Gathering college supplies

I'm a little less stressed now over Bubbie's move to San Marcos, in part because he is registered for his classes and has a great place to live!  But also because I was able to (thriftily) start gathering up some supplies for him.  I took my 30% off coupon to Kohl's on Monday night and scored big.

I was able to find just about everything he needed for the bedroom and bath.  Most of it was on clearance or on sale at 50-65% off, PLUS the 30% off PLUS an extra $10 off on a home furnishings purchase AND I earned $35 Kohl's cash.  So all in all, I saved $300.  And I can use the Kohl's cash to get him a couple of pairs of shorts.

I bought a comforter, a full sheet set, mattress pad and protector, towels, and a shower curtain.  A quick trip to Wal-Mart on the way home from Kohl's finished off what was left: shower liner and rings, waste basket, pop-up hamper, and bath rug.  So now all of that is grouped in boxes and bags, waiting to be double-checked and loaded, along with things I had accumulated the week before.

 Including this stuff I got on clearance at HEB.  A cute tray for his Keurig and coffee supply to live on his dresser, a star to hang in his bathroom, and a caddy for toothbrushes and shave supply.

We have a master list hanging on the fridge.  Some of the items he already has and will have to be gathered from his room at home.  And like I did for The Girl, I will spiff up his space at home giving it a good cleaning - I even have a project or two planned. We're almost there - baby bird flying from the nest.

Gina

Mealplan Monday #241

Monday - Bone-in Chicken Thighs with cabbage and carrots
Tuesday - Tuna Salad Un-wiches, cantaloupe
Wednesday - Sausage and Ranch Tater Tot Casserole*, kale salad
Thursday - Root Beer Meatballs (going to do this on stovetop), mashed reds, zucchini
Friday - Buttermilk Chicken Salads
Saturday - YOYO
Sunday - Calamity Anne's Meatloaf*, (freezer) mac and cheese, green beans
*I'm using the oven a couple of times, breaking my own rule!

Gina

5 thing Friday - front yard, corks, cooking and eating, table, 3 year olds

File this yard under things that make me sad:

 At this point it would take us hiring someone to do some serious tree trimming and lay sod.  

 One of Hubby's co-workers gave him three garbage bags of corks!  He estimated that there were about 3000 of them in here.  I am brainstorming what all I can make with them.  I think they would make awesome memo boards or decor.

 Last of the oven use...baked mac and cheese and chocolate chip bars.

I followed a recipe from Pandora's Box for the easy mac and cheese, and I adjusted my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe to make bars, adding in pecans and oatmeal and spreading in an 8x8 dish.  And now the challenge is to find skillet and crock pot meals for the rest of the summer!

Like the pulled pork featured in the above photo - a crock pot win.

 Breakfast once a week:  eggs.  Maybe with some sizzled ham in a quesadilla...yuuum

And OK, the occasional eat out event - including a trip to San Marcos and a plate of enchiladas at Herbert's.  (and I realize that non of the foods I just mentioned are particularly healthy!)  We found a place for Bubbie to live (right near the engineering building) and he and Hubby have taken on the campus tour.  Still left to do: get advised, get registered, visit financial aid office, and get his apartment stuff.

 A neighbor had this IKEA table sitting out on their sidewalk so I asked if I could take it off their hands.  Yes!  Firstborn has one just like it, so now he's got a matched set for his place.  It was in mint condition and cleaned up very nicely.  Zero dollars is a good price.

 

I found this collage of sorts that I decopaged on the top of a box.  I don't know why I have it hidden in a drawer - it makes me smile very time I see it.  Seems like yesterday they were little, but the oldest is 29 and the youngest is 20.  How does time pass so quickly?

Gina

Mealplan Monday #240

Monday - Sticky Chicky, rice, carrots, green beans
Tuesday - Southern Ham Salad on romaine (un-wiches), watermelon or cantaloupe, chilled red bell pepper strips
Wednesday - (skillet) BBQ Lime Shrimp, skillet reds, chopped salad
Thursday - Weeknight Lasagna Toss, the rest of the watermelon or cantaloupe
Friday - Italian Chicken Salads with Olive Garden dressing (I'm making this one up using a rotisserie chicken)
Saturday - YOYO
Sunday - maybe we will grill some burgers!

Gina

Independence Day 2019

Amidst steadily working on my summer bucket list, which is coming along, we enjoyed a (somewhat) relaxing July 4th  

I prepped sides and Hubby grilled.  Our only two guests were Bubbie and Firstborn, but we enjoyed a feast!

Baby back ribs, a crockpot full of beans, coleslaw, queso and fritos, watermelon, and a pan of chocolate chip pecan oatmeal bars.

I could eat ribs once a week!

We also worked on finding an apartment in San Marcos for Bubbie and tried not to freak out that classes start in 7 weeks and we have a crap ton left to do.  I think we found the place for him, though, and we are going to check it out tomorrow, hopefully sign a lease, and get him acquainted with the area.

 It was nice to see Firstborn in a silly mood - he looks well.

 And don't let this look fool you, he was just as happy about the ribs as I was!  At 2:30, I left for work (which was surprisingly busy) and Hubby and Bubbie took in the fireworks in Cedar Park.  And today I feel a little tired, but my To Do list is brimming and I have the day off and a quiet house to myself! 

Happy Friday!

Gina

Weekend re-cap: Growler Room, Westcave, Esperanza, Highlands, Stubby

We started our weekend on Friday night, visiting a place we noticed on Burnet Road a couple of weeks ago.  Its a tiny place, almost hidden in a small strip-style building.  Super knowledgeable tap lady, friendly patrons ( a couple of them brought their dogs in), and omg they had Real Ale Skullberry on tap!!

 We sat at the tiny bar and chatted with a couple of regulars while the tap lady educated us.  It was almost exactly like having a neighborhood Cheers.  They even blend different beers - almost like a beer cocktail.  We will definitely go back and take our growler. 

The next day we picked up a couple of Greek lunches and headed over to Westcave to turn in the cork bulletin board.  I had the gyro plate with Greek potatoes and Hubby enjoyed a Greek salad with an order of dolmades. Everything was so good!  I had been working in the yard that morning and was starving but everything was truly wonderful!

 We enjoyed it with a chilled bottle of Sangio Rose and hung out with the cows a while.  I have no great hope that my project will win, and next year I will have to up my game as a couple of the other entries were really cool. (cork lounge chair! Wine and cheese tray!)

It was too hot to stay outside, so we headed over to Blanco to investigate a new winery called Esperanza Vineyard.  The owner was super friendly, and since we had the place to ourselves, we got to chat with her for about an hour and a half, enjoying her Petite Sirah/San Giovesese blend.  I took zero pics because I was RELAXING in her very cool and quiet tasting room with its saltillo tiled floors.  It was delightful and another one we will visit again. 

 Home to Highlands.  We skipped dinner and called it an early night, although Hubby did use the weed eater around the swing so we could sit and watch the sun go down. 

The next day we walked the property and took note of all the things we want to include in the next big clean up - mostly tires, but also some large piles of scrap wood and cut cedar.  Unfortunately, we can't just load that stuff into a dumpster - it has to be disposed of properly.  (read:  $$$)

I heard barking down the road and couldn't believe it - STUBBY!

The people that own him had a for sale sign on their house weeks ago and we assumed he was gone.  But they must have been visiting or else are slooowly moving out, because he was hanging outside, outrage barking at our direction until I called him over for pets.  He hung out with us for a few minutes, then disappeared.

For lunch we headed to Marble Falls to get a burger at Bills, followed by a wine tasting at the new Fiesta Winery tasting room, both on the square.  We split a burger and onion rings (like old folks) and both were insanely delicious!  Best burger I've ever had, hands down.  However, the winery?  Meh.  We will likely not go back unless we just happen to be there getting a burger.  We thought they were kinda pricey and the wine was average.  The place is very pretty and new but completely empty except for us, even though the square was busy that day and they are an established winery.  We relaxed back at Highlands a while, then headed home to make dinner for us and Bubbie.  And I gotta tell you, I think the heat is doing a number on me.  We will be looking for air conditioned indoor places from here on out!

Mealplan Monday #239

A pretty picture of crepe myrtle blossoms by my favorite photographer:

Monday - Thai Chicken Salad, fresh fruit
Tuesday - Tuna Salad on Toast, 3 Bean Salad
Wednesday -Skillet Elgin Sausage, homemade mac and cheese, carrots
Thursday - BBQ Pork Chops, coleslaw, (freezer) pintos and brisket, watermelon (mom works)
Friday - Aztec Quiche, sauteed brussels sprouts
Saturday - YOYO
Sunday - (freezer) Pulled Pork on buns, potato salad, chips and queso, leftover watermelon (winery pick-up party until 5 p.m.)

Gina