The Chronic Consumer

Season 3 of the comedy How I Met Your Mother was released on DVD a couple days ago, and this is something I definitely want for my collection. I don’t watch too many comedies these days, but HIMYM is one of my favorites. Although the gimmick of Future Ted telling his kids all about his love life is creepy in so many ways, the issues that 30-something Ted deals with are fun. Plus, there’s Barney to look forward to… ’nuff said!

Anyway, the S3 DVD box set contains all 20 episodes (it was a strike-shortened season, remember?), as well as lots of bonus features, including cast commentary, a gag reel, and a Robin Sparkles video for “Sandcastles in the Sand” — awesome!

Unfortunately, the box set costs $25.99 right now, which is a bit too expensive for just 20 eps. I’m sure it will come down in the future, so let the monitoring begin.

I used to study Latin in high school and college, and at one point I really wanted to major in the subject in order to teach it one day. That dream didn’t exactly pan out, as I caved in and took a degree in something more practical, but I still love the language and want to get back into it if possible.

Towards that end, I want to buy Gildersleeve’s Latin Grammar, a well known textbook by Basil L.Gildersleeve and Gonzalez Lodge. It’s a grammar guide for intermediate to advanced students, and is beloved by classical scholars for its copious notes and supplemental material. This book is so good that it’s required by the Pope’s Latinist, Fr. Reginald Foster, for his famous Latin summer study program in Rome. I don’t think you can get a better endorsement than that!

Anyway, I’m in the middle of a different online class right now, so I’m going to wait until I wrap up my current studies before diving back into Latin again. Maybe I’ll be ready for this Gildersleeve tome by December. Until then, it’s going on my Wish List so I don’t forget about it.

I haven’t bought a new game for my Nintendo DS in ages, so I decided to check out what kinds of titles are available now. I came across Mystery Case Files: Millionheir that looks like it would be a lot of fun, and have added the game to my Wish List.

Mystery Case Files: Millionheir is called a search-and-solve game, which I guess means that in order to advance through the mystery and find the rightful heir, you have to find hidden objects in all the different game scenes. You get to use tools such as an X-ray scanner, flashlight, fingerprint duster, and more, and each clue you find brings you closer to the right answer.

According to the game description, there are 30 different scenes, 12 different potential heirs to investigate, and more than 1,000 hidden objects to locate. That sounds like it would keep me occupied for a good, long time. I can’t wait to buy this game!

I haven’t been shopping nearly as much as I usually do, and even after all the back-to-school and new wardrobe purchases I’ve made recently, I noticed that our savings accounts are still at a very good level. That means we’ve got a bit of breathing room and can afford to treat ourselves to something fun.

Jerry wants an rc helicopter to play around with in the industrial park behind our house, while I want some a few new DVD box sets — including Season 4 of House, which is currently on sale. Neither of those items is very expensive and we both deserve to let loose a bit after working so hard all summer, so why not?

I like to buy a few new Chicago Bears items before the start of each football season. Not only does the new apparel help get me psyched up for all the Sunday action, but it’s also usually necessary because I wear my football-related gear so much that it doesn’t last all that long.

This year is no exception, as I’ve been shopping around for some great products to add to my collection for ‘08-’09. While browsing over at FansEdge.com earlier, I came across this very cool throwback jersey shirt that I would LOVE to have. It’s made from soda-rubber washed 100% cotton (whatever that means), with felt/distressed cotton applique lettering on the chest and chainstitch embroidery across the left shoulder (the words National Football Conference appear there).

Apparently, this is the kind of jersey that the old Chicago Bears wore, and I think it’s awesome! The only problem is that it costs $44.99, which is a bit on the high side for a long-sleeved shirt.

I’ve got one week until the season starts, so if I’m really gonna get this jersey, I better order it soon!

Well, I did it! I splurged on a $500 leather recliner for the living room so that I could have a nice, comfortable place to unwind while watching TV or reading a book. The only thing is, I now worry about it constantly because my 5-year-old son isn’t as careful about spills and sticky hands and so forth as adults are. He knows he’s not supposed to eat or drink while sitting in the new chair, but sometimes he’ll run his hands over it as he passes by (right after he’s eaten Cheetos, of course), or lean over it while eating a popsicle.

I don’t want to have to closely monitor what’s going on in the living room all day long, so I’m going to go shopping for slipcovers this weekend. I’m planning to get one for the recliner and also for the couch. Those are our two most expensive pieces of furniture in the living room, and I’m definitely interested in protecting them so that they last for years and years. Slipcovers seem like the easiest way to go.

I’ve been checking around online and have found several options that feature lovely designs and are affordable to boot. Maybe I’ll save myself the hassle of schlepping around from store to store and just order from one of the online retailers I checked. I buy practically everything else online, so why not slipcovers too? I’ll let you know which ones I end up going with!

I’ve wanted to get a formal family portrait done for quite a while now, so I’m currently comparing the different packages offered at nearby photography studios. There’s one studio at the mall, and a couple of independent ones in town that I’m going to check out.

From the preliminary research I’ve done, the important things to consider when shopping around for a portrait studio include:

• What kind of props are available for the photo shoot
• How well the photographer works with kids
• Examples of past portraits
• How long the photo shoot will last
• Whether or not the photographer is willing to go “on location”
• The ability to purchase negatives and/or digital files as part of the photo package

That’s a lot to consider, and that doesn’t even take into account accessories like picture frames and albums. Getting a family portrait done could turn out to be a very expensive proposition. I still want one, though, because some things are just worth paying for, ya know?

I’ve mentioned several times on this blog how my husband and I hate spending money on furniture, and only buy the cheapest stuff we can get our hands on. That’s why we have a plastic coffee table, a $200 couch, a TV stand that’s way too small for our flat-panel, and a desk chair held together by duct tape.

Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and have decided that it’s time to invest in at least once nice piece of furniture. I’ve always wanted a nice comfy chair to curl up in for reading or watching TV, so I’m planning on buying a leather recliner as soon as we have enough money for one.

I haven’t found a specific model that has taken my fancy yet, but want to get something like the chair/ottoman combo pictured above. We don’t have a lot of space in our living room, so I can’t get something huge, which is why the one in the picture should work.

My goal is to have a great recliner in place by the start of football season. I can’t wait to spend all of my Sundays sitting on that thing watching the Bears and Chargers play!

I absolutely love Sausage & Egg McMuffins from McDonald’s, and have often tried making them at home to save a few bucks. The problem is, the extra work and mess this creates usually isn’t worth it in the long run, as I end up either being late getting out the door or with a sink full of dirty dishes and frying pans to look forward to when I come back from the office.

That’s why when I saw this “Back to Basics” Egg-and-Muffin Toaster, I figured it would be perfect for my needs. It simultaneously toasts English muffins, poaches an egg, and warms up pre-cooked bacon or sausage so that all the fixin’s for a homemade breakfast sandwich are ready to go at the same time.

I haven’t actually purchased this machine yet, but it’s definitely going straight to the top of my Wish List. I’ve read through lots of customer reviews, and the overwhelming majority of them are positive. They say that everything cooks perfectly, that the food tastes great, and that cleanup is a breeze.

I would love, love, LOVE to be able to make Sausage & Egg McMuffins at home anytime I get a craving for them, so I want to get this appliance as soon as possible. It’s only $30 at Target, which is not a bad price at all. Hopefully I’ll be able to buy it within a couple of weeks!

A couple of my friends have truly beautiful homes that are decorated like something out of a magazine spread. In addition to new modern furniture and amazing artwork, they also have the most luscious carpeting, the trendiest electronics, and all the latest kitchen gadgets. In fact, I can’t help feeling just a wee bit jealous whenever I visit one of these upscale homes.

I really wish we could upgrade our interior, but that’s just not in the cards right now. Nevertheless, I’ve been keeping track of all the fantastic furnishings and accessories that I’d love to have in our home someday, so whenever we have some extra cash laying around, I can make a purchase or two!