How to Get Your Kindle Faster...

Remember a couple days ago I wrote a post about how my husband got his Kindle in 2 days and I was still waiting?
Well, yes, I am STILL waiting - but I have results!

It turns out, on April 4th, when it checked into Helsinki and completed most of their customs - they called me.  I didn't answer because I didn't hear my phone and I was dead asleep...they called after 9am but hubby was watching the kids so I opted for a nap.
When I woke up, I noticed that some weird number called but I disregarded it as a telemarketer.  I figured if it was UPS - they'd call back - RIGHT?!
Nope.  They never once called back...great customer service guys.  I really appreciate it.

I finally decided to check out who called that day - and it turns out it was not listed and pre-paid.  Was it UPS or not?!
I then decided it's been long enough - time to send an email!  I emailed UPS who guaranteed a response within 1 business day and yes, they did email me back.  The rep was vague and just said we'll see what's going on.
I emailed him back advising him my husband got his Kindle in 2 days and I'm still waiting.
I then get a phone call this morning from a similar phone number and decided to answer...yep.  It was UPS.
"Oh we found out you contacted us and the reason why your package from Amazon.com is being held here is because we need your Social Security number."
I gave it to her and she told me I'll get it on Monday.  Great!

Still it doesn't explain the poor customer service from last Wednesday - not calling a customer back...why the heck not?!  If not later in the day, the next day - until you get the customer to pick up!
And they couldn't take it out of Helsinki until they had my Social Security number - so they didn't bother trying to deliver it in person.

I just looked at the 2 numbers from today and last week and they are NOT the same...so perhaps UPS has several numbers?
Oh and I did use 16400 to find the 2nd number and yes, it's also un-listed and pre-paid too.


This is the not the first time I've had issues with UPS and missing packages...so be warned - if you go the International Shipping route for anything going through UPS - this is what you may go through!

International Food

I cannot believe I haven't posted about this before (at least I don't think I have...) but let's talk about "International Food".
Food that is not normally sold in Finland - would be American brands and British brands.

The big thing I missed since moving to Finland was Kraft Peanut Butter.  I don't think anywhere in Finland sells that brand (the jars are generally bigger) but that's okay...I eventually got used to the "Finnish" version of peanut butter, although it's not crunchy and it's more oily than the Kraft brand I'm used to.
Although, bonus points to Finland for selling Nutella!

Anyhow, a friend of mine, introduced me to this store, Behnford's, located in Helsinki.  They have their site in English (which I've linked for you) and they also ship based on weight and size of the package.

A friend of mine had gone to Helsinki and picked up a jar of Skippy's Peanut Butter - the jar was relatively small...I made it last as long as I could (got it in February I believe...) and the last bits were gone 2 days ago.
A very sad day indeed.

So, yesterday I got the chance to go with a friend (who thankfully has a car) to the big grocery store, City Market.

I wandered around and got the meat for the week and some other "heavier" stuff (bigger boxes of juice, extra milk cartons, pop - a real treat!, a big bag of potatoes) that can be a pain to carry home while walking....and then I remembered I was out of PB and Nutella!

Once I was in that aisle for spreads and jams - I looked across and saw a sliver of Heaven.

I bought 3 bags...the husband doesn't know.  I can finally make LOTS of treats and goodies with these!

Nutella is sold at all grocery stores....it's a hazelnut cocoa spread...yum.

The first time I've seen crunchy PB in grocery stores (City Market)

I've been here for almost 2 years and this is the first time I've seen semi-sweet chocolate chips! (Other than in Behnford's shop).

The Finnish version of smooth peanut butter...

So there ya have it...my special trip to the City Market ended with me coming home with special treats for me to bake with!

Marshmallows are sweet and sticky and great for Rice Krispy Squares, S'Mores, and other great little cookies...

Chocolate Chips are wonderful for baking with...like chocolate chip cookies....or chocolate chip muffins...or pancakes...or melting them for dipping small things to coat them in chocolate (although I've lately been using Fazer Dark chocolate baking squares) like macaroons (a coconut kind of cookie - sometimes known as a "hay stack")...

(My friend has never heard or seen them before and thought they looked like hamster droppings...I was mortified!)

I use PB for toast, sandwiches, dipping apples, a spoon of it in milk shakes...baked in cookies...for dog biscuits...

I use Nutella for toast primarily...sometimes in baking and occasionally in a milk shake or smoothie if I want to have something "chocolatey" but not a whole bar if you know what I mean!

These items were pricey (and not a brand name I recognize - but I don't care!) - however, if you factor in the cost of shipping from a friend or the cost of shipping from Behnford's....plus the potential of squished marshmallows....it works out to be cheaper than Behnford's and definitely cheaper than shipping from the US or Canada!