeps me encouraged.
Becoming Italian: Festival of the Woman! Why is this not well known?...
I posted this on my other blog, Becoming Italian, but had to share it here!
Becoming Italian: Festival of the Woman! Why is this not well known?...:
Becoming Italian: Festival of the Woman! Why is this not well known?...:
Sunday my inlaws were over and while I sat outside with my FIL he began telling me about a festival that is starting in his hometown back in Italy. It's something to the effect of the Festival of the Madonna of the high seas (he's from a coastal town).
Anywho, I thought about trying to find some 411 on this festival...wait, back note-one of the highlights of this festival is when divers take a plastic Madonna (as in Mary, Jesus's mom-not the Material girl) and at dark they put lights in it and have it slowly rise up from the ocean while the entire town looks on with awe. I found that a bit creepy, thus my interest in finding out more about it. Ok, back to the subject.
While I was searching for this kinda creepy festival I came across one that I've never heard of and obviously neither has Hallmark: Festa Della Donna: The festival of the woman! That's right, March 8 is International Women's Day and in Italy the men (and in recent times women) give their mamas, sisters, girlfriends, wives, etc. etc. a bundle of Mimosa flowers, get this--as a sign of respect for the women!
Here's my rant: We celebrate freakin Ground Hog's Day (my wedding aniversary btw) but NOT Festa Della Donna!
Come on, show a girl a little respect!
[To My Husband: Put March 8th in your iPhone Calendar to get me some Mimosa flowers!-Love You :-)]
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