Mission Accomplished

I feel it is only fair to give a final photo update of the China Cabinet I have written about so excessively.

My dining room has been transformed by her beauty, and all of our incredible wedding gifts can finally be displayed! I still smile every time I look at her.

Here's a straight on view for you...I didn't want to leave you wanting more. Not after so many months of waiting.

However, there is no rest for the weary, the next mission: A new couch.

Cabinet Update

A brief update from Closing Notice Headquarters:

The cabinet I have been feverishly saving up for has been ordered! It could be here as early as one month or as long as three, but I am not concerned with the date. Just knowing that it's on it's way is gift enough!

Let's look at her one more time shall we? Isn't she wonderful....

Babysitting Machine: Part 2

As previously stated I was babysitting until 1am this morning, and I just returned from another stint this evening and will go at it again tomorrow night. I am a well oiled dinner making, teeth brushing, iCarly watching, diaper changing, book reading machine. And it's all in name of love.

I love this china cabinet.

Oh and children! I love children too....

But seriously, let's get back to the task at hand. Isn't she lovely? I have eyed her for years and I decided this was the year she would be mine. Every cent from every babysitting gig I get is going towards the prize. It will be a slow climb, but in the end it will be oh so worth it.

It's almost as though I have reverted back to high school, except in high school I would have been saving up for a new pair of Doc Martins or something, now I dream about furniture. This would be another example of: you know you are becoming an adult when...


Now might be a good time for me to admit a rather painful truth about myself: I have never actually saved up for anything in my life. I know, I can feel your judgement radiating through the computer screen, but in an effort to be totally transparent I just want to put that out there. If I ever wanted something I usually asked for it for a birthday or Christmas. Or I would put it on a credit card when I couldn't actually afford it and then pay it back (with interest, of course) over time. This is not a fact I am proud to admit, but we all have the capacity to change if we put our minds to it. My mistakes of my past don't have to dictate the actions of my future.

I am currently about a third of the way to my goal and while I would love to have this gorgeous piece of craftsmanship in my home now, I am willing to wait, because I know the reward will be that much sweeter in the end.

You Know You Are Tuning Into An Adult When...

You sign up for a Costco membership.

Soon after I moved back to Chicago, I called my friend, I shall call her The Parakeet, and said "Do you think Costco is worth the money? And if so should I join?"

She gave me her candid thoughts about the option: Worth the money? In her experience yes, however a place like Costco can make it very easy to overspend. Should I join? Hard to say with Jürgen being gone, but it can be a great place to stock up on everyday staples such as paper towels and garbage bags. I even accompanied her on a Costco outing this past summer just to get a taste of the experience. However I never took the plunge and signed up.

Recently, while at work, a company wide email went out declaring that representatives from the wholesale magnent would be coming to the office to sign people up for memberships. This got my wheels turning. After all its an option I had considered, Jürgen will be back here in a few months, and my now budget conscious self always enjoys a savings.  However the real clincher was when my friend offered to join with me so we could split the costs of a membership. Badda-bing, Badda-boom.

Today I took my first solo venture into Costco, armed with my new membership card and ready to experience the perks.  I didn't want to fall prey to buying more just because you are saving a few bucks, so I walked in with purpose. I had a list, on it were three items, and that's exactly what I left with. Self control is an important character trait.

And because I am a loser with no life, and because a Target is located just minutes from the Costco I visited, I stopped over to do a little cost comparing after the fact to see if I did, in fact, save anything.

My three items: Sensodyne Toothpaste, ScotchBrite Sponges and 13 gallon garbage bags.

Here's the breakdown:

Toothpaste:
Target: $4.99 for one tube
Costco: $15.99 for a pack of 4 (normally it's $19.99 but I had a $4 off coupon)

Total Savings: $4.00. Now to be fair you will notice had I not had the handy-dandy coupon there wouldn't have been a savings, it simply would have been breaking even. However, what I did not take into account when I did my cost comparing was the size of the toothpaste, because I think that the tubes I got at Costco are actually bigger than the normal sized tube being sold at Target. Therefore you are still getting more product for your money.

Sponges:
Target: $9.29 for a pack of nine
Costco: $10.99 for a pack of eighteen

Total Savings: $7.59

Garbage bags:
Target: $7.49 for fifty 13 gallon bags
Costco: $12.69 for two hundred bags.

Total Savings: $17.27

Grand Total: $28.86 in savings! Which means that I covered my membership cost ($25.00 after the split) in one visit! Score!

I am a complete dork for figuring all of that out, but I am placated knowing that it was worth the money. However, I do not think Costco is for everyone. For example, if you are the type who always leaves a store like Bed, Bath and Beyond with way more than you planned when you walked in, Costco could be very dangerous. There is so much stuff there, and would be easy to overbuy. Also, if you don't have the room to store the fifty rolls of paper towels Costco will afford you, I would wager it's not worth the savings either. Having extra around is nice, but not if they have to be stored in your living room. 

Eating to live or Living to eat?

This is the big question right now.

Jürgen and I are self-proclaimed "foodies." No one gave us this title, we gave it to ourselves (hence the self proclamation), but anyone who was at our wedding knows we love food.  While living in Chicago we were known to make some pretty elaborate meals which were heavy on the stomach lining as well as the pocketbook. Obviously this someone decadent way of eating will not be an option for us right now.

It's dissapointing only because we spent a great deal of time creating an NYC restaurant spreadsheet containing a laundry list of eateries we hoped to try during our time here.  One might also suggest that we also self proclaim ourself as "dorks."

We quickly realized that how we ate would be a key factor in our financial survival here. While it is so very tempting to eat out/order in when you live it a city of culinary pleasures like NYC, one must make certain sacrifices to stay afloat.  So we have devised a list of certain foods which we plan to keep on hand in attempt to cut down on the need/desire to venture outside of our kitchen walls.  They are:

Potato's--there are so many ways to prepare them! Twice baked, mashed, roasted with olive oil...the possibilties are endless

Chicken-One of teh more inexpensive meats and so very good for you.  We are thinking of buying a whole Chicken every Sunday and then using the bones to make a nice chicken stock.  I have never done this but it can't be that hard can it?

Ground beef-cheaper than other red meats but still flavorful.  We made tacos the other night, and we will never turn our nose up at a good burger.

Frozen veggies:  We will of course have fresh produce as well, but typically frozen veggies are picked and thrown in a freezer at the pique of their season, therefore retaining many of their nutrients.  Also, keeping them frozen assures that they won't go bad for quite sometime.  I must admit, allowing fresh veggies go to waste is an offense I have committed one too many times.

Eggs-Good anytime, anywhere and almost any way you serve them.

Oatmeal- A perfect way to start the day and will keep for ages.  I am partial to the old fashioned variety as it doesn't take long to make on the stove and is better for you than the instant stuff.

Pasta: Lots and lots of pasta. And rice.  The blank canvas of the kitchen and can be served with anything.  I will need to create a "Pasta Recipes" spreadsheet with all of the pasta I have right now.

Popcorn Kernels: Our favorite snack food hands down is ill popcorn.  Made on teh stove with plenty o' butter, dill, S&P and parm. cheese.  It's cheaper to buy a bag of popcorn kernels than the pre-bagged stuff and lasts much longer. 

That gives you a good idea.  We also always have peanut butter on hand, as I take great delight in a spoonful of the nutty spread.  You always have to have some fresh fruit on hand, and of course milk and OJ.  We have daydreamed about making our own bread, pizza and soups...but I imagine it's best to take things one step at at time.

Do you have any ideas of foods we should keep on hand? Any recipes to share? Don't be a stranger,  post a comment!