Getting to Really Hate Target

I'm getting to really hate Target. You know how you just get a feeling about a place? It wasn't the credit card data fiasco thing that started it - I actually felt kind of bad for Target over that, it could have just as easily happened to the company that I work for. Or to me! Consider the guys in your IT department. Would you trust that they could keep your data safe from the rest of the world? Anyway, I'm just getting to hate Target because they are so big. They are more than I can afford at times; they are not a very friendly group; and lastly, well this does have to do with the whole credit card thing, they didn't really apologize very much for it.

But as I said, I was feeling for them through their time of crisis. I made the decision (very conscious decision!) to actually shop at my local (since I now have three "local" Target stores, I should really say at my nearest) Target store on December 23rd. I figured there was about $100 dollars left on my "to buy list" and I figured I'd go ahead and give it to them. I took my time gathering my items which included makeup I needed for me and the girls, books (since we have absolutely no bookstores in the area anymore and my Amazon Prime was not going to make it and I really needed some books under the tree or just would not be Christmas, so yes, I was forced to choose from whatever was on sale in the two aisles in the "book department" at Target), and candy for stockings. So really three items: Makeup, Books, Candy. I had coupons. Two for makeup, one for candy, and one Target coupon for $10 off of $100.

I spent a lot of time in the store. Especially the book aisles :) and was happy I found everything on my list. Then I got to register. My checkout lady just stared at me when I frantically rifled through my purse for coupon #4. "You know that coupon where you get $10 off of $100?" I asked her. "Do you have one of those back there"? She shook her head slowly at me. I told her to just go ahead with my total and I'd look for it later (really trying to appease her and the guy waiting behind me in line). Then I asked about the additional 10% I heard that Target was giving. "That doesn't apply any more". Okay..well thanks anyway - it was really nice sharing this time with you!!! I know, I'm sure she is overworked and underpaid. So am I and that does make me a little cranky at times.

So it really wasn't just the checkout experience that makes me not really like Target anymore. I guess just that fact that they have so much "stuff" and I buy "stuff" when I go there. Stuff that I don't really need. And that's what has kept me away from the place up until my last items on my Christmas list. This time in, I only bought things on my list. I did not buy the other stuff. No gift set of body wash and body spray with the bath squishy thing. I didn't buy the $20 water bottles for my children to lose. I did not buy the $9.99 scarf set, jewelry set, wallet, wristlet, make-up set, cheese set, sausage set, dog outfit, or dominoes set (okay, I did buy the dominoes set but I have my receipt and it is going back!)

My receipt. I was dismayed when I got home  and looked at my receipt (yes, of course I should have reviewed it before leaving the store) and only one coupon was credited. So for my $127 purchase (but I am taking the $9.99 domino set back), I saved an extra $1.00. One measly dollar. And then I thought about it and realized nothing I bought was even on sale. Two days before Christmas and nothing was on sale!? That's just un-American. Or at least, un-American-Christmas. And I missed out on using three coupons, what would have amounted to a savings of 12 more dollars (but I never did find that $10 dollar off....)

I guess I really just am getting to hate big box stores. I haven't stepped foot in a Kmart in many years. I'm a total Walmart-hater ever since they tried to move in next to our neighboring residential community - yes, res-i-DEN-tial community. Occasionally, I have gone in to the Walmart near where I work if I really need a button or some fabric (I really need to stop doing that!) No more big boxes for me in the new year!

I am getting to love Aldi!

I'm so happy at the check out when my total comes to $42 dollars! I love the Aldi checkout ladies. They are always slammed but they know what a great deal there giving us and we are really thankful to them! They are fast at what they do. When they're not at the checkout, I imagine them unloading trucks and hauling around boxes and bins. They're pretty tough. Yet gentle enough to remind us quietly that we can't buy wine on Sunday. And thorough enough to show us the damage to the produce we so unwisely chose! I really should entitles this post "Getting to Really Love Aldi"

We had such a nice evening with neighbors a couple of Sundays before Christmas. Easy spaghetti & meatballs for dinner with a salad and bread. Leaving room for lots of wine. Thinking of doing something for New Year's eve. It's last minute - 'cause that is the only way I roll.

It would have to be an early night. I'm old and I have to work the next morning. Will need to find a live stream from somewhere with a time zone just a few hours beyond my own. An 8pm
midnight countdown will be perfect! Then I need everyone to go home please! :)

every several years it happens. and we say the same things and pray the same prayers. and ask ourselves how it could have happened...and how can we make sure it never happens again. and so it goes...it happens again. I don't need to watch the news or listen to the experts or read comments from listeners or the interviews from old friends and neighbors to know what happened. to know that a young man was angry and sick and had delusions and had a fascination with guns and a collection of them. We all know now. we are are responsible. I am so sorry.

A Homemade Christmas

It's decided. This year there will be no shopping. The kids are completely on board in fact it was Zoe's idea to begin with. We have been busy (well I have been busy) gathering ideas. Love my new secret Pinterest boards! Right now working on crochet projects...and crafty things with tiles. This morning, I grabbed my coffee and got back under the covers and hope to finish up a gift. Someone's getting a pretty infinity scarf!

Mrs. Card is the bomb!

(do people still say "the bomb"?)...I call her Mrs. Card, and not JoAnn, because that is what you call someone who is a-retired-after-thirtysomething-years-of-teaching-Kindergarten! Or maybe I should call her Saint Card? Anyway...you get my point...she is an amazing lady.

A few months ago I got the idea to make chocolate covered Oreo cookies (like the ones Mrs. Card makes) decorated with a volleyball. I'd need to make a hundred of them to bring with us to Florida for a national volleyball tournament. At the tournament, the players exchange a "handshake gift" at the net before their match. What a great idea I had come up with for our team's gift!! Ideas are one thing, execution is quite another. My attempts, while always tasty, ranged from homey (homely?) looking to disastrous. I ended up buying round tins in the wedding favor department of Hobby Lobby and filled them with jellybeans and added a volleyball sticker. These were cute and in the end I was just happy to be done with it.

Fast forward to yesterday...
I had not forgotten about the chocolate covered Oreos and had already contacted Mrs. Card to see if she would make these for me next spring....going to plan ahead this time. High School volleyball has since begun and a team party was schedule. Excited to get to share my Oreos, I ordered 32 of them from Mrs. Card.

Chocolate + Volleyball + no work at all on my part = Happy
Check out the wonderful results:

Z, O, and E a bit more grown up

I had hand painted the letters Z, O, & E for my daughter's room a few years back. Used pretty colors of pink and green and yellow to paint flowers on wooden letters from a craft store. We recently redecorated her room with bright orange and red highlights and fun patterns and textiles from Ikea. Her pastel Z, O, & E had to go... 

A simple solution was to spray paint the letters black and then cover them with fabric. I used Mod Podge to adhere the fabric. Z, O, E, and I love the results!

upcycle jeans

I'm searching for great ways to re-use the huge pile of denim jeans I have collected over the years (because I knew that some day I would find a really cool use for them). So far, I did find a very cool crocheted rug from the New Old Fashioned Gal and since I have done a little crochet with fabric before, and loved the results, this is my #1 find.

Other favorites are the baby bib and other simple projects found at Planet Forward.

Honestly, most of the projects I've found seem either too hard or a little on the ugly side (really, does someone where that remodeled long jean skirt?).

As soon as I finish my crocheted shopping bag, I'm anxious to begin cutting up my old blue jeans!