HDTVs Are Expensive. Are They Worth It?

I'm still in shock after TV shopping this past weekend. Who knew that HDTVs were so expensive? (I realize that the correct answer here is everyone. Cut me some slack, OK?)

I expected a new TV to be moderately expensive. Kyle found some nice Samsungs on Amazon priced in the $600 – $900 range. Although I can't say I love those prices, they certainly don't surprise me.

But that was just the beginning.

On Sunday, we visited an electronics store to see the TVs in person. That's where we learned about a vast array of upcharges that are required to properly install and enjoy your new TV.

You need to buy special cords and a surge protector, of course. If you're hanging your TV on the wall, a mounting bracket is required. Oh, and you should really consider hiring a professional installer to hide the special cords behind your wall. If you're not hanging your new TV on the wall, you need to buy an HDTV stand — most of which look like bizarre, futuristic technology shrines.

Then there's the calibration fee.

Call me crazy (or maybe just out of touch), but I figured that an $800 HDTV would arrive ready to watch. Oh no! Apparently, the manufacturers don't calibrate the colors because — according to our sales guy — "they want to save on production time to bring down costs for the consumer."

Um...yeah. I'm sure that's it. Because a manufacturer doesn't pay a third-world factory worker to properly configure the TV, an electronics store can pass on the saving to me...in the form of a $200 calibration charge.

Gee, thanks.

And don't even get me started on planned obsolescence. I asked the guy how long we should expect to own our new HDTV. He said they're built to last for "decades." (I couldn't help but imagine our grandchildren gathered around our ugly TV shrine in 2040.) Then I asked how long his many HDTVs had lasted him. The answer: an average of 3 years (with some duds burning out almost immediately). Naturally, he used this opportunity to tell us about the extended warranty program. Nice.

So now we're at a crossroads. Do we really want to spend more than $1,000 on a TV? Seriously, a TV? Even if we can afford it, is that where we want to "invest" right now? (I'm asking you!)

After all, a lot of people are giving away decent old TVs on craigslist right now. We have a converter box.

Hmmm...

10 Things I Carried to and From My Car Today...

...multiple times...

...in the freezing cold...

1. My keys
2. My purse
3. My briefcase
4. My heels
5. My Target returns
6. My 4-year-old
7. My 4-year-old's snow pants, boots, extra gloves and change of clothing
8. My 4-year-old's worksheets and artwork
9. My reusable co-op bags — first empty, and then filled with groceries
10. Myself — complete with hat, coat, gloves, boots, Cuddle Duds and performance fleece

Ugh.

I felt so horribly weighed down today.

And cold.

So. Stinkin'. Cold.

Can't we all just stay home until spring arrives?

Five Etiquette Tips for Givers and Receivers: Tip #5

Tip #5: Do NOT forget to include batteries, industrial-grade scissors, safety gloves and Band-Aids with any gift that you give to a child!

Nothing is more disappointing than unwrapping a super awesome toy only to discover that you can't play with it until dad runs to the store for batteries.

Scratch that.

Nothing is more disappointing than unwrapping a super awesome toy only to discover that no one can even OPEN the packaging surrounding it!

Even parents who are industrious enough to crack through the sharp plastic casing and melted seams will find it nearly impossible to unwind those evil gray wires that tether the toys inside.

So, if you want to be merely polite, include batteries with your gift. If you want to be exceptionally thoughtful, also include industrial-grade scissors, safety gloves (goggles might be necessary in some cases) and LOTS of Band-Aids.*

Mom and dad (especially dad) will thank you.

*Use your judgement about whether a complete first-aid kit might be necessary.

Five Etiquette Tips for Givers and Receivers: Tip #4

Tip #4: Do NOT apologize for your gift while the recipient is opening it!

Yeah, yeah, I know how it goes. You couldn't find exactly the right thing. The store was out of what you had hoped to buy. You couldn't decide what size to choose. You didn't have enough time.

Whatever excuse explains your less-than-stellar gift, keep it to yourself!

A person opening a present should not feel compelled to console the giver before the wrapping even hits the floor. ("I understand. It's OK, really it is. Don't worry about it! I'm sure it'll be fine.")

Just hand over your gift, smile politely while it's being opened, and — when you inevitably hear "Thank you!" — muster your most sincere "You're welcome!"

(Oh, and don't forget to include a gift receipt.)

Five Etiquette Tips for Givers and Receivers: Tip #3

Tip #3: Do NOT forget to wrap your presents!

This one might come as a bit of surprise to some of you. Maybe you’re thinking, “Forget to wrap my presents? Of course I’ll wrap my presents!”

For those of you confused by this tip, I have a simple message:
You're LUCKY!

Me? I once received a present wrapped in a Target bag with a red bow. On another occasion, I received a present stuffed in a paper grocery bag with no bow. I have even waited to receive a present while someone wrapped it at the last minute in another room.*

The bottom line: It happens! Just DON’T let it be because of you!

Even if you’re giving a so-so gift, wrap it in some festive paper or stick it in a cute gift bag. Presentation counts! And if you want to be green, go ahead and wrap your presents in grocery bags or newspaper. Just be sure to put forth a little extra effort (stencils, ribbon, raffia) to make it look special for your special someone.

Is that really too much to ask?

I didn’t think so.


*No, not all of these gift-giving faux pas were committed by my husband.**

**Yes, some of them were committed by my husband.

Five Etiquette Tips for Givers and Receivers: Tip #2

Tip #2: Do NOT express disdain for ANYTHING before you’ve opened your Christmas presents.

And when I say anything, I mean ANYTHING.

Do NOT say that you’ve always hated the color purple.

Do NOT say that you never wear earrings.

Do NOT say that you hate to read.

Do NOT say that you think wool is itchy and uncomfortable.

Why?

Because a little known law of nature dictates that whatever you complain about is the very thing that you're about to receive as a gift.

So while you're going on and on at dinner about the fact that Kenny G isn’t “real jazz,” your grandmother will be in tears for having placed his Christmas CD under the tree with your name on it. And when you finally open that ill-fated gift, you'll feel even worse for having said “Only old people buy CDs!” during dessert.

Save yourself this embarrassment. For the next three days, remember to hold your tongue. If you don’t have anything nice to say…well, you know the rest.

Five Etiquette Tips for Givers and Receivers: Tip #1

I might be alone on this one, but I often find it stressful to give and receive gifts.

(Yes, yes, I know. My life must be pretty cushy if this is the only thing I have to complain about. But hear me out…)

In the weeks surrounding Christmas, I can become overwhelmed by the frantic cycle of selecting, purchasing, wrapping, transporting, opening, ooohing, aaahing, sorting, returning and repurchasing. “Stuff management” simply exhausts me.

BUT, I think there might be less interpersonal stress associated with gifting if everyone followed a few simple etiquette tips. Expect to see one tip per day until Christmas Day.

Tip #1: Do NOT buy anything for yourself just before Christmas!

Maybe you’ve been eying a gorgeous sweater that’s now marked 20 percent off. Maybe that cookbook you’ve been talking about for months is finally back in stock. Or maybe you’ve just spritzed your last spritz of your signature fragrance.

DON’T BUY IT!

Someone thoughtful might have been paying attention to your little desires all this time. And that special person will be absolutely crestfallen if you beat them to the punch mere days before the big reveal.

So resist the temptation. Even if it turns out that your loved ones know absolutely nothing about your wants and needs, you can always buy something nice for yourself after Christmas (and at an even deeper discount). Trust me.

Life Is Funny (Shopping Is Funnier)

Oh, that poor sales girl.

She didn’t see it coming.

But I couldn’t help it!

(I promise, I really couldn’t!)

It was just so absurd.

And I’m the kind of girl that laughs (hard) in the face of absurdity.

Tell me a joke? I’ll muster a polite chuckle.

Lend me your favorite comedy? I might crack a smile.

But try to convince me — in your sincerest voice — that men need special moisturizing products because of their “unique body oils,” “masculine hormones,” and “PH body specifications,” and I will launch into a spontaneous giggle fit!

And I will ask you if you’re really serious.

And I will tell you that I’m not trying to be mean.

And I will apologize profusely for my rudeness.

And I will explain that it’s been a long day.

And I will finally win you over by asking, “Didn’t you think it was ridiculous when someone told you to say that?”

(You did.)

And you will be smiling, but looking somewhat disillusioned, when I finally walk away without making a purchase.

And I will still be giggling.

Because that’s what I do.

I can’t help it.

Life is just too funny sometimes.

Snack Attack

It was my turn to “bring snack” for our ECFE class today. It’s an annoying task, really. Each week, one parent is required to purchase three different snacks: one appropriate for the infant/toddler room, one appropriate for the preschool room, and one appropriate for the parent room.

Last week, our parent educator informed us that we should no longer buy cereal for the infant/toddler room. “They have more Cheerios and Kicks than they know what to do with!” was her exact quote. So instead, they want us to buy packages of special cereal and fruit puffs from the baby food aisle.

Hmmm.

Is anyone else a little confused by this logic? If they have an overabundance of Cheerios and Kicks, why don’t they just feed the babies Cheerios and Kicks? Why do we need to buy anything at all? Can’t the babies make it through a 1-hour class without special puffs to sustain them?

I don’t get it.

But the baby snack was the least of my problems. In the old days, we were allowed to bring homemade treats for the parent snack. Not everyone did, of course, but it was always nice when someone took the time to bake a pretty tart or cake for the group.

Not anymore!

“Due to concerns about H1N1, homemade snacks are no longer allowed in the parent room,” was the official position given by our educator.

Hmmm.

Is anyone else a little confused by this logic? I mean, I understand if the concern is about dirty kitchens, poisoning attempts or allergies…but H1N1? Why are muffins baked at 350 degrees in someone’s home any more likely to carry H1N1 than a plastic tub of mini scones that who knows how many people have touched at Target?

I ended up buying the puffs for the babies, some crackers for the preschoolers and an assortment of mini scones and rolls for the parents. More than $35 later, I had an acceptable snack.

You know what would really prevent H1N1? How about not passing around a snack at all? Can’t we all make it through a 9 a.m. class without nourishment?

Ugly Web Site Beef Stew

Recipe reviews are so annoying. In theory, they should be totally useful. Learning from the experiences of others could prevent disaster or improve an already wonderful dish. But some reviewers simply go too far. Ever read one like this?

RECIPE: Chef4You44’s Thai Beef Curry

KookingKutie wrote: “This recipe was AMAZING! I made a few changes, though, to suit our family. Instead of beef, I used chicken (had it in the freezer – BIG sale, woohoo!). And instead curry paste and coconut milk (WAY too spicy for DH), I simmered the chicken in stock with some fresh thyme and root vegetables. We didn’t have rice, so I finished it off with some egg noodles. Thanks for the inspiration! Keep ‘em coming!”

Okay, real reviews aren’t usually that bad, but some are pretty close!

So when I was searching for a low-carb* beef stew recipe a couple of weeks ago, I was rather intrigued by this one. After wading through gobs of reviews for various versions on the Food Network, simplicity proved oddly refreshing. No impeccable photos. No long-winded reviews. Just a basic recipe sitting on a totally boring, poorly designed diet site.

So I made it. And it was good! I only made a few changes. (HA! You knew this was coming.)

• Instead of a can of plain stewed tomatoes, I used fire-roasted tomatoes with diced green chiles (nice and spicy!)
• Instead of a cube of beef bouillon, I used a teaspoon of organic Better than Bouillon (you know, because it’s better)
• And instead of zucchini, I used some cauliflower
• Oh, and I try to use grass-fed beef and organic ingredients whenever possible.

That’s it!

I’ve made three batches over the past couple of weeks to bring to work for lunch. And I’m not sick of it yet! (Now that sounds like an honest review.)

-Angie

*Why am I eating low-carb? Well, I’m not. Not really, at least. I was just in one of those “I really need to watch it or I won’t make it to the other side of winter without having to buy bigger pants” kinds of moods when I was looking for a recipe.

Stupid Things That Cost $1

I'll admit that I'm a bit sheltered (and quite possibly a food snob), but I couldn't believe my eyes when I encountered the following freaks of nature at a nearby grocery store.

1. Microwave-ready potatoes. They're regular russet potatoes that have been washed and individually wrapped in some kind of fancy new plastic that doesn't melt in the microwave. Each potato costs 99 cents.

2. Grapples (pronounced grape-els, according to the package). They're regular apples that have been "bathed" in a concoction of natural and artificial grape flavor and encased in a hard plastic carton. A package of four costs $3.99.

Why? Seriously... Why?

The FDA Saved My Grocery List!

Good news, mamas: A tiny bit of melamine in food is O.K.! (They didn’t say “safe,” but “O.K.” is good enough for me.)

After hearing about the babies dying in China, I was actually starting to worry about our global food economy. Remember when all those animals died last year from melamine-laced Chinese pet food? Or when we found loads of drugs and contaminants in Chinese seafood? (The lead-tainted toys are a topic for another time. Toys are only toxic if babies put them in their mouths. Oh wait…)

Thank goodness the Food and Drug Administration is on top of it. The FDA will only allow the wee bit of melamine that enters food through normal factory processing to grace our shores. And they won’t allow any melamine in baby formula! Why? “There is too much uncertainty to set a level in infant formula and rule out any public health concern.” I almost get choked up thinking about how much the FDA cares about our babies.

Anyway, I'm just glad that I don’t have to worry about these things. For a while, I was thinking, “Oh my gosh! Maybe I should buy real food grown by local farmers instead of industrialized food crap grown in foreign countries and transferred through God knows how many ports and processing plants!”

I know what you’re thinking: “Move to Canada, you naïve, idealistic liberal!” Touché.

Thankfully, the FDA has changed my tune and turned me back into global food consumer. Sometimes I wonder how that pet food ever got past those guys. And did they ever figure out the source of those contaminated tomatoes/peppers/whatever? Hmmm...

Oh well, I’m not supposed to think. I'm a mom. I’m supposed to shop! In fact, shopping is my civic duty. And what's more patriotic than buying food that's grown and processed in foreign countries? Some products might even contain soy lecithin or high-fructose corn syrup derived from commodity crops grown right here in Minnesota.

God, help America!

Ooops!

I mean, God bless America!

-Angie

The Mom Section

I hate shopping...again.

I'm sorry to rail against the retail industry in yet another post, but I spent yesterday afternoon shopping for swimming suits and bras. Need I say more?

I guess I'll just never get used to shopping in the "mom" section. What's the mom section, you ask? Well, it's that special place in every clothing department designed for women who've had babies and thus value coverage and support — two things that apparently are in direct conflict with cuteness. It's where swimming suits have obnoxious jungle prints and wide, clingy skirts. It's where the bras come in only beige or brown and have straps an inch wide. It's that section you used to see as a teenager and think, "Who on earth would buy that ugly crap?"

I gave up on the swimming suit quest almost immediately. I just wasn’t in a good enough mood to put up with it. I had nearly surrendered my bra quest, too, when I reached Nordstrom intimates. They have great fitters (the gals who measure and manhandle you) and a fairly decent selection of cute bras in a variety of sizes. Oh, and my fitter asked how old I was because she thought I was a teenage mother. Maybe I should have been offended. It made my day.

-Angie
(Who plans to post about our earlier summer adventures this week. I have to get caught up before we leave for our next vacation this Saturday!)

Newsflash, Designers: I’m Not Pregnant

I hate shopping.

It’s not because I’m one of those “question consumption” hipsters who believes that malls are evil (although I do aspire to be that cool one day). No, I hate shopping because once I find styles that flatter me, the fickle fashion winds change — often blowing in a bad bad direction.

Case in point: the empire-waist shirt.

Seriously, how long will this trend last? No sooner had I popped out Rowan than the fashion world began dressing every woman in maternity clothes.

The "tight around the chest, loose around the belly" silhouette is not flattering on most women, and it’s causing countless avoidable faux pas. (When are you due?) Even the size-zero model pictured above looks like she's sporting a bump.

As a woman who has been pregnant — and has thus seen irreversible changes to her waistline ― the last thing I want is excess volume around my middle. So please, let’s just stop this trend right now.

-Angie
(Who is oh so disheartened by the empire-waist sweaters she’s seen for fall. Seriously? They’re adding bulky fabric to the mix now?)