Birthday Feast!
Ok, so I lied. I didn’t make my chicken stir fry last night. I had every intention but my birthday is today so I wanted to treat myself early. I made my shrimp and cheese grits meal. YUMMY! I make mine mine similar to the link I just provided, but minus the bacon and scaled down to single girl size/proportion. Also, I use a Monterey Jack and cheddar blend cheese that I buy generic from Publix. Also, I used portobello mushrooms because they were on sale and cheaper than regular mushrooms. Frugalista power!
Anyway, the meal was great and I am so glad that I cooked it. Cooking at home can make one rather smug and satisfied. I would have taken a picture but I ate it so quickly…The camera wasn’t quick enough. *Burp*
Anyway, I’m just reflecting on my year and feeling thankful for another year. Last year I celebrated my birthday with Betty Nguyen and CNN. I was doing No-Buy Month, where I didn’t spend any extra money, no shopping, dining out, or getting my hair or nails professionally done!
This year, I am celebrating, well basically with you all! And I am content. 
Everyone asks me why do I spend my birthdays doing these challenges such as No-Buy Month or Dine-In Week. I do it because it stops me from going overboard spending money on one day! Believe me, even if I cook lobster tonight for dinner, it would be cheaper than my friends and I running wild on South Beach just because it’s my birthday.
So, what’s on your plate? Let’s keep Dine-In Week going! Is it time to pull out the crock pot? I’m thinking so!
11 Responses to Birthday Feast!
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Happy Birthday. It sounds like you’re having a fabulous week.
Last night’s dinner at my house was something new – chicken philly sandwiches. All the ingredients of a philly but with chicken. It was very tasty!
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I’m joining that challenge … and it shouldn’t even be that hard since it’s not my birthday!
I have a new schedule – my son does karate three times a week, my daughter gymnastics once a week, and last week, we ate out or I ordered food from somewhere every single night! Ack! No homecooking, and definitely no wallet savings. So this weekend I prepared two dinners: shrimp quiche and shrimp, sausage and crab gumbo with cornbread so I packed dinner and after school snacks in a small carrying cooler last night and plan to do that all week. Viva la Frugalista Power! Feliz Cumpleanos, Frugalista Linda!
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@sharlyn: Thank you for the birthday wishes. I LOVE cheese/chicken steaks. I got hooked on them in college. I know yours were great and healthier than using steak.
@Jewel: Girl, I ate like a mad woman. #glutton
@Money: Thank you, Money!
@Zerline: Yay Zerline and Yay for the kids. OMG, you are super busy and you are cooking gourmet? I have NO excuse!
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Happy birthdayyyyyyy Natalie! Hope you’re having a great day. It’s my dad’s birthday today too
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Happy birthday Nat! It seems like it has been much longer than a year since you did your no buy month! Wow, time travels!
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Happy birthday Natalie!! Hope you’ve been having an awesome day!! So about that challenge, I got off to a bad start yesterday due to a last minute function I had to attend, so while I didn’t spend any money, I did “eat out”. But I’ll get on the ball by making this pot of spaghetti that should last me a couple of days – provided I don’t eat any for breakfast in the morning.
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Happy Birthday again, darlin’! On my plate tonight is applesauce and toast as I am just trusting my body with solid foods again. Hopefully tomorrow I will be back on real food and I’ll be able to put that roast in the oven that I seasoned the day before yesterday. It is going to be so good!
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy yourself. You deserve it!
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I’m not a fan of grits but I do a similar recipe w/ polenta instead of grits. It’s a mix between your recipe and this one I use from NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/dining/17minirex1.html?ref=dining
Yum!
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Happy birthday Natalie. I started following your blog about a year ago…. when you went “No Buy”. It was a jumpstart for me, and now I am coming upon one year as a serious frugalista!
Sharlyn Lauby