Frugal In Florida

Last week was pretty much a wash. My dad had the cardiac catherization thing on Wednesday and they inserted a stent in the main artery. Was released Friday night around 5:30pm. Went back via ambulance on Saturday around 3pm. Still there, as of Monday morning. He's fine. Talking, sitting up, not complaining or anything. It's almost 'questionable' as to why he's there. But then the give him shots, and give him pills to keep his blood pressure down. Cardiolgist is to come in today. Staff doctor tells dad (as he TELLS me) that there is "something radically wrong" with his heart. Well. I'm quite CERTAIN that the doctor did not use the word "radical" as that is not a PROPER medical term, you know? But again, hell of a time getting a doctor to call me and now will have to make a huge stink again of NOTHING being done until they speak with me. Why do I have to be so crabby to get any information? Regardless, I MUST Menu Plan ... more for my sanit...

There was a Costco trip this week, on Wednesday, no less! It wasn’t really a ‘planned’ trip, so to speak. The hospital where my dad is about 2 miles away from the store I go to … so I figured, heck, let me drive by on my way home and get gas. Then I thought, SHOOT, I’ve got the list with me (I keep a running list in my notebook of Costco things to pickup) … might as well swing in and pick up a few things that are really needed (olive oil, eggs, half and half, lettuce, etc.). I think that may become my designated day for Costco. Not many people there whatsoever. OHHHH!!!!!! They had a Vitamix there!!!! Wheeeeeee I got so excited but I really want to make absolute certain I am buying the RIGHT one before I fork over that much dough ... $374.99 for the model VVM0103 ... wish I had taken better (more) pictures for reference! It wasn’t cheap. $110 of it was my annual renewal fee. Drats. And I still have half the list of stuff to pick up next time. But hoping the coup...

Yes, I missed last weeks menu plan ... no thanks to them damn margaritas ... and the holiday weekend, and well, just life in general. But it really started with the fruity stuff. Anywhooooo. I had BIG plans for my Sunday, primarily, in order of importance: Floating in pool (as it's still HOT here) Chopping up some veggies for easy'ier' food prep this week Jarring up some salad (for easy'ier' lunches) Cooking a bunch of proteins on the grill (like, 6 lbs of chicken breast) inventory the freezers (they are getting a little emptier, at long last!) Get some long over due blog post scheduled Taming the laundry monster ... Alas. The house phone rang at 8:15am. I ignored it as I still wasn't finished with my first cup of coffee, and by golly, if it was another Mitt Romney and gang minion to ensure they had my vote this November, I was likely to go ape s**t (way too many of them calls ALREADY!) Then my cell phone rings. Oh oh. That's not Mitt calli...

We had a small pool party and BBQ on Sunday to honor the 3 Day Labor Day weekend ... it was so what I needed. I'm just thankful that we went boating on Saturday because Sunday was a complete loss. I didn't even get my menu plan up. And then, next thing I knew, it was Tuesday and 8pm before I got home from work. Now it's Thursday morning, and darn it, I feel the need to share this! My one girlfriend has a Vitamix, lucky dog that she is! And she volunteered to bring it over for the BBQ and to sample these great sounding margaritas ... I sort of have a love hate relationship with tequila and now we can toss the Vitamix in too.  We had so much fun that I didn't snap ONE SINGLE PICTURE. Easy ... so very easy. Except after a few batches, you may want someone else to peel the fruit ... In your Vitamix (because seriously, I just don't think a regular blender is going to cut it), add: 1/4 cup of water 8 ounces of tequila 2 ounces of Cointreau (or Grand M stuf...

We had to deal a bit with Tropical Storm Isaac (nka Hurricane Isaac) Sunday and Monday ... Sunday was just wicked wind and rain. Power out at 8:30pm Sunday night. Thankfully, AFTER dinner and doing dishes AND posting the weekly menu plan. Power was restored on Monday at 8:00pm, thanks to Chain Electric Co. out of Kansas, I believe? 6 trucks and about 18 men ... woo hoo! So, yeah, I'm taking the easy way out and re-posing a recipe ... it's what we had for dinner on Sunday ... Hubby wanted to get a big pot of it simmering on the stove but I couldn't find any italian sausage, but DID find a big bag of sauce already made ... I was pretty thrilled that I had it! Hubby loves this stuff and swears it taste best the following day. Makes quite a bit, 14 cups or so AND I generally freeze in quart size bags for a quick defrosting dinner.   Nothing better than rooting around in the freezer and coming across a bag like this ... SCORE! Make sure that you do this on a day where...