Final Five AI

Neil Diamond.  Now, if the contestants can't do something with all his material, then they definitely have no biz being on the show.

Jason: Forever in Blue Jeans.  Boy, was  this right up his alley.  I thought he looked more comfortable and happy than he has in a while.

David Cook: I'm Alive.  He was good, but this wasn't a great performance for me. Dawg.

Brooke: I'm A Believer - Terrible.  Hard to listen to.  Wrong voice, wrong personality.  Yuck.

Baby David: Sweet Caroline.  When he first started out, I was actually worried for a minute. . . but he 'caught up' and sounded good; he just didn't 'wow' me  :(   . 

Syesha: Hello Again.  Just when I was thinking about how pretty she looked and how decent she sounded, those RIDICULOUS hands were all up in her face - the camera angle was purposeful.  They MUST want to annoy, aggravate and antagonize.  I don't know what more we can say to get the producers to CUT THAT OUT.  Literally.

Ryan asked for a brief review from the judges before the second set of songs.  We didn't get to see whatever Paula was smoking, but we knew she was because she was talking about Jason's first song, compared to his second song. . .   Simon and Randy rescued her as Simon went on to declare all the performances mediocre.

Jason: September Morn.  Again, it was just Jason.  At least he didn't have an instrument, and he stood up and sang; that was as different as he got.

David Cook:  All I Really Need is You.  Not really wowing me with this one either.  Judges LOVED it.  Stoned Paula said she felt like she was looking at the next American Idol.  Both of them.

Brooke:  interview before song two - disagreed with Simon calling the first performance a nightmare;  "No".  She had fun with it.  Too bad we didn't have fun listening to it.  

Sang a revised (Arizona for New York) version of  I Am...I Said.  Her talking- back-disagreeing-self sounded really good on this song.

Baby David:  America.  This was the Baby David that I LOVE.  Makes me pay attention.  What a sweetie, what a VOICE.

Syesha: Thank The Lord for the Nighttime.  She's fun to watch;  I don't think she has the best voice, but she seems to enjoy performing more than any of the others.  Easy to imagine her in a musical.

I'd say Brooke was next up for elimination, but after she survived last week, who knows?  Next person in trouble - Syesha - because she seems to be in the wrong venue.  Jason wasn't strong tonight, but he's gonna be okay no matter what happens;  he'll sell 'albums' because of his Jack Johnsonism.  Likeable.  Fun, 'easy' listening.

Check out BooMama for yet more AI opinions and recaps!

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If I write it down

I've created a simple menu plan for this week, and I'm joining others who link theirs through organizing junkie.

I'm going to start tallying the cost of individual meals, but right now I'm using as much of the food I have on hand as possible, so I won't be able to at first.

I can tell you the value of Monday night's dinner:  priceless.  It's free to us because it is a homemade chicken pot pie from the neighbors across-the-street.   Occasion:  I loaned them some celery previously.

 If you've read mine or my daughter's blog for long, you know that we have ridiculously great neighbors.  ( One of those neighbors, Sharon, hasn't been posted about in a while here, but not because she's been lazy (as if), or because I've been disinterested.  No, it's because she decided to create her own blog!  This is a super idea, except for the part that a blog doesn't write itself. . . . . .   if she doesn't start writing soon, she understands that I have first dibs on her life stories).

Anyway, back to the food:

Monday:  Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday:  Black-eyed Peas, Cornbread, Onion

Wednesday:  Spaghetti

Thursday:  Mexican Chicken Lasagna

Friday:  Pizza

This will help me stay on track for the week.  Muddy mentioned a problem planning a meal but then not being in the mood for it.  I fall into that trap just buying the random makings for meals, but then forgetting about it or not being in the mood to cook a particular something.  So, a menu plan means less wasted food in my case.

Here goes!

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WINNER !

I really, really mean it when I say thank you to everyone who entered; I love reading the comments, appreciate the recipes, and am trying to visit everyone's blog.  

I used the random integer generator and it determined that

the winner of the apron and candy is:

Qtpies7

Congratulations!!!

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Eating or thinking about it

Been keeping up with food prices and trying to pay better attention to how much a particular meal costs us.

The other night we had a really delicious and filling dinner for four for under $14.00.  Now, I know this isn't anywhere in the range of the people eating for $1.00 a meal, but this was more substantial than just a veggie plate or such - which I like, but this pleased the guys too.  AND, we had enough left over for dinner last night for Christopher and me.

Better yet, it was a crockpot recipe!  Woo-hoo!!  

The cookbook called it Royal Roundsteak, but it is a close kin to beef stroganoff.  I bought (ON SALE) stew meat cubes, 1.63 lbs for $4.71.  The best part:  I had everything else on hand.  Dry onion soup mix, two cans cream of mushroom soup, 1 - 2 tbsp oil, and egg noodles. (I used organic mushroom soup, and 'name-brand' noodles;  I'm guessing you could make this meal for $10 ish with less expensive ingredients).

Heat the oil and brown the meat, then everything into the pot for 6 - 7 hours (high).  Serve over noodles or rice.  

Yummy!!  We served this main course with cut Italian green beans.   The meal went a long way (seconds) that night, and again, we had leftovers.  

This is progress for me - even just the part of keeping track of costs.  (And comparing it to going to Red Robin instead. . . )

Then today:  Target had whole organic chickens on sale for 1.79 lb.  This is a good deal for organic, so I bought four birds, and one is in the crockpot right now.   A favored meal around here is poppyseed chicken, so I'm going to have plenty of the chicken on hand, and buy the sour cream when it's on sale or I have a coupon.

I'm still reading all the "frugal" blogs and I hope to have more and more success stories and tips of my own.  Bear with me. . . 

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AI Elimination Show Blow-by-Blow

8pm.

We open with the obligatory group song, accompanied by Andrew Lloyd on the piano.  

Three guys, three girls, and the ubiquitous waving arms.  Does someone pay them to do that?  Because who, over ten years old,  would keep doing that of their own volition?

ALW defended Brooke's mess up last night, and reiterated how surprised he was that Jason chose to sing Memories and how he didn't follow his advice.

AI Ford commercial.

President Bush and first-lady Laura thanked viewers for donating during Idol Gives Back. 

Bottom two stools - not three!

First:  the Davids.  Both safe.

Visiting old idols - now starring on Broadway:  Tamyra Gray (season one) is in Rent, Clay Aiken (season two) is in Spamalot.

Leona Lewis, one of Simon's 'discoveries' from England, sang Bleeding Love.

Syesha and Brooke.  The shocker:  Brooke is SAFE.  Syesha goes to one of the dreaded stools.  This is  backwards.

Carly  (sleeveless, of course) and Jason.  Jason is SAFE!  Carly joins Syesha.  Well, come on, Jason is soooooooo likeable.  

Ryan said the bottom two would remind us of their performances, so they each sang again.

8:56 pm.  Carly is GOING HOME.  Taking the tattoo with her.  Song choice baby, song choice.

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American Idol Top Six

Wasn't too excited about it being Broadway night (Andrew Lloyd Webber), because I knew there would be some obscure music I'd never heard of.  Yes, yes, that tells you all how uncultured and unsophisticated I am.  Just can't seem to squeeze in the time for opera.

Syesha started out with the first unknown song, but at least her performance was energetic and fun.  She showed some personality, but I didn't think it was her best vocals (don't I sound like I know something).  I still don't connect with her;  it was good, but too little too late.

Jason at least chose a song most people would be familiar with: Memories.  The best thing about his segment was the session with ALW; ALW didn't think he'd ever see a man in dreadlocks singing that song, and Jason was surprised to find out that it was sung by a cat.

Brooke forgot the lyrics to her song from 'Evita',  and had to start over.  At least she tried to follow ALW's advice to sing as if she understood or meant the words, unlike when she sang the Dolly Parton song.  The most positive thing I can say about her is that at least she didn't talk back the whole time the judges were commenting.

Baby David has the voice to keep me interested in a song I'd never heard.  Very glad that ALW gave him the advice to 'keep his eyes open' ;  he doesn't need to improve his singing, just his performance and appearance.

Carly looked better than I've ever seen her, and her voice and performance were great;  she sang Superstar ... my dilemma - it was the perfect song for her, she did an incredible job, but out of context,  the song makes me uncomfortable.

David Cook sang another unfamiliar song, but again, his voice held my attention.  I really liked seeing that he could do something other than 'rock'.

Ranking top to bottom: Baby David, D.C., Carly, Jason, Syesha, Brooke.  I'm still thrown off by Michael Johns absence.

Predict that Jason or Brooke will get voted off.

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Bloggy Giveaway

It's here again!


This round I'm giving away a brand-new, with tags, Williams Sonoma apron and a one pound bag of organic candy.


The jessie steele fine hostess bib apron retails for $48.00. It is a fruit print fabric, with red edging and half circle pocket. The bottom of the apron is 'skirted'. Very very cute! It might make someone want to cook!

The candy is a one pound bag of Pomegranate Pucker Organic drops from YummyEarth. 100% natural colors - no chemical dyes, 100% natural flavors, real fruit extracts, 100% vegan. Allergen free.

Just leave any comment (make sure your name links back to a way of contacting you, or leave an email address), and for shipping consideration, please have a U.S. address.

*Contest ends 9pm CST, Sunday April 27th. Winner will be announced on Monday.*

If you have a favorite dish to cook, I'd much enjoy it if you shared, but that's not required. Have fun, and thanks for entering!

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Expelled

Yesterday, I took the kids to see the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

Ben Stein isn't a biblical creationist, but he does a great job exposing how radical evolutionists persecute people who don't accept evolution. "The movie also exposes the scientific problems with Darwinian evolution and the ruthlessness of its defenders."

We even recognized a scene in the movie! They showed protesters with signs saying things like "you evolved, but not nearly enough" that had picketed the Creation Museum in Kentucky.  We had attended the grand opening of the Creation Museum last May (awesome);  we didn't see these protesters, but we knew the protest was going on.  (So, now speaking of the Creation Museum, it was a great trip.  The entire area - Cincinnati, Newport, Petersburg - offered great, inexpensive outings for the family in addition to the Museum, which we spent an entire day enjoying).  

It was an excellent documentary, and we all liked it, even though some of the things said and believed were so sad and disheartening.  Of course we know there are people out there that don't believe in God, but to hear some of these "intellectuals" ridicule religion and faith the way they do was difficult.  But, overall, this movie is a positive - in part just because it was made in the first place!

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Freebies!!

Here's something sweet and fun to participate in that I found from Renna: 

The "Simple Woman's Pampering Gift-Away".  Peggy, the writer of The Simple Woman blog, is giving away a wonderful collection of goodies that include Bath and Body products, a book, book mark, chocolate (!!!!), and more.  

Very generous of her, especially considering that all you have to do for a chance to win is to write a post about the giveaway (you have to have a blog, Susan), and link to her site.

The contest ends tomorrow - April 18th - Peggy's birthday : ).  She'll pick a winner Saturday, the 19th.

Enjoy!

(thanks, Renna)

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I'm So Excited

Love using these song titles. . .

I have gotten so MUCH useful information in response to my last post. I thank everyone for the help.

I am 100% confident that I am going to achieve some level of success cutting down, not only my grocery bill, but also the cost of toiletries and little household items. One link has let to another; I have printed menu plans, recipes, and great coupons.

I was beside myself when I visited the websites of my organic brands (thanks Trina), and found good (worthwhile!) coupons for the actual products I buy.

I got a great 7-day menu plan from cleaneating (thanks Lisa); and I am seriously considering the grocerygame - especially now that I know Lori uses it!

I'm also heading back to Wild Oats / Whole Foods, per Jessica, after I check their weekly sales out on the website.

Now I have to plow through my new "paperwork" of sales circulars and recipes and menu plans, and finish my shopping list and make this happen.

Rest assured that I'll share my own tips and ideas once I see results for myself. Because I'm telling everybody, if I can do it, anybody can.

Now, not to start another subject, but I have to say congrats to MattBabb who won the "Losing Big Sensibly" contest at his workplace. He lost more than 40 pounds since January!

And, not to start yet another subject, but I'm sharing one of the reasons I tend to get distracted from my cheaper-groceries-quest. . . . :

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