In my email inbox daily, I receive at least 100 emails. A good 75% of those emails are spam – offers from one thing or another that I have signed up for, or ended up on the mailing list of in one way or another. For the most part, I can completely ignore them, but there are a few that get me.

Mainly, it’s the cooking paraphenalia that makes me momentarily consider breaking the budget. Both Hubs and I love spending time in the kitchen (except when we HAVE to!), so this is one area where we find it easy to justify splurges!

My biggest temptation lately comes straight from Rachel Ray. I love her Everyday magazine. Each time it comes, I literally read through it almost immediately – and I think Hubs likes looking through it as well. Along with that subscription, I get a daily email with her recipe of the day, which also has links to her store and all the products she endorses.THAT right there is a trap for me! I clicked into it today, and I’m adoring all of her bubble and browns, her oil and vinegar caraffes, her cookware….it’s endless!

I can absolutely live without all of it – but it’s so pretty!!!

The funny thing is, I am the one who, when money is tight, tends to go on lockdown about all purchases except groceries – and even then I try to keep a running total in my head of everything I put in the cart so I know exactly how much I’m spending. Only a really good deal will get me to jump, so I’m try to stay on the lookout for those.

If we suddenly had some giant windfall of money, I’m not sure if I would splurge a little and actually buy the things I drool over now, but it’s kind of fun to think about, ya know?

I have no idea why, but I’m having a sudden unexplainable craving for scallops.   Ok, it’s not really unexplainable.  I saw a picture of seared scallops on the Tasty Kitchen Blog, and…whammo!  Craving scallops.  Big, beautiful sea scallops.  Not bay scallops, which lean toward the fishy side…but nice, yummy, slighly swefet sea scallops. 

This is part of why we had to get rid of cable tv.  The Food Network and The Travel Channel were our most frequent stops, and let me tell you – you watch one episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and I don’t care who you are or how full you are from the last meal – watching that makes you crave the fat and calorie-laden dishes only a greasy spoon can serve. 

The bad thing is, the internet is just as bad, as the Tasty Kitchen site has lured me in once again.

Scallops, man.  Seared yummy, sweet, tender scallops. 

At least they’re healthy?  Sort of?