First World Problems

I had an oar-some week. Insert sarcasm here. Actually no it wasn't so bad.
There was no stalk my weekend last weekend as it was a little sad. I took the boys to not one but TWO libraries by myself. Yeah that's effort people. By the time I unstrapped them the second time. I was ready to let them just sit in their chairs on the way home. But of course I didn't - just kidding ok! I received an SMS saying you're going to kill me. Me: I'm so going to kill Mick right now. He's gone cycling in a bid to meet some BFFs. I tell him about the wonderful world of the interwebs but he doesn't geddit. So #foreveralone in the BFFs stakes, he will remain. What happens? He fell off his mountain bike and had to detour to the hospital on the way back. He is however fine and has already recovered!

Then on Valentines' Day, I was getting ready for the onslaught of love, pink and reds on Facebook. I was not however prepared to read a status update from a friend made on her behalf by her husband that she had passed away from brain cancer. Wait what? What? No.. that is not true. We were not close, we were internet friends from many many years ago. But still, that stuff had me crying slightly throughout the day. Later that evening, we found Snowy my cat of 10 years had passed away. At least we found her. I had planned a blog post about this. But then, I don't think Emily and Snowy would want me to be wallowing like a deranged woman.

Therefore I present to you my first world problems. Pull up a chair... and prepare to relate.

You know how much I love Costco right? We went against our better judgement and bought a pizza to cook at home. Knowing that everything is on steroids from Costco we brought this home. Well it didn't fit in my fridge. It took some restacking to actually close the door. Then.. it didn't fit in the oven. I cut them into quarters and shoved them in 1 part at a time. Mind you it was massive so, a quarter basically fed the 2 boys.

Costco Pizza on steroids

Two Fridays ago, I was getting ready to paint my toenails while watching an episode of trashy TV.. the nail polish that I selected went flying off as I was digging and messing around for something else. I have hard tiles in the bathroom. Stuff painting it on, most of it splashed onto my toes! This is after I had mopped up the glass and most of it with paper towel. Then I had to scrub like a crazy woman with nail polish remover. My bathroom tiles are still a slight glittering metallic purple colour.

Smashed nail polish bottle

It was Thursday, I just had news about my friend. It was hot and kind of yucky.. my cleaner asked if she could come at 1pm instead of 11am. Fine.. whatever, I run out and get something to eat. I sit.. i wait.. i eat.. nobody came. I SMSed her if she was alright. By this time I'm thinking.. great back to the drawing board at finding another cleaner. This cleaner issue is a separate post in itself trust me! But then I get a big SMS and suddenly I had to be Dr Phil for my cleaner. Then I kinda read between the lines and I think she pushed my appointment out for someone new - I think.  

This was not half of the entire message .. 

Ya also know how I am a bargain hunter? Yeah well I bought Bodum double wall glasses for about $20+ for 2. Guess what I see in a Kmart catalogue. $9 for 4 of them! WHAT WHAT! Not 2 but 4!! A set of 4 for $9!

I had a hair appointment on Saturday to finally fix my regrowth. I had to leave it for ages as both him and I had issues getting a suitable time. It was a 2/3 week wait. And he is never late, usually I am late. Well this time, he was half an hour late. First of all there is a 2hr free parking limit on Gertrude street. So I was going to end up overstaying my park. Also who else hates sitting while the colour does its thing at the hair dressers? I do! I am also blind when I have no glasses on so I have to stick the magazines 5cm from my face. LOL it is not a glam look. Then because I was late coming home, the poor boys were starving by the time I went home with bagels. Although J bought me a latte and served it with the cutest sugar pot and spoon ever. :)

What is up with sandpits?! Why do they love it so much? I am pretty much over having sand all over the floors, in their shoes that needs to have their soles removed and tipped out.

Boys and their sand pit "fun" at QV

I am sure that I have much more first world problems. But I shall leave you with that. I could carry on about my overspilling makeup case but that would involve shaming myself by posting a picture of how it is dusty and a complete mess. Hey beauty organisation companies.. contact me ok! I have a great before pitch for you. Anyway I shall leave you with the yummy Cupcake Central cupcakes that I bought on Wednesday evening. We scoffed them all that night. Lord the lychee white chocolate is amazeballs.

Red velvet, Chocolate, Raspberry, Lychee White Choc

RIP Emily who left the world way too early. Leaving behind her husband Anthony and her sons 3 year old Jesse and 4month old Archer. And Snowy who is now under the tree next to our fence. The one she used to sit on before she was sick and used to get pats from people walking past.

Stalk my Weekend: Costco, Giant Pizza, Baking

Fits 2 kids in this Giant Trolley

I have not been to Costco in ages! Our membership had lapsed in August which means our last visit was in July. This also means that I have been trooping off to Docklands, fighting carparking stress and hauling 200,000 rolls of toilet paper from Costco for more than a year! You would be wondering if I always dress the boys in the same animal ear hoodie. Yes they have other clothes, but honestly it's so adorable.

Everything is larger than life at Costco

I have never had any food from the crazy Costco food place before. It is always so busy and looks insane. I was in the queue thinking I need 2 slices of pizza and a drink. When I glanced over at what a slice looked like on other people's plates, I thought ermmm make that 1 slice as a snack between all of us. I choose cheese as it is the "safest". It was indeedy very satisfying and greasy.

I do not need air, I need this sugar hit

I thought that the boys would hate this if it was raspberry. Oh was I wrong! Pickles would not let go and it became an embarrassing scream fest if you dared to take a sip and take the cup from him. The two of them started fighting and pushing in the trolley, Pickles would shove D and try to grab the cup back. D would turn himself away from Pickles and omg the screaming! So I had take D out of the trolley... and I do not know how he did not get a brain freeze from drinking so quickly. And number two, I felt sick at how much sugar he was getting. I am sure you are secretly judging me now!

I'm hiding from your flash Mum

This is how you pack a small car with your kids and Costco haul. You stack like a mad person. And you make the kids sit with their legs on top of the 200,000 rolls of toilet paper you have bought. You do this one every 6 months or something so they will deal with it. This is not a bad stack, there was once the paper towel had to go between the two boys. See people, living proof you do not need a 4WD when you have kids. You just need a stacker like Mick to sort out the shopping.

20000000000 rolls of Toilet Paper!

Here's my exciting haul... 200,000 rolls of toilet paper or something, paper towel, noodles, 184 Kirkland nappies (holler). I swear this Costco brand is the same as Huggies. I have bought them once but they were not crash hot but now they are now better. Nappy pants for L because for some reason he started saying he wanted to wear underwear and helped himself to D's. And no.. D does not need nappies anymore. I cannot believe how much money I have saved since then. This is why I am now able to buy makeup!

Child labour at chocolate cake baking

Because it was also my "birthday weekend" yes yes birthday outfit coming up.. the boys made me chocolate cakes. The problem was once it was baked, D started stealing the cakes off the benchtop. Then claim it was an accident after he gnawed off the top of them. Omg!

Costco 2012 - Again I am ripped off

This happened to me last time as well and I am starting to feel like i'm a bit of a hawk at the cashier. I watch them scan my items like a crazy woman. Last time I was there, they overcharged me by scanning something twice. I picked it up immediately as I looked at the receipt not believing that I had spent $300 with half a trolley.

Yesterday I had sour face Russell who was my cashier. He scanned that I bought 3 of an item but it was only 2 that I took. I know it is $4.30 but still... I rang them and they said the next time I am there to tell them what happened and I will get a refund. Took me a little while whether I should call them or not as I thought they would not believe me. The reason I did not check the receipt before I left was because I had a trolley load of items and it was not the $400 that I expected to pay. Oh well, that will teach me.

So after whinging about Costco about $4.30, what do I do? Jump on NAP and start browsing of course. Look at that clutch!! Do not buy it people, I want it!

Costco Melbourne

You know that not only fashion has left you behind. But the latest things that people are talking about - you have no clue. It was like Disneyland, this place that you always wanted to go, you talked about going, you criticise, you plan, you beg others to take you... And more than 2 years on. Not once have I gone to Costco. Ok so in the last 2 years I had been slightly distracted with mmm I dunno either being pregnant of boobie feeding - shall not go into that. Nobody wants to hear about that much less me.

So away we go - this is an epic journey mind you - it's almost a military logistics exercise in my mind. First of all where the heck is Costco again? What? Southern Cross defunct wheel? Where is that? I can never find my way around Docklands and cannot avoid taking the wrong turn. And omg what if the kids have a meltdown? With much excitement we take off and head towards Docklands. This is where it gets sad.. I was so excited to go to a warehouse that sells bulk groceries (plus much more).

The parking said Costco members only and we had not signed up yet. So guess what we did, kept driving and had to go around the warehouse and back in again. AHahhaha... this carpark is worse than Ikea and Doncaster combined in one.

The trolleys were an eye-opener. C'mon you can put two babies in there! Wow wow!! So D went into the trolley seat while I stupidly pushed L in the little pram. Bad move.. it was trolley central and I kept thinking someone would hit him.

Costco definitely needs a leisure round where you do the initial scoping. There were SO many lanes that I did not venture into. I managed to pick up the frozen wanton soup. Why did I not know these existed when I was pregnant! Finish Powerball 112 pack for $28.50! 1litre maple syrup $15, 1.3kg peanut butter $5.69! Oh look, 2kg blocks of butter? Joy this is where I will get all my baking business stock... 1litre cream! Sure thing, I drink this thing for breakfast. Fighting amongst bargain hunting Asian restaurant owners, large families with 6 kids in tow, parents with 2 mega boxes of Huggies nappies under their trolley,... I was overwhelmed. I was melting down! But oh look! Tag Heur for $2800! Yes please, Kaching. After all, I saved a whooping $5 by using my business ABN to sign up.

So my review for Costco is

1) Everyone needs a pallet load of toilet paper

2) Weetbix megabox for $4+ awesome ^^ toilet paper will come in handy

3) You need more electronic goods than you really think, buy buy buy.

Best buys at Costco

1) The yummy bagels - 2x6 pack for $10

2) Finish Powerball when on special

3) Samsung LED TV at $1100 reduced by $200, everywhere else was $1700!

4) Kitchenaid liftbowl mixer $690

5) Amazingly huge tub of peanut butter - my boys are addicted

6) Dozen oysters for $6.90

I am not too sure of price comparisons to Coles/Woolies. But Costco is seriously a Disneyland to me.