So How Are Things?

I know...I am so MIA right now. I just have so much going on that by the time I sit down and would have a minute to blog....I'm too tired. So tonight I turned off the lights in the workshop early, grabbed my lap top and headed to bed. I have a number of things to tell you so I think I will have to do it over a few days. No, the baby isn't here yet, but it sure is getting close. He is due the 23rd. Tresa is just exhausted this weekend. Everything she does leaves her just drained. They went to the zoo today and all she could managed was an hour. Well, the good thing is that we know he will make his debut eventually...hopefully soon.

Next, I have to thank Angela of Pickles on Pizza...she has been so kind and so helpful with sharing her knowledge of vintage with us. I don't know what I would do without her. Irv and I are learning a lot thanks to her and her highly successful shop. We found a couple more things yesterday when we were out treasure hunting. We are learning what to spend our money on and what not to spend our money on. We still only have one little sale, but we are slowly getting the hang of it. We made lots of mistakes at first and I'm sure we will make many more, but it's all starting to make a bit more sense, so thanks Angela.

Do you sell or shop on e-bay? We don't....but we will be. I don't want this post to be too long, so I will tell you about the Shell Gasoline sign another day. It's a fun story with what will hopefully be a very profitable ending. I'll fill you in soon.

I have fallen off the exercise wagon again, and it's all because I am so addicted to Four Dog Vintage right now. It's all I can think about. I am actually working out a schedule to get myself back on track. I was doing really well and I don't want that to change. I have to figure out a way to balance working out, making healthy meals, walking and etsy around my full time job. I can do it. I just need to think it out. What do you do when you have more things to do in a day than there are hours in that day and it isn't just one day....it's every day? Any suggestions?

We finally have over 50 items in our vintage shop. I put in a lot of hours today to get some of our new things in. Here is the listing for that darling little antique toaster......

and I am so in love with this bowl!

My goal is to get too 100 items....we will get there some time this fall.

Michael and Bernadette have been working many, many twelve hour days since the start of school. Sometimes people don't realize how hard teachers really do work and the hours they put in. Thank goodness there are people willing to do that. I appreciate each and every one of you!

Matt is still training for the Chicago Marathon on October 10. He ran 18 miles yesterday morning! Bless his heart. I can't run one mile!

So....that's about it from here. I hope you are all well. I will try to check in with you during the week. Make it a safe and wonderful holiday tomorrow!

Meeting Blog Friends

Have you ever met one of your blog friends in person? Well, yesterday I had the opportunity to meet Angela of Pickles On Pizza fame and her husband Aubrey. If you read Angela's blog you will find yourself totally entertained as she talks often about her job at her brother's restaurant, her family and her life in Mississippi.

Angela and Aubrey...it was so bright outside that it was hard not to squint!

Angela also has a couple of etsy shops, Cut n Glue where she sells her wonderful collages and the Ginger's Girl, her fantastic new vintage shop.

Angela and Aubrey (a fireman by day and an awesome musician by night....you can buy his CD from Angela's blog and take my word for it....it's a great CD) are vacationing in Chicago this week. We decided the easiest thing to do was for us to meet them at IKEA Sunday morning. They are only going to be here for a few days and I work during the week. The four of us sat and had some breakfast and chatted a while. Then we took a little walk around the store and it was time for them to get on their way into the big city.....Chicago. I can't wait to hear how they liked it!

Irv and Aubrey were taking pictures at the same time so Angela is looking at Irv and I'm looking at Aubrey.....and I was still talking.....no surprise there.

It was so great to meet the person behind the witty writing and the artistic talent. So, have you ever been lucky enough to meet one of your blog friends?

Stupendous Saturday!

I started out the day Saturday with another trip over to the blood center. I couldn't donate last week because my iron level was too low. That's the second time that's happened. Well, it was lower this week! Trying to find more iron rich foods to consume!

Next, we headed over to the bank to take out the cash we needed for our new envelope budget system. I am excited and ready to go. We did have a couple of little glitches though. Irv mentioned that we needed salt for the softener......he wanted to rent a movie for tonight....and he needed to get our Lotto tickets. Hmmmmm...I hadn't figured those things in. I made more envelopes and next time we will take out money for entertainment and salt and Lotto. Irv said we could give up on the Lotto, but we have been playing the same stupid numbers since it started and wouldn't that just suck that the first time we don't buy them....our numbers are picked? I know it wouldn't happen, but just in case....I'm still buying!

I managed to list my first Itsy Bitsy Tote Bag in my shop, FourDogDay. The tote is perfect if you don't like to drag a huge bag with you when you go shopping. If you don't read Lanyard Lady's blog...check out this post of hers. Lanyard has a bad shoulder because of what she was carrying in her purse. Too funny....not the bad shoulder, but the stuff that was in her purse!

This blue bird fabric was left over when I made Angela of Pickles on Pizza a vendor apron. It's so darn cute I decided to make a little desk clock out of it. I just love it!

Then I went all out and made two other big clocks. One of these will get listed today and one tomorrow. The first one is leaves on a light gray background. Very outdoorsy.

The second one is my absolute favorites! It's birds in black and white with a little tan thrown in. I think I am going to have to make myself one of these to hang somewhere in my house. It's so ME!

After that it was time to see if I could find some coupons for grocery shopping today. We will be heading out soon and I was hoping to save a little money using coupons. I didn't find too many, but I did get a couple of good ones. We eat very specific foods and brands and are not very flexible, so coupons might be a difficult thing for us.

I have my Week #1 Food Envelope and I put my coupons right in it. I will let you know how we do and if we are able to stay well under the $150 limit so we can get carry out next weekend. Wish us luck!

After that, I still had to hit the floor and do my Pilates. I opted not to walk because the wind chill made it painful to even be outside.

Then I collapsed! Not really. It was an awesome day. Hope you have a good one today. Don't forget to do something nice for yourself today.

"Borrowed Book" Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago I entered a blog contest on Baroness-Bijoutery to win the opportunity to be the next person to read the book, "Lost & Found" by Jacqueline Sheehan....and I won. I talked about it here.

Well, I am just finishing up the book and I will be ready to pass it on to someone else next week. If you would like to be the next in line to read, "Lost & Found", just leave a comment on my blog today and let me know you are interested. Be sure to let me know the best way to reach you if you win. I'll finish it up and pick a winner this weekend and mail you the book! The only thing you have to do is to pass it along via your blog when you are done reading it as I have done here. Sound good?

You can read a description of the story here, and you can read about the author here.

The book belongs to Angela of etsy shops, CutNGlue and BellyLove. Angela's blog is Pickles on Pizza. If you haven't visited her shops yet or read her blog, I encourage you to do so. She creates awesome collages, great doggie treats (just ask Sparky and Wrigley) and her blog is one of my favorites.

The book is not what I normally read....I am more into books that teach me something rather than books that entertain, but I am actually enjoying the change of pace. When I'm done I'll give my take on the book.

So, leave a comment and let me know if you would like to be the next reader of "Lost & Found".