Aldi making a comeback?

Have you ever shopped at Aldi? I will admit I avoided it for about 8 years! I was dissatisfied with the HFCS in so many of their products. I have known others who overlooked that for the $ they were saving! I couldn't do that.
We were trying not to allow any HFCS to enter our house, our diet, whenever possible.
Besides our gluten-free diet necessity, the cheap ingredients kept us steering clear of there.

But this past year, Aldi has really made some great changes!
We excited about their Organic produce and their vast array of gluten-free items. We have loved all but one! That is really great odds! Live gfree has really done a great thing!

We are impressed with the baking mixes to the canned soups, the pasta, the ready-to-eat cookies, to the frozen pocket sandwiches, ravioli, breaded cod and wraps!
The produce is beautiful and the packaged, pre-washed romaine, italian salad, spinach, kale and lettuces are terrific!
With the ingredients improving and the prices affordable, it is in our best interest to frequent there.
Now they take credit cards in addition to the cash and debit cards.
Our advice? Grab a quarter and get a cart! You'll find more in there than you thought!

BUCKET LIST! Everybody should have one no matter how realistic or not!

What is on your bucket list?  I talked with someone today, who through sharing a bucket list item, we realized we both had that one in common.

It was  *Go to Boston.
She was privileged to go due to wedding.

What else? We should actually commit these items to print, so we can see them get marked off...

*Next time in NYC, take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty
*Visit the Ark Encounter theme park near Cincinnati
* Take a cruise
*Go on a birdwatching tour
*Visit my cousin in tropical FL
*Visit my friend in Italy


I really need to get thinking of what else should be on there? What are your items on your bucket list?

We did already knock some off.

*Go to Grand Canyon

*Visit my cousin in KS

*Raise a kid and see him through high school graduation!

*Visit my friend in CO

I would love to hear what you have on your bucket list.

Are there places you are itching to go visit? Books you can't wait to read? Friends you really want to visit? Cultures calling your name? Things I haven't even thought of?

Graduation ideas - what I wish I'd known...

Hooray~ Graduation is coming!  The day we've been waiting nearly EIGHTEEN YEARS for!

As if the senior year wasn't emotional enough for the Mom... the weeks prior to the culmination are quite an unexpected blow - -
you won't cry when you expect to,
but you will cry at the most ridiculous things- like the speaker talking about the "oversized crayons these students used back in kindergarten"...

I have talked with numerous moms of seniors, and the consensus is the same. This year isn't for wimps!
Hold on like you're on a bucking bronco!
Encourage those mothers of young children, but don't get too jealous of them, for they will not understand! They are convinced they want out of those young, tiresome years...

So while you are getting a grip, and looking to plan and execute the celebration...

• try to get a feel for when your senior's friends' parties are... this will be important, as people will want to see your senior, but your senior will want to hang with the friends!

• Consider whether a joint party would ease some of the tension between making these many simultaneous parties and competition, and maybe could be a joint celebration with many mutually known families enjoying celebrating at fewer spots...

• Try to get a head's up on a basic count. Buying food for the unknown is really difficult.  Unless you are super excited about eating the menu you have planned for the next week, you will want to have a better handle on how much to buy and prepare.

• Plan as objectively as possible. If a $10 balloon bouquet will bring just as much joy as the $90 balloon bouquet, decide if you'll be happy the day after that the latex balloons in the bunch fall 24 hours later, and how much are you willing to pay for deflated balloons... ours did. 

• Be informed if you are able to return any of your unused paper products, with a receipt if they are unopened or if "all sales are final." You can decide how many napkins you want to spin and alternate colors that way...

• If you buy the terrific, color-coordinated m&m's for your open house, put them around in more than one place! We had far too many leftover, and some just didn't know where to find them. I wish I had placed three different serving bowls around where the guests were celebrating. They don't always go where you think they will!   https://www.mymms.com/category/shop+by+celebration/graduation.do

• Plan ahead by putting a few clean, unused trash liners in the bottom of your wastebasket, so taking out trash will be quick and unnoticeable; also plan ahead by placing the trash can in an accessible place, so that guests don't have to go through the food line again looking for the trash disposal.

• Invest in a yard sign, or something similar.  This takes the guesswork out of the arrival, especially if there are many cars, and unclear which house it is in.

• Make sure the items (i.e. desserts~ In our case, we had brownies, lemon bars, and cupcakes on a cupcake stand.  There were those who saw the brownies but missed the cupcakes altogether.) are obvious to the guests.

• Decide ahead of time if and which choice of music will be played.

• Play out both scenarios:  if it rains, and 100% of guests are inside... if it is nice weather, how will the traffic flow be....

• Above all, remember to enjoy yourself! This is a great day! Socializing with people you love and who love and support you!  

COLOR IS NOT A GREY AREA!

Color. It affects us. I have to admit there was a time when I longed for color. Intense. Vibrant color. But it wears on me, after several years, I took the plunge to rid us of the undesirable gold in our room. It wasn't restful. It wasn't relaxing or a peaceful retreat.
I went for a drastic difference. It was London Coach.

It was rich, deep, and peaceful, yet inviting.

It was such a welcome change.  Of course, my dh doesn't see color the way I do. 

He asked, "Why are we just painting our master bedroom 'grey' now?"

But I tell you, it is deeper than that. When the sun shines in our room, it is beautiful; almost looks a little purple hint in it. It is beautiful.

With our white trim, and blue window panels, it is a terrific contrast, but yet the restful place I was seeking to create.

The bedroom was painted in a ragroll pattern, and then the master bathroom was solid mustard color. I had to remedy that as well. Park Place to the rescue!

Not only was the bathroom so much better. Here is during the process:

Color makes a big difference. Here is the coordination of the master bedroom London Coach with the Park Place in my scope at once...

Color makes a difference! It isn't a grey area!

Laundry

I am often asked how we get it all done...

I hate the thought of rigid schedules.  But I have found one sense of structure that helps me to stay organized.  It is this:  the kids' dirty clothes need to be delivered to the laundry room on Thursdays.
Then I have Thursday and Friday to get them done. In between everything else. I really appreciate having a modern washer as opposed to the washing board and a stroll down to the river. ;)
Theoretically, I get the towels and sheets done on Saturdays. I wash my dh's and mine on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  It gives me a day off besides.

That's how we do it. There are exceptions to every rule.  But that is the goal.
Happy laundry systems to you.

Looking forward to this... Intellectually stimulating....

debatelive.org


Debate between Bill Nye  the Science Guy vs. Ken Ham, AnswersinGenesis.org



Feb 4
7pm EST

Joy

Joy:

Focusing on Joy. Sounds easy enough. Tough in real circumstances. But sometimes Joy might not be that I am jumping up and down, ready for a huge party, laughing at every joke.
Maybe joy is having that peace within, knowing that I have a Friend in high places, who has my back, and will never fail me. That brings me joy.

I also have a specific blessing in my life that a lot of times brings me joy ~
Two Wednesdays ago, Ms. Bubbly, currently 12.5, announced she is making our supper once a week.
Wow. Hooray. I mean, joy!
She is already skilled, knowing how to cook and bake, loving to research recipes online, reading cookbooks, trying new things, and determining how early we eat that day,... yep, those are in her bag of tricks!

So Ms. Bubbly wouldn't let us see what she was making. It was delicious. It wan enchilada casserole. She had to make some revisions, being the Grocery Shopper (namely, me) didn't have necessarily the perfect ingredients on hand, but it was so good. We all voted it be kept in the rotation of structured meals that we make/eat.
And, I didn't feel so bad about her having to be flexible with the ingredients:  It's real life.
Sometimes we just don't see what is coming.We have to react to what comes.

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” 
― Charles R. Swindoll

We have to learn that- and I would prefer my kids to learn that life skill sooner, rather than later.
Because if there is something I have learned in this adulthood- it is that not everything happens like I think or want it to happen.
But, I do want to be flexible enough to work with whatever I am given, ...

and two Wednesdays ago, I was given a gift of a self-initiated young teen who was determined to bless us with her culinary expressions. I didn't get in the way of that idea any more than I would want to get in the way of a moving freight train! I stayed out of the way.

What a huge blessing I would have missed if I had. What a huge mistake that would have been.
It was a joy that i didn't see coming. But in retrospect, I am so thankful, and I am overjoyed!

Choose joy. Look for it. You'll see...

Today. This is a day to think about what matters.
It's a recurring theme. It keeps coming to mind. What really matters?

My Mr. Geeksquad continues to entertain me with his abilities - Algebra 2 doesn't seem to hold his interest, so he creates this:

So which way do I respond?  This isn't Algebra 2.  But I have to admit it is really clever.  There are a couple more that he made, too.  How can I not appreciate it?

It reminds me of the day that I was not even near the computer, nor was anyone else.  When all of a sudden, the printer starts printing.

It spits out a piece of paper:  "Hi Mom. I just wanted to say hi" or something like that.

Is he learning Algebra 2?  Yes.  Will it matter if this particular lesson got done on Tuesday or Wednesday, in the long run? Probably not.

But will this be permanently etched in my mind as kindness? Yes!  Spoken in Mr. Geeksquad's own special language.  That is a blessing. I am so glad to be chosen.  It is creative. It matters.

Seeds? Spring?

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” ~~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~~ (November 13, 1850 – December 3, 1894)

Believe it or not, I have this posted in our walk-in closet.  It is reminder to keep my perspective!
If I just look at the dirt, knowing I had put the seeds in there, and then choose to give up... I will miss out!
But if I have faith, and keep watering it, I will reap what I have planted.

Earlier this spring I was gifted with a Calla Lily kit, from my dh. It came with the expandable 'soil' patty, seeds, and a cute bright lime green watering can in which to plant them.  It said to keep it moist, but not over-watered.  I did so.
I have a really busy week. Today, of all days, I checked on it, and there were little sprouts coming up through the dirt.  What a great encouragement! Just like in life, whatever I sow [or plant], that is what I will reap!

Reminds me of Galatians 6:9.  Check it out.

Mmmmmm...... late night treat!

This is my my brainstorm (with a little help from my MN clone 10 years younger):

Hot almond milk (heated 1/2 mug's worth)
14 drops stevia
1 + teaspoon dark cocoa
1 drop peppermint oil


Mmmmm..... peppermint cocoa without the sugar, nor the great caloric intake, and oh, what a delicious aroma!  Enjoy!