The Graduate

Figgy's college graduation ceremony at Montclair State, 9 am Monday morning, sizzling hot weather. Heat advisory in effect. I cried. Sobbed, actually, at one point, pulling my cotton Lilly Pulitzer mask down so I could dry my eyes and blow my nose. I am so proud of her, so proud to be present at these milestones in her life. So thankful that she is well and whole and passionate about science and art. So happy she is blessed with good, true friends, plus wit, wisdom and warmth. For a while there, her climb, and our family climb, was rough and rugged. But she reached the top, with grace and beauty. [Nan and Liz, thanks for the kind wishes.]

TCOY

1. I have been eating healthfully. I know I've said that before but this time is different. For two days, I have not snacked between meals except for a coffee between lunch and dinner. And I feel full. We still don't have a car but hope to find one soon. For groceries, I Instacarted from Stop & Shop for wholesome things: 2.5 lbs. broccoli crowns; chocolate milk for P; big bag dog treats; chicken sausages x2; baby spinach; baby arugula; sliced Swiss cheese; melatonin gummies for Punch; organic lemons; low-fat organic milk; frozen fruit to put on oatmeal; bananas; oat milk; light sour cream; fresh chives; Newman's Own frozen thin-crust pizza [not for me]; veg burgers; and fish x2.
2. Oatmeal w mango, unsweetened coconut, pure cacao nibs, 1 tsp brown sugar for breakfast. Lunch was turkey sandwich with tomato, Dijon mustard and lite mayo on Ezekiel toast; glass of 2 percent milk. Dinner, a lot of sheet-pan lemon broccoli, 4 oz. steak, 4 oz. baked potato. 
3. About to take bath.
4. Dan and I had yet another telehealth meeting re. Punch and our family. We learned some very important things.
5. I went on a webinar with about 13 other moms of children "in the system" and that, too, was encouraging--from 10 am to 11:45. Led by skilled therapist. 

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET, July 18 thru July 22

• Instacart Stop & Shop today, with tip, etc., $140.91.
• Sunday, getting ready for the small-group brunch we had after Figgy's graduation the next morning--it was the four of us, plus Sis, Moey, Laura, and two of Fig's friends, one who also graduated from MSU that morning. And Buttercup came from Connecticut also!!! Instacart Kings, $69.39 and Instacart Stop & Shop, $167.80. This again was steep--and Dan also did an in-person shop, but my bills included canned soft drinks, large OJ for mimosas, smoked salmon, ingredients [pricey chopped pecans for crust and jar of cashew butter for filling] to make Figgy a vegan chocolate espresso tart [served frozen] from Oh She Glows cookbook, raspberries, Fontina for the quiche I made, etc. Parties always cost a lot.
• Sunday, takeout from Cafe Giotto for four of us/dinner, with tip, $89.40, which was crazy, but also included jar of apricot marmalade and bag of mini almond biscotti for the brunch. 
• Sweet Laurel in California, the shipping is steep, $78.36. Decaf coffee beans and 100 percent cacao craft chocolate. No-sugar indulgences.
• Amazon, 2 gently used books. Our book group is reading Song of Solomon and I ordered another book by Shirley Jackson, written when she had four children, called Raising Demons, total, $33.11.
• Ubers! To and from wonderful Bartlett's Saturday to get garden flowers and Sunday to get presentation bouquet for Figgy! I hid it in my neighbor's fridge until Monday. With tips, $9.80 + $9.80 + $16.73. I'm not sure why that last one was so expensive.
• Money I gave Figgy to pick stuff up in town for me, $26.

Total spent out of pocket for 5 days: $631.30.

Ongoing monthly spend as of July 22: $2,170.22.

Avg. daily spend: $98.65.