12 X 12

I can so relate to this post and challenge started by Oh, Hello Friend (but found via Van's Thriftcore). I've posted my 41 goals a couple of times and have really been trying hard to accomplish them by next Oct, but I am only making slow progress. I need to jump start my goal list a bit. And, give myself a little morale booster as well.

The point of this challenge is to actually cross everything off a list (I think or at least this is what I am taking from this challenge. I, too, am a serial, procrastinating list maker). I have many, many items I need to get done before the end of the month (and New Year!) and, unfortunately, most them center around my ever-busy job.

On top of that, I actually made a sale on the Etsy site (and it made it safe and sound to its happy new home), so I guess I will stick with it a bit longer. I have been stockpiling junk for years anyway, no, let's be honest here, I am beginning to see signs of hoarding!*

*Inserting footnote in center: Not the icky kind anyway!

I need to purge, lighten my load a bit, clear the physical stuff, so the all the other stuff can calm the F down in my life. Plus, I really want to showcase my favorite finds, but I seem to have lost a direction in the chaos that has been 2011 (and the last part of 2010).

Sadly, I just discovered this challenge, so I am not going to disappoint myself by making a list of twelve I will in no way shape or form accomplish in 23 days. S0, I am making a list of 8. Seems like a nice, round number.

Speaking of numbers, and a bit of an aside, I have guessed the winning Powerball two weekends in a row! And, of course, I have never bought a ticket! :)

Ok, seems I am procrastinating again...

12 8 by 2012:

1. Finish all my case files (work thing)

2. Bake Christmas cookies (hopefully this weekend)

3. File, shred, or recycle 2011 paperwork (at least Jan-Nov)

4. Send package to friend in AU (hang head in shame-it's been months)

5. Clean garage (and to borrow Van's word: BE BRUTAL)

6. Paint and decorate Lyndon's castle (this one better be crossed off by the 25th!)

7. File my piles of papers in my office (work thing)

8. Complete Individual Development Plan by due date (work thing)

9. List ten new items on the Etsy site.

(Yep, I added a ninth goal! Work seemed too heavily represented as usual).

Wish me luck! (Thanks, Van, for helping me find this challenge!)

Thrift Share Monday: Inside the Tin Box

Well, well, another Monday is here. I was very good this week and stayed out of the thrift stores with one exception: the absolute worst thrift stores in the South/Midwest. I spent time in southern and western Kentucky this past week and my hotel was literally a neighbor to a Goodwill. Yuck. I did find a vintage suitcase that smells like cigarettes and a book by David Guterson called Our Lady of the Forest. I started the book last night and so far, so good. I also picked up the Made in Japan bill holder. It is missing the flag, but cute none-the-less (and only a $1).

I also stopped today at one I have been wanting to visit here in Louisville. They have limited hours and I rarely am home in time to go. I had business in the area and decided to stop with only 15 minutes to spare before closing. I only had time to glance, but I saw some great vintage (and cheap!) things. I saw a round tin in the craft area and shook it. It had a sticker that said $1.50 Straight Pins. I bought it sight unseen. Look what was inside!!
I think the rock in box is Pyrite (Fool's gold!) Anyway, they meant enough to someone that they stashed them away inside a box of straight pins inside a round tin.


I also found the little tea bag flower and will use it. It was 25c. I will definitely be returning to this thrift when I have more time!










In other challenge news, I am way behind on the 30 X 30 remix challenge, but I am going to condense it for time (Gah! How do you all do it??) I cannot believe it is the 8th of February already. I am beginning to believe that theory that the Earth is rotating faster (and, thus, time is speeding up!) I will eventually post pictures and a list of clothing items here. Well, I will that is if I get over my camera shyness!

Check other thrifty goodness at Apron Thrift Girl and Her Library Adventures!

A Year of No Shopping

Van over at Thrift Core has challenged her readers to go without retail shopping for a year. It's been a few years since I tried this type of challenge. I have read recent books and blogs chronicling other people's various level of success of being a non-consumer and, although I have a few gripes on some of the books, I love reading the success stories. It is a challenge I really need to try again with my recent economy worries and the fact I need to save money/pay off some debts.

So, I accept her challenge and will begin producing a weekly report on my progress.

My exceptions to the 2011 Buy Nothing New challenge are as follows (but even these have an exception to the exception; I will try to substitute, find cheap or free or make my own whenever possible):

*Food and/or medical needs

*Cleaning supplies

*Vehicle needs (e.g. window wipers, etc.)

*Hygiene products (I'll include underwear here, but we are really set right now)

*Household items needed to get house on market (see exception to the exception)

*Gifts (again, see exception to the exception, but I will have more on this on a later post)

*Limit our eating out and bar patronage (I will try to be thrifty with coupons and "Kids Eat Free" nights)

I will try to be better at the curb-side shopping or using Craig's List. I plan to be more exceptional at using coupons for food/pet food/household items. I do not want to give up thrift shopping, but I am going to limit is to two days a month (at most and I will make up "passes" for myself to use. If I happen to use them all in months 1-4 then I am done for the year). I will carry my thrift wish list and try to stick with it. Last, if I slip and buy new, I will try to get it from smaller shops (this is part of my gift exception).

I am looking forward to the challenge and will begin my posts on the topic starting next Wednesday!