Day 338 (March 13th)--Undercover for Nothing

Besides going to taste tests for extra money, I also like to do mystery shops from time to time. I do not go as often as I used to but I have done a lot of them in my day--everything from going to a daycare center posing as a prospective parent to being on a consumer panel discussing steaks to evaluating Lifetime fitness. Today I was supposed to go undercover posing as an agent from a phone company where I would go into an apartment complex to see if they had this company's promotional materials in their move in packet. So I go to Target and buy the gift card they are supposed to get after the audit is over, I change my clothes from jeans to business casual and go out of my way to get to this place only to come to find out they refused to participate in the study. I did all that mystery shop work for nothing. Well, almost for nothing. I e-mailed the scheduler when I got back. They are still paying me for the shop and I will get reimbursed for the $10 gift card. Let me say I will never live at that apartment complex I audited though--the agent was yelling at some tenant on the phone in front of me about going to court blah blah blah.....

-Jackie

Day 337 (March 12th)--Rock the Shamrock (Shake)

Today I did something I have been wanting to for a long time.....I tried a Shamrock Shake....and it was DELICIOUS! I now understand why people look forward to the "Limited time" McDonald's has then each year! Will I ever have one again? Most certainly!

-Jackie

Day 336 (March 11th)--a Couple of new things

Today I was not feeling well (and am blessed to have such a great boss and great job) so my boss told me I could go ahead and finish the day from home. (We can work from home once in awhile). So I was able to lie down for a couple of hours then make up the 3 hours I had left. While I was typing up my case notes I watched Oprah who had celebrity chefs on her show talking about how to make the take out style meals at home for a lot less. Previously, the only cooking show I ever watched was Rachel Rae and only in small tidbits. I learned today how to make some meals such as Shrimp Tacos and Restaurant Style Nachos from tortillas. I learned from Chefs like Tyler Florence some cost cutting solutions like substituting Turkey breast for Hamburger and the importance of having a slow cooker (which we do.) The first family they profiled on there spent $400 a week on take out. I wonder where they struck it rich. I kick myself for spending over $30 a week on fast food/takeout!

EXTRA CREDIT: Kohl's was having a sale and I was in DESPERATE need of new jeans (my old ones keep sliding down, even with a belt) and tops for work. I ended up getting a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans. I have never owned a pair of this brand of jeans before...I might have to buy another pair in the future. I have been having trouble finding a nice pair of jeans and these are the PERFECT FIT and for a great price!

-Jackie

Day 335 (March 10th)--Integrity

Integrity is a word I have heard a lot about lately and is something I strive for in my life. I like Horton in Horton Hears a Who Sums it up best when he says "I meant what I say and I say what I meant."

When I think of my car dealership who have not only sold me all the cars I have ever owned (expect for my 1st one which was a hand me down) and is my repair shop one word comes to mind: integrity. With that said I nominated them for the 2009 Business of Integrity for the MN Better Business Bureau. Every year the Better Business Bureau Serving Minnesota and North Dakota honor businesses that demonstrate and exemplary level of Ethics. I really hope they win. The awards ceremony is not until October 28th but I think it would still be a nice Honor for them. We hear enough about businesses that rip people off or have poor customer service. I like to let the businesses who go the extra mile know they are appreciated!

-Jackie

Day 334--March 9th--Recipe Submission

Remember that recipe for Chocolate Chunk peanut butter Cookies from last week? Well, the place I work for is celebrating their 40th anniversary and are putting out a cookbook of recipes. Well, this recipe is going into the cookbook! Since it is not being published as a book for sale it is just going to be a cookbook for staff and families. Still, it's nice enough that I have mastered a recipe I can finally submit for something like this!

-Jackie

Day 333 (March 8th)--Carnival Games

Yesterday we went out to lunch with our friend "A" for my hubby's birthday. He is a big Wii fanatic like me and lent Mike and I some games. Today I tried one of those games, called Carnival Games. Many of the games on there remind me of the games that were at my High School graduation all night party. Frog toss, Test Your Strength, the one where you roll the ball but it can't come back on the other side. Fun times!

-Jackie

Day 332 (March 7th)--A Down to the Wire new thing

Tonight I actually had a different new thing planned but due to technical difficulties I was not able to do it. So you will see THAT new thing in the coming week. Tonight I found a article about famous feuds....quite a few I had been already aware of but I decided to research a Specific Hollywood feud between two sisters from old Hollywood--Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. Olivia played Melanie Wilkes in the Movie Gone with the Wind---and I guess just picked on here younger sister Joan like nothing else! They both went into the acting business but their mother would not let Joan use the family name so she had to come up with a screen name! Also when they won their Academy Awards (Joan first) they would blow off the sister that was trying to congratulate them! They finally stopped speaking all together in 1975. This is the kind of Story line that is so good I don't think Hollywood could come up with something as good if they tried! In my family I have had some bumpy patches in the past with my sisters, but nothing EVEN close to this!

-Jackie