I almost forgot I had the $15 gift card from Wal-Mart! I went today after the gym and picked up the items I was worried about running out of -- dishwasher detergent, bread and creamer. I also bought some frozen peppers & onions which I will use in tacos and omelets.

Upon the advice of a friend, I downloaded the Wal-Mart app and scanned my receipt. They will do a price-comparison and refund the money saved in the form of a gift card. (I imagine that would take a while.) I don't shop at Wal-Mart that often, but truthfully, it isn't that far away, and it's brand-new, so nice to shop in. I might do it more -- especially since they bag the groceries in bags I can use for cat pan cleanup. Honestly, it drives me crazy that our "green" ordinance banning plastic bags has got me constantly on the look for something to use for the cat pan. The only thing I can buy are plastic wastebasket liners, which are too big and too heavy. I want those little flimsy bags! They're perfect!

Yesterday I made gingerbread cookies and they were so bad I threw them out. There were problems with the internet recipe -- when I was in the middle of it, I realized that the ingredient list and the instructions didn't match. And it included a teaspoon of "baking," which could have been soda, but which I included as powder. Also I halved the recipe, and I might have messed up. But I think perhaps the worst thing was that the corn syrup was too old. The stuff can last forever, but I think the taste changes. Bottom line, the cookies were too awful to eat. It felt good to throw them away, and I hate to throw food away. Today I'm throwing the corn syrup away.

Tonight the grandsons are both doing activities -- a ball game and a Tae Kwan Do class. I'll have to choose. I think I went with the Tae Kwan Do last time this happened....

I signed up for a luncheon with my professional group next week. It's downtown, but easily accessed by the El. It's an Afro-Portuguese restaurant -- should be interesting! I go to these when I can, even when I'm scrimping, as I am now, because it's a social outlet, and it also keeps me in touch with my field.

My utilities have gone up over the past year, so I adjusted my variables down a bit. Even more of a challenge! I'm at 63% now. Really only have to last till the 21st, because that's when vacation starts, and none of that will come from variables.

Weather's warming up! We may have spring after all!