Attended a meeting, ran errands on the way home, then took Youngest Son to Costco so he could load up on food before he left to go back to his college town. The spring semester starts on Tuesday.

MFJ, if you can't go to most of the restaurant shops suggested by others on the forum, where do you go for date night?

Restaurants: We have about three where we have a relationship and the kitchen is willing/able to prepare food specially to meet her allergy needs. Otherwise, we will go on long drives or walks on the waterfront...

No Target this evening... We ended up picking up some really nice cheese, crackers, bread and fresh fruit for a quiet dinner in the living room (with no kids at home) and........ the rest will remain classified.....

Thanks for the kind words! On that first shop, I was surprised to receive two badges, one for the gasoline station and the other for completing the shop on time. Holy Moses! The shop was a no brainer. I have never received a badge mystery shopping before. Is that a new trend? Hero citations, yes. lol. But now that I have a walker, I get a badge.

Well, today, I was back to a doctor's appointment and a blood test.

I am now gathering my files to prepare my income tax. Decided not to go out anymore as there was freezing rain when I came out of the clinic. How is everyone coping with the weather? I've noticed a lot of changes in the MSwebsites after having been away for months.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2018 06:23AM by risinghorizon.

After doing a jewelry store and two garages I will make a trip for groceries and wine. Looks like we can expect more snowy weather by mid-wee here (DC metro) so we need to stock up. That also means that a bunch of shops with flexible dates will need to be done on Sunday-Tuesday, before freezing precip id due.

TGISaturday! What a week it was. I had a sinus infection from unprintable and worked anyway. Then, I "wrote narratives". BWAHAHA! My achin' fingers plodded along the keyboard, something appeared on a computer screen, and I submitted whatever it was. I hope that I did not write, "When I arrived, I felt like a wet noodle. Having spent more than the shop fee on Pepto and related items, I still needed a barf bag and could not afford one or fit it into a reimbursed purchase...." Even if I did write that, the lovely and gracious editors only requested better supporting details for assorted elements of the shops. Bless them. And, may they have hazard pay for dealing with my drek, which is worst during the crud. (Should that go on the kudos board or in an open letter to whoever pays the editors of mystery shop reports?)

There is some truly good news in my world. As I compare my work world now with last year at the same time, I notice improvements. This year, I can wear smaller clothing. (I am one size away from the size I wore when I began to mystery shop. At this time next year, I should be three or four sizes smaller than that. This is meaningless to all except me. I just use it as a benchmark. ) I received a pay increase for one recurring job. My schedule suits me better now in that I have a little free time for me, and it is only the second week of the year. Huzzah!

I got as much done this week as I could before the weather turned to crap. I didn't even want to go out at all yesterday, but in the morning it was 51 (and rainy) and by noon it was 32...and it kept going downhill from there. Today it's laundry and maybe I will clean out my desk or my closet. How exciting!!!!

Our weather doesn't permit driving for all but the clueless or extremely motivated. There is a nice layer of ice in many places and it keep freezing, and refreezing. I have spent the day shoveling snow although the car is not yet dug out. I'm not going anywhere anyway. On the bright side I can skip todays treadmill time as I have already had quite a workout. Not sure what I'll do next, maybe a nap. Then perhaps I'll try to think of something for dinner. Maybe nice big salads and some kind of hot bread. I always skip the bread but it keeps my wife happy.

The weather has kept me inside all day, but I've been preparing for an assisted living home project. It's been a while since I've done one, so I have to work on developing my backstory.

Let's see....vacuumed, washed the floors, cleaned the bathrooms. Got a Black & Decker hand vac set up and plugged in to charge. Made my home-made version of "Shake & Bake" coating. Made some "no bake" peanut butter/oatmeal/cocoa cookies. Made a peanut butter/cream cheese pie. Watched "Where the Red Fern Grows" with hubby, and hubby cried at the end (he's a sucker for dog movies). Took the dog out a couple of times. Showered. Typical Saturday stuff.

Day was a costly one...my car hardly turned over, took it in to my guys and it needs major work, won't go into the boredom of what, but 800.00 later, imagine....came home depressed.

I volunteered to be a small group leader at my church. The group that I chose was walking. We did 6 miles this morning. After that, I did a Meetup and we went to The Museum of the Bible. It was a great day!

Irene, that sucks in so many ways, so sorry.

It was cold today, watched the snow drift off the roof into the driveway. Played with my new essential oils sent to me from Dr. Axe that my store doesn't carry...questioning why they sent me $400 in essential oils to demo when my store doesn't carry them? Reading on what they do and I guess I will just use them. I am a little excited about some of them.

Got word back that I should keep the essential oils and do whatever I want with them. I like that.

Irene, can you get a second opinion? Hoping that those car guys aren't seeing a good lookin' older lady who they think might have some money and taking advantage...

Shopping furniture. Since we got our Green card, we are trying to replace our old furniture. Visited Carson's, Macy's and Room Place. It was nice now having to worry about getting the associate's name and who greeted how Watching a movie (free rental from red Box) and slightly drunk on red wine.I hope you are all having a good weekend.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 04:04AM by Mum.

@guysmom wrote:

Let's see....vacuumed, washed the floors, cleaned the bathrooms. Got a Black & Decker hand vac set up and plugged in to charge. Made my home-made version of "Shake & Bake" coating. Made some "no bake" peanut butter/oatmeal/cocoa cookies. Made a peanut butter/cream cheese pie. Watched "Where the Red Fern Grows" with hubby, and hubby cried at the end (he's a sucker for dog movies). Took the dog out a couple of times. Showered. Typical Saturday stuff.

Requesting the recipe for the cookies

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 04:06AM by Mum.

Wow! Congrats on the Green Card. Glad to welcome you.

Well that's lovely, Mum! I am having a toddy myself, some delicious vodka that is made in Ohio and is quite good. Having it with cranberry juice. Cheers!

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Got word back that I should keep the essential oils and do whatever I want with them. I like that.

Irene, can you get a second opinion? Hoping that those car guys aren't seeing a good lookin' older lady who they think might have some money and taking advantage...

No, totally trust them, they know me, not a new customer in fact he gave me a break. The dealer wanted more.
I knew it would be a lot, 100, 000 mile belt (400) major rehaul. I hadn't spent anything for ages. Their members of our Chamber of Commerce, wouldn't be in business for 20 years if they ripped people off.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 04:32AM by Irene_L.A..

@Mum wrote:

@guysmom wrote:

Made some "no bake" peanut butter/oatmeal/cocoa cookies.

Requesting the recipe for the cookies

Congrats on your green card! Here's the recipe for the cookies...got it off of the Food Network. Since it's just hubby and me now, I just cut the recipe in half and still end up with 20-22 cookies! [www.foodnetwork.com]

@guysmom wrote:

@Mum wrote:

@guysmom wrote:

Made some "no bake" peanut butter/oatmeal/cocoa cookies.

Requesting the recipe for the cookies

Congrats on your green card! Here's the recipe for the cookies...got it off of the Food Network. Since it's just hubby and me now, I just cut the recipe in half and still end up with 20-22 cookies! [www.foodnetwork.com]

Thank you guysmum!

I am taking a rare day off, totally off! A few months ago I got a great deal (a steal, is more like it) on a boneless leg of lamb portion. I roasted part of it then. I used the food processor to grind about a pound of it and froze that in an airtight pouch. Today I am turning that into a hearty Greek stew with onion, carrot, sage, garlic, lemon juice, mint, chicken broth, orzo and, right at the end, chopped dates and olives. Will have this with crusty French bread for several dinners. I am also "cooking ahead," making a small pot roast (chuck was on sale, of course) with mushroom sauce, That will show up tomorrow with mashed potatoes and steamed carrots or Brussels sprouts. Those should provide most of this week's dinners, since both recipes are even better a day or two later. While I am cooking I am also doing several loads of laundry. I love, love, love the combo washer/dryer unit that I had installed in my kitchen. No more going downstairs and through one housemate's kitchen to do laundry! I have to laugh at the "Househunters International" buyers who express dismay at having Euro-style laundry in or near the kitchen. Those crafty Europeans are on to a good thing ! Between stirring food and folding loads of laundry, I can play on the computer and think about finishing a shop report that has a flexible deadline. Later I may binge watch Harry Potter movies. When HBO did them ALL over New Year's Day, I captured them all and they are marked, "Do Not Delete," on the household DVR.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 05:19PM by walesmaven.

Mum, have you checked out Wayfair online for furniture? There is some assembly required, but my husband was able to put the stuff I ordered together. It's pretty good quality for the price.

Ate breakfast with my daughter before she left to go back to college. Miss her already! Tax season has begun so I'm working at my regular job a few hours today. During this time I get very selective on mystery shopping and only do shops with good bonuses. Laundry and throwing something together for supper will round out the day.

Playing between jobs. It is enough.

The guy that's renting from me said not to let them do it...he will ask around and sure he can get a better price ,knows a lot about cars...good news...so, being without a car, took a walk over to Albertsons (3 blks), came home tired, playing on computer and cleaning out flower pots that took a beating in our two day rainstorm..today sunny and 76ish. Found Johnny Mathis on KQED public T.V., whom I attended George Washington high with a couple years ago,,he held up well, and I'm now in 1950's mode....anyone remember "Chances are, Blue Gardena, Mist, Moon River:" and he talked about a jazz club everyone went to back then...."Blackhawk", good times music wise,.what happened to Jazz clubs even jazz music is replaced. Who remembers Ella, Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington all gone, pardon my memory lane trip.....



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 10:00PM by Irene_L.A..

Irene, you are getting one of the many, not so small, benefits from having a good housemate. Always nice to have two brains on the job.

Regarding the washer in the kitchen, I've always thought that seemed like a good idea. Why not blend work spaces? I am constantly doing laundry and constantly cooking. I also think the Euros are onto a good thing with their washer/dryer combinations in a small space. In general perhaps Americans think in terms of needing too much space and too much stuff. I made tortilla soup and now I'm going to go clean up the kitchen and feed the outdoor cats who are having a hard time with this horrid weather. Thank god we bought them the heated tents.

@walesmaven wrote:

Irene, you are getting one of the many, not so small, benefits from having a good housemate. Always nice to have two brains on the job.

'
I really felt that way, we have (through this) become good friends, when it comes to cars, I need all the help I can get...he also put me on his phone app for Uber, in case anything else happens to my car......lol

Laundry accessible from the kitchen is quite sensible IMO. Mine is a laundry/mudroom combo adjacent to the kitchen. It has a door that can be closed to hide it from guests or to muffle the sound.

The trend I find odd is laundry rooms next to the bedrooms. It looks good on paper since most laundry comes from and returns to the bedrooms and bathrooms. After realizing most of my time at home is spent in either the kitchen or family room it began to make less sense.