Meal Planning Monday

A list...

1.  On Saturday I got my first sunburn of the season.  While driving in my car.  For approximately 45 minutes.  Thankfully Allison has Matt's skin.

2.  It was almost 90° on both Saturday and Sunday.  Which meant my house was 102°.  But I couldn't bring myself to turn on the air conditioning because IT'S APRIL!

3.  My anniversary is this week.  It snowed at our wedding.

4.  And the power went out.  Proving that booze is anti-freeze for the soul.

5.  I love my BFF Julie.  She reminded me that Thursday was my anniversary and maybe I should spend it with my husband.  She's always looking out for me like that.

And now a meal plan.....

Monday:  Chicken Pasta Salad

Tuesday:  Grilled Mahi Mahi, Rice

Wednesday:  Picnic in the Park: Take 2

Thursday:  Anniversary Dinner??  And if anyone has any gift suggestions, please let me know!

Friday:  Homemade Pizza

You might be saying to yourself, "Hey didn't Dear Mommy Brain and Darn Near Domestic used to have a Meal Plan Monday blog hop?"  And you would be right.

Sadly, after five weeks, we never did gain any momentum on the blog hop, but if you'd still like to share your meal plan, feel free to add your link to the comments.  It would make us all kinds of warm and fuzzy.

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Welcome last minute Ultimate Blog Partiers!  I'm Jen, the crazy voice in your head behind Dear Mommy Brain.  A few fun facts about me...  I am an obsessive compulsive, slightly crunchy, real food loving, aspiring frugalista, wanna-be clean freak, struggling intellectual, guilt-ridden working mom fighting through the fog of mommy brain.  Oh, and a procrastinator.  Obviously.

Some things you will read about at Dear Mommy Brain...

Eating.  But don't be expecting anything particularly resembling a recipe.  I do my best to provide a vague outline of what I'm doing, but honestly I don't even know half the time.  I'm a "that looks about right" kinda cook.  And if something turns out well, I'll share it with you.  I'm also a meal planning nazi.  As a working mom, it is absolutely necessary to meal plan for the sake of my sanity, but I don't know why I didn't do it before.  It's made my life like 432% easier.

Simple Savings.  I LOVE saving money, but honestly, I'm over the drugstore game.  It's too much work and Walgreens has just broken my heart too many times.  So I'm always looking for easy ways to satisfy my frugal addiction with readily available, environmentally conscious supplies.  And I like to share these ideas...  Because I'm no hoarder.

Tackling Debt.  Follow me on my journey to clear over $11,000 worth of consumer debt in 12 months.  It's going to be a bloody battle.

Plus, as a bonus, you get to read about all my failed attempts at being a crafty, organized, put-together mom.  **Guaranteed to make you feel better about your life.**

Why do I feel like I'm selling a Life Time Magazine subscription??

So, grab yourself a big Dr Pepper and settle in to stumble through the dizzying world of Dear Mommy Brain.

10 Things...

1.  I am deathly afraid of bees.  I can't even watch them on TV without getting the willies and running away screaming.  I was going to add (someone else's) pictures to this post, but I googled "bees" and was so freaked out, I hid under my desk in the fetal position.  Needless to say, I broke up with Google.  He knows I can't look at pictures of people covered in bees.

2.  I'm adopted.  And have never pursued a search for my biological parents.  I already have parents.  Why do I need more?

3.  I don't lose things.  However, by saying this now, I will lose something imperative to my survival.

4.  I haven't had a haircut in over a year.  Sad, I know.

5.  I am really good at Scrabble.  And really bad at Chess.  And if I ever get on Wheel of Fortune?  Watch out.  I'm taking home the Mercedes.  Although I'd rather have the cash.  Do you know what the taxes would be on a Mercedes??

6.  I have a distinct hatred for certain words.  Especially ones that have an "oi" sound.  I cringe at the thought of the one that starts with an "m" and ends with an "st."  You will never hear me say it.  But on the contrary, there are also words that I love.  Like "pulse," "breath," and "persevere."

7.  I've been told that my music collection looks like it belongs to a lesbian.  Which I am assuming is a HUGE compliment because Ani DiFranco is so frickin' amazing that I've dedicated 37% of my iPods memory to her music.

8.  I still miss my last apartment.  I painted horizontal stripes down the 26' long hallway.  It rocked my socks off.  I wish I had somewhere in my current house to paint stripes.  My husband is really glad we don't.

9.  We are going to die in this house.  I'm emotionally fragile and I don't think I can take getting to know a new house, with new problems.  So, I guess I will never have stripes again. 

10.  We have a cemetery behind our house.  So, the next time I do move, at least it isn't far.  Maybe someone will paint stripes in my casket.  That would make me eternally happy. 

11.  Although I think I want to be cremated.

Today I am being featured on Talk About Me Tuesday over at The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom!  I hope you'll stop by and check it out!

How many times I can say *LOVE* in one post?

It's that day again...  I was going to work on a recipe post, since one is long overdue, but I'm digging 5QF today.  And on this grey and rainy Friday, I'm looking forward to some blog hop fun...

1. Can you drive a stick shift?

Hellz yeah.  This is actually my first car in about 10 years that's an automatic.  Because when we started car shopping, I was stuck on this model and we couldn't find a Mazda Protege5 in a manual.  And we figured with a kid coming down the road, it would just be easier to drive an auto.  And while that is true, I still miss it.  And even after 2 years, I jam my left foot on the floor on occasion.

2. What are two foods you just can't eat?

Um, are we talking foods I don't like, or foods I can't eat?  Because what I like and what my gut tolerates are two entirely different things.

I LOVE donuts, but the gut, not so much.  I LOVE beef stroganoff, but the gut vehemently disagrees.  I LOVE ice cream, but the gut protests.  But I tell it to shut the hell up and take it like a man, because I'm not sacrificing ice cream for no one.

As for foods I don't care for, it's a fairly short list.  I wish I liked olives, but they are just too briny.  Same with coffee and tea.  I just can't acquire a taste for it.  Kinda like beer.  I'd love to be able to partake in the most readily accessible party beverage, but don't care for the taste of sweaty, stinky socks in my mouth.

I also don't eat veal.  I have a few moral food convictions and not eating baby animals is one of them.  I also try to avoid lamb, but when I go out for gyro's I have to tell myself that it's only a little.  Because I do love me some Greek food.

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?

Along the same lines as the above question, my gut's not such a fan.  Actually it's not a fan of most pre-packaged foods.  So, if I have a hankering for cookies, I need to get off my lazy butt and make them myself.  Which is actually fantastic diet control.  Because my thighs?  The LOVE Tagalongs.

4. How do you pamper yourself?

I haven't had a haircut in over a year.  Sad, I know.  But I haven't really had the expendable income to be running around getting manicures and massages.  Although now that we have a bit more money flowing in I'm gonna go buy me some new clothes...  that fit.  That will be quite a luxury.

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?

When I was 3 years old, I was in LOVE with Inspector Gadget.  More specifically, Penny on Inspector Gadget.  I thought she was the bomb.  And I wanted to be her.  To the point where I advised my parents that I was changing my name to Penny.  And refused to answer to anything but Penny.  Well, it stuck.  So my parents (and a couple close friends) still call me Penner...  or Penn.  I guess it could be worse.  Like the other nickname my mom calls me.  Which I refuse to admit.  EVER.

The cat's outta the bag...

Finally...  It's Friday...  I'm ready for some R&R this weekend so that I can enjoy the weather anomaly of 70° temperatures in February.  Admittedly, this week has been especially tough since I would much rather be at the park with the munchikin than sitting in a cubicle.  At least I'm near the window, I guess...

On to...

 

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?

You mean there's something wrong with that?  Honestly, I don't have that many clothes that fit, so sometimes it's a necessity to wear the same clothes if I don't have time to do laundry.  I do have my limitations, though.

I'll wear the same shirt a second day if it wasn't worn an entire day (or night) and looks/smells clean-ish.

I'll wear the same jeans until they are dirty.  And I'm not counting that little peanut butter schmear from the munchikin.

I'll wear the same bra for weeks without laundering.  But mostly because I only have one that really fits.  I know.  That's really sad.  But I will not reuse panties.  That's crossing the line.

I also will not wear the same outfit within a 3 day period in front of the same people.  I don't know why I care.  People see me in the same clothes over and over again anyways.  But I guess I don't want people to realize that I'm doing it.  Although, I guess the cat's out of the bag now...

2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?

I already live in a big city.  But if I had to pick a different big city, I'd say Milwaukee or maybe Seattle.  I've been to Milwaukee several times and despite the 9 months of winter they experience, it's a really cool town.  Very progressive.  And my liberal, social-worker self digs that.  That's why I'm thinking I would like Seattle, too.  They have very specific city planning ordinances.  Which makes a world of sense.  Strange reasons, I know, but I moved from the suburbs to the city to vote on a city charter, so I guess that already makes me weird.

3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?

I love the expediency of flying.  But being strapped in a small confined space with a toddler?  No thanks.  We've driven as far as 9 hours and while it was tough because my kid doesn't sleep in the car, we survived.  Thank you, Dora.  And on the road you can stop and explore sights on the way, which we really enjoy.

The Horicon Marsh that we stumbled upon on our way across Wisconsin last summer.  That's why we drive...

4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?

What's that?  Actually, I would absolutely love to spend a day deep cleaning the carpets and washing baseboards, but I'm lucky if I clean the toilets every other week.  I've asked the hubs several times for a cleaning lady as a gift, but...  So, I guess I just need to tie dust cloths to my kid's feet and make peace with the rest of my grimy house.

5. What is the best book you have ever read?

I actually haven't been an avid reader for many years.  I'm trying to get back into it with the help of Life as Mom's Booking It!  But back in the day when I used to read more frequently, I was a big Ayn Rand fan and I loved Atlas Shrugged.  These days I read a lot of non-fiction.  Which is far less engaging, however, I do enjoy the learning acquired.  I guess it fills the void left from not taking college courses.

Parents... Keep me away from your kids. I am a bad influence. Crap, what does that mean for my kid?

It's been awhile since I've done a 5 Question Friday, so I thought it was about time to give you another peek into my life.  From the safety of my own office.  Please don't come look in my windows.  My house is a huge mess.  And that's just creepy.  Thanks.

1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?

That's a really tough question.  Honestly, my heart hurts when I hear of people suffering, but there is suffering everywhere and $1000 isn't going to stretch that far...  So, perhaps it would be better to invest the money in some grassroots efforts.  It's nice to give to the United Way and other similar large-scale organizations, but you never get to see the impact of your donation.  Whereas, making the donation to a local food bank or homeless shelter would improve lives within your community.  Always a good thing.

2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?

If if I didn't have a job, snow days would be awesome.  I understand that the world can't shut down for a couple inches (unless you are in Georgia), but people need to chill the hell out and realize that it's not necessary to go shopping when there is a foot of snow on the ground.  If you are a doctor, sure, go to work.  You do something important.  If you work at Abercrombie?  Stay the hell at home and watch tv and drink hot chocolate.  

3. What talent did you wish you had and why?

Without hesitation.  Sing.  It's one of those things that either you can or you can't.  And I can't.  And I'm jealous of those that can.  Like Ursula in The Little Mermaid jealous.  So watch out.  If you start singing around me I might come jam a butter knife in your throat and steal your voicebox.

4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?

If I had to choose...  I'd say politics.  I briefly went to school to pursue a career in public policy administration/city planning, so I am definitely very interested in politics, however, I'm not particularly diligent about keeping up with all the details.

5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)

These days, I am a wino.  Before that was my martini phase.  Which came after my vodka sour period.  Which was a big step up from amaretto sours.  Which evolved from drinking amaretto straight out of the bottle.  Which was a step in the right direction from drinking vodka straight.  Warm.  Out of a flask.  In the back of my friend's Grand Am.  In high school.  While I was supposed to be in class.

Obviously, I didn't pick these questions, so if you have any other questions you'd like to throw at me, feel free to email me at dearmommybrain (at) gmail (dot) com.  And once I get a few, I'll post a Dear Mommy Brain Q&A post.  Sound fun?

Five Question Friday

I'm linking up with others for Five Question Friday!


1. What's on the top of your holiday wish list and why?!

You may have noticed that there aren't many photos on my blog.  A big part of that is that I'm lazy short on time.  When I'm cooking, I'm always in a rush and don't take the time to photography each step.  I know, I'm making excuses.  In reality, it's probably because I don't have much confidence in the quality of my photos.  Working with a kit lens doesn't really help my situation.  So... just maybe... if I had a 50mm f/1.8... I would be more capable of taking Pioneer Woman quality photos...  Just a thought.

2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?

I think most of my favorite gifts have all come from my husband...  I really appreciate it when he remembers something that I off-handedly mentioned back in August.  Our first Christmas together, he bought me a Garbage CD after I had said on one of our first dates that my music collection was sorely lacking without it's presence.  (Does anyone buy CDs anymore?  I guess this was before iPods...)  Or there was the year that he bought me an Easy Button.  You know the one in the Staples commercials?  It was used mostly as a paperweight on my desk, but now the kid loves to play with it.  Still.  It's awesome.  "That was easy." 

3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when you grow up?

I started college with an undeclared major since I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do.  But I guess I figured I should go to college.  And in my second semester, I picked a major out of the school's handbook.  Dietetics.  It was fantastically interesting.  Until I had to take organic chemistry.  I withdrew that semester.  (To be fair, that was when I started having digestive issues which turned out to be Crohn's.)  The following year, I transferred to the local public university with a social work major (after a brief stint at the community college for interior design).  While I still love the field, I don't really see myself pursuing the education needed to follow my original path of public policy and administration.

As far as dream jobs...  I could see myself enjoying being a photographer, a chef, or maybe even a full-time blogger.  But I think if I could start over, I would seriously pursue a career in nutrition and fitness.  It's been a strong interest of mine since I was in high school and I believe that I could still prioritize my family while pursuing that field.  As long as people would listen to me when I say, "Do as I say, don't do as I do" (as I'm eating a bowl of ice cream).

4. When do you put up your tree?

It's been a tradition of ours to put up the tree the Sunday after Turkey Day.  It began when I was working in retail and the idea of having the Saturday after Thanksgiving was merely a dream.  But on Sunday, even if you had to work, it was a shorter day.  At least it used to be.  Stores probably open at 6am and close at 11pm these days...

5. What is your favorite Holiday?

Thanksgiving has a slight edge over Halloween.  Mostly because of the food.  I love me some crispy turkey skin.  (I'd be a great nutritionist, eh?)  It's also less of a holiday "season," which is great for us lazy people.  Minimal decorating involved.  No gift buying.  Just cooking.  And I do that everyday.

Ok, now answer these questions and link up to My Little Life!