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Knit for Hope

Posted on August 20, 2009 by auburnchick

There is a group of us that chats almost daily via Skype.

During a recent chat, three of my friends discussed the plight of the man in this article.

It really touched my friends because one of them is a member of the Yurok Tribe.  Her mom lives in California on the Yurok Reservation and works in the clinic.

My friends decided to start a new charity project.  They have called it Knit for Hope.

According to Debbie’s (aka Figaro) mom, the clinic would really appreciate baby items (hats, etc.) as a way to encourage women to go to the clinic for vital prenatal and infant care.

Please, visit the site.  All of the information is there.  I hope that if God leads you to help, you will respond.

Thanks all!

Filed under: Charity | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Seven Cents for Spaghetti Sauce!

Posted on August 20, 2009 by auburnchick

Guess what today was?

SHOPPING DAY!!

My Publix starts new sales every Wednesday.  It usually takes me a couple of days to research how I want to use my coupons to get the most for my money.

I think I did a good job today.

Take a look at the following:

See those two black Publix bags?  They’re reusable, and I got them FREE today!  For every two boxes of General Mills cereal I bought, I got a free bag.  There were peelies on the cereal boxes, and I had already planned to buy the cereal because it was B1G1, and I had big coupons.

As I watched the gal bag my groceries, I was astounded at the amount each bag held…

The bags are a lot wider and deeper than they look hanging up in the store!  They hold way more than the plastic bags you typically carry your stuff in.  Plus, they are a lot more durable.  I have two more coupons for them…good until 2010.  I can’t wait to get more!

Ok, so…inquiring minds want to know…what was in the bags, and how much did I save?

A few highlights:

Uncle Ben’s Rice – B1G1 @ $1.49
Used:  $1 mfg off of each box
Spent:  NOTHING!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.51

Ragu – on sale for $1.29
Used:  $.55 mfg (one per jar) AND a $2 off of 3 jar competitor store coupon
Spent:  $.22 for all three — $.07 per jar of sauce!!!!!!

Mott’s Apple Sauce – 3/$5 (I only bought one at $1.67)
Used:  $1 mfg AND $1 competitor
Spent:  NOTHING!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.34!!!!

Edwards Pie Slices – B1G1 @ $2.85
Used:  $1 competitor (one per box)
Spent:  $.75 for both – that’s $.37 each!!!!!

Grand Total Spent – $25.13

Total Saved – $92.18

Percent Saved – 73%

You guys, I know it looks like a lot of hard work, but it is really worth the effort!

Here’s how I do it each week.

I read both Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living updates.  I mainly shop at Publix, so I especially focus on its store list each week.  I check A Full Cup for coupons.  It’s a GREAT resource!

I copy the list from either Frugal Coupon Living or Southern Savers (they do different stores…I mostly use Publix) into a Word document.

Then, I go through each item and ask myself the following questions:

  • Will I use this or is it something I can donate?
  • Do I have the coupon(s) for it?
  • How much will it cost in the end?

I run numbers.  After figuring in the final price that I will pay (after coupons), I determine the percentage I’m going to save.  If it’s 60% or over, and I’ve answered yes to the above questions, then I will buy it, and it stays on the list.

If I don’t have coupons or know I won’t use something (baby food, vitamins, etc.), I delete that item from the list and move on.

Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living provide you with links to sites where you can print specific coupons.  It’s right there for you, so it’s easy!  Sometimes, you won’t be able to print a coupon.  That might be because the specified number of printings has already been reached.

Because I have my new coupon filing system in place, I have a much easier time locating coupons.

I got my list together last night while watching television.  On the list, I wrote down the coupons I had and the value of each.  It’s useful when going back and looking over your receipt.  Cashiers make mistakes.  Especially when you hand them 36 coupons like I did today.

I waited until this morning to head to the store.  A rested brain was needed.  I popped on my headphones and listened to music while I did my thing.

When I shop, I’ll note the price of each item.  My store’s prices tend to run higher than what is listed online.  I want to make sure each item rings up properly.  I’ve caught myself scanning a receipt, noting a huge price difference and realizing that I bought the wrong size of something.

Checking out is the most fun part.  I always apologize to the person standing behind them and warn them that they might have to wait awhile.  Most people are polite.

Then I keep an eagle eye on the register’s screen…especially when the coupons are getting scanned.  I ask the cashier if she’d like competitor coupons separate from the others because they have to manually enter them.  My favorite cashier is awesome and takes them in whatever order I give them to her.  I also try to keep coupons for free items separate.  Those have to be entered manually as well.

And folks, that’s all there is to it.

Yeah, it does sound like a lot of work now that I read back through the above.  But, the best I can tell, I don’t have a money tree growing in my back yard, so I’ve got to save where I can.

Shopping has almost become like a game for me.  I follow the rules but take advantage of the perks that the manufactures offer (coupons, rebates, etc.) for buying their products.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Oh, and before I forget, here are two coupon links.

Pat (thank you!) sent me this one for $.75 off of one gallon or two half-gallons of Borden milk.  Click on Coupons (middle left of the page).

Here’s one where you can sign up for a free sample of Yoplait Whips.  I accidentally found it when I was googling for a rebate form for yogurt I bought last week.

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Chicky Can’t Catch a Break

Posted on August 19, 2009 by auburnchick

Poor Chicky.  She just can’t seem to catch a break lately.

You might remember when she went over on her cell phone minutes?  I blogged about it here.

Last night, Chicky spent a couple of hours at a friend’s house.  As always, she texted me before she left.  Her curfew on weeknights is 10pm.  She’s only been late once, and it was only by a couple of minutes.

When I saw the clock digits hit 10:15, I sent the Mr. out to look for her.  We live in a small town, and it doesn’t take long to get places…especially at that hour.

Five minutes later, they both walked in the door.

Why was Chicky late?

One hint…

Yeah.

She was getting her first ticket.

She had made it into our neighborhood.  The first thing you encounter after going down a short strip of road is a stop sign.

Across from the stop sign is the neighborhood pool with a parking lot in front of it.

A cop had parked himself in this prime location.

When Chicky arrived at the stop sign, she eased into her turn without making a complete stop.

It was at that point when the lights on the cop car came on.

She knew she was done for.

I’m sure my many warnings to stop completely at stop signs echoed in her head as she waited for him to write the ticket.

Her heart fell when she saw the fine:  $160.

She’s always been a safe driver, and yes, she knows that stopping at stop signs is vital.  She was in a rush to make curfew (she knows to leave a few minutes earlier).  It was hard to stay mad at her.  I think she was more mad at herself.

It was another expensive lesson.  I think this one will stick.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 3 Comments »

Star Struck

Posted on August 18, 2009 by auburnchick

Ok…so I didn’t get to go to Sock Summit.

If you’re not a knitter, let me explain what Sock Summit was.

It was probably one of the most fantastic knitting get-togethers ever.  Think of it like a Woodstock for knitters.

You know how much I love knitting socks…so I would have loved to have attended.

But I had a couple of problems…

1)  No money

2) No job to make money

So, I stayed home, turned a bit green every time I read about someone else’s brush with this or that famous designer, and knit my own pair of socks all by my lonely self.

I also consoled myself by reading the blogs of some of these designers.

I even posted a couple of comments.  I tend to be a little shy, but when I see something that strikes my fancy, I like to say a little something.

And you know what?

Two of the ladies emailed me after I commented!

The first person was Anne, who writes KnitSpot.

And she didn’t send me just one email.  I think she sent me three!!

Take a look at her blog and join me in ooohhhing and aaaahhhhing over her incredible shawls.  Her photography is incredible.

The next shock came tonight.

I was doing my “mom” thing…

No…not cooking dinner…

I was at the high school, handing out schedules at the Freshmen Orientation.

During a lull in the action, my phone vibrated.  I had an email.

Upon opening it, I discovered the sender’s name…

Are you ready?

It was…

Cookie A

I almost fell out of my chair.

Remember the red socks I just finished?

That was Cookie’s pattern!

And I’ve got a little something new “cooking” on my needles, if you get my drift.

I tried to explain to the volunteer sitting beside me why I was picking up my jaw from the table.

I’m not sure if she got it.

If you’re into fibery crafts, you understand.

Both of these ladies’ responses were personal and very sweet.  It was cool to find out that they do really pay attention to the people who comment on their blogs.

It was probably a good thing that I didn’t make it to Sock Summit.  I would have returned home with a serious case of dry eye syndrome from not being able to blink…afraid to miss a glimpse of a famous knitter.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

The Mr. Needs a Shave

Posted on August 18, 2009 by auburnchick

A couple of weeks ago, the Mr. handed me this…

It happens to be his empty razor cartridge holder.

It was his not-so-subtle way of letting me know that I needed to buy him more.

“Wait,” I said, “until I can find a coupon.”

Poor guy.

He waited a week, reminded me of his request, and then reminded again…this time with the admonition that he had just cut himself on a blade that was getting more and more dull by the day.

Fortunately (for both of us), Target had Gillette Fusion razors on sale this week, and Your’s Truly had coupons.

Here’s a picture of everything I bought today…

Now, let’s talk deals.

First of all, I bought everything in three separate transactions.

For Transaction #1:

I used the following coupons…

Let’s talk $$.

First off, the red Gillette coupon was a Target peelie that I found a month or two ago when I bought Venus Razors.  I only grabbed one because I didn’t think it was all that great of a deal.  Turns out I was wrong.

To get the $4 off, I had to buy a box of razor cartridges and a twin-pack of gel (which I later returned because I didn’t have a coupon on it).

So, the breakdown:

Razor – On sale for $7.94
Target Coupon – $4.00
Mfg coupon (which you can stack with store coupons) – $2.00
Total:  $1.94

I had a coupon for free Gillette Shampoo with the purchase of the razor.  The coupon did not specify a particular size bottle, nor did it specify a price (up to “X” amount), so I bought the largest bottle – $6.79 value
Total:  FREE

I had a coupon for free Gillette Body Wash with the purchase of the razor – $3.99
Total:  FREE

Catridges – $13.29 (ouch!)
Mfg Coupon – $4.00
Total: $9.29

I had a coupon for free Gillette Deodorant with the purchase of the cartridges.  I found a deodorant with a free sample size attached.  $4.24
Total:  FREE

I had a coupon for free Gillette Shaving Gel with the purchase of the cartridges – $3.59
Total:  FREE

Now here’s the awesome part.  This week, customers get a $5 Target gift card when they purchase two Gillette razors or cartridges (or a combination).  Woo Hoo!

Because I buy two papers each week, I had enough coupons for an almost identical deal – Transaction #2….

For this transaction, I had the following coupons…

This time, I didn’t have the $4 peelie, but I had something better…my $5 Target gift card.  So, I saved a dollar more than the previous round and got another set of free items!

Once again, at the end of the deal, I received a $5 gift card.

Time for Transaction #3.

Chicky has soccer games this weekend, so I knew we would need water.  We’ll be driving to South Carolina, and I like to keep a cooler in the back.  We’ll drink on the water all weekend…on the way, at the hotel, and during games.

The water was on sale for $3.99

One added treat:  two Twix bars.

Of course I had coupons for these.  Yesterday I received my last two free chocolate bar coupons.  I had originally planned on using them at Walgreens, which has Mars candy for $.49 this week, but on a whim, I stuck them in my back pocket and thought I’d check out Target’s prices.  The coupons are only good for up to $.85.  Target sold them for $.52.

Free is free, and knocking one store off of my list made me happy.

I used the $5 gift card from the previous transaction to pay for this transaction and walked out with $.90 left on the gift card.

So, do you want to know the grand total for the day?

Total spent:  $25.95

Total saved (coupons, gift cards, etc.):  $50.26

Total I would have spent if I didn’t use coupons:  $76.21

I saved 66% today!!

Now, I’ve gotta tell you that I had one of the most patient cashiers ever.  She never once lost her cool, despite having to void two entire transactions because I was dumb.  The first time, I didn’t get the twin pack of gel, and rather than make the customers behind me wait, she voided the transaction, let me run get it, waited on the next person, then started over with me.

For the second transaction, I had forgotten to get the second box of cartridges.  Because she had already completed the transaction (including the coupon part), the register wouldn’t kick out the gift card, so she had to void the entire thing while I ran and got another box from the shelves.  When I returned, she was just finishing the voids, and she started over.

To say that I was the object of everyone’s attention would be like saying there’s a sun in the sky.

Yeah.

But you do what you’ve gotta do when you want to save money and when your husband needs a shave.  He should be able to shave for a year without getting another cut…from a dull blade, that is.

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

An Old Memory

Posted on August 17, 2009 by auburnchick

Today, when Rooster and I got home from running errands, I saw my neighbor sitting outside, watching her two young children play.

As I said hello, her son said, “Watch me.”

His mom explained that 15 minutes earlier, he had learned how to ride his bicycle.

This was significant to me because just last week, as his mom and I talked, I watched him struggle.  Over and over again, I observed as he tried his best to get himself started.  That’s probably the hardest part of learning to ride…getting the wheels going.  But he didn’t have the balancing down either.

Today, I stood amazed as I watched him fly down the sidewalk.

He’s four years old, and his bike is tiny.  But, it’s a two-wheeler with no training wheels.

As he pedaled back in my direction, I saw his huge smile.  He was so proud of himself.

His mom’s face mirrored his own.

I felt so privileged to witness this momentous event, and I was taken back to the day that Chicky learned to ride her bike.

We lived in an apartment in South Florida, and we had gotten her a bike for either her birthday or Christmas.

We took her to the basketball court, which was unoccupied at the moment.  We figured that the smooth surface would be easier for her to learn on.

The Mr. stood behind her bike, reassuring her that he wouldn’t let go.

And off he ran…Chicky pedaling as hard as she could go.

They went back and forth a couple of times.

And then…

The Mr. let go…

And Chicky didn’t know…

She flew halfway across the court before she figured out that Daddy had let go, which prompted her to lose focus and fall down.

She was a quick learner…no surprise there…and easily mastered getting started on her own.
It’s a memory that was buried until this afternoon.

The feelings that accompany such times are mixed.  On the one hand, you feel joy as you watch your children experience the freedom they were longing for.  You also experience a twinge of sadness that your children have, in some way, discovered that they don’t need your hand to hold them steady.

We had an unofficial rule in our home regarding bikes.  Every two years, the kids got a new ones.  And it was always bigger to accommodate their growth.  At first, they would teeter a bit, but it never took long for them to be jumping cracks in the sidewalk, as confident as they were on the older, smaller bikes.

As the years have gone by, we’ve once again replaced wheels…exchanging two for four…as in cars.  Just as we stood behind them giving them advice on how to steady themselves on their bikes, we’re now giving advice on how to stay safe amongst other four-wheeled modes of transportation.  I think this time we’re more scared than they are.

Watching my young neighbor learn to ride made me feel like the Mr. and I are behind Chicky’s bike again…barely holding on as she begins her ride toward adulthood.  In one week, she’ll officially be a “Senior” in high school.  She knows how to pedal, and every day she learns to balance herself a little more.  Soon, we’ll let go for good and watch her ride away.

Am I ready?

I think so.

But I’m also a little sad.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Chicky is Paranoid

Posted on August 17, 2009 by auburnchick

The Mr. and I accidentally scared Chicky last night and got quite the chuckle out of it.

She and Rooster were getting ready to leave for youth group when the Mr. told me that when Chicky left, he’d tell me something.

I asked if it was something bad, and he said no, but he didn’t want her to get mad.  You know how it is…teens are unpredictable in their reactions to things.  It doesn’t take much to set them off.

So, I made my way to the garage to see if they had left and ran into Chicky in the laundry room.  She sensed something was amiss and asked what I was doing.

“Nothing,” I said.

She gave me THE LOOK that said she didn’t believe me but left anyway.

I went to the back of the house to get the Mr. to spill the beans.  All he told me was how she was planning on adding workout sessions with her physical trainer next summer to get ready for college.  She also wants to find some good camps to attend to keep her in shape.  They had this conversation on the way back from practice, and it shocked him that she initiated it.

I told him, “I told you so,” because a few days before I had told him that she was finally taking ownership of herself…not complaining about practices and getting serious about prepping for next year.

As we talked, Chicky rushed into the room asking, “Am I in trouble?”

We started laughing.

“You mean you turned the car around and came home just because you thought you were in trouble,” we asked her?

You could see the look of relief on her face when she realized that all was good.

See, she had been grounded the week before.

The punishment?

No cell phone.

It was a travesty…the worst punishment you can inflict on a teenager.

Guy Friend had just left for college, and she couldn’t text him minute-by-minute updates…”Eating a sandwich for lunch…” “Wiping my mouth…” “Getting up from the table…”

You know what I’m talking about.  Unlimited texting amounts to about 3,000 texts per month.

She told us that she thought something was up when she encountered me in the laundry room, but then Rooster had come in the house (we didn’t hear him) and heard my, “I told you so,” and assumed that I had “discovered” something Chicky had done.

Um…we won’t go there.  Let’s just say that there are little horns that reside just below the girl’s halo.  I’m sure you parents don’t have any idea of what I’m talking about (insert wink and a tinge of sarcasm here).

So, we fessed up.

Sure, we were talking about her, but in a GOOD way.

I think we’ve learned a lesson that we can just say what we want and not worry about how she reacts.

She left, able to enjoy her evening at the church, and we smiled, thinking that maybe…just maybe…we’re finally getting somewhere.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Filed under: children | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

I Love Free Dog Food!

Posted on August 16, 2009 by auburnchick

My shopping trip today resulted in this…

I got all of the above for $38.25, saving $71.53 in the process.

My biggest delight was the dog food which, after using this manufacturer coupon and this Target coupon, wound up free.  Remember to print two mfg coupons by hitting your browser’s back button.

Publix has the 3.5lb bags B1G1.  Each bag is $5.49.  Because Publix accepts competitor coupons, I was able to stack the Target and mfg coupons.  Woo Hoo!  We go through 50lbs of dog food each month, so this will really help us out a lot.

Now, I have to take a moment to brag about Publix.  And no, I’m not being paid to do this.  LOL

For weeks, I had read about the “Raise Your Hands for Savings” Publix coupon booklet, but my store did not carry them.  So, I called the 800 customer support number.  I had to leave a message, so I figured that I would be lucky if anyone called me back.

Folks, less than 15 minutes later, my phone rang, and it was a store representative.  She took my number and told me she would be in touch with a buyer responsible for putting out those booklets.

Two days later, the buyer called me back and took my mailing information (I also gave her Coupon Queen’s).  Two days later I found three booklets in my mailbox.

Impressive, I tell you.

That is how you maintain customer loyalty.

I am curious…have any of you gotten started couponing?  What tips have you discovered?  I think it’s great that we have the internet to share ideas and support one another!

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Socks and Tires

Posted on August 15, 2009 by auburnchick

I had a little wrench thrown into my plans this morning.

The grand plan was for me to get up, finish a pair of socks, and take Rooster to the beach to ride go-carts.

Instead, I spent an hour and a half here…

alt text

Yeah…I had to go to the auto place to fix this…

alt text

I ran over a screw yesterday. I even heard a pop when I did it but thought something had fallen off of the back of the car. I looked in my rearview mirror, didn’t see anything, and drove on…thinking I’d take a look when I stopped at the grocery store. Well, I was so preoccupied with the horrible smell of my hair, that I forgot to look.

The Mr. got up this morning to take Chicky across state to her practice and discovered this…

alt text

He didn’t have time to take the car in before leaving (praise God for having more than one vehicle), so the task of getting it repaired fell into my lap.

Now, let me tell you…I will gladly fix things around the house.  You know this.  You’ve read about my home-repair adventures.  However, I draw the line at car repairs.  Tell me to take the car in for an oil change, and I’m all over it.  But please, do not make me get a new tire.  I don’t understand the speak and am forced to act as the intermediary between the Mr. and the salesman.

Not fun.

The technician could not patch the tire, so a replacement was in order…as was a brake fluid flush.  Ugh.

Fortunately, I am a knitter.  Knitters come to such situations prepared.

I had the good sense to pack my knitting bag, so all was not lost.

I used my sitting time wisely and finished knitting sock #2 of my latest pair of socks.  I snuck in the following picture while the technicians were occupied elsewhere…

alt text

The pattern is Rick, from Cookie A’s new book Sock Innovation.  You can find corrections to the book here.  Make sure you print them out before starting this pattern, because there were a couple of slight corrections in the instructions for this pattern.

The yarn is Cascade Heritage, colorway 5607.  It’s more of a cranberry red.  It took 75 grams to make this pair.  Because it’s 75% merino, the socks are soft and warm.

alt text

I began this project on August 4th and finished today, August 15.

alt text

I used size 1 1/2 needles and, fortunately, the socks fit!  There is a Sock Innovation group on Ravelry, and my research made me a little concerned.  People who knit this pattern found it ran a little small.

I’ve gotta tell you that I LOVE Cookie A’s patterns.  The directions in this pattern were very easy to follow.  It’s amazing how simply arranging a few stitches this way or that can create such a beautiful effect!

One thing I did with this pattern was scan the charts for the feet.  Yes…I said feet.  If you look closely, you’ll notice that the “striping” on each sock goes in different directions, so each leg and foot has different charts.  After scanning them, I used a highlighter to mark through each round I completed.  This enabled me to see where I was at a glance.

The pattern looks like it would be difficult, but it really wasn’t!  This is a pattern where you definitely can “read” your knitting and know instantly (with few exceptions) if you’re knitting the wrong stitch.

alt text

I think that this is one of my favorite pair of socks.  It’s vibrant and has a lacy look that is very feminine.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

What Smells?

Posted on August 14, 2009 by auburnchick

Um…

That would be me…

If you’re smelling an Apple Cider Peppermint Patty.

No, I have not lost my marbles.

Well, actually, maybe I have.

It all started yesterday afternoon when I read Knitting Rose’s latest blog post.

You see, she’s decided to try a new thing…not using shampoo on her hair.  Go on…go read her post.  I’ll be waiting.

Done?

Ok.  So, you probably understand how my curiosity perked up.

For years, I’ve been concerned about the bad stuff that’s in beauty products.  In fact, I’ve experimented with different organic shampoos that didn’t contain sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate.  You can read about these and other ingredients here.  Bad stuff, I tell you.  I found a couple of products I liked, but with my job situation, I’ve cut out the more expensive stuff from my budget.  Not to mention  that I’m a backslider and had begun to resort to mainstream grooming products.  And, quite honestly, I’ve been happy.

So, when I read Lise’s account of washing her hair using baking soda and a vinegar rinse, I was gung ho!  I was already planning a trip to Sam’s to buy the biggest vats I could find of vinegar and baking soda.

You know…I’m starting to feel a little like a hippie.  Must be the anniversary of Woodstock or something (NOT!).

Sorry…just a funny aside.

Now, just so you know, I don’t do anything without researching the heck out of it first.  I googled to my heart’s content last night.  Apparently we’re not the only hippie-wannabe’s in this world.  In fact, according to one website, people used to use baking soda and vinegar quite regularly…before all of the commercial products came out.  You can check out this link and this link and this link if you want.  Interesting reading, I tell you, if you’re into this sort of thing.

I have naturally curly hair that tends to be on the dry side, so I made special note of these concerns.  A couple of sites mentioned using coconut oil or honey as a “conditioner.”  I have used coconut oil before.  It’s a little different, but most organic stuff is.

So, this morning I was all set.

Baking soda.

Check.

Apple cider vinegar.

Check.

I made up my baking soda paste.  Mine was a little watery, but for my first time, it was passable.

I then mixed up a batch of diluted apple cider vinegar water, adding 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1 3/4 cup water.

I followed the instructions I’d read and massaged my scalp with the baking soda.  I rinsed with warm water.

Then came the fun part.

Rinsing with the vinegar mixture.

Oh

My

Gosh.

The smell was very strong.

I figured it would dissipate just like my white vinegar does when I clean.

NOT.

I decided I would be brave and leave the rinse on my hair.  One website had comments where people do this regularly.

Oh

My

Gosh.

I got out of the shower wondering how long it would take for the smell to go away.  Would it stick to my hair towel?  Would my towel smell tomorrow when I needed to use it again?

I dressed, brushed out my hair, and applied makeup.  Just because I smelled like a pickle didn’t mean I had to look like one.

And then I did the unthinkable.

I went out in public.

With my hair still smelling.

My city is small.  I only had a few errands to run, so I knew I wouldn’t be in the car very long.

Let me just tell you that I just about gagged while I was sitting in the car.

That’s how bad I smelled.

Coupon Queen called to tell me about a fabo coupon, but all I could think about getting this awful smell off of me.

So I told her the story.

And she laughed…

And laughed…

And laughed.

And still I drove.

Thankfully, the bank was a drive-thru stop.  Phew!  The money machine keeps secrets well, let me tell you.

On to…gasp…the grocery store.  Rooster went to the orthodontist yesterday, and he is now sporting new chains across the top of his mouth (if you’ve had braces, you know what I’m talking about) along with sore teeth.  Ice cream was in order.

I cannot tell you how self-conscious I was the entire time I was in there.

I glanced furtively around me.  Were people staring?  Why was the lady in front of me looking at me.  Was she wondering if I had bathed in vinegar?

Thank goodness for manners.  Nobody said a thing.

I got back in my car and discovered that the smell had permeated the seats.

Lovely.

I still had a few more stops.

On to the dry cleaners to pick up Chicky’s comforter.  There was no drive-thru service.  Thank goodness I had the correct change.  I made a speedy exit.

I was so distracted by the smell that I forgot to run two errands.  All I could think about was getting home.

You see, I knew that I had this…

That, my friends, is Peppermint Oil.  It’s divine…in small doses.

I shook some out in my hands and applied it liberally to my hair.

Finally…relief.

If you’ve never used essential oils, let me tell you…they are potent.  A little goes a long way.  A lot goes way too far.

By this time, Chicky had arrived from her babysitting job to grab a couple of coupons for lunch.  She took one look smell at me and backed away.

“Mama, what smells?”

I started laughing.

“Mama, you smell like a Peppermint Patty.”

“If you think I smell bad, go stick your head in the car.  You’ll be glad I only smell like a Peppermint Patty.”

Um…yeah.

I’m not sure if I did something wrong or if people actually get used to smelling like this.

I, for one, have no plans to get used to it.

In fact, I am so glad that I didn’t try this out on a Sunday morning before church!  I can only imagine the looks I would have gotten there!  There would have been a lot of people coughing their way through the worship songs, that’s for sure.

Oy!

I am going to try this again, only this time I am going to use a lemon juice rinse I read about.  No more vinegar for me, unless I can get some fruity smelling stuff.

And all I can say is that I’m glad I didn’t buy ten gallons of vinegar at Sam’s!

Oh boy…I’m off…to add more oil to my hair.  The vinegar smell is so potent that it’s worked its way through the peppermint.

If my makeup didn’t look great right now, I’d hop back in the shower.

Oy!

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