Blue Pants

 Growing up, my dad always wore blue pants. In fact, his work or personal "uniform" was blue pants with a white button down short sleeve shirt. Didn't matter what time of year, it was always the same every day. At work. At home. They weren't just an ordinary pair of blue pants. They we're work pants. 

My dad's wardrobe consisted of multiple pairs of these pants and shirts. I guess it made getting ready in the morning easier when you wear the same thing. It also made it easy to find him because you know what he is wearing. I have yet to figure out if this was crazy or pure genius.

It has been hard for me over the years to wear blue pants without thinking they look like work pants. For the longest time, I couldn't even let RT wear navy pants.

This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I put on a pair of blue pants. Unknowingly, I grabbed a white t-shirt. When I went downstairs for breakfast I realized I looked like my dad. Well, more like I was dressed like him. RT complimented the pants choice and said, "they look good." I tried to explain that all I see is my dad's clothing choices.

Is there an article of clothing you don't wear because of childhood trauma?

 I was at our old house and picked some of my kale growing in the garden. I came home and made a soup using the kale. I immediately realized I have become my grandmother.

My grandmother would visit us and pick grape leaves in our yard. She would then make dolmades (Greek stuffed grape leaves) for us using the leaves she picked. 

If I start to wander onto other peoples property and do this, RT might have to reign me in a little or explain that it is hereditary.

Do you pick random plants and make a meal out of them?

Naked Barbies

 I must really want to bring the traffic with that title! 

I have mentioned in previous posts about my journey wading through my storage locker. Trying to go through the boxes and get rid of what we don't need. It's not the quantity of stuff, more like the quantity of memories the items hold.

My recent unearthing was a Barbie box. Barbies, clothes, Kens, furniture, tiny shoes. As I am going through the box I realized that all of the Barbies are naked. I started thinking back to my child playing Barbies and recall the dolls were left naked. Was Barbie not digging the outfit she was wearing at the end if playtime? Does she feel more comfortable in the box when she is naked? Do the Barbies mind hanging out together when they are naked? Do we need to stage an intervention to get Barbie to start wearing clothes?

Did you play Barbies when you were young?

If yes, did you leave your Barbies naked?

Weird Random Journal Prompts

Journaling can be a great way to write down all those random thoughts inside your head. It can be a great place to work life problems out on paper. Many websites give you some basic questions to ask yourself as you write. I thought I would help you along with your journaling with a few interesting prompts that you won't find anywhere. 

Let's get started:

If you could be a stuffed animal, what would you pick and why?

What song describes your life?

If you could use only one kitchen gadget for the rest of your life what would you choose and why.

It's turn into your favorite emoji day. Which emoji are you and why?

If you could travel back in time and relive a conversation, which conversation would you rehash, with whom and what new direction would you take?

I hope these prompts help you out. Let me know in the comments.

Sign in to Pay Bills

Security online is a must these days. When you visit some websites, they ask that you create an account. Along with creating the account, you are asked to come up with a password. Suggestions are usually random: 1XyZ47#aBc7 . If you don't want to challenge your brain to remember some random number letter sequence, you can come up with your own password. 

I signed into one of these accounts so I could pay our bill online. Please note. I signed in. That means I entered my login and password. I clicked on "pay my bill" and was asked for my password again and some random questions to make sure I am me.  I guess I could be posing as myself. Oh, yea, and those pick out all of the wheels in the photo questions. Somehow those never work for me.

I started thinking about all of this security just so I could pay my bill and thought if someone really wants to pay my bills, let them! I won't get upset. In fact, they can pay all of my bills.

Are you a random password person or do you like creating your own unique password? 

How long does it take you to forget your unique password?

Shake Down at the Local Walmart

 We don't have a lot of shopping options in my small town. The big name stores we do have: Meijer, Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Marshalls. We just got the Marshalls about eight months ago. It was a real big deal for us.

The local Walmart is on the small side and is definitely third world (it's a little shady). You usually can find what you need. If you can't find it, you probably don't need it. Or someone thinks you will be fine without it.

I made a quick run to our shady local Walmart. I had to pick up a few things. I made it through self checkout (I had a great cashier) and was heading for the exit. At this time, I am approached by security the greeter asking to see my receipt for my white vinegar purchase. Maybe that's a high steal item around here? I don't know. I hand over the receipt and tell him it's the last item I scanned. There are probably five or six items on my receipt so it shouldn't be difficult to find the white vinegar. In the meantime, a friend of mine comes up to me and we start talking. I realize the sheriff greeter is struggling to find my white vinegar. I go through my bags and show him all the items that I purchased (still while talking to my friend). My friend realizes the stressful situation and says goodbye. I finally take the receipt from the sheriff and point to the last item that says, "Wht Vinegar" (aka white vinegar). I'm not sure if that registered with him, but he did give up on me. 

I think the sheriff was upset he wasn't able to bust me on my white vinegar. Let's be serious, if I'm going to steal, which I'm not, but if I was to steal, I don't think it would be a $3.00 gallon of white vinegar.

Small town life. You gotta love it.

Would you steal a gallon of white vinegar?

National Thrift Shop Day

 "Hey, Mackelmore, Can we go thrift shopping?" 

It's National Thrift Shop Day so get ready to pop some tags!

A thrift store, also known as a resale shop, consignment store or charity shop, can be found in most towns. Items are donated to the stores and the staff stocks the stores with these donations. By shopping at a thrift store you are able to save money and find some hidden treasures (like vintage and unusual clothing). For some it's not just about saving money, it's about the thrill of finding the unusual items. While thrifting helps the budget, it also prevents these items from ending up in a landfill.

How can you observe the day?

If you have items at home that are not being used, pack them up and bring them down to the donation center at your local thrift store. This is a great way to clean up your home and give your items a second life. 

Check out some new thrift stores in your area.  Bring a friend along and make a day of it.

And, of course, playing, "Thrift Shop," by Mackelmore is definitely a must today.

Don't forget! You can post your treasures on social media using #ThriftShopDay 

How will you participate today?