You only wish your car was this great

Just a few of the many reasons why our car is the coolest one on the block:


It is always an open topped car these days. Fan-cee.

The reason it is open-topped is because we are being eco-friendly by never using the heater. In fact, we just had it totally put out of commission so it doesn't tempt us.

Because of this we have to keep the sun roof open so we don't make other's feel jealous by the icey-sauna-like steamy conditions that commonly ensue when you put warm bodies in a cold car. It is very good for the skin, but not so much for visibility when it builds up on the windshield in a thick layer of condensation.

We also get to sit in the comfort of our own car to scrape ice off the windshield.

And cold water feet soaks are great for circulation and to get you going in the mornings:

Who needs to actually roll down the driver's side window when you've got an open top right? Makes us feel extra fancy to stand up through the sunroof to grab things from the drive through, like we are in a limo.

I could go on and on, but why flaunt it and make you all jealous. Let's just say Job and I are loving the luxury, and laughed the entire way to church last Sunday just thinking about how great life is.

But seriously, we did. 

And we are so happy to have a car that has held on for so long despite it's little downfalls perks ;)

What has been your favorite car that you've had?

Shopping List

You know when you have a shopping list? But for big, expensive things (not eggs, we've got that covered)? And you dream about them. And you save for them. But you can't get them all at once! Help me decide. Which one first?!:

• Car-- never mind, this one will definitely be first.

• Sewing machine
• New Camera
• A sofa
• A trip to Mexico 
• Computer
• Leather Boots

Gah! Sometimes I wish I was born rich instead of beautiful ;)

{via}

Restaurant Week: Salazar Style

Restaurant week has been going on in Boston. It is on our Bucket List and I have been dying to go try some of the amazing restaurants here in Boston. As anyone who has spent any amount of time with us knows, we love food! However Job and I both agreed that we could skip it this year to save some money. But that didn't mean we had to go without good food! I decided to create a few fun 3 course meals for us to eat at home, using only ingredients we already had. It was a fun challenge and we got to enjoy some yummy meals together. I even busted out the candles ;)

Here's the lowdown on our menus. I didn't take pictures (gasp) because I decided to just sit back and enjoy the meal rather than stress about that. So go make some fancy food and share it with someone. They will looovvvee you {more}.

Night One

Starter

Spinach and spring greens salad with a homemade lemon and agave vinaigrette topped with herb feta

Main

Slow cooked pork loin with mango sauce

Buttered leeks

Sweet potato medallions

Desert

Chocolate swirled banana bread

Night Two

Starter

Steamed artichoke with homemade chipotle aioli

Main

Lentil bolognese over spaghetti rigati (vegetarian)

Fresh Parmesan bread sticks

Desert

Strawberry basil soup shot, garnished with whipped cream and fresh mint

Night Three

Pizza ;)

Good, Better, Best ideas

Good Idea: Buying little trash can liners for those small trash cans around the house so you don't get icky gunk in your trash can.

Better idea: Being green and re-using plastic grocery bags as liners. A little too big but not a big deal.

Best idea: Being green and clever and re-using those perfectly sized produce bags you get at the store (because we all remember to bring our canvas bags to the store and so don't have a million big plastic ones lying around anymore right? I always forget those things.) Perfect size for my teeny weeny cans.

Cleverness brought to you by one of my many sisters. 

Thanks Bec.

Good, Better, Best taken from this amazing talk. One of my favorites.

The tooth fairy's a cheapo

Oscar lost a tooth a few days ago. I asked him what he does with a tooth in Mexico and he told me about the tooth mouse who comes and gets his tooth from under his pillow. Cute!
Then I asked him how much money the tooth mouse usually leaves. He said it depended on how clean his tooth was. Cute!
Then I asked him to give me a range. "About $15-$20" was the answer. Whoa, not so cute!
The tooth mouse is more generous than the tooth fairy I guess.
Then I told him about our tradition of the tooth fairy and how my family left their teeth in a glass of water in the kitchen for the fairy to come collect instead of under their pillow. I also warned him that the tooth fairy does not usually leave 20 bucks for a tooth, clean or not. Just to mentally prepare him you know.
So the tooth fairy came and went that night, leaving a crisp $1 bill, which I remember as being very exciting when I was young. I recall a range of around 50 cents-$2 for teeth in our house growing up.
As Oscar came into the kitchen the next day he noticed some green in the glass, let out a half-hearted "oh", and tried to be excited as he collected and went to put the money in his wallet. I guess if you are used to getting 20 bones for your tooth 1 dollar isn't that awesome.
I'd better start our kids off with 10 cents a tooth, so when we get to the $1 bills they will think they are hitting the jackpot!

How we do handsoap in an apartment with one slightly obsessive hand washer

That obsessive hand washer would be me, Rachael. We go through about a bottle a week just in the bathroom so it was getting pricey. 

This may seem silly to even write this because it is super simple but, to save money we bought a dial foaming handwash ($4, or you can buy a less expensive Bath and Body Works one for $1-$2 on sale), and a very large bottle of regular handsoap ($4). We then make our own foaming soap by putting a small amount (maybe 1/2 inch or so, or a few good squeezes from the big bottle of soap) of soap into the foam dispenser and filling the rest with water. That's all foam soap is anyways. So instead of spending $4/week (or even $1 for the cheaper non foaming soap) we spend mere cents each time we fill up the bottle. 

That I can do. The one big bottle of hand soap has lasted us months and we still have quite a bit left. And the foaming bottle was a one time investment so basically we will just spend $4 every 6 months for hand soap in the bathroom. 

Now I can wash my hands to my hearts content!