Cheap and hungry

I have learned that it is difficult to save money and eat healthily at the same time.

Or maybe I'm just lazy.

But purchasing healthy foods -- either at a restaurant or from the grocery store to prepare for myself -- is expensive! My wallet is not happy with me.

It's frustrating, but I'm making do the best I can.

Any suggestions? Healthy recipes you're fond of? Good deals you know about? Can you relate at all?

Wordy Wednesday: I am a Copywriter

How did he survive?!!

If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week.

- Charles Darwin

My question is: How in the world did Darwin ever survive without listening to music every day, let alone every week?! I guess it was harder to come by then, and he had other priorities. I couldn't do it. If I don't sing every day, my cheerfulness wanes. I may not notice it, but it does. Music is a necessity in my life.

Happy Friday, my friends! Here's something totally random to brighten this rainy day!

That John Williams sure is prolific, isn't he?

By the way, is any one seeing Jurassic Park this weekend? May I come?

Favorite recipes: Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

This has been my go-to treat for most of my life. I took these to elementary school for my birthday (you know, before they told kids they couldn't take homemade food to school), and I still make 'em for pot lucks. They are, quite simply, delicious. They are also easy and quick to make. I have a hard time not eating half the pan myself. I think I like them better than Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, because I can control how much chocolate is involved. Let's face it, the peanut-butter dough is the best part!

So, here is the recipe for

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
1 1/2 cubes margarine
Melt and remove from heat. Beat and add:
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (12 big)
2 1/3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
Mix, then pat into 9x13 pan
Melt 2 cups (12 oz) milk chocolate chips and spread on top (use semi-sweet to cut the sweetness if you like)

Allow chocolate to cool. Cut and serve!

You're welcome!

Book review: World War Z

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On several occasions, I told guys that I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and they recommended World War Z to me. I assume they didn't realize I read PPandZ because of my fascination with Jane Austen...

Nevertheless, I had enough recommendations to make this one a priority and I am so glad I did. It was brilliant! I'm not always a fan of horror, but I always appreciate a well-told story. I enjoyed the conceit and narrative style. I was amazed at all of the different points of view, experiences, and countries, and the way it all came together to tell the story. I was delighted that the last section revisited some of the interviewees and revealed what happened to them (or what they had learned). It was also cool that the book wasn't specific about the time period. It could be 10 years from now or 100 years from now.

I will say that I don't know how well this will translate in to film, and I don't particularly need to see some of the more graphic descriptions projected on the big screen. There was also quite a bit of swearing, but that's par for the course in any book that relies fairly heavily on military action.

This is one I'll probably read again. A fun and clever read... though I don't recommend you read it before going to bed, unless you want to stay up late listening for the tell-tale moan warning you that a zombie is coming for you!


View all my reviews

March happenings

Just a few things that went down in March:

A City Rep girls reunion
We hadn't seen each other since last summer.

Boy, had I missed these ladies! There is something comforting in friendships that don't change after 20 years, even though our lives are so very different from what they were back then, and from each other's lives now.

Skyping with the D.C. Smyths

I am so proud of P and J, the choices they've made, and how they've grown together while living away from us. I cannot wait for them to move home!

My nephew with Robin Hood and
Maid Marian. I'm thrilled he liked
the show as much as I did!

Plays I saw this month (I saw the first 5 within 8 days):

• Steel Magnolias (Midvale Arts Council)
• Shrek the Musical (Broadway Across America at the Capitol Theatre)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Hale Centre Theatre -- West Valley City)
• Robin Hood ... twice!! (Utah Childrens' Theater)
• Death of a Salesman (The Grand Theatre)
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (CenterPoint Legacy Theatre)
• Nunsense (Taylorsville Arts Council)

Thank goodness I was able to score a few free tickets, or I would be even more broke now than I am. Meanwhile, I am now burned out on play-watching, so with the exception of The Secret Garden at CenterPoint, I will be taking a break from theater-going in April.

Wedding dress shopping with my friend Mattie June (who is basically a real-life Jane Bennett from Pride and Prejudice). I realized it was the first time I've ever been wedding dress shopping with someone! It was so fun, and she looked so beautiful. Her dress really is perfect. I can't wait to see it with all the alterations and accessories!

My mom asked whether I tried on any dresses, too. Um, no. I've tried some on before, and it turns out it isn't really fun for me if I'm not planning my wedding; I feel like I'm putting on a costume. She made the argument that I could buy the dress now and have it taken care of for when I do get married, but why count my chickens? I guess I'm a little superstitious :-P No feeling sorry for me, it was fun enough celebrating with Mattie June!

Family Home Evening - dyeing Easter eggs. Even if I was solo, I felt it needed to be done, and the colors were beautiful!!

Easter photos I felt needed to be separate from my He is Risen post:

What I wore on Easter Sunday:
I bought the dress at Deseret Industries for $8. It is perfect :D
I've had these shoes for awhile, and pulled the butterflies
off another pair to spice them up. I love the result,
especially with the matching nail polish!

Who says the Easter bunny doesn't visit single people?
Bonus: The second season of Kim Possible was waiting for me at my parents' house later that day!

Looking forward to April! Funny that March went out like a lamb... and then it rained all day on April 1st. April Fools, Spring- weather hopefuls!

What did you enjoy most in March?