Is there anything worse then vacuuming?

Yes!!!!!! Vacuuming with an un-sucky vacuum is much, much worse! It is depressing!

So, is anyone out there in blogger land happy with their vacuum and willing to give me a recomendation? It would be greatly appreciated!!

(FYI: we mainly have carpet and the cheaper the better!)

A Good WalMart Experience

I hate to say it, but I shop WalMart. I do so under silent protest. I dislike crowds, their clothes buyer, mass chaos and waiting in long lines. I like the prices...it comes down to that. But anyways, I undertook the necessary evil and actually had a pleasant experience, so I thought it was blog worthy.

The parking lot wasn't crowded so I got a great spot. The lady I bought the shrimp from gave me a yummy sounding recipe for seafood enchiladas. I skipped into a line that was open. And the sweet older gentleman who checked me out is certainly someones favorite grandpa. I asked him if he could tell me the low price on milk in town for price matching, and he said regretfully that he couldn't. He then handed me the sale ads for all the grocery stores in town with a big smile and a twinkle in his eye. If you knew how much milk we drink each week, you would see why this was a big deal to me.

So my first grocery shopping experience of 2008 has been positive. Considering Kellie's experience over at La Vida Dulce with shoe shopping and my grocery experience, perhaps I should head to the mall tomorrow!!!

Wrapping Presents

I love choosing presents for the people I love. Come to think of it, I enjoy buying for those who just fall in the category of duty purchases. But anyways, I like buying presents. I strongly dislike wrapping said presents. I am good at buying fun wrapping paper with coordinating ribbons. I am terrible at folding and taping and tying. And what have I been doing for the last week? Yep...wrapping presents for work related people. The work party was last night and was alot of fun as usual, but I am glad it is over. ( Does that make any sense to you?)

I have 18 more presents to do up tonight. The ones tonight are for my party tomorrow night with my mom's group (and spouses) at my home with a brand new mystery game. I took a poll and we all decided that we would have horribly fattening appetizers and desserts and do anything but white elephant. So I took the time to research all the Christmas games I could find and settled on The Present Auction. I have never done it before and so I will let you know how it goes. To a certain degree, it is already a success because everyone is wondering what "the mystery game" is. And they are all terribly grateful they don't have to dig up a white elephant present to bring because I have done all the shopping for the presents as part of the game and they are just donating a couple dollars each.

So I am off to wrap presents and I will let you know how the mystery game goes.

Disapointment and Discovery

Have you ever really looked forward to something only to find that when you get there it isn't as good as you imagined?

Yep! The shoes just weren't that great in person. They were darling on the model in the catalog online. But not so special hanging on a plastic hanger (!) on the wall. And so, the price tag just wasn't worth it.

Have you ever been really disapointed about something only to discover that just around the corner something special was waiting for you?

Yep! Across the room was an adorable little red trench coat calling out to me! I tried it on without even looking at the price tag! And then I exercised my birthday prerogative of spending way too much on a trendy item just because I want to!

If you happen to see it at Anne Taylor Loft, picture me in it as I dash from picking the girls up, to soccer, to basketball, to the store, to coffee, to Bible study, etc. Because I am looking forward to wearing the coat out this Fall!!

Shoppin' for Shoes

I really, really like shoes!!

I have always been drawn to the click-clack of high heels on a hard floor. There is just something about open toe shoes that show off bright polish on toe nails. I appreciate the comfortable pleasure found in a good pair of tennies. I adore comfy, wooly slippers that cuddle my cold feet in the winter.

And I really, really like getting to purchase the little red ballet slippers that have caught my eye at Ann Taylor Loft!!

Thank you to my mom-in-law for helping me pick them out online!!

Shopaholics Beware

I am a recovering shopaholic! Flying on the plane today, I was struck anew at the incredible shopping possibilities to be found thousands of feet in the air. In one catalogue you can find anything from gaudy bathroom fixtures to feet massagers to 14 karat gold roses.

My favorite item today was the filtered water system for cats. Apparently, cats love fresh water. In fact, it is vital for their survival. For a small fortune, I can now insure kitty has the freshest water possible whenever kitty wants it.

For a brief moment, I am actually tempted. After all, I like filtered and fresh water myself. I even half way like my cat. And then it occurs to me, my cat lurks at night searching for rodents. When it finds a rodent, my cat slaps it around before killing it. My cat takes the deceased in its mouth and drops it on my front porch for all to see. If after all that, my cat still needs filtered water to survive, then kitty is up a creek.

Besides, there was a pretty awesome set of his and her ab loungers that caught my eye.