Consumer Madness

🎧 Chaching, Chaching

One thing I've noticed lately is online apparel retailers offering payment plans. Umm, when did this become a thing? I'm curious what the interest rate is. Once upon a time, credit cards weren't used for absolutely everything under the sun - now people rely on credit to purchase not just meals out and a few luxury items, but groceries, necessities, and even use the plastic to pay their monthly bills. Talk about borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. That's some upside down economics and we're the suckers. Call me old-fashioned but no matter how much I want these shoes...

...and I want them baaaaaad because zomg how freakin' adorable are they??? I'll be saving up until I can own them outright instead of making four equal monthly payments.  Mr. Noodles, we have some dates in our future. I'll supply the soundtrack.

Weekend Roundup

McHeaty gave me permission to use this pic of furgrandbaby, Phoebe, in a contest I'd be absolutely tickled pink to win. Even camping in the wilderness she's dressed to put her best paw forward. What a lady! It was taken during their recent holiday to Muncho Lake, which sounds dreamy and looked gorgeous in the videos he sent me. He's been put on notice that now he'll have to book some time to take me there whenever my visit happens. I'm so happy they enjoyed themselves - he said it was the best vacation he's ever had and considering some of the places he's traveled, that's pretty impressive.

Kitty is struggling to juggle all the new school commitments with work and being a Mom. These are the times my being able to do grandma support are the most important. I can't do the hard work of providing for her and her child or getting the education to better their future, but at least she doesn't have the stress over of the most important person in her life being a latch-key kid. She can focus on what she has to do knowing his needs are being met and that I'll throw a flag anytime he needs extra attention from her. Watching her last night trying to set up a group meeting with the first-year students she has to mentor was a shitshow. They seem particularly stupid. Even the 13 year old was rolling his eyes and snorting. I've always tried to stress to her that she's teaching him valuable lessons about hard work, dedication and overcoming obstacles. He has a huge amount of respect for, and faith in, his Mom. As do I. 

Belle did a quick trip to her new city, signed a lease on the most adorable apartment, toured her new workplace and met co-workers, and is now in the push to pack it all up for the move. Also, as I called, she bought herself a car. It's four years old but the newest car my girl has ever owned and she's already tricked it out with accessories. The car's name is Lilian, in honour of: "The spicy Brazilian I work with right now. She's the grandma of the office, has a Sonata and recommended it to me." Welcome to the family, Lilian, and thanks to the OG Lilian! There's no replacement for the wisdom of mature women.

Cleo tells Moi that Retro Prints are Trending Right Now! Such excitement. How de rigueur. After taking a peek at their current offerings let me say I've worn a worse version of every single item at some point in the past. The fresh take on the vibe really works and deserves the time to shine. Also, kindly note the term 'retro' really is preferable to old lady style and appreciated.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it's time to find ways to make a dollar travel farther. I love points programs and belong to several. In the past, I've saved my Optimum points all year and then used them to buy Christmas gifts when they're on sale at Shopper's Drug Mart. Adding in coupons made my purchasing power soar and the merging of PC and Optimum means my groceries are also contributing to the tally. This weekend would be a good one to get a free card and start saving on items you buy anyway. 

See what's featured this weekend and start collecting points.

• Earn 20 x the points when you spend $90 on almost anything in the store
• Earn 40 x the points shopping online
• Receive a $20.00 Gift Card when you spend $90.00 or more. 
• Over 2000 products in the Beauty Event 

One of my faves on Twitter is beauty editor and CityLine expert Dave Lackie. He regularly shares concise beauty tips, product giveaways, and is quick to interact with his followers. If you love skincare and all things beauty, head over to his blog for the details on The October Origins at Sephora.ca Giveaway and enter for your chance to win.  How gorgeous is this pic of the prize pack? Delicious.

Until October 2nd, use the McDonald's App or your MyMcDs code at checkout  when you purchase any McCafe hot beverage and you're automatically entered for a chance to win one of 100 prizes of free coffee for a year. Head over to Save a Loonie for more details and then go get your cuppa joe.

Aaaand, yep, I won another contest during the week. It's going to be a Christmas gift so details are hush for now. This is what feeds the contesting bug and turns some into a beast. Rawr. 

Wet Start to Spooky SZN

Good Monday to you! It's rainy here today - there was a pounding downpour during the night - and while I enjoy the sound of it, the change in air pressure can spark wicked headaches. Sure enough, I woke up with what feels like a migraine brewing and screen time is a bit of a nightmare. 

One of the fun things about contesting is discovering new companies and products I'd never know about. For weeks my email has been inundated with Halloween promotions. It's almost scary. Here's a few standouts. Keep in mind there will be more in the coming days because somewhere along the way, Halloween stopped being an occasion just pushed the last two weeks of October - now, it's a SZN.🎃 Act, dress and behave accordingly, or face frightening consequences. 

Canadian companies always catch my eye, especially ones owned and run by women. Hamilton, Ontario's Hayley Elsaesser is new-to-me and I love how she proves comfortable fashion can be super fun. There's something for everyone in their Spooky SZN offerings. I'm hankering for the Ghostie Ghost long sleeve midi dress. The Skeleton dog shirts are hilarious, and I'd give almost anything to send Kitten and Belle a Spider Print Longline Sports Bra & Leggings, but that's a joke out of my price range.

For the very wee ones, BuyBabyBuy has 25% OFF of the sweetest Halloween themed attire for The Bebes. Tea Collection has the most adorable, easiest Halloween styles for the bigger Wee Ones (and I would like the Dragon Head Hoodie in growed up, size large, for everyday life please.)  

I'm still mad at Jane, but Halloween is no time for petty...the season calls for over-the-top, in-your-face creepiness, right? That isn't sustainable long-term though. If this is going to be a whole damn season, we're going to need to add wearable pieces for at least a few weeks, right? How could I not share these cute tees for my American friends looking for a little simple but on-point addition to their fall wardrobes? We'll get to costume specific content in a later post in the coming weeks, but for anyone with a Bridgerton obsession, here's some hints on how to make your own Regency-inspired creation. 

Finally, the noms! Thematic food doesn't just happen with the waving of a wand. You need ingredients that may not be a staple in your pantry and presenting it the way you want takes planning so here's 40 Foods in the Spirit. (I respectfully disagree any food is too spooky to snack on though.) Thanks to Youtube, Mancub has become obsessed with Japanese candy, and though I can't do it for this Halloween, his Christmas gift might include a subscription from Japan Candy Box - their Halloween edition is ready to go and would be a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth in need of regular feeding.  Nobody knows better than Candy Fun House that goodies aren't just for trick 'o treaters, but they're ready for one of their busiest times of year with all the gooey ghoulish yummies. 

And the puns wrote themselves. Bad dump bump, tssss.

You Know What Day It Is

  🎧 HAPPY CATURDAY, Y'ALL!

In case you're wondering how my day is going so far, at 6 am I put this on the door leading to our parking lot, and my neighbours sleep too gotdam late. Someone will take pity on me...it's just a matter of time. Tick, tock, people, I may have a coffee problem. The car should be fixed by the end of the week and I CAN.NOT wait to have my independence back! 

Belle is in the process of making a big career change and has a huge opportunity within her grasp. She's just waiting for the final offer but the feedback has been excellent. I'm so excited for her. It would mean relocating to another city, closer but not close enough, Mama laments quietly. It couldn't come at a better time because she texted me after I was asleep that her landlord finally got and accepted an offer on the condo she's renting. She has a lot on her plate. All my fingers and toes are crossed for my little girl. We were discussing how she'll need to update her wardrobe so I've been doing a lot of online personal shopping, and naturally found things she doesn't need, but I now do:

Wouldn't you know it, they don't deliver to Canada! But they have so many cute things at great prices and with the holiday season coming up my American friends should check it out for their daughters and wives. What does Jane have against us?!?! 

Somebody else has obviously been doing some online shopping too!

                                                      

Tributes to The Queen coninue.

Damn that forensics team.

                                         

If you purchase your furbabies noms online, please consider clicking through on the PETMAX picture below. Hill's donates a portion of proceeds to help keep shelter animals fed. Buy a bag and they give a Bowl. Click on the pic at the top of their page when the window opens, to enter for a chance to win one of $250 Petmax Giftcard or two $50 Petmax Gift Cards. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway but you can proceed to shop after entering. 

Update: I accidentally lost this whole post and had to start over, my embeds are misbehaving, I lost the link to a video, Blogger won't let me preview the whole post before publishing, the formatting got funky so the battle continues, and the neighbours are still too quiet. If somebody doesn't wake up soon, this could be me very shortly:

Happy #Caturdaypic.twitter.com/UZAwD9zUYj

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) September 17, 2022

People of Walmart

We've all seen them. The atrocious pix taken on the sly of people who go to Walmart dressed (or not) in horrific ways. As I sip my coffee and read emails, this popped out:

That's going to be a LARGE no from Moi. What a way to start the day! You can read more about this and other current things you must know at the witty yet informative The Peak.  

TGI Feel Me Better

My Go To Feel Me Better Tunes 

Have you ever been told, "YOU should write a book!" I bet you have. Did you think, "Shuuuure. It can't be hard. I'll get right on that . . . " as the molten sarcasm sap tried to explode from your pores? Shocking, I know, but having been through some things and possessing a modicum of writing ability will not do the trick. Whatever the trick actually IS escapes me today. 

This has been the least productive day of writing since I decided the time had finally come to settle   in and give it a real go. Maybe my own mind is blocking me. I've been in some bad internal places the past few days. Weirdly, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday has made it worse, triggering feelings about my mom. Hard. Since she died, pictures of Her Maj began to morph in with my memories and emotions, especially of Mum's quick decline. With each news story on the monarch's health that I read over the last year, another fierce feeling of protectiveness would wash over me. Being aware it's classic transference for my feelings orphans helps identify it. Dealing with it is another story. I'm not sobbing, but I am hurting in that deja vu way living with grief makes us experts at. Of sweeter memory, it was also something about their smiles, lighting up a room. I miss it. Today, I can't even pretend to write a book. I'll sit with this strange grief soup for a bit.

Giving myself that permission, and acknowledging my concentration is shot, finally led to surfing. Not the healthy, soak up the sun and surf, gnarly kind. The wicked kind. The big WWW. You know. 

The result after having hours sucked away? Not much. Except, now I need to BUY THIS:

And whip up some Beef & Stout  delish in the kitsh:

And MAKE THESE beauties!

Because lordty, lordty, I can't think of a reasonable argument to stop me. Mancub will think it's hilarious and that's enough motivation for Moi to make a stupid craft.  Maybe we can create them together on the sly, then force Kitten to wear them to work and school? Heheh. That cheered me up. 

Have a great weekend. Stay safe and make the most of where you're at. 

If you can, buy cute drinks. 

Mandoquerita