Free Samples Forever
The right costume determines the character, helps the actor feel who he is, and serves the story. - Colleen Atwood -
Nothing beats free samples at Costco or Trader Joe's. The challenge is how to get enough samples to fill you up! My ten-year old son and I devised a plan before we went to Trader Joe's so we can go back multiple times and not feel guilty about taking more than our fair share of free samples.
The plan included disguises. I packed a backpack full of hats, wigs, sunglasses, and shirts. I wasn't convinced it would work. We started out as ourselves as we walked up to the first free sample station and got some yummy chicken tacos with delicious green salsa. Then we walked up to the other station that had salami slices with a real cheesy cheese. We took the little paper cups, gobbled the food down and decided we wanted more! I reached into my backpack and pulled out a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a Mets jersey. After I adjusted the cap on my son's head, I sent him back to collect some more delicious samples.
Success, he came back loaded up! We enjoyed each morsel, but we wanted more. I took his cap, glasses and jersey and handed him a cowboy hat, a mullet wig, a black velvet vest, and a metal studded belt.
Snickering, as he pulled the belt tight, he disappeared around the corner. It seemed like an eternity, but in reality it was two minutes later, he came back with MORE free samples!
I felt like we cracked a secret code and found the way to eternal free samples.
As we ate the last batch, the store manager appeared behind us with my wife. I slowly turned and noticed that guy didn't seem so happy. Seems that some of the customers weren't too pleased with our antics. Oh well.
Though we won't do it again anytime soon, I made sure I verbally recorded and then shared my memories of this experience on BabbleStash. This way I can always have the details of the fun day and our crazy experience.
BabbleStash is a critically acclaimed iPhone app that captures the essence of people and lets them share it. Selfies, Snapchats, only express the visual moment; but not what people are truly thinking or feeling. BabbleStash uses scientifically tested questions to elicit feelings, memories, ideas, goals, and dreams and easily records the responses to either be kept secret or shared.