Raindrops on Roses...

My friend, Missy, listed some of her favorite things and asked what we loved.

I decided to answer her post by doing one of my own.

Its'a a little long, but so worth the ending.

Recipe Websites

I'm not just about AllRecipes.com,

I include cooksillustrated.com, epicurious.com and topsecretrecipes.com.

Soy Milk

This is my FAVORITE stuff.

Have you ever had their chocolate soymilk? So yummy.

(Not to mention the phyto-estrogens that are so good for you!)

Sewing Machine

This is not my machine, but it's really close to it.

I have a basic machine and that's all I really need!

I love the pride that comes with making and/or repairing our own clothes.

(Everytime that I pull it out, I am reminded of the sewing machine scene in Fiddler on the Roof.)

Clean & Shield

I have never been more grateful for this. After father and sons last weekend, Aaron took a bath (thankfully) and when he was finished... there was not a ring in the tub.

I love this because I no longer have to scrub the tub, I wipe this on twice a week and have a shiny tub all the time. It's fantastic!!

Our Piano

We live in a townhome, so it's not really a good idea to have an upright acoustic piano.

So, Curt and I bought this. It was his idea at first and I was a little mad about it until I got the calling of Primary Pianist. THEN, I started playing it all the time!

This is the exact piano that we have and I love all of the sounds that it makes. I can have it on concert grand and then switch it over to add strings to it! I love that it is touch sensitive and so I know how hard I am pushing. It's a great piano and I have learned to love it.

I love that it has headphones and speakers. If I am working on a piece for a musical number, I can flip on the speakers. I can use the headphones if the kids or Curt want to watch TV, the phone rings or we have friends over. We don't have to worry about it interrupting anyone!

(Not to mention when the kids start piano, I don't have to hear it if I don't want to.)

The BEST website

This is the secret that I will let you all in on. Curt and I love food... that is very well known.

What you don't know, is that we often use these gift certificates to eat at fancy places.

We just paid $8 for 2 - $25 Certificates to My Big Fat Greek Restaurant

(We have a date night planned with some friends)

Here's the deal. You have to spend $35.00 to use them.

Here's the math.

Dinner $35.00

Certificate price $4.00

Minus $25.00 certificate.

We had a full dinner for $14.00. plus tip 5.25.

Total for both meals is under $40.00.

Our budget for our monthly date night is $60.00. So, we still have $20.00 to see a movie if we want (but we usually jsut stay at the restaurant for a long time and talk with our friends then go home).

We get an appetizer each, whatever we want on the menu and dessert.

We just have to meet the $35.00 in whatever way without going too far over.

We each use a certificate, so we take home a lot of extra food for the kids.

It's the BEST!