I’m still here!!
September 1, 2008 at 10:02 pm | Posted in crafting, random-ness, Thrifty | 1 CommentMy sister got engaged a few months ago…I’m maid of honour and am learning that my duties are to do everything but get married…so it’s been busy.
My contract at work ended…I was happy for a few weeks because I really didn’t enjoy that job but now that I don’t have a paycheque (meagre as it was..)I’m feeling the crunch to get employment…with health and dental benefits to boot!
Absolutely no crafting has been done. I’m lacking in the creativity dept. at the moment. But here are some pics from recent times to keep you up to date…
Glads
Apron with Chairs!
Oops…Sorry for the teaser. My photo program doesn’t seem to want to work. I even managed to delete a nice picture at Nathan Phillips Square…I’ll figure this out tomorrow.
i have been doing a lot of reading..mostly chic-lit and cookbooks but it’s the summer my reading list can be light!
I re-instated the healthy life plan..TODAY! Eating well took a backseat there for awhile. But I was begining to feel gross so it’s back. Even though I had those damn Bear Paw cookies…And I will certainly miss that Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake with Tiramisu Ice Cream from Caffe Demetre’s, and that Almond Joy Ice Cream from the Marble Slab…but I’ll get over it. At least I hope so….
Anyways. There’s a poor excuse for an update!
Hey Big Spender
June 20, 2008 at 2:57 pm | Posted in Thrifty | 2 CommentsTags: Pyrex, Thrifting, Tray
Oh Value Village…Here’s the run down of the loot I scored
- set of 6 PYREX mugs with green flowers (matches mixing bowl set I already own)
- salt and pepper shakers (1 lid is corroded and stuck on… a little elbow grease and it came off!)
- breakfast tray
- hand mixer
- tin foil holder? (Buyer’s regret with this one. I snapped it up b/c it looked cool and matches my green canister set, but now I am not sure I even want it now.)
Now a photo!
I’m so glad people give away their old junk…
Value Village Loot!
May 21, 2008 at 4:13 pm | Posted in Thrifty | 1 CommentTags: Aqua, Birds, Books, Value Village
What to do on a day off from work? Head to the local Value Village of course! I was pleasantly surprised to find some lovely linens and a glass jar! YAY! I’ve stopped looking at the clothes because I NEVER find anything worth buying…but on this trip while I was making my way to the “Housewares” section I decided to peruse the “Linens” section. Which I never do. But I am very happy I did because I found this
tablecloth/runner and then on the end of the aisle I found matching napkins! I was pretty excited! I had originally thought that maybe I would hack up the tablecloth and turn it into something like a wallet or purse, but now I think I may use it! You can also see my other find in this picture…an aqua glass jar! I have no clue what it is to be used for but I plan on putting it in the bathroom as a pretty decoration! After all this thrifting I didn’t even look for knitting needles OR yarn! I did find a cute crochet afghan and wondered if I could unravel it for yarn, but then passed on it…
I also made a trip to the library. I always head to the new book shelf and on it I found 3 books! One is about healing your back through stretches (I have back problems…my Chiro blames my posture…), another is called “Food and Cooking in Victorian England – A History” (it seems interesting and fulfills my love of food AND history!) and lastly, “Green for Life” (ECO ideas…and quite frightening!!! I am trying to be more green in my life…according to this book I am not doing a very good job!) One thing the book informed me about was a Google sister site www.blackle.com, which is a search engine just like Google, only the background is black which saves energy, it takes alot of power for a white background…I just may make the switch! Those ECO books all make me feel uneasy. You’d think it would be intuitive to humans that using products that are full of chemical crap would be bad…but apparently not. I vow to buy local this summer at the Farmer’s Market in town…or at least the little stand by my house…which I will walk to!
Money, well spent.
May 1, 2008 at 9:19 pm | Posted in Thrifty | 2 CommentsTags: Necklace, Pyrex, Tea Towel, Thrifting
This week I’ve been on a spending spree it seems…a new purse (Matt & Nat…very nice!) which set me back $70, a muffin tin (on sale!), a set of mixing bowls (on sale and a birthday gift!), a red bead necklace ($1.99!) and a lovely PYREX juice caraffe ($1.99!!!!). The last two items were found on my thrifting trip to Value Village today. I also resisted the urge to purchase 2 more owl canister things, I felt I had enough even though they did match my previous owl score. I really love PYREX. The old fancy stuff, not the new clear stuff. That’s too boring for me!! I own (well my mum owns…) the “Spring Blossom – Green Pattern” and my grandma recently gave me two refrigerator dishes that are red and may be a part of the “Friendship Pattern“. Another score from my grandma is a linen tea towel (picture to follow)! It’s rather nice! My grandma has or had a ton of cool stuff, but like most people never thought their old kitchen stuff would be coveted by others! Plus, I can’t let many of my relatives know that I am searching for this stuff because a) they will think I am trying to steal from my grandmother (I’m not!) or b) think I am trying to make $$$ off her “Vintage” pieces (I’m not!) and therefore try to grab the stuff for their own gain! So, I do covert missions! And my grandma hands over the stuff she no longer uses with a look that says “Why the heck do you want this old stuff that I paid a nickel for??” Ahhh I love grandma!! She really is the bees knees! So I guess I better get re-motivated and knit those dishcloths for her!!!!!
And now without further ado, the pics of the lovely PYREX, necklace and tea towel :
Mmmm…Orange Slices on PYREX! Oops it didn’t photograph too well….
See?? It says PYREX on it….
My necklace reminds me of Persephone herself Jen!! Who…Whom (?) I saw the other day decked out in rouge! Also this necklace is a perfect match to a dress (SJP’s Bitten line) I am wearing to a wedding! Perfect!!
And the tea towel…it’s handpainted I believe is what was printed on the side of it….love the aqua! And pukey green!
And that’s all for today…
10 cm of Snow?!
March 27, 2008 at 1:09 pm | Posted in crafting, knitting, Thrifty | 3 CommentsTags: Canisters, knitting, Marshmallow, Thrifting
Ahem. It’s SPRING! That’s all I ‘m saying…I don’t want to anger the weather gods and risk crappy Summer weather…soooo.
I decided to go to Value Village to cheer myself up. I was specifically looking for yarn and knitting needles. There were none to be found! As, I wandered through the aisles, sadly of course, I spotted these crazy tin canisters.
4 for $1.99???? Yeah I could care less if the coffee one has a copper lid with an aqua handle or that they’re incredibly grungy. With tax it came to $2.25. That’s a bargain! They’re “The Queen Line”
By A.R.Lite, Made in Canada! I was thinking of keeping my crafting notions in the canisters. Or just displaying them on the baker’s rack in the kitchen. I’ll wash them of course! Although, I am against putting consumables in them. It’s just a rule I have. So yeah I was pretty excited to find these! And the colour! I love it!
Tomorrow, I vow to use my sewing machine. I think I will make a passport wallet. Even though there is no travel in my future. Sadly. I also just discovered that…um. The phone just rang and interupted my train of thought!! Oh right. I was going to say the ADORN Magazine is no longer. Could be a rumour. But I did read it on the internet and everyone one knows that if something is on the internet, well then it’s true!
Here’s the progress I’ve made on my 2nd Ballband. I missed SnB because of a migraine. That is what work does to me. Or it could’ve been due to the fact that I didn’t have my morning coffee or tea. Sometimes, I have tea instead of coffee in the morning. I always have a tea at night. I love visiting my grandma because she always puts my tea in a tea cup! (I drink it out of a mug when I am at home…I know it’s unheard of!). Speaking of my grandma and also of dishcloths, I need to make her some. She has these old ratty knit ones from like 5 years ago. She needs some snazzy new ones, courtesy of moi!
And here is the marshmallow salad, AKA ambrosia salad I made for the potluck. The people who ate it, enjoyed it. But I had a ton of leftovers. I know it looks gross, but I swear it tastes good!
Ugh. My computer is having issues and frustrating me, that must be a sign that I need to stop writing!
Happy Leap Year!
February 29, 2008 at 10:54 am | Posted in crafting, random-ness, Thrifty, TV | 3 CommentsTags: Britain, coffee, dishcloth, knitting, patterns
Well, it’s been awhile since I last wrote, so here’s a little update about what I’ve been up to.
First, I finished that Ballband dishcloth. 
I even weaved in the ends! So far, I am finding it difficult to actually use the dishcloth to wash the dishes, however I did use it as a pot holder and it held up pretty well! I need a new knitting project. Oh and some yarn. I’m itching to set up my new sewing machine, but I just haven’t had the time. Maybe I should make the time. I also finished the coffee cozy. 
It’s been “finished” for quite some time, but I just decided to weave in the ends and seam it up. It works fairly well. My sister said she’d use one, so maybe I’ll give it to her. Speaking of my dear sister, she ventured out to an indoor yard sale the other weekend and managed to find ONE book of knitting patterns. It’s for men’s socks, but I am pretty sure they can be decreased in size. Guess I better get some DPNs.
Here’s a picture of the front cover.
And here’s a picture of my favourite socks. 
Sadly I frogged the “Wavy” scarf. It was beyond my repairing abilities and was incredibly frustrating. I also wasn’t in love with the wool. It was a pretty colour but not nice against the skin. Oh well, I’ll attempt it again when I feel up to it!
I also started work. It’s interesting, but not in the mentally stimulating interesting kind of way. In the clients are interesting way….you get me? I also have really not done alot. There is no money left in the budget for me to have my own computer. Which sucks. So I really can’t do anything! We’ll see how this goes. I’ve also applied for a job with the local Children’s Services agency, so maybe something will come of that. The library has yet to give me an interview. Guess I’ll have to volunteer…
And lastly, I am obsessed with British programming. If I had the BBC I probably wouldn’t leave the house. Good thing W and HGTV provide me with my fixes. What I’m watching right now: Cook Yourself Thin –>Yummy recipes that are good for the waistline!; Colin and Justin’s Home Heist –> I love these guys!!! They have some other shows that are filmed in Britain, but this show is all Canadian! Also, I am still trying to figure out if Steven and Chris are Canada’s answer to Colin and Justin…I’m just not sure.; How Clean is Your House? –> Seriously Kim is awesome. I want to be her when I am old : ); Location –> Just a home hunting show.; How to Look Good Naked –> Way better than the American knock off. Gok is waaaaaay better than Carson. Even though I’ve never actually watched the American version…but I did see a preview on Oprah, so I can make judgements. Go ahead, check your local listings so you can watch these programmes too!
Phew. That’s along one. Now it’s snowing…2nd storm in a week! And I have to go stock up on groceries. Also, I am starting a healthy eating plan. I’m not calling it a diet. I’m eating smaller (i.e correct!) portions of food, lightening up some recipes and trying to get in the recommended servings of fruits and veg, grains, protein and dairy. Next, I need to tackle the exercise part of my plan…Maybe I’ll call it a Healthy Living Plan…
Anywho, I’m off to the market!
(edited to add pics of Colin and Justin and Steven and Chris…just for a visual)
Colin and Justin photo from HGTV.ca
Steven and Chris photo from CBC.ca
Thrifty Owls
February 11, 2008 at 10:01 pm | Posted in Thrifty | 1 CommentTags: kitchenware, owls, thrift store
So I was at Value Village. I was looking for knitting needles. Instead I found an amazing owl patterned cookie jar. Well, as lovely as it was, I put it down, even though it was only $2.99. As I am not employed at the moment, I feel guilty whenever I find something I would like to buy. This guilt I feel about money and spending has been around for as long as I was making money. But I digress and that can be another topic, another day.
So I put the owls out of my head. But then I came across matching salt and pepper shakers and then a sugar bowl. And I took that as a sign. I was destined to buy these slightly scratched, definately chipped and quite charming little owls of joy. At a whopping $6.74 CDN, they definately didn’t break the bank. Although, I suspect there is a creamer out there with this same owl pattern that just wants to join my collection. And I shall find it!
If someone does happen to find it or anything else with the pattern on it, especially if it is found in Ontario, Canada, please alert me!
Keep your eyes peeled for a little review of City and Colour’s new album ‘Bring Me Your Love’ right here, either tomorrow or the next day…I’ll try not to feel too much guilt about buying the album 🙂
Photos...
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