A sticker fox

Having a four-day weekend was very productive. Saturday, I should have gone garage saleing if just to go out and get some exercise, but I didn't feel like it after spending so much on Friday. I did get some stuff done, though.

I created a fall washi tube:

 put together a tropical tag:

 I decided to not include the stationary after taking the picture. I put in some leaf and bird die cuts along with some flamingo and leaf washi and some plumeria flower beads.
I received a surprise tag:

 I really like the puffy owl stickers.
An S tag:

 stationery. I've decided not to do the letters next time around, while I like stretching my mind, I've received more items I'm not so excited about and I feel I'm spending more money sending my stuff out than people are sending back to me. I'll finish this set, but I won't be doing more.
bird pocket letter:

 and an October calendar tag:

 I went to supper with my parents and was reminded why I'm trying to avoid them. They always ask if I'm working more hours at the library (I'm set at 20, can't work more, unless it's special circumstances, and they know this), bother me about money (stuff I don't feel like sharing on here) and my mother keeps telling me I need more steps (apparently her new way of telling me I need to exercise), I feel some day I'm going to blow up at her, I feel it every time we get together. We were going to go to a quilt show on Sunday, but I decided sleeping in would be much more enjoyable.
And it was.
Sunday, I slept in, it was nice. Also, productive. I put together
something Kawaii:

 I hope it's kawaii, I'm not entirely sure, but due to unforeseen circumstances, that's what I had to do.
a wish for clear stamps:

 a wish for stationery:

 a wish for ink pads:

 Letter T:

 thin tape, tags, tea and tacos.
I also got my laundry done and made another explosion box, but you'll see that once it's received.
Monday, I returned a bunch of things to the library, and put together a few more things.
Dollar Store:

 I was going to sit this one out, but I couldn't help it.
I received a private swap:

  I sent all my Halloween crafting stuff to someone and they sent me an envelope of crafting destash in return. I'm a little annoyed that they didn't follow directions though. The deal was to swap priority mail bubble envelopes which cost $7.25 to mail, so we could stuff a lot into them. She sent me an envelope in a priority mail cardboard envelope which costs $6.20 to mail and she had it in a bubble mailer in the envelope, so she sent me less. It's annoying when people can't follow simple directions.
I also received some handmade embellishments from a swap:

 I love getting handmade embellishments, I'm not good at making them (or I need more practice), so I love getting them.
I put together some yellow happy mail:

 a card, some stickers, washi, punch outs and some ribbon. I was aiming to have it more flat and then ended up sending to the same person as my dollar tree tag.
I may stop doing this tag, too. My definition of happy mail and other's are somewhat different, though it's fun to see what they will send.
And here's the explosion box:

 Or a tiny bit of it.
I also created a sewing tag:

After getting everything packaged up I realized this week is not going to be a cheap mailing week either, so I have to sit out any tags on Wednesday. Oh well.
Here's what I mailed out on Wednesday:

 that was my highest amount I've spent on postage, almost $50. I need to cut back on things.
After spending so much money at the post office I saw this site on my way home:

 Nothing to be worried about. The Fareway store behind them bought an apartment house on the corner and the fire department is using if for training before they burn it down to make way for the new Fareway store. I thought it was a cool sight.
I received a pocket letter in the mail:

 very simple.
Thursday, I had a dentist's appointment and my dentist told me I had beautiful teeth. The dental hygienist told me I really needed to work on flossing and cleaning along the gum line.
I went up to the mall looking for something to treat myself.
I walked out of Walmart and Kohl's without buying anything, though I found the cutest things at TJ Maxx:
A sloth mug

 an eyelash mug:

 Unicorn salt and pepper shakers:

 Unicorn spoon rest:

 I did pick up a unicorn mug and birthday card:

 The mug is sitting where I can see it and it makes me smile every time.
I found some happy mail when I got home
some animal die cuts:

 Used postage:

 This cool color by sticker book:

It's totally addicting, I spent all of last night working on three of the projects. I'm not a fan of the fact I've had to cut out some of the stickers and that there's only 5 projects in it. Also, you have to make sure you're right on the lines otherwise you get white spaces. That's mostly the reason i don't like coloring books, because you have to stay within the lines.

A moose

Sorry all, I didn't realize it had been last month since I posted. Let's see, the 31st I was at the bookstore from 12-6. I had a fairies tag in my mailbox when I got home:

 It's a tiny charm.
Saturday, I worked 1-6 at the library, thought this was the weirdest looking fox I've seen:

 Sunday, I was at the library 12-5, when I came in, our AMHS (AutoMated Handler System) was down. We got it up barely before we opened. Apparently there was a power outtage that knocked it out and a couple other things throughout the library. Otherwise it was a busy Sunday. Sundays are always busy cause we're only open 4 hours, and it seemed a little more busy than usual because of Labor Day.
Monday, I stayed home and basically did nothing all day. I needed that. I didn't leave the house and spent time doing what I wanted.
Tuesday, I got a few swaps ready to send out.
50 Loose stickers:

 It's a lot more than 50, these are affixed to some other stickers on the other side of that paper.
A bird pocket letter:

 Love how this turned out, they are from a calendar.
A private swap for a pocket letter:

 Used another calendar, these are the preview pieces on the back.
I also did a private destash swap. I'm not a big fan of Halloween crafting, but I seem to have acquired a lot of Halloween crafting supplies, so I did a private swap with someone in a group of a priority mail bubble envelope. I filled mine up with my Halloween stuff and she is to send me one filled with crafting stuff that is not religious, holiday or planner supply related.
I had 7 packages come in the mail.
two teas:

These sound interesting, I'm excited to try the butterscotch blondie.
Butterfly:

I don't like that there was no note in here. I do have a list of who is to send me what, but is it that hard to add a note.
Halloween tag:

I realize I said I don't do Halloween, but I totally signed up for a tag swap before deciding I didn't really need more Halloween stuff.
Destash:

Love the polka dot bag, the unicorn sticker things, the school stickers, the bird coasters and the worm die cuts. Destash is my favorite kind of swap, because One man's junk...
Tag inserts:

These are what we're supposed to add in our envelopes, basically all you do is fill in your name, the person you're sending to, what it is you're sending and the group it's for. I don't have a lot of these, so I use journaling cards a lot. Really not that hard.
3 cute cards:

These are papers. Not cards, not at all what I was expecting.
Wednesday, apparently was the day the mail people changed because I didn't have mail until about 5pm.
I got a junk journal tag, but took a video for my group instead of a picture. I totally chipped a tooth chewing on candy, what's up with that?
Thursday, was the start of my 4 day weekend. I didn't do much. It was kinda like Monday, I was very lazy. I did get up and go to the dentist to check out my tooth, I knew it wasn't bad, I just didn't like the poky edge on my tooth.
4 teas:

I tried the relax one, it was good. I'm excited to try the others.
I had ordered a peachy cheap grab bag in August.

I love grab bags, I can't walk away from them. I think this one was really good. there's a few things I don't really like: the pens, the brads, the Halloween journaling cards, the stamps and the geo tags. I love that I'm happy with all the washi, there's usually one roll I don't like, they are flowers banners and tea related stuff.
Friday, my friend and I went shopping. I was actively trying to avoid the DVD sale the library was putting on, because I have over 150 movies, I don't need more, but I found this set:

It was only $3, so I couldn't pass it by.
We had some portabella fries and ricotta gnocchi for lunch. Our first stop was Salvation Army:

I'm not entirely sure how much these were individually, but I spent under 50 cents on both of them. I don't know if you can tell but the vase looks like it's covered in doilies.
Next up was a Thrift store that supported animal rescue.

Also not sure how much everything was, I ended up spending $11 total, I can't figure out how they got to that total, I've added everything up and can't get to that number. I was hoping to find some fall crafting stuff as I signed up for a fall swap and then realized I have basically nothing fall craft related. I was excited to find the leaves and the resin pieces. I also picked up a few magnets of a British soldier and and a watering can. I like collecting cute magnets. I picked up the tin to hold my tea bags I keep getting in swaps. The figurine at the top is a mouse next to a beer keg, I thought it was cute. I picked up the stamp for my fall swap, the Iowa ornament for my mother and I'm not sure why I picked up the jack o lantern stickers and the pumpkin pieces.

Still the same store. I love the coaster with the mason jar on it, I'm having trouble passing up mason jar themed things. I'm not exactly sure why I picked up the tags. I picked up the leaves for the fall swap. Loved the mulberry flowers and the two bags of ephemera. Also couldn't pass up the mini Candyland game.
I convinced my friend to go to Tuesday Morning and this was the first time I spent more money on crafting stuff instead of food.

I'm really excited I found the 12x12 of the Pebbles Tealightful paper pad, last time I was there I found the 6x6 pad. I also picked up some puffy stickers that matched and another tea themed paper pad. I found some cute holiday cards and some chipboard stickers. I liked the butterflies and the bird stickers and giant heart sticker.

I needed a bath mat for inside my tub and these two chocolate things were on sale. Total spent $40
Next up was another Salvation Army:

I seem to have a collection of these cupcake boxes, so I bought another one. The Santa is from my mom. Loved that I found a Candyland tin and these stickers were just cute. Total spent $3.
Last stop was Goodwill:

a set of cute journals (cause I need more of those), a cute card, a leaf dish, and a decoration.
I just loved the journals and the card. I'm thinking of giving the leaf dish to my mother, my grandma liked pansies. Hope has been the word that keeps me going since my ex broke up with me. Total spent $5
So, I spent way too much money today, but I needed a day out, somewhere exciting. Ames is so boring and I'm really disappointed in choices lately. I probably won't go garage saleing tomorrow after spending so much money today. I feel I will be crafting or reading. I'm excited to make an explosion box with those tea themed things, plus I need to do that fall craft

The last Hodgepodge?

Joyce says it's the last one, she also says she'll elaborate tomorrow. I have to participate if it's the last one. Head on over to her blog and see what other's are answering.

1. What has been the highlight of your summer so far? (It's still summer people!)
Nothing. My mom asked me that the other day, and I didn't have an answer then either. Not even my trip to St. Louis, though the zoo and the botanical gardens were rather fun.
2. What do you wish you'd done more of this summer? Less of?
Garage saleing. I had quite a few days where I couldn't convince myself to get out. 
I wish I didn't have to work so much. But, we were short, so that's just life.3. Something you're looking forward to on your September calendar?
Again, nothing, really. I do have a day out with a friend on Friday, so I guess I'm looking forward to that. Oh! I almost forgot, our local art festival is in September. I love going to that.
4. Best/favorite book you've read this summer?
How about Radium Girls by Kate Moore. Interesting and very sad read.
5. Share something positive, encouraging, or uplifting here.

6. Insert your own random thought here
i've been so grumpy lately. I thought it was because I was working so much, but I had Labor Day off and most of today, and I was/am still grumpy. I have a 4 day weekend coming up after tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to that. But, if it doesn't recharge me, I don't know what will.