Tonight Hubby and I decided to have a date night. Date night for us normally means we're just going out to a decent dinner somewhere then we head home to watch movies together.
Tonight we chose to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant, China Inn. This has always been my favorite Chinese restaurant mostly because it's a more authentic setting, and the food is awesome. Before we headed out tonight I looked all over the place for a menu so I could already know what I wanted, but I couldn't find mine anywhere. They don't have a website, so I reminded myself to pickup another takeout menu to scan. I did find tons of the typical local restaurant review type sites that give China Inn great ratings, but I noticed I couldn't find many reviews of the restaurant at all.
So, while we were eating dinner I decided I just had to write about the super awesome China Inn. China Inn is located in Seneca, SC, and honestly if you're looking for Chinese in the area this is the best you're going to find.
The prices are a little more expensive than most Chinese restaurants in the area, but the atmosphere and food makes it well worth it. Most dinner plates range from $5-13, and the portions are enormous. A couple can split a meal and still have plenty left over, and there are no extra costs for sharing a dish. There is also a smaller portioned lunch menu and special combination box lunch carry out menu served 11:30am-2:30pm. Items on this menu range in price from $4.55-5.95 and all combination box lunches include fried rice and an egg roll. There is also a Healthy Delights section consisting of steamed meats and veggies prepared with no oil, salt, sugar, or starch.
The Szechuan, Cantonese, and Hunan Cuisine composes a nice size menu, and no MSG is used in the food preparation. All dishes are prepared fresh to order, so you have to option to substitute or leave something out of the food. Most Chinese restaurants in this area serve canteen style pre-prepared dishes, so that isn't an option.
The restaurant is also a very cozy and quiet environment which is more upscale than more other Chinese restaurants in the area. The service is always great, and the staff is extremely friendly. The dining room isn't huge, but it's large enough that couples looking for a quiet dinner and families full of children can find themselves eating together without disturbing each other. The staff is also great about seating noisier diners and families with children away from couples or adult only groups.
So what did we have for dinner tonight? Hubby started with a Beef Teriyaki skewers appetizer followed by the Sesame Chicken with fried rice. I started with an egg roll and chose Beef With Cashew nuts for my main course. Of course neither of us could finish even half of our meals as the portions are always so large.
Prices For Our Order:
Beef Teriyaki Appetizer (6 skewers) $4.25
Vegetable Egg Roll $1.40
Sesame Chicken with rice $8.50
Beef With Cashew Nuts $7.75
With 2 teas and taxes our entire bill came to $26.05. We definitely got our money's worth as we brought home two huge takeout plates. I have enough for 2-3 more meals, and after eating again later in the evening Hubby still has enough left over for another full meal. Now you may be saying maybe they just don't eat a whole lot, but keep in mind I'm feeding a 270lb man that normally eats enough for 2 people! If there were a club for people who are bottomless pits he'd have a lifetime membership card!
Going To Spoil That Baby Rotten
For the last hour or so I've been sitting here window shopping. Hubby's best friend and his girlfriend are expecting their first child in April, and she just added a few things to her baby registry. I decided to see what type of stuff she's looking at for the nursery, and I got sucked into window shopping for the baby. I want to buy everything I see!
I can tell you this baby is going to be spoiled rotten. Even though Hubby and I will be like honorary aunt and uncle, this child will be entering a huge family that will spoil it even more.
I'm so excited I want to buy everything I see. I know I should be picking out things from her registry and buying things that will be useful in the next year, but I keep sidetracking myself into the toys and stuff. I saw one of those kids wagons that I would totally buy if I could afford it right now. Heck my mom might even still have my Radio Flyer cargo wagon tucked away somewhere in the barn.
See, this is just another reason why we need to have our own children asap. If it was up to me (minus the whole biological stuff) we would have had our first 4 or 5 years ago. For now I have to settle for spoiling our friend's kids.
I can tell you this baby is going to be spoiled rotten. Even though Hubby and I will be like honorary aunt and uncle, this child will be entering a huge family that will spoil it even more.
I'm so excited I want to buy everything I see. I know I should be picking out things from her registry and buying things that will be useful in the next year, but I keep sidetracking myself into the toys and stuff. I saw one of those kids wagons that I would totally buy if I could afford it right now. Heck my mom might even still have my Radio Flyer cargo wagon tucked away somewhere in the barn.
See, this is just another reason why we need to have our own children asap. If it was up to me (minus the whole biological stuff) we would have had our first 4 or 5 years ago. For now I have to settle for spoiling our friend's kids.
Need A New Laptop
While I'm figuring out my budget for the next few months I think it's time to figure in a new work laptop. My current one is an older Toshiba Satellite that I love, but I think I've just about ran it into the ground. I've dropped it, beaten it, trashed it, and put it back together too many times to count. I've soldered replacement parts and fixed the motherboard until there's just no use in fixing it anymore. Besides, do you know how much of a pain it is to strip a laptop apart just to solder 1 little connection?
Yeah it's definitely time for a new laptop, so I really need to start searching for one. If Hubby and I happen to receive a tax refund this year I'll use that to buy a new one, although I doubt we'll get a refund. I'm self employed, and Hubby is considered self employed for half of his income, so we're lucky if we don't end up having to pay in. We were really lucky last year. After all our deductions we ended up having to pay in $2 less than our state refund, so the state check covered our federal. This year we have more deductions, but we also both have to factor in more income. Oh well, if we don't have a tax refund to use I'll just have to budget it in. Luckily it will be a work only laptop, so it will also be a write off for next year.
Yeah it's definitely time for a new laptop, so I really need to start searching for one. If Hubby and I happen to receive a tax refund this year I'll use that to buy a new one, although I doubt we'll get a refund. I'm self employed, and Hubby is considered self employed for half of his income, so we're lucky if we don't end up having to pay in. We were really lucky last year. After all our deductions we ended up having to pay in $2 less than our state refund, so the state check covered our federal. This year we have more deductions, but we also both have to factor in more income. Oh well, if we don't have a tax refund to use I'll just have to budget it in. Luckily it will be a work only laptop, so it will also be a write off for next year.
Stocking Up
I'm trying to make a list of the things I need to stock up on and/or replace within the next few months. Every few months I make a huge list, then I try to save up the cash I'm going to need and do it all at once by taking a trip to a discount store. Sometimes I'll hit up Sam's Club with a friend or family member who has a card, other times I'll make a big trip to Big Lots. It just all depends on what I'm needing and who has it for the cheapest price.
I don't add anything to the list that's just a want. Like Hubby might want to try Fenterdren, and he might want a new Playstation 3, but those items aren't things we need. If I go to the store once every few months with a huge list of the things we need I end up spending less and buying less junk. I buy just the things on my list, and I leave the wants for another time after we have everything we need.
My list this month has gotten to be pretty large. I need to replace lots of things like towels and sheets that are ripped and/or too dingy to use anymore as well as a lot of clothing. Hubby and I just went through all of our clothes and donated everything that doesn't fit anymore while tossing the stuff that should be considered trash now. We both ended up with a very small wardrobe for the warmer months.
I also need to stock up on the necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, and other goods we use daily that can be bought in bulk. I really do save money buying these things in larger bulk supplies and storing them. The same goes for things like Bubba's medications that are shelf stable for at least a year, food products that are the same way, etc.
I've noticed a huge amount of savings since I've started buying in bulk and storing things, and it really has allowed us to not only have more cash throughout the year for things we want but it's helped a lot during those weeks when Hubby may have to miss a few days of work due to weather (like now). I don't have a freak out session anymore wondering how we're going to buy groceries or things like that because I already have essentials on hand at all times.
I don't add anything to the list that's just a want. Like Hubby might want to try Fenterdren, and he might want a new Playstation 3, but those items aren't things we need. If I go to the store once every few months with a huge list of the things we need I end up spending less and buying less junk. I buy just the things on my list, and I leave the wants for another time after we have everything we need.
My list this month has gotten to be pretty large. I need to replace lots of things like towels and sheets that are ripped and/or too dingy to use anymore as well as a lot of clothing. Hubby and I just went through all of our clothes and donated everything that doesn't fit anymore while tossing the stuff that should be considered trash now. We both ended up with a very small wardrobe for the warmer months.
I also need to stock up on the necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, and other goods we use daily that can be bought in bulk. I really do save money buying these things in larger bulk supplies and storing them. The same goes for things like Bubba's medications that are shelf stable for at least a year, food products that are the same way, etc.
I've noticed a huge amount of savings since I've started buying in bulk and storing things, and it really has allowed us to not only have more cash throughout the year for things we want but it's helped a lot during those weeks when Hubby may have to miss a few days of work due to weather (like now). I don't have a freak out session anymore wondering how we're going to buy groceries or things like that because I already have essentials on hand at all times.
Canvas On Demand: Great Service Again!
Yet again I've had another great experience ordering from Canvas On Demand. I had planned on ordering a canvas for my Grandparents for Christmas, but because of financial issues I wasn't able to do so. Instead I gave them a gift box of little odds and ends that will be useful to them, and I didn't mention I was planning to purchase the canvas.
As soon as I had our finances taken care of where I could afford to order the canvas, I did. On January 13th I ordered the 16x20 canvas first thing in the morning. According to the website the order should have shipped in 3-4 days. No problem. I figured I'd be able to give it to them at the beginning of next week.
I was extremely surprised to receive a shipping notice in my mailbox yesterday morning, January 15th, telling me my canvas had already shipped. I checked the Fedex tracking and found the canvas shipped on the afternoon of January 14th and was out for delivery! I received it around lunch time yesterday!
I totally was NOT expecting a 2 day turn around, and I'm extremely happy. Of course, as always, the canvas looks great! Here's a quick photo I snapped of it hanging on the wall before I wrapped it back up to gift.
My Grandma was also extremely surprised, and she did in fact cry when I gave it to her. It was something that she would have never expected, yet it's the perfect gift. She loved receiving the late Christmas present because it was totally a surprise that way. She figured on top of giving her the small gift basket I had chipped in a little with my Mom and sister for the luggage they bought for her. Nope, surprise!
I'm just so happy she loved it, and it turned out wonderful. My Grandparents are getting to an age where I worry about them all the time, and we all hope they'll live forever, but know they won't. Not only do they now have a beautiful canvas to enjoy together, but it's something that can be passed through the family for generations to come.
As usual Canvas On Demand went out of their way to thank us for our business as well. I had purchased the canvas with a $25 off coupon I received around Christmas time, and this canvas came with 5 more $25 off coupons tucked inside. Now I can order the two other canvases I want of my entire family and my Mom, sister, and I without breaking the bank.
As soon as I had our finances taken care of where I could afford to order the canvas, I did. On January 13th I ordered the 16x20 canvas first thing in the morning. According to the website the order should have shipped in 3-4 days. No problem. I figured I'd be able to give it to them at the beginning of next week.
I was extremely surprised to receive a shipping notice in my mailbox yesterday morning, January 15th, telling me my canvas had already shipped. I checked the Fedex tracking and found the canvas shipped on the afternoon of January 14th and was out for delivery! I received it around lunch time yesterday!
I totally was NOT expecting a 2 day turn around, and I'm extremely happy. Of course, as always, the canvas looks great! Here's a quick photo I snapped of it hanging on the wall before I wrapped it back up to gift.
My Grandma was also extremely surprised, and she did in fact cry when I gave it to her. It was something that she would have never expected, yet it's the perfect gift. She loved receiving the late Christmas present because it was totally a surprise that way. She figured on top of giving her the small gift basket I had chipped in a little with my Mom and sister for the luggage they bought for her. Nope, surprise!
I'm just so happy she loved it, and it turned out wonderful. My Grandparents are getting to an age where I worry about them all the time, and we all hope they'll live forever, but know they won't. Not only do they now have a beautiful canvas to enjoy together, but it's something that can be passed through the family for generations to come.
As usual Canvas On Demand went out of their way to thank us for our business as well. I had purchased the canvas with a $25 off coupon I received around Christmas time, and this canvas came with 5 more $25 off coupons tucked inside. Now I can order the two other canvases I want of my entire family and my Mom, sister, and I without breaking the bank.
Turbie Towel
We've probably all seen "As Seen On TV" type products that we're curious about but afraid they'll fall apart in a month. After all, most of those products totally suck. I've got a couple as seen on tv products that were actually worth buying, but most of them are cheap crappy products that either break in a month or never worked at all. If you do happen to find a good one, most likely you're going to pay more in shipping than the cost of the actual product, so most of the time it's not worth it.So when I opened my Christmas presents from my aunt this year and found two Turbie Twists I felt like rolling my eyes. I've seen the commercials a thousand times, and I always figured the product the always overly upbeat women that make me want to puke were selling was a piece of junk. I figured I'd be tossing the things after one use.
Boy was I wrong.
Ok I admit the Turbie Twist isn't exactly something I would have spent my own money on. It's basically a towel that's been cut and sewn to just the right size for hair, and then an elastic band was added. A regular towel on my wet head is fine, but I was presently surprised to find I actually liked the Turbie Twist.
First of all you don't have all that extra towel to contend with when wrapping your hair up. I have rather long hair right now, and it's really thick, but I still ended up normally having a ton of extra towel weighing down my head. The Turbie Twist is lightweight, and I can almost forget I'm even wearing it.
Also I do love the elastic band. When wearing a regular towel I've always had to remove it while getting dressed, and then twist it back up after I put my shirt on if I wasn't ready to dry my hair yet. Then half the time a regular towel keeps coming undone no matter how tight I wrap it, so I'm constantly taking it down and redoing it. The Turbie Twist stayed in place no matter what I was doing!
Most of all I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Turbie Twist does live up to the claim that it is way more absorbant than a normal towel. Normally my hair will still be soaking wet when I remove the towel to dry it, but with the Turbie Twist I'm not dealing with dripping wet hair. It really does soak up a lot of the excess water making my blow dry much quicker.
This is one as seen on tv product that definitely surprised me, and I found myself wanting to order a few more in different colors. These are going to be great when I deep condition my hair, or on lazy days when I just don't feel like doing anything to my hair right after I get out of the shower.
Paper Shredder Death
One thing I've been wanting for a long time is a paper shredder. When it comes to bills I'm a firm believer in not throwing away anything that can be used against you. Having the wood stove comes in handy because I can burn a lot of the mail that has important accounts numbers and information I don't want falling into the wrong hand. Even though I burn a lot of that stuff, there are types of paper with certain inks, colorings, finishes, etc, that I can't burn because they contain chemicals that are harmful when burned. That's where a paper shredder would really come in handy.
My mother-in-law got me a paper shredder for Christmas, and I've been trying to get a review written up on it since Christmas. Unfortunately I'm having major problems getting a review up because it doesn't work! She bought me a Durabrand 4 Sheet Diamond Shaped Cut Paper Shredder with Wastebasket. I was so excited to have it I ran home and opened the box ready to use it. I found that the box had been taped back up, and you could definitely tell it was a packaged back up and returned product. Half the parts weren't even in the box.
My mother-in-law gave me the receipt, and I returned the shredder to Walmart for a replacement only to find the replacement didn't work either. The 3rd try has to be a charm right? Nope. The 3rd one ended up working a couple times before it quit.
When I look up Durabrand online, and the only thing I found was a review with tons of comments about the same shredder not working. I'm going to return the thing one last time, but this time I'm going to go ahead and add the cash I need to purchase a better one.
So the next time you're looking at paper shredders in Walmart, stay away from the Aurora Durabrand models. Then again, just stay away from Walmart!
My mother-in-law got me a paper shredder for Christmas, and I've been trying to get a review written up on it since Christmas. Unfortunately I'm having major problems getting a review up because it doesn't work! She bought me a Durabrand 4 Sheet Diamond Shaped Cut Paper Shredder with Wastebasket. I was so excited to have it I ran home and opened the box ready to use it. I found that the box had been taped back up, and you could definitely tell it was a packaged back up and returned product. Half the parts weren't even in the box.
My mother-in-law gave me the receipt, and I returned the shredder to Walmart for a replacement only to find the replacement didn't work either. The 3rd try has to be a charm right? Nope. The 3rd one ended up working a couple times before it quit.
When I look up Durabrand online, and the only thing I found was a review with tons of comments about the same shredder not working. I'm going to return the thing one last time, but this time I'm going to go ahead and add the cash I need to purchase a better one.
So the next time you're looking at paper shredders in Walmart, stay away from the Aurora Durabrand models. Then again, just stay away from Walmart!
Bleh
Our power went out an our ago, Charter still hasnt shown up, my phone is almost dead and it's all I can do not to fall asleep. This just isn't my day.
<3Jenn
<3Jenn
Mobile post sent by JennS using Utterli.
I Didn't Realize...
Wow, a whole week since a posted? Yep that seems to be happening a lot right now. I just really haven't had much time to sit down at the pc to do anything including blogging. I have ran across a few products that I do want to share with you, so I'll definitely be getting reviews up soon...hopefully!
I'm also finding it hard to sit down and write about one product because I'm feeling quite ADD. Now that I've cleaned a bunch of junk out of my home I have all this extra room...and I can find stuff! I can decorate again because I don't have boxes of Hubby's clutter in the way! I guess the shopping and decorating bugs have hit me, and I can't seem to keep my mind on one thing at a time. I'm like ooh hey check this out! Isn't it cool? *Glances at something else* Ooh shiny! I want it!
Yeah yeah I know. I can't go filling my house with more junk, so I'm trying to choose carefully. I need to come up with a decorating plan and renovate one area of the house at a time. I've really got the itch to work on our back patio first, but it's just too cold. I'll save that for Spring even though I'm really really wanting to go ahead and buy a few more small fruit trees to go out there with the two Plum trees. Then I can start thinking about patio furniture.
See...sidetracked again! That might have something to do with the fact that I haven't been to sleep, and I've had 3 cups of coffee to keep me awake until the cable guy shows up this morning. Maybe what I really need is to go take a walk right now around the yard to run some of this energy out before I'm all hyped up and scary for the cable guy.
I'm also finding it hard to sit down and write about one product because I'm feeling quite ADD. Now that I've cleaned a bunch of junk out of my home I have all this extra room...and I can find stuff! I can decorate again because I don't have boxes of Hubby's clutter in the way! I guess the shopping and decorating bugs have hit me, and I can't seem to keep my mind on one thing at a time. I'm like ooh hey check this out! Isn't it cool? *Glances at something else* Ooh shiny! I want it!
Yeah yeah I know. I can't go filling my house with more junk, so I'm trying to choose carefully. I need to come up with a decorating plan and renovate one area of the house at a time. I've really got the itch to work on our back patio first, but it's just too cold. I'll save that for Spring even though I'm really really wanting to go ahead and buy a few more small fruit trees to go out there with the two Plum trees. Then I can start thinking about patio furniture.
See...sidetracked again! That might have something to do with the fact that I haven't been to sleep, and I've had 3 cups of coffee to keep me awake until the cable guy shows up this morning. Maybe what I really need is to go take a walk right now around the yard to run some of this energy out before I'm all hyped up and scary for the cable guy.
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