Always Be Closing

I think because of my father, I'll always be a sales(wo)man. I'm always looking for the BBD (bigger, better deal) and also manage to get what I want...although that might be in part due to the fact that I am an only child.

But that's a rabbit hole for therapy, not my blog. I digress.

Granted, I also studied marketing in college, so I get it. There are tips and tricks to make consumers buy your goods. Although I haven't figured out Target's. That place must pump a mix of meth and heroin into their store because, without fail, I managed to load up my cart. Every. Single. Time.

Again, I digress.

Marketing, sales, I get it.

Here's where rubber meets the road: I dream about it.

Even though I'm not in a marketing or sales role anymore, although I believe those also entail herding cats which is part of my job now, I still look at campaigns, pricing, product placement, etc. For example, my cousin complained about the K-Mart commercial that played The Lights because it got stuck in her head. That's a genius - albeit evil genius - campaign because she remembered that it was a K-Mart. I tweeted that whenever I hear an instrumental version of Carol of the Bells, I get "Give a, give a, give a Garmin" with the ending of "Garmin dot com. Garmin dot com." Now that, is true marketing genius. I not only think about giving a Garmin, I repeat the website.

So anyway, about my dream.

The setting: A conference room with dry erase boards about.
The people: Me and a half dozen indiscriminate faces.
The topic: Meeting about Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

Yes. I dreamt about being in a marketing Cinnabon gender roles. The guy leading the meeting said, "So, if the cinnamon roll is the father figure, how can we draw in the mother?"

Here's where I come in: "The frosting. It's warm, the best part, and it smothers everything."

Yes. I likened a mother to frosting because it smothers.

I'm amazing.

Oh, and just as my alarm was going off, the rest of the indiscriminate faces were giving me accolades for my brilliance.

So What Wednesday

It's that time of the week where I link up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew" and say SO WHAT!

So WHAT if...

• I am still stoked that I managed to get a week's worth of meals on $11 and what I already had? I blogged about it. Enjoy.
• I waited until I was down to cheese & booze before going to the store? You gotta do what you gotta do.

The left side is my roommate's side.

• I now have Broncos jerseys in all three color combinations? My mom surprised me with a white jersey. Trifecta.

Miller - Lynch - Miller.

• I feel like some sort of genius for draining my black beans by cutting two slits on opposite sides? Lets air in while the bean juice drains.

Opposite sides make sure it doesn't spout all over you.

• I shed a tear when I spilled my Crystal Light fruit punch on my diploma? Let's not talk about how it's also four years later and I haven't framed it.

• I made this SWW post look longer with pictures? You dug it. Admit it.

What are you saying So WHAT to? Link up with Shannon and tell the world!

Frugal For One

Alright. Let's face it. I'm not the best at budgeting. Before, I had talked about $20/week for groceries and with coupons, smart shopping, and holdovers in your "stock" from previous weeks, I think that, for a single lady, it's possible.

Well, thanks to an unexpected bill for Harry's double pink-eye, I found myself with $11 in my checking account for this first week of December. (Granted, I have credit cards, but that's a slippery slope and savings is SAVINGS.)

How did I manage? Well, prior to December 1, I had purchased a pound of rice, a 4-pack of Greek yogurt, and a bag of shredded cheese for a total of $7.05 at Target. That held me through Saturday and Sunday (with some sausage I already had) since most of Saturday was spent with Grape Flu.

Now, how am I going to make it from December 3 - December 7? Monday, I had a yogurt from my 4-pack, and some leftover chicken in the office from the boss that was going to go bad. Then I ventured to the grocery store.

Here's what I needed:

• 4 Breakfasts 
• 4 Lunches (Between the chicken on Monday and two servings of rice, I had 3 covered)
• 5 Dinners

Here's what I had:

• Brown N Serve Sausage ($1 at Safeway)
• Shredded Cheese ($2.49 at Target)
• EVOO/Spices/Condiments, etc.
• 2 yogurts left from my 4-pack ($3.69 for 4-pack)
• 2 c. cooked rice leftover from the rice ($.87 at Target)

I have the right side of the fridge. Which has cheese, booze & baking soda. I am literally on empty.

Here's what I bought at Safeway:

• 2 Southwest Ranch Salad Kits (On sale at 2/$5)
• 3 Pineapple Greek yogurts (Flavor - overstock -  on sale for $.69)
• 1 can seasoned black beans (Reg. price at $.89)
• 1 can Swanson's chicken broth (On sale $.88 until 12/25)
• 16 oz brown rice ($1.99 - boo to paying $1.02 MORE than Target)

BOOM. $10.83 for a weeks' worth of meals. AND I saved 26%.

Now, how do you menu plan on so little?

Here's my plan. (Not accounting for office coffee & candy.)

Monday

Breakfast

Greek yogurt

Lunch

Boss' chicken

Dinner

1/2 Salad Kit

Tuesday
Breakfast
Greek yogurt

Lunch
Black Beans & Rice

Dinner
Remaining 1/2 of Salad Kit

Wednesday
Breakfast
Greek yogurt

Lunch
Pantry Clean Out Rice (Literally picking random spices & sauces I like)

Dinner
Black Beans & Rice

Thursday
Breakfast
Greek yogurt

Lunch
1/2 of second Salad Kit

Dinner
Black Beans & Rice

Friday
Breakfast
Greek yogurt

Lunch
Other 1/2 of the second Salad Kit

Dinner
Sausage & Cheese Rice (just like it sounds, but with onion & chili powders)

After I've typed this out, I think I'll even have leftover rice. With the chicken stock, water, and a full bag of rice, there was close to 10 cups of cooked riced.

Basically, I feel like a champion for finding deals and sticking to my budget. I think that if I increased my weekly budget to $15, I could even get some chicken in there to "beef up" the menu, too.

Have you ever challenged yourself to a budget for groceries?

p.s. Pro tip: Non-processed foods are not taxed. Look at my receipt, I didn't pay tax on any of that.

So What Wednesday

I haven't linked up in a couple of weeks, but I'm here! Shannon's weekly link-up at Life After I "Dew" makes my life a little easier to blog in bullet point.

So WHAT if...

• Feel like hammered dog shit today? I've had a tad of a cold with sinus pressure and a post-nasal drip caused sore throat that culminated in me waking up at 5:30am today with a raging headache.
• I managed to not look like hammered dog shit? Thankfully I laid out my clothes last night and popped in the shower this morning hoping the steam and heat would make me look a little better.
• I am done decorating for Christmas? Not by choice, but my only decorations I got from Colorado pertained to my tree. Whatever. It's done.
• I have to stop working at 5:00pm tonight? They are doing maintenance on some IT stuff, so that means I have an excuse to duck out.
• I need a nap at 9:30am? See the first bullet point.

Go link up with Shannon and say your SO WHATs!

Sometimes I Don't Get My Mom...

...but my mom always gets me.

Case in point:

While I'm back in Colorado for Thanksgiving, I decided that a night on the town was in order. I didn't go out while I was in town in September, so a Rio margarita must be consumed on this trip. In addition, BFFL (best friend fo liiiiifeee) Daisy celebrated her final year in her 20s since I last saw her. Clearly, there should be a celebration.

That led to this email string:

From: Ana
To: Daisy
Subject: Hitting Up Both of Your Emails…
Message:

...since I don't know what one you'll check most often whilst working.

Anyway, I'm going to be in town the 18th - 23rd. I have two goals that week: 1) to celebrate your birth with a meal and possible cocktail, and 2) to see people that I want to (which includes you, the mister, and others).

With that in mind, I propose a dinner with at least you and, if you would like, a handful of other people. THEN, invite more people out for drinks, hangout-ness after. One-stop-shop, if you will.

What do you think? What night is best for you? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday? I know the bars are hoppin' on Wednesday night... 

From: Daisy
To: Ana
Subject: Hitting Up Both of Your Emails…
Message:

Yes, liking it…as always.

Let’s do Wednesday night, actually. Night before a holiday may actually produce a somewhat rowdy crowd.  Who doesn’t want to be hung over on Thanksgiving day?

How about you pick who you would like for dinner so you can have one-on-one time. The rest we’ll invite for drinks afterwards. 

From: Ana
To: Daisy
Subject: Hitting Up Both of Your Emails…
Message:

For Wednesday dinner, I was thinking you, me, Jess. Yes, that limited. Then we can meet up with people for margaritas to start at Rio. Hell, we could do dinner at the Rio. I want chips and guac. We can even do post-work to get more of a crowd. Call it Boozegiving. 

Screw it. 

We're doing Boozegiving. Everyone's invited, only your attendance is compulsory. I'll be there. And maybe with my mom as DD for me. No joke.

It's happening. Look out for the facebook invite.

That's how I roll.

From: Daisy
To: Ana
Subject: RE: Hitting Up Both of Your Emails…
Message:

At first I was only thinking of suggesting Jess as the other invitee for dinner, but your plan for Boozegiving sounds good too – how you roll is how I roll. 

BTW, if I sent my mom an email like the one you did Momma Jane wouldn’t even know how to respond…especially since she doesn’t have an email address!!!! Hahahaha!

Love all your plans – Rio in a week!!!

Now, you're fine and dandy with Boozegiving, right? Well did any one read this line, "...We're doing Boozegiving. Everyone's invited, only your attendance is compulsory. I'll be there. And maybe with my mom as DD for me. No joke..."

Yes.

That happened.

As evidenced by this email string:

From: Your Daughter
To: Mama Sandy
Subject: So, I know I’m almost 30, but…
Message:
...a taxi from Denver is $40...

Feel like being my DD on Wednesday? I'm going to meet up for drinks with people and wanted to make sure that I get home, obvio. If you're working that day, I can take you to work and switch out when you're ready to go home.

In fact, join us for a round. Who can say no to tequila? Or at least chips & guac?

From: Mama Sandy
To: Favorite Daughter
Subject: RE: So, I know I’m almost 30, but…
Message:
I’m taking the whole week off with an occasional conference call thrown in. DD is fine and dandy and will carry Tupperware in case you feel the need to vomit!

This?

Is why she always gets me.

The Tupperware is because there have been a couple of days that succeeded drinking nights with family events. It's a little rough. Tequila shots es no bueno.

Also, I somehow have found that if I travel for Thanksgiving, the night before I leave is some sort of celebration. See Friendsgiving, Sherer's Wedding. Sunday? Is gonna be rough. But that's a whole other blog post.

So What Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew"  and saying SO WHAT!

So WHAT if...

• I am UHB. Sessed. with Made in Chelsea? It's a British import that is basically The Hills, but with accents. So, naturally, I'm in love.
• I am mentally packing for my trip to Colorado? Packing takes some thought to coordinate space allotments for carry-ons.
• In mentally packing for Colorado, I immediately have NOTHING to wear? I don't want to have to do laundry before I leave.
• I got a pair of orange, suede, shearling "loafers"? I use loafers loosely since they rang up as slippers.
• I am not ashamed to wear my slipfers? They have a sole and when they are on, you can't tell that they are comfortable, shearling heaven shoes.
• I took to the Twitter for shopping advice? It's the fastest way to find the best deal for whatever I'm looking for...HELLO $23 jewel-tone leggings.
• I'm uber nervous about cooking the turkey for Friendsgiving? The turkey has been in the fridge defrosting for three days and this sucker is rock solid still.
• I decided I needed a Boozegiving in Colorado? I'm missing the Colorado Edition of Friendgiving, so I'm getting together on the other traditional holidays for a random Wednesday night adult beverage night out.
• I'm obsessed with a makeup blog I found on Pinterest? Do yourself a favor and go to MaskCara and watch all of her tutorials, read her tips, and work your own magic.
• I'm perfecting HACing? Her blog is evidence enough, but once you try it on your own, you're hooked.

So What Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew" for a little Sandy themed SO WHAT.

So WHAT if...

• I'm over hurricanes? I mean, c'mon. Blizzards are way more fun because you can go outside and play in the snow. I don't want to go puddle jumping when the 'hood smells like a gerbil cage.
• I never lost power? Don't hate if you did. I have a brick row house from 1880. I win.
• I'm glad to back in the office? I mean, I love me a long weekend, but I was getting a little stir crazy.
• I drank during the day? I wasn't driving, no one was working, and what else do you do in a natural disaster?
• I kept making jokes about Hurricane Sandy being like my mom Sandy? C'mon. We all know that when she gets cold, she gets bitchy (mixing with a cold front). And she was 15 minutes ahead of the forecast (my mom is always early), and messing up Halloween plans (my mom's birthday is Halloween).
• I called to wish my mom a happy birthday at a suitable hour and still woke her up? It's for all the years she woke me up in college for my birthday.
• I'm not handing out candy this Halloween? I'm turning of the porch light and hiding for two reasons: I'm cheap and I would eat more than I handed out.

Difference? Less leaves.

*I know I fared so well that it sounds like I'm bragging, but for people not directly impacted, there are rays of sunshine. I do sympathize with those who fared worse, so don't go hating. I don't have time for that.