CLICK HERE for the full recipe! MMMMM!
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The Oilfield Cafe: Mustard-BBQ Sandwiches
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Shrink for Good
Originally posted on The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.
You’re thirsty. You walk to the kitchen, turn on the faucet, and fill a cup with cold, refreshing water. Or maybe you grab a bottle of water out of the fridge as you run out the door to pick up the kids from soccer.
What if you couldn’t? What if you had to drink water that looks like the glass on the left? What if your children were forced to drink water infested with E. Coli, Salmonella, and nasty organisms, causing sickness and often times, death?
An average American uses 150 gallons of water a day. The average person in a developing nation struggles to find 5.
We want to change this. Everyone should have access to clean water.
Shrink for Good!
Most of us walk and run simply because we can. We walk miles to get in shape, clear our heads, or lose weight. In Africa alone, people spend 40 billion hours every year just walking for water, with women and children bearing the burden of walking miles and miles each and every day.
What if, by losing excess pounds in a friendly competition, you could ensure that an entire village was provided with access to clean water? Instead of walking miles and miles everyday for water {water that most of us wouldn’t even think of touching} to bring home to their families, women and children could focus on other important factors that we often take for granted — school, jobs, and family.
Lose Weight, Give Water.
We are teaming up with Dietbet to host a charity game; the ante is $25 and 50% of the total pot will go directly to charity: water. Where does the rest of the pot go? It will be split among all participants who lose 4% of their body weight or more! You can use the money to treat yourself, or if you choose, you may also donate your winnings to our cause. Seriously, do it and we’ll give you all the virtual high-fives you can handle!
**Bonus! We will be awarding a $100 Amazon.com gift card to the Dietbetter who loses the biggest percentage of weight in the 4 weeks!
The Shrink for Good charity game begins Monday, May 6th and ends on June 2nd. Sign up here, and make sure you tell all your friends and family about it, too! You’ll be rocking that bikini in no time! {Or at least a tankini…}
We have a special campaign that we will be donating the charity money to… we found this super-cute little boy out on the streets {okay, not really… he’s mine} who is celebrating his 10th birthday this year. He’s pledging his birthday for clean water. No presents, just water. I’m pretty proud that my little man is thinking so far beyond himself. All money donated and raised will be used directly in the field to fund clean water projects through charity: water and all donations are 100% deductible, as always.
View Ashton’s 10th Birthday Campaign!
You can do it. Choose to change your life and the life of others. Shrink for Good!
Are you in?
5 Ways to Make and Save a Little Cash
How many of you are stay-at-home moms? How many of you raised your hand only to realize no one could actually see you? (Heh) Well, this one is for all of you SAH moms (and everyone else!) looking to boost your income.
The first few months after leaving work to stay home, I felt guilty about spending any money since I wasn’t bringing anything in. Hubby could have cared less, but I just didn’t feel right. Eventually, I got tired of the constant self-imposed guilt and decided to find ways, no matter how small, to contribute to our finances. I wanted to share what I’ve learned, so I put together a list five ways I’ve found to make and save money.
1) Follow saving blogs/websites. My favorite is Money Saving Mom. I love Crystal Paine’s upbeat attitude and commitment to helping others become “home economists.” Most of these types of blogs/websites have Facebook pages as well. I find that is the best way to stay up to date with deals. Some of my other faves are: Be Centsable, Raining Hot Coupons, and The Krazy Coupon Lady.
2)Facebook yard sale pages. I am a member of two different yard sale pages and I love it. Not only have I made extra cash just getting rid of things we don’t use anymore, I’ve also found some awesome deals. I have found that buying everything brand new is overrated (and over priced!). These pages are becoming really popular so look for one in your area!
3) Ibotta. Ibotta is an app that has recently found popularity. You can earn cash for buying products that are featured on the app. Check out the website or App Store for more info. (Available for iPhone and Android)
CLICK HERE to finish reading 5 Ways to Make and Save a Little Cash!
What do you do to supplement your oilfield income? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @Ofwjaimie. (I really love Twitter. Tweet me, y’all!)
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You Know You Are a Real Oilfield Wife When…
You Know You Are a Real Oilfield Wife When…
You have to blow dust off your razor the day before your husband is due home… it’s been THAT long since you shaved your legs. In North Dakota and Canada, we also keep the leg hair long for warmth during the long winters. Right?
You go day after day with no interaction with other adults.
Your laundry pile is comparable to Mt. Everest.
You have your calendar planned out in “days on” and “days off”. Which doesn’t really matter, because you end up with big squiggly sharpie lines when your husband’s schedule changes or he starts work with a different company.
You vent on Facebook because you have no other friends that can relate to the lifestyle. Or you start a website devoted to oilfield wives.
CLICK HERE to continue reading You Know You Are a Real Oilfield Wife When…
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I Miss Daddy!
When Hubby started in the oilfield last year, our daughter wasn’t really phased by his absence. I’m not sure if she just didn’t notice it or if she was just used to Daddy being gone whenever the Army dragged him away. That has all changed with the last couple of months. The last two times we have dropped Hubby off at the airport I hear, “Mommy, I miss Daddy. Can we go back and get him now?” (Ugh. Here come the waterworks.) Maybe it’s the two solid weeks of family time we get between hitches or maybe it’s because Ashley is getting older, but her attachment to Daddy has gotten a lot stronger and is making the first few days he is gone a bit difficult.
I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better, so I decided to find some activities for Ashley that will keep her looking forward to Daddy’s return and help her cope with his absence. Here are a few ideas I have found so far:
1) Start a countdown. Decorate a jar and fill it with 14 candy pieces. Every day that Daddy is gone, let your little one have a piece of candy. If you don’t want to use candy, try decorative rocks or gems that you can pick up in the craft section. You can also dedicate a calender just to tracking hitches.
2) Create a bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop with his voice inside. We did this back in 2009 when Hubby had to return to Iraq four days after Ashley was born. Some how “Daddy Bear” has lost all of his clothing but still works great. It’s still one of her favorite stuffed toys. There are also pillows and other items you can have Daddy’s picture put on.
3) Print out a map that shows your child’s and Daddy’s location. The majority of our families have to deal with Daddy working far away. Put a pin in important or fun places between the two points. For older kids, turn this into a geography/history lesson! If your OFM has been in several places, this could also be a fun way to keep track of all the places he has worked.
What do you do to help your child cope with Daddy’s absence? Tell me in the comments or send me a tweet @Ofwjaimie!
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Snail Mail: Send A Little Love
The summer before my sophomore year of high school, my family and I moved from northern New Jersey, to Indiana. Even though I grew up moving a lot, this was the first move that was really hard on me. I was growing deep roots in the Garden State, and I was quite certain that I would absolutely hate Indiana. I didn’t, but I still missed my Jersey friends terribly. Thankfully, being pen pals was still cool in 2000, and for the couple of years I lived in Indiana, I had gads of pen pals. There are probably a few hundred letters in the boxes that hold that cherished correspondence.
As the years went by, I lost touch with friends I was, at one point, sure I couldn’t live without. Or, we caught up on AIM (Remember AIM?), or via email. But to this day, a select few friends still send me cards and letters. From New Jersey, from Texas, from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Even from the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and the Netherlands. I look forward to these letters now as much as I did when I was 14. Especially now, with a mailbox that’s only contents are bills or junk, most days.
The funny thing is, I’m actually a pretty terrible pen pal. Writing real letters is always on my to-do list, but it never seems to make the final cut, at the end of the day. I’d like to change that, and I’d like to encourage you to do the same!
When my husband was working in Alaska, I was able to send cards/letters/packages to a PO Box there. Going to Alaska, the mail was almost never timely, but it sure meant something.
I thought it would be fun to challenge the Real Oilfield Wives to dig out your pretty stationery (you can even find cute paper goods in the $1 bins at Target), a good pen, and write a few letters. Write to your oilfield man, and — if you’re able — send it to him while he’s away. Nowhere to send it? Stash it in his bag, before he leaves for work. I guarantee you it’ll make his day. Mail a small package to a friend you haven’t seen since you started following the rigs. Send a letter to a fellow oilfield wife who’s made a difference to you. Handwritten letters are so much more than a piece of paper … and certainly more than a quick email or Facebook message. I’m willing to bet you’ll be sending smiles, along with that 46 cents of postage.
Who will you write to? Share in the comments below, or send me a tweet!
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The Skinny on Bountiful Baskets
Oilfield life often comes with living in small towns with inflated prices on groceries. Selections are scarce, prices are high, lines are long, and trying to find good-for-you foods is just plain inconvenient. If you happen to live in a location near a Bountiful Baskets drop-off point, I highly suggest taking advantage of what is offered!
What is Bountiful Baskets? Bountiful Baskets is a volunteer-driven cooperative that aims to deliver produce, both organic and not, breads, and other food products to participants at low prices. Every other week on Monday, you can place a contribution online and it will be delivered to your location choice that weekend. It’s always a surprise what you will find in your basket! They usually consist of half fruits and half veggies, and you will find old favorites and a few new foods that you may have never heard of! Chayote, anyone?
Bountiful Baskets also feature various add-on packs for an additional price… breads, tortillas, Mexican packs, granola, bulk fruit.
How much does it cost? It depends on how much and what you buy! I will share the cost breakdown of my latest purchase {above photo is my haul}:
Conventional Basket: $15
Upgrade to Organic: $10
Add-Ons:
Mexican Theme Pack: $8.50
Tortilla Pack: $10.50
Sourdough Bread: $10
Granola: $10
Assorted Bread Pack: $10
Juicing Pack: $8
Blackberries: $14.25
Handling Fee: $1.50
Grand Total: $97.75
You most certainly don’t have to add on all the various foods; you can simply pay your $15 for a conventional basket and that’s that! But, damn, the other stuff is GOOD! I love, love the breads and tortillas, and they can be frozen until needed!
If you think there is no way possible that you can consume or prepare all that food, find a friend to share it with!
Is there a co-op in my area? You can check the available locations here. If you don’t have a Bountiful Baskets co-op already established in your community, why not start one? It may take a little more work on your part, but then again, most good things do!
How do I sign-up and place an order? It’s really easy. You create an account at the Bountiful Baskets site, then wait until it’s time to contribute for your basket. When selecting your contribution, you will also select your pick-up location. Contributions {orders} are accepted Mondays at 9:00 a.m. for Wyoming, 10:00 a.m. for Utah & Montana, and 12:00 p.m. for all other states. Make sure you follow the rotating A & B week schedule. I can’t tell you how many times I have been busy refreshing my screen at 1 p.m. on contribution day, only to later find out that I was on the wrong week!
Some sites sell out super-fast. Like, within MINUTES. Each site only has a limited number of baskets {I think around 100?} and if you have an active Bountiful Baskets community, they will be gone within a blink of your eyes! I set an alarm on my phone to remind me every other week!
How do I pick-up my basket? You will find a pick-up time on your contribution confirmation email. You must be there within a 20-minute window, or you forfeit your food and it will be given to a local fire station. In case of mechanical issues or nasty weather, update emails will be sent out before your scheduled pick-up. If you can’t make it during that time, you can send someone else, as long as they have a copy of your confirmation.
You will also notice that there is a volunteer time next to the pick-up time. Bountiful Baskets is a non-profit food cooperative and runs only because of volunteers. Try and put some time in to helping out every few months! Without people willing to donate their time, Bountiful Baskets cannot happen!
Bring something to put your produce in! Despite the name, you are NOT given a basket to carry your goods in! The Organic baskets will come in a box, the conventional baskets do not. Laundry baskets work great, as do boxes and reusable totes!
Any other questions? Check out their FAQ page!
Looking for ways to use your stash of produce? Try out healthy recipes from Shrinking Kitchen!
Curious about juicing? Read about the basics of juicing!
Wondering how to store all your fresh foods? Read this produce storage guide!
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Full Disclosure: I was not paid for this post, I am simply writing it to inform everyone of the greatness of Bountiful Baskets! All opinions are my own!
