Meal plan for June 2nd – 8th

Oh the fair.

Ahhhh, I had such a fabulous time!  The weather was flipping gorgeous, the presenters were stellar, and the vendors and their free-flowing samples of organic free trade chocolate, grassfed jerky, spices, and organic cocoa powder made with powdered oat milk (shockingly amazing and delicious) were lovely.

I went alone again this year, and declared it the last year I do so.  Next year, my sister has been pre-ordered to attend with me.  I don’t mind being alone, but at such events, it’s a shame to not share the awesomeness with someone.

I saw a shirt that I coveted desperately.  I asked the man if it came in a men’s small.  He said “yes, but we also have it a women’s fit”.  I let him know I preferred a men’s small because the length was better (long torso alert), and it just fit me better overall.  He kept telling me that it also came in women’s sizes and I should try that.  I finally had to very bluntly say “sir, I have no boobs, give me the men’s size”.  I got my shirt, and I’m thrilled!

I also ate my share of fair scones.  All is well in a day that ends with a baker’s dozen. Ahhh, happy tummy!  Relax, I didn’t eat 13 by myself!  Some were shared with my sister, my mom, and my nephew when I dropped them off on my way home, some were shared with friends at church, and the rest were shared with my belly.  Troy and Jack may have been allowed to split one.

I saw this fabulous sign, that I desperately want for myself.  But I’d need it edited to say “4:30”.

I had a great time in their huge book store section, and saw two titles that I noted so that I can check our local library to see if they have copies.

While I was there, I was lucky enough to get to chat with Amanda Sorrell, and Shelley Stonebrook, both Mother Earth News employees and co-presenters at a workshop on homemade lotion and deodorant.  Both ladies were lovely, and I had a great time chatting and laughing with them.  Shelley makes homemade soap as well (one of the things on my “to learn” list), and she was so sweet and invited me down to Oregon for 1on1 soap making session.

Both Amanda and Shelley started making these products in a quest to find beauty products that they felt comfortable putting on their bodies.  What they found are things that work extremely well, are quick to make, and are safe enough to eat if you wanted.  As Shelley put it, (I’m paraphrasing here) “there are studies showing ingredients in deodorant may cause cancer.  I found something that works just as well, keeps me dry, doesn’t stain my clothes, and has safe ingredients”.  Amanda pointed out her lotion can make four small canning jars worth for less than $5.  Each Amanda and Shelley have given their products out for holiday gifts, and people have raved about the results.  Shelley and Amanda both laughed that only at Mother Earth News, can you give someone deodorant as a Christmas gift, and people get excited and not offended.

The lotion recipe is linked here, and the deodorant instructions are below.

Shelley sells some of her fabulous goat’s milk soap and homemade deodorant on Etsy if you’d like to try it for yourself!

I’m not sure when they set the dates for next year, but I’m pretty much just reserving the end of May, beginning on June to attend again!

And if you’re curious, here is my adorable $.99 Goodwill dress.  It’s a large, and while it fit my chest perfectly (HA HAHAHAHAHAH!), I had to end up taking it in about three inches.  It’s the perfect tunic dress for spring, and throw a cardigan over it, and voila, fall dress!

Meal plan time!  Reminder, I only plan dinners.  My breakfast of choice is homemade Greek yogurt with tons of cut up fresh fruit (or fruit I froze in the summer), and a homemade granola bar crumbled on top.  It’s delicious and keeps me completely full and satisfied until lunch. Lunches are always leftovers.  We rarely eat dessert during the week, and our dinner drink of choice is water kefir soda.

Monday:: Omelets, spinach salad, and strawberries.

Tuesday:: Organic hot dogs from Trader Joes, pasta salad, and more delicious strawberries.

Wednesday:: Stir fry, little rice, pot stickers, and fruit.

Thursday:: Dinner at my in-laws.  Hurray!

Friday:: Our weekly popcorn dinner and a movie tradition.

Saturday:: I am throwing a baby shower that day for my friend (and blog reader) Krista, so we’re going to eat whatever the hell is leftover, because I’m not going to be cooking.

Sunday:: There will be no formal family dinner, since my nephew’s birthday party is that afternoon.  Per party bitch tradition, we’ll all go out for Mexican food after everything is cleaned up.

This week, I spent $38.10 at Trader Joes, $12.50 at a fruit stand on my way back from the Mother Earth News Fair, for local, Puyallup Valley no-spray (i.e., they’re not label organic, but aren’t hosed down with pesticides) strawberries, and later today I’m going to get a half-gallon of raw milk for making yogurt – $3.50

What are you having this week?