tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84392338667729449142024-02-19T17:10:11.784-08:00SapidnessTaste and See!SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-27579149564838426872012-12-07T20:47:00.001-08:002012-12-07T20:47:45.399-08:00Fancy Yarn!I got some super fancy new yarn a couple months ago and I finally have a break to sit down and knit with it! I am all excited to knit up some Christmas presents for some family members. I will post picture as soon as Christmas passes!
I have also finally gotten busy on knitting Jack's blanket that I started and stopped 2 years ago. Yes, really 2 years. I am knitting blocks that I am going to assemble into something like a log cabin quilt. Should be interesting. I am using a bunch of homespun yarn that has been sitting around my house forever. It feels good to finish and project and destash at the same time!SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-9834347591028668592012-11-20T17:05:00.001-08:002012-11-20T17:05:56.154-08:00Holy CRAP!So it has been a really looooong time since I have written anything. My days just all seem to run into each other, with no time for anything extra or fun. The next thing you know, it has been 18 months! I am going to make an effort for more blogging. Stay tuned.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-62682676710747339322011-04-07T17:42:00.000-07:002011-04-07T17:42:25.053-07:00Kids say the darndest things.Yup. I was driving Lucy, Alex and 2 of Alex's friends to the movie theater last week, and this is what I heard.<br />
<br />
"You know I like motorcycles." I nod in agreement. "I am getting my husband one, even if he doesn't like it." - Lucy<br />
Guess we know who will be in charge in that relationship!<br />
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The boys are talking about a poetry assignment they had in class. "My poem is this: I have a dog named yoda.<br />
He likes to drink soda.<br />
He only likes cookies<br />
If they taste like my sister Gabby." - Friend 1<br />
"Luuuucky! I want a dog that will eat my sister!" - Friend 2SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-36560932433469887132011-04-07T17:37:00.000-07:002011-04-07T17:37:56.532-07:00Pot pretties... coming soon to a blog near you!Pot pretties.. hmmmm. Whatever could she mean? *sweet dorothy gail voice*<br />
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Remember <a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/03/pretty-pots.html">these pots</a> from last year? Well, they are getting a make-over. Oh yeah. Check back.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-37139990692965571442011-03-18T19:43:00.000-07:002011-03-18T19:43:45.150-07:00Apple Avocado PuddingI made some <a href="http://rawon10.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-6-2011.html">apple avocado</a> pudding for breakfast the other day. Total huge FAIL. It was lots too avocadoey. Kids and spouse turned up their noses. I ate some, but after a while it was just no good. Next time I will use a quarter of an avocado to each apple.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-29845650323353516312011-03-17T08:42:00.000-07:002011-03-17T08:42:45.565-07:00Facebook - Friend or Foe?I seem to have this crazy love/hate relationship with Facebook. I feel this obsessive need to check in at every hour of the day. I say, "Oh, it's just a great way to keep up with old friends and family. It's a great way to meet the local people on this post."<br />
<br />
But really, it's just another excuse for people to be mean, nasty and catty. It's like they think since it's online and not face to face, they can say whatever they want. Military wives in general are unkind to each other, but throw in the distance and impersonality of the internet and they are assholes.<br />
<br />
People follow you around and post nasty things on your statuses. They post cryptic statuses to get attention, and usually the meaning behind is a dig or mean comment about someone else.<br />
<br />
It seems that a lot of the people I meet through facebook are full of drama, looking for attention and bring chaos with them. I don't need that crap. I have enough drama and chaos in my own home.<br />
<br />
BUT it is good for some things. I have found some nice people through facebook. I enjoy hanging out with them and i feel that I satisfy that need for companionship. Facebook is an easy way to connect people. EVERYONE and their grandma has a facebook account, and all our events and fun things are posted on Facebook. No Facebook, no notification.<br />
<br />
Overall, I am undecided and conflicted.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-89636945159938502042011-03-15T09:55:00.000-07:002011-03-15T09:55:24.370-07:00Jack and my Juicethat sounds kind of wrong, but it's really just two completely unrelated topics.<br />
<br />
Jack is the cutiest cute baby I have ever seen. He is loving, cuddly, sweet and quiet. (Quiet is a big issue in our house... I seem to have some noise sensitivities). I totally love that he knows when he is tired and ready for bed. He will be fine, just bouncing along with a smile, and then he squawks that he is ready for bed. I just hold him in his sleep time position (face in my armpit) and he is out! Done. I <3 him.<br />
<br />
Okay, Juice. I like to start my day with some juicy juice. It is green juice, and super hydrating. Yum. Some people find the taste very vegetabley, but i guess it is a taste you work up to. I think it tastes fresh.<br />
<br />
I have a fancy high powered juicer, and it wasn't cheap, but if you are going to juice veggies every day, the investment is worth it. I also have a centrifugal juicer, and it worked for a while. I still use it for fruits.<br />
<br />
My fave juice recipe:<br />
1 head of lettuce (never iceberg)<br />
Handful of spinach<br />
3 carrots<br />
3 stalks celery<br />
1 cucumber<br />
1 apple (I like granny smith)<br />
1 lemon, peel removed<br />
handful of cilantro for zingSusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-42471907603916561982011-03-14T11:36:00.000-07:002011-03-15T09:57:17.434-07:00Really Real RawAnybody that knows me, knows that I am a vegetarian. Some people think I am lame and wonder why I just won't eat like everyone else, why I have to be so picky. Well, it's about to get worse, baby! Monday next marks the first day of whole family raw-ness. As a family we are moving to a vegetarian, 90%-95% raw diet.<br />
<br />
So, common questions from the peanut gallery.<br />
<br />
Yes, we will be getting enough nutrition. Yes, even the kids. To ensure optimum nutrition, we will be supplementing with vitamins D3, K2, B12, calcium, DHA, and soy lecithin. Also, the kids will probably have 1 or 2 eggs a week and we may all have some organic yogurt on occasion.<br />
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Yes, the kids will pack lunches, and we will bring food in to any event that SAD (standard American diet) will be served.<br />
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Yes, the kids are on board for the most part. We have talked about nutrition and and healthy bodies, immune systems and weight. My kids are used to a vegetarian life style already.<br />
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Yes, the kids will eat the food. As mentioned, they already eat a mostly vegetarian lifestyle. I won't be cooking anything. I will be un-cooking. Eat it or don't is my philosophy. Dig it.<br />
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No, we won't be dining on carrot sticks and sprouted sunflower seeds. It is a delicious and healthy way to prepare food. And we won't have to eat any mushy, overcooked broccoli.<br />
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Yes, it is going to be a hard transition for a while. I have a serious sugar addiction, and so do the kids. The first step is acknowledgment, right?<br />
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On to the recipe from yesterday!<br />
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Raw Cream of Tomato Soup<br />
<br />
So this may sound kinda icky, but it really wasn't. It made a creamy frothy soup and the apples were a great sweet contrast to the tomato.<br />
<br />
4-5 fresh fragrant tomatoes, quartered<br />
1/4 c. cilantro<br />
1 avocado, pitted and scooped out<br />
1 packet stevia<br />
1 t agave nectar<br />
sea salt and fresh pepper to taste<br />
1/2 c. chopped apple<br />
1/2 c. corn, fresh off the cob<br />
<br />
In the blender, blend all ingredients, except apples and corn, until creamy. <br />
Divide apples and corn between two bowls. <br />
Ladle soup over corn and apples. <br />
Eat. Enjoy. Eat some more.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-39991428805078188282011-01-31T09:50:00.000-08:002011-01-31T09:50:33.615-08:00Garden for 2011Last year's garden was a bust. We were supposed to move to NC so we gave away everything.. including my precious dirt! So I have to start over now. That's okay.. it will be worth it!<br />
<br />
Garden is mapped, and planting and harvest dates are put on the calendar.<br />
<br />
So I will have 15 6-ft x 3-ft garden boxes. <br />
<br />
The plants this year are:<br />
Early Snowball Cauliflower - 2<br />
Farmer's Extra Early Snowball Cauliflower - 2<br />
Green Magic Broccoli - 2<br />
Green Sprouting Calebrese - 2<br />
Coronando Crown Broccoli - 2<br />
Cherry Belle Radishes - 48<br />
Green Arrow Peas - 136<br />
Purple Pod Beans - 136<br />
Blue Lake Pole Beans - 64<br />
Sugar Snap Peas - 72<br />
Bush Beans White Half Runner - 8<br />
Gotta Have it White Corn - 32<br />
Golden Cross Corn - 36<br />
Boston Pickling Cucumbers - 4<br />
Straight Eight Cucumbers - 4<br />
Big Boy Bell Peppers - 6<br />
Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes - 6<br />
Roma Tomatoes - 6<br />
Golden Rave Tomatoes - 6<br />
Gurney Girl tomatoes - 6<br />
Sweet Baby Girl tomatoes - 6<br />
Danvers Carrots - 80<br />
Nantes Carrotes - 64<br />
Envy Carrots - 64<br />
Nantes Coreless - 80<br />
Crimson Sweet Watermelons - 3<br />
Sugar Baby Watermelons - 2<br />
Field's Sweet Cantalope - 3<br />
Gurney's Giant Cantalopes - 3<br />
Multipik Crookneck Yellow Summer Squash - 1<br />
Black Magic Zucchini - 2<br />
Jack-o-lantern Pumpkins- 3<br />
Lumina Pumpkins - 3<br />
Gurney's Giant Pumpkins - 3<br />
Spinach - 42<br />
Bibb Lettuce - 8<br />
Iceburg lettuce - 8<br />
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce - 8<br />
Buttercrunch Lettuce - 8<br />
Bright Lights Chard - 4<br />
Lettuce Blend - 8<br />
Strawberries - 72<br />
Thyme - 1<br />
Dill - 1<br />
Cilantro - 3<br />
Mint - 3<br />
Basil - 6<br />
<br />
and flowers:<br />
geranium - 7<br />
Nasturtium - 25<br />
Marigold - 4<br />
Sunflowers - 15SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-10664295706629887342011-01-01T21:25:00.000-08:002011-01-01T21:25:36.642-08:00Farm Birthday featuring sock horsesIn october we had an amazing birthday party for Lucy, who turned 7! It is hard to believe my girly is 7 already!<br />
<br />
My friend Beth made an awesome 3-D farmhouse cake. Recipe wasn't too hard and was found here: <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/fun-farm-cake-844008/">Family Fun Farm Cake</a>. The cake was a big hit with all the kids and we had to ration the "farm animals".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKrYC5p1TyXcCb9UwTV34cNFrSbuXA6DCyb0Ko3VaMY3IQKnVjwYXkt62gXSnmLIeJ7lQ_eTgBI9VtpHtkUkjdiF0nEMHEsEPQFNPb6CEIZrhvooNo2_OyedtBX7vHoZfUDprK573_ws/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKrYC5p1TyXcCb9UwTV34cNFrSbuXA6DCyb0Ko3VaMY3IQKnVjwYXkt62gXSnmLIeJ7lQ_eTgBI9VtpHtkUkjdiF0nEMHEsEPQFNPb6CEIZrhvooNo2_OyedtBX7vHoZfUDprK573_ws/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
At the party we made some cute hobby horses, roughly based on these<a href="http://unprocessedfamily.blogspot.com/2008/12/sock-stick-horse-tutorial-giveaway.html">hobby horses</a>. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of any of the finished horses, so use your imagination. If I can find anyone that did take a picture, I will post it. I got some string mops and crew socks from the dollar store. The dollar store mops were perfect because they were super short. Like mops for little people (it's not cool to say midget, is it?). We took a sock and stuffed it over the mop so that the strings filled the bottom of the sock forming the horses, um, snout? nose? muzzle?. I just left the socks loose and open around the handle of the mop. The strings did not try to jump out of the sock at all, and it worked very well. Next I cut some lengths of string and using a plastic canvas type of needle, i pulled the yarn through the sock and then back up very close to where i went down. Then I tied the two ends together. I did this all over the mane area. I cut 2 triangles from felt and hot glued them where ears should be. Finally we sewed buttons on for the eyes.<br />
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Then we raced horses. Fun.<br />
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Lucy's favorite part: Beiber posters for her room.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-34586307151309500942011-01-01T19:55:00.000-08:002011-03-18T21:57:36.193-07:002010 Projects in ReviewProjects from 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/01/fun-with-fabric.html">Fabric Strip Curtain, rug and curtains</a> - Jan. 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/02/sun-on-snowy-day.html">Sun on a Snowy Day Wreath</a> - Feb. 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/03/coffee-cup-rack.html">Coffee Cup Rack</a> - March 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/03/pretty-pots.html">Pretty Pots</a> - March 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/04/plant-cell-cake.html">Plant Cell Cake</a> - April 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/05/teacher-gifts-on-fly.html">Teacher gifts on the fly</a> - May 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-dresses.html">Summer Dresses</a> - June 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-bottle-carrier.html">Water Bottle Carrier</a> - June 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2011/03/iron-on-wall-vinyls.html">Iron on wall "vinyls"</a> - July 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/07/operation-new-board-completed.html">Operation New Board</a> - July 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/09/hang-up-laundry-separators.html">Hang up laundry separators</a> - Sept. 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/10/menu-board.html">Menu Board</a> - Oct. 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2010/10/scary-spider-wreath.html">Scary Spider Wreath</a> - Oct. 2010<br />
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<a href="http://sapidness.blogspot.com/2011/01/farm-birthday-featuring-sock-horses.html">Hobby Horses</a> - Oct. 2010SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-3784327139560260472010-12-31T12:06:00.000-08:002010-12-31T16:22:48.671-08:00Jack's JourneyJack arrived December 6th.<br />
<br />
I am having such a hard time writing this, but it has been on my mind for a few weeks. First and foremost I would like to state that I am completely, over the moon in love with my new son. I would never change him or want to give him back. He is a complete miracle and a wonder. This is my vent and thoughts on a difficult situation, and want no flames.<br />
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I am having a few people that seem determined to remind me and everyone else that Jack is A.D.O.P.T.E.D. It seems to be that people think since he was wanted and adopted, he should be a perfect baby, or maybe I should not get frustrated or ever complain. Honestly, I am not that strong. Infants are hard. They wake up a lot. They want to be held constantly. (I don't mind, but it is hard to do homework, cook dinner, work and hold a baby at the same time) They cry and don't tell you why. And there is always the mommy guilt and worry. Should I have been more patient last night at 4 AM, going on 4 hours of sleep during the last 2 days. He shakes his arms a lot.. is that a sign of some obscure illness?<br />
<br />
I have a friend that was trying desperately to conceive a few years ago. She was really angry that she was not able to conceive easily like other women around her. She wrote once that if she had a baby, she would never complain or get frustrated with her baby because she wanted him so much, so much more than the rest of us who take our fertility for granted. I was kind of upset at the time. I had 3 children. Did that make me less worthy of another child?<br />
<br />
I was already infertile at that time and ached for the 4th child. I was MEANT to have a 4th and there was a big gaping hole in my heart where #4 should be. I felt guilty, like she thought that I did not not need another because I already had 3. And I did. 3 beautiful, healthy, perfect children. It wasn't enough. I had another baby out there somewhere. But I knew that she was thinking that it was selfish of me to want another when I had 3 and she had 0. Eventually, she did get her baby. He is a fantastic, super cute boy. And she has never complained. to me anyway.<br />
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There is someone I have met recently that seems to feel the same way. She seems to think that I should not have any frustrations or complaints about Jack. Maybe even that i don't have a right to complain. He is ADOPTED. He must be perfect, or i must be super happy and grateful since I had to work hard to get him. I recently posted on facebook that I had a crappy day and wanted it to end. Her response was that I should look to my children and be happy. I love my children, i really do. But my baby doesn't poop rainbows and spit up butterflies. He cries. He poops out his diaper and up his back while we are out. He pretends to sleep until I lay down my head. Newborns are hard work.<br />
<br />
She mentioned a few days later that she is struggling with jealousy. She did not specifically say she was jealous of me, but she mentioned heartache, and trying to be happy for others. I know she is struggling with trying to conceive. I want to have compassion for her and her situation, but sometimes I am too wrapped up in just struggling through my days. My situation is hard. newborn, no husband. Sometimes whining makes me feel better. It upsets me that someone should imply that I have no right to a bad day or that Jack should make every problem seem miniscule.<br />
<br />
Jack's journey to me was really long. I waited 7 years for him. 7 years ago, October 2003, I had a baby. A cute cuddly girl baby named Lucy. 4 days later, i had an ovary-ectomy. No more eggs = no more babies. I was already heart broken. It was a really dark time for me. I had a hard time mothering Lucy. This was the baby that wasn't supposed to be the last baby. I was going through menopause, and had 3 young children.<br />
<br />
Eventually, i stopped feeling so black. The kids and I moved a couple times, and Adan came home and left and came home again. We decided to look into adoption and immediately realized that was a pipe dream. We are a military family who moves on average every 9 months. There was no way we could afford 15,000+ dollars to grow our family. That idea went to the back of the mind. Every time it popped up, i would dismiss it and push it to the back.<br />
<br />
I felt that jealousy. It wasn't fair. I KNEW i had another baby, and now i would never get to meet him. All my friends were having kids and I had to sit around them and know that i would never get to do that again. I had my children so much earlier than all my school friends... I had an 8 yo, and 6 yo and a 3 yo when my bff <b>started</b> having kids. I had to suffer through baby showers and cuddles with a black hole in my heart. <br />
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A couple years later we moved again. I had mostly gotten past my burning envy and settled in. I had new friends and they were my age with children that matched the ages of my children. We decided to try and adopt through the foster care system. We went through the classes and finished our home study. Due to a stupid loophole, we could not foster adopt and live on post. We could adopt or foster, but not both. We fostered for 9 months, but we quickly realized that this was not going to work. The only children free for adoption were teens or severely medically challenged.<br />
<br />
I had considered donated eggs, but without ovaries it would be nearly impossible to sustain a pregnancy. We thought about surrogacy, but it was just as expensive as adoption. We realized finally that a baby wasn't going to happen. Adan and I finally came to a decision that we would shelve all the baby stuff come December 2010. There was no use getting ourselves all worked up all the time when it never seemed to pan out. In December we were moving on.<br />
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God works in his own time though. 2 1/2 years ago, I opened a family child care home. The first family that I interviewed did not meet the criteria that I had set out. I wanted only before and after school care children. No youngsters. this family had a kindergartner, a 4th grader and a 2 year old. I wanted to say no, but something in me said yes. So I started watching them. I was caring for them as we went through that foster care class, and as we fostered a child. A year later I decided to go back to school and closed my daycare. My family bugged me to keep watching the children, and I decided to continue watching them through the Army's respite care program.<br />
<br />
I met the children's grandparents, and aunt in the course of the time and I felt almost like they were my second kiddos.<br />
<br />
June 2010, their aunt decided to give her baby up for adoption. She chose us to take Jack.<br />
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We visited the lawyers, and did all the necessary shopping, but it did not feel real at all. I never felt like I would really be having a baby in my arms. Momma was great. She let me be at all the ultrasound appointments and at the birth. I was with Jack from the time he was born until he came home. Jack is mine. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real. But it is.<br />
<br />
And I am still human. Even after hoping and wishing and crying for the last 7 years. He still cries in the middle of the night or wants to be held when i need to go to the bathroom or cook. But I would not give him back for anything in the world.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-47372440995495209372010-10-21T21:37:00.000-07:002011-03-18T21:45:34.470-07:00Menu BoardI found this coolio menu board <a href="http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/09/weekly-menu-planner.html">tute</a>. I used a frame I already had. I bought a metal sheet at Lowes and some cute little cutters. Adan cut it down to size for me. We primed it and painted it with spray paint primer and spray paint chalkboard paint (found at Michaels). I popped it into the frame, and woila! Handy Dandy menu board. Of course since I have made it, I can't find chalkboard chalk ANYWHERE!!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt0CYw7V6QffToObqrsHG16o5xjIX1IXHUXt9ZTU2c2fXhBgfFk_tQdJOiv6Y-05aOwu1w0IuQWDaXCs6BkX3r-SqbR1tOT38SHra7US11dZnsjaTzmaYwygar6_AN8kaMSk63DACOtg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt0CYw7V6QffToObqrsHG16o5xjIX1IXHUXt9ZTU2c2fXhBgfFk_tQdJOiv6Y-05aOwu1w0IuQWDaXCs6BkX3r-SqbR1tOT38SHra7US11dZnsjaTzmaYwygar6_AN8kaMSk63DACOtg/s320/006.JPG" /></a></div>SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-40156789670701047602010-10-20T21:47:00.000-07:002011-03-18T21:55:24.732-07:00Scary Spider Wreath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HnpEEvkN3Mz_3lOYP-10qlGOwreoBxKCGz1n0Z1WcmfZXfMAfW4sLZZMhkXBVW3ouG5aSH0d4kPZT_XAFAstrdCmz0UjF-lC_ZGpicviJBd5ArOExe1Wbt0CKcbLiECA1e9g1ycYE5A/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HnpEEvkN3Mz_3lOYP-10qlGOwreoBxKCGz1n0Z1WcmfZXfMAfW4sLZZMhkXBVW3ouG5aSH0d4kPZT_XAFAstrdCmz0UjF-lC_ZGpicviJBd5ArOExe1Wbt0CKcbLiECA1e9g1ycYE5A/s320/056.JPG" /></a></div><br />
This cutey pie wreath was just in time for Halloween. It was all dollar store items. I got a wreath that was like sticks intertwined.. not sure how to explain that, spanish moss, and plastic spider rings. I found the sign there, or maybe at Michaels.<br />
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I did a few things differently from the tutorial. i did not paint the spiders. I just got various colors and some skeletons and centipedes, and just glued them right on.<br />
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WARNING - The moss is helllllla messy. Put newspaper down on your work station.<br />
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Another warning - I actually found real spiders crawling on it at one point and was afraid to bring it back in the house. Realism, baby. We don't play around in this house.<br />
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Tute found <a href="http://craftsandsutch.blogspot.com/2010/09/winner-halloween-spider-wreath.html">here</a>.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-21370303513507739772010-09-20T21:22:00.000-07:002011-03-18T21:35:58.360-07:00Hang up Laundry SeparatorsWe have a tension shower curtain rod in our laundry room. As things come out of the dryer, I hang them up as needed. It was becoming a pain in the ass to figure out which was whose, and whose was which. So i got a nifty idea. At the store they have those round separators that divide the size 12 from the size 10 and so on. I needed some. So i made some.<br />
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Excuse the craptastic pictures. I guess I was shakey that day!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDdX_cdih12kn6bD1Fvecg4X9Hx3mjmvTl7OS9q_PfsdosK4d1rpYhCzu-jnSLuGMY9lfhy5YBuCei2BslQN01kLvzHmwM_0zIe-SU09ZijndygJnIoUOLXm9j-oU41PkXyD_iDGD0C4/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDdX_cdih12kn6bD1Fvecg4X9Hx3mjmvTl7OS9q_PfsdosK4d1rpYhCzu-jnSLuGMY9lfhy5YBuCei2BslQN01kLvzHmwM_0zIe-SU09ZijndygJnIoUOLXm9j-oU41PkXyD_iDGD0C4/s200/015.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I made circles on a piece of cardboard. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcu-DSsriaRdJMJDgLGUUj-PHf82tJyRY27fZ083avU73MQk_bqZkSo3RWEbb2oysTrOSCBS_9GTeSHlZZNK3YOLBmmT9sliZ-IeoizZ2DK-bVph2TWg4KpUEzNm9XbC3leuNIgMEYB0/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcu-DSsriaRdJMJDgLGUUj-PHf82tJyRY27fZ083avU73MQk_bqZkSo3RWEbb2oysTrOSCBS_9GTeSHlZZNK3YOLBmmT9sliZ-IeoizZ2DK-bVph2TWg4KpUEzNm9XbC3leuNIgMEYB0/s200/019.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I used a jumbo coffee cup for the big and a little bead container for the middle.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiXFhwtqDhO_zUcbEa5GIDPFqLdwXTP7Xon4FEQWkS11AoQrcBUNBB7sTqKCStcpFX249G9JQpyq2HpseNRSK5-dgUyIxAoyKkHtxE_hbPMFutZsP04Jy0-jDNY7n-te0AqsYIyfHBkY/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiXFhwtqDhO_zUcbEa5GIDPFqLdwXTP7Xon4FEQWkS11AoQrcBUNBB7sTqKCStcpFX249G9JQpyq2HpseNRSK5-dgUyIxAoyKkHtxE_hbPMFutZsP04Jy0-jDNY7n-te0AqsYIyfHBkY/s200/020.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I cut out the circles and made a slit from the outer edge into the inner edge. Then, I wrote names on each circle<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76XUpaoVONcybtjOUSj-DZ1KwvFKYoYXNVKV-Fum1rEo3iYnfbnYDyX5GtVTdS2oCAARy-5ZZ_3XBX0RonHUCCSCsNvd5gy-7L07YRgk9k2ydj4rav6aXtJa6RLeGbUqbBuDjjI7sjTQ/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76XUpaoVONcybtjOUSj-DZ1KwvFKYoYXNVKV-Fum1rEo3iYnfbnYDyX5GtVTdS2oCAARy-5ZZ_3XBX0RonHUCCSCsNvd5gy-7L07YRgk9k2ydj4rav6aXtJa6RLeGbUqbBuDjjI7sjTQ/s200/022.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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And then I slipped the circles onto the shower curtain rod. Taaaa daaaaa! Fancy and organized. (Oh, and I did turn the white one around so they all show brown.)SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-57686779514496596162010-09-06T13:24:00.000-07:002010-09-06T13:24:33.119-07:00The summer of the butterflyThis is the summer of the butterfly. Butterflies seem to represent a new beginnings. They come from leaf-eating wormy things and turn into beauteous nectar sipping creatures. I want to sip nectar.<br />
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I have thrown off the base relationships. I am coming out of the mires and mud related to them. Wiping my feet and moving on! Just walking away from that was like putting on wings.<br />
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I have lost weight! I joined a biggest loser challenge club locally and I lost about 14 lbs. I went down 2 pants sizes which is always a win! New clothes! Less picture phobia! I saw a picture of myself today, and i wasn't completely horrified. The last couple of years I have begged to be erased from pictures. i still felt a twinge, but it wasn't the horrified, tear-welling feeling i have previously had.<br />
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Kentucky is the most BEAUTIFUL place I have ever lived. This summer there has been a multitude of butterflies. Every place I turn I see another butterfly. They are in the road, and I always worry I am going to hit them with my car. bright yellow and black, dark blue and black, orange and tons of other butterflies. Butterflies always remind me of home. I can remember being in elementary school and going to see the migration of the monarchs. It was so fantastic to see the butterflies flitting from tree to tree. About 2 1/2 years ago, we went home for a visit and were able to take the kids to see the monarchs.<br />
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Jack is coming. In June we heard that our baby was coming. Jack is due in December and we can't wait to take him home from the hospital. It is such a wonderful thing that I can't even express how I feel. The butterflies from this summer will forever be connected in my mind with Jack. <br />
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There is nothing more wonderful than a butterfly. To think that such a wonderful thing can come from such an icky caterpillar gives me hope for everything. No matter how horrible things seem, soon they will change into wonderful. It's like the ugly duckling for bugs.<br />
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I want this tattoo. Minus the butt crack.<img src="http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/back-butterfly-tattoo1.jpg" />SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-64645815527493475612010-09-02T16:43:00.000-07:002010-09-02T16:43:38.551-07:00Project-a-week clubFor a couple years I have been wanting to finish up my unfinished objects and make all the things that are bouncing around in my nugget. I decided it was time for a commitment *gasp* *shudder* Yes, a commitment. My commitment is going to be to finish one project each week. I will list all the finished projects in the side bar. Check back each Thursday for the recap.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-63973576725554649372010-09-01T18:23:00.000-07:002010-09-06T13:25:38.296-07:00More of me whining about friendsSooo... Okay....<br />
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I knew this girl at Ft. Carson. (we will call her J) She became a pretty good friend, but I quickly realized she was a "taker". I felt like I always had to give, and do, and support but I got very little in return. Not long after we met, she found out she was pregnant with her first child. I was her doula for her first baby. After she had her babe, she got 1000 times worse. She could not go out of her house, because she had her baby. She needed someone to bring her stuff from the store so she would not have to leave. She quickly wore out the people around her. For some reason, I never took a hike. Her house was always a dang mess. Horrible. You would walk into her house, and be slapped in the face with the smell of cat box and filth. I spent quite a few Saturdays helping her clean because she was not able to take care of her child, and clean the house. Eventually, someone called CPS on her, and she genuinely did not know why. For some reason, I never said anything to her about the state of things. Maybe I was trying to save her feelings.<br />
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2 years later she had her second child. Everything intensified. It got to a point where I felt completely taken advantage of. She never cared about what was going on in my life, and completely dismissed me when I was going through a really tough time. I had enough, but I still did not want to be mean. I basically stopped talking to her or going out of my way for her. A few months later, we got transferred to our new duty station.<br />
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A year later, she was transferred to the same duty station. I had only spoken to her a couple times in that preceding year, but she called when she found out they would be again in our neighborhood. I was pretty stressed out about it, but thought maybe she had changed. Things became much worse though. Here she knew no one. She had left all her friends in Colorado, and I was pretty much her only friend. She began calling me 6 times a day. Every issue she had before was completely intensified. She was hardly the person I had first become friends with. Her kids were always "sick". She had every disease imaginable, from Bopolar to Anxiety, from fibromyalgia to rheumatoid arthritis to random shooting electrical shocks in her body. Nothing was ever her fault. There was mold in her house, or her parents beat her, or, or, or. She made new friends, but I again felt dismissed and taken advantage of. I was again cleaning her house and helping her with her kids. I stopped watching her children after a while. She had not enforced any rules for her children. Because of this, her oldest was mean to my daughter, and her youngest was a tornado of destruction. Her house was again sick and disgusting. I helped her clean again. One time, I helped her clean her room. Her floor was a disgusting mix of dirty laundery, cat litter and cat shit. Another time, I helped her fold her laundry, and she sat on her couch and watched me work.<br />
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A bit over a year passed and I was really at my limit of her self-centered attitude. (I found this link and it describes her completely. I really think this is what is wrong with her. Scroll down to <a href="http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec07/ch105/ch105a.html">Cluster B Personality.</a>) I started setting more boundaries for her, and stopped doing everything she asked. This of course upset her. I set a special ring tone on my phone to say her name so I could avoid her calls. My tolerance for bullshit became really low. When she told my dumb things I had a hard time biting my tounge. At one point she told me she had fed her sick 2 yo skittles because that's all he wanted. Really? How about some soup or applesauce. Another time she told me that she yelled at her daughter so much that she actually crapped her pants. She was not upset about this, and in fact laughed a bit. I was appalled. How can you joke about scaring the crap out of your kid?? I would have been so upset if that was me. She did not concern herself with anything that was going on in my life. Did not even congratulate me on our pending adoption of our new baby. Did not care about the autoimmune disease I am dealing with. Never once a care or concern about my visits to the hematologist. I felt so unimportant.<br />
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This summer, I was just beyond frustrated with her. I guess she could tell. As a sign of how far facebook as crept into our lives, she "broke up" with me and 2 others over facebook. She blocked me so I could not see anything she says at all. Did not call, did not text, just blocked me. I actually find it kind of funny, that you feel the need to virtually erase someone from your life. Blocking a person on facebook does not make them disappear. I honestly don't care about the break in friendship. Once it was done, I seriously felt a huge weight disappear from my shoulders. The knot in my stomach relaxed.<br />
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She felt determined to keep all the mutual friends we had made. I knew that she probably told them all kinds of horrible things about me. I suppose if they believe all the crap, then she can have them. 2 other friends got the boot too. As we have been hanging out together, they have told me things that she had told them about me. She had been telling ALL of our mutual friends random bullshit about me for the whole past year. How can she even think she was my friend?? I spent my time cleaning her house, and running errands for her, and bringing her cigarettes, and lending her money. (She still owes me $20, but it's not even worth it to try and collect.) I am sure she told all those other people that i talked shit about them. I am sure I made the random comment, but she was a big complainer. She complained how Amanda told her that her house was a mess, and how Amanda looked at her bills and made comments about them, and how she did not want Amanda to do her laundry at her house and use all her soap. Certain people she did not say anything about, other than the fact that they were as pure as the virgin Mary. I did complain about some people. I said that Amanda talks about stupid shit too much. That her eyeliner is scary. I said Amber is way loud. I complained about Jackie every other minute, but it was generally to my husband or one other person. BUT NO.. she was apparently talking mad shit about me to everyone I had met, and probably people I hadn't.<br />
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Now I am paranoid. Am I really those things she said? Are other people saying or thinking them too? I am afraid to talk or be around my other friends for fear that I am a horrible person that people can't stand. I have been hanging out with 2 friends. One (S) I have been friends with for about 7 months... I have really enjoyed her company, and am glad for her friendship. The other (B) is a new friend. She was J's friend. J always talked about how they were best friends and how wonderful she was. I had been afraid to talk to her. Any best friend of J was not someone I wanted to be close to. When J decided she did not want to be her friend either, I thought maybe we have more in common than previously thought.<br />
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So my friend S and I have been hanging out with B too. And now I feel like I don't fit in. I feel like the third wheel, constantly behind and struggling to catch up. The nerdy girl that the cool girls allow to follow them around. I am constantly worrying about what they are saying and thinking about me. Their children get along very well, and I feel like my children get left out. I feel like my kids are whiny, contrary and bad, and I wonder what they are saying about my kids. I feel sad. I feel like I am being pushed out. Adan says not to worry about it. If it happens that I get pushed out, then so be it. I guess I would get more done around my house, and have way less heart ache if there was no one around to break it. BUT I would be so sad. I like having friends, and coffee dates, and BBQ's and movie nights and all that. I don't want to be super lonely during the deployment. I am going to need adult time... I will be all alone with 4 kids, one a brand new babe, and no husband.<br />
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Also, because we have all 3 been hanging out, I feel obligated to invite B to everything I have had planned with S. I don't want her to feel left out, but I don't want to feel left out either. I feel stuck again.<br />
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Makes a girl just want to go to bed for a week or two.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-45034544121984967022010-08-05T22:33:00.000-07:002010-08-05T22:35:23.301-07:00Foodalicious FridayFood for the coming week! Again, let me know if you want recipes!<br />
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Friday - Pizza and salad<br />
Saturday - Spinach Salad<br />
Sunday - Chile Rellanos, rice and beans<br />
Monday - Steak Skewers, rice and salad<br />
Tuesday - Lemony chicken Pasta, salad<br />
Wednesday - Chicken and Fruit Packets, salad<br />
Thursday - Taco Soup and rollsSusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-24206939170244500362010-08-04T21:16:00.000-07:002010-08-04T22:24:23.394-07:00MYTH BUSTERS - Grocery store checkout!People tell me every other day that it would be so much cheaper if I would shop at Walmart. There are two plusses for walmart shopping - generic brands and no tax on food. Soooooo I decided to take this test on the road. Myth Busters here we come<br />
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I purchased my groceries for the next two weeks at my normal store, the Ft. Knox Commissary. I wrote down each item and the price and took my notebook to Walmart. At walmart, I wrote down the price for the exact same brand, or a comparable brand, and wrote down the price for the generic brand. I did not include generic brand pricing for generic brand items I would not use. (I will not substitute bottled water, coffee creamer, granola bars, or coffee. Other items I already use a generic brand at the commissary so the similar Walmart product is the generic brand) For the purpose of this test, the figures below include only 1 of each item on the list. All items in the test were the same size, or the prices was calculated per ounce and the total price was based upon the per ounce price. Below you will find my results and below that you will find the detailed figures.<br />
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<b>Results:</b><br />
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General Observations:<br />
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Some items were cheaper at Walmart, but much of the produce was icky. Walmart did not carry everything the Commissary carried. Non-food items were generally cheaper at Walmart. Check the detailed list at the bottom for specifics.<br />
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Shopping at the Commissary - Total = $196.42 + $9.82 (5% surcharge) = $206.24<br />
Shopping at Walmart with comparable brands - Total = $238.47 + $2.48 (6% tax on non-food items) = $240.95<br />
Shopping at Walmart with generic brands - Total = $224.23 + $2.48(6% tax on non-food items) = $226.71<br />
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Results are clear! Commissary wins by $20.47<br />
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So.. here are the prices. I have highlighted the items that are cheaper at Walmart in a name brand OR a generic brand.<span style="background-color: #e06666;"></span><br />
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<table><tbody>
<tr> <td>Item</td> <td>Commissary Prices</td> <td>Walmart Name Brands</td> <td>Walmart Generic Brands</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Chicken Breast Tenderloins frozen</td> <td>5.99</td> <td>7.00</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Chicken boneless skinless breasts - frozen</td> <td>5.99</td> <td>6.48</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>1 % Milk</td> <td>2.17</td> <td>2.28</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Chicken tenderloins - fresh</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.93/lb</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.25/lb</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Tombstone Pizza</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">3.25</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">4.00</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.70</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Mini corn on the cob - 16 count</td> <td>1.86</td> <td>3.28</td> <td>3.60</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Mozzarella Cheese 16 oz.</td> <td>3.00</td> <td>4.00</td> <td>3.62</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Cheddar Cheese - 32 oz.</td> <td>4.99</td> <td>8.16</td> <td>7.25</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Monterey Jack Cheese - 16 oz.</td> <td>3.00</td> <td>4.00</td> <td>3.62</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Ricotta Cheese - Light</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.99</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.13</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.83</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Sour Cream - 8 oz.</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.11</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.28</td> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.78</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Deli Roast Beef - 10 oz.</td> <td>2.89</td> <td>3.00</td> <td>2.88</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Pepperoni</td> <td>1.82</td> <td>2.98</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Cherry Tomatoes</td> <td>1.50</td> <td>2.48</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Hummus</td> <td>2.99</td> <td>2.98</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Jumbo pasta shells</td> <td>1.35</td> <td>1.96</td> <td>1.50</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Cilantro</td> <td>.79</td> <td>.88</td> <td>n/a</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Strawberries - 1lb</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.98</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.88</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>green bell peppers</td><td>.99/lb</td><td>.98/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>poblano peppers</td><td>1.98/lb</td><td>2.28/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>celery</td><td>.99</td><td>1.28</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Planters to-go packs - 25 ct.</td><td>7.98</td><td>20.00</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Deer Park .5L - 6pack</td><td>.99</td><td>1.32</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Northland Cranberry/Black Cherry juice</td><td>2.00</td><td>2.97</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Jolly Time popcorn kernels - 32 oz.</td><td>1.19</td><td>3.98</td><td>1.48</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Cantalope</td><td>1.50</td><td>2.28</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Pineapple</td><td>2.69</td><td>2.98</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Bananas</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.54/lb</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.49/lb</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Honeydew</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">3.50</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.98 - but it looked icky</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Hamburger Buns - 12 ct</td><td>1.49</td><td>1.98</td><td>1.48</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Eggs - 18 ct.</td><td>1.40</td><td>1.74</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Spaghetti sauce with mushrooms</td><td>.99</td><td>.98</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Chili Beans</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.78</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.86</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.66</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Pinto Beans</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.68</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.76</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.64</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Cream of mushroom soup</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.19</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.78</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Chopped tomatoes with zesty mild green chilis</td><td>1.13</td><td>1.14</td><td>1.12</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Quaker chewy granola bars - 18 ct.</td><td>2.79</td><td>3.38</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Coffee Mate - Coconut Cream & Cinnamon Vanilla</td><td>2.50 each</td><td>3.38 each</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Millstone coffee beans - two flavors</td><td>5.99/lb each</td><td>7.97/lb each</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Lipton hot tea - Island Mango, Tuscan lemon, bedtime, blueberry pomegranate</td><td>2.75 each</td><td>3.16 each</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Tomato sauce</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.89</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.58</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.50</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">White Vinegar</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.07</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.50</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">.84</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Natural peanut butter with honey</td><td>1.89</td><td>3.58</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">V8 juice</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.19</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.58</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.00</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Malt o Meal version of Fruity Pebbles</td><td>2.89</td><td>3.26</td><td>3.64</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Malt o Meal version of Frosted Flakes</td><td>2.45</td><td>2.22</td><td>2.50</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Nectarines</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.48/lb</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.28/lb</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Kale</td><td>1.09</td><td>1.18</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Broccoli</td><td>.89/lb</td><td>1.48/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Tortillas - burrito size and fajita size</td><td>1.69</td><td>1.78</td><td>1.78</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Hefty Casserole Pans - disposable - 2 ct.</td><td>1.33</td><td>3.00</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Kiwi</td><td>.25</td><td>.25</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Mushrooms - 16 oz. - whole</td><td>2.19</td><td>2.98</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Romaine Lettuce</td><td>1.68</td><td>1.88</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Green Leaf Lettuce</td><td>1.68</td><td>1.88</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Red Peppers</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.00 each</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.64 each</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Bagged Baby Spinach</td><td>1.65</td><td>1.98</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Plulots</td><td>1.15/lb</td><td>1.28/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Plums</td><td>1.15/lb</td><td>1.28/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Navel Oranges</td><td>.69 each</td><td>.78 each</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Sheer Strip Band-aids</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.77</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.43</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.40</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Juicy Juice - 32 ct juice boxes</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">10.26</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">9.60</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Granny Smith apples</td><td>.99/lb</td><td>1.67/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Gala Apples</td><td>.99/lb</td><td>1.50/lb</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Pantene Color treated hair - smooth shampoo and conditioner</td><td>3.77 each</td><td>3.97 each</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Olay wet express facial wipes</td><td>4.50</td><td>4.47</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Band-aid flex fabric XL</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">3.54</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.88</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">1.80</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Band-aid blister treatment</td><td>2.90</td><td>3.67</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Pantene Color Treatment</td><td>3.13</td><td>3.97</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Degree clinical protection deoderant</td><td>5.49</td><td>6.87</td><td>n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Goody Girls flower clippies</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">3.49</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">2.98</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #ea9999;">Stay put elastics</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">3.30</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">3.10</td><td style="background-color: #ea9999;">n/a</td></tr>
</tbody></table>SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-32599181475269684732010-08-03T22:04:00.000-07:002010-08-03T22:05:48.333-07:00B-12 really *is* important.<div style="color: black;">Back in January I was told that I had a B-12 deficiency. I kinda blew it off. Ehhh, B-12, who needs that?! Well, apparently I do. I have been seeing doctor after doctor to figure out my health "issues" and in the process was referred to a hematologist for a sudden and large drop in my HGB levels. Of course, it took Tricare <strike>600 years</strike> 2 1/2 months to get my referral in. Today I visited with the hematologist. Basically I have pernicious anemia.</div><br />
From the Mayo Clinic website: <br />
<br />
<ul><li> <i><b>Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia).</b> Rarely, vitamin B-12 deficiency results from a diet lacking in vitamin B-12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs and milk. A shortage occurs because your small intestine can't absorb vitamin B-12. A deficiency is most often due to a lack of a substance called intrinsic factor.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<i> Vitamin B-12 is released from food in your stomach. Intrinsic factor is a protein secreted by the stomach that joins vitamin B-12 in the stomach and escorts it through the small intestine to be absorbed by your bloodstream. Without intrinsic factor, vitamin B-12 can't be absorbed and leaves your body as waste. Lack of intrinsic factor may be due to an autoimmune reaction, in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the stomach cells that produce it. Vitamin B-12 deficiency ultimately leads to anemia. </i><span style="color: red;">The Doctor says it is most likely an autoimmune disorder.</span><i><br />
</i><br />
<br />
<i> If the deficiency is from a lack of intrinsic factor, it's called pernicious anemia. Pernicious means "deadly." </i><span style="color: red;">Super Great.</span><i> Lack of intrinsic factor was often fatal before the availability of vitamin B-12 shots. Because vitamin B-12 is stored in large amounts in your liver, it may take several years before signs of deficiency appear. </i><span style="color: red;">Makes sense. I started having the stomach problems about 11 years ago. Doc said the IBS is most likely a symptom of this autoimmune disorder.</span><br />
<br />
<i><b>Symptoms: </b></i><br />
<i> Vitamin deficiency anemias can result in: </i><br />
</li>
<li><i>Fatigue </i><span style="color: red;">check!</span></li>
<li><i>Pale or yellowish skin </i></li>
<li><i>Sore mouth and tongue </i><span style="color: red;">halfway check!</span></li>
<li><i>Weight loss </i><span style="color: red;">I wish!</span></li>
<li><i>Diarrhea </i></li>
<li><i>Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet</i><span style="color: red;"> check!</span></li>
<li><i>Muscle weakness</i><span style="color: red;"> sometimes</span></li>
<li><i>Irritability</i><span style="color: red;"> double check!</span></li>
<li><i>Unsteady movements</i><span style="color: red;"> you mean the doorways aren't jumping at me??</span></li>
<li><i>Mental confusion or forgetfulness </i><span style="color: red;">What was I doing?</span></li>
</ul><i> Vitamin deficiencies usually develop slowly, over several months to years. Vitamin deficiency symptoms may be subtle at first, but they increase as the deficiency worsens. </i><br />
<ul><li> <br />
<i><b>Complications: </b><b>Nervous system disorders.</b> While vitamin B-12 is important for the production of red blood cells, it's also important for a healthy nervous system. Untreated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems, such as persistent tingling in your hands and feet. It can lead to mental confusion and forgetfulness, because vitamin B-12 is necessary for healthy brain function. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause these and other health problems before it leads to anemia. </i><span style="color: red;">So, if it is already at anemia... does that mean it is progressed?? Have I left this untreated for too long??</span><br />
<br />
<i> <b>Treatment: </b><b>Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia).</b> You can treat vitamin B-12 deficiency related to a poor diet with changes in your diet and vitamin B-12 supplementation, under a doctor's supervision. If your body can't absorb vitamin B-12, you'll either need lifelong vitamin B-12 injections or nasal B-12 spray. At first you'll need the shots or nasal spray as often as every other day. Eventually you'll need injections or the nasal spray just once a month. Prompt treatment is important, because neurological complications may become permanent if the B-12 deficiency isn't corrected within several months.</i><b><span style="color: red;"> PERMANENT??</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">So.... I am not sure what all this means for me. I gave 542 vials of blood at the office today. I go back in a week and may need another CT scan and a chest xray. He says that if I have one autoimmune disorder, then I will likely have another one. poo.</span> </span></b><br />
<br />
</li>
</ul>SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-63804082890811936922010-08-01T21:21:00.000-07:002010-08-05T17:36:37.974-07:00school and school and friends in the armySchool starts tomorrow!! What the heck happened to summer vacation. Phinneas and Ferb have it wrong. We only get 60 days. This summer was no where what i had in mind. I had dreams of baseball games, museum visits, pool time, and all around funness. I think we only went to the pool 2 times. No zoo or museuming, only 1 baseball trip. Where did all the time go?? I feel like I missed a bunch of chances to make memories. I hope that what we did was enough to get us through this year.<br />
<br />
With the start of school, we had to gather school supplies and spruce up appearances. School supplies now include 48 pencils, rolls of paper towels, kleenex, wet wipes, and a partridge in a pear tree. WTH? Why don't schools supply basic necessities? What happened to me supplying what MY child needs? This bothers me.<br />
<br />
I have decided that I will be putting off school for a while. Okay, We decided that. As much as I want to throw a BF, i have to admit that it really does make some sense. My house is suffering lately. I am not able to keep it clean, or complete projects, and I have almost zero time to write articles for the website. These are things that i want. I want a clean house. I want my projects completed. I want to be able to write an article a week. NONE of these things are happening lately. AND add to that a new baby. I want to be able to stay home my new one. I don't want to feel stretched out between house, school and children. Something has to give. If i put school off the table, the other things will come together better. Also, with school off the table I won't have to stress about moving and how my classes will transfer to the new college at the new duty station.<br />
<br />
Friends are hard to make when you move every 3 years. It makes you quick to judge, and I like to think, and good judge of character, or at least a good judge of compatibleness. I think it also makes you less tolerable of bullshit.<br />
Tthis post seems to have a lot of young wives who are new to the military. I think the military has change in the last 12 years. And because of the change in soldiers, the wives expect more. You can not expect the army to just let your husband go every time you hiccup. You can't bitch if your husband comes home past 5:31. The mission comes first, and family comes second. You have to realize that your soldier will miss milestones like birthdays, anniversaries, christmas and first moments in your children's lives. You have to be able to change your own damn lightbulbs, and sometimes, washing machines, flat tires, and toilets. That's the life. That's what you have to do. I want to tell these wives, that their soldiers WILL miss OB appointments, and if they can't take it, they are in the wrong place. Maybe I am hard, but I don't think it's a bad thing. The military has taught me that I am strong enough to stand on my own. I can make it happen.<br />
<br />
I don't want friends that i have to coddle. If you can't take, leave. Go home and live with mommy during deployments. Don't stay here and cry about how you have no support. I want friends that are capable. I want friends that i can hang with, that have children who I don't want to tie up and that can handle their own. Yeah, i want to get together, and play games, have BBQ's and drink it up, but I don't want someone up my ass who is going to freak out if I decide to stay in. I feel like that isn't too much to ask for, but reading this list.. I am pretty specific. LOL. I want a certain kind of person. I guess it's more of an attitude.<br />
<br />
I have a group of friends here, but I don't feel connected to the majority of them. I don't think they would care or really notice if I disappeared. I always feel like they are getting together with out me. Like I am the smelly one in the room. Maybe it's because my children are older than the majority of the children. Maybe the majority of the women don't like me but just won't say it. Who knows... Life is too short to play games, and just thinking about this makes my brain hurt. (I should mention here that this is a group of about 15 women. One of these ladies is a long-time friend, and I am also friends with one of the other ladies.)<br />
<br />
I have a new friend, and she is new to active duty, but she doesn't have the attitude of a cry baby. Maybe it's because she isn't 18. It's nice to have someone with similar goals and attitudes. I look forward to our nightly walks, and we have plans to hit the gym. It is nice to have someone that is completely unattached to any other friends I have. It's like she is all mine and I don't have to share. She cares if I am not around, and she wants to be around me as much as I want to be around her. That sounds like we are dating or something LOL, but really with husbands gone so much it is so important to have friends that care, and will support you when you feel like hiding in bed.<br />
<br />
This was kind of convoluted. I guess I just want some friends. I want friends that I can hang with. I am not willing to lower my standards to have a big group of friends. I think that this means I will never have a ton of friends. Maybe having 2 or 3 great friends is better than having 20 so-so friends.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-60227698009237356222010-07-19T10:44:00.000-07:002010-08-05T17:37:40.571-07:00Motherhood and Random Manipulation<b>Motherhood:</b> This summer, my boys had 2 weeks of sleep-away camp. One week in June, and one in July. The second week, my friends daughters attended the camp at the same time. She missed her girls so much, and thought about them, and worried about their health and safety. She made me reflect on my mother role. I am a craptastic mother!! I know, I know, no one is super mom, we all have our faults, but DANG! I did not worry about the boys, I missed them a wee little bit, but not enough for it to impact my day. I did not worry about their health or safety, and the week went by hella fast. I will admit that this is their 3rd year at this same camp, and I am familiar with the structure and such of the camp and the days they spend there, but STILL!! I did not send any letters or emails (yes, the camps now have emails for campers!!) I just did not figure the boys would want to hear from me, or miss me that much. At the end of camp, I got an email from Alex that asked me why i did not email. Apparently the other boys told him that I did not love him. Boo.<br />
<br />
Now I am trying to figure out ways to "care" more. I thought i was a good caring mom... not a super fantastical super mom, but good enough. I am not so sure at the moment.<br />
<br />
<b>Random Manipulation</b>: *disclaimer: Local friends that read this.. this is not related to anyone in my immediate vicinity*<br />
What do you do when people you know make up stories to make you feel bad for them? I am feeling manipulated by someone in my life, but I am not sure how to deal with it. I just want to be me and live my life the best I can. I feel like my life's ups and downs are being co-oped by someone else which makes every unique thing in my life feel cheap and un-special. I need to figure out how to deal with this in a diplomatic manner, with out offending everyone and their aunts, while still maintaining those things which make me Susie.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-91049768975042109482010-07-16T17:01:00.000-07:002010-08-05T22:35:47.117-07:00Foodalicious Friday<b>Updated with recipes on 8/5/10</b><br />
<br />
We have made a pact to not eat out for 90 days. 90. So, I want to get back to posting my meal plans.. if you want any recipes, let me know!<br />
<br />
Today was BBQ ribs, rolls and cauliflower but that ended up being hot dogs and tortilla chips. Why, you ask? Oh, it's because Adan charred the skids out of the ribs. Lucy had come by and said. "Dad, the BBQ is steaming." He said something along the lines of, "yeah, yeah." About 10 minutes later he goes out to the 'que and starts cursing. Yup.. i don't think even the dog would eat that charcoal.<br />
<br />
So, next week:<br />
<br />
Saturday: Greek Chicken and Veggies<br />
<b>Greek Chicken and Vegetables</b><br />
<ul><li>4 boneless skinless chicken breasts</li>
<li>2 cups fresh or frozen cut green beans or 1 can of cut green beans, drained</li>
<li>1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion</li>
<li>2 t. dried oregano leaves</li>
<li>1 t. salt</li>
<li>1/4 t. pepper</li>
<li>4 sheets of aluminum foil approx 12x18"</li>
<li>1 pkg crumbled feta cheese</li>
</ul><ol><li>Cut chicken in stripes. Toss with beans, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper.</li>
<li>Center 1/4 of mixture on each sheet of foil.</li>
<li>Bring up sides of foil to make packets; leave space for heat circulation.</li>
<li>Place packets on grill over medium hot heat. Grill 10-14 minutes or until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender crisp. Open foil packets; and sprinkle with cheese.</li>
</ol><b> </b> <br />
<br />
Sunday: Spinach Salad and rolls<br />
<br />
Monday: Grilled chicken and mango salad<br />
<br />
Tuesday: Fajitas, rice and beans<br />
<br />
Wednesday: BBQ chicken packets and baked potatoes<br />
<b>BBQ Chicken Packets</b><br />
<ul><li>4 chicken breasts</li>
<li>4 sheets of foil - 12x18"</li>
<li>1 c. BBQ sauce</li>
<li>1 can whole kernel corn, drained</li>
<li>1/2 c. chopped green pepper</li>
</ul><ol><li>Center 1 chicken breast on each sheet of foil. Spoon BBQ sauce over chicken. Top with vegetables.</li>
<li>Bring up foil sides to make a packet; leave room for heat circulation.</li>
<li>Place packets on grill of medium hot heat. Grill for 12-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.</li>
</ol><br />
Thursday: Cajun Sausage and beans<br />
<b>Cajun Sausage and Beans</b><br />
<ul><li>1 lb turkey sausage, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices</li>
<li>2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained</li>
<li>1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and onions</li>
<li>1 medium green pepper, chopped</li>
<li>2 t. cajun seasoning</li>
<li>4 sheets of aluminum foil, 12x18"</li>
</ul><ol><li>Mix sausage, beans, tomatoes, green pepper and seasonings</li>
<li>Center 1/4 of the bean mixture on each sheet of foil</li>
<li>Bring up foil sides to make packets; leave room for heat circulation.</li>
<li>Grill packets over medium hot coals or until thoroughly heated.</li>
</ol><br />
Friday: Basil Chicken Packets and rolls<br />
<b>Basil Chicken Packets</b><br />
<ul><li>4 chicken breasts - I use boneless skinless</li>
<li>Heavy duty aluminum foil - 4 sheets approx. 12x18"<br />
</li>
<li>2 T. chopped parsley</li>
<li>2 t. grated lemon peel - I use fresh lemon zest</li>
<li>2 t. dry basil leaves - I use fresh chopped basil</li>
<li>1/2 t. each salt and pepper</li>
<li>2 medium yellow squash, sliced</li>
<li>1 medium red pepper, cut in rings</li>
</ul>Center 1 chicken breast on each foil sheet. Mix parsley, lemon peel, basil, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle over chicken. Top with squash and red peppers.<br />
Bring up sides of foil to make a packet. Leave room for heat to circulate inside.<br />
Place packets on grill over medium hot coals. Grill for 11-13 minutes or until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.<br />
<br />
Yes, the majority of these meals are grilled. It's too hot for the oven and the stove.SusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439233866772944914.post-70283378011506368792010-07-15T06:02:00.000-07:002010-07-15T06:02:21.704-07:00A positive outlookA positive outlook changes everything, right??<br />
<br />
* We have groceries <br />
<br />
* I have 2 cars, so we still have something to drive<br />
<br />
* The dog survived<br />
<br />
* Adan's grandmother did not pass away<br />
<br />
* I have friends<br />
<br />
* My parents are nice<br />
<br />
* Eventually I will be able to return to school<br />
<br />
* I have loyal Scentsy customers<br />
<br />
* Diaper Decisions will not go foldSusieGoodnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02335306751077225114noreply@blogger.com0