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fairy-writes · 1 year

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The Decay of Yesterday: Chapter One {Viktor x Reader}

hello, hello! welcome to the decay of yesterday! just a fair warning, there will be a fair amount of violence, gore, and, y’know… zombies in this.

also! this is a reader-insert fic, but i hate the terms y/n, (name), etc., so i’ll be using the nickname “scout” in place of it! if that’s not your cup of tea, well, then this probably isn’t the story for you. hope you enjoy!

word count: 1.7k

masterlist

next chapter ->

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Five years after the first outbreak

The grocery store was desolate. A thick layer of dust covered every square inch, and pretty much everything had already been ransacked.

Hopefully, the pharmacy was still at least somewhat stocked.

Steps pattered behind you, and you looked to see if Skipper was still following closely. His curly brown hair peeked out from under his beanie and bounced with every step. His dark eyes scanned the area, darting to anything that moved. As always, when you went out, his bandana covered his nose and mouth.

You adjusted your own bandana over your nose and turned your gaze to the grocery store entrance. Then, almost in unison, you both came to a halt, waited, and listened.

Nothing.

Perfect.

“C’mon Skip, we have to hurry. It’ll be nightfall soon.” You say, and he nods, trotting ahead of you with quick but quiet footsteps. His crowbar is clutched tightly in his hands. He looks so grown up. Well, as grown up as a thirteen-year-old can be during the apocalypse.

Inside, the grocery store was just as sad as the outside. Most, if not all of the shelves were empty, and grime covered everything. The scent of dust was thick, and you could see little particles floating in the air with the setting sunlight streaming through the broken doors.

The two of you made a beeline for the pharmacy in the back of the store. Just like everything else, it had been ransacked. You rifled through the remaining bottles, wiping dust off the labels and gently rattling the contents to ensure they were still full.

“Ibuprofen? Tylenol? Anything?” You hissed under your breath and nearly swiped your arm across the shelves in anger before remembering you couldn’t be making tons of noise.

Because that would attract them.

“Scout! I found some!” Came Skipper’s whisper-shout. You turned and saw him holding up a nondescript white bottle triumphantly. He scampered over and shoved the bottle into your hands, pulling another out of his jacket pocket and handing it to you as well. You looked hopefully at the labels.

“Tylenol”

“Ibuprofen”

You grinned and ruffled his beanie, mussing the curls and making him clutch the hat to his head.

“Great job Skip. Let’s see if we can find anything to eat before we leave. We don’t want to leave Ollie alone any longer than we have to.” You said, and he nodded, tightening his grip on his crowbar. You kneel, swing your backpack to the floor, and stuff the bottles deep inside a rolled-up jacket where they can jostle around without too much noise.

There isn’t much left throughout the entire building. The power is out, so the shelves are illuminated by your flashlight. Expired milk sat in their jugs, thick and yellow. Most of the aisles are barren, but you manage to scavenge two small bags of potatoes left in the produce section. Skipper shoves a bag in his backpack, and you shove the other one in yours before the two of you begin to head out.

Only to stop when a hand shoots out and grabs your ankle in an iron grip.

You trip and fall on your face with a yelp, your hands barely saving you from crunching your nose onto the hard linoleum floor. A deep, wheezing groan rumbles out from under the pile of shelves you had been passing by. You look over to the small opening where the hand had come from.

Milky white eyes and a gaping mouth full of crooked yellow teeth and bits of flesh.

A zombie.

You roll onto your back and kick frantically with your other foot, your hiking boot scraping uselessly against the steel grip of the hand. You reach back and try to grab your axe, crowbar, anything to get the thing off.

But everything was strapped to your backpack, which was currently under you, rendering anything you had useless.

However, Skipper came in with a wild swing of his crowbar. He hacked at the limb with all his scrawny thirteen-year-old strength. It did the job well enough. Soon you were free and scrambling to your feet, backpedaling as quickly as you could and grabbing Skipper’s hand. The two of you ran even as the zombie's moan echoed through the grocery store and into the open air.

It would soon bring others. You knew that much. Which meant you had to get out of there and back to Ollie.

The air was thick with the smell of ozone and the coming rain. Glancing up as you slow, you could see the heavy rain clouds in the distance, already letting out their downpour.

The trek back to your hideout took a little over an hour, and by then, it was nighttime. Luckily there weren’t any zombies, but you carried your axe in both hands just in case. Adrenaline was still high, and you were fidgeting with your weapon. Skipper trailed slightly behind you, keeping an eye on the rear while you keep your eyes forward. As you walked through the empty streets of the city, you kept a wide berth of cars broken down on the side of the road.

You never knew if the undead were still inside the cars, buckled in, and unable to escape their prison. But, even if they were still strapped in, they could still reach out and grab something or someone. That someone being you and Skipper.

Your hideout is as decrepit as everything else in the small neighborhood. It was probably a pretty house in its prime with light brown paneling and dark roofing tiles. What was left of rose bushes lined the edges of the house, and the porch was missing a step. All the windows had been boarded up, and the door locked.

Skipper went up the stairs first and knocked twice, then another three times while you kept a lookout for any zombies or worse, other people.

The door opened, and you turned to see Ollie peeking through the crack in the door. She was holding a blanket around her shoulders, her face gaunt and hollow, a thin sheet of sweat covering her pale forehead. However, she brightened when she spotted you two and opened the door further. You smiled softly; she was okay.

“Scout! Did you find anything?” She whispered as you and Skipper entered the house and shut and locked the door behind you. You nodded and ruffled her stringy blonde hair before feeling her forehead. She was burning up and would need medicine and a bath soon. Clean water was scarce, and warm water was practically nonexistent unless you boiled it. But you couldn’t use a campfire, and all you had was a dingy little camping stove left behind by the owners of the house. Your smile widened marginally in hopes it would make her feel at ease.

“I did. Found some Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Well, Skipper found it. But we brought some home.” You said, setting your backpack on the floor and unzipping it before unpacking the food and medicine. Skipper follows suit.

The potatoes were slightly mushed from your attempt to get away from the zombie but would still do well enough if you chopped and cooked them. Ollie lets out a squeal of happiness at the sight of new food and potatoes, no less. Skipper hushed her, and the three of you froze and listened. Unconsciously, you reach for your crowbar.

Nothing. No sign of a zombie’s moan or the scratching at the door from blunt fingertips.

You breathe a sigh of relief, and Skipper takes the bags of potatoes to the kitchen. You pick up the bottles of pills and hand Ollie one tablet of Tylenol and two tablets of ibuprofen. You weren’t sure how much to give her, and time had worn the instructions, so you couldn’t exactly consult the bottle. So you hoped this wouldn’t do too much damage to her body. She gulped down the pills with a couple of swigs of your canteen before wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders. You gently push her toward the bedroom,

“Why don’t you go take a nap? We’ll wake you up when dinner is ready.” You say, and she nods with a yawn, her blanket trailing behind her as she heads toward the mattresses on the floor in the other room.

Skipper was done unloading all the potatoes into the sink and was in the process of scrubbing them with a small glass of water and a scrub brush he likely found under the sink. It probably wasn’t the most sanitary, but you couldn’t afford to be picky. Especially in this situation. Rummaging around in the cupboards and drawers, you find an old cutting board and a single butterknife that would have to do.

“Can we peel the potatoes and make mashed potatoes?” Skipper asks, and you shake your head, starting to saw at the potato with the butter knife.

“The skins are perfectly fine. They’re healthier than the inside of the potato anyway.” You say, and his shoulders sag, and he mutters under his breath but continues to wash potatoes anyway.

Dinner doesn’t take very long to prepare. You have an onion saved from the last time you went out to a different store and mince that, then throw the chopped potatoes and other vegetables into a pan on the camping stove. Soon the house is filled with the smell of cooking food, making your stomach rumble. Soon the three of you are gathered around the table, eating meager portions to make the meal last. Everything else goes into a cooler. Not that that does any good, but it’s the thought that counts.

You don’t have the heart to tell the kids that you’re running out of food and propane for the stove. Your supply is running dangerously low, and you haven’t been able to find much on your little excursions.

You just hope you can find something before you start to starve.

#arcane league of legends #arcane #arcane: league of legends #arcane viktor #viktor arcane #arcane viktor x reader #arcane viktor x you #viktor arcane x you #viktor arcane x reader #viktor x reader #viktor x you #the decay of yesterday #reader insert #fairy writes

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stillfruit · 6 years

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work complaints

#so i do agency work right which means i reserve each individual work shift individually from a number of grocery stores that offer shifts #i could work at a lot of different places but basically i just work at this one place bc i like it and i know who the regulars ar by now etc #so somewhere around this year they put me in this special list that the stores can have where the shifts are offered first #to those on the list and there was one person besides me on that list i think #this made my life a lot easier bc the shifts go v fast as in if you don't reserve it immediately it's gone and you don't have work #which was fine by me really bc i don't need money to live yet i'm just saving up #at first i thought this kind of work would be ok for me since i don't really have to try and be super good employee bc i'm not a regular #i was like i'm totally ok just sitting on the register getting paid doing the minimum #but what do u kno ofc things can't stay like that bc that's not who i am as a person ofc i have to do everything as well as i can #even tho it benefits me monetarily and otherwise fuck all bc as i said i'm not a regular anywhere and i can get work regardless #so now the store has removed me from their special list and even tho that should be fine bc there's no reason for me to be committed #i'm stressed the fuk out bc what did i do!!!!!!! i know for a fact i have done nothing wrong and the regulars always say i do good job #and they say i'm glad i'm there when i got shifts bc i know how things work in the store by now so i can work more independently #but i'm literaally always uncertain abt everything i have no idea if i'm doing ok or not bc i've learnt everything by myself while working #in the milk aisle and stocking shelves etc #no one has ever taught me anything besides the work as a cashier a little so idk if i'm by now someone who can be called 'experienced'#there was another person who did a huge error with her register that affected me too and that might've made the emplyers think it was me #i can think of nothing else but if it's that i'm p pissed bc it was literally not my fault and i did nothing wrong #anyway the easy way to solve this would be to ask but there's no way in hell i'll talk to the boss and idt the regulars know #so i'm left with this uncertainty and i hate it bc i shouldn't be so hung up on this shit happens maybe they deleted the whole list #but honestly i doubt it #anyway i love how my fear of failure and disappointment make my life not worth living bc even simple things become impossibilities!!#i have a shift on thursday i'll try to ask someone but yea #i'm so overdramatic abt this hfdhfhshhf wow i was demoted a little like over a week ago and it still bothers me like this #like i'm genuinely considering applying somewhere else altogether but then again i could never write an application bc i dont know my skills #watch me be suddenly over this on thursday or be too shy to ask #shit talking

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shock · 3 years

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we went to six different stores the other day and were checking out pokemon cards and there's literally nothing on the shelves </3 not a tin, not a single thing, two days after a set released, because of scalpers. i can't even pick up a loose pack these days. completely gone. the guy at gamestop was ranting with us about it, apparently one guy will just come in and buy $600 worth of pokemon cards routinely. people stand outside in lines to get there when the boxes open from shipping so people don't even have a chance. i genuinely think they need to start limiting how many of one thing people can purchase.

all of these are ending up on ebay, etc. because scalpers have destroyed collecting pokemon cards as a hobby/enioyment to make a couple bucks using them as "currency" on ebay to sell to dads and desperate people trying to get something for their fucking kids or for their actual collections they care about... it sucks bro. we saw them the other day hounding the poor lady stocking the shelves and getting their hands on everything, anything that has any value whatsoever doesn't even make it to the shelves

like i just kept imagining every time we went past another depressingly empty aisle being a kid and having to see those empty shelves every single time you get to go to the store because some grown ass men need to milk profit off of KIDS TRADING CARD GAMES...

#i literally wanted to buy a single box of this new set #cant get fucking anything anywhere without paying at least thirty extra ebay tax bucks

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dxmichelle · 4 years

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I am not normally one to throw a whole lot of personal stuff around on my blog, but I feel the need to rant.

Some big-name grocery stores are paying hazard pay to their employees. $2/hr bonus for having to deal with the customers panic-buying all the eggs, meat, toilet paper, and pasta sauce (but not pasta? What’s all the sauce for???), restocking as much as they can, and dealing with the likelihood of catching COVID-19 just because they have to show up for work because it’s an essential business that can’t close.

That’s great! Now that the employees have to be there, of course, because I’m sure they’d all rather be home, but that their companies are acknowledging that they are what’s keeping the store afloat and are compensating them better for it. Even if it is a temporary boost in pay until the pandemic is over, I’m sure it will not go unnoticed by the team members.

Now. Having said that...

I think I’ve mentioned once before that I work at Walgreens. (If not, it’s no big secret *shrug*). Like any other grocery store and pharmacy, we are an essential retailer that can’t just close down in the face of a serious pandemic. We know the store has to stay open. We don’t expect it to close. Ever. I mean, we’re the only store in town open on Christmas all day. The world can end twice over and we’ll still be selling cigarettes and printing photo orders.

Some of what’s happened to other stores (read: grocery) has happened with us. My store in particular is out of toilet paper and paper towels, milk, eggs, sanitizer, etc. All those nice things that the panicking hoarders bought everyone out of within two weeks or so, they’re gone. They’ve been gone. And it’s near impossible to get it back in stock.

We’ve had customers give us shit because we don’t have any paper goods, cleaning supplies, disinfectant, masks, gloves, rubbing alcohol, heck - even the Tylenol is all gone. You know how much OTC pain medicine we keep on the shelves year-round? TONS. And it’s wiped clean. Even the generic Tylenol is out. It’s nuts.

“Why are you still out of everything!? Don’t you guys receive trucks anymore?”

“When are you getting “[name that product]” in?”

“WHY DON’T YOU EVER HAVE TOILET PAPER?”

Okay, truth be told, we have been getting paper goods back in stock. By the third hour it’s been restocked to the floor, it’s gone again, and that’s with setting a harsh limit per customer. We’ll get maybe two bottles of hand sanitizer in a week. Clorox or Lysol wipes and disinfectant spray? Forget it.

The Tylenol is a recent addition to the “whoop, it’s gone!” club. We’ll probably restock just fine on it, but it might take a week or so. ...Or maybe it won’t. Who knows.

I can see exactly what comes in on each truck before it arrives. But I can’t tell the customers that in fear they’ll storm the truck or something before we’ve finished unloading it.

“Our truck comes later this week. We can’t guarantee what’s going to be on it.”

Which is true, because essentially every distribution center is out of all the things people want.

And because we are also a pharmacy, where the sick come to get the medicine to feel better, we are constantly in the line of fire for picking up whatever illness our customers drag through the front door. Doesn’t have to be COVID-19. People don’t know how to stay the fuck home when they’re ill.

You would think that all the Karens and the Susans who bought all the hand soap, sanitizer and face masks would have better sick etiquette, but nooo, they’re the ones not covering their mouth and nose and spreading their germs all over everyone and everything.

And don’t even get me started on how dirty money is.

So, being such a large and well-respected(?) retail pharmacy, what has Walgreens done for our employees in these troubling times of uncertainty and unease for their team members?

1. 2 weeks of paid sick pay but only if you’ve been confirmed to have COVID-19. And since testing is so readily available (HA), if you have flu-symptoms and choose to stay home and self-isolate, you can! But it comes out of either your PTO, or goes unpaid.

And if your child is home because no school and you have no one to watch them? It’s fine to stay home, but you won’t get paid unless you pull PTO. If you have it.

2. Social distancing markers! There are tape lines on the floor for the checkout and pharmacy lines. Except that when you need the pharmacist for a consult and you’re at the window, or standing at the pharmacy/front checkout counter, it is impossible to stand 6ft away. What, am I supposed to let the customer throw the money at me? Am I supposed to ring out their purchases and fling the bag back at them? Let me tell you a secret: it doesn’t work.

3. Discouraged wearing of gloves and masks at the front register. Okay, I see the point behind these. Not that anyone has masks to wear, mind you, but they don’t prevent the catching of COVID-19. And wearing gloves just keeps the dirt and germs on the gloves, and keeps you from frequently washing your hands, which is what everyone recommends you doing anyhow. But...realistically. The checkout cashier doesn’t have the ability after every 2 transactions to go wash their hands. And sanitizer is really only so effective. Either way, it’s not stopping whoever wants to wear gloves from wearing them, so we have gloves up front to use.

4. Sent care packages to help us clean, and reduced store hours. My store was open 8am-10pm. Now it’s 9am-9pm. That hour in each direction really doesn’t do a whole lot of difference. The idea is to clean, disinfect everything, and restock in the new time window that the store is now closed. Which is fine. But we don’t have anything to restock, our stockroom is BARE. And those care packages for the store to use? A case of toilet paper that I could have ordered myself when ordering supplies, a 6-pack of paper towels, two tubs of Clorox wipes, a box of 30 gloves. Oh yes, this will last a long time... We’ve also been given the go-ahead to expense any product off the shelf that we need to keep the store disinfected.

...Expense what!? THE SHELVES ARE EMPTY.

---

To give my company some credit, they are very good at keeping us updated with what’s going on. There are usually message posts every/every other day, and I honestly do feel like they are trying to do well in a situation that is trying for just about everyone.

Many team members have spoken up in comment forums with concerns, and they are doing what they can to address them.

Now, having said that....

(Remember that first paragraph about hazard pay? I know it was like a year ago up there at the top of the post)

Today, 3/22/20, Walgreens announced that they are giving their store and distribution team members a one-time bonus to show their appreciation for us.

We, the team members ringing out all of our customers purchases while they cough and sneeze uncovered in our general direction, the pharmacy technicians and pharmacists dealing with angry and impatient patients because the lines are long and everyone’s trying to get early refills on their medications, on top of the usual crowd in for their regular pickup or just trying to drop off a new script. We the team members having to placate the customers by walking into an empty stockroom, look at the empty shelving for 10 seconds so we can then walk back out and assure them that “no, we really are out of face masks and rubbing alcohol”.

We hourly team members fighting the fight on the front lines and praying to whoever we believe in that we don’t contract COVID-19 from anyone and everyone, will get a one-time bonus of $300 for full-timers, and $150 for part-time, at the end of APRIL.

Are. You. Serious?

I realize that it is better than them shrugging their shoulders and doing absolutely nothing. For many people, I’m sure it’ll be welcome. I can definitely use the $300, considering I lost all my hours at my second job and am going to probably be short in the upcoming months.

But, as this is a bonus, it’ll probably be taxed to hell. I’ll probably really see only half of it. And when you break it down, it’s like a $.53 raise, for four weeks. But you have to wait four weeks to get it.

We are just as vital as the grocery store down the street. The fact that Walgreens think that this will placate its worried employee-base is completely out of touch. But then again, the people making these decisions are probably doing so from the comfort of home and not in the stores super busy with customers standing on top of each other, and us while they grab the last can of soup and box of vinyl gloves available.

For us fighting to keep everyone else happy and healthy, this is a slap in the face and a punch to the gut.

If I am going to work every day, risking my health and the health of my family just so everyone else can pick up their essentials...and non-essentials, I should be compensated for it. Without us in the stores, no one is getting their good sad stare at the toilet paper aisle, ranting over the lack of Tylenol, or waiting in line for that flu shot they should have gotten at least 5-6 months ago.

Not to mention...you know...getting their medication. That’s important too.

It’s time Walgreens gave us the hazard pay we deserve. And conveniently enough, several days ago, someone started a petition in hopes that might happen.

So if you’ve made it to the end of my rant, and want to try and help out a frustrated shift manager, or any of the other thousands of store and DC employees who must feel extremely slighted right now, feel free to click and sign. There are already 45,000+ signatures. Every bit helps.

And if not? Maybe signal boost this post. It might wander onto the blog of another Walgreens employee just as frustrated as I am. Who knows.

Thanks for reading, Michelle the disgruntled employee

#michelle's ramblings #if you made it to the end congratulations #I'm going back to regularly scheduled fic-writing now.

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its-chotime · 4 years

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Paris Grocery Store Report (Week of March 18)

I just asked my followers on Instagram to report back on their grocery shopping experience. It’s research for an assignment but I’m also curious. I don’t plan to go any time soon but because I’m asthmatic, I’m worried to be near humans! I’ll be updating daily and starting a new thread every Wednesday. Knowledge and insights are so much greater when shared. If you would like to contribute, please DM on Instagram or email me ([email protected]). Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences! *the date at end of description is when the comments were submitted to me

Franprix in 3ème (on Boulevard Beaumarchais): “...had a black clad security guard at the door but the store wasn't crowded at 17H00.” 3/18

Bio C Bon in 7ème (St Dominique): “Honestly, there were very few people. All but Bio C Bon restocked almost everything except the pasta and the rice. Bio C Bon was missing a lot of stuff of all types (milk, cleaning supplies, pasta, etc.) All people working were wearing gloves, and some masks too. There was no barrier besides the register. Everyone made sure to keep a safe distance though.” 3/18

Carrefour in 7ème (Rue du Bac): “It was empty except for us. There were a few things out of stock but not much. One person was working, and she was lovely. We checked out at the self-checkout, we told her no offense, just don't want to spread. We sanitized everything as soon as we got home. Pretty uneventful!” 3/18

Carrefour in 9ème (Place Pigalle): “Short wait outside in an orderly line. Hand sanitizer, sanitary wipes, and gloves provided just inside front door.Well stocked in most areas. Shortage of facial tissue, hand soap, hand sanitizer, cereal, and sliced bread for sale. Appeared to be plenty of toilet paper, so Parisians are not copying the USA fad of hoarding toilet paper.Most store employees were wearing masks. All had gloves on. The cashiers have a glass shield in front of them so customers cannot breathe on them. Security was vigilant to keep distancing of shoppers. Everyone was calm and polite.” 3/18

Intermarché EXPRESS in 10ème (Republique/Bonsergent) “We didn’t have to queue. It seemed like the employer did not provide any masks: some employees were covered in scarves / masks, without masks. Shelves were mostly full except for dairy products, fresh fish/meat...beer was back too 😂” 3/18

Picard in 11ème (Filles du Calvaire): “...freezers were as empty as the streets outside.” 3/19

Bio C Bon in 11ème (Filles du Calvaire): “The bio had some crowd control, allowing 10 in the store at a time. People were not standing close to each other, shelves were somewhat empty(depending on section), I bought everything I needed which were just the essentials.” 3/18

Carrefour in 11ème (Filles du Calvaire): “...there was no crowd control, some people were standing far from each other while many didn’t. It was pretty well stocked and I got everything I needed. Plenty of TP!” 3/18

Naturalia in 11ème (Charonne): “Naturalia has plexiglass up for the cashiers but is the same end of the world vibe in the pasta aisle, no regard for distancing though.” 3/18

Monoprix in 11ème (Voltaire): “...shelves are almost full and there were still some eggs. And there is no anxiety cause they even put some kind of plastic window between you and the cashier. People avoid each other in the street so it is good.” 3/18 Bio Coop in 11ème (République): “Hey just got back from grocery shopping at bio coop avenue de la république. Not busy but not at all empty, no one had their faces covered. Taped at the entrance it says « wait until someone leaves the store before entering » I was waiting for someone to exit and 2 people went in without reading any of their signs. They also had written a bunch of rules such as CB only, 1 metre between clients etc. It was very very well stocked- all vegetables and fruit baskets were full, toilet paper, conserves decently stocked. The cashier did not have a mask but had gloves that he sanitized regularity. No barrier” 3/18

Carrefour, the large one in the 13ème, (Rue Tolbiac): “...went to get some vegetables and drinks. It was quite busy, but not enough to need crowd control. Something that had changed since the last time we were there, is that there are now glass dividers between the cashier and the customers at all checkouts. There are also now tape marks on the floor to indicate where customers should stand while waiting, to keep everyone 1 meter apart (plus signs reminding people to stay apart). There were very few employees working and lines extended into the aisles. Still no toilet paper or paper towels available, no non-refrigerated milk, very little pasta or sauce, but the store wasn't totally emptied!” 3/18 Carrefour Market in 14ème (near metro Alésia): “They were limiting the number of people going into the store (10 at once, but there were probably 50-60 people in the store when I was inside). They were low on milk, eggs, rice, and pasta. They finally restocked their meat section, veggies and fruits were restocked well, AND they had toilet paper! I went through self-checkout, but there was an agent there (no mask, no gloves) that was helping people. I didn't see if there was a barrier for cashiers at the normal registers.” 3/18

Monoprix in 15ème (Rue Lecourbe): “...fully stocked, tons of stuff, good amount of people, zero restrictions but people kept respect of the 1 meter tape at cashier, cashiers no gloves no masks, and no control of how many people in the store. Lots of people out near us walking, running, playing ball and they are planning outdoor market here in 7th tomorrow as well! 😰” 3/18

Monoprix, large one in the 15ème (near Beaugrenelle): “No lines, no crowds, easy in easy out. They seem to have most of the stuff. The fridges with frozen goods are kind of empty, but still not crucially. They only closed most of the self checkouts for some reason, only left a couple (guess to make sure you deal with as much bacteria per square inch as you can), I don't think the "live" checkout works, maybe only one cash desk at the most.” 3/18

Carrefour City in 16ème (Rue Malakoff): “[Went at] 17:30 pm. 5 people queuing with safe distance outside. Entrance controlled. We were let in little by little. Few people in the shop. Generally very well stocked except meat, cheese and cold cuts. Some left but very little. And no eggs whatsoever. Also no toilet paper or paper products (napkins or tissues). No barrier with the cashier. Did self check out.” 3/18

Biocoop ADN in 20ème (Nation): “...was perfectly civil. Orderly line outside, only a few in the store. Hand sanitizer upon entry, and someone who worked at the store was touching the products and putting them in a basket for you rather than everyone from the outside touching everything. Is not as busy as I thought it would be, they are not really prepared for this (not well stocked), I felt discriminated for going out, I couldn’t buy pasta (completely empty yesterday, today I could), there’s no barrier and in some places people respect the distance but in other places they don’t. I went to bio c bon, Naturalia and Super U. The Naturalia (18e) I went there was no barrier, the only place I went that had one was Picard (18e)” 3/18

“Produce Market” in 20ème: “It was so crowed, full of people. In 20eme no control of crowd, not a single police. I went again during the rush I think around 11AM, and of course I wore my mask and gloves.” 3/18

#grocery report

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ftd-19 · 4 years

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Your Quarantine Guide: How to Hit the Supermarket Responsibly

As supermarkets and pharmacies are being cleared out of paper goods, cleaners, bread and non-perishables while we’re holed up reception due to the novel virus, you’re likely wondering what you ought to be buying for your family.

Is hoarding necessary? What exactly do you have to be stocking up on? What’re the safest thanks to patronizing the supermarket? and the way can we help those that need it most right now? Here’s a guide to answering all those questions. Stay safe and sane, everyone!

What to shop for at the Supermarket

Large-scale school and business closures might keep you inside with the youngsters for the higher a part of a couple of weeks. Americans are advised to self-quarantine the maximum amount as possible to limit exposure to others, so it’s best to be prepared. Here are some supermarket musts to possess available, plus some pharmacy essentials that you simply may have down the road:

Canned goods: Keep these at room temp and that they can last for years. Fruits (try those with no added sugar) and vegetables are a no brainer since fresh ones can go bad during a few days. Beans, tuna, and soup also can go an extended way—just keep an eye fixed on the sodium.

Long-lasting pantry staples: Rice, pasta and quinoa make an ideal dinner. edible fruit will give the youngsters a jolt of nutrients, while spread provides protein at snack or lunchtime. Consider getting shelf-stable milk to save lots of you from having to require a second supermarket trip after the expiration day. Granola bars and protein bars are a requirement, as are oatmeal, cereal and popcorn.

Frozen foods: These are a complete lifesaver because you don’t need to worry about them going bad. Frozen fruits and veggies are perfect for smoothies and stir-frys, while pizza may be a kid-friendly staple they won’t get disgusted. Snag a couple of extra packs of your fave protein (chicken, beef, etc.) to defrost at a later date. It won’t hurt to possess some frozen dessert in there to appease the strain of performing from home with the youngsters, either.

Basics: Eggs, cheese and butter are all perishable, but should last weeks if they’re properly refrigerated. Garlic, onions and potatoes take an extended time to travel bad, and your bagels and sliced bread get an extended period if you pop them within the freezer.

Cleaning supplies: As you likely already know, it’ll be tough to seek out sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizer. If you see these on the shelves, scoop some up, but get only what you would like so there’s enough for others. Dish soap, hand soap, cleaning sprays and bleach also are must-buys if you’re lucky enough to ascertain them available. Paper towels also are ideal to possess for wiping down surfaces around the house (while you’re there in the aisle, don’t ditch toilet tissue and tissues).

Medicine: Ibuprofen and Tylenol are always good to possess on deck. If you or the youngsters have allergies, make certain to snag your Claritin and saline spray. For boo-boos, confirm you've got Band-Aids within the house. just in case someone does find yourself showing symptoms of a chilly, flu or coronavirus, have fever-reducing and cough/cold/flu medicines available. Have enough water reception to stay the youngsters extra hydrated if they are doing get sick.

Pet food: Have enough for your furry friends available to last so that you won’t get to return to the shop for a few weeks.

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consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis · 6 years

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A Celiac’s Guide to Shopping Gluten Free, Healthy and Cheap at Aldi

New blog post! When you’re trying to eat healthy and cheap, follow a gluten free diet without going broke or save money on groceries, finding a grocery store that’s affordable and high quality is a must. Recently, I've discovered that Aldi seems to check both boxes - especially if you have celiac disease and need to eat gluten free.

I’d never even seen an Aldi before I moved to Mankato, Minnesota for grad school. With no Sprouts Farmers Markets (my previous grocery store soul mate) nearby, I was eager to see if Aldi was as awesome and affordable as I kept hearing. Well, over eight months have passed, and I’ve shopped at Aldi nearly every week. So, I thought I’d share all the tips and tricks I’ve learned about shopping at Aldi thus far.

Ready to get the most out of your local Aldi - especially if you need to eat gluten free? Keep reading to find out how!

(And as an FYI, this post isn’t sponsored. I’m just really enjoying shopping at Aldi and hope to help other college students, celiacs or anyone else who lives near an Aldi learn how to eat healthy on a budget!).

1. Know your store, and bring the proper shopping secret weapons.

Like any other store or restaurant chain, the quality and variety of products found at Aldi will vary by location. I am extremely lucky that my local Aldi was renovated shortly after I moved to Mankato, increasing its size and the number of different products it can stock. If you’re lucky enough to live near multiple Aldi locations, you might want to scope out each of them and see which best fits your needs.

Before you go shopping at Aldi for the first time, you should also know a few quick facts. First of all, don't expect any fancy display designs or carefully styled shelves. Most of the products are displayed in the cardboard containers they were shipped in...but since I'm buying what's in the shelves and not the shelves themselves (though some people do just buy the whole container of a product!), this decorating quirk doesn't bother me.

You should also be sure to bring a quarter with you since Aldi customers need to insert a quarter to unlock a shopping cart. (And don’t worry - you do get your quarter back when the cart is properly returned!). Along with a quarter, bring your own shopping bags and prepare to do your own bagging. For the sake of efficiency, Aldi's cashiers just place items back in an empty cart for you to bag later. (I don’t think I’ve ever waited longer than 5 minutes in line...but shopping in the morning helps me avoid the rush too).

2. Shop seasonally, and take advantage of sales.

I’ve shared some tricks and tips for eating healthy on a budget before, but Aldi makes it even easier for me to spend $35 or less a week on all my food for the week. I am definitely guilty of shelling out two dollars a pop for avocados during the off-season (the addiction is real), but I do try to shop seasonally, which helps my grocery bills be even lower.

For instance, this last fall, I switched from eating a lot of summer squashes and zucchini to enjoying spaghetti squash and acorn squash. A few weeks, Aldi was selling whole spaghetti squashes for 99 cents each (not per pound!), which slashed my usual grocery costs even lower. Like other grocery stores, Aldi releases a new online and printed flyer with deals each week (usually on Tuesday), and I try to load up on items when they’re on sale. (Let’s not even talk about how many avocados I bought when they were 44 cents each).

Like this post? Tweet me some love by clicking here: "Trying to eat #glutenfree and/or #healthy on a budget? This #college #celiac is sharing her top tips for saving money at @AldiUSA! #Healthyeating has never been easier - or more #allergyfriendly. Read all my tips here --> http://bit.ly/2Fz4aIC"

3. If you need to eat gluten free, check out Aldi’s LiveGFree line...and look forward to May.

Besides the price, my favorite part about Aldi is definitely their gluten free line. All of the LiveGFree products are certified gluten free (although many do contain eggs and milk, as an FYI for people also avoiding those allergens). So far, I’ve tried their cinnamon raisin bagels (thick, chewy and sweet without tasting sugary), pretzels (crunchy and salty goodness) and various granola bars (the Very Berry is my favorite flavor so far).

Other LiveGFree items include sandwich bread, tortillas, cookies, baking mixes, bread crumbs, and frozen items like pizza, chicken nuggets and sandwiches. Aldi also offers seasonal gluten free products for a limited time (like gluten free stuffing and fried onions during Thanksgiving). If you have celiac disease and live near an Aldi, keep your eyes peeled for even more special gluten free products in May (in honor of Celiac Awareness Month). I’ve yet to try any myself, but I’ve heard good things about the gluten free General Tso’s Chicken and the cheesecake sampler available in some Aldi stores during May.

4. Stock up on cheaper versions of pantry and fridge staples.

Want to eat healthy without going broke? Then pay attention to how Aldi's cooking staples compare in price to those of other brands or other stores, and stock up on cheaper foods. For instance, coconut milk, white rice (for grinding into flour), canned beans and pumpkin, cereal and frozen fruit and vegetables are some of the items I can consistently buy for less at Aldi than Hy-vee, Cubs Foods or Walmart (the main other grocery stores in my town).

If you are eating a gluten free diet for celiac disease like me, I do recommend looking for a “Gluten Free” label on some pantry and fridge staples (like condiments or grains, which may have a higher chance of containing wheat). As I’ve written before, some celiacs are comfortable eating foods that aren’t labeled gluten free but don’t appear to have any wheat-containing ingredients, and I respect that decision. For my own piece of mind, though, I do prefer seeing “gluten free” on the products I buy, and most of the products at Aldi are clearly labeled when they are naturally gluten free, contain or may contain wheat, etc.

5. Don’t forget to check the specialty item aisle!

Once you’ve loaded up your cart with everything you need, you might want to spend a couple minutes perusing Aldi’s specialty item aisle (depending on how strictly you want to stick to your list and budget). This aisle contains items that Aldi is only selling for a limited time (such as seasonal items like Valentine’s Day chocolate) and/or selling for a reduced price.

While most of these items contain gluten and are anything but healthy, I’ve discovered some real gems. A couple months ago, Aldi was selling limited edition flavors of the Live GFree granola bars for only $1.99 a four-bar box. (The pineapple and mango flavor, and the cinnamon raisin flavors were both winners). I’ve also found boxes of gluten free bean-based pasta from Explore Cuisine on sale, plus plenty of other items I considered buying but eventually turned down (like sweet potato chips and pre-cooked quinoa and sauce meals).

It can be challenging to eat healthy on a budget. Add in dietary restrictions like being gluten free for celiac disease, and grocery shopping without going broke can feel even more challenging. However, as I shared in my previous post about how to eat cheap and healthy, taking advantage of sales, seasonal produce and affordable grocery stores like Aldi can make a big difference in your bottom line.

And if your allergy friendly and affordable meals are also vibrant and delicious (like I hope the meals I share on my Instagram always are)? Well, that’s just a bonus!

Have you ever shopped at Aldi? What’s your favorite tip for saving money on groceries? Tell me in the comments!

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