Wednesday, May 27, 2015

It's Hodgepodging Time

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for the Hodgepodge, head on over to Joyce's blog to see how other people answered.


1.  Did you do anything 'memorable' this past weekend?
I did not, I actually did less than I usually do during the weekend. I'm blaming it on the rain, it has been rainy lately, today looks like the only rainy day in my week.
2. Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying-
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."  
 Your thoughts? Do you somehow acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms you enjoy? Did your upbringing contribute to that sense of appreciation? If you're a parent, are there specific things you do to pass on this sense of responsibility and appreciation to your own children in regard to the freedoms they enjoy?
I agree, people never think about what it took to get us free. Thankfully, we're not surrounded by other countries that might invade us and take away our freedom.
My parents never really did anything to make us appreciate it. We went to most of the memorials in DC and I totally took time at the memorials, but on Monday I met my parents at the memorial service, my mom seemed a little upset that I didn't go, but I do think about the soldiers everyday, I don't think a memorial service once a year is something I need to do. From her, it seemed like that's all she does.
I think you can show support in how you do things, have the flag in your yard, hang posters in your windows, talk to soldiers, police officers, etc., when you see them.

 3. Loudest noise you've ever heard?
I'd say gunshots. My ex and I would go shooting, those are plenty loud.

 4. What was the last thing you ate that might be considered 'junk food'? Did you enjoy it?
Funny you ask, we went to Target on Monday, and all I bought was junk food. Yesterday, I had chocolate covered fruit, a Reese' peanut butter cup, and some Edy's Drumstick ice cream. I always enjoy my junk food. One of the reasons I can never diet is I will never give up my junk food. I am *trying* (again) to give up pop. I've haven't one in 4 days and I'm pretty happy with myself.

 5. When was the last time you were somewhere the crowd felt 'packed in like sardines'?
I don't really get that feeling in crowds, and if I think it's going to be that way, I certainly don't participate. I'm not a fan of feeling there is no out.

 6. Are you organized when it comes to packing for a trip? Do you make a list weeks in advance or toss items in last minute? Are you a carry-on only sort of packer or do you need an entire suitcase for your shoes?
I try to be. I generally make lists and make sure I have enough other clothes to have options. That said, when we went to Charleston over Christmas last year, I was expecting it to be warmer than it was and I didn't pack cooler weather clothes and was chilly the whole time we were there. I always try to just have the carry on. I'm not sure if we've ever lost a checked bag, but my parents may have and that fear/way of doing things has been instilled in me, so I try not to have more than one bag. But, the airport we fly out of, is tiny so generally we're on tiny planes, that if full enough have to check at the gate. I find that a little unnerving.

 7. What was the last sporting event you attended in person? Did your team win? Did you care?
I don't do sporting events. I do work basketball events at our event center, so we could go with that, but I rarely stay until the end of them, so I never know if our team wins.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Sorry, nothing this week. I just posted a big post the other day of catching up, check that out.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Catching up

Looks like I'm a little behind on posting. Let's see if I can remember what happened since May 2nd. I had to check my updates on Facebook to remember.
I attempted to make banana bread on the 6th. Sadly, I started it too late and it didn't get done in the middle and it fell after cooling. I ate some and put some in the freezer. I'm a little wary about eating it, cause it's kinda gooey inside.
That weekend, I had to work graduation at Hilton, so I tried to go to sales on Friday, and a few really early on Saturday. These are from Friday:
 a couple square scarves (I didn't realize they were square until I got them home, but I found a great place to use them), a ceramic bunny (not sure why I picked him up) and a cute pot.
Saturday, I woke up early to go to one sale that advertised buttons and sewing supplies. I got there a few minutes before it was supposed to start and saw someone walking away with some Pyrex mixing bowls, that when I saw them I really wanted them. When I got to the checkout, I saw someone's pile with two large jars full of buttons sitting there. The only thing I got at this sale was some rocks.
The house next door was having a sale too, I did find a plant to put in the pot I got on Friday for a Mother's Day gift. I also found a cute giraffe pin and a hanky.
Here's the plant all ready to give to mom:
 So, I decided not to get up early for a garage sale again, no matter what they advertised and what I had to do that day.
Graduation was interesting. I worked the door where most of the mobility impaired people were coming in, and people were annoyed that we wouldn't let them in early, that we only had one elevator, and that there weren't nearly enough seats for all of them.
Sunday, we went out to brunch and a local garden that had a cool tree house exhibit. I was kinda hoping we'd go somewhere new for brunch, the place we went to, we always go to, and the food just isn't very interesting.
I did pick up some mixers at the garden, I thought they'd be fun if I had a party, but as I've found out, people are kinda hard to get together for a party

 The 12th was my parents anniversary, so I made them dinner and got them a movie from the library. I've been wanting to try this recipe for awhile, it looked easy, so I thought I'd try it out for them. It's a Spinach Tomato Pizza from Taste of Home's book, Easy Weeknight Dinners:
That week, ice cream was on sale at the store, so I totally stocked up on ice cream:
Sadly, I've decided, none of them are really that good except the Butterfinger (which I might buy again once I check the price), I was thinking last night I just need some chocolate ice cream with peanut butter running through it, that would be really good. I finished the Butterfinger one and have opened all the rest, which probably means they will all get freezer burn and go bad before I finish them.
At the end of that week, I had 3 sales on Friday and 4 sales on Saturday to check out.
Sadly, most of the ones on Friday were not interesting, I did find a few things though:
Some activity books, a notebook (that was a need, to organize my garage sales to go to), a minion (I've decided that when I find these, I'm buying them, I'll probably have a whole collection before long), a three legged pig (I'm not exactly sure why I bought him, I think it was more, it was the last sale, he was cheap, and he was cute), and some bunny rings (also not sure why I bought these).
Saturday, one sale stated they would have baked goods, always a way to get me to your sale, sadly they weren't very exciting and the sale wasn't really set up when I got there at starting time, and I'm not a fan of sales where I have to dig through boxes and nothing is labeled.
The next one my boss was putting on, I thought I'd go just to be nice, then I saw the stickers and it was all downhill from there:
Christmas stocking, game pieces, cute book, stickers.
More stickers
and some more stickers, plus a cool bag.
I spent the most at her sale. I really don't need more stickers, but a lot of them were very neat that would be $4 or $5 at the store, so when they're $.25-$1, I couldn't resist them. The other sales weren't that interesting. I then headed down to the farmer's market and spent way too much money on sweets. I think I was a little upset that the first sale didn't have much, so I bought a bunch at the farmer's market, which is all I really spend my money on there anyways, so I'm probably not going back this year.
At the end of the day, I had walked close to 6 miles, I was a little tired.
The rest of the weekend I worked, which was pretty much all I did that coming week. And this weekend there were only a couple sales in my neighborhood, but nothing that sounded really interesting.
Saturday, I was going to go to the farmer's market because they had a petting zoo, but my cousin's wedding shower is next weekend and we're in charge of games (not quite sure how that happened, I told my mom I wouldn't be going), so I got some books, and did some research, and then had fun putting together prizes. And then I went to work for the rest of the weekend. I don't work Mondays, so I totally forgot about Memorial Day, which is today, so now I'm caught up.

I'm a little worried because I've spent nearly all my garage sale money already, and I'm only a month into the summer. I am trying to take $20 out of my checking account every week and use it instead of my debit card and then I save the ones from that, but it's hard. I'm also trying not to spend as much money, but that's hard too.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Calming Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge time again.


1. When is your next big deadline? What's it for?
I don't really have deadlines, unless you count when my library books are due. I'm reading one right now called Bad Days in History: A Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem and Misery for Every Day of the Year by Michael Farquhar that's due tomorrow. It's pretty interesting and funny.

2. May is National Barbecue Month. Do you prefer cooking indoors or out? What's the best thing about a barbecue? What's the last thing you cooked on an outdoor grill?
I like the smell of grilling, but I'm not that great a cook anyway, so I don't think I'd do well at grilling. I've never actually grilled I have watched my ex, but that's about it.

3. What is one thing on your "never again" list?
This actually came up last weekend. I had to work at 11:30 and wanted to hit this one garage sale that promised buttons and sewing items, so I got up early to get to it when it opened. I got there about 4 or 5 minutes before it's starting time and noticed someone walking away with two big jars of buttons. I didn't see any other buttons at the sale, and the only sewing items I saw was a giant tub of embroidery floss. I did find a few rocks to buy, but as I was going to check out, the lady in front of me had a couple Pyrex bowls that I totally would have bought. So, I decided I'm not getting up early for garage sales anymore. Normally, I don't, I get up when I wake up and if I'm supposed to have something it will be there when I get there, but I was so worried about getting to this sale and the farmer's market and getting to work on time that I decided to get up early, not again.

 4. What's something that annoys you about people your own age? Something you love about your generation?
I hate how self-absorbed people are (of course that could go for all ages). It just seems like so many people feel the world revolves around them and don't think about anyone else, and it really bothers me.

5. Lilac, iris, hyacinth, pansy...your favorite purple flower?
Iris, definitely. There are these giant purple ones that bloom in the yard, that I love. I know it's definitely spring when they bloom. I really like the smell of lilacs though, they are just so fragrant.

 6. Whats a song that always calms you down?
Run by George Strait. It's kinda funny that it does, though. I remember the first time I heard it was shortly after coming home on September 11, 2001 and there's a line in it: If there's a plane or a bus leaving Dallas, I hope you're on it" I remember that line being so upsetting at the time, but I guess the song calmed me down, now every time I hear it, it has a calming effect on me.

 7. What's the last thing you donated?
I think it was housewares, most likely shortly after our last garage sale last August. I do have a giant garbage bag of stuffed animals and a box of Christmas stuff sitting on my floor waiting to go to Goodwill.

 8. Insert your own random thought here.
Today (Tuesday) is my parents 42nd anniversary, and since I don't have a lot of money, I thought I'd make them Taste of Home's Spinach Pizza:

I didn't find it very filling, but it was pretty good, and they liked it, so I guess that's all that matters.

Saturday, May 02, 2015

First Sale(s) of the season

I have been looking forward to today for at least a month. It was a neighboring town's city-wide garage sale. My friend and I have been going to it for a few years, so we have a standing date to do it every year.
When I was outside waiting for her, I saw the iris's are starting to pop open:
 I noticed this cool old camera at one sale:
 And this magnificent dollhouse at another, it was probably about 4 foot tall. Sadly shortly after I took this picture, a gust of wind came along and knocked it over onto a stone planter behind it, I believe it broke into pieces.
 And I found this wonderful 'peg' board made our of deer hooves in a shop we stopped at, who doesn't need one of these?
 I think I may have said this last year, but it felt like there were less sales this year. Also, mostly new stuff. There was one sale that had a lot of plates and it made me think of Bargain Hunter, she mentioned in her post yesterday a friend of hers rents vintage plates for wedding receptions. I think that would be pretty cool. My friend and I decided it would be fun to but old/worn out furniture and add dictionary pages or other things to easily brighten them up and then re sell them. There was a pair of end tables she really wanted to buy, spray with paint and give new life.

So, here's what I bought:
 the scissors were free, the two necklaces are rocks each $1, and the velvet green bag was free.
a bunch of stickers, there was one sale that had quite a few scrapbooking supplies, that was not a good stop. I think I spent the most there sales wise. They were about $6 altogether.
 some more stickers from the same sale, plus some monkey earrings and some metal frames, the BINGO cards were free.
 a couple hankies, some washi tape, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a few cats, a minion, a hairy cow and a bug. The washi tape were from a store we stopped at, and with a price of $4 each or 3 for $10 you have to buy 3, also the white one was $1 and I was enamored by it. Now, if I could just figure out a way to use my tape, I probably have about 20 rolls and I really never use it. Any ideas?
 The chicken 'cozies', chicks, bunnies and eggs were in a bag, I just wanted the chicks, I'll probably put the rest in my Goodwill box. Did anyone else have one of these Quik mugs growing up? I remember both my brother and I had one, I have no idea what happened to them, but I totally bought this one for $.75.
 I've decided these were the best buys of the day, a couple W's, they're probably about 6 inches tall, I picked them up at another shop. My idea was to cover them in dictionary paper and lace or burlap and buttons, but I put them up on my radiator and I just love staring at them.
 A tape dispenser, and some movies: The Orphanage, Silent Hill and Quarantine, all horror movies
 And last of all, a bag of silverware. I always feel I don't have enough spoons and run out way too quick, so that was one of the things on my list this year.
I spent about $40 total today, I thought I did pretty well, but again wish I'd spent less. There's only 2 things I bought that weren't exclusively for me, but I think I've done better than in the past. I told myself I couldn't buy more stuffed animals or snowmen and I did see a couple of those I wanted. I tried not to just buy stuff, but I really shouldn't have bought more craft supplies, I don't use nearly enough of what I have.

Some other things on my list this year are:
buttons, mostly vintage but I'd go for new too
 baked goods, why pass those up
Pyrex mixing bowls, I have two I think they are a 402 and the next smaller size which are perfect for a few things I do. I really like the smaller size, it's perfect for ice cream. I don't really care if they're in nice shape, the bigger one I have is in pretty bad shape, color wise, but still works great.
jewelry