Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's one thing that's still the same about you as when you were young?
I still love to read, although somewhat of a different genre, I still love to consume books.
2. What's more important-history or science? Why?
History is more interesting to me. I don't know if we actually learn from the past, but it's much more enjoyable to me than science. Of course without science how would we ever know that the world is round, the we're not the center of our own universe or what we're actually made of?
3. Lima, kidney, string, garbanzo, black or pinto-your favorite bean?
Green beans.
4. What's something people come to your town to do?
Go to college.
5. When was the last time you were in a meeting? Sum it up for us in five words or less.
I don't go to meetings.
6. What special event would you like a VIP pass to attend?
Something at Disneyland/Disneyworld
7. What's one piece of advice you'd give a writer?
Write everything down.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm looking for hope. I've been depressed lately. I was dealt a huge blow a couple of weeks ago and I don't seem to be getting as excited about things as I have in the past. I'm not finding things as fun as I used to. Anyone wanna send me some hope, or at least something to cheer me up?

Ladies Expo

1. When did you last sing happy birthday to someone? When were you last sung to? Does that embarrass you or do you enjoy being the center of attention on your special day?
I haven't sang it in a long time, most likely it was at my grandma's birthday party last year.
My friends sang it to me this year. I turned 30 and decided to have a dinner party. When the cake was brought out, they sang to me.
It would embarrass me if we were out in a public place, since it was just on my front porch and it rarely happens, I felt special.
2. Name a famous or 'infamous' person (living or deceased) who shares your birth day and month. Is that someone you'd like to meet in person if it were possible?
Apparently Thurgood Marshall and Medgar Evers share my birthday, who knew. I think it would probably be cool to meet them. Fun fact, the Declaration of Independence was actually signed on my birthday, July 2nd, and adopted on July 4th
3. Someone hands you a box tied up in a lovely bow...what are you hoping to find inside?
Keys to my own apartment or house
4. What can you guarantee about yourself?
I'm faithful? I don't know what exactly to put here.
5. Talking art and beautiful cities here...'The Last Supper' in the Santa Maria della Grazie Abbey in Milan Italy or 'The Mona Lisa' in The Louvre, Paris...which would you most like to see up close and in person? Why?
I would take the Last Supper. Though I don't have any plans or care to see either of them. I'm more of a mixed media person, I like to see what people do with different materials. I'd love to go to Greece and see ancient ruins over going to a museum to see paintings.
6. Your favorite dessert?
Red velvet cake
7. This coming weekend marks the official start of autumn (in the Northern hemisphere)...what is something you do to get ready for fall? What is one thing you're looking forward to on your fall calendar? Spring or fall-which do you prefer?
Pull out warmer clothing. It's been chilly here this week with lows in the 50's and highs in the 70's, so I kinda already did.
Church sales, I love the fundraisers they do this time of year, they're great to find Christmas gifts at.
Spring, always spring, it leads to warmer weather, I hate the cold, and snow. OK, I like snow, I don't like shoveling it.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
So, I went to the Ladies Expo tonight, wasn't very exciting, I didn't win anything while I was there, I did sign up for some other prize drawings. The food was good, but I don't think any of it was worth the $10 I paid for the ticket. But, at least I went, now I won't be wondering what it is. Sunday will be more fun.

Pay attention

1. What's the best thing about growing older?
Independence. Getting to do what you want
2. When did you first feel like a grown up?
When I got my first apartment, paid my first bill
3. Chocolate cake with white icing or white cake with chocolate icing?
White cake, but I really don't like frosting that much. The best is red velvet with cream cheese frosting
4. What's the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
When I learned my best friend had cancer. It was the week of Thanksgiving, and her boyfriend calls me in the middle of the day. I don't remember anything else about the rest of the day. But, on my way home, I stopped and sat down on a lightpole/ I don't remember how long I sat there, but this random person came up and asked if I was ok. That was in college, no one ever asks if I'm ok anymore. But, having that from some random person meant the world to me that night, I remember getting up and going home and my mother giving me a hug, another thing that hasn't happened since.
5. What's something you learned from your grandparents?
Enjoy life. My mother altered a book for my 21st birthday. She had a story about her father, who I had never met. "he would often say to his children, 'Don't put off 'till tomorrow what you can do today.' He didn't always follow his own advice. I remember spending many an afternoon in the hot summer under a large shade tree near our house." I also remember traveling to my grandparent's on my dad's side condo in Okoboji (is anyone sick of hearing about Okoboji, yet? I feel I've mentioned every week), every summer and just lazing around for that last sweet week of summer.
6. Wednesday marks a sad day in the history of planet earth-9/11...what's something you do (or can do) to bring peace to your little corner of the world?
No comment
7. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song containing the word peace.
Where were you by Alan Jackson, or Heal the World by Michael Jackson, or Love Can Build A Bridge by The Judds or We Shall be Free by Garth Brooks.
This morning when I was writing this out, it has become a fun practice in the mornings, since I'm not near my desktop, I couldn't think of any, now that I'm sitting here, I just keep thinking of more.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I have two thoughts:
First, I was going through my craft closet last week, and decided I'm not allowed to buy ANY more craft supplies, we'll see how long that lasts. Generally, I don't buy supplies for full price, I'll buy them in the clearance section at Hobby Lobby or at garage sales, but I have a lot of stuff, and I don't have as much as some people.
On Friday, I'm hanging out with a friend I haven't seen in about a month, one of stops when we hang out is usally Michael's, so it might not last long.
Now, my second random thought, I was having a not so nice day yesterday before work, and of course I was running late. As I walked out my back door, I saw this guy:

The Hummingbird Moth, I haven't seen one in a great while, and not hanging out in our flowers. I wanted to stop and watch him all day, but I had to get to work. I knew it would be a good day. I'm not big on religion and praying and all, but I know when God put's things in front of my face to see, I better pay attention.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's something you're never too young or too old to enjoy?
Dot-to-dot books. I find them so fun. I've discovered the extreme dot-to-dot books that can have well over 1000 dots a couple of jobs ago when I was working at a toy store. They are so fun.
2. Share one happy memory from your high school years.
Art class. I always loved going. I took 2D and 3D, I think 2D was more fun, we got to make paper, do batik and create our own stamps. When we made paper, I made a card with mine and then entered it in the Senior Art Show where it won best in show. I also took it to our county fair and then it went to the state fair. I still consider it one of my best pieces.
3. A nationwide strike of fast food employees took place in the U. S. last week...they're calling for higher wages and the right to unionize? Your thoughts?
Why not? I've never worked in fast food, thankfully, but I've heard stories. It's not one of the greatest places to work and I think they should have higher pay with all they deal with.
4. September is National Honey Month...what's a favorite dish you make or eat that calls for honey?
I don't eat much honey.
5. If you notice someone with a tag sticking out, a button unbuttoned, a shirt on inside-out, or some leftover lunch stuck between their teeth do you say something or do you keep quiet?
If I know them. I have a hard time talking to people I don't know. If it's a co-worker, definitely, we are the face of the library, so we should look good.
6. What movie always makes you cry? Or at least makes you feel like crying?
We Were Soldiers
7. 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' was written in May of 1830, and published in Juvenile Miscellany in September of that same year. Now for the fun part...create your own four line rhyme using that same tune.
That is way too much thinking.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm going to a Ladies Expo this month, I asked my friend if she wanted to go and she made fun of the name, like it's going to be bad because it's called Ladies. Sometimes I think people have a hard time trying something new and have to create a reason why they can't. I've seen this with my parents, too. We went on a cruise back in 2010, and we had to option of sitting with people we didn't know for supper, I thought it would be fun, but they never wanted to do it. I'm trying to try new things, it doesn't always work out, especially with food, but I'm trying. I wanted to go to the Ladies Expo last year, but my friends didn't want to go, so I decided not to. The other day I was downtown close to the place that was selling tickets, so I just decided to buy one. I overheard one of the vendors that was going to be there, talking about goodie bags, that made me want to go even more. Of course it's not free, because I had to buy a ticket, but I like goodie bags. At least if I go this year, I won't have to wonder about it in the future, and hey, it might even be fun.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Labor Day weekend (in the US of A) is approaching...what's something you've labored over this year?
I can't really think of anything. Nothing's been harder this year than any other. How about I labored over the answer to this question.
2. What is one word to describe your 'job' or career?
Busy. At least for the job I'm currently at and I hopoe it will continue that way for the rest of the time I'm there. For the library: interesting, maybe. I do a lot of the same things everyday, but I also run into a lot of new situations as well.
3. What was your worst or least favorite job ever? Why?
I'd have to say an office assistant. I don't even remember what I did there, but I remember sitting at a desk working by myself with no interaction.
4. How do you measure contentment?
Maybe when I'm doing something I want to and everything goes right, but when does that ever happen? Even when I'm doing my art, things don't always go the way I think they should, of course things in the end usually look better than I thought they would.
Sunday, I had a really good day. I was working at the bookstore, was at a different location in the bookstore, was working with people that were fun and it wasn't really busy. I also got to learn something new, that was nice.
5. Pickles-like or dislike? What is something you eat that requires a pickle? Dill, bread and butter, sweet gherkins...what's your favorite kind of pickle?
I love pickles. I'm actually looking for a way to make my lunch sandwich more exciting, so I bought pickles.
6. In your current house-town-state, what is it you like living close to?
I'm close to a grocery store, the library (even closer when we move back), and local shopping. I figure if I can walk places in under an hour, I'm close.
7. What is one thing on your 'want-to-do' list before summer draws to an official close?
I have a lot I want to do, none of it is going to get done. I'm working 9+ hour days the rest of this week and since the end of summer is Labor Day, it will be here before I know it. My mind keeps reminding me of past vacations, and I feel I should take one, but that's just not going to happen.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm working temporarily at the university's bookstore. One of my co-workers was talking about how less and less people can write legibly and fill things out. As an exercise for me, I decided to write the ansers out to this first. I've always loved my hand writing, it's not the fanciest or nicest, but I love that it's a mixture of cursive and printing.

I love these memes. They're questions that make me think on a different level than I usally do at work, it's nice to stretch my brain.

Recent finds

These past few weeks I have been working a lot and standing a ton, and it's going to continue the next two weeks. Last Saturday I had the day off but I was so exhausted from the week, I didn't do anything. Today, I have to work later, but going garage saleing totally helped my mood.

This first picture is what I've bought at stores.

 The ISU Alumni shirt is from the bookstore, I couldn't pass it up. The canvas circle tags are from a trip to Hobby Lobby when I needed carstock. The three stampers you see, I thought were Mike, Sully, and some other monster from Monsters Inc., unfortunately when I opened them and stamped them, they weren't. I love dot-to-dot books, so I had to get these and the puffer fish was just cute. I had read on Curtains In My Tree about some velvet pumpkins she picked up from Jo-Ann's, so I went there the other day, I didn't find those pumpkins but I did find the purchases above.
Today, I found a few sales I wanted to hit, some weren't interesting, but I did find some cool/interesting buys.
This was the second sale I hit, from the front of the house, it didn't look like much, but then you got to the back of the house and they had a ton of stuff.

 The background is an orange/brown scarf, I really need to stop buying elephants.

When I came up to this sale, the lady said everything was 1/2 off, who would pass that up? The wall paper at the top was the buy of the day, there was a whole box of it with 4 rolls all about 29 inches tall, I don't know how much of it there is, but it is beautiful. I bought the necklace to tear apart for crafts.

This was the last sale on my list, it's an annual church sale. I wanted to go yesterday, but life got in the way. Today, there was hardly anyone there and not much exciting stuff. The bells I thought would work in a swap. The spoon says it's a William Rogers original, I don't know what that means, but I really liked it

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's your worst food memory? How about one of your best?
I don't really have a worst one. My best one would be years ago when I went to Washington D.C. with my parents for one of my mother's conferences. My dad and I went to an open air market and we bought this napolean, which is layers of puff pastry and pudding. I remember us each eating from different ends and it was SOO good. I've spent years trying to find a napolean that tastes the same, at this point I'm not even sure I remember what it tasted like, but it was good.
2. Do you appreciate people telling it like it is, or would you rather a speaker temper his/her words and maybe beat around the bush a little? How about when you're the one communicating...which type are you?
It depends on the situation. If I screw up or it's something I don't want to hear I don't like it, but sometimes it's easier for people to just get it out there and tell me. I'd rather know what they're talking about than them hiding behind their words because they don't want to come out and say it. I think I come out and say things, but I am very empathetic, so if I can tell it will hurt their feelings, I try to do it in a nicer way.
3. What's your favorite place to hang out?
If we're talking about anywhere, always Okoboji, IA. I spent my summers (or at least the last week of summer before school started) there, and every time I go back (which is less and less lately), I'm always transported back to my childhood. I'd take Okoboji over anywhere in the world. If we're talking about here in town, I'm not sure. I don't have a favorite place, maybe anywhere my friends and I hang out. We can get lost in talk about the library for hours at a time.
4. When do you most feel like you're a slave to time?
Generally, when I do art. My muse seems to appear when I don't have time, usually before I have to be at work, sometimes late at night when I have to get up early the next morning. I hate having to watch the clock when I'm trying to create something.
5. What was the last concert you attended? Who'd you go with? Was it any good?
Very good question, I can tell you the last concert I worked, that would be Miranda Lambert last fall. I work at an events center here, so I get to see/hear a lot of concerts. But, the last time I paid/someone else paid for me to go would probably be Trans Siberian Orchestra at least 6 years or so ago. I don't go to a lot of concerts, I find them too loud.
6. Reality TV...harmful or harmless? What's your guilty pleasure when it comes to reality TV?
I used to like it, when I actually watched TV. I actually used to plan my life around TV shows which I think is very bad, I wouldn't do anything when I knew my shows were on. My favorite will always be the Amazing Race, I love how their challenges were always something cultural to do with the place they were in. It was almost like they were learning while they were there. Now, I've been spoiled with TV shows on DVD and no commercials, so I don't watch 'live' TV anymore.
7. What's something you think is overrated?
I have a great example from work today, but if I posted it on here and the patron happened to find it and read it, it would be bad. Maybe tiny things people think are so important at certain times. When you stop and think about it, they're really not that important.
Here's another, how about that new trend of mullet dresses, where they're longer in the back than the front. I don't get those. Maybe just trends in general. I wear what's comfortable to me, usually the $5 shirts from Walmart. I just don't get the point of trends, wait a few months or a year and it's something completely new and different.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I will practice self-control tomorrow. I'm working an extra job right now where I stand upwards of 8 hours a day. I do take my lunch, but it's at a bookstore, and they have everything: clothing, books, art supplies, etc. I already bought a cool shirt that was pretty cheap, but I still haven't visited the sale rack. This bookstore is across the hall from a convenience store and I'm trying so hard to not drink pop lately, for obvious reasons, but when I'm standing so long, I want the caffeine (though lately, I'm so tired it doesn't make a difference). I'm just trying so hard to practice self-control, but then I have an angry/confused patron and I get upset because of them, and I want to buy myself something to make me feel better. It's horrible.

This would be impressive that I've done this three weeks in a row, if I actually posted something else. I'm just so drained at the end of the day, I don't want to think too much. I do like these though. I will post a picture of my cool new shirt soon. I'm hoping there will be some interesting sales this weekend.

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge

Wow! Two weeks in a row.
1. My daughter earned her Master's Degree this past weekend...what's something you've 'mastered' in recent weeks or months?
I'm not sure about mastering things, I know I'm getting better at not letting little things bother me. I may have mastered standing for 8 hours without my feet getting tired.

2. What song most reminds you of your childhood?
My Hometown by Bruce Springsteen. Actually any one of the songs from his Born in the USA album. I grew up on that album and every time I hear any of them, I'm a child again. My Hometown seems to come up quite a bit as we're pulling back into Ames from trips.

3. What do you think about single gender groups and/or events? Should every group/event be open to both genders? If not, what sort of exceptions do you think are appropriate?
I think it's nice to have both genders at some things, but I also like single gender events. I don't think a bachlorette party or a baby shower would be as fun if guys showed up. Also, can't really have a girl's night out if guy's are invited.

4. What's your favorite spice? Your favorite dish containing your favorite spice?
I don't DO spices. I have a very sensitive tastes, and anything too spicy or salty, sometimes even just a tiny bit too spicy/salty and I can't handle it.

5. I saw this question on Marla's facebook page and asked if I could steal borrow it for the Hodgepodge...thanks Marla!
Chevron patterns are everywhere! Do you like it or think its just a little too much? Do you own anything 'chevron'?
I like a little chevron. It looks nice on some things but I don't like a ton of it. I also think a larger pattern rather than a smaller pattern looks nicer

6. What's something you disliked as a child, but can fully appreciate now?
That's a really good question, I'm not entirely sure. I have grown to like seafood/fish more.

7. What can irritate you very quickly?
Tiny sounds in the background. I like quiet. I work in a not quiet environment, but if I can hear your music outside of your headphones, it drives me crazy.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I have no random thoughts tonight. I just started back at a job that's very tiring for me, I love it, but it tires me out. So, I'm wicked tired, I'm also hoping it will pick up soon. I love being busy at my job.

My first estate sale

So, I made myself go to some garage sales this weekend, which actually wasn't too hard because they finally sounded interesting. The two sales I went to on Friday, I had been to in the past. This first one advertised rocks and shells. Here's what I got:

 Some cool rocks I'm not sure what I'll do with them. I was thinking of using the blue, green and purple ones in art, but I have no plans. I might varnish them, as the coloring is so much richer when they're wet looking.
This second sale, the lady basically has her whole driveway and her garage with tables full of stuff, usually not priced, but I know I'll find something good there, so I always go.

Stemmed glass, spoons, silver sugar bowl, creamer
I've never seen a stemmed glass with the painted pattern on it. The two glass items, the masking tape with the price was so old, some of it is still on them, does anyone have any suggestions to getting that off? I really shouldn't have bought the creamer, as I have a lot of those already, but I'd never seen one in this pattern. I always use my spoons the most, so I told myself if I found any cheap ones at sales I was going to buy them, I hadn't found any yet, so I had to jump on these.
That was the end of Friday, I walked just over 2 miles.
Bargain Hunting Treasure Seeker, asked once if we planned out our sales or just went by the seat of our pants. Since I walk to all the sales I go to, I plan them out. Starting Wednesday, I check the local classifieds online, marking down sales that sound interesting in a notebook with the times, dates, addresses, and what sounds good to me. I have a page for Friday, and one for Saturday, if a sale is on both days, I list what sounds interesting to me on the page for Friday, and just jot down the address and time for Saturday. I only go to ones I can walk to, I figure if I have to pay for a bus trip there, it's not worth it. Most of the time I end up walking about 4 miles, I never really think of it, because it doesn't seem that much to me. I do like to see how much I walked on mapmyrun, basically it's a site where you map your route and it tells you how many miles you walked/whatever.
I've taken to checking craigslist Friday night/Saturday morning as it seems people wait until the last minute to post things on there. There seem to be more and more sales posted on there instead of in the papers lately, so I make sure to check it.
Today, I started out at a sale, that I thought was too far of a walk yesterday, on my way there, I found two more sales, but didn't find anything to buy at them.

Daffodil, party, green alphabet, stars, and celestial stickers
The next sale, the lady used to have a shop downtown but had closed it down and she was trying to get rid of her inventory, or so she said. One of the items I wanted was a Carebear, she gave me $3 as her lowest price, but since I wanted it just for me, I can't justify spending more than one dollar on stuffed animals, so I left it behind. Here's what I did get:

Bug pin, Raggedy Ann figurine, buttons, bookmark, two parrot pins, reindeer earring
I'm thinking of using the reindeer and buttons in artwork, I don't know about the rest.
This next sale was one I wandered by. I saw the sign and told myself I shouldn't go, as I'd been to it in the past and didn't find much. But then I talked myself into checking it out, and saying I didn't have to buy anything, that worked well.

Activity book, King of Misfit Toys keychain, white cotton, sheer purple fabric

I bought the white cotton fabric as a base for my next fabric book, which I hope to do at least part of on a sewing machine, I've noticed people start with a base of plain fabric and add onto the top of it, thought I'd try it that way this time. The purple fabric is also for a fabric book.
There was an ad for an estate sale in the paper this week. I love reading on people's blogs about them, so I thought I'd check it out. Originally, I was going to go wait yesterday, but I didn't want to walk all the way over there. Today on craigslist, everything was listed as 50% off, so I decided to wander over there.

 Basket of chicks, activity books, handmade collars, hanky, ceramic flower pin, tiny glass animals, table runner
The table runner, handmade collars and hanky are for a fabric book, I figure I can find these items cheaper at sales, I might as well snatch them up even if I never use them. Once again, I love activity books, these are those "magic" markers where you go over the paper and the lines appear. I loved the tiny glass animals, I used to have a flower pin like this one, but I used it in an art project.

 I know they're old, but I don't know how old. They're made out of pom poms, paper and pipe cleaners. They seem to be geared toward holidays, I just thought they were wicked cute. They're even still pretty soft. You can also see a closer picture of the glass animals, I've seen these for sale at zoos, I don't know if that's where they came from, but they were cute. There's also a closer look at the flower pin.
After finishing at the estate sale, I was tired and decided to forego the other two sales I was going to go to. I dropped my bag off at home and went to the Farmer's market. I didn't buy much, but I keep hoping something exciting will jump out at me.

This stuffed dog was with some other Christmas things that were on the curb marked free. The pastry is a napolean. Basically it's layers of vanilla pudding and puff pastery, they're very good.
Today I walked abut 5 1/4 miles. Like I said it doesn't seem like much to me, but it's interesting to know how much I walked. While figuring that out, I thought I'd see how far the library is from me, I walk about 2/3 a mile to get to it every day, so most of the time I walk 1 1/3 miles when I'm working.

This weekend I had a 3 day weekend, which never happens. Yesterday, I basically slacked off and went to a few sales, today I decided to go to the farmer's market even if I didn't go to any sales. Tomorrow, I finally talked my friend into going to the State Fair. I haven't been there in quite a few years, I always want to go, but it usually is when I'm working at the bookstore, and can't go. This year when I noticed I had this weekend off, I've been trying to convince my friend to go. Apparently they raised prices this year, so that was a turn off, but I finally did it. I'm so excited. We won't have a lot of time, as she does have other things to do tomorrow, but I'm really excited, I don't go to too many things. I'm afraid it will be another I'm really excited and it lets me down day though, we'll see.

Nothing exciting going on

I'm still here, mostly just been working.
I haven't been to any garage sales since my last post. Nothing's sounded interesting. I realize this happened to me last year too, I just got burned out before the end of the summer. And then I'm bummed I don't have any to go to in the winter.
I do have this weekend off, so I figure I need to get out and go to some.
I think I've been kinda depressed lately, I'm not exactly sure why, but I don't do anything outside of my house except work. A few weeks ago, my parents got to go on vacation, I don't think that helped at all, I wish I could afford a vacation. With this weekend off, normally I would sign up for extra shifts at work, but I start back at my cashiering job next week and I will be working non-stop the 12th through the 30th, so I figured I should just keep the weekend off, have a little relax before my work run. I really wanted to go to the state fair, but no one will go with me, so I've accepted the fact that I won't be going to that again.
While my parents were gone, I was asked/told I had to scrape the porch. Unfortunately, it hurts my arms (because I don't use those muscles) and my back (that angle just kills me), so that wasn't very fun. And of course my scraping isn't up to my mother's standards, so she's been doing it to her standards since she got home. Though yesterday, I got to scrape the part that's behind the rose bush, that was fun.
I keep daydreaming about having my own little house away from my parents, that would be grand.
A few of the blogs I read participated in the Where Blogger's Create event, so I have been perusing other blogger's creative spaces, and wishing I had my own. I do have a very messy craft closet where I keep all my supplies, but when I create it's either on the floor in the hallway, on the floor in the kitchen, or on my futon in the living room. And now that I'm having issues with my back, creating on the floor is not helping anything.
While I was perusing blog spaces, I stumbled on to Beansie Babbles, and then onto a weekly meme/blog hop: Hodgepodge Wednesday hosted by From This Side of the Pond, I thought it might be fun to do that. Maybe I'll even get back to posting regularly.

After thinking more on these, I have a couple edits

1. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week...what's one thing you could do this week to qualify as a participant?

I don't know, my life's pretty simple as it is. I am actually uploading all my music in one place so I have it, if my computer crashes. That's simplifying for down the line isn't it? I won't have to worry when I get a new computer. Hire a maid, I'm a messy person. Get rid of some of my stuff, actually that's one of the reasons I haven't been going to garage sales, I figure I have enough stuff as it is.

2. It's also National Peach Month...peach pie, peach cobbler, or please pour me a Bellini? What's your peach pleasure?

I actually don't eat a lot of peaches, I can't remember the last time I had a peach. Maybe I'll have to go find a peach something when I visit the store tomorrow Fuzzy Navel, I love those drinks

3. Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "Do one thing every day that scares you."Agree or disagree...explain.

I think it's a good idea...for others. It's good to get out of our comfort zones, but I don't like getting out of mine very much. I should, my life would be more exciting if I did, I have become way too comfortable in my life right now, I need a little excitement. Right now, I'm focusing on doing something every day that makes me happy. As mentioned above, I'm not extremely happy right now, and I'd love to be happier.

4. What's your favorite household chore? Yes, you have to choose one.

I like doing the dishes, granted I never have them all done at once, but I like doing them. When I actually get into doing them all (or at least the ones that don't have to drip dry), I love putting on my music and just relaxing in the warm water.

5. Fodor's recently listed (what they've dubbed) the ten most beautiful sunset spots in America. Click here to read more or see pretty pictures, but this is their list...
Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara CA,
Mount Haleakala in Maui HI,
Old Fort Marcy in Santa Park Fe NM,
Laguna Beach California,
Hopi Point in Grand Canyon AZ,
Four Seasons in Miami FL,
Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica CA,
Gay Head in Martha's Vineyard MA,
Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City UT,
and Mallory Square in Key West Florida.
Have you seen the sun set from any of these spots? If you could choose to watch the sun set from one of the spots on Fodor's list, which would you choose. Where was the prettiest sunset you've ever seen?

I'm not entirely sure if I've been to any of them, I have been to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon, but I don't know if I've been to those specific places. I'd totally pick Hawaii, I've been there and I'd LOVE to go back someday. I love the sunsets in Okoboji, IA. We have a condo for a week at the end of August, and seeing the sun set across the lake is beautiful. Actually after Hawaii, I'd consider Okoboji my favorite place to go on vacation.

This is Okoboji, the lask time I was there.

6. What's your favorite or most used app? If you don't use apps, how about your favorite or most visited website?

I like my calculator app, I'm not that great at math, and apparently even worse when I'm balancing my checkbook, so the calculator is the best. That said, I really don't use apps that much, I don't have a smart phone, but I do have a kindle fire. My favorite website is most likely Etsy, I love browsing and adding to my favorites, and every once in awhile, I actually buy something, to see my latest purchase, go here.

7. We've recently passed the halfway mark for 2013...write a seven word sentence that sums up your year thus far.

I wish I had more money. That's a horrible sentence and a word short, but that's what's been on my mind lately. My last two paychecks were sad, why is it, when I work more I make less money. My happier sentence would be something about the new library in seven words. I work at our local library, last fall we moved to a temporary location, so construction work could begin in our permanent location. You can now see two floors, and at this time next year we will be in the new library, I can't wait.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Random thought, random thought, random thought. I really don't have any. The thought in my mind right now is whether or not to call someone and ask if he wants to go to lunch. And maybe wondering/hoping there's some exciting garage sales this weekend.
I wish I could find more buttons at garage sales, of course that goes back to the thing about going to garage sales.

I really enjoyed filling this out, I hope I can remember to do it in the future.

cake balls!

I went to a few sales today. Nothing sounded exciting for yesterday, plus it's been wicked hot and humid lately.

The one I was really looking forward to, had a lot of stuff, and I loved their pricing tactic, they used different colored dots. Anyways, here's what I got:

two printed hankies, two embroidered hankies, a tiny silver plate, a set of pig S&P shakers, a set of wooden S&P shakers. a set of owls, a bronzish piggy bank, a box of colored tape, a couple pins, a round table covering and a 1971 plate.

The library had a garage/book/bake sale today. I decided not to buy any books. Here's what I bought:

3 plates of cake balls, 3 embroidered hankies, a bunch of erasers, a blue monster, a owl pencil holder, a tiny elephant, a bag of poufy shapes and a heart candle.

Lots of hankies

Remember when I made this? Well, I showed it to one of my bosses, and she said she had some items that she thought I would like. Last week she brought them in, here they are:

 These are the embroidered ones

 And these are the printed ones.

I had quite a few sales on my list for Saturday, unfortunately they turned out to be not so exciting. I spent a grand total of $1.50, and I don't think anything was that exciting.

 4 pieces of embossed felt, two Christmas stockings, 2 plastic toys and a flower pin

turtles, a bunny rabbit and a candle.

Yesterday, my friend, her mom and I went to a state park for a picnic and to wander around in the creek that runs through it. It was fun, but I was hoping for something really exciting.

Last week, I bought these cool things at Target:

the tape, is a holder for earphones, but I couldn't resist it. A mushroom man from Mario Brothers, and a minion from Despicable Me. I love them. They might be my most exciting purchase for the month.

My Birthday

So, yesterday was my birthday, I turned 30. I had a dinner party for my friends. It was fun, but today, I have this feeling that I wish it was more exciting. Here's what I received:

 One of my friends crocheted all those flowers, I love them, but I have no idea what to do with them. Another friend gave me the animal chocolate and the cute little owl box, another friend gave me the earrings.
I also picked up my bouquet of free flowers for the month, they turned out to be roses.

 A couple of my friends gave me wine. I don't drink a lot, and I certainly don't drink a lot of wine. I gave them so many ideas for presents that I'm a little let down that they gave me wine.

 And here are the cards I received:

The cake is from my insurance company, the owl one is from my friend that gave me the owl box, and the other one is from my aunt.

I feel kinda bummed today, I'm not entirely sure why.

Junkin in June

Yesterday, my mother and I went to an event called, Junkin in June. Basically, it's a bunch of little antique stores that are open special hours around central Iowa, see my post from last year here.

Our first stop, was a place called Junk Refunkery in Boone. I found a few things there to buy:

 A tiny plastic camel, a tiny plastic piece that says "no sweat", two metal leaves and a plastic dog.
The next place was called Red Barn Rustics, I remember going to it last year and finding so many cool things, this year not so much, I don't know if it's because I had been there last year or what. I did find this tiny bunch of cards showing the views around Abraham Lincoln's cabin:

 The next stop was at As The Crow Flies, last year I bought some cool stuff there. This year, I thought things were a little pricey.
The next stop was Red Granite Farm, a plant farm that had some antiques on site as well.

 I bought this cute "Hope" magnet, and a tiny poodle plate,
Our next stop Bittersweet N Berries, was very nicely priced, I get so spoiled by garage sale prices that I forget what reasonable prices are.

 Frog, hankies, tiny plastic bunnies, two pins.

 Bird cup, frame, my mother actually bought all these as a birthday present for me. Now, I feel I need to get her something as cool.

After that we went to Gilbert, which is north of Ames, a couple shops had flea markets in their yards. Our first stop was the one that was selling food, by that time it was after 12, and we were HUNGRY. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything to buy at that stop.
The last stop was JB Knacker's, which is the place that arranged the whole event. I found a few pieces at her flea market:

 Fabric piece, it's torn in the middle, I figured it'd work great for another fabric book. Magnets, glass stopper, tiny utensil piece, glass square, and tiny flower pin, bottle

I'm getting quite a collection of elephants. I also think he was the best buy of the day, but I wasn't too excited about anything I bought.
I think it was much better last year, but I also believe the first time I experience things is the best time. This year I kept waiting for an exciting purchase and I didn't find anything really great.
Later in the afternoon, I went out with my friend, we went to Micheal's and I found some stuff to buy there as well.

Some 3D embellishments, some burlap stickers, and some metal gears. Everything was on sale, so I feel good that I didn't buy anything at full price.

My birthday is Tuesday, I'm turning 30. I'm pretty excited about my birthday, maybe because I'm having a party. I haven't done big things for my birthday in awhile. The last time I had a party two people came. My ex and my best friend and I had a picnic at a state park. That was quite a few years ago. This year, I'm having a dinner party with six people and me, plus they're bringing me presents. Who doesn't love presents? I keep worrying about having the food ready on time, the weather, and just stuff.
My mother's birthday is Wednesday, I won't tell you how old she is. I feel I always share my birthday with her. We always go out to eat one night a week, usually where she wants to go. This year, she suggested that, since I obviously can't do it Tues night, but I work late on Wed and Thurs, so those are out as well. I said we always do that, I also feel a little gyped that we never go where I want. So, she suggested, we do one this weekend, and one next weekend. Works for me.

Have a good weekend all.

Pillsbury Doughboys

I walked 9 miles between my 2 days of garage saleing, unfortunately, there wasn't much to find. Friday, the first sale I went to, I found these two Pillsbury Doughboys:

 The one on the left is a cookie jar, the one on the right is a bank. The cookie jar is quite big, so the lady put them both in this box:

 which measures 15" tall and 14" square. So, I spent the majority of four miles walking around carrying this. I went to four others and didn't find anything to buy. My aunt collects Pillsbury Doughboys, though I'm not sure she'll want these. I don't know if she has any cookie jars, but the bank is missing it's "Pillsbury" circle at the top. You can tell it's a doughboy, but it's not all there.
Saturday, I had quite a few on my list, I set out, at the first one I found:

 A blue and silver tablecloth, and some doilies/napkins, glass clock, butterfly. After purchasing my items at this sale, I freaked out and got some more money and then didn't find anything at the next eight sales.

 And then I found this great paper pack, a few cards and a cute shirt. I didn't spend any of the extra money I picked up.
And then I had to go to work for 5 more hours. At the end of the night I was so ready to sit.

I'm joining in Sir Thrift A Lot's linky party today.
Find anything good at sales in your area?

Party Favors and stuff

for my birthday party, but we'll get back to that. A little filling in from the past few weeks.

Remember when I went to the art walk and found nothing to buy? Anyways, one of the stores we went into had this beautiful desk. If I had the money and some place to put it....

 This past weekend I went to one sale and found nothing to buy. Saturday was my first Saturday off in probably a month, I decided to spend the day doing things for me (it didn't work out that way). My plan was to go to our downtown farmer's market, and then to a local flower shop to pick up some flowers, to a local chocolate shop for chocolate, and finally to a bakery for some pastries. That didn't quite work out either. I did go to the farmer's market, but I found pastries to buy there.

 This is a napolean, and it was great. When I was a kid, we went to Washington D.C., to a open air market. My father and I shared a napolean, and while I'm not entirely sure I remember the taste anymore, I'm still looking for it. The one above was really good except for the powdered sugar part. Powdered sugar and I don't get along very well. It was extremely rich, and the pudding was wonderful, though I couldn't get the puff pastry to cut, so I ended up eating every layer separately.

 This is a fruit tart, I had one at a restaurant a few weeks back, this one was really sad.

 A mixed berry pastry, also not so great, way more pastry than fruit.

 These were from a different vendor. It's hard to tell, but the first one is rumchaka, the second is lime coconut and the third Snickers. I wasn't very impressed with these, I loved that the frosting was a cream cheese version, but the cupcakes weren't that good. The Snickers one I gave to a friend, she said it was good.

So, like last year, all I bought at the farmer's market were sweets. I really shouldn't go at all, I thought I'd check it out this year. I don't cook with fresh veggies/fruits, so farmer's markets don't really work for me, I'm more of a boxed meal person. I wasn't extremely impressed with the pastry vendor, she wasn't very open toward me. Part of the small vendor thing I figure is to be open and talkative with someone whether they buy from you or not. There was one vendor that had these beautiful peonies for sale, we have some, so I didn't buy any, but I would definitely buy from her in the future if I needed to. The cupcake lady was nice to, but like I said, I wasn't very impressed with her cupcakes.
I made it to the flower store, but not anywhere else.
I have decided I need to go out to the garage sales even if I don't buy anything. I don't exercise much, and going around to the sales gets me off the couch and walking. Also, I need spoons, I bet I could find those cheap at sales.

And onto the party favors. Like I said before, my birthday is coming up and I'm doing a dinner party with my friends. I decided I needed favors.

 So, everyone's getting a candle, a wooden rose, a pinwheel, a glow bracelet, a bottle of bubbles, hand sanitizer, a squirt animal, and some chocolate. I haven't bought the chocolate yet.

Here's what they look like in the bags. I'm thinking of folding the tops down and threading the rose through some punched holes to close them.

My friends don't read my blog, so I'm not worried about that. Do you think I need something more?