Footprints on the Moon » Shopping

Why I’ll Always Wash My Clothes

Jennifer — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:33:56 +0000

Now, the story I’m about to share with you is one that I first heard some time ago, but when I first heard of the situation, I didn’t fully realize the implications of it. Now that Colleen has shared all the dirty details of the situation, the way I look at “new” clothes has forever been changed.
It has to do with an Old Navy, a pair of “new” pants, and a girl in Florida that needs to buy some panty liners. Do you see where this is going yet? Well, if you’re not so quick on the uptake, head on over to Colleen’s blog and read all about her Old Navy pants saga. Make sure you click over the ebay auction to see the accompanying pictures. When you’re done brushing your teeth to get the taste of vomit out of your mouth, I have a feeling you’ll think twice when you want to wear your new clothes that you just brought home and took the tags off of!

Shop and You Shall Receive

Jennifer — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:48:50 +0000

I’m excited to get off of work today… this is not anything new, I think I’m always ready to go home. This is true for a couple of reasons today though… one is that mom’s got Killian tonight and she’s invited me over for dinner. As soon as I go home and change (and maybe catch up on some email), I get to head over there and play with that baby and that ALWAYS makes me happy.
The second reason has to do with my title. Last week was one of my two “extra” paychecks of the year, and I used it to pay a couple bills, and then to buy things that I’ve wanted and needed to buy but haven’t necessarily been able to afford on one of my normal bi-weekly checks between bills and rent, and the expense of living. I ordered a new cell phone, a gorillapod for my camera, an x-shot, Nike golf clothing, Tivo… okay, not the golf clothing, but if I were going to, this is the week I would have done that! I did my shopping online, and according to many of the tracking methods, several of my items should be sitting in front of my door waiting for me when I get home! Well, the UPS shipped stuff won’t be there until I get home from mom’s. Everything should be here by the end of the week. Sometimes it’s nice to shop in stores and be able to bring your stuff home right away. Other times, it’s just plain fun to be able to come home and find packages on my door step. It’s no secret that I like to get mail… I especially like to get mail that ISN’T a bill! Shopping online is the best of both worlds– retail therapy, and mail that isn’t bills!

Turtlenecks are for…

Jennifer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:06:35 +0000

… more than just covering up hickeys. Did you know that some people actually wear them too? I’m not one of them, as I really just don’t like things being up on my neck like that. I have to wear a buttoned to the top collared shirt with a “tie” for work and it took a couple weeks for me to stop tugging on it, feeling kind of panicky. Not even a mock turtleneck works for me. (And wouldn’t you know, just writing about it, the collar on my shirt just feels tighter, and tighter…)

I was asked if I might like to review a turtleneck, so I had to see if I knew someone who might like to wear one. And you know, not feel like they are choking? I called my mom and asked her if Harold wore turtlenecks, and her response was, “Unfortunately, yes.” LOL Think maybe the turtleneck has gotten a bad reputation?? Anyways, I had a taker, and as you can see from the picture below, he likes it!

When I first handed the shirt over, his response was “Ooh that’s nice!” When I returned last night to get a picture of him in the shirt, he went back to change into it. I heard him call out “This smells really good!” Now, I’m not sure that the folks at Clothing4All had anything to do with how the shirt smelled, but there you go. Maybe I’ll have to order something for MYSELF this time, and find out for sure.

What’s For Lunch?

Jennifer — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:11:00 +0000

That’s the question of the hour… well, in 3 1/2 more hours anyways. I brought my lunch all last week, and had planned on doing so this week as well, but I didn’t bring one today. Of course, when I got down to the cafeteria, they didn’t have this week’s menus out yet, just last week’s. Whatever was cooking didn’t smell too good though… I just hope they have something halfway decent to eat because the greasy grill side that I usually opt for when the meal options are not so good is just not an option. Maybe they’ll have some chili… it’s good chili weather.
I need to get to the grocery store so that I can bring my lunch, but there are two problems with this. One is that I do not get paid until Friday, and that does not help me buy groceries on Monday. The second is that the stores are insane! Unless the furniture stores (about the only stores not swarmed with millions of crazy people) have mysteriously started selling groceries, I’m not sure I want to touch that with a ten foot pole. I guess I’ll either brave the crazies or figure something else out, won’t I?

Done Christmas Shopping

Jennifer — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:50:20 +0000

Did I ever come back and tell you that I was officially done with my Christmas shopping? I know I told you that I was still waiting on my dad to give me ideas. First all he could tell me was he wanted a new cell phone. Ha! I can’t even afford to replace my old, dying phone! Hey, while I’m at it, how about I buy him a new truck bed liner, and a big screen TV! But he finally did give me a few ideas of things he’d like, all well within my budget, so I ran out and secured a couple of them. I still have to wrap a couple of presents, but mostly I’m ready for Christmas now!
I had planned on doing some baking, but I don’t know how much I’m going to do. I’ll probably make some peanut blossom cookies, and the pie I promised to take for Christmas with immediate family on my mom’s side. (This would be the same pie that was supposed to go on Halloween but I failed at. Miserably. Wish me better luck this time!)

Spending Money

Jennifer — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:58:04 +0000

I’m spending money like it’s going out of style! I haven’t spent all that much when you consider that over the last two days I’ve purchased 85% of my Christmas presents, a new TV for me, Christmas decorations, birthday presents, and many other things. It’s just kind of shocking to the system because I’m used to spreading out my shopping a little bit more than this! I’m starting to feel like I need drug rehab for my shopping addiction, or at least someone to come take all my credit/debit cards away from me.
Today Erica and I spent the day running all over town. We went to Hacienda this morning, and then to Walmart, and Steve and Barry’s, and back to her house because Aiden was tired and having a meltdown. We stayed there for a couple hours and then it was out for dinner, to another Walmart and Meijer. But I’m definitely done shopping for awhile. I have only Aiden, Ryan, and Dad to get presents for yet, so that will probably come out of my next paycheck.
Right now I really want to set up my Christmas tree and decorate, but I need to get to bed. I’m kind of getting a second wind and that’s not a good thing. It’s not a problem today, but if I stay up late, I’ll sleep late. And then I won’t be able to go to bed at “bed time” tomorrow night! If you don’t get up early mornings for work, take it from me– that’s not a good way to start the work week!

Black Friday Shopping

Jennifer — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:46:05 +0000

I generally have a very strict rule in regards to Black Friday– “Don’t leave the house.” Last year was not a problem, I got off work at 7am, came home and went to bed. The year before that was a similar story, but I was working at a retail store, and seeing the crowds on my way out the door at 6am (and the amount of returns ALREADY) was insane!!
This year, however, I broke my own rule. I went Black Friday shopping, and I went alone. There were a few deals in the Meijer ad that I just couldn’t pass up. By virtue of being a 24 hour store, they also got my vote as I could do my waiting inside where it was warm rather than outside in the snow. The downfall was that for the “hot ticket” items, you had to wait in line and get a ticket. Two things that I wanted had separate lines… so I had to make a decision. One line I was pretty much guaranteed to get what I was after, and the other line was questionable. I went for the sure thing. It also helped that a couple of the other things on my list were “in the line” that I was going to be standing in.
So I got up at 3:30, was at Meijer by 4. The sale officially started at 5am. I checked out, went to McDonalds for breakfast and was still home by about 20 after five. I had briefly considered going from Meijer to Target but decided that I’d rather come back home and go back to bed. I still haven’t gone back to bed, but I’m glad I didn’t go to Target– the local news was there, and they were broadcasting live as they opened the doors there. Yeah, there were at least 1200 people running through the doors. No thank you!! I’m doing more shopping on the internet this morning, and I’m still hoping to take a nap at some point this morning.
Did you go Black Friday shopping this morning? Tell me about your good deals!

Oh, and here’s what I got this morning– Merry Christmas to me!

To the Lady in the Meijer Parking Lot

Jennifer — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:03:31 +0000

Dear Lady in the Black Truck,

I suggest you find a hobby. If a small snafu in the parking lot at Meijer makes you come so completely unhinged, your world is clearly too small. I hope it made you feel better to follow me around. But I just want to you to know that while what happened seemed like the end of the world to you, I came home to write about it and let all my readers know how batshit crazy you are.

Happy Thanksgiving,
The girl who was just trying to park her car

So the story that goes with that… lol I was getting ready to start making lunch yesterday morning, and I was going over the recipe one more time (be looking for that on Jenn Cooks over the next couple of days) when I realized that the container of cottage cheese I had purchased was going to be too small. So I threw on some clothes and a hat and ran out to Meijer to grab some more cottage cheese and a couple of cases of pop.
When I got there, I discovered that the entire city has apparently just realized that Thanksgiving is this week. It was next to impossible to find a parking spot that wasn’t a mile away. I did finally find one, however, and there was a lady in a black truck in the spot next to it, at an angle just slightly over the line. Not enough to keep you from parking in the free spot, though, so I started to park. I overshot it a little bit, so I had to back up, and turn in again. As I started to turn into the spot, the lady in the black truck takes her car out of park and starts backing up. Of course I start yelling, cause well, that’s just what I do. But it wasn’t a big deal– she didn’t see me and started to back out of her spot.
I get pulled into the spot, and I look up and she’s flipping me off! What the heck? But being the courteous, friendly person I am, I promptly returned the gesture. She started to back out again, so I shut off the car, and grabbed my purse. I waited in the car for a second so she could back out without worrying about me getting out of the car. But she doesn’t move. So finally, I just get out of the car, and she waves at me and starts screaming something. Big Brave Lady, too, since she didn’t have the balls to roll down the window and let me know what she was yelling. I just ever so kindly smiled at her, and repeated our little Beverly Hillbillies Howdy that we’d exchanged earlier.
I started walking into the store (keeping an eye on her and my car, of course!) and she backed out, and then sped up the very next aisle so that she would be there when I crossed. Unfortunately for her, I had the time to get across the lane before she got all the way there. Seriously?? How ridiculously small does your world have to be for someone pulling into the spot next to you when you’re trying to back out make you come so completely unhinged?
So that was my lovely experience with the crazy people yesterday morning.

Black Friday Sales

Jennifer — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:47:47 +0000

I’m currently steeling myself against all the Black Friday sales. I have a self-imposed “rule” that I don’t leave the house on the day after Thanksgiving. I don’t do well with the traffic, and large crowds of crazy people that are every where. Not to mention that I can’t afford to go shopping anyways. Still, I find myself drawn in by the microwave ovens and video games.
I’m particularly drawn to the TVs. I’d like a new one. It’s not needed desperately, but it would be very nice. There also just so happens to be an AMAZING deal in the ad for the Friday door buster sales. Repeat after me: I cannot afford to purchase a TV, no matter how cheap. I cannot afford to purchase a TV, no matter how cheap. I cannot afford to purchase a TV, no matter how cheap.

Camera Envy

Jennifer — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:53:25 +0000

I bought my camera about a year and a half ago, just before a trip that I took with my friend Erica. Part of my reasoning of buying it then was that I could take pictures during our vacation, but I really wanted a digital camera anyways, so that I could take and share pictures of my nephews when they were born several months later. Now, I wish I’d waited a little bit longer before making my purchase. I could’ve saved a little bit more, and ended up with a better camera — they released nicer cameras, and dropped prices like two minutes after I bought mine! And really, I wouldn’t have missed much… a few pictures, sure, but mostly the pictures were taken of animals at the zoo. Why do we do that? Take pictures of animals at every zoo you go to, like you’ve never seen a zoo before! But I digress.

Going to Vegas though, I found myself really, really wanting a nicer camera. I went from having a small twinge of longing, and into full blown “OMG. Must. Have. Now.” The difference in quality of the pictures that I took, and the pictures that those with nicer cameras took is remarkable. I commented more than once that I felt like my camera was the red-headed stepchild in the group. Cass has the same camera that I do, and I know she was feeling the same way! For right now, I’ll have to start saving my pennies. I already have a new camera picked out, and it’s nice… nice and expensive.

In the meantime, I think I’m going to have to invest in new camcorder batteries. I have a set of rechargeable batteries now, but even rechargeable batteries have a shelf-life. They don’t hold a charge as long as they used to, and my camera slows down with half charged batteries. Long before the batteries give up the fight, the camera will slow way down, and it takes longer to take a picture, and even longer for the camera to process it and be ready to take another one. When a lot of the times, you are attempting to take pictures of your nephews, you need to get a picture in a split second. Needless to say, the delay is not working for me. After Christmas, it will be time to start saving my pennies and weighing my options.