Pinterest Win? Rudolph Snack Mix Recipe

I saw this on Pinterest




Kettle corn, cinnamon candies, and edible eyes with chocolate and pretzels! I am so in!

Making Rudolf mix for C's holiday party tomorrow. It's missing edible eye balls but he thought that was gross anyhow. Not sure if it truly captures the Rudolph idea but it tastes pretty good. #tastetheseason #entry #food #Christmas fun

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:35pm PST

A Spooky Pinterest Fail or Cake Pops are the Devil

I was so inspired by this pin from Midwestern Moms that I thought I could totally make those, too!

And, I thought pumpkins are great but I'll make the ghosts.



So, I baked the cake and it tasted good.

Because I Thought I Could Make Kettle Corn

It is not a secret that I have been actively working to do as many free things as I can find around the city and by keeping costs down it has allow for other extravagances like ice cream for dinner, kettle corn, and going to the zoo when it is not a Monday.

One of our bucket list items for July was to go to the Thursday night (free) movie at Crocker Park.  Since this is an outdoor movie I figured we should just make popcorn to take with us and since I had time to kill before leaving, I thought I would try to make kettle corn.

I must admit that I never knew what kettle corn was until my son convinced me to buy some at an art fair when he was four. Now he equates festivals and fairs with that sickly sweet stuff. Actually he seems to think that anywhere we go in the summer someone will be selling it and he is not wrong.

But I digress, I googled how to make kettle corn and the directions, all of the directions that I found, were exactly the same and all claimed to be easy - some oil, some sugar and of course, popcorn kernels.

How hard could making kettle corn be?

Turns out it is not that difficult except the whole timing it so it won’t burn and shaking it so it won’t burn and probably not trying to do it while two kids beg for your attention and their need to want to help make the kettle corn.

I’m not sure if the mistake was I kept looking to make sure it was popping or if I just left it on the stove to long but not all of the kernels popped and there was still a lot of oil left in the pan when I was finished.  No really, I drained that stuff off in colander.  And, let's just say it looked more caramelized then kettelized and it also became one big brick of stuff.  Not to mention less then a week later and I still smell the cooking oil.

Ah well, live and learn.  I know my son would be thrilled if I mastered this and he is already asking me to try again. In fact, just today he said to me you have to keep trying…

Have you tried to make kettle corn and survived?

Because Prompts are Fun - Relationship Fails #promptsrfun

The biggest disappointment that I have experienced in almost every relationship is me. Crazy to admit  but it is true. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to relationships – any kind of relationships.

I think these are more failures on my part so I am going to share my…

Top 5 Fails in Relationships

1. I can’t keep my opinion to myself

Even when I try to refrain from saying how I feel about something, it is written all over my face or is in what I don’t say.

I had this friend once who told me all the things wrong with her new boyfriend over the phone one day. I listened and agreed with her.

My husband happen to be sitting next to me and kept saying – don’t tell her what you think!  And, I wasn’t, till she asked. I swear all I said was something to the effect well at least you found out sooner than later.

I get an email the next day saying I was wrong, he is a great guy and we (essentially) are no longer friends. All I did was agree with her!

Turns out – I was wrong and they are happily married and I have never been so happy to be so wrong.  But, we are still not friends like we were.

2. Little things bug me

Remember that Seinfeld episode when Jerry broke up with a girl because of the way she ate her peas? That’s me.

Weird things like that turn me off so quick and there is no rhyme or reason to it. A quirk that bothers me about one guy (or girl) will have absolutely no effect on me with the next person.

The thing is, once I am turned off, I can’t seem to pick up the phone when they call or return emails and texts if I get them.

I also can't stand being let down, repeatedly.  I mean who can but  it is not hard for me to sever ties because of it.

3. Job change

If I friend someone at work and they (or I) leave I am horrible at keeping in touch.

I am good the first few months but I am just bad at returning phone calls, or emails… thank goodness for Facebook otherwise I would really look like a douche bag.

4. Wife or Girlfriend hates me

I may be the only chick that has more male friends but wants to have girlfriends and just can’t seem to do it.

I have been told that I am a guy’s girl but this really means I am too manly to be a good girlfriend but I make a great gal pal.

I am usually okay with that till they get a girlfriend (or get engaged) and I always hold out hope that I can be their friend too but it never works out that way and they always want them to stop seeing me.  I swear I never sleep with them!  Or want to for that matter... they fart in front of me for goodness sakes!

5. (insert your own reason)

I honestly don’t have a fifth reason. I wish someone would share with me what I do wrong to mess up friendships (besides the ones I listed).
 
So, here is my plea – If I have pissed you off, please tell me what I did so I can fix it.


It really makes me wonder how I ever got married in the first place.

Do you share my issues or do you have other relationship fails?

Because Prompts are Fun - Relationship Fails #promptsrfun ineedaplaydate.com/2013/03/becaus… #blogger

— MryJhnsn (@mryjhnsn) March 9, 2013

Whatever Happened to Customer Service?

I know that this is not the first and certainly not the last post about this but...

{Whatever happened to customer service?}  Why can't we talk to real humans?  Heck, I would even settle for a twitter or Facebook response if I could virtually talk to someone! I also don't want to fill out a  form just to get an auto response saying that they got my email but will get back to me with in 24- 48 hours.  

Call a company and you get an automated message.  If you are lucky - you might be able to get through to someone or you can go to websites like GetHuman.com or DialAHuman.com and find out shortecuts to get through to a human... If those don't work then CreditInfoCenter.com has some tips:

What to Do and Say When You Call

1. Press the following keys to try to bypass the automatic prompt system: 0, #0, 0#, 00, #, *. You can also just try pressing all the numbers to confuse the system.
2. Say the following terms at the voice prompt:
   • "Prospective Member"
   • "Agent"
   • "Member"
   • "Transfer"
   • "Sales"
   • "Operator"
   • "Human"
   • "Help"
3. Mumble. The computer will not know what to do if it does not understand what you're saying and will send you to a live agent.
4. Speak Nonsense. This is my personal favorite. It also confuses the computer and it relieves some of my stress during customer service calls.
5. Use Bad Language. Some company voice recognition software will put your call to the head of the line if they hear swearing. The same holds true for speaking loudly or shouting in the phone. They want really frustrated customers to get helped immediately.
6. Do nothing. The system will think you're on a dial phone and transfer you.

Yes, CreditInfoCenter is about cleaning up your credit but there is some really good information here and the BBB gives them an A+ rating!  Read the about section.

Needless to say, when my crappy, low end phone finally took a nose dive into a puddle (I think it actually jumped from my pocket on purpose to get away from me...). I had to make a claim with my service provider to get a replacement.  I actually purchased a new phone from them because of the new program they have to replace phones... for any reason.  In theory, I really dig this company... as long as nothing is wrong with my plan or phone.  Something goes wrong once or twice a year and I dread, hand to [insert deity here] I absolutely DREAD calling or emailing them.  I started using them in 2006 so it is not like I am a new customer.  So much for rewarding loyalty.  sigh.

So... You can imagine my excitement to see that there was a link on their website to the website that handles the claims.  You see, I would rather pay for a new one then call them or even email this company (did I mention that all ready?).  You have to jump through hoops to talk to someone and if you try one of the "tricks" eventually you hear something like, thanks for calling but we can't help you - click.  But... there is a link to another company and all they do is replace phones.  I can so do this!

I clicked the link to file a claim, started the process, got a claim number - my type of phone is not on the list.  Called their customer service, meaning the company that processes the claims for my cell phone provider and after waiting on hold I get someone who wants to debate whether or not my phone is really through that company.

Are you freakin' kidding me?!?  Really?  I mean r e a l l y????  Do you think I would just phone you and demand a replacement phone if my phone came from a more reputable company that may or may not handle their own claims?  Do you think I might forget the provider?  I can't.  The logo is on my phone that does not exist in your database. 

me:  I don't know what to tell you but the logo is on the phone and I know who my provider is...
her:  Well, it is not in the database.  Are you sure it is a [vestal company] phone?
me:  Unless you are trying to tell me that I have to hang up with you and call the cell phone company myself - I am sure it is a [vestal] cell phone

She transfers me to my provider (with out telling me that I am on my own for the rest) and none of the options apply.

Did I mention I am tweeting while I am discussing this with the claims website person and the cell phone provider...

After being hung up on, several times, I finally figure out how to get to talk to someone and they can send me a replacement providing that they have it in stock.  If the phone is not in stock I have to call back in 5 days to do this again.  I.  Have.  To.  Call.  Back.

me:  I have to call back?
them: Yes or you can be placed on a waiting list which may take longer... blah blah blah blah

I have ranted on twitter for less logical reasons and have been contacted by the company to see if there was something they should be done... a communications company... not so much.  A grocery store like Heinen's (which I now shop at because they reached out) but a cell phone company... not so much.  I am not saying they should but...  not very quick on the uptake.  Then again - maybe I am just not that important.

Luckily, the phone is in stock and I can expect it in 3 - 5 days and I have a series of things I have to do to send the broken phone back including a number to write on the envelope... sigh.  Sure why not.  Then I get an email confirmation...

...on top of everything else - some people get faster delivery and some don't and now I know that others get faster delivery?

I guess I should be grateful that they are replacing my phone.  My cheap phone that they don't even offer anymore on their website.

I do think I need to rethink my loyalty or... do I go along with it?  It is what it is and they are cheap?  Maybe this is what to expect from companies these days... Thankfully there are so many choices now that I don't have to go with that thinking... Loyalty?  I'll show you loyalty.

</rant>