It's Wednesday!!!

It's Hodgepodge time, and tomorrow's my birthday. Head on over to Joyce's blog to see other people's answers

1. On Saturday July 4th America celebrates her Independence. (If you're not American,  feel free to answer in terms of a national holiday in your own country) What is your favorite thing about the day? Your favorite food on the 4th? Do you fly a flag at your house? Fireworks-yay or nay? Any special plans this year?
I like the fireworks, their something we've always gone to. I remember going with my cousins when we were little kids. When I got together with my ex, I remember the first year we went to fireworks, they were in a close small town and we sat on the box in his truck bed, I remember it being hard and uncomfortable, but I loved it. 
I don't recall us doing things on the 4th when I was a kid, we might have gone to see the parade and of course the fireworks, but we didn't really have special food or anything. Last year, my parents invited my dad's side of the family over to see the house one last time before they moved on July 4th, the year before, I worked.
This year, we're getting together at my uncle's house for food and fun.

 2. What's something you recently got for free?
A blizzard from Dairy Queen on Sunday, shorts and a skort on Sunday. My birthday is tomorrow, so I'm hoping I get more free things.

 3.  The Statue of Liberty, The Liberty Bell, The Washington Monument, or Mount Rushmore...how many on the list have you seen? What is your favorite historical American monument, and why?
I've been to The Statue of Liberty (but not up in it), and I've been up in The Washington Monument. I liked the Washington Monument, there's so many other great historical things to see around it. I'd like to see the Liberty Bell, there's also so much great history in Philadelphia, I think it'd be a great place to explore.
I think my favorite is the Korean War Memorial, when we went to that one a few years ago, I could feel the soldiers, there was just something at that memorial.

 4. When it comes to the news are you more ostrich (stick my head in the sand) or hog (they have room to take a whole lot in)? How much attention have you given the recent news reports regarding ISIS and the acts of terror they've perpetrated against those who do not share their beliefs or support their cause?
I admit, I don't pay that much attention to the news, it's mostly depressing, so I don't listen to/watch it. So, I guess I'm an ostrich.

 5. We're talking plain ice cream...vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry? Choose one.
I'm gonna go for chocolate, it sounds better lately.

 6. Share a song you love containing the word 'stars' in the lyrics or title?
Where the Stars and the Stripes and the Eagle Fly by Aaron Tippin.

 7. Describe and/or say goodbye to June with an acrostic.
Just two days
Until my birthday
No more waiting
Exciting things will happen

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
If you can't tell, my birthday is in a few days. I'm excited, I'm going to breakfast with my friends and I got my birthday wish of getting my eyes checked and new glasses, so I'll be getting my eyes checked. I have to work that night (July 2nd), and I promised my co-workers I'd make lemon cheesecake, so I'll be doing that tomorrow (July 1st). Friday, my parents and I are going out to eat. I'm not sure if I'm getting more presents from them as they did buy me some clothes on Sunday and are paying for the eye exam and glasses.
I don't really have other plans.

The other day, my mom said she noticed I'm more depressed because I don't have as much money anymore. I'm not bummed about not having the money, I'm trying to change my thinking. I'm trying to make myself happy without buying things. I get so happy when I go shopping, and on a lot of things, it only makes me happy for awhile, and then I have to buy something else to get that high again. So, I'm trying to change my way of thinking.
I'm also not buying/drinking as much pop as I used to, because if I don't buy it, I'm not spending money on it. When I'm really annoyed I'd drink pop, so I think that's also affecting my attitude lately.
I'd really like to find a way to make myself happy without spending money.
I used to do things, go places with my ex, but since we've broken up, I don't do much. Most of my friends don't really want to do things, or they want to go out and drink. I want to go experience things, but I don't want to do it by myself. I also need to work on that, I need to get myself more comfortable doing things by myself. Or find some friends that like to go out and do things.

Very cool buttons

I found some old pictures, so we're gonna go back a few weeks. Thursday, June 11th, my friend and I went out to lunch, while we were out, I picked out these cute little guys.

I thought they were really cute, and they were on sale. I think the lizard is my favorite.
The next day was the start of the garage saleing weekend. I had decided the night before that I needed a new notebook to record all the books I've read. I found one at the first sale I went to. There were also some cool Pillsbury doughboys that I was going to buy for my aunt, but I decided they were priced too high.

A notebook, the cute little jar is red inside, the vintage Santa kit I'm planning to make for my mother and the Spiderman was just too cute. This is the same sale I found a really cool brass elephant at years ago, so I know there's usually a lot of cool things there, but it started on Thursday, so there was less to pick from.
The next sale had my buy of the day, I love it the elephant.

All the tiny toys were free at another sale, the butterfly plate, I thought it would be good for a swap.
The next day there were a few sales but they were on opposite sides of town, I went to one and found a bag of cute stuff and decided to give up for the day and head down to the farmer's market where I picked up a box of strawberry cookies for $6.

Every baked good looked so good and yummy at the farmer's market that week when I didn't have much money to spend. The next week (last week) nothing looked good, and this week I went on Junkin N June, so I didn't make it to the farmer's market. I wanted to get some yummy baked goods before my birthday (or for my birthday), but I guess I'll have to wait until the 12th, as there is no farmer's market next week because of the 4th of July.
Skipping ahead to this week, I decided to go to garage sales yesterday to get some exercise, I thought I'd spend lots of money on stuff at Junkin N June today. I ended up walking a little over 4 miles and spent about $3.
I walked by this house on my way to the first sale, I thought the flowers were extremely cute. I don't know what they were made of, but I'm sure they could easily be made out of paper.

At the first sale, I found this great stocking, and added to my picture frame collection.

a neat stocking, two frames. I've decided I shouldn't have a picture frame collection, I started collecting them when I saw them on sale at Hobby Lobby, they have some cool ones they clearance out, then I started picking them up at garage sales thinking I could use them in swaps. Now I have almost 10 and I think I should create something to put in them and then try to sell them.
The next stop, I picked up a solar dancing lamb for my friend and the last stop I found another picture frame.

 a cute solar dancing lamb, the cute necklace is a watch I just bought it cause it was cute, the jack-o-lantern was free.

The stickers were in a box together, the frame was very cool it looks pretty old, it's got faux pearls and crystals in.
When I got back from garage saleing, I read about the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage and was overjoyed at the outcome, when I got to work, I found these hanging up:

Sadly, some patron tore down the one in the front window today and threw it in the garbage.
I was all bummed I didn't find any minions yesterday (that's one of the top things on my list), and I was telling people at work and then someone left one in my mailbox, it made my day.

Today was Junkin N June, me and mom go every year. Earlier this year when I told mom of the dates, she said she'd be out of town, then about a month ago she told me that had been cancelled and she'd go with me. Tuesday, she hadn't decided if she wanted to go today or Sunday, I found this a little frustrating because I wanted to plan my weekend. Last night, we decided it would be today because it was supposed to be warmer and rain tomorrow. But, she also said the one thing she had to do was go to the eyeglasses place, but that it wasn't really an emergency. I really like how she decides her time is so much more important than my time.
I got to my parents condo about 9AM today, and we went to the eyeglasses place, I guess something good came out of it, because she said they'd (my parents) would pay for an eye exam and a new pair of glasses, which is what I've decided I really need for my birthday. We didn't get started until about 10AM, and then it took about a half hour to get to our first stop.
I found a jar of buttons for about $8, I've decided I hit the mother lode on those. There were a bunch of metal two piece ones, I love them.
There was a horrible smell when I opened the jar, so I separated out my favorites and soaked them for awhile. Here are some plastic ones:

 Some more plastic ones, mostly with shanks. The giant red one looks like it's got leather or something in the middle, it could just be plastic that's degraded. The two in the bottom right corner have a shimmery fabric on them, I'm hoping they'll look nicer when they dry.

These are my favorites, the metal ones, feel free to enlarge the picture. There are a lot of two piece metal ones in there. I didn't see that top one was flipped over when I took the picture, so there's a picture below of that one and a little close up of the others around it.

 Here's some mixed ones, and some more two piece metal ones. I like the two at the top on the left, the first one has a moon, the second one has a bunch of grapes. I also like the larger one above the green ones, it looks like a bridge, my other favorite one is the gold colored one on the right. it doesn't actually have a shank on it, it took me the longest time to flip it over and notice it was two heads.

 Here's the close-up of the big one from the above picture. I like that one too.

Most of the places I went to weren't very exciting today. We ended up going back through Ames and eating pretty much right across the street from the eyeglasses place. The original plan was to go to a town about 20 minutes north and eat there, but because of the late start, we stopped in Ames. We decided the places in the north town weren't very exciting and we didn't need to go back in the future. Our last stops of the day were in the town/at the place that puts this event together, I thought it was pretty picked over because it was about 3pm by the time we made it there. At the last stop, I found this great box.

I love this box, it looks like a patchwork quilt of velvet. I think I'm gonna store my buttons in it.
I decided last night not to go on this next year, my mom always seems to make it seem like it's a big inconvenience for her, and then today taking so much time to start. And then later when we were driving between towns she said she wanted to go to a place that was in a different direction and I told her we passed it earlier in the day and she asked why I didn't tell her, I didn't tell her because she didn't say she was interested in it. We decided to go to some new places today, but I guess that meant to her that we weren't going to go to some of the regular places we usually go even though they were on the way to the places we did go.
It was just a kind of frustrating day. I am very happy with my purchases, and I'm happy that I didn't spend all my cash. I feel I say I didn't have as much fun every year, so why keep saying that, I should just stop going.

Pink Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge time! Check out Joyce's blog to see what other people have answered.

1. June 23rd is National Pink Day. What's your favorite something pink? I don't have anything I currently love that's pink, but I used to have this really nice ISU shirt, it was a little tight, but I wore it with one of my favorite high waisted skirts and it looked good.

2. What did you enjoy most about gym class when you were in school? How about the least? I honestly don't remember loving much about gym class, I was never really good at anything we did. I do remember the days they would give us tests, like how many pull-ups could you do, and how long it took you to run a mile, and how many sit and reaches could you do, I really didn't like those days.

3. What memory is brought to mind by the smell of roses? I don't have many memories about roses. We used to have these red ones at the end of our driveway and they always smelled like raspberries to me, which would bring back memories of the year we had raspberries in our garden and we made strawberry/raspberry jam.

4. Do you prefer to read or write? I work at a library, I love to read. I used to love reading when I was a kid, I really like The Boxcar Children, I recall we had tons of those when my parents were cleaning out last year. I also love(d), His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman, I remember when I learned about it, it was when they first came out so I had to wait for each subsequent one to be written, I didn't like waiting for those. I also love the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, we did get rid of all those when my parents cleaned out though, I just wasn't reading them anymore, so I didn't see the point of keeping them.
Sometime before college, maybe in high school, I stopped reading for fun, and then I went to college, where all it was was textbooks. After I got my current job at the library I rediscovered my love of reading, though it's mostly non-fiction now. 
One of my co-workers commented the other day that she thought I was a teacher because I check out a lot of books. I thought to myself, it would be wrong to work at a library and not check out books.
I'm trying to get myself back into reading fiction. I've read a few zombie novels lately, I've also read Cujo and am in the middle of A Time to Kill.

 5. Sam Keen is quoted as saying, 'Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.' Would you agree? Is laziness ever respectable? How will you be lazy this summer? I don't know if laziness is really respectable. I think maybe enjoying doing nothing is a good quality to have. I try not to be lazy, but it happens, like today, I sat down in front of my computer today, and before I knew it, it was 3:00, I don't know what happened to the day.
I also believe people have different definitions of laziness. My parents believe that if I'm reading, I am being lazy, I see it as my book's due soon, I need to get it read.

 6. The Florida Keys, Disney World, or a resort somewhere on the Gulf Coast...which Florida destination would you choose (and why) if the trip were today? Maybe Disney World, I know my family went there when I was too small to remember it, I'd love to go and experience it some day.
A few years ago, I accompanied my dad on a trip to Florida (I have no idea where we actually went) for one of his public radio conferences, it was really nice. I remember people being really ok with my tattoos, so it must have been some time after getting my third one and getting sick of people (mostly my family) complaining about them. I also remember the hotel/resort we were at, had their own island that I took a boat ride out to at one point and the 'sand' was really just crumbled up sea shells. I also remember rescuing a sea cucumber that was stuck in the sand.

 7. What question do you hate to answer? Anything about my job and what I'm doing with my life. My job just keeps rearranging so I can't have as many hours as I used to be able to. It's like the world's telling me to find a new job, but I don't know what I want to do with my life (never really have) and I hate looking for a new job. I really liked this job when I started, but over the years I've gotten less responsibilities and less hours.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. Tomorrow (Thursday) it's one week until my birthday. This weekend my mom and I are going on the Junkin N June again, I'm excited about that, though I'm really not allowed to spend money.
I don't think I'll get much or have anything happen for my birthday. I don't have anything planned to do with friends. I have to work that night, I guess I'm making cheesecake to take to work, but one of the things I love about my birthday (and other holidays) is getting presents. I'm not supposed to give presents for my birthday, people are supposed to give them to me, but as I get older and lose touch with friends, I get less.
I told my parents I wanted money, new clothes and a new DVD player. What I really want is money for an eye exam and new glasses, I know if I tell my parents this, they'll just start in on me needing to have a job that has benefits, etc.
Anyone wanna send me a card?

Disappointing sales

I didn't find a lot at the sales this weekend. My goal lately has been vintage buttons and minions, but I haven't found any.

Yesterday, I had 3 sales on my list, sadly I misread an ad for one that was for scrapbooking supplies, it was for a different town. When I got to the cross street, I didn't see any signs, but thought I'd look anyway, when I noticed the address didn't exist, I realized I misread the ad.

The next sales were a neighborhood, I picked up a neat notebook, a cute turtle a few Christmas ornaments, two toothbrush heads and a cute watering can magnet.

 Today, I had sales pretty much all over my part of town. When I decided to start out, this giant cloud covered the sun and it got really dark and windy, but all my radar said it wouldn't rain, so I headed out. This is how the sky looked when I left.

 I love how the cloud has a definitive end to it. The first two sales didn't have much. I did pick up a piece of dyed fabric and a bag of hankies. The two flowers were free.

The third sale had quite a bit of vintage jewelry, sadly most of it was in boxes and you had to buy the whole box, I'm not a fan of those sales. There was a bag of vintage pins for $15, but I couldn't see paying that much for the whole bag. I did buy some jewelry, picture will be below.

I really just wanted a few pieces, but when I thought about paying $1 for each piece I wanted, I decided it was worth it to pay $5 for the box, but I would have liked more of a deal for it.

 I really just wanted the two earrings that went with the pin in the middle at the top, the locket (round piece in middle), the pin to the left of the locket and the tiny cable car charm between the earrings and the locket.

This was inside the locket, I'm rather glad I bought it.
Then I headed north to the next sale, I got about five or so blocks and it started raining, I thought it would just be a little bit, but after awhile it started pouring, I had to stop under a tree until it let up. I didn't find much to buy at the last three sales I went to except a bunch of foam sheets for $1.50, the care bear was free, the fabric at the bottom was $1 from the second sale.

On my way to the last sale, I wandered down a very muddy street and slipped/tripped on my foot and skinned my toe. Man, that hurt, and it still hurts. I didn't have a way to clean the mud off of it until I got home, and then I was scrubbing dried mud off of it. It's been stinging all afternoon when some air hits it and when I took a nice hot shower not so long ago. I also went down to our farmer's market. Last week all the baked goods looked so yummy, this week most of the same booths were there and none of it looked too good.
When I got home and looked at how much I walked, I learned it was about 6.3 miles. I was soo tired, I didn't want to go to work. I splurged on a Coke and a fried chicken dinner at the grocery store, sadly the chicken didn't taste very good.
Now, I'm sitting on the couch resting my feet, a day off my feet would be great, but that's not in my plans until most likely next Sunday.

Steamy Hodgepodge

1. June is National Great Outdoors Month. Have you spent any time appreciating the great outdoors this month? If so where, and if not do you have any plans to enjoy the great outdoors before the calendar turns?

I don't do a lot outside other than garage saleing. I miss doing things outdoors, but now that I don't have anyone to do them with, I don't.

 2. What's a current hot button issue for you?
My job

 3. What's a food or treat that 'disappears like hotcakes' in your house?
anything sweet. I love sweet things, one of the top things on my birthday list is to have money to spend at our farmer's market so I can spend it at all the homemade baked goods booths.

 4. How hot is too hot?
I've decided 83 in my apartment is the temperature I need to turn on the air conditioner. I can handle it pretty hot, it's when it starts getting really humid that I hate. I hate going outside for walks and having sweat just running down my body.

 5. Do you have an artistic outlook on life? What does that mean to you?
I'm not exactly sure what that means. I do notice details of things, and notice the beauty in nature. I'm also really good at picking up weird things and thinking I'll use them in my artwork (mostly I just hoard them, though).

 6. What's one question you'd like to ask your father, or one you wish you could ask your father?

7. Something you learned from your father?
Enjoy it while you can.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

It's my birthday in a couple weeks. What I really want is money for an eye exam and new glasses or money for the farmer's market. Or if anyone wants to send me cards for my birthday, that would be great.

Deep sigh

So, my birthday's in about 3 weeks, and once again I don't have anything planned. I tried to get friends together on facebook, but schedules don't always work out.
I told my parents I needed a new DVD player, and some Fareway cards. I'd really love to go shopping for some new clothes, mine are getting incredibly boring. I'd also just like money, but I know I'm not getting that.
I've been trying not to spend money and accumulate more stuff I don't need, but if you read my last post, that hasn't really happened lately. I really need to stop and think while I'm at garage sales.
I was asking my parents if we had plans for the 4th of July and my dad said some people were going to Chicago the week of the 6th and I said I was jealous. He said I could come along, but I can't afford it, I got so screwed with my paycheck that covered Christmas week.
I just feel sometimes that I need a break from my life (and it's not near as stressful as other peoples).
I've been really grumpy lately, and I can't really figure out why. I wonder if it's the heat, but I always loved the heat in the past, this year, it's just obnoxiously hot and it's not even summer yet.
Sometimes I wish for that prince to whisk me away from life. I know that's not gonna happen, but a girl can always dream.

Sometimes I think the reason I'm not excited about life is because of my depression. I've had it since end of high school and probably before that. I just don't seem to get near as excited about things as other people. Or, I'll expect something and then I do it and it's not near as exciting as I want it to be. I was thinking the other day, music really keeps me sane. If I'm in a bad mood, I turn on a good song like Burn it to Ground by Nickelback. Sometimes I just need a song with a great beat, sometimes I just need a song that calms me down.

Garage sales

I always seem to be catching up on here. So last I posted, I got caught up until Memorial Day.

Basically, I've been working and trying to get caught up on my reading.

On May 29th, I got this guy in the mail. It's a speaker, his eyes are the speakers.

 Last Saturday, my mom and I went to the Lucky Star Market, so I didn't make it to any garage sales. I did pick up a couple things there, though.

I really like the plate below, and it was only a dollar. I bought the pack in the middle of it, I think just to buy something, plus it was only a dollar too. I did get a bunch of business cards though. 

 Sunday, we had a bridal shower to go to. The card with buttons below was for the bride. The other was for my cousin's kid, she graduated from high school this year.

I got to put together the presents, and had fun decorating the wrapping.

 A few more presents

 This Friday, I went to the Art Walk downtown. I was looking forward to it all week, sadly it's mostly big wall art, which I can't buy or jewelry that I'm not going to wear. I did get some nice business cards, though.

 I was also wanting food, usually my friend Emily and I go, we go to each store, look at the art and eat the food. This year my mom came along, we didn't really look at much art, and didn't eat a lot of food. I also kinda ignored my mom, I feel rather bad about that.
Today, even though there weren't many garage sales in my area, it was a really good sales day.
I totally filled up my bag:

 I bought something at nearly every sale I went to.
The first sale was a lot of vintage stuff. I picked up some jewelry, a Santa for my mother, a weird Christmas item and a mouse.

 The next sale was a couple of antique dealers. I was thinking that the prices would be more like antique mall prices, but some of the stuff was really cheap.
I picked up a candle holder, a scarf (kinda feels like silk), a blue bottle and a tiny kitten tin.

 The next sale was a fundraiser to send girls to camp. It was a pay what you want, I picked up some activity books, yarn, tiny bags and a fall wallhanging.

 These next two sales were supposed to be part of a neighborhood of sales, but I only saw the two. One was my co-workers, I picked up Papa Smurf, an activity book and an egg pin, the blue dog, angry bird and bendy bunny were free.

 The last sale, I found my favorite purchase of the day. I love this pillow I picked up, a purse, a tube of lip gloss and a tiny picture frame

After this sale, I kinda got lost. Finally figured out where I was and wandered on to another sale. There were about 3 or 4 items with prices on a table. There was also a lawn mower stopped in the middle of mowing the lawn. It didn't seem like a sale at all.

Now, I'm home trying to figure out if I want to head out to an event in Campustown this afternoon.

It's Hodgepodging Time

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for the Hodgepodge, head on over to Joyce's blog to see how other people answered.

1.  Did you do anything 'memorable' this past weekend?
I did not, I actually did less than I usually do during the weekend. I'm blaming it on the rain, it has been rainy lately, today looks like the only rainy day in my week.

2. Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying-

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."  

 Your thoughts? Do you somehow acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms you enjoy? Did your upbringing contribute to that sense of appreciation? If you're a parent, are there specific things you do to pass on this sense of responsibility and appreciation to your own children in regard to the freedoms they enjoy?
I agree, people never think about what it took to get us free. Thankfully, we're not surrounded by other countries that might invade us and take away our freedom.
My parents never really did anything to make us appreciate it. We went to most of the memorials in DC and I totally took time at the memorials, but on Monday I met my parents at the memorial service, my mom seemed a little upset that I didn't go, but I do think about the soldiers everyday, I don't think a memorial service once a year is something I need to do. From her, it seemed like that's all she does.
I think you can show support in how you do things, have the flag in your yard, hang posters in your windows, talk to soldiers, police officers, etc., when you see them.

 3. Loudest noise you've ever heard?
I'd say gunshots. My ex and I would go shooting, those are plenty loud.

 4. What was the last thing you ate that might be considered 'junk food'? Did you enjoy it?
Funny you ask, we went to Target on Monday, and all I bought was junk food. Yesterday, I had chocolate covered fruit, a Reese' peanut butter cup, and some Edy's Drumstick ice cream. I always enjoy my junk food. One of the reasons I can never diet is I will never give up my junk food. I am *trying* (again) to give up pop. I've haven't one in 4 days and I'm pretty happy with myself.

 5. When was the last time you were somewhere the crowd felt 'packed in like sardines'?
I don't really get that feeling in crowds, and if I think it's going to be that way, I certainly don't participate. I'm not a fan of feeling there is no out.

 6. Are you organized when it comes to packing for a trip? Do you make a list weeks in advance or toss items in last minute? Are you a carry-on only sort of packer or do you need an entire suitcase for your shoes?
I try to be. I generally make lists and make sure I have enough other clothes to have options. That said, when we went to Charleston over Christmas last year, I was expecting it to be warmer than it was and I didn't pack cooler weather clothes and was chilly the whole time we were there. I always try to just have the carry on. I'm not sure if we've ever lost a checked bag, but my parents may have and that fear/way of doing things has been instilled in me, so I try not to have more than one bag. But, the airport we fly out of, is tiny so generally we're on tiny planes, that if full enough have to check at the gate. I find that a little unnerving.

 7. What was the last sporting event you attended in person? Did your team win? Did you care?
I don't do sporting events. I do work basketball events at our event center, so we could go with that, but I rarely stay until the end of them, so I never know if our team wins.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Sorry, nothing this week. I just posted a big post the other day of catching up, check that out.

Catching up

Looks like I'm a little behind on posting. Let's see if I can remember what happened since May 2nd. I had to check my updates on Facebook to remember.

I attempted to make banana bread on the 6th. Sadly, I started it too late and it didn't get done in the middle and it fell after cooling. I ate some and put some in the freezer. I'm a little wary about eating it, cause it's kinda gooey inside.

That weekend, I had to work graduation at Hilton, so I tried to go to sales on Friday, and a few really early on Saturday. These are from Friday:

 a couple square scarves (I didn't realize they were square until I got them home, but I found a great place to use them), a ceramic bunny (not sure why I picked him up) and a cute pot.
Saturday, I woke up early to go to one sale that advertised buttons and sewing supplies. I got there a few minutes before it was supposed to start and saw someone walking away with some Pyrex mixing bowls, that when I saw them I really wanted them. When I got to the checkout, I saw someone's pile with two large jars full of buttons sitting there. The only thing I got at this sale was some rocks.
The house next door was having a sale too, I did find a plant to put in the pot I got on Friday for a Mother's Day gift. I also found a cute giraffe pin and a hanky.

Here's the plant all ready to give to mom:

 So, I decided not to get up early for a garage sale again, no matter what they advertised and what I had to do that day.
Graduation was interesting. I worked the door where most of the mobility impaired people were coming in, and people were annoyed that we wouldn't let them in early, that we only had one elevator, and that there weren't nearly enough seats for all of them.
Sunday, we went out to brunch and a local garden that had a cool tree house exhibit. I was kinda hoping we'd go somewhere new for brunch, the place we went to, we always go to, and the food just isn't very interesting.
I did pick up some mixers at the garden, I thought they'd be fun if I had a party, but as I've found out, people are kinda hard to get together for a party

 The 12th was my parents anniversary, so I made them dinner and got them a movie from the library. I've been wanting to try this recipe for awhile, it looked easy, so I thought I'd try it out for them. It's a Spinach Tomato Pizza from Taste of Home's book, Easy Weeknight Dinners:

That week, ice cream was on sale at the store, so I totally stocked up on ice cream:

Sadly, I've decided, none of them are really that good except the Butterfinger (which I might buy again once I check the price), I was thinking last night I just need some chocolate ice cream with peanut butter running through it, that would be really good. I finished the Butterfinger one and have opened all the rest, which probably means they will all get freezer burn and go bad before I finish them.
At the end of that week, I had 3 sales on Friday and 4 sales on Saturday to check out.
Sadly, most of the ones on Friday were not interesting, I did find a few things though:

Some activity books, a notebook (that was a need, to organize my garage sales to go to), a minion (I've decided that when I find these, I'm buying them, I'll probably have a whole collection before long), a three legged pig (I'm not exactly sure why I bought him, I think it was more, it was the last sale, he was cheap, and he was cute), and some bunny rings (also not sure why I bought these).
Saturday, one sale stated they would have baked goods, always a way to get me to your sale, sadly they weren't very exciting and the sale wasn't really set up when I got there at starting time, and I'm not a fan of sales where I have to dig through boxes and nothing is labeled.
The next one my boss was putting on, I thought I'd go just to be nice, then I saw the stickers and it was all downhill from there:

Christmas stocking, game pieces, cute book, stickers.

More stickers

and some more stickers, plus a cool bag.
I spent the most at her sale. I really don't need more stickers, but a lot of them were very neat that would be $4 or $5 at the store, so when they're $.25-$1, I couldn't resist them. The other sales weren't that interesting. I then headed down to the farmer's market and spent way too much money on sweets. I think I was a little upset that the first sale didn't have much, so I bought a bunch at the farmer's market, which is all I really spend my money on there anyways, so I'm probably not going back this year.
At the end of the day, I had walked close to 6 miles, I was a little tired.
The rest of the weekend I worked, which was pretty much all I did that coming week. And this weekend there were only a couple sales in my neighborhood, but nothing that sounded really interesting.
Saturday, I was going to go to the farmer's market because they had a petting zoo, but my cousin's wedding shower is next weekend and we're in charge of games (not quite sure how that happened, I told my mom I wouldn't be going), so I got some books, and did some research, and then had fun putting together prizes. And then I went to work for the rest of the weekend. I don't work Mondays, so I totally forgot about Memorial Day, which is today, so now I'm caught up.

I'm a little worried because I've spent nearly all my garage sale money already, and I'm only a month into the summer. I am trying to take $20 out of my checking account every week and use it instead of my debit card and then I save the ones from that, but it's hard. I'm also trying not to spend as much money, but that's hard too.

Calming Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge time again.

1. When is your next big deadline? What's it for?
I don't really have deadlines, unless you count when my library books are due. I'm reading one right now called Bad Days in History: A Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem and Misery for Every Day of the Year by Michael Farquhar that's due tomorrow. It's pretty interesting and funny.

2. May is National Barbecue Month. Do you prefer cooking indoors or out? What's the best thing about a barbecue? What's the last thing you cooked on an outdoor grill?
I like the smell of grilling, but I'm not that great a cook anyway, so I don't think I'd do well at grilling. I've never actually grilled I have watched my ex, but that's about it.

3. What is one thing on your "never again" list?
This actually came up last weekend. I had to work at 11:30 and wanted to hit this one garage sale that promised buttons and sewing items, so I got up early to get to it when it opened. I got there about 4 or 5 minutes before it's starting time and noticed someone walking away with two big jars of buttons. I didn't see any other buttons at the sale, and the only sewing items I saw was a giant tub of embroidery floss. I did find a few rocks to buy, but as I was going to check out, the lady in front of me had a couple Pyrex bowls that I totally would have bought. So, I decided I'm not getting up early for garage sales anymore. Normally, I don't, I get up when I wake up and if I'm supposed to have something it will be there when I get there, but I was so worried about getting to this sale and the farmer's market and getting to work on time that I decided to get up early, not again.

 4. What's something that annoys you about people your own age? Something you love about your generation?
I hate how self-absorbed people are (of course that could go for all ages). It just seems like so many people feel the world revolves around them and don't think about anyone else, and it really bothers me.

5. Lilac, iris, hyacinth, pansy...your favorite purple flower?
Iris, definitely. There are these giant purple ones that bloom in the yard, that I love. I know it's definitely spring when they bloom. I really like the smell of lilacs though, they are just so fragrant.

 6. Whats a song that always calms you down?
Run by George Strait. It's kinda funny that it does, though. I remember the first time I heard it was shortly after coming home on September 11, 2001 and there's a line in it: If there's a plane or a bus leaving Dallas, I hope you're on it" I remember that line being so upsetting at the time, but I guess the song calmed me down, now every time I hear it, it has a calming effect on me.

 7. What's the last thing you donated?
I think it was housewares, most likely shortly after our last garage sale last August. I do have a giant garbage bag of stuffed animals and a box of Christmas stuff sitting on my floor waiting to go to Goodwill.

 8. Insert your own random thought here.
Today (Tuesday) is my parents 42nd anniversary, and since I don't have a lot of money, I thought I'd make them Taste of Home's Spinach Pizza:

I didn't find it very filling, but it was pretty good, and they liked it, so I guess that's all that matters.