WinCo Super Grocery

Move over, Costco!

I found WinCo--a mega grocery store with probably the lowest prices on the basics--meat, eggs, milk, ice cream, cheese, bread, and rice. They keep the prices down by keeping a bare number of employees (so you must bag your own groceries), simple warehouse lay-out, and robot cart collectors. They have an in-house brand, Flavorite, that is lower in price than most: catsup, canned goods, pasta, spices. They even have buy-in-bulk--where one can buy the quantities suited for your needs, big or small. And since buy-in-bulk has no brand or packaging, it is almost half-the price on the average. Good deal for those who can't store the big Costco quantities. And in WinCo, you don't even have a member. Plus, it is open 24 hours a day!!



I can spend a lot of time in between these wide aisles and spotless vinyl. There are magazines, inspirational books, and there's also a small pizza counter (Their pizza has become a family staple) for hungry shoppers.

The dizzying selection took my breath away: cashews, almonds, peanuts, pecans--honey raosted or plain, bread flour, pancake flour, whole-grain flour, candy, popcorn, snacks, cuury powder, all-spice, cinnamon, pizza seasoning, croutons, raw pasta (rotilli, radiatore, penne, linguini). Most interesting near the fresh honey section is the almond and peanut butter churner--turning the nuts into butter before your eyes--nothing added. Talk about natural!



And the most fragrant section of all: coffee! Take a load of their in-house Cascade Pride brand Mocha java, Guatemala Antigua,Colombia Supremo, Sumatra Dark Roast, Mexican Altura, Double French Roast, and Viennese Blend, among others. And if that doesn't give Starbucks a run for their money at $5.98/pound, check out the irresistible Butterscotch Praline, Caramel, Choco Macadamia Nut, Vanilla Nut, Irish Creme, hazelnut, and Chocolate Raspberry (Yep, still coffee flavors).



WinCo is definitely a winner with their wide grocery selection, their prepared food (fried chicken, fries, deli sandwiches, sushi packs) and their salads: Ginger chicken Salad, Krab Salad, Jalapeno Artichoke, macaroni, Chinese Chicken Salad) for the hurried homemaker who is too tired to cook at $2.98/pound.



Okay, I have to grab a barrel of chicken and a tub of salad now as my big brood awaits!

Barnes and Noble

My two avid readers deserved a treat--books for their advanced reading class. I took them to Barnes and we went through a sea of books. I taught my kids how to reverently handle books--scanning them carefully, not to crumple the white pages, putting them back properly. My daughter washes her hands and smells the pages before reading her books (just like me).

On hand were the Northern California bestsellers including (for fiction): Special Topics in Calamity Physics, The Kite Runner, and The Time Traveler's Wife, and (for non-fiction) Fiasco, The World is Flat, Freakonomics (hi, eric!), The Price of Privilege, An Inconvenient Truth, The Glass Castle, Running with Scissors, and The Tipping Point (my current read). Next on my list is, hopefully, The Time Traveler's Wife. Woo-hoo!





And if that isn't enough of a wonderland for you, I also noted the slew of magazines in the forward section. The mags were not sealed in plastic and anyone is free to browse them. They say there are thousands of magazine titles in circulation--a far cry from just several titles in the Philippines.

I lamented the lack of crafting, more specifically crocheting mags in Manila. So I was in an altered state of consciousness as I flipped through many patterns and resources in the abundant craft mag section. There were the usual fashion mags, food and wine, family/children, interior/outdoor design mags. You want business? There was Fortune, Entrepreneur (we have in Manila), INC, Success, Consumer Report, Small Biz, Millionaire, Shop Smart. You want music? There was Magnet, Punk Planet, Harp, Fretboard Journal, Acoustic, and AMP. Science? There was Psyche Today, Astromnomy, and Scientific Mind, among others. Computers and Gadgets? Check out Linux, Mobile Entertainment, TechNet, Web Design.



There were also many pet mags, saluting a $30 billion industry: Bark, Animal Fair, Dog World. Most interesting were travel mags--from budget to luxury. And my new favorites: Writer's Journal, Pages, and Publishing Weekly--for writers of all sorts.

I can't buy a brand new book today for myself but I am sure I can indulge in a magazine. Okay, I will have to close my jaw now, lest I salivate more.

The Benefits of Crochet

I must be truly homesick, as I have turned furiously to my crochet projects. Crochet really rests my mind and my spirit. Mabuti na itong crochet, instead of eating, smoking, or alcohol. The repetition of the stitches has a true calming effect on me, and I take advantage of this natural relaxer, this new-age yoga, everytime I can.

I am proud to post my latest projects--a bonnet and a poncho for my 7-year old daughter. Very timely, I must add, as we are about to enter the Fall season. I will be very happy to see her wear these hand-made knotted patterns, so she may be wrapped around my love all day.

All day is also what I can spend crocheting if I didn't watch it. Time flies so fast when crocheting, it is so amazing! I taught my mom and my cousin recently. I keep telling them I started with uneven and ugly squares also. Now, they keep complaining that they just can't stop! My mom, at least, finds relief for her insomnia. And I can't tell you how nice it is to have your yarn while you wait for someone or when en route on the bus or BART.

I don't know if I saved money by crocheting my originals but I know for sure that crochet saved me a lot of despair and confusion by steadying my spirit, ridding me of many angry feelings, and connecting me with my inner self.

Check out fellow crocheters at Crochet Blogs and
Save the Children.

The Economics of Working from Home

Here in the States, I have been torn about going to work full-time somewhere. But something always keeps me home. Even in Manila, I nursed a clothing business that was viable enough so I had more free time. I think I have come to realize that my priority is raising my children first and a career has been always and only secondary.

In the States, it is hard to live on one full-time income. There is always pressure to work. But then, it is also hard to live with angry and wayward children, missing out on their wonder years--those innocent and smiling chubby cheeks when they still want to cuddle up to you. So between two full-time incomes and full-time homework tutoring and teaching them how to wait their turn, I continue to choose the latter. I am a full-time mom and a part-time writer.

Sometimes, my husband and I bicker about the lack of money. But since he is the one working, the argument usually results in my realization to be more creative about the budget. I have cut down on every possible unnecessary expense. But now, it is time to think of ways to bring in more money by working from home.

My writing income has tided us over but I have given up my health insurance for swimming and violin lessons for my kids. Believe me, I have stalled them from these activities but they chorused, "you said this year!" Heart-breaking naman, I had to make good on my word. In Manila, my kids had all sorts of activities--sports, ballet, Kumon--and they all thrived. I said no to ballet and Kumon here in the States. I conceded to my 5th grade son who is a wonderful swimmer and has been bugging me about violin lessons since 2nd grade!

So the violin and the swimming tempted me again to go get a full-time job. But then I realized, if I work, I will have to spend on clothes, gas, food. Baka abonado pa ako! Plus the fact that I will be beat up when i get home--and inevitably masungit. I remember when I was single and working and just crashed onto my bed after a long day at work. But with kids. . .not possible.

There is homework, dinner, rest time for my weary middle-aged bones. My secret weapon is Syrel--for without her, I won't even be able to work from home.

So I think it is more economical to for me to work-from-home. Uneasy with just taking the state's subsidy at first, my family is eligible for milk and cheese for my youngest. The kids are also eligible for free medical coverage from the state's Medi-Cal. If I work full-time, we will have to pay for these benefits and end having the same bottom line.

Meanwhile, I try not to be lazy and passive. I volunteer twice a week in the free public school to aid the overloaded teacher. I also help make crochet blankets for winter giveaway with the craft store group. My favorite articles are about pro-active groups helping the community.

And as for my full-time mothering job,I don't miss out on the opportunity cost to raise my kids to be kind, productive, and un-wasteful citizens. Many say my (Student-of-the Month)kids are confident and "good." My oldest son knows the value of work and money and is loved in school at his part-time job. He puts himslef through college now. In the long run, good work ethics will be instilled in them and they can go out and earn and pay taxes that will help out low-income families that need help, in return.

Though not monetary, my contribution to this county and state will be the strengthening of the already weak American family systems citizens that care for other people and or the world they live in. And my biggest return on investment of this time spent with them, money cannot buy and can be brought to my death-bed. It is a privilege indeed to know that the full-time and effort,love, sweat, tears, compromise, and no-sleep nights I gave were, not for some low-life boss/employer, but for my precious children.

And although I admire all the full-time working mothers out there, (wow!), I don't waste my energy navigating through office politics for a paycheck. Plus, an added bonus that money can't buy--I get to take a nap at 1 p.m.

What my husband would give for my privileges!