Sears Santa Fail

First, can I just mention, yes, I know it's early for Christmas, but it's my favorite holiday of the year and I think that by getting excited for Christmas I am not taking away from Thanksgiving, but rather, providing myself a wonderful reminder of what I am so thankful for each year. 

A short while ago, I received an email from our local Sears Portrait Studio informing me of a wonderful Santa Photo event. Often times I simply ignore these kind of emails. I get lil Gbears pictures taken there occasionally, but on my own schedule. However, for 9.99, they were offering an appointment with Santa and prints too.

As a mom of a toddler, there were a few things about this offer that appealed to me. First of all, the price. For a little one who doesn’t quite understand who this big fat man in red is supposed to be, I’d rather not have to shell out a bunch of money for him to meet the big guy. Also, the fact that I could schedule an appointment. No waiting in a long line at the mall. No cranky toddler trying to run away and climb on top of the animals in the Santa display and with that appointment, the one on one attention that would lead to a good photo.

I was a little apprehensive about lil Gbear’s reaction to Santa. Last year he wasn’t so sure and this year he is even more wary of new things. Remind me to tell you about Shoe-tastrophe 2011: Attack of the Evil Shoes.  Long story short, my momma’s intuition told me that in spite dressing my child up like an adorable elf {yup, I’m that mom and yes, it’s ridiculous but it makes me happy} he may not have that Christmas spirit in the presence of a gargantuan fat man.

Well, when we arrived, the girl checking us in was snippy and rude. Did I mention that I have laryngitis? Yeah, so speaking is not easy. She did not make it any easier. Then, while I was checking in, my wonderful MIL was prepping our lil elf and the girl who was bragging that she was there “to keep the kids happy” kept calling my son a cute little girl. After being corrected 3 times and being told his name twice, she finally switched to adorable little one and then called him a girl again! Really, if you’re not sure, stay away from gender specific pronouns! They hustle us into the portrait room, where the Santa is and immediately lil man is not pleased. They suggest we just let him get acclimated. He was not having it! So she suggested maybe I could be in a picture with him. Did I mention I have the plague? I hadn’t combed my hair and my lips were more chapped than a… well, let’s not go there, they were really chapped, and I had zero makeup on. Perfect portrait presentation right? Lil man started to calm down and as we attempt to do a Santa photo he gets scared again and Santa says, oh well, guess not today. No attempt to calm him. He NEVER attempted to ease the situation and the photographer was all, well we have a shot and pushed us out the door. We were there LESS than 5 minutes. The appointments are supposed to be at least 15 AND there was no one else after us!!! I should have spoken up and said something, but I was just so bowled over by their lack of customer service. Oh and I couldn’t speak louder than a whisper. Did I mention I had to prepay?! And we don't get the pictures for another 3 weeks. Good thing I don't plan on using those for the Christmas Cards!!!

Whew. Can you tell I’m more than a little grumpus?! I know it wasn’t a lot of money, but for me it was more about the experience which they totally FAILED at. Luckily, my MIL was with me and suggested we just stop by the mall Santa. No line {probably because most people are still thinking about Thanksgiving} and Mrs. Claus was there to hold lil Gbear’s hand while he was nervous and walk him through the Winter Wonderland to Santa. We warned her Gbear wasn’t so sure about Santa and she was amazing. Santa spoke to lil man and even got him to give him a high 5. When we sat him on Santa’s lap, Gbear wasn’t so sure, but before he could meltdown, Mrs. Claus was there with toys to make him smile. We managed to get 3 decent pictures. None were “Hallmark” perfect, but I left the mall a mostly happy momma. I just wish that my “appointment” had given me as much courtesy as the Mall Santa!

My lil Elf with Santa

Toxic Friends: A Rather Epic Rant

Alright, I have had some major blogger’s block, but I’m going to work through it! However, the first thing that comes to mind is ranting, so if you don’t want to hear negative, ranty {slightly bitchy} thoughts, this is not the day to read my blog. Just saying.
The subject I want to rant about is one that has been touched upon by many a blogger, but I think that is because all of us can relate. Fair weather friends. Or more specifically, friends who are only in friendships for what they can get out of it. Let me clarify, I believe that friendships should definitely offer benefits to all parties, but if you are only friends with someone because they are a) rich, b) famous or c) convenient, well that is not a good friendship.
I have been in many of these friendships and am still “friends” with some of these ladies {or at least face book tells me I am} However, how can you really be friends with someone who keeps a tally of your friendship. Yes, friendships are give and take, but that doesn’t mean you should keep score.
You should not dump a friendship just because they acquired something you want. That is just petty and the epitome of jealousy. One of my very best friends {or so I thought} simultaneously helped plan a surprise engagement party {wonderful} and in the very next moment told me, semi joking {but I would later learn the depth of her jealousy} that she was angry that I was getting engaged before her. After all “You’ve only known him 6 months, C and I have been together 6 years”.
Nice. Real nice. I should note also that she has cheated on her boyfriend {well, now ex, but she still hopes they’ll reconcile} more times than I have fingers. She would usually claim they were taking some time apart, but really she just would cheat and not tell him, but this post was not supposed to be just about her lol.
Another “good friend” of mine used me as her private chaffeur, therapist etc. I won’t deny that she was there for me in some moments when I thought my world was crumbling, but she then held that over me. She decided she owned me and could boss me around. When I finally learned to stand up for myself and not allow her to walk all over me, she claimed I was a bad friend.
Sorry. I had to grow up one day.
Honestly, she would still be walking all over me to this very day if it wasn’t for HB. He put up with her obnoxious, demanding behavior like a champ, but he also helped me to see that I was better than that. I didn’t need a “friend” who put a leash on me. Essentially, I was in an mentally abusive friendship relationship. I won’t hash it all out, but anyone that makes you feel inferior and dictates how you live your life is not really your friend. Even if they hold your hair back when you’re vomiting lol. {I should also note, she had a prescription drug problem she would never own up to}
While I am still very bitter about the way these relationships devolved {clearly}, I wouldn’t trade them. They taught me valuable lessons about the world. My only regret is that I allowed my “toxic” friendships to push away others, but I’m learning true friends can forgive transgressions {and I’m happy to say I am building some of those friendships back up}
And since I ranted, let's end it on a happy note ;)

Snapfish, The Grinch Who Tried To Steal Christmas

I feel like my blog is becoming an outlet to talk about Lil Gbear or rant. I swear there is more to me than that and I hope to prove that one day soon. Today is not that day.

I am beyond angry. I'm actually to the point of just tearful defeat. I ordered presents for my MIL and almost all my husbands family on Snapfish. She's always saying how much my FIL loves his mug covered in pictures of lil GBear, so I though I'd get her her own. I ordered before the date they listed on their website to receive in time for Christmas. I look at my order yesterday, it's not even scheduled to ship til the 23RD!!! WTF!? How the hell is it supposed to get there in time. Oh, that's right, IT WONT.

So I decide to speak with customer service to see if I can upgrade to overnight shipping. No luck. You can't change the order status once it's in process.

Then I look at the site a little more. Today's Deal of the Day? Free upgrade to overnight shipping. So that means that all the orders placed in the next two days (the Deal of the day actually lasts longer than a day) get processed and shipped BEFORE mine! I could order a new one and it would get there before the original. For the same freakin price. And then I could return the stupid original one for a refund. I really should do that, but I'm just so angry with Snapfish I don't want to give them any more of my money. I wrote an email expressing my dissatisfaction. Now I'm past angry and just plain upset. I know Christmas isn't about the gifts, but when you go to the trouble, you want it to get there in time. I'm embarrassed to say I even cried once the anger faded a bit. (damn hormones. sometimes I hate being a girl)

Oh well, chin up. I will not let anything ruin my Christmas! This is the first year the HB and I get to spend it together and I'm going to revel in the Christmas spirit. So take that Snapfish Grinch, you can't steal my Christmas!

Looks like I'll be taking a trip out to try and find some gifts so that we don't show up empty handed. Wish me luck braving shopping this close to Christmas!