As us New Englanders say, I have been on the Cape for a few days. What does that mean? I went to Cape Cod. I stayed with a friend and her significant other for a few days at the house they rented for a month.
Her significant other had to go back home for a few days so the two of us had fun shopping at thrift stores, consignment stores, yarn stores, and book stores. I was on the hunt for a few items - spoon rest and clock for the downstairs. I found them. And a few other things that I didn't need. Like yarn, clothes, etc.
Finally the weather cleared up and we went to the beach. It was awesome. Do I have pictures? No. But there were sand bars that went on for miles, and miles. And I did get a touch too much sun.
But then all good things need to come to an end so I came home.... But it was wonderful mini vacation.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Friday, June 23, 2017
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Disappointment
When I stopped working where they brought cookies, bagels, and pastries in several times a week, when for runs to the bakery next door for snacks, and shared pizza, Chinese, or Thai lunches, I thought I would lose weight. I did lose some weight, maybe 10 lbs. Then I gained some of it back.
Some how over the past ten years, besides getting older and developing a million health ailments, I have managed to put on more pounds than I can believe. I am thirty pounds over what I consider my fattest ever weight. I am not sure how that happened. And now, even though I go to the gym three times a week, I can't seem to lose any more.
I know you are what you eat but that doesn't seem to help me. Today was a big breakfast (we are on vacation) of a banana, two eggs, three pieces of bacon and a piece of toast (homemade bread) with butter. That was more than I normally have and I wasn't hungry for lunch until 2 pm when I had a peach and a plum. That will tide me over for dinner.
Tonight for dinner I am making an awesome looking seafood stew. The original recipe calls for 4.5 cups whipping cream and 2 cups of half and half. I'll be using 1% milk instead. I can't imagine all that fat. Chowder isn't the most healthy thing to eat but a rainy day in New England on the ocean calls for chowder. But we will also have a salad and home made bread with it. What we don't eat tonight will be eaten for lunch and other meals for the next few days. Portion control is a big part of weight control.
Back to my topic of disappointment. I was very disappointed today when I went to try on clothes and they didn't fit. Very depressing. Even an XL was too small. And its really only the flabbiness around my middle that I can't seem to get rid of. My inner size six is lost behind a wall of flab.
I am disappointed in myself in that I can't seem to lose the weight. I am disappointed in my body which restricts what I am able to do. I physically am unable to do more exercise. I do not just sit around at home. I make sure I do things every day - I go out to the garden. I get together with friends. I try to eat healthy. I don't eat junk food. I don't eat candy or drink soda.
Its not my thyroid so I can't really rev up my metabolism as I don't have a thyroid. My medication level was just tweaked up but that's not a diet solution.
I know as you age it gets harder to lose weight. I realize this. I also know that I made a big lifestyle change by leaving work. But I also need to make another change that makes me a skinnier person. I wouldn't mind being healthier but that's not going to happen short of a miracle cure.
Some how over the past ten years, besides getting older and developing a million health ailments, I have managed to put on more pounds than I can believe. I am thirty pounds over what I consider my fattest ever weight. I am not sure how that happened. And now, even though I go to the gym three times a week, I can't seem to lose any more.
I know you are what you eat but that doesn't seem to help me. Today was a big breakfast (we are on vacation) of a banana, two eggs, three pieces of bacon and a piece of toast (homemade bread) with butter. That was more than I normally have and I wasn't hungry for lunch until 2 pm when I had a peach and a plum. That will tide me over for dinner.
Tonight for dinner I am making an awesome looking seafood stew. The original recipe calls for 4.5 cups whipping cream and 2 cups of half and half. I'll be using 1% milk instead. I can't imagine all that fat. Chowder isn't the most healthy thing to eat but a rainy day in New England on the ocean calls for chowder. But we will also have a salad and home made bread with it. What we don't eat tonight will be eaten for lunch and other meals for the next few days. Portion control is a big part of weight control.
Back to my topic of disappointment. I was very disappointed today when I went to try on clothes and they didn't fit. Very depressing. Even an XL was too small. And its really only the flabbiness around my middle that I can't seem to get rid of. My inner size six is lost behind a wall of flab.
I am disappointed in myself in that I can't seem to lose the weight. I am disappointed in my body which restricts what I am able to do. I physically am unable to do more exercise. I do not just sit around at home. I make sure I do things every day - I go out to the garden. I get together with friends. I try to eat healthy. I don't eat junk food. I don't eat candy or drink soda.
Its not my thyroid so I can't really rev up my metabolism as I don't have a thyroid. My medication level was just tweaked up but that's not a diet solution.
I know as you age it gets harder to lose weight. I realize this. I also know that I made a big lifestyle change by leaving work. But I also need to make another change that makes me a skinnier person. I wouldn't mind being healthier but that's not going to happen short of a miracle cure.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Bathing Suit Shopping - or things cancer people should be exempt from
Yesterday after work, I went bathing suit shopping. What a bad idea. Why do I do this to myself? Cancer people should get awesome bathing suits without having to try them on and have their size fit them, not the one two sizes larger. They should also get exempt from lots of bad things in life - standing in line to start with.
Why are bathing suits sized so small? Who ever finds a bathing suit in their regular size that fits? Every one I know always gets a bathing suit a size or two larger than their normal size. I know you want them to fit you and not fall off when getting out of the water. But seriously? They never fit.
Anyway, I did go bathing suit shopping. Did I buy a bathing suit? No. I found one I really like but will have to go to another store to find it inmy the larger size. They are called 'Magic suits' and are supposed to make you look like you lost ten pounds instantly.
What I did buy was a gift for a friend, a pair of shorts, three tops, a sweater, a replacement power cord for my phone and a wireless keyboard for my tablet. But no bathing suit. This means I have to go bathing suit shopping again. Damn.
Why are bathing suits sized so small? Who ever finds a bathing suit in their regular size that fits? Every one I know always gets a bathing suit a size or two larger than their normal size. I know you want them to fit you and not fall off when getting out of the water. But seriously? They never fit.
Anyway, I did go bathing suit shopping. Did I buy a bathing suit? No. I found one I really like but will have to go to another store to find it in
What I did buy was a gift for a friend, a pair of shorts, three tops, a sweater, a replacement power cord for my phone and a wireless keyboard for my tablet. But no bathing suit. This means I have to go bathing suit shopping again. Damn.
Monday, January 27, 2014
It was a huge mistake
I have no idea what took over my brain/body yesterday. Before 10am had done the following:
- Reorganized the linen closet - removed everything, refolded it and put it back in an organized fashion.
- Cleaned and refilled spice bottles
- Reorganized the pantry and got rid of some really expired food.
Then I went down to the kitchen and made some cookies. While they were cooking, I cleaned up my mess and then put some spices back and realized the jars were sticky and needed refilling....
And I went to put ingredients back in the pantry and.... well you get it by now.
My husband needed a new pair of shoes. I suggested DSW and looked online to make sure they had the right shoes for him. He said I didn't need to go with him - I said 'Seriously? You thought I would pass up an opportunity to go shoe shopping?' He got what he wanted and I got a nice pair of Merrell sandals for next summer from the clearance rack.
Later in the day I paid the price with a sore back from standing and doing too many things. Crap. I took a tramadol and hung out on the couch for a few hours.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Price shopping for surgery
We all price shop for things. If the gas station across the street is five cents cheaper per gallon, we might go there. If one brand of milk is cheaper than the other, we will probably grab the cheaper one. Some of us coupon clip and research prices online.
We also all have some splurges. Maybe its hand bags, maybe its shoes, maybe its chocolate. These are the items that we purchase regardless of the price. Maybe its that Coach bag or the Manolo Blahnik shoes that we want no matter what. We just blindly get what we want.
So where should our surgery shopping go? If you think about it, most of us have been treating surgery in the second category as a purchase without looking at the cost. Should we be doing this? Or should we shop around and look at price first?
Two recent studies showed the range of appendectomies (done at Washington University) and hip surgery (done at University of California San Francisco). The first ranges from $1529 to 186,955 and the second $10,000 to $125,000. I'm not kidding. My first thought is that there surely must be some sort of quality variance here but if we leave that out for a moment, aren't these ranges amazing?
In any other circumstance if someone said you could get the same car for either $10,000 or $125,000 - which would you take? The $10,000 of course.
But most of us don't seem to apply this same price consciousness when it comes to medical procedures. Maybe we think insurance will cover it so it doesn't matter to me. Yes your insurance covers it but high priced procedures are on of the many things causing continual premium increases. Or if I go to another hospital will I have to get a new doctor? Maybe a new doctor will be even nicer. You don't know until you try. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut of going for treatment to the same place.
Wouldn't it make sense to pay a little attention to the price? As part of the health care changes still coming into play medical providers will need to offer some price transparency to patients. But that is still a long way off.
We also all have some splurges. Maybe its hand bags, maybe its shoes, maybe its chocolate. These are the items that we purchase regardless of the price. Maybe its that Coach bag or the Manolo Blahnik shoes that we want no matter what. We just blindly get what we want.
So where should our surgery shopping go? If you think about it, most of us have been treating surgery in the second category as a purchase without looking at the cost. Should we be doing this? Or should we shop around and look at price first?
Two recent studies showed the range of appendectomies (done at Washington University) and hip surgery (done at University of California San Francisco). The first ranges from $1529 to 186,955 and the second $10,000 to $125,000. I'm not kidding. My first thought is that there surely must be some sort of quality variance here but if we leave that out for a moment, aren't these ranges amazing?
In any other circumstance if someone said you could get the same car for either $10,000 or $125,000 - which would you take? The $10,000 of course.
But most of us don't seem to apply this same price consciousness when it comes to medical procedures. Maybe we think insurance will cover it so it doesn't matter to me. Yes your insurance covers it but high priced procedures are on of the many things causing continual premium increases. Or if I go to another hospital will I have to get a new doctor? Maybe a new doctor will be even nicer. You don't know until you try. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut of going for treatment to the same place.
Wouldn't it make sense to pay a little attention to the price? As part of the health care changes still coming into play medical providers will need to offer some price transparency to patients. But that is still a long way off.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The Perils of Pink
I finally found an article which explains the perils of pinkification better than any attempt I have ever made. You can read the whole thing here or you can read my cliff notes version below.
“The biggest misconception people have is that the proceeds from a product or fundraising event are directly contributed to the cause, or toward progress in ending the breast cancer epidemic, and that’s an assumption which may not be true,” said Gayle Sulik, author of “Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women’s Health.” Whether it’s a entering a walk-a-thon or buying a dusky-rose pair of sneakers, Sulik recommended reading the fine print. “If there are not specifics, if it’s a general, ‘All profits go to support the fight against breast cancer,’ that’s a red flag,” she cautioned.
Here are three product examples:
"The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, for example, uses less than nine cents per dollar raised on fundraising and administrative expenses, compared to the United Breast Cancer Foundation, which spends a whopping 72 cents per dollar before beneficiaries see any of that money. Watchdogs like CharityNavigator.org can help you compare charities to see where your money is going."
The next consideration is there a cap on the amount that goes to the charity - either an end date or a total amount:
When you find a product that supports the cause transparently — and there are plenty out there — try to find out whether there’s a cap on the donation, meaning the donation ends once a certain amount has been met. If the promotion mentions a specific time period and you buy the product after the cut-off date, the would-be donation may go straight to the company, so check for a time limit.
Some tips for where to donate your money are:
“The biggest misconception people have is that the proceeds from a product or fundraising event are directly contributed to the cause, or toward progress in ending the breast cancer epidemic, and that’s an assumption which may not be true,” said Gayle Sulik, author of “Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women’s Health.” Whether it’s a entering a walk-a-thon or buying a dusky-rose pair of sneakers, Sulik recommended reading the fine print. “If there are not specifics, if it’s a general, ‘All profits go to support the fight against breast cancer,’ that’s a red flag,” she cautioned.
Here are three product examples:
- Hershey's Kisses for the Cure Pink Ribbon Music Box, retail price $49.99 has a major selling point that portion of the proceeds to be donated to help fight breast cancer. That amount might be a $1.00 and the authors could not find out what charity the money was going to. Recommendation - skip it.
- Gaiam Ink Ribbon Yoga Mat, retail price $21.98. $1 goes to charity.
- "Andee" Breast Cancer Watch from Coach, retail price $258, $20 goes to charity.
"The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, for example, uses less than nine cents per dollar raised on fundraising and administrative expenses, compared to the United Breast Cancer Foundation, which spends a whopping 72 cents per dollar before beneficiaries see any of that money. Watchdogs like CharityNavigator.org can help you compare charities to see where your money is going."
The next consideration is there a cap on the amount that goes to the charity - either an end date or a total amount:
When you find a product that supports the cause transparently — and there are plenty out there — try to find out whether there’s a cap on the donation, meaning the donation ends once a certain amount has been met. If the promotion mentions a specific time period and you buy the product after the cut-off date, the would-be donation may go straight to the company, so check for a time limit.
Some tips for where to donate your money are:
- The smaller local charities who are helping people you know in your community.
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- MD Anderson
- Johns Hopkins Avon Breast Center
- Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation
- Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
We are turning into a country of shopping malls
I am on a different bent today. Normally I find all things medical and health wise to blog about but today that is not what is aggravating me. I mean the pouring rain doesn't help - it needs to stop by 1230 so I can go out to lunch and not have to drive in a down pour.
Today I want to blog about corporate America - not in the Occupy movement sense but in how they treat their customers. First of all, retailers think they are doing customers a 'favor' by opening stores on Thanksgiving or as soon as they can after midnight. Here in Massachusetts, employees can't work until midnight so the stores will open at 1 am. They get an hour to get the store open before the onslaught arrives. But will people really go shopping at 1 am?
I was talking to a friend the other day who for 23 years has gone shopping with her daughter on black Friday at 5am, enjoying the first rush, shopping for a few hours and then going out to breakfast. This year the fun has gone out of it. They are not going to get up to shop at 1am. Their annual 5am shopping trip will lose its luster. Its the end of an era for them. I am not sure they will shop on Friday as a result.
What about that Target employee who put up an online petition to 'Save Thanksgiving'? He has over 196,000 signagture so far. There is an unofficial poll on CNN.com this morning where 84% don't want stores open on Thanksgiving. Do I hear some dissent in the masses here? Holidays are for employees too. They deserve some time with their families. Yes you can say if you don't want to work the hours, find another job. But in this economy there are not a lot of options for many people. Retailers are desperate for every dollar they can get. I'm not going to any store this weekend other than to take my 7 year old nephew book shopping for a belated birthday present. We will go to an independent store that is not in a mall. I will probably also shop on Cyber Monday to get a good deal for a coat for my husband that I have been waiting to go on sale but that will be at my convenience, not theirs.
In addition Consumer Reports has published their nice or naughty store list. This helps tell me where to shop or not to shop. The naughty ones include Verizon, Swiss Colony, Air Tran, Southwest Airlines, Sirius radio, Game Stop and American Apparel to name a few. But the nice ones include some of my favorite stores - Costco and REI. I can't find the actual CR article but at least a story about it.
Corporate America is unfortunately here to stay. However just because they try to tell us what we want and what we need, and when we should buy it, that doesn't mean we need to suck up to their whims. I won't shop in the middle of the night. I only shop when stores aren't crowded. I try to avoid the scams and to good to be true offers. I also try to buy local.
I think its time we vote with our feet. If we don't like poor customer service, tell them and stop shopping there. If we don't like the quality of their products, tell them, and stop shopping there. If they are the only store for miles around because they have forced out the competition (think Walmart and its evil practices on small town USA), and find another option. Maybe you can't go to a grocery store weekly but you can stock up monthly on the non-perishables further away and buy locally/non Walmart for the little stuff.
We also should remember money and goods aren't everything. If things are low cost, they are probably going to fall apart soon. Low prices don't mean good quality and good service. My last trip to Walmart resulted in rotten produce - it didn't matter if it was cheap in the first place if you have to throw it out and go shopping again.
Also, why do we need stuff? Its nice to give someone a gift, but what about a homemade one? For my family, they will get gift baskets of food I made and some yummy items I purchased. I have done this for several years and they are all happy. Less expense for me, I get to make cookies and eat a few on the way, and we don't amass more stuff. I really hate shopping malls and avoid them as much as I can. I also have a convenient bad back that allows me to refuse mall shopping trips by saying, I can't go shopping it makes my back hurt.
Today I want to blog about corporate America - not in the Occupy movement sense but in how they treat their customers. First of all, retailers think they are doing customers a 'favor' by opening stores on Thanksgiving or as soon as they can after midnight. Here in Massachusetts, employees can't work until midnight so the stores will open at 1 am. They get an hour to get the store open before the onslaught arrives. But will people really go shopping at 1 am?
I was talking to a friend the other day who for 23 years has gone shopping with her daughter on black Friday at 5am, enjoying the first rush, shopping for a few hours and then going out to breakfast. This year the fun has gone out of it. They are not going to get up to shop at 1am. Their annual 5am shopping trip will lose its luster. Its the end of an era for them. I am not sure they will shop on Friday as a result.
What about that Target employee who put up an online petition to 'Save Thanksgiving'? He has over 196,000 signagture so far. There is an unofficial poll on CNN.com this morning where 84% don't want stores open on Thanksgiving. Do I hear some dissent in the masses here? Holidays are for employees too. They deserve some time with their families. Yes you can say if you don't want to work the hours, find another job. But in this economy there are not a lot of options for many people. Retailers are desperate for every dollar they can get. I'm not going to any store this weekend other than to take my 7 year old nephew book shopping for a belated birthday present. We will go to an independent store that is not in a mall. I will probably also shop on Cyber Monday to get a good deal for a coat for my husband that I have been waiting to go on sale but that will be at my convenience, not theirs.
In addition Consumer Reports has published their nice or naughty store list. This helps tell me where to shop or not to shop. The naughty ones include Verizon, Swiss Colony, Air Tran, Southwest Airlines, Sirius radio, Game Stop and American Apparel to name a few. But the nice ones include some of my favorite stores - Costco and REI. I can't find the actual CR article but at least a story about it.
Corporate America is unfortunately here to stay. However just because they try to tell us what we want and what we need, and when we should buy it, that doesn't mean we need to suck up to their whims. I won't shop in the middle of the night. I only shop when stores aren't crowded. I try to avoid the scams and to good to be true offers. I also try to buy local.
I think its time we vote with our feet. If we don't like poor customer service, tell them and stop shopping there. If we don't like the quality of their products, tell them, and stop shopping there. If they are the only store for miles around because they have forced out the competition (think Walmart and its evil practices on small town USA), and find another option. Maybe you can't go to a grocery store weekly but you can stock up monthly on the non-perishables further away and buy locally/non Walmart for the little stuff.
We also should remember money and goods aren't everything. If things are low cost, they are probably going to fall apart soon. Low prices don't mean good quality and good service. My last trip to Walmart resulted in rotten produce - it didn't matter if it was cheap in the first place if you have to throw it out and go shopping again.
Also, why do we need stuff? Its nice to give someone a gift, but what about a homemade one? For my family, they will get gift baskets of food I made and some yummy items I purchased. I have done this for several years and they are all happy. Less expense for me, I get to make cookies and eat a few on the way, and we don't amass more stuff. I really hate shopping malls and avoid them as much as I can. I also have a convenient bad back that allows me to refuse mall shopping trips by saying, I can't go shopping it makes my back hurt.
Friday, June 12, 2009
On being nice
Yesterday, I don't think I was being nice. I mean I tried to be nice all day but lack of sleep, back pain, and too much to do contribute to relative crabbiness. But also I was confronted with sales help who are clueless. I met friends at a local bakery which has little yummy individual souffles for breakfast - which are awesome (and a secret addiction). But when I got to the register, there weren't any. I asked and they said they were in the oven and would be ready in five minutes. I said fine, I would get tea now and come back up when they were ready. 20 minutes later they were still not out - even though I saw them come out of the oven so I went back up to ask. Apparently, they were letting them cool and wanted me to wait another 15 minutes... I might burn myself on them if I got one too soon. If they weren't going to be ready for half an hour from when I first asked, why didn't she tell me.
Next I stopped into a local furniture store as I had 20 minutes or so before I had to go to work - long enough to window shop in a store but not long enough to do much else. I was looking around and a nice person asked if he could help me. I asked about a piece that was marked with a sale sign but not a sale price. He said he would get a sales person who could answer my questions because he was the visual display guy and didn't know detailed price info. Ten minutes later he was surprised to find me still wandering the store with no sales help so he said he would find someone to help me. Then another five minutes go by and the sales person tells me she will be right with me. Then I see her selecting stuff for another customer so I start walking towards the door.
Finally a sales person comes up to me as I am about to leave. I said to her 'I am looking for a love seat and/or twin sleeper but now have to go to work'. She said she would print some materials out for me to take with me. I said fine but I have to go to work now. She starts printing, and then answers questions for co-workers, and then prints some more and then talks to other co-workers. I said I have to go to work and don't have time. Finally I get information, go running out the door, and am late for work. So now I have furniture information, no desire to go back to that store, which did have really nice stuff and a sale starting this weekend, but their sales people don't get it. Customer service, hello!!!
I was a tad overscheduled because I had to take the cat to the vet in the AM and pick him at the end of the day, in addition to everything else I had on my calendar. They checked him out and he is better. His blood sugar levels are almost too low so we had to readjust his insulin intake and go back in a couple of weeks to check again. He has gained back a pound of weight so he is up to 12.5 which is good. There is a chance, we won't be able to stabilize his blood sugar levels, which would be very bad.
Yesterday my back was somewhat cooperative (meaning it didn't hurt badly all day) and I got a fair amount of sleep. I was exhausted by the end of the day and never got out for a walk.
In the meantime, I have to get moving today because it is pouring rain, there are accidents on the highway, and I have to get to work on time so I can leave on time so I can meet a friend for a walk on time.
Next I stopped into a local furniture store as I had 20 minutes or so before I had to go to work - long enough to window shop in a store but not long enough to do much else. I was looking around and a nice person asked if he could help me. I asked about a piece that was marked with a sale sign but not a sale price. He said he would get a sales person who could answer my questions because he was the visual display guy and didn't know detailed price info. Ten minutes later he was surprised to find me still wandering the store with no sales help so he said he would find someone to help me. Then another five minutes go by and the sales person tells me she will be right with me. Then I see her selecting stuff for another customer so I start walking towards the door.
Finally a sales person comes up to me as I am about to leave. I said to her 'I am looking for a love seat and/or twin sleeper but now have to go to work'. She said she would print some materials out for me to take with me. I said fine but I have to go to work now. She starts printing, and then answers questions for co-workers, and then prints some more and then talks to other co-workers. I said I have to go to work and don't have time. Finally I get information, go running out the door, and am late for work. So now I have furniture information, no desire to go back to that store, which did have really nice stuff and a sale starting this weekend, but their sales people don't get it. Customer service, hello!!!
I was a tad overscheduled because I had to take the cat to the vet in the AM and pick him at the end of the day, in addition to everything else I had on my calendar. They checked him out and he is better. His blood sugar levels are almost too low so we had to readjust his insulin intake and go back in a couple of weeks to check again. He has gained back a pound of weight so he is up to 12.5 which is good. There is a chance, we won't be able to stabilize his blood sugar levels, which would be very bad.
Yesterday my back was somewhat cooperative (meaning it didn't hurt badly all day) and I got a fair amount of sleep. I was exhausted by the end of the day and never got out for a walk.
In the meantime, I have to get moving today because it is pouring rain, there are accidents on the highway, and I have to get to work on time so I can leave on time so I can meet a friend for a walk on time.
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