Making Beautiful Food

When I first began cooking I remember thinking that I was an awful cook because while the food I prepared always tasted wonderful, it never looked like the amazing, mouth watering dishes that I would see in magazines and cookbooks. My rather, tended to look washed out, lumpy or just plain blah.

I wondered if there was something I could do to make my food look more appealing. So I started looking into food presentation. I learned alot about food advertising, beginning with it's all about the kitchen lighting. If the lighting is not perfect, the food won't look perfect. I also learned that they use things like mashed potatoes, scooped to look like ice-cream, because they do not melt under the intense photography lighting. Also that they spray foods with oil to intensify the colors and make it shine. They use glue and nails and such to make sure that everything stays right in place.

After learning all of that, I realized that I am a great cook! My food tastes good, and that's what it is all about!

I Really Dislike Wal-Mart!

I am SO mad at Wal-Mart, but then again, what else is new. I hate that store!!! In my opinion, we can not get the new pharmacy in our town soon enough! When Big C went in for his physical, they gave him another prescription for his inhalers that he uses for “exercise induced asthma”. So I took the prescription to Wal-Mart to fill it.

After an hour and a half! They finally got it filled. I got out my credit card and was ready to pay when she told me the total was $30! For Albeutrol! I had to do a double take. Then I asked her if she got the insurance on that. She look ed and verified that they had indeed, processed the insurance first and the $30 was my portion. I was amazed, but figured that he should have enough to get him through the football season, so I paid the $30 and headed home.

But then came the biggest surprise of all! There was only one inhaler in the bag. ONE! I had just paid $30 for one inhaler and upon further inspection of the receipt, I had paid full price! Now, Big C has double coverage. His Dad carries him on his Blue Cross Blue Shield NC and I have him on our Altius, but not only did they not run both, they hadn't even run one of the insurances! The lady at the counter lied to me! I really, really dislike those people!!!

Big C is not going to survive to see 16! He is supposed to be doing online high school classes, but instead he spends his entire day playing on Facebook. So to solve that problem, I changed his password. Problem solved. NOT! Now he plays the PS3 all day. He will not get his cleaning done, he will not get his school work done and his room looks like a hurricane hit it.

I don't think that I am that strict when it comes to parenting. He is asked to spend 30 minutes per day cleaning his room, 30 minutes cleaning one area of the house and 30 minutes doing extra chores. Add his 30 minutes of schoolwork and I am taking a measly 2 hours out of his day and he can't even manage that! I just don't know what to do with him.

Lovin' my job

Have I mentioned lately that I love my job?!? I get to book people's vacations! Everything from Orlando vacation packages with Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando and their newest Harry Potter attraction to Cancun and the Riviera Maya where you can relax, snorkel or visit the ruins of Chichen itza or Tulum.

But as if that was not enough, we just found out that we get to start selling Disney's newest property on the beautiful white sand beaches of Ohau in Ko'olina. Aulani, with its breathtaking views, sandy beaches and amazing Disney amenities is going to be one of Disney's premiere resorts for years to come! I am just hoping to get a fam trip there soon. Hoping.... hoping..... hoping.....

How to switch?

I am debating switching car insurance companies. Since I got married, we have been with Farmer's because my sister-in-law is an agent. However, I am beginning to wonder if we could get a better price with another company. I guess the Gecko got to me.....

I am really worried about having to tell my sister-in-law that I am looking around, let alone that I am dropping her company for another one! She is very sweet and I can't stand the thought of hurting her feelings, but if it could save me money, Heaven knows I need that right now!