Today was Shopping Day. BIG Shopping Day. My Once-a-Month-Stock-the-Pantry Shopping Day.
Big Shopping Day is an important monthly event in our family. Mom and her helper have a full day of errands, hefting groceries, doing lunch, while everyone else does what they can get away with to help out at home while she’s gone.
With my 9 year old sidekick by my side, we head out early to . . .
. . . deliver our 6 month old puppy to the vet (surgical procedure day for her!)
. . . Amish Country where we stock up on bulk foods and discount groceries. And mums! (see photo above for a peek at how they now adorn our stone wall) And fresh local produce!
. . . Leroy’s Discount Grocery – where I can pick up 15 cans of tomato sauce for $1.80 (yes, really!) and a pound (alright, not a pound, a package) of Tim Horton’s coffee for $3.00. I remember stopping there on our trip to Canada years ago – good coffee! And more.
. . . drive through McDonald’s for mom’s mid-morning coffee fix where we learned that the pizza delivery guy would rather eat a Big Mac than help himself to someone else’s pizza. It gave my girl a lot of laughs seeing that red/white/blue delivery sign posted on top of the little car waiting in the drive-thru lane of a burger joint. Just for the record, if SHE worked for a pizza joint, SHE wouldn’t be eating at McD’s!
. . . the car wash in hopes of removing at least a few of the thick gravely layers of country dust off my vehicle. After the wet, rainy summer we had, who’d have thought we could be so dry! Oh, and take note, it’s a good idea to close the sun roof before entry the car wash bay. Just sayin’
. . . Aldi, where I am reminded why I normally shop on the last Friday of the month rather than the first Friday of the month. Every man, woman, child, and their long lost relatives get paid and go shopping! We met the nicest people between the aisles. Probably made new life long friends. Couldn’t help it. What else is there to do while we all wait and side-step and reach over one another. Crowded? Busy? Yes, that would describe it. But not one bad attitude, cross word or screaming child.
. . . lunch – at a fast food burger joint. Not my choice, my shopping helper’s. I’m determined to enjoy all my ‘in real life’ moments this month, remember? That includes a smile and a ‘sure, sweetie!’ when she gets to choose where we eat. I did not take my laptop or try to get any work done while we enjoyed lunch together. Ok, ok, I confess. Sometimes I DO take work with me. WiFi is available just about everywhere and it’s so convenient and I can get so much more done away from home and . . . but I digress. Good thing I chose to listen at lunch today, otherwise I may never have learned that MY pickles are waaaayyy better than the pickles you get at McDonald’s or Burger King or anywhere.
. . . wally world for those few items we could not get anywhere else. Important things like pepperoni for pizza night. And a pleasant surprise – my long-time coffee indulgence they have refused to carry for many many years.
And finally, home. A good day. How was your day? Do you have the pleasure of taking your favorite sidekick along as a shopping buddy? Where do you go for lunch on your big day out?
Thanks for the visit. You’ll find all my I.R.L. visits by clicking on the coffee cup image. See you tomorrow!
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Heather says
I like these IRL stories! Way to be real π My topic is on learning to organize my life/keep my house cleaner, so I get how scary it can be to post the “real” stuff! But like you, I’ve attempted this series twice & twice I haven’t finished. So this is more for me than anything else! Off to grab some pie & read another IRL moment! π
Linda says
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s tried and not completed! Thank you for that encouragement, Heather π Let’s say we cheer one another on and make this third time a winner!
Did you say pie? Pie is my favorite!
Andrea says
Love this!
We do once a month bulk shopping, too. My hubby and I go together and usually take baby and another child. And usually eat at Costco..hot dogs and lemonade. π
Linda says
Good for you, Andrea! It’s wonderful to get it finished and the cupboards stocked, isn’t it?
But, I must say, I’m a wee bit jealous – Costco? Oh how I wish there were one near me! Enjoy your next shopping trip and think of me when you are sipping your lemonade π