Minions and Monsters

Wednesday: Slept in until 8, still made it to work by 9, basically just worked on Interlibrary Loan inventory all day. Left about 3, found two pieces of mail for me. It's the first time in 6 weeks since I got mail on a Wednesday, I may have celebrated a little bit.

First item was a pocket letter:

 Cute theme, but I wish people would do more than just cutting up a picture and stuffing goodies in the pocket. I don't consider it a pocket letter if all you do is cut up a picture, try a little people.

 As you all know I love minions, so I liked it either way.
The second item was a penpal letter. I started one right back to her, I don't know if we'll continue writing this frequently, but I hope so.
I made my second tag for Margarete Miller's weekly challenge:

 The things to include were: Something with pink (the girl), Sheet music, Clothing tag (mother), List (clocks repaired), Book page, and the bonus was a Rubber stamping in two colors.
Thursday: thought the water in my chai mug made an interesting pattern:

 Spent about 4 hours at work, my boss agreed that we should do ILLs when we start curbside pickup of holds.
Found a couple pieces of mail when I got home, a spring card:

 A monster card:

 This was supposed to get to me by April 26th, my partner mailed it on May 4th. It's cute, I just wish she mailed on time, or let me know she'd be late. She hasn't posted that she received mine and I mailed it around April 21st.
I made my 3rd tag for the collage challenge:

 Bug/insect, Key, Sequence of numbers, "Ink", Quote, bonus was Something in black and white.
I finished the night reading Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. It was good, I was disappointed it had the multiple viewpoints, I'm not a big fan of books like that. I had to read the kid's story and then went back to the young lady's. I had already read The Baby Thief and Before and After which are both books on the same topic, the kids who went through the Tennessee Children's Home Society, I kinda felt obligated to read Before we Were Yours. I couldn't put it down, it was after midnight when I finished it.
Friday: I had a zoom meeting that ran longer than I expected, sometime in the meeting, our time limit was extended. I stopped at a local store on the way home, saw this huge gnome right inside the door:

 I bought a smaller one for myself:

 Since it was Easter, it was half price. I was on my way out the door when I saw a whole table of Easter stuff. There was another gnome I was debating between this one and the other one. The other one had arms, and I really like this style or no arms, so I bought this one, plus this has my favorite color hat.
A few other things:

 Some cute felt flowers, a mouse Christmas ornament and a unicorn Christmas ornament. I was going to go on Wednesday when mostly everything is 20% off, but I forgot. If I did, the flowers would have been cheaper. I found it annoying that I was the only person with a mask on, the store isn't really big enough to be 6 feet away from other people. My mom's all surprised that our numbers keep rising, I don't find it surprising, what do you expect? What I don't need to know is the exact number as the newsletter I get about it tells me. I realize it's a big number and only getting worse, I just don't need to know the exact number.
I made my 4th tag:

 Playing card (the flowers are cut from the back of one), Group of three, Bumpy surface (heart), Something that splashes (fish), Buttons, Bonus: a person or people.
Saturday: I received my giant destash from one of my groups:

 There was a ton of stuff in the box:

 I especially like the scrabble pieces above.

 And the resin pieces.

 A lot of fun ephemera:

 I found it better than the last one I participated in, more stuff I'd use.

 How about those trees?

 So much stuff.

I posted in the group event that I received it, and got a message today (Tuesday) from my partner asking if I had received it. It's not my fault I can't tag her in the event.
 I made my fifth tag:

 Path/road, Something cold, A favorite word, Part of a calendar, a Paper with a repeating pattern, Bonus: An illustration (bird).
My mom wanted cheesecake for Mother's Day, we couldn't find a restaurant that would deliver it, so I picked some up at the store, turned out to be $11 for a 2lb cake of 4 different kinds. My dad mostly paid for it, which was good, it was more than I wanted to pay.
Sunday: Got my laundry done, that's a given for a Sunday. I started it shortly before leaving to go to my parents. We were supposed to have burgers from a local place, but they weren't open for Mother's Day, so my mom made lasagna, not even close to burgers in my mind, such a giant step away. It's a good thing my dad paid for the cheesecake, as I didn't get to take any of it home. I would have liked to have a piece or two.
Made a card for a work card exchange:

 I love how it turned out, I hope the person I sent it to, likes it as much.
And my sixth tag:

 something Ornate (pink circles), a Dictionary page, something that Turns or spins (Ferris wheel), Something that begins with C (coupon), a Form or portion of, and the Bonus: Something you see through a window. I originally had it written down as something you see through, the window, and then when I was checking it saw there was another line, so I added the tree.
There was a virtual break room posted on our work thing online and one of the topics was to post your pet. This is mine:

 It's plastic. I got it in a swap awhile back, I think of it like WALL-E's cockroach. I keep trying to make it into a magnet, but it just keeps hopping off the magnet, it's not something fun to see on the floor in the dark.
Monday: I processed most of the ILLs we received since closing. The email about curbside holds starting was supposed to go out Tuesday, so I wanted to make sure I got them all processed. About half of them were for Home Delivery patrons, and we have no idea when we'll start that again. There were also some for people that didn't have email, we have to talk more about the wording on my phone call before I can process those.
Found 3 items in the mailbox when I got home, a dollar store tag:

 I wasn't pleased to see these. I was hoping for something else.
A sympathy card:

 And a birthday surprise, which I filed away to open on my birthday.
I tried to read some of my books, but just couldn't get into them. I made my seventh tag:

 Leaves, Something sweet (the little girl with her tea), a group of three, A math symbol (plus signs in upper right corner), a doodle, Bonus: a label.
I had a hard time with this one, I couldn't find a label or a doodle and couldn't figure out what to do with the leaves.
I put together a birthday package for someone else:

 She likes Disney, cats and Care Bears.
A sticker sheets tag:

 I actually got to bed at a decent time, apparently I spent a lot of time somewhat awake during the night, my fitbit said my sleep score was fair, I also woke up grumpy and tired.
Tuesday: I don't usually go in to work on Tuesdays, but I expected a lot of people to cancel their holds and to return stuff. I found out Monday afternoon we are encouraging people to return stuff. When I left, it was starting to come in, and we were starting to run out of carts. We're quarantining anything returned for 72 hours and then shelving it. It's a lot of stuff to sit for 3 days before you can shelve it, but it's got to be done.
I picked up my summer reading shirt:

 I also wanted to order the YA one which was a dragon, but they were out of my size when we put in the order.
I went to a late lunch with a friend to a local restaurant that re-opened. The place is huge and it was so quiet and empty, it was surreal. I talked her into going to Target and Dollar Tree as well. I really just wanted some interesting food for meals and ice cream. The grocery store I go to has a limited selection. Some of the shelves were pretty bare, like the frozen chicken shelf. I found a few things:

 Green tea, a couple frozen dinners, a sticker book and a caterpillar. I had a really good tea on Monday, it was from another country, but when I googled the name of it, it was apparently just green tea with lemon, I hope this one is as good. The mushroom risotto and tortellini just sounded good. I got the sticker book because there's narwhals in it. I got a blue one of these caterpillars in my Easter basket, now he has a friend. I really wanted some blind bags and a stuffed animal. I decided the blind bags were too expensive and the stuffed animal I found didn't have a tag, so I had the cashier look it up. It was a Little Joe Chickapig, and turned out to be $12, a little too steep for me. I had a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but we were going to Dollar Tree next and it would have been soup by the time I made it home.
Dollar Tree:

 pen, bag clips, pads, gum, food, toys.
I really wish there was a version of this pen with blue glasses and ears. There was a pink one with yellow glasses and ears, it was too soft to pass up. I needed the bag clips, the pads and the gum (OK, I needed a gum wrapper for an upcoming tag for the collage challenge). I couldn't pass up the chomping teeth or the minions or Boo. I guess I got my minions after all.

 coloring book, stickers, book rings. I couldn't pass up the coloring book either, I just need someone to color the pages for me. Picked up the monster stickers just in case I sign up for another monster card swap. The other stickers were too cute. I needed the book rings to put my collage tags on.
I made my eighth tag:

 Person or people, Bubbles (word bubble), Crossword/puzzle, Text in a foreign language, Sticker from a fruit or vegetable (I didn't have any of these), Bonus: the next noun you hear someone speaking (sun).
I made a flower pocket letter:

And then was too tired to take care of other things, so sat down in front of the computer to take care of things. I was going to get to bed at a decent time (before or shortly after 10pm), it's not 10:40, so much for that. I was checking my fit bit app, and I haven't been to bed before or shortly after 10 since March. I need to get back to doing that. I don't know why I don't, I just get distracted.

Mango squishy

Saturday: I was surprised to see both of my packages out for delivery when I checked tracking in the morning. 

Blessedly Coping:

 I'm not sure how I feel about this 'box', it came in a mailer. I don't think there's anything here I couldn't easily buy at the Dollar Tree. You could tell it was new and put out by a single person, nothing bad, just kinda obvious with the notes and packaging. The pictures on Cratejoy had squishies and more full size items. But with getting my first box after the world fell apart, I realize things can't be like they are on the website. I have 5 more boxes coming and hopefully with the world re-opening it will be different.
I also received a 50 loose stickers tag:

 Technically they aren't loose, but there's a lot of good stickers in there and I'm not going to complain.
Once Upon a Book Club:

 It came in a smaller box than normal, not the regular box, it was white and much smaller.
After I opened it all:

I like the book, The Herd by Andrea Bartz. The gifts were ok, 1. a couple scraps of paper with numbers on them (this was ripped directly from the story, I just don't see why they had to be a gift). 2. a makeup bag with makeup brushes, it's cute but I won't use it. The part about it mentions that makeup bag and Gleam products, not makeup brushes specifically. 3. A Frida Kahlo picture, also ripped right from the story, but again what will I do with it? 4. a craft organizer with a picture of x-acto knives, I can't use this in my current living situation, but maybe in the future.
I think they went with the story and they are certainly good gifts (half in my opinion) but I'm not sure I'll use them, which is always my issue. I think it was a good decision to cancel the subscription, I'll stay on their mailing list and just get the books from my library.
Sunday: as always a lazy day, I got my laundry done.
Monday: a local drugstore/grocery store is closing and I'm kinda bummed. The location they're in, I can recall a drugstore being there for as long as I can remember. I really wanted some of their pre-made meals and chocolate, but they didn't really come out for me. I picked up a couple containers of my chai tea, I'm not sure where I'll get it when they close. It used to be, I'd get it at a local candy store, and then they closed down, then I switched to a different brand at my grocery store and they stopped carrying it. I was rather excited when I found my original brand at the drugstore, but now I either have to find a new brand or I'm thinking order it online. They are merging with a larger grocery store, but I've never seen the boutique items there that they carry. I stopped at the grocery store, all the stuff that I had seen on sale in the ad from last week were out of stock. I splurged on some chips (which were not good), Chex mix (wrong one, thought it was turtle, it turned out to be sweet and salty), some fried chicken (I was craving that the other day). and mini fruit pies (the cherry is not so good). At least with food, I know it will get eaten.
I made tentative plans with a friend to get together sometime this week. I've realized the longer I'm away from people, the more depressed I get. I didn't realize how much I really need social interaction. We had a meeting at work and we're basically not opening all the way with people as soon as I had hoped. We're going for a phase re-opening, which is best, I just need people.
Tuesday: I found a text from my dad saying my aunt had passed away. We knew it was coming, we're not close, it just was one more thing to hit me while everything else is happening, I can't deal with it right now.
I got some things ready to mail, a wish for something Pokemon:

 Someone sent me these pictures in a swap, and I don't do Pokemon. I'm not even sure why I held on to them.
A birthday surprise:

And then after I got it all packaged up and ready to go, I realized I forgot to include the stickers.
So, I put them in the other wish for a birthday surprise:

 I think a lot of people are just going for flat stuff, but I like stuff when I get birthday mail, figured they might, too. They're not too heavy, so shipping shouldn't be too bad.
I received a Send Me Something squishy:

 It's a mango squishy. I'm not that excited about it, it came from Amazon, and I know there are more interesting things, like kawaii squishies.
I also started the Margaret Miller collage challenge.

I didn't exactly follow directions, I tweaked them to my liking, but it's still great. I chose to use a tag base and am putting them on a tag flip.

critter paperclips

Friday: I still felt like crap, but not as bad as Thursday, I found some expired cold medicine in my cabinet and took some of that, not sure it really helped. I went to work, but was so tired I left early, but of course I couldn't sleep.

Saturday: I still felt crappy, but put together a few swaps. Perfectly purple:

 We're supposed to send 5 purple items. I chose a stationery set, some decorative tape, a card set, this pig suction cup thing I got in another swap (not entirely sure what it is), some stickers, a 'wish' decorative piece, a marker, and some My Little Pony toys. I couldn't decide what to send. Due to the fact that things weren't all purple (though I'm not sure it really matters), I added more and since the MLP toys weren't new, I put other things in there. I hope my partner likes it.
Secret Sister:

 The person I'm sending to said she liked stationery (kawaii and Minnie Mouse sets, also the W seals, her last name starts with a W), Christmas ornaments (the snowflake and snowman), nature (the tiny succulent plant), practical stuff (the bag, thank you cards, pot holder, fingernail clippers and the to go cup, which I stuffed with tea).
2 sticker sheets and 8 washi samples:

 I went with Halloween and fall themed sticker sheets, but basically just raided my washi samples and sent what I thought I wouldn't use.
Sunday: It was the first time I felt normal since I caught the cold. I had a work brunch, that was fun, I didn't really know what to expect. I did my laundry and then went to Red Lobster with my parents. On the way home, we stopped at a grocery store for milk and I saw their new candy aisle:

 I feel the need to go back there at some point and explore it more when it's closer to done.
Monday: It was 30 degrees when I left for work, the forecast was to be in the 50's when I went home, it was hard to figure out what coat to wear. I ended up wearing my leather with a hat and scarf, I was a bit chilly on my way in, but comfy when I left. I chose to head over to the Asian food store on my way home and ran into a friend I hadn't seen recently. We made plans to go to some church fairs on Friday.
What I picked up at the Asian food store:

 Green tea/red bean cakes, lychee Ramune, soybean milk, fruity gummy candy, some tea drinks, and some cake rolls? It's always kinda hit or miss everytime I go into one of these. I can't read Asian, I had the google translate app, but it didn't do well and drained my battery (though I bet it wouldn't on the new phone), so I got rid of it. I tried the cakes, they're good, usually I don't get red bean stuff because it's too sweet. I knew the gummy candy was good as well as the tea drinks. The soybean milk was ok, I don't think I've ever had it, it had a weird aftertaste. I spent about $25.
I also got some stuff ready to mail when I got home.
Fall happy mail:

 I may have gone a bit overboard, but I don't have a lot of fall stuff, so when I found it I stuffed it all in.
Destash:

 this was originally supposed to be for Alice in Wonderland stuff, but I misplaced the two items I had, so I went with destash instead.
Halloween happy mail:

 I was going to try and go flat, but then I found the witch squishy and the tiny skeleton, so I added a few more 3D items.
Wish for tea:

 Wish for project life cards:

 wish for rhinestone stickers:

 Wish for something mermaid:

 At this point I was tired and hadn't had lunch yet, so I stopped doing stuff. I watched my scary movie, Silence of the Lambs and went to bed. No mail, as it was Columbus Day. I hate no mail days, especially after only getting good mail last Monday.
Tuesday: I knew I had to do a bunch of making things. I didn't realize I had to do a couple swaps, so ended up making more than I planned. I thought I had more time.
Fall Critter paperclips:

 They turned out being mostly made from a chipboard set of stickers I bought at Target last year. I thought I had more fall critter things than I found I did. I also found some stickers (squirrels) and some felt (owl) and foam (turkey) pieces. The bat, owl and mouse at the top are for me. I always seem to make a few for myself when I make paperclips.
Halloween ATCs:

 My partner had messaged me asking if I was planning to send with one stamp or tracking. She mentioned something about was I planning to send a house, after we agreed on one stamp, I found this haunted house diecut, so thought I had to make an ATC with it.
ATC:

 I always just clean up the scraps on my desk when making these.
Halloween pocket letter:

 I like signing up to do the pocket letters and ATCs in my mailing groups because they are simple and easy. I like doing pocket letters but it seems my art groups don't do them as much anymore.
I found 4 items in my mailbox, I was hoping for more since we had two days of no mail before it.
Fall critter paperclips:

 I like how she did the banner style, I never think to do this style of paperclips.
Extras:

 some cute stuff.
What begins with O mini pocket letter:

 I hate that people do Christmas/winter things before November, I can handle it in November, I just don't want to think about it until then. I don't mind shopping before then, but I don't want to think about crafting things just yet.
Extras:

 Blue happy mail:

 Interesting selection.
Fall critter paperclips:

 This partner sent me a ton of stuff. I like it when people do this, depending on the swap I do, I included a few extra chipboard pieces with my paperclips, mostly because they were in a padded envelope and were a parcel, but to feel better about sending a parcel.
All the stuff in the bundle:

 The loaded envelope from the bottom right picture above:

 And the paperclips:

I like the red truck with the critters.
I don't know about anyone else, but I rarely use the paperclips people make for me.