Last night's cake and needing a miracle.

So there it is, last night's EXTREMELY disappointing cake. I know I know. I've been told already I did a GOOD job, stop being so hard on myself, etc. But, I am NOT happy with it. I will be redoing it soon. I have to or I won't be happy. I had so many problems with it though.

-girls ate one layer
-icing firmed up too much and we had to thin it out to ice with.
-I had to stay up WAY too late the night before
-we never could get the icing as smooth as we like.

BFF and I are both perfectionists. But we finally decided it was "good enough." I had made up all of my icing for roses in 4 different colors, and it was the PERFECT consistency. I know it cuz I PRACTICED with it!!!! I did up the icing for vines and leaves too. I packed it all up and got ready for everything.

Somehow that perfect consistency icing turned ROCK HARD by class. Which is really odd with tall the humidity. Normally humidity will cause frosting to thin out, NOT to get stiffer. But it was IMPOSSIBLE to work with. So I spent much of my class trying to adjust the consistency of my icing to even be ABLE to use it. I was putting incredibly high amounts of water into my icing. Even our teacher was amazed at how much water I was putting in. And I don't blame her. It was a TON.

I finally managed to pull off three sorta roses, several decent leaves and some vines. the picture above is the result.

This morning we got up CRAZY early to take my sister to the airport to head home. BFF's DH's car has been acting up lately, he said the tranny has been slipping. Well, it died this morning. He made it to work, but the transmission fluid is all UNDER his car. And we are moving next week, and BFF is supposed to start school at the end of next month. She says she's not going to go to school now. She has financial aid, except for books. She needs $400 for books. I told her I will NOT let her quit because of books. NOT HAPPENING. I think I know how to help her. But I know a few people who won't like it.

I think I'm going to skip my California trip. I was already debating it for SEVERAL reasons, but I think that the biggest one is that it would be a better use of my money to pay for her books then fly to California for a week. She'd give me the money if positions were reversed, and she's been SO excited about this. I am NOT letting her give it up.

I don't know how to help on her DH's car, other than learning how to repair a transmission, so I guess I best start learning. I have done other things on a car before. LOL But seriously, we need a miracle, with the moving expenses, his car repairs, and her books, we NEED a miracle.

Read more...

Exhausted

Yup, I'm tired, exhausted, wanna throw the towel in. And I can't. And I'll get over it. And Starbucks will be my best friend today LOL.

I was out late, stayed up even later working on cake and icing. Never did make roses, BUT, all my colors are done. So at least I don't have to worry about that!!! :)

I got up early because BFF had physical therapy this morning and I needed to finish the cake. Only to be told that BFF's DH says "check the creamer, he thinks it's gone bad." I check the first one, yup, stinky. And it was bought just the other day. Check the 2nd one, bought SAME DAY, also bad. *sigh* By this time BFF is gone. No coffee til she gets home with creamer. I finished up the last color for class and went out on the trampoline with the kids talking on the phone with BFF. After I hung up with her, I fell asleep!!! This girl NEEDS her coffee!!!!

I need to pack up my cake bags, set out some cake clothes (since I'm going straight from work to class), and if there's time, get over to the YMCA to see about joining.

I have work from 2-6, cake class from 7-9, and then we have to get to bed pretty early to get my sister off to the airport at O dark thirty in the morning. LOL

Smoochies all, pictures of my cake will be uploaded to facebook tonight and on the blog sometime tonight or tomorrow!!!! :) :)

Read more...

Cake anger

Okay, so BFF found this absolutely FABULOUS vegan "white" cake recipe. I don't care so much that it's vegan, but we need vegan for church. I love this recipe. It has a nice lift to it. It tastes as good as any non-vegan cake, and is totally safe for her DS3. It's also easy to change the flavor by subbing a different extract. One of my other favorite things about it is that it has a high sugar content. No, I'm not a sugar freak. But it causes a slight caramelization on the crusts that is DELICIOUS!

So we made my 2 layers of cake yesterday for my cake class. One of orange one coconut. YUM YUM

We put them into the freezer during dinner so that they would be safe from kids, food, and bugs. Left them out overnight so they'd be ready to ice today. This morning they were still intact. I put in english muffins for the adults to eat and they were still intact. I went to extract the english muffins and...

HORROR!!!!

Little hands had gotten to it. You have NO IDEA how upset I was. Especially since I'd had to convince BFF to make them for me. I admit to one part laziness one part I think she makes better cakes! But now I'm gonna have to convince her AGAIN to make the layer for me. It was the coconut layer by the way.

So now we have to clean the kitchen, cuz her DH wants to make chicken and dumplings, but he requires a SPOTLESS kitchen for this, make a cake layer, let it cool, fill and ice said cake, and make several roses for the cake. AND I need to go buy new work shoes and go to work at 3. Guess I better get to work since that is only 4 hours away!!!!!

Read more...

Boston Day and Dizzy Dizzy

Yesterday, after much debate and weather watching, my sister, BFF, and I headed off toward Boston.

Our first, most necessary stop, was Starbucks in Lexington. My sister made the big mistake of saying something about if I would lose my Starbucks addiction I'd lose more weight. Oh no... those are FIGHTING words. BFF defended me immediately, saying that in all fairness, I typically only order an Iced Tea. I'm not a sugary, chocolate-y drinker in general. Yes, I order my tea with 2 raw sugars, but if they put them in the shaker half that sugar doesn't make it into my cup. Anyway, she backed down.

We got our drinks and headed down the street on foot to the Lexington Battle Green. A small yet historically significant patch of grass. This was the site of the FIRST fight between the American Revolutionaries and the British in the Revolutionary War.

It's really hit me lately that SOMEHOW in Boston, all of Massachusetts really, they got it right. Somehow they KNEW when these major historical events occurred, that they would matter, and SOMEHOW knew to preserve these things. We got into a great discussion about how the sense of community, something most city's are lacking, is part of what led to the preservation.

After walking around there we headed down to Boston. We went to the North End and were surprised by the Feast of St. Joseph. This translates to massive traffic! LOL But we survived and found parking. We wandered around a bit, hit Faneuil Hall. It was originally a speaking house, where numerous famous speeches have occurred. It's mostly shopping there now, and my sister found her Boston magnet there.

We headed next door to Quincy Market, which is mostly food to walk through. We stopped for some Bubble Tea and then headed out to the Crocs store, one of my favorite stores!

At this point we just kind of started walking, we ended up down a pier and sat down for some much needed rest. We decided it was time to head home, and we started walking back toward the car, but we stopped by the Paul Revere House. It was already closed for the night though. :(

Then of course to Mike's Pastry for some Florentine Canoli's! YUM. We walked on over toward Old North Church. It also was closed, but BFF had been wanting to show me the Dog Tag memorial to honor those who have fallen in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars we are currently fighting. She had found this over a year, just one month after my other best friend Jessica was killed in action in Iraq. It's not like we've avoided going, but we haven't had the chance. Typically the kids are with us and are getting grumpy and what not. We headed over though and she told me, you're not allowed to cry. LOL She knows how easy I cry. Well, I didn't start crying, but it was touching. Especially because when the wind blows the sounds of the thousands of dog tags jingling next to each other is like a reminder that they may not be with us anymore, but we WILL see them again one day!

Anyway, we headed home then and it was a great day! :)

Unfortunately I woke up this morning dizzy as could be. I almost feel like I'd been drinking, but I KNOW I didn't! UGH. I've been up for about an hour and a half now and I STILL feel dizzy. I've eaten, I've taken my medicine, I've had my coffee, I've had water. I'm STILL dizzy. Even just sitting here, I'm dizzy. *sigh*

We have a LOT of packing to do still. We move next week. We actually can start taking over a few things now, they housing people said they'd leave the garage open for us. But the REAL moving starts next week when they take possession of the house. Monday and Tuesday will be light moving, no trailer, Wednesday thru Friday is when we should have the trailer.

So if I disappear more than usual over the next couple weeks don't be too surprised.

Read more...

Temper Tantrums

I threw a temper tantrum.

Yes I did. I am not exactly ashamed of it either. Here's the explanation.

I have been baking all these cakes lately right? Well, my last cake didn't rise, but that is beside the point. My real problem has been that they have NOT been releasing from the pan. DESPITE using the tried and true method. So we've had to do A LOT of damage control.

Well, BFF decided to make a random cake today to see how well the recipe worked. She asked ME to prep the pan. No biggie. She goes to release the cake... AND IT RELEASES PERFECTLY.

She calls me in, I see in, I clench my fists, I excuse myself. I run out the back door and begin screaming as I run to the trampoline, fling myself on, and throw a fit like my daughters do.

And surprisingly, it felt good.

So yes, I threw a temper tantrum. LOL

Read more...

Work schedule

So not that I can say I'm surprised, but the former Job A didn't schedule me at all for next week. What can I say, give a job your 2 week notice and several won't bother to schedule you. LOL I'm okay with this though.

Job B (from now on referred to as my Job) scheduled me for 21 hours. Not half bad given that I asked for Sunday and Monday off. :)

I think tonight is going to be an early night for me. I'm tired, and we have church tomorrow, plus the pastor coming on over tomorrow afternoon.

Happy Sabbath everyone!!

Read more...

Darn rain

Well, today's plans got shot! LOL

It began raining last night while I was at work. BFF's DH picked me up from work. And my sister, BFF, and I headed out to Sky, a restaurant/bar shortly after we got home. Thursday's are Karaoke night at Sky, and usually we just laugh with everyone singing Karaoke. Believe me, they are having fun, we cheer for them, but everyone is laughing too! Well, my sister is a music major, she's working on her Doctorates. We FINALLY convinced her to go up there. She ended up singing three songs over the night. I even got up there and sang one! She got TONS of applause and several people telling her to go on American Idol! LOL I had 3 Sky Tai's, so I was pretty tipsy! LOL One of the great things about Sky though is the bill... our group of 4 (another friend met us there), we had 4 Sky Tai's, 2 non alcohol drinks, 3 Heiny's, and 2 plates of cheesy fries. The drinks alone should be prices, ya know? But our TOTAL bill was only $65! That is SO not bad for 4 of us!!

Today we had thought we'd head out to Boston after BFF's physical therapy. BUT, we decided yesterday not to for several reasons, but the rain is the final straw. We need to pick up a bit before the pastor comes over tomorrow after church. You know how it is when you're packing up to move! LOL Plus we have potluck at church so we have a lot of cooking to do this evening. So, it just isn't gonna work to go out. BUT, I think we may head out just for a little while this afternoon to go get some new shoes for me. I desperately need new shoes for work. And late this afternoon, after 5 pm, I need to go out to check my schedules at both jobs. I gave my notice to "Job A" but it was a full 2 weeks, and they have the right to schedule me this coming week. I hope they don't though.

So that is our plan for today. And tomorrow pretty much LOL We have church, potluck, and then meet with the pastor. I am hoping that the weather is good enough for the kids to mostly go outside tomorrow. It would be easier to have the pastor here without 7 kids underfoot!!

I hope you all have a good weekend!!

Read more...

Auntie arrives and Cake 2

Well, yesterday was a full day for us!

BFF dropped me off at work and headed to the airport to pick up my sister who was arriving. I was a bit upset that I couldn't go to the airport, but that is my own fault. I didn't get my time off request in soon enough.

I got to fly solo at work for a while, at the service desk! I had no problems. :) Work was, well, work. LOL BFF and sister came with all 7 kids for my break. That was a nice treat. And then they did some quick grocery shopping and went home.

BFF and sister then picked me up from work to take me to cake class. Other than forgetting my change of clothes, we were good to go. We stopped at North End Treats for a slice of pizza and off to Micheal's for my 3rd cake class.

We were doing clowns, shell borders, star flowers, swirl flowers and roses. Let me start by saying... The clown bodies are cute, but the heads are UGLY!!! I have dreaded making these clowns because of their heads. But I want to learn and it is a part of the learning process. So here is my poor clown...



I think those heads are just plain scary! LOL

I did my shell border in white because I just was not wanting to mix colors LOL. The pink and blue of my clown were colors I already had and I just added a little more white icing to the batch to lighten it and give me enough to work with.

The star flowers and swirl flowers are in pink on my cake. I like them pretty well but need to work on them more. For the roses I decided to mix up some color. I did a light lavender, but I didn't FULLY mix it. I left it slightly unmixed to give it a purposely mottled color. I liked how it turned out, though it's pretty much impossible to see in my picture! LOL I think it actually has a very natural look to it.



The cake itself is a modified vegan lemon cake, with buttercream filling and frosting. YUM YUM Can't wait to cut into it today! LOL

Read more...

Mosquitos, health insurance, and a cranky me.

Okay, I'm cranky. I FREELY admit it. I am snapping at people, and I think more than anything I need to curl up in bed. But that is not an option.

BFF has physical therapy today and I am home with all the kids. It's wet and rainy outside so they can't go out to play. It was like that yesterday, and will be again for almost a week straight.

The mosquitoes are out in full swing, and apparently I have "sweet blood" so they bite me A TON. And I'm tired of it. My poor ankles are so itchy. I am trying so hard not to scratch, but it's nearly impossible.

I am almost at my 90 days with Job "B" and am supposed to have insurance starting day 91. Well, day 91 is the 24th. I had been told I'd get information in the mail. Well, nothing has arrived. So I talked to my HR person, who said call this number, they'll get it straightened out. I called that number and feel like it did me no good. They took my phone number. They said they'd open a case to look into it, and get back to me in a few days. ARG.

I hate icky weather, just for the record. It makes me feel icky, it gives everyone cabin fever.

On the plus side, I have work today, and while I'm at work my sister is arriving. BFF is picking her up for me. Then I have my cake class, I can't get my cake to smooth, but it'll be okay. After cake class BFF, sister and I will probably go to Friday's for a snack.

Given how this morning has gone, it can only get better!!!!! :)

Read more...

Rough day

This has to be short, I have to get ready for work in an hour.

-I baked my cakes yesterday, barely any rise, and I followed the recipe.
-I went to make my frosting and we were kinda low on powdered sugar.
-Frosting didn't taste right.
-Got that all fixed, and I'll pick up more sugar tonight for the cake.
-Had to handwash all my "Featherweight" reusable icing bags because they hadn't been done yet.
-Started icing the cake and had to stop because...
-The girls managed to open and spill an entire can of white primer, on their feet, the chair, the faux wood floor...
-Had to CLEAN said paint up (with help)
-Had to send all the girls outside cuz they had paint on their feet. It's raining, they weren't happy.
-cleaned up girls
-made girls lunch
-started working on smoothing the icing, but it was not cooperating.
-BFF reminding me that it's raining, it's humid, so the frosting isn't setting up as well.
-FINALLY got it smooth enough for now.
-will finish the smoothing process after work.

I'm tired, and I have a 5 hour shift ahead of me.

God, grant me strength, endurance, and help me to find my happy attitude to be cheerful with my customers. Amen!

Read more...

I'm going to be baptized!!

If you read my mobile post earlier you already knew. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have been wanting to be baptized. For the last two weeks it has really been on my heart because of the baptisms at church. Seeing so many people dedicate their lives, or re-dedicate their lives has been inspiring. Both of the previous two Sabbaths I have found myself frozen and unable to walk to the front of the church during the altar call. Both times I felt nauseous, shaking, and just unable to move. Last week after service, BFF and I had a lengthy discussion about why I'd passed up a second opportunity to make the walk and ask to be baptized. I didn't think I'd get another chance so soon (although I COULD have called the pastor any day during the week.) I didn't know we'd have another baptism today! But third times the charm. I wasn't nauseous, though I was shaking. I stood up, walked out of the mother's room, into the sanctuary, and just walked. I knew I couldn't stop or look at ANYONE or I'd probably not finish the walk.

But by the time I got to the front, I felt strangely calm.

It was as if once I made those steps, God wouldn't let Satan walk the rest of the way with me. And I know it's been Satan stopping me. He's been doing it for YEARS. I thank God today for helping me to feel that calm. :)

I got a big surprise though. After standing at the front for a couple minutes, I hear the pastor say "We have two now" and I was a little surprised. I walked up there alone. I turned a little because NO ONE was beside me, and to my surprise, BFF's DS2 is there. PRAISE THE LORD! I know I had a shocked look on my face, fortunately only the pastor and elder in front of me could see it as I was facing away from the congregation. But when I returned to the mother's room a bit later, BFF was in tears, fortunately tears of joy!! He is young, but I know his heart is there. He had asked BFF about being baptized after the first baptism's 2 weeks ago. She had said at the time that he needed to learn about what it means. I know she and her DH with the pastor's help, will guide him very well in this process.

I spoke briefly with the pastor a little later and it looks like my baptism (along with others) will be in mid August. BFF told me her DS2's will probably take longer. A part of me wishes we could both be baptized together, but I know due to his age, he does need more time to prepare. The pastor will be coming over this week to talk to us.

This has been a process MANY years in the making. When I was 2 years old my parents found a church to call home, and that was the church we attended, very regularly. Until I was about 11 1/2 years old. MANY people had begun to drift away from that church, many going to a differently church in town, over some internal issues within the church. I didn't understand, I was too young. In retrospect, it appears (from what I CAN recall and what my mother tells me) that there was some DEFINITE difference of opinions between LONG time members of the congregation and the pastor who'd only been there a few years. People left over it.

Well, the church had a policy of no baptisms before the age of 16, and even then a baptized minor still couldn't vote or be a member of the church board, etc. In many ways this was a BAD policy. It is telling a young person that they are incapable of dedicating themselves to God until they reach a certain age. And that even after they are "worthy" enough to dedicate themselves, they STILL aren't good enough to vote on church issues.

So when my mother made the decision to stop attending church when I was 11 1/2 years old, I hadn't had a CHANCE to be baptized. Did I want to, I don't know. When you grow up being told "not til you are 16" you don't really look inside your heart and decide. But unlike the other members of our church, my mother just stopped going. She allowed a secular organization come to rule our calendar and therefore our lives. I know for months after my sister asked if we could go, but mom would say no. And later when I asked her to drive me to church she'd be too tired. So it wasn't until high school when a friend with a car invited me that I began to attend again. For close to a year I attended regularly. But then she graduated and left for college and I had no way to get there again.

Once I got my license I started taking myself. And for the next several years I tried many different churches. But I never seemed to fit with them. And I couldn't always say why. Some I had issues with their doctrines, some because it seemed the pastor was giving political opinions from the pulpit. But some I couldn't tell you.

It took a while but I have finally found the church that fits most closely to my own beliefs. I am excited to become a member of the church, and most importantly to have God in my life and my heart. :)

Today is a BEAUTIFUL glorious day!

I have ALWAYS loved the following verse, and I think it is very fitting for me today:

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27 NKJV

Read more...

from mobile

I took the leap!! Today was a 3rd baptism, and I wasn't nauseous or shaking too bad. So I took the walk down the aisle and will be baptized. :)

Read more...

Desk training and cake class.

I had a great time yesterday.

I did my first training shift on the service desk yesterday. I was working with someone I like pretty well, and she did a good job showing me around the service desk. The lottery machine LOOKS intimidating, but it's easier than I expected. The Western Union is harder than one would think. LOL Answering the phones is tedious. People want to tell you your life story :) And then there is the customer who just WILL NOT LISTEN to what you're saying.

A gentleman was apparently given some incorrect information the day prior about one of our sale items being on the 3 day sale. It was actually NOT, it was a regular weekly sale item. Well, of course, the tag on the shelf shows the sale price!! He's basically getting irate with us before he even gave us a chance to speak. He's going on and on that his wife used to be a manager in a grocery store and she says we HAVE to honor the tag on the shelf and the tag is still there. I'm TRYING to show him that the flier SHOWS the item is on the regular sale, NOT the 3 day, but he doesn't care to listen or look. Finally my co-worker told the gentleman that he was getting too worked up and he needed to calm down and listen. He was INSISTENT that she come out and LOOK at the sign. She finally gave in and went with him, pointed out the date on tag. She said he never apologized or anything. *sigh*

I think I will enjoy the service desk. :)

I had my 2nd cake class last night. We did piping gel transfer images and then star tipped the designs. I'm NOT a fan of star tipping. I don't like how it looks. BUT, it was what we were doing. I chose to do a transfer of one of my tattoos. I really love this image. However it's TOO detailed for a star tipping design. So I modified it in the transfer process. I am still pretty happy with how it turned out :) And for your viewing pleasure...



I cannot WAIT to eat it though!! It is a mango cake with a pineapple filling, and homemade buttercreme frosting. YUM!!!

Read more...

Training starts today!

I am excited. I do my first shift training at the customer service desk today. I am working with someone I get along with, and have someone even more experienced working as the bookkeeper so I know I will get some good training today.

BFF has a physical therapy appointment this morning and as soon as she gets home I am out the door. My manager made a mistake in her scheduling of me this morning. I am technically not available til 1 PM. She scheduled me for 9 AM!! Our agreed solution was for me to arrive ASAP with no worries! :)

I'll let you know how it goes.

Read more...

Cool link I found.

visited 36 states (72%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

I saw this on another site and thought you'd all like to see it too. It's at this site. Hope you have fun with it!

Read more...

Silly People and Mulch Man

Okay, so today was the day for silly people... like this:

me: (ringing groceries) Do you have your *Job B* card?
customer A: No (while holding their keys in plain sight and I can see the card!!!)

me: (ringing groceries)
customer B: I thought the berries were 3 for $5
me: yes with your *Job B* card
customer B: Well why didn't you tell me that?
me: (blank stare and thinking: I just did )
customer B: Do you need my card?

and the topper... the story of Mulch Man:

Customer C (now known as Mulch Man or MM for short) has 4 bags of mulch in his cart. He walks from the front of the store all the way to my register. And he never realizes his bags of mulch are leaking (thank you rain) til he's at my register.

MM: Oh I'm leaking a little

So I expect a few drops no biggy. No, no, no. These mulch bags have been flooding!! Major wet mess all over the front walk in the store and my register area. And it's brown liquid, so you can imagine people's reactions. Fellow employee got it cleaned up with the super soaker powder. But still!!! EW!!

So yes, these are the stories of my life at work! LOL

Read more...

Looking for opinions

Okay, so I am looking for peoples opinions on this situation.

Job A hired me on April 6th. Job B hired me on April 23rd. Those were my starting dates.

Job A pays 25 cents less per hour than Job B.

The first 4 weeks I worked for Job A I have 2-4 scheduled shifts a week and the weeks I had only 2 they offered me another shift. Then all of a sudden they dropped me to only 1 five hour shift for 3 weeks straight, a 2 shift week, then several more weeks of 1 shift, then last week 3 shifts. BUT, on Thursday called and told me my shift on Friday was canceled because the store didn't have the hours for it.

Job B has consistently given me 4 shifts a week, occasionally a 5th as well. And I consistently work 20-24 hours a week there. Sometimes more. Job B has just promoted me which will mean another raise.

Job B has stated that if I open my availability I can probably have more hours per week once my training is complete.

Job A gives me a 25% discount on clothing for the whole family. This is a brand I like. Job B gives me a 15% discount on STORE BRAND products.

My issue is...

Yesterday I went to both stores to get my schedule. Job B has given me 27 hours (WOOHOO) and Job A has given me... NADA. Not a single shift. The general manager said that the shipment is slow this week.

I really feel about ready to give my 2 week notice. I am torn though because this is a national company with a good record overall. But I'm making less money and not even getting hours. I get a generous discount and would DEFINITELY miss that. But there's other ways to get my clothes for less money.

SO... please weigh in with your thoughts. What would YOU do? What do you think I should do? And why please.

Thanks everyone!

Read more...

Cakes

Yum yum cakes...

So yesterday BFF and I made a totally 100% vegan cake for church. It's also soy and nut free. Her 2 allergic kids can eat it, it tasted great AND was vegan for church.

It was a raspberry mocha cake with a chocolate buttercreme filling and icing, and regular buttercreme decorations.

I did the baking and a good chunk of the icing, but BFF smoothed it out, and she did the decorating. It was getting pretty late and bluntly it would have taken too long for me to try to do it.

Here's the pic, it was taken with a phone camera, so excuse the quality of pic.

Read more...

New layout!

Well, I have a new blog layout, let me know what you think of it.

Job A caused me a bit of stress the other day. Our newly promoted Assistant Store Manager came out of the office and barked at all of us that we needed to cut the chatter to get the work done. It upset me because bluntly, we CAN talk and work. We open packages of clothes and put them on either a hanging rack or folding rack. We are in close quarters and we're almost exclusively female. But we all quieted down and worked. "New Girl" (NG) and I were working together and really, we were busting it out. We went through 20 boxes in 20 minutes. This is no small feat. We unload the box, open the packaging, sort, and size the clothing. There's usually 25-50 items per box, we were FLYING through these boxes at warp speed. But it was all for naught as we got a "group" lecture after the shift that we (summarized) hadn't gotten it done (NG and I got OUR assignment done) and that since we talk too much and the music OBVIOUSLY distracts us, we will no longer be allowed to have music and if we talk we will be given verbal warnings. *sigh* I was pretty upset about it. I truly feel that a formerly nice, fun, "cool" manager got promoted and is now trying to "prove" that she's worthy. And she took it out on our team.

I decided that in regards to this situation I'm just going to keep doing my job. I KNOW I was doing my job properly and plenty fast enough. And so I will just keep doing it. Most of the time they give me only ONE shift per week anyway. As long as I have one shift per month, I keep my discount. In MANY respects, that discount is the ONLY reason I continue to work there. I buy clothes for the WHOLE family there. And 25% off is a NICE chunk to be relieved of. As I said in my previous blog, I am trying to start being more minimalist. I try to not buy too much new clothing, but the fact is, we have to buy some sometimes. So I need to keep this job so I keep the discount. If it truly becomes an unbearable environment I will leave there will full 2 weeks notice. This way I could still re-hire with the company when we move.

One of the supervisors from Job A called yesterday late afternoon while I was at Job B. Fortunately Job B supervisor was cool since it was slow and she let me walk out and take the call. Job A sup was calling to tell me my shift this morning was canceled because the store didn't have the hours to give me. I said that was fine. Bluntly, they usually give me 5 hours a week, this week, the 2 days I've worked are already 7 1/2 hours. So I really didn't mind NOT working this morning!!! LOL

Nothing new to report on Job B really. I will go to both Jobs today to get my schedules for next week. I'm supposed to be Service Desk training at Job B. My schedule will tell me :)

My cake class started on Wednesday night. Although this class kinda was boring, because the students had nothing to do. But we are to bring a cake to class this week to work on. YAY

BFF's DS1 has a birthday this Monday, and BFF is going to have me do the cake. She's going to help me, so it'll be fine! LOL I'm excited about that cake, a NASCAR themed cake for him. And my class cake will be a picture transfer thingy, I'll explain the details on the HOW later! I have a VERY dear friend of mine emailing me the picture today for my transfer. I LOVE this image so much that it's been tattoo'd on my back for the last 6+ years!!! LOL But I don't have a good drawing of it to use for the cake, so she's sending it to me. She designed it! LOL

Anyway, this week is another baptism at church, and I'm looking forward to it. :)

Well, we have a lot to do this afternoon. Hopefully BFF can go get her contacts today, I need to get both my work schedules, and we need to go buy one more thing for the cakes. well, hopefully only one more LOL. I'm seriously debating buying a pair of jeans at work, because I have an employee's only coupon for any pair for $19 PLUS our employee discount of 25%. This brings my total down to $14.25. A pair runs between $29.50 and $34.50 making this at LEAST 50% off in the end. I don't NEED more jeans, especially in my current sizes. I'm considering buying a pair the next size down though. It's a risk, but I AM losing weight, so I will fit them eventually! LOL

OFF I go to do stuff!

Read more...

So much to update on

And so little time to type LOL. Well, not really, I have several hours, but I will not be able to convey all of it without making a 20 page post LOL.

Okay, so we had a good weekend. We went to church Sabbath morning. It was a baptism. A young adult who was very excited to be baptized, and then the pastor did an altar call for others who'd like to be baptized. Several people went to the front, including one gentleman who is considered a leader in our church. He was re-baptized immediately. It was inspiring. I have been wanting to be baptized, but every time the opportunity has presented itself to either speak to the pastor or bible worker, or an altar call has occurred, I have found myself either unable or not ready to take that last step. And this Sabbath was no different. I know the right time will present itself. When the time is right I will be calm and able to stand up and take the steps needed.

Later BFF's DH fired up the grill and we had delicious chicken, corn on the cob (cut off the cob for me), grilled squash with garlic, and watermelon. It was DELICIOUS. I enjoyed it very much.

We then packed up and headed out to a nearby school for a fireworks display. We were very lucky to get about 10 feet from the barrier. I was excited to be so close, but had concerns about the girls being afraid. Especially Bug, she is like her momma and is afraid of thunder. But we told the girls before it started that it would be like their favorite book "Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM" And she handled it pretty well at that point! LOL

SO that was our 4th of July, it was an overall great day.

On the work front...

Oh me Oh my... I have had some "interesting" customers the past week.

At some point this past week I was informed that I was now a "Customer Service Champion" and I am responsible for making sure that the customers are receiving appropriate service. Among other things we are implementing the process of asking the customer if they found everything okay or something similar to that. In many ways this question is a formality. We have associates all over the store that would be happy to help if the customer asks. But still, it's a nice touch to double check. In my first shift of asking this I had three separate customers who all stated they had NOT found everything, and with mine and my fellow associates assistance we were able to help them. So I'd personally say it was an effective policy. Furthermore, several of the customers have THANKED me for asking, saying how nice it is that I asked. All except this ONE customer. I asked the question and she says "Did you come from Trader Joes???" And of course I respond no, since I've never worked for TJ's. She launches into this huge speech/lecture about how useless it is to ask that question, that if she'd gotten to the checkout obviously she HAD found everything, cuz how could you NOT know where to look etc. She just went ON AND ON about it. At first I was ready to just brush it off. She might have been having a bad day. But when she kept going and was beginning to say that I was an idiot for asking, well, I got angry. I behaved, and in a restrained, and fairly calm manner, informed her that in fact this question was not a waste of time, useless, or make me an idiot. That in one days time, and my shift was only 5 hours, I had assisted 3 separate customers to find something they couldn't. She backed down at that point but OH was I mad.

The next day, I was FINALLY given the paperwork to do that will get me a 50 cent raise for being a cashier. YAY for raises. This will put my hourly rate at $8.75/hour.

The same day as my paperwork arrived, our general manager came through my checkout line. I totally didn't recognize him though. I'm used to seeing him from a distance. So I gave him the same exact customer service that I give everyone. I truly pride myself on giving everyone good service, because I believe it will come back to me, and I should treat others as I wish to be treated. Well, it was EXACTLY the right thing to do to my general manager!!!!! He got so elated that I was giving him the "customer" treatment and DOING what they want us to. He looked for a green card, kinda a recognition card that you can save up and trade in for $$, but he had none. He said he'd get me one though. Within 5 minutes the manager between my department manager and the GM came over and complimented me on pleasing our GM that way! :)

But best of all, yesterday, my dept. manager brought me 2 green cards. One she said was from our GM, the other was from her for earning one from the GM and therefore making the whole dept look good LOL. A little later she came over and told me that next week I'm going to start training on Service Desk!!!!!! :D :D :D :D This is a TOTAL promotion, and a total shock!!! I guess the GM told her to make it happen. I've worked there roughly 2 1/2 months! I will get another raise!!! I don't know how much, probably 25-50 cents, but still, that's a nice raise!!! :) :) And I'll be able to work more hours now too cuz I'll have another area I can work in.

Yes, I'm excited! LOL We celebrated last night with a chocolate molten and some Starbucks Caramel Macchiato ice cream. I almost celebrated after my Job A shift this morning by treating myself to some new jeans. BUT... BFF convinced me this weekend not to spend the money since I'll probably "undergrow" them (lose weight) in a month or so, and I am really trying to watch my money to be able to spend it on nicer purchases.

I read a blog this morning at Organizing Your Way on being more minimalist. The guest writer said one of the biggest things was being the type of minimalist THEY wanted to be, not an ideal that someone else set down for them. They don't want to give away all their possessions and live on a commune or only own 100 items. It really spoke to me. I think that in the months to come I need to really pare down my "possessions" and keep the stuff the truly matters to me. And stop buying STUFF just to have more STUFF. I do NOT need to keep up with the Joneses. In a small way I've already done some of this. I have given away or thrown away when appropriate quite a bit when I moved from Tennessee to Massachusetts. Now I need to do it again.

I am using the library more (SO much more economically and environmentally friendly anyway) and I only buy books I truly feel a need to own. I have had to buy quite a bit of clothing in the last couple months for 2 reasons, first off, for work. My previous wardrobe worked great for staying in the house most of the time. But not for work. And what I did have that was appropriate for work was winter clothing, and I started working in April. I should be good to go come fall and winter, and will just pick up a few key pieces here and there and as clothes wear out or I "undergrow" them. Which is the 2nd key reason I have bought clothing. I NEEDED smaller pants. My size 16's were falling off me. In that same cut of pants I needed a 14, in a different cut I was able to move into a 12. The 12's are already getting to that point where just a little while after I put them on I am pulling them up constantly. BUT... I do not yet fit the next size down. So I have to lose more weight before they'll fit. That's okay though. I am blessed to be able to give the clothes I undergrow to BFF who is undergrowing her way into my clothes!! I'm so happy for her!!!! :)

I notice that some of my shirts from before are really wearing out, and some that I just do NOT wear. I have some I will NEVER get rid of for sentimental value. Shirts from my time in the Army for example. But I have a tough time with shirts. I have to find shirts long enough to cover my midriff, or use a tank under them to do the job, and I need some sort of sleeve for Job A. I am also that pain in the a$$ who refuses to pay full price. With a couple exceptions: jeans (I watch for sales, but, I will not WAIT for sales!!! LOL), socks (yeah, find a sale for that!!), undergarments (like jeans), tank tops (from a certain big box store, they are the ones that fit me best, are long enough, and only cost me $4 to begin with!), and shoes (again, like jeans). I am blessed to get a GENEROUS discount at Job A, meaning I am NOT paying full price, and yet I STILL frequently wait for a sale.

ANYWAY... my point to this is that I want to get to a point where I can spend the money on NICER things that I truly need and want. Like buying a new bed for myself when we move. I don't have one right now, and even if I did there'd be no room for it here. I sleep on BFF's comfy couch most of the time. But, when we get ready to move, I want to go to IKEA and buy my bed frame (cuz they have an IKEA here and I don't know if they will wherever we end up). And then the mattress for my frame. The mattress will be pricey, but if I stop buying just to have the newest things, just because I can, then the money will be there. It's going to be a change for me, but I know I can handle it!!!

I'm still pushing to eat better and be more environmentally friendly.

I am starting my Wilton Cake Decorating classes tomorrow, I'm very eager for that!! And I paid for my sister to fly up here in 2 weeks to visit. She's been sounding really down lately, and I know she'd like to see the girls. Plus, she's been wanting to meet BFF. So, BFF and I went on a hunt for a good ticket. We hit the jackpot with a flight for under $180!!

Well, I'm going to go rest for a bit before work tonight! That's my "short" update. LOL

See ya all soon!!

Read more...