Thankful Thursday: McCormick Italian Herb Seasoning Grinder

You know when you're at a restaurant and the server asks if you'd like fresh cracked pepper on your salad or other dish? I LOVE that! We have a pepper grinder at home that we got for our wedding, and it's gotten a ton of use. We've tried the sea salt grinders but the one from Aldi kept breaking (cheap plastic).

So when Aron found this McCormick Italian Herb Seasoning Grinder at the grocery store in Wyoming, I was excited to use it. Ingredients are: rosemary, black pepper, red pepper, garlic, onion, sea salt, tomato and parsley.

I used it in some store-bought spaghetti sauce and it really jazzed it up and gave it more flavor, kinda like what I'm used to with Aron's home-made spaghetti sauce. I also ground it up in some sauce for lasagna, and it rocked.

There's something about fresh-ground herbs and spices that makes me happy! Did I mention you can set it at  coarse, medium or fine?! Check out their other varieties here!

P.S. Had to add that I just got back from Aldi, where I see they have the knockoff version of all the McCormick spice grinders. I was commenting on how easily the grinders break and another woman there agreed and said she won't buy them there and buys McCormick instead for quality of grinder and spices/herbs!

Charging Me to Give You More Money

This week I find myself in the position of Secretary of Aron. I have to call Avis because of a $150 charge that showed up 2 weeks after he turned in his rental car. I also have to call Budget because of a $101 charge that showed up. Both charges have no explanation, so I have to sleuth out the deal.

Avis has sent me all over the place ... some pretend person named Michelle who won't call me back, and to Claims. The Claims lady and I had a good laugh when she said I did NOT need Claims and I told her the office is smoking crack and she said EXACTLY! We're thinking the charge is a cleaning charge because in Wyoming Aron works on a muddy mountain and often doesn't have time to clean the car inside and out before he returns it. That's fine. What I love is that Avis does not have the software to be able to have the space to enter what the charge is for. An employee actually told me this. So we all have to waste our time tracking this down when they just need a programmer to add more space in their software.

Budget actually made me laugh out loud. They still aren't quite sure, but they think the extra money is because at the last minute we needed the car 2 extra days. They got over $1,000 from Aron's company for almost 5 weeks of renting the car (returned clean!!!), but because he needed it TWO MORE DAYS, they charge an $80 fee OVERSTAY fee. I asked very politely, "You guys are charging us to give you more money?" Yep. You would think they would be happy renting the car out two more days.

What do you think about airlines and car rental companies? I just have to laugh because there is no fighting them.

This Is What 41 Looks Like, Folks

This is what a 41-year-old woman looks like:

Today would be my birthday. I was born in Germany, lived there 6 months, and came to chill in the Kansas City area ever since. I'm a full-blown Gemini, which explains a lot of crap. I'm getting some gray hair in my bangs and decided to stop pulling them out. I use face cream and eye cream and sunscreen. I don't stay out of the sun and do plenty of smiling and some frowning. I have those parentheses between my eyebrows that show up when I scowl. The skin below my eyebrows is sagging. I'm cool with how I look. Not a fan of shots in my face or going under the knife, but if that's how you roll, go for it. We can revisit this topic in 10 years and see where I stand.

When I loaded this picture, Michael said it looks I just said, "I pooted."

Aron and Joel are home from Scout camp today because Joel came home with a little fever and sore throat. What am I doing today? Sleeping in as late as Sam will let me. Writing. Going to the pool. Cooking. Cleaning. Purging junk from the house to prepare for a fall garage sale. Getting a fancy coffee. Enjoying the life I always wanted and got.

What did my husband get for me? Well, besides the gifts that keep on giving (a great marriage and 5 great kids), he got me rockin' new tires in Wyoming. Oh, and he fixed the PCM (power control module) on my van for around $400 instead of the $1,200 they wanted at the dealership in Wyoming. So my man is a gift in and of himself. Got a Scooter's gift card from Mom, homemade potholders from stepmom Nancy and cold, hard cash from Dad. Can't figure out for the life of me what to buy so I'm saving it until I know.

I hope you have a great day on my birthday.

Grandpas Behaving Badly

My dad is a freaking hoot. I had to post these pictures from last night (Father's Day). I loaded up the 4 kids I had in my presence, tossed a lasagna in the mommyvan (ghetto sled) and took them to my dad and stepmom's house. After a lovely dinner Sam had a little fit and threw himself on the floor. My dad also got on the floor to show Sam how it was done. Then Eva joined in the fun! It was awesome!

My stepmom made some awesome brownies and they sang happy birthday to me, something I wasn't expecting since I was there for Father's Day!

HELL YES, They Went to Scout Camp!!!

Happy Father's Day 2012! I feel HORRIBLE that I don't have a photo of Aron with all his kids to share today. We were kinda busy getting Joel and Aron ready to go to their very first overnight Boy Scout Camp! Yes, Aron told his boss he was going to camp and that he understood it might cost him his job. Looks like he still has a job so far, since he's supposed to leave again the day after he gets back from camp. Stay tuned to all that fun.

So I want to give a shout-out to the best dads ever ... my own father, of course, and my husband. I also have some friends who are amazing fathers, as well, and couldn't name them all. I also happen to think my brothers-in-law are terrific fathers. I'm super-judgmental, as you know, and know some crappy fathers, too, so I don't bestow those honors lightly. Now on to the photos.

Joel before we had to say goodbye. I could tell he was getting a little emotional so I tried to suck up my emotions and just kept talking about how much fun he would have. He's concerned about missing my birthday on Tuesday, and I told him my best gift would be for him to have so much fun that day that he forgets all about me! Of course I'm crying as I write this and will miss them immensely, but it's only for a week and he will learn so much and have a blast. I explained to his Troop that we homeschool, so that's why we are all attached to each other.

Comic relief to take our minds off the leaving. Sam is taking a nice dump. Time to potty train.

Joel and Aron were in the truck that's pulling the Troop trailer. I was stoic so I would not cry then make him cry. I told him we need to see other people for a week.

P.S. My stepdad doesn't have any children of his own, but he treats me and my family like his own. He doesn't talk much and doesn't show his feelings, but he shows his love by helping out and doing things for us. He took care of our house and yard while we were gone, for instance. We love you, Papa Dave!

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