Saturday, April 23, 2016

Garage saleing

It's garage saleing time. I was going to go to a few yesterday, but after being on my feet all morning, I talked myself out of it.
I'm afraid that might happen more often this year. I open at the library on Friday mornings, I wonder if I just couldn't take an hour or so break and then go back out.
Anywho, I went to 5 sales this morning (it would have been 6, but one didn't start until 11). Most of the sales I went to, were close together.
I really wanted to buy something, mostly cause it was the first sale of the season I went to. There was also a box of stamps, but I didn't buy anything. I talked myself out of a cross stitched piece.
I picked up an Alf puppet from the free bin, there was a packet of colored paper I almost bought.
There were two more sales in the next block, I picked up a Care Bear for my collection for $1.00.
I had two sales left on my list, as I headed to one, I realized it didn't start until 11, it was 8:50. I find it weird that people wait so late in the morning to start their sales. I get out of the house at 8 or a little after, I'm not gonna wait around til 10 or 11 for a sale.
I didn't buy anything at the last sale either.
This makes me think about what's on my list for this year.
1. Buttons (always)
2. vintage stuff (mostly trim, but whatever)
3. Baked goods (always)
4. craft supplies

I'm not sure what else is on there. A few of my co-workers have asked me to keep an eye out for a few things. They know I won't buy it if it's too expensive.


I had a great post in my head, and then I took a shower, and it's gone. I've learned, I need to take the shower shortly after I get home, it feels really gross to let thee sweat dry on my skin. I walk everywhere, and I usually average about 4 miles everytime I go garage saleing. I didn't think I walked that much this morning, but when I got home, my phone said I walked 3.56 miles and burned 409 calories. I downloaded an app from Map My Run just to see how much I wander around in stores. I usually log my walking into the Map my run website, but I think the app is a little more accurate. I also like that it has a map, so I can see where I am. I mean, I don't get lost, but sometimes I not sure the best way to get to stuff.
Today, I learned I should drink a glass of water before I leave, and one when I get home. I switched purses today, this one works great. The one I had last year, was a little too small to hold my list of sales and my bag and my wallet.
Next week I work Saturday, so I have Friday off, I'm hoping there will be some good sales Friday morning. The week after that is a citywide garage sale of a close city, and I'm really excited about that.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Massive Shopping Haul

I know I should really go to bed and post this tomorrow, but I want to finish it while it's still on my mind. I gave myself permission to spend money on things today, with the idea that I wouldn't buy anything I didn't need after this (except for garage sales, because garage sales help me keep my sanity). So, I spent way too much money, but I should be set on things for pocket letters and anything I want to make and send through the mail.
I started out at The Dollar Tree:
 Gummy bears, that neat vintagey duct tape people keep talking about, and a few notecards. I've been decorating the outsides of my envelopes when I send them out, and this tape was just randomly sitting in a bin, so I thought I'd get it. I'm also loving sending cards with things I send out, I used to make the cards, but sometimes things would get delayed because I had to make a card, so I started picking up cards to just have. I totally talked myself out of the gummy peaches, surprise Hello Kitty chocolate eggs and a few other things.
 Some puffy alphabet stickers, some frame stickers, a couple sock coin purses, and a couple fabric tape rolls. I made a flip book last night, and I was adding some letters and realized I don't really have any alphabet stickers, so those were on my list for today, I really like these. The frame stickers were just cool. I love the sock coin purses, a few years ago, they actually had tiny socks, like baby socks that they made into coin purses, these aren't really socks. I bought one for a friend. I love that I found the fabric tape at my Dollar Tree after seeing it on people's haul videos on Youtube, and I bought two cause once you find it, you never find it again (like their neat canvasy pencil pouches).
 More stickers. I love owls, you will see a lot more in this post, and I'll probably have to make an owl pocket letter or flip book to justify how many I bought today. I saw the pearls I've been seeing, so I got the teal, there was only one of these. The pen is really cute, every time you click it, it changes sayings, I thought it would be fun to include with some happy mail to someone. And some activity books, if you've been reading for awhile, you know I don't need anymore of these, I just love them.
I didn't take a picture of the tiny buckets I bought to use as garbage when I create, I'm really good at just throwing my garbage on the floor, I thought these would help, or the sponges, cause who really needs to see pictures of sponges.
Next stop, was Target
 The multi paper pad set from the dollar spot for $3, mini envelopes for $2, flag paper clips for $1, some clothespins for $1, two Scotch tapes for $.88 each, and some tags for $1. I saw the paper pad set last week, and talked myself out of it, and then proceeded to think about it all week, so I bought it, I'm not sure I'll use it, but I can send some of it for goodies. I bought two of the tapes because I thought I could send one for goodies as well.
I noticed there was a set of 12 clothespins with pastel decorations on them in the dollar spot for $3, if anyone's interested.
I also picked up some socks for a wish I fulfilled on Lori's wishing video. And some blue mountain dew. I used up the last of my gift cards which I feel I used way too much on crafting supplies.
Next stop was Walmart
 I went in the sticker section all because CheapCraftyGirl says she finds a lot there, bad decision, I totally blame her. Panda stickers, monster stickers, robot stickers and a tiny clipboard.
The sticker aisle is not the aisle to go down, and I only looked at the 97 cent stickers. I picked up the tiny clipboard because I love the miniature notebook paper on it, it was also 97 cents.
 Xmas tree clothespins, 3 bottles of purell, flower clothespins, some gummy watermelon. These two packs of clothespins were sitting in a box of miscellaneous items in the crafty aisle. The Xmas ones were 10 cents, I thought I could save them for pocket letters next Christmas. The Purell's were in the clearance section for 75 cents each, I thought I could send them along. The gummy watermelon just looked good, until I got home and realized it said sour.
There are no pictures of the nightgown and flats I picked up.
owl stickers, robot stickers, mini forest stickers, gold script letter stickers, owl stickers and cat/dog stickers. All of these were 97 cents. So, can you see a pattern of owl stickers? I picked up the gold script because I really liked the look of it. And the others were just cute.Last stop was Hobby Lobby
 Most of what I picked up was in the clearance section, which I always visit, but I usually limit myself to stuff under $1, I went a little higher today.
Round paper clips for $1.79, washi tape for $2, jar die cuts for $1.99, and a hedgehog charm for $2.
I should be well supplied for paper clips and clothespins for pocket letters now. I picked up the washi mostly for the checkered one, I've noticed when I look at washi there always seems to be one I want and one I don't. I'll probably send the British flag to someone. I love these little jar die cuts, everyone seems to be obsessed with the jar thing, I'm not really interested in punches or stamps, but I liked these.
 owl stickers, monster stickers, travel labels, ATC size cards and bags, sea themed ATCs, travel themed ATCs, mini gift cards and an owl needle craft.
Again with the monsters and owls, these were both $1.99, they have a kraft paper background look with glitter and there's two sheets in each pack. So, this is a really bad picture for those labels, basically they're address label size (like to address a package to someone), I thought they were really cute for $1.79. The ATC sized things I think will be perfect for backgrounds, and the bags I can put things in in pocket letters, they were all $1.50 each. The mini gift cards are a burlap pattern, they were $1. And an owl, it looks like you thread colored thread through the holes, that was $3.59
 The pack at the top was called Baby Sn@p pack, tiny x-acto knives, refill tape for my tombo dispenser, two 6x6 paper packs. I bought the paper pack because it has some very cute not baby cards and elephants, it was $5.99, I'll probably sort out the baby items and swap with someone, I don't know anyone that's having a baby anytime soon. The whole reason for my trip was for tape refills and 6x6 paper. I really wanted double sided paper, but paper is expensive, the paper was $5.99 each. After making my flip book last night, I want to do more, and then I ran out of tape, I used my 40% off on that making it $7.19, cause tape is expensive too (originally $11.99 for the three-pack). I didn't have any6x6 paper in my comfortable colors, someone sent me a pack of bright 6x6 paper in the past and I used that, but it was a little bright. I picked up the knives because I don't have a craft knife and they were cute, they were $1.99
 
There was also a trip to Wendy's for lunch in there. I totally weeded down what I picked up at Hobby Lobby after guestimating how much my original pile would be.
I went after work about 1:30, and got home about 6pm. It's always nice to be on my feet all day. I finally had supper at about 8:30, and I'm now winding down to go to bed. At least tomorrow's my day off.
I really want to start creating something new, but my craft space is a hallway, and when I get out everything to create, it looks like this:
That's looking to the east, toward my bedroom, I'm standing at the west at the top of my stairs, somewhere in the middle is the doorway to my living room. So, it's not very convenient, and since I suck at organizing my craft supplies, it all comes out. It's much nicer at the moment, there are patches of floor, but I still have to take large strides to get to my bedroom. Also, it's been very warm lately (80 degrees in my apartment), so the AC guy is coming soon, and he has to have access to all the rooms. So, I might have to hold off of creating for a little while.
 


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Target, Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby Haul

I went shopping yesterday, again I was hoping to find some of the great stuff I keep seeing on YouTube, but I guess I should just accept the fact that my stores are not as great as other people's stores. My town is not huge, it only gets bigger 9 months of the year when the college students are here, sadly they go elsewhere to shop.
I worked yesterday morning and went shopping after work, I don't have a car, so I walk everywhere. My first stop was Target, please excuse my foot at the bottom of the picture, I didn't notice it there until I was editing the picture.
I wanted to check out the dollar spot at Target, sadly there wasn't too much that was new. I did find the two washi tape the black stripe and the gold stripe both for $1. I had picked up some gold stripe tape Christmas season of 2014 and used it all up, I almost got two rolls of this tape, but I decided I liked the black stripe tape as well. I love the Hello cards for $1, I keep seeing people pick up these cute notecards and I wanted some, when I want to write a little note and not have to make a card. I also picked up the Zootopia eraser for a friend. I love the blue garden gnome, he was $3, I picked him up for my desk at work, thought I'm at my desk so little, I'm not sure why I did. I saw the fruit erasers in someone's haul video, I love erasers. I don't use a lot of pencils, or erasers, but I love collecting them, especially when they're only $1.00. I've also been on the lookout for cute tights for awhile, so when I found these daisy tights ($8), I thought I'd get them.
I did talk myself out of some notebooks. I don't use notebooks, but I keep seeing people haul them. I found the set of notebooks that had three sticky flags, three small square notebooks and a large one that were so cute, but I only wanted them to send them to people with pocket letters. I also saw the notebook with the gold hearts and pen, and talked myself out of that. I have so much stuff at home that I don't use and will probably send with pocket letters, that I really don't need more.
I was supposed to look at their jewelry, but I keep forgetting. I want some simple black dangly earrings. I also want to go to Claire's and check out what they have, I keep hearing about sales they have there, and want to go. My Claire's is in a mall where there's a few other stores I want to go to, and I'm not that great at talking myself out of stuff.
My next stop was the Dollar Tree:
 Again, I was looking for stuff I see in people's hauls, especially the cool bow and rose stickers, but didn't find those. Like I said, my stores are kinda sad. I feel every time I go to the Dollar Tree, it's pretty picked over, yesterday they did have a lot of boxes out but it didn't really look like they were stocking anything. I love the Dollar Tree because everything's $1.00. My friend and I usually go, but she's been working a ton lately, so we haven't made it to the bigger ones down the road.
I did pick up some cute owl pencil sharpeners. I love owls. Some Velcro fasteners, I saw someone use these for an envelope in a craft video. A cute emoji pen, saw this on someone else's haul video. I have some pens at work that are pom pom monsters, they have big heads like this guy, I thought it would be cool to have a whole mug of giant circle head pens. And gummy jelly fruits, I love these, I can't pass them up.
I went to JoAnn's, too. I've decided there's nothing I want in my JoAnn's, every time I go there, I never find anything to buy. They don't have the dollar bins anymore, they barely have any papercrafting supplies, I never see good paper or stickers. So, I've given up on mine, maybe next time I'm in Ankeny, I'll check that one out. I had a coupon for 15% off my total purchase, I was trying to find a pencil pouch for a wish I granted in Lori's wish video and a chain and clasp for a necklace I broke (or more it broke when I touched it) Monday night.
My last stop was Hobby Lobby. I try not to buy anything for full price at Hobby Lobby, they always seem to be having sales and I love their clearance section.
I picked up this cute robot wood piece for $.40, these two jewelry pieces for $1.50 each and some washi tape. They were having a paperstudio sale where everything was 50% off, so I thought I'd pick up some washi. I'm hoping I'll actually use this washi. I'm really good at picking up washi but not actually using it. I thought these patterns would be easy and versatile.

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Week of April 3rd

I've been reading some past blog posts and think I should restart my weekly update, if not for you, than for me. Not that I've been doing a lot.
Sunday, was my mother's extended family Easter. It was fun, but it was really windy and the place we had it, didn't have a lot of great places to hide eggs. There were only 3 people looking for eggs and one doesn't turn one until the 28th, so not that great. We had a lot of great food, though. Lately when I go to my family get-togethers it's not as much fun as it used to be. No one really talks to me and they're not very interested in my life. They are very interested in my cousin's new baby, I'm not that great with babies and I don't really get into them like most other ladies seem to, so I'm not really interested in the baby. On the way home, I learned my parents are going on a cruise with my brother, his girlfriend and her parents around Europe. I'm not interested in going, but I am a little jealous that they'll be able to go on this really fun vacation, and now that I get vacation days (and don't have to worry about the money I'm not making by going on vacation), I wish I had somewhere to do. I was also saddened that I basically heard it second-hand. They were talking about it with relatives at the Easter get-together, and I don't know when it is, but I'm guessing late April or early May. I suppose it would have to be after school gets out so it works in my mother's schedule. It really bummed me out.
Monday, it was windy. I'm getting really tired of the wind. It's been in the 40's but feels like the 30's because of the wind, and since I live on the 3rd floor, it always sounds way worse than it is. I want to go shopping, but it's also been saying it's going to rain, and when it's not very warm until later in the afternoon when I have to go to work or close to when I have to go to work, I don't want to go. Once again, I've been watching YouTube and loving the videos of people's hauls and what they've found at stores. I have a few Target gift cards to use up, so I wouldn't actually be spending money. I've wanted to go and look at after Easter stuff, but there wasn't anything I didn't get myself for Easter that I still wanted. I've noticed that when I read or see a lot of people getting a certain something I want it, even if I know I'll never use it. That happened with milk glass, when I finally bought myself a toothpick holder, I didn't understand what all the hype was about. Now, it's notepads and pens and stationery stuff that I see everyone getting from the dollar spot at Target. So, I didn't do much on Monday, I finally finished a book that has been renewed way too many times. One of the perks of working at the library, is that I get more renewals on my items than the patrons, but that can also be a bad thing. I have a tendency to not read things as fast as I should. I'm trying to finish the 20 or so books I have sitting on my floor. My goal is to have them finished before I move, that shouldn't be that hard. Though, I also need to stop picking up the books that are 300+ pages. The one I finished on Monday was almost 400, the one I finished yesterday was almost 600 and one I'm in the middle of is almost 900. I also broke a cute necklace, or more I took it off and the spring in the clasp broke. So, since I have coupons for JoAnn's I guess I'll be going there soon.
Tuesday, my schedule changed a little to help a co-worker, so I worked the evening shift instead of the morning, that threw me off a little. It was nice to sleep in, but I had to remember to go in in the evening. On my other blog, I've been mentioning pocket letters. And I've been trying to find people to swap with. A couple YouTubers said they'd swap with me and I found a beginner's Pocket letter group on Facebook so I joined that. I now have 4 people that are willing to swap with me, so I need to get started. I'm a little stressed about my healthcare. I do get benefits now that I'm salaried, unfortunately I don't make enough to be able to afford what the city gives for healthcare, so I signed up through the marketplace. Since, I don't make a lot, I qualified for a discount, I just had to send them some extra paperwork. So, I uploaded it in December, fast forward to March where they sent me a letter saying I still needed to give it to them. So, I mailed it to them. Halfway through March I got a second notice. I called the marketplace help line and the guy said all he could see is what I see, how is that helpful? I uploaded it again, including something I didn't realize I needed and mailed it to them. Tuesday, I got the same damn letter, except it was a final notice. There's nothing more I can do, there's no number to call to verify that they got it, or that it's the correct information. I don't have anything else, so it has to be the correct information. I'm afraid that once the end of the month gets here, I won't get the discount, I'll have to cancel my health insurance (cause I can't afford the full price of the marketplace either), and then I'll have to go back to Planned Parenthood (they're not bad, I just had a heck of time with making appointments that worked for both of us), and have to pay the penalty for not having health insurance because I can't talk to someone. I guess I'll have to start looking for another job again.
Wednesday is my laundry day. I'm tired of walking somewhere to do laundry, at least it's free. I totally planned to go to Target and shop, there are a few things I need, plus I have cartwheel savings for one of them, but as I was coming home from doing laundry it rained on me. My weather app didn't tell me it was supposed to rain. So, I ate lunch, watched movies and got stuck on Youtube. And I stayed up way too late.
Thursday. I've already got stuck on YouTube. I was going to check all my morning stuff on my Kindle and not get out my computer, but it was doing something weird with my Facebook messages, so I got out the computer. It's all downhill after that.
Friday was a waste of a day, I got lost watching movies and youtube. I did get dressed and go to the post office, because I promised someone I'd mail something out, and I didn't have an excuse not to do it, except I'm lazy. So, I went to Fareway as well. I really need to get some pasta mixes and bake my fish and mix it together. The bottom half of my freezer is full of fish, hamburger, pork pieces, and chicken. I really need to bake it up and eat it. Saturday, my mom and I are going to a fashion show, I texted her on Thursday asking what her plan is and I haven't heard back from her. I'm guessing she'll either call or text me tomorrow morning and try to make a plan and then get bothered because I have to work and won't be able to respond right away to her. It's frustrating that she waits until the last minute to make plans. I do want to plan my days, or at least my time in between work and when we go to the show.
Saturday, worked, made an absolute mess on my floor getting ready to create some pocket letters and then went to the fashion show. It was fun, but kinda boring this year, we were kinda far back so it was hard to see the clothes. My favorite parts of it were the plus size models (which I feel I never see in the fashion show) and the post it note outfit

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Hodgepodge Vol 262

It's Hodgepodge time. Check out Joyce's blog to see other people's answers.


1. What does retirement mean to you? Are you planning for it, not thinking about it, looking forward to it, or dreading it?
Retirement is so far in the future (at least I hope it is), that I'm trying not to think about it. A month or so ago, after I got paid and paid all my bills and still had money in the bank, I was so excited. I was telling my parents this, and my mother asked about how I was planning for retirement, I just wanted to enjoy my money for the moment, I don't want to think about retirement, yet.

 2. It's International Guitar Month...do you play? Does anyone in your family play? What's a song you especially like to hear played on the guitar or a favorite song featuring the guitar?
I like hearing the guitar, and I have great respect for people who can play the guitar. I really like the beginning of Wild Child by Jimi Hendrix, that's a great guitar riff.

 3. What's your comfort food?
I don't know anymore. I would have said fried chicken a few days ago, but the other day when I was particularly depressed I cooked some and it didn't do anything for me. Maybe donuts or ice cream. I love ice cream. I think it's weird that no one's comfort food (or no one I've talked to), is something healthy.
Maybe hamburgers, I love hamburgers.

 4. What's one activity or area of your life where you absolutely never procrastinate?
Paying my bills. I like to write the check, or pay the bill right away, otherwise I'm afraid I'll forget about it. I don't always get them mailed right away.

 5. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? Does your local store bag the groceries for you or is it a do-it-yourself kind of place? Do you like someone packing your groceries?
I am the only one in my house, so I guess it's me. My grocery store bags my groceries, but sometimes I feel that their goal is how many bags they can give you. I try to bring my own bag, because I live a block away and don't like to carry a lot.

 6. What's the coolest thing you've seen in nature?
Water. There is this park, my mom used to take me and my brother to when we were younger, and we used to explore the pathways and the creek that ran through it. One time, we found this beautiful waterway, where the water created a pond, but had a small waterfall flowing into it. It's not really something I can describe, but we had so much fun in it, and I could never find it again.
My zodiac sign is Cancer, and I'm always particularly drawn to water, I love exploring it, and things that grow/live in it. I don't think you can go wrong with water.

 7. Share a favorite quote about home.
Sadly, all I can think of is "Home is where the heart is" I don't really know many "home" quotes.

 8. Insert your own random thought here.
I watched The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 this morning. I love this series. I usually read the books before the next movie comes out, but since this was the third book broken up in 2 parts, I didn't feel the need to read it again. And because I read the books, I knew what was coming, but it still upset me. I'm excited to get it on DVD/Blu-ray.