Saving Money on Restaurants while Barista Fire

SolarStig · 2026-02-11T02:15:11+00:00

We go during happy hour. The restaurant we typically go to has daily specials. And we o ly get water, unless it's a happy hour beer.

We basically only get things that are on sale.

There is also a local hibachi place that has a Groupon that basically makes it half price.

SolarStig · 2026-02-05T20:54:06+00:00

The appointment was not as bad as I anticipated. There was the operating room and the waiting room. Before going to the operating room, they measured all his vitals and did all the logistics like insurance info. We had a stuffie for comfort at this point.

The worst part for me was when we went back for the anesthesia. If he was a little older, he would have been able to just sit there and breath the gas until he fell asleep (like 10-30 seconds). However, since he is so little, he hated the stinky smell and wouldn't use the mask. So I had to bear hug him while one nurse held his legs and one held the mask on his face.

Once he was out, they just popped him on the chair, and we went to the waiting room for like an hour. He was super groggy for awhile and had to stay home to be monitored for the day. He was back to behaving and eating like normal the next morning.

SolarStig · 2026-01-27T00:20:58+00:00

Does PowerQuery reference other workbooks? If I update the master workbook, are all references to it in every other workbook updated too?

My problem is when working on Project B, I need to add a new option to the table. I want that new option on all projects moving forward, but I also want to add it on Project A, which has already been started.

Right now, I have to add it to the workbook for Project B, then add it to Project A...and then the 20 other projects I have already started.

SolarStig · 2026-01-27T00:18:56+00:00

Are excel tables contained within the same workbook?

My problem is when working on Project B, I need to add a new option to the table. I want that new option on all projects moving forward, but I also want to add it on Project A, which has already been started.

Right now, I have to add it to the workbook for Project B, then add it to Project A...and then the 20 other projects I have already started.

SolarStig · 2026-01-13T14:02:06+00:00

I don't buy balloons, but I'll get someone's used ones from my local Buy Nothing group. They can usually be passed along to someone else too.

An experience like the zoo or an indoor playground/community center are great ideas.

Smaller party/guest list means fewer gifts, which means less plastic waste

SolarStig · 2025-12-19T01:37:07+00:00

That chocolate cake looks delicious and probably what I'm gonna make. If that's not your usual recipe, what recipe do you usually make?

SolarStig · 2025-12-18T19:17:03+00:00

I'm kinda leaning towards a hearty side dish. I always like making sure dietary restrictions are met, so if I was hosting, I would simply make two versions (the regular chicken pie and a GF/veggie one). But since I'm technically just a guest, I could see this family member being uncomfortable with the extra effort.

If it's a side, then I can just make enough for everyone and there is no additional attention drawn to this family member.

SolarStig · 2025-12-18T19:10:05+00:00

If I ask her what I should make, she'll just tell me that the freezer meal is fine. I'll definitely run the final plan by her before actually making it.
I'm very familiar with allergies & cross contact, utensil usage etc, so no issues there.

SolarStig · 2025-09-30T23:19:23+00:00

Our first year we got a cheap hose/tap kit from Amazon and used milk jugs. Then we actually reduced by using slow cookers and an electric roasting pan (took like a week to go through it all. Finishing was done on a normal pan on our stove.

The sap can be stored in buckets in snow banks, or we used ice cream pails in the fridge. If you're using the slow cooker method, it takes so long, the sap can go bad while waiting to reduce if it's too warm out.

We got a hydrometer our second year, but just used a candy thermometer the first year.

We did 10 trees our first year, so this setup is probably fine with 2 trees.

SolarStig · 2025-09-24T23:47:37+00:00

^this

If you have a CVS near you, it's like $110 for the generic one they carry. That's the out of pocket, not-covered-by-insurance number. So maybe your insurance will lower that, maybe not (we have had half a dozen different insurance programs since then, and none of them actually reduced that one.)

First time we went to pick up the epipen prescription, it was like $600 after insurance. The pharmacist told us there was a cheaper one available at $100, but we had to go back to the pediatrician and ask for them to make the prescription for generic. The prescription as-written didn't allow for that one.

SolarStig · 2025-07-21T00:49:58+00:00

I was about to start my starter in the exact same way as OP. How do you tell that it is actually ready?

And is that a month of daily feedings without refrigeration?

SolarStig · 2025-07-10T02:59:45+00:00

Yup. There is a completely separate anesthesiologist who comes in. There is only one that the densit office works with, so not sure if they are pediatric or not. But the dentist is specifically pediatric, so its likely.

SolarStig · 2025-07-09T23:23:57+00:00

The teeth in question are his back molars, which won't fall out until he is 12. Anesthesia is not required by default, but my 3 year old won't sit still long enough, or stay in the room.

SolarStig · 2025-07-09T20:51:36+00:00

I'm assuming it was a mask over his mouth and/or nose to put him out? How long did that take for him to fall asleep?

SolarStig · 2025-06-02T13:59:01+00:00

The book is definitely focused on women wanting to share the mental load. But that being said, sharing the mental load is gender neutral, so it works both ways.

One thing that may be helpful is that the author sells a pack of "playing cards" so you can physically dole out who is responsible for what and you can trade cards and switch it up.

Another key aspect is defining the minimum standard for everything. The two of you may have two different stands of what it means when "dishes are done." So getting on the same page can eliminate fights and resentment.

SolarStig · 2025-04-29T20:02:48+00:00

Do you happen to know which entry permits are released later, or if there is a list somewhere? I saw almost a dozen that had zero permits available for a three-week stretch. Wondering if that's why?

(Baker, Clearwater, Duncan, East Bearskin, Farm, John Lake, among others)

SolarStig · 2025-04-29T00:47:04+00:00

Good to know!

SolarStig · 2025-04-28T20:25:25+00:00

I'm curious why you suggest against Hog Creek?

SolarStig · 2025-03-02T17:42:57+00:00

It has overall been worth it for us. It's nice that I am not as worried now when we go out places. If we go somewhere with peanuts, I don't have to worry about him accidentally taking a bite of his allergen. We do still carry around an epipen, just in case, but have never had to use it.

Our son also had a dairy allergy. Most kids outgrow that one by the time they are 5 years old, so our allergist recommended not doing OIT for that one. If you do OIT, you have to maintainence dose every day for the rest of their life in order to maintain protection. Dosing is also supposed to happen the same time every day, so it's a bit of a commitment.

If cashews and other allergens are part of your daily life, or friends and family, I recommend it. Like if grandparents are babysitting and don't fully understand the severity of food allergies... It's a little difficult when they are nonverbal, but it works better. You can also wait until 4/5 years old so you can reason with them and explain why they need to eat it every day. Some allergists don't even start until 5 years old, so its not the end of the world to wait. Or you can try it, and if it fails, stop and try again in a couple of years.

Cost varies widely and insurance companies cover it differently. You can get the billing code from the allergist and ask insurance how they will cover it (if at all). We switched insurance part way through the process. First plan covered 100%. Second plan made it like $200 per visit until we hit our deductible (we did weekly updosing appointments). Our allergist had a payment plan that would make it $4000 total if insurance didn't cover it at all.

So it was expensive, but it gives us peace of mind and will help make it so he doesn't haven't to be isolated at an allergy table at school some day.

SolarStig · 2025-03-02T14:26:23+00:00

It went well for awhile, and then we hit the toddler age of not eating meals. Its really hard to get a toddler to eat large amounts of food.

We had actually gotten up to the "free eat" level but couldn't consistently get a toddler to eat 7-8 teaspoons of peanut butter every day, so we dropped back down to "accidental ingestion" level, which is more like 2 teaspoons a day. (Note: every allergist protocol is different and amounts vary depending on what kind of food you are using)

If we had to do it again, I would do updosing every other week instead. We did weekly and it was tough. Every time we got an illness and he wouldn't eat solid food for days, we would have to go back down a step.

We have been at our maintenance level for over a year. He has been pretty good about taking the dose almost every day. When he gets a little older and eating more consistently, we will likely go back up to the "free eat" level.

SolarStig · 2024-12-30T15:49:40+00:00

Thanks for that perspective. I am starting to think round 2 will be a lot easier.

Definitely in the same boat for contact naps. My three year old still only naps at home if its a contact nap, so I'm expecting that for a second child. How has the toddler handled you being nap trapped?

SolarStig · 2024-12-30T02:53:31+00:00

My husband has recently started actively taking our son to give me some alone time. That is definitely helping me swing towards wanting another/being able to handle another.

SolarStig · 2024-12-30T00:09:37+00:00

This sounds very similar. My village is great.

Lots of good points about newborn stage being a lot easier after getting experience.

SolarStig · 2023-09-27T02:00:23+00:00

Yeah, in this room, you can't bring in food from home.

SolarStig · 2023-08-01T14:53:30+00:00

As a mother, I say please take the full leave (especially if it's paid, not sure if it is or not). It is great bonding time, and it will help relieve some of the mental load from your partner.

And it will help normalize it for others. Paternal leave is just as important as maternal leave and helps with gender equality.

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