The LIW Small Talk Thread

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:38:46 AM
Author: vc10um

Date: 1/28/2010 10:37:10 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:33:02 AM
Author: vc10um

Date: 1/28/2010 10:29:50 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:26:55 AM
Author: vc10um
Haha, HH. Yes, he cried over the dishes. He does it every time. I''ve determined that his fighting style is to try to turn everything I say into an insult, and then make me feel bad.

Long story short, I just took him outside, railed on him verbally for awhile about how what he was doing wasn''t fair, and things are okay.

yeah please make that not happen anymore. you both have expectations... you cant cry your way out of stuff.

I''m glad things are better. Be tough, VC!

Thanks, elle.

Yeah. I wish I could have had a tape recorder with me to record what I said. It was pretty good, lol.

Hahaha! I''m proud of you!.

Ok. you can try and cry your way out of a ticket. That''s acceptable.

HAHA. Agreed.

Oh man...yoga is going to be so necessary today.

I hate fighting, but I have such a sense of accomplishment when the fights resolve into things being better. Is that a bad thing?

No way. Fighting and overcoming reminds you why you''re a team... that should make you happy!

 

[vc10um]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!

Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

Morning, WL!

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!

Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

We budget in going out to eat also with that.. so its not ALL groceries.

Once we get things "stocked" in the house, it''ll be easier for us to lower it.

I mean.. we used to literally eat out every single day, every meal!

 

[Lauren8211]

Thanks for the gum encouragement!

 

[vc10um]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:43:20 AM
Author: elledizzy5
Thanks for the gum encouragement!

Speaking of gum...I''m off to yoga class.

Back after noon.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:46:38 AM
Author: vc10um

Date: 1/28/2010 10:43:20 AM
Author: elledizzy5
Thanks for the gum encouragement!

Speaking of gum...I''m off to yoga class.

Back after noon.

Enjoy!

 

[winelover23]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:42:14 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!

Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

We budget in going out to eat also with that.. so its not ALL groceries.

Once we get things ''stocked'' in the house, it''ll be easier for us to lower it.

I mean.. we used to literally eat out every single day, every meal!

Ya eating out adds a lot to your food bill! We hardly ever eat out. Probably because J is never home.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:50:23 AM
Author: winelover23

Date: 1/28/2010 10:42:14 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!

Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

We budget in going out to eat also with that.. so its not ALL groceries.

Once we get things ''stocked'' in the house, it''ll be easier for us to lower it.

I mean.. we used to literally eat out every single day, every meal!

Ya eating out adds a lot to your food bill! We hardly ever eat out. Probably because J is never home.

It also adds to my @$$ size.

What does J do that he''s not home?

 

[Lauren8211]

*poke*

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I make a list every week but then I get to the store and realize I''ve forgotten to add stuff.

 

[winelover23]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:58:28 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:50:23 AM
Author: winelover23

Date: 1/28/2010 10:42:14 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!

Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

We budget in going out to eat also with that.. so its not ALL groceries.

Once we get things ''stocked'' in the house, it''ll be easier for us to lower it.

I mean.. we used to literally eat out every single day, every meal!

Ya eating out adds a lot to your food bill! We hardly ever eat out. Probably because J is never home.

It also adds to my @$$ size.

What does J do that he''s not home?

Well his schedule is 9:30 - 6:00 and he works a good hour from home plus he typically works a couple of hours of overtime each night.

 

[Bia]

I make a list too but then I always want *other* stuff. Crackers, cheeses...you know, goodies.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!


Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

I often tell myself I''m going to do this because I''ve got so much in my freezer, but DH complains that we''re out of his favorite stuff or there''s nothing to eat and then he sneaks off to WF at lunch and spends $20/day on gourmet lunches. So it''s counter productive.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I don''t even know how I''d spend $250/week at the grocery store for the two of us. We don''t eat THAT much. Two weeks ago I spend $180 but that was with 2 standing rib roasts (BOGO deal ($50 worth))!!!

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:09:39 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I don''t even know how I''d spend $250/week at the grocery store for the two of us. We don''t eat THAT much. Two weeks ago I spend $180 but that was with 2 standing rib roasts (BOGO deal ($50 worth))!!!

We eat out with it too, promise!

 

[winelover23]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:06:33 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!


Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

I often tell myself I''m going to do this because I''ve got so much in my freezer, but DH complains that we''re out of his favorite stuff or there''s nothing to eat and then he sneaks off to WF at lunch and spends $20/day on gourmet lunches. So it''s counter productive.

Naughty boy! J is SUPER frugal so he has no problem w/ this plan. However when I send J to the g-store he comes home w/ a large bag of something out of the bulk candy section. Boys can''t be trusted.

 

[Lauren8211]

Mm... WF lunches....

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:05:44 AM
Author: winelover23

Date: 1/28/2010 10:58:28 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:50:23 AM
Author: winelover23

Date: 1/28/2010 10:42:14 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/28/2010 10:40:17 AM
Author: winelover23
Morning!

Holy balls Elle, do you guys use your food as things other than to eat? I spend maybe $100 a week and that''s for the 3 of us! I''m a super good shopper though and once a month I skip a week of groceries and force myself to cook stuff that''s been sitting on the shelf for forever. I could teach you! And way to go on the gum by the way!

We budget in going out to eat also with that.. so its not ALL groceries.

Once we get things ''stocked'' in the house, it''ll be easier for us to lower it.

I mean.. we used to literally eat out every single day, every meal!

Ya eating out adds a lot to your food bill! We hardly ever eat out. Probably because J is never home.

It also adds to my @$$ size.

What does J do that he''s not home?

Well his schedule is 9:30 - 6:00 and he works a good hour from home plus he typically works a couple of hours of overtime each night.

Ahhh. I would HATE that long of a commute. I get mad at my 8 minute commute!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:12:41 AM
Author: elledizzy5
Mm... WF lunches....

Next time you''re there, check out the deli case and try the sonoma chicken salad. It''s TO DIE FOR

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:17:11 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

Date: 1/28/2010 11:12:41 AM
Author: elledizzy5
Mm... WF lunches....

Next time you''re there, check out the deli case and try the sonoma chicken salad. It''s TO DIE FOR

Sooo hungry, and sooo close to whole foods!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Do it! DOOOOOO IIIIIITTTTT! Try it on a Lundberg Farms brown rice cake.

 

[Bia]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:20:44 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Do it! DOOOOOO IIIIIITTTTT! Try it on a Lundberg Farms brown rice cake.

 

[Lauren8211]

Nom nom nom.

I''m feeling fiesty this morning!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

and spicy!

 

[Lauren8211]

Working out put me in a good mood. Shocker!

 

[Bia]

I brought soup and laughing cow...again.

I bought a a few cute swim suits at JCrew.com but one was too big. I took it the dry cleaners to see if they could take it in since I don''t have enough time to exchange it. They told me 10 days and $40!!! So, I called the little old Italian seamstress I know, and she''s going to do it for me...for $10!!! I think I can pick it up today!!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

YAY Bia!!!!


Today I have lentil soup, but I''m not super hungry. Someone made broccoli and it smells like ace now.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:35:26 AM
Author: Bia
I brought soup and laughing cow...again.

I bought a a few cute swim suits at JCrew.com but one was too big. I took it the dry cleaners to see if they could take it in since I don''t have enough time to exchange it. They told me 10 days and $40!!! So, I called the little old Italian seamstress I know, and she''s going to do it for me...for $10!!! I think I can pick it up today!!

I love J Crew swimwear!! Which did you get?

10 bucks isnt bad, B! Sweet!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

which ones did you get?

 

[TooPatient]

Good morning.


Our grocery strategy is a little strange I guess. We don''t really set a "budget". I do try to plan meals a few days at a time and we only buy what we need to make those meals. Since we shop together, we take turns saying no to the extra goodies that would get added otherwise.

80% of our shopping is done at a restaurant supply place (Cash & Carry). B was shocked to find that the fresh produce was often far better quality than WF and a fraction of the price.
They''ve also got some great Angus quality meet at amazing prices. (see Alton Brown''s "Tender is the Loin")

We buy large quantities of stuff that keeps. 50lb flour ($12), 25lb sugar ($10), etc. and try to stagger it so it doesn''t all run out at the same time. Canned tomatoes, beans (dried & canned), and spices are always in the kitchen too.

With planning, I can cook something one night and add a couple of things to make it something very different the next night. (example -- day 1: roast, day 2: sliced for sandwiches, day 3: tacos) This is also a great way to make sure stuff doesn''t get wasted. (if you buy an ingredient for one meal, there is usually leftover -- if you plan correctly, you can use this instead of letting it sit for a week and throwing it out)

Additional note -- We only eat out about once a year. If we want bread with a meal, I bake it from scratch. We do not use mixes or other pre-prepared foods. (cake, pasta sauce, stuffing, soups, etc. are all made from scratch) Buy a whole chicken and de-bone it instead of getting boneless-skinnless at the store -- costs less and leaves a bag of bones to freeze for making stock later.