Walmart Woes...

The Walmart in my area has changed their return policy to include an extra line and time. When you walk in the door with a return, the greeter SCANS then PRINTS a tag and PUTS it on EACH item. It doesn't matter if you have the receipt or not. After waiting in line there, you get the distinct privilege of standing in line again with your impatient children and impatient self at Customer Service to hopefully get your money back.

Since it is a royal pain in the rear to try clothes on the little buggers at the store, I guess at the size and try it on them at home. As a result, I have many returns. Not any more!

I don't have time for all that. The savings that exists is not worth my effort. I'm going to Target and Kroger.

Target may have limits but at least you can do a return with a receipt without too much fuss. BTW, if you give a gift from Target, please include the gift receipt. Target has severely limited your ability to exchange or return if it wasn't on your registry or doesn't have a receipt.

I think I have a similar look on my face when I walk into a WM!

I read a blog called The Junk Drawer that absolutely cracks me up. Yesterday her sister called to rant about her experience at Walmart. Since I have also sworn off Walmart as much as possible at least for non-grocery items, I could relate.

The Shampoo Snafu:

"Ann: I left a bag over there and now I have to battle traffic to go get it!!! I got home and was looking for all my shampoos and stuff and I realized I left it there!!!

For the rest of the story click HERE.

Movie Nights for a year Giveaway-- Enter quickly!!!

Many of you have heard of our regular "Popcorn Nights" on Sunday evenings. I discovered a great giveaway that would fit us wonderfully. Table for Five is hosting an awesome, totally cool giveaway that ends today. She is giving away a year's supply of Orville Redenbacher Natural Microwave popcorn and a 12 month subscription to Netflix.

So, run over quick, make your post and link and get yourself entered! Click Here

Sonic versus Starbucks-- The Great Debate

For me, there is no debate. Sonic wins, Starbucks loses-- every time. What is it with Starbucks? I don't get the pull that an overpriced, undersized cup of "fancy" caffeine has on people. Around here there is a Starbucks on every corner along with a bank and a dry cleaners. Actually there are 6 banks on a nearby corner, but that is a "discussion" for another day.

Now, Sonic drive-ins are easy to find around here but at least you get something for your money. I can get a 320z drink with all the fixin's for $2. Granted, I think their drinks are overpriced as well. Up until October 1st, I had a window cling coupon that gave me any size drink for 99cents, unlimited, at most Sonics which was an AWESOME, AWESOME deal. I cringed at the increase in cost. A friend once told me that she considers it "mental health" money. Great! I can take it out of the medical category of our budget. I like that!

In order to save money I've tried QT's vanilla and fountain Diet Coke, but it isn't the same. Yes, I know that vanilla syrup is sold at local grocery establishments but even if you can find a decent tasting one, a BIG IF, it still isn't the same.

I am telling you that fountain DC is infinitely better than canned or bottled and it varys from place to place on the ratio of syrup to carbonation. Don't even bother with McDonald's. Just order water and get dessert instead. At one of my local Sonics they used to not question me when I told them that the carbonation was low or that the Coke/Diet Coke hoses had been switched. They just went and fixed it. I am training my new carhops but they keep quitting before I get them broken in.

Well, if you need me to pick you up a drink in the morning, get me your order by 7:45a.m. By the way, what is your favorite Sonic drink?

Works-For-Me-Wednesday--Getting ready for school!

A tardy and almost second tardy prompted some rethinking of our morning routine. We can't do anything about the awful amount of time it takes to go .75 miles to the elementary but we can at least get into the queue in a timely manner. I can't take credit for a great idea for getting out the door on time for school. My friend Bestbug gave me this solution.

We have already gotten into the habit of picking out clothes, packing snacks and lunches, and bringing backpacks downstairs the night before. They are also required to be "dressed to the shoes" as Flylady is fond of saying before eating a bite of breakfast.

So... we now set TWO alarms on my cell phone to go off every weekday. The first one goes off at 7:33 and is a "Stop eating breakfast and go brush your teeth". And the second alarm at 7:35 is "Go grab your stuff and load up, I'll meet you in the van".

It works great because they don't argue with a cell phone. It keeps me on task as well.

Anyway, something to add to your parenting "toolbox".

Head over to Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for other great tips and tricks to add to your arsenal.

Santa has come and gone...

Leaving a trail of mess behind him. Sounds like a song, doesn't it...