Eat all the chocolate till resolution time!

Well here I sit at 10:13 pm on Friday night. What is it that I am doing you ask?? Do you really want to know? Well okay-here goes-I am eating chocolate-and not just a chocolate bar either-I had 2 people set me up for failure this year-my old boss and my mother! Not just a little chocolate either and not cheap stuff-the good kind that you just have to eat and there is no way you want to share it either! I am having a strict resolution for new year's this year-trying to loose a few pounds, well more than a few, but if I say too high I am just setting myself up for failure then! I am doing paper work for work tonight-so I do NEED the sugar right?? After all I do need to stay awake to do it, so why not right? Well you know if I eat it all before Monday it will take me 6 months just to take off the weight that I gained just from eating the stuff! I am rather enjoying it at this moment though! What is it with people who give out chocolates for christmas? Do they think they are being nice-really? Hello-I am far from NEEDING chocolate-I am very far from anorexia! Hey a nice bubble bath or some earrings would suit me just fine! Oh well, enough about chocolate=hey wait I will brb-need another one-lol!

Hey for all you people some info about Dollarama if you didn't know and don't want to look stupid asking any of us employees at the store when you come in-just fyi....
1. We don't have 1/2 off sales after a holiday, and when you see empty aisles the next day after
one doesn't mean we are closing either!
2. Everything yes everything, even if it is marked more, is $1 or less! Really! It doesn't matter which cashier you ask!
3. We don't need to be told what things are less than $1-we won't over charge you=we know our prices, they are in our head!
4. We don't as of yet sell cell phones, toasters, rechargeable batteries, cameras, or televisions, yes we have been asked for it all! Hey okay-maybe some day we will get it in-Maybe-we can only hope!
5. Yes I do work here-I am wearing an ugly green apron, standing on a ladder and putting stock onto shelves from a huge box!
6. Oh and we are people too-not robots, we have feelings, as well as days off-so if we are with our kids, pushing a cart, hair a mess, with a coat on, chances are pretty high we are just shopping ourselves, let us do our thing and find someone who can help you k?

I am sure I can tell you lots and lots of things as I think of them, which I will because people drive me insane with their stupid questions! Like I am so sure-do people even think before they speak anymore????

Oh and when I am shopping at walmart-really-don't stop me either-I don't work there at all and really don't know where earplugs are kept! I know you know me from somewhere, but it isn't there!

Well off I go to finish up my christmas pack up package, needed a break to "vent", thanks for that!
Night for now-lots of luck in life love and ??? lollipops-how does that saying go anyways???

OVER AND DONE WITH!

Well I am soooo excited! I have taken my christmas stuff down at home and got some cleaning done on boxing day. Now today at work we packed up 5 skids of Christmas so it is now out of the way-but guess what guys?? Valentine's day stuff coming in tomorrow!! Can't wait! Then week after is Easter-crazy huh?
What did I get for Christmas you asked?? Well from kids I got 2 pairs of jeans, 2 long sleeved t-shirts, a vest, 8 pairs of socks, 9 pairs of underwear, pair of slippers and my most favorite gift from them, a new cutter for my scrapbook's! From my parents I got some icy squares chocolates and a gold anklet. From my aunt a christmas water fountain. From my father-in-law a gift card for northern reflections. From my mother-in-law a black and white puzzle of boats, a candle holder, set of 4 battery operated candles, and a crazy dancing gingerbread man! From my brother's family a chocolate making factory. Lastly from my gift exchange at work a box of premium chocolates-which I am eating now, and a bath set from calgon-TAKE ME AWAY!! Lots of nice gifts. I have one more christmas to go in January with my husband's mom's side of the family-we go to Peterborough for that-I can't wait!
Well no recipe today-gotta get to bed-now being manager of the store I have to get my sleep to make sure to be on the ball. I have to make sure to organize every one's time as well as be checking on everyone-not an easy job as I have found out! Take care everyone-promise some recipes for sure this weekend on here-I got lots from that cookie exchange at work-and some even good ones-LOL-bye bye for now-happy new year!

Down to the wire!

We are so down to the wire it's not funny! I have been baking all day yesterday and this morning, I am covered in flour! I have been baking for the cookie exchange I arranged at work as well as for gift giving, for our in store christmas party and for christmas holidays wherever I go I bring cookies and squares. I am all set now, I only have 2 more squares to make and that is it! I can't wait till I am all done, but really I do enjoy baking!
I go into work today and most everyone should have brought their cookies in to exchange, because if they want their's from other people they have to have brought their's in first. I am working the next 2 nights, this is good since today I could finish the cookie deal and tomorrow morning finish the wrapping, which I have still a ton to do! I should ask to go in late tomorrow to get it all done, since it will be my last little sanity time without the kids peeking!
Well I am such a nut for christmas-one sec-last batch has to come out-brb-lol-back-hehe-miss me? Well as I was saying,......I am such a nut for christmas that I am getting so excited! I started my count down at 145 days from christmas-and yes people did ask me how many days till the big day even in September-and yes I knew every time!
I went shopping last night for more things to make earrings. Hubby bought me 500 hooks, and a few packages more of ornaments. I can't wait to sell them next year, I have some really cool ones. I have brought some to work, but saving some special ones to sell since they will be worth more money at a craft fair-makes great gifts!
Well it is about that time to get ready for work now. I have to have a shower obviously now, have to put cookies into the tins for exchange, make a couple of phone calls and off I go! As promised here is one of the recipes I did for my cookie exchange.


Barb's favorite Cookies
350 degrees for 6-8 min.roll into balls and flatten with fork
cream-1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
add---2 eggs
and 1 tsp. baking soda
mix 1 tsp. baking powder
2 cup flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 cup rice krispies
1/2 cup chocolate chips

ENJOY BAKING=remember-my favorite tools-an apron and a timer! Oh and of course some good old fashioned christmas music to put you in the mood!

Well howdy everyone. So are you all like me and not nearly 1/2 ready for christmas? I am so not done. Right now I would love to rent a christmas cleaning lady-or decorator or someone just to shop, decorate, wrap, knit, clean and of course bake for me! I am up to my roof in things to do. Of course though I have time to type in here to everyone! I wouldn't leave that out of my day.

I worked a very long day today and cleaned up sooooo much things at that crazy store! We had coffee and donuts which really helped perk us all up this morning! It really gave me the little push I needed this morning to get going! Only 8 days till Christmas so I am getting pretty tired. I have tomorrow off though, but so does hubby so I plan on spending some time with him. I haven't seen him since Thursday night!

I am going to get some baking done tonight. My plan is to get the kids into bed by 8 (they had a late night last night), and get the oven warmed up for a few hours of some serious baking! I can't wait either, it has been a year since I have baked anything besides suppers. I haven't had the time at all to do any. I have to bake for the cookie exchange I started at work and also for our staff in store christmas party on Saturday. That should be fun because we are exchanging gifts that day too! Should be lots of fun!

I started my earring selling business a year early-why not! I sold 2 pairs my first day and have lots of people interested at work for some yet. I haven't set up a table at a craft fair or anything, but I will definately do that for next year!

You want to know how fast the seasons go at dollarama?? Well let me tell you-this week we are getting valentine's day stuff in to put out-how crazy is that?! I think depressing is more like it! How fast time sure does fly!

Well I leave you with the recipe for the day provided by my great friend Carrie-whom I don't see often enough and would love to see more, but really don't have time to -well let's not get started on that! I miss ya Carrie-you make me laugh, and laughing is a great thing!

Peanut Butter Cups

Mix first 5 ingredients together and shape into balls and press flat;

1 cup peanut butter
2 tbsp. margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla


melt on stove;

1/2 cup shortening
12 oz package chocolate chips

Arrange baking cups in a muffin pan, put 1 tsp. melted chocolate in baking cup, add the pressed balls and cover with 1 tsp. chocolate.

Place in fridge until hard.

ENJOY! Tastes even better than the other peanut butter cups you know!

Well hey there guys, my countdown is on..... any bets on if I can get it all done by the big day? I really doubt it myself now. By the time I get off work each day, wait for a ride and get home and eat and clean up, it's time to go to bed to start it all over again tomorrow! Although I did just finish watching Polar Express with the boys. It was a neat movie, wouldn't watch it again anytime soon, but it was nice. I can't believe that it is animation! Wow! I am typing a short message tonight and hopefully tomorrow night I will have more stamina to type more. Tomorrow I am only working 8 hours so I won't feel as tired! I am just going to type in a nice little recipe here for today and then be on my way-happy shopping, wrapping, baking, and all that jazz to you all. Here is the recipe for the day......

Never Fail Pie Crust

1 pound shortening
5 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. white sugar
1 egg
3 tbsp. vinegar
1/2 cup water

Knead .

Red Fridays

I hope this picture is okay for you all to see. In our christmas parade this year there were the military and check out the red and green glow sticks. They had quite the cheering section! It brought tears to my eyes to see how proud everyone was! Heck I am so proud of our guys! I know so many people that are over there, went over, and are yet to go over as i am sure everyone does. With my dad being military too just brings it all the more closer to home for me! We took a picture at my work to send over to all the guys, we all had santa hats on and of course it was red friday that day! It was nice to know we were putting a smile on some of their faces knowing we care! Even if the smile only lasts a millisecond, it was so worth it!
I Barb have decided to start selling earrings! I am starting my own little business. Gotta start small, but that's the way I have to do it. I wear crazy christmas earrings at work all the time and get so many people asking me where I buy my earrings and when I tell them that I make them they all ask if I sell them, usually I say no, but my darling husband told me I should. So I started making them. I made 20 pairs last night, I came up with all differnt ways to market them, and even came up with a name for it. Fancy Ears by Barb, I might change it soon if I can get an idea for a better name, but for now-it works!
Well gotta run for today, I have to make up my business cards to go on those earrings! Have a super day everyone-12 days till the big day!

What a day!!

Well that is how I feel today, just as you feel when you are thinking of this picture-is that a man playing an instument? Or is it a woman's face? I AM CONFUSED! I worked today with mostly teenagers, and what in the world is the world coming too>? The ones today I was working with just would not listen to simple instructions! They won't listen to authority or don't care, whichever. They simply just do what they please and all the while just laughing when you ask or even tell them what to do! I thought I would do it the nice way by gently telling them what to do, but had to resort to saying "well if you don't want to work I can always send you home!" I hate hearing that language out of my mouth, but I just have to be stern and put my foot down!

I felt like tearing my hair out today! Store was busy and what do they care? Well they will care come January when everything slows down and the ones that actually work get the hours, well who'll have the last laugh then? Well geez, don't they realize good work gets rewarded? Okay enough about that stuff!

I work at dollarama and man do I have fun (usually) there. Today we got in some pretty amazing things for a buck! We got in a hand held bissel carpet cleaner-it takes batteries and cleans furniture too, it even comes with an attachment and a bottle of cleaner-HELLO-a buck!
Today too-barbie colored body foam soap, and barbie bubblegum scented bubble bath-750ml!
Also 2 bob the builder chap stick with a bob the builder stamper! Oh and a bag of 40 strawberry halls-40!! All for $1! Can you imagine what else you can find at the store-shop daily cause things come in every day and like the bissel thing they go within the day-like our hershey's bag of kisses with caramel or peanut butter-sells elsewhere for $3! Come see me-keep me in a job! Not that I am worried because we are busy every day! We are the store everyone can still afford come January! Hope to see you through my cash!


Well I have a project to do tonight with my son-so you all have fun with the hustle and bustle of trying to get all the stuff done for the big day. I have Monday off and I plan on finishing it all up on that day-if not-well let's just say I am in some trouble come christmas eve-might have to pull an all nighter then!

Till next time gang!

Crazy crazy holly days!

Well this is me in the morning, well untill I have my cup of Java!! Don't mess with me, don't call me, don't ask me dumb questions, I am not in the mood for anything and definately don't ask me how I am!! Some people maybe it's a hot shower that gets them going or even a sweet kiss from there significant other, but nope not me it's CAFFEINE-and lots of it! I need it these days, I am sooo tired, lots of work to do at the holiday season. I have had the last 2 days off work, but still not done all the home stuff that needs to get done. Oh well I only work for the next 3 days then I am off for one more, till who knows when? I probably work straight through till the big day! Do I have an idea for everyone out there, it has gone over so well at 2 work places I have been at, you can change the ideas behind it if you like or keep it just as it is>>>>>>it's called a cookie/square exchange!

This is how the exchange works that I got underway at my business.....

You post a list of asking everyone if they'd like to join and ask for their names, but of course you have to tell them what they are in for first, cause they don't want to join in blind folded right??

1. You make a dozen cookies or squares for each person but yourself (of course you can for yourself if you like). Ex---if there are 8 names like at my work-you make 7 dozen.

2. You can just make it 2 half dozen so you are making 6 of one cookie and 6 of a square for each person just so it still makes a dozen either way though.

3. For each of these dozen you need to provide either a basket, plate or tin whatever you can come up with to put them into, I like a tin with a candy can ontop, I also throw in some holiday chocolates for fun.

4. We provide each person the recipe for the one or two recipes you have made so we can start our own little recipe index. We all bought the same ones at work so they are all same size, and easier to find a box.

5. We have picked 3 days in which you can bring them all in, December 18-19-or 20th. Everyone has to have them in by at least the 20th.

6. And last and most important....You don't get to take any cookies with your name on them home until you have brought your bunch in!!

some other things you might try....Putting the people's names on each plate or tin ect...also you can ask if anyone has allergies or diabetic, we just ask around. Oh yeah-if you don't want to give out your secret family recipe-DON'T MAKE IT-it's not fair to not give the recipe-people might have cravings later on and want to make their own!!

Hope someone gets around to do this this year, if not keep it in mind for next year, it is the greatest thing I have did since you spend only 1/2 a day making the stuff and if you were to make 8 dozen of different things your self--well who has time for that??? This way if you go to someone's house over the holidays you have a lovely assortment and can always make more with the recipes, also you can give some for gifts for teachers or even those hard to by uncles or school bus drivers!!!

Well that's it for today, hope you all have a great day-remember only 2 weeks and 3 days to get shopping!

kids cookie recipe

Well another crazy day at that crazy mall and dollar store! It was red friday today, and I am very disappointed in all my fellow workers, there were 4 of them with no red on! I think even if I didn't own a stitch of red I would wear pink or burgundy or buy a red hat scarf, something! I wear my hubby's shirt! Hey it shows we care right?

I am off this weekend to Ottawa for hubby's big christmas party-I cannot wait! It is always a lot of fun. We get a room and make a weekend out of it, very nice, it is really enjoyed by the two of us! It is unfortunately a really bad today weather wise, so I hope tomorrow brings some nicer weather for our travels! I just have some packing to do tonight and we are off in the morning.

I cannot wait till this crazy Christmas season is over though, people really do go nuts I think. They really do forget what the reason for the season is for. They push, shove and grab things out of each other's hands, they jump in front of others at the registers, they even have been taking out of other's carts! I seen that yesterday a woman took some tins out of another ones cart! They are impatient and not nice to you when they get to the cash but expect you to be really nice and smile at them. You wish them a merry christmas and they get mad because it's not politically correct. I am sorry but you are buying christmas things mame so i figured I could say it! Crazy people, then they get to your cash even though they are in a hurry they count every last penny just to realize that they are 3 cents short and make sure to say that hoping you'll do what???? Throw money in for them-hey after my 10 cent raise a year people I refuse to throw 3 cents of it in for every second or third customer cause they "almost made it!". People are crazy as I said! Sorry just had to let loose on that one-it is one thing that utterly frustrates the hell out of me!

Well as promised a nice recipe of the day, there will be no post tomorrow as I am partying away tomorrow! Hope you all have a great weekend-remember only 24 days till the big day and until it's all over!


Kids cookies; 350 degrees till brown

cream; 1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
add and mix; 2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 cup rice krispies
Form into balls and flatten with floured fork. Enjoy-these are great and you can add nuts or chocolate chips if preferred, but definately not needed.