Pantry Week and Impending Birthdays (Obviously Belong in the Same Post)

Rachel here.

Ok, so, first of all, pantry week is done. D-O-N-E. It was surprisingly easy, I must say. Being resourceful doesn't seem to be quite so difficult when you anticipate having to be. And so, night after night, we just made it work. And for those of you who followed our week on Facebook, you know we didn't even have to eat the same thing day in and day out. Nor did we have to live off the grapefruit tree in our yard as I told John we'd probably have to the night before pantry week began (me: Well, I guess the first step is to go and pick a bunch of grapefruits. ::sigh:: John: Really? You guess that the first step to pantry week is living off the land? ::laugh::). Interestingly, when I returned to the grocery store yesterday, I spent $100 less than we usually do. The best part was that it was effortless. I wasn't keeping track of how much I was spending and felt like I was doing a regular old grocery shop. Imagine my surprise at the check out! I'm thinking we might need to do pantry week more often. My theory on this grocery purchasing miracle was that I went into the experience with an actual awareness of what we already had at home to work with. Instead of starting from scratch, then, I built meals around what was back in the cupboards and refrigerator at our house. Additionally, after buying M food during our pantry week, we became aware of how much we spend on baby food. A LOT is the answer in case you weren't sure. And so another byproduct of pantry week is that we're re-entering a much more home-cooked sphere for M's eating. We started out there and we're coming back in now that she eats chunky food without any issue and now that I'm almost done with school. The convenience of jarred baby food was awesome, but fresh, local organic food will definitely do her growing baby-kid body better.

Speaking of M, I have a question for all of you out there. She's almost one (I'm pretty sure I just had a small heart attack when I wrote that sentence) and, though I always swore that we wouldn't throw her a birthday party, I'm singing a slightly different tune now. It seems...I don't know...fun or something. Plus, there's something about marking having survived this first year as family and as individuals--not just M, but John and me, too. So my question, really, has three parts. First, did you have a birthday party when you turned one/for your own kid(s) when they turned one? And second, if you did, what the heck did you serve? M doesn't do flour (gives her hives), which leads me to my third question. Does anyone have any killer desert recipes that are gluten-free and/or flour free?
HELP ME!!!!

It's Giveaway Time Again!

We're thrilled to announce that CSN Stores is partnering with us again to offer one LTIR lucky reader a $45 gift certificate to use at any one of its 200 — yes, 200 — online stores. If you're not familiar with CSN Stores, it's one-stop online shopping where you can find everything from stylish briefcases to cute cookware to chic lighting pieces!

All you have to do is leave a comment below with your email and you're entered to win. And of course, if you also want to become a follower, we would love that too, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest. :)

By the way, CSN Stores only ship to the US and Canada so the winner has to be from one of those spots. We will choose a winner at random Sunday, Dec. 12, and announce the winner Monday, Dec. 13. Good luck to all!

Failure at the Grocery and Five Fingers

Hey Ma,

So, I went to the grocery store the other day to fill out our meals for the week (we were starting to get low on the provisions you and Dad left us with...oh man, that was awesome) and I came home feeling quite pleased with our stash. I always feel pleased after grocery shopping (I'm sure there's something to be said about this), but this time I felt a little extra pleased because I had gone shopping without a list, an exercise I read about a few weeks ago that supposedly helps keep your brain sharp (because, you know, being a full-time student isn't doing that....but anyway). I always bring a list. Always. Admittedly this is mostly because I love a good list and not because I've ever feared I won't remember key groceries...or, at least, it was.

John is cooking dinner tonight (awesome). The meal scheduled for tonight (based on produce not turning before we use it) is sausages with beans and salad (sausage is one of our go-to busy day dinners...I really liked the pasta with pesto and sausage you made when you were visiting). Ten minutes ago, John came into the living room where G and I were watching an episode of 30 Rock (John has M in the kitchen with him, making this is a seriously luxurious moment) and asked if we had buns.

Nope, I forgot them.

Fast forward a few minutes. John's back, this time wondering if I bought mustard (sausages require mustard in our house).

Nope, I forgot it.

And so, though dinner will be fine, there goes my pride in grocery shopping without a list. You don't use a list, I don't think. It's one of the magical mom skills you posses (yes, though I'm a mom myself, I don't think I'll ever stop marveling at your super mom status...if anything I respect it now more than ever).

Alright. Here comes Super Dad (John) with our dinners so I'm off.

xxoo
Rachel


What's this picture got to do with food? NOTHING! My dad has become *obsessed* with these five finger shoes that supposedly make him use his feet the way we're supposed to. Anyway, during his visit he and John had some serious conversations about shoes and so this drawing is just a little present for my dad from John.