Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Not so interesting stuff

I went to a Pampered Chef party tonight. I've never been to one of those before, it was pretty fun. I've been to Stampin' Up parties and a Pure Romance party, so I had an idea of what to expect, but I think I enjoyed this one the best. What's not to enjoy when there's food involved?
I knew two people other than the hostess. I wasn't planning to buy anything, but I'm still trying to get myself to do more cooking/baking, and I found something in their catalog I've been wanting for awhile.
Basically, we watched and learned about the products while the made some frozen dinners for the hostess. It was interesting, but I knew I wouldn't use a lot of the products. I already have similar ones at home, or I wouldn't actually use them. And just having them is not going to make me use them, just ask the ice cream maker I got for my birthday that's still sitting in it's box over six months later. She even made one of the meals the whole way through and we got to eat the finished product, plus a dessert. That was good, that sold me on a product.
I also liked that I was spending time with people my age. The people I work out with and hang out with from the library are in their 20's. We get along great, but I don't understand why we always have to have alcohol. That seems to be a central theme with some of them. It was nice to do something different for a change. I wish I had more friends my age. I have a few that work in another department at the library, but we don't really hang out. Like I said, the people I work with in my department are mostly in their twenties. The person I consider my best friend is in her 40's. I think I get along better with people that are in their 30's or 40's.

I've seen people picking words for 2014. That's not something I do. But, the other day, the word patience jumped out at me. So, I figured I'd work on that. I'm not really a patient person. I get rather annoyed with waiting. I don't like it when technology takes longer to do something than it should, or doesn't do something it should.
I'm also trying to downsize, of course that kind of goes with the fact that I'll have to move soon. I keep telling myself, don't buy things you don't need, but then I always fail on that. I tell myself to just use the craft supplies I have (and I have a ton), and then I see something at Hobby Lobby that I want, and I buy it. I will be going to garage sales this summer, but I will try really hard to not buy as much. Part of the reason I'm making myself go, is to get out of the house and get some more exercise. I really need to start walking more.

I have two swaps I need to mail out on Friday. The mail date is actually Saturday, but I have a double header I have to work, so that's not going to happen. One swap, I have to make a tag and a card and send some red destash. I've finished the making part, I just need to get a few things put together and that one's done. The other I have to put together a package, make a valentine and mail. All I have left is to finish the card and mail it out.

I was thinking tonight I should make valentines again this year and give them to people. Mostly my co-workers, but maybe a few friends and family too. Do people really like receiving valentines? Or is it kinda lame?

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Wednesday Hodgepodge.

It's time for Hodgepodge again, head over to Joyce's blog to see what other people have said.
1. It's been said that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. Do you think that's true? Do you find that an easy exercise most mornings? What's something positive you told yourself today? If you missed that boat, what's something positive you could tell yourself tomorrow?
That sounds good. I've taken to having a piece of dark chocolate every morning, it makes my day so much niceer. Otherwise, I really don't think about it that much.
2. There will be karaoke at the next party you attend...are you in? Or will you be faking a sore throat?
I don't do karaoke. It's fun to watch other people though.
3. January 29th is National Puzzle Day...what's something you've found puzzling recently?
That sounds like a great day, I should clean off my kitchen table and pull out a puzzle. There are a few things, but I'm not going to talk about them on here. There's also this thing with the laptop I got for Christmas, sometimes it has a tendency to shut off the monitor, I can hear that it's still on, but it's like it doesn't think I'm using it, and nothing I do wakes it up. The only thing I can do, is shut it off and turn it back on, it's weird.
4. Jigsaw, crossword, acrostic, logic, sudoku, word search...what's your favorite kind of puzzle, and when did you last work one?
Totally jigsaw, unfortunately they take up a lot of space, so I generally just do word searches. I have so many word search books laying around my apartment.
5. Recently a writer by the name of Amy Glass ruffled feathers with a post she wrote saying she looks down on young women with husbands and kids and she's not sorry. Among other things, she says women will be equal with men when we stop saying house work and real work are equally important. You can read the whole piece by clicking here.
What say you? Do you think men and women are equal in the 21st century? Why or why not?
I don't think they will ever be until we get the same job opportunities and pay as men. I've always though it would be cool to be a construction worker, but that's just not something women do. I hate it when I get judged when doing things that seem masculine. I also hate the fact that it's ok for a man not to want children, but when I say that, people always try to convince me some day I will. But that's a whole new post, I could put so much in here about that, but that's not going to happen.
6. What's a product you've noticed in the grocery store that you'd like to try, but haven't yet?
There is this mix that HyVee has in their bakery section, it looks good, kinda like chex mix, but the ingredients say there is cayenne pepper in it, I don't like spicy foods, but every time I walk by, I always get curious, I'll probably buy it next time I'm there.
7. The author, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) was born this week in 1832 (January 27th). Which character from his celebrated novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, would you most like to meet, and why? Here's a link to a character list if you need help on this one.
That just isn't something I think about.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I hate the cold. I feel like I'm complaining about this a lot lately, but it has been cold. Every time it gets warm enough to melt anything, it melts a little and then freezes back up. Saturday, it was 16, but with a negative wind chill. Yesterday, the high was 0, with a -31 windchill. Today's high is 10. I am so sick of it, and the ice. I've taken to walking in the grass to avoid it, unfortunately, there's ice there too. We're supposed to get snow Wed through Fri, so it will warm up, but I forsee it freezing again. I am so ready for spring.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When was the last time you bowled?  Do you like to bowl? Are you any good?
It has been an extremely long time since I bowled. We used to have two bowling allies in town, one of them finally got flooded in our last flood and had to be taken down. The other one is on campus and I rarely get over to it. I like to bowl, but I suck at it.
2.   Should sports stars be role models?
I don't think so, you keep hearing about the bad things they do and they still get to keep playing their sports, plus they get tons of money for it. I think it's wrong. You'd think that money could be spent on other things that need it.
3. January is National Oatmeal month...are you a fan? How do you like your oats?
Totally in cookies, I had a peanut butter cookie the other day, that had oats and Reece's pieces in it, yummy.
4. What is one book on your reading list for 2014?
 Hollow City, it's the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I read about it on another blog and I loved Miss Peregrine's, so I bet this one will be great as well.
5. What would you like your future self to say to your present self?
It's a good thing you kept doing art, you're great at it and people pay lots of money for it.
 6. When scrolling through the TV guide, what is one movie title that makes you want to stop, grab the popcorn, and watch for a while?
Honestly, I have lots of movies I will do that for. I can't pick a favorite. I only have rabbit ears, but I've gotten spoiled by TV on DVD and hate waiting for the commercials to end, so I haven't even set up my rabbit ears. I just check out movies from the library.
7. What are two style trends you hope never come back into fashion?
I really wish the low rise jeans would go away, I really don't need to see all that skin. It'd also be great if most guys would just learn to pull up their pants.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I signed up for a Valentine's Day swap where I had to make ATC's. Here's what I made:
The background is dictionary paper, the hearts are very thin paper, the buttons are vintage, the LOVE is a brad. I had 3 leftover, so I listed them on Etsy, hopefully they'll sell.
I'm trying to figure out what to do with my life with an upcoming reorganization at my job and my have to move. My cousin told me, art was my thing, and I just needed a day job to pay the bills. I always thought that too.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Hodgepodge

So, it's Tuesday, doesn't feel like it, feels like Thursday or Friday. I'm back at my temporary full-time job, I was there last week, but it was pretty slow. Yesterday when I walked in, there were about 30+ people in line, and the line stayed like that until probably about 5pm. It was a little weird, every time I looked up, I couldn't see the end of the line. By the end of the day, I had to slow down and make sure I did everything I had too, I was also having a hard time saying all I had to. It felt like my tongue had swelled from too much talking, is that possible? And of course, when I got home, my feet just hurt.
I was making my sandwich this morning, and I realized I run out of all my fixings when I make Thursday's sandwich. Obviously I'm supposed to buy something from the food court on Friday. Oh, well a little splurge at the end of a busy, tiring week will be a nice bonus.

OK, on to what you came here for:

1.  Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way? It depends on what we're talking about. If it's something I believe in, sure. But I try not to get worked up over things, I'm trying to lower my stress level.
2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter? I love seeing the trees when they look like they were just dipped in the snow. Unfortunately, that comes with not so nice weather sometimes. Like last week, we got a little ice, the trees were beautiful, but it took me so much longer to get where I was going.
Two things may be a stretch, I'll add another if I think of it.
 3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried? Considering, I've only heard of pomegranate and kiwi, and I've only tasted kiwi, no I don't eat those. I'm not a huge fruit person, if I don't eat them soon enough, or I forget they're there, they go bad.
4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts? Shouldn't you have done the right thing, first?
5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland.  Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer. Not so much. We had a ski trip back in high school and I vaguely remember sliding down the bunny hill on my butt, so I spent the rest of the day in the lodge.
6.  What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!) Godiva chocolate, my brother gave us all these truffle flights for Christmas, and I had finished mine, I was looking to see how much another one cost. Unfortunately, I decided $16 is too much to spend on a box of five chocolates, plus I'd have to pay shipping.
I was also on Etsy, looking at buttons, I'm still looking for something cool.
 7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year? I haven't really thought about it. But, I keep seeing people picking words for the new year. I was reading someone's blog the other day she had a list of words and, patient jumped out at me. I'm really not a patient person, granted I'm very good at keeping myself composed if I'm out and about, but I'm not patient. I thought I'd work on that this year.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I'm a little worried. During the month of November, Target had it's credit/debit card numbers compromised. Basically everyone who used a card between I believe the end of the month and early December, they're numbers were taken by someone. So, my bank is reissuing debit cards and deactivating old ones. The old cards are supposed to be deactivated tomorrow, and I haven't received my new one yet, so yes I'm a little worried. I've decided I should just get some cash, it's coming from the same account anyway, it should tide me over until the new card comes. I'm trying not to use my credit card and pay it off/down, so I won't be using that.
It's funny a few years ago, I didn't have a debit card, and now I'm extra worried about not having one again.

I've also been on a spending spree lately. I don't mean to be, but I think it's from Christmas, after spending all the money on other people, I want to spend some money on myself. After Christmas, I went to a local flower shop and bought some stuff I didn't get for Christmas:
an owl, a cute little tree, a multi-colored ornament and a glass heart box ornament. And then I went to another store downtown and bought some of their stuff: an angel candleholder, a stocking, a snowman wallhanging, a winter scrapbook, a Coca Cola bottle opener, and some salt and pepper shakers. And then I had to buy myself some chocolate and a cute little angel ornament.
Last week at the bookstore, I bought some shirts, a calendar and a cute owl gift bag. I'm doing poorly on saving money.
I just want to buy things. I'm not sure why, because I don't need more things.

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Wednesday Hodpodge

It's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Go over to Joyce's blog to see other answers.

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English.  Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen).  Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2014-selfie, twerk/twerking, hashtag, Twittersphere, Mr. Mom, T-bone, ____on steroids, the suffixes-ageddon, and -pocalypse added to anything and everything, from the world of politics the words-intellectually/morally bankrupt and Obamacare, and from the world of sports the words-adversity and fan base Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add? How about twerk, it sounds like a strange word. I'll admit I don't really think of words to get rid of, that just sounds wrong. It reminds me of 1984 by George Orwell, where they're creating a new language, Newspeak, and they are getting rid of words:
"It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well. It isn't only the synonyms; there are also the antonyms. After all, what justification is there for a word which is simply the opposite of some other word? A word contains its opposite in itself. Take 'good', for instance, If you have a word like 'good', what need is there for a word like 'bad'? 'Ungood' will do just as well--better, because it's an exact opposite, which the other is not. Or again, if you want a stronger version of 'good', what sense is there in having a whole string of vague useless words like 'excellent' and 'splendid' and all the rest of them? 'Plusgood' covers the meaning, or 'doublegood' if you want something stronger still. Of course we use those forms already, but in the final version of Newspeak there'll be nothing else. In the end the whole notion of goodness and badness will be covered by only six words -- in reality, only one word. Don't you see the beauty of that, Winston?"
Wow, that was kinda out there, sorry that's just what popped in my head when I read the question.
 2. What one unfinished project nags at you begging to be completed in this new year? Cleaning out/downsizing my apartment/getting another job/new apartment. I'm going to have to move this year. I'm trying to get my head around it. Unfortunately, to afford an apartment, I will need to find another job. I hope to get one that works around my library schedule, but I don't think that's feasible. I'm trying to sort through my stuff and get closer to getting rid of things. I'd really like to bury my head in the sand and ignore it, but that won't make anything better.
That was way more than one, but that's what's sitting on my mind right now.
3. When did you last have a bowl of soup? What kind? Homemade or from a can? What's your favorite soup? My brother made soup for Christmas dinner. It was something I wouldn't have tried in a restaurant. There were leeks, artichoke hearts, and potatoes. After it cooked for awhile, he got out a stick blender and mixed it up. It was very good. I like chowders, I like the thickness of them, I feel I'm getting more out of them because of the thickness.
4. Snowed in, snowed under, snow job...which one most applies to your life in recent days, figuratively speaking. None of the above. How about something along the lines of being blown away? Monday the high was -11 with a wind chill of -40. Normally, I'd take the cold over snow, but the wind chill lately has been well into the negatives with temperatures barely above zero and I'm getting quite sick of it. My forecast says we'll be into the 30's by the end of the week, but I'm not sure I believe it.
5. What's the funniest movie you've ever seen, or at least one of the funniest? Movies seem to be so funny the first time I watch them, but every subsequent viewing is not as good, but I love Planes, Trains and Automobiles, that one never gets old. We watch it every Thanksgiving, and it never fails to entertain. Come to think of it, any movie with John Candy always hits the spot.
6.  In general, would you say you're clumsy? Not in general, I'm really good at misjudging spaces. If there's a small space between something, I seem to run into things, but otherwise, not so much. Of course, I bruised my finger yesterday, opening a roll of quarters, so maybe I am.
7. Elvis Presley was born on Hodgepodge Day (January 8th) back in 1935.  Are you an Elvis fan?  What's your favorite Elvis tune? If that's too hard, which Elvis tune do you dislike the least?  Click here for a list of his songs. No
8. Insert your own random thought here. My mom and I were supposed to go to an antique store on Sunday, but because it was very cold, we didn't go. I know I'm supposed to be downsizing/not buying new things, but I really want some vintage buttons. I also want to just get away to an antique store and get lost in it. But, I'm going to be working every day until the 18th, so that's not going to happen.

Sunday, January 05, 2014

Holiday Swap

I signed up for a Holiday Swap through Good Vibrations. Here's what I sent to my partner:
 
a couple word searches, some lip gloss, a bath set, and some chocolate. There was also a scarf I stuffed in the top for some extra padding.
 
I received my package today, here's what I got:
A scarf, hat, some French vanilla hot chocolate, a bag of chocolate coins, a bunch of Jolly Rancher candies, a plastic dinosaur and some perfume.


Saturday, January 04, 2014

It's cold

Bother. I'm not liking Iowa right now. It seems every day when I open my curtains, there's frost on my windows, some days it doesn't even melt, just sits there all day. I love not being able to see out my windows. And it's windy, lately the highs have been in the teens or below with very cold wind chills. Today, it was in the 20's, but the wind chill was -2 degrees F. Tomorrow, the high is 3 with wind chills in the -30's. Monday will be wicked cold. The high is -11 with wind chills in the -40's. My boss said if you are outside for 10 minutes, you'll have hypothermia. She was waiting to see if we could be closed.

Tomorrow, my mom and I were supposed to go to a couple antique stores in nearby towns, but she said tonight, that it will be too cold to drive outside of town. Is that a thing, or is she just giving me an excuse?

This is what the national weather service says: There is a wind chill warning January 5th through January 7th. Extreme life threatening cold expected late tonight through Tuesday morning...an extremely cold arctic airmass will arrive overnight and persist through Tuesday. Combined with strong northwest winds through much of the period...life threatening cold and wind chills will occur...especially Sunday night and Monday. These wind chill values will be the coldest values in nearly 20 years over much of the area.

I'm so excited.