Thursday, September 25, 2014

Friday Fragments - 9/26/14


I do my best to stay out of Costco because it's usually an expensive swing around the warehouse store followed by a $1.50 hot dog and soda that I really didn't need (along with a ton of other stuff stacked in my cart).  But this week required stocking up my bare cupboards and this jar of chocolate caramel deliciousness landed in my cart with the silent pledge to "Only eat ONE per day!".


You can see how well that pledge worked... Although I did have a partner in crime, my husband.


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I learned a fascinating thing about Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's--  They always have a beautiful display of affordable fresh flowers on hand, but did you know they also do bridal flowers!  Seriously, you can get a "wedding in a box" so to speak, delivered to your front door-- Bride's bouquet, bridemaids' bouquets, boutonnieres and rose pedals for the flower girl, the works.  Who knew!?!

And you can buy bulk flowers as well.  That's how I found out about it.  I Googled "bulk baby's breath" and there it was.

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Baby's breath was on my mind for my niece who's getting married in May, 2015-- The same niece that's going to graduate as a Veterinarian two weeks before her big day.  She'd like to work with large animals.  Good thing, huh?  (PS She's 5' 6" tall!)

Did I show you this photo already?

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This baby quilt was finished and shipped off to a new mama.  I think she was pretty happy with it.  At least grandma/my friend was who said if she knew what my gift was she'd have kept the blanket at her house for the baby.  Ha!

 Did I show you this photo already too?  A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

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And I've been spotting this sign around Beverly Hills at all the public parking lots.  

Give me spare change 
and I may never get off 
these streets.  Give to
organizations that could 
really help me 
and you could save my life. 
It's up to you.
It's up to you.
I'm not sure how I feel about it.  What do you think?

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Oh good lord, how on earth did I turn this red on?  And what's with that white bar up there?  Sheesh.  A mind really IS a terrible thing to waste.  Sigh.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

31 comments:

  1. Definitely giving money to organizations is better than just giving away spare change. Have a great weekend.

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  2. I don't think I've seen those pictures before. I love the quilt, it's one I'd love to see on my own bed, even though I'm not a kid any more. Spoke right to me. Nice to see your smiling face around here! :-)

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  3. The quilt turned out beautiful!
    Those caramels look yummy. It's good to know about the flowers from Costco. We'll be needing some for my daughters wedding next year.

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  4. Your quilt is fabulous. I'm on the fence about the panhandlers. I won't give money. I'll give money to the groups that will help care for and feed them. And around here there is quite a network. But I may take up my friend's idea. He picks up a big box of granola bars and when he's at the corner where they are, will give them one. That way I'd feel they weren't going to spend money on something more harmful. I don't know -- it's sad it has to exist in the first place.

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  5. Bulk flowers just doesn't have that romantic sound to it.
    I think going the charity way of helping people is much better than giving to panhandlers. Many of these people need much more than money.

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  6. lots of interesting news today Joanna, have to look for those salted caramels at our Costco, drool!

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  7. Oh yeah the Costco trap, it gets me every time and boy do those caramels look good. Who knew that Costco did wedding flower packages - that's got to be an awesome deal. I love the baby quilt, it is so bright and happy. I'm not sure what to think about that sign either, although I do avoid panhandlers - I think giving to a mission and such might be a better use of money, to make sure that your help is not being used for bad things. But I just don't know.
    Hugs!

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  8. I'm not sure how I feel about the spare change thing. On one hand I would rather take them and buy them food if that's the need. On the other hand, who am I to tell someone how to spend money that I am GIVING them? Those caramels look delish! And now I want some. And a hot dog. LOL

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  9. Sea Salt Caramels, oh my, it wouldn't do for those to be in this house.

    And, didn't know that about the flowers. Good to know!

    Wishing you a happy weekend!

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  10. I don't have a Costco membership anymore, it didn't really make sense for me. But I love chocolate. :)

    The quilt is gorgeous, as are all the ones you've shown to us.

    And I rarely have any spare change or money to give, I have been known to ask 'Are you hungry?' and hand out food coupons for various fast food places. I stock up before I head to the downtown area.

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  11. Love the quilt! So bright and cheerful! I guess I can see what the poster is getting at. Kind of like the saying about teaching someone to fish.

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  12. ooo love the bright colors of the quilt....and salt with caramel...oy that is a bit of a weakness for me...ha...i would not have done so well on the self control...smiles.

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  13. I do the same thing at Costco. I go for a few staples, but leave with a cartful! Your quilt is beautiful! As for panhandlers, I understand the reason we should give to organizations and not people - it's the whole "teach a man to fish" thing. But I do sometimes give money to the individuals. If they are very young, it gets me.

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  14. The trouble with people asking for money on the streets is you never know if they are genuine.

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  15. I have never been to Costco...but that chocolate looks worth the trip.
    Gorgeous quilt!
    I think I'd listen to my gut about handing a stranger money, but there are lots of legit organizations that put the donations to real use for needy people, so I'd default to giving to them. We don't have many if any panhandlers around here.

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  16. Being a vet for large animals sounds interesting. I don't remember seeing that picture before. I definitely would rather give to charities than panhandlers, although I have given a bus ticket to a couple different people who asked me for money for the bus.

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  17. I'm not a fan of those type of stores at all.

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  18. You had me at those caramels!

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  19. If I want to give to people on the street, it's food, not money. But I think it depends on the moment, and the feeling you get. In Oakland on Christmas morning, I gave $10 to a regular panhandler. I don't know. I felt like screw, it, it's christmas, so what you want with this $10.....

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  20. If I want to give to people on the street, it's food, not money. But I think it depends on the moment, and the feeling you get. In Oakland on Christmas morning, I gave $10 to a regular panhandler. I don't know. I felt like screw, it, it's christmas, so what you want with this $10.....

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  21. That is a very cheerful quilt!

    I understand the sentiment of the sig, but I still feel guilty when I see people panhandling.

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  22. we were just in chicago and the homelessness asking for change was significant….

    i'd much rather give to an organization that can help them!!

    did you ever read the language of flowers? when you mentioned your niece and baby's breath and an upcoming marriage…..ohhhh, i think you'd love that book!!!

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  23. I think giving directly to people who need help is sometimes a lot more effective than giving to an organized charity. I suppose it depends upon how savvy the person doing the giving is. If you think the person asking for money is shady, then by all means give the money to a charity where you know some of it will reach deserving people. On the other hand, if you feel you're a decent judge of character, giving directly assures that 100% of your money gets into the person's hands.

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  24. I get why they say to give to the charity rather than the individual but it feels cruel to ignore the in-person plea. A friend told me that she packs up some lunch bags to keep in her car with protein-packed, non-perishable foods and, rather than handing money to a needy person, she gives them a meal.

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  25. Your caramels made me yearn for Trader Joe's. YUM!

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  26. I do admire your quilting talent. So many of my friends here in NE quilt. I love quilts. I always buy tickets for raffles to win one. Some day I will win one. The baby who is blessed to be wrapped in your lovely quilt will keep that quilt for his/her own baby one day. That is the beauty of all the work you put into your quilts. They last and are used by so many.

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  27. LOl! You are hilarious. I love reading your blog. And love that you were my first commenter on mine. Thanks for not giving up on me.
    I LOVE the quilt you made!! LOVE the colors. Lucky girl, who got it.
    I don't know about that sign though. I like to give directly to the person.

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  28. I have never personally shopped in Costco before although have gone there with my daughter who loves it!!! She told me they do everything including engagement rings so they must have it all covered including the wedding.

    As for me I cannot have anything sweet in the house otherwise it gets eaten. I just have no self discipline unfortunately....

    Your niece is a Vet or soon to be one, wow. After looking after a dog, I really admire what Vets do. And big animals? What a girl. I just finished watching a Vet show last night where they were operating on cows. It is not easy but what I did think was how important Vets are to our farmers who are making a living on the land and need their animals to be healthy. I have a cousin who is a Vet of big animals (mainly horses) and he has built a very successful practice.

    The quilt is beautiful. I love the colours. It is a real talent you have and I cannot imagine it would be easy. I think quilts are such beautiful heirlooms as you can keep them and pass them through the generations. Lucky person who will receive this from you.

    As for the charity. I understand that when we give money to individuals they may use it for things that may not necessarily help their situation. They say giving homeless people food directly, for example, is a better idea than giving them money. However, how do you resist if some person is in front of you begging and clearly needs help. I find it hard to say no. As for charities, you have to choose wisely. Sometimes their organisations are so hierarchical the money never trickles to the people that need it. I am undecided on this one. I like to do work for a soup kitchen. I feel like I am directly helping those that need it by giving them food they need to live as opposed loose change which helps them fund alcohol or drugs etc. Such a big issue in all countries. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer it seems. Um and sorry, that is now a long comment.

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  29. We do all our shopping at Costco and then I just pick up smaller items in between our trips. Haven't tried those caramels, they look yummy! I did not know that about the wedding flowers, very interesting and good to know. Congratulation to your niece....big days coming up for her! The quilt is beautiful. Enjoy your weekend.....

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  30. I love dark chocolate anything as does one of my friends in India so I always bring it to him.

    What a lovely baby quilt. I didn't know Sam's and Costco did wedding flowers in bulk. The Safeway where my son, Alex, has worked for over ten years did all the flowers for his winery wedding in the Sacramento area and what a fabulous job they did. I was really surprised.

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