Midweek Scribbles

Funny Money

Posted on August 12, 2009 by crystal

About a week ago, we went shopping. I had a list of boring things we needed – like towels, underwear, and a medium sized frying pan.

There’s a “Kohl’s” department store near us. We shop there only occasionally, because I find that their regular prices are a bit on the high side. They DO have good sales though; especially on the things I wanted to buy. So Kohl’s it was . . .

I was pretty pleased with the good deals that I found and also with the grand total that appeared on the screen at the checkout register. But it’s what happened next that really delighted me!

As the clerk handed me my receipt, she announced that I had just earned $20.00 in “Kohl’s Cash”. Ever the skeptic, I raised an eyebrow at first. Surely I’d have to spend more money before I could use this “cash”? Or maybe sign up for their credit card? Or turn over my first-born??

The very cordial lady assured me that all I had to do was use it in the next 10 days for whatever I wanted, except a gift card. Wow!!! It was the “no purchase required” that really impressed me. Besides the great sale prices I had just received on my purchases, I actually had a gift of TWENTY dollars to spend any way I liked. Well, you just know that we went back to spend it, right?

Wanna see what we bought?

There’s a picture frame for our gallery wall of old family photos, two cute summer glasses with fish and bubbles on them, and some socks for Sir Beads-A-Lot. 🙂

I thought it would be fun to see how close to twenty we could get. Our grand total was $18.87 – close enough. And there was extra value here because the “free items” were also on sale so that “$20 cash coupon” actually bought $38.00 worth of items.

The treasure-hunt element is what made it especially fun – best time we’ve had shopping in years!

C’mon now, please tell us about your good deal. 😀

Posted on July 9, 2009 by crystal

Today’s post reminds me of the game show Jeopardy because I have a little bit of this and a little bit of that. . .

“I’ll take potpourri for a hundred, Alex!” 😀

Hmmm, I’ll call my version – blogpourri 😉

~ We’re on vacation this week, but instead of going away, we’re just kicking back at home. It really is delightful to relax a little, take care of a couple of overdue chores, and have leisurely breakfasts and dinners. But, why is it that vacation weeks are always the shortest weeks of the year?

~ I had my hair cut today. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I said, “Not too short.” I can’t even imagine what she would have done if I had said “Cut it short, please.”

~ Have you heard that you can buy your eggs already boiled and shelled at the supermarket? Well, at least in Great Britain. See the story here.

~ Looking for a quick and tasty appetizer?
Pick up some thinly sliced cooked ham at the supermarket.
Lightly spread apricot jam on each piece and then roll up.
Transfer all to a shallow pan and sprinkle with brown sugar.
Place under the broiler briefly – just to heat.
Cut into bite size pieces before serving, if desired. This is a nice addition to sliced fruit and your favorite cheese and crackers! Don’t let them fill up on appetizers though! They’ll never eat dinner. 😉

~ To answer the weekly question regarding a book for summer reading . . .
I recently reread an old classic that I first discovered in high school – The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. Even if you’ve read it before, try it again. You might agree it’s even better the second or third time around.

It’s On My List . . .

Posted on April 2, 2009 by crystal

Lists. Do you make them?

Does a having a “list” ease your stress about the things you need to do?

Or do you feel it’s better to be blissfully unaware of the vast number of upcoming obligations you have?

Me? Well, I’ve had an on-again/off-again love affair with lists. On the one hand, I believe they are definitely helpful when you need to pack for a vacation, or plan a party. And I’ll admit there’s something very satisfying about crossing things off as you complete them. You get that wonderful sense that you’re actually making progress!

But creating multiple lists of things that could be done, should be done, and must be done, can be a little overwhelming – not to mention time-consuming. After all, in the time it takes to make and refer to multiple lists; you could be accomplishing a task that’s on the list. 😉

My grandmother was the most organized person I’ve ever met. For example, if her kitchen clock stopped running, she could refer to her notes and tell you not only what battery was needed, but also the date she last replaced it, and the price she paid for that replacement! I haven’t inherited the organization gene to that extent, but I always thought it was pretty impressive that she had so much info at her fingertips.

These days, I figure I’m doing pretty well if I can keep the file cabinet from bulging too much with its receipts, important papers, and appliance manuals. If the drawers close – I’m happy.

As for lists??? I’m in a “do not need them” phase – except for my grocery list and a blog topics list. But you never know. I might be tempted to keep track of things next time the battery in my kitchen clock needs replacing. 😉

The Thrill Is Gone . . .

Posted on March 18, 2009 by crystal

Don’t you just hate it when something you love is no longer for sale?

Maybe it’s the cereal that you reach for most often, or a shade of lipstick that you believe is “your” color, or even your favorite shampoo. One day you go to buy it and it’s GONE! Discontinued. No warning.

They say that humans hate change. This is never more apparent than when we’re suddenly forced to search for replacements for our old standby products. Looking for new favorites often involves a long trial and error period that I’m sure we’d all like to skip!

It occurs to me that a practical solution would be to have two favorites! Then if one were to be taken off the market, there would still be another “fave” in stock!

This would definitely reduce the pressure to find an immediate replacement, and less stress is, as Martha would say, “a good thing”. 😉

Mid-week scribbles . . .

Posted on February 11, 2009 by crystal

Pins & Needles:
Am I the only one who is still finding a stray Christmas tree needle in . . . February!?! The crazy thing is that we have an artificial tree!!! It’s been put away for weeks now, and the room has been vacuumed several times since. But every few days, a needle appears out of the blue! For years we had a real tree and I expected plenty of needles then, but these artificial needles are something else again! They’re green paper with an almost static cling effect. They seem to want to hug the rugs, the floors, and even an occasional sock. Sheesh!

Say “Cheese”!
Did you know that smiling works both ways? We smile when we are happy – but the act of smiling can actually make us happy – even if we’re not at that moment. Smiling sends nerve impulses from the facial muscles to an emotional center in the brain, and those impulses push the neurochemical balance toward a feeling of contentment. So if you’re feeling kinda down – just smile!!! 🙂

She’ll Thank You!
A new Mom will be busy enough just before and after her baby is born, so when you throw her a baby shower, pick up a package of thank you cards, too. During the party, distribute the envelopes and ask each guest to self-address one! When the new Momma finally has a chance to sit down and write her thank yous – the envelopes will already be complete and she can focus on writing the cards!

Finally . . .
If you’re like me, you try to avoid having bacon too often because it’s not exactly a health food! But as good old Socrates used to say – “Everything in moderation!” So, I figure a little bacon occasionally is acceptable. The problem with bacon though, is the mess it makes when you cook it. I found a great solution – prepare it in the oven instead of frying. No more wall to wall grease in the kitchen!

Easy Way to Cook Bacon

~ Bake at 350º until nice and crispy. Keep an eye on it as cooking time will vary by oven used, desired crispness, and by the number of slices you are making. After your first attempt, you’ll know what works best for you.

~ When bacon is cooked to your liking, lower the oven temperature to 200º – to keep bacon warm until eggs are ready.

Tip: During the “keeping warm” time, place bacon on end slices of bread and much of the grease will be absorbed by the time the eggs are done. Soon after you’ll be announcing: “Breakfast is served!”

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