Thursday, August 30, 2018

pumpkins

The end is near. Today was rough, I kinda dreaded going in to work at the bookstore. I did get to leave a little early, though. I wanted to check out the paper blowout sale at Hobby Lobby (it seems when I work more, shopping helps to destress me), plus I needed a plastic tube that washi comes in for a swap (sorta). I decided that it would depend on which bus came first, if blue came first, I'd go shopping because it drops me off really close to Hobby Lobby. If red came first, I would just go home. Blue was pulling up as I got to the bus stop.
I stopped at JoAnn's and found this cute couple:
 I don't decorate for fall or Halloween, but I seem to keep getting more decorations for them. I'm trying extra hard this year to get rid of them.
I'm extra interested in Halloween crafting, either, but still have a lot of Halloween crafting stuff, so I'm doing a private swap to send it to someone who wants it.
Here's what I bought.
 wood leaf pieces:
forest animal wood pieces:
 These wood pieces are thinner than I wanted.
fox cards and some fallish tags.
 I had a minor mishap with my water bottle and the packages got wet, so I had to take them out to get pictures.
Next up was Hobby Lobby, everything I got was on sale.
washi tube (9.99), paper pack (4.49), binder rings (1.49), magnetic bookmarks (1.00), planner inserts (1.24) I picked up the tube cause I liked the girls and I've been coveting some of the envelope washi I didn't realize was from Hobby Lobby. I figured I could use the paper pack for a shabby chic pocket letter I have coming up. Picked up the binder rings in case I do more tag flips. I love magnetic bookmarks and these were cheap. I thought the planner inserts were cute patterns and I could use them for a flip book.
 dog keychain (1.25) stuffed lion (1.50), fall stickers (1.24), clear stamps (.74), donut keychain (1.49) fuzzy pumpkins (4.19), Christmas ornament (.14), owl buttons (.74), washi (1.24 each)
Cause I can't go too long without buying stuffed animals, I picked up the dog keychain, the stuffed lion and the stuffed donut keychain. I picked up the fall stickers for my tube. The clear stamps I figure I'll send out in a swap. I know I said I'm trying not to have fall decorations, but I figured I could use them as package filler for swaps. I figured I could use a tree for anything, the funny thing is it was on sale for 24 cents and because it was Christmas, the cashier gave it to me at 40% off. I couldn't pass up the owl buttons or the washi.
I came home to some happy mail.
I think this is a wish granted:
 2 note cards with envelopes:
 bookmark:
 It says coffee & books = happiness. I need to find someone who likes coffee I seem to be getting a lot of that themed things, too.
Letter Q:
 they're supposed to be quartz.
I'll probably pass this on as well, as I don't do coloring things.
I also got a package from Amazon:
I've found I really need over the head headphones. I tried earbuds and the over the ear ear buds, they just fall out of my ears. These I can adjust, but stores don't seem to carry them anymore, they're all the big headphones and I don't want those. And to get free shipping, I added the foam tape, I always need that.

weekly update

Saturday was the first day I didn't have to get up early for anything, because of that I chose not to go to any garage sales. I was just so tired from the week. I basically relaxed until I had to go to work. I found this giant pile of chips at work.
 Apparently they were left over from an end of the summer party.
After work, I put together a few tags.
SMS cuddly:
 Fairy:
 destash:
 junk journal:
 I picked up my mail on my way in to work.
Letter R: rocks, reese's and rubber stamps as well as useful: double stick tape and highlighters.
 And a flip book:
 Another package had an owl tag:
 Love this pin.
And a beads, buttons and charms swap.
I love the presentation.
Sunday, I had to work again. But, I still got to sleep in. I made a Halloween tag:
 I also got a few things together to send out.
SMS lovely:
 wish for anything cactus and llama:
 Monday, I opened at the library and closed at the bookstore. My mom took me to dinner afterwards. My parents just got back from their week in Okoboji, they had a time share up there for about the last week in August. I spent my summers there and it's bittersweet to go back, when I can. Sadly, it rarely fits into my schedule, working at the bookstore and all. I didn't want to hear about their week and I certainly don't want to hear about their cruise they're taking in September.
Anywho, I went home and found some happy mail waiting for me.
Sticky notes:
 Back to School supply swap:
I also had a pen pal letter and a check for $10.
Tuesday, I woke up and put a few things together.
ATC:
 S tag: for socks, stickers, stamps, ship, spider web and sticky notes. I took the SweetTarts out to save on postage.
 Happy mail:
 and a birthday card:
 I went in to the bookstore at 10:45, which was a weird time, I was there until 3 and then headed over to the library. I was so tired by the time we closed at the library. I'm not entirely sure why it was only a 9 hour day. I think it's because it was the 9th day in a row I worked. I'm so ready to be done at the bookstore now. I realize they need us because they are short people, but I'm tired of working so much.
Wednesday, I opened at the library. Found this in a book:
I went to the post office on the way home and spent way too much money. I want to do these tags, but I don't want to spend so much money on postage. I spend about $30 every week. I decided to not post international anymore, it's $1.15 for a letter. I need to pick and choose what tags I really want to do. I need to not do stickers anymore, or thrift store, because I don't get stuff back I want.
I was too tired to open my mail on Tuesday, so I did it on Wednesday.
Surprise:
Best thing about this was, this person wasn't even supposed to send to me, she told me to keep it anyway. I love it, I probably will not use it as a keychain cause I'm afraid I'd break it or lose it.
Homemade:
cute tag.
School supply:
There's something else I don't need a pencil bag I have about 15 of them. I need to stuff them with things and send them off to other people.
And here's Wednesday's mail.
ATC:
I love how she used a vintage photo for it.
A wish for tea:
I'm not sure how I feel about ginger bread and licorice, I feel I'll be passing these all on to someone else.
Scavenger hunt:
Hard: Jolly Rancher, miniature: hershey's, flavored: lifesavers gummies, triangular: pencil sharpener and funny: whoopee cushion and the monster.
I love the candy and the monster. The other things I could do without.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Weekly update

Sunday, I got in gear and put together some tags and swaps.
Used postage:
 Sweet Treats tag flipbook:
 I've been wanting to make a tag flipbook but hadn't dove in yet, so when this was posted on one of my groups, I got a bit excited.
Back to school pocket letter:
 and bookmark:
 a wish for a tote bag, salt water taffy, colored sharpies and writing pens:
 something homemade:
 I had a really hard time with this, I'm not sure why. I love how this tag turned out, though.
Monday, I worked 8-8, I basically got home about 8:30 on Monday night and sat on my ass until I had to go to bed.
Tuesday, I worked 8-9, I put a few tags together before going to bed.
2 notecards with envelopes:
 Letter R
 for red, rosette, rose, rainbow and robot. I took out this rabbit and put in a different one.
A surprise tag:
Wednesday, I opened the mail I had received on Tuesday. I was way too exhausted to open it on Tuesday.
 A private swap:
 Back to school pocket letter and bookmark:
 SMS challenging:
 I think this is a wish granted, but I'm not sure.
die cut swap:
I was so exhausted on Wednesday. I bought a pop when I got to work because I just couldn't function. I basically just sat on the couch all day. I wanted to go to the mall, but I was so tired when I got up in the morning, I knew I should wait.
 My mini shopping trip on Tuesday:
The top is a lunchbox, I'm not quite sure it or the cactus were worth the money, but I wanted to buy something fun at the bookstore. Now I won't feel obligated.
I did get a few tags/swaps together.
Something fruit themed:
 Two cards and envelopes:
 Thursday: was a long 10 hour day at one job. So, I splurged a little on my break. I bought an almond croissant and a cream puff:
 They were really good, I also picked up some yogurt pretzels (not so great) and a butterscotch rice crispies treat. I haven't tried it yet. Totally wicked tired when I got home, but I found some fun happy mail.
My sweet treats tag flip:
 Summer ATCs:
 And a mermaid tag:
 I'm a bit disappointed in the kiddie stickers I was sent. At one point, I feel it was specified that we couldn't do stickers, but I checked the post and it doesn't say anything. I could save so much money if I just sent out stickers for everything.
Friday: I had a great night of sleep, and I seem to be tired of tea. I guess drinking the same-ish things four days of the week makes you tired of it. I mean I'm not drinking the same flavor of tea, but it just gets tiring. I was prepared to work at the library from 1-6, but my boss at the library worked out the schedule so I didn't have to, so I went shopping instead.
First stop was Walmart:
 I wanted these pencil cases, but they were about $4 each. They are 3 separate pencil case that velcro to each other. I don't need any pencil cases.
I found this one, too:
 And these magnets:
 And this expanding file folder:
I feel Walmart is the only place I will ever see a family cussing about their life and work, one of them happening to be a guy in the army (maybe) with a gun and knife on his side. That was interesting, there's this family and the guy seems to be complaining about work, but he's just cussing away. A couple of Walmart (probably top people) come walking up to them, and as they are, one of them radios someone else, and they go talk to the family, and the guy says they'll tone it down. I wonder if they called the police on him because of his tons of weapons. I also wandered by a couple guys that took it upon themselves to call someone to help them in sporting goods over the intercom. I think they thought I was coming to help, because I was walking towards them in my blue bookstore shirt and they seemed a little embarrassed. But, no one came to help them, so they called again. Come to think of it, I had heard someone calling for an associate in sporting goods before that, cause apparently you're too lazy to go find someone.
 What I did buy:
 I had to pick up tape ($6), I couldn't pass by the Mason jar spoon rest ($4), or the Toy Story blind bags ($1 each), or the sticky notes ($2) and of course I was hungry, so I picked up the Kit Kat ($2) and the Reese's ($2) and the Hershey's ($1).
I try to pick up tape every time I go to Walmart, because then I'll never run out. I seriously couldn't pass up the spoon rest, whether I actually use it, or pass it on to someone else, we'll see. I found the blind bags in the clearance aisle, and picked them up. They were a little disappointing, two Buzz Years and a Ken. I saw the sticky notes in the back to school section, I had to get the little coffee cup. And like I said, I was hungry, I may send the Reese's on to someone else.
Next up was Target,
Thought these were interesting:
I didn't look at them further as no one plays games with me. They were already packing up back to school stuff (school started Thursday) and I'm guessing clearing room for Halloween.
Here's what I bought:
 CD ($7), tea ($4), gift bags ($3), DVD ($8), red vines ($3), labels ($2), stationery kit ($2), toy ($2)
I couldn't pass up Guns N Roses greatest hits or 13 Hours. Also, thought I could use the gift bags in swaps. I'm on a red licorice kick lately and needed shipping labels. I got a LOL calculator kit from Hollar in a mystery bag, so figured I could add this to it and send out with a swap. I liked the cat in the hat, though his eyes are kinda creepy.
Next stop was Dollar Tree:
 labels, witch hats, gift bags, keychain, stickers, DVD, blind bag, markers.
Again, needed labels. I bought the witch hats for the spider (next picture), I'm not sure why I bought the gift bags. The key chain is a mini sneaker. I thought I could use the stickers for a tag. I've been wanting to watch this movie. I can't pass up a cheap blind bag, and I need some markers.
 card, deco tape, spider, book, notebook, ribbon.
The card is for my brother's birthday, the deco tape was just cute, figured I'd use it for a swap. I thought the spider was cute and added one of the above hats to it. The book looked interesting and I always need notebooks. The ribbon was neat.
 stickers, journal, activity books.
I know I have too many stickers, but I can't pass them up. I didn't buy two ribbons, just didn't realize I put them in the previous picture. Thought the journal was cute, figured I'd use it for tags along with the activity books.
 book, snacks, shower poufs.
This book was wicked cute, and I needed shower poufs.
I found a thrift store tag when I arrived home:
It's been a long week, I've worked 42 hours already and have another 5 to work tomorrow. I really need to cut back at the bookstore, it's way more than I can do. I was so exhausted on Wednesday. I had already worked 23 hours before going to work on Wednesday, it's too much. I keep feeling I'm just going to burst out in tears because I'm so tired. I'm also a little sick of the college kids. We've had so many say they bought their books twice, I even had one person say the system created another order for her, I had another one say we added books to their order they hadn't asked for. And then they're all like I have the receipt if you need it, or I need the receipt? Yep, you return something, you gotta show you paid for it. The bookstore used to be so fun when I started years ago, I don't know if it's doing returns and how stupid they kids seem or if it's the job. I might ask not to be in returns next semester. I'm also feeling burned out in my life, again I feel I need to move somewhere else because I'm just so tired of Ames, and that there's nothing here.