mashed potatoes and salsa

*the title of this post has absolute nothing to do with anything*

Last Thursday was Job's birthday. We had family and friends over to our little apartment for dinner and dessert. I made pastitso, which is kind of like a Greek lasagna. I got 'The Treasury of Light Cooking' as a wedding gift, and I found a lean version of this otherwise fatty favorite. I'm pretty sure everyone was genuine when they said they enjoyed it :) I made some blueberry cobbler from last week's berry picking escapade, and Job's grandma brought a pumpkin pie (which is his favorite).

Considering the group dynamics, things weren't awkward at all. We all had a good time, and most importantly, the birthday boy had a good time :)

Party No. 2 was yesterday. My soon-to-be sis-in-law had her bridal shower yesterday, and I helped out with that as soon as church got out. The shower was held at the home of my aunt-in-law. She has a gorgeous home on a wide spread of land with orchards, wildlife and picturesque farmland. The shower took place outside on her lawn, and the weather could NOT have been more ideal. But I didn't get home until 7 or so... making it all a very long day. And since I worked all day Saturday, my weekend wasn't exactly relaxing. Oh well, I have another hour and a half before I leave for work today-- I'll savor each minute :)

How's my caffiene quitting coming along, you might ask? Well... it's good. It's moreso coffee that I'm quitting, since I now drink chai and green tea (which contains caffeine). I can't say I'm saving money, though. At work, there are about 4 coffee shops in the vicinity, and seeing shoppers pass by with their icy drinks doesn't make things easier. Plus, I really look forward to my ten minute break, when I can walk somewhere else and order a drink. Right now my favorite shop is Peet's Coffee and Tea. They have great service, and their teas are just as well-crafted as their coffee. Most coffee shops are like, "Oh, and by the way we serve tea." But Peet's is different. They also play classical music in their store, which is a WELCOME break from the constant MUZAK I'm surrounded with. OOPS! Enough with my shameless product placement :)
I have a little monthly allowance... a few dollars that are allotted for my spending pleasure. I think that I'm just going to have to use it for "coffee/tea" money. It's kinda sad... but when you work in retail all day, you need something to look forward to amidst a 9 hour shift. My daily motivation, I guess you could say. *sigh*

Speaking of work, I better stop puttering around and get started on my day. I hope you have a lovely Monday... and if I don't post again this week, then I hope you have a lovely week as well :)