Church sales

Well, I was right, it didn't live up to my expectations. Here's what I got between two church sales:

A cute teddy bear, a rose, a mug, a sugar bowl (?), some trim and a cute little cross stitch pillow for my mother. I also bought some dutch letter bars, some lemon bars and some other kind of bar that looked good.

My mother and I both decided that the bigger church sale didn't have near as many vendors as last year. I also decided that maybe it was more exciting last year because it was new and we'd never been there.

Snowmen

Remember how I said I wasn't going to garage sales anymore? My neighbors were having their annual one and I had to check it out, I'm glad I did. Here's what I found:

 very cute snowman candle (my favorite purchase), Santa (for my mother), snowman cup, and a cute glass bowl (also for my mother).

tiny light up glass Christmas tree, 101 Dalmatians DVD(I love this version and I don't have it on DVD), a very cute get well book.
I spent $8.00 there. Today, my mother and I are going to a craft/rummage sale at a church, we went last year and had such a fun time. I'm afraid that it won't live up to my expectations though. Stay tuned for pictures of what I buy there.

My weekend

Warning: This is a picture heavy post.

This past weekend, my family went to my grandma's apartment, which we are cleaning out because she won't be coming back to it. Here's a few things my mother gave to me:

 Some of the items I picked up because I thought they might be nice gifts like the weekly organizer and notes pack, still in original packing. The candle makes me think of my grandma.

 I also picked up these two notebooks for gifts and the partylite candleholders.

 The sparkly balls are actually plastic fruit covered in sequins, my grandmother was an avid crafter. I picked out the two thimbles to add to my collection, I liked the jingle bell ladybug and the rooster. The cat and small yellow piece are magnets.

 Here's the buttons we found in her sewing supplies.

 I'm sorry this is such a horrible picture, it shows the glass buttons and shell or mother of pearl buttons I found.

 A bunch of nice trims.

 I now have a ton of eyelets and googly eyes. The brown piece is the beginning of a head made from pantyhose.

 Some butterfly cut-outs, miniature doves and chickens. The best of this bunch is the vintage pipe cleaner bugs.

 A paper cake, butterfly applique, some green buttons, an angel kit, another plastic fruit encrusted in sequins, an eyelet setter, miniture toadstools and a leaf.

 I love the graphic on the Sewing Susan needle case, some ribbon and more miniatures.

 A very cute tin with matching cards inside.

 Some tiny cards for artwork

 And more cards

And more cards.

I've been having trouble lately buying anything at garage sales. I think I've realized I have a lot of stuff, and I really don't need more. I couldn't resist things this weekend, not that moving them out of my grandma's apartment and into mine is better than getting rid of them, but I tried to only take things that I would use.

Fall Decorations

A few weeks ago, I went shopping and picked up some fall decorations:

 I joined a monthly flower club at my local flower shop, the flowers for October were a carnation and some kind of mums.

I fell in love with this huge fly, which is now hanging from my ceiling. I couldn't resist the tiny gourds, they are now sitting in one of my vintage wine glasses. I had seen these little hedgehogs that are dressed for Halloween last time I was in this store, and I totally wanted one, this time I splurged a little for one, but it's so cute!

New Buys

Last weekend I found a few things to buy. I bought the most at a sale I didn't plan to go to.

 a cute snail planter, a tiny stuffed bear, an angel, a snowman and a keychain, packet of play money, I thought they'd be fun to use for collage.

Today was the annual art fair downtown. My mom and I usually go, but this year she had to go clean out my grandma's apartment, she's getting worse and we don't think she's going back to it. Here's what I picked up:

 3 cards and a magnet from Lisa Victoria, I can never resist her stuff, my refrigerator has a bunch of her magnets on it, plus I have cards and prints throughout my apartment.

 Another of Lisa's magnets, a fish and a frog made from 2 liter pop bottles. Last year I almost bought a pink fish and didn't, and I thought about it all year long. This year I decided the purple went with my pink bedclothes better.

A metal butterfly pick, a pair of earrings from Suzanne LaTour Stevens, every year my mom buys herself a pair of earrings, I thought she'd like these, so I picked them up for her. And my best buy of today: this very cool sun catcher from Jamie Smisek. "Windchimes and decorative hanging pieces handsculpted using silver flatware, glass beads and other antique objects". This one is made from the bottom of a leaded glass bowl and a fork. So very cool.

The library's book sale was this weekend too, though I have to say the selection wasn't very good, I did buy $6.00 worth of books though.

Speaking of the library, we've hit a glitch in our moving plans. The city attorney was trying to work out the lease with the place we were pretty sure we were moving in to, and then on Wed night, my boss calls me to say that we didn't have the place anymore and we were looking at other options. The assistant director said the realtor got an offer for a 10 year lease on the place and now we're out of luck. We are looking at a place that was our plan B, so cross your fingers and hold your breath for us. The assistant director assures us we're staying on our moving schedule, meaning we'll be moving in less than 2 months.

Friday, I got a jury summons in the mail. I don't mind doing it, I'd like to, I'm just not sure of how I'm getting there. That's bothering me at the moment.

Great Movie

I just watched the movie, Battleship. I LOVE it!!!

It's based on the game Battleship. The US is sending messages to a planet somewhere else, and some aliens decide to come and try to take over Earth.
After the Naval Destroyers are sunk, they go to Pearl Harbor and pick up the battleship, Missouri and attack the aliens.
I love how they used the Missouri, it felt like a hat tip to Under Siege. Also, Rihanna stars in it and I think she does a great job.

I love the Navy in the movie and the action. It's now on my Amazon wishlist along with the soundtrack.
They also use actual WWII veterans for parts at the end.
I was watching the extras and there's one about making the movie, and everyone gets to tour current Navy ships, I would love to tour the Missouri. So VERY cool.

Check out the IMDB page on it, here.

Also, wait until after the credits to watch another scene.

Bored

I went to one garage sale today

I think I'm in a rut. I have a little extra money, but I can't find anything to spend it on. I know that's good, but it feels weird. I went to 4 sales last week and didn't buy a single thing. The sale I went to today, is one the lady puts on twice a year. It rained a lot last night, so she had a bunch of stuff moved inside and hadn't moved it out yet, plus she didn't have any signs out. When I got there she was chatting with someone, and barely stopped to say hello. I found more than 2 things I wanted to buy, but decided if she couldn't be nice enough to chat with the person looking at her stuff, I wasn't going to buy them.
I went downtown yesterday to 4 different stores and couldn't find anything worth my money either. I love the stores I went to, but I almost feel that it has to be really good for me to buy anything, or maybe I'm saving for another day.
On the weekend of the 23rd, there is a local art festival downtown, the library's having their book sale, and there's another celebration. So, maybe I'm saving for then. I'm really looking forward to it and it won't come soon enough.
Also, on the 18th, there's a ladies expo, that I think might be fun to go to, but I keep talking myself out of buying an early ticket. I think most of the reason I originally wanted to go was that the first 300 ladies get goodie bags. But, I'm betting those goodie bags will be really girly stuff that I don't use anyway. I sure don't need more stuff at my house.
The weekend of the 29th, there's a junking jaunt around central Iowa. My mom and I went to a similar one in June. It was fun, but this one will be right after the weekend of the 23rd which sounds more exciting and I hope to spend money at.
I went to the dentist today, to get a cavity filled. When I get there, I have to wait about 5 minutes after my scheduled time. Then, I get in there and the helper (don't know what they're called), asks me what I'm here for and I show her my tooth with a hole. She says there's some discoloration, let's see if its decay. I know it's decay honey, if you poke at it, you can see/feel it's a hole. She decides it is, and goes to get the dentist. He pokes at it and says I don't have to worry about it for a few months if I don't want to. I have extra $$ now, I want to deal with it. He says he could do it, but I'd have to wait about half an hour. I love how they all figure I don't know my own teeth. I rescheduled for next Wed to get it filled.
I'm so sick of seeing the dentist, I've seen him 4 times and another one to get my tooth filled. And after today's appointment, kinda makes me not want to go back. People seem to be annoying me more than usual lately, I don't know why.
I kinda feel bored with my life. I have my routine, but I really hate not working Fridays, I get bored watching movies and reading. Anyone have any suggestions?

Updates and annoyances

Hello All,
Sorry I haven't been on here lately, not much going on. This past Wednesday, I got my tooth pulled. I was more nervous afterward than before. I did not like that experience, I couldn't feel it, but I could hear him pulling on the tooth, and there was soo much blood afterward, it totally freaked me out. I'm so glad I have another one to look forward to.
Also, on that note, I found out it was way less expensive than I thought it was going to be. My dentist said it would be somewhere between $800 and $900, so when I went to make the appointment, and they said $180-380, I just figured it was $1800 - 1300. Last Monday, dad and I went to cash out some savings bonds to pay for it, so then I had a little buffer afterward. I sent a bunch to pay more off my credit card bill, and I just paid off my medical bills from breaking my butt. I still have extra $$ in my checking account, but at least this way if anything comes up, I won't have to worry.
The other day, I find I have a hole in one of my teeth, I'm really pissed at my dentist about this. I mentioned to him, that I felt something there a few months ago and he told me it was nothing. Now, I have to get another cavity filled.
On Monday, after getting the money, my dad proceeded to tell me I had to remember I didn't have that money in my savings bonds anymore. I never think of the savings bonds as money I have because I don't have access to it. He also told me I needed to get another job so I had the money for things like this. I told him I was doing ok, he said it was just because my parents were doing fine, and because I wasn't paying rent. That really pissed me off, I don't know how many times I've told them I can pay rent now and they just say that I should keep the money.
He also said I needed to be looking into the future with money things, what was I going to do down the road. I've also told them, I'm doing that with my library job. Hopefully, when they add the next salaried position, I'll get it. I just read somewhere that around 50% of college grads are unemployed, so shouldn't I be lucky I have a job (three even). I just wish my parents would lay off, like that will ever happen.
Not a lot going on with garage sales, I went to 4 this weekend and couldn't find a single thing to buy.
I've been trying to get online to do stuff on my desktop, but my modem (or other internet related things) keeps acting up, so I can't connect. I can't do everything on my kindle, and with some things, I'd rather not use the kindle for.
I also haven't been making art lately. Mostly because my mom keeps getting on me to clean my apartment. We had an argument about it last week. I've decided I just have a lot of stuff, and not a lot of room (maybe that's why I couldn't find anything to buy this week), she'll never like how I live in my apartment, but she'll also accept things, she'll just keep complaining. So, I've been afraid to get my art stuff out (I have a closet, that when I create spills over in my hallway, and is hard to walk through when I'm in a project.) because she'll whine.

What's been going on in your lives?

What a crappy day

We went to the zoo on Sat, and though I was disappointed, here's some pictures for you to look at while I complain about today:

 lion fish
So, this morning about 12AM, I woke up in pain, my mouth was hurting again. For the next 6 or so hours, I alternated taking pain pills, walking around, sitting, rocking, crying and laying down.

 wallaby
This morning I called in sick to work and went to the dentist with my mother. He said it's one of my molars that needs to be extracted. I had to tell my mom that, she was surprised as I never told my parents about my two molars that need pulling when they bug me. There's a reason I never told them, because then I get the whole spiel about how I should have brushed my teeth more and these are the consequences, blah, blah, blah.

 I went over to the oral surgeon to make an appointment, I'm going to have it done on the 29th. They said it would be $1100 to $1300. I can't afford that, I'll have to put it on my credit card and come close to my limit. I asked if I could pay over time, no they need the money that day, no wonder people go into debt.

 turtles
So, that means I'm not allowed to have another sick day or take any more days off work. I'm also not allowed to buy anything I don't need.

 lion
Unfortunately, that also means I can't afford to send out my giveaway packages. I'm really hating my life right now.

 monkey
My boss at work was very understanding and hopefully, I won't have to take off work the day after the extraction.

 giraffe
Now, I'm going to go take a nap, because I am soo tired.

 possum
I got a prescription for antibitics, and while waiting for 30 minutes, I became so tired and bored. I didn't buy the apple juice, I didn't buy the chocolate eclairs (which were very marked down), and I didn't buy the topical gel for tooth payment. I really wanted to pay for my prescription in cash, but it was $12, and I only had a $10

very cool sculpture
On my way home, I stopped to buy some bus passes, they also cost $12, and since they don't take cards, that didn't happen.

I'm also extremely hungry, as it hurt to chew this morning, so I didn't really have breakfast, and now it's too close to lunch to eat breakfast.

Giveaway

I will update this post with pictures later. I've decided to give away 3 different things in my 800 posts giveaway.
Number 1 will be a long medium flat rate box of paper/craft supplies.

Number 2 will be a square medium flat rate priority mail box of thrifting items. Some I have already picked out are: buttons, jewelry, linens, vintage pictures.

Number 3 will be something I alter/make.

So, new thought, comment on this post and tell me what you prefer. That's all you have to do, comment. Feel free to tell your friends, the more the merrier.


This is now closed.

I'm losing my mind

I remember posting this, but I don't know where it went, so here it is again. I heard the other day that my Merry Unbirthday Cake Box partner received her cake, so here's what I sent to her:

 I had the hardest time figuring out what I was going to do with the box. I started out by painting it white and then covering it with green tissue paper. For the top I painted some dragonfly buttons with alcohol inks, and because my partner said she liked flowers, I covered it with flowers. There are tons of different flowers on her, paper, fabric, buttons, gems. I layered them with pretty much anything flower shaped.
Here's the side:

 I traced the line of where the lid would rest and then added three lines of trim with gems adorning them.

Here's what I sent inside the box:

She said she liked flowers, so I got her some flower pins, a present topper, and a magnet flower. She also said she liked whimsical doo dads, I wasn't entirely sure how to interpret that, I got her some F tags (her name is Fran), some ribbon, gems, and canvas tags.

Let's hope this one doesn't get lost. To see what I got from here, go here.

Garden tour and 800 Posts giveaway

Remember a few weeks ago, I said I'd take you on our garden tour, here it is. Please disregard the brown grass, we haven't had much rain in a long time with temperatures in the 90's and above.

Welcome to my house:

 Let's go around the back, and start the tour. Here's the southwest garden:

 The tomato plant

 Traveling more to the west, a pathway into my neighbor's yard.

 The biggest flower in the garden:

 A nice place to sit.

 Traveling north and more west.

 Some neat rocks from my collection

 More rocks

 Our rain gauge

 Now, we're next to the garage

 And coming out on the east side of the garage

 Our birdhouse collection

And that's the end.


This is my 800th post, to celebrate I'm doing a giveaway. I will be sending out a medium priority mail box (the big long one) full of paper to one of my commenters. I may decide to add something else later on.

Thanks for looking at/walking through my garden.