Category: Uncategorized

I have had Netflix for a really long time. I remember the one thing that I was sad about was that I was losing the spontaneity of going to the movie rental store to pick out a movie to watch that very evening. I got over that pretty quickly since the good outweighs the bad. Things were improved slightly (and then much more so once Starz got on board) when Netflix introduced their Watch Instantly feature. But I have to admit I still missed browsing through new movie titles and seeing things that I had forgotten I wanted to see or something that I hadn’t even realized came out. Just recently I noticed a new basket by the return counter of my local library with movies. I figured I would take a quick flip as I was waiting in line and was surprised to see a few that I had wanted to see, but forgot to put in my queue. The spontaneity I was looking for is now back! The best part? Totally free for a whole week. That is something you never got at Blockbuster.

This weekend was lovely. My birthday was Friday but the celebrating was spread out which was great. Friday M&I had soccer so there was not a huge celebration. To be honest, as I get older I need less and less of a celebration.  I did receive a lovely pair of earrings from M which I have been wearing since. Saturday Dad, Diane and KB trekked to the city to have tea with us at Lady Mendl’s. 5 courses of wonderful goodness later, KB had to get back to school. The rest of the group made our way to Pearl Oyster Bar in a very leisurely manner winding from Soho to the West Village. Yum, lobster rolls! Tonight I plan to break in my new rice cooker from D&D. Thanks again everyone for making this a wonderful few days! Thank you also to those who sent card, ecards and called.

M&I rent a storage unit upstate. We have had it since we moved back from New Mexico and until about three weeks ago we went there about twice a year, once to get the air conditioner, and once to drop it off. For whatever reason we finally decided that three years was enough and we needed to take action. To make the task a little less daunting we have been removing a box at a time and bringing it back to Brooklyn with us to unpack. In some cases we had empty boxes in there (don’t ask, there isn’t a good reason) so we could clear out a few at a time. It has been terribly cathartic. I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been to open a box, deal with its contents and break it down. In most cases whatever was in the box is being donated or freecycled. We actually found the last of our tea cups which I figured was gone for good. This story reminds me of our project and made my chuckle. There have been more than a few situations where one or the other of us would cock an eyebrow because of some sentimental object that can’t be thrown away. via

In these iffy financial times it might not be the worst idea to do a little budgeting. Even if you aren’t noticing a real hit it doesn’t hurt to do a little planning. M&I recently decided we would be cash only during the week and set a limit. It is interesting how different it feels to only have a certain amount in your wallet and when that runs out… well let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I have been thinking about things much differently when faced with a should I buy it or shouldn’t I situation. This handy budget calculator is the next step in really coming up with a number that will help us save a little. via

In recent years I have come to love dark leafy green vegetables. Swiss chard, kale, collard greens. They take only a second to make which makes them and ideal side dish when I just don’t feel like cooking, and I love the taste. I saw this recipe for Lasagne with Chard, Tomato Sauce and Ricotta on Tastespotting. It looks delicious and has many of my favorite things. I have actually never made lasagna before, but this seems like a good recipe for my first try.

I love beef jerky. Love it. There is a rule that we only get jerky on road trips, otherwise I would eat it all the time. It is the perfect food for long trips in the car. I was super excited when I saw a recipe to make your own on Tastespotting. I had seen Alton Brown make jerky once, but it seemed too complicated and involved an air conditioner filter and making your own smoke flavor. Apparently it isn’t that hard.

Maybe you have heard that we are in a bit of a finacial situation. Personally I have been in a total panic and blissfully ignorant somehow all at the same time. Well someone has laid it out with links so that even I can understand what is going on. The bottom line? Stay calm. via

I don’t know what is wrong with me lately. Every thing I have tried to bake in the last few months has been practically inedible. Last night I attempted an apple crisp. Something I have made with a certain amount of success in the past. This time I tried to get creative and did a few things that weren’t in the recipe… big mistake. Now I have a fairly large pan of apple crisp that I won’t eat. M managed to eat some, but I think he was deperate for something sweet. We think we can salvage it with some apple cider and a little more time in the oven, but I am not so sure. Until I learn better, I am just going to have to stick to the recipe.

Today I got an email from my grandfather telling me in a very nice way that I forgot his 79th birthday!! Doh! I am terrible. Grandpa, all I can say is don’t take it personally, it isn’t that I don’t love you and I will make sure 80 makes up for it. I forget everyone’s birthday. For years I have mixed up the dates of both my mother’s and my stepmother’s birthdays (not with each other, apparently I can’t get 8s and 9s straight in my head) and I have talked to my mother not once but at least twice on her actual birthday and did not say happy birthday. Somehow she still loves me. I am not a card person so I never get cards in the mail. If I do remember, I sing, I am not sure if that makes it better or worse. To be fair, I am not the type of person that will hold a grudge if you forget my birthday. As I get older and older (and older) I don’t tend to make a big deal. I hope that all of you that I have slighted can find it in your heart to forgive me and if not, then feel free to forget my birthday this year.

I love birds and this cast iron bottle opener is just too cute! via