Crib Bumpers, No Shopping & Carne Picada

Kamorah's crib bumpers needed to be washed and since the washer was preoccupied with Addy's-let's call it "accident" laundy, the bumpers were put on the back burner for a day. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal until Addy and I went in to check on Mora after her nap and found her like this... I call this picture Free The People. Sure am grateful for those normally overlooked bumpers


No Shopping. I think I missed out on the feminine "shopping gene". I definitely don't turn to shopping for therapy or comfort. I don't care to wander through stores one bit. My husband enjoys it more than I do so I'll send him whenever I can (especially if it's to Costco-love you Babe). I can't even remember the last time I bought clothes. Oh' yes I can. Clearance rack at Target when we first moved here. I bought a pink jacket and two shirts. Felt like I was really splurging. I know I know, "but sometimes you just need to treat yourself. It's amazing how good you feel in new clothes". Not me, seriously. If I were to go to some store in the mall, pick out a shirt that was not on sale, by the time I got it home I would've convinced myself that I didn't need it, and it would weigh on me until I returned it. Maybe it's a guilt thing. Maybe it's a pride thing. Either way, I might be fit for psychological evaluation on this one. I've come a long way since first being married and have let my husband win out on a few big purchases. The bottom line, I don't like shopping because I don't like spending money. In fact I take great pride in not spending money. It is a great source of satisfaction in my life. I feel so rewarded, so accomplished, so non-wasteful and free! Purchasing our necessities under budget is liking getting an 'A' in a hard class. It is hard for me to buy something that we don't absolutely need. Ask my poor husband. His selections at the store go through a rigorous trial of necessity vs. luxury before purchase.

I'm always buying in bulk, bargains, clearance,coupons... trying to save a little here or there. But every once in a while, I discover a cheaper way of doing something. Better than just a one time deal, a different way of living that can continuously put more money into our pockets. Just yesterday I came upon one such discovery.CARNE PICADA! So I thought I had discovered something when I realized how much more affordable it is to buy stew meat in bulk instead of a whole roast; tastes the same, already cut. Until I found Carne Picada at the store yesterday. It is the same tough beef as stew meat just cut in smaller shreds. You are not going to believe me, but I spent $3.12 on a family size 5lbs (which the man reduced while I was standing there because it needed to be sold by the 15th so I still had several good days left). I was a little hesitant, but after the meat man insisted it was the same meat just cut differently, I was accepting, for the price. So today I tested it. After spending a few minutes removing the small deposits of fat (which most people would probably just ignore, I do it on any kind of meat) I coated it with flour and threw it in with some other ingredients for some stroganoff.

...and the grammy goes to...CARNE PICADA, my new cheaper way to do some crock potting and mexican style meals. It was absolutely delicious and obviously affordable. I even have half of it left in the freezer. I can hardly contain my excitement.

So today my miracle
those little make-life-more-affordable finds.
like you, CARNE PICADA. Here's to you, you money saving, great tasting, spanish version of a classic traditional.