Lesson 101: How to Relax

If you know me, you know I love to organize and to be organized. This is both a blessing and a curse. For example, everyday when I get home from work, I immediately do one of two things: sit on the couch and then have no energy to do anything for the rest of the night (literally-I get exhausted from boredom) or start picking things up and straightening the apt. If I do the second, I then decide the floor looks gross and I need to vacuum. While vacuuming, I realize that I also need to dust, wash dishes, do laundry, scrub the floor, and on and on, all very much in the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" fashion. The last two weekends, I have spent all Saturday cleaning like mad, and then on Sunday, suddenly, I could relax in peace. I'm sure every other 24-year-old in the world innately understands this already.

But it was a revelation for me. I had no idea that after all that hard work, relaxing could be so sweet.

*This pic is not actually something I own, just a good example of things I drool over (apartmenttherapy.com).

Boring Update

Round 1: Publix Wins!

Well, so far, Publix is winning my price comparison test at $6.29 cheaper overall than Kroger based on 24 items that I have managed to get prices for at both stores. I keep adding to my list as I buy new things (yes, I really have this much free time!), so it takes me about an hour to make a “quick” trip to the grocery store. Only 5 of the 24 items were priced higher at Publix. If you’re doing the math, that means 19 of the items are marked up – that’s almost 80%. There’s absolutely no order to the prices I am gathering. More to come!

Also, while I was running around the store with my pen in hand, I realized that I have been ripped off! I have been buying a giant 3-pack of tissues, because the smaller 3-pack I had been buying was cheaper. Lo and behold – the 3-pack is more expensive than buying 3 separate boxes! I feel personally assaulted. Not exaggerating.

Interesting fact from the video I’m watching called “Kilowatt Ours”: Apparently one in ten women have dangerous levels of mercury in their bodies as the result of burned coal. (yikes!)
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a regular TV for about 3 hours!

Currently Reading:

Stolen Lives, by Malika Oufkir

Fascinating and sobering real-life account of the Oufkir family’s exile from Morocco after the father of the family died in a coup and was later accused of treason against the king. If you have the patience to get through a sad story (with a happy ending, since Malika has survived to tell the story), you will be shocked at the lengths that family went through while they were imprisoned, and the resilience people have to survive against all odds.

Little Green Things

Our little vegetable seeds are growing!! I'm so excited. Of course, they'll grow if you give them water and dirt, but still, I am amazed. Can't wait to pot them and see what happens! Now we'll actually have to pay attention to the weather in case of a freeze or frost left in the season. We are growing spinach, rainbow chard, and mulit-colored sweet peppers. Life is good. :)

Publix v. Kroger - The Never-Ending Question

I have gotten so tired of people always saying how Kroger is so much cheaper than Publix that I have decided to put it to the test myself. It seems like there is a very strong stereotype that may not be justified. In fact, I used to shop at Kroger once a week for almost two years, and I feel that we have spent approximately 1/3 less money on food since we moved to a new neighborhood and discovered our nearby Publix. For us, I think that shopping at Publix lets us spend less, and I suspect that many of the items we buy are cheaper there. We'll see if I'm right!

My goal is to identify the 25 or so items that we regularly buy (and items I would like to buy is the price is right) and to list the prices from both stores. Unfortunately, the stores in my neighborhood do not both have the same organic items, so sometimes they won't match up perfectly.

Kroger Prices

• Kashi Autumn Wheat $5.29
• Multi-Grain Cheerios (big box) $4.29
• Barilla Plus pasta $2.45
• Newman's Own Coffee $8.25
• TLC Crackers - original $3.29
• TLC Crackers - all others $3.98
• Back to Nature Classic Creme Cookies $3.89
• Natural Cheetos $3.99
• Simply Orange juice $3.69
• Simple Apple juice $3.19
• Horizon Organic Milk (gallon) $5.69
• California Pizza Kitchen pizza (large size) $7.29
• Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream $3.99
• Everyday Living Clean-up Wipes (75) $4.99
• Everyday Living Clean-up Wipes (35) $2.59
• Swiffer Refills (16) $4.69
• Swiffer Refills (32) $8.99
• 7th Generation Laundry Detergent (32 loads) $10.99
• 7th Generation Fabric Softener (40 loads) $ 5.99
• Nature's Gate Handsoap $5.29
• Method Creamy Hand Wash $ 4.99
• Method Hand Wash $3.79
• Caress Body Wash $4.29
• Reflexologie Shampoo & Conditioner $6.85
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer $14.49
• Playtex Sport $4.36

Bumper Sticker FAIL

Yesterday when I was driving home from work, I saw this bumper sticker. If you can't read the picture, it says:

MY Pastor Says: GOD "BLESS" America.

What in the WORLD does that mean? God "bless" America? As in, we don't REALLY mean "bless"? Maybe it's being used in the same that we say things like, "Oh, bless her little heart!" when what we mean is "Oh, I can't stand her!"

I'm all for the right to think and speak freely, but at least be clear about it!

My 25 Things (from Facebook)

I am the proud mom of an 8-month old Miniature Schnauzer named Lucy. She is one of the biggest highlights of my life, and I don't know how I ever lived without a dog!

I really miss being at school, although the absence of stress in my life is fabulous!

My deepest dream is to raise a full-scale vegetable garden to feed me (and Chris, of course), for an entire year. I love the idea of living off of the land and separating myself from commercial foods. They taste better, I feel healthier when I eat them, and there's something exciting about the process.

In the mean time, Chris and I take part in a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture), which means that we pay a farm community upfront and receive a box from them weekly with whatever has just been harvested. It costs us only $18.00 per week, but the equivalent at the grocery store would cost about $35-$50.

I am jealous of people who are good at speaking other languages.

I do yoga.

I love to learn, and my latest passion is learning about what the government has to done/said about the food we eat and all of the processes that go into it, from growing more corn than our nation could possibly eat, to spreading fertilizers that were originally created to use in gas chambers during World War II.

I have more hobbies than I know what do with.

I often create excuses because I am afraid of trying and being met with failure. I use these excuses to keep from developing areas of my life that truly have potential.

I miss having friends around who enjoy deep conversations about the world, and especially about music.

I am a sucker for reality TV, and since I don't have cable, there's not much else to watch.

I want to read every new book I see - I love memoirs, books about food, and unusual novels. I always have a recommendation!

I am extremely frugal, and I often feel guilty for spending money on even little things.

I prefer chocolate over just about anything else, and if it's mint, I'm in heaven!

I <3 recycling.

xxzx (<- that was from Lucy)

I want to live in another country for a couple of years.

I am very happy in my job, but I have enlisted a mentor to help me learn about my potential and how to identify the right time to change jobs/move up. I have no regrets about not working in the public school system.

I volunteer with the middle school youth group at my church, even though I am not very dedicated to other things the church has going on. I things those guys are fabulous - it is often the highlight of my day!

I'm a tea snob.

My limit is one cup of regular coffee. After two, I become CRAZY and really unproductive cause I'm too busy shaking!!

My favorite summer of all time was in Chicago. I would love to live there for a little while.

I think my parents are awesome, and I wish I got to see more of them.

I love having really close friends, but I'm not very good at opening up and developing that kind of friendship - it's slightly ironic.

The older I get, the more I envy teenagers, who are not jaded by the practicalities of life. They see possibilities in everything, and they're not ashamed to admit or pursue with everything they can muster.

Catching up

Man, it's been a while since I've blogged. I meant to update on the surprise I put together for Helen, the woman who comes in to work for help sometimes. I ran over to where I've seen her ringing the Salvation Army bell several times, but to no avail! ::sigh:: Finally, after a few more attempts to meet up, we found each other at work, and gave her the gift. I haven't seen her since, and I don't know how well it was appreciated, but I think that being thought of in this way truly surprised her, and maybe even embarrassed her. I hope she didn't view it as charity, but until I see her again, I'll never know.

In other news, I am having a huge love affair with books. When I go to a bookstore, I literally want to take home one of almost every book they have. There are not enough hours in the day to spending reading and getting lost in ideas. I wish I could live in a bookstore. Or a library. Mmm.