critter paperclips

Friday: I still felt like crap, but not as bad as Thursday, I found some expired cold medicine in my cabinet and took some of that, not sure it really helped. I went to work, but was so tired I left early, but of course I couldn't sleep.

Saturday: I still felt crappy, but put together a few swaps. Perfectly purple:

 We're supposed to send 5 purple items. I chose a stationery set, some decorative tape, a card set, this pig suction cup thing I got in another swap (not entirely sure what it is), some stickers, a 'wish' decorative piece, a marker, and some My Little Pony toys. I couldn't decide what to send. Due to the fact that things weren't all purple (though I'm not sure it really matters), I added more and since the MLP toys weren't new, I put other things in there. I hope my partner likes it.
Secret Sister:

 The person I'm sending to said she liked stationery (kawaii and Minnie Mouse sets, also the W seals, her last name starts with a W), Christmas ornaments (the snowflake and snowman), nature (the tiny succulent plant), practical stuff (the bag, thank you cards, pot holder, fingernail clippers and the to go cup, which I stuffed with tea).
2 sticker sheets and 8 washi samples:

 I went with Halloween and fall themed sticker sheets, but basically just raided my washi samples and sent what I thought I wouldn't use.
Sunday: It was the first time I felt normal since I caught the cold. I had a work brunch, that was fun, I didn't really know what to expect. I did my laundry and then went to Red Lobster with my parents. On the way home, we stopped at a grocery store for milk and I saw their new candy aisle:

 I feel the need to go back there at some point and explore it more when it's closer to done.
Monday: It was 30 degrees when I left for work, the forecast was to be in the 50's when I went home, it was hard to figure out what coat to wear. I ended up wearing my leather with a hat and scarf, I was a bit chilly on my way in, but comfy when I left. I chose to head over to the Asian food store on my way home and ran into a friend I hadn't seen recently. We made plans to go to some church fairs on Friday.
What I picked up at the Asian food store:

 Green tea/red bean cakes, lychee Ramune, soybean milk, fruity gummy candy, some tea drinks, and some cake rolls? It's always kinda hit or miss everytime I go into one of these. I can't read Asian, I had the google translate app, but it didn't do well and drained my battery (though I bet it wouldn't on the new phone), so I got rid of it. I tried the cakes, they're good, usually I don't get red bean stuff because it's too sweet. I knew the gummy candy was good as well as the tea drinks. The soybean milk was ok, I don't think I've ever had it, it had a weird aftertaste. I spent about $25.
I also got some stuff ready to mail when I got home.
Fall happy mail:

 I may have gone a bit overboard, but I don't have a lot of fall stuff, so when I found it I stuffed it all in.
Destash:

 this was originally supposed to be for Alice in Wonderland stuff, but I misplaced the two items I had, so I went with destash instead.
Halloween happy mail:

 I was going to try and go flat, but then I found the witch squishy and the tiny skeleton, so I added a few more 3D items.
Wish for tea:

 Wish for project life cards:

 wish for rhinestone stickers:

 Wish for something mermaid:

 At this point I was tired and hadn't had lunch yet, so I stopped doing stuff. I watched my scary movie, Silence of the Lambs and went to bed. No mail, as it was Columbus Day. I hate no mail days, especially after only getting good mail last Monday.
Tuesday: I knew I had to do a bunch of making things. I didn't realize I had to do a couple swaps, so ended up making more than I planned. I thought I had more time.
Fall Critter paperclips:

 They turned out being mostly made from a chipboard set of stickers I bought at Target last year. I thought I had more fall critter things than I found I did. I also found some stickers (squirrels) and some felt (owl) and foam (turkey) pieces. The bat, owl and mouse at the top are for me. I always seem to make a few for myself when I make paperclips.
Halloween ATCs:

 My partner had messaged me asking if I was planning to send with one stamp or tracking. She mentioned something about was I planning to send a house, after we agreed on one stamp, I found this haunted house diecut, so thought I had to make an ATC with it.
ATC:

 I always just clean up the scraps on my desk when making these.
Halloween pocket letter:

 I like signing up to do the pocket letters and ATCs in my mailing groups because they are simple and easy. I like doing pocket letters but it seems my art groups don't do them as much anymore.
I found 4 items in my mailbox, I was hoping for more since we had two days of no mail before it.
Fall critter paperclips:

 I like how she did the banner style, I never think to do this style of paperclips.
Extras:

 some cute stuff.
What begins with O mini pocket letter:

 I hate that people do Christmas/winter things before November, I can handle it in November, I just don't want to think about it until then. I don't mind shopping before then, but I don't want to think about crafting things just yet.
Extras:

 Blue happy mail:

 Interesting selection.
Fall critter paperclips:

 This partner sent me a ton of stuff. I like it when people do this, depending on the swap I do, I included a few extra chipboard pieces with my paperclips, mostly because they were in a padded envelope and were a parcel, but to feel better about sending a parcel.
All the stuff in the bundle:

 The loaded envelope from the bottom right picture above:

 And the paperclips:

I like the red truck with the critters.
I don't know about anyone else, but I rarely use the paperclips people make for me.

Purple llama

Friday: just work, had to go in a bit early for a meeting, actually, Friday itself was all extra hours. I worked on Saturday, and if you do that, you get Friday off. It was easier for my boss to have me work Friday due to a late schedule change on Monday, so I did. I get extra hours, so it was all good. No mail.

Saturday: more work, I found a flip book when I got home:

 First flip:

 Second flip:

 All the goodies:

 Ok, it was really just a fancy way of folding a 12x12 piece of paper, not exactly a flip book. It rained like all day, except when this was delivered, but of course, the envelope was soaked. She had packaged it in a plastic bag, I'm glad she did.
Sunday: just did laundry, basically, and some reading. I did receive a package from Amazon:

 They are socks with guinea pigs on them, for a Send Me Something unique tag.
Monday: I went shopping at some local stores after work.
Found a cute hedgehog ornament:

 My friend at work also collects hedgehogs, neither of us will be paying $25 for this, though.

What I did pick up from that shop:

 I was looking for some purple stuff for a swap, and they have stuff in colors. When I was looking for orange, they pulled through for me. The "hope" is for me.

I realized a lot of places are not open on Mondays, I realize they are small businesses, but it's kinda disappointing. I found a bundle of mail waiting for me when I got home.

Hot air balloon card:

 I love the card, don't get me wrong, but she said she mailed it on September 30th. The rules said due to your partner on or before October 1st, the postage on it, said she mailed it on the 4th. Again, I'm frustrated with people who can't follow the rules.
Wish for tea:

 This one I had originally refused because the first time it was a parcel and she put on 2 stamps. The tea looks like fun flavors, plus she included some extra to make up for being late.
Die cuts:

 This was a second envelope that went with a different one I had received about a week ago, mailed at the same time. Love the Hello Kitty, Catbus and Haunted House die cuts.
What begins with O mini pocket letter:

 Very cute.
And my International Blessings box:

 I enjoyed this month much better than last month. The giraffe is a magnet, he immediately went on my fridge. I think the earrings and bracelet are more to my liking and I really like the notebook, though I'll probably gift it to someone.
I was telling my friend, this is just like getting a box of stuff from the store I shopped at above. When I was in there, I did see the exact lip balm I received in September's box, and I know they carry the elephant notebook. I'm excited to see what the next month's bring.
Tuesday: I had asked for some flowers to be delivered at work to celebrate my 10th anniversary of working.

 I asked they be delivered at 4, so they'd arrive before I did and everyone could see them delivered. They weren't delivered on time, so I called the place. Someone picked up by just saying Hello, I asked if it was the business and they said yes as they were talking to someone in the background. I stated I was supposed to have flowers delivered at such and such time and he replied that he was in a meeting and leaving soon. They showed up at 4:40, he didn't apologize, just gave them to me and left again. I know it was the owner that answered the phone and delivered the flowers. I won't be getting flowers from them again. I found it really rude and bad customer service. I was also going to shop at the place on Wednesday, but chose not to due to this interaction. I won't be shopping there for awhile, which is sad, cause they have good stuff and it's the holiday season, you need the business.
We ended up getting done at work about 10 minutes late due to a guy not leaving, I don't know the whole story.
Wednesday, I took a vacation day. I had plans to go to an art exhibit with my mom. I showed up on time, but ended up waiting a couple minutes for her. This seems to happen all the time, she doesn't show up on time, or isn't ready on time, I feel like she doesn't care about my time.
Here are some of my favorites:

 This one was done by Kathy Svec. She does a lot of little vignettes like this.
Next up was this lady that incorporated postage stamps with other images:

 These were done by Molly Ethridge.
And the last ones were collage pieces:

 Done by Deborah Des Moines.
It was fun to look at. My mom wanted to stroll along window shopping, but I had to go grocery shopping before my lunch plans. I didn't pick up any ice cream that I wanted to, or chocolate that I've been craving lately.
Found this little guy on the way to lunch:

 I moved him off the sidewalk and he spit on me.
My friend and I went to a local bakery for lunch. I tried something new and it wasn't that great. But hanging out with her was.
He was still hanging out when I went back home, this time he had changed to black and was hanging out with the grass.

I think I'm picking up a cold that all my co workers seem to have. Wednesday I woke up with a slight sore throat and runny and stuffy nose. I drank some lemon ginger tea, which tasted gross, but I heard ginger was supposed to help to keep you healthy. I picked up up some apple juice and V8 smoothie antioxidant stuff at the grocery store. I stayed up way too late Wednesday night and woke up about 8AM, it rained a bunch, and I can't sleep when it rains.
Thursday: I woke up with a headache, a stuffy nose, runny nose and watering eyes. I took some allergy medicine, just to help with the symptoms. And it totally did, it took a bunch of it away, still had a slight stuffy nose. I took a bunch of cat naps during the day.
I haven't gotten any good mail since Monday, but I also have cut back a ton on my tags. I've stopped doing ones just to get mail and am doing ones I want to do, but then I get annoyed because I'm not getting mail. I need to find a balance.

Shopping trip

Thursday: I did go shopping. Thought I'd try to keep my big shopping trips to once a month, but with holiday season coming up, I'm not sure I'll be able to do that.

There were a few things I needed, and I got almost all of them. Shipping labels from Target and Dollar Tree, Razors, leggings and boots from Walmart, Toothpaste and body wash from Dollar Tree.

First stop was Target:

Squishies ($1.98 each) stickers ($4.99), activity book ($3), socks/leggings ($6), shipping labels ($1.99), wooden tag ($1), pumpkin ($1) and chocolate ($3).

I'm putting some Halloween goodie bags together for a few friends at work, so I picked up the squishies, to put in them. I had the Cartwheel for the Dove, figured I'd add them to the goodie bags as well. They are white chocolate caramel apple, they're ok, I wouldn't buy them again, though. I loved the pumpkin, because it's my color palette and it was a buck (and maybe because I didn't buy the skeleton one at TJ Maxx last week). I really loved the fall stickers, they were $1 more than I thought they'd be. I had picked up a pair of tights on clearance for $6, and then I found this leggings/socks combo pack for $6 on clearance, so I put the tights back. I'm not really sure why I picked up the leaf and the activity book. Total spent: $30.87

The stickers:

 I bought some last year, that were like chipboard, pretty thick. These are more of cardstock thickness, and I may have gotten them solely for the snail.
 Next up was Walmart:

 boots ($19.98), razors (3.74), bralette ($5), ghost ornament ($1.84), tights ($3.98), leggings ($5.94), chocolate ($2.78).
I needed the boots, I just pick up a new pair of these every year, though I probably would have been fine without them, the last time I decided that I couldn't find them when I realized I actually needed them, so. I needed the razors, and these are pretty good for the price. I picked up the bralette because I found it when I was looking for leggings and thought it'd be nice to try a different one. It's pretty comfy and if I didn't already have a ton, I'd go back and pick up the other color that was also on clearance. I just really liked the ghost. I needed leggings, though I could only find one small rack, there were a lot of Halloween ones, but I want ones I can wear out of the house. I've found now that it's a bit chillier, they are really comfy to wear under dresses. I've been wanting some other colored tights for awhile, Halloween is a good time to find interesting tights. I picked up the chocolate for my Halloween goody bags.

 mini ornaments (1.98), stickers ($0.98), tags ($1.48), owl ornaments ( both $1.98), hedgehog ornament ($1.98)
This was also part of the reason I wanted to go to south Walmart. North Walmart had a few Christmas things out last week, I wanted to see where this Walmart was. I didn't pick up much. I really just liked all of these. I totally picked up the mini owls because they're wearing glasses. And I just mentioned how I love collecting the coffee stuff. Total spent $57.20, most of that being the $30 on the clothing stuff.
I found it funny that it's October 3rd and Target didn't even have all of it's Halloween section filled and Walmart already has Christmas out. Granted it's a regular Target and a super Walmart (both the Walmarts), so there's a difference in space, but how do you not have all your Halloween stuff out yet?
Last stop was Dollar Tree:

 markers, tattoos, stickers, magnet, batteries.
These are beautiful markers, I picked the tattoos up for any upcoming kawaii tags, I never have anything, but I like the tag. This was going to be the one time I didn't get stickers at Dollar Tree, but then I found these, and I have been looking for them for years, so I got one of each sheet. The magnet is a squishy magnet, how do you pass that up? The other day my blu-ray remote was having an issue responding to me pushing the buttons, so I got batteries, I couldn't remember what size they were, though, so I got both.

 stickers, blind bags, washi, pens, sticky notes, tape, toothpaste, shipping labels.
Here's the last sheet of stickers. I think I was tired of not finding cheap blind bags, so I picked these up. I'm also trying not to pick up washi, but it's not working. I wanted to pick up some pens for my Halloween goody bags. The sticky notes are for my boss, she likes elephants and purple. There's the other batteries and the toothpaste and shipping labels.

 goody bags, goody boxes, a box for me, some party favors.
I wanted to put all the stuff I got in boxes for my friends, but then realized I had too much stuff, so I bought the boxes and the bags and some bouncy spiders and some cute tealights.

 food. It was 1pm by this time. I'll eat it all, it's not an issue, I don't it all at once. I did however pick of the Terra chips to eat when I got home, I figured they'd help with the sweat I lost on my walk.
Total spent $36.96.
My plan was to head to the Asian food store at the end of my trip, but I was tired and knew I had spent way too much money already. I headed home by way of Main Street and then decided to have some flowers delivered to the library next week for my 10 year anniversary (so I spent more money). I was ready for a nap when I got home, had two very full bags by then, and I found 3 packages waiting for me in the mail, plus something I had ret'd to the post office on Wednesday for a phantom roommate, that went in the garbage. Sometimes I can't tell if the items are important or not (sometimes it's obvious), if it's presorted postage (I think), it's usually junk mail, but not always.
First up, wish of tea:

 The ones in the top are mostly holiday stuff that doesn't sound interesting, I'll probably pass those on to someone else.
Pink crafting swap:

 She sent me a bunch of new stuff. I love it all.
And this guy (girl?):

 it's from my geeky facebook group. The one I made the book for. It's a cyclops-topus. I love it, it's soft and the legs have beans in them. I found the perfect space so I can see it whenever I'm on the couch (which is most of the time I'm home).
Here's my squishies that I was putting in the goodie bags. I picked them up cause I was hoping to get something creepy

 What I actually got:

 spaceship, mummy, pile of snot, and a pink turd. I was hoping to get the eyeball or the brain. I used the pink turd and the mummy, I kept the pile of snot for myself and I'll figure our something for the rocketship. The other two figures are the blind bags from Dollar Tree.
The other things I used for my goodie bags:

I basically put all the chocolate in the boxes, wrapped them up with ribbon, so they didn't pop open. I put them in the bags with the squishies, tea lights, skeletons and spiders. I stapled the bags shut and put some wands I got in a swap with some paperclips on the top.
I finally sat down to lunch about 4, totally skipped supper because I had lunch so late.