Friday, February 27, 2015

Week 36 - Still in the mix!

Oh hey, hi there! I thought maybe you were the competition stopping by to gloat or something. I may not have been totally prepared to win this contest, but it does seem that I was ready to compete, as I apparently wrote and sent a lot of letters. Up this week is one that will hopefully serve as a reminder to tuck my friend Clairol in the cart next time I am at the store.

Dear Clairol:

I do not necessarily make bad decisions, or maybe I do. Actually, I am confident that I am not good at making decisions as far as the process itself is concerned. What if I make a choice that mocks and saddens me for the rest of eternity, or at the very least, a few months? There are so many hair color choices available for a woman who finds herself on the losing end of the gray hair pulling battle. So many shades. So many, in fact, that I was left undecided as to what color my hair actually was to begin with.

I brought a friend to the store, convinced that she had superior decision-making skills. When she steered me towards the very dark hues, I tried to disagree since I did not think my hair was black, but she seemed very confident in her decision. I felt insecure arguing with her, or the stranger who we had also dragged into the madness. While those two women focused on the precise shade of too dark for me, I caught sight of the writing on the box that said "washes out in twenty-eight shampoos". I took great relief in the fact that I could certainly wash my hair fourteen times a day if things went poorly. I also saw the words "Natural" and "Instinct" on the label, so naturally I followed my instincts in choosing your product. 

A few years ago I left my hair color needs up to a professional in preparation for my sister's wedding. I am the older sister, and preferred to not just look like her old sister. Things went far more red than I might have imagined, and while the photos show a lovely woman who had been through hair and makeup, I am not sure who she is. I then spent over a year with a gradually enlarging beanie taking over my scalp until the time came when a shorter styled haircut left that color on the floor at the hairdresser's. With Clairol Natural Instincts in my hand, and for a very fair price, I bid good-bye to my graying temples and said hello to a new woman of mystery with very dark hair. I embraced the thought of a gentle, all over, fade before picking another shade.

The handy numbers and color names must be great for people without memory issues. I rip the tops off the boxes for safe keeping, in fact, they are so safe they cannot even find their way into my purse. I arrive in the hair color aisle forced to decide what I think I remember as my color of choice. I do not panic though, after simply quadruple checking that I have grabbed the box that says "washes out in twenty-eight shampoos". (Would you consider making that font larger?)

I am also pleased to say that the messes I have made with my wayward dye gloves and bobbling potion bottles have taken less than twenty-eight scrubbings to clean off the walls, vanity, sink, mirror, linoleum, feet and rugs. (Those last two items were connected.)

Sincerely,
Andrea

So did Clairol send a team of color experts knocking at my door? Well, not exactly. The only response I heard was when my first letter was "returned to sender". I quickly resent it out to a different address, but to no avail.

 No points for this letter, so I remain at 67 points. (Currently a two point race!)

Next week I will provide updates that came after some letters were posted…very suspenseful, I know! 

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The random is still frozen

When we last saw Foz, he was headed out searching for greener pastures…literally and figuratively. (I will save you the trouble of clicking back.)
February 12
He is certain that this tundra-like atmosphere is something we have created solely to torture him. Let's check on him as he continues his quest.
Today, progress sadly moving in the wrong direction
Of course it doesn't help that he is not tall enough to see outside of his frozen world to find the rest of the neighborhood is suffering the same fate. The dog behind us is a beautiful and huge Great Pyrenees. Foz is pretty sure she is mocking him for needing us to shovel this"shit pit", as my husband has recently dubbed it, while she majestically stomps down the powder in her path.

The good news is that I was able to run some errands today without wearing gloves. Yes, I am pleased to report that I could walk from my car into the grocery store with my bare hands. The windchill was also only bad enough for the schools to operate on a two-hour delay, as opposed to being closed. Small victories.

Now I was only slightly concerned to see this snow panther leaping from the side of my front door. 
Do you see it? I knew I could tame him with a shovel if I had to.

So what do I do here when I am not pontificating about the snow, spending quality time with Foz, wondering about whether or not to do the a-z challenge, or trying to write posts that have been knocking in my brain for over a year? Well, sometimes I stroll over to my paperwork pile...
 …and am instantly mortified, yet intrigued, by what I see. Please tell me the cabin fever is not going to get bad enough for me to start sculpting with sanitary napkins…however "awesome" it might be. This ad is begging for a letter!

Stacy Uncorked

Friday, February 20, 2015

Week 35 - STILL alive with Terrell's!

Here we are, on day eight of fun family time, shivering away our February winter break (that started early last Friday due to a snow cold day). We have resisted the temptation to hunker down under blankets on the couch, and have actually braved the elements...in search of snacks and/or entertainment (and by entertainment, I do not just mean driving in white out conditions or shoveling the driveway). Speaking of snacks, I opted to take Marianne's contest advice once again and wrote to a local company. There would be a teenage uprising if this house was not stocked with chips, so without further ado....

June 23, 2014

Dear Terrell’s Chipsters,

I was just standing at my kitchen counter, snacking on a handful of your ripple cut chips. Since most of the delightful chips were the size of my hand, I did not feel cheated by just taking a few. I was thinking to myself about how each crispy treat was more than a mouthful. Of course, I was having this thought while cramming each crunchy offering into my mouth, whole, of course. (There is an entirely different set of etiquette rules for counter snacking that go beyond the calories not counting.)

I could go on about the perfect thickness of the chips, the crunch and delicious potato flavor, but I really ought to make sure I closed the clip securely on that bag. I hope there isn’t another mishap like when the other bag from The Big Box was left open and the chips all fell into my mouth.

Cruuuuunch…mmmmm,
Andrea

Mother, blogger, snacker

Did they chip in to return some love? Well, no...but at least I know where to drown this dip's sorrows!
Current point total remains at 67 points!

Has anybody seen the competition?

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Randomish

Let's continue to visualize warmer weather. Look at these "waves" of snow on the back deck…lovely. This might have worked better if I had not opened the door to take the picture…brrrrr!
Go forth and find grass, Fozzie!
In addition to the snowfall accumulation, the clip somehow came off my five pound bag of rice, leading to a nice dusting.
Meh, that part of the snack shack needed to be tidied up anyway.

How about a Boston Cream Pie Donut martini? That was the kickoff for this year's Martini Walk (during the 20 degree heat wave). 
It was yummy, but kind of just made me want donuts. Now, the Bees Knees offering was gone before anyone could snap a picture. It was delicious! (Think lemonade and honey.)

Sometimes when you have really good luck with something on the first try, you should just quit. (I don't low why I am not a motivational speaker either.) I think that was the message learned after we hauled out a second waffle iron for more brownie making fun. 
Hmmm, perhaps a learning curve with a different iron? She switched after determining this one had too much debris to continue.
Oh my gosh! How did she completely forget how much batter to use on the original one? I just walked away as I hate to discourage her independence with my input…a decision I regretted when she was in despair over the clean up. At one point I just thought I might rather buy myself a new waffle iron that try to clean these two. We got it all taken care of though. So much nibbling, as these tasted better than the last kind (which we made with inferior batter due to the experimental nature of her business).

In a slightly related story, my cholesterol is back up a little bit. I am assuming this is because I have been so busy getting my protein from regular peanut m&m's, that I have forgotten my flavenoid and antioxidant intake from dark chocolate. Rest assured, I will get right on that.

Stacy Uncorked

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Superhero Sunday - Visualize

-3 with a windchill of -27? No problem. It just might take some imagination...and a sarong for a cape. (Thank you, Christa!)

The sun is shining. There is a beautiful island breeze. I have my sand shovel. The pool boy is at the edge of the property. I'm not even worried about having a bathing suit friendly body. 
I can almost taste that frozen daiquiri...wait, what is that?
My hair, my hair is frozen!!!!!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Week 34 - I still have more!

Sure the windchill here is currently -21 degrees, but I still have a lot of steam building for this contest! Marianne was super helpful as far as trying to give me pointers on how to secure swag like she had rolling in. "Try smaller or local companies". Why of course there were local companies I loved! Some of them we used daily, by the gallon even…

Dear Byrne Dairy,

Somehow this cold weather is making me think about a summer afternoon in 1989. I was driving back from Byrne Dairy in the car my grandparents had recently handed down to me.  You could barely tell if they had ever even let their feet touch the carpeting. I turned a corner and the red plastic tote containing the two glass bottles of milk my friend and I had just bought fell over. The two half gallons crashed together spilling milk all over the rug. Oh dear. No wet-vac or cleaning supplies at our disposal were going to erase that event.

I drove many miles the rest of that summer in a very smelly, sun-baked milk mobile. Never once did that negatively impact my feelings for Byrne Dairy skim milk in a glass bottle. So cold, so delicious. From then on though, I did nestle each bottle separately, a safe distance apart from each other.

Now that I have a husband and teenage children of my own, there are more opinions about milk to consider. Byrne Dairy is still a favorite. My husband has taken to treating his semi-lactose intolerant (more like lactose disagreeable) self to a bottle of Byrne Dairy low fat milk after his exercise regiments. He says that in addition to the delicious taste, yours is the only brand that does not give him terrible gas. We are all grateful!

Mmmmmm,
Andrea

Blogger @ andrea-maybeitsjustme.blogspot.com

Did they respond? Well I sent that letter last winter, so I guess it is time to give up hope. However, I not cry over spilt milk! 

Current point total remains at 67 points

Head over and remind the competition what's at stake. Hey, does anybody know what's at stake?

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

randum*

*yeah, I know, but I am running out of clever** titles for Tuesday posts
**yeah, I know, that wasn't very clever


February is just moving right along, isn't it? I suppose that works for me since I typically crash and burn for this month, just sort of hunker down and wait for it to pass. Of course sometimes the gloom of it all does flow over into March, but we'll rip up that calendar when we get to it. Let's check the photo files to see what distractions the past week held.

Oooh, fancy cloth gowns, where did the flats go?
Why to get flattened in mammoland! Look out girls!
 
Holy crap! I thought I was going to need a bigger shovel!
Apparently something tried to come visit Fozzie. Silly rabbits.
A nail-biter sudden death double overtime for my brother's team in the state Special Olympic field hockey game. And a win for the silver!
 "I cannot find whoever was looking for me, and I do not care. Let me back inside!"
While others just grabbed a seat and a snow day snack. (It did snow more and I did need a bigger shovel.)
Luckily, she came inside and made a better snack, and fought its threat to escape...
 Mmmm…brownie waffles, or waffle brownies...
The quality control on conversation hearts has hit an all time low this year with words barely hitting the hearts...but when they do hit the mark, they are super sexy!
Hope you've got your own speck of random keeping you warm and sane!

I bet Stacy has some good stuff over at her place!
Stacy Uncorked

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Superhero Sunday - Cold

Maybe I am coming down with a cold, or maybe I am just cold. Either way, my cape today consists of the blanket I have wrapped around myself. No paparazzi, as I am curled up on the couch with an incredible book, and while this may not seem terribly super, it is fantastic!

Friday, February 6, 2015

Week 33 - Maybe it's just me?

Hey! Has anybody seen the competition lately? She is probably off using all of her free products…or writing more letters…or simply got distracted by something shiny? I mean she wouldn't just wander off without telling me, right? I mean, I am sure she is totally still in this contest. No matter, I will just continue to sprint run jog walk stagger to the finish line. (Where on earth IS the finish line?)

Up this week, joining Old El Paso and Near East as the final company in our family's Taco Tuesday Trifecta…Ortega!
                                                
March 12, 2014

Dear Spicy Folks,

Our family is so pleased with your fine selection of taco seasoning mixes! We have currently decided that our favorite is a half and half mixture of Chipotle and the 40% less sodium. We get the bonus of a little heat mixed with the knowledge that we lowered our sodium intake a bit. I originally started buying your seasoning mixes when a friend pointed out that your brand was one of the few on the market that did not contain MSG. I like to know that I am stuffing my face with tacos because they are naturally delicious, not because they are enhanced by additives. Ole!

Your taco sauce is a staple here at our house as well, except on the rare occasions when we run out and nobody tells the grocery list. Those are sad taco nights, and the look on my family’s faces makes it almost hard for me to enjoy my own taco due to the guilt, but I manage.

Long live Taco Tuesday,
Andrea
Mother, blogger and taco eater


So how many packets of taco seasoning did they send me? As many as you can fit in a paper thin business envelope…which would be zero. However, they did read my letter though and respond, for one point, so I am happy.

CURRENT POINT TOTAL = 67
(at last report Marianne was at 69 points…sooooo close!)

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Random remedy?

Well, I tried restoring order to my universe my doing a little organizing, but the problems started when the mission took on some element of project status. I was looking for something. That sentence right there is the one that makes some of those nearest and dearest to me cringe. They all just sort of hold their breath until I locate that which has gone missing. Of course folks can't just turn purple and fall over, no matter how badly they want to do so to escape my frenzy. I was just going to put away the photos I had strewn about our guest room, then I started to think about the project that had caused the clutter (think son's graduation fast approaching), then I remembered stashing something away that would be a perfect addition to my project. I just realized that I am referring to this project in a sort of code...as if my son reads my blog. Seriously now? So I am working on some sort of scrapbook. (You figured that out? Nice effort Sherlock. I wasn't fooling anyone.) Back to the point of my story...wouldn't it be incredible if I had one?

I confidently grabbed the box I was certain I had crammed all of the old greeting cards in looking for those two piles of numbered birthday cards. Wouldn't one of those be fun to put on the page with a photo of the cake presentation from each year? (Just nod.) Well obviously those special piles weren't in with the rest of the cards that I decided to save because I had room to do so. I knew exactly where I had put them, and with a spring in my step, sauntered down the hall, grabbed that red plastic case...that was full of other crap memorabilia. Danger...danger! Where were those piles? Were they just merged with the other cards? Did I have enough to work with? Why the hell was I saving so many greeting cards?! Could I just go to the store and buy the years I was missing? Nobody had to know, and I have no doubt that anybody would know...except for me. I searched the same spots over and over figuring whatever gremlin had moved them was amused enough and had put things back. I threw away whatever cards were not going to help my cause, and crossed my fingers that the truck would come down the street before I flung myself on the pile and hauled it back inside. Small victory there.

I continued on to places where I usually stash a ton of junk important items I will totally need someday. I was slightly alarmed by what must have been some recent decluttering endeavors in that they were actually effective. I did not get that sense of satisfaction I usually have when another bag hits the garbage because I did not find what I was looking for. The whole house just feels heavy. At first I thought it desperately needed to be cleaned, but then found I had already done most of that. I think I have just been sitting here too long, as my daughter had a nasty head cold for a few days and now my son is on day two or three...who knows anymore! There was a snow day yesterday and it wasn't even much fun due to the coughing and concerns...oh and the frigid cold. Maybe switching to peanut butter m&m's the other day rocked my world too. I hit the usual jar a little bit ago just in case.

Do you ever just feel like you aren't doing what you are supposed to be doing, even when you have no idea what you are supposed to be doing? I see you nodding your head. I thought the peanut m&m's and a random post, because it is Tuesday after all, were a place to start.