December 23, 2010

JC PENNY, here comes the bad review!

In the email I rec'd for my DEC 17 order it says "Most items ship from our warehouse the next business day after your order is submitted. Orders containing back ordered items may be consolidated and ship on the back ordered date indicated."

I purchased these items for a CHRISTMAS PROMOTION on Dec. 17, for FREE SHIPPING DAY.  NO WHERE was it indicated that the items would NOT be delivered for Christmas and furthermore, it took 4 business days for my items to get to UPS, meaning they are scheduled for DEC 28 with is DECIDEDLY Not useful.

1. The promotion SHOULD State that even though it is a CHRISTMAS promotion, items are NOT for Christmas delivery.
2. Why did my items take SO  long to leave your warehouse?   If they had left on time, they might have made it.

So now my grandfather, with his wife newly in a nursing home, will not have a gift from me. THANK YOU JC Penny.  I will remember this as well as I will post it to my blog, twitter, and tumblr accounts.

December 21, 2010

Best Buy Update...

They can deliver on Dec. 27.  WHEE.  Only 2 days late.  NOT.  But they're giving me a gift card.  That totally makes up for it. NOT.  If we thought it would fit in our truck, we'd go get it.  Too bad they don't deliver....oh wait!  hahahahahaha

a letter to the CEO of Best Buy...

Mr. Dunn - we ordered a 50 inch tv for my mother, to be delivered TODAY.  We did not receive a phone call yesterday to scheduled delivery so I called your customer service line.

After holding for 15 MINUTES, the customer service rep informed me:

1.  the tv is NOT scheduled for delivery.  Will probably NOT BE delivered in time for Christmas.
2.  they have no idea why the delivery department is NOT CALLING customers
3.  I cannot reschedule it because my HUSBAND ordered it - even though I told her I could answer ANY Security question she might have to verify that I am on the account.

But mostly it is #1 and #2 above - that a TV ordered on Dec. 14 is not delivered, and an attempt to contact us was not made.

What are you going to do to remedy this situation?  I worked for Nordstrom for 7 years through high school and college.  I know what a customer-service dedicated company can do.  Impress me, please.

December 14, 2010

in these hard economic times....

Please please please tip the people that help take care of you all year: hairdressers, teachers, nail techs, etc.  These people DEPEND on their Christmas tips usually for December bills (my mom uses hers for her real estate tax).  She is noticing a GIANT down tick in tips this year - and I know things are tight all around, but please, remember that these people count on your generosity.

Dear Vending Machine Man:

I am cursing you today.  HOW DARE you move the diet coke label to the bottom, and the Diet Coke with Lime POISON to the top?  Everyone has picked the wrong soda today because you SWAPPED THE LABELS FOR NO REASON.


December 03, 2010

it took 1 hour...

to learn how ornaments shatter when hit at a high rate of speed.  OF COURSE.

Lowest Ring...

Of my tree has 3,433,223 ornaments hung on it.  The upper 10 rings, 4 ornaments total.  I LOVE IT.

October 06, 2010

October already??

Hubby left 3 weeks ago for a work trip.  He'll be back first week of December.  I am a bit busy.  Here is what my day (on a Wednesday, the day I have "off" from work) is like....

5:15 a.m.: Jessie sneaks into my bed.
5:45 am: oldest wakes me for my shower.  I hit snooze.
5:55 am: shower
6:20 am:head downstairs. Make breakfast for the oldest. Pack his lunch.
6:45 am: Tyler comes down, insists on milk and TV.
6:45:40 am: Jessie comes down, insists on OJ and a different show.  FIGHTING Ensues.
7:10 am: Oldest gets on bus.  Tyler gets in shower.  I get dressed.  I dress Tyler.  I make Tyler breakfast.  I load car of stuff to goto my mom's (she's coloring my hair, so I need a set of old clothes to wear and hair styling stuff so she can check the cut after I style it).
7:50 am: try try try to get Jessie changed for the day.  She wants to play on Nick JR and eat something I don't have time to cook.
8:30 am leave house, headed for Tysons.
9:25 am: Drop Tyler at preschool.  Drive to mom's.  Hurriedly get hair cut and colored.  This is a long process, esp. w/long hair.
12:00 pm: blowdry hair.
12:20 pm: run out door to pickup Tyler
12:40 pm: back at mom's.  Lunch.
1:15 pm: brother and neighbor try to find leak in my tire while I chase the kids outside.
2:00 pm: load kids, head to cub scout store to buy Badge Magic.
2:25 pm: discover store is long gone.  Space is for rent.
3:00 pm: vaccine appt for Tyler.  He TOTALLY LOSES it over getting 2 shots.  Drive to school to pick up oldest from Chess Club.
4:10 pm: arrive home.  Start oldest on his homework.
5:15 pm: pack car for football practice.
5:30 pm: leave for practice.
6:00 pm: drop son off.  Head to Mcdonalds.  drive back to practice.  Eat w/kids in car (it is freezing outside).
7:00 pm: practice done. Head home.  Get kids showered, in jammies, and in bed.
7:40 - start cleaning kitchen, packing tomorrow's backpacks and lunches. Lay out clothes for kids for tomorrow.  Agonize over the fact that it will be 45 when they leave for school and 75 when they get home: shorts or pants????  Pants or shorts??
9:00 pm: head to basement to spend 30 mins organizing basement storage.
10:00 head upstairs for ME time watching TV.  AM TIRED!!!!!!!!!








  

September 07, 2010

well well well...

Hello out there!! How's it going? Wow, being thrust back into real life is an adjustment, yes?

Today is the 1st day of school for elementary kids - so my Son started 3rd grade. He loved it so far, but is still ANNOYED, with a capital A, at having to goto bed on time. He decided he wanted to go swimming right before bedtime and is ANNOYED that we said no. How DARE we???

August 18, 2010

Why oh why...my computer...

There are 4 TVs and 3 computers in this house. WHY OH WHY when I put Pandora on in the kitchen to cook do the kids want to WATCH MOVIES on the kitchen computer? Seriously, we have 4 PLASMA TVs and they want the 21 inch monitor in the kitchen. What. The. Hell.

August 17, 2010

self-medicating

with Chick-Fil-A for lunch!!!!  Going to eat some of that stress away!!

July 28, 2010

Princess Loves: Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector



This is what their website says: Dermatologist-developed to be safe, comfortable. Yet in clinical trials our serum was comparable to a leading prescription ingredient in creating a more even skin tone. A verified 53% improvement in skin tone. For all ethnicities: See results starting in as little as 4 weeks. At 12 weeks, see a visible reduction in dark spots, age spots, and traces of acne past.

My results: I have used it 4 times in about 10 days (I know, I know, I keep forgetting to use it before bed). I LOVE IT. My skin is more glowing, and I believe more evenly toned - even with constantly being out in the sun acquiring a tan (and the face skin of a woman of my young age does NOT tan evenly!). I had been using Philosophy's Save Me, and I thought that was great, well, THIS IS EVEN better! My skin feels better and it feels fabulous when I run my hands over it (when I'm washing my face) - so soft and smooth!

(This is NOT a paid promotion - just a product I had read about and then found in the Cancun airport for 15% off AND with no tax. I couldn't resist trying it at a discount!)

May 15, 2010

Today...

6 a.m. 50 minutes run on treadmill
7-8 shower and do hair
8-9 a.m. feed kids
10 a.m. - at pool store w/sample, get more chemicals.
10:30 Benjamin Moore store for three gallons of HEAVY ASS PAINT
11:00 head home - put first batch (6 buckets, heavy buckets) into pool. Brush pool. Feed kids lunch, dress them for party. Wrap presents. Eat leftover pasta.
1-4 p.m. chase kids around birthday party for nephew.
4 - head to home depot. Purchase 10 16-foot base mouldings. Load into car - this is surprisingly hard work.
5 p.m. Put 6 more buckets of heavy ass chemicals in pool. Brush pool again. Empty skimmer and baskets.
6 - feed kids. Forget to feed self. Wash 4 pool filters, resoak as they STILL look nasty. Brush pool. Discover rotting weeds in bin I thought had drain holes. Carry 10 16 foot mouldings into garage and stack. They are still surprisingly heavy and a pain in the butt.
8 p.m. Fight Jessie into bed (she had no nap). Get boys down after changing boys' sheets. Clean kitchen. Start laundry.

Gosh, no idea WHY I AM SO TIRED. Do you know???

May 06, 2010

Why I Hate: Thursday

4:45 a.m. Turn off alarm.
5:45 a.m. Turn off alarm.
6:10 a.m. Get up, too late for my shower. Get Son up and ready for school. Sneak in fastest shower ever.
7:15 a.m. Son leaves - prep other 2 for preschool.

Today we have 2 Mother's Day Teas. Which are the highlight of my day. BUT I've missed the LAST 2 days of work dealing w/the stomach bug, now I'm missing most of today.

1 p.m. Arrive at work
2:30 p.m. Leave work to pick up kids
3:50 p.m. Pick up Son from School.
4:15 arrive home. HURRY and pack picnic dinner for FOUR.
5:00 leave for soccer.
5:30 - 6:30 soccer
7:00 arrive home. Shower three kids and get them in bed.
Then make cookies for Teacher Appreciation.

Thursdays make me want to poke myself in the eye. Repeatedly.

May 05, 2010

What's In It: Premade Gravy

Almost all brands except Heinz contain hydrolized oils and corn syrup. Funny, when I make gravy from scratch it takes 3 ingredients: meat drippings, meat broth, and flour. So - corn syrup?

May 04, 2010

What's In It: Coldstone Creamery

UGH!!! You cannot escape the HCFS and the hydrogenated oils. Not all the flavors but a good number of them. DARN IT ALL.

April 26, 2010

What's In It? Combos!

UGH!  Does it never end??  Partially Hydrogenated Palm oil AND Corn Syrup. 

April 24, 2010

What's In It? Planter's Dry Roasted Peanuts

Corn Syrup powder. WHY? The ingredients should say: Peanuts, salt. RIGHT? Why corn syrup too?

No more purchasing these peanuts for us, they are off the healthy list. The shame is that I bought them when I was trying to find some more protein, healthy snacks for myself, and ended up with EXACTLY THE SUGAR I WAS TRYING TO AVOID. SHEEEESH Planter's - Shame on you.

March 29, 2010

Food Revolution

Ok - the stuff we feed our kids is crap. Well - I AM trying and I didn't KNOW chicken nuggets you get in the store were that NASTY.

So - stay tuned! Big changes are afoot! Can I get my kids to change?

I will not purchase McDonalds for my kids anymore.
I will try very hard not to buy items w/high fructose corn syrup - I already TRY to do this, but it's hard - I am going to make more of an effort to hit Trader Joe's for stuff instead of Harris Teeter.
LESS SUGAR - well - after Easter. With their daddy gone, I cannot give them an Easter basket that disappoints. I can't do it.

Other suggestions??? They usually hit 4 servings of fruit a day + adequate organic milk and adequate protein.

HELP ME! What else is lurking in my pantry that is bad (aka. Chicken nuggets!!) that I need to know about? How does one know these things?

March 24, 2010

How am I supposed to do that?

Ok - Thursdays around here SUCK.

I get off work at 3:30. Drive from Reston to Ashburn to get my son from school.
3:35 - leave Ashburn to drive to TYSONS to get the little kids.
4:10 - head back to Dulles (which is near Ashburn), getting there around 4:50. WELL - now soccer practice will be on the FAR side of Ashburn at 6. Exactly when are we supposed to EAT, HANG OUT, get anything done (like HOMEWORK)? And bedtime is 7:30 - we will be just walking in the door if we are LUCKY? HOW HOW HOW?

March 23, 2010

Why I am crying and overwhelmed right now.

5:15 a.m. - wake up and get ready for work.
6 a.m. - wake up older son and get him showered and fed for school.
6:30 a.m. - wake up other 2 kids and change their clothes.
6:50 a.m. - Tyler has HUGE meltdown that I bought shoes for the older child but none for him because HIS STILL FIT.
7:10 a.m. bus comes
7:15 am. - we leave late - see: tyler throwing fit about shoes STILL.
7:40 a.m. drive BY my office to drop little kids off.
8 a.m. drop little kids off. Drive BACK the way I came.
8:30 arrive at work
3:30 leave work
4 arrive home - realize can run to store before the sitter leaves, dash to store.
4:30 arrive home. Put away groceries among 3 kids vying for my attention because they haven't seen me all day (mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom).
4:45 fight A LOT with older son about homework. Puzzled by his amazing whininess and flat out refusal to do homework? Every time I start talking with Son, the other 2 start their own fight.
5 p.m. find Son hiding in living room, FAST ASLEEP.
5:15 work on feeding kids fruit, starting dinner.
6 - struggle to wake older child. Feed kids. Burned my own dinner, sneak some of theirs.
7:00 start putting them in bed.
7:30 lights out.

Now all I have left to do is fold SEVEN loads of laundry, prep for tomorrow, work on my mom's taxes, pay bills, wash at least 2 more loads.

Notice there is not ONE MINUTE for me to do any of my stuff or GET SOME FREAKING exercise, which is why I feel gross, which isn't helping MY attitude.

only 53 more days until hubby comes home. Someone shoot me.

March 22, 2010

apology

I want to apologize for my harsh generalization in my last post - I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that or even say that.  I just don't want to pay for insurance for people who flat out refuse to buy it for themselves.  I'm not talking about people working their way to a better life and need a hand - I'm talking about people who just don't want to use their money for it (until of course, they get really sick and realize what a good idea it would have been) - like some relatives of mine who'd rather use it for car payments because their locality covers their kids for free.

Reading up on it, there is no public option in this bill it seems, just subsidy to help those in lower brackets.  I think they should find a way to make insurers lower costs, not pass out money to meet the high costs.

March 21, 2010

HELLO?! well...

what a neglected place this is!! We've been swamped - we went on a vacation to Snomass, CO where the kids skied their hearts out (the oldest got the fastest time on the race course OUT OF ALL THE KIDS!) and the other two made great strides. As did I - this is the FIRST year I got a full week of skiing in! And it did cost us a pretty penny, but a week on vacation w/our kids and the grandparents is priceless.

Then hubby left Wednesday for an 8 week tour. Well, double crap. But him being gone might give me more time to update! I will try!! First up, I need to find out what's going on w/healthcare. I hope I'm not now paying for the healthcare of lots of other people. I get off my fat ass and goto work to afford the coverage we need, all other people can too. So we'll see - I'll read some links and hopefully the bill, but I'm pretty sure it won't please me.

January 21, 2010

WOW - I SUCK

Hello? Anyone out there? Doubt it! I'm west coasting it this week! I had a Hibernate training class in San Fran and then one of my bestest friends picked me up for 4 days of fun with her in San Jose. Look for some crazy upcoming pictures - y'all have been warned! We were up until 4:45 this morning, chatting, goofing, drinking and re-watching Twilight (yes, we apparently are quite fascinating I know) -but all of those things are QUITE THE LUXURY when you have a job and 3 kids, so I'm really enjoying just doing what we want to do for once!

Will check in later, after I score some more diet coke!