Cady Corner

I don’t know why I haven’t blogged in the past 2 months….could have been partially that my computer decided to give me issues or perhaps the vacation I went on..but nonetheless, I am working on being better at blogging…call it a late new year’s resolution.

What is new in my life….started attending Weight Watcher at work meetings about 6 weeks ago.  I wasn’t attending meetings outside and since my company moved us to Dallas it seemed like a golden opportunity.  So I signed back up and outside of the last week on vacation (where I did watch what I was eating and tried to eat less) I’ve done fairly well.  I think it is about 7.5 lbs or so that I have lost in that time.  I stepped on the scale at home the other day when we returned and was pleasantly surprised to see that the scale was about the same as before I left.  Hooray!  Now to keep it that way until I weigh in on Tuesday.

We did visit the great town of Branson Missouri and spent about 5 days there.  We did a lot but didn’t see any shows (because that is what everyone has asked!).  The shows that we would have been interested in seeing only occur in the Fall or at Christmas time.

So that is a quick snapshot and I need to download photos from Branson and then I can talk about the fun things we did there!  So stay tuned

On Tuesday I was eating some pretzels as a snack and I bit down and broke one of my back molars.  I should clarify that I broke off part of the tooth and it didn’t go down to the root which meant no root canal but I did have to get a crown.  I’ve never had a crown before and in 42 years I guess that is good, but would have preferred going even longer without having to get one.  I will say that the tooth that broke did have this huge filling so I guess it was just a matter of time.

So today was the appointment when I learned the bad news.  So they shot me up (my face is still numb 3 hours later, is that a good or bad thing?), did whatever it is that they do to your tooth (and I really don’t want to know, assume they grind it down which is enough for me), took a mold for the permanent crown and then put on the temporary.

And then I got the bill…$875.  Ouch!  Of course I don’t have dental insurance because it has been 8 years since I have had anything more than a filling.  At least I have flex spending money so at least it is pre-tax money.

So I get to go back in 3 weeks…oh joy.

My preferred grocery store is Kroger, good prices and a wide variety and everything I need.  However, when I need something quick I’ll stop at Tom Thumb because it is closer to the house and on the way home.  But then I realized why I don’t like shopping there…..

• I couldn’t buy a single carrot, had to buy a package or multiples.
• I couldn’t buy just 1 or 2 packages of ramen noodles for this dish I am making, well I could if I wanted beef or chicken flavor but not the oriental flavor
• prices are higher than Kroger

Luckily I rarely need something on the way home…I’ll just have to be better about planning meals and buying the groceries on the weekend.

Today my company officially started operations in downtown Dallas.  They decided to move us because they thought we should be with the corporate headquarters.  So while I changed jobs and took a pay cut 3 1/2  years ago so I could be closer to home, that is now gone.  Many aren’t thrilled with the change, but we are thankful to have a job so I guess that is something.

I am taking the train to work because I don’t like dealing with traffic because they can be idiots!  Anything to save on my sanity.

I will say that  I have a nicer space with more room, a pseudo office if you will.  I have a window and the set up like an office without the tall walls or door.  And between the visit and today they took down cubicles so now you can see right into my space when you come around the corner.  Not sure I like that.

I’m just glad I can work from home on Fridays.  I might throw in a Thursday or two out there depending on the week.  It is easier to work from the office with two monitors and being where the computers are, but there is something to be said about working from home and being able to sleep in a little and cut down on my stress levels.  So we’ll see how it goes!

I am a Miche Bag rep and this weekend was a conference for our area.  Several of the corporate executives came down and told us about what was going on at Miche headquarters, we got to brainstorm with each other on ideas to make parties fun and the best part was seeing the new shells that are due to come out this year or are prototypes of ones that could be produced this year or next.

We also got to see photos of the production plant in China, learn more about the materials used and that it takes about 4 months from when they decide to release a shell until it is available for us to purchase.  We can thank customs for the extra month!

All in all it was a good conference and I learned a lot…especially how many new shells are coming out that I just love and want to own in my collection!  This could be damaging to my pocketbook!

Now some of you may be asking, what the heck is a Miche bag?  It is only the BEST purse ever!  I know I am not the kind of person that likes to change purses…shoot, I carried the same purse for 6 years (it was Coach and held up well).  However, I heard about this on the radio and found a retail store that sold them and went thinking I would take a quick look and then tell hubby what I liked so he could buy one for me as a gift.  That was my thinking…until I saw them.   Then I thought, heck, I think I could sell these.  So I contacted Miche and they put me in contact with a distributor in my area and the rest is history!  This was 1 1/2 years ago and I can’t imagine not having this purse because it has changed my life.  I can change my shell to match my outfit, several times a day if I want, but I don’t have to move the contents from one purse to another, it just stays there and the outside changes.

Then to make the concept even better, they came out with a larger bag for those that need to carry more items than what will fit in the classic bag.  I like to use the big bag for work and for traveling.

If you have never taken a peek at this bag you should.  You can see more details here or here.  Questions?  Just ask!

So hubby and I are trying to spruce up the house and get it a little bit more organized.  This means some new furniture and organizational needs.

So yesterday we visited the Ikea in Frisco Texas.  Oh my that is one HUGE store!  I think we spent about 2 1/2 hours walking around even though we knew what we wanted to buy.  But this was a good thing because we decided that we needed to get a new chest of drawers for one bedroom along with the bookshelf option for the other one.

So this morning I put the chest of drawers together.  It only took me about 3 hours and I only had a few mishaps, but it is done and looks good!  And while I was putting this together I washed sheets and towels (2 loads, not 1!) and also watched Whip It and Fame.  Whip It was actually pretty good and Fame was ok….I guess I’m too old to really appreciate it like I did the original series.

This is a picture of the new chest of drawers….it looks good!  oh and this is from Ikea’s site…I’m took tired to take a picture of the one I built!

We adopted both of our dogs from the North Texas Humane Society.  We lovingly refer to them as pound puppies.

With Gracie, we were pretty sure we knew what her mix was (or at least the primary breeds) – a Dachshund/black Lab mix.  Do you agree?  The vet thinks she might have something else mixed in there.

Now April is another story.  We thought she might have some terrier in her.  Others have thought beagle, corgi, some Dachshund and even golden retriever.  So since dog DNA testing is the “hot” thing right now, we decided to get her tested.  Our vet had told us about testing he could do that would be a blood test and through Wisdom Panel which is a division of Mars Veterinary.  So I sent off for a test and got it within a few days.  It consisted of two swabs with soft bristles on the end that you rub along the dogs cheek.  Kind of like what you see them do on CSI!  I mailed it back and about 2 weeks later we had the results.  Shall we say that the results were VERY surprising!  The two breeds that they could identify (there were others but not enough genetic markers which means to me they were watered down!) were Cocker Spaniel and Labrador Retriever.  ummm, what?!  where was the terrier or even Corgi that we thought she had in her?  Could they have messed up the test?

As the results started to sink in, we could see some of those two breeds in her.  However, neither really explains her hyper personality which is a lot like a terrier.  Maybe I’ll try another test with another company.  And now we think maybe we should test Gracie just to see what they say and what is pretty evident in her appearance.  I’m considering Bio Pet since it is only $60 compared to the $80 for the previous test.  However, not having any idea about April, I wanted the largest database possible and Wisdom Panel has over 125 dogs in their database while Bio Pet only has 63.

I guess we will think about it for another few days.

Everybody loves… BABIES. Coming to theaters this Mother’s Day Weekend (May 7th), this visually stunning new movie simultaneously follows four babies around the world – from first breath to first steps. From Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo, BABIES joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.

This information is coming to you courtesy of BzzAgent.

Here comes Aldi – the German discount grocer.  Believe it or not, they have been in the US since 1976 and started in Iowa.

Aldi offers a much smaller selection than traditional grocery stores and you won’t likely find a lot of brand name items.  However, you will find pretty good prices on products similar to what you purchase and who knows, the products may be made by your favorite companies.

Aldi opened in Texas today, or at least the metroplex, with 8 grand openings.  So hubby and I checked out the one in Arlington close to our home.  It was a mad house!  Packed parking lot (and it isn’t that big anyway) and lots of people in the store also checking out the merchandise.

We walked up and to get a cart, you have to put a quarter in this slot, take the cart and when you put the cart up when you are done, you get your quarter back.  Not a bad idea, might help carts from being stolen!

Walking into the store it is has a warehouse feeling.  If you have been in stores like Save-a-Lot you will know what I am talking about.  There aren’t fancy foods or displays, just everything where you can see it.

The pricing isn’t bad especially in the produce section:  cucumbers were $0.49 (and big ones at that) and 3 bell peppers (red, yellow and green) for $2.49.

You will find good prices on meats and good cuts too.  93/7 lean ground beef is $2.99/lb (you are lucky to find it on sale at that price), 5 oz bacon wrapped beef filet was $1.79 – each not per pound.

Some items were pretty close to what I see in the grocery store, especially on sale, but overall the pricing seems good and because the number of items to choose from is lower, you may not walk out with as much or at least not have to make as many decisions!

A few tips – bring your own bags.  They charge for you to use one of theirs…but you should be bringing your own bags anyway and help the environment!  Also, they do not take credit cards.  Cash and debit cards and maybe checks.  Thank goodness I had a debit card otherwise we would have had to put it all back!

While Aldi will never replace my trips to Kroger, I can see purchasing some items there when needed.

Today at work I had the strangest thing happen.  I was walking by the door that leads to the bathroom that we share with the law office on the other side of the building when there was a knock on the door (the door is locked to get into our offices from the bathroom).  I opened it thinking someone had locked themselves out (it happens).  Instead, I find this woman standing there, obviously from the law office.

Now this is where it gets interesting….or strange, depends on how you look at the situation.

She told me that someone had just left the bathroom and didn’t wash their hands.

What do you say to that?  Of course I think of all of the good things afterwards, but I did state that we had a hand sanitizer station right inside our door.  I don’t think she liked that answer.

Now I realize that everyone should wash their hands after using the bathroom, that is just good hygiene.  But what was she doing?  Tattling on someone?  Are we 5?

Needless to say she must have said something to someone else in the law office because another employee approached my coworker and basically apologized for this person.  She is a temp and apparently a little strange.  You think?!