Sometimes People Just Make Us Feel Dumb

So...a tribute to all the things people were looking for in the store today:

kids wooden toy box
a sticky, bright colored thingy I put on my dash to set my phone on
*plunger
*dog food
Diego Mega Blocks
Hide-a-Key Rock
12oz bottles of gatorade
*Honey
5 lb bag of sugar
*real butter
3 lbs of velvetta cheese
Fourth of July theme table cloths, plates, napkins
Woodstock Theme Beach Towel
*Michael Jackson anything
*box fans
clip on tie...had to be clip on
child's keepsake silverware / spoon
*plastic martini glasses
*swimmies...more to follow

* = stuff we carry in our store

...okay, so these were the things they were looking for...and really this is how they make you feel dumb...

Conversation #1 goes like this:
"WOMAN, do you work here?" (Yes, I actually had a man call me WOMAN from about 20 feet away tonight!)
"Yes, how may I help you, Sir?"
"Well, you probably can't." (Okay, thanks for the credit up front, jerk! Is it b/c I'm a WOMAN?)
"This boy here with me needs a clip-on tie and we've not found one in the men's department."
"We don't sell clip-on ties." (So...yes, I can't help you.)

Conversation #2:
"Do you have a sticky, bright colored thingy I can put on my dash to set my phone on?"
"Well, lets look here in the automotive dept."
"They said they found it at your store."
"I haven't seen it before, you might try in our electronics department."
"Why would I find it in electronics?" (looking at me like I have four eyes)
"Well, because we carry our cell phone accessories in that area."
"Hmp." (They walk away)

Conversation #3:...conversation #2 customer returns....
"Do you have toy box?" Stated in, again, a heavy Indian accent.
"Do you want a plastic or wood box?"
"Wood."
"No, I'm sorry we don't carry that."
"What about plastic?"
"Well, we have indoor/outdoor deck boxes that will be the closest that you'd come to finding what you are looking for."
"Do they have cartoons on them?"
"Um, no." (Really?!?)...walks away looking at me like I'm again...dumber than dumb because I don't carry what she is looking for.

Conversation #4:
"Do you need help tonight?"
"No."
2 minutes pass..."As a matter of fact...I'm looking for these items to make a recipe for my family reunion."
"Ma'am, we sell 4lb bags of sugar...not 5lb. We sell 1lb sticks of butter, so you'll need three to make 3 lbs. We sell Velvetta cheese, but only in 2lb boxes so you'll need to buy two to get enough for your recipe."
"Do you know anywhere else that sells 5lb bags of sugar, 3lb packs of butter, and 3lb boxes of cheese?"
"Um...no." (Did she really think that the store would carry packaging in the exact increments that her recipe called for???)

Conversation #5:
"Do you have have Swimmies?"
"Like the baby swim diapers?"
"No...the blow up rubber things you put on kids arms."
"Yes...this aisle here."
(Really...Swimmies...is that the official term?)

Long night, missed sales. Back at it again tomorrow.

Vacation Does Us Good

This is the crowd that ventured to Myrtle Beach, SC last week. We enjoyed going back and forth with the boys to the pool and then to the beach....to the pool and then to the beach. JMS loved digging in the sand; the boy was definitely not afraid to put sand ...oh, anywhere! And as for the pool...he was jumping off the side into the deep end, with Drew's goggles on his face...by day 2! He is a boy...a true boy...full intent on scaring his momma to death!

For our trip to the Children's Museum...Drew dressed up and "cooked" pizzas while he assigned JMS to be the delivery boy. JMS then delivered pizzas to Pop! Check out the number of pizzas Pop ordered...boy, he was hungry. I thought the behind the scenes was classic as they cleaned the kitchen once they'd delivered all of the pizzas.

They also had a giant bubble maker that you could stand inside. Check out JMS's grin! He held really still and his Dada was able to make these bubbles that only popped because they got too big.
Initially JMS was a little scared of the water, it didn't take him long to warm up. By the last day he was dragging us to go and hop over the waves as they crashed into the beach.
This is Baby Josh...definitely a future surfer dude. :)
The boys...Drew (5), JMS (2.5), Josh (7 mo.)
JMS and me...I'm laughing b/c a wave just rolled into my butt. I'm wearing my bathing suit underneath, but that water sure was cold.
You can see the ocean behind us. This was taken on the balcony from our rented condo. I'd say we've still got it. :) We had dinner this night at a place on the Little River called Captain Jules. I had my biennial (nice vocabulary, eh?) serving of crab legs, and Mack ordered an entire Key Lime Pie...the real stuff, which as a matter of fact, is not green.
In this picture, Mack promised JMS that if he kissed me he could have ice cream. Check out the form. It was a really text book kiss. :) See the hands on the face and the bent knees. He is so funny.

My two men...
And...this little guy was in our backyard when we returned. SHELLY--- I have a bunny rabbit too!!!

JMS loves to swim

So...we are enjoying some time in S.C. visiting family enroute to the beach. JMS enjoyed his first, real "life-size" pool experience yesterday. I didn't take pictures because I too was in the pool...to escape the sunny, high 90s weather. (NO COMPLAINTS HERE) He loved it and cried when we tried to leave. He tried the floaty that you sit in...water guns...and water wings....the floaty was the most useful tool for him to propel himself after his dada with the squirt gun.

More updates and photos the next time I'm near a computer. :)

JMS the "big big boy"

So...ask my son what his name is and he'll say "big big boy." We are working on getting him to actually say his name. No such luck.

However, this self declared title does apply because last night we moved a twin mattress into his bedroom...and he actually slept the whole night in it!!! Of course, paranoid mom had his stuffed animals piled up next to it...but he didn't even need them. So he is my "big big boy."

Mmm dinner tonight was good.

Sausage with Peppers and Pasta

10 minute prep
30 minutes to cook

Original recipe served 6, but I changed it to feed 2 with one leftover portion. :) That should work for most of my audience.

1 Italian Sausage (about 2/5th lb.) cut into slices...I got mine from the Kroger meat counter.
2 cups pasta (I used rotini, the original recipe called for rigatoni)
1/2 red pepper, coarsely chopped
1/2 green pepper, coarsely chopped (I used more red than green...tailor it to what you prefer)
1/2 yellow pepper, coarsely chopped
1/2 can (14.5 oz) Italian style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend (mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone etc.)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Cook pasta as directed. Meanwhile, cook sausage in large skillet on medium heat. Add peppers...cook until sausage is done and peppers are tender. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes until heated through, stir occasionally.

Drain pasta and add to the sausage mixture. Add shredded cheese blend. Serve and top with Parmesan.

I'd share pictures but it was all gone when I thought to do this. I served it with garlic bread and a garden salad.

Also...here is the dinner menu for the next 6 days in our house, maybe it will give each of you an idea for your menu's:

1. vegetable beef soup and thick bread
2. lasagna, garlic bread and salad
3. BBQ ribs, coleslaw, mac and cheese
4. baked salmon, couscous, green beans
5. Boboli pizza, steamed broccoli and cheese
6. BBQ meatball sandwich with Vermont sharp cheese, red potatoes in dill sauce and Lima beans

Grocery Shopping Made a Little Easier

http://www.mygrocerychecklist.com/

Who else cannot stand the responsibility of going to the grocery store? Okay, I didn't like it before having JMS, and I like it even less now that I've got an extra 30 pounds to push in the cart.

The irony in this is that I love to cook. Why can't I have the endlessly supplied refrigerator like Rachel Ray? Wouldn't that be nice to always have the freshest ingredients that you need for your latest experiment?

Also, I try my best to use coupons. Haha...but my honesty always foils this plan. Why do they put expiration dates on coupons? I don't get this...the coupon always expires the week before I think I need the item(s).

So, to help my lazy friends...the website above allows you to click what you might need to get at the grocery store...offers reminders of what you might need that you forgot about....and then formats a clean, easy to read list you print off on your computer. You don't even need to be a member. Scroll to the bottom and just make your list. Enjoy.

Few updates...

On Saturday I went to a HS Graduation Party for Ellen (blond below). Can you believe I used to babysit for these three...Ian (16), Beth (almost 21) and Ellen (18). It didn't make me feel old; I just couldn't believe how quickly things change. JMS had a blast playing in their sandbox while the rest of us enjoyed grilled chicken, seven layer salads, cake, and green and yellow m&ms (school colors).
This is how mom looks after a week on vacation in Michigan. I'd say it did her well.
And, I finished my most recent crochet project...another toddler poncho for Harper (Shelly and Doug's little girl). Maybe she'll post the lil' model on her website. :) Now I am making JMS a blanket. I am following a "log cabin" pattern, so it will look like concentric rectangles. Pictures will be posted when I'm finished.