Fast out of gate, slow around first turn...

Slow as in: been two months since I posted anything, Christmas was challenging, and I may buy a treadmill today (oh no!).

Last things first. The Treadmill. I justify this expense in that we cancelled our gym membership in the spring and have been meaning to replace that with a treadmill, but didn't make it before the end-date, or start date, as the case may be. This may actually be considered a medical expense. I'm going to apply to the MS society for a subsidy. Anyway, please hold your tomatoes and read on. Remember the title is "experiment."

I wanted to write about gift giving and birthday parties in the fall. Noone in our family has had a birthday, but my children have attended several. As gifts, we've given Chex Mix Muddy Buddies, a Blockbuster gift card specifically for soda, popcorn and two movies, a manicure, and an ice cream date.

The ice cream date didn't really work out because it was for a little boy in my daughter's 3rd grade class. She also chose to use her own money to buy him a $5 lego set. His response to that was, "another one?" I think we can safely say that little crush is over.

Here is the point where I really regret not posting during the holidays. There were weekly items pertaining to this subject that I now won't remember. I think a good resolution for me would be "Post when something happens, not later". I'll do my best and use a listing to break it up a little:

1. Mentioned slippery stairs and was given tread paint
2. Decided to gift my mom dinners once a month for a year
3. Same thing for my best friend, but bought her a cookbook to go with
4. Picked up pants for myself off the "Free" table at MOPS
5. Bought larger coats for kids for Christmas, but gave away small coats and extra jackets to a charity to pass out to other kids

I'm noticing the Christmas theme in my list, so I'll take some time to comment on the holiday. My husband was adamant in the beginning that Christmas be somewhat of an exception to the rule. We decided (apparently along with many Americans) to buy socks and underwear for the kids--necessities. One magazine I read called it "grim news for kids this year". BUT, we also bought them each one big ticket item, as well as an ATM savings bank to go along with our theme ($20), and allowed them to choose toys as gifts for each other. Our 15 year old actually got a snow trip for his big ticket, and bedroom curtains from his siblings; yes, he did request them. My husband and I each made a list of need to be replaced clothing items. For the stockings, I went to trader joes and loaded up on edible goodies. The kids didn't notice the missing toys among the soda, pop tarts, gum, chocolate, candy and energy bars.

I want to take a breath here to reflect on how this made a difference. This experiment is supposed to buy time. I bought the doll, curtains, ATMS, pajamas, coats and books online. I knew exactly what I wanted, and where to get it, so it didn't take much time. My husband and I spent a nice morning finding socks, underwear, gloves and hats at Marshalls, after which I reflected, with some doubt that I was done with my shopping for the kids! My husband did a little shopping on his own for me, and traded his dead IPOD for his son's new NANO at the Apple store. We also passed down my old cell phone to my 6th grader and got a free phone for my daughter with the purchase of two sim cards (pay as you go minutes). And finally, we took the kids for an afternoon downtown for carousel riding, and mini-doughnut eating. While there, they helped shop for those clothing items for their parents.

We sent Christmas cards (I'd bought last year), went to a christmas show, and made felted soap to give away. The kids and I also shopped to fill two boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Do to my new non-stressful holiday prep, I was willing to throw a last minute potluck party for my cousins and their families on the 20th. I planned to go to Target and load up with gifts for the little ones, but the kids and I managed to find almost new hardcover books they were willing to part with. We also managed to find little trinkets to tie to the top of the wrapped books. Huzzah! Christmas was not all that challenging!

A have a little story for my grand finale:

I mentioned our experiment to my son's teacher at conferences in October. At the time I told her, "Oh well, I've wanted riding boots for two years, guess I'll wait another year." In December, I helped direct the class play. As a thank you, she surprised me with, you guessed it, boots! Surprised as in, made sure my son was out of the room when she told the class, guessed my size by looking at my feet, dug through boots at Marshalls and tried them on herself, found one boot and search until she found the other, and then called my husband to caution him against buying me boots.

And a last confession: I bought 2 pairs of earings on my AZ trip and a souvenir for each kid. At least one of the souvenirs was a rolling backpack for my son. I needed it to bring home the "new" food processor that I saved while helping clean out a laundry room. I laugh because the food processor was an example I have used when explaining this experiment. I wanted a bigger one, but had resolved not to buy one unless my little chopper broke and needed replacing.

So, boots and a food processor. Coincidence?