Happy Thanksgiving America!

Since it was Thanksgiving here more than a month ago it's just Thursday here but I couldn't let today go by without wishing all of my amazing American readers a very happy Thanksgiving!

I know Brown Eyed Belle is having a great one!  In 2011 she went from a pretty girl to a pretty girlfriend and last night became a pretty fiancee!  Congratulations!

Another bloggy friend has the most beautiful of secrets to tell her family today.  My lips are sealed but I will be thinking about her today too!

I am grateful for all of my readers!  You make writing this blog even more fun and give me new goals every day.  Without you this blog would not be what it is and I thank you for the inspiration.


Have a fabulous day!

Happy July 4th!

Happy 4th of July to  

my American friends!

Have a fabulous day!

PS...no need to wish me the same, it's just Monday here in Canada!

The Morning After

I had a post scheduled for this morning but in light of the news last night I decided to save it for another day.  With Osama Bin Laden dead now I can only wonder what the fallout will be.  I need time to absorb this news and process what it will mean for the world.

Today I think about all the people who died on 9/11.  I think about all the people who have died since then all in the name of finding and killing Osama Bin Laden.  I know this is a victory for Americans but let's not forget the people from all over the world who have suffered at the hands of the Taliban.

Being Canadian, we are aware of all of our soldiers who have given their lives in Afghanistan since 9/11.  Canada's role in any military effort is peacekeeping but that doesn't mean our soldiers aren't in harm's way.  Canadians generally don't agree with our military being there but we do line the highways and pack the bridges to waves flags as their hearses go by.  We support our troops.

There are men and women worldwide who have given everything for this moment in history.  This isn't just a victory for America.  This is a victory for the whole world.


Have a peaceful day.

Target is coming to Canada....big whoop.

I am sure every Canadian shopper now knows about Target buying Zellers with plans to open 100 Targets across Canada by 2013.

Big deal.

Yes.

I said it.

Whoop-dee-doo.

On the surface this sounds very exciting!  No more cross border trips to get the items we want but are denied...for 50-70% off, no less!  Right?!  Right?!????

Wrong.

Walmart is in Canada too....and they didn't bring with them all those things we see advertised but cant buy here.  Nor did they bring the US prices with them.  Let's not even get into the difference in customer service.  You know that bi*chy women who works in the Tim's drive-thru?  Yeah, she will be applying for a job at Target.  And no doubt the same level of misery we see at Walmart will install itself at Target in Canada soon enough.  Just about every cross border shopper I know says the same thing...they go to the US because of the customer service as well as selection and prices so it isnt just me - many are fed up with how we are treated in stores on this side of the 49th parallel.

So while I would love to be jumping up and down squealing with the rest of you, I am just too realistic and jaded to take part.  Dont get me wrong...I love Target!  I have written more than one post about my shopping trips and what I love to buy there that we cant get here, but, I have seen this before and know how it will go. 

For my American friends who are wondering what the big deal is...the Canadian dollar has been hovering around parity with the US dollar for a few years now.  This would mean something that costs 1.00 in the US should cost 1.00 here but it doesnt.  We are still paying a lot more for the exact same things because the Canadian government puts so many taxes and tariffs on items coming into the country.  A great example is books, if you look at the back of any book you will see the US and Canadian prices - very few stores in Canada will honour the US price.  When I was pregnant and shopping for baby gear I priced the items I wanted on the Target website and realised everything was double the price here but our dollar was at par.  So I got in my car and bought it all in the US.  At Target.  Where a store employee took my list, gathered everything I was looking for, helped me to the cash desk and out to my car.  That kind of customer service is unheard of here. 

Living in Canada is great - we are usually unarmed, get free health care, have low unemployment and managed to avoid the latest financial crisis for which we owe Stephen Harper a 'thank you' at the very least but along with all of that comes a certain apathy about service.  My goodness if one more shop clerk whines to me about consumerism I think I will lose it!

I may be one of the few Canadians who really loves Americans.  Gosh y'all know how to throw a party and have a sale!  You smile and have manners and call me ma'am even though I dont think I qualify yet for ma'am.  You take pride in your work...even the Target cashiers make customers feel valued - I am afraid we wont get that kind of feeling from our Canadian Target cashiers.

So, is it exciting to think Target will be coming here?  Yes.  I am sure the stores will be cleaner, brighter and bigger.  But that's about it.



Have a fabulous day!

Cross Border Shopping

I am often asked what I buy when I cross the border for the day so I decided to take photos and share what is on my cross border list!  I normally only buy things I know I can't get in Canada or are at a much lower price.  With the dollar being so close to par it is easy to get some great deals!  I remember when I was pregnant we went to Target to pick up all the baby gear and everything cost us half what it would here! 

I live close to a quiet border crossing and tend to see the same guards over and over - one American guard always laughs and tells us we are crazy to drive 2 hours to shop!  He obviously doesnt understand women at all!  We always tell him it's our moms day out and we had to get far enough way that no one could call us back to find their pants or Cheerios or anything silly like that!

A lot of people are afraid of what will happen when they come back with all of their stuff but there is nothing to fear - the customs officers just want you to pay your bills and be on your merry way!  I arrive at the customs booth with my passport and reciepts in hand and know exactly how much I spent.  I am polite and cheerful with the officer and make it clear I am there to pay my bill, not trying to get out of it. 

The guard will give us a yellow ticket with instructions to park...but I tell them I know the drill!  Once inside the customs building it's always a good idea to remember the guards are human beings and deserve respect and kindness.  You wouldn't believe the number of times a guard has deleted a section of my bill after some friendly banter and a smile.  I dont recommend crossing at Niagara Falls...the guards out here have told me that's the worst place to work and cross.

Canadians have to pay tax on certain items...some guards will ask for the details of every item on your receipt...others will scan it and estimate.  Either way, be prepared to answer questions.  Most items are not subject to duty fees contrary to popular myth but just about everything is subject to Federal and Provincial taxes.  Even with the 13% we pay in Ontario I still save a lot of money!

Snowman shaped marshmallows.  Nuff said.

Minty chocolate - my favourite!

Ibuprofen PM - for those nights I just cant sleep!

Vitamin C powders - we do have these in Canada but they are 26.00 a box in most places.  In Target they start at 6.00 and go up to 9.00 depending on the flavour.  I bought 6 boxes...saved approximately 120.00 right there and got to spend the day with a friend I adore and rarely get to see!

Zinc lozenges - I am obviously terrified of getting sick!

Archer Farms fruit and yoghurt bars. 

I keep these in my purse, car, desk!

I had High Heeled Life bring these back for me once!

Flavoured coffee! 

Yes we have coffee in Canada but not pumpkin coffee!

Would you believe these are made in Toronto but not sold in Canada?

We have about 4 flavours of Coffee-Mate in Canada. 

I cant resist the huge assortment I can get in the US!

Have I mentioned I live 45kms from the closest Sbux?

We have Goldfish but not the assortment in the US stores.

The little cartons went into the Little Prince's stocking!

We have very little in the way of nut selection

(keep your filthy mind in check) and this is the perfect combination!

Fiber!  In a gummy!  Who knew!?

VitD and Calcium in a gummy - I am quite facinated with these!

A girl's second best friend!

Fiber, vitamins, bio-flavinoids and anti-oxidents. 

The keys to nice skin, hair and staying youthful!

The Suburban Prince actually shook me awake at 6am to ask me to remember to get the chips he likes!

Luna Bars!  Oh my...deeeeelish!  We have a few flavours in Canada but certainly not chocolate peppermint stick, chocolate raspberry or blueberry bliss!  I cleaned off the shelves.  I eat these as a healthy snack on the run or when I am craving a chocolate bar.

I had no idea Luna bars come in protein too!

  

I use loose power over my foundation to set it and recently I noticed every brand seems to be switching to mineral makeup.  I havn't been able to find loose powder anywhere that isnt mineral so I got online and found a couple of brands available in Target. 

So there you have it!  Of course this doesnt include the clothes, boots, Dreft (not available in Canada) and Christmas presents I bought for the Princes but it is a good example of what I will stock up on when I spend a day stateside!

Have a fabulous day!

I feel like Sarah Palin....

I was taking the senic route through town the other day and noticed...

A tiny plume of smoke in the distance...

(Click on the picture for to enlarge it)

I can see America from my house!

The smoke stack is a coal plant in Olcott, New York and on very clear days we can see it working hard in the distance. 

Have a fabulous day!

To all of my American friends....

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Have a fabulous day!