Aldi Grocery Store

I am not sure if this chain of grocery stores is popping up all over or not, but I'm glad we have them here in TX.  I have been craving fresh fruit & veggies all week & finally got a little $ in my pocket...so I decided to pop into Aldi and check things out.  Aldi is very different from any other grocery store around. Let me tell you 1st that their were 2 employees outside to "school" newbies...and here are a few things I learned:

1. I had to deposit a quarter into this contraption on the cart to unlock it from the other carts.  Not to worry...the quarter is returned to the customer once the cart is returned to it's proper place.  This is meant to ensure that the carts don't run amuck & ram into cars or go missing.  When the carts go missing the store has to buy more thus raising prices to consumers...makes sense. The downer: who the hell has cash?  I usually don't but today I did - whew.

2. There are very few items that are name brand.  I tend to be an off brand snob & I am trying to get over it, but I know there are certain things on which a person can not skimp!  Anyway, I continued shopping through the small store (the one in my town is fairly small...I am not sure if this is the Aldi standard) and found myself in opened mouth awe almost everytime I checked the prices.  This place is really inexpensive!  Then I thought "Well, sure...this stuff is cheap.  It's off brand, so of course it costs less. We'll see if I am still pleasantly surprised when I get to the meats and produce."

3. They have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL fresh fruit & veggies.  Oh my gosh!  I just wanted to sit on the floor & eat the stuff right there in the store.  All of the produce is so fresh, the colors are so bright & the prices are soooooooooooooooooooooo low!  Holy crap!  It used to be so cheap to eat badly, but now there's no excuse to not eat healthy!

4. Customer Service - very friendly and informative.  They all explained the process and the company's thought process behind everything.  The cashier asked if it was my 1st time and then asked what I thought.  I told her I was very impressed with the produce & prices.  The cashier explained that the company is "going for that angle".  They really want to be known for having the freshest and cheapest produce around (they proved that to me already...mmmmkay).  Now, here's where it gets a little more different...I have heard they are doing this in CA already & I have to say that I know it's the right thing to do - it's just SO not something that's been done here.  Customers who don't use their re-usable fold away bags have 3 choices...they may take their groceries to the car all kinds of loose like, they may purchase plastic bags for 10 cents each or they may purchase paper bags for 6 cents each. Hum.

5. Once you've made your purchase, your cart is moved out of the way & you bag your groceries "the way you like".

I will say that I must have looked like a very confused human in a foreign grocery store on a far away planet, but I was very surprised & happy when my 26 items (mostly produce) rang up at a total of $35.53.

I hope you can see everything in the pic - it was taken with my cell (maybe one day I can blog about my new fancy camera, but until then all pics will be from the cell).

Here is a list of what all I got...
large eggs                .89
bananas (2lbs)         .82
string cheese         2.79
shredded cheese   2.29
red grapes (2lbs)  2.29
strawberries x2      .99 each
cantalope              .99
bag o' apples      2.49
OJ                     1.79
chips                   .99
bag o' onions     2.79
                               off brand fruity pebbles 1.89
                                           tomato x2           .89 x2
                                      iceberg lettuce x2     .89 x2
                                   bag o' baby carrots     .99
bag o' 3 bell peppers (green, red & yellow)   2.69
                                           can of corn x2     .49
                            ground beef (93% FF)     3.08
                                       grape tomatoes     1.99

                                  & then 22 cents for 3 bags...

Versa Spa Spray Tan

I am a pale person who is 1/2ish Irish, 1/4ish German & 1/4ish Native American (there may or may not be some Scottish in my blood line too, but IDK).  The only Native American trait I really have is high cheek bones & I'll be honest ~ a bad temper but let's face it~all my blood is a little firey...lol!  Anyway~back to the point~I am pale & don't have a lot of tanning cells.  I have tried a few spray tans and looked like a tall walking/talking carrott. So embarassing.  A person can only scrub with lemon juice & salt for so long.  The answer to my prayers has been formulated in the form of VersaSpa!  LOVE IT!  I don't look orange.  The only issue is my inability to get the color in all the right nooks & crannies and out of the wrong ones!

Y'all should find a salon near you & give it a try! www.versaspasystem.com  Give me your feed back!

American Laser Centers

Oh where to begin. A VERY long time ago, I went to the American Laser Centers in Irving, TX and bought a package for laser hair removal for my underarms. Years before I had a couple of treatments at another place before that company just up & closed. I know American Laser Centers is trusted and semi-stable (I say semi-stable due to the economy). Anyway, a couple of months later they had a great special & I bought packages for the bikini area and upper legs. I really only need hair removal in a small area of the back of each of my upper legs, but they told me I had to buy the whole package....OK, fine. At this point I had noticeable results with the under arms & all was good. As the months went on, the underarms were not moving along as quickly as I felt they should be; however the bikini & upper leg thing seemed to be moving along OK. Then suddenly, I get a voice mail that the Irving office will be closed for good in 3 days & my file would be transferred to the Colleyville/Grapevine location. I was so pissed because I had some issues with the staff at the Irving location. I wasn't seeing additional progress with the under arms (I honestly believe that I have had more than double the treatments to date), 1 tech implied that she was not trained in the line of business (she said she bought the answers to the test & just took it & passed - WTH?), then that same tech said that the manager wasn't scheduling enough time for my appt. because I'm a big person & "it takes time to work on such a big space". I complained about the tech saying this to me because I had already had a few appointments & everything was completed just fine in the time allotted. Back to the issue at hand, I called the corporate office to complain about everything and left a message. The Regional Manager returned my call; leaving me a voice mail. At this point I had already called the Colleyville/Grapevine location deciding to give them a try. They were very nice so I kinda felt things were looking up. I went to my 1st appt and they were soooooo nice. They gave my 2 certificates for micro-dermabrasion and said they would do my lower legs instead of the upper legs & just do those 2 little areas on the back of my upper legs complimentary. I was so happy! I noticed such a big difference in all 3 areas just after that 1 treatment at this location. I felt really great about my decision to stay with them! On April 3rd, I went in for my 2nd appointment with them (the same tech). I was getting my 1st treatment on my lower legs. Exciting!!!! The office manager, tech and I discussed the tattoo on the inside of my right ankle and how it could not be touched with the laser. Laser is attracted to color and is also used to remove tattoos. I LOVE all of my tattoos and they have special meaning. During the treatment, the tech and I continued to discuss tattoos (she thinks they are ridiculous). I told her about mine & their purposes but I have a friend interested in having her tattoo removed. Suddenly, I feel a big pop over my tattoo. It immediately starts itching and I ask the tech “was that my tattoo?” she said “No. I didn’t get anywhere near it.” Well, she lied. She grabbed a pack of ice & out it on my ankle. It just wouldn’t stop hurting. I finally got to look at it & it was blistered. A few days later the blister popped & now it’s hideous & infected; not to mention it will disfigure my tattoo. On Monday I have to call the manager and get copies of any and all releases I have signed before I decide if I will file a claim. I will also have to make a doctor’s appt.




Bottom line…I give up on depending on others! I just need to go to school for it & get it all done that way!