So today I got several more loads of laundry done, baked another pound cake, took a 3-mile walk with a friend, lit a fire under both kids, cleared store inventory out of the great room in the basement, and generally worked to transform my chaotic mess of a house into a warm and welcoming party venue. I'm exhausted and stressed.
Costco -- $68.40
- case of Kleenex boxed tissues -- $15.45
- case of Izze drinks -- $10.99
- case of Hansen soda -- $6.79
- huge bag of M&M candies for dispenser -- $8.99
- 2# shrimp tray -- $24.99
Whole Foods -- $15.60
- top sirloin steak (used as stew meat in my special Okra-Tomato stew; always a party favorite) -- $10.15
- Ah-Laska! chocolate syrup -- $4.99
Kroger -- $13.40
I'd hoped to make this trip tomorrow morning but after making the Okra-Tomato stew I realized that I had planned to hold out some of the chopped canned tomatoes to be used in my Chili con Queso. I'd already put the Velveeta on to melt so I had to go back tonight -- hoping against hope that they'd have some of the dinner rolls I still needed. If they'd been sold out as they were yesterday, I'd have to to go tonight and again tomorrow morning. But the Christmas-Party gods took pity on me and conjured up two bags of hard dinner rolls just for me.
I also ended up having a return to make: yesterday's bag of Kettle chips had oozed the most amazing amount of oil out through the bag's back seal onto the slide-out shelf in our snack cupboard. The Husband and the kids have been eating that brand of potato chips for years and I've never seen anything like this. The bag was literally in a puddle of oil and that puddle of oil was all over the "new" kitchen cabinets that I'm still very protective of even 5 years after the kitchen remodel.
- Kettle chips -- ($3.99)
- 2 bags of hard rolls -- $1.69/ea.
- Hunts diced tomatoes -- $0.95
- Boulder potato chips -- $2.99
- 4 huge Cadbury chocolate bars -- $1.00/ea.
- 2 huge Symphony chocolate bars -- $1.00/ea.
- 4 huge Hersey's chocolate bars -- $1.00/ea.
The chocolate bars were 10 for $10. I'd been tempted to buy some last night for in the kids' stocking but decided they didn't need that kind of encouragement. Somehow small chocolates in their stockings is more palatable to me as a mother.
However, we're down to the 11th hour before the family Christmas party and I only had 3 of our 4 Exchange Game gifts. Turn about is fair play and, honestly, I'm looking forward to exacting a little payback for all of the mildly (and occasionally wildly) inappropriate gifts The Husband's older kids have given to The Son and The Daughter over the years. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when one of their kids lands this prize. Of course, with my luck one of my kids will end up with 10 huge candy bars as their Exchange Gift -- though I can't see The Daughter actively pursuing them.
Now it's off to bed for a little rest before the final pre-party frenzy.
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More Party Prep
So today I got several more loads of laundry done, baked another pound cake, took a 3-mile walk with a friend, lit a fire under both kids, cleared store inventory out of the great room in the basement, and generally worked to transform my chaotic mess of a house into a warm and welcoming party venue. I'm exhausted and stressed.
Costco -- $68.40
Whole Foods -- $15.60
Kroger -- $13.40
I'd hoped to make this trip tomorrow morning but after making the Okra-Tomato stew I realized that I had planned to hold out some of the chopped canned tomatoes to be used in my Chili con Queso. I'd already put the Velveeta on to melt so I had to go back tonight -- hoping against hope that they'd have some of the dinner rolls I still needed. If they'd been sold out as they were yesterday, I'd have to to go tonight and again tomorrow morning. But the Christmas-Party gods took pity on me and conjured up two bags of hard dinner rolls just for me.
I also ended up having a return to make: yesterday's bag of Kettle chips had oozed the most amazing amount of oil out through the bag's back seal onto the slide-out shelf in our snack cupboard. The Husband and the kids have been eating that brand of potato chips for years and I've never seen anything like this. The bag was literally in a puddle of oil and that puddle of oil was all over the "new" kitchen cabinets that I'm still very protective of even 5 years after the kitchen remodel.
The chocolate bars were 10 for $10. I'd been tempted to buy some last night for in the kids' stocking but decided they didn't need that kind of encouragement. Somehow small chocolates in their stockings is more palatable to me as a mother.
However, we're down to the 11th hour before the family Christmas party and I only had 3 of our 4 Exchange Game gifts. Turn about is fair play and, honestly, I'm looking forward to exacting a little payback for all of the mildly (and occasionally wildly) inappropriate gifts The Husband's older kids have given to The Son and The Daughter over the years. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when one of their kids lands this prize. Of course, with my luck one of my kids will end up with 10 huge candy bars as their Exchange Gift -- though I can't see The Daughter actively pursuing them.
Now it's off to bed for a little rest before the final pre-party frenzy.
Related posts: