Fun Finds

Last week was spring break, and a favorite antique mall of mine was having spring break sales, I convinced my mom to go with me. Unfortunately, we only had a little over an hour, but I did find some neat stuff to buy:

 a cute Santa Bingo card assemblage for my mother, a tiny McDonald's car (my grandmother had one of these when I was a kid), a Pepsi marble (I just thought it was cool), and a couple quilted pieces (I love quilts, they're always out of my price range though, so when I find something tiny and quilted in my price range, I jump on it).
The next day I stopped over at Hobby Lobby, I noticed I don't have a good Happy Birthday stamp, that's the whole reason I went, but I bought a lot of stuff and not a stamp. Everything was on sale, though, that counts for something, right?

 burlap/fabric flower stickers, colored burlap flowers, blue paper flowers, and colored burlap flowers on sticks

 a cute picture frame, some steampunk stickers and buttons.

Last night, my friend and I went back to the same antique mall and spent almost 3 hours in it, here's what I found:

a large tintype wedding picture (I thought it was a steal at $3), and the cutest pig toothpick holder. It was kinda funny, my friend said she didn't really like antique malls, she was just going because I wanted to go, she ended up spending more money than I did.
Afterwards, we went to Target to see if there were any neat Easter items. I found a few:

a bag of shaped Easter eggs filled with candy (I figured, after Easter I could use them in swaps, they were soo cute), a set of Easter eggs with prizes, a pod of cucumber seeds (these were really neat looking, you just plant that little pod and water it, the outside is biodegradeable and it just grows right out of it, I thought maybe I could handle that), the flower, is a solar flower, my friend got me.

Today, I have to run quite a few errands. I'm mailing my cards for Kimberly's Pink, Black and Bling swap, going to lunch with a friend, looking at a couple apartments, going to Walmart and Dollar Tree for stuff I forgot to buy last night and ending up at the grocery store for ingredients for bread pudding.

HELP

Is anyone having trouble updating their Blogs I'm Following gadget? I've been trying to get all the blogs I'm following listed in this gadget, I've gone through the steps multiple times and it still shows up empty on my blog.
I got a few on, unfortunately, I could only do it by adding URL's, which will take awhile because I follow quite a few blogs. And then, it decided to stop doing that for me.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge time again, check out Joyce's blog to see other people's answers
1. March is known as the windy month. Which of the following phrases best fits your March so far...'throw caution to the wind', 'three sheets to the wind', 'run like the wind', or 'see which way the wind blows'? How about see which way the wind blows. With things changing at my job and having to move and sort things out and see where things go on that route, and sometimes in just planning my days, it seems to change so fast.

2. Your favorite green food? Your favorite dish made with your favorite green food? I like pistachios. I know I've made a pistachio bar before with pistachios crushed in the frosting and pistachio pudding in the actual bar.

3. Ever been locked out of your home-car-office-anywhere? Do tell! I locked myself out of my apartment once. I had to go get a key for a different door, shimmy the chain off of it and slide inside. In this apartment, you can't lock the door without the key.

4. Yoda, Kermit, Shrek, The Wicked Witch of the West, Oscar the Grouch, The Grinch, or Mike Wasowski (Monsters Inc.)...of the green characters listed, which one's your favorite and why? I can't pick between Mike Wasowski and Kermit, I have figures of both of them sitting on my desk so I can see them while I'm using my computer. I love frogs and Kermit trumps all frogs, and how can you not love Mike?

5. "The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive."~Joe Batten Do you agree? Why or why not? That sounds like a great idea, if you don't have hope, I don't think you have much.

6. Share a favorite song with an emotion in it's title. The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and The News. I always think of Back To The Future when I hear it. Side note, I put my media player on shuffle and kept skipping through until I found a song that had an emotion in it, it took awhile, and I really do like this one, even though it's also the first one I found.

7. What's a road trip you'd like to take? I love to travel on some road that has a lot of thrift and antique stores and garage sales. With friends, what more could I want. I'd love to stay in the older hotels and eat at local eateries and visit cool random tourist shops.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I feel so stressed lately, this afternoon I was at work and felt like crying, I had just read some emails that upset me greatly. With everything going on, I feel like I need a break from my life.

Buttons

I broke down and bought some buttons at JoAnn's the other day. They were just so bright and shiny:

 How do you pass those up? I'm so sick of the not colorful outside, so I bought them. I have used a few for a colorful birthday card:

And then I found out I don't have a "Happy Birthday" stamp, so I guess I'll have to go find one of those.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's time for the Wednesday Hodgepoge again. Check out Joyce's blog to see other people's answers.

1. Thursday marks the first day of spring...to celebrate would you rather plant a garden or go for a walk in the woods? Would either of those activities be possible on Thursday where you live?Totally go walk in the woods. I would be able to walk in the woods, unfortunately, my day is pretty full on Thursday.
2. When did someone last spring something on you? (or when did you last spring something on someone?)Funny that this is a question. One of my bosses at one of my jobs told us our schedule changed last night for an upcoming event. It's a little annoying because I'm going to have to shift things around to be able to work my scheduled time now.

3. We often think of spring as a time for new beginnings. What's something you'd like to start doing this spring? I can't think of anything new I want to do. I will start perusing the garage sales again.

4. Where do you like to sit in a movie theatre? When did you last sit there, and what were you watching? I do not like movie theaters, they're expensive, loud, lots of talking/crying people/kids. I prefer to check a movie out from the library and sit in my living room. The last time I went to a movie was around Thanksgiving, my friends wanted to see the new Thor movie. I'm still not sure it was worth the $8 to get in.

5. When you meet someone for the very first time, what do you want them to think about you? I want them to like me, but doesn't everyone? I want them to think I'm fun, I think that's why I wear a lot of character shirts. I don't want to be thought of as dull and boring.

6. March is frozen food month (yes, really!). Besides ice cream (gotta make you think a little) what's your most often purchased frozen food item? Microwave dinners. That's about the only thing I purchase, every once in awhile I do get ice cream. I'm always looking for something new and different but yummy.

7. What's something you avoid? Anything? Grumpy people, stress, my parents, cold,

8. Insert your own random thought here.

So, I have to move (if you've read Hodgepodge lately, you know this) and I've been sorting and getting rid of things. My mother asked the other day if I was stressed about the move. I said not so much, and she asked why? I told her I had so many other things to be stressed about. I didn't tell her what because then she'd stress me out by trying to help. She did get a little annoyed about that, but they always want to know what's going on in my life, I find that a little annoying.

My stresses include: my job changing in March (I'm being demoted, along with quite a few of my co-workers), maybe getting a salaried job (but, that will be open to the public and just not internal, so I don't know my chances on that), whether or not I'm staying with my current job (I want to, I just don't know if it's feasible with how my job's changing), the move back of the library (we're in a temporary location, our permanent library will be done in the fall, and we'll be moving back then), and of course my own move (I'm having a hard time finding apartments in my price range, which means I need to find a job that pays more money, but I'm hoping to prolong it long enough to see if I get the salaried job), and of course money (I do have more now than I've ever had, but that's due to cancelling certain things and getting them cheaper, if I have to start paying higher rent, that's not going to last).

I'm really good at hiding my stress. Sometimes I think it's really bad for me. Sometimes I wish I could share everything that stresses me to someone, but I don't have anyone I can tell it to (I do have one person, but we get together infrequently, and she has a lot on her mind as well).  

I confess

I'm stealing this from The Testosterone Three and Me.
I confess....

• My friend and were supposed to go to a local antique mall today, but she got called into work. I'm really upset by it.
• I was sooo excited yesterday, I haven't been to this particular antique mall in years (not an exaggeration) and they are having a spring break sale, starting today.
• I have extra money due to cancelling things and getting them cheaper, I wanted to spend some of that money on vintage buttons and linens.
• I was going to go on a walk because the high today is 52, and walking makes you feel better, but all I felt like doing this morning was laying in bed and being a mope all day.
• In being a mope today, I have somehow forgotten to eat lunch, maybe I'll just have ice cream
• I should know better than to be excited about our plans, I feel that something comes up quite a bit to get them cancelled or derailed.
• I really want a hug. It really floored me last night to get the text saying she had to cancel
• I know she can't do anything about it and you have to work when they tell you to, but....
• Last weekend, I made cheesecake, and it turned out really good.
• I was always scared of making cheesecake, I thought it was above my skill level and I don't have a spring-form pan.
• I'm so sick of apartment hunting and realizing I need more money to be able to afford monthly rents.
• I tried to get one of my friends at the library to go in on a nice apartment, close to the library, with laundry, but she said she didn't want to live with a roommate.
• I don't either, but that might be what happens
• I really wish they would hurry up and figure out this position at the library, so I can plan
• I really wish I get this position at the library, but knowing how many people in the library are going to apply for it and that it will be open to the public, I think I need to just accept that I need a new job
• I don't want a new job.

Where's the easy button?

Hodgepodge Vol. 166

1. Do you have an interest in learning about your family's heritage? Why or why not? If you know a little bit about your roots, share an interesting piece of trivia or a fun fact about someone who goes way back on your family tree. Not really. I know my dad's side is German and my mom's side is English. My last name is kinda unique, so through reading things, I found out one of my relatives worked at Auschwitz and another one ran the Andersonville prison camp during the Civil War.

2. Branch Rickey, the baseball exec credited with signing Jackie Robinson, is quoted as saying-"Luck is the residue of design."Agree or disagree? Why? So, you design something, and luck is whatever's left over? I'm not entirely sure what I think.

3. In the town where you currently reside, what's your favorite green space? McFarland Park brings back a lot of memories, but the place we go to the most is Reiman Gardens, but it's more for the gardens. Since I became single, I don't really hang out in parks much.

4. Who is your favorite comedian? Jim Gaffigan. Some of his stuff's a little vulgar, but I do find it applies to everyday life quite well. My friends and I went to a Mexican restaurant not so long ago, and I was asking them what they thought things were and then I remembered one of his skits. He supposedly used to work in a Mexican restaurant and people would ask him what things were "What is nachos?" "Nachos? It's tortilla with cheese, meat and vegetables." "Oh, well then what is a burrito?" "Tortilla with cheese, meat and vegetables." "Well than what is a tostada?" "Tortilla with cheese, meat and vegetables." "Well, then what I-" "Look, it's all the same shit! Why don't you say a Spanish word and I'll bring you something."

5. March is National Nutrition Month, and almost everyone needs to improve their diet in some way.  What about you? How can you improve your nutrition on a daily basis? Will you try? I don't diet. I'm really good at not eating healthy. I should have better breakfasts, I should stop drinking pop, I should make more of my meals instead of eating frozen meals. The key word being should. I am again trying to cut down on my pop, we'll see how that goes.

6. Which of these green expressions have you 'experienced' in recent weeks -green with envy, green thumb, green around the gills, or give the green light? Explain. Ummm, no. I'm not envious of anyone, I can't grow things, I haven't been sickly, and I haven't been given the ok to do anything.

7. Where is one place you don't mind waiting? I mind waiting everywhere. I try to bring something to do so it doesn't seem like very long.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. One of the ways I'm cutting down on drinking pop is by not going to the HyVee gas station that's on my way to work. Last week, their sidewalk wasn't completely cleaned off, so I told the clerk. It still wasn't shoveled the next day when I went in, so I mentioned it to a different clerk and he rolled his eyes at me. Thursday, it still wasn't shoveled. Sunday, I sent an email to the HyVee at the other end of the parking lot. I haven't heard anything back, but I told them because of the rude clerk I wouldn't be using the gas station anymore.
Tonight, I successfully didn't. I did drink a can of pop that I bought somewhere else, but I did not go to the gas station on my break, or on my way to work. I will still be buying things at the HyVee, but I don't plan on frequenting the gas station anymore.
Also, last week, I mentioned that I got my hair cut, everyone keeps saying how cute it is. So, I'm hoping it really is. I like it, I don't like that it dries funny if I sleep on it. I never had bad hair days when I had long hair.

Butterflies and Cheesecake

I love vintage jewelry. I love going to garage sales and finding cute jewelry. It's winter, though, so I visit our consignment stores for my fill of gently used goods. Last time I went to one of my frequent stops, I looked at their jewelry case, bad idea, now I check it out every time I go in.

Yesterday, I felt I should visit a few places downtown, I didn't plan to spend money, but I did find a few pieces to take home with me.

 A cute basket of flowers, a ring of flowers, 3 butterflies, a caterpillar and a cute pair of earrings.
 
 I also found that really cute square piece.
If you haven't noticed, I really like butterflies. I don't really know exactly why, but I try to pick them up if I see them.

Tonight, I have a trivia event I go to with my family every month. My job is to bring dessert. This month, I decided to try making cheesecake. I've never made it before, mostly because I think it's above my skill level, and I don't have a spring form pan. My co-worker, who makes cheesecake a lot, told me I didn't need one and that I should really try it.
I bought a Taste of Home Grand Prize Winners magazine at the grocery store the other day, and they had a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake. It looked sooo good, so I decided to try making it.

I messed up a couple things, but it tastes delicious to me. Hopefully, everyone else agrees.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Check out Joyce's blog for other people's answers.

1. The expression 'mad as a March hare' originated with a fictional character who is distracted and frantic. When were you last 'mad as a March hare' and what was it that made you that way? I can't give you a specific time, but most likely it was when I was late and looking for something because I didn't plan ahead. I have a tendency to hurry through my apartment, throwing things around until I find what I'm looking for, or run out of time and leave.

2. Mardi Gras this year falls on Tuesday, March 4th. Have you ever been to Mardi Gras, and if so what did you think? If not, do you have any interest in going? Purple, green, and gold are the colors of Mardi Gras. Which one is most prevalent in your wardrobe? How about in your home? No, I've never been to Mardi Gras. I have, however, been to Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. My dad had a radio conference there where I was in high school, and I got to go along. One of the night events was to go to Mardi Gras world and have dinner there. It was pretty cool.

I'm not sure I'd want to go be around all those crowds and drunk people. I don't wear a lot of those colors. Green is probably most prevalent in my wardrobe, though I'd like to have more purple. Green again, my favorite colors are blue and green, though I'm trying to bring more vibrant colors into my home.

3. Are you old fashioned? It depends on what we're talking about. I think I may be old fashioned in what I expect out of people. I really hate that people have to check their phones all the time, like at work and when you're out with other people. I expect them to pay attention to what they're doing.
And I love antiques and old houses.

4. Do you carefully plan your vacations, or do you prefer the days to be more spontaneous? I like to plan certain things out. I like to make sure I have a hotel to stay at. But, usually I'll just kinda wing it when I get wherever I'm going, unless there's something I want to make sure I see and I need to set up a tour ahead of time.

5. March is National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce, and what do you most often top with this sauce? I like pesto. It's easy to make and makes things taste very good.

6. What's something that easily brings a tear to your eye? Animals

7. If you could own any sports team, which one would it be and why? I don't do sports

8. Insert your own random thought here. I cut my hair yesterday. It was at the length where when it's in a ponytail, it annoyed me. It was about chest length and now it hits my ears. The stylist said it was about 8 inches cut off. A pretty drastic change. I work almost right next door to a Great Clips, so I figured I'd just go after work. It's Tuesday (when I write this), very few people have seen my hair cut. I'm curious how people will react when I go into work tonight.

Wedesday Hodgepodge

It's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge again, head on over to Joyce's blog to see other people's answers.

1. What is something you'll never forget about the age you are right now?
Honestly, I have no idea. I wanna say that this was the worst winter I can remember, but who knows maybe another winter will be worse (I hope not). Maybe the fact we had to shut down the library for two days due to sickness. As far as I know that's never happened. Last Wednesday over 30 people (which is about half the staff) called in sick with stomach problems, so we didn't open. We had people disinfect the common areas and stayed closed on Thursday. The doctors said if you were sick on Wednesday, you weren't allowed to be at work on Thursday. I got sick the weekend before, so avoided this bout. Let's go with that one, if you'd like to know more about that, check out my last post here.
2. What's a household chore you've never done? How have you managed that???
I'm not entirely sure. But if I've never done it, how do I know it's a household chore? In my parents house we had to clean the ceiling fans every spring, I don't have any fans to clean in my apartment.
3. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture? Explain?
I think more nurture. It's what you see around you that you suck in and push toward your personality. But, there's also the nature part, they've done studies on twins that were adopted out at birth to different families and when reunited years later learned that certain parts of their life and personalities were so similar, you would think they were raised together. So, I really don't know. 
4. Friday (February 28th) is 'Something on a Stick Day'...funny because Zoanna over at A Penchant for Pens recently sent me an idea for a question relating to this topic. What's your favorite food eaten on a stick?
Ah, food on a stick. That's our state fair, a couple years ago they introduced deep fat fried butter on a stick. There are quite a few things on a stick they serve that I wouldn't go near. Right now, I like cake pops.
5. Which of your five senses do you treasure most, and why?
I think it would taste. When I'm sick, and can't taste things it drives me nuts, especially when I know what it should taste like.
I should also say sight. My dad is legally blind, so I see it a lot. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't read, or do my artwork or be able to notice things. 
6. What's the best music, theatre, or sporting venue you've been to? What made it great?
I don't go to a lot. I don't even remember what the last thing I'd been to is. I do remember a few years ago, my friend won tickets to Big and Rich at the State Fair and I got to go with her. I loved it, I remember losing my voice because I knew most of the songs. The company was great. Bought a cool shirt too. That was awhile ago, and I know I've attended more concerts since then, but I still remember that one and not the others.
7. It's the last week of the month...in five words or less bid adieu to your February.
I survived the Plague.
That goes with the answer to No. 1
 8.  Insert your own random thought here.
My parents told me they were listing the house in March, I was informed this on Sunday. I'm in the middle of a couple art swaps, so I'm trying my hardest to get them done, so I can get my artsy stuff off the floor. I'm wondering if shoving things in closets is an acceptable way to move my stuff out of the way. Are people going to be looking in closets and seeing all my stuff. Of course, I also think of my mother's overstuffed craft room and wonder what her solution for that is, you can't just shut the door when people are looking at your house.
Now, if I could get people not to look at the floor, where a lot of my stuff is piled, it would be great. My surfaces that are decorated aren't bad, its the floor I really need to clean. Oh, and my dishes, maybe I could just stuff them in cupboards.
Along those lines, I also need to get back to searching for apartments. I really don't want to move. I have way too much stuff. My mom suggested renting a storage space for some of my stuff. That was kinda funny cause I had just mentioned not having enough money. There is so much bouncing around in my mind because of this, I'm so stressed. I'd like that easy button to push, so I could just wake up and it was all done already. Good luck with that

Fun stuff

I was getting all excited because it will soon be March, but my mom informed me, they are planning to list the house in March. Now, I'm not so excited.
Awhile ago, I posted I had some big family secret that I couldn't tell anyone. My parents informed me in September that they would be selling their house and moving into a condo. I still can't believe it's true, we've lived in this house for 27 years.
I rent the third floor apartment from them for a reduced price with various stuff around the yard/house that I help out with. That means I have to find a new place as well, and get more money to afford a new apartment. I jumped on the bandwagon in September, looked around for jobs and apartment listings and I told my parents this, and they said I didn't need to do it then, so I quit. I keep reminding myself I need to do this again, but I can't get motivated.
I applied for a couple jobs and one of them I figured would have been an easy one to get into, I didn't get any of them. So, I got frustrated and stopped applying/looking. I guess I need to apply everywhere now. I keep hoping (most likely against hope) that they will hurry up and add the salaried positions they keep promising us at the library and I'll get one of those, but as time goes on, my faith in that keeps falling.
Today, my mother told me they were planning on listing things in March. This is the first time I've heard of it. So, basically I need to start shoving my stuff in boxes and into closets to hide it. I really do need to clean, I have been lazy lately with weather and sickness.

Speaking of sickness, did you hear we made the news? Wednesday, I get a call from the library asking how I was feeling, which I thought was odd. Apparently about 30 people called in sick with the norovirus and we didn't have enough to staff the library, so we closed. And the doctor said anyone who was sick on Wednesday wasn't allowed to come in on Thursday, so we were closed then too. I was fine, I got it the weekend before, that was fun. So, I went in to work my hours on Wednesday, Thursday I went in a little early as we were predicted to have blizzard like conditions. Thankfully, those started later than expected, so I got a few hours work in. If you'd like to read more, here are a few links: channel 13, ISU Daily, channel 5. We kinda decided all being together in the same room for our staff training day on President's Day is what did everyone in. They said the virus lives on hart surfaces, so workers came in and scrubbed down all our hard surfaces on Wednesday. It was kinda weird working when no one was there.

Anyways, back to housing stuff. I really don't want to move, I have a lot of stuff. I know I have too much stuff and I keep telling myself not to buy/acquire more, but it doesn't work. I'm going to work really hard on that from now on, hopefully it will stick this time. Not only do I need to be saving money, but I sure don't have room for more stuff. I did pretty well at sorting my snowmen/winter decorations to get rid of, and I told my mother this, and she said something like I don't need to get rid of things. It's so hard to please her, one minute she says one thing and then turns around and says the exact opposite.
I just wish I could get away from my life for a little while. Where's the easy button I can push to just skip all these things and be in a new place getting on with life?

Valentine's Swaps

****EDIT**** I inadvertantly deleted this post, it was originally posted on February 5th or somewhere in there. My partner has received it and said she loved it. ****EDIT****
I signed up for Borrowed Heaven's Sweetheart Swap, my partner hasn't told me she received it, but according to the USPS website, it was delivered on Monday. She wasn't exactly forthcoming in what she wanted, but she said she loved hearts, so I sent her a box of hearts:

Skittles (she said she liked them), heart hanging decoration, a couple heart ornaments, a heart pillow, heart necklace, heart picture frame, heart candle, heart ice cube tray, and some valentine's day napkins.

I really hope she liked it. I tried to visit local stores as well as the bigger ones to have a nice variety of heart items.

I'm still waiting on my box, but I bet it will be great when it gets here.

I have another box I have to mail out by Saturday, almost done with that. I also have to finish making valentines for my friends, it's a good thing I don't have to mail most of them.

Sweetheart swap

I signed up for a Sweetheart Swap through Meg's blog at Borrowed Heaven, for Valentine's Day.
I received my package a little late, but well worth the wait.
Tami had emailed me saying it was waiting for me, so I went outside, I was expecting a box, and got a little disappointed when I didn't see one on the porch, and then noticed the blob sticking out of my mailbox. It's been very treacherous just making it to my mailbox lately, that I wanted to open it on the porch, obviously, a good a idea not to.
It was wrapped in a paper bag, and inside the bag was a priority mail envelope, here's what I saw when I opened that:

The first thing I saw was that paper rose, and just a bunch of stuff in the envelope, I just had to take a picture of it. If I mailed anything like that, it would rip and pour out in the post office, that's my luck.
And everything after dumping it out on the floor:

I love that everything looked like it was just poured into the envelope, made it so much fun to dump out and look at.
And arranged better:

Now, it's all opened:

some hot chocolate, pumpkin spice chai, chocolate, paper flowers, stickers, paper pads, a cute little phone cozy, and a fuzzy scarf.

Like I said, well worth the wait.

Valentine's Day Box Swap

I signed up for a Valentine's Box Swap through the Domestic Princess. I received my box on Valentine's Day. I did open it that day, but since I was kinda sick all weekend, I'm just now getting these pictures up. I hope the pictures aren't too dark, I opened this at night because like I said, I was sick, and decided I wanted to open it that day. Here's what I saw when I opened the box:

And underneath that, a pile of red shredded paper:

And what was actually in the box:

One pack of canvas pieces and one pack of paper pieces to play with, some washi tape, Dove dark chocolate, Peanut butter M&M's and some Eos tangerine lip gloss
And here's what was in the paper pieces pack:

And the canvas pack:

These are picture frames. I haven't come up with a cool thing to use them for yet, but I will.

Thank you, Ashley.

And here's what I sent my partner:

She said she liked owls, sea salt and dark chocolate, teal, yellow, and grey, she liked to scrapbook and that she used buttons in her scrapbooks.
So, I sent her a couple owls, a Lindt dark chocolate, sea salt, caramel bar, some buttons, chipboard tags, journaling spots, punches, some teal washi tape and a Valentine's candle. There's also a box of chocolates in yellow.
I hope she liked what I sent her.

Some days I hate my body

This is going to be a pretty depressing post, just warning you up front.
I was going to tell you all why I hate Valentine's Day so much, and then I got sick last night and it's totally not helping. Last night I went to bed with a gurgling/upset stomach. I figured maybe if I went to bed it would go away, right? Not so much. Without going into details, I will just say I was up probably every hour getting rid of all the sustenance I consumed yesterday. Today, my stomach is still gurgling, and my body aches. I don't know what I got, I'm guessing a massive bout of food poisoning, but I'm planning on doing nothing today. There might be a trip to the grocery store for 7Up and saltines. I'm kinda scared to eat anything on the chance it will come back up.
When I was younger, I didn't mind Valentine's Day, we always had to trade at school and everyone got one, as I got older, my parents would get me stuff. Then I got a boyfriend, the first year was the best, neither of us had much money. He bought me a cute frog card, and a ring. I loved it, unfortunately he got a better job after that and would spend lavish amounts of money on things I didn't need. I always got 5 or so stuffed frogs, mostly those 3 feet tall ones.
The year he broke up with me, he stopped talking to me in January. I kept hoping there was some reason, and he would finally call me up. I figured, oh he'll do something cool for Valentine's Day. And then it came and nothing, that's when I knew for sure. How much of an ass can someone be to not talk to their girlfriend for 3 months and skip Valentine's Day and then break up (officially) with them in a text message?
That year, I also signed up for 2 or 3 swaps because I kinda knew we were broken up, they totally made my day. So, it's been kind of a tradition to do that every year. I have since learned my 'secret' partner did mail hers last Saturday and the post office said it would be here yesterday, so we can blame them for that. The other one, it looks like I'll have to wait until next week to receive.
I'm over it, it's been 2 or 3 years since that happened. After Valentine's Day, I went shopping for a stuffed animal to ease my pain, and vowed I wouldn't stop myself from buying things I wanted anymore. That's why I love the chocolate that comes out for Valentine's Day. I won't buy the $20 and above hearts, but I will splurge on the cheaper ones. But, I still hate St. V's Day

Ugh

So, I'm thinking I should stop doing swaps where I buy things for other people.
I still haven't received either of my Valentine's Day swaps yet. I know it's not Valentine's Day until tomorrow, but I'm not sure I'll receive them. One of them was supposed to be mailed on the 2nd, and last I heard (last Tuesday) she hadn't mailed it yet. The hostess said she emailed her asking for a tracking number and when she mailed it, but I haven't heard anything from her either.
I received the late swap today, and I have to say, it was a great package.
My word for 2014 is patience, and I'm trying to work on it, really, I just have a hard time waiting for things.

The two swaps I signed up for Christmas were late as well. I didn't receive one until some time in January, the postmark said it was mailed December 30th, this one was supposed to be mailed the week before Christmas.
I really like picking things out for my partners and mailing them, but I feel I keep getting the short end of the stick with late swaps. Part of the reason I sign up for these things is so I can get something cool in the mail (which I do, it's just later than I'm supposed to receive it)

I guess I'm just frustrated. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day and I haven't gotten anything from anybody, not even the people here I've sent Valentine's to.

Wednesday Hodgepoge

Wow, I almost forgot to do this. I was reading my blogs on a different computer and I told myself I'd do it later, and now it's later. Head over to Joyce's blog to see what other people said.

1.What makes love last?
Work, definitely work. You can't just expect to skate through and keep doing things like always, you have to work at it.
2. The Beatles made their US debut fifty years ago this week. Are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite Beatles tune?
That's totally before my time, but I like Yellow Submarine.
3. Valentine's Day-your thoughts? Do you celebrate in any way? Do anything special for the people you love? Expect anything special from the people who love you?
I don't particularly like Valentine's Day, mostly because I'm single. Also, when my ex broke up with me, I figured it out on Valentines Day, but the best chocolate comes out for Valentine's Day, so I love that aspect of it. I mostly just buy myself chocolate. I have made some valentines in the years past and mailed them off to friends, this year I made more. My friends and I are going out to eat because we are single, and I thought it'd be fun to do. They're also getting valentines and chocolate from me. I also have done some Valentine's Day swaps in the past and have done a few more this year, mostly because I'm single and I don't have anyone to buy me something neat, I think it's fun to buy stuff someone else will like. Other than my two swaps coming my way, I don't expect anything
4. Steak or burger...you have to choose. Now that that's settled, how do you like it?
Totally depends on the restaurant and who's paying. If I'm paying, probably, burger with cheese, medium. But, I love steak at Applebee's with loaded mashed potatoes or Red Lobster with the lobster tail, or Texas Roadhouse with their rolls, always medium well.
5. The Hodgepodge lands on the birthdate (February 12th) of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln is quoted as saying, 'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character give him power.'  Do you agree? Why or why not?
Interesting quote. I agree, most people's true character comes out when you give them power. You can always tell what's really in their heart.
6. Honest Abe's image is featured on the US penny (1 cent coin) so I'm wondering...what do you do with your pennies (or your country's equivalent)?  It's been suggested the US stop making the penny, and two bills have been introduced proposing just that, but neither were approved. What say you?
I save all my change in a piggy bank, when it gets filled up, I cash it in. That's kinda funny, because didn't they just change the back of the penny, we no longer have the Lincoln Memorial, we have to see the shield instead. 
I love collecting the wheat back pennies, I have a few steel ones (no, not the ones that are worth a ton), I even have one that's over 100 years old. Very cool, someone used it to pay a fine at the library, and I had to have it (it wasn't 100 then, just a few months shy).
 7.  Do you think pop culture deserves serious study?
That requires more thought than I'm going into tonight, so no.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
And I'm complaining about the weather again. I'm getting used to the cold part, what I wish would go away is the ice. It seems every path from my door to the sidewalk is covered in ice. I can go right, and hope not to slip on the very smooth ice, go left and try to avoid the ice on the driveway, and the bottom of the steps and on the top of the steps on the other side (that's only if I want to pick up my mail, which is on the porch). Most of the time, I choose to walk through the snow to avoid slipping on ice, but there's also ice on the public sidewalks. We keep getting snow, sun on those days, so the snow melts off the roof and then flows out the downspout and on to the sidewalks or driveway, and since the ground is frozen, it can't go anywhere. I can't even do anything about the ice on the south steps, because the steps are wood, so I can't pick at it with the ice scraper, plus I can't throw ice melt on it.
But, hey, it's warming up soon, I will have two boxes of exciting swap stuff, and supper with friends at the end of the week. I'm looking forward to that.

Shopping Trip

Monday, I headed to Target, Walmart and Dollar Tree to find some stuff for a swap I'm in and I had a coupon for chocolate. I was planning to go on Tuesday, but the forecast was snow all day, I did not want to walk around in that. Plus, Monday was kinda nice.

My coupon for chocolate was at Target and that's all I bought:

 Ghiradelli, Russell Stover and Merci. The Russell Stover is gone, it was a very disappointing package. It was labeled as the Private collection and there were pictures of 3 of the things that were inside with names, so I thought maybe, they'd tell me inside what everything was, no such luck. I shouldn't expect that much from them. I had a coupon for $1.50 off a package of the Merci, they're way cheaper at Target than HyVee.

At Walmart, I picked up another package of chocolate: Lindt dark chocolate and strawberry truffles, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt (which for some reason, I was thinking I needed an XL men's size, sometimes I don't know what's going through my head), and some steampunk heart stickers. I keep meaning to make something steampunk-y, but I'm not entirely sure what steampunk is.

At Dollar Tree, I picked up some foam hearts to make valentines with, some flowers for a spring swap I'm in, some patterned hearts (that I completely forgot about), and a dancing devil for a friend.

I did succeed in buying some stuff for my valentine's partner, you'll see those later. I also succeeded in spending way too much money, surprise.

Stuff

So, I got my package together and it's ready to mail out, except I have to make the card. I look at my email to address the envelope and realize my partner lives in Canada. Funny, because right above her address it says: Address *To keep shipping cost fair US residents only*. Now, I feel bad because I took all this time to get stuff for my partner, make up a package I hope she'll like and part of the reason I signed up for this swap is because it was for US residents only. I can't afford to send to Canada. Technically, I shouldn't feel bad because not only did my partner not read the directions, the hostess didn't notice that her address was in Canada either.
I emailed the hostess, but I don't know what to do. I can afford $20 to mail across the US, but not $40 or so to go to Canada. I wonder if maybe I can ask my partner to pay for some of it, but that seems rude too.

I also found out today, my other Valentine's swap partner hasn't mailed my package yet, the one that was supposed to be mailed by last Saturday. There's nothing I can do, I did ask that when she mailed it, she make sure it would be here by Valentine's Day. She said she was planning on it. I'll probably be so busy in-between, I won't notice, but I feel like this happens to me a lot. The last bigger swap (as in medium priority mail box), my partner mailed late too. Of course, she also got rather annoyed when I asked she mail it two day priority, because by the time she informed me she hadn't mailed it, it was after I was supposed to receive it. I'm also a little bothered she hasn't posted about it on her blog yet, but what can you do.
I always try to uphold my end of the swap: get goodies my partner would like, spend as much as we're supposed to, and mail on time. That's all I can really do I guess.

I was wrapping the gifts for this swap, and then I ran out of tape, so some of them have blue tape on them. They're not the prettiest to look at, but I think one of the fun things about a swap is to have to unwrap each gift, it makes the suspense last longer. Plus, I always seem to have tons of tissue paper to use.

I posted on Facebook about making valentines for my friends. Bad idea, cause I have been having the hardest time getting inspired to make them. I had Sunday off, and I totally planned to start on them, and then I got distracted and sat down in front of the TV, and promptly fell asleep. Of course, I also ran out of/lost the rest of my glue sticks, so that's why I was distracted.
Last night, I sat down with my music and all my supplies on the floor, and then decided I'd post about the Valentine swaps I had received already, and then got distracted by something else on the computer, and suddenly it was 10PM.
Today, I have most of the day off, I do have to be at work at 5, but that's plenty of time right? I bought some colored cards yesterday at Jo Ann's and some heart ribbon for the cards. I thought of just cutting the cards in half and making a half card/tag and just writing on the backs of them. I have about 8 done. I'm not exactly sure how many I need, so maybe I could stop?

I'm also supposed to make a chocolate bread pudding for a thing tomorrow night, or at least that was the plan. Then I realized it will be cold when we eat it, I don't know if it will be as good cold. There's no possibility of warming it up, and I will be going right from work, so I can't really do anything about it. I don't know what to do.

I'll probably end up sending that package and eating the extra costs, it's too late to do anything else. I just wish people would pay attention to the rules. And I'll probably end up just making the bread pudding, I don't really have time to find another recipe, buy ingredients and make it. I have to make it tomorrow morning after mailing the package and then run off to work.
What's up in your neck of the woods?

Not so interesting stuff

I went to a Pampered Chef party tonight. I've never been to one of those before, it was pretty fun. I've been to Stampin' Up parties and a Pure Romance party, so I had an idea of what to expect, but I think I enjoyed this one the best. What's not to enjoy when there's food involved?
I knew two people other than the hostess. I wasn't planning to buy anything, but I'm still trying to get myself to do more cooking/baking, and I found something in their catalog I've been wanting for awhile.
Basically, we watched and learned about the products while the made some frozen dinners for the hostess. It was interesting, but I knew I wouldn't use a lot of the products. I already have similar ones at home, or I wouldn't actually use them. And just having them is not going to make me use them, just ask the ice cream maker I got for my birthday that's still sitting in it's box over six months later. She even made one of the meals the whole way through and we got to eat the finished product, plus a dessert. That was good, that sold me on a product.
I also liked that I was spending time with people my age. The people I work out with and hang out with from the library are in their 20's. We get along great, but I don't understand why we always have to have alcohol. That seems to be a central theme with some of them. It was nice to do something different for a change. I wish I had more friends my age. I have a few that work in another department at the library, but we don't really hang out. Like I said, the people I work with in my department are mostly in their twenties. The person I consider my best friend is in her 40's. I think I get along better with people that are in their 30's or 40's.

I've seen people picking words for 2014. That's not something I do. But, the other day, the word patience jumped out at me. So, I figured I'd work on that. I'm not really a patient person. I get rather annoyed with waiting. I don't like it when technology takes longer to do something than it should, or doesn't do something it should.
I'm also trying to downsize, of course that kind of goes with the fact that I'll have to move soon. I keep telling myself, don't buy things you don't need, but then I always fail on that. I tell myself to just use the craft supplies I have (and I have a ton), and then I see something at Hobby Lobby that I want, and I buy it. I will be going to garage sales this summer, but I will try really hard to not buy as much. Part of the reason I'm making myself go, is to get out of the house and get some more exercise. I really need to start walking more.

I have two swaps I need to mail out on Friday. The mail date is actually Saturday, but I have a double header I have to work, so that's not going to happen. One swap, I have to make a tag and a card and send some red destash. I've finished the making part, I just need to get a few things put together and that one's done. The other I have to put together a package, make a valentine and mail. All I have left is to finish the card and mail it out.

I was thinking tonight I should make valentines again this year and give them to people. Mostly my co-workers, but maybe a few friends and family too. Do people really like receiving valentines? Or is it kinda lame?