NEW YEAR!!!!

Ok--I am back at it. I am going to do this. I enjoyed posting while I was doing it. New year, new posts, new beginnings. Here I go.......

GARAGE SALE UGH!

Well, after going to all of the garage sales. I had my own garage sale this past Thurs-Sat. My neighbor and I had talked about it off and on over the past 3 years, and never got around to it. We finally decided IT WAS TIME. So, my last week of school, after school I took time to go through some stuff, and then the following week worked hard on it Monday-Weds so I would be ready for the sale on Thurs. It was a long 3 days, but fun as I got to get to know my neighbor better. We set up 3 tables and 6 big Rubbermaid tubs that had clothes. The clothes on the tables and in the tubs were part of the BAG IT FOR $1. We had one other table and then two racks where we priced clothing. (plus, of course, other tables with STUFF) The BAG IT FOR $1, went TERRIFIC! I got rid of so many clothes. I started out with 12 Avon boxes full of clothes--that I sorted by size and labeled on the box (which people loved) and the 6 Rubbermaid tubs. I ended up with 6 Avon boxes and a trash bag that I took to Goodwill. I sold a majority of Emily's infant stuff--pack and play, chair, back pack carrying thing, etc. etc. I was really surprised that, when I look back at it, no one really haggled with our prices. WHOOHOO! My basement looks TONS better and I feel a LITTLE relived. The only problem is....I only went through the basement stuff that was stored. NOW, I have to go through the upstairs area of the house--the part where we live--I KNOW that I have stuff that needs to go. I could have another garage sale, will have to wait and see if I feel up to that. It just takes up so much time and is it worth it. I could say yes, I got rid of a lot and came out a whopping $145 ahead. I could say no, I didn't get rid of enough and my time per hour over 3 days came to (if I only include the 3 days and not the PREP time).....a whopping $5.95 per hour based off of 8 hours, which actually we worked from 6:30 to around 5:00-5:30 which is around 11 hours a day, so that would come to.....$4.39 an hour. Hummmmm. I think for my sanity, I will go with the first option--I got rid of stuff and I have an extra $145 for things that were just laying around.

GARAGE SALE BLISS

The past two days have been busy. Yesterday was filled with shopping at garage sales. Our small community had the annual garage sale days. I always enjoy going--I typically find loads of good finds. I always have a garage sale buy of the year. The first year that we went--my garage sale find of the year was the Lemonader! In the box with plastic around it, manuals, etc. whoohoo
You can't go wrong with the Lemonader! I absolutely love this item!!! You use fresh lemons, and it squeezs the lemons--automatically, adds sugar, I put vanilla in mine, and it makes the perfect lemonade. This purchase cost me $1.00! Whoohoo!!!

Last year, my garage sale find of the year was the Cuisinart Grind and Brew--barely used. The woman who sold it refinished her counter and all of the sudden coffee pot was too tall for her counters.
The coffee pot retails for $150 and I bought this for $20! In the box also. Can't beat that with a stick.

This year my garage sale find of the year was at the first sale we stopped at. I have been looking for a Salad Master Shredder, grater, chopper, dicer--I found it! $10 and it was mine--great deal!!I was so happy to find this! I have a friend, J, who has one of these and they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. This thing grates cheese so easy--I love it!

I also purchase a BRAND NEW electric pencil sharpener, in the box, never used for $1.

I also purchased a ton of great clothes for myself and my daughter--nothing over 50 cents, and name brands too boot. I love garage sales. Now, having my own garage sale--UGH! I really need to though as I have a ton of stuff that I need to get rid of--but the sorting, pricing, setting up, all of that makes me nauseous! I will get it done, I took one baby step today by taking boxes of Emilys clothes over to my SIL's house and a couple of other things. It IS a start. I think that this summer or fall I will have one. I just need to get on it!

Bookmark

I found a bookmark yesterday in a book I was checking in at work. Thought I would share....

I CAN

I can respect myself
I can believe in my dreams
I can hope in my future
I can learn to love
I can withstand from peer pressure
I can be loved for who I am
I can protect my body through wise choices
I can treasure the beauty of being alive
I can develop healthy relationships that do not hurt me physically or emotionally
I can honor all people
I can honor myself by my choices of self control
I can experience joy

I can....If only I will

Very wise advice and I hope that the student who left it in the book actually comprehended what it says. I will take time to read this over again and again and dissect it. It is really hitting me right now as I contemplate things in my life and what I want to do.....

On another bookmark--this one mine--a funny quote--THAT I LOVE

"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries"
A.A. Milne
1882-1956

LOVE THAT ONE! It is now my mantra. If you think about it, it is so very true! I don't know how many times I have been "organizing" and come across something that I forgot about OR that I see in a new light as something that I can alter to make a FABULOUS crafty or artsy object!

Getting ready to go see what treasures I can find to alter or post on ebay at our city wide garage sale days--WHOOHOOO

ORGANIZATION

I have decided that I am getting organized, one day, one project at a time. My first project is going through my magazine. I tend to hold on to things. SO--I am going through magazines, tearing out articles, ideas, crafts, recipes that interest me. I will then put those items in 3 ring binders according to what they are and recycle the magazines. I have made quite a dent in my magazine and have discovered a lot of ideas that I want to do. I have also made a couple of the ideas. Now, if they were still in the magazines, I probably would have never made them, because I couldn't find the idea that I was thinking about. I made a craft called the "Rope it in Basket." This idea comes out of the "Crafty U" book by Rosie O'Donnell. It was a very cute idea and the basket came out great. I tried it myself first, and this week, Emily and her friend B will make one (along with me) I will have to take a pict and post it. Cute cute cute decorative basket. Basically blow up a balloon, cut yarn, string, ribbon, rope, whatever, soak in glue, then drape over the balloon (which I had propped in a plastic cup) let it dry, pop the balloon and voila cute basket. I love doing crafty, arty projects--I am sure this stems from my Art History degree, scrapbooking obsession, and passion for just creating. My newest creative obsession: recycled art. Working on a project with photo slides--will post when finished.

Everyday Shan

My first entry. I am starting this as a way to journal my everyday thoughts. I don't know if it will actually be everyday, but I will try. I need to express my thoughts, good and bad--definitely the good ones. It will be easy to express my down thoughts-I have a lot of them right now. I have a lot to be happy about. I have a wonderful little girl who brings happiness to me, I have a wonderful extended family, I have terrific long time friends who mean the world to me, I have aspirations to go back to school to achieve a Masters degree. Things could be worse. So, I have to figure out what to do. I am hoping that by writing here, and reading my blog and others will bring some clarity to me and the decisions I have to make in the future. Time will tell....