Amazing Steals

One of the most important qualities for a thrifter to be successful is persistance and lack of disappointment.

It’s important to keep going even if you don’t find anything in one place after ten visits. Every once in awhile, that ten second stop will come in handy.

Yesterday I decided to stop by a semi-out of the way thrift store on my way home and found 23 pieces of Noritake “Carolyn” for my mother in law. It was her china pattern, and in amazing condition! It was in better condition than hers are! Get this, it was an amazing $35, what a steal! I also picked up a glass boot, and a little owl statue at the same place. Needless to say, I was excited.

After that, I felt on a role and went by another place that happened to be on my way home. I picked up two spaghetti forks. How ridiculous are these things? I think they are pretty funny, so I couldn’t resist. At the same place, I found four little owls. It’s my new thing. I love cute little owls.

Tuesday I stopped by this smaller thrift store on the way home, and almost left after going through the small housewares and office section, but decided that I mine as well take a tour over to the furniture section. Good thing I did, because I picked up the most beautiful little Smith-Corona Silent Super typewriter. Little did I know what a gem I had snagged until I got home and did a little research on this pretty puppy. It’s so cute, but I’m not keeping it, because it’s really not that functional as far as a useful craft item. I’m sure this sweet puppy will make someone a very happy home=-eoi It’s in amazing condition too. No dust bunnies, or knicks. I’m truely amazed by it. When this puppy sells, it might be my biggest income earner. The biggest return so far was $55 on some Pink Gooseberry Pyrex bowls and refrigerator set, so I think I stand to make a little more on this item.

In other news:

This is day three of my weight loss competition and I think it’s good so far. I don’t feel overly deprived and I’ve exercised Monday and Tuesday. I’ll exercise again today after work, when Adam gets home. Tuesday I did my first full P90X program. I did the Kenpo X which I quite enjoyed. So, I think successful so far. It will only getter from here.

Etsy Update and general

Sorry this bad boy sold in 2 hours...

Listed some more items in the shop today. I didn’t have time to do any thrifting this weekend, so most of this stuff has been just sitting around. I have a couple more things to list tomorrow, too. Hopefully I actually get that done. But here are the other two listings for today.

My youngest bother got engaged recently, and I’ll have get to be a bridesmaid. So, I’m excited for wedding stuff. I always find it a little sad when someone gets engaged, because I’m past that point in my life. If I want to plan another wedding I have to get divorced, which I don’t want to do, for the record. However, I am elated for them, and it’s even more motivation to loose some of this friggin’ weight.

Speaking of weight. My company started a competition. Basically it’s The Biggest Loser for our employees. Top prize is $2500 and it starts tomorrow and goes until mid April. So, I signed up. I need to loose weight anyway! Unfortunately, I work for a huge company so there could be some serious competition out there. I’ll keep my fingers crossed though. Tomorrow is my first weigh in so I expect some high numbers. I bought bunches of healthy food today, so that’s a start right?

My list from last week, didn’t make a lot of progress, so I’m posting it again for this week. In my defense, I had an uber busy week.

1. Give Wicket a bath
2. Clean the wood floors
3. Completely clear the kitchen counters
4. Get Christmas stuff to storage
5. Dusting
6. Laundry
7. Clean off my dresser
8. Clean my walk-in closet

I went and tried out Bare Minerals with Marlies (future SIL). I like it and have used it the past two days. I’m going to try it out for the first week and see how it goes. I think it’s good face stuff. Still not sold on the eyeshadow and what not, but I like the face stuff. We’ll see. I told Marlies to ask me again in a month.

This is the wood case that I hope to get from Adam’s work. It’s a library file and I love it. It comes apart in the middle, so would be two pieces with three  rows of drawers.  I think it’d be great for my studio re-do.

I’m going to scrapbook this, but wanted to share here too 🙂 Adam and I keep separate toothpaste. I think the state of each tube really shows some of our key differences. My tube is obviously the pretty, non-mangled one.

That’s all for now. More later.

Love,

Asia

Been Awhile

It’s been a long while since my last posting. I’ve been a little distracted with Grandpa and some things boiling up at work lately. Not to mention the fact that I have this AWFUL cold that is just culminating and getting worse and worse. I slept a ton on Sunday. I only accomplished to leave the couch to clean the cat bowl and put new food in and give Yoji a bath.

Needless to say, I don’t feel like I’ve made any headway on my goals for the year yet. I tend to use sickness as an excuse to eat badly and not do anything 🙂

So, here are some things I would like to get done this week:

1. Give Wicket a bath
2. Clean the wood floors
3. Completely clear the kitchen counters
4. Get Christmas stuff to storage
5. Dusting
6. Laundry
7. Clean off my dresser
8. Clean my walk-in closet

Other than that, I need to get my studio in order (formerly the guuest bedroom, craft room). There is a full size bed in there right now junking it up, and I need to get that removed. The problem is where to put it.

I’ve just put a bunch of things in my shop on sale, so stop on by 🙂

Small goals, rewards and tough decisions

The level of classy for this car repair shop is emphasized by the key drop.

I think a nice goal for 2010 would be to set of a list of to-dos. Not really resolutions, but little would-like to-dos. Nice things, sometimes easy things. So, lets think of some things.

1. Clean my house more often. I love the clean feeling and calmness of a clean house.
2. I’d like to go on a walk at least once a week. It could be through a mall, in the neighborhood or through the woods.
3. Take a Photography class – I think I’ve already determined to take Karen Russell’s class.
4. Sew a bag/purse.
5. Really organize my vintage goods.
6. Print pictures.
7. Scrapbook more.
8. Cook more nice dinners for my husband and continue to branch out with food.
9. Make patchwork throw pillows for my couch.

Projects to finish:

1. The Manger Scene: It’s been over a year, and come a long way, but still isn’t done.
2. The golf club project. Adam doesn’t really know what this entails, but the visualization I have in my head seems really awesome. I think it will look fantastic and be a wonderful surprise for Adam.
3. The type case tray from Ali’s idea. I have two, but don’t have plans for two.
4. My wedding album with the Karen Russell kit.
5. The lantern project.

A tough little decision:

We listed our condo mid 2008. We wanted to move into a house since the prices were so nice right now. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to sell the condo and took it off the market for the holidays. Now, re-evaluating in the new year, we’ve decided we are going to stay put for a couple years. We don’t have a “need” to move right now, and realistically, we could live here with a baby if we needed to. Our neighbors will be so pleased because they love us so much here. So, for now, that means going through our stuff in storage all over again, and re-organizing our home. But, that gives us more time to save and more time to simiplify. It’s a tough decision, but really the only decision we could make.

Anyway…that’s where I am at right this moment. Off to sit on the couch and try to make a flyer.

2010…really?

Today we lose a great, great man.

Grandpa Ernie- wonderful husband, great father, endearing friend…but as I know him, an outstanding Grandfather. This awesome man at 90 years of age has accomplished so many things, built such an amazing family and touched so many lives. From a different generation, with a fascination for the innovations of today. The stories he’s told and the laughter he’s provided will continue to live in my heart forever. I love you Grandpa.