As we prepare to give Thanks tomorrow, I am also very aware that this week kicks off the holiday shopping madness. With that in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the unspoken rules of shopping etiquette...
Store/Mall Shopping:
* Please remember to walk on the right of the aisle. I understand that there are stores on both sides, but it is polite to stay towards the right of the direction you are walking. It allows people like me, who shop with a purpose, to dodge those of you who are lollygagging and window shopping.
* Please do not just stop in the middle of the walkway. Just because you want to stop and yap on your cell phone does not mean all the people walking behind you are prepared to stop. If you need a moment, move out of the way of the flow of foot traffic.
* Please consider rethinking shopping with your double wide stroller and 8 kids in tow. With the amount of people out and about shopping this time of year, I suggest those of you with small children get a sitter for the day and get some real shopping done. Doing so will make you a much more productive shopper instead of child wrangler and it will make the rest of us shopping without children much happier as well. It never fails that the strollers are always taking up the aisles at the already cramped department stores. Also as we shop on a mission walking in the main areas of the mall often becomes more of a "dodge the children" challenge as they run from one side of the mall to the other while mom is trying to wrangle the other children, stroller, and shopping bags about 50 yards behind them.
* Parking. The parking lot is a dreaded place to be this time of year. If you are one of those people that MUST have the close parking spot and will sit with your turn signal on and wait, and wait, and WAIT while the car pulls out of its spot, I have a request......PLEASE DO NOT SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AISLE! Many of us have no problem parking a bit of a distance from the store and walking, so please allow us the room to drive around you and park. We will already be inside shopping by the time you pull into your close spot!
Now the mall is not the only area of concern with shopping etiquette, with so many family and friend gatherings this time of year, the grocery stores are often just as busy as the mall. So please keep these few tips in mind when shopping....
* The aisles are not that wide for you to keep your cart in the middle while you peruse the shelves. Please keep your cart close to the shelf so I can maneuver around you while you shop.
* The check-out lines are long which means there is no excuse for you NOT to be prepared when you reach the cashier. Your value card should be out, you should have the divider separating your order from the person in front of you and have as much out as possible. This allows for a faster and smoother check-out.
* Finally, please put your cart back on the cart holder. It may be an extra 20 feet from your car, but if you put it away, that lessens the chance of it hitting someone's car and everyone leaves happy!
I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very happy shopping season!
xoxo
d
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Alright people, I have something to discuss and I am not holding back!! Lately I have noticed a lot of people hating on others for what they have and how they live. Sadly I have heard this talk from people talking about their own friends. Now I understand it is only normal to talk about what others have and what their homes, clothes, and lifestyles are like, but I am saddened to see so much negativity surrounding these conversations. Why can't we just be happy for the people we love and the success and happiness they are having in lives? Why do feel such need to "keep up with the Joneses???"
Now, I am sure we have all heard of that saying...but have you ever wondered who the Jones family is? Well I did some research and found out that the phrase originated from a comic strip in 1916. The Joneses were the neighbors of the comic strip's main characters. They were often referred to, but never seen. There is your bit of history for the day, now back to the important stuff!!
The great thing about life is that EVERYONE lives differently and enjoys different things. That is what makes the world go round; different strokes for different folks! Instead of criticizing or being jealous of what our friends have compared to us, we should be happy that our friends are doing well and living well. We need to stop focusing on what we don't have and be happy with what we do have, especially when it comes to friends.
It makes me really sad that I tend to see this behavior and hear these things from the girls more than the guys. Ladies, we cannot be like this!! Why do we feel the need to criticize each other? There is enough bad in the world, we need to be supportive of our girls and be happy for how well they are doing. I recently heard a story from a girl attending a bridal shower for a friend and she did nothing but complain about everything....the location, the food, how the gifts were opened, etc. I was so appalled listening to this. I tried to remind this girl that it was the couple's wedding shower and not hers. They created a shower that would best fit them and what they would enjoy most. I know the couple had an amazing time and that is what is important! I understand it is natural to critique things to our liking, but we need to stop criticizing!
I know we are all guilty of this, myself included, but I think we really need to step back and take a look at how we tend to compare our lives to the lives of others around us. Newsflash.....what someone else has and how they live may not work for you!!! So let's all try to be happy with ourselves, our lives, and be genuinely happy for those of our friends who are doing well. Thank you and goodnight :o)
Now, I am sure we have all heard of that saying...but have you ever wondered who the Jones family is? Well I did some research and found out that the phrase originated from a comic strip in 1916. The Joneses were the neighbors of the comic strip's main characters. They were often referred to, but never seen. There is your bit of history for the day, now back to the important stuff!!
The great thing about life is that EVERYONE lives differently and enjoys different things. That is what makes the world go round; different strokes for different folks! Instead of criticizing or being jealous of what our friends have compared to us, we should be happy that our friends are doing well and living well. We need to stop focusing on what we don't have and be happy with what we do have, especially when it comes to friends.
It makes me really sad that I tend to see this behavior and hear these things from the girls more than the guys. Ladies, we cannot be like this!! Why do we feel the need to criticize each other? There is enough bad in the world, we need to be supportive of our girls and be happy for how well they are doing. I recently heard a story from a girl attending a bridal shower for a friend and she did nothing but complain about everything....the location, the food, how the gifts were opened, etc. I was so appalled listening to this. I tried to remind this girl that it was the couple's wedding shower and not hers. They created a shower that would best fit them and what they would enjoy most. I know the couple had an amazing time and that is what is important! I understand it is natural to critique things to our liking, but we need to stop criticizing!
I know we are all guilty of this, myself included, but I think we really need to step back and take a look at how we tend to compare our lives to the lives of others around us. Newsflash.....what someone else has and how they live may not work for you!!! So let's all try to be happy with ourselves, our lives, and be genuinely happy for those of our friends who are doing well. Thank you and goodnight :o)
Monday, November 16, 2009
I am a sucker and I LOVE it!!
As I mentioned last week, I have a thing for infomercials. What I should have said is that I love ADVERTISEMENTS period!! (except the ones that pop up on my computer...I don't like those!) I love watching commercials, I actually look at the ads in magazines and billboards on the road. Marketing companies love me because I am a sucker for their advertisements! You put up an ad for anything beauty, health, or organizing, and I am all over!
Case and point....
Recently I saw an ad for the new Reebok Easytone shoe. It claims that these shoes will help tone up your butt and legs just from wearing them. Seriously, I was sold after that! As I try to get in shape for our wedding so I can be sassy in my dress I will try just about anything that will make me look better on our big day! So last night I went to a mall for the first time in forever and bought myself a pair of these shoes!
Ladies and gentlemen I AM A BELIEVER! I wore my shoes today while running errands and I am actually sore!! Seriously, this is no joke! I feel it in my hamstrings, up the sides of my thighs, and in my calves. It is a fantastic feeling. I can't imagine how great they work at the gym!! Here they are.....I highly recommend them! Come on, be a sucker with me, it feels great!!
Case and point....
Recently I saw an ad for the new Reebok Easytone shoe. It claims that these shoes will help tone up your butt and legs just from wearing them. Seriously, I was sold after that! As I try to get in shape for our wedding so I can be sassy in my dress I will try just about anything that will make me look better on our big day! So last night I went to a mall for the first time in forever and bought myself a pair of these shoes!
Ladies and gentlemen I AM A BELIEVER! I wore my shoes today while running errands and I am actually sore!! Seriously, this is no joke! I feel it in my hamstrings, up the sides of my thighs, and in my calves. It is a fantastic feeling. I can't imagine how great they work at the gym!! Here they are.....I highly recommend them! Come on, be a sucker with me, it feels great!!
Photo Courtesy of www.reebok.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
Can I get a What, What?!?!?
It's Friday, oh yeah!!
I do love me some Fridays!! It has been a busy and wonderful week. But no matter how great things are, there are always some moments that make you say, WHAT? Here is a recap of my top 4 "WHAT(S)" for the week! (everyone does a top 5, I am doing a top 4!)
4. Carrie Prejean -- Seriously, WHAT is up with this girl. There is nothing intelligent that comes out of her mouth and the more she talks, the worse she looks! Her PR person is either really dumb or cursing the day she took on Carrie as a client!
3. The new cart return holder at The Jewel (yes I added THE before Jewel). This is a big exciting WHAT that is also very shocking!! We may have a slightly ghetto Jewel by our house and because of that you are never allowed to walk your cart full of groceries to your car.....well Hell must have frozen over because the other night Jeremy and I went to the grocery store and as usual I ran to get the car while Jeremy finished loading up the groceries. As I pulled the car up to load it, Jeremy has this shocked look on his face and is waving his arm to show that the gate was gone.....people, they installed cart return stalls at our ghetto Jewel!! We can now walk our carts to our car and load the groceries in. This truly was a big moment!
2. My rockstar lifestyle! Those of you who know me are aware of how wild and crazy I am (please try and imagine extreme sarcasm in this statement!) Well, I have taken Jeremy down with me in my wild ways. This week, there was a night where both of us were asleep on the couch by 8PM. Yes, that's right, 8PM (jealous?!?!). WHAT??? For reals, ugh!! It is times like this that I try and give myself a swift kick in the butt and remind myself that I am 29, not 89.
1. Our football team, the Chicago Bears. Anyone who watched that game last night may have needed to double check to make sure they were watching a professional football game. Hey Jay Cutler, I am thrilled to see that you set a new record for most interceptions.....WHAT the heck! In a perfect ending to an awful game, Jeremy and I were walking home down Division on the sidewalk discussing how the Bears played like Sh*# when I slipped and almost fell. What did I slip on, on the sidewalk of a major street you ask.....SH*@!!!! All over the place....WHAT!?!?! It was very fitting though an evening filled with sh*&^y football was topped off by a slip in the same stuff. I was laughing hysterically and I hope you are as you read this!
Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
d
I do love me some Fridays!! It has been a busy and wonderful week. But no matter how great things are, there are always some moments that make you say, WHAT? Here is a recap of my top 4 "WHAT(S)" for the week! (everyone does a top 5, I am doing a top 4!)
4. Carrie Prejean -- Seriously, WHAT is up with this girl. There is nothing intelligent that comes out of her mouth and the more she talks, the worse she looks! Her PR person is either really dumb or cursing the day she took on Carrie as a client!
3. The new cart return holder at The Jewel (yes I added THE before Jewel). This is a big exciting WHAT that is also very shocking!! We may have a slightly ghetto Jewel by our house and because of that you are never allowed to walk your cart full of groceries to your car.....well Hell must have frozen over because the other night Jeremy and I went to the grocery store and as usual I ran to get the car while Jeremy finished loading up the groceries. As I pulled the car up to load it, Jeremy has this shocked look on his face and is waving his arm to show that the gate was gone.....people, they installed cart return stalls at our ghetto Jewel!! We can now walk our carts to our car and load the groceries in. This truly was a big moment!
2. My rockstar lifestyle! Those of you who know me are aware of how wild and crazy I am (please try and imagine extreme sarcasm in this statement!) Well, I have taken Jeremy down with me in my wild ways. This week, there was a night where both of us were asleep on the couch by 8PM. Yes, that's right, 8PM (jealous?!?!). WHAT??? For reals, ugh!! It is times like this that I try and give myself a swift kick in the butt and remind myself that I am 29, not 89.
1. Our football team, the Chicago Bears. Anyone who watched that game last night may have needed to double check to make sure they were watching a professional football game. Hey Jay Cutler, I am thrilled to see that you set a new record for most interceptions.....WHAT the heck! In a perfect ending to an awful game, Jeremy and I were walking home down Division on the sidewalk discussing how the Bears played like Sh*# when I slipped and almost fell. What did I slip on, on the sidewalk of a major street you ask.....SH*@!!!! All over the place....WHAT!?!?! It was very fitting though an evening filled with sh*&^y football was topped off by a slip in the same stuff. I was laughing hysterically and I hope you are as you read this!
Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
d
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Infomercials!!!
There was no subbing to be done yesterday since the school district I work for was observing Veterans Day. It is much deserved holiday and while we only designate one day to celebrate those who protect and have protected our freedom, it is something that should be recognized and appreciated every day!
I took some time out of my day yesterday to do some relaxing on the couch with my Chihuahua, Hua. I am a sucker for infomercials and have bought (and returned) numerous items because I was sucked in and I have my credit card information memorized (bad idea!!). Direct TV has several channels dedicated to various infomercials on health, beauty, wellness, etc. Yesterday I was intrigued by an infomercial about the Ab Circle. I proceeded to sit mesmerized for the next half hour watching people who had such success using a machine that looked like so much fun! Not only were there exercises for the abs, but the machine could warp into a bun and thigh machine as well! They were guaranteeing that you would lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks or your money back.
When Jeremy got home last night I proceeded to tell him about this AMAZING new machine I had watched an infomerical on. He immediately began shaking his head and determined to make him a believer I began spouting off testimonials from the infomercial and his response was "you realize that you can do that with regular diet and exercise at the gym, right?" I get that, but this infomercial was saying that I would be able to achieve these results in 3 MINUTES!! I can always find three minutes in my day to workout!
Needless to say, Jeremy was not biting on my Ab Circle pitch so I drug myself off of the couch and went to the gym where I proceeded to use their Ab Circle-esque machine :o) I wonder what informercials will be on today?!?!?!
I took some time out of my day yesterday to do some relaxing on the couch with my Chihuahua, Hua. I am a sucker for infomercials and have bought (and returned) numerous items because I was sucked in and I have my credit card information memorized (bad idea!!). Direct TV has several channels dedicated to various infomercials on health, beauty, wellness, etc. Yesterday I was intrigued by an infomercial about the Ab Circle. I proceeded to sit mesmerized for the next half hour watching people who had such success using a machine that looked like so much fun! Not only were there exercises for the abs, but the machine could warp into a bun and thigh machine as well! They were guaranteeing that you would lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks or your money back.
When Jeremy got home last night I proceeded to tell him about this AMAZING new machine I had watched an infomerical on. He immediately began shaking his head and determined to make him a believer I began spouting off testimonials from the infomercial and his response was "you realize that you can do that with regular diet and exercise at the gym, right?" I get that, but this infomercial was saying that I would be able to achieve these results in 3 MINUTES!! I can always find three minutes in my day to workout!
Needless to say, Jeremy was not biting on my Ab Circle pitch so I drug myself off of the couch and went to the gym where I proceeded to use their Ab Circle-esque machine :o) I wonder what informercials will be on today?!?!?!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Easy Button
In today's busy world with not enough hours in the day, I believe it is the little conveniences in life that make it easier. I recently had a conversation with a colleague who had a different opinion. Let me replay the conversation for you:
Scene: I am in the teachers' lounge getting ready to put my chicken soup with stars (soup in hand) into the microwave.....and action!!
Colleague: Do you really like that soup in a can?
Me: Yes I do. It is the perfect amount and really easy to eat.
Colleague: I prefer laboring over my food. I get great satisfaction over preparing it and putting it together. I get the convenience, but it just doesn't have the same gratification. You know, it is like those premade crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.....
Me: You mean like the Smucker's crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich I have sitting at the lunch table?!?!
Colleague: ...hehehe (awkward laughter)...I guess I just take great satisfaction in preparing my food.
Me: I take great satisfaction in eating my food and not worrying about all the prep work.
And scene!
Like most Americans, I am a busy person! I am often juggling many things at once and instead of skipping the eating part (which is just wrong!!), I prefer to put something together that is easy to eat whether it is sitting down or on the go and it not too terrible health-wise. Do I like to cook, of course! Do I always have time....NOPE!! I prefer using the easy button in life whenever it is needed. Now if only I could find one that folds the laundry and puts it away!!
Scene: I am in the teachers' lounge getting ready to put my chicken soup with stars (soup in hand) into the microwave.....and action!!
Colleague: Do you really like that soup in a can?
Me: Yes I do. It is the perfect amount and really easy to eat.
Colleague: I prefer laboring over my food. I get great satisfaction over preparing it and putting it together. I get the convenience, but it just doesn't have the same gratification. You know, it is like those premade crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.....
Me: You mean like the Smucker's crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich I have sitting at the lunch table?!?!
Colleague: ...hehehe (awkward laughter)...I guess I just take great satisfaction in preparing my food.
Me: I take great satisfaction in eating my food and not worrying about all the prep work.
And scene!
Like most Americans, I am a busy person! I am often juggling many things at once and instead of skipping the eating part (which is just wrong!!), I prefer to put something together that is easy to eat whether it is sitting down or on the go and it not too terrible health-wise. Do I like to cook, of course! Do I always have time....NOPE!! I prefer using the easy button in life whenever it is needed. Now if only I could find one that folds the laundry and puts it away!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Swine
It has taken over the media, our schools, and our minds! Anyone that knows me is aware that I may be slightly over dramatic when it comes to my health....AKA, I am a bit of a hypochondriac. But seriously people, I am torn over this whole Swine Flu thing. I do not know whether to freak out or shake my head at the media frenzy covering this whole pandemic!
As an educator I am seeing first hand how serious The Swine is. We had over 5% of our school population out with "flu-like" symptoms. So I know it is not something to be taken lightly. I know I may not be in the high-risk group, but being surrounded by my little sick ones each day does make me concerned for my health.......but let's be honest, my mental sanity is much more at jeopardy!
I torture myself each day reading awful stories on how seemingly healthy people die after contracting Swine Flu. It is horrifying to read multiple stories like these each day.....I know, I know....then why do I read it? Well, I prefer to be a well informed citizen despite how much it horrifies me.
I try my best with vigilant hand washing, antibacterial hand sanitizer, having my students disinfect their tables at the end of each day, etc. I know this is very serious matter, but also having a previous career in television, I know how the media can cause panic among the viewing population. Ugh, why do I fear The Swine IS something to worry about and not just the hype that Bird Flu was. At least I still have my Bird Flu masks.
As an educator I am seeing first hand how serious The Swine is. We had over 5% of our school population out with "flu-like" symptoms. So I know it is not something to be taken lightly. I know I may not be in the high-risk group, but being surrounded by my little sick ones each day does make me concerned for my health.......but let's be honest, my mental sanity is much more at jeopardy!
I torture myself each day reading awful stories on how seemingly healthy people die after contracting Swine Flu. It is horrifying to read multiple stories like these each day.....I know, I know....then why do I read it? Well, I prefer to be a well informed citizen despite how much it horrifies me.
I try my best with vigilant hand washing, antibacterial hand sanitizer, having my students disinfect their tables at the end of each day, etc. I know this is very serious matter, but also having a previous career in television, I know how the media can cause panic among the viewing population. Ugh, why do I fear The Swine IS something to worry about and not just the hype that Bird Flu was. At least I still have my Bird Flu masks.
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