Food Allergies & Going out to eat

So for those of us who have food allergies going out to eat can sometimes prove to be a nightmare, be it a restaurant, a friend's house or a relative's house. So my son is allergic to cinnamon and I am allergic to tree nuts....making ordering deserts a nightmare sometimes. However, I have a friend who is allergic to carrots. Yes people, carrots. Well, one time, a VERY long time ago, we went out to eat and she ordered a salad that had no mention of carrots on it and lo and behold, it shows up with shredded carrots. Well, she explained to the server that she was allergic to them, and we got the eye roll and she said they would make a new one. Well, they obviously didn't because immediately upon taking a bite, she broke out in a rash (contact dermatitis) so it was very obvious that they just picked out the carrots. Idiots!

So let this be a lesson to all servers out there: if someone tells you are allergic to something, believe them and take care of the problem. Don't just fix it, completely replace it.

Dryer Sheets

I once read a tip about dryer sheets. They really are twice as big as you actually need them. Rip them in half and they will last you twice as long. Although sometimes when you have a HUGE load or material that carries and transfers static cling real easily, I would still recommend using a whole sheet, but for the most part, a half a sheet will do ya. One box of dryer sheets could easily last you a whole year. I know it isn't that much money, but in this economy, every penny counts!

The Man Lean

This is what I call it when a dude is driving a car and is leaning so far to the right that it looks like he is sitting in the middle. Why do guys lean like this? You almost never see women doing it. Is it their huge wallet making them do it? It looks absolutely ridiculous. Can't be good for your posture let alone future back and hip problems. Do they walk with a severe lean too? Seriously guys, sit up straight like your mother always told you to.

Selling items on eBay/Craigslist

Lately I have been trying to buy more things used. Kids only play with toys for a few years and then they outgrow them. My one gripe about buying things used is the pictures people put up. I understand that Craigslist puts limitations on the size, so that doesn't bother me. If I am interested in the item, then I will ask them to send a larger picture so I can see more detail on whether or not the item is in good to great condition. I HATE it when people use stock photos. If they have enough time to find a picture on the internet, download it, save it to their hard drive, then upload it to Craigslist, than they have enough time to take a picture of it and post it or email to the person interested in it. I had inquired about 2 items that were for sale on Craigslist and I had asked the seller to email me some pictures of the items she was selling and the only thing she did was send me more stock photos. How am I supposed to know whether or not her dog chewed on some of the pieces or if the paint is wearing off. Thanks, but no thanks. I will pass. I would rather buy it new than waste my time driving out to your place only to say that I don't want it since it looks like someone took a meat cleaver to it.

Shopping carts

I wish people would just walk the extra 20 feet to return them. We wonder why American's are seen as being lazy. If you can't walk to return the shopping cart, then yes, you are lazy. I purposefully always park right next to a cart corral since I have kids so that way I don't have to leave my children sitting in the car alone. If I can't park next to one, than I either leave the cart in the store or run my ass off to return it.

E-rewards

I always wonder if anyone else ever uses them. It is a great website where you fill out online surveys and receive "dollars" towards "gifts". So for every $50 in e-rewards surveys we fill out, we get a $25 giftcard to Game Stop. There are other things you can put it towards, like Borders Bucks, Airline Miles, magazine subscriptions etc. We usually earn about $75 - $100 in giftcards to Game Stop each year and since we buy used games, it usually gets us about 6 games! Totally worth it. So go check it out!

coffee grounds

They really bother me when they end up in my coffee, they actually make me gag. I always hate it when my last swig of coffee is a mouthful of grounds. It is probably why I dislike Starbucks so much. The last time I went there and got a coffee, the bottom was filled with grounds. ICK!

Bread crumbs

I used to buy my bread crumbs. What a ripoff they really are. All you have to do is save your bread ends (preferably whole wheat), put them in a paper bag (like the ones you used to bring your lunch to school in) and let them dry for a week or so (I usually forget about about them for a month). After that, just put them in a plastic bag and smash away. I use a meat tenderizer on mine. And voila, bread crumbs. And if you need the Italian seasoned one, add some dried Italian seasoning and a little Parmesan cheese and there ya go! Easy peasy!

Lemon in the water

Why do servers insist on always putting lemon in water? I know that 50% of the people out there like it, but what about us that don't. It is a waste of a perfectly good lemon wedge. So in all reality, don't put lemon in anyone's water unless they ask for it. I was a server for 10+ years so I know.

Why do they bother...

and put blinkers on cars if people aren't going to use them? I really appreciate the people that seem to be apparently coming to a stop for no reason only to make a right or left turn. HELLO people! You don't even have to remove your hand from the steering wheel to turn it on! For good practice, use it when no one is around when you are turning. It may turn into an automatic response someday. And for those of you who have your blinker on perpetually, maybe you should check what speed you are going and then you would see that your blinker is on instead of indicating that you are making a right turn into the corn field!

Windshield wipers on means

you turn your headlights on. Why can't people get this simple rule of the road! If you turn your wipers on than just use your left had to flip on your lights! It really isn't that difficult. Heck, you will even burn a few calories doing it! It is not like you are trying to negotiate world peace, just a little common courtesy to all of the other drivers on the road that actually do turn theirs on!

If your kid has a cold

Don't go out...Seriously people. If your child has a cold, don't go to McDonald's playhouse and let him/her run around touching everything while snot is running down their nose so fast you can't keep up with it. Thanks stranger for bringing your daughter to McDonald's and spreading your germs everywhere so my kids now have colds. Slightly coincidental that Amelia has a runny nose since she got up from nap two days after we went there to play. I guess every time my kids get sick, I will bring them to as many public places as possible so they can smear their germs everywhere spread the joy.

Jon & Kate

Am I the only one not surprised by their divorce? I mean, if you paid attention to the small things, you would all have totally seen this coming. For instance, their body language during their interviews. They always sat super far away from each other, NEVER held hands, and she always crossed the leg closest to Jon so she could subconsciously be even further away from him. Hello people, open your eyes!

Walking across the street

or even walking a parking lot. Why can't people just walk in a straight line? Seriously. People who walk in an angle just annoy the crap out of me. Make a straight line and pick up the pace a little bit. I was nice enough to let you go, now GO!

Reviewing a product

One thing I really hate is when I try to read reviews on Amazon and the consumer states that item arrived damaged. Well, IMO, that is not a reason to give it one star. If you haven't used it, how can you say it sucks? You should be giving the one star rating to UPS/FedEx/USPS for their inability to deliver the package undamaged. Report the item arriving damaged to whomever you purchased it from to exchange it for a new one, then once you have used it, review it. It really bothers me that a product on Amazon will have a 3 star rating because 10 people gave it one star because it arrived in unusable condition. They are tainting the reviews.

Writing checks

Who does it anymore? And if you do, why can't you pre-write it while waiting in line instead of gawking at the fact that Jon & Kate are getting divorced...Instead, you stand there oblivious to the fact that all you have to do is write the date, name of the store and sign it. It will cut your time in half and make it go more quickly for the people behind you. Plus, who really writes checks. Learn your debit card PIN number and swipe. It is free (for most banks nowadays) and you actually have to pay to get checks.

Getting Gas

Does no one realize that the gas pump hoses will reach to the other side of your car if you drive up to the opposite side? I have been able to fill up my SUV with gas while someone waits in line just so the gas cap opens closest to the gas pump. So 5 minutes of idle time while I have come and gone just because I drove up on the other side. On with my life while the rest of the idiots sit and wait for no apparent reason.

Why are they called hot dogs?

You can eat them cold ya know! I am sure there is some history behind it, but I don't feel like getting on Wikipedia right now to look it up.

Toothpaste

Why do toothpaste companies show the toothbrush with a ton of toothpaste on the it? I think it is all a ploy to make you use 10 times more toothpaste than necessary so you have to buy even more. Really people, a dab will do ya!