Yay For Good Customer Service!

So I just had a wonderful customer service experience that I had to share. Earlier today, as I was out picking up my new glasses, I figured I would go ahead and grab some cleaning supplies and odds and ends that I needed at the new house. So, I picked up what I needed and grabbed a package of Oreo cookies as a surprise for the kiddo. Aly loves these as a treat, (and so does Mama to be honest) and doesn’t get them too often.

I brought them home, gave one to Aly after she ate lunch, and she wolfed down the cookie as usual and asked for another. Gave that to her, she gobbled it down, but didn’t get a third. That led to a tantrum, again, as usual. We just went about our day and later on, I decided to have an Oreo. I know I shouldn’t have it. It has soy in it. It’s not even remotely a healthy food. My butt is so jiggly right now that the last thing I need is an Oreo. But, dang, do I love them! LOVE them. So, I make bargains about them. One won’t hurt me. Right? One deliciously chocolate cookie bite is good for my SOUL.

So, I take the coveted cookie out of the package, smell its familiar scent. Take a bite, expecting the awesome to just explode in my mouth (On a side note: are y’all understanding why my butt is so jiggly now?)

Oh, goodness.

DISGUSTING.

I did one of the few things that I thought I would never do just behind hitting my child and cheating on my husband.

I spat an OREO COOKIE into the TRASH CAN.

I searched the package to see if there was an expiration date because these cookies tasted seriously sale. Couldn’t find it. I hunted over this stupid package for ten minutes just wondering if maybe I had received the wrong prescription for my glasses. I could not find the expiration date, so I called the number on the back of the package. All I wanted to know was where the expiration date for the Oreos was so I could figure out if I just got a bad batch or what.

So, I called the Nabisco help line and discovered two things:

1.) Somehow, I ended up with a package of Oreos WITHOUT an expiration date. Which probably explains why they tasted like they were made in 1999.

2.) The folks at Nabisco are really freaking nice! They said they would send me a coupon for some free Oreos since I was unhappy with the bag I got. All I wanted to know was where the dang expiration date was!

So, needless to say, though I have never been particularly tempted to purchase the generic form of Oreos (this is one of the few cases where I do have brand loyalty) I will not be straying. The lady on the phone was very nice and even laughed at my rambling as I had to tell her the Saga of the Stale Oreo. Anyone who’ll listen to me babble wins points in my book.

So, now the big question is what do I do with a package of stale Oreos. I hate to throw them out, but these suckers won’t even soften in milk (I know. I tried). Any ideas?

Goals for 2010

Everything I have read about goal-setting says that the best way to ensure that you succeed is to have a plan in place for your goals. So, as a method of accountability, I will list my goals as well as what I intend to do to accomplish them.

1.) Lose 10% of my body weight by July 1st.

To achieve this:
1.) Keep track of all calorie intake and adjust it accordingly.
2.) Start off exercising for 10 minutes everyday at home. Gradually work up to 3 half-hour sessions per week in my parents’ home gym. I am very out of shape, so I need to take this slow.
3.) Find healthier ways to make the foods I love.
4.) Cut out fast food entirely. Limit eating out to once per pay period.
5.) Drink the minimum 64 oz. of water per day

2.) Lose another 10% of my body weight by January 1st 2011.

To achieve this:
1.) Keep track of all calorie intake and adjust it accordingly.
2.) Work out 3 days for a half hour at my parents’. Work out two addition days per week at home with either exercise videos or self-made routine.
3.) Find healthier ways to make the foods I love.
4.) Cut out fast food entirely. Limit eating out to once per pay period.
5.) Drink the minimum 64 oz. of water per day

3.) Pay off half of our accumulated debt by 2011.

To achieve this:
1.) Earn at least $500 dollars per month through ChaCha revenue, online surveys, odd jobs, etc.
2.) Eliminate eating out to one time per pay period.
3.) Utilize the Snowball Method of paying off debt.
4.) Continue to use the Envelope System for managing money.
5.) Meal Plan.
6.) Follow Budget.
7.) Try to save at least 25% off grocery bill by using coupons, shopping loss leaders, etc.

4.) Finish 2 novels or 250,000 words in 2010.

To achieve this:
1.) Slowly develop a regular writing habit again.
2.) Make daily writing my first priority before email and checking out websites/blogs


Other smaller goals:

1.) Limit computer usage to one hour per day for checking emails and blogs, etc. It’s become a huge time sink and limiting my productivity.
2.) Maintain cleaning and organizational habits established in 2009.
3.) Develop and stick to a bedtime routine.
4.) Develop and stick to a morning routine.