Why Do I Try Samples?

I guess this is a spin-off of my cheapness, but I LOVE beauty samples!  Shampoo sample--- Sold  Anti-aging lotion sample--- Sold  Conditioner sample--- Sold  You get the picture!  I sign up for samples that I have no intention of buying their full-size cousins.  I brought a roll of TP home from the fair!!  Hey, it was free and the Roto-Rooter guys were handing them out.  I hear you, I hear you--- So what?

Well as much as I love samples, most products don't love me!  I have naturally curly hair.  When the shampoo sample says all hair types it means all hair types except curly headed people!  My skin is SENSITIVE, it always has been.  As I near the big 4-0 it gets even stranger.  I have hormonal breakouts, dry patches, and I am trying to keep wrinkles at bay.  When the anti-aging lotion samples declares "perfect for all skins," it means all folks but the sensitive freaky skin people!  Does this keep me from trying the sample?  Hell no!  I try it and then I pay the consequence!  Dry brittle afro hair and a funky allergic face rash--- sexy.

Obviously, I am a slow learner.  

Everytime I see a Clarisonic I think that I need it--- Holy Hell Batman!  I would end up in Emergency if I used that!!!  An esthetician used it on  me during a facial and I had to ask her to stop...  

I still get samples; I might even make The Hubs sign up for Target beauty bags on Facebook--- I shun the Facebook because I have enough crazy drama in my life.  I try the samples that look the most benign and I pass the rest out to friends and classmates.  I get free stuff and I give gifts and I don't get rashes--- that often!

Because I am cheap

Yep, I am cheap. Not the bad kind of cheap where I ration TP or give you earrings that cause a rash--- the good kind of cheap. I want what I want, but I don't want to pay full price--- that kind of cheap.

Out of my entire family, two parents and eight kids, only two of use suffer from this affliction. Of course, we don't think that it is an affliction!:) We like to say that we are thrifty and we throw around the word budget a lot. At least my sister and I have each other to blather on and on to! Our families owe the other a debt of gratitude!

I love Greek yogurt because it is thick and I trick myself into thinking it is a dessert. What I don't like it paying out of the nose for it. It is yogurt! So, I decided to make my own. Take whatever yogurt you like, this happens to be lemon. Line a sieve with cheesecloth, I used a coffee filter. Cover with cling film and viola, the whey, like Little Miss Muffet, will separate from the solid leaving a thicker yogurt.

I also bought a 6 lb. bag of pretzels at Costco. Of course we need 6 lbs. of pretzels--- a teenager snacks here.

 

I wonder if a predilection for cheapness is covered in the DSM?

 

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Weekend

When you live in a house of all Dudes, you learn to go with the flow. Case in point, I don't worry that my Dudes behead, de-arm, and reassemble Lego people. They put the heads and arms in neat orderly piles! Don't you love Santa Yoda---

Resident Teenager had a swim meet on Saturday (he shaved 4 seconds off his time); he left at 7am and got home at about 5:30. Resident Teenager usually watches Resident Little Dude while The Hubs and I go out for breakfast. So, by default Resident Little Dude gets a breakfast out on swim meet Saturdays.

The Hubs and I frequent two local places, Buttercup Cafe and Food For Thought. Buttercup is organized, beautiful, and clean--- with a limited yet delicious menu. Food For Thought is well--- a college hang-out with huge portions. We chose Food For Thought.

Resident Little Dude challenges himself a la Man vs Food to eat his huge breakfast when he dines at Food For Thought. I can't remember him ordering anything other than cinnamon french toast. Note to self--- get him to expand his choices. Of course he ordered cinnamon french toast. The french toast is HUGE! It also comes with a side order of breakfast potatoes. He eats the entire entree!!! "In the battle of Cinnamon French Toast vs kid--- Kid WINS!" he says with added fist pump for emphasis.

We made it to Costco by 9:30am. Saturday at Costco sucks, but if I can manage to get there early I don't want to run people over--- which is a good thing. I must say, Costco was the most calm it has been in a month! Holiday let down!!

Target stop by 10:15--- also eerily calm. The lady in front of us hit the after Christmas aisle! Her cart was full, she had a 7.5 ft tree in a box and a toddler--- displaced from the cart! I had ant-aging cream and replacement gloves for Resident Little Dude. I am thrilling!

Next stop Good Food Store for fruit, veg, and possibly two bottles of wine....

Home again home again to unload and watch football and Dude TV.

The commercials on Dude TV are so bizarre: Forever Lazy (adult leisure suit mates with fleece jim-jams), erectile dysfunction medicine, and the latest in male catheters--- delicate on sensitive skin, yet the commercial never says penis... highly informative!

We are all still in detox/denial from the holiday break. This week starts a full school/work week. I have to go to the dentist--- and the airbag light came on in my car--- Ugghh! So, I soothe the Dudes with Sunday breakfast because that is what I do!

A veggie omelette soothes the soul.

 

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What I Learned This Week

Daytime TV sucks

People actually care about Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson's baby weight/baby, and Hugh Hefner's wedding,

Digital Dead Sea Scrolls

Knitting ROCKS

Meggings--- leggings for men--- WTF?

Spock's mom's name is Amanda--- I think I live in a parallel universe

Kosher kitchens require 2 of everything

Resolution Time

 

I give you exhibit 1 and 2. Yowza! Time for resolutions!

1. Clean desk. I guess I should include Resident Little Dude.
2. Organize notebooks. I haven't looked in my bag since my Physics final... 2nd week of December!
3. Get all calendars synched--- easier said than done.
4. Read books without the words pedagogy, Common Core, or curriculum in them!
5. Knit a special blanket for each one of my nieces.
6. ENJOY life.
7. Spend quality time as a family--- doesn't matter where or what.
8. Sew duvet ties on the new down comforters.
9. Cherish time with The Hubs, truly cherish.
10. Learn to like exercise--- okay this delves into the realm of miracles.
11. Deep clean, organize, and throw out.
12. Try new things.

 

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The care and feeding of Resident Teenager

4:40 AM... I say again 4:40 AM. That is our (mine and Resident Teenager) wake-up time on swim practice mornings. He scarfs down a half bowl of oatmeal, in his sleep, before we head to the pool. He swims until 7 AM and then The Hubs picks him up from the pool and drops him at high school. Of course, he is hungry at pick up. He is hungry all the time! What to do?

McMuffin knock-offs! Make ahead and freeze then defrost and reheat in the oven. Genius! My sister claims all glory for this because she found the recipe on Pinterest. She is delusional.... I make them--- I get the glory!!!!!

 

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The Reckoning

I just got back from taking Resident Little Dude down to the bus stop; it is a balmy 21 degrees.

Back to school today... not a pleasant morning at my house. Christmas break seemed short this year. I didn't realize until a few day into the holiday that the Dudes went back today.

Sleeping in until 7--- Gone! Star Trek marathons--- Gone! Hours long board games--- Gone! Snuggling with The Hubs--- Gone!

To make matters worse I am home alone... much like the holiday move but without the hijinks. Usually I take a winter class. Well, not this year as I am down to nothing to take. I have a methods block this spring and student teaching in the fall. So, I am off until January 28th! Holy Hell Batman---

I think the Dudes were starting to wear on each other---

Resident Little Dude (while moping around the house): Sigh sigh sigh

Me: What's wrong?

Resident Little Dude: He says that I can't play a game that I am playing.

Me: Ignore him and do what you want to do--- as long as your aren't destroying, operating, or fire is involved.

Resident Little Dude: Last time I disobeyed a direct order he used force.

So, maybe less Star Trek----

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