This was her caught in action...oops...I mean "WHAT...I didn't do anything...":
And trying to give a sweet smile so she doesn't get in trouble:
11.29.2007
Morgan the Destroyer
This is what happens when Mommy tries to go to the potty. I came back and Morgan was in the process of destroying one of her pop up books. I'm just grateful that it was from the used baby store and not a birthday gift!
This was her caught in action...oops...I mean "WHAT...I didn't do anything...":
And trying to give a sweet smile so she doesn't get in trouble:
This was her caught in action...oops...I mean "WHAT...I didn't do anything...":
And trying to give a sweet smile so she doesn't get in trouble:
Todd cooked and baked last night!
WOW...I am a lucky woman. Yesterday I called Todd and told him I just didn't feel like baking cookies for class. He stepped up and offered to make dinner AND bake some cookies. He said that last week there was a near riot at work because he didn't bring in cookies on Thursday and he wanted to avoid it this week. Here are the recipes he used and both turned out so yummy.
Thank you my Love!
After-Thanksgiving Turkey Soup
1 leftover turkey carcass
3 medium onions, chopped
2 large carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 cup butter, cubed
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
1 cup uncooked long grain rice
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
3/4 teaspoon pepper
Place turkey carcass in a soup kettle or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove carcass; cool. Set aside 3 qt. broth. Remove turkey from bones and cut into bite-size pieces; set aside.
In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, saute the onions, carrots and celery in butter until tender. Reduce heat; stir in flour until blended. Gradually add 1 qt. of reserved broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Add cream, rice, salt, bouillon, pepper, remaining broth and reserved turkey. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until rice is tender.
TIPS: Todd cut butter in half and used fat free half and half cream and it was good and still very rich. On a funny note, the turkey carcass was too big to fit in our pan so my resourceful husband went outside and brought in a hack saw to cut it in half. ONLY a man would have a hack saw in the sink while cooking dinner. I sure wish I remembered to take a picture.
Big Soft Ginger Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Thank you my Love!
After-Thanksgiving Turkey Soup
1 leftover turkey carcass
3 medium onions, chopped
2 large carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 cup butter, cubed
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
1 cup uncooked long grain rice
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
3/4 teaspoon pepper
Place turkey carcass in a soup kettle or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove carcass; cool. Set aside 3 qt. broth. Remove turkey from bones and cut into bite-size pieces; set aside.
In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, saute the onions, carrots and celery in butter until tender. Reduce heat; stir in flour until blended. Gradually add 1 qt. of reserved broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Add cream, rice, salt, bouillon, pepper, remaining broth and reserved turkey. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until rice is tender.
TIPS: Todd cut butter in half and used fat free half and half cream and it was good and still very rich. On a funny note, the turkey carcass was too big to fit in our pan so my resourceful husband went outside and brought in a hack saw to cut it in half. ONLY a man would have a hack saw in the sink while cooking dinner. I sure wish I remembered to take a picture.
Big Soft Ginger Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
FPU: Class Ten - Real Estate and Mortgages
Dave is a proponent of purchasing your own home, but only in a very responsible manner. He points out that real estate is a good investment for the following reasons:
1. Home mortgages act as a forced savings plan.
2. Owning a home is a hedge against inflation.
3. If you live in a house for 2 years or more you don’t have to pay taxes on the appreciation (limited to $250,000 per person).
However, Dave does not recommend using real estate as an investment unless you can pay cash outright.
The most powerful point Dave makes about buying or selling a home is that these are the largest transactions most people will make in their lifetime. As a result, it’s possible to lose or make a lot of money depending on how you do it. It’s well worth putting in some extra effort and hiring expert help to ensure you maximize the benefits and gains of real estate transactions.
Here are Dave’s tips on buying and selling real estate.
Tips on selling a house
1. Don’t “live” in your home when it’s on the market - You have to think like a retailer and market your home. When your home is on the market, you must constantly be thinking about how others will perceive it. You can’t really live in your home as usual when it’s on the market - it has to be ready to show at a moment’s notice. Don’t require the buyers to use their imagination.
2. 50% of real estate sales come from the sign out front and curb appeal - Make sure the outside of your home looks nice and well groomed. Tear out overgrown shrubs and trees. Paint the outside. Repair damage in the concrete. My own personal tip is to take a photograph of your home; you tend to see flaws much more easily looking at a photograph for some reason.
3. Get a good Realtor. He/she will make your more than what they cost you. A good Realtor knows how to market your home, negotiate (good cop, bad cop), and evaluate the value of your home better than you do. Don’t hire a relative as your Realtor. Interview realtor's. They should present to you their plan and referrals. (I'm gonna put in a plug here for Greg Shipp. He attends Flipside Church with us and we used him for buying and selling a home. It was a really low stress experience and we highly recommend him!
4. Don’t buy home warranties unless it’s a condition of the sale. They’re not worth it.
5. Appraisers give only an opinion and don’t have the final, definitive value for your home. However, their estimate will still be more accurate than your gut feelings.
Tips on buying a house
1. When buying a home buy title insurance - Title insurance is worth it. It covers you when there’s unclear ownership of house (e.g. aunt Suzy never signed off on sale of house and still has rights to the home). It also covers undiscovered liens against house.
2. Get a survey when buying - Oftentimes, the advertised property boundaries and the actual boundaries are quite different. This is particularly true on a property without clear boundaries such as fences.
3. If you use an agent to buy, get a “buyers” agent - a “buyers” agent is an agent that only represents you, the buyer. Some agents represent both sides - the buyer and the seller - and therefore have an inherent conflict of interest. A buyer’s agent will only have your best interest at heart.
4. Don’t buy at the top of the neighborhood, but at bottom - The crummiest house in a nice neighborhood will inherently be worth more by virtue of the neighborhood. If you fix it up at all, the value of the house can significantly increase. In contrast, if you buy the nicest house in the neighborhood and fix it up, the value can only increase so much because it will typically stay within the range of the value of the other houses in the neighborhood.
5. Houses tend to appreciate most in locations with views and on the waterfront.
6. Look for houses that don’t look nice and you can get a bargain - This is the inverse to the principle of marketing your house - you want to look for owners that haven’t marketed and presented their house very well. If you can use your imagination and overlook cosmetic flaws that can be easily fixed, you can often get the best deals. A little imagination and elbow grease can go a long way.
7. Always buy a home that is attractive from street and has a good basic home plan - It’s very hard and costly to make changes to the bones of a house. Unconventional home plans and lots can be very hard to sell.
8. Get an independent house inspection when buying - Getting an independent house inspection will not only protect yourself against hidden flaws and problems, but you can also use it in the contract as a way out of the deal if things don’t line up to your expectations. In many cases you can negotiate to have seller pay for home inspection
9. Don’t take out a mortgage for more than 25% of take-home pay (e.g. after taxes, 401k, etc.) - Dave recommends putting down as much as you can on your house. His suggestion to take out a mortgage for no more than 25% of your take-home pay is radical but would save people endless financial headaches if followed.
10. You should put at least 10% down - Dave ideally recommends paying cash for your home but recognizes that most people won’t do this. Instead, pay as much down as possible. Most people follow the opposite advice and try to pay as little down as possible.
11. Never get a 30 year mortgage - get a 15 year mortgage instead - Again Dave goes against common practice with this recommendation. If you already have a 30 year mortgage, he recommends you keep it and pay it down like a 15 year mortgage. If the current interest rate is lower now, re-finance to a 15 year mortgage. The idea that you’ll take out a 30 year mortgage and pay extra is statistically not true. In the end, you’ll just pay what is required.
12. Never get an adjustable rate mortgage - Adjustable rate mortgages are meant to protect banks against decreasing interest rates, not to protect you. Particularly in today’s environment interest rates are historically very low and for the most part have nowhere to go but up. Another reason to avoid ARMs is that 35% are calculated inaccurately. If you already have one, make sure you audit it. Dave recommends refinancing your ARM if you have one.
13. Put 25% down to avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) - PMI costs roughly $75/mo for every $100k in loan value. If house appraises to 20% equity, call the mortgage company to remove the PMI. The bank may require an appraisal. Once your equity reaches 22% of the value of the house, the mortgage company is required to drop the PMI without notice.
14. Avoid FHA and VA loans - FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and VA (Veteran Administration) loans are not good deals and are meant for people without enough money to get into a home otherwise. They are guaranteed by the government. FHA and VA loans charge an MIP which is just like PMI, but it’s carried throughout the life of the loan so they are more expensive.
1. Home mortgages act as a forced savings plan.
2. Owning a home is a hedge against inflation.
3. If you live in a house for 2 years or more you don’t have to pay taxes on the appreciation (limited to $250,000 per person).
However, Dave does not recommend using real estate as an investment unless you can pay cash outright.
The most powerful point Dave makes about buying or selling a home is that these are the largest transactions most people will make in their lifetime. As a result, it’s possible to lose or make a lot of money depending on how you do it. It’s well worth putting in some extra effort and hiring expert help to ensure you maximize the benefits and gains of real estate transactions.
Here are Dave’s tips on buying and selling real estate.
Tips on selling a house
1. Don’t “live” in your home when it’s on the market - You have to think like a retailer and market your home. When your home is on the market, you must constantly be thinking about how others will perceive it. You can’t really live in your home as usual when it’s on the market - it has to be ready to show at a moment’s notice. Don’t require the buyers to use their imagination.
2. 50% of real estate sales come from the sign out front and curb appeal - Make sure the outside of your home looks nice and well groomed. Tear out overgrown shrubs and trees. Paint the outside. Repair damage in the concrete. My own personal tip is to take a photograph of your home; you tend to see flaws much more easily looking at a photograph for some reason.
3. Get a good Realtor. He/she will make your more than what they cost you. A good Realtor knows how to market your home, negotiate (good cop, bad cop), and evaluate the value of your home better than you do. Don’t hire a relative as your Realtor. Interview realtor's. They should present to you their plan and referrals. (I'm gonna put in a plug here for Greg Shipp. He attends Flipside Church with us and we used him for buying and selling a home. It was a really low stress experience and we highly recommend him!
4. Don’t buy home warranties unless it’s a condition of the sale. They’re not worth it.
5. Appraisers give only an opinion and don’t have the final, definitive value for your home. However, their estimate will still be more accurate than your gut feelings.
Tips on buying a house
1. When buying a home buy title insurance - Title insurance is worth it. It covers you when there’s unclear ownership of house (e.g. aunt Suzy never signed off on sale of house and still has rights to the home). It also covers undiscovered liens against house.
2. Get a survey when buying - Oftentimes, the advertised property boundaries and the actual boundaries are quite different. This is particularly true on a property without clear boundaries such as fences.
3. If you use an agent to buy, get a “buyers” agent - a “buyers” agent is an agent that only represents you, the buyer. Some agents represent both sides - the buyer and the seller - and therefore have an inherent conflict of interest. A buyer’s agent will only have your best interest at heart.
4. Don’t buy at the top of the neighborhood, but at bottom - The crummiest house in a nice neighborhood will inherently be worth more by virtue of the neighborhood. If you fix it up at all, the value of the house can significantly increase. In contrast, if you buy the nicest house in the neighborhood and fix it up, the value can only increase so much because it will typically stay within the range of the value of the other houses in the neighborhood.
5. Houses tend to appreciate most in locations with views and on the waterfront.
6. Look for houses that don’t look nice and you can get a bargain - This is the inverse to the principle of marketing your house - you want to look for owners that haven’t marketed and presented their house very well. If you can use your imagination and overlook cosmetic flaws that can be easily fixed, you can often get the best deals. A little imagination and elbow grease can go a long way.
7. Always buy a home that is attractive from street and has a good basic home plan - It’s very hard and costly to make changes to the bones of a house. Unconventional home plans and lots can be very hard to sell.
8. Get an independent house inspection when buying - Getting an independent house inspection will not only protect yourself against hidden flaws and problems, but you can also use it in the contract as a way out of the deal if things don’t line up to your expectations. In many cases you can negotiate to have seller pay for home inspection
9. Don’t take out a mortgage for more than 25% of take-home pay (e.g. after taxes, 401k, etc.) - Dave recommends putting down as much as you can on your house. His suggestion to take out a mortgage for no more than 25% of your take-home pay is radical but would save people endless financial headaches if followed.
10. You should put at least 10% down - Dave ideally recommends paying cash for your home but recognizes that most people won’t do this. Instead, pay as much down as possible. Most people follow the opposite advice and try to pay as little down as possible.
11. Never get a 30 year mortgage - get a 15 year mortgage instead - Again Dave goes against common practice with this recommendation. If you already have a 30 year mortgage, he recommends you keep it and pay it down like a 15 year mortgage. If the current interest rate is lower now, re-finance to a 15 year mortgage. The idea that you’ll take out a 30 year mortgage and pay extra is statistically not true. In the end, you’ll just pay what is required.
12. Never get an adjustable rate mortgage - Adjustable rate mortgages are meant to protect banks against decreasing interest rates, not to protect you. Particularly in today’s environment interest rates are historically very low and for the most part have nowhere to go but up. Another reason to avoid ARMs is that 35% are calculated inaccurately. If you already have one, make sure you audit it. Dave recommends refinancing your ARM if you have one.
13. Put 25% down to avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) - PMI costs roughly $75/mo for every $100k in loan value. If house appraises to 20% equity, call the mortgage company to remove the PMI. The bank may require an appraisal. Once your equity reaches 22% of the value of the house, the mortgage company is required to drop the PMI without notice.
14. Avoid FHA and VA loans - FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and VA (Veteran Administration) loans are not good deals and are meant for people without enough money to get into a home otherwise. They are guaranteed by the government. FHA and VA loans charge an MIP which is just like PMI, but it’s carried throughout the life of the loan so they are more expensive.
11.26.2007
Morgan's One Year Dr. Appointment
Wow this was a hard one for us. I made Todd come with me because I knew she was getting some shots today. We took a few pictures before the Doctor came in. Momo was in such a GREAT mood. She kept laughing and talking and playing with the paper on the table.
BUT...we soon found out she had to have FOUR shots and get some blood drawn. She was not very happy after that. Poor baby...she cried so much and turned so red. I'm just so thankful that the woman that had to draw her blood was very gentle and sweet with her so it wasn't so bad and she took her time to find a vein and only had to do it once. The rest of the day she slept A LOT and was a little cranky but at least no more shots for her for a while.
BUT...we soon found out she had to have FOUR shots and get some blood drawn. She was not very happy after that. Poor baby...she cried so much and turned so red. I'm just so thankful that the woman that had to draw her blood was very gentle and sweet with her so it wasn't so bad and she took her time to find a vein and only had to do it once. The rest of the day she slept A LOT and was a little cranky but at least no more shots for her for a while.
And now for some Recipes from Turkey Day
Oat Topped Sweet Potato Crisp
1 pkg. (8 oz.) low fat cream cheese, softened
1 can (40 oz.) cut sweet potatoes, drained
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped apples
2/3 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped pecans
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Beat cream cheese, sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup of the sugar and cinnamon with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spoon into 1-1/2-quart casserole dish; top with apples and cranberries.
MIX flour, oats and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over fruit mixture.
BAKE 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through.
This was my FAVORITE dish. I got the recipe from Briana about 4 years ago and it's a tradition now to make it. Todd even had a potluck at work a couple days before Thanksgiving so I made it for that and when he came him I asked how it went over and he said he thought that if it was socially acceptable for people to 'lick the bowl' it would've happened!
Double Cherry Pie
2 bags frozen cherries, (approx. 4 cups)
1 package dried cherries (approx. 1 cup)
1 cup white sugar
2 tbls quick-cooking tapioca
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie shells
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbls butter
Combine frozen cherries, dried cherries, white sugar, tapioca, and almond extract in a large mixing bowl; mix well. Let cherry mixture stand 15 minutes. The 15 minutes is very important because when the filling ingredients are initially blended together, the sugar/tapioca will tend to stay white, dry and separate from the cherries. You'll need to let the cherries thaw some to juice up and soak into the sugar mix. That way, the sugar and tapioca will cling better with the cherries and distribute evenly once spooned into the pie dish.
Line a 9 inch pie pan with pastry. Fill with cherry mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Dot with butter or margarine. Adjust top crust, cutting slits for steam to escape.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour, or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. If necessary, cover edge of crust with aluminum foil to prevent over browning.
Todd's Pumpkin Pie w/Melted Ice Cream (makes 2 pies)
1 1/2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie shells
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place ice cream near the warm oven to soften.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs. Stir in the pumpkin puree, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Mix in soft ice cream until smooth. Pour filling into two 9 inch pie shells.
Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees, and bake an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until filling is set.
1 pkg. (8 oz.) low fat cream cheese, softened
1 can (40 oz.) cut sweet potatoes, drained
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped apples
2/3 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped pecans
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Beat cream cheese, sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup of the sugar and cinnamon with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spoon into 1-1/2-quart casserole dish; top with apples and cranberries.
MIX flour, oats and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over fruit mixture.
BAKE 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through.
This was my FAVORITE dish. I got the recipe from Briana about 4 years ago and it's a tradition now to make it. Todd even had a potluck at work a couple days before Thanksgiving so I made it for that and when he came him I asked how it went over and he said he thought that if it was socially acceptable for people to 'lick the bowl' it would've happened!
Double Cherry Pie
2 bags frozen cherries, (approx. 4 cups)
1 package dried cherries (approx. 1 cup)
1 cup white sugar
2 tbls quick-cooking tapioca
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie shells
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbls butter
Combine frozen cherries, dried cherries, white sugar, tapioca, and almond extract in a large mixing bowl; mix well. Let cherry mixture stand 15 minutes. The 15 minutes is very important because when the filling ingredients are initially blended together, the sugar/tapioca will tend to stay white, dry and separate from the cherries. You'll need to let the cherries thaw some to juice up and soak into the sugar mix. That way, the sugar and tapioca will cling better with the cherries and distribute evenly once spooned into the pie dish.
Line a 9 inch pie pan with pastry. Fill with cherry mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Dot with butter or margarine. Adjust top crust, cutting slits for steam to escape.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour, or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. If necessary, cover edge of crust with aluminum foil to prevent over browning.
Todd's Pumpkin Pie w/Melted Ice Cream (makes 2 pies)
1 1/2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie shells
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place ice cream near the warm oven to soften.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs. Stir in the pumpkin puree, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Mix in soft ice cream until smooth. Pour filling into two 9 inch pie shells.
Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees, and bake an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until filling is set.
Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving was so much fun. My Aunt Star and Uncle Robert came from New Mexico to celebrate with us and they brought my cousin Ciliana, who I have to say is the sweetest most polite and helpful 12 year old we know. We didn't take many pictures at all because you know how crazy it gets so there are just a few shots of my tables set up. It was special too because it was the first time I ever used my Great Grandmothers china.
My husband, Chef Todd. He was in charge of the yummy Turkey, gravy, Hard Cider, and pumpkin pies.
I made the mashed potatoes, a sweet potato crisp dish, cherry pie and an apple pie. Lulu made some yummy stuffing and some really good fresh green beans that she sautéed with almonds, bacon and soy sauce.
Aunt Star
Uncle Robert and Momo before dinner.
And After...
Scott and Lindsay
And of course there are no pictures of me since I'm ALWAYS the one behind the camera. My mom and her boyfriend Gary were there too. She made two delicious salads. Jett was at his dad's most of the day and came over around 5:30 p.m. and had lots of fun playing Guitar Hero with me and Gary.
My husband, Chef Todd. He was in charge of the yummy Turkey, gravy, Hard Cider, and pumpkin pies.
I made the mashed potatoes, a sweet potato crisp dish, cherry pie and an apple pie. Lulu made some yummy stuffing and some really good fresh green beans that she sautéed with almonds, bacon and soy sauce.
Aunt Star
Uncle Robert and Momo before dinner.
And After...
Scott and Lindsay
And of course there are no pictures of me since I'm ALWAYS the one behind the camera. My mom and her boyfriend Gary were there too. She made two delicious salads. Jett was at his dad's most of the day and came over around 5:30 p.m. and had lots of fun playing Guitar Hero with me and Gary.
Siblings and Friends
Today I watched Jett's little brother Gavin who is 2, for a few hours. He was so good and it was nice for Morgan to have someone else to play with. Jett is definitely a great Big Brother and helped me out a lot. It gave me a little preview on what it would be like to have two little ones and Jett to take care of.
11.22.2007
FPU: Class Nine - Buyer Beware
This lesson was on how to be an aware consumer.
Beware of marketing tactics
Here are some examples Dave uses:
* The number of daily marketing impressions the average person is exposed to has increased from 500 in 1971 to over 4,000 today. In today’s multimedia culture, particularly with the internet, we are exposed almost constantly.
* More than half the GDP consists of consumption spending.
* Dave outlines the ways we’re sold to, including
1. Personal selling - Sales materials are increasingly customized and personal. By using database technologies, companies often have much information on potential buyers and are able to target individual needs.
2. Financing - Many businesses provide lines of credit or other forms of financing. In fact, some businesses make more money from financing than they do on actual consumer goods sales.
3. Repetition - This one is self explanatory. This one is self explanatory. haha
4. Product positioning - Ever noticed the ice cold drinks displayed prominently in the store on a blistering hot day? Large companies are very savvy and do extensive research to determine the best way to position products in a store.
How to save on big purchases
On the more practical side, Dave gives a few very good tips for spending less, particularly on large purchases.
1. Wait over night before making a large purchase (being defined as $300 to $1,000 depending on how much money you make). Many of the large, multi-hundred dollar purchases people make are surprisingly impulse purchases. This happens particularly when people receive large lump sums of money such as a bonus. They go on a shopping spree and before they know it have spent the money on things they may not care that much about. The simple act of waiting overnight to make the purchase will deter most frivolous impulse purchases. Once the excitement of the moment has worn off, your brain actually thinks about it and realizes you’d rather spend the money elsewhere or even save it.
2. Understand the difference between needs and wants. You don’t need the wide screen 60″ LCD TV. You might really, really, really want it, but you don’t need it. Your needs are food, shelter, clothing, and transportation.
3. Never buy anything you don’t understand. If the sales person can’t explain it in terms you understand, don’t buy it. Buying things you don’t understand inevitably will cause you to buy something that doesn’t really fit your needs.
4. Consider the opportunity costs (what else could you do with the money). Opportunity cost is an economic term defined as the most valuable foregone alternative. Put in layman’s terms, what else could you do with your money? For example, if you spend $1,000 on the TV, what will you not be able to buy with that $1,000? Maybe there’s something else on your list of wants that you’d rather have even more.
5. Seek the counsel of your spouse. As painful as it may be, two minds are better, or at least more reasonable, than one. Unless you are spending personal money, you should consult your spouse on all major purchases anyway. A spouse can offer a different perspective and can often bring to your attention other uses for the funds or other alternatives that may meet your needs at a lower cost.
Beware of marketing tactics
Here are some examples Dave uses:
* The number of daily marketing impressions the average person is exposed to has increased from 500 in 1971 to over 4,000 today. In today’s multimedia culture, particularly with the internet, we are exposed almost constantly.
* More than half the GDP consists of consumption spending.
* Dave outlines the ways we’re sold to, including
1. Personal selling - Sales materials are increasingly customized and personal. By using database technologies, companies often have much information on potential buyers and are able to target individual needs.
2. Financing - Many businesses provide lines of credit or other forms of financing. In fact, some businesses make more money from financing than they do on actual consumer goods sales.
3. Repetition - This one is self explanatory. This one is self explanatory. haha
4. Product positioning - Ever noticed the ice cold drinks displayed prominently in the store on a blistering hot day? Large companies are very savvy and do extensive research to determine the best way to position products in a store.
How to save on big purchases
On the more practical side, Dave gives a few very good tips for spending less, particularly on large purchases.
1. Wait over night before making a large purchase (being defined as $300 to $1,000 depending on how much money you make). Many of the large, multi-hundred dollar purchases people make are surprisingly impulse purchases. This happens particularly when people receive large lump sums of money such as a bonus. They go on a shopping spree and before they know it have spent the money on things they may not care that much about. The simple act of waiting overnight to make the purchase will deter most frivolous impulse purchases. Once the excitement of the moment has worn off, your brain actually thinks about it and realizes you’d rather spend the money elsewhere or even save it.
2. Understand the difference between needs and wants. You don’t need the wide screen 60″ LCD TV. You might really, really, really want it, but you don’t need it. Your needs are food, shelter, clothing, and transportation.
3. Never buy anything you don’t understand. If the sales person can’t explain it in terms you understand, don’t buy it. Buying things you don’t understand inevitably will cause you to buy something that doesn’t really fit your needs.
4. Consider the opportunity costs (what else could you do with the money). Opportunity cost is an economic term defined as the most valuable foregone alternative. Put in layman’s terms, what else could you do with your money? For example, if you spend $1,000 on the TV, what will you not be able to buy with that $1,000? Maybe there’s something else on your list of wants that you’d rather have even more.
5. Seek the counsel of your spouse. As painful as it may be, two minds are better, or at least more reasonable, than one. Unless you are spending personal money, you should consult your spouse on all major purchases anyway. A spouse can offer a different perspective and can often bring to your attention other uses for the funds or other alternatives that may meet your needs at a lower cost.
11.19.2007
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Here is the yummy recipe that Todd made for Morgan's party. The recipe came from allrecipes.com. It turned out so good he's going to make it again for a Thanksgiving appetizer. It makes 12 servings so I recommend doubling the recipe because it goes quick! We served it with tortilla chips but will try a large bread bowl for Thanksgiving.
Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip
INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 ounce) package cream
cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and
minced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke
hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup frozen chopped
spinach, thawed and drained
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.
Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip
INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 ounce) package cream
cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and
minced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke
hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup frozen chopped
spinach, thawed and drained
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.
Sunday Football
Last night Uncle Scott and Auntie Lulu and Grammy came over to watch the Patriots game. Morgan is truly a Schlesinger...she kept trying to steal Uncle Scott's pizza!
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| From Sunday night football |
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| From Sunday night football |
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| From Sunday night football |
Sunday Morning
Yesterday we tested out Papa and Grammy's present to Morgan...her new carseat! It's so cute, Pink and Chocolate of course.
BUT...Morgan seemed to enjoy the box that it came in much better. Isn't that how it always is?
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
BUT...Morgan seemed to enjoy the box that it came in much better. Isn't that how it always is?
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
Morgan's First Birthday Party
Saturday was Morgan's first birthday party. We had so much fun and Morgan got lots of great presents from her family and friends. It was "Cupcake" themed so I made a LOT of cupcakes and one BIG cupcake for Morgan's birthday cake. We also had pizza and salad and daddy made a yummy Artichoke Dip too. I'll post the recipe afterwards because I know some of you were asking for it. Morgan also got a really GOOD chocolate cake from Jett's Papa Carlos. It was so yummy and Morgan is definitely a Chocolate lover already.
Now for some pictures!
Now for some pictures!
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
And More....
Morgan was having fun feeding us her birthday cake and I love that when she's finished eating she put her hand up really high and tells us she's "ALL DONE"!
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
Birthday Pressies
Morgan checking out all her presents including her FIRST purse, a.k.a. Pocketbook!
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
First Barbie and Play Time
Momo got her first Barbie from Auntie Lulu and had some fun playing with Aiden and her other toys.
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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| From Morgan 1 birthday |
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