November Searches, Saves, and Sources
I’m not publishing a full meal plan this week - Jon’s mum is here and it’s Thanksgiving, so we’ve got a lot going on that will replace (at least sort of) standard dinners.
But I can’t help myself from at least sketching it out:
Sa: Granny got in last night and, as per tradition, we got take-out Thai.
Su: We’ll be out all day today, Sunday, so dinner tonight will leftover venison stew that’s been in the freezer since I cooked it the other week.
Mo: I have plans tomorrow night; TBD by Jon and Ged.
Tu: smorgasbord of dips, cheeses, sliced meats, crackers, and veggies
We: Paprikash-Inspired Chickpea Stew from Caroline Galen’s Pass the Plate with rice
Th: Thanksgiving!
Fr: We’re seeing Moana in the afternoon at one of those theaters that has reserved, comfy seats and a full menu, so I suspect that whatever we eat there will be dinner.
Sa: Thanksgiving leftovers
Anyway! I thought that instead I might start a new monthly series to share my searches, saves, and sources. These round-ups won’t be long because we’re not buying much as we continue to save up for our renovation, but I’d like to see how they do. So… shall we?
kids
After seeing them recommended by Meg Hall, I bought ever eden’s detangling shampoo and conditioner duo. Robbie still uses the standard Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Shampoo and Body Wash, which Claire uses on her skin, too, but Claire’s hair needed something a little more specialized. The new products really do detangle - and they smell good to boot!
We’re lucky to have gotten tons of hand-me-downs from friends with older kids, but Claire has now hit the age when kids wear out their clothing super quickly and so we’ve had to stock up on playclothes in a 4T ourselves. Because I’m not used to buying basics, I don’t want to spend much on her leggings and shirts. Old Navy came to the rescue as usual! I got a four-pack of solid leggings for $4 an item and a six-pack of solid long-sleeved shirts for $5.50 an item that’ll last her through the season (though probably not beyond, to be honest).
me
Neither of these are exciting, but they’re pretty foundational: Underwunder Perspiration Protectors and Sheertex tights.
The first I impulse-purchased from an Instagram ad while obsessively watching the election returns, and they are nothing short of miraculous. I don’t think of myself as a particularly sweaty or smelly person, but the armpits of my sweaters inevitably retain an odor no matter how well I wash them. These disposable protectors - think of them like panty-liners for your pits - stick at the seams of your tops; I was worried they wouldn’t stick well enough to knitwear but the pressure of your arms against the fabric helps them stay in place even through a moderately active day of chasing kids around.
The second… was also the result of Instagram ads, though they weren’t a spontaneous buy. I waited until my stockpile of tights from last winter had all died and then placed an order to take advantage of the Black Friday sale. The only one of the three I’ve worn so far are the Shaping Sheer Rip-Resist tights, and while they haven’t ripped yet… I’m not sold on them being worth 2x the price of my usual Assets by Spanx. I know people love their Sheertex tights so I’m waiting to be wowed as I keep wearing them!
The third thing I bought for myself this month was the FARMACY Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm, which a saleswoman at Sephora recommended to me when I went in looking for Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, a jar of which I’d just finished. She said it was one of their best sellers and touted the brand’s “clean” bonafides, though this term isn’t regulated in any way, so I decided to give it a try. I discovered it’s not as rich as the Clinique balm and I really do like how silky and luxe the Clinique feels, so I returned the FARMACY one and reordered Take Off The Day. Better living through chemicals, right?
home
In my I’m-not-posting-a-meal-plan-this-week meal plan above, you can see a recipe from Carolina Gelen. Her new cookbook, Pass the Plate, just came out and I borrowed a copy from the library. I’m especially excited by the chickpea dish, and am getting lots of ideas for meals from her eggstravaganza chapter! Can’t wait to cook my way through it before it’s due back.
Speaking of cooking, I am going through a big bucatini phase. I usually just get store-brand pasta because it’s cheapest, but sometimes I splurge. I just love how thick and chewy each piece is! The Trader Joe’s Fusilli Bucati is my favorite pasta shape, and I got a few boxes of the De Cecco Bucatini on sale at Safeway the other day and used it for Shabbat this past Friday night, when we hosted a few other families. Everyone had seconds, so I’d say it was universally beloved!
Note: for the first time ever, I’m using affiliate links! I need to figure out my MO for these, but this post is a start.
