Happy Birthday to Me

I just had the most amazing surprise -- an impromptu birthday lunch! Every Wednesday I have lunch at a Mexican restaurant with a friend of mine who is a pastor. Almost every Wednesday my husband calls during our lunch. Almost every week I "ignore" the call and he usually leaves the voicemail, "I just realized you're probably at lunch . . ."

Today he called twice; the second time I turned the ringer off. A few minutes later my friend's phone rings -- my husband is calling her. "Hello?" she says laughing after she shows me the caller ID. "Well, at least you answer your phone; my wife won't." He told her to have me place his order and he would be there in a few minutes. Two minutes later, another really good friend calls her, "Can I join you two for lunch?" So, we had a foursome -- some of my very favorite people in the world. We had more fun and laughs at this impromptu get-together than I usually do at parties I plan weeks in advance. It just goes to show, it doesn't take a lot of money or time or effort to make someone feel loved.

I am a very lucky woman. Happy birthday to me.

A Great Way to Reduce Waste and Save Money

Yesterday, I mentioned recycling as a great way to reduce household waste. Obviously, an even better method is to find ways not to generate waste, recyclable or not, in the first place. A wonderful product I want to tell you about is the Wrap-N-Mat. It's a reusable sandwich wrap and placemat all in one. Not only will you reduce your household waste (and save the planet), you'll save money on sandwich bags, plastic wrap and/or aluminium foil. I have to admit I was a little skeptical they would really keep a sandwich fresh, but I bought several wrap-n-mats after confirming the 30 day return policy. We frequently make sandwiches a day or two (or three!) in advance and, true to promise, the sandwiches stay fresh. This is a great product which will save you money in the long run, especially if you're not picky about the pattern and buy the ones on sale! You can check out the wrap-n-mat website below.

http://www.wrap-n-mat.com/