A rant, if you will...

So, y'all, I don't offer up many rants on my blog, but I've had two very particularly annoying things happen to me THIS week alone, that requires some venting on my part.

First rant:

At the check out counter at Kohl's (which is a store that I loathe, but was buying Elisan's must-have dress of the season) when I was asked by the employee if I wanted to "Put this on my Kohl's charge?"

I replied, "No thanks.  Visa will be fine."  To which she replied... "Do you have a Kohl's charge account with us?  If not, then you can apply to today and get up to 30% off today's purchase!"

I replied, "No thanks. We're a one credit card kind of family."

She she asked me, "Are you a Kohl's reward points member?  If you sign up today with your email, you will get bonus points that can be applied to your next purchase."

Me, "Um, no.  I am already signed up to receive your emails."

By now, she was getting very irritated with me and says, "No, this is different.  It's a points system that rewards you for purchases.  We signed up more than 20 thousand people at this store alone!  Our store was part of a pilot program and because of the success our store had, Kohl's decided to offer the rewards program nationwide!"

And I declined.  Again.  To her dissatisfaction.

Really, I just wanted to make my purchase... exchange pleasantries and get outta there.  But, by the time I was done checking out, I was so irritated with HER, that I walked out mad vowing to NEVER shop at Kohl's again.

I realize it's their job and they probably get a bonus for each sign up (whether credit card or rewards program) but after a certain point, I would also think that the sales lady would sense my frustrations and knock it off.

Second rant:

Once my van hit 100K miles, I stopped getting it serviced at the Honda dealership for oil changes.  It was just too much of a hassle for me.  So, over the last couple of years, I've been content to bring it into the quickie lube places (where you aren't even required to leave your vehicle) for an oil change.  But, today, I decided to bring it to Midas because I had a coupon AND they threw in a tire rotation with the oil change for free and I definitely needed the tire rotation.

I'm sitting there minding my own business when the gal sitting next to me was called into the garage to check out something on her vehicle.  When she returned, she phoned her husband and told him that the service tech recommended xxx-amount of service on her car, etc. etc.  She then told the service tech that her husband would take a look at the car and told the service guy to just change the oil.  I chuckled and said to her, "That always happens to me too."  And she said, "They think just because we're women, that they can con us out of a bunch of money for services we don't need."

Well, no less than 5 minutes, the same service tech was calling me to the garage to take a look at my van.  I politely told him that my husband was capable of making any repairs to the vehicle, but that I appreciated him pointing it out.

When I walked back into the waiting area, that gal and I burst out laughing.  At least they are consistent.

And, by the way... my van has 140K+ miles on it.  EVERYTHING needs to be flushed, cleaned and replaced!

It's SPRING Break!

So, the girls are at soccer camp this week. All week.  All day.  And they are having a blast so far.  This is their third year to attend this Spring Break camp and it has been all Elisan could talk about for the last week of school.

I think they needed a break. Having multiple ice days and late starts at school was no consolation to their need for a break.  However, I'm a little bummed that Easter is so late this year...  That means our next break is still a long way aways.

Over the weekend, I brought the girls out to buy a dress.  Randy's brother is getting married in early May and I wanted to get them a dress as soon as the new Spring dresses hit the stores.  So, Kyla is basically a stick with legs up to her neck so finding a dress that fit her in all manners of speaking - length and bodice was no easy feat.  In fact, when we found a dress that fit her in the bodice, I pretty much decided that we were done with her.  And truth be told, it's a cute little dress and she will be beautiful in it.  That is, if she can keep her shins and knees from getting banged up between now and the wedding.

Elisan was a bit more picky about her dress.  The first problem is that she is 12 and in 7th grade and doesn't want to shop in the girls' section any more.  She wants to shop in the juniors section.  Unfortunately, she's just a wee bit small to fit into most of the jrs. clothes.  Thankfully, after trying on... oh, I don't know 20 dresses, she found the dress she wanted.  (A word to the wise... take pictures of them in every dress they try on so they can remember what they loved and didn't love about each one!  That's my TIP of the day!)

The picture doesn't do this dresses justice but I did want to show you what we ended up with!

Elisan wants to wear a long turquoise pendant with this bright coral dress and her cowboy boots.  Hmmmm, I'm okay with the pendant, but the boots?  At least not for the wedding.

In case you're wondering... and I know you are... YES, I'm still counting calories and I'm still working out like a crazy woman.  And, YAY ME, I'm really beginning to notice changes in my arms, shoulders, butt and legs.  FINALLY.  This 40-something business is cramping my workout time-line. I was hoping for these results in February... NOT March.  But, it's all good.  I'm just glad my body is still capable to lift weights and run.  40-something isn't all that bad.

In honor of Spring Break, I've begun advertising for my SPRING MINI-SESSIONS!  I'm so excited about offering these mini-sessions!

If you want to book a spot, mention that you saw it on my Haphazard Happenstances blog and I'll take $10.00 off the session... making it only $65.00!  For more specific details, click on over to my photography website.

I'm off to my craft room to sew my little heart out.  I'm working on some super cute bunting to use in my spring photography sessions.  I'll be sure to post pictures of it when it's complete!

Happy Spring Break, y'all!