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....