Goodwill MLK weekend

I found  myself without children and grandchildren for a weekend - totally unheard of. My plans were to clean house and purge the garage, watch tv and read a book. Of course some of the best laid plans can always change...like mine did. My friend called me Friday night to see if I was free to go to the Goodwill on Saturday and of course I jumped at the chance (hadn't gone Goodwilling for a very long time). We made plans for the morning and she picked me up around 10. Before heading out of town - we made a stop to McDonald's for our usual iced coffee (lasts much longer being cold) and gas, than we headed for Capitol Hill. I had found some great gifts for the grandkids for Christmas at the Goodwill at Capitol Hill. After this stop we headed for Capitol Hill Value Village - after a couple stops around the block found a place to park. Not much was happening here - found a couple of books and some games. Value Village is a great place to buy books - buy 4 get 1 free. Next stop was Seattle Goodwill. Fourth stop was Renton Goodwill after we stopped for a bite to eat at Panera Bread (I give this store kudos for their customer service). Last stop was Tukwila Goodwill. Of course I found some great treasures along the way. Pictures following. This time I grouped them in similar items. Let me know which way you like it better. The choices are grouped alike or grouped by what store I bought the items.

This is what I found on this trip:

Of course the Tigger slippers are mine and who can resist for only $1.99. Kenz will love the Tom's pink slip ons and the Vans tied shoes for $6.99 each. Little E will love both of the slippers I got him (the first thing he does is takes off his shoes and on go the slippers).

I wasn't planning on getting clothes this time around - but who can blame me for these great buys. 2 Car sweatshirts for $2.50 each regular $4.99 each, a tshirt for $1.00 regular $1.99, 2 coats for $2.50 each regular $4.99 each.

I can always use new sweatshirts - for some reason I spill more stuff on them and for the right price I don't mind getting rid of them - $4.00 regular $7.99 and I found this in the kid's section.

I normally get my books at the library or on my Kindle, but because the weekend was here and the library I frequent was closed on Saturday - I decided to buy a few books for me - to keep my entertained until I can get to the library. Plus the price is pretty reasonable.

Like I have said before -Value Village has the best deal on books - buy 4 get 1 free (of course it is the lower price - but still free is free). This picture shows the books I got were all children books - should keep them entertained for awhile.

Even though Little E has mastered the trike - I thought maybe he could turn the trike over to L and he could try the bike - we will see - it sure is sturdy and even a hot wheel at that - $9.99.

I am always on the look out for art paper - it's so darn expensive. Along with a hard book, a stencil art book, 2 magazines ($.50 each - where can you buy a magazine for $.50), a metal box (great for storing things), a rug to place by my bed (this way I won't track floor ickies into my nice clean sheets - $2.50 regular $4.99) and a pack of notepads (twins love these) and sticky notepads (I love these).

 Where do you go for your children's games. I use to pay full price at any name store until I found the Goodwill and Value Village has great prices on gently used toys (sometimes they have never been opened - how about that!) - This trip I found the plastic Lincoln logs (never opened for $2.99), the cribbage board (never opened- $3.99), travel magnet backgammon set for $2.99, a build it set for $6.99 (looks like all the pieces are in the box), a word puzzle (never opened - $2.99), a small soccer ball - $1.99 (we keep losing them to the dog) and a nice tile rummy set. Not to bad.

Crafts galore - that is what Goodwill is great at. They combine a bunch of stuff together for a low price of $1.99. I bought the scrapbooking bags full of things I can use and things I am going to donate to an auction. - Way to go, Jini! Pack of fun scissors $2.99, water color project (never opened - haven't decided if I will keep it or donate), pencils, twistable crayons and a frame for $.50 (great gift).

January Tacoma Goodwill Calendar

Tacoma Goodwill January Calendar

January Seattle Goodwill Calendar

January Seattle Goodwill Calendar

Hibernation

Have you ever felt like hibernating? 

Well I have felt like that since November. I don't know what happened, but I became a couch potato when I wasn't at work. I don't know if it was a combination of stuff - my desktop computer quit, I had to order another computer (I got a laptop - still trying to figure out the darn thing), I was still teaching English at the high school (not knowing when or if I was returning to my other job), the darkness came earlier because of changing our clocks back, etc. My desire to do the normal things sort of went out the door; cleaning (I really don't like to clean on any day - but it got worse), type on blogs or on anything, depressed about money (I guess), Christmas was on the horizon, diet on and off. 

I had to think long and hard where I was going with this couch potato thing - I just was wasting my time. So I decided to rethink my time and here I am typing again and sharing weird information with you. I feel that maybe Spring might be on the horizon - no snow in the forecast for the Pacific Northwests (boo-hoo).

I have projects waiting on the sideline to work on, new adventures just around the corner and who knows what else is in store for 2015. I know this - that it is time for me to get off my duff and get moving. 

Results of my Game On Diet

Well the day finally arrived that our Game On Diet was over. YIPPEE! - I could finally go back to reality. But then I realized I missed being on an eating routine and will probably be back on an edited diet that isn't so strict. I definitely ate better and felt rejuvenated with all the water I drank, exercising and actually eating 5 meals a day. I actually can say I don't miss all the trips to the bathroom. The final weigh in was Monday. I lost another 2 pounds and I was ecstatic. The previous week some how I had gained a pound and I was devastated.

   

Our scorekeeper tallied all of our points and checked in with the other team. A miracle happened we beat them by a small margin of 104 points. Talk about close.

Next week back to the diet - I don't want to gain back what I lost by eating poorly. My goal is to lose another 15 pounds and I think I will be able to feel like a million bucks. It is a goal that I can reach with a little discipline and many trips to the bathroom and Costco for all their great deals on wonderful healthy food.

Crunch Time - Deadlines - YIKES

The past week I have been under a deadline in so many different ways. 

First - I had to get all my consignment items priced and hanged up. Next, I placed all items in tubs to tote them to the Puyallup Fairgrounds on October 14th. I had almost 400 items that I delivered for the sale. It came to 17 tubs of clothes, shoes, books and a few miscellaneous stuff (remember all those Christmas dresses and winter coats I bought throughout the year). I made about $560.00, I donated 92 items and brought home 160 items for next year.

Second - I had to exercise 20 minutes, drink 100 oz. of water, work on my good habit (decluttering) and my bad habit (not watch tv until 8:00 pm) every day. The Game On Diet is now in the last week - end is in sight. But I probably won't quit - it seems I eat much better on this way of eating - it's just getting everything done within the time frame.

Third - I kicked out 5 IEP (Individualized Education Program) for the special education English students that I am subbing at the high school in the next week. No word yet on how long I will be here at the high school (isn't this weird they have to hire subs to take over my IAES/tutoring job - while I am subbing at the high school - go figure).

Fourth - I am finally all caught up at the high school. Clean up class work into file folders. I am trying to come up with a solution for mixing work. Continue to create lesson plans and move towards classroom management strategies. 

Fifth – Decluttering is harder than it looks – I took a carload to Value Village today – they gave me a $3 coupon after spending $10 or more just for donating.

Sixth – Erika and I went couch shopping today and I bought a couch, + 5 year protection plan, + delivery, + taxes. It came to a little more than I wanted to spend, but I need the couch yesterday and it will work (keeping my fingers crossed). Now all we need to do is clean and purge and rearrange by next week when delivery is scheduled.


So that wraps up my last 2 weeks in a nutshell.

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