A chapter finally closes.

Today we finally finished moving out of the last place we lived. It was a bitter sweet end to a particular chapter in our lives. Finally done and finally free of drama, resentment, bitterness, and worry. We can now relax knowing that our things wont end up in someone's thrift store. When we moved from the house we were renting from my MIL, we had just had little man. He was only a few weeks old, if that. Moving with him was difficult, and we couldn't afford a moving van. We relied on family, their trucks, and their schedules. Now over the next couple of months we got plenty moved. Boxes here and boxes there, we go to mow the lawn as a good family would and get more. Then drama, and so we avoided the place. We also got busy with the baby and no help. Finally, though, we got the little that was left today.

It was great, all the stuff remaining was heavy stuff 2 desks,a curio, and holiday decor. Well, the majority was holiday. It took only two trips but we got the stuff we wanted that was left and it felt good to be done. I feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Not just my shoulders but hubby's as well. Before we all left with our final load,he went inside the old house he grew up in and took a video. One last tribute and remembrance of the house his dad built.

When we got home, ah home, we unloaded the boxes of my Christmas collections and I got to work cleaning off my Halloween stuff. I am ready to get started on decorating this house, the one we OWN. Hubby put things away,and the little man slept. We felt good and tired, but it couldn't have been a better day.

Oh yes!!!Cadbury Scream egg!!

It is out! I am happy!  The Cadbury Scream Eggs are out! Delicious milk chocolate shell keeps the tasty cream filling inside. It waits for you to bit into it causing an explosion of the filling. But it is so worth it! I could eat my weight in these chocolatey gooey snacks. Seriously, I could. Cause yummy. Who said I had to wait for Easter?  Um not Cadbury,  they said I need them. 

Fall fun: bat chandelier

I love fall fun and Halloween. I love making crafts for every holiday.  What got me in the mood was watching a Martha Stewart DVD. I looked at my dining room chandelier and thought "it needs bats." And bats it will have.I used my Cricut cutter and the October 31st  cartridge. If you don't have that it is ok, you can hand cut the bats. I also did this with my 6 month old on my lap. Yes, it can be done and we had fun!!

What you will need is:

Black cardstock

Red Ribbon, black, or clear string

Zots or staples

Scissors

You want to cut out several different sizes to hang around the chandelier. For Cricut I used sizes 4,3 1/2,3, 2, and 1 1/2

Cut a ribbon 10-11 inches long. for each bat. 

Place a zot on the back of the bat, and place the ribbon on top of the bat.

You should cut the ribbon at angles to fit on the bat, place the ribbon on the zots.

Cricut does make it easy to do, but like I said you don't have to have one

I free handed a bat, using extra paper and scissors

Fold the paper in half and start to cut out a bat like shape.

When you open the bat it will look like this.

To make the center, make a larger bat and then attach a ribbon to the bottom. then zot a baby bat on the string, using a zot or staple. To hang from the chandelier I used the free handed bat and poked a hole. I strung it on a ribbon connecting the one side to the batty string . Then I attached a second ribbon to the top bat I free handed and tired it to the chandelier.
What you see is the end result at the top. I wanna add spiders to it. But doing this with my baby bear it would be hard to do.

Playtex nursers, fantastic stuff.

If anyone told you that a bottle is a bottle and they are all the same, they are wrong! Playtex nursers are fantastic as are the Ventair bottles. I fell in love with these darling bottles right when my little baby bear was born. They held breast milk pretty well, I mean I purchased them thinking that was what they were for I didn't know. FTM HERE! My hubby and I stood in the bottle aisle for a horribly long time try to decide which one to get. I had gotten a Ventair bottle already, but I thought it was just for formula. Again, FTM people. So,I grabbed the nursers; a,because it said nursers and b,because I remember someone with a bottle that had a baggie in it when I was a child. I grabbed it, a 4oz and the 8oz.

They were  and are great to use and I already figured I grabbed the best, I mean on the box it said great for reducing gas and good for babies with colic. Little man had the gas, not the colic no matter what my mil(mother in law) declared. He had regular baby gas! Anyway, the box stated that it would help with that and when has a box label been wrong. Right Cambells?
Hahahah.
He still had gas.
I was not using the bottle right. Oh my God, how can you use these bottles wrong. Well, my sister showed me. You have to squeeze the air out. Less air means less gas. Duh, mama bear!
And a great discovery 4 months after I started using them, the lids. The lids connect to the bottom of the bottle! Oh wow!! These bottles can be expensive, but you can get coupons for the liners. You can get coupons for the bottles  too. Ladies of Georgia and Florida, sign up for baby club at Publix. Coupons and free stuff. There are coupons for 3 dollars of Playtex bottles!

Side note on coupons, I had Starbucks kcup coupons, I could have used those at Bed Bath and Beyond. Crap.

Dinner tonight, sundried tomato couscous with feta

Tonight's dinner is a delectable couscous dish. It has sundried tomatoes, feta, couscous,  and for some heat red hot pepper flakes.
Making this dish made me realize there are a lot of people scared of couscous.  They are afraid to use it and don't know how to cook with it. Many individuals think it is a grain, it is not it is a mini pasta.
This dish is so simple and easy to make. It for my family is a comfort food.
Ingredients:
Sundried tomatoes from a jar.
3 cloves of garlic
1/8 tsp of red hot pepper flakes
2/3 cup of couscous
1 cup of chicken stock
2 tablespoons of olive oil. I used the oil from the tomatoes.
Salt
lemon jui ce 1-2 tsp
Pinot grigio 1/4 cup

I like to prep first. So I used half a jar of sundried tomatoes.  And cut them up. Then I minced the 3 garlic cloves. And set it aside.
I got out a small pot and added the chicken stock and oil. Added a pinch of salt and brought to a boil. When it is boiling stir in couscous and cover. Remove it from heat. It has to stand for 7 mins.
Then in a small sauce pot. Add some of the oil from the tomatoes.  On med high heat cook the tomatoes and pepper flakes. Until heated through and then add the garlic. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of lemon and then add the wine.Reduce heat amd bring to a simmer. You want it to be reduced. Now if you had them you could add Kalamata olives.
Take the couscous and stir it really quick. After that add the tomato sauce and stir in the feta cheese. Serve.
This makes dinner or lunch for two. This dish is good cold too.

RIP Keurig, I miss you.

We laughed, we fought, we shared amazing coffee; but alas my poor Keurig coffee maker died. We had a good run, 2 years of fun, and lots of Starbucks Blonde Roast. I miss it. I miss the ease of freshly brewed coffee. No measuring, no waiting, and no mess. I want it back. But, I have to wait. I have to wait until I can afford a new one. Yup. Bummer. I am not the only one suffering, my dear hubby has been without his Jetfuel K-cups for almost a month.

It died like this; First it wouldn't push water through the cups. So, I cleaned the needles and descaled it. By the way, my descale light never came on. I had thought I cured it, nope. That is when all the lights lit up and started blinking like Christmas lights. I unplugged it and the plugged it in, nothing. after an hour it worked and I could get some glorious caffeine into my system. The machine was OK for two weeks, then BOOM. It wouldn't take water from the reservoir. And then the lights went out. Oh no. What do I do? I need my coffee. I need the precious.

That is when I remembered my French press. Oh, Ikea French press how I love thee! I busted that thing out and proceeded to make the weakest coffee ever! In the history of ever! Great. I forgot how to measure coffee, two scoops? No. Three? No. What in Hera's name do I use? I finally a week ago figured it out. Go me!
French presses make great coffee, but you have to know coffee chemistry to use it. Like how many scoops to water. Oie'. I miss my Keurig, because yes I am lazy. And with baby bear, mama bear has no time to wait and taker her sweet time. I miss it so much, and freaking A, the warranty was out! However, Keurig gave me a discount off my next machine when I am ready.  50% off actually.

Yes, soon the precious will be back in my life. It will be mine;oh yes, it will be mine.

Fall fun ; pumpkin spice snack

I had an immense craving for sweets this morning.  The cool weather this morning made me want pumpkin spice lattes, pie, and soup.
I went to the store for formula and came home with cereal, milk, cake, and pumpkin spice jet puff marshmallows.

I thought, what would be an awesome fall inspired snack? Rice crispy treats! No rice crispies. Craptastic.
But I do have rice chex.
Here is my recipe for pumpkin spice rice chex grabbies. The aren't a bar, they are more of something you break pieces off. Which is why I call them grabbies.
Pumpkin spice grabbies.
Ingredients:
1 bag pumpkin spice Jet Puff Marshmallows
3 tablespoons of butter the salted kind.
2 cups or more of rice chex.

In a large pot over medium high heat, melt the butter. When melted add the bag of marshmallows and turn down the heat. Stir until marshmallows are melted. Then take off heat and add rice chex. Stir until all the marshmallow is on the chex.
After all that, pour into a baking dish and let it set up. It will set up within 5-10mins. 
Now, break pieces off and enjoy!

Crying at nap time, let the fun begin.

I'm trying to get stuff done today, baby boy needs a nap, and I can not hold him while he is sleeping. We have a morning routine, we dance together. I get my exercise and he get to be bounced around. We have fun and he is getting too comfy and ends up sleeping on me. That is a habit I am trying to break. I have tried sleep training early on and he didn't do it very well. Now here I am with a screaming baby who is so tired and needs to learn to comfort himself. Pediatrician said he could cry a little. I go and check on him, let him know it's ok. But, he throws tantrums that put 2 year olds to shame. I am talking throwing himself and going in circles. He is an epic fitter. My sweet baby bear.
I know his reasons for being really bad today. Normally after me going in his room once or twice and giving kissies and hugs, he settles down and zzzzz. He got his shots Wens. Since then I have had one clingy and not so happy little man. He got part one of the flu vaccine. Yes, I believe in vaccinating my kid. My little man is a bit under the weather and he was up and down last night. So, I expected a crabby baby today. How am I doing it? Well, lots of patience. He is my little man, my baby bear. I love this little kid with all my heart. That is how I do it. Sure there are times I wonder if there is a record for loudest fit by a 6 month old. Then I snap out of that, and go back to snuggling that little meanie monster.

I am quite curious how many mom's out there do the whole cry it out thing. I can't. I know he is sometimes testing me with his epic fits,no tears. But the rest he really does need something. So, mom's chime in and what do you think about crying it out, how long do you let them cry when it is nap time?

Oatmeal for lunch and Xmas music....my life.

It is lunchtime and instead of having a sammich(no jelly or meats) or a tasty soup(out) I am having the cold weather breakfast of champions. Oatmeal. Oatmeal with a pad of butter and brown sugar, no milk. Sounds yummy right? It is, but not what I was hoping for.

I am right now sitting in my office listening to Xmas music while my Little Man sleeps away. Yesterday he got his 6 month series of shots at his 6 month check up. Not fun and addition to those he got the flu shot. Something his mama here can not have, due to allergies. Yay. He has the battle wounds to show for it and the fever to prove it. He is such a poor grouchy child. He just wants his mama, or grammy, but I can't hold this booger all day long. While trying to clean carpets he was ok, as long as he was not in the jail(packnplay).
But, then that didn't last. So into the office we went and the Xmas music went on. He calmed right down after our morning dance around the office. I made the mistake of turning it off and all hell broke loose. Lesson learned. DO NOT TURN OFF LITTLE MAN'S MUSIC! Mama got the message now.
Wont happen again Little Man, mama promises.

So, the eBay store is going well. I just listed some great stuff. Like a diaper bag gift set, I never used the bag. It comes with a blankie, huggies,J&J stuff, onesies, bottles and a surprise. I also listed a Dooney and Bourke bag and Givenchy Sunglasses. Unfortunately, I lost their certificates of Authenticity. Craptastic. I have looked everywhere for those darn things. But, the store is doing great and I can not wait to start the next chapter of the store. Once that is up and running more, I will blog more about it on my Gofashiondeals blog.

You know, I say loosing my job may at the moment be awful and seem like the worse thing that could happen, but my friends and family say it may have been the best thing for me and the best thing to happen right now! You know, if I hadn't lost it I would still be stuck in misery. I would still be missing my son every moment of the day and my PPD would still be horrendous. But, loosing that job has lit a fire under my ass to get up and do something! And you know what? I did! I started my store. I am my own boss, my own worse critic, I have to use my brain, and I get to learn new things. I am excited. When one door closes another opens.
Now, off to enjoy my now cold oatmeal and cold coffee. When will I ever get hot stuff?!

It is nap time, you know what that means?

Ah HA! My little man is asleep! Normally I would be scurrying around the house trying to get crap done. But today, I am working on my eBay store and working here in my office. The blogs need some work. Not structurally but writing wise. I should be reading my book The October Horse, but he would sense that I was reading and wake up. No, I will read before bed. Just like I would not turn off Pandora Christmas music, he would wake up;we don't need a grouch. I got some chores done today, I feel accomplished. I even made Marsala for my mother for lunch! TAKE THAT! Now, on to working on these blogs of mine.

I have a fun little app on my phone for tarot reading. I actually have 3 decks, but they are more of a decor thing. People are so scared of Tarot, but why? They are no more scary than reading your horoscope in Cosmo. In Victorian times women would read each other's fortunes with tea leaves and with playing cards, while the men were off having brandy in another room.So why such fright? Hollywood. Why am I bringing this up? Well, I was reading Cosmo and with all my awesome fortune lately I would check the cards. So, this morning this is what I got:

Ten of cups

This card was basically saying Got to be grateful for the love and happiness in your life. Makes me think, I have been so mopey lately.Also, focusing too much energy on what I feel is what others have and I don't. Like what great things they have and how happy. The ten of cups means stop whining about the "don't haves" and focus every ounce of energy on the "do haves".

This isn't necessarily a bad card to get,especially if you are feeling sorry for yourself and being envious of others for what they are getting,got,and keep getting. And it makes a lot of sense to how I have been feeling. I would like to see Cosmo's horoscopes do that. They are never right for me. But, then it is never meant to be serious. 

Final note if you are wondering what deck that is, it is the Rider Wate Deck.

Broke the dinner doldrums

20 minute Chicken Marsala.Yummy!

Have you ever stood in front of the fridge; door wide open and staring at the abyss within. From the fridge  you wander to the pantry and begin the stare down with the pasta and beans.
You haven't picked anything out and have thus entered the dinner doldrums.
I have been in the dinner doldrums for quite some times and fellow bloggers said check out Pinterest. Which I do, but rarely do I use the recipes.
Tonight I broke the cycle and made chicken Marsala. Holy Hera, it was amazing! Did I get it from Pinterest?
My mother and I got a Martha Stewart DVD from our local library and watched her make quick cook chicken Marsala. I remembered the recipe and then made it for my hubby and me.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of flour
Salt
Pepper
1 garlic clove
2 cups of Marsala wine. I used Smithfield. It can be found where the desert wines are. 

 3 table spoons of lemon juice.
4 table spoons of butter unsalted or salted.
2-4 chicken breasts boneless
Parsley for garnish
Olive oil 2 table spoons.
1 package of white mushrooms.

Step 1.
Butterfly the chicken in thick breasts. In a shallow dish mix flour, salt, and pepper. Then dredge the chicken in flour. Add oil to a hot pan and cook chicken for 3 mins on each side or chicken is golden brown. While the chicken cooks I chopped mushrooms and minced the garlic. Place the chicken aside or if needs to cook more put into oven.

Step 2.
Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to the pan you cooked the chicken in. Then add the mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes. The liquid should be reduced. Remove from heat and add the Marsala wine. Then put back on the heat and stir, getting those brown bits mixed in. It should be like deglazing the pan. When it is simmering again, add the last 2 tablespoons of butter, garlic, and the lemon juice. Bring back up to a simmer. It should cook for 2-3 minutes. I did longer and the sauce thickened a bit more. It is a runny sauce. 

Step 3.

Take chicken and place on a serving platter, pour the Marsala over the chicken and top with parsley.  I served it with Idaho instant potatoes. Gasp! I know it was not fresh, but it was as good as it could get. I did not have the time. So, I doctored the classic buttery potatoes with parsley and extra butter. Sandra Lee would be proud of that. Serve HOT!

Making this dish made me come out of that dinner dump and back into the world of what could be. Who said you have to go to a swanky restaurant to get a good dinner like this? For 4 servings the total cost of this dinner was $20. At a restaurant it is what, $12-25 per person? Wow,big difference. This meal took 20 minutes to make and well worth it. So easy to do, I love it. Tomorrow? Well, dinner will be stuffed peppers! Yes, I will post that. 

App I couldn't live without.

When my son was born it sometimes became a blur on when I fed baby and how many diapers he had. I tried the whole write it down method. But in this techy world I found the iBaby app. Free on Google play. It is an app that can record feedings,  how much, which breast, bowel movement of baby, growth and development. There is even an alarm for reminders. What a help it was when my son was a breast feeding newborn.  It took a lot of weight off my shoulders. And it was fun to use!
I would say if you want a record keeper this is the app to get. This is a top app pick for new moms or been there done that mamas. 

Sleepless in Florida

It was a dark and stormy night last night. Perfect for sleeping right? Well in most cases yes, in mine ha um....no. It wasn't because of little man, although he did wake up at 3am. I forgot his cereal before bed. Oops. Mom of the year here. I haven't been able to sleep because of worry and stress. Money and lack of it is my main issue. I worry about everything, that is not abnormal for me. And my post partum depression isn't making it better, infact kind of down blog posts I feel are a result of it. But, they say you got to talk about your problems to feel better,right?  I have my eBay store, which I am going to name after my fashion blog Gofashiondeals. It is helping me a lot, the only thing that is rough about this is my printer broke and we are a one car family. I rely on my husband to drop off at the post office. Not to mention eBay doesn't make funds available until you get everything shipped, have 25 sales, and OR $250 in sales. Almost there! And that makes me feel really good!

One day I hope we can get two cars, one day I hope we can go on vacation, one day I hope we can finally get rid of this ugly hand-me-down couch. It's over 20years old. It sucks seeing everyone else have and achieve so much and we keep getting kicked down. I try to be positive, but I am not sure how long it will last. I already feel my positive outlook on this fading.Like this is my chance of starting my own business or getting my blogs better.And slowly that can do attitude is changing.I thought there is light at the end of the tunnel, now all I can think of is how far away the light at the end is.

Honey I burnt the lasagna....again.

image via allrecipes

For a girl who can make a mean stuffed manicotti, why can't I make lasagna? I follow recipes to the T and still it comes out burnt and nasty. I can make baklava from scratch, but I can't do this? What is wrong with me? Are my husband and son doomed to only ever have lasagna at my parent's or inlaw's homes? I would love to be able to say "Hey, I made delicious lasagna!" in stead of the usual profanity that comes from my poor kitchen.

As far as things go, I follow recipes. Set my oven at the temps they say to. I set a timer. And yet out comes this perfect on top and weird rest of it; followed by a not so great mass on the bottom. What is the deal?! Is my kitchen sabotaging me? Is the universe sayiing NO lasagna for you!? I can not make this dinner dish to save the baby Jesus.
I feel so defeated, so let down. I get asked to make it and go to the store and cheat. I buy it premade. And it is no where nearly as good as homemade. Why does this one dish cause me such catastrophe?! Right now I don't even think Ina or Giada could save me in my lasagna woes.

Sahm, what to do next.

First of all HAPPY FRIDAY! TGIF!
I have been a SAHM(stay at home mom) for a couple of months now. At first not really by choice and now by choice. One thing I noticed about it now that the ahhh I get to stay home with my baby joy has worn off. I am still excited I get to be home with him every day, don't get me wrong. But that initial response of YAY, I get to be with him has changed into "Yay I get to be with little man everyday! But, Um money?" Yup I am in that doldrums, of financial crunch. We don't go out, not that we did anyways; that was like pulling teeth before when there were 2 checks coming in. We cut back, I coupon for groceries. OK, wait, I would coupon better if my printer worked. Many of the coupons I get in the news paper are not products I use. I wish I was a better couponer, like my sister. SHe can coupon her way into the store paying her money!

So, earning while being at home. My doctors did not want me working a normal job. The only reason they let me go back once was because of the fact I worked from home. But, with the amount of doctor appointments I had and no PTO(paid time off), oh and the fact they wouldn't approve any anyways; I had to go back on Medical leave. And then they let me go. I didn't qualify for FLMA nor unemployment. I have to think of something to do to earn something. Every little bit helps right? I was thinking of doing a Melaleuca business, but as I am discovering with that no one is interested in getting a membership or to make an appointment with me, and these are my friends. No one seems to understand, the people I know just don't want to be bothered. I got to keep strong and carry on. The products do work, I like them.

That is when I noticed my son's box of clothes that no longer fit. His Gymboree and The Children's Place clothes. They are just sitting there not doing anything. I also have tons of unopened Lemax Village Items. For Halloween and for Christmas, to eBay with them! I have opened my store. I am happy and excited! I don't feel like it is work and it doesn't stress me out. Already I feel a weight has been lifted. I have to be successful. I am trying hard to be.  So, we shall see and I will definitly blog about my eBay adventures!
Stay tuned!

Being a mom means.....

I find myself loosing track of things. Like if I emptied the trash or if I ate that morning.  I have little time. Who would have thought having a baby would have so much impact on time. Between him and trying to get my ebay store up and running, I am lucky to get a hot cup of  coffee. Tia and Tamara say it all "I'm lucky if I get a bath or take a shower. I'm lucky to have on clean underwear".

Yeah. You know you have no time when you're washing your hair in the bathroom sink and haven't shaved in days! I tried to read while my baby boy watched Peppa pig. Nope. He is trying to crawl and is rolling all over the living room. He is mobile. Oh my God he is mobile. His naps are sporadic and not long. Being a mom means chasing baby and juggling the world.

I spend my afternoon lost in a game of peek a boo and get da baby.  But that is ok, I wouldn't change it for the world.  There is so much love for this little man.
Even when he "fits".

I try to keep the house clean as I am ocd about it. I see how women just stop caring about themselves and focus on everyone else. They feel there is no time even to get dressed, let alone do hair and makeup.  I find my hair is up all the time. A. Because of mr grabbyhands and B. I just am too spastic to flat iron it.
I do put makeup on or try to at least. Obe day I had only one eye done. It's ok no one saw. I do get dressed right when I wake up so at least I got that done. But, I do totally get why so women just give up and why so many get defensive.  I would be defensive too.
So what am I going to do? I am going to try to make more time. Hence the word TRY.  Wish me luck!

The read- "The October Horse"

Good reading so far, that is if I get to read it.  When I sit down to read, I find myself unable to sit still. I start thinking about what I should be doing. Whether it is dishes, laundry, baby stuff, or paying attention to hubby. I just can't relax enough to read.  I call this "mommy brain" reading.

The book.

The book so far is beautifully written.  I feel like I am back in time. The way the author conveys Caesar I feel like these events or the way the events happened in the book could have taken place. It is a fun spin on Ancient history.  Although I haven't read a tremendous amount of "The October Horse" I am sure it will keep being a page turner.

Thank you Target for the humiliation!

Why is it when I want to return something or use coupons they block me or make it unbearable to do so. Target, who I used to love and have admiration for has forsaken me! It begins with coupons and ends with formula.

Let's start with me shopping, as I try to use coupons. There I was with my groceries,mom,son, and coupons. I had manufacters coupons and the store coupons. There policy is to accept both. They told me no, that they wouldn't accept both. Even with the coupon policy in front of them. Strike 1 for my town's Target!

Then flash forward to a Saturday or two ago. There I am needing to return formula.I had purchased it online by using the Target app. I couldn't use the formula anymore, my son was switched to specialty formula. I had the pack slip/reciept; it said that I could return using it via in store or back through the mail. Both required that slip for returns. I thought it was all good and I went to the store with the slip and remaining formula.

  I got to my local store and set down my items at customer service. I handed over my slip and I figured it was ok. Since I used paypal I figured I would get a gift card and that would have been fine. The boy needed diapers and wipes. The first associate was shocked when the system was giving her trouble returning the items. Not a big deal in my book, it happens. She called a manager, OK, fine still not unusual.

 That is until Lucifer the supervisor came. She takes the slip and starts to return my items. Nope, can not take them back. She takes my slip; which incidentally was the receipt as well. She says "We can not return these."
"WHAT?! I just got them 4 days ago!!"
She then said there are two items here and the items I had were different.
"Yeah, they are. One is ready to feed and the other is powder." By the way it said so on the slip,duh.
But, I was trying to be polite to the troll.
"Where is the Receipt??!!" the supervisor replies as she is shoving the slip in my face pointing to the items.
"In your hand, that is all I got."
"Do you have the card you used?" she rolls her eyes as I reply with a nope used paypal.
"Of course you did."
Alrighty, attitude much?!

So, she takes my license and continues to talk down to me. Pointing to the items I had and then to the slip questioning how I acquired them. She tells me she has to check the skus to make sure they even sell those products. I tell her I can walk you back to baby and show you! I felt degraded, I felt as if she was accusing me of stealing from the store. Like I just walked back to the baby aisle and took Similac Advance for sensitive tummies; just to come to customer service and return them for cash. Um, I HAVE A RECEIPT!
I felt like she was treating me like a thief and a lowlife. She stood at the register muttering about me. Um, what did I do wrong? I was well within Target's return policy. That was the only slip in the box. I got one box and that was all that was in there. Why make a scene with me? I was trying to be polite, I was being nice, even when I was a tad snarky it was in defense. "I got those from Target's app" I said quietly.
I was almost in tears when she got back to the register I was standing at. I was shaking. I was humiliated and people were staring.
She then walks back to me and with a horrible attitude says "OK, I guess we can take these back. But, you wont get cash.It will be a gift card,but not cash,OK."
"I never wanted cash, I am fine with a gift card. Thank you. A gift card was fine" I felt abused.
"Ok" she then handed my slip back, which she promptly showed me the items again! Pointing to them like a parent pointing to an F on a report card. She then handed my gift card and receipt for it telling me how much was on it.
I thanked her, even though I wanted to cry, I still thanked her. I left to go get little man diapers. I saw her again at a regular register. She stared at me then ignored me. What the heck happened to customer service?
Why did she get away with that? Why couldn't I ask for a higher up? I felt horrible and I hate going back to that Target. I get better customer service at the Walmart. What happened?! When did it become a hassle to be nice and help someone. Especially someone within return policy and with a receipt. I was not mean to her. I was polite, but she treated me like I stole the items. Yes, I robbed Target by purchasing formula with PayPal and then returning what my son couldn't use and it was NOT opened. Don't get me wrong I still love Target in general. I love the fashions there and the pharmacists. Plus their baby section is wonderful, I just wished their customer service was better.
What are your store horror stories?

Reading "The October Horse".

I am sitting here on my couch with my hubby after a long day of a teething little man with no sleep. I check my ebay account as I am selling Lemax,designer baby clothes he no longer fits in, and books. I decided I wanted to get lost in an ancient world of scandals,war,love, and ancient history.

I started to read my larger than life novel The October Horse by Colleen McCullough. Upon reading the first couple of sentences; I noticed it was as though I was reading aloud. But I wasn't, it was in my head. Caesar's words were being read in a voice of Rex Harrison( he played Caesar in Cleopatra). It made me wonder, how many others do the same thing. When you read, do you "hear" the words in your head. As though you were reading aloud. Do you change the character's voices into something other than your own voice? Or is it a 100% silent reading?

 I'm sure I am not the only one that has wondered about this. Scientists study this type of auditory learnning,thinking,and reading. Does reading like this alter the way we perceve the text. Is it an aquired trait or one you have after infancy? Think back, do we even remember? Interesting to know and while I go back to my read, I am sure I will continue to think about it.

Thoughts?