Potatoes and vacuums

Baked Potatoes with chedder, broccoli, bacon, and plain yogurt. Easy and good.


Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. This recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens' cookbook. I made the whole wheat variation. Good texture, but a little sweet.


I love my new vacuum! This was a birthday present from Ben (and to make sure the present wasn't interpreted offensively, he promised to vacuum for a few weeks before my birthday-he hates to vacuum, so this really was special).

Our old vacuum was very cheap and used bags. I emptied the bag a few times a year and changed it maybe once since we got married. It never seemed to get full, so why change it?

This red baby sucks so much more than the old one. It's the cheapest bagless model, but oh, the satisfaction I get from the sediment layers it forms. I have to empty it every three times I use it (I only vacuum weekly, I know, I suck). Pictured here is what I collect after vacuuming twice. Ew and Mmmm.