I have begun to accomplish some of the personal goals I had set for myself a month or so ago. I am well on my way in crocheting a baby blanket and my Warrior Ninja has also unexpectedly jumped in! He has been enthusiastically crocheting with me and is turning out really nice hats! Already the "orders" are pouring in as cousins and friends see the one he wears around now.
Since I have been feeling better I have been cooking a bit more. I made a good split pea soup the other day and was surprised to find what a healthy and delicious option this is! I added broccoli, potatoes and carrots as well as chicken broth and found that the potatoes made it taste a little creamy even though I didn't add milk or butter. I also made another good soup from the "Bear Mountain" dry soup packets, adding vegetables, cream cheese, and some bacon. This is probably not as healthy due to the sodium content and being a prepackaged food but it was a relatively cheap dinner as it will last as a few meals and so yummy!
In the interest of saving money and paying off debt the Warrior Ninja and I are going to be moving in with our friends, and their three children (with one on the way in January). It is a mutually beneficial arrangement I thin,k albeit somewhat counter cultural in an American society. I am looking forward to having a full size kitchen to use though as our apartment kitchen is teeny tiny and doesn't even have a full size stove let alone counter space. We get along with them very well. It will be an interesting adjustment but I am looking forward to it.
Another effort I want to begin making in the interest of saving money is to focus on cutting food costs as I believe this to be one of our biggest outflows of money after bills. The Warrior Ninja brought me home a magazine from "Mother Earth News' that is a "Guide to Self-Reliance and Country Skills" in which there are lots of money saving tips. Specifically in this regard I have begun to wonder if there are ways I could get "free" veggies and fruits from local farmers if I volunteered with them in harvesting or gleaning. The magazine suggests this works but being in Los Angeles I am unsure of how "local" farmers are. I also find it a bit overwhelming adding this on after work, being pregnant, etc. but at the same time it might actually be something I enjoy and trying it out once couldn't kill me, right? They also whole heartedly suggest that you buy everything in season when it is cheaper and then can so you have it later. Again canning has come up...how hard is this? Sounds like a dedicated way to save money....do I even like canned food? Some people suggest drying your fruit...don't you need a dehydrator for this? Is it worth investing in?
In pregnancy news!! I am feeling a lot better, still not up to my full work hours yet. I am averaging about 24 hours a weeks currently and still feel tired when I get home. Still feel nauseous and gaggy if I don't take the anti-nausea medication unfortunately, but at least with its use I feel well enough to go to work. Had an ultrasound today and it looks as if we will be having a BOY! The Warrior Ninja already looks very proud and happy. :)
