I got my oil changed today. New guy at the place. I said. "I know my oil is low" (the light was flashing on - yes I do know that is VERY BAD - why do you think I did an oil change oday. ) so pleasedon't lecture me, fill it and do it quickly please". He was polite, did what I asked even filled the washer fluid up with the fluid I had already.

I got none of the 'tude you get from oil change guys that usually involves $100 extra in charges. Oh and the service was $31 posted and he rang it in for me at at $22 plus tax. He just said "I give you a deal". Crappy Tire pit stop. I'm a happy camper. Took about 10 minutes too.

I'm a very happy customer.

Thanks to crappy traffic I was late meeting my friend for dinner. We had a great dinner at Swiss Chalet and were able to have a really good talk.

Yea - another meal out.

On the way home I stopped at a clothing store and in the 10 minutes before they closed found the cutest top. Black, of course, but with these pretty pink flowers all over it. Very girly girl. Made me feel pretty. I think I'll wear that today - assuming I ever get moving today

Then home to find I am almost out of cheques. Looking around to see if I can find a Canadian source that is cheaper than the bank (who seem to charge enough to make their entire annual profit on each box of cheques). Lot of great US places but I don't know if they send to Canada or not.

Anyone know of a decent place to order cheques in Canada. Don't have to be gorgeous although that is a bonus. Would like them to be cheaper than the bank costs though and from some place reputable.

Did errands at lunch. Ended up spending more than I wanted to. Got a couple good deals (75% off) on an over the counter drug I sometimes use. All the rest of the things were items that were on my list that I needed.

I picked a lunch sandwich up at the grocery store. A picnic roast beef wrap (roast beef, shredded cheddar, mustard and sweet pickle) for $2.00. It was excellent!

Off to meet a friend for dinner. When I get back from vacation I really have to get the eating out under control.

Going on holidays starting on friday so I have lots of little things to get done.

All fiddly things unfortunately and none that I really want to do so I'm pretty much procrastinating. Not a good thing to be doing but very much human nature to do so.

Ever notice the correlation between the speed and efficency of service at a fast food place and the number of people milling about behind the counter.

Its definitely an inverse relationship. The more people the slower the service.

This insight brought to you by a person who needs to stop eating out so much.

I made a black and white version of the purse I made last week yesterday. The pictures aren't the greatest I'm afraid. I have to admit that it went much faster the second time which is likely not surprising.

Oh the first part of the title has nothing to do with the date. Went for two tests yesterday in the morning - as part of my "well woman" checkup.

The tech was gentle. The first two mammogram x-rays were easy. A bit of flattening and done. No where near pancake flat.

The second two involved sticking the (thankfully slightly rounded) edge of the machine in my armpit, rotating each girl in turn and squishing them. Not comfortable but less painful than all those gyn things where they warn you that you may experience some momentary discomfort.. Actually easier than those dental bite wing xrays (I hate those) - as at least it didn't trigger my gag reflex.

The build up was painful. The exam was fine. I probably need to make sure from here on in to say how bad it was to scare the future generations of women like I was scared before I went (traditions are important)

The bone density test was fine though it had my foot and hip in a weird position. Most amusing was all her questions about my undies. Do they have zippers? metal? pins? buttons? Obviously there is a whole category of panties I have yet to explore. A zipper on underwear?

Thanks to our provincial health care these tests were free. I'll contact my doctor in a bit about them although I'm sure if there is anything his office will be contacting me fast.

Spent some money on self maintenance after that with some waxing and a pedicure. Then got the end of McD's drive through for brunch.

A nap and some quilting were my afternoon. In the evening I went out on a date. It is nice to be taken out. Was a nice evening and I enjoyed his company.

We won't see each other for a bit as we both have trips out of town scheduled but we are planning to see each other again!

I was almost giddy at the license bureau today. I had to go there to replace my license (I think I threw the new one I got out and kept the old invalid one).

1. It was only $10 to replace my card

2. It is a picture license but I didn't have to get a new picture. This is a big deal when you go there on a friends bike and have major helmet head hair.

I got off easy. The new license cost me $60 in Oct - I had figured I'd have to pay that amount this time again as a "pay up cause you are stupid and lost your card" tax! They didn't need a new picture cause thanks to modern technology they already have my picture scanned in and will use that one.

Of course now the "thought thrown out" license will mysteriously reappear but that's just life right?

Actually I should say no planning.

No planning and very little time is giving me not enough time to cook ahead and bring food to work for lunch. Working til very late this evening meant a trip to McD's drive through.

Summer is here. The time when my thoughts to to finding my mittens.

You'd think with all the memos we get about doing things efficently and effectively at the office and about how we must keep our expense margins low that they'd not be cranking up the air conditioning every evening come 5pm. Can't get it too warm in here just in case the night security guard falls asleep?

The office no longer supplies styrofoam cups as an effort to be greener but they freeze you if you stay late. 5pm and they crank up the air conditining so much that I have goosebumps and find it hard to type my hands are that cold.

Welcome to summer. The time when construction blooms outside and you need snowsuits at the office. Seriously I think I'm going to bring in a pair of gloves. I'd bring in mittens but not sure if I can type with mittens on.

I'm calling the supermarket with the crappy meat an am on hold hearing about how important my call is to them.

You not only have crappy meat but right now you aren't making me feel very loved at all.

2 thumbs down for Superstore (ontario)

(Got them on the phone. They are going to look into it. Nice of them. Not like I'll trust their meat anymore though)

Mom always insisted that meat from the grocery store here called "Dominion" was the best meat around.

I have twice bought meat at one of the stores under the Weston's umbrella (not affiliated with Dominion) and have twice opened the package (despite my properly refridgerating it) to find it rotten. The meat wasn't in a small packages (this time it was a large tray of chicken thighs - about $18 worth). I likely should have kept them to return to the grocery store to get a refund but I don't want sticky rotten meat in my fridge.

Mom knew best. I'm thinking that I've never had trouble at Dominions and I should go back to buying my meat there.

So as not to violate copyright law this pattern is called "Amanda's Purse" by Sherri K Falls and was published by LIttle Scraps from This & That.

The purse is cute. The pattern is passable though it would have been better had there been more pictures. I still am confused about a couple of things it it that I think should have been better described. Yes it all fit on and regular piece of paper but I'd been more impressed had it showed the steps more clearly.

I go to the deli counter at the grocery store. The two clerks are talking to each other. The one is standing in front of me and I hear the sentence "I have a small hiney" just as I decide what I want.

I looked at her and asked he if she and her small hiney could help me. My tone of voice was more amused than anything else . Had her and her small hiney not came over I'd have been not so amused but she came right over and got my order and we started laughing.

We started talking and compared hiney's. Basically we came to the conculsion that she had a small white girl hiney and I have a black booty of a hiney.


So we got into a discussion of large vs small hiney's - she's the opposite body type to me - I luck out in that mine is the lower risk for a heart attack (small upper body relative to my large hiney, hips and thighs).

A surreal moment while grocery shopping.

A friend is coming over and for the first time in ages I'll likely quilt - this is a sewing date, she's bringing her machine too!

I have needed my creative energy sparked and I'm happy that I'm having the opportunity to today!

Should also be a no spend day.

I really wanted to go for a pedicure today but I decided that I could do my own rather than be a princess and go to the nails place to get one done.

The sacrifices I make for frugality - self painted "grape sorbet toes".

I keep wondering if i should join the site and be a "club member" but the cost per month will quickly add up.

Then I remember that poppit on pogo is pure evil. It steals your time, ,numbs your brain and causes your wrist and hand to hurt.

Last thing I need is to join that site and waste money too. I'd be better off banning the site from my computer..

Went out to lunch with some of the folks from work. Was a nice, abet unfrugal, ending to the week.

I had plans to go out tonight and I was going to treat my friend - but he ended up having to cancel so I had a pretty quiet weekend here at home.

I'm happy it is friday. It has been a busy week but a busy week in a very nice way!

Did a strange deal with a friend this week! Thursday there was some deal if you bought a subway sub that some of the money went to charity (no idea which one right now though I did go at one point). I was going to the store the night before to get salad stuff. So my colleague bought me a sub and I brought her a container of spring mix for her lunch as well as half of the 1lb clamshell fool of spring "lettuce" mix. Worked nicely for both of us because neither of us can ever finish the 1b container on our own.

Went out on a date last night! That was fun. Someone I have known for a long time. and like! Had a yummy steak dinner once I returned the medium steak for a medium rae one. Second time in a row that I've overed medium rare and got medium and had to ask the waiter replace it with what I wanted.

Going out to lunch today with the gang at work! So not too frugal but fun and necessary after a long week at work!

Well I didn't buy gas. Did you?



Oh for the record I wasn't participating in the gasout. I just didn't need to fill the tank. And in the pouring rain I was hardly going to go out and fill the tank and get soaked just to make some anti protest protest.

So what did you end up doing gas wise?

I bet you smart ones rode, walked or took transit to work!

Went in for some frozen french fries, as I didn't feel like doing oven fries starting with real potatoes.

Bought McCain superfries. Not sure if they are in mass distribution. Better than most frozen fries. That isn't saying much. Whatever they do to them to ensure they are super crispy is weird. I don't know if it is a weird chemical or a texturizing process. (I guess I should write and ask)

They aren't bad, but I won't rave about them. Best kept for teens, children and folks who are unable to cut a potato.

Much better is cutting a potato or 3 preferably yukon gold or russet (or other yellow fleshed potato of choice), cutting it into french fry sized pieces, tossing in bowl with some olive oil (1-2TBSP), seasalt, peppper and other spices or herbs. and then putting on parchment paper on a cookie sheet in the bottom shelf of the oven at 425. YOu may want to flip after about 10 minute. I cook until they are as crispy as I like 20 minutes or so (dang I don't time it).But might be longer too.. I'm not exact on this.

If you are trying to cut down on carbs use parsnip instead and keep a closer eye on time. Also excellent with sweet potato yams etc.

Convenince foods are convenient and easy but my palate is enjoying them less

Sent out a couple of coupon RAOK's to a couple of people in one of my trading groups. I used to do more trades but can't be bothered. I seem to end up with RAOK's from others now I do more RAOK's. Weird how that works.

Got another credit card offer from Citibank. Did what i always do. Wrote "take me off your list" and sent all the crap back to them. Did you know it costs the company about twice the regular postage when you use one of those business reply envelopes. They send me crap - I'll mail their crap back (yes I need to get out more as this gives me a wee bit of enjoyment).

I've joined up for quite a few coupon trains lately and still have a couple to move out. That was yesterday's job but it didn't seem to happen *blush*.

One of the stops on my way home from the northlands was at a grocery store to get a sandwich. I wasn't in the mood for McD's or other fast food.

I picked up a roast beef and cheese sandwich (reasonally priced and good). Then got wandering. .Bad idea. Picked up pretzel chips (okay but likely wouldn't buy again unless I had cream cheese around), Lavish flatbreads, light havarti cheese and some sort of blue cheese bacon dip. Oh yeah and a diet coke.

I'll be eating the sandwich for lunch tomorrow. Thinking with some pears and mesculin mix the dip might make a nice blue cheese salad and get me some veggies.

I spent $20 and got way more food than I needed. Any reason folks say not to go shopping hungry?

"I don't use those"

That is a quote from my father when I handed him a coupon. He held it like I gave him a box of extra large jumbo tampons with a trail pack of midol on the side to purchase for me along with some birth control pills and condoms.

I just said - well this way you save the tax.

So he did use the $1 off coupon for his tide. But man he did look pained. I was very proud.

Of course, this is the man who when he forgets something at the grocery store will go and buy it at the convenience store - and he expects to pay extra for the "convenience". This in a town where it is a 5 minute drive to decent priced stores.

This is the first Mother's day without my Mom. I have been in a really strange mood this evening and I wonder if that is part of what is doing it.

My mother is in a much better place. The Alzheimer's was stealing her mind the last few years. I don't miss her that way but I do miss, and have for a number of years, the mother I grew up with.

Please do something extra special for your Mom this Mother's day. Not monetarily - that is really meaningless but in terms of giving of yourself. Especially if you have been estranged or distant. Trust me, you'll never regret it.

Sorry for the maudlin post.

Dang, I'm single handedly supporting the economy.

Yesterday I tried on a bathing suit at the fancy store. $100 plus tax. I bought the same style at Walmart for $35 plus tax. Okay so I don't have the cute leopard print top bit and its plain black and white. I wasn't that crazy about the leopard print anyways.

Bought a replacement pair of black jeans too while I was at Walmart. As I'm a larger lucious lady I realised wearing the old pair yesterday that they had vents where they did not need any ventilation... So replaced them with the same pair

Went home with the two planned purchases and resisted looking for anymore "deals".

Hit the stores this afternoon on the way home.

At the first store bought two pairs of shoes - one sandals but with the support of runners. The brand is Merril I think and they are not cheap. Lets be frank. They are super comfie and super expensive.

The other pair are a pair of heels made by Rockport. Quite a high heel but really comfortable. Also not cheap.

To top off the spending I went to a second store to try on swimsuits. Didn't find any that said "buy me" but i did buy 2 pyjama tops and two bottoms. One set black and one black with a white stripe. The tops are different styles but it all mixes and matches.

Still need a swimsuit. Can't I skinny dip? I can't look much worse buck naked than in a suit and decent suit costs a fair penny.

I'm happy with my purchases but feel I should lock up my debit card for a while. At least it is a three paycheck month and I didn't put it on credit - I had the money in the account.

One way to save money is to not remember what you planned to buy. I went into the drug store with the knowledge that I needed to buy some emery boards. I wandered around and left without the emery boards. It wasn't until I got most of the way back to the office that I remembered why I had gone in there in the first place.

I need to start this entry with the information that I am a Bzz agent, and they sent me coupons and free product coupon for Silk soy milk.

A coworker has had digestive difficulties for a while (I'm sure you need no more elaboration to get the picture) and finally had an appointment with a gastroenteritis's who has told her to not eat dairy for the next 6 weeks.

One of the things she wants to do it to try soy milk. It was great having a coupon for $1 off from the Bzz campaign - I wished I had a free product coupon for her so she could try it but the $1 off was nice and so is the fact that Silk has a low calorie one (she like I is trying to lose weight). I have the low calorie one in my fridge now and it tastes great! Like - it has a flavour -unlike regular skim cows milk.

I love when campaigns like this allow me to introduce people to a new product. If you are in Canada and would like to try this product please send me a private email and I'll send you a coupon for $1 off as I have a couple left.