Green Finds

Bargain Hunter said to show our green finds because St. Patty's Day will be coming. Well, I don't have a lot of just green finds, very few actually, so most of my pictures are of things with green. Hope that works, and I have commentary not about them, but about my dreary thoughts lately. I figure you can read it or not, but at least you have some pictures to look at.
First, here is my newest most coolest find: It's a small quilted wall hanging measuring about 21inches by 18 inches, I could only find a 6inch ruler, so I kinda guesstimated. I love seeing quilts everywhere, I've been wanting a quilt for awhile. So, when I saw this at my local antique mall marked down to $9.00, I couldn't help myself. The tag says it's a Sunbonnet Sue pattern.


OK , so I was reading some blogs this morning, and they had questions, and I love answering questions, so here they are:
What's the first thing you would do for yourself if you won 100 million dollars. Note this question is specifically for you...what would you do for fun after the family and the bills and serious stuff were taken care of?
The first thought that popped into my mind was: pay my bills, then I read the note. Well, the next thing that popped into my mind was move. Go somewhere where people don't know me, and I can create a new life. I feel as if my job is the only thing keeping me here. I would love to move to California where it's always warm.

This one is green and white, crocheted (?) doily, also found at the antique mall. I won't say the prices on the rest of my items, but I usually only buy something if it's about a dollar or less. Or a great deal as I thought above.

Are you dating anyone?

Not anymore, obviously. Though the thing that's still getting me, is why. What changed that he decided he no longer wanted to talk to me. I really should go to the street I know he lives on, and look through the parking lots for his truck and then wait til he leaves for work, that's the only way I can think of to make him talk to me, but I bet he still won't.

These are a few pins that I found at garage sales. The top one (not the ship that jumped in the picture), is cross stitched, and the bottom is just painted, both found at garage sales.

I remember, he used to tell me I was being so immature, when I would ignore people when I was mad at him, so I totally feel he needs to grow up and talk to me. I can't think of any reason why he can't come over or pick up the phone. Especially when his phone varies from being off to on.

This is a 3 leaf clover with gems in the middle, found at a church sale.

What are you most thankful for?

I have no idea.

This is some kind of trim, found at a garage sale.

Last night I was wishing there was someone to cuddle with in bed. That's the thing I miss the most, having someone to cuddle with. Someone that will call you when you text them that you don't feel well.

This is a tiny teacup with brown flowers and green leaves, found at a garage sale.

And then I think about all the things I'd have to get used to with a new person, and I hate that.

Another tiny teacup found at a garage sale.

I miss going grocery shopping at night after he would get off work and there'd be no one in the grocery store.

And another tiny cup (do you see a pattern here?), found at a garage sale.

I miss going on hikes in the Ledges when we had nothing to do. I loved wandering through the water, or the mud, when we went through after the floods.

Another very tiny teacup found at a garage sale.

I miss antique stores. There was one we went to in a town about 15 min north of here, that was just ours. I never wanted to go with anyone else.

A hankie found at an antique mall.

Unfortunately, I think it's sort of been growing in him since last spring when I got so upset (and reasonably so), when he went tornado chasing after we had made plans and I took off work for those plans. I keep wandering if he hates (I'm sure he does), that I want to spend time with him when I don't see him that much (because of his work) instead of him going tornado chasing, or hunting, or hanging out with friends. I recall around the 4th of July I could tell he didn't want me going home with him, and it felt he didn't really put thought into my birthday gift. He knew he could always take me to the car show and I'd be happy, but I like substantial gifts. And if I had a choice about when to go to the fair grounds, I would rather have gone when the state fair was there.

Another hankie found at an antique mall.

I swore it felt like someone was in my apartment this morning. I know he still has a key, but I'm not worried about him coming when I'm not home and taking his stuff, though I do check to see if it's still there when I get home.

Another hankie (see another pattern?) found at an antique mall.

I moved most of the stuff he's given me: the cars, some frogs, even cards out of my sight. I moved his grandmother's TV, that I would love to throw out the window and watch it smash in the street into the closet. I tore up his picture when I figured it out on the 4th. I figured if we still were in a relationship, I could always print out another one.

And another hankie.

I still have some frogs, which are covered at the moment. Most everything is out of my sight and that helps, but I can't stop my mind from wandering. Thankfully, I've been able to work a lot and that helps.

A hankie.

Hankie found at a garage sale.

Another teacup.

One of my sundae dishes found at a garage sale.

A frog

The focus here is supposed to be the napkin, but you can also see another sundae dish, both found at the antique mall.

Close-up of the sundae dish and some buttons, can't pass up old buttons.

Well, that's it, and hopefully my ramblings for awhile. I hate to post this stuff, but it's bouncing around in my head, I'm ok if people don't want to follow because of the depressingness of my posts, but that's where I'm at now.

Cheer Up Swap

I received my Cheer Up Swap from Rebecca on Friday.
The very cute card

A rug hooking kit and an embroidery kit, they got put in my craft closet.

A "joy" necklace. It's very cute, waiting to be worn.

A square plate, it says "If the tiara fits, wear it". I put it in my bookshelf in the entryway.

It's a clothespin with a frog on the front, has been added to my frog collection.

A very cute purple pinwheel with butterflies.

A bag of peanut M&M's.

A wine glass with indications of how my day has been with "feet" to put on other wine glasses.

Thank you Rebecca for my package, it did cheer me up. I can't wait to see what you think of your package.

And the winners are....

Yes, I said winners, I had decided, but didn't post, that if I got over 100 comments, I'd add another prize, which would also be from my garage saleing days last year. I'm still figuring out what that will be.

Anyways, the winner for this batch is Homemaker Honey

And the winner for the second batch of garage sale finds is: Kim @ the Fairytale Cottage.

I've left comments on their blogs and will be emailing Kim shortly. Hopefully they both get back to me within 48 hours so I don't have to pick someone else.

Congratulations you two!!!!

Stuff

I finally got through all the OWOH blogs yesterday. Last year I commented on and visited every single blog, and I won a couple things I wasn't that excited to win. This year, I went to all the blogs, but I only commented on the items I wanted to win. So, if I win I will be very happy with what I receive.
I got some more swaps in the mail. This one is My Valentine Swap from Allenaim Photography.
She sent me a container of tea, some vintage linen napkins, a head scarf, a bird, a fabric flower and a bunch of Hershey's Bliss.

Here's the close-up of one of the linen items.

I am happy with most of the items. I don't like tea, but I love the roses on the top of the container, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with that. I received this package last week sometime.

The next one is from my Healthy Valentine Swap partner, Lisa Anspach.

So, there is a cute stamp, some apple smelling hand soap, a caribbean smelling candle, a "W" journal, some emery boards, a set of notecards, a bar of soap, a set of tags, and a very cute egg. Lisa posted my package on her blog, so go ahead and click her name above to see what I sent her.

I was so happy to see this package on my doorstep on Wed. I finally decided that Kevin and I are broken up on Monday night. I felt that if you don't call your "significant other" on Valentine's, no matter what you're going through, they aren't your significant other. So, it massively helped to see this gift with items picked out just for me, Thanks so much Lisa.

Since I didn't get any Valentine gifts from Kevin, Tuesday, I decided to wander down to Walmart and Target and buy something for me. I ended up spending about $25 dollars on stuffed animals and chocolate. I originally planned to buy one of Walmart's $10 alien/monsters I had seen, but they didn't have any left, so I got a big pink teddy bear, and it has definitely helped me lately.

At Target, I bought 2 boxes of chocolates, one Russel Stover with a very cute "ugly doll" on the front, and one Ghiradelli. In the future, I will not waste money on Russell Stover, out of the 10 chocolates in the box, I ate 3, the rest tasted like crap. The Ghiradelli on the other hand, is splendid, but I have been rationing. I also bought a puppy dog, which is extremely cute, and a pink lion.

I decided today, that stuffed animals get me through everything. I have tons from places I've been and important times in my life. I have a bunch of stuffed frogs that Kevin got me, most of them in the closet now, so I don't have to see them. And the pink teddy bear, is really helping when I have to curl up and cry with it.

I also finally took all of Kevin's Christmas presents and put them in the closet so I didn't have to look at them.

I would still love to know why out of the blue he decided I wasn't worth talking too, or having as a girlfriend anymore. I don't know if I can really talk to him, should he ever decide to call, I'm just so upset over it. I would love to get my Christmas presents, since he decided to stop talking to me before I could have them, plus I want my things back. I did text him before I realized we were through saying I wanted my stuff back if we weren't together. I think that's reasonable.

I'm not ready to talk to my family about this yet. I changed my status on Facebook Monday night back to single. I've told people at work, but I still have an incredibly hard time, not letting my voice crack. I moved most of the stuff he's given me, out of my site. I stopped wearing the ring, and am thinking about investing in a nice peridot ring for myself. Though, it's been nice not having a ring on my finger anymore.

I wish I had friends closer in mileage to me to hang out with. I've been working a lot last week and this week, because when I'm at work, my mind's on other things, and it doesn't wander. I really need to take a nice long walk with my headphones and music, since it's been nice lately (better do it soon, as I've heard there's snow in the forecast), it was 50 degrees before 8Am this morning.

I would just like to do something with friends for me to get my mind off him. Thankfully, he doesn't need to come to this part of town for anything, so hopefully I won't see his truck. But, I'm coping. He was my first boyfriend, and I've never broken up before, so I don't know what it's like. Any suggestions on coping would be great.

And now that I've bored you all, I'm signing off. Thank you for all my new followers from One World, One Heart. I hope you'll stick around awhile, but my posts jump all around on emotions. I will be posting something I found at an antique mall soon, I just keep forgetting to take the picture when it's light out.

Thank you all for reading.

A good day

I had a good day yesterday, my friend Loretta and I went to Ankeny to Micheal's and the dollar general store. I needed to shop for myself and to get away from my life (more on that below).
Here are the great things I found:
This is a solar dancing flower. The leaves and the stem move around when it gets solar energy and it definitely puts a smile on my face when I see it dancing.

This is just a cute stuffed lady bug.

Here's a frog mug.

A Christmas stocking that was part of a $2.00 Christmas Grab bag at Micheal's, I've decided the rest of the items in the bag will be in a Christmas giveaway this December.

A nice notebook to match the mug above.

The box of gifts for My Healthy Valentine partner. I found some great things and I hope she'll like them.

A stuffed teddy bear. I've been drawn to teddy bears lately, I don't know why. Maybe there's just too many frogs in my life.


I've been pretty depressed the last few days. If you haven't talked to someone in over a month, haven't seen them in 7 weeks, do you still consider you're in a relationship with them? I'm not sure, but I'm thinking the relationship is over with. He won't answer my phone calls, or my texts. I sent him an email the other day and a message in facebook, but I know he doesn't check those that regularly. I know he's been around his phone, because it varies from going straight to voicemail, to ringing a few times and then going to voicemail. I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything wrong. I did send him a text complaining that he was picking hunting over me. He called me on Jan 13th, but didn't leave a message. I wished him a Happy Birthday in a text. I also again complained about the time I wasn't spending with him. I don't know where he lives, so I can't hunt him down. He moved from a previous address and I hadn't had a chance to know his new address as he's been busy working. I know where he works, but I'm not going to cause a scene at his work.

I don't know if it's worth it to keep calling and hope he picks up, or to just wait until he calls.

I never got to spend our "Christmas" with him, so (hopefully) we both have presents for each other, plus I have birthday presents for him. Though, I am seriously considering just opening them and saving them for myself, since some of them are things I like.

I didn't go to a neighborhood soup supper last night, as I wasn't ready for people to ask me questions about my life including my boyfriend. I keep wearing the ring as I'm not ready for those questions either. I keep wanting to go buy a peridot (green gem) ring for myself, and once I do that, I plan to switch out rings.

Today, I'm hoping to wander down to a few stores looking for more gifts for my healthy valenting partner, and my cheer up swap partner. It's supposed to get pretty cold again this week.

Valentine's Day Swap

I received my first Valentine's Day swap in the mail yesterday from Liz. Here's what she sent me:
A bag of Hershey's Kisses and a Reece's Peanut Butter heart, we must think alike.

Close-up of grow my own frog prince (I can never get my pics to upload in order). The instructions on the back say to put the frog in water and after awhile it will dissolve to show a prince, and then the prince grows bigger.

She also got me a package of stationary and envelopes, a grow your own frog prince, a heart necklace, and a heart bracelet.

Thank you so much Liz, not only for the package but for getting it out to me so quickly.

I have 2 more Valentine's swaps and a Cheer Up swap yet to get. I sent my Be My Valentine swap through Meg's blog Friday, I also sent my package to Liz on Friday. I'm waiting on information to come today for my Healthy Valentine swap (I'm going shopping with a friend around 2, so I hope it comes before then), and I have started picking things out for my Cheer Up Swap.

Having a bad day

My day just keeps getting worse, and it's only 11:30, such a long way to go.
I realized something this morning that's put me in a tiny stat of shock.
I was told not so long ago that I messed up a few things at work, which I don't remember, but I believe is probably true.
My mind has been elsewhere lately, and I'm trying to get it back.

I did find out my partner for the Cheer Up Swap yesterday, I have a week or so to pick some great things out for her. I hope I do well for her.

It's been greatly cold here lately. Today wind chills are expected to be in the negative 20's to 30's. Thankfully, I don't have anything to do today, and will spend my time indoors getting things to mail tomorrow.

To my Valentine's swap partners, your packages will be in the mail tomorrow.

OWOH and Stocking Swap

A couple things today. As you can see in the previous post, I'm participating in the One World, One Heart event. I wasn't going to this year, I just didn't know what I would do for the giveaway, and since the hostess, said we couldn't do surprises this time, I wasn't really sure. But, I was reading Art Saves Lives this morning, and she mentioned that quite a few of the blogs she reads are from participating in OWOH, and finding them from that. And I agree with that, a lot of my blogs are either from that, or connecting to other blogs from blogs from last year's event. So I choose to participate.

I did receive my stocking swap box of goodies from the hostess of the swap. I never heard back from my original partner, so I hope she enjoyed the box even though she didn't feel the need to hold up her end of the bargain and send me one back. I'm not going to post who she is, as you never know what's going on in the blogging world, and we don't need to be bad mouthing each other (even if it's deserved). The hostess, Noelle, was gracious enough to spend more money and send me a box. Here's what I found in it:
A package of 4 of these glittery green snowflakes, they are hanging throughout my apartment.

This cute needlefelted snowman ornament, also hanging in my apartment.

This votive candle smelling like apple berry spice. I see it's a horrible picture, and I apologize for that. This is the first thing I smelled when I opened the box, I love the smell.

Another bad photo, I couldn't get away from the glare from the light in the kitchen. It's a book called Christmas treats with recipes for Christmas treats, imagine that.

A box of Christmas cards, and a box of Paula Deen cupcake mix. I'm planning to make these soon and add the mini chocolate chips that are sitting on my counter.

Some cute, glittery, paper embellishments and a pack of paper.

The stocking, very cute, and another snowflake ornament. This ornament, almost looks like I could use it as a stamp. They are both hanging in my apartment.

Thank you very much Noelle for doing this.

One World One Heart

It's that time again. Time for the One World One Heart Blog Mingle. It will be from now (Jan 31) to Feb 17, 2011.

Hello all new readers, I am a 27 year old female living in Iowa, USA. I work part-time at my local library, as well as at local basketball games.
I live on the 3rd floor of a Victorian house built in the 1800's. I live in the downtown area of my town, where I'm close to everything I need.
I love reading, watching movies, playing with my guinea pig, hanging out with my boyfriend, being in nature, walking, going to garage sales, making art (you can visit my art blog if you like).

I found this questionnaire online today, and figured it'd be a good way for you all to learn a little more about me:

1. What is your favorite household chore? And what is your least favorite? I love vaccuuming, I love hearing everything get sucked up into my vacuum cleaner. I also love doing dishes, love getting my hands in the hot water. I don't like cleaning my bathroom, or my floors. I'm sort of a slob. I am the person that brings their stuff in the door, and then plops it on the floor.

2. What is your favorite city? I like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., I loved walking around those when we went to them on vacations, so many neat and cool things to see.

3. Have you found real love yet? I've found a love, but I'm not sure about if it's a lasting one.

4. What's one thing you eat almost everyday? I don't have a thing I eat everyday, I'm trying to eat sandwiches for lunch and dinner to stop me from splurging on less healthy things. I'm trying to make sure I drink a glass of milk every day.

5. What was your last thought before falling asleep last night? I honestly don't know, probably something about not being comfortable.

6. What's the worst injury you had as a child? I didn't get anything more serious than skinned knees, I did just slice my hand open on a glass this past December, and am still dealing with things that pertain to that.

7. Will you/have you worked out today? I have not yet today, unfortunately, since it's winter, my 'working' out consists of walking the 4 blocks to and from work. Of course, we're supposed to get some snow today, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so I will be working out scooping that.

8. Do you tweet? If so, what's your name? I have a twitter account, I never use it. I have enough to occupy my time as it is.

9. List three things you wouldn't want to live without: 1. music. 2. my computer. 3. my art. They all keep me sane, if I don't listen to music, I get very irritable, the computer for the internet and keeping in touch with my friends, and my art again keeps me very sane.

10. How old were you when you had your first kiss? 24. I never had a boyfriend until after I graduated college, and that's the one I have now.

Does that interest you or drive you away? I hope it interests you. I'm not that great at getting pictures where I want them in blogger, so if you're interested in seeing some of my favorite garage sale finds, please go here, to see some good pictures.
Last summer, I started garage saleing, I have found it so much fun. I have started a few collections, one of mini tea cups, one of vintage hankies, one of cute little vintage glassware, and silver pieces. Right now, I would say garage saleing, as well as going to antique malls and thrift stores is huge in my life.
That being said, I'm giving away a few things I found at garage sales last summer:

A pair of elbow length crocheted (?) gloves, a square doily, a shell necklace, 2 pairs of earrings, a crocheted (?) pink cross, and a Christmas ornament.

Like I said, you need to be an active blogger and just leave me a comment. If I can't find an email on your blogger profile, I will need one in your comment.
I will pick the winner at 9PM on Feb 17th. I will put a post up here the next day (Feb 18th) with their name, as well as email them. If I don't hear from the winner in 48 hours, I will pick a new one.

I hope you learned a little about me, and are interested enough to come back.

Thanks for reading, enjoy your trip.

Wendy W

More Swaps

I just signed up for 3 more swaps today. They aren't artsy swaps, they are put packages together swaps. But, I love doing that, and as it's felt like no one's been doting on me lately, I figured why not.
The first is Be My Valentine.
We are to list 5-10 faves in a comment on Meg's blog, spend up to $15, and send by Feb 7th.

The next is a Cheer Up Swap.

For this one we have to be active bloggers, spend $20-$30, and ship on Feb 16 or 17th. The sign up date is January 30th.

And the last is Be My Healthy Valentine Swap.

For this one, we have to link to her blog, comment with our email, post on our blog, and sign-up before Feb 3rd.

This one's supposed to be healthy, so we send actual gifts that aren't chocolate.

I know I already signed up for one other (that's in the box and waiting to be shipped), and I did just do a post about not being able to afford my life. But, I love these swaps, almost more than art swaps. I love putting together gifts, which is why I love Christmas and birthdays, and getting things in return. But it's so much fun to get information on people and then pick something out for them. I can't help these swaps.

I can't wait to get information on my partners and get started.

I will add the buttons to my sidebar as well.

I can't afford my life.

Now, that sounds like I'm living a hugely extravagant life, but no, just a normal one. It means, I can't afford my emergency room bill for my finger, that will be over $600, I can't afford my medical insurance because my monthly payments keep going up every year, I can't afford something else that needs to be done, but won't.
I guess I really need to get off my ass and looking for a full time job, but working at my part times makes me want one where I don't have to deal with the politics in the job, unfortunately, I think you have to deal with those everywhere.
I was thinking of something yesterday, that I shouldn't be thinking of, but seemed like a great way out.
And then I was watching a movie last night and a line was "let go and let god". I don't know what I think about that, but most likely in my lax at finding another job to cover my bills isn't that kinda like waiting for something to happen or letting god?

I don't know, I'm stressed and not happy.