Mail Call

I received my order from Pro31Designs (www.etsy.com/shop/Pro31Designs) or twinsmoms on You Tube. I wanted to try the blingy mesh everyone is using. She also sent along some gifties. Gifties are always appreciated and such a nice touch. I received two pink sprays, two blue sprays, two buttons and a cameo. The blingy mesh is very cool and will make a nice accent to my Christmas projects. Notice how the words Happy Mail are stamped all over the envelope. Very cute!

My Scor-Tape also arrived today. From what I understand it's as good as the red tape. I've never tried it but the big draw is that you can tear it. So I shall give it a try.

I didn't get to do anything creative today as I had to work. Although I did have lots and LOTS of creative thoughts. That counts...sort of.

My Zombie Card

The recipient of this card (aka Tracy) was kind enough to photograph it for me, as I

realized after I mailed it, that I had not taken a picture.

I had a profound blog post planned, but now I'm just not in the mood to be profound. Today was a jumbled up kind of day, and no orders went out. I saw a video about the $2.00 grab bags at Michaels. I remember seeing them at the store a long time ago, and not paying any attention to them. After seeing that video I decided the world would not resume rotation until I got one of those bags. One...or four or five. And I needed to get some red tape.

Of course they did not have any grab bags. I know they don't always have them, so I didn't break down and cry in the store or anything. I did manage to find a few things to buy. From the $1.50 bins I got a knife/fork/spoon stamp. I've seen that on so many videos and always wanted it. I got a stamp of vintage eyeglasses, and one of a sofa and one of a vintage key. A while back they had these stamps and rub-ons that had to do with time and clocks. I passed on those and now I'm kicking myself. I have been rubber stamping on the mini album I am making for my doctor and realize I should use my stamps more.

In the corner of one bin were two of those tiny faux metal frames that everyone was using on the covers of their minis. I have three of them, but man, that's a hoard item for sure. Now I have five so I am comfortable taking a couple out of hoard mode.

Tiny Tree, Oral Surgeons & A Haul

Here is my jeweled tree. I know this is a love it or hate it type creation. I think it's gorgeous and will definitely be making more of these trees. I already have two new designs in mind. The tree is 3-1/2 inches tall and is covered with costume jewelry, vintage buttons, vintage rhinestones, and a trimming of black velvet rick-rack around the bottom. It is currently for sale on eBay, where it isn't getting any views. They don't really have a category that fits this tree. I will move it to Etsy soon.

I saw the oral surgeon today and will be having two lower implants placed at the end of the month, or, as soon as I figure out how to pay for it, whichever comes first. He is a wonderful and compassionate man, who is also a physician. I have some major "issues" in the dental chair. NOT because I'm afraid of dentistry, or needles, or the noises and smells. Because from birth to age 27 my father was my dentist. I had problem teeth. In fact, to this day I cannot walk into a dental office and not hear the word "complicated" used in relation to my mouth. My father was an excellent dentist and had many wonderful qualities. He was also extremely critical and I could never please him.

All of the above comes to the surface the minute I sit in that chair, and I cry big crocodile tears, and shake a bit, and generally feel like a total idiot. God has been so good to bring caring, patient dentists into my life. Do you notice that when a person is especially kind, it can make you cry even more? Just because it's so touching.

After my appointment I went to Craft Warehouse. CW is the closest thing to a LSS in the podunk town I live in. Since I had no where to be, I took my time and looked at everything. For some reason it's shocking to me to see all the papers I drool at online, at a brick and mortar store. I spent close to two hours just browsing. They had all their Spring themed Studio G clear stamps on sale for a dime. Yep, 10 for $10. I stared at the sign for a long time to be sure I was reading it right.

I have been wanting a Corner Chomper, the original one, for quite some time. It was $14.99, so of course I grabbed it. I got a Martha Stewart punch around the page set in Holly Leaves. It was half off but for some reason I always feel guilty when I buy MS punches. I can't believe how expensive punches are in general. I got a flower punch too. I know you pay for the Martha name. EK Success makes her punches, as well as Stampin' Up's punches, and EK Success is owned by Wilton (you know, the cake folks) OR, perhaps Wilton is owned by EK Success. In any event they are all connected.

I also picked up a few May Arts ribbons in black, for Halloween minis. I stayed away from the paper, amazing but true :).

Random Stuff and an Albertsons Haul

So...I got home from grocery shopping about 45 minutes ago. Even though I'm more than tired, I need to defrag my brain before I go to bed. The big news here is we've had some snow, and they expect snow overnight. Snow is no big deal, but ice scares me. I did a couple Tonya Harding spins in the Albertsons parking lot. As John Pinette says, "Let's not visualize, let's just move on shall we?"

Our trip to Nevada was cancelled. We realized we could not make that drive in two days, and we certainly did not have enough time to take three days coming and going. Why that thought didn't occur to anyone earlier, is beyond me. Now the plan is to meet up with Inv. Linton and his lovely wife at the Grand Canyon next summer. Judging from the storms all around us, we probably would have cancelled at the last minute anyway. Towing in snow is not fun; just ask my husband.

I decided I want to start doing my own You Tube videos after the first of the year. I will talk more about that in a future post. I have been addicted to watching the videos of a small group of ladies who make the most beautiful things with paper.

I don't know if food can be considered a "haul," but that's what I'm calling this. I know blogs are nicer when pictures accompany posts, but that isn't happening tonight. I'm going to list everything I bought, and my total out of pocket expense. I should mention that I don't shop like many people do. I shop the sales and to stock up. I will buy six boxes of cereal, even if I have six boxes at home, if I can get it for $.49 a box. Plus we donate food to church and our local homeless shelter. I've been very lazy with my coupon shopping lately. Wonder if that has anything to do with watching videos and creating things? Nah...

I bought:

1 pkg Mission tortilla chips
1 pkg Nestle cookie dough
2 32-oz bottles Coffee-Mate creamer
1 box Hartz Crunch & Clean dog treats
2 boxes Keebler Club crackers
1 box Ritz crackers
1 box Wheat Thins crackers
1 can Planters cashew pieces
2 boxes Lucky Charms
1 box Trix
1 box Cocoa Puffs
1 jar Ragu Alfredo sauce
2 boxes Stove Top stuffing
1 pkg Franz Hawaiian rolls
1 pkg Idahoan potatoes
2 boxes Barilla spaghetti
1 box Barilla linguine
1 bag Cheetos
1 bag Fritos
1 loaf Granny's white bread
4 12-pks Pepsi products
4 12-pks Coke products
1 pkg Pillsbury pie crusts
1 gallon milk
1 16-oz bottle Darigold strawberry milk
1 pkg Swiss cheese
1 19 lb. turkey
1 10 lb. bag potatoes
1 bag salad
1 bunch celery
1 bunch green onions
1 pkg broccoli & cauliflower mix....and
1 Marie Callender's coconut cream pie (MAJOR impulse buy)

GRAND TOTAL: $67.01

I cut a piece from the frozen pie (the box said I could) and supposedly it should be thawed by now. It isn't anywhere near thawed. I'm fixin' to take my heat gun to it.

Bedtime :)

Let's Go Shopping With Me

Wow, long time - no blog. Hi to Sam my loyal reader. And hugs to Sam too.

Kay over at The Rustic Cottage and I have been doing some serious couponing and coupon organizing this week. Here are the results of today's shopping:

Walgreens - I have to say I am not a loyal shopper, don't go weekly, don't do the rebate thing like I probably should. Hubby had to get a prescription filled, so I asked him to pick up the $1.99 Chapstick True Shimmer because it would generate a Catalina for $2.00. He brought it home and it's da bomb. Seriously, I love it. He got me Botanical Berry.

I went to a different Walgreens later in the day, and purchased 2 boxes of Quaker granola bars and a package of Hall's cough drops. Had a $.75 coupon for the granola bars and a coupon for free cough drops. Used my $2.00 Catalina and spent $2.25 out of pocket. PLUS I got another $2.00 Catalina for buying the granola bars. In my second transaction I bought 2 packages of Cottonelle tissue for $5.00. Had a $.50 coupon and used my $2.00 Catalina. Total cost out of pocket was $2.50. Yeah, there was tax but I am not including it in the above calculations.

Then it was on to Safeway. They had several good coupons in my local paper and in their weekly circular. I purchased the following:

5 lb. bag C&H sugar
1 pkg. Hershey's chocolate eggs
1 pkg. Oreo cookies
2 pkgs. Wheat Thins Artisan crackers
2 24 packs diet Coke
2 boxes Kleenex tissue (large boxes)
1 Pillsbury Orange Danish
1 gallon milk
1 lb. butter
2 lb. block Tillamook cheddar cheese
2 Soft Soap anti-bacterial soaps
1 pkg. hot dog buns
2 pkgs. Hebrew National hot dogs
1 9-0z. pkg Foster Farms honey roasted turkey
1 3 lb. Honeysuckle boneless turkey breast
1 Safeway pepperoni pizza
1 can Del Monte tomatoes

Total with coupons: $42.56

There was a married couple behind me and I heard the husband say to his wife "oh, she's got a ton of coupons" in a somewhat annoyed tone. Then he watched as my total dropped from almost $100 down to $42.56. He said "Wow, you saved a lot of money!"

Let's Go Shopping with Me

Here is the roundup from yesterday's shopping trip at Safeway (not known for grocery bargains). They do occasionally offer a $10.00 off coupon, if you spend at least $50.00. I also had Safeway coupons for milk and the chicken. I had one manufacturers coupon for the foil, and that's because I haven't been getting the Sunday paper lately...tsk tsk.

1-1/2 lbs. grapes
1-3/4 lbs. asparagus
1 medium onion
10 lb. bag of potatoes
1/2 lb. deli turkey breast
1 lb. fresh salmon fillet
4 lbs. frozen chicken breasts
8 lbs. London Broil
1 pkg Sara Lee bagels
1 loaf buttermilk bread
1 pkg. hot dog buns
1 12-oz. pkg. Velveeta slices
1 8-oz. pkg. Kraft shredded 4-cheese mix
1 8-oz. cream cheese
1 dozen eggs
2 gallons low-fat milk
1/2 gallon Dole peach/mango/orange juice
1 roll 75 ft. Reynolds foil
1 pkg. paper napkins
1 pkg. 8" flour tortillas
1 bottle Powerade sports drink
1 8-pack diet Coke
1 15-oz. container breadcrumbs
1 pkg. Pop Tarts
1 12-pack grape soda
1 pkg. Cheetos Twists
2 pkgs. Cheetos puffs
1 pkg. Cheetos crunchy
1 16-oz. bottle Kraft salad dressing
2 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
5 boxes Betty Crocker assorted cake mixes
5 containers Betty Crocker assorted icings

Total Spent = $81.32

Considering the fact I got 13 lbs. of beef/chicken/fish, I think I did very well. Normally I would not buy five boxes of cake mix/icing. But...all 10 ended up costing $8.00, or $1.60 per cake not counting your eggs or oil.