Saturday, January 21, 2017

Ugh, it never ends

Now that I'm not working all the time, all I want to do is go spend money.
I went to Walmart, Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby today. Walmart because I haven't gone in awhile and wanted to see if they had anything exciting. Dollar Tree because I actually needed stuff from them. Hobby Lobby because I needed a refill of my double stick tape.
I am so sick of gray and dreary days. I appreciate that it's not cold and there's not snow on the ground, but I hate that everything's wet and we haven't seen the sun in a few days. I feel like every day I get up and look at my weather app and it tells me there's fog. I also hate that we're hovering around freezing at night and sometimes during the days.
Anywho, here's what I picked up:
Like I said, I went to Walmart because I hadn't been there in awhile. Last Sunday, I went to Target and Dollar Tree, but for some reason didn't go to Walmart. My Target and Super Walmart are practically next door to each other, the Dollar Tree is about a block away from the Target. On my walk down there I kept arguing with myself saying I didn't need anything, but I wanted to see what they had for Valentine's.
When I walked in the front door I wanted to buy the $10 stuffed ladybug they had, but I didn't. I did find a lot of food: crackers, donuts, pretzels and chocolate. It was about 9:30/10:00 when I got there, I hadn't had breakfast and really wanted some good donuts. These are strawberry flavored chocolate covered, so good. I picked some up at the grocery store last week. The Flipz are always good, and I love these strawberry Lindt truffles, they only come out for Valentine's Day. I found these winter stickers in the sticker aisle and they rang up for 2 cents, I would have gotten more, if I knew that. I should have turned around and grabbed the rest of them. The tiny clothespins are for a friend, I felt kind of bad when I saw them at the Dollar Tree next, oh well. I noticed this double sided tape and since it came with 4 rolls for about $6, instead of 3 replacement rolls for $12 as Hobby Lobby has tape, I picked it up. The puffball pen was in the Valentine's section, it was about $1. I needed the conditioner and since Dollar Tree does not carry the large size, I picked it up.
I was tempted to go back to Target, but I talked myself out of it, and continued on to Dollar Tree:
 I spent just over $7, and mostly everything I needed, the tape was not needed. It was kinda sad, I don't think I've ever done that at Dollar Tree before. My brush was dying, so I grabbed a new one. I'm almost out of toothpaste and was very excited to find this larger tube of Crest. I'm always in need of ziploc bags and sponges and I couldn't find my flippy thing (I don't know what they are called), last time I wanted to use it. OK, I admit I didn't need the bandaids, but I wanted some with a cool design on them. The tape was an interesting find. I've never found the tape where you'd think it would be at my Dollar Tree. This roll was sitting in the classroom supplies, and a lady was digging through them. I waited to make sure she didn't want it, and walked up and grabbed it. She kinda looked at me like she did want it, but didn't say anything, so I just walked away.
I still went to Hobby Lobby because I wanted to pick up some washi
I was originally gonna wait until next week to go and pick up the double sided tape to see what new fun sales were going on, but I picked up some great vintage Valentine paper for a flip book and wanted some floral washi to bind it. I had picked up this bag of chocolate last week but didn't realize it wasn't on sale. Of course then I thought about it all week, so I picked it up this time. I had found a different roll of floral washi that I wanted, but it was in those big tubes for $12.99, and I didn't like enough of the other rolls to justify spending $6.50 on it.
Am I the only one that notices that it seems Hobby Lobby likes to have one roll in the double pack I want but not the other. I actually like the second roll in this pack.

I really want to head out to our mall tomorrow, check out the smaller Walmart and the TJ Maxx, but I don't need anything.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Busy few weeks

Last time I checked in, seems to be the 4th. Since then, I've basically been working. Tomorrow will be my first day off since then. I went shopping a couple days I got done early, but it's mostly been work.
On the January 9th I caught the sunrise on my way to work:
 I don't know about anyone else, but I find it extremely hard to get out of bed before the sun has risen. Most days I had to be at my 3rd job at 8AM, which meant getting up at 6:30.
 On January 10th, I didn't have to be there until 11, so since I had to catch a pretty early bus, I checked out the sale section and picked up these fingerless gloves/mittens
 I'm not entirely sure how I feel about them. I like them as gloves, I don't really like flipping up the mitten part, it seems a little small. I did get some use out of them the other day when my hands were cold and I was typing on the computer.
I tried to listen to music while taking a bath Friday night, but my speaker wouldn't work (found out later it was an issue with the outlet, and not my speaker), so I picked up this guy Saturday at work:
I'd say he's about the size of my hand, he cost me about $20, and an additional $5 for that pink cord there.
 One day on the way into work, I found this guy on the ground.
 Apparently, he is Thresh and he's only available at GameStop. I don't know what to do with him.
That same day I tried to spend money at CVS. They had sent me a 30% off my total purchase coupon, so I wandered over there to see if they had anything good, I did find this:
 I'd love to get that for Valentine's Day. Sadly, I came to the same realization as the last time I'd been in there, it's just way too expensive. I think it's a great resource for the college kids who don't have a pharmacy or close grocery store by campus, but it's too expensive for me.
This was Sunday, it was pretty dead, so I got to go home about an hour and a half early, so I went shopping. Mostly because I wanted to go shopping on Monday, but there was an ice storm in the forecast.
First stop, Dollar Tree
 I picked up the monster card for me, the bug card for my friend. I couldn't pass up the chocolate. I picked up the heart pics for loaded envelopes, I want to try my hands at those. I picked up the bobble head dog and the stone for swaps. The bug is for me, and the felt trim is for swaps.
That stone was very poorly painted, I should have looked at it better, but I keep seeing people haul them and I just wanted one. I painted the 'stone' part purple and repainted the red parts, then I went over it with mod podge, I didn't like the rough feeling in my hands.
 Stickers! I know they need no explanation. There's a couple sheets of Valentine's stickers. I picked up the vintage looking ones and then got home and found I already had them, so I sent them off in a swap. I'll probably send the flower ones off, too, I wanted them at the time, but I don't think I'll actually use them. The box of stickers was too cute to pass up. I also couldn't pass up the troll book, it's different from the one I picked up at JoAnn's. I loved the Disney princesses one it has all their 'buddies' and the sticker that sold me is Belle with a pile of books. I also picked up the foam flowers for swaps.
 I can't pass by gel pens. I did send the brights off in a swap. I picked up that 'tape' box for my friend's birthday in March, it reminds me of the tape from Guardians of the Galaxy. I picked up the stereo speaker just in case. The other box is for me, but I might end up sending it out in a swap. I really needed the shower pouf (and other things I didn't pick up) and the chocolate is for a swap.
I spent about $30.
Next up was Target.
 I realized on the bus ride over there that I didn't have my gift cards with me, so I didn't spend too much. Found all of these but the minion in the dollar spot. The Shopkins stickers and erasers were a dollar. The tags are pink with faux leather rose gold hearts. I thought it'd be cool to stamp on the tags and use the hearts for something else. I picked up the stamp set because I've always wanted one of those rolly stamps. I was disappointed, you couldn't really see what the sayings were. I also think I'm giving up on this, I don't think I'll use most of the sayings, so I'll probably send it out in a swap. I liked the thick gold tape, but every time I use Target dollar spot washi for something it doesn't stick very well, so I think I'm done buying it. I picked up the minion sucker for me. I picked up the bags because they measure 2 by 3, thought I could use them in flip books.
Monday, we basically had rain, freezing rain, and sleet all day. Everything was covered in a thin sheet of ice, not fun. It was still a bit icy on my way into work on Tuesday. Wednesday, the high was almost in the 50's and it mostly melted it all off. We've been having overcast days and fog warnings since then. There was fog when I got off work tonight at 6pm, it's like we're in a scary movie or something.
The other day, I found these cute Golden books on the free shelf at the library.
 They are about 2 inches square. I don't know what I'll use them for, but I couldn't pass them up.
Thursday, the 19th I got done early again, so I stopped at JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby on my way home.
I usually don't go to JoAnn's, since my store rearranged, their paper crafting section sucks. I do go in sometimes to look at their holiday stuff, though. This time I noticed they had a $1.50 and $3.00 section:
 All the hanging stuff is $1.50 and the stuff in the bins are $3.00
 That was pretty cool, if they continue to do this, I'll definitely go back.
Found this cute little heart on the sidewalk on my way to Hobby Lobby
 I saw this at Hobby Lobby, but couldn't justify spending the money on it, I might make something similar.
 I did buy a few things at JoAnn's:
 sticker book for my friend's birthday. These heart stickers are the puffed up epoxy ones. The erasers/cards are for a swap. I signed up to do a sweet treats flip book, I really wanted to get the monster set, but I bought these for the swap, maybe the monsters will still be there after Valentine's Day. I have also signed up for a wand swap, so I picked up some doilies and some leftover Christmas cupcake liners.
Here's what I got at Hobby Lobby:
 felt hearts for a swap. The griffin pendant is for my friend. The "w" is for me, I have a hard time passing up "w's". I picked up the plastic bulbs because I wanted to alter them. I couldn't pass up the color your own stickers, especially when all The Paper Studio items were 50% off. The vintage stickers are for a Valentine's swap. I thought I could send the office kit to someone, but I love it too much, I may keep it for myself. The cupcake stickers are for the sweet treats flip book. The owls are for Valentines. The 6x6 paper pad was in the Valentine's section, which was 30% off, but the cashier gave it to me for 50% off because it's by The Paper Studio. I loved how only a few designs were for solely Valentine's Day. I also loved the shabby chic-ness of it and decided to make a vintagey flip book for one of my swaps.
I got home and realized I should have picked up double stick tape, so I'll be going back tomorrow, while the Paper Studio stuff is still 50% off to pick up some floral tape for my flip book.
Today, I had a few swaps to mail, saw this stamp at the post office
I'm kinda confused as to why she has what looks like Thor's hammer. I feel she should have her lasso. Oh well, it's cool to see.
I'm also heading over to Walmart and Dollar Tree tomorrow. After that I'm done shopping for Valentine's Day.
I was supposed to work at one of my jobs tomorrow, but I really needed a day off before Sunday, I could tell in how stressed/tired I was, so I put in to get the day off. I'm spending the weekend on me and things I need to do. I hope to be recharged by Monday when I have to go back to work.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge time again. Head on over to Joyce's blog to see other people's answers.


1. ASAP typically stands for 'as soon as possible'. What else could it stand for in your life right now? 

2. Are you the last person to speak up in a group or the first to have an idea? Why do you suppose that is? Is it a good thing or no? Usually no, I don't like to draw attention to myself. Of course, it would also depend on the size of the group, if it's small and I knew most of the people, maybe
3. What do you remember best about being 12? Not much, I remember more about being 10 and 11. I don't feel much happened that I remember.

4. January 18th is National Winnie the Pooh Day. Which character do you relate to the most, and why? If you're stumped go here for inspiration. I like Pooh, how could you not like a teddy bear. I suppose I'd relate to Eeyore though, I'm not always bright and sunshiney, lately I've felt more grumpy and bummed out.

5. What's an app you use that helps simplify or make life easier for you in some way? Honestly, I don't use a lot of apps. I like my notes app, I don't forget to buy as many things at the store as I used to.

6. San Francisco (CA), San Diego (CA), San Juan (PR) San Antonio (TX) Sanibel (FL)...you have an all expenses paid long weekend to one of these destinations. Which one do you choose and why? Let's go with a California one, say San Francisco, cause they have Alcatraz prison, that would be cool to go to. I've never been to the west coast of the US. I think it would be cool to explore.
7. Share with us a song that makes you feel nostalgic? For what?

This popped up on my mP3 player when we were in Hawaii in 2010, so everytime it comes on now, I'm taken back to Hawaii.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I've been having a heck of a last few days. We had an ice storm yesterday where there was a nice coating of ice all over everything. Quite a few places closed for the day and people mostly didn't go out, sadly the library does not close, so getting to work was fun. I walk to work, and that feeling of your feet sliding out from under you is just not fun. Today, I gave myself extra time to make it to the bus stop for my other job. When I came home, most of it was just wet. I hope by the time I leave for work tomorrow morning, it's not slippery. Tomorrow afternoon and the rest of the week it's supposed to be in the 40's, so I'm looking forward to that.
Yesterday, I sat down to print off my tax stuff and my printer decided it wasn't going to print black ink anymore. I thought it had just run out, so I replaced my cartridge and it still didn't work. No matter what I did, it wouldn't print. So, I had to do it before I was officially at work.
Today, my computer decided it wasn't going to play YouTube videos, and then when I restarted it, it decided not to play sound (it does that sometimes,) I haven't figured out why, I just have to keep restarting it until it decides to work.
I'm ready for warmer weather and to go shopping. I my first day off on Sunday since the 4th, I'm ready for it.

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

shoes

I don't do resolutions usually, but I did decide to do a couple things this year (and feel like I'm not doing very good already).
I thought I'd try to:
1. Read more
2. Watch less Youtube
3. Craft more
4. Drink less pop
5. Spend less.
I had to go get some tennis shoes for my temporary job which starts tomorrow, so I went to Walmart, TJ Maxx and Claire's yesterday.
I had planned to pick up the shoes at JC Penny's, but I found a couple pairs at Walmart, and I hope they'll hold up.
 Shopkins marshmallow pop, Christmas ornament, washi tape, buttons, stickers, chocolate, Valentine's box.
At this Walmart, they have most of their Valentine candy right inside the door, I loved this Shopkins marshmallow pop. I secretly love Shopkins, not so much collecting the actual toys, but the cute images. I picked up a set of jumbo playing cards at Dollar Tree with the intent of cutting them out and using them in art, it hasn't happened yet, plus the pop was only a dollar. I also saw this cute frog box. I used to collect frogs awhile ago when I was with my ex, I kinda stopped after we broke up because they reminded me too much of him. I really liked this frog and it was only five dollars.
I found a couple deals in the Christmas section, the ornament and the buttons. I picked up the buttons because I'm doing a couple snow/winter pocket letters and snowmen are winter for me. I love this ornament, but the more I look at it, I wonder if I really saved money. This guy was originally $7.99, marked down to one something. My issue is, I wouldn't have bought it for $8, so did I really save money by buying it. I'm having that though about some stuff I bought at Hobby Lobby the other day, too. I'm not bothered that I bought them, I just keep thinking of that.
I picked up the stickers for Valentine's Day. I love making things for Valentine's Day, though the other day I was thinking I should stop doing extra things for people. I love(d) doing this, but I guess I'm tired of doing it so much and never getting things in return, which I know isn't how I should feel.
I had to visit the clearance section, though all I found was the scotch washi for one dollar.
Here are the shoes, the blue ones were marked down to $9, and the black were regular price at about $10. I hope they'll hold up, but I guess it's not a big deal if they don't I only have the job for basically 2 weeks. I will be working more than 8 hours between my two jobs the whole time, but I don't wear tennis shoes much otherwise. I love the black ones, I walked around in them the other day, not too much, I was going to wear them to work this morning, but it was 4 degrees. I chose my warm boots instead. It's supposed to be chilly the rest of the week because winter has come back to Iowa, we were getting a little spoiled with the just at freezing temperatures, and I know winter is usually worse in Jan and Feb, so I'm not really surprised. I just hate wicked cold. Anywho, I'm planning on wearing them to the two training days I have tomorrow and Friday. I start the long days on Saturday, I'm used to my feet hurting at the end of these long days as it is. Twenty bucks is a lot cheaper than sixty.
I picked up the razors because I put razor blades on my Christmas list and didn't get them. I'm waiting for Target to put a cartwheel up for my razor blades, but in the meantime, I thought I'd try these. I use the Gillette Fusion, I've found it to be the best by far, except the price for the blades, but apparently cheaper name brand blades don't really exist. These are Walmart brand and they said to compare them to the Gillette Fusion, and they were only about $3, so if they don't work, I'm only out $3. I'm currently using some disposables which I don't really like, I feel I'm shaving more than usual.
I picked up the antibacterial ointment to compare to neosporin. I picked up the lip gloss because I had a dumb moment, I was really just looking for chapstick (which I got), but I saw these in the Christmas section and was thinking they were lip balm, they'll probably go out in friendmail.
My Walmart is right next to our sad mall. So, I went over there, and checked out TJ Maxx
I picked up these snacks because like I said, I'm working long hours, I'm hoping these will give me the energy I need. I picked up the emoji snacks because it was lunch time and I was hungry, plus they were only two dollars. They are rice crispy treats with frosting. They are pretty good, just rather large, they're probably about an inch thick. Thought I might send the heart eyes out in a friend mail, Valentine's is coming. I picked up the tape, cause I'm low on tape. I wasn't sure I should because it's removable tape, so I don't know how great the quality is, but I need tape. I don't really want to go back to Hobby Lobby until Valentine's is on sale because I don't want to spend more money there, and I know I will if I go. I really need to find it somewhere cheaper than $12, I do always make sure I use a 40% off coupon, so it's really only 7 something, but it only lasts about a month. I wish I could find a good cheap place to buy it in bulk.

I did start the year out reading a book (only because I couldn't renew it), it was ok. I haven't really cut back on Youtube. I have started another Christmas flipbook (because I want to make one). I did go all day yesterday without drinking pop, but I also went shopping yesterday. I spent like $50 at Walmart, of course I could just consider I would have spent about $60 on shoes. If I just didn't go out (and the cold does help with this), I wouldn't be spending money (I'm not a big online shopper, there's just too much, I feel overwhelmed). But my temporary job is at a retail store, and though I don't get discounts, it's a university bookstore, so they have stationary items, and they do have some pretty cool stuff for sale.
I also want to change my attitude about swaps. I love doing them, but I hate that I always send things out on time and I keep running into people that don't and don't message me to let me know it's late. I want to be happy that I'm in the swap and just get excited when I get mail, but I get all annoyed when things are late, or people don't follow through. I feel the attitude change is going to take a little longer.
I'm trying. I guess that's all I can do.

Monday, January 02, 2017

12 Days of Christmas Swap

It's time for the Chaotic Goddesses 12 Days of Swap reveal. Here's what I got:
Day 1:
 
 A snowman and a couple snowman tea lights
Day 2:
 
 Russell Stover Pecan Delight
Day 3:
 
 A bag full of craft supplies: pens, double stick tape, glue sticks, foam dots, a couple sheets of bling
Day 4:
 
 Hot chocolate and socks
Day 5:
 
 An ornament
Day 6:
 
 Copper colored owl
Day 7:
 
 Brother of Day 6, gold colored owl
Day 8:
 
 Another ornament, sorry about the color on this one, it was sparkly and I wanted to contain the glitter.
Day 9:
 
 Box full of Andes mings
Day 10:
 
 mug
Day 11:
 
 Snowman, also sparkly and trying to contain glitter
Day 12:
 
 book

I was really impressed with what my partner sent this year. Sadly, it will be the last year. Here's what I sent my partner:
a box of post-its, a doll, bag, tree plate, tree pin, 2017 calendar, hot chocolate, hot chocolate, mug filled with chocolate, tree ornament, box of chocolates, and some planner goodies.

I hope my partner liked what I sent her, I had a lot of fun picking out things for her and wrapping them up.