When A Grocery List Gets Melancholy
Apr 30, 2013 What's Going On
I use an online grocery delivery service for about 75% of the food and supplies that come into my house. I’ve been using the same one for ten years now. When I shop, I shop from a list of everything I’ve ever bought. After ten years, the list has gotten quite big, and the other day I decided to pare it down to make reordering quicker.
I had no idea this simple to-do would be an emotional experience. I should have had tissues handy.
My eyes had gotten used to skipping over certain sections over the years. I knew instinctively that I didn’t need those things, but hadn’t really looked at them in a long time. Looking closer was like going back in time to other phases of my life, phases that are over.
Some, I’m glad are done. Diapers? Haven’t needed those for six years! Why are they still on the list? Gone. Same with wipies, although I admit, having those around was handy – I used them to clean up way more than babies’ butts. Baby snacks? Gone! The kids just go to the pantry and get the same food I eat now. No more special foods, thank goodness. So much easier.
But Johnson’s Head-To-Toe Wash? That one made me tear up (ironic, I know, since it’s no-more-tears). It’s been years since I’ve bathed my kids – they shower themselves. No more baths, no more toys. That’s basically my choice – when we visit my mom, she still indulges my daughter in long baths with toys and bubbles, and Fiona loves it. But giving my kids baths are something that I like much more as a memory – in reality I was always impatient to get out of the bathroom and get them to bed. Off of the list.
And then I got to the pet food. Sigh. The cats are both dead, and yet their food and treats are still on my list. I’d kept them on there at first because the moment we saw signs of mice, we were getting another cat. But It’s been more than a year, and we’re still a cat-free (and mouse-free!) household. I don’t want another cat, but I do miss Patty and Selma. They were part of our lives before our kids.
The cat litter though? No sadness about getting rid of that! Off of the list. (Although I’m pretty sure the litter box is still in the basement. I will ask my husband AGAIN to get rid of it! Gross.)
Then the list got scary: Fat-free cheese? That was from the very brief period when I thought that fat-free was the way to go. When did that period end? When I discovered that fat-free mozzarella doesn’t actually melt. Ick. Bring on the good stuff.
But vegan cheese? That one was a puzzler. I don’t do vegan, at least not on purpose (the vegan sandwich at Fresh & Co. happens to be my favorite, with avocado, tomato, sprouts, red onion, pine nuts, and hummus). But vegan cheese? I feel about that the way bacon lovers feel when I call Morningstar strips “veggie bacon.” The word cheese just doesn’t belong when there’s no dairy involved.
Ah yes, a vegan friend-of-a-friend came over for lunch years ago and I made him food. I’m good like that. But that stuff isn’t coming into my house again unless he does. Off the list.
Yams? I hate yams. But know who loves them? My little niece Chloe, who’ll be here soon for another visit, and I will supply her with all the yams she can eat. Stays on the list!
I’m feeling more up-to-date and a little lighter. And while I’m a little melancholy for some things I’ll never have again (babies!), I’m at a really great place in my life, and now my shopping list reflects that.
My closet should really be next in line for this treatment, but I’m still waiting for peasant skirts to come back, so I think I’ll put that task off for now.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 0. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Introducing LOC–All Of Your Loyalty Cards In one Place
Dec 17, 2012 Paid/Sponsored Post
[The following post was commissioned by LOC.]
I’m one of those people with a giant key ring. It has the keys on it for every door I could ever need to get into, a safety whistle, and the broken end of a flashlight that used to be on there. It also has four loyalty cards – those cards that give me sale prices and extra discounts at grocery stores and drug stores. It’s so big that I rarely use it – it’s only with me if I’m driving, because it also has my car keys on it. If I’m walking or biking, I take just my house key. So, most of the time, I don’t have those four loyalty cards when I need them.
My wallet is also big, and contains many of my full-sized loyalty cards. It’s so big, I also rarely have it with me. I usually just shove some money and a credit card in my pocket. I have three different Subway loyalty cards, and that’s just because I can get another one without giving up any information. At Staples, at least, I can give them my phone number and they can look up my card, but at most stores that’s not the case, and I either have to use the store cards or a card from someone else in line. I don’t want to add up how many special prices and points I’ve missed out on over the years.
So, this is where the LOC card could save me from missing out. This card would take my existing loyalty cards for participating stores and put them all one one easy-to-carry account: there’s a key fob, a full-sized card, and a mobile app! Between those three, even someone as scattered as me could have one with me at all times. The card is, of course, free, and you can even manage all of your points and other loyalty benefits on their site.
Plus, when you sign up for a loyalty program at a participating store, you don’t have to hold up the line while filling out a form or giving the cashier information – you would just swipe your existing LOC card and be enrolled in that store’s program!
Want to make sure that your favorite stores participate in LOC? Go to the LOC website and suggest a merchant! Other ways to get to know LOC? Follow them on twitter, “like” them on facebook, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
To help promote the launch, LOC is giving away $50 Visa gift cards to three winners. It’s really easy to enter: just visit LOC’s facebook page and upload a picture of your own pile of loyalty cards.
You can learn more about the LOC card in this video, as explained by zombie robot shoppers:
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 13. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Tags: Shopping
Buy Luxury Bedding Without Leaving Your Own Bed
Dec 5, 2012 Paid/Sponsored Post
[The following post was commissioned by Frette.]
If there’s one thing I thought I knew everything about, it’s online shopping. If I can buy it without leaving my house, I’m a very happy person. But there’s a whole level of luxury online shopping out there that I didn’t know existed. I always assumed that when someone like Oprah or the king of a small oil-producing country needed luxury linens, they sent a minion to a luxury linen store. But they wouldn’t have to. Take a look at what Frette.com has to offer!
Founded over 150 years ago in France as a manufacturer of home linens, Frette evolved into the go-to company for luxury hotels and cruise ships (it was Frette table linen in the banquet rooms of the Titanic). If I wanted to actually get dressed and leave my house, I could go to an actual Frette location on Madison Avenue, and they also sell their products from ABC Carpet & Home, my absolute favorite furniture store, and they have many other locations around the world. But you know my shopping motto: why put on pants if you don’t have to?
Take a look around the site – there are so many different styles to choose from, and I’ve fallen in love with several of them. I mean, how gorgeous is their Seventies collection? I would like to transport this entire bed into my room, exactly as it is. And I don’t think my husband would object either – it’s beautiful, while still having a bit of a man’s touch.
The Ava Red collection is another of my faves – it’s striking!
There are sections of the site that I can only dream about, like the Millionaire Gold collection (I guess the name should have been a tip-off). But even if it’s not in the cards to get an entire set like that complete with pillows and sheets and throws and everything, a new duvet can change the look of a room without costing an arm and a leg.
There are other sections that would be perfect for gifts, like these robes. There are a lot of great options in their gifts category, and while many are out of my price range, I’m more than happy to receive them as gifts, thank you very much! Seriously – I can almost feel this cashmere set against my skin. Plus, it’s named after my daughter – it’s like it was meant to be!
And don’t forget to check out their sale page. Just because you want something luxurious doesn’t mean you also wouldn’t like to save a bit on it. :-)
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 13. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Tags: Shopping
Win a $100 Macy’s gift card!
Jul 12, 2012 Paid/Sponsored Post
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to JulieD, comment #23.
[The following post was commissioned by Lifetime.com in conjunction with Macy’s]
The year I went off to college (1990) I was super excited. I got in touch with my new dorm-mate and we started coordinating what each of us would bring. I had really hit the jackpot, because while I had almost nothing to contribute of any value, she had everything: color TV, boom box, hot plate, coffeemaker (I didn’t drink coffee – still don’t – but ooohd and ahhhd over it so I wouldn’t sound like the seventeen-year-old that I was), and some other fun stuff. Actually, it wasn’t so much coordination as me getting down on my knees and thanking the dorm placement gods for sending me a roomie who could fulfill my dreams of skipping class to watch TV.
On move-in day we met each other, and I thought we’d hit it off. But later that day she told me rather off-handedly that she had met someone she knew from Long Island, and that girl didn’t have a room-mate, so she was ditching me. She and her electronics moved out, leaving me with my sheets and pillow and not much else. (I heard later that she slept with everything that moved that year, so good riddance.)
It was such a mixed blessing, because while I was actually happy to have my own room (I went right to the housing office and paid the “no room-mate” penalty so that they wouldn’t give me another one), I had nothing for my room. And no money.
I’m giving away a $100 Macy’s gift card, and if you have a kid going off to college, that could come in really handy. Especially since Macy’s has everything you need to outfit a dorm room, from bedding to small appliances to bathroom items to…seriously, everything.
Holiday couch shopping: coasters
May 28, 2012 Gifts
It was a gorgeous day outside, about 85 degrees. The Ass took the kids to the park to ride bikes. I had the house to myself. So what did I do? Shopped online for coasters.
The men in my life drink a lot of ice water, which in sticky weather like this leaves huge puddles around their glasses. I got rid of our old, broken, ugly, cheapo set of coasters a little while back, meaning to get some before the hot weather hit. But naturally I forgot.
I slogged through hundreds of choices on Amazon, and I’ve posted my favorites below. Even if you don’t need coasters, they make great hostess and housewarming gifts, and there are enough choices that you can match the coasters to the personality of the recipient.
Warning: affiliate links ahead. But remember when I said I slogged through hundreds of choices to curate this list? Surely that’s worth making a few pennies off of your order. :-)
For Wine Enthusiasts |
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Sparkly Wine Coasters
Ooh, sparkly. |
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Wine Label Coasters
These nostalgic coasters are made out of absorbent sandstone and feature old wine labels. |
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Butterfly Slip-On Wine Coasters
These wine coasters slip on to the bottom of a wine glass. Great for parties. |
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Flip-Flop Slip-On Wine Coasters
These are similar to the butterfly coasters above, but they’re flip-flops. So, yeah. Maybe for your beach house? Also available in bright colors. |
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Wine Cork Coasters
We all know someone who could fill these coasters with corks in just a few weeks. Tell your wino friends you love them with this unique gift. You could also add a matching trivet set. |
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Slip-On Stemware Coasters
These pretty silicone coaster stretch to fit the bottoms of different sized stemware. Also helps your guests keep track of which glass is theirs. |
For Game Lovers |
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Puzzle Coasters
These stainless steel coasters might be the world’s easiest jigsaw puzzle, but they’re still pretty cool. Plus, I’m guessing you could connect more than one set together. |
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Rubik’s Cube Coasters
Stacked together, these six coasters form the world’s most frustrating game. Add a Rubik’s Cube notepad for the superfan. |
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Domino Coasters
This set of six glass coasters is perfect for a friend who loves playing Dominos. Although you probably can’t get much of a game going with six dominos. |
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Scrabble Coasters
This set of 56 disposable bar coasters contains two entire letter sets, and comes in a cute tin. Goes well with Magnetic Scrabble Refrigerator Tiles. |
Fresh Direct–actually making this mom’s life easier!
May 7, 2012 Paid/Sponsored Post
This giveaway has closed. Congratulations to the winner, Eve L.!
I can’t tell you how often I get pitches from PR people for things they claim will make my life easier. Usually it’s something that would make no discernable difference at all in the level of ease in my life. But when the folks behind Listen To Your Mother asked if I would give away a Fresh Direct gift certificate in conjunction with their show, I said of course! Fresh Direct has been making my life easier since 2003, and I support them wholeheartedly.
My life has been unusually busy lately. I was away for a week, and then I only had two days to catch up on a week’s worth of emails, clean my entire house, work a big fundraiser at the kids’ school, bake a birthday cake, and get ready for Fiona’s birthday party. And of course, having been out of town, we didn’t have the basics when we got home – no milk, eggs, etc. Thank goodness I was able to put in a quick Fresh Direct order for the very next morning, and get not only the groceries we needed, but the bulk of the food and drinks for the party, too. It saved me at least two hours at a time when I didn’t have two hours to spare.
I’m so thrilled that Fresh Direct was a major sponsor of Listen To Your Mother, because I know some of the people involved with the show (which was performed Sunday afternoon) and I know how hard they worked on it. I hope Fresh Direct was able to make their lives a little easier, too.
As a long-time Fresh Direct customer, I can personally attest to the quality of their food. And if something isn’t perfect, their excellent ratings system tells you, so that you can decide whether to buy it or not. Their customer service team is outstanding, taking care of any problems that may arise, usually within hours.
Tags: Fresh Direct, NYC, Shopping
Cake Pop Stands from KC Bakes
Feb 28, 2012 Product Review
I’ve been making cake pops for a few months now. They’re fun, easy, and incredibly delicious (and a nice morning treat with my current “dessert with breakfast” diet). But the one thing that bugged me about the whole process was the Styrofoam blocks I was going through. I tried wrapping them in packing tape and poking holes through with a sharp pencil so that they wouldn’t fall apart so easily. I tried buying the denser blocks used to make “fake” wedding cakes. I even tried making the cake pops upside-down, which gives them ugly, flat tops.
Then I found the pretty, practical, affordable cake pop stands by KC Bakes. I purchased three of them at a discount, with a promise of a write-up if I found them useful. And oh my yes, I do. So does my number-one cake pop helper.
First of all, they’re infinitely reusable, as opposed to Styrofoam, which breaks down rather quickly with all of that poking and wiping. If you’ve been using Styrofoam, these stands will pay for themselves after not that long.
The holes are the perfect size for regular sucker sticks. They’re well spaced so that you have access to each cake pop. They come in a variety of sizes and colors.
These stands clean up easily. If you drizzle chocolate on them you just wait for it to dry, and it lifts right off cleanly with the help of a fingernail. If you drip chocolate into one of the holes, it can be picked out easily with a toothpick. This was the biggest improvement over my Styrofoam blocks: those were nearly impossible to clean.
The “skinny mini” six-hole size is also perfect for gift giving, at $15. If I’d had my act together I would’ve bought a half dozen of the small ones and given them to teachers for Christmas, filled with cake pops, of course. End of the school year, perhaps.
If you’re a cake pop maker – or want to be – I’d definitely recommend these stands. They’ll make it so much easier to produce pretty, professional-looking cake pops. Your friends and family won’t believe you didn’t buy them from a bakery.
Plus, I can’t wait until my next party: the centerpiece of the buffet table will definitely be a gorgeous display of cake pops!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 1. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
A half marathon that fits on a t-shirt
Feb 23, 2012 What's Going On
I arrived at Disney World a little while ago for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and on the plane I was looking over pictures from last year. I’d forgotten about the t-shirts.
When you pick up your race packet you do it in a giant expo hall at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. This Expo has everything you could possibly need for the race. Really, you could show up with nothing and buy everything you need, from sneakers to sports bras to a fancy plaque for your awesome race pictures.
Pictures from last year’s Expo:
I didn’t buy any of the t-shirts because I’d already made my own at the Hanes Design A Tee store, but I had fun looking at them.
I can relate.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has Compensation Levels of 7, 8, & 16. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Want to catch up on my runDisney adventures? Here are the other posts (newest first):
Disney’s Tangled Royal Family 5K
Disney’s Fit for a Princess Expo
From bad, to worse, to great with runDisney
And then a few zebra wandered by
From couch potato to 26K with runDisney
Diary of a Disney Princess Half Marathoner – Part 2
Disney Princess Half Marathon: Done
Diary of a Disney Princess Half Marathoner – Part 1
So this is what Disney does to me
