Author Archives: LA Blogger Gal

Didja Hear?

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Some people seem to think that Blogger sucks My understanding is that the new log in issue protocol is driving folks crazy. Who knew?

Okay, I did. Well, I don’t know if Blogger sucks as a blog platform, but that comment thing just kills me. The more I think about it, the more I realize that commenting on Blogger blogs does nothing to help up the ranking. Granted, I’m not really all that worried about my ranking – I’m not quite a year old here at the kitkat lounge – so it’s not that big of a deal. But still.

I’m thinking the blog community should be a bit more open and oh, I don’t know…like a community.  We bloggers, we’re social creatures you know and leaving our links helps to direct traffic to our blogs.

Eh, what do I know. I’m still a work in progress.

Totally unrelated…I think I really, really want to see 27 Dresses. It looks like a fun, chick flicky sort of thing.

Don’t Do It!!! Don’t Go Out There!

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I just got back from running a few last minute Christmas errands and great balls of Santa! Do not go out there! Everything, even the grocery store is a crazy mess. There are lines of cars just trying to enter the shopping centers! People are cutting each other off and not saying thank you (and you just know how that irks me!). They’re bumping into you and pushing and shoving, and well, downright rude. It’s mid-day, mid-week people – what the hell?!?

Luckily my first stop was at a small, local shoe repair and luggage shop – new luggage for the pre-teen nieces. That only left my nephew so I headed over to Tilly’s. Of course I had a helluva time just getting anywhere near Tilly’s. I finally found parking and headed in to find yep, you guessed it, a line. Not just any line mind you, but a long line with people with their arms full. Slow moving lines. Which of course meant a gift card. Which is fine since we got the HIM CD the other day so we’ll just hand it off to him and he’ll be fine.

So now, I am officially finished. This of course is great news since I’m not sure how much more abuse my credit card can take (stupid Amex is still acting up so we’re not using it while it sorts itself out). Tomorrow I’ll wrap and maybe take a photo or two and whooorah! I’m done.

Mind you, I haven’t yet heard from any of the in-laws as to which house we’ll be meeting at or how we’re divvying up the food prep. No worries for us though, I’ve got at least our Christmas morning taken care of – eggs, sausage & cinnamon bun-like strips. Just the right amount of protein and sweet 😀

I was still hoping to pick up a decanter for this awesome bottle of wine that our friend gave us so we could enjoy it either Christmas Eve or Christmas night, but I’m not about to deal with parking at the local mall or strip mall just for that. We have a bottle of prosceco we can enjoy instead 😉

So consider yourself warned & stay away, far away from any store, mall or strip! You can thank me later!

Next up…Wordless (or Not-So-Wordless) Wednesday – it may take a while to get them out of my camera, uploaded and published, but I assure you, it’ll be soon-ish.

Speaking of Christmas Shopping

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I tend to do all of the holiday shopping for us.  Even for the gifts my hubby buys me,  I usually have to create a very precise online list (or give him a slew of options for something specific, like a watch, through Amazon).  So while I’m out and about shopping for others, I often find things that I’d like for myself.

Sometimes, like today, I just buy it (new PJs from Old Navy – 50% off, very cute and quite comfy).  But it’s got me thinking…should I just wrap it and put it under the tree and you know, pretend it’s a gift?  When you think about it, since it comes from First National Bank of Husband it’s as if he’s buying it anyway, right?

Or is that just too goofy?

Santa We Have Ship Off!

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I did it! I spent a couple of hours last night wrapping like a fiend.  Today I boxed it all up and headed to the post office.  Overall, the line wasn’t so bad.  Granted, I’m not so happy about having spent nearly $40 on top of the gifts to ship the box to my former roomie.  But whatcha gonna do, right?  If I’d been on the ball, I could have shipped it last week for probably half the price (damn that Priority shipping!)

But it’s done.  And that’s just half the Christmas battle.  Now I just have a few things to pick up for the nieces- and nephew-in-laws and I’m completely done shopping. Far from done wrapping, but hey, it’s a start and I do still have a week until I need to present the presents (hehe) live and in person.

Now if only I could find some elves to come and do my dishes and clean my kitchen.  Then I’d be a happy Christmasy camper!

A Christmas Quandry

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So if I just spent the past 45 minutes looking for something inexpensive enough to help me to qualify for free shipping (through Sears, not Amazon*) and ending up spending $6.30 for a three pack of socks and ended up saving $6.25 on my shipping (therefore making my socks a whopping $.05)…I ask you, is it all really worth the free shipping???

 

* when looking for that inexpensive item to qualify you for free Amazon shipping, check out FillerItem.com.  Seriously, bookmark this site! 

I’m Admitting Defeat

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I tried, but I’m still way, WAY behind on catching up on everyone’s blogs.  Instead of freaking myself out, I’m just going to zero out my Reader and start over.  I just refuse to get stressed out over catching up, you know?

I’m thinking that I also need to admit defeat in regards to Christmas.  It’s a little over a week away and I still have shopping, wrapping and shipping to do.  I also forgot about a few friends and cards.  I just seem to feel a bit over my head this year.  Of course, it doesn’t help that we got a little turned around financially this last month and are just now clearing up that mess.

So I’m thinking it’s going to be a simple holiday this year.  The hubby is getting some camera stuff from me and I’m getting the Ladies Who Launch program from him (he might throw in a little trinket or something else, but I’m really not counting on it).  All is good though.  We’ve had a busy and fun year and we’ve done quite a bit of traveling (not to mention the beautiful necklace I bought myself in Healdsburg last month).  So we’ve truly been blessed and I’m okay with that.

I guess I can’t admit defeat with the wrapping & shipping though, huh?  Guess I know what I’ll be doing from now until it’s time to get dinner ready.

Christmas Comes Early to the Kit Kat Lounge

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Well, I’ve gotten a couple Open Me Now sort of Christmas gifts and thought I’d just rave about them…

Philosophy’s Home for the Holidays – a yummy smelling three pack of Philosophy’s 3-in-1 holiday soaps: Double Rich Hot Cocoa (OMG this is divine!), Hot Apple Cider (I haven’t tried this one ye, but man does it smell good!) and Cinnamon Buns. I just love their product packaging…hello, it comes with recipes right there on the bottle! Having never tried any of their 3-in-1 products before I have to say, it’s some impressive and sudsy stuff. The scent lasted throughout the day as well, though very, very subtle.

Jo Malone Perfume – I’ve been eyeing a perfume or five from Jo Malone for the past year. I fell in love with her Orange Blossom but just couldn’t bring myself to pay the price (since I work from home and don’t use perfume all that much). Then again, I wasn’t totally sure I would be happy with Orange Blossom (indecisive, I know). Well, my friend decided to get me not only the Orange Blossom, but also the Jasmine and Mint (great holiday promo). OMG, divine! Both sell great alone, but smell even more amazing when combined. Wow! Now I’m thinking I might just need to splurge and buy the Wild Fig & Cassis. And well, maybe some shower gel and body lotion too. Uh oh…I feel an addiction coming on…a very, very expensive addiction I fear.

Enstrom’s Almond Toffee – Oh.My.God! Holy Hell, this is the best toffee I think I have ever had! It was a gift from Herbie and his wife for working with them this past year. Who knew it would be so incredible considering I’m not a fan of toffee. I mean this stuff is so good, you need to lock it up! Yes, I think I’ve eaten a huge chunk of the box and it only arrived two hours ago. How embarrassing, I know. But really, it’s THAT good!

Lessons Learned: White Sheets

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I like high thread count sheets. I don’t like to ruin my high thread count sheets. So, I buy them all in white so that my acne meds won’t otherwise bleach them. Which of course means some of my sheet sets resemble other of my sheet sets.

Because I have to use the laundromat, I tend to wait and wash about 2-4 sets at once so I can add blueing stuff and bleach and vinegar and whatnot (doesn’t help, they’re still far too yellow for my tastes, but hanging the pillow cases outside did help). My local, ghetto inexpensive laundromat is in a tiny, corner strip of sorts – six storefronts, two of which are restaurants (one Japanese, one Chinese). Needless to say, I can’t do laundry between 11:00 and 2:00 or I’ll never find parking.

Lesson I: Don’t over pack the washing machine or things just won’t get washed so well – no matter if the sign says it will fit two loads.

Lesson II: Don’t over pack the dryer or things won’t dry so well – even after an hour and a half and even if the signs say it fits three loads.

Lesson III: Don’t pin your sheets together so you’ll know which pieces belong to which set – they will twist in the dryer and will come out in such a knot you’ll be left screaming…and with wet bedding.

Lesson IV: Don’t wait until too late in day to do laundry – if they don’t get fully dry in the drier you’ll be left strewing them all across your apartment and will have NOTHING to put on the bed for that night!

*sigh*

I Need a Plan

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I have over 300 blog posts to read!! *eek*  That’s not counting the few I’ve already read or the shopping/product related ones that I’ve already deleted!  I guess a lot goes on in a week.  Thankfully we’re no longer on daily posts, so it’s really only a couple posts from each person that I’m behind.  But still, that adds up y’all! (I feel so Britney today)

So hopefully, in between housecleaning and doing laundry (a butt load of sheets – thank goodness they’re all white!) I’ll catch up with everyone.  Though I can’t make any promises for witty or thought-provoking comments ;-)

While running errands this morning, I made sure to smile a lot and thank anyone that I spoke with.  I even shocked the guy at Borders when I wished him a great weekend.  Yay, for thanks!

Michelle – you can buy the Boots’ Olive, Almond and Sage Wonderbalm at CVS and at Target (both carry the Boots line now).  It’s a small jar over in the “Mediterranean” section.  Don’t be surprised if it’s sold out, it’s that good!