My Monday To Do List was a mile long:
1. Went to Radio Shack to return a photo card reader that was a piece of crap. <–No other word for it. Proceeded to wait around for 20 minutes for a $17 dollar refund, and was seriously questioning if it was worth it because time is money.
2. Went to Michael’s craft store to return a cork board I had bought but that started eroding and leaving black cork particles over everything the minute I unwrapped it. <--Instantly catapulted it into the Return It category.
3. No returns at Target. Just a quick Benjamin$ spent. Poof. Target is a money pit but I did need to restock some essentials.
Here’s some of my stash
This Jif Natural Peanut Butter was on sale. I admit, I don’t buy “natural” peanut butter as a matter of course. I buy whatever is cheap. Or in this case, I noticed the Low Sodium notation on the jar. Sold.
Given that I am not a fan of salty things, it was a good snag for me.
In the past, I’ve used Jif Naturals, Skippy Naturals, high end “designer” nut butters, TJ’s nut butters, you name it, I’ve tried it.
My two fave nut butters: TJ’s Sunflower Seed Butter
And Peanut Butter. In any form and all brands. Some brands are better than others, but I’ll eat just about any brand.
And yes, I will even eat the non natural kind that’s filled with refined sugars and additives. And I admit that I like it.
I used to adore Triscuits + Reduced Fat Jif Peanut Butter + lots of cocktails with maraschino cherries in my early 20s and made many “dinners” of of that combo. And I cherish those memories. Those were fun days and “dinners”.
Jif Reduced Fat peanut butter will always be a lifelong fave because of those memories!
4. After Target, it was time to get a lovely run outside in. 75F, sunny, no wind, no bugs. Loved it.
I stopped and smelled a few roses and took my time and savored the beautiful day. (Not really, but I did see these pretty roses)
After my run, I went into the garage for 15 minutes of at-home yoga, i.e. garage yoga, stretching, and core work.
5. I also changed the sheets on my bed. It was sheet day. Hate the process, love the final result. I sleep much better on clean sheets.
6. And after that peanut butter talk, all I can think of are peanut butter recipes. <–I have an entire post dedicated to them.
Everything from Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu
to
to
Raw Vegan Spring Rolls with 2-minute Peanut Sauce
to No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars (vegan, GF)
So if you’re a peanut butter fan, here’s my stash of peanut butter recipes
Thank you for the wonderful comments on my last post, Blogging 105. I am so glad that it resonated with so many of you. Just how much to share, how much of yourself to reveal, and what to do about people who unintentionally find out about your blog are topics that seemed near and dear to everyone’s heart and I loved reading your comments on thoughts on how you handle these matters.
And I’m glad the whole five-part Blogging Series was helpful. Thanks to all the (new) bloggers and (new) readers who chimed in to tell me it helped you. I had fun writing the series and organizing my thoughts on it all.
Questions:
1. What did you check off your list on Monday?
2. Do you have a favorite nut butter? Brand, type, kind?
I know this question is asked repeatedly in the ‘sphere and Janetha just asked it, but I always love hearing the answers. I may hear about something new and amazing!
And anyone want to admit to liking the cheap stuff right along with me?
3. How good are you about returning items?
I admit, that for $11 bucks, I almost didn’t complete my Micheal’s return.
And for $17, I was borderline with Radio Shack.
But that was $28 bucks I then took to Target, so was glad I did made those returns.
If you’re interested in saving money, also check out Target Coupons and Radio Shack Coupons at MyCoupons.com.
I used to let my returns just get lost in the shuffle, let the item collect dust, or give it away, but I am much more conscious and conscientious now, and actually make the return. If time is money, then all those “little” items are money, too. And they add up so it’s better than I return things if they’re not going to work out rather than just wasting my own money.
And I really try to avoid even buying things that I am on the fence about, in order to avoid even dealing with returns, but sometimes you get an unexpected dud and it just has to go back.
Enjoy your day!
I have to make a lot of returns today too – including Cal King Sheets that did not fit, haha! Your blog always makes me smile though. :)
I’m really good about returning things. On the checking off the list, I made an appt for a physical, worked out and met with an attorney that is helping us get our property taxes reassessed. I love peanut butter, any kind. Great stuff!
I am with you on the sheets – I dread doing it but LOVE crawling into bed with clean, still-warm linens.
My favorite nut butter is the TJ roasted valencia peanut flax… but they started doing a roasted almost flax that is a close second!
I love Target :) My favorite peanut butter is Crazy Richard’s. The only ingredient is peanuts; it’s a little runny (I eat the chunky, the creamy is SO thin) and when you buy it, it has an inch of oil on top ;) I actually don’t like any other type of nut butter, unless it involves chocolate!
Life has been hectic as of late, so I don’t always have time to comment. But I’m still reading your blog. Thanks for bringing rays of sunshine into my day with your posts. I’ve been loving the photos.
No worries on the commenting!!!
I loved reading that ‘cheap’ nut butter is a guilty pleasure of yours! Expensive jars are tasty, but I’ll always be a Peter Pan girl!
Oh and I dont even feel one bit guilty. Ever! :)
I love Target brand all natural peanut butter. I think it has a better flavor than the more expensive all natural peanut butters. I’m not picky though & will eat just about any kind, natural or not! I’m a pretty good returner, because I’m a totally frugal kind of girl. I once bought a bag of cheese at Target & as the cashier rang it up, I couldn’t believe that it was $11! It sank in after she’d rung up several more items, so I thought I’d just suck it up & pay the $11. I didn’t make it 2 steps past the register before I realized it might kill me to pay $11 for some stupid cheese. I marched myself down to the customer service area & returned it! My husband couldn’t believe I was so cheap that I’d returned a bag of cheese.
$11 is insane. You should never have to pay that much unless it’s imported from France or something!
I have the most ridiculous return story that it’s going to sound like I made it up, but I swear it’s 100% truth. I went to the dollar tree yesterday to purchase some plastic serve wear for an upcoming party. While the cashier was checking me out a lady came up and interrupted her saying that she was dissatisfied with a product and wanted her money back or an exchange for something else.
She was so pushy and rude, the cashier stopped checking me out and had to interact with this lady! Then when the cashier told the lady she needed a receipt, the lady went nuts screaming for a manager because this was unacceptable.
She had one item, which means that she spent $1! She was making a production over ONE DOLLAR!! I was about to whip a dollar out of my wallet and give it to her and say here’s a dollar to shut you up! I’m certain that the amount of time she caused me to have to wait while my cashier was helping her instead of me was more than a $1’s worth of my time.
I’m like you, it has to be over a certain dollar amount before I’ll take the time to return something. I have a pot lid organizer from Lowe’s that only cost me $7 and it doesn’t fit in my cabinet but I just keep putting off taking it back because it’s only $7 and it’ll cost me more in time and gas to return it than just keep it!
Target indeed is a money pit! but i still love target! :) my fave nut butter is TJ’s almond butter with sea salt.
I finally got a bed frame and got it put up yesterday!! After two months of my bed being on the floor, it felt so good. I also got halfway done an assignment due tomorrow, but I have more on the list today. Including a trip to Target, and I’m fearing for the safety of my wallet.
As for nut butter, Teddie All Natural Unsalted all the way. It’s savory yet not salty, creamy, and oh-so-delicious. I just tried and loved SunButter, and now I’m in the process of finding an almond butter I love! I have a big tub of Whole Foods fresh ground right now, but I need to shop around!
Teddie All Natural Unsalted = have heard rave reviews, must try it
Definitely!! Especially since you’re like me and react horribly to salt!
It always amazes me how much time it takes to run around and get all my to dos done! But it feels SO good once they’re done. Target is a money hole. I actually need to get over there to return a few things (repeat baby gifts) and buy the peanut a few more things. LOVE peanut butter. I’m going to check out your pb page now. My favorite nut butters are: TJs raw unsalted AB, TJs sun butter, Justin’s Maple Almond Butter and naturally more PB. All awesome!
and just wait til you’re doing it with a baby/kid in tow…from the carseat shuffle to the snacks to everything…errands, oh, the joy.
thanks for your fave brands/kinds!
I am the return queen. I have a stack of things to return today, in fact, and it will probably net me $100!
PB – I eat the crap out of RF Jif when I am at my mom’s house. Used to love it on saltines. I think we were best friends in a former life! I usually go for the cheap-o brands of nut butters too. Unless I have the grind your own option, then I am all over that. It’s expensive though and I like my sunflower butter!
we were and are soul sisters on so many levels!
saltines and cheap nut butter…that would be many! years of my life :)
i never do the grind your own but have been tempted at WFs til I realize that’s what i have a Vita for. And TJs 3.99 for SFSButter is better/cheaper than I could make it. On some things, buying it is a time/money saver and that’s one of them….I havent the time to mess with all those seeds. ha!
Is there anything wrong with eating original, sugared Jif?
I usually don’t return stuff, because we’re really bad about the hassle. For example, we bought a slow cooker because it was free after rebate. We never did get to sending that rebate in! It was only $10, but still.
I think some people are anti ANY additives or anything OTHER than just peanuts and maybe salt which is why they get a bad rap but for me, there are bigger battles to fight in life :)
I never return things, I think I can count a handful of times in my life where I have returned something. I need to do more of it! I have so much sitting in my closet that needs to go back or be donated and if something breaks I really should bring it back.
your closet sounds like mine used to be..tons of returns that just never happened…
It always takes me forever to get around to returning things but eventually it gets done! My face nut butter would have to be PB&Co’s White Chocolate Wonderful or Artisana Coconut butter. They’re great combined too :)
I always feel like returning things is such a hassle! But in the end I do go and return it. (most of the time, at least) It just takes me a while.
Favorite nut butter of the moment is homemade cashew butter! Love the taste and creaminess of it!
yes to the homemade cashew butter. just commented to the commenter directly above you the same thing about making it!