Lots of purple

Thursday: I was scheduled to work 10-5 at the bookstore, my first day. I was excited but also a little nervous (that's how it always is with my jobs I don't do every day). So, I got my stuff all ready, packed my lunch and am there on time. They hadn't added me to their pay system, we go through this every time, I'm on the payroll because I work at the athletics events center but the bookstore has to do something so I can get paid for the work there. This year the whole university switched over to a new payment system so I know they were dealing with that, but they always tell me I have to be added back to the system which is not true. I'm supposed to have training and an orientation and then probably just work. I get there and they're like oh, you don't need orientation, you know everything, we'll get you trained in returns and then you can go 30 minutes later. So, I go back home, and am annoyed for the rest of the day. My mail arrived later than usual, but I got quite a few things in it.

Hollar Haul:

 Llama notebooks ($1.50) unicorn stickers ($1.60 each), bunny page flags ($2), snail magnets ($3) lollipop eraser ($1), hedgehog pencil sharpener ($1), Mocheez jumbo wiggli jelli fun toy koala bear ($4), Gudetama Lazy Egg squishy ($3).
Not entirely sure why I put in this order, I think there were just too many cute things. I found the koala bear thing to be pretty cute, but I'm not sure it was worth the $4, the Gudetama was only $3 and that's brand name, something different. I had to get the snail magnets. They're pretty cute, but not sure they were worth the $3 either.

 notebooks ($1), Hello Kitty eraser ($1), minions playing cards ($1.20), pig pencil sharpener ($1), plush kitty pencil topper ($1), chocolate chop cookies ($2), toffee peanuts ($1.50 each) bag of toffee peanuts ($1).
I had to pick up that notebook, it's the classic thinking symbol from computers in the 90's I remember seeing it a lot. When I took it out of the package, it seemed used as the back cover was bent where a person would be flipping it. I'd been eyeing the hello kitty eraser and the kitty pencil topper for awhile. Love these toffee peanuts, though I see they went up in price, not happy about that, also tried a different brand of them. Not sure why I picked up the cookies, it's not like I can't get them here.
Spent about $30.
Paperback book tag:

 I haven't read this and stuck it in my work bag to read.
Unicorn tag:

 This one came from Amazon with no name, I hate that, I have so many things coming in that it's a bit of work for me to figure out who sent it. I love the keychain.
Purple swap:

 Look at all that stuff. We were only required to send 10 items. Love it all.
Cactus happy mail:

 She made me a flip book with more goodies:

 First flip:

 Second flip:

 All the goodies included:

 After opening this, I realized the one I sent out was incorrect. I was thinking it was just a cactus tag (1 item) and it was cactus happy mail (5 items).
Pocket letter:

 Goodies:

 I didn't think I'd get this. The conversation between the person and me was interesting. She kept not getting back to me and then said she'd send with tracking and then said she sent with stamps. She never actually posted what I sent her on the group page, so I had to. Since it was a personal swap, there was no recourse in the group. I didn't realize how beginner she was, but it's still pretty cute.
I ended up putting together a couple things that I messed up on, to get them sent out between jobs the next day.
Kawaii:

 Totally just grabbed that cactus from the cactus tag. My original idea was to send that little piece of candy (it's a squishie) and go from there, but this keychain came in, and since they are from different groups, I can send it. I do that a lot. If it's something I don't think I'll use (or don't like), I send it out to someone else, I try to not send in the same group, though.
Cactus happy mail:

 Here's what I sent to make up for the tag: stickers, project life cards, washi samples, paper bag and a pen.
The person I sent to posted what she got and she's like this is good. You might be happy with it, but if I don't post what we're supposed to, I can get kicked out of the group. I try to follow the rules. This just happened when I thought I was all caught up and I wasn't.
This next one is a handmade thing.

 It's a flipbook, and for some stupid reason, I didn't write the tag down. So, when I received mine on Wednesday I was like crap. This turned out beautifully and I didn't want to part with it.
Friday: I was again scheduled at the bookstore, this time 9-12, as I had to be at the library at 1. Got there and I was in the pay system, but it was dead, so they said I could go home. I hate how they said it, "Make some money", as if I NEEDED the money. I make enough to live on my library job, this is just extra. I keep feeling like the universe is telling me to move on to something else with all the things that just keep coming up everywhere.
I mailed my two late packages on my way home and got to relax a bit before work. Work was ok for a Friday, had some gross things to deal with and the last hour and a half were pretty busy. Typical Friday. I ended up working with a few people I don't work with that much. I was excited, but then later I had to call our PIC because of kids smoking outside and one of them is like, it's not a big deal. We don't allow smoking on our property, the kids knew that and they were covering their mouth so you couldn't tell. It annoys me when my co workers don't want to enforce the rules for one group of people because of who knows what. You give one person a pass, everyone is going to want a pass.
I found a butterfly swap when I got home:

 Beautiful card.
I watched the movie The Public, about a library in Cincinnati, and it was kinda weird. I liked how at the beginning it kind of addressed issues of public libraries, but I didn't really think the end was realistic, but it is a movie so we gotta have something not real in it.
I put some stuff together to mail.
Unicorn happy mail:

 Happy mail:

 And a I fancy tag, basically it's the same as a send me something, just different wording. One person asked for a different writing pen, I knew this pen was perfect for her:

 I love this pen, but I knew I'd never use it, so again with the sending things between groups. I put it back in it's original box with the padding and stuck it in another box, here's hoping it doesn't break, it is glass.
Later, the group owner said we kinda did the tag wrong because you're just supposed to use adjectives when saying what you fancy. A few people had said, something edible you can't get in the UK. I like how the owner said that we wouldn't know what you can't get in the UK.
Saturday: I was scheduled at the bookstore 9-5 and actually got to work it. The internet was down so we couldn't clock in, another pink slip for my boss to put in the system. It was ok, it wasn't busy or steady, we had bursts of busyness. I was the only temp and it felt like the students just wanted to stand around and talk. I rushed over to catch my bus when we closed at 5, just to find out it wasn't coming until 5:30ish. Because it's summer and Saturday schedule, that was annoying.
Found 5 pieces of mail when I got home.
Flat item:

 Not sure how I feel on this.
Llama tag:

 This one was wicked late, which annoyed me, but I love these stickers.
Favorite color: blue:

 it's a wrap watch:

 It's beautiful, I'm not sure I'll used it as I have the fit but, but it would be fun to wear to a nice event. It came from wish and again I had to track down who sent it. I had an idea of what it was, but the delivery date for that was later in August.
Dollar store:

 I love this, I keep thinking I'll buy one when I'm at the Dollar Tree.
Winner Takes all: unmounted stamps:

I'm a bit annoyed on this one, it took her two months to send it and she said she was sending three. I decided not to mention it since it took her two months to get it to me. And it's not like it got lost in the mail, postmarked date was 8/2, it was coming from Canada, so in theory it should take a week from mailing date, but mail's been a bit slow.
There was a minion tag in one of my groups that I was so excited for, but it ended up being every other person tagged was a single person not in the US, and then the other people that were in the US, said send to this other person. I didn't want to send overseas. I wanted something cool and minion, but the way it ended up being was to send everything to this one person. I decided not to say anything on the group, but I found it rude.
I got a message from my red swap person saying she didn't understand why something was returned to her, when it was obviously a parcel. She said she'd resend it, if it comes back to me with postage due again, I'm not paying. I'll send it back and tell her, but then I may not get the same thing. The last time I did that on something the person sending, took some stuff out and sent so it was only one stamp worth. Again, people just don't realize what makes things a parcel and then get annoyed at the post office, and I usually pay for it.
I love my mail groups, but they seem to be giving me more issues than they're worth. One I'm waiting on a couple things and then I'm thinking of leaving. Just a few issues that have never been addressed and I'm getting screwed over. At least in the other groups, the moderators/owners either try to get the other person to send what they're supposed to and if they don't they get kicked out. I hate following the rule and then other people don't and they don't get penalized for it.
And I'm also stressed about work, so let's layer something else on top of it.
I have plans to go to a garage sale with a friend at the end of the week, that should help and maybe plans the first weekend in September, we'll see.

A purple unicorn

Tuesday, I planned to go to the mall and then walk home, but when I got up it was only in the 30's. I think I'm just itching to go for a walk, that I want it to be nicer than it is. I put together some mail.

Wish for flavored green tea:

I'm not a fan of green tea, I've been passing my cast-off's of tea to my friend at work, I might keep them and send them off in my mail groups.
 wish for clear stamps:

This is a set of stamps I got in my Peachy Cheap grab bag, I rarely used stamps anymore.
 Wish for washi destash:

 I do not like thin washi, so I passed these on.
An Easter basket swap:

 Basically a destash swap. 90% of this is stuff I've gotten in other swaps. The brads I got in my Peachy Cheap grab bag as well as the blue pen and the paper, the owl stickers are from Staples, the washi is from Hobby Lobby. Everything else is from swaps, the decorated bag: a favorites swap, the straws: a secret Santa swap, the green bows: a St. Patrick's Swap, the other bows: a Sweet Treats swap, the card kit: a secret sister, and I'm not entirely sure where the others are from. I received some happy mail.
St. Patrick's Day tag:

 We had to send anything green. Not too excited about these.
A RAK:

These are cute, the person who sent them found some Mary Engelbreit cards at a thrift store and I guess she decided to share.
Wednesday brought a 6x6 loaded pocket in the mail:

 I found it much cuter than the one I created.
And a Hollar haul:

 pantiliners ($1), bamboo bath sponge ($2), duct tape ($0.70 each), dryer balls ($2), toffee peanuts ($1.30).
I picked up the bamboo sponge because I was hoping it was more stiff than my loofahs, I feel I need something to scrub off my dead skin lately. I need duct tape and at that price, it's even cheaper than Dollar Tree, it looks like I get about as much as I get at Dollar Tree. I really don't know how long dryer balls are supposed to last, but my laundry seems to be staticy lately when it comes out of the dryer. I love these peanuts.

 unicorn squishmallow ($5), snail doorstop ($1.50), Little Tykes Squeezoos ($3.75), mystery unicorn squishie ($4), whale bath toy ($1), pom pom pals: sloth ($4), bandages ($1).
I've been wanting one of these squishmallows for awhile, sadly it's basically a stuffed animal, I thought it would be more like a squishie, oh well. Just because I'm into snails lately. I also just really like toys, so I picked up the elephant, whale, sloth and mystery unicorn. And I love printed bandages.

metal scene stickers ($1 each), resin flower stickers ($1), decorative tape ($1).
I mean how can you pass up Jolee's stickers for this price? And I need more decorative tape.
They sent me an email the other day about party stickers, I click on something they have more decorative tape and Martha Stewart stickers and more Jolee's stickers for a buck each, I really want to just buy them all, but I'm going to Target and Walmart and possible Dollar Tree tomorrow, so I really shouldn't. Plus I have another Peachy cheap package coming. I really need to stop spending money and just get ready for garage sales. I have to return some things to Target and Walmart, plus I need more double stick tape. I'm going to *try* and not go shopping for the rest of the month after that, not even after Easter shopping. I know I say it all the time, but I need to get my exercise by walking, not shopping.

A 12" hedgehog

Sunday: I tried to get through some books, did laundry and worked. It was so hectic at work. It was book sale weekend and we were just really busy for a Sunday, plus there was a weird mix up with meeting rooms that threw everything off.

Monday: I opened at the library, still had people asking if we were doing satellite voting. Apparently people think that you can do satellite voting at the designated places anytime you want. Not true. I was really stressed with work this weekend, it was just a really busy weekend with the book sale and satellite voting on Saturday and then every meeting room booked both days. It was so much nicer on Monday, it helps that we have more people working and we have more overlap in schedules. I got to spend more time in the back and caught up on a bunch of interlibrary loan stuff. I spent the rest of the day reading a book.

I received one piece of mail:

This was for a favorite color tag. My favorite color is seafoam green. I was tagged by someone in Australia, I always get excited when people outside the US tag me because I think I'm going to get something different. A towel is not what I was expecting.

Tuesday: I got up and went out to vote. I was going to go early to work and do it then, but then I worried about a line, so I went early.

And went shopping on the way home.

First was Hobby Lobby:

 spiders ($1.70), angel ($9), ornaments ($2.50), flowers ($2), and stickers ($1.50).  I wasn't planning to buy anything fall or Halloween, but how cute are these spider pics? As I was putting them into a vase, I realized they just pop off the stems, so I did that. I did want these flowers, so I picked them up. I've been wanting this angel since I saw it the first time I looked at Christmas stuff. I highly doubt they're gonna mark Christmas down any further before Christmas, so I picked her up. I also wanted these ornaments. I had received something decorated with these stickers in a swap and was extra excited to find them.
Salvation Army is right next door, so I went in.

 acetate pieces ($0.69), minion ($0.69), magnets ($1), card ($0.29). I was kinda hoping for something more exciting, but this minion made my day. I love magnets, and the other items were just cute.
I stopped in at JoAnn's, but as usual, there was nothing I wanted to spend my money on.
Last stop was HyVee:

Dove peppermint bark ($3.70), bagels (2 for $4), Twizzlers filled bites ($3.50), ranch cheese curds ($3.40), ornament ($1), Sweettarts ropes ($2), Twizzlers bites ($2.50), Reeces bar ($1). UGH, I just realized I picked up the Twizzlers bites and not nibs. I like the nibs, not so much the bites, but I probably won't take them back, cause I don't feel like walking back over there. I hid the Dove Peppermint bark so I don't eat them before December, they're my favorite. I couldn't pass up the filled bites, and the sweettarts ropes, even though I can get the ropes at the dollar tree, I don't feel like going over there either (I need to, just not now). The cheese curds and bagels looked good.
Work was pretty slow, sadly not much of a line at the polls all night long. One of the workers said he thought there were about 800 people that voted.
Wednesday: I mailed my 3 large swaps for the next two months, spent about $40 with a book of stamps. Had to stop and get some Cyride tickets and stopped at the grocery store on my way home. And slacked off the rest of the day.
I had tried out the boots I bought last week on my way to voting on Tuesday, I can't make 7 1/2 work, they are way too tight. I want to return them to Walmart, but you can see that I walked in them. I'm thinking I can wash them off and you won't be able to tell. So, I was short a pair of boots for work.
Thursday, I went up to the north Walmart hoping to find the right size, which of course they didn't have. So I went to Payless Shoe Source at our mall, where they had a deal of buy two get one free. I found two pairs of boots and a heel gripper thing for one of them. I also picked up a pair of black shoes at Walmart. I'm hoping they will get me through the basketball season and January at the bookstore.

 So, $120 later. This should work. If not, I will be very disappointed. I'm also tired of spending money. I wanted to check out the Christmas section and the clearance section at Walmart, but I didn't. I wanted to visit some other stores at the mall, but I didn't. I'm very proud of myself.
Plus, I had my Hollar Haul waiting for me when I got home. First glance:

 Here's what I bought:

 cookies & cream bites ($1), pom pom pen ($1), binder rings ($1), foam mounting tape ($1), 3 moisture absorbers ($1 each).
The pen is way cuter and fuzzier than I thought it would be, I was going to pass it on to someone else, but I might keep it for myself. I picked up the moisture absorbers because it always seems to be humid down here (actually it's better since it got colder, except now I use the heater a lot more). The binder rings and mounting tape are for crafting stuff. The bites just sounded good.

 hamper ($3), mystery minion box ($2), more bites ($1 each), mermaid luggage tag ($1.20), toffee peanuts ($1.30 each), llama luggage tag ($2), Lindt chocolate ($1.50)
I needed a new hamper, mine kinda fell apart, this one is pretty big. Loving it. I haven't opened the minion mystery box, I'm saving it for a sad day. How cute are these luggage tags? Figured I'd pass them on with swaps. I love these peanuts. Also, who doesn't love Lindt?

 Christmas tags ($2), whale ($5), hedgehog ($5), Harry Potter mystery keychain ($4), giraffe keychain ($3).
Thought I could use these cards/tags. I went a little nuts at the end and bought a few stuffed animals. Hollar sent me this email about stuffed animals and of course the one they had in the email, had sold out so I got others. I suck at reading descriptions, and thought this hedgehog was smaller, but I love him. I picked up the Harry Potter mystery keychain for swaps, but couldn't help opening it, I'll still send it in a swap. I usually only buy the cheap stuff at a dollar or two, but got distracted with that email. I'll most likely use everything, so it was still good.
I also had a December tag swap in the mail as well:

 I'm a little bummed that my partner didn't follow the specifications of the swap. We were supposed to have at least one embellishment. Paper is not considered an embellishment. I decided awhile ago that I was done with the monthly calendar tag swaps. I keep finding less and less I want to do in this group.

Weekly update

Sunday: I went shopping, see this post to see what I bought. I believe my best purchase was the minion pillowcases, I get excited everytime I walk into my bedroom and see them.
Monday: I got some happy mail,
A bookmark:

 A pen pack:

 My boss said she was going to change my schedule up a bit at the library, I'm game for it, change is good.
Tuesday: I put in an order on April 28 at Hollar and I got it.
It gets me every time, though I still have not learned to read the descriptions, oh well. I'm sure everything will get used, so I'm not worried.

 cocoa pie regular and banana for $1 each, composition book for $1, unicorn diecuts $2, mini gift bag $0.50, mason jar memo pad $2, pen pack $2, Milkita honeydew melon milkshake candy $2.
The unicorn diecuts are what I didn't read the description on, I thought they'd be smaller, they measure 9 inches, I find them huge.

zipper pineapple plush $3, pink monster $2, two ty insulated cups and beauty sets $3 each, narwhal keychain $2, I also bought a pair of lace bralettes for $4.

I only bought the pineapple because I wanted a different one that sold out, but this guy is kinda cool, I only wish he had a keychain to attach him to something. I also didn't read the description for the cups, I thought you were getting the two Ty beanie babies in them as well as the beauty sets. I'm sure I'll find someone to pass them on to. I couldn't pass up the narwhal, again if I had read the description I'd realized he was so small.

Also, received some happy mail, a magnet:

My parents texted me asking to call them about a trip. They're going to St. Louis around my birthday and asked if I wanted to go along. I don't have to pay for getting there or a hotel room, my boss approved my vacation because it's during a holiday week. I'm so excited. I can't remember the last time I was able to have a whole week of vacation, I wanna say when we went to Hawaii about 8 years ago. I'm attempting not to spend money on stuff until then, that's about 2 months. This does not include garage sales because that money is already out of my banking account.

YAY!!!!!

Wednesday: I mailed stuff:

a pink and gold pocket letter:

 Y and Z alphabet tags:

 Letter F: flamingo tag:

 Pencil bag:

 And a Crazy 8 (you send 8 of 8 different items to your partner, I chose paperclips, clothespins, pieces of ribbon, project life cards, stickers, tags, buttons and stacks of sticky notes) swap:

Sadly, I didn't get any mail.

Thursday: went to lunch and our local gardens for Mother's Day early to avoid the crowds. Friday, it's free, Saturday and Sunday there's a plant sale and Sunday is Mother's Day, plus it's supposed to rain all weekend.

Saw a dove:

 And a massive swarm of ants:

 They had these moving sculptures throughout, these were in the lake and they looked like they were dancing in the wind:

 Also, the tulips were still open:

 This one was called a wave cloud:

 Saw these two flowerpots with some random pansies in them. My grandmother (who passed away last year) really liked pansies, so they made me think of her:

 Found these cute items in the gift store, the pen is a sloth, the butterflies are sticky notes:

 Also, this cute container. I remember rolls of stamps were used in these:

 I received some happy mail,
Letter C tag:

 Sticker sheets tag:

Friday: I woke up early and went to a sale. Here's what I picked up:

 writing set with matching envelopes, and some more writing paper. I also picked up a package of cards (all the cards at the bottom) it just said varied cards, as I opened them and looked at them I realized they are religious cards. That annoys me to no end, they are all religious cards. I know it was only $1, but still is it that hard to write that on the package? I'm not sure what I'll do with them. I'll be keeping the one on the bottom far right. There's only one little religious bit on it, I figure I can cover it up with a sticker.

The Happy Birthday cupcake was at their last sale and I was kicking myself for not picking it up. They are both boxes, I thought it would be fun to fill them up for birthdays. I'll probably fill the Happy Birthday one for my mother, I haven't figured if I'll do treats or crafty stuff. 

Work was weirdly crazy, a busy Friday but other strange things happening.

Saturday: I planned to get up and go to some garage sales and the Farmer's Market, but the sky was overcast and I didn't feel like getting caught in the rain (of course it didn't rain). I was a slacker all day. I got some happy mail,

Y & Z tags:

 Not too excited about the religious aspect my partner added.
A Crazy 8 swap: