My Melody

Wednesday: Found some mail when I got home.

Happy mail:

Wrapped Christmas presents:

Obviously they're not wrapped in the picture, I was going to leave them wrapped and open them later, but I had an annoying day at work (I was only there 3 hours), so I opened them. I wasn't that impressed. I'll use the paper and the hot chocolate, the rest I'll probably pass on.
I had plans to hang out with a friend and her mom that moved away in August. We went to an interesting restaurant called Safari Cuisine. It's got more of Thai food and different stuff. Sadly, I thought the menu was small, and I didn't know what anything was. My friend had been there before, so she helped. I got some kind of taco like thing. It was pretty good, but dry as were the sambosas we had. I probably won't go back. We headed out to The Mucky Duck, our British foods place. I found this calendar:

I didn't have a chocolate one. I love that it's also good chocolate rather than the cheap chocolate we have in the US. I spent about $32 with the candy bar.
After getting home, I learned that they are opening another more food store downtown, I'm sure I'll be frequenting them. I've missed the one they had downtown since they moved 4 or so years ago.
Thursday: we went to my cousin's on my dad's side for Thanksgiving, they were having an issue with power when we got there, but everything was basically done when it went out. I sufficiently stuffed myself.
Friday: we had second Thanksgiving with my aunt, cousin and cousin's kids on my mom's side. It was good. My mom talked me and my brother into helping her unroll a big rug in their basement. She wanted me to stay to unroll another one, but it was not my intention to stay all day with them.
I found some mail when I got home
Stocking destash swap:

Basically we took a stocking and filled it with destash. I love these swaps. When I do the destash tags on my big mail group, it's not as fun, but when I do the destash swaps in my other groups, it's always fun.
SMS fuzzy:

I was hoping for a stuffed animal. I'll probably be passing these on to someone.
Wrapped Christmas gift:

I totally opened it, it was a self-inking stamper. Sadly, it reeked of cigarette smoke, so that will go on to someone else.
Saturday: I had to work in the afternoon. I was planning on doing Small Business Saturday, but I'm kinda tired of shopping and I needed some time to myself before work. I put together some tags.
SMS playable:

 2 notecards and envelopes:

 I found some mail when I got home from work.
I signed up to send out Christmas/holiday cards in one of my groups, it was a total of 43, so I'll get 43 back.
My first one:

 came with a random swap:

 We were supposed to find the most random item in our craft stuff and send it out. I'm not sure I considere die cuts random.
Sunday: I had to work and did laundry. I'm also trying to read as much of one of each of my books every day. So, I finished Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees by Thor Hanson. It was interesting. I also figure this will not only get me to read my books but figure out if I want to continue renewing them.
Monday: Opened at work, found some happy mail when I got home
More Christmas cards:

 Random swap:

 She said she gets bags of jewelry stuff at a store and decides whether to use them in art or wear them.
Christmas ATC:

 This is really cute.
Happy mail:

 I'm kinda annoyed with this person. When we sign up for a tag, we have a week to send it out. This tag was on 10/29, we had until 11/7 to send it out and then we can notify the hostesses of the group 2 weeks after if we haven't received it, that would be 11/19. The hostess then makes a missing tag post every two weeks or so and the person who's supposed to send to you has to prove they sent it. My person posted a picture of a bunch of envelopes saying it had been posted. When I received it on the 26th, it was postmarked 11/21, so she sent it a month after she was supposed to, and made it seem like I didn't check the group page for proof of mailing. I always search the group before reporting that I'm missing something. It's very annoying, and after the missing post was posted, a few people had links to their posts about proof of mailing, so there was a whole discussion about checking to see if it had been mailed.
I had to work a basketball game that night, so I only had a few hours to work on a book. This one was The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders by Stuart Kells. Also interesting. It was a cold night, with wicked windchill. I chose to walk home and got home a couple minutes before the bus would have made it to my stop. I was hoping to have a nice warm shower when I got home, but someone else was taking one, too, so it didn't work out.
Tuesday: It felt like I slept in, but when I looked at my phone it was only 7:30. I got up anyway. I put together a few more things.
Junk journal:

 Wish:

 Another wish:

 Surprise:

 Made a card:

And started a few books, but they were dry, so put them in my bag to return. I'm having a hard time getting myself interested in reading today. Found some mail on my way into work.
Christmas cards:

Someone had left a couple sweet potato pies in the break room, so I had a piece on my break:

 I thought it tasted a lot like pumpkin. I'm sure if I had a piece of pumpkin pie afterwards I wouldn't have been able to tell them apart. I felt it was really sweet and I needed a glass of milk afterwards.
Someone left this little creature behind over the weekend.

 I really want one, so I posted the picture on Facebook and my friend found it for me, here. It's $15, I can't justify spending $6 on a cheap one, so I certainly can't justify spending that much on something I really don't need.
Wednesday: found this interesting book at work:

 Not so much for the content, but the fact that all our labels were printed on the book. If you flip it over you can tell that the original cover was photo copied and printed out for a new binding. The back cover looks very wrinkly. It was weird.
I had 4 envelopes of mail when I got home.
Christmas card:

 Thirsty Thursday of two teas

 I do this tag mostly to get new kinds of tea, though I'll probably pass on the pumpkin pie, I'm not a fan of pumpkin flavored things.
Magnet:

 I love this, it's so cute!
Happy mail:

Most of the time when I get this tag, it's stuff I don't want. There was one time someone sent me fabric and beads and buttons. I think that was the one time I liked everything in the tag. So, I think I'll stop doing it.

Wednesday Medley

Found a new Wednesday questionnaire, this one is at Your Friend from Florida, once again I'll participate if I find the questions interesting.

1.  On November 28th, 1995, President Bill Clinton ended the 55 MPH  nationwide speed limit that began in 1974 as an energy saving measure during the Mid-East oil embargo.  If you are old enough to remember this (I sure am) did it make you happy?  Do you have a heavy foot when driving or does 55 MPH sound good to you? While I was alive in 1995, I was 13, so I was not alive in 1974, and I don't drive, so it doesn't affect me either way.

2.  You are home alone on a rainy/snowy Sunday afternoon.  What Christmas movie will you watch? I'd probably go with a Die Hard marathon, the first and second ones are Christmas. If you want more traditional Christmas, maybe Home Alone.

3.  What is something you have tried that you will never try again? Calamari. Ugh. Ick. Nope. Not again.

4.  Today is National French Toast Day!!  Will you have some?  Do you like French Toast? I love French toast, I used to make it when I had bread and sandwiches all the time. Sometimes I'll get it at restaurants, but I probably won't be eating any.

5.  The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center will be lighted today, as will the one at the White House in Washington, D.C.  Do you have your tree up and is it lighted?  Have you ever been in New York City or Washington, D.C. to see the trees all lit up during the holidays? I have a tree, it's one of those antique porcelain ones that had the holes in it with plastic pieces and you put a lightbulb under it. I haven't had it lit up in years because I'm a little concerned about the wiring. I tried putting a flameless candle in it last year, but it wasn't very bright.

I've been to both New York and Washington D.C, though not during the holidays.

6.  Tell us something random about this week of yours. I'm so ready for December. I have 4 Advent calendars and I am dying to open them up. I'm kinda done with November, too. I'm ready for snow on the ground and more winter temperatures and Christmas decorations and holiday stuff.

weekly update

Friday: I worked on finishing a book, left early for work to hit a holiday sale on the way in. 

 I spent a total of $4. the dish towel is for my aunt, she collects Pillsbury doughboys. The owl pin and snowman are for me, and the s&p shakers are for my mom.
I had a November scavenger hunt waiting in my mailbox that I opened at work:

The things this month were: Gooey: Werther's originals with caramel, striped: candy canes, glittery: pencil pouch, fluffy: keychain and oval: which I guess is the game, though I don't consider it oval.
I've decided I'm not participating in these swaps anymore. I do get a lot of pleasure in picking out items to fit the parameters, but I haven't been that pleased with what I get back.
Like I said, on Thursday, I had a doctor's appointment, just a yearly physical, but they called me on Friday and left a voicemail asking for me to call them back, which made me freak out a little. I call back and they say, everything's fine, except my cholesterol is a little high and I should get more exercise and start a low cholesterol diet. Normally they mail me a sheet that tells me the results of my blood test. I was not pleased, I also didn't need a nice freakout moment.

 I found this cool mailing bag in the garbage and it's now mine. I'd love a case of these. I also got this mug for filling out a survey for the city.
Saturday: I put together a wacky Wednesday: striped tag:

 And found some mail,
An Advent calendar pocket letter:

 a wish:

 Apparently it was for SMS fun.
And a surprise:

I got my Christmas cards addressed and ready to send out.

This is only about half of them, I believe I had 43 to send out, which means I will be getting 43 cards back. I should think of a good way to display them.

I made a Christmas ATC:

 I like the simpleness of it. I also like how I used the arrow stickers to make weird looking trees.
Sunday: I had a basketball game, but it was later in the day, so I got some wishes put together:
wish for pocket letter:

 I made this for a specific swap but of course forgot to actually sign up.
wish for hair clips for 4 year old child:

 As I was packaging the envelope, I realized they say 7+, so I added some stickers, since she wished for stickers, too.
The game was at 2, and we left a little after 6, I actually walked home this time and felt so great about it when I got home. It totally inspired me to walk home when it's nice out, even if it means waiting a few minutes until after the bus has gone by.
Monday: I had the day off due to being paid for hours on two days I wouldn't normally work this week, so it's a weird week with my hours. I don't recall what I did (I feel I say that a lot on my days off. I feel I probably waste a lot of time on the computer in front of the TV watching youtube, but I also know I was reading a book I couldn't renew).
Tuesday: I put together a Christmas wish tag:

 she wished for a wrapped Christmas surprise, thought this was cute, even though the tag said it was a harvest hot pad. I'm not getting harvest from it.
I made a Christmas flipbook for another swap:

 And went to work a little later than normal (due to that weird schedule).
I found mail on my way in:
An initials tag:

 The box had popped open in transit and the whoppers were floating around in the envelope. Since no one can come up with anything but washi tape for this tag (also why is there always glitter washi? It's never the cute washi I see on other people's posts), I'm not doing it again. I don't even like whoppers.
Christmas ornaments:

These are cute, but I'm tired of swapping not being sending people what they want. I like the snowman and the snowflakes ornaments, though the snowflakes are covered in glitter. Also, the penguin piece is kinda cool.

weekly update

I worked on some journal pages using my lollipop box kits Thursday after posting. 

 I also put together some tags,
Happy Mail:

 Christmas ornament:

 Wrapped Christmas gifts:

 The person I'm sending to, said she liked Boston Terriers and crosswords. I figured fuzzy socks, soap and towels would be nice, too.
Friday, I didn't do much. Had a double header for bastketball, and that took mainly all day. Had some down time between games, but didn't do much, I didn't want to start something and then have to go back to work. Got home about 9PM, and was exhausted.
Saturday: I was going to go shopping, but I had a game Sunday and Monday (long day of library and game), so I chose not to go walking.
I put some mail together
SMS crafty:

 Christmas ornaments swap:

 I really hope that the popsicle will make it in one piece. I wrapped it with bubble wrap and tissue paper.
Scavenger hunt:

 This time we had to send something fluffy (bear), oval (egg), gooey (caramel), glittery (pens and washi), and striped (notebook).
Initials:

 I had A (altered notebook) R (rainbow sticky notes), and C (coconut face mask)
And a secret sister:

 There's more, but it's secret. She said she liked pineapples.
I signed up for a random swap, we were supposed to go find something really random in our craft supply. I, of course, overthought it, and took forever to find something.
I chose two partners:

 I thought the pictures on the postcards were random.

 Also, thought a coin holder was kinda random.
I had a few pieces of mail
Happy mail:

 Junk journal:

 winner die cuts:

I'm not sure what I'll do with any of them, but they're cute.
I did get caught up on almost all my swaps/tags.
Sunday: I made a Christmas pocket letter:

I also had another basket ball game and did laundry.

 Monday: I opened at the library and was bummed that there wasn't any mail. I hate no mail days. I put together some tags.
wish for something vintage:

 wish for something dragon:

 Wrapped Christmas gift:

 I realize it's not wrapped in this picture. The person I tagged likes cats and keychains.
SMS Christmas:

I also had another game that night. I was very glad to be done with games until next Sunday by the time I got home.
 Tuesday: I have no idea what I did, I feel like that happens a lot to me. I did received some mail.
a wish for something unique:

 Other than the s'more stickers, I didn't find anything really unique or different. I may stop doing the SMS and the wishes.
Autumn tag:

I love this paper pad. I wish I had something to do with it. What I don't like is that the person who sent to me, sent it as media mail. This is not media mail. It's amazing how much people try to screw over the post office. If you can't afford to send things out right I feel you shouldn't be doing swaps/tags.
Wednesday: Nothing exciting there. I spent way too much money at the post office, mostly on a roll of 100 stamps, though I spent a bit on postage because I had my 4 swaps to send out plus tags.
 Thursday: I had a Dr's appointment in the morning, so I fasted overnight, thought that would be harder than it was. I was considering going to Target this afternoon anyway because it was going to be warm, but I wasn't sure. So after getting done that the doctor's office, I just went. I thought it was too much work to go home and leave later when it was warmer.
I found some unicorn pop tarts at Target:

 Here's what I purchased:

 twizzler nibs ($2), toffee pretzel ($1), mini muffins ($3), spritz chipboard stickers ($3.50).
That's right I picked up the right twizzlers, though I did eat about a quarter of that bag of bites. I also bought a chocolate pretzel toffee bar, but I ate it cause I was hungry.  I picked up the mini muffins for work, now if I could remember to take them to work, that would be great. I've wanted these chipboard shapes, but I hesitated in picking them up because I didn't like all the pieces in the other ones I had purchased in the past.
Here's what was in them:

 I like a ton of these, sadly I don't have a lot to do with them. I especially love the plaid hearts.

ornament ($1), mini notebook ($1), stickers $1), washi ($1 each), surprises ($3 each), more ornaments (cat, star and creature were $3, Ariel $4).
I was really excited to find Christmas at Target finally (which it isn't even that late if the world didn't have Christmas out so early). I love the $3 Christmas ornaments that make up most of their selection. I could go crazy in there if money wasn't an option.
I picked up the truck for swaps. I figured I'd find someone for the Peanuts things. I picked up plaid washi, sparkly hearts, and some woodland animals. I'm really into the plaid thing lately. I figured I could use the hearts for Valentines Day. The woodland animals matched the chipboard pieces and was on sale. I picked up the cat for a friend, and loved the star and creature. I'm not sure what this creature is, but I love it. I have no explanation for the surprises.
I had texted my mom on the way to Target and asked if she wanted to go to lunch. So, my parents picked me up there and we went to Red Lobster, which was ok, but I should have asked to go somewhere else, I'm craving potato skins. I had a lobster roll and a caprese salad. It was ok, but the lobster roll was small and I had to eat it with a fork.
We were right across the street from BAM, so I went over there and they left. I remembered while I was there I needed a day by day calendar.

 I wasn't exactly wowed by the choices, I was hoping to find a cute animals one, but they only had cats, dogs and scenery. I had picked up a scenery one and then I saw this Bob Ross calendar ($15), I picked it up for my brother for Christmas and put mine back. I also needed a keychain ($4), so I picked this one up.
I wasn't going to go to Walmart, but I figured since I was walking right past it.

 pom pom keychain ($4), toys($1.50 each), stickers ($1), candy bars ($1.34 each)
I saw this keychain in the checkout line and it was so cute, with it's ears and it's glasses and it's feet. I shouldn't have picked up the toys, but they were cute and cheap, especially since they were also originally $6.88. Couldn't pass up these stickers, they have llamas and hedgehogs and sloths. I tried these candy bars last time, and they are really good.

 pajamas ($11), boots ($20)
I had to see if they had the boots I wanted, they did. I still need to return the ones that are the wrong size, but I'll get to it. And how cute are these pjs?
On my way home, one of my co workers saw me and offered me a ride, which was much appreciated because I hd acquired 3 plastic bags and they were annoying.
When I got home I found some mail
Wish for something edible:

I haven't tried them yet, but they sound yummy.
I'm very happy with all my purchases this week. Which is better than last week when I spent more and got less.