A Few of My Favorite Things...

• A good deal
• Cool, sunny days
• The smell of my son's hair, and for that matter, my husband's scent too!
• The sound of laughter and wine glasses clinking

  Those are just a few of them... to get you warmed up!
 I had wanted to write here last week, and I actually did start writing, but then I got really way too serious about what I was writing, and I learned a blogging lesson (one of many I will learn, I'm sure!)- don't be too serious!  Although a blog feels like a diary or journal, it's not.  I'll just keep that post as a draft for myself.  So, here's the less- intense version in the form of a little report on great deals, recipes, highlights and lows of the week:  

   So last week felt pretty busy with catching up on life after being in Zurich with Rod the previous week.  I cannot even tell you how wonderful it felt to see our 16 month old son again after 8 days!  And how fortunate I feel to have such amazing "parents- in- law" that we can totally trust them with our precious child just so we can get time together.  Joe had a wonderful time with them!  Rod and I struggled all week with waking at 3am and falling asleep as soon as Joe was in bed.  Thankfully, we finally had a full night's rest last night. Because of the general fatigue, and fighting Joe's cold, he and I stayed home from Stroller Strides and Bible study and just rested and caught up on laundry, etc.  Over the weekend, we experienced the Marena Ritz Carlton for the first time for a meeting that Rod presented at.  Now I am afraid that my hotel standards were ruined by the exceptional service, room, and food!  Argh!!  I am SO proud of my husband for winning a hard- earned award for his research presentation.  

  I've been on a major coupon/ sale kick the last month (inspired by my amazing sister, Grace!), and I've saved a lot of money.  However, I am still learning NOT to buy the items I already have extras of or the items that turn out to not be such a great deal once I'm at the store.  My method has been to inventory my own stuff, review http://www.moneysavingmom.com, then the weekly ads, then clip coupons (both the newspaper inserts and online).  I grab a blank sheet of paper, and write out my specific list for each store, and the price that the items should be with the sale and often, the coupons needed to stack the savings.  I also plan my menu at this time.   It actually doesn't take me long.  I then paperclip the coupons for each particular store (I keep it to Walgreens, Safeway, Target, CVS, Petsmart, and Walmart- the stores I normally frequent) under an identifying post- it.  This keeps me from flipping through all my coupons, and stressing out at the register with a long line and a fussing child.  The savings last week amounted to about $100!!  I am proud of myself, and even my husband was impressed.  Good times!!  I think I am actually starting to experience an adrenaline high from this activity!  

    A few more of my favorite things:

• Hanging out with my friend Ruth here in Phoenix- talking about the books we're reading, and pretty much everything under the sun!
• Reading- recently finished the Harry Potter series, and am now reading the Stieg Larsson Trilogy (very different than anything I've ever read before, and definitely read with a filter in place- it's pretty graphic and intense!).
• Snuggling with Joe, reading to him, playing games, and teaching him new words- I LOVE this discovery and interactive phase we're in right now!!
• Having a fresh camaraderie with Rod- it was really refreshing to have a whole week together, and now we're really reaping the benefits, and trying to maintain them.  
• My awesome babysitter, Marina, who does anything I ask her to do around the house and loves on Joe in Spanish!
• The fact that Macy's exchanged my new boots after they got a horrible rub mark on them somehow in Zurich.  

A few of my not- so- favorite things:

• My friend Adrienne having breast cancer and getting her second round of chemo this week.
• My sister having to go back to work this week, and put her little girlies in day care.
• Missing church and Bible study.
• Joe burnt his fingers very badly on my flat- iron while exploring the counter now newly within his reach!  He cried for several hours off and on, and I couldn't do anything to make the pain better except for give him Tylenol and put him to bed eventually.  When he woke up, he was apparently just fine, but my Mommy heart is still aching from causing my little guy pain.  
• Hitting my husband's truck with my car when backing out of the driveway in a hurry (the third time I have damaged my husband's truck accidentally!).  Fortunately, Rod was super- gracious about it.  I've got a lot to learn from him in this area!

    I'm gonna close with this recipe that has been requested several times by mommy friends eager to up their children's veggie and fiber intake:

Carrot Zucchini Muffins

1/4 c. canola oil                                                                       1/2 c. brown sugar

1 egg                                                                                        3/4 c. applesauce

1 c. grated carrots                                                                   1 c. grated zucchini

1 c. all- purpose whole wheat flour 
(I substitute 1/4 c. flax meal or wheat germ for 1/4 c.)

3/4 c. all purpose flour                                                            2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon                                                                       1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt                                                                                ( I also add a handful of raisins)

Spoon into paper- lined muffin pan, 2/3 full each (I also make madelines, which are just the right size for Joe).  Bake 18- 20 minutes (make sure they are not over- baked!), or until toothpick comes out clean.  

Joe and I will eat these for breakfast.  I usually make a double batch and freeze a week's worth each bag to thaw when we want.  

    Enjoy!!