My husband and I used our free library passes for The Portland Art Museum today, which was the perfect excuse for a day of adventures as I’m in great need of quality distraction.
Step One:
Dim sum at Excellent Cuisine, perhaps not technically frugal, but still worth every penny. I suppose you could lean towards the cheaper plates, but it’s hard to know the prices with the language barrier. This restaurant has the most amazing Chinese food and I’d eat there every day if I could. Our total was $45 before the tip and we have leftovers to enjoy this evening.
Step Two:
The art museum, which is a rare treat since the admission is normally $25 per adult. Unfortunately much of the museum is closed for construction, but beggars can’t be choosers so off we went to downtown Portland. I’ve loved the museum on previous visits, but today was not my favorite as there were only a few open gallery rooms with standard art. Their two main exhibits were Paul McCartney photographs and Psychedelic rock posters and fashion of the 1960s, neither of which really really held my interest. (I might get some hate here, but they both felt gimmicky.) I was disappointed that their Native American exhibit was closed, but again . . . my tickets were free! Still fun to wander the museum with my honey.
Street parking was $5.40.
Step Three:
I’d been holding onto a two-for-one Stumptown Coffee coupon and today was the perfect day to cash it in. As much as I’m loathe to admit that pricier options are worth the money, Stumptown coffee really is superior. My husband and I both ordered 16-ounce café lattes and the barista handed over the first coffee complete with breathtaking latte art and joked “that one’s the free coffee.” I responded with “the free one should be uglier.” She then got to work on the second coffee and wrote the word “FREE” on top with milky foam. Mind you, she has no idea that I’m “The Non-Consumer Advocate,” which made it extra funny!
$7.75 before tip.
We didn’t indulge in a treat as my plan was to come home and bake something from scratch. (Maybe pumpkin scones?) Instead I got a text from my next door neighbor asking if we wanted their leftover Halloween chocolate candy. Umm, let me give that some thought . . . hell, yes! I was in my feelings last night with nothing but kid friendly Hi-Chew candy for trick-or-treaters. An excellent plan to keep myself from snacking on candy, (Hi-Chew does not appeal to me!) but kind of a bummer.
So yes, I was happy to accept the neighbor’s leftover chocolate!
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
What a lovely day with your honey, complete with emotional support candy. It was 26 C (78,8 F) in Montreal yesterday, gorgeous unheard of summer temperature was enjoyed by the Halloween tricker treaters. I live on the 11 th floor of a building so I no longer participate in the reverly, but my son handed out 200 chocolate bars at his home and my daughter and grandchildren enjoyed a truly wonderful evening. I am not reading the NYT to avoid election news and I am counting on you dear American cousins. Orange is the dreadful black!
Whereas we to the south of you in Oregon enjoyed downpours and cold weather for our Halloween!
If the orange ogre gets elected, Canada may have an immigration problem, with all of us Americans trying to get out of the USA ASAP! Pls. pray for us, your American cousins, that our nation will remain a democracy, not a dictatorship.
My distraction has been to bake, bake and bake some more. Today I made two quick breads and the cranberry one crumbled on taking it out of the pan. I had made them for our church’s Harvest Fair but couldn’t take the broken up one. The pumpkin bread stayed intact. So then I made two Danish Puffs to make up for the crumbly cranberry concoction. These are intact also and fit for a bake table at a church fair. DH and I will eat the cranberry bread.
I’m busy all weekend which is good. It will keep me away from the TV because every time I hear from a certain candidate, his words and thoughts seem to get darker.
Thank you, Katy, for providing your comforting words to get us through these stressful days before election. I always enjoy reading your posts, as well as all of the many others who contribute their helpful and encouraging words.
I live in an area with a veritable boatload of free parking. It wasn’t all that long ago that the airport started charging for parking. And what they charge is a pittance in the grand scheme of airport parking. Yet people complain to which I say a) how can you afford to fly or b) no friends/family to drop off/pick you up? We’re talking super duper easy drive to the airport. Even if you park/get dropped off from the “farthest point of the lot” or the road, we are not talking a very far walk.
Better half and I have discussed the election – we’ll be okay no matter what happens. Yeah, will likely be shitty if one candidate somehow prevails but the shit won’t last for long. We’ll not have any sympathy/empathy for some we know as after all, elections have consequences. And the aforementioned have been barely surviving since pre-Covid.
We will be adequately supplied so we can just hunker down after better half does his last day of election work if need be.
Selena, I envy you your reasonable proximity to your local airport, and reasonable airport parking fees. Our most local airport is at least an hour’s drive away, and we have no family in town, so pay we must on those rare occasions when we fly anywhere. Long term parking is usually the cheapest, and I have rewards memberships at the other parking facilities which sometimes are even cheaper than the long term lots (meaning, sometimes they offer a reduced rate to members).
My late father had a good retirement thing going: all his friends and neighbors knew he’d be happy to drive them to the big city airport 100 miles away, for the cost of a tank of gas for his van. He’d drop them off, and then make the rounds of the city visiting his nephew and friends before coming home. Then he’d go pick the travelers up, same deal, when they returned. He had a good visit with his passengers and also with the folks living in the city. It worked out well for everyone. This was before there was Uber or Lyft.
And still a good deal even after Uber and Lyft!
I am packing up and leaving for a quilt retreat tomorrow. On the off chance that there is any election talk at the retreat, I have charged and packed my earbuds and downloaded an offer for Audible for 99¢ a month for three months, and got a free book (Libby Lost and Found) with this month’s complimentary credit. I’ve been waiting on this book at the library, so was happy to listen to it free.
I had paid full price for one month of Audible a few months ago when I spent a week cleaning out my garage and was reading Hilde which was 700+ pages of Old English names and places. So the entertainment in the garage in the high 90 degree heat was essential to keep me out there and working, and the narrator gave a great assist with the Old English pronunciations. Once I was done with the book (and the garage) I cancelled the subscription. Since then they have been sending me “special” offers, which were not special enough to get me to subscribe again. But $3 for 3 months and 3 free books. Yeah, I can spring for that!
There has been many a workout or unpleasant chore that an audiobook has seen me through. Totally worth the money.
I spent the day with my grandchildren, a 3 year old and a 3.5 month old. Playing, laughing, watching cartoons. Went for 3 walks, played outside. Ate a simple meal of rice and beans with cheese, cabbage and homegrown tomatoes. A simple and ordinary day with lots of love.
The last walk was an all-family outing to the local park which I marvel at every time I go. It is in a very urban area and is in a working class neighborhood that is surrounded by neighborhoods in deep poverty. The site of the park used to be an abandoned business. They built a very small simple park and now it is a place that is used joyfully. A park within walking distance, that is safe in this area is an absolute treasure. I’m deeply grateful that my grandson and his family have this. Bonus, there’s a locally owned ice cream shop across the street!
I’m okay.
I’m listening to easy to digest audio books, spending time with friends outside, and organizing at home. I’m also running errands. Just generally staying away from news on the radio and TV.
I would love to see the Paul McCartney exhibit! I remember watching The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan show, as an 8 year old.❤️
Mom said my grandmother thought the Beatles on Ed Sullivan were the beginning of the end of the world. I’m not sure if grandma ever forgave Ed.
Debra, I was about the same age, in third grade, when they appeared on Ed Sullivan. Paul looked directly into the camera with his big brown choirboy eyes, and I fell in love! (Sigh.) I think all the girls everywhere did, too.
That sounds like a perfectly lovely day, Katy, even if the museum is having construction woes.
I spent yesterday cleaning my house from top to bottom and turning freezer finds into yummy entrees. Was home all day and spent no money. It was a good day.
Love this idea!! If anyone needs another frugal thing to do, look into phone banking with SURJ (Showing up for Racial Justice). They have sessions every day through the election and a good training before hand.
from the right coast in Delaware, not one trick-or-treater again, we are the last house in our development next to the big woods, dark here in the culdesac, we had the porch lights on….we rarely get visitors on Halloween. We bought a bag of snack sized PAYDAY. . . .because it is a candy with good for us peanuts. I prefer the TV on off nowadays. We voted last Monday in person. I can not wait for the election to be over. Oh please let there be peace.
I echo everyone’s sentiments about A) how fantastic you are to provide us with our own quality distraction on these stressful days leading up to Tuesday, and B) I am stressed like everyone else. I’m right downtown Chicago, as blue as a city can be, and yet … what if????
The comforting phrase “we’re all in this together” just doesn’t seem true this time around. Thank you, Katy, for providing consistency and humor and the same solid messaging you’ve shared for so many years.
Thank you, Katy, for helping us here in the US as we navigate the run-up to the election. I live in the reddest of red counties in my state, and it’s distressing to see do many yard signs for the candidate I did not early-vote for.
That day spent with your honey sounds great! I
probably would’ve liked the Paul McCartney and the
60s fashion exhibits, but yeah, if they were gimmicky….that’s disappointing.
I’ve been busy with work, my son’s marching band performances and competitions, celebrating a work friend’s first pregnancy with a lunch potluck (frugal and delicious), going out with my gal pals (not frugal, but delicious, and much needed catching up and hilarity), and the usual home chores. Trying to get the gardening and outside chores done before it gets too cold.
Katy, I love all your posts but especially these last few up to the election. Liz, speaking of yard signs,there is one in my neighborhood with a picture of one of the candidates and the words are “I’m voting for the convicted felon.” I wondered if it were a joke but don’t think so…
Katy, I appreciate the creativity and time you’re putting into these daily posts. And I love the additional connection that it fosters.
At one fed-up point in Trump’s presidency, I wrote to him to say, “Please resign. You are uniquely unfit both intellectually and psychologically.” Now I would add, “You’re a disgrace to humanity, a menace to society, and a clear and present danger to our Constitution.” Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
MB, Your last paragraph was an understatement! Thank you, everyone, for expressing your views. I’m in a very red area and things are scary. I have signs out for all the blue candidates here and bumper stickers all over my car; my car has gotten keyed. I have a small button I wear that says “Christians against Trump” and one guy in a store chewed me out for it…..but a dozen or more people have commented positive about it and this bolsters my spirit. I saw my pastor’s wife while shopping and she let me know she early voted for all the candidates whose stickers were on my car; that helped immensely. As does all your comments: I’m glad to know there are some sane, thoughtful people in this world, after all!
Thanks so much for all your posts. Many of us share your anxiety, and the distraction is welcome!
We live in a drought-stricken area, and are finally getting some real rain today! So wonderful! I’m pretending I’m in Portland.
Planning to stay in and make a frugal but comforting pot of soup. Hope you have a great weekend.
We had high winds and rain that broke long enough for trick-or-treaters to be out. No one else on our end of the block had an outside light on, so I walked down to the corner and handed out notebooks and pencils to kids for about half an hour until the sun went down. I like the littlest treaters best, (though do not object to teens continuing their childhoods), and enjoyed seeing several happy parent-child groups.
And I have plenty of inedible leftovers for next year.
Stores don’t seem to get as crazy about holiday décor and candy as they used to ten or fifteen years ago, so there are fewer leftovers. However, yesterday I found sale candy to last us a few months at WalMart and some very tasty, (because very fresh), orange colored filling Oreos at CVS for half price.
I have a cold coming on and have been gargling with warm salt water. Ugh.
For those young people who have the self-control, Amazon Prime has changed their student discount program to a Young Adult discount, ages 18-24, not sure what personal info is needed for proof of age. It supplies six months free and half price after that.
Although they are few, I am pleased to see a few positive campaign ads on TV amid the really nasty ones, and remind myself that Congress is a check on the Presidency. This gives my thoughts some hopeful directions. I appreciate seeing the daily posts here!
I am at peace this week having voted beyond a bi-partisan system. I am grateful today for being a citizen of the “The Great American Experiment.” I will continue to promote through my actions my gratitude that I have for the rights I enjoy as a citizen as well practicing my responsible actions that come with those rights.
In terms of service to others which for me is the best way to get into gratitude and peace:
1. I began sponsoring in the AA program a newcomer who had a horrible bottom of domestic violence. Thank goodness for quick action by the police, a criminal justice system that put the perpetrator behind bars, and an active recovery community.
2. I continued my Spanish language lessons. I have found the more fluent I become the more I can translate for the more vulnerable in my community who are not fluent in English. ( I bought a year subscription of Babel and really have gotten a lot of use from it.)
3. I am making overt gestures to get closer to my nieces and nephews and their 10 littles. There has long been justifiable divide between my hubby and his brother. That does not have to continue for generations. I want to “be the change, right?” I brought treats for the littles and take pictures of all the families going out to trick or treat.
Mary Ann, what you are doing is very inspirational. God bless you!
Echoing all of what each other said!
1. Attended a dinner for my boss who retired yesterday. A colleague found a great Turkish restaurant that could feed 24 of of us. A wonderful meze spread for $40. (plus tip & drinks).
2. I carpooled with colleagues (which would have included a toll!)
3. I was in charge of collecting the money from 17 of the people. For anyone who paid me via Venmo, I put on the credit card which will give me a bit of cash back. I did hand over the cash to the restaurant as they were so generous.
4. Brought my lunch to work yesterday as I taught during the block of time when I can get free food from one of the kitchens. It was tuna on a roll. The roll was free from a mystery shop
5. Still haven’t turned on the heat.
Change clocks tonight in the U.S.!
(I mean, turn them back an hour. Not turn them back to the 19th century).
Good days and bad days and anxiety laden days over the past few months but my newest distraction is my shiny new Canadian passport! My dad is from Canada and for years I have been wanting to get my citizenship certificate but kept putting it off when life got in the way. I finally did it this year! Would I leave, who knows, nowhere is perfect but I like to have options. Other than that just keeping busy and spending lots of time with family.
Thank you for the distraction of a NCA post. LOVE the “free” coffee art. That is so funny. Spending more time at home this weekend. Listing things on eBay (gift to future me!) and cleaning out drawers and such. In the back of my mind, thinking that it will be good to have things in order in case we need to move away for a few years. Just calming myself down by keeping things orderly.
Sold 2 cereal bowls on eBay today. My son was using one of the bowls at the moment it sold. We had a good laugh about that. I love turning things into money and we have plenty of other bowls.
This weekend has been one of therapeutic baking and cooking (I’ve got some sandwich bread on to rise even as I type). Once the bread comes out of the oven later today I’m going to take myself on a nature walk at one of our local parks and maybe get some birding in while I’m there. Anything to calm the nervous system a bit … given the state of *gestures around*, I’m in deep need!
I have been coloring to avoid watching TV which means I don’t see all of the non stop ads.