yeah yeah yeah

Spending Freeze–Valentines and Chocolates

Spending freeze day three (we started this plan on Feb. 12th) and Lance wanted to throw the whole thing under the bus. He got distracted today at Safeway by all the pretty pink and red cellophane-wrapped chocolates and giant bags of M&M's. He was all ready to throw in the towel and give into the temptation of Valentine's candy, insisting that we needed to buy chocolate to celebrate the day. He pointed out lots of great options that were very inexpensive and he made a fairly convincing argument. But chocolate and candy were not on the "essential items" list so he lost. No store-bought, Valentine-decorated, cheesy chocolates today. But what would the day be without chocolate? I mean, if there is ever a good excuse to eat your weight in chocolate, Valentine's Day is it. Lucky for us I have a couple of boxes of Baker's unsweetened chocolates so I googled a recipe and made brownies from scratch. I always make brownies from a box so these are actually a special treat, topped off with some homemade chocolate icing. Thus proving that it is always good to have cocoa, sugar and butter a plenty on hand. 

 

But damn it if we didn't spend $98.00 today with our "essentials". Diapers and formula are expensive. Throw in some prescriptions and BAM, its a $100 day. I'm not so good at this limited spending just yet. But I did make some homemade valentines while snowed in. That was fun and free. 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Spending Freeze Explained and Syrup—Day One

As you likely know, in January Lance started working full-time again. Hooray! Such a great feeling to again have the means to pay down our debt and restore our savings. And what relief a dual income, after a long nine months, brings this family. But damn it how quickly we can jump into old habits and abandon the goal to save. More fun to spend, spend, spend. Like spending $300 at Target when you went in just for diapers, formula and Lean Cuisines. Did I really need those impulse items: house slippers (they are super cute though), fancy rubber bands, lotions, socks, onesies, candy and such? Not cool. Our money doesn't need to go to Target, Southside, Chili's and Starbucks. It needs to pay off stupid, stupid debt. Suffering from buyers remorse a couple of times in January I decided it was time to start focusing on long-term gratification instead of short-term happiness. 

Jump forward to a few days ago—snowed in with absolutely no way to get out, a bowl full of vanilla ice cream and out of Hershey's chocolate. I was stuck with plain vanilla ice cream or finding something around the house to jazz it up. Duh, I thought. I bet I can easily make some chocolate syrup. And sure enough. Chocolate syrup is simple to make if you have cocoa, sugar and vanilla on hand. In less time than it takes to drive to the nearby 7-11, I made chocolate syrup.  

½ cup cocoa powder - 1 cup water - 2 cups sugar - ⅛ teaspoon salt - ¼ teaspoon vanilla

 

I used a recipe from the "Small Notebook for a Simple Home" blog I found in my google search. What a great blog. It is all about simplifying your life, spending less and making smart family decisions. The blog author recently posted about her experience with not spending any money for a month. Interesting I thought. Very interesting. So I decided to copy the authors challenge and see if Lance and I could do the same. Not quite as ambitious, we are trying for 20 straight days. 

For the next 20 days Lance and I are not spending money on anything we don't absolutely need—gas for the car, money on the metro card, bread, milk, butter and a couple of meats and fresh produce items are all we really need. Diapers and formula too of course. Part of the challenge, as I see it, is to not go to the store to spend $200 stocking up on food for the next 20 days but instead eating the food we have way too much of already. Currently our basement looks like we are waiting on the apocalypse. It is going to take a lot of creative cooking (we call these "Quick Fire Challenges" like the ones on Top Chef) to use some of the random items stored, but none-the-less we will not come even close to starvation. 

There you have it, Day One of the Hill Smith Spending Freeze. One less trip to the store and I learned how to make chocolate syrup. Little steps toward the big goal of being debt free by 2015 (minus the mortgage of course).

Snowed In and Happy

Right now I'm sitting on the over-sized futon, dog in lap, looking up at the window in the basement. About half of the view is covered in snow but it still offers a pretty good peek into the world outside. The crazy snow world outside. Holy hell we have a lot of snow. After round one of Snowmaggedon I placed a ruler in the yard - officially marking the 23 inches of snow that dumped on us. This morning, the ruler is deeply buried. So I don't know what we are up to as far as accumulation is concerned but what I can report is that the snow is close to reaching the top of the fence in the back yard. Check it out.

 

What does one do to keep sane while cooped up in the house for what is now day six? This household has spent most of the days in the basement. Last Thursday I got ourselves all organized and snugged with our essentials downstairs. We got ourselves a bottles station, changing station, a dog and his bone area. Lance has his in-home office and baby girl has toys a-plenty along with blankets and pillows on the floor for grandé tummy time. The bassinet is back up for nap times and our fridge is full. Life is good. We are warm, happy and together. Lance spends most of the day working. He is actually working from home and getting paid (Gratefu!). Sunny rotates from my arms to Lance's lap, the jumper, the floor, the bouncing chair and back to my arms. It is a routine we are liking. She is completely obsessed with her rainforest bouncer and it is officially the MVP of Snowmaggedon in this house. 

 

So what does this momma do to stay sane? Bake. A lot of baking. Chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, apple dumplings, no-bake cookies... good God we are packing on some extra warmth in this house. Luckily we aren't eating these alone. We have been sharing with various neighbors and enjoying the camaraderie that a blizzard brings to the neighborhood. But the shoveling counteracts the sweets, right?

Lance is obsessed with these cinnamon rolls. So good.

  

Chocolate chip cookies full of love. I used more brown sugar and less sugar this time. Awesome change-up that worked really well. 

Apple dumplings. They were much better then they look. I used my mom's old recipe and my house smelled like cinnamon for days. Reminds me of my momma. 

I've also knitted for a special February birthday and made some Valentines. And of course facebook dominates much of my home-bound time. I'm completely frustrated that it is all wonky this week, but whatever. Good times! Ha ha. And I mean good times without sarcasm. I guess I'm one of the crazy few who actually enjoys these "no where to go" days. I've yet to experience cabin fever and all this snow makes me dream of spending a winter in Maine, snowed in for months. Crazy talk, right? But this is also coming from the person who spent her last vacations in Iceland and the Eastern most part of Maine.  

Happy winter and happy Snowmaggedon. Stay warm and stay safe friends.

America: Love It or Leave It

I think I was offered 10k to move to Europe and denounce my US citizenship. Interesting temptation but unfortunately the offer didn’t come with a job. The proposal came as part of a facebook discussion on the subject of socialism, European examples of socialism and an American comparison. A sort of  “America: Love it or leave it” debate.  And quite honestly, I wouldn’t mind leaving it. Not forever. I like America but getting out and seeing the world does a person good. Personally, I don’t think America is the greatest country in world. I don’t know for sure where the greatest country lies but it isn’t America. A country still struggling from the wrongs of slavery, discrimination and inequality doesn’t make for the greatest country ever. In fact the US is the 13^th best nation according to the 2009 United Nation Development Programme United Nation Development Programme’s HDI Rankings.  And I think a few obvious reasons contribute to United States’ lack of cracking the top ten: war, discrimination, poverty and elitism.

I look at the US like I do my alma mater Oklahoma State. OSU doesn’t have the best football program or (in general) highly ranked academics; but I still love OSU and still passionately cheer for my team no matter the sport, the game or the endeavor. I’m a proud Cowboy as I am a proud American – but also a realist and can see truth. OSU is a great school but it isn’t Harvard. OSU has a great football program but we aren’t USC. OSU does have the greatest wrestling program but not the greatest school of journalism. But I can recognize the faults of my Cowboys as I can recognize the faults of my country. It doesn’t make me any less faithful to either my beloved Cowboys or my beloved country.

But yes, I would love to live abroad. I would welcome any opportunity that allowed my family to live and experience life immersed in another country and culture. I fully believe that the more you can experience in life the more fulfillment you gain. I also would love for my daughter to have an opportunity to attend a more prestigious school than OSU if given the chance. Why wouldn’t I want something better for my country as I do for my children?

America IS great. Is it the greatest? Not yet. America is young, has a lot to learn, but full of potential. It is too bad that many Americans live with their minds so closed they can’t see the possibilities. Does that mean we have to completely imitate Europe? No, but there are some great examples out there of countries that take good care of their citizens. And another thing, the rest of the world doesn’t want to be America. We are envied by some but not by all. Without a doubt the US is a great world power that takes the responsibility very seriously and is superb at helping other nations in need; for that I’m proud. Because I really am a proud American. A proud American that believes that change can be good and it is okay to admit faults and recognize what others do great. I love the US but sure, if given the chance to live abroad, I’d go. But I don't want to give up my US citizenship just yet (I have faith this great country can rise to its potential) so I'll decline that ten-grand offer. 

Love it or leave it—I’d like to do both, thank you!

 

You Seriously Gotta Get Out More: Smithsonian Museum of American History

So in an effort to keep to my new year's resolution (the one where I said I will get out and do more in this great place I get to call home) we took the little one to the Museum of American History. It was bitter cold on Sunday so we decided what better place to go for a long walk then a museum. We could get out of the house, get some much needed exercise and see some cool stuff. Plus Lance had yet to see this particular Smithsonian museum. It had been closed for several years for renovations.

The American History museum is my favorite. Full of pop culture items - Dorothy's ruby slippers, Kermit the Frog, Chelsea Clinton's toe shoes and a whole section dedicated to the ball dresses of the first ladies. Plus you can also pretend you are the president and stand behind this very official looking Presidential Podium. Here she is, Sunshine Hillary, ready to bust through those cracks in the glass ceiling.

But before she starts running the country she will need to learn a bit on manners. Specifically, what is and is not acceptable in public. Farting in public - not acceptable for the commander in chief. Sweet little baby, she let one rip while we were strolling through the quietest room of the museum. The room was small but with a very high ceiling, which of course made every slight sound echo and sound even louder then normal. And here we were laughing out loud, loudly, at this echoing fart machine we are strolling around. And she just lit up with giggles and smiles, so very proud of herself. She thought it was the greatest thing to stroll around and look at sketches from the Plain Indians...while farting. 

So Let's Make the Most of this Beautiful Day

The holiday break is over and it is back to the real world for me. A full five days of work is such a shock to the system. Ugh, to be tossed back into the daily routine of life — Alarm buzz. Hit Snooze. Alarm buzz. Feed a baby. Get ready. Pack a lunch. Kiss the baby. Kiss the baby's daddy. Drive. Work. Treadmill. Lunch. Work. Drive. Open the door to home — and then my day begins! I feel like I'm living in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. It is like I go through this whole day doing real life stuff but the real life doesn't even begin until I open that door, take off my coat, change my shoes and see the Sun. 

Oh the many many faces of Sunny. She cracks me up. She goes from serious, to sad, to happy, to silly in a matter of seconds. And I don't know who this kid is today. She just looks like a totally different kid from even a week ago. Not really looking like her momma or her daddy these days. Just silly silly Sunshine girl. 

 

And where exactly did Mr. Rogers work? He came home each day obviously from a job, right? Likely he didn't commute in the DC traffic.

The Evil Doers aka Headhunters

According to one headhunter working with Lance (I don't really know what else to call her, she actively looks for Lance jobs, so I will call her a headhunter) he was starting the dream job today. It was a contract position that was making a really great salary, full benefits, he would get to do both print and web design AND working from home. The dream job. As of December 10th it was a done deal. She promised he would start on December 15th or January 4th or January 15th at the latest. Oh how funny she is. Guess who he hasn't heard from in weeks? You guessed it, the headhunter. Last he heard from her was before Christmas when she called to say that the job is likely being pushed back to January 4th or later (you think?) since the person hiring no longer works there (or some excuse she had). Really? Really headhunter, dream-killer, evil doer? Who gives you the right to jack around with the lives of the unemployed? I mean seriously. Not fair.

We are actually getting used to the false hope of the headhunter but this last time she just sounded so positive. I mean she called after 8 pm with the news because she herself was so excited about landing this job for Lance. I just don't understand what is the point of all this stringing along? Yeah, I do get it from a business stand point—they obviously don't want to lose their talent so fill the good ones with false job prospects in an effort to keep them on stand-by—but it isn't nice. And rather selfish I might add too. But like I said, we are getting used it. The first several times of similar news we started planning our victory dinner out. We started mapping out the plan for aggressive bill payoffs. We have filled out more then one daycare form and lost deposits on daycare options. Just dealing with the need or lack of need for daycare is driving me insane. I'm just ready to settle into what will be our daily routine. One of two scenarios is how I see it.  Either Plan A or Plan B.

Plan A = Lance gets a job full time on site or at home. Sunny goes to daycare. Bills get paid off. We get to hire a cleaning service once a week. Big vacations are a reality. Life is good.

Plan B = No full time job for Lance. Sunny is home with her daddy and no daycare expenses (a savings of $1,200.00 a month). Lance works to grow his at-home business. Money is tight. We are very mortgage poor but Sunny stays home from daycare. Life is good.

Either way, we can make it work but I'm so tired of the going back and forth. Back and forth. I'm starting to feel like my life is the ball in a ping-pong game for giants. Mean, giant, headhunter evil doers. But here we are living in an unstable job market having to use all possible leads and the headhunter is the one in control of the game. 

On a side note: if you are ever looking for a great print and/or web designer I know a guy.

I Am Not 22 Years Old (so no need to try and drink like one).

Last summer I asked my friend if she had managed to get her drink-on since the birth of her baby boy. She laughed, "Oh yeah, once. You will try once too. But just once."

So true, so true. Wednesday was my big trial run of acting like a 22 year old who is actually 35 with an infant and way too old to tie one on. What happened to my skills? I remember back in Stillwater when it was no big deal to drink until 3 am several nights a week and still manage to get to work by 10 am to sling some salsa into 100 plus ramekins, smile at some customers, make an easy $35 bucks, head to the Stonewall and do it all again. Hell, even five years ago I could stay up all night and recover in a day as long as I had the essentials: aspirin, water, fried foods, laffy taffy, cough drops and more water. I use to have the ability (rarely attempted mind you) to follow a strong night of fun with a little hair of the dog and keep on going. Of course such foolish action was reserved for tailgating, days at the lake, NYC, NO or trips to Summit County. 

But I guess it is official, I'm old and drinking stupid amounts of beer and Colorado Bulldogs until sunrise, no matter how awesome the company, is dumb dumb dumb. I swear I could feel my kidneys hurt for a couple of days and it wasn't until today that I felt completely back to myself. That is a total of three days. Day one: huge ass hangover. Feel like hell. Wishing I would throw up, hoping for a three hour nap and needing a gallon of water. Day two: feeling sluggish but pretty sure I'm not going to die of an alcohol related death but not sure if I will throw up on the flight or not. Day three: feeling okay but still so very tired. Day four: normal. Finally normal. 

And all this with an infant. Good god I'm stupid. Okay, okay. Lesson learned. I cannot binge drink. I am not 22 years old and hangovers now scare me. 

At least I didn't wake up with a tiger in the bathroom. 

P.S. - husband took one for the team and took good care of Sunny. Please, no need to call DHS. I was dumb, but not irresponsible. 

Something You Can Depend On - Resolution Number Two

I love that I can depend on my father—always. I love that he is a planner too. I think people who plan are people you can depend on and I can always depend on my father. What he says is what he will do and he always makes his plans at the consideration of those around him. His dependability and obsession with arriving on time is something I've grown to appreciate over the years. Or course when I was younger I was totally annoyed when arriving twenty minutes early everywhere but take that same concept and apply it to commuting in a big city and you get places on time. You see, my Dad is the kind of person that you want to pick you up at the airport. You can depend on him to be early and to keep in touch with you during  your trip so that he is aware of your flight arrival in case things change. And you never ever wait on him to get you. He is always there, either parked outside or waiting at baggage. Knowing that he is my ride eliminates stress with travel. And that is the deal, a dependable person brings less stress to those around them. 

I don't really know if people around me would say I'm a dependable person or not. I would like to think that I am and I think in general I am, but I need to improve. I'm not the person who always arrives at work on-the-dot but I think my co-workers can depend on me to be there pretty much on time each day. I think more often than not I don't flake out on events and obligations but I also tend to not make obligations for myself so I don't give myself the opportunity to flake out. Basically I know that I am a person who will flake out if I set myself up. Or as we use to call it in college (with fondness mind you), "getting Jaked". And although I think my intentions are mostly good, I need to stop living on good intentions and become a person more like my father. 

As Sunny gets older and her involvements in life grow it is important to me that she sees me as a constant stability in her life. I want her to know that she can depend on me to get her where she needs to be on-time. She can't take herself to ice skating lessons or play dates or whatever it is she will choose to do. I was never late for gymnastics but I always felt sorry for those that were. Coaches punish the late kids. Or being late for school day after day. How awful and what a huge disadvantage you put on your kids, all because of your lack of planning. I don't want to sound rigid here. I envy some spontaneity and hey, I'm spontaneous. I've been known to pack up the car and drive to New Orleans on a whim, just for a weekend on Bourbon Street. Hell, I drove 1,256 miles with a week old baby. But within any spontaneity in my life lies a plan and I hope that my planning helps eliminate chaos and stress for those around me. I'm starting to realize more and more in life that my actions have a domino effect on others' stress levels and the last thing I want to be is a creator of stress, especially in Sunny's life. I guess this is sort of a New Year's resolution for 2010—to be a person who does not indirectly create stress upon others.  

For Auld Lang Syne, My Dear, for Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year! 

I'm happy to have 2010 behind me and the hope of a new year and a new decade ahead of me. I've been thinking for a few days now on what is to be my New Year's resolution. I of course need to start eating healthier, give up the need to have half a batch of cookie dough most days and get my ass on the treadmill. All which I plan to do. It is a must. But I've also decided my new years resolution is to enjoy life more. More specifically I need to get out there and see the world, show Sunny the world or at least the one in our own back yard. I'm such a creature of habits and can easily get stuck in ruts spending every weekend much the same – staying home and not taking advantage of all that is around me in this great city I call home. So the Hill/Smith clan is in search of new adventures for 2010 as we commit to getting out there and living. Adventures in the city, adventures in food, adventures outside of the city, adventures with the UU and adventures in our neighborhood. Oh yeah, and I got to give up the daily fix: cookies, brownies, ice cream, Sour Patch Kids, cake, frosting... ugh. Sugar is my crack.