Unforeseen Tears

Our little girl started kindergarten today! We met her teacher for the first time this weekend and liked him immediately. I liked that he was competent, confident and a breaker of stupid rules (such as no cupcakes at parties). Katherine liked his turtles, fish, and towers of bins containing all kinds of interesting things.
Last week while shopping at Wal-mart, an employee asked me if I had purchased some Kleenex for myself when she discovered Katherine was starting school. I just laughed this off and haven't given it a second thought until this morning. I decided to let her ride the bus this morning at the last minute with her friend Eleanor whose 9. The bus comes at 6:30 and we were in a rush to get her at the stop sign on time. It wasn't until I saw my sweet little girl running to meet her friend with that giant backpack bouncing up and down that it hit me. I started to cry. She seemed so little but independent. My how time flies. I needed that Kleenex after all.
Thank goodness I had three $10 off any purchase from Penny's to brighten my day. Mom, Charlie and I had a great time shopping. I came home with 4 sweaters, 2 button up shirts with cute feminine ruffles, and an awesome pair of earrings. And I hit the Clinique counter for a free gift after a purchase of two new lipsticks. I felt better after some shopping therapy but was nervous until I met Katherine getting off the bus. Her day went well and she was very happy. Except for the hot bus ride home.

The Mix 'N Chop

I don't know about you but I got invited to Pampered Chef parties about 7 times this summer. Cooking just isn't my thing but I hate disappointing my friends. So I go to the party and find myself flipping through the catalog trying to find something useful but cheap. No one can beat TJMaxx when it comes to affordable cookware but I digress.
My husband is particular about the dimensions of his hamburger crumbles which is why I was excited to see a gadget specifically for this purpose at $10. Tonight I was happy with the results of my taco meat using this gadget. Was it as fine as the meat you find in Mexican restaurants? No, that is still an unsolved mystery. But it was the smallest crumble I've ever achieved and the best part, I could throw my new gadget right into the dishwasher. I give the Mix "N Chop an A-. Points were subtracted because I think it's a little overpriced.

Yummy Pad Thai!

My talented friend Polly had a play date/luncheon recently and served the best Pad Thai. I don't normally venture out into the lands of ethnic food but Polly is an exceptional cook so I made an exception. I admire her ability to throw ingredients together and end up with something fantastic.
She graciously took the time to write down a recipe and e-mailed it. The ingredients called for 2 items I have never used before, hoisin sauce and Mae Ploy's Chili sauce. The latter I had to find in an Asian market. That was an experience. If you live around here I went into the Korean Market in the old Waccamaw shopping center. It was only $3. 98.
The dinner turned out to be a great success! Everyone had seconds and we had just enough for Chuck's lunch the next day. It made me feel like a fine cook, thanks Polly!
Polly's Pad Thai

Cooked noodles of your choice.

1 cup Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce

2 Tbsp Hoisen sauce

2 tsp Soy sauce

2 heaping Tbsp Chunky Peanut Butter – or smooth and add chopped Peanuts

Juice of one lime. Put half in the sauce and half on top of your final dish

1 Bell Pepper-big chunks. I like orange, red and yellow mixed.

1 large Onion- big chunks

1 Clove of crushed Garlic

1 tbsp Sesame oil

Large handful of bean sprouts-canned or fresh

Chicken cut in chunks (shrimp is good too)

Cilantro

Green Onion tops. chopped

Cook chicken in olive oil and sesame oil. Add onions, peppers and garlic and cook until tender. Mix Mae Ploy, Hoisen sauce, ½ lime juice, peanut butter and soy sauce and heat until bubbly and smooth. Add water or coconut milk if the sauce is too thick. Pour sauce over chicken and veggies and add bean sprouts and noodles. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Place in dish and sprinkle the rest of the lime juice over top. Garnish with lots of cilantro and a couple of green onion tops.

Saturday's Finds

I had a wonderful morning of thrifting! My friend Ginger and I found all kinds of interesting things. Our first sale of the day had a bit of a rough start. We both battled rude people snatching items out of our personal space. The haughty sellers didn't have better manners. They had the naive attitude that we should pay top dollar for their items because "they were only worn once" or "that couch was originally $1800!". We lost our patience with this running dialogue and left only spending $1 on some dress up wings for Katherine.

Our next sale had a seller who wanted to justify her high prices by taping a printed product guide on her larger items with the original price circled. We weren't impressed. But she did have her baby clothes priced well and I picked up some cute things.


The next stop was where I found my bargain of the day, three vintage pins for .50 cents!

By this time Ginger was still empty handed. She finally came across some books when we swung into the Goodwill. She has a daughter with a ferocious appetite for books. I hope my children develop this habit. My next finds were a vintage slip, some decorating magazines, and a pair of adorable sparkly shoes for Katherine all for $4.25.

Our next stop was the most interesting. It was a bit out of town but from the road looked promising. He had furniture pieces scattered about the lawn and tumbling out of a barn. I bought an interesting soup tureen with platter that someone made in 1967 and gifted to their mother at Christmas. He also sold me a wooden purse decoupaged with scenes from the Revolutionary War, both for $8. Ginger found two items she couldn't pass up. A vintage metal typewriter desk and stool.

We were on a roll now and continued onto a local flea market where I found some more treasures. A shadow box, 4 fun Santa cups, a leg lamp t-shirt, and some building blocks. My total for the day came to $28.00. All in all it was a great morning even with the heat and humidity. Thanks for going Ginger you made it way more fun!

I Need a Caftan

My mother recently purchased a caftan from QVC (the home shopping channel). I laughed until I noticed her hurt look. It didn't help that I like saying the word caftan. Caftan. She then explained that it wasn't a caftan from the '70's but a house coat. I was picturing Mrs. Roper from Three's Company with her ethnic robes and chunky necklaces.
Mom showed me her new caftan and it was cute. Sexy? No, but cute.Chuck recently told me that my size 2X pajama pants are "not my best look". They were purchased to wear in the hospital when I had Charlie. On those rare occasions that he says something, I throw whatever he doesn't like straight into the trash. I suppose my cozy but unattractive pants will have to be retired so I'll not be tempted.
Shall I try a caftan? I think I will so I can say caftan. Caftan.
Some news about this blog, you no longer have to have an account to leave a comment. I just learned how to turn that off but that I should be prepared to receive SPAM promising to enlarge a small penis and to purchase my prescriptions from Canada.

Yard Sales

I was able to get out out bed in time for some yard sales last Saturday! I haven't been to one in a year, I'm not a morning person. I hit about 6 and got some good stuff. But it got too humid and I was tired of sweating.
Next time I'll have to take the camera. I saw some very strange items like a giant black shell lamp with a naked couple kissing. I overheard that the couple revolve and light up in different colors. She sold it for $8 (not to me). She also had a trio of life size ceramic cats to welcome yard salers into the backyard. The same woman who bought the lamp had to have one of the cats. Interesting.
I came across some good deals on baby clothes and of course had to run into someone I haven't seen in 10 years. Rarely do I step out of the house without make-up and earrings on. At least I had on some lipstick.
My best buy was some Geo Trax ( train set pieces) for Chuck and Katherine. They were thrilled and put up some tracks and trains right away.
Here's a list of what I came home with:-A Sweet Pickles book ( I had these as a child and it's always bothered me not to have them all)
-2 pairs of baby pj's
-a sweet little plaid shirt and undershirt for Charlie
-a small scrapbook
-giant size alphabet fridge letters ( maybe to use in a future craft)
-a bottle organizer for the dishwasher
-child size clothing hangers
-the box of Geo Trax that came with a bunch of small farm animals
All for a total of $15. I had a good time, maybe I'll go again soon! Anyone want to come?

Me Saying Snotty Things

I hate receiving baby/wedding shower invitations that ask for gift cards, diapers, and/or wipes. No one wants to attend a shower when no cute gifts are going to be oohed and aahed over. I don't want to buy diapers and wipes, I want to buy fun lovely things that are going to be passed around to all the guests.
I can still tell you what person gave us certain toys, outfits and wedding presents. Some are quite unique and others are very special. My late Aunt Sybil gave Katherine a gold locket with her initial on it. It's one of my favorite treasures.
Chuck and I got married the last day of November so we received several Christmas ornaments as gifts. I love them all and we enjoy reminiscing over them every year.
I hope you can forgive my being a snob and invite me to your gift card/diaper and wipes shower anyway.