Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Best Thing to Hit Nashville

After hearing my friend Jenni rave about Trader Joe's since it opened a few months ago, I now understand. It is the best thing to hit Nashville since the Cheesecake Factory and Anthropologie. It is amazing. It is just like a Whole Foods, except it's cheap!! An affordable organic and gourmet food store. It is not in my neighborhood, but is close to the boys school, so I have been a couple times on my way to pick them up in the afternoon.

Let me give you a couple examples:
I got 4 bags (the big brown paper kind) of groceries today and my total was $66.40.

bag of whole organic carrots $.89
gallon of whole milk (the kind without antibiotics) for $2.99.
6-pack of extra creamy yogurt that Ryan loves for $2.99
large in-store made cheese pizza for $2.99
large container of triple layer hummus for, you guessed it, $2.99 (the best hummus I have ever had, hands down!)
bag of frozen chicken chow mein (tastes EXACTLY like take-out from PF Changs) $5.99
bag of frozen breaded chicken breast tenderloins (better than restaurant quality) $7.49

This is just the beginning. I could lose all track of time in that store. You already know I love grocery shopping, so this is like grocery shopping heaven for me!! And, they are always giving out yummy samples from the back. Today it was peanut satay and iced green tea!

I was raving about Trader Joe's to my Dad and he said that whenever his crew has overnites in a city with a Trader Joe's, his flight attendants pack extra bags just to bring back all the wonderful goods they find! It is that good, I promise. My friend Stacey got overwhelmed the first time she went and ended up not buying anything. It can be overwhelming and took me about 2 trips to really get in the groove, but now I'm hooked.

Tonight we are having Trader Joe's mini cheese raviolis with Trader Joe's marinara sauce (the jar of sauce was $1.99 and I think it is organic!)

This makes me happy!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

On a Brighter Note

Have I mentioned how much I love my cookie press? Check out these cute heart cookies I made for Will's Valentine class party tomorrow. I tinted the dough with red food coloring (which I still think makes food taste funny...)
I think they are just adorable.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Blog Apathy

I have realized that I am having blog apathy lately.

I could write about the latest book I've read, The Color of Water, which was amazing. Or the book I am currently reading, The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd (author of the Secret Life of Bees.) Both great books, but I'm not feeling it.

I could write about Ann Curry's Dateline interview last night with the infamous Octuplets mother. But, I don't feel like bad-mouthing a woman that just gave birth to 8 babies regardless of the fact that she is un-wed, has 6 other children and living off of disability checks and food stamps.

I could write about the devastating blow my family felt this week. My Dad's cousin, David Ryan, was killed in a freakish house fire leaving a wife and 3 teenage kids. My Dad was extremely close to David. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it yet. David was larger than life and nothing about this seems real. My Dad always has a way of putting everything into beautiful perspective. He wrote about his feelings in a touching tribute to David on his blog. So, I'll let my Dad do the writing on this one. Please read it.

My friend Jenni and I are in charge of our boys kindergarten Valentine party on Friday. Maybe I'll have some cute pictures to share in a more uplifting post next time.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Update

I haven't blogged in a while. Don't know if it is because I've been too busy, or just not had anything worth blogging about!
So, here's an update for what it's worth:

Will
Will continues to love school with an intense joy. One of the aides in his building told his Meme that she has never seen a child love school as much as Will. You have no idea how happy this makes me. His reading and math skills continue to grow, but he got into the car on Friday very excited about how they learned to make paper airplanes! My house is filled with paper scraps made into airplanes. I am having to hide the "good" paper!

Ryan
Ryan continues to make me laugh constantly. He is still devoted in his love for football and superman. However, he has recently asked to watch hockey and bull riding on ESPN. We honestly have no idea where he gets this stuff! This is what makes Ryan, well, "Ryan." He doesn't have the intense love for school like Will, and I forever feel like I am slacking in teaching him at home like I did with Will. Thus the plight of the second child.

John Will
JW has been extremely busy this past month. He has had some very big projects at work (that he will not disclose anything to me about at home.) He has also started a mandatory trial practice class once a week at work. We are extremely grateful that he is busy at work. We do not dare complain about the long hours. We are happy he is needed and wanted at a job where he gets to work on interesting projects with top-notch people. And he still manages to play basketball every Thursday morning at 6am with some guys from church.

Ginger
Mom and I painted the foyer this past month and did a pretty good job.
I hosted a small baby shower for my friend Stacey.
I spend much of my time trying to cook healthy food and worrying that Ryan is on an eating strike.
I am fighting a losing battle trying to keep a clean house.
I am anxiously awaiting the births of two of my best friends babies.
I am getting ready for 3 consignment sales.
I am still loving my book club and read every night. (but, I have also discovered American Idol.)
I am hoping I am on the tail-end of my sinus/ear infections. (I have an appt. in the morning with an ENT.)
I actively try to avoid the Brentwood Police since I have gotten 2 tickets in the past couple of months. (Neither of which were my fault!) I now think they are watching me.

Greta
I can't forget about my Gretagirl. She continues to be a free-range schnauzer. She continues to eat UGO's (unidentified ground objects) and come inside and throw-up (sometimes on my bed!)She desperately needs a haircut. She has horrible breath. She will be 8 in April. She continues to be a thorn in my side. For some reason, I love her anyway!