18 June 2009

to be heard

I don't know about where you live, but here in New England it's been raining for a month. Without exaggeration. 

The grocery store project has failed in it's first test, which is ease of use. I logged in to Peapod, added a few items, and scheduled a time for my groceries to be delivered the next day. I didn't confirm because I needed a few more things, and before I knew it, the deadline to confirm had passed. I have not had time to return to the site since. In the meanwhile, I went to the grocery store and still forgot a couple of things, including cat food. I am completely out of cat food and stuck at work with no time to get to the store and home. I fear for what the cats are doing to my stuff.

Can I just say how completely and totally overwhelmed I am? My younger son's 3rd birthday party is Saturday and I'm totally unprepared for both the party and the rain that is predicted to ruin it. My ex is moving back in with his parents tomorrow and they've brought out a barrel full of crazy to celebrate the occasion. The babysitter (who is related to them) is fighting with them over MY kids, and its making me insane. 

My house is a freaking mess ALWAYS and I never have enough time to clean it. I'm overwhelmed at work and unhappy in general and this morning I just felt like I could imagine myself trapped in this glass box and just banging, banging on the walls to get out, to be heard. 

Did I mention I have a cold? :)

Serenity now! 


12 June 2009

I swear all I ever buy is groceries

It's been a while since I've really bought anything. I did get the new phone, but that was more out of necessity than desire- I still miss my old phone and wish it hadn't broken. But other than that, I have been INSANELY busy with work and personal commitments and have had less nights without the kids to even think about shopping, which i guess is probably a good thing.

Correction- I have been shopping a hundred times, and spent a ton of money. Too bad all of it was on food.

When I read Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, I became interested in spending more money on quality food, because it's so important for your physical well-being and sense of fulfillment (nothing depresses me more than the sensation of thinking I can't afford food. Nothing). And I have, and it's been nice. But what I haven't mastered yet is working out menus so that I buy the right things, in the right quantities and at the right times so that things don't spoil before I get the chance to eat them.

So I'm thinking about perhaps using an online menu planner, and trying out Peapod. (If you don't know what that is, it's an online grocery service provided by my local grocery store chain.) That way I can do my planning/shopping on my lunch break at work, and spend more time doing the things I want to be doing.

So, here are my goals for starting this:

  1. Take an inventory of what I have in the house.
  2. Find an online meal planner to help me organize this.
  3. Start researching Peapod discounts and coupons.
  4. Try it out for 2 weeks and do a cost/time analysis.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Also, I started taking guitar lessons! They are free for me because I work at a college. How cool is that???

06 June 2009

whoops

I haven't quite adjusted to my new budget, and I accidentally overdrew my checking account. I sort of knew it was coming, I was avoiding checking my balance for the days beforehand, which is never a good thing. Luckily I got paid the next day, so it wasn't disastrous, but it certainly didn't feel good.

My ex is in rehab now, I guess (I haven't heard from him at all). Other than that, we're good- very. very busy at work, and getting ready for my younger son's 3rd birthday party.