I was going to write a Lent update today, but when looking at posts from Lent last year I discovered this one about J discovering how delicious peanut butter is. That actually never became a problem– he doesn’t eat it on a regular basis so my stash is still my own– but what I was floored by was how the price of peanut butter has changed. Less than one year ago, I wrote that I paid 3.50 EUR for a jar of peanut butter at the Stockmann grocery store (which, as far as I know, is the only place that sells the American brands). Do you want to know how much I paid for a jar from that same store about 2 weeks ago? 5.60 EUR. That’s $7.50! I know it’s ridiculous, but I was desperate. Fortunately we’re going to the States again in just a few short weeks (I can’t believe we’re going again so soon!) so then I can stock up on peanut butter that isn’t absurdly overpriced.
So the price of peanut butter changing is clearly not so nice. But some change is good– like, for example, J getting a new job at an exciting Estonian company! Our everyday routine is much different now, mainly because he used to work from home so he’d pretty much always be here. Now he works long days and gets home after 7, which means I have some time to myself at home (which used to happen very rarely) plus I’ve been cooking more so that dinner will be ready when J gets home (yes, I’m such a good little soon-to-be-wife). Hopefully some of my cooking will make it onto the poor neglected blog eventually as well.
Oh, one more change just came to mind! Please don’t hate me when I say this (it kind of makes me hate myself a little bit), but I’ve become one of those people who loves exercising in the morning. I used to be a solid after-work-and-on-weekends runner and I thought that exercising before work would make me get sleepy during the day. But somehow I discovered that waking up just half an hour earlier and running before work leaves me feeling amazing for the rest of the day. I know, what an annoying thing for me to say… but it’s true! I must confess that there was also an external factor motivating me to get up in the mornings– every since the new year began it has been so hard to get a treadmill at the gym after 5 pm, but in the mornings? The place is practically deserted, and I rather like the feeling of having the gym to myself!
AGREED! I actually only spent $2.50 on peanut butter today, so I can see how you might be outraged. Also, I’ve started running mornings too, and it DOES make a difference! I find I sleep so much better too! Kudos!
Exercising is the morning is the best way to do it! I wish I had the discipline, its the best way to go to kick start your day! That’s great! I also can’t wait to go back to the states to stock up on some things that are just too expensive here! Looking forward to seeing some cooking (One new house wife to another!
)
I switched to natural or salt-only peanut butter a few years ago and can’t go back. Skippy, Peter Pan, you name it — they all taste stale and chemically altered. But it has to be a good natural brand, preferably with sweet and silky Valencia peanuts, so that means going up to Helsinki or Stockholm.
I think texture is one reason I can’t quite processed peanut butters– I prefer the uniform smoothness over the graininess of natural peanut butter.
[...] know I just wrote a post about change, but I feel the need to return to the topic for a bit. I know I rarely post anymore, and I think [...]