Mango squishy

Saturday: I was surprised to see both of my packages out for delivery when I checked tracking in the morning. 

Blessedly Coping:

 I'm not sure how I feel about this 'box', it came in a mailer. I don't think there's anything here I couldn't easily buy at the Dollar Tree. You could tell it was new and put out by a single person, nothing bad, just kinda obvious with the notes and packaging. The pictures on Cratejoy had squishies and more full size items. But with getting my first box after the world fell apart, I realize things can't be like they are on the website. I have 5 more boxes coming and hopefully with the world re-opening it will be different.
I also received a 50 loose stickers tag:

 Technically they aren't loose, but there's a lot of good stickers in there and I'm not going to complain.
Once Upon a Book Club:

 It came in a smaller box than normal, not the regular box, it was white and much smaller.
After I opened it all:

I like the book, The Herd by Andrea Bartz. The gifts were ok, 1. a couple scraps of paper with numbers on them (this was ripped directly from the story, I just don't see why they had to be a gift). 2. a makeup bag with makeup brushes, it's cute but I won't use it. The part about it mentions that makeup bag and Gleam products, not makeup brushes specifically. 3. A Frida Kahlo picture, also ripped right from the story, but again what will I do with it? 4. a craft organizer with a picture of x-acto knives, I can't use this in my current living situation, but maybe in the future.
I think they went with the story and they are certainly good gifts (half in my opinion) but I'm not sure I'll use them, which is always my issue. I think it was a good decision to cancel the subscription, I'll stay on their mailing list and just get the books from my library.
Sunday: as always a lazy day, I got my laundry done.
Monday: a local drugstore/grocery store is closing and I'm kinda bummed. The location they're in, I can recall a drugstore being there for as long as I can remember. I really wanted some of their pre-made meals and chocolate, but they didn't really come out for me. I picked up a couple containers of my chai tea, I'm not sure where I'll get it when they close. It used to be, I'd get it at a local candy store, and then they closed down, then I switched to a different brand at my grocery store and they stopped carrying it. I was rather excited when I found my original brand at the drugstore, but now I either have to find a new brand or I'm thinking order it online. They are merging with a larger grocery store, but I've never seen the boutique items there that they carry. I stopped at the grocery store, all the stuff that I had seen on sale in the ad from last week were out of stock. I splurged on some chips (which were not good), Chex mix (wrong one, thought it was turtle, it turned out to be sweet and salty), some fried chicken (I was craving that the other day). and mini fruit pies (the cherry is not so good). At least with food, I know it will get eaten.
I made tentative plans with a friend to get together sometime this week. I've realized the longer I'm away from people, the more depressed I get. I didn't realize how much I really need social interaction. We had a meeting at work and we're basically not opening all the way with people as soon as I had hoped. We're going for a phase re-opening, which is best, I just need people.
Tuesday: I found a text from my dad saying my aunt had passed away. We knew it was coming, we're not close, it just was one more thing to hit me while everything else is happening, I can't deal with it right now.
I got some things ready to mail, a wish for something Pokemon:

 Someone sent me these pictures in a swap, and I don't do Pokemon. I'm not even sure why I held on to them.
A birthday surprise:

And then after I got it all packaged up and ready to go, I realized I forgot to include the stickers.
So, I put them in the other wish for a birthday surprise:

 I think a lot of people are just going for flat stuff, but I like stuff when I get birthday mail, figured they might, too. They're not too heavy, so shipping shouldn't be too bad.
I received a Send Me Something squishy:

 It's a mango squishy. I'm not that excited about it, it came from Amazon, and I know there are more interesting things, like kawaii squishies.
I also started the Margaret Miller collage challenge.

I didn't exactly follow directions, I tweaked them to my liking, but it's still great. I chose to use a tag base and am putting them on a tag flip.

It's Hodgepodge Time

 See you there!

1.  Question day this week lands on Cinco de Mayo. Are/were tacos on your Tuesday night menu?  No. Hard shell, soft shell or just gimme all the tacos?  I'm a fan of soft-shell. Are you even a fan of Mexican food? I do like Mexican food. Do you like your salsa mild, spicy, or somewhere in between? I'm not a big salsa fan, though. Margaritas-Frozen, on the rocks, or no thank you? I don't mind margaritas, though I'd rather have a strawberry daiquiri. Have you ever been to Mexico? No

2. What's something you may do this month? I'm hoping the world will put itself together enough for garage sales to start happening. Or maybe just to go shopping with a friend.

3. Tell us what's happening in your state or town as far as restaurants/salons/parks/beaches/businesses opening up. How do you feel about it? I feel it's too early. I'm fairly certain we haven't even peaked yet. I get why they're doing it, I'm just not sure it's the best idea. Are you out and about or hunkered down? I'm still staying at home mostly. I really want to go shopping, mostly for the social interaction, but I also want to support the small businesses here. Do you wear a mask?  Not much, but then I don't go much of anywhere. If I can be away from people I don't wear it, if I can't distance, I wear one. I have 5, so I'm well set.

4. Mother nature, everybody and their mother, mom jeans, like mother like daughter, soccer mom, mother hen, mother lode, necessity is the mother of invention, stay-at-home mom...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now. Mother nature maybe. I found it interesting that now that some things are opened back up, we're getting lower than normal temperatures, highs in the upper 50's, so maybe people will want to stay home?

5. April showers bring May flowers...what's blooming in your yard or garden today? I'm not sure there's much. There were some daffodils, I've seen the tulip plants, not so much flowers, and lots of sedum.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I got word from my dad that my aunt passed away last night (Monday). She had a brain tumor and we knew she would soon. We weren't close, but I'm still feeling it. I'm not sure how funerals and visitations work out with all that's going on. I feel like it's another thing thrown on top of the other stuff going on and I kinda can't deal with it right now.

Slow mail week

Sunday: I read the book The Last Letter from Juliet, it was in the January Once Upon a Bookclub box that was sold out before I signed up. It was really good, I liked it. I didn't appreciate all the typos and grammar issues in it. I was thinking of putting it on my staff picks at work, but I just can't bring myself to do it because of those issues. Got my laundry done, too. 

I was watching a lady review the January Once Upon a Bookclub box and then watched her review the March one and she got a USB cord with the bag, I thoroughly searched the bag, and didn't find one in mine. I emailed them about it, as of Friday I haven't heard back, and I emailed on Sunday. I'm not pleased.

Monday: I started wearing my mask at work, the city has told us to do it if we're not able to social distance, most of the time we're not closer than 6 feet, we've learned to just talk louder, it helps the machine isn't running as much. I took a snack to work and then decided I couldn't eat and then sit afterwards. Normally I wouldn't sit after having my break and snack. I totally have been splurging on comfort food lately, I bought some pizzas and raviolis and just a bunch of comfort food at the grocery store. 

I received a random card in the mail:

 The envelope said card swap Embellishment swaps. I'm not sure who it's from, so I posted in the group asking and no one claimed it.
I also received a pocket letter:

It's really cute.
the goodies

and an ATC:

 The pocket letter and ATC are from the same person, they were supposed to have been mailed in Feb, it was mailed late and then I refused it due to postage due and I finally got it.
Tuesday: I got an email from Blessedly Coping on Sunday saying my box had been shipped, it was actually only the label had been printed, it actually got shipped today. I received an absentee ballot form, unfortunately you can only get one if you're registered as a Republican or Democrat, I'm not. It's for an election in June, I didn't even know there was an election in June, this is the first time I've heard about it. Spent my day being lazy, which seems to happen a lot lately.
Wednesday: We got a package for someone that hasn't lived at this address for at least 6 years. We get a bunch of mail for people that used to live here, or one we're pretty sure someone just filled in an address to get something. This is the first time we've gotten something that someone obviously ordered, this is why it's important to update your address. I mean it's been at least 6 years, seriously. It was big, but light so I took it to the post office. It was really windy and if it had blown away, I probably would have let it go, it's not my fault they didn't update their address.
Thursday: the one day I wanted ice at work, I found this:

 We keep getting new stuff at the library. One of the new perks of working at the library is I can place things on hold and the rest of the world can't. We suspended that option because our pull list (list of items people requested that are in the library) is really long and we just don't have the space to fulfill those right now. I also believe (because it happens everytime we're closed) people just sit at home and request stuff when we're closed, it seems the pull list is really long after we've been closed. I can only imagine how long it would be after being closed for 2 months. The longest we've been closed in the last 5 years is two days. I heard a couple things scheduled for September had been cancelled. They are large events we have, I'm rather bummed, and hoping an event I'm looking forward to in September won't be cancelled.
Friday: I found a stash of chairs in the stairway at work:

 We're thinning them out and rearranging things so people aren't sitting as close to others and so we don't have places where a lot of people can congregate.
I really wanted to go shopping. I've noticed I want to go somewhere after work. Life hasn't changed that much for me, I don't usually go many places anyway. Obviously I don't interact with the public at work and I don't get to hang out with friends. I think the reason I want to go shopping is I want to interact with people, my job is so monotonous and it's mostly sitting at a computer all day, I don't like it. It's the same thing every day. I didn't go anywhere, I'm still being good, even with things starting to open up again, I'll still be playing it safe for awhile.
I finally found something in my mailbox, a sloth swap:

 We had to send 10 sloth things. I was feeling a little bad as mine is mostly stickers, but what I received is only 4 different things. I don't feel so bad anymore.
Here's what I'm sending:

 Such a vast difference.
I hadn't gotten any happy mail since Monday, it was a long disappointing week, especially since two of those days there were things for other people. I'm still waiting for my Blessedly Coping box, it was supposed to be delivered today, it is certainly taking the scenic route. This is one of those times I'm sorry I have tracking. It's taken 2 days to go from one city in Michigan to another one, left Michigan and arrived in Indiana on the same day, and then took a day to get from Indiana to Iowa and has been traveling around the same city in Iowa for a day, fingers crossed it will appear tomorrow. I was kinda hoping it would be a nice May Day present for me.
I just checked the tracking again, it left the city and went back to the city. Seriously do the postal people know what they're doing? There's two sorting centers, the airport and the general one, and it's just traveling between both of them and sometimes between the one just back and forth. I just want my damn box.
I hope with the opening up of stuff the mail will go back to normal time, it's been so slow lately. I'm still waiting on International stuff mailed in February (from Mexico, so not that far away) and some others from Australia and England mailed in March.
I also got an email from Once Upon a Bookclub about my April box, it was mailed on April 30th, and is projected to arrive on Monday.
My housemate delivered a cute little May Day basket of yummy goodies:

 How cute are those sugar cookies? The popcorn was flavored with some kind of spicy/peppery flavor. I'm not sure what. I warmed it up and put hot chocolate on it because that's how I eat plain popcorn. As I was eating it, I could taste that it was a bit spicy, I'm glad I didn't know before putting the chocolate on it, I'm not sure I would have eaten it. I'm not a big fan of peanut butter cookies, but they're chocolate peanut butter, so I'm kind of excited about that.
I decided to wash my bathtub and change my shower curtain:

I'm very proud of it.

Hodgepodge Time

Here we go-

1. Expect the unexpected on From This Side of the Pond. Here's my x-ray question...when was the last time you felt like Superman? I don't think I've ever felt like Superman, I don't fly much, or even go up to high heights. I can't see through things. I've never felt bullet-proof. What's your superpower? Not sure I'd call it a super power, but I notice details. Explain. Everyone at work always says I'm really good at noticing details on everything.

2. Are you a fan of the 'superhero' type movies? If so what's your favorite? Is this because today (Tuesday) was superhero day? I like anything that the chick is the superhero or is the fighter. I've always been a big fan of Wonder Woman, the 70's TV show with Lynda Carter and the 2017 movie with Gal Gadot. I liked Black Widow (though I admit my favorite character in the Avengers movie was Hawkeye. I like the X-Men movies, but mostly because I vaguely remember reading the comics when I was a kid, my favorites were Rogue and Wolverine.

3. Have you postponed or cancelled a trip to the dentist in recent weeks, and if so when do you think you'll feel comfortable going back? Nope. My dentist sends me a thing to come every 6 months, but because my insurance isn't that great, I go once a year, which will be sometime this fall. How about other routine medical procedures? I had to go for birth control last week (not really a procedure), they just had me wear a mask. And then they screwed up on dates, so I had to come back the next day. There was next to no one in the clinic.

4. What's something that makes you feel youthful? My clothes, I like my minion shirt and my Kirby shirt and my Toy Story Aliens shirt. I love acquiring cool toys, I'm really into blind bags right now. Something that makes you feel 'not so youthful'? Moving. Some days I'm just walking down the street and my body freaks out and my muscles spasm and my knee pops or my toe hits in the wrong way and I'm in pain. Tell us why. Also it's not a day of work at the library, if I'm not crawling on the floor for something and the floor seems to be so much further away these days. I'm not that old.

5. I feel compelled to include some sort of corona related question in the HP these days. What's the strangest thing you've seen in relation to the virus? Something that really struck you as odd, made you stop and think, 'Dorothy we're not in Kansas anymore?' When I was at the clinic last week, they asked if I experienced losing my sense of taste or smell. That was kinda weird, apparently it's a new symptom. I also read that in a part of New York, they were seeing 30 and 40 year olds dyeing of strokes. They get the virus, very mildly, and it did something to their blood and gave them strokes. I feel like every time it seems they have a handle on it, it changes and they find out something else that's an indication you have it. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. Our governor (and others) are telling us to re-open. She said we could open libraries on Friday. We're not opening on Friday. I know we're looking into opening in steps, because we know people love to leave their kids at the library when they can't go to school. We also know people won't social distance unless you make them, I don't know what exactly we're going to do to make people, it's so different than when we moved into our new building 5 years ago, it's a whole different thing. I'm excited to re-open, I miss my people, I miss people in general, apparently I really need the social interaction.

Giant Websters Pages purchase

Wednesday: We had machine issues, we decided if we were going to have issues, now was a better time than during a week we were open. I had a routine dr appointment, only they screwed up when I made the appointment and scheduled me too far out. I got there and they told me that, and basically made me feel like an idiot. I had planned to go on a walk when I got done, but I had worn a skirt and it was a bit too windy for it and a walk and I was upset with the drs office, so I went home instead. And for the fourth week in a row I didn't get any mail on Wednesday.

I wore one of my masks to the drs office because I knew I'd be in closer contact with people, plus you never know what's going on there.

I'm really not a fan of the masks. The longer I wore it, the more it bothered me. I found it kinda hard to breathe in it, it was really hot and at one point I had a hard time regulating my breathing. I haven't worn one much, I usually just keep my distance or don't go out. At work, we don't get that close, I go to work, the post office (where they wear masks and have plexiglass barriers), and the grocery store (where they also wear masks) and of course my one shopping trip last week where I kept my distance.

Thursday: I went back to the dr and got my stuff figured out, this time someone did apologize about the mix-up I did not tell them it was ok. I was not happy with them making me feel like an idiot, probably having to pay for something extra I wouldn't have had to if they didn't mess up and having to go back a 2nd day for them to fix it all. Also, I got up much earlier than I wanted to to get it over and done with before going in to work. We had a big thunderstorm that was mostly a giant hailstorm, I feel like it lasted 10 or so minutes. The ground was just covered when it ended: 

 Friday: I got to sleep in until about 9, that felt good after being up before 7 the last two days. I received my You Matter box in the mail:

I'm not that impressed with it. The shirt is fluorescent yellow with white words, who's gonna wear a fluorescent yellow shirt, plus the words aren't that easy to read. I like the black die at the side, mostly because it's a 12 sided die. I don't know what most of the exercise moves are that are listed on it, and there was no explanation sheet.
This is the Huggy Box:

 You're supposed to put a message in it and send it to someone, it's strange.
Here's a size reference for the die:

 It's about 5 inches tall.
A booklet comes with it that tells you what's in the package, and has a couple activities. There was a word search, I really enjoyed that. I realize it's aimed at high school students, I just thought since I don't act my age, it would be fun. I have 5 more boxes to see if it changes my mind.
I also received a postcard from an old penpal, I figured I'd write her back, why not.
Saturday: I put together a RAK:

 Made some spring cards:

 I really wanted to use book paper and this hydrangea stamp. I ended up using up some scraps and watercoloring the hydrangea.
Made an owl card:

 And created an ATC:

 with the scraps from the cards.
I received some fun mail, some cards from Hallmark:

And my GIANT Webster's Pages grab bag from Peachy Cheap:

 There's 3 sets of journaling cards, 3 packages of paper clips, a couple packages of charms, a couple packages of sticky notes, a package of cameos and frames to go with them and a folio to keep embellishments in.
Close-ups of the journaling cards:

 They are double-sided and come with 8 square cards (2 of each), and 10 rectangular cards (2 of each).

 They come in these cute little plastic cases that remind me of CD jewel cases.

 More goodies:

 two packages of twine and buttons, a package of fabric tapes, a package of mini bags, a package of fabric tickets, 3 notebooks, 2 sheets of alpha stickers. In the description, I was supposed to get 3 packs of mini bags with a total of 75 bags.
Stickers:

 I'm passing the alphas on to someone else.

 More stickers. The description said 12 sticker sheets, I only received 11.
Acetate:

 I got two sheets of all of them except the cut aparts, which are a very thick plastic.

 Acetate cut aparts, I got two of each of these. The description said I was supposed to get 12 12x12 vellums, I got 11 12x12 acetate pieces instead.

 There are 6 12x12 papers here, all double sided, so I put them so you could see both sides.

 All the cut aparts

 And more cutaparts.

 More.

Last one. I did get the correct number of 12x12 papers.
The description: $225 worth of retail. A Giant Websters Pages clearance pack features a 1 purple folio (X), 12 sticker sheets (received 11), 3 packs of mini bags, 75 total (received one pack, 8 total), 3 packs of paperclips, 2 bulk 40 pieces & 1 assorted 10 pieces (X), 2 packs of cameos 14 total (X), 2 packs of charms (X), 2 packs of sticky notes (X), 2 packs of fabrics (X), 2 style button & twine stickers (X), 3 styles of journaling cards (X), 3 standard notebooks (X), 20 12x12 double sided papers (X), and 12 12x12 vellums (received 11 12x12 acetate). *Limited quantities available and may vary slightly.
I ended up with 63 packs of things (counting each paper as a single pack) for $42 (or $47 with shipping), which comes to 67 cents per package (or 72 cents with shipping). I'm loving most of it, there's a few things that I won't use, but will be passed on in my groups. I think it's a great deal. After I purchased it, I was thinking Websters Pages is mostly planner related, maybe I don't want this, so I went to their website and looked up the items. I'm happy I got it, but it reminds me I shouldn't be spending more money on crafting stuff.

Happy Library Workers Day

 Saturday: I put together a Dollar Store and ATC tag.

 I had tagged the same person for both, so figured I'd tuck them in the same envelope.
I received my Once Upon a Book Club box:

 It had a huge gift in it this time.
All the gifts:

 This month the book was Wildland, it was a paperback. I realized after looking at this one, they send you new books as well as the gifts. It's really worth the money, I just don't really have a use for the gifts.
I signed up for a scavenger hunt swap and got it mostly put together:

 Alphabet stickers, Brads, Clouds, Doily, Embossed 4x6 paper, Flowers, Greeting card with envelope, Hearts, Iridescent, Junk Mail, Key, Map, Lace.

 Napkin, Ombre, Puzzle Piece, Quilted, Receipt, Stars, Tissue Paper, Unicorn, Vellum 4x6 paper, Washi, X: your choice I went with some stickers. I still have to do Y: note about you, and Z: zigzag stitch.
I started my bookclub book about 8 and proceeded to finish it. The gifts:

 A grouping of bangle bracelets, a backpack and a cute hat.
I really liked this book. I'm not sure why. It's the third book this year, they seem to pick books where each chapter is in a different viewpoint. This one had two viewpoints a lady, and a man. One chapter was the lady, the next was the man. The other two books, the viewpoints weren't on the same timeline, this time they were. It was set in a national park, the lady takes care of a couple kids, one being the man's adopted child and ends up stuck in the path of a wildfire, it was mostly the two of them trying to save themselves and the kids. I really liked the gifts this time. They are all useful (not really to me), and a great value. It costs $32.50 a month, you get a new book published in that year, this one was published Feb this year. The backpack alone is worth the $32. Last month we got a hardcover book, that's probably worth the $32 alone. I wonder if they alternate hardcover and paperback.
I'm not much of a fiction person, but I might actually keep this book.
Sunday: I didn't do much, laundry. At least I can always say I get my laundry done on Sundays.
Monday: Worked about 5.5 hours, not too much exciting, there never is lately.
I received a letter D:

 The D itself was broken. This is the second time this person has sent me something wooden on one stamp and weirdly it's arrived broken. It's non machineable, it's going to arrive broken. This time they included something else with it, so they were covered and didn't have to send again. I do like the rainbow decals.
A RAK:

 Every time I get a RAK, I pass one on to someone else, I consider it a pay it forward.
And my Peachy Cheap purchase of an Amy Tangerine Stay Sweet kit:

 I usually don't buy anything but the grab bags, but this kit was too cute.
Die cuts:

 Sticker pack:

 I even used some of the items when I got them. I usually just hoard them. I think it's a nice summery kit, hopefully I'll use more of them soon.
Tuesday: I finished my monster card for a swap:

 I love monsters, sadly I don't seem to have many to use in crafting. I had the hardest time finding one in all my stuff. The stickers I wanted to use, I'm not sure where they are, even after sorting a bunch of stuff for a destash swap. I like how it turned out.
I also put together a RAK/Pay it forward:

 It turned out to be a little heavy and I had to pay an extra 15 cents to send it. I slept in and went in to work later. It was National Library Workers Day, we were treated to lunch and some nice balloons:

 And this is on the sidewalk in front of the library:

 And we're still having story times, at least this bear is:

 Worked a few hours. I'm still trying to figure out my work week. I have three days with set hours, but I don't know how to get the rest of my hours in, don't know when I want to work.
I found another RAK when I got home:

 The die cuts:

I finally figured out they were die cuts, I thought they were sticker flakes, but they're printed on regular paper and not sticker paper, it's too bad, they'd be easier to use if they were sticker flakes.
This means I'll have to send out another RAK soon, I'm ok with that.