Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Cardboard and Carrots

You all haven't  asked how we're doing on spending this month.  I know you want to know how we can possibly survive the entire month without spending money on non-essential items. Well, you're in luck because I feel the need to share.  I know, I'm nice like that.


First I have to say that April is a bad month not to spend money because, ahem, it's my birthday.  Not just one day, but since I'm named after the month and all I think the whole month should be celebrated in my honor.  Unfortunately, I'm the only person that feels this way.

We did buy Seth two gifts.  A new baseball glove and a nifty fangle-dangle rifle thingy.  And he loved them.  We don't buy our kids new toys very often, mostly just for Christmas and birthdays.  And I hate having a bunch of toys around that my kids don't play with.  So....



I sold all the children's toys.  After they cried for ten days straight I threw a couple cardboard boxes to them and wah-la hours of fun.  I honestly don't know why we own any toys because boxes and sticks are their favorite thing to play with.  I was just kidding a little about selling all their toys...a little.
These magic boxes are from my favorite yet disgusting grocery store, Aldi.  Aldi and I have become best friends again.  We meet up at least twice a week and then I run home after our play date and wash my hands for 30 minutes.
And what was is that I made my family buy for my birthday?  Nothing.  I KNOW!!!  All I wanted was a homemade carrot cake with coconut icing.  One of my friend back in St. Louis (PRPC people know her, she wins the dessert contest nearly every year at the harvest party...tall, blond, not me, but tall.. wait.. not blond, brunette, I think, first name starts with a C, is that enough info?) anyhoo, she made this cake years ago when I went to her house and it took all my will power not to eat another piece or beg to take some home.  I've longed to taste that cake again for over four years and I needed to put an end to it.  So I made Clay find a recipe and he made it.  I had to show him where all the ingredients were and teach him how to use the food processor, other than that, he did great!  And then he spent the rest of the night cleaning the kitchen until I yelled at him to GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN! 
This is what the cake looked like the next day.  Um, I kind of had it for breakfast and maybe a tiny piece for lunch and then for a snack and maybe I snagged teensy bits every time I walked through the kitchen.
Gulp, belch, mmmmmm.  Delicious.  I think I'll ask for that cake next year too.  But I also want a porch swing!  I'm just sayin'.

Okay, did this post answer any questions of how we aren't spending?  No?  Well, we just aren't spending.  It's a powerful thing and so is that carrot cake.

The End.

13 comments:

jean said...

I've been trying too. We have three birthdays this month and spring break, which pretty much ruined my chances of not buying anything new. But at least I'm becoming more aware of what is needed vs wanted. Chocolate is non-negotiable however.

Becky said...

Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm... I had me a graham cracker with coconut icing tonight. Probably not as good as that cake.

My spending? Um.. uh.. I gotta go now. We'll talk about it later. Maybe.

Anonymous said...

Sorry about your yucky Aldi store. I have 2 nices ones to go to. I have a group of friends that would never shop there, so I took them on a field trip and handed them each a quarter. Now they all shop there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES

Karen Deborah said...

I thought I was the only woman who can eat something yummy every time I walk into the kitchen. what cake?Bet you have a secret stash of chocolate, right?

Unknown said...

Not all ALDI stores are created equally... I'm afraid. An old one near me closed down -- well 2 closed down actually... one east and one west -- now I drive NORTH to a BRAND SPANKING NEW ONE... and it's still clean, and has a great freezer selection.

I used to always burn my boxes from ALDI because my friend told me, "You bring roach eggs home in those boxes, ya know." ewww...

I still go because ALDI saves me a TON of $$.

Do you have a COSTCO? Because I combine my COSTCO and ALDI trips into one day -- woo hoo... it's thrilling.. you should try it.

Hope4Grace said...

Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!

Stephanie said...

Give my youngest son (his name is Seth) a box and some string and he can play for hours...He loves to see the UPS truck come because Daddy always shares his boxes....

Cynthia said...

I agree about ALDI. We don't have them here in middle Tennessee but I used to go to it in Illinois.

So hows about sharing a little birthday love and posting your yummy carrot cake recipe?

Happy Birthday!!!!

jean said...

Hey, how are the chickens?

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Anonymous said...

I love cake and think it is totally acceptable to eat it any time of day :)

Crunchy Chicken said...

Happy Birthday! Your non-spending fortitude is quite impressive :)