DINKs

For all of you who have wondered, and even those who haven't, we do NOT plan to remain DINKs forever. What is a DINK, you may ask??! Double Income, No Kids. I was asked yesterday at church, if that is our plan--remain childless. Though the thought has crossed my mind, and left just as quickly, we do plan to have kids. Eventually. So rest easy, there will eventually be little Barowski's for you to babysit and love on. So for now, HAVE SOME PATIENCE people. Stop drinkin' the Chesapeake water and SLOW the oh-so-lovely questions down.

d&k

Today, I took a little drive to D & K Surplus Grocery in Red Lion. It's a GREAT surplus store that sells a ton of organic (many from Trader Joe's, Wegman's, etc.), whole wheat, and no-sugar added products. It's a little bit like Aldi's mixed with BB's, from what I've heard of those two stores. D & K has some products that are expired, but can still be used-like canned goods. Most products are within a month or two of their sell-by date, and so cannot be sold in regular grocery stores. Because of the dates, prices are incredibly low. I bought canned beans for $.30/ea; name-brand salsa for $.99 a jar; Diet V8 Splash for $1.34....and I passed up a TON of great deals, because I don't have room to store it all!

Maryland gals, you really should make the trek to Red Lion. It's worth the drive-you can even meet at my house and I'll drive! Seriously.

Mags, too

I'm with Danielle. I hate throwing away old magazines, and so my bookshelves are packed. Too packed. I am looking to pass them along to anyone interested. Here is what I have:

Cooking Light
Real Simple
National Geographic

Let me know if you're interested, and I will get them to you!

survey

Best Feeling: Getting under warm covers on a cold night and curling up. Then putting my cold hands on Miguel and him yelling at me. =)
Best Knowledge: That no matter how irrational, evil, disrespectful, etc. that I am, there is grace to change
Best Friend: Miguel, Sacha, my dad. Don't hate if your names were left out
Best Vacation: Trip to Dominican Republic fo' sho'
Best Sight: a 2 hr. school delay on the WGAL website
Best Book: The Devil in the White City-at least the best one I read last year
Best Movie: Fracture (if you haven't seen it, you really should)
Best Song: Anything by my boy-Justin Timberlake! hehe
Best Possession: My engagement ring. I still look at it ALL the time and LOVE it.

Surprise

This morning, I slept in. Well, tried. Miguel left around 5:00, and the dog began crying right around that time. I could hear Cuzco run around, stop, and then cry. I got up briefly to check the weather and see if we had a 2 hour delay. After, I went into the bathroom, turned on the light, and came face to face with a cat. A cat. I screamed. Why?! We don't have a cat!!!! But, there it was, a real orange tabby sitting on my sink, staring up at me. I immediately called Miguel to find out where in the world this cat had come from.

As Miguel warmed up his truck this morning, the cat had followed him and then went to our front porch. Realizing that Aaron and Erika's HOUSE cat had been OUT all night, Miguel let it in. Poor cat. First had to deal with the snow, and then my dog chasing it around the house at 5:00 this morning! Explains the crying-Cuzco apparently loves to chase the cat and then cries incessantly once it jumps too high for him to get to it. Look at this face; he wouldn't hurt a fly!!!

March

Our book club for the month of March is "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I just started, but am enjoying it so far. Plenty of big words and an American classic, what more could you want in a novel?? Sadly, though, I have not been successful at reading it while on the elliptical at the gym. Unlike Harry Potter, it does require a bit of concentration.

Read along if you'd like!!!

Inspired

I have a newly developed desire to bake. Yet, my dilemma is always-we don't use white flour AND we don't use sugar (much). I was browsing around Barnes and Noble, looking for something that would satisfy our desire for GOOD desserts. And, here is what I found:


I can't WAIT to try out the recipes for Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Dessert Waffles, Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Peanut Butter Éclairs, Lemon Raspberry Cake....just to name a few!!! My first attempt at whole grain baking is going to be a carrot cake, per my husband. I am going to substitute the sugar with Splenda, yet continue using real butter. We will see how it turns out!!

Super Bowl

NY Giants 17, New England 14

BOOOO YAAA! Take that, Tom Brady!

Appetizers

I need your help, ladies!! I consistently fall back on the "same ol' appetizers"--stuffed hot peppers, black bean salsa, fantastic franks! I need some new AND good recipes. Would you be willing to post your favorite appetizer recipes for me, and let me know when you do? I am looking for anything ranging from Superbowl snacks to dinner party hors d'ourves.


Thanks!!