"Free"

A few weeks ago I got a call from an in-home portrait company.  They said that I had been "given" a free 5x7 portrait (later I found out it was a referral and the friend didn't have to pay anything for it).  The company would come to my house, bring the needed equipment, take pictures of my kiddos, and then I would get a free 5x7 and not pay the sitting fee.  What could be better?  A free professional portrait.  I instantly agreed and we set up the time.  

The photographer came at the appointed time (well, actually she was 20 minutes early).  She set up her equipment - backdrop, flashes, tripod, camera - and was ready to start shooting.  First she wanted my baby, so I dressed him and she took pictures.  Then she took more of him bare-chested.  Then with hats.  Then with stuffed animals.  Then I changed him into the outfit that matched my toddler's.  The photographer took a few pictures.  Then my toddler got a picture taken.  I asked if I should change her clothes (thinking that she wanted the baby in something different and would want the same for my toddler).  No.  Another picture of my toddler.  Then changing the background and back to the baby.  A couple more of them together and the photographer started taking down the equipment.  She tried to sell me a package (3 sittings for a set amount, supposedly it would save me money later on), but I turned it down.  I askThen she left.  I was a little disturbed that she never asked me what I was looking for in the pictures and only took two of my toddler and a bazillion of the baby.  But, I knew that I was only going to take the free one, so it wasn't a huge deal and I didn't say anything to her.

A week and a half later I get a call, saying that my pictures are ready and there are some great pictures of my baby (no mention that I also have a toddler!).  We set up an appointment.

The salesman came at the appointed time, shook my hand, set up his laptop and we looked at the pictures.  He was nice and friendly.  Then we looked at the pictures again.  There were no good pictures of my baby in all the bazillion that were taken (it was his own fault really.  He was tired at the time they were taken).  However, of the two of my toddler, there was an adorable picture.  There were a couple of them together that were also really good.  Finally, he pulls out the paper that shows the packages.  They ranged from $150-$700.  After explaining all of the packages and specials, he asked what I wanted.  I asked if I could buy pictures without the package (I really wanted the one of my toddler).  He said, "No, but let's see what you want and I'll see what package we can fit it into."  So I came up with four 8x10's and one 5x7.  His price: $100.  I told him I would just take the free 5x7.  His demeanor completely altered.  He was still nice, but no longer friendly and not very good at hiding it.  He quickly put in my order (he upgraded me to an 8x10) and left, without shaking my hand.

Bottom Line:

I think the idea is fantastic!  Photographer comes to your home, takes pictures and leaves, coming back when the pictures are ready.

I wasn't impressed.  The photographer didn't ask for my opinions/wants for pictures that would hang in my home, nor did the salesman act professional when he didn't get a commission.

I think that when you say "free", you have to expect that there will be some who won't fall for the marketing trick and buy more pictures.  Because really, I only wanted the free one!

Feet

They are interesting things, feet.  They are a very important part of life, and yet they get next to no appreciation.  Pedicures are heavenly ... and few and far between (at least for me).  It's weird, I know, but I like to look at people's feet.  I don't know why.  Maybe it's because I've been teased mercilessly(we won't mention by whom, will we my brothers?) about my pinkie toe for as far back as I can remember and I want to see if other people have a disproportionately small pinkie toe.  Could be.  I really do like to look at them.  And photograph them (my kiddo's feet, at least.  We'll see if it continues as they get older).  But I really do NOT like touching anybody's feet but my own.  Ewww!!!  What would you call that?  It's not an oxymoron (though I do love that word!).  I think there must be a word for it ....  Maybe?

The Bellagio

I love the conservatory at the Bellagio.  I also love the fountains.  Yesterday we down one last time before the big move.  It was great!  I liked both of the songs at the fountain, the conservatory was beautiful (though it was missing something.  There weren't any HUGE displays.) and the weather wasn't too bad (low 90's).  The snail was my favorite in the conservatory.

New Website

My husband showed me the coolest website.  Wolfram Alpha is amazing!  You can enter a math problem, elementary to advanced, and it will solve it for you.  Taking it a step further, it will show the work that got to that answer.  It's a teacher's worst nightmare!  You send work home, students get on the computer, plug in each problem, copy the work and the answer, then turn it in.  They didn't learn/practice anything!  

You can enter a city and it will tell you: population, elevation, nearest large city, local time, weather... you get the idea.  All the data you want, is right there (or will be, as the infamous "they" get it entered).  Health, nutrition, sports, education...  The list is  quite long.  It's a ton of fun!  I haven't had to use it yet for an actual purpose, but I think that when I do, it will be very useful.  Until then, it's an incredible way to waste time that should be spent packing, or doing laundry, or mopping (yeah, haven't done that yet.  oops.), or napping (which also sounds like a waste of time to some people, I know, but to others [like me] sometimes it's a necessity), or other productive things.  Check it out!

Deja Vu

We're moving.  Again.  This time to Colorado.  We don't like to stay in one spot for too long, apparently.  No, really, it just makes good business sense for my husband's business right now.  And I'm extremely happy because Colorado has significantly cooler summers than Las Vegas!

There are some good things about moving to CO.  

• Being closer to family (on my side)
• living in a small town
• not traveling 12 hours each way for business every month or so
• cooler weather

There are some not so good things about moving to CO.

• Being further away from family (my husband's)
• not many options for entertainment (Las Vegas has tons of free entertainment!)
• No temple in town
• Packing.  Without packers.  Yikes.

So, I've already started to pack.  Yeah, the thought of packing with 2 kiddos was a little overwhelming.  But since I've started it already seems like I'm making progress.  It gives me hope that it'll all be done in the 4 weeks that we have left.  Luckily, we saved all of the boxes from our last move (thanks to the forethought of my husband) so we don't have to stalk people and businesses for boxes.  We just have to tape them up.  Easy!

Wal-Mart Deals

In my hometown, my mom was at wal-mart and came across some kids sweatshirts for $1 (that is not a typo!).  So she bought a couple for my kiddos (Thanks, Mom!).  Yesterday I had a couple of returns to make to wal-mart and as I was driving into the parking lot I thought, "I wonder if there will be any $1 deals here".  Maybe not those exact words, but the right thought.  Well, as I was looking in the toy department for a 2 year old boy toy (birthday party this week) there was an announcement made that there were racks of clothes for $1 by the infant/toddler section.  By the time I got there, the area was packed.  I managed to find a shirt for me and a shirt for my toddler, and then I headed back to the toys.  However, as I was walking, I saw a shoe display that had a $1 sign above it.  Dress shoes, for toddlers.  Now, some of you may know how expensive kids dress shoes are.  Some of you may not.  And they're especially expensive when you take into account that the kids wear them once a week.  So, I proceeded to fill my cart (not really).  I got at least 1 pair for each of the next 5 sizes my toddler will be in (they're all the same style, though there are some changes in color).  I also took the only pair of boys shoes on the rack (size 4 tennis shoes) for when my baby grows.  Thus my wonderment was answered.  My wal-mart does have $1 deals!