Yesterday we went on an afternoon excursion to IKEA.
I must say, I really like that store.
Unfortunately, there is something called the IKEA Vortex:
* Usually, I end up buying things that aren't on my list.
* I end up NOT getting the things that are on my list (Yesterday, it was because the intended purchase items were out of stock).
* I end up spending more than intended (Yesterday, suprisingly, it was the opposite: we had planned on buying a piece of furniniture as well, but we couldn't make up our mind, so our overal purchases were much cheaper!)
* I usually get some amazing deals on necessities. (Yesterday we replenished our soup-bowls. They were diminishing due to breakage with kid-handling).
We also went for the full-experience: we ate dinner at the IKEA RESTAURANT. (Quite reasonalbe! Where else can you get kids MacNChees & Drink for only $0.99? )
We had dissappointed children who were not able to use the play zone (because it was closed).
We had antsy children who wanted to try every piece of furninture in the showroom.
Has anyone else had IKEA VORTEX experiences?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday Morning Muffins In the Oven
oatmeal banana applesauce muffins
2 med bananas
2 c oats
1 c flour
1 c brown sugar
4 oz apple sauce
2 eggs
1 T baking powder
1/3 c oil
dash ground cloves
dasg allspice
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Bake at 350F for 15 minutes, makes 18 med. muffins
Now I have "just threw it together" yummy muffins ready to bring to church! 3 1/2 kids dressed... and 45 minutes to get myself put together too!
2 med bananas
2 c oats
1 c flour
1 c brown sugar
4 oz apple sauce
2 eggs
1 T baking powder
1/3 c oil
dash ground cloves
dasg allspice
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Bake at 350F for 15 minutes, makes 18 med. muffins
Now I have "just threw it together" yummy muffins ready to bring to church! 3 1/2 kids dressed... and 45 minutes to get myself put together too!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Edible Activities: Pretzels
Today we made PRETZELS
Since we were unable to buy pretzels at the mall the other week, I had promised my children that "some time" we'd make them "from scratch" "like Grandma did when I was a little".
Today turned into that day!
I went online, and chose a recipe
http://strothotte.com/pretzels.php
There were helpers to assemble the dough.. then we watched a PBS Show while we let the dough rise (in a warm oven so it wouldn't take all day), then we had dough-fun of assembling pretzels, pretzel knots etc. (Oh, and of course, all little helper hands enjoyed nibbling on the dough!)
It turned out "o.k.", next time I'll try a different recipe out there. But, it wasn't as complicated as I thought it would be!
Since we were unable to buy pretzels at the mall the other week, I had promised my children that "some time" we'd make them "from scratch" "like Grandma did when I was a little".
Today turned into that day!
I went online, and chose a recipe
http://strothotte.com/pretzels.php
There were helpers to assemble the dough.. then we watched a PBS Show while we let the dough rise (in a warm oven so it wouldn't take all day), then we had dough-fun of assembling pretzels, pretzel knots etc. (Oh, and of course, all little helper hands enjoyed nibbling on the dough!)
It turned out "o.k.", next time I'll try a different recipe out there. But, it wasn't as complicated as I thought it would be!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Kentucky-Style Wedding Reception: NOT like a New York Wedding...
At Saturday's wedding reception, we had a conversation with a non-NewYorker who discussed "other" wedding receptions.
As mentioned in a previous post, the New York Wedding Receptions we've experienced have been extravagant!
I must admit, that, in my lifetime, I have only experienced Weddings and Receptions in five different states. What I've seen here, has indeed topped the list as far as expenses spent.
Apparently, Kentucky weddings can be a little different.
You might be invited to a pot-luck dinner. Or maybe a pot-luck picnic. Which means, "You're invited to the reception, please bring something to eat". No kidding.
And, such weddings might be held at a county park, with baseball game as the primary entertainment.
Anecdotes from these weddings have related that such receptions are more memorable than any fancy wedding attended.
So, instead of having a wedding that costs as much as some mortgages, if you want a cheaper wedding, have it in Kentucky!
As mentioned in a previous post, the New York Wedding Receptions we've experienced have been extravagant!
I must admit, that, in my lifetime, I have only experienced Weddings and Receptions in five different states. What I've seen here, has indeed topped the list as far as expenses spent.
Apparently, Kentucky weddings can be a little different.
You might be invited to a pot-luck dinner. Or maybe a pot-luck picnic. Which means, "You're invited to the reception, please bring something to eat". No kidding.
And, such weddings might be held at a county park, with baseball game as the primary entertainment.
Anecdotes from these weddings have related that such receptions are more memorable than any fancy wedding attended.
So, instead of having a wedding that costs as much as some mortgages, if you want a cheaper wedding, have it in Kentucky!
Weddings, Long-Island Style
This weekend we were invited to a wedding reception. We had a blast! It is always fun to celebrate the newlyweds, get out, meet people, and have a good time.
It was a LONG-ISLAND-STYLE Wedding reception.
As we noticed in our last Long-Island-Style Wedding reception, there are people who attend the reception who don't even go to the wedding. Also, the reception starts an hour and a half after the wedding concludes -- which not only gives the bridal party plenty of time for pictures, but, it also gives most of the guests time to change from wedding dress to party formal dress. (We didn't observe this feature, but, this is a far cry from the texan dress-down into jeans before/during the reception!)
This means, among other things, that the COCKTAIL HOUR/open bar was more ornate, elaborate, and had more food than most wedding receptions I attended south of the Mason Dixon Line.
Of course, this was followed by a full six-course sit down dinner. (I had the roast-duck for the main course. Althogh, I must admit the somthing-done-to-it portebella gormet dish looked yummy too!)
The dinner portion had entertainment of professional DJ's....
Next post I'll describe a non-long Island style wedding reception.
It was a LONG-ISLAND-STYLE Wedding reception.
As we noticed in our last Long-Island-Style Wedding reception, there are people who attend the reception who don't even go to the wedding. Also, the reception starts an hour and a half after the wedding concludes -- which not only gives the bridal party plenty of time for pictures, but, it also gives most of the guests time to change from wedding dress to party formal dress. (We didn't observe this feature, but, this is a far cry from the texan dress-down into jeans before/during the reception!)
This means, among other things, that the COCKTAIL HOUR/open bar was more ornate, elaborate, and had more food than most wedding receptions I attended south of the Mason Dixon Line.
- Mashed Potato Bar
- Fruit/Vegetable Bar
- Pasta Salad Bar
- Pasta Bar
- Hot Sides Bar
- Meat Bar
- Cheese Bar
- Circulating Appetizers
Of course, this was followed by a full six-course sit down dinner. (I had the roast-duck for the main course. Althogh, I must admit the somthing-done-to-it portebella gormet dish looked yummy too!)
The dinner portion had entertainment of professional DJ's....
Next post I'll describe a non-long Island style wedding reception.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Answer to Prayer...
Yesterday was one of those days:
A day that doesn't feel productive, not much gets done.
And, then, it happened....
I was Little bit distracted,
I had two errands to run:
2nd errand was to go to the bank
But, at the bank, the two paychecks were missing!!!
I went home, praying... I know I brought the checks with, but, maybe I was mistaken??
After frantically searching in the car, around the house....
We got a phone call, they were picked up by the side of the road!
(Did I have them in my coat pocket and they fell out? Did I have them in my purse and they got bumped out as I searched for my keys?...)
The good news is: God answers prayer, someone cared enough to search for our phone number based on our name, and ...
there are honest teenagers who didn't try to cash & spend hard-earned income
A day that doesn't feel productive, not much gets done.
And, then, it happened....
I was Little bit distracted,
I had two errands to run:
2nd errand was to go to the bank
But, at the bank, the two paychecks were missing!!!
I went home, praying... I know I brought the checks with, but, maybe I was mistaken??
After frantically searching in the car, around the house....
We got a phone call, they were picked up by the side of the road!
(Did I have them in my coat pocket and they fell out? Did I have them in my purse and they got bumped out as I searched for my keys?...)
The good news is: God answers prayer, someone cared enough to search for our phone number based on our name, and ...
there are honest teenagers who didn't try to cash & spend hard-earned income
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