A Saturday in NYC

On Saturday I spent all day with a friend who was in the city visiting her younger sister. I absolutely love it when people visit, even for a day, and who want to do anything/everything...especially EAT! We had a blast catching up and exploring the city. The weather started out great (high 70s, some clouds) and by 4pm it started raining - but that didn't stop us!

Here's what we did, in order, along with my recommendations. See the nifty Google Map at the bottom! :)

• Hester Street Fair: a small craft/food market in the Lower East Side. I'd never heard of it but this was our meeting spot at 1pm. I'm not much of a crafts person...but I was all about the food! After having only a light breakfast, I couldn't resist the descriptions of the empanadas at the La Sonrisa stall. The coconut curry chicken empanada was AMAZING and I'm definitely going back just for that! It was $3 and worth every cent. I also had the pulled pork slider for $3.50 because I was hungry and it was good, but it didn't come close to the empanada!
  
  
• BisousCiao macarons: after lunch, we wandered up and down the awesome, fun streets of LES. We stumbled upon this macaron shop that I've been to before and since my friend had never had one, I said we had to stop in! I got the rose and she got the lavender and honey. A fantastic dessert! Macarons are $2.50 each. When you buy a box of any size, starting at 6 for $15, they package them up beautifully and it makes you feel like you just walked out of an overpriced boutique...which you basically did!
  
  
• Delicatessen: We then made our way from LES to SoHo in search of afternoon refreshments aka cocktails. We were hoping for something outdoors or at least with an open-air concept. The wait at Delicatessen wasn't bad and ended up with a table right next to the sidewalk which was perfect, especially when it rained for 30 minutes during our time. We split an order of the truffle parmesean fries and I had an outstanding lychee-ginger martini. It was exactly what I was looking for! Light and sweet, but not overpowering. While the service was a bit lacking (the hostess came up to our table at one point and asked us how long we had been there, basically trying to kick us out even though we were clearly eating/drinking) and the place was packed, it was really fun. I'd go back here for the fries and the martini! My share was $20. We tipped well because our awesome waiter saved us from the hostess and basically told her off. Win.
  
  
• Shopping near Broadway in SoHo: A quick gander through some stores on/near Broadway in SoHo. It gets crazy with tourists and locals alike, so head down the side streets. Check out some of the street vendors off of Broadway for interesting pieces. I've bought good quality, semi-pricey necklaces and bracelets (~$30 each) here before and there are a lot of unique finds!
  
  
• Dinosaur BBQ: My friend (plus her younger sister and entourage) were determined to go here. Even with the daunting wait time of TWO HOURS! I'd never been to an actual BBQ restaurant before. This was a blast! The bar definitely took some of our money during the waiting time and I'd highly recommend the Donkey Punch which is rum + fruit punch served in a mason jar. For $8, it was more than enough to last me through the wait AND dinner! For dinner, I got the 1/4 rack BBQ pork ribs. It came with 4 ribs, a small piece of cornbread and two sides (I had the mac & cheese and vegetable which was collard greens) for a mere $10.50! And I had leftovers! Definitely worth the wait time. Note: I learned via Yelp that they DO take reservations, which is fairly new.

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New York City Life: Some Updates

[via weheartit]

I'm still on the hunt for an apartment. It's frustrating but I know it'll work out! I've seen three places including the one I briefly wrote about in my last post and I have two more scheduled for this week. Plus I'm sending replying to all the possible Craigslist ads I can, so it really is taking up a big chunk of time.

I'm still eating out for 2 meals a day. (I've been keeping bagels/fruit at work for breakfast though!) It's still fun, even though sometimes I do feel guilty. Sometimes. ;) Oh and I'm in love with vanilla chais from Dunkin Donuts! I had one last Friday and another on Sunday...and could totally go for one now thanks to the rain/thunderstorm. Good thing I'm feeling lazy tonight!

My social life is...okay. One of my best girlfriends lives in city so I'm always included in her and her roommates' plans, but they were both out of town the last two weekends! So, I've been reaching out to other people I know of. I had a blast meeting up (twice!) with Leslie of 27 and Frugal recently and I'm also hoping to meet up with other bloggers soon, like Carolyn and Jessica! (Those last two blogs make me want to turn from a PF blogger to a regular blogger...hmm, food for thought?!) I've also sent e-mails to old friends who live in the city and a family friend's nephew/his girlfriend who said they'd be more than happy to help me make some connections in the city. It's definitely an adjustment going from having a consistent social life (friends, book club, bootcamps, etc) to basically being alone. Don't get me wrong, I am LOVING this time of exploring the city, doing what I want, eating what I want and relishing the time to myself. But I'm a people-person so it IS tough! It will pass though as I start to get to know more people and join things.

Speaking of joining things, I am planning on joining New York Sports Club. I believe I get a discount through work, but I think I have pay for a whole YEAR up front. That'll be about $800! EEK! However, for me it's totally worth it. I loved the Total Body Conditioning class I took and the Cardio Kickboxing was okay (the class had a substitute instruction so maybe that was why), but they have such a variety that I know I'll be happy there. I watched one of the Boxing classes and I definitely want to try it, but they seem tough to get it. (You have to call at 6am when they open or something to be lucky to get a spot!) I'll be doing this in the next month or two once I actually start getting my regular paychecks at work. Until then, lots of walking and occasionally dancing the night away!

By the way, I'd love to hear any of your advice on moving to a new city, meeting people and adjusting to new (yet familiar to me) surroundings. I definitely can't wait to have a more permanent place in the city. I can't even get mail here because I don't know how, hah!

Week One and a Half

This city is a dream come true. Some days I feel like I'm on vacation instead of actually living here! I definitely can't believe I've already been here for a week and a half. It's feeling like home, but maybe that's just because I'm so comfortable navigating through the city on my own? It's just so familiar from all my prior visits!

Work has been going well. I'm still training, I'm still having technology issues and I'm still having a good time with my coworkers. The hours are great (8:30am-5pm) and soon I'll be receiving my keyfob so I can occasionally work from home!

I moved into the sublet last Thursday. That...has been interesting. Turns out, the girls smoke IN the apartment, when I had been told they only smoke outside. As a non-smoker, this is disgusting to me! Luckily, my room doesn't smell and neither does my closet (which is outside my room) or the bathroom. But hey, this is their apartment and after all, I'm only here for a month. The girls also party frequently, come home drunk, turn on ALL the lights in the apartment and are very loud. Unfortunately, they just aren't my type of people. However, the neighborhood (Hell's Kitchen) is fantastic, I can walk to work in 15 minutes and the subway in about 8 minutes. There's also NO overlap in terms of showering/getting ready, which is a big plus!

I knew this transition month would be expensive, especially in terms of food. I have been going out to eat or doing take-out (no delivery for me yet, I'm not that lazy!) for almost every meal. Since April 1 I've spent almost $80 on that! Last week I did make a point of buying bagels and cottage cheese for breakfast, which I keep at work, so at least that is helping a bit. But being a foodie, NYC is like mecca. I love trying different food carts at lunch (quick, cheap and I always have leftovers!) and trying restaurants in my area. The fact that the girls I'm staying with don't own any pots/pans doesn't exactly help matters! But you know what? I'm actually enjoying it! I know I can afford to eat like this because I have money saved up from my bonus/tax refund/sale of my car...and after packing my lunch 95% of the time for the past 2.5 years, I'm okay with dining out for every meal for ONE month. :) (Crossing my fingers that it's not more than that!)

One of my friends in the city got me a free week pass to New York Sports Club. They are all over the city, including one right near my work. I've gone twice already to different classes (a weightlifting class and a kickboxing class) and I definitely plan on signing up! I might try out one other gym just to see what their classes are like and because my work gives a decent discount to a few different ones. But I'll most likely sign up for NYSC using the corporate discount which should come to $70/month. Compared to my old 24 Hour Fitness Costco membership, it's ridiculously expensive. However, apparently this is a SOLID rate according to people I've talked to! Plus with the salary increase I got with my new position, I can afford that! (And hey, I walk everywhere and have been going to the gym so that will definitely counteract all the eating I'm doing!)

I've also started my apartment hunt! I'm looking to move into an already furnished apartment (either one or two other roommates) with either a furnished or unfurnished bedroom for May 1. I definitely want to stay on the west side of Manhattan since this is where my job is and where my friends are, plus commuting from most east side neighborhoods would be an absolute PAIN! I've worked out a maximum budget based on what my friends pay for their apartment in their fantastic location and so far, I definitely think I can come under that! I've been emailing places on Craigslist daily, and tonight I went to see my first one. The location was excellent (in Chelsea), one avenue from the subway and the rent sounded decent. However, upon arrival and the three flights up (not a deal breaker for me), the room was way smaller than the pictures, it was directly next to the front door of the apartment and it's on a very loud, main street. The place also smelled of smoke, not sure if that was from the current people living their or wafting from somewhere else, but obviously that IS a deal breaker! There were three of us there checking out the room/apartment and the two girls who live their currently also get up almost exactly when I do so that would be an issue since there's only one bathroom. That place was a big no for me, but I definitely learned what to look out for and more about what to ask (laundry, bedbugs/rodents, street noise). Obviously, I also have to be absolutely ready to take a place if I really like it, though! Since it's still the beginning of April, I know a lot of rooms will still be coming available so I'm not worried. Next!

I still have more to blog about but I'm getting tired and want to spend some time reading before bed. More soon! Have a great rest of your week. :)

Healthy Eating

I've always eaten healthy. I was lucky in that when I was growing up, my parents could afford to buy good food and we sat down for dinner every single night to a healthy, home-cooked meal. I couldn't be more thankful that they rubbed off on me!

I'm very petite and have always had a fast metabolism. Instead of eating three large meals a day, I've always had three small/medium-sized meals plus a few snacks, as I find that I get hungry every few hours. I am currently trying to gain a few pounds and since I am now lifting weights, I know I need to eat more as I'm burning more calories and gaining muscle. As I type this, I've had an exceptionally healthy day even by my standards and thought I would share what I ate.

Breakfast
1 Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Blackberries
2 T Ground Flax Seed (I buy it in bulk at Costco)
Drink: Green Tea

Snack #1
Apple

Lunch
1 slice 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Cottage Cheese
Seasoning Salt
1 piece Leftover Homemade Pizza (whole wheat crust, zucchini, roasted garlic, mozzarella cheese)
Drink: Water

Snack #2 (Oatmeal Pudding, made in blender)
1/4 cup Cottage Cheese
1/4 cup Raw Oats
1/2 cup Water
1 T Creamy Peanut Butter
1 t Honey

Dinner
Quinoa
Green Lentils
1 Egg
Lite Soy Sauce
Drink: Green Tea

Are you a healthy eater? Where did you get your habits from? What are your favorite splurges? Mine are Haagen Dazs ice cream and Ferrero Rocher chocolates. :)

[image via]

A Dinner Party

I hosted my first dinner party on Friday night! Due to a slight mis-communication between my roommate and I, it ended up just being myself and two of my friends. However, just having the two of them over turned out to be absolutely great! After a half-day at work, I stopped by some grocery stores to pick up food and alcohol because I wanted to make some fun cocktails.

Trader Joe's, $18.72

• Mango & Sticky Rice Dessert (forgot about dessert, so didn't eat this yet)
• Pita Crackers
• Cilantro & Jalapeno Hummus (delicious... my new favorite hummus! The center tastes like chutney)
• Bacardi White Rum (I had a $2-off coupon)

Ralph's, $13.29

• Orange Juice
• Pineapple Juice
• 3 Chicken Kabob Skewers with Vegetables

For vegetables, I already had all the ingredients. I marinated two sliced zucchini with about 1/2 cup of Italian dressing and a few teaspoons of oregano, thyme and basil for 5 hours in my fridge. It's from this awesome recipe and I grilled them up on one side of the grill while the chicken kabobs grilled on the other. Pre-grilled zucchini:

[my own image via Blackberry]

We had the hummus and pita chips while we waited for the grilled items to finish, and I made some brown rice in my rice cooker as well. The food was delicious and so were the Mai Tai's that we made! Dark rum (already had), light rum, pineapple juice and orange juice. I might've enjoyed them a bit too much! ;)

My friends stayed until midnight and we just sat around the small dining room table eating and talking. It was a great night, even if it was a bit more elaborate and expensive since I bought everything... but they had hosted me for the final World Cup game so I was more than happy to return the favor! Plus it gave me a reason to try a new recipe and the grilled zucchini is definitely a keeper, and I was able to work on some hostess skills.

Larabar Contest

I won a Larabar giveaway last week! I was recently introduced to the bars by my Mom who sent me a few in a care package. I had heard a lot about them but find them a bit pricey ($1.25+/bar) but they are really healthy with only 2-5 ingredients per bar. Perfect for a pre- or post-workout snack!

While I was browsing the website, I saw they were doing a giveaway because one of their flavors (Cocoa Mole) is being retired. I entered my information on a whim (who doesn't love contests?!) and was notified via e-mail that I won! My prize pack will arrive in a few weeks and supposedly includes a t-shirt and some of the now-expired Cocoa Mole Larabars! I love free stuff...especially when it has to do with food. :) Thank you, Larabar!

Williams-Sonoma Healthy Cooking Technique Class: Seafood

One of my coworker friends signed us up for FREE healthy cooking technique classes in April through Williams-Sonoma. The first one, out of the set of three in April, was for seafood. We received a handout with recipes that were showcased, including what Williams-Sonoma items were used. The recipes were pan-fried salmon with a mango-cucumber-pineapple salsa and shrimp with mixed greens salad. The vinaigrette for the salad was super simple and delicious, all whisked together in a bowl:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup Kern's pear nectar
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar

An easy shrimp recipe, foolproof to not having that dreaded "rubbery" texture? Season shrimp with olive oil, salt, pepper and/or your favorite seasonings, then bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through. There were lots of awesome kitchen gadgets used, too! However, I find chopping vegetables very therapeutic, so I'm not a fan of all the vegetable choppers - especially since most of them are very arduous to clean!

Next week's class is on vegetables and the final class is on chicken! :)

Follow-Up: How Much Do You Spend on Groceries?

This is my follow-up post to last month's How Much Do You Spend On Groceries? There were lots of great comments, so be sure to check them out!

Of course, the sample set was interesting. (Though I would say it's biased towards my mostly frugally-conscious readers. :) ) The average amount spent per month was $283, with the lowest being $100 for 1 person and the highest at $400 for 2 people. Most people were located in large cities (LA, NYC) and those on the higher end of the monthly grocery bills tended towards organic/natural food. I loved all the responses!

Here is my information:

Location: San Diego, CA
Monthly Grocery $: $105 (2009 average; a LOT lower than I expected it to be! I budget $125-$150/month)
For: 1 person
Other: I don't buy any processed foods and avoid most expensive snacks. I buy in-season produce. I also buy generic brand of anything and everything. I always shop at my "trifecta" in Southern California: Ralph's, Henry's and Trader Joe's. I don't use coupons, and I bring my lunch to work every day. I don't buy a lot of meat (maybe 1 bag of frozen chicken thighs/breasts at Costco per month) and try to eat mostly vegetarian... but I always have ice cream in the apartment! :)

How Much Do You Spend on Groceries?

As you (might or might not) know, I love food! With my love of food comes my love of grocery shopping! :) I keep track of my monthly grocery expenses, since it's one of my higher-spending categories, but recently I've started wondering how much other people spend on groceries.

So, I've decided to ask my readers! I'm looking to compile a small sample of information on how much you spend on groceries by providing the following information:

Location: City or State or general location

$ Grocery Amount:

Per Week/Bi-Weekly/Monthly:

For: 1 person, 2 people, etc

Other: Are you vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/other dietary restrictions? Do you use coupons? Do you buy in bulk? Do you avoid certain cheap/expensive items? Do you splurge on anything?

I'm looking forward to your responses! And I'll let you know about my grocery habits when I do a follow-up post soon. :)

SuperBowl Sunday!

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

My roommates and I are having a mini party at our apartment. We spent the morning cleaning up and now we're skipping lunch to make a bunch of food and get organized for approximately 15 friends. My share of our supplies is $29.32, which isn't too bad considering we bought a bunch of beer, smoked salmon, chips and ingredients for two appetizers I'm making for the game! Here's what I'm making:

• Taco Dip in my crockpot
• Homemade Fries: Baked red potato wedges seasoned with olive oil + curry powder + salt/pepper
  

By the way, I've never been a sports fan but this year my roommates have gotten me into baseball and are still slowly working on football. If my fantasy playoff football team does decent after the game, maybe I'll finally be a convert! ;) Have a great day!

Do you have any Superbowl traditions? How about recipes?

Cooking Class

So I finally used my Groupon and went to a cooking class last night!

It was a lot of fun! The group was really small, about 15 people came to the class. The theme was soups and sandwiches aka comfort food. I got a seat right up front and it was a blast. The chef was really enthusiastic, very friendly and funny. It was pretty casual and you could ask questions while he was cooking. 2 of the soups were pre-made since they take a bit longer. We got to try all 4 soups (including a dessert one!) and 3 sandwiches. I came home with a food coma because the portions were HUGE due to the fact that the class size was small! :) There was also a delicious appetizer and the waitstaff gave everyone two glasses of wine and constantly filled up water... better service than at some restaurants! Everything was absolutely fantastic! Here's what we ate:

• Creamy Tomato Bisque with Grilled Cheddar & Bleu Cheese Bacon/Green Apple Sandwich
• Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque with Warm Turkey Wrap
• Spicy Black Bean Soup with Warm Cuban Sandwich
• Raspberry & White Chocolate Soup with Dark Brownie Bites
  

Everyone received a stapled packet of all the recipes and most of us took some notes while the chef was cooking. One of the things I liked best about the class was that none of the soups or sandwiches were difficult to make and all the ingredients are readily available in most pantries and grocery stores! (Actually, a lot of the chef's ingredients came from Costco!) All in all, the just-over-2-hour class was really neat. I learned some new tricks (like how to make parmesan crisps! that creme fraiche & basil oil are amazingly simple!) and that I should invest in an immersion blender if I want to make delicious soups. ;)

It was completely worth the $25 I spent via Groupon! :) Maybe I'll find a deal for one of their hands-on cooking classes in the future!

Have you ever taken a cooking class? Did you like it?

Green Monster Smoothie!

Today I got to leave work early due to "expected worsening weather conditions" which means... it's raining and very windy, and Southern California can't handle that! Either way, I'm glad work wants us to all be safe. :)

I bought a few ingredients the other night and vowed to make a green monster smoothie sometime. I've been reading about them on various food blogs that I follow and finally decided to try it out. I eat healthy as often as possible and buy a lot of fresh ingredients, though I am by no means a health nut so this is a VERY healthy drink for me!

So now I'm sitting here drinking my own green monster smoothie (it doesn't quite look like the picture on the left, but close enough, lol) and it's delicious! Here's my recipe:

1 tablespoon flaxseed (ground & organic)
1.5 cups spinach
1 cup vanilla soymilk
1 small mango, diced
1 small jazz apple, diced
ice

NYC: What I Did & What I Spent!

Disclaimer: I am obsessed/addicted/in love with NYC.

I spent a lot. I ate a lot. I did a lot. I hung out with one of my best friends and her friends, and my parents. I also saw a musical (The Toxic Avenger) with my Mom, which was hilarious and we got front-row seats from the TKTS booth! A big surprise was that my Dad, out of his generosity and ever-giving nature, gave me a check for $500 and told me to go wild! He's not usually one to hand out money like that, especially over the last year where him and my Mom have been a bit more frugal due to the economy and loss in their retirement accounts.

So, I followed my Dad's instructions. That $500 definitely went wild, and quickly! I spent $100 on a few round of drinks, a new battery for my digital camera and some meals. The remaining $400 all went to (much-needed) new clothes! I bought a new pair of flip flops, a lightweight jacket, a pair of boots (pictured), 3 shirts, 2 belts, a long necklace, a set of bracelets, a lightweight scarf, a new "I <3 New York" t-shirt to replace my old one, a skirt, underwear and 3 bras!


The city is also a big reason why I am a foodie. Here are just a few of the amazing restaurants: DBGB, Porchetta, Momofuku Ssam, Pio Pio, Ippudo, Creperie, Rice to Riches, Tiffin Wallah... :)

I will be taking $52.21 from my Travel Fund. This was for passport photos I had taken, a taxi ride, and some items I bought at Sephora.

I'm lucky (really lucky) to have amazing parents who do enjoy spoiling me on vacations! It's nice to not have to think about money sometimes and just have a fantastic time! :)

A Coupon + Cooking Class!

I've recently discovered a site called Groupon. It reminds me of Restaurants.com, but with different activities at discounts every day, in various cities across the country. My Mom mentioned it to me, after hearing about it on Good Morning America or some other morning news show. Last week, I decided to check it out!

On the day I went to the site, they had a 49% discount for a cooking class in my city! A friend of mine got the same deal, so for $25 each we are going to a 2.5-hour class. Unfortunately, this is not a hands-on class, but one where we get to watch a chef create a 4-course meal. However, we do get appetizers and get to eat the food at the end, plus ask questions/make comments/take notes, etc. I am SO excited and will definitely blog about it after! I think it's a great deal... basically, the same price as going out to a decent meal with friends. :)

(And no, this was not a paid post.)

My Rice Cooker

I recently purchased a rice cooker! I had been wanting one for a while, since I cook a lot of rice: it's cheap, filling, and goes great with a lot of meals. My parents have a rice cooker, my brother in college has one and one of my best friends has one - and they all swear by it! So, I took the plunge and added another kitchen gadget to my collection. (I already have a food processor and a crock pot.)

I did a bit of research and decided to go with the Rival 6-cup Rice Cooker from Target for $16.99 plus tax. It's absolutely adorable and really small, so it fits easily into a cupboard and barely takes up any counter space! With this specific rice cooker, it's very important to follow the instruction booklet it comes with: you need to use the included "rice scoop" and fill it up to the same "water line" as how many scoops you put in, i.e., 1 scoop = "1" on the water line. (Never try to cook the maximum 3 cups uncooked rice in it because, based on the reviews, it's too much for the little guy to handle and will make a mess on your counter!)

I have used it 3x since I bought it: 2x using only 1 scoop of rice and 1x using 2 scoops. The rice has been perfect each time! I think brown rice might take a bit longer to cook, but I've only used white basmati rice so far. It's perfect for a single person or a couple, because it makes enough to eat plus some leftovers.

It also comes with a vegetable steamer on top (not pictured). I have used it to steam peas, edamame and green beans - all frozen and thrown in the veggie steamer about 5-10 minutes after I started cooking the rice. Next I'll try steaming some potstickers.

It's so easy and I'm very happy with my purchase! :)

Proud to Call Myself...

One of my very first posts when I started this blog was about cooking. (Food is a passion of mine, though I don't think I write about it enough!) Over the years, I have turned into a foodie but had never really been much of a cook, as I stated. Now that it's been a year since I really took a stab at cooking, I can happily say that I have improved! I have acquired a few cookbooks and tried a lot of recipes. And I'm also the proud owner of various kitchen gadgets, including a crock pot, food processor and my newly acquired rice cooker! :)

Some recipes have been flops, but others have made it into my rotation. These three are my favorite because are awesome as leftovers:

• Black Bean Burritos (courtesy of Stacking Pennies!)
• Sausage with Rotini Pasta (I use peas or zucchini for the veggie)
• Curried Coconut Chicken

There are also a few from my recipe books that I mix and match. For instance, earlier this week I used my rice cooker for the first time to make plain basmati rice. It comes with a veggie steamer on top, so I added some frozen green beans while the rice cooked. Then I quickly made some tilapia fillets in a pan and a really easy red curry sauce. The result was absolutely delicious! (And, as I love, gave me leftovers.)

Recently, I've been on a fish kick - maybe because it's summer, it's not really expensive and it's healthy! I buy mine individually frozen, which just makes life easier: tilapia, mahi mahi or salmon. It cooks in minutes, I can drown them in spices and fry them slightly with some flour to make all sorts of aromatic and yummy combinations!

However, I know I still have far to go. I always have to follow a recipe unless it's one of my staple meals or something easy that I'm just tossing together. Need to be more adventurous! Also, I have cooked for my roommates and ex-boyfriends, but I have never thrown a big dinner party with appetizers, entrees and desserts. (I am definitely not a baker.) Hmm... maybe that's something I should strive towards! :)

One of the best things about cooking? In pf terms, it can be very cheap! As a single person, my monthly grocery bill rarely tops $125. Good for myself and my budget!

Leave your own recipes and thoughts in the comments - or feel free to e-mail me!

July Spending Overload

I've done quite a bit of spending this month! There was an extra $37.31 on groceries for July 4th. There has been a lot of spending on friendships. (And more tomorrow - I'm going to happy hour with my roommates!) I normally spend about $75 on dining out in an average month, but have spent over $100 this month. I've also spent more on groceries than usual (due to my break-up... I keep buying comfort food!), including $42.65 at Costco for some frozen items, 2 flats of cherries and a flat of blackberries.

I also bought a new jacket that I had been pining over for the past few months. Since it was unavailable in stores, it came to $146.81 after tax and shipping. This was an unplanned purchase, however I rarely spend my clothing budget so I am very excited for it to arrive next week! (Luckily I had set aside for my car trouble!)

Yet... I don't care about all this spending! I tend to come under my monthly budget every month, which includes a fair amount of savings already. So, it's actually nice to have a more carefree, I-don't-care-what-I-spend month... knowing that it's deserved and that I still won't be completely blowing my budget. :)

Taking Lunch to Work!

I cook almost every night. Last night, K made me dinner at his place - it was delicious! Salmon with fresh ginger and a side salad.

Since there were no leftovers, when I got up this morning I realized that I did not have lunch for work today! I take my lunch every day. (The last 2 weeks, however, I have gone out for lunch with my roommate on Fridays. I am trying not to get in the habit!)

Our office has a small on-site cafe with various options. A new company recently took it over and now offers a lot of organic/healthy options. So, I decided to try it today! For $3.75 I got a BBQ chicken and avocado quesadilla on a wheat tortilla. (Oh wait. Not exactly healthy. But organic!) But it was so tasty and convenient. And for under $5, no less! :)

Roommate J: "This burrito cost me $5. And I only ate half of it!"

Money Maus: "So you have leftovers for tomorrow?"

Roommate J: "Yes. Which means this meal was only $2.50! I should do this more often, I think this is one of the cheapest meals ever."

The average meal I make costs around $1 to $1.50 per serving. I take my lunch to work every day and maybe buy lunch 2-3 times a month, max. J buys lunch and goes to Starbucks twice a day when he works, spending about $14 per day. J is not a saver, so for him to realize that meals can be made for cheap is a big step for him - and that leftovers are a good thing.

I just smiled and went back to typing this post. :)

$2.50 Gone...

I bought a large pomegranate (my favorite fruit) last weekend for $2.50.

However, I didn't know that you are supposed to keep them in the refrigerator. When I cut it open tonight, the seeds were incredibly dark (instead of a ruby-red color) and there was some mold on one part. :(