Mystery Notes

Today I was reminded by my daughters to go check out the note that I had left at Meijers last week...yes, another grocery story:)
I like to give stores my input in a funny kind of way. I started leaving "Post it's" in areas that are not STOCKED! Of course they are items that I'm wanting to buy but they seem to be out. SO I leave a kind little note that says "Please stock more of the Meijer brand 100% Columbian Whole bean coffee, thank you!" or " Please stock more of the Tresseme Extra hold hairspray, it seems to be never here!" I know that i could probably go to the customer service and give them my 2 cents but I find this way more fun and possibly more effective? Anyways I have seen some improvement, the coffee is now there when I buy it every week but I do have to say the hairspray note is not working. Today I left a second note "Please, Please, Please, stock more of this, why isn't it here? what the heck is going on?" and my girls seem to find this puzzling too. They did ask today if we are supposed to do this whole note leaving and I said "Sure, it's just a different way of telling them things we would like more of." So who knows what I'm instilling in my girls but I'm at the point now that I'm no longer buying "the hairspray" at Meijers but I like leaving the notes for the other people that might be wanting it too.
I'm thinking of all my fellow shoppers out there and maybe when your frustrated with some item that is not available then you could leave a "Post it" too!

Shortest line isn't always the quickest....

My weekly routine is groceries on Wednesdays. I almost always go the Grand Ledge Meijer and I always look forward to my cashier "John".
It took me a while to find my favorite cashier, but now, where ever I am I have certain characteristics and expectations that I look for.
I never go through the self check out unless I have 1-5 items, whats the point when you have a cart full of grocerys, 3 kids, coupons,a list, recycled bags and a cart that looks like a caboose. And I don't save any money, maybe I would if it took a couple of dollars off my bill.
When John is working it doesn't matter how long his line is because it always moves fast but if I have to pick a line I first look for my cashier and then look for large bulky items, not small crap that's strategically piled up.
I've broke down my cashier characteristics (things you should look for, for the most efficient and fastest way to get you in and out)

Lets start with Guys.

Young guys, I don't go for any guy that's good looking(which is rare). Usually they are too busy trying to make conversation and I'm too distracted and I don't pay attention to the bill and they pack things really stupid. Cilantro and Lettuce should never have cans stacked on top of it. If I do decide on a youngin then I like the ones that look quiet, maybe they play video games:) , kinda geeky, ...like i can beat them up:)

Middle age guys(30-50), this is usually what I'm looking for. They are usually talkative but not too much and they are always great packers, no awkwardness, they get "it". That's my John!
(Don't worry I'm not getting all hot and bothered with John, he has a boyfriend)

Young girls, I like to go with girls that are pretty but not too pretty and smile. I've noticed when they are too pretty they don't talk and pack way too light. Yah, total discrimination with the looks but I think alot of people are pretty:)

Middle age women(30-50), watch out for the "talky pants", if you are having any inkling of this, get out of the line fast. I'm fine with some talk but I don't want to tell this person every dish that I'm making and how I make it and explain what all my vegetables are(they always ask about beets and snow peas?????, I don't get it) and blah, blah, blah. They usually take forever and pack too light. Also look for a "kind" face, no scowling and says Hello.

Senior Cashiers(seems to be very rare, they usually stick them at the door) but when you find them, I look for ones that look mean and feisty...fast and efficient!

So hopefully this will help with your cashier roulette...

Save big bucks, no whammies!

Drive by Blanket

For the last year I've had my eye on this green blanket or maybe it's a rug....I don't know but it hangs over the porch railing of this house that I pass at least 4-5 times a week. It's been there for about 9 months, give or take. I want to stop and ask them why is it just hanging there and what the heck's wrong with it? Does it smell like cat pee? Does it have a giant hole in the middle?(maybe it's a tree skirt) Do they not have room for this amazing grass green blanket/rug??? Why does it just hang out side and never move. It doesn't even get unfolded. I can't stand it, I want this thing and writing about it is just making me obsess even more. I need to time this whole confrontation just right, and think about my intro line.... "hey, i like this green thing out here, would you mind selling it?"
I do have to confess, I've thought about stopping in the middle of the night and grabbing it. There's too many things wrong with that scenario! I think I might stop this week and ask, what's it going to hurt.... either yes or no or it really does smell like cat pee.

Harv's Ramen Noodle Salad

My Ramen Noodle Salad seems to be the only salad that I know how to make and take anywhere.
It's a pretty good salad, lots of veggies, lots of flavor but it does take a while to chop all of it.
So if you want to try pretty much a guarantee crowd pleaser, then give this salad a whirl.

1 bag of dole coleslaw mix
1 bag of broccoli slaw or 2 cups of shredded red cabbage
1 red pepper (chop)
1/2 bunch green onion (chop)
1 pkg of small cucumbers(they come in 4)(slice) or 1/2 english cucumber(quarter and slice)
8 radishes(slice)
20 snow peas (destring and slice in 1 inch pieces)
2 cups of broccoli florets.

CRUNCHIES

4 tbs. butter
2 pkges of oriental flavor ramen noodles
1/2 cup or rice noodles(in the asian section)
3tbs. sesame seeds
1/2c sliced almonds

Melt the butter and crush noodles with rolling pin before opening. Sprinkle the
ramen noodle season packets over the crunchies. Stir until toasted (med/high) heat. Spread over paper towel to cool.


DRESSING

2/3c olive oil/ canola
1/4c rice vinegar
4tbs. soy sauce
1/2c sugar or splenda
1tsp. garlic powder
1/4tsp. cayenne pepper


Mix everything right before serving.

Enjoy!

Cawww Cawww!

We have no air conditioning and that's fine but when I think of that damn crow, I want AIR!!!!

6:45 am is the time that this crow outside our window likes to wake me up. I'm seriously wanting to shoot the stupid thing but
1. I don't know how to shoot a gun
2. Where the crap is that bird?
3. I couldn't kill an animal, no matter what they do.

So I need a name for this crow. I think he's preparing me for the upcoming school year. We are all sleeping in and I'm loving it but I guess good things do have to come to an end.

Any suggestions for a name?

Oatmeal and Perfect hair....

So in the last year, 2 people from my cross country/track days have passed away. They're people that I haven't talked to in years (pretty much since high school) but I have thought of them.....

Oooch' .... WE were getting ready for a x-country invitational and it was early and we needed to eat something substantial for b-fast and all she had was oatmeal(which i can't stand) and they were out of milk (so no cold cereal for me) so I pretty much mustered up the strength to choke down a slimy, gooey, some what warm bowl of instant oatmeal and that was that. I now know that I will never like it. Period. But when I make my girls oatmeal, I think of her. I'm trying not to make this...."so the moral of the story is.... eat your oatmeal..." Oatmeal = memories of Oooche. miss you!

Mr. Randall.... when I think back to 8th grade science with Mr. Randall was always somewhat of a mystery.... I would always wonder about his hair. Daydreaming in the back of the class, does he use a blow dryer to get the perfect height ? Does he color his hair? How long does it take him to do his hair in the morning? Who cuts his hair? (and you wonder why I'm a hairdresser)
His hair was always perfect and he always made me feel like I ran like the wind. I miss him.
RIP Coach Randall.

To and Fro

Well I'm officially starting my own blog. The life and times of a mom with a hundered jobs and a 3 girls that like to snack.

Soccer is starting and I'm already for it to be over, is that so wrong? thank god it's only 6 weeks .

So popsicles have been the snack of the summer and I'm sick of buying them. I've been binging on crackers, chips, cereal, carbs, carbs, and more carbs.

Gotta get ready to go to work at the "Port".... doing hair and lovin it.