Oh, Walmart

I might have to brave the local, pee-smelling Walmart to see these Martha kits for myself!  They’re geared toward weddings, but how great would they be for a baby or bridal shower, too?

via

A Squashy Girl in a Bathing Suit

laundry?!  no!  sunbath!

face in grass, getting tan.

tan fat is better.

In the Interest of Saving Money

Things I will not do in the interest of saving money, ever:

Line dry underwear.

Shop at Walmart.  (shudder!)

Cancel my Netflix subscription.

Drink cheap coffee.

Wear underwear that comes in a plastic package.

Stop buying 120 format film.

Agonize over clipping coupons.

Attempt to sew my own bras.

Get rid of high-speed internet.

Skip girls-only monthly hibatchi.

Buy the inexpensive contact solution.

What To Eat Out

We’ve stopped eating out as much because it’s expensive and unhealthful.

We’re currently buying my grandmother’s house as an investment property (because my husband loves me and I wanted it for sentimental reasons!)  It is priced at less than half of what we were planning to spend in New York City back when we were looking to buy there, and I’m excited to have it as a future home; it’s on 1.5 acers, so there’s definetly potential for expansion (and chickens, I’m thinking!  I’m following a convo. about chickens on a message board, and I’m enthralled and inspired to have my own brood of egg-givers.  But I wouldn’t eat them.  *shudder*  Anyway.)

So we’re saving money by not eating out because we want to buy the place in cash, forgoing all the headache of obtaining a mortgage.  (Which I looked into, and which scared me.)  Also, restaurant food is not so good for the de-squashying.  But I would like to be able to go out sometimes and not just order salads.  I’m trying to figure out where to go tonight (the husband is going to be away for two days… we haven’t slept apart since we got married!  The dogs are SO getting to sleep on the bed!) so that I can order something vegetarian and more hearty than salad.

Mexican and Music

Normally when we get Chinese they give us a TON of rice that I never know what to do with.  I keep it, and in the next day or so I mix it with kidney beans, salsa (or diced tomatoes), diced bell peppers, grated cheese and squished corn chips.  It’s pretty good, and healthful if you really load it up with veggies and use blue corn chips, which I prefer to yellow.  (p.s., it’s way fun to squish the chips!)  Then I broil it so the cheese melts and the rice gets hot and I have an awesome faux-Mexican dish.  I made that tonight with gazpacho soup, and it was so, so good after a long hot day.

***

The husband is currently playing guitar, and the dogs are at his feet, looking up at him so interested and adoringly, like they’re really INTO his tunes (Weezer and Green Day… he’s so 90’s), like they’re really listening and enjoying.  It’s adorable.  I love my life.

Body Image

Right.  Blogging.  So.

I tried a new cleanse that eliminated the following: animal products, alcohol, gluten and refined sugar.  I made it for four days, which I counted an accomplishment.  I have since stopped eating meat, and cut back on the gluten and sugar.  I’m not a big drinker, so it wasn’t so much of an issue either way.

I feel amazing!  I’ve been debating the merits of going vegetarian for years, and making the leap has be a LOT easier than I thought.  There are still going to things that bring me to the brink of temptation: my girlfriend’s lambchops, Hooters wings, juicy cheeseburgers, but I feel like I’m doing the best thing for myself right now, and if I do eat meat occasionally, well, no big deal.

I’ve been trying to work out more (because I might as well, right?  While I’m eating so well.)  The fact that it’s summer is making that easy; my three dogs are mad for the dog park, and there’s one twenty minutes away that has a great swimming lake (plus there are lots of other dogs to play around with).  We’ve been hiking all over, and it’s been good for them, too.

We also got a Wii Fit.  I’m not using it to work out so much as track my progress.  According to it, I’m down eight pounds in the past month.  Woo!  Skinnay!

I was out last night with a few girlfriends, both who are super cute and sweet.  My friend S. has one of those bodies that is naturally thin and muscular, and she has to be careful not to dip underweight.  Her abs are INCREDIBLE.  Unfortunately for her, she’s at her “confused with life” phase where she wants so much out of life and is not sure (but really, “too scared”) at how to go about achieving it.  Girl’s got “issues” if you know what I’m saying, and the conversation turned to how I seem to have it together; I have an amazing marriage and (despite being a bit of a dissatisfied housewife), I’m pretty happy.  So is our other friend, C.

“Whatever!” she said.  “You know you’d both kill for my body!”

I eyeballed her.  “No.  Nope.  I wouldn’t.”  To be honest, I was a little annoyed that she thought she was better looking than me (I mean, she IS fitter, but you don’t SAY such things!  Goodness!)  And my snappy “No.” was out as my gut reaction before I realized that it IS actually true: I don’t want her body, killer abs or not.

“I mean, of course there are things I want to change, but” I continued, “I feel pretty good.”  I suppressed my smug smile.  I was going to add: “and I get to have sex.” but I thought that her head might explode; she’s got no suitable husband on the horizion and is frustrated, and I’m not an ENTIRELY mean person, you know.  But I thought it.