Fresh Greek Salad

Don't forget the feta and croutons like I did here!

This is by far Adam's favorite salad.  It is inspired by one they serve at a restaurant named Stella's here in Richmond, and I have been meaning to add it for months.  They chunk their vegetables much larger but I cut them "fork-size."

We probably make it once a week, yet I can never seem to get a photo of the completed salad:)

I love it because it's lettuce-free and different than the typical Greek salad you have with olives, pepperocinis, salami, etc.  It's crisp and crunchy and so pretty!

Fresh Greek Salad

1 large English cucumber, chunked

1 red pepper, chunked

1 orange pepper, chunked

1 yellow pepper, chunked

tomatoes

1/2 red onion, chunked or diced (I do either, depending on my mood)

feta

croutons

Greek Dressing

1 cup red wine vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

1 Tb garlic powder

1 Tb dried oregano

1Tb dried basil

1/2 Tb pepper

1/2 Tb salt

1/2 Tb onion powder

1/2 Tb. dijon mustard

In Class

I am SO excited!  For the next 12 weeks, I am taking a class from the fabulous Cathy Zielske about digital photo story-telling.

I love my How Fast Time Flies pages and I will continue to use them.  But I realized I was ready to start making my own Photoshop layouts to achieve a cleaner, crisper, more classic, timeless look.

Both Cathy and Stacy Julian believe that we are truly only qualified to tell our OWN stories.  And this has been eye-opening to me.  My intention has always been to document my children's lives and our family's journeys & relationships... but I would have thought it self-absorbed to discover me!

Well, we ALL matter... and I do have something to offer... and story-telling is one of my gifts... so here goes!

This morning Davis crawled into bed with me and said he wanted to do his own ME layout and we had the best time putting his page together!  He loved it, and I know I will treasure his page.

As soon as Mary Fowler saw Davis' page, she wanted to help with hers!  Then I did Adam's and Charlotte's so we'd each have one.  I uploaded them to MyPublisher and I can't wait to get them in the mail!  Makes me so happy!

Etsy

I'm not sure why I enjoy having a blog.  Lately I've been focusing on other things and haven't posted much, but I do still consider myself a sharer or maybe it's just that I'll always be the bossy older sister.

So here's Thought #1:

Be easy on yourself.

When we first moved here, a sweet neighbor (now dear friend) invited me to her book club and while I haven't been able to make it very often, I am hosting tomorrow evening.  It has kind of snuck up on me but I chose a book I've already read so at least that's done.

Most of the time I try to plan ahead, and right now we do have plenty of food in the house... but I'm thinking these girls are going to get the Fresh Market "ready-made" menu.

I do love to bake and cook but I don't want to be rushing around trying to clean it all up right before they walk through the door.  So there, I know my limitations.  And it will be enjoyable, not stressful:)

Thought #2:

When I found myself taking the dog to her 2nd veterinarian appointment since we moved, it occurred to me that the whole family has had all of their well checks, while I have been to ZERO doctors exception: the dentist in almost 2 years time.

That could be problematic.

So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to make my doctor appointments.

The silver lining: All appointments ended up being in the month of March and since things are usually just annual visits, I'm thinking this was pretty smart on my part!  Go ahead, ask me when my last visit was: MARCH!

Pine Cone Cheeseball

Holiday Cheese Ball

1 12-oz container cream cheese  

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (about 9) 

1/2 of a 1-oz package ranch dressing mix

Tomorrow I have to do a little speaking at the bible study and it got me thinking about this Pine Cone Cheeseball!

You know I'm a sucker for church-lady-recipes and for the past two years the same woman has brought this beautiful dish to a holiday brunch.  Not only is it impressive, it really does have a lot of flavor (and not too many ingredients).

I haven't made it yet but I'm thinking she probably doubles it for the amount in the photo above.

Happily Surprising

Parade Magazine Quiz link

I do love the Sunday newspaper.  And I guess I read too many of my parent's Readers Digests when I was little, because I love the Parade "magazine" insert!  I usually read the Ask Marilyn column first.

Well this past Sunday had a great book excerpt with a quiz that was right up my alley.

I've attached the link to the quiz above, but here are the questions I was most fascinated by (the first two surprised me, but the last one I mention I hope we all know by now!):

#1. When a team of psychologists measured children's resilience, they found that the kids who _________ were best able to handle stress.

A. Ate the same breakfast every day
B. Knew the most about their family's history
C. Played team sports
D. Attended regular religious services

Answer (B) Knew the most about their family's history
The more children know about their family's history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives and the higher their self-esteem.  The reason: These children have a strong sense of "intergenerational self"- they understand that they belong to something bigger than themselves, and that families naturally experience both highs and lows.

#4. What do surveys show that most children want most from their parents?

A. To spend more time with them
B. For the parents to be less tired and stressed
C. A bigger allowance

Answer (B) For the parents to be less tired and stressed
An effective way to cut down on stress is to hold a weekly meeting to review how your family is functioning.  Sit together with everyone and pose three questions: "What worked well in our family last week?"  "What didn't work well?"  And "What can we work on now?"  The following week, adjust and try again.

#11. When men and women were asked the top three reasons they argue with their spouse, they agreed on only one.  What was it?

A. Housework
B. Children
C. Money
D. Sex

Answer (C) Money
The cliche is accurate.  Scientists posed this question to about 4,000 men and women and money was the only answer cited by both sides.  Couples can cut down on financial conflicts by dividing money into three accounts- "yours," "mine," and "ours"- and holding quarterly meetings to discuss finances.

Amazon link

Mom Movies

Amazon link

The other day Mona Lisa Smile was on Netflix so I watched the whole thing while folding laundry.  It is definitely one of those movies I'd like Mary Fowler to watch one day.  There are several, Joy Luck Club is another that has stayed with me- but she will have to be older for that one.

I'd like to somehow compile a list with pictures as opposed to my current little scraps of paper for her so maybe this is how I can get started!

Amazon link

Sorting Photographs

My sweet cousin Katie is getting married this month so we've been going home to Roanoke for various bridal parties (so fun!!).  On my last trip, it was a quick visit, and my mom gave me two tupperware boxes of old photographs.

They sat in my sunroom until last night when I found some energy after a wonderful, little surprise party for Mary Fowler.  (She turned 10 yesterday and we took her to get her ears pierced and then out to a special dinner with 7 of her sweet friends:)

I just sat down with these photos and sorted them pretty much into decades.  It really was amazing how simple and quickly it went.  My piles were labeled

"1970s and before",
"1980s",
"1990s",
and "2000s".

I went through one of the tupperware containers and I'd say it took about an hour- but I was also motivated to go through and clear out my packed file drawer and even found some things I had been looking for... most importantly, a little booklet I asked my grandmother to fill out!!

For the file drawer, I pulled things out like family trees, little notes I've saved, anything that I wanted to "scrapbook" (and by that term, I mean "hang onto in an orderly way").

Please don't let me fool you.  I am still feeling VERY disorganized.  When Mary Fowler was born, my husband bought me a new camera each year.  Additionally, we went through several computer upgrades, including keeping a PC and a MAC, and backing up each differently.  So I have digital pictures EVERYwhere and I really do not know how I will begin to keep them all in one place.

I cringe thinking that I will most likely have to print them ALL out to sort them but we are talking thousands!!  So, my plan is to make some appointments at the MAC store and hopefully one of those unlucky fellows can help me!

Library Finds

Amazon

Amazon

I went to the library for a book club book (The Magic Room) and found these!  I just felt giddy walking out with this stack of free books!   And then I realized what a dork I am!  All non-fiction!?!

Amazon

Amazon

Awesome!

Proof of Heaven- Amazon

I stayed up until all hours last night reading this book and I LOVED it.  It's just my kind of book.

I'm not the fastest reader (unlike my mom who easily reads a book a day) but I read this in like 4 hours.

2012 Grocery Bill Cut by $5,000

(That's the headline my husband would write... Me- notsomuch...

A funny thing happened in early December.  After 11 months, I FINALLY appreciated the task my husband introduced to me as a 2012 New Year's Resolution.

It was then that HE was told about strategic grocery shopping and bought Coupon Mom's book for ME.  At the time, I was not-at-all appreciative.  It seemed like one more thing to do, one more thing to organize, and one more thing to be held accountable for... or (for the grammar-minded) for which to be held accountable.

I would procrastinate getting onto her website to check-mark the sale items, I would huff and puff having to carry the laptop over to the printer to print my checked items out.  I hated finding and cutting the coupons out.  I didn't like expending the mental energy during the looong grocery trips (compared to what I was used to).  A couple of times I remember getting 2/3 way through the store and having the overwhelming feeling to leave my cart.  And once or twice I would stop mid-trip, check out, and then go back to finish the next day.  But that was only once or twice.

I wanted my "old" way of going to the market every other day or so for "a few items" (do I live in Italy, Under the Tuscan Sun??)... not my once-every seven-days (or even once every two weeks) big ol' cart overflowing.

What I find interesting is that my motivation to continue was not the money saved each trip (about $90 each time).  Instead, it was coming home and having Adam say, "Wow, you really are doing great with this!"  Or the lady in line behind me one time who exclaimed, "$90!!  You saved $90!!  You should head to Nordstrom right now and get a new pair of shoes!"

I also love when my friends (or total strangers) would ask me questions.  I love telling them what worked for me.

And I guess that's the good news!  Now, it does work for me!  After a year of doing the process and changing my ways, I finally feel like it has become a lifestyle.

Adam calculated our savings in 2012 to be $5,000!!  We saved an average of $420/month using this process.  Again, sounds great, makes me feel good, but doesn't give me as much satisfaction as explaining to my family, friends and neighbors how they can start saving, too!

If you still have questions after reading these posts below, let me know!

Post #1 New Year Resolution

Post #2 Couponing for Normal People

Post #3 Couponing for Normal People Part 2

Post #4 Couponing for Normal People Part 3

Post #5 It Really Works, A Strategic Shopping Update