Oh Yes I Did!

Ever since my friends introduced me to the joy that are K-dramas this summer...I have been obsessed. I don't let myself watch many--in fact, I have only seen three--but when I watch them, I fall in deep. My first k-drama, Princess Prosecutor, is still my favorite because there it's a legal drama filled with fashion and great chemistry between the leads. I love how the story follows her graduation day to finding success as a prosecutor.

Anyway...a theme throughout the series is her fabulous collection of shoes. She wore these crazy multicolored spangled Diego Dolcinis with fishnet stockings on her graduation day:

Dramatic, yes?

Soon after, these bejeweled Jimmy Choos take center stage and reappear throughout the entire series.

For some reason, they don't look as nice in the movie stills but they are quite drool worthy. At nearly $1700, I think I will pass though.

Another pair of shoes that I noticed and loved were these lovely patent leather heels that she wore during her first successful court appearance. I liked them enough that I specifically looked up what they were! Thanks to eiffelinseoul.blogspot.com, I found this and all the other pics.

Of all her shoes, these MKs are probably among the affordable. I love how she paired them with a black ribbon bow atop the fierce zippered patent leather. It's very tough-girly glam. As much as I liked them, I didn't *need* another pair of black heels so I put them out of my mind. Imagine my great surprise when I found them while window shopping today...on sale at 35% off! Not only did they have it in black patent, it was also available in white & grey snake print and pale pink snake print! I almost got the pale pink...part of me is still lusting for it...but I am not sure what use I can get out of it. Admittedly, the pink is a good "neutral" color for my skin tone but I think the black will be more useful. As of now, I plan on wearing these MKs on my very own graduation day! Fly high indeed!

Anyway...so happy and excited! I <3>

Stuff I don't need

*Edit* I called and confirmed with customer service that the ottoman is in fact, NOT a storage ottoman. Well, that makes my life much easier! Covetousness... gone!*End Edit*

On today's edition of "Stuff I Don't Need", I'll take you to exactly what I would want, but don't need:

1. Tufting? check.

2. Nailhead trim? Check

3. Curvaceous design? quadruple check

4. Shades of cream, beige, or otherwise other warm neutral? Yep

5. Unnecesssarily frou frou? You got it.

Best of all, it goes well with our current decor but it is not a "matched set" despite sharing similar qualities with the rest of our furniture. I believe that it is also a storage ottoman, which makes this a slam dunk "LOVE!" for me. Stylish and functional? Oh be still my heart!!! I'm thinking in the years ahead...the kid's toys and play things would tuck neatly away into this behemoth! Also in the scheme of kids...it is soft, round, and plushy--all very "kid safe" elements of furniture. I don't really mind if it gets dirty--I can always get it reupholstered if I can't get any stains out.

Now, I understand that this is most certainly *not* most people's cup of tea and perhaps this look will be dated in a few years. I am not sure and I don't really care. I like this style and if it is indeed a storage ottoman as well, it would nearly be perfect. The only two issues I have with this piece is that it is exorbitantly expensive and it measures 45 inches in diameter. I am concerned that it might overwhelm the space. Perhaps it is a good thing that it is so expensive hehe. Ah well :)

And thus concludes this episode of "Stuff I Don't Need".

November Already?!

The closer I get to the end of the year, the busier I am. Still, I try to make time for exercising and eating right. Tonight, I didn't feel up to going to the gym so hubby decided to organize our walk-in closet. Ok...correction...I need to organize my part of the closet haha. Husband is very organized and every item of his is neatly folded and where it belongs. A few weeks ago, we purchased 7 sets of wooden hangers from IKEA for the closet overhaul. I know it's a bit unnecessary but I've always wanted uniform wooden hangers. It just looks more pleasant than an assortment of random plastic, wire, and wooden hangers. We used up all the hangers already and we need to purchase more eventually. For now, most of the items that should be hung are hung. It is very pleasant looking at how neat and tidy everything is. For the most part, our house is always nice and tidy with the closet as the exception. I blame it on my sleepiness and blindness in the mornings. Anyway...closet cleaned! Onward to nutrition!

I've been baking our bread for about a year now but after buying organic deli meat from the local market, I decided to try my hand at roasting my own. Locally raised, organically fed, free-range turkey Turkey breast is still pretty expensive at $5.99/lb but it sure beats the store purchased deli meat at $11lb.The turkey was neatly packaged in an oval netting, which helped it maintain it's shape. I brined it overnight in a solution with fresh rosemary from our garden, garlic, cracked black pepper, half an apple, and salt. I was afraid that an overnight brine would result in mushy turkey but it turned out quite well! The rosemary scent wasn't very pronounced so next time, I will add more.

I sliced the meat as thinly as I could and put them into small ziplock bags to freeze until ready for use. The end pieces that were too unwieldy to slice safely, I diced and turned it into a curried turkey salad with cranberries and onions. I might try a honey-roasted turkey next but we have plenty of meat to last us for the rest of the month.

Anyway...this is what we had for dinner tonight: a sandwich of turkey on whole-wheat bread with a side of roast beet salad. So simple but very good for a hectic Monday.

A bit of Retail Therapy

Husband has been working very very hard for the past...5-6 years. Husband works full-time, comes home and works on his 'droid apps and then goes out shooting on weekends. Husband basically works around the clock. Why, Husband even pulls his share of chores around the house, including yucky stuff that I don't like to do, such as taking out the garbage!

Hubsters works this hard to provide for our little family and to make sure that I never go without. Hubby also never ever complains but just continues doggedly and solemnly onward with his steady march. I am so lucky to have Husband.

Today, we were both kind of restless and bored. There is always stuff to do around the house--more laundry, more dishes...and there is always work to be done...more sitting in front of the computer...more straining necks over books. Finally, around 5pm...we could not take it anymore. I suggested a trip to my favorite haunt, the local home decorator store and Hubby, ever easygoing, complied. Halfway down the street....I changed my mind: we didn't need any more decorations and we really should save the money. Then, Husband spoke, "Let us go to the mall."

Eh? Husband never wants to go shopping! I said, "nah..." but then Husband spoke again: "I just want to walk around....I really need to get out...just look...don't need to buy. Maybe look at ridiculously expensive clothing and than laugh."

Then I understood...although I think Husband looks good in anything, he barely purchased any clothing in the entire time I've known him. I know he appreciates style but he doesn't go out and buy new items for himself. I know it is because he is trying to save save save so I can have have have.

My poor wonderful husband.

Anyway...today, I insisted (with very little resistance on Husband's part) that we would shop just for him! And shop we did. We realized that Ben Sherman fits his physique well and we ended up with 3 new sweaters, 1 button-up top, and 1 short sleeved button-up top. Husband couldn't be happier and neither can I :)

Day 23

I know I've skipped some days and we have since purchased items here and there. I'd say over the past 3 days, we've spent about $30 on groceries. Trying to do the DASH plan requires a lot more effort. October is almost over and it was a strange month...I think we'll continue to do the best we can and start anew in November.

This is one of the meals that I cooked for husband as part of the DASH plan. This is a pretty hearty meal. Let's see how the sodium breaks down:

1. Baked potato mashed with lowfat plain yogurt (85 mg) & chives, 1/4 c. shredded parmesan (320 mg), topped with sauteed onions and mushrooms. = 405mg of sodium

2. Steamed broccoli (with a bit from the 1.4 c. parmesan) = 0 mg of sodium

3. Chicken with just a tablespoon of homemade spicy teriyaki sauce = 700 estmated

Total: 1104 mg of sodium for dinner

The plan is to have no more than 15oo mg of sodium per day. I believe his lunch had around 500mg of sodium so all, in all, not bad!

Day 19

Last night I went out and bought 2 large potatoes, broccoli, onions, green onions, and garlic for a grand total of $5.75. I thought the onion-family produce would be necessary for flavoring since I am cutting most of our sodium intake in the attempt to reduce hubster's blood pressure. We've been on the DASH plan for a few days now and I am happy to report that hubby went in for a full physical today and is in apparent good health. His BP is on the higher side of normal but at least it is good! We'll still try to do DASH as much as possible to reduce it some more if possible but yay for good news! The labwork and everything else will come in later. Now I have to find time for a physical myself...this growing up and being an adult thing requires so much responsibility!

Total Spent: $.5.75

Days 14,15,16,17, 18

Oh this week is bad...so bad with the spending.

Day 14

$0

Day 15

$1.50 (I bought coffee so I could get free parking at Starbucks rather than spend that on nothing to plug the meter).

Day 16

$23 (We went out to eat to celebrate Father-in-Law's birthday--this was our share).

$23 (yummy chocolate cake from Whole Foods for FIL's birthday)

Total: $46

Day 17

$5 (stuff to make cream cheese frosting atop red velvet cupcakes I made for friend's baby shower)

Day 18

Oh boy. We spent $97 today in groceries. Arrrgh! We purchased a lot of things that we don't usually get such as orange juice but we did so because it was necessary. Hubsters did one of those supermarket blood pressure cuffs and found out that he's on the high side. So...in the effort to lower his blood pressure and prevent him from developing hypertension, we have drastically reduced the amount of sodium in our diets, increased potassium, and are making sure he'll get at least 8 hours of good sleep and 30 minutes of exercise each day. We are also following the DASH eating plan so I am working to make sure hubster's eats the correct amount each day. If all goes as plan and we are spartan with the routine, his blood pressure should go back to normal within a few weeks. I have a feeling that much of his recent blood pressure rise comes from the SoCal food binge + lack of sleep but in any case, Operation Healthy Hubby is in full swing!

This is what $97 worth of groceries gets you:

1. Nature's Shredded Wheats ($2.50/10mg sodium per serving)

2. Ocean Spray Cranberries (on sale...I think for $4.50/10mg sodium per serving)

3. Organic Bob's Red Mill Whole Wheat Flour-2 qty ($4.49ea/0mg sodium)

4. Almond Milk ($3.50/150mg sodium per cup)

5. Florida's Orange Juice-2 qty ($2.50ea/0mg sodium)

6. 10lbs sweet potatoes- $6.69/negligble sodium)

7. White mushrooms- (forgot price-but high in potassium and hubby likes them)

8. 3lbs shredded parmesan cheese ($11/bag. It's a lot/it's salty, it's expensive but a little goes a long way. Since hubster's loves salty snacks, I am making home-made crackers with a controlled amount of salt/cheese with this. 320mg sodium per 1/4 cup)

9. 6 pack of organic pasta ($7.00. 0mg sodium)

10. 5lb bag baby carrots (forgot price.)

11. 3lbs bananas ($1.30)

12. Plain Yogurt- 2 qty ($1.69 ea/150-180mg sodium per serving. I accidentally grabbed 2 plain..I meant to grab one vanilla haha. Instead I grabbed one non-fat and one low-fat plain, hence the difference in sodium levels.)

13. 4-pack laughing cow cheese ($8.00/80mg sodium)

14. Green Tea ($1.50)

15. Black organic grapes ($1.50/lb.)

16. Fresh mozzarella cheese ($6.50/80mg sodium per ounce)

Total Spent on Groceries: $97 (Costco and Health food store groceries)

As you can see, we got a lot of dairy haha. As part of the DASH plan, hubby needs 3-4 servings of dairy a day and about 10 servings of fruit & vegetables combined per day. The other stuff such as grains & protein are easier to meet. I have to make sure that hubby doesn't eat less than 2000 calories a day but it is so easy to fill up with fruits and vegetables! To make sure he meets his quota, I got a bunch of stuff to make him more nutrient-dense meals hehe. I also don't want him to feel deprived or feel sad & stressed over this (stress raises BP) so I'm doing my best not to disrupt our usual eating habits. Anyway...I guess October's Experiment should also include "Reduce Blood Pressure".