Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

This tip is a repeat, but is especially worth sharing this week. If you're an avid couponer, you probably have more toothpaste, shampoo samples, and soap than your family could ever use. In light of the recent tornados, please go through your stash and donate, donate, donate!

Crystal at Money Saving Mom has a list of ways you can donate and shipping addresses for relief organizations in the area. Don't have any extra toiletries to give? Donate blood through the American Red Cross--you can even make an appointment online.

Why You Should Thin Carrots

You will end up with "carrot canoodling" if you don't.

These are Sunshine Orange and Yellow from Renee's Seeds. And yes, I washed them before Jackjack devoured them.

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

So far this month, we've gone from 80-degree weather to a week of cold rain. I'm hopeful that warm weather and picnic season is right around the corner though!

It's embarrassing to get up and find that the ground under your picnic blanket was damp, leading to a wet blanket and a wet tushie.  This is easy to prevent--just place an old shower curtain or new plastic trash bag under the blanket before dining. It might even keep the bugs away too.

"And I'd like to thank the Academy..."

Note 5/15: Blogger imploded some time last week and this post disappeared! Sorry to those of you whose comments evaporated. Let's try this again...

What a surprise when my amazing and inspirational blogging friend Katie presented me and other super-cool bloggers with this award:

Thank you Katie! One of these doggone days, we will meet in person. I feel like I've known you for years and it seems so odd that we haven't met.


Now I get to tell you guys seven things you don't know about me, and then call upon some blogging buddies to do the same. Katie's topics inspired me, so you'll see some similarities.

Here goes (photos included when appropriate):

1. I briefly (far too briefly) had purple highlights in my hair a couple of years ago and loved it. Believe it or not, this is the only purple hair pic I have--the company used staff to model the products they sold and this was in their catalog.

2. My parents and BrownThumbPapa's parents are still married. To each other. For more than 40 years. That's more of a cool fact than a revelation, but worth sharing all the same.

3. I've lived in one of two houses my entire life: my parents' and the BrownThumb house. No dorms, no apartments, no crazy roommates. Is that a loss or a blessing? I'll let you decide.

4. The summer after my senior year of high school, I joined a group of friends on an extended backcountry hike. We took 10 days and climbed Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous 48 states. Best. Trip. Ever.

5. I will climb Mt. Whitney again, and will bring something better than my Kodak 110 Instamatic to record the trip with.

6. I didn't like ketchup, spaghetti sauce, or salad dressing until I was well into high school. I blame this on the "Don't Drown Your Food" PSA that was on TV all the time when I was little.

7. I worked for Pep Boys (the auto parts store) during college. Don't try any of that BS about "muffler bearings" or "piston return springs" with me, boys.  [insert The Look here]

The bloggers I'm passing this on to:

Gerb at Life As I Know It

Kelly at K. Hess Travels

Maya at Love, Knowledge, Zeal & Fortitude

Kelly at Not My Job

Emily at NotoriousMLE

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" 


It's grilling time! How many times have you done this? The marinated chicken or steak is ready to go out to the grill. You pile everything on a big platter and get it on the grill. Then you have to go back inside and wash the raw meat oogies off the platter, or get a different serving dish.

Next time, cover the platter with some plastic wrap (or use a plastic veggie bag from the store) before putting the raw meat on top. Then you don't need to wash the platter, and there's no risk of cross-contamination.

Aunt Pam's Famous Macaroni Salad

Yay, summertime is right around the corner! Time for picnics, BBQs and delicious goodies like macaroni salad.

This recipe is a family favorite, invented by our Aunt Pam. It's tasty and easily scale-able to serve a crowd. At the (slight) risk of excommunication, I'm sharing the secret recipe with all of you. Try it at your next cookout!

Aunt Pam's Famous Macaroni Salad

Ingredients
For every 2 cups dry pasta:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped parsley
4 hardboiled eggs*, chopped
10 sweet pickles, chopped (I love sweet pickles, so I used about 15)
1/2 of a red onion, chopped
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
4 ribs of celery, chopped
1/2 can of chopped olives (save the rest for pizza night)
1 rounded tablespoon mayonnaise
1 squirt mustard, to taste
Sweet pickle juice to moisten

Optional, not pictured:
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup salad-size shrimp, drained and rinsed

*Save water and don't dirty an extra pan--after the pasta is done, use the pasta water to hardboil the eggs.

Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, prep the rest of your ingredients and place in a large bowl. Drain and rinse the pasta in cold water. Add the pasta to the goodies and stir gently to combine. Taste to see if more seasoning is needed, then refrigerate. Best served the next day, so flavors can blend. Enjoy!

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" 


Keep your store loyalty keychain cards on a little, separate keyring in your purse. That way, they won't get in your way every day and they won't get scratched up by your keys.

Front Yard Garden Recap: April

It's been a busy month in the front yard garden! The artichokes are doing well, although there will be no crop this year. (Yes, the weeds are doing well too. I'm thinking of planting a carpet of alyssum to keep them down.)

Jackjack's strawberry patch is flourishing, and he's eaten a couple already. His ladybug rock is keeping one of the plants company.  Pansies and parsley are in the background next to the porch.

There's lavender next to the grass, to balance out the soon-to-be-huge asparagus. California poppies are getting established along the street, and the center area with the good soil will hold Genovese and Purple Ruffle Basil. 

There's more to come next month, with trays of seedlings hardening off in the backyard.

Have you planted anything yet? Trying veggies in the front yard? Share your progress in the comments!