Selling Our Stuff

We had another exciting adventure this weekend, and we didn't even have to leave home. The TwentySomethings have entered into the world of business, yard sale business that is. We combined our extra stuff and set up shop at Martha S.'s house. Some of us are quite the yard sale shoppers, so we had a few ideas of things we definitely wanted to be sure happened.

1. Everything needed a price clearly labeled.
2. Keep the prices low, low, low...
3. Items needed to be organized and displayed.
4. Improve the atmosphere with good music and friendly conversation.

We started with a bunch of boxes in the basement.

Now I know every yard sale shopper has seen yard sales where this would have been how things were put out on the driveway. That was not the case for the TwentySomethings. After a highly nutritious dinner of pizza and a salad, we set to work organizing and labeling all of our items. Thankfully the weather was cooperating so that we could put items outside the night before the sale. A couple of hours later, we ended up with some fairly organized shelves and tables. Our reward? S'mores rice krispies and strawberry cake, of course!

Turns out we had more stuff than we thought we would. It's amazing to me that five twenty somethings have already accumulated so much stuff in our few short years of life.

For me, it was a lesson of trust. Since I had to work on Friday and couldn't be at the sale, I couldn't decide every time a customer wanted to ask a lower price for one of my items. I had to trust my fellow TwentySomethings to use good judgement on which items to lower the prices I had set and how low to go. It's not that I don't trust my friends; it's more that I like to be in control. They did a fine job by the way.

I tried so hard to sell this sombrero on Saturday. I'm sad to say that no one bought it. It came from Goodwill and returned to Goodwill.

While we didn't sell everything and Saturday was terribly slow, we did have good laughs and enjoyed one another's company. The total came close to $400. 

I don't think we'll do one next week or anything, but there might be another Five Friends yard sale in the (long-term) future.

Marvel adequately displays how we all felt after the end of the two days. 

Cheers!

Tea All About It

It's tea time! Go out in your yard, pick some of those abundant yellow dandelions, boil some water, and sip. Oh well, wash the flowers off first.

No this is not an April Fools' Day prank. Dandelion tea is actually quite scrumptious and basically free! It reminds me of summer in a cup: warm, sweet, vibrant, and green. Apparently the flowers also contain Vitamin A and Vitamin B12, which are both good vitamins to have I suppose. You can make tea from other parts of this flower, but so far I have only tried the flowers. It sure does make for a pretty cup of tea.

Other types of tea that I have been drinking include Pomegranate, Pear, and Ginger, Earl Grey Bravo (extra bergamot), Dragon Well (totally unsure what's in this one but I think it's green), VitaWell (still unsure what's in this one), Lemongrass and Ginger (yum!), Yellow and Blue (chamomile), and good old English Breakfast. Most of my teas come from the local tea shop or Harney and Sons online. I drink mainly loose leaf and I try to let the tea leaves float as much as I can, but sometimes I do use a tea ball or some sort of contraption like that if I'm on the go.

Just recently I purchased a nifty little contraption called Mrs. Tea. Apparently the product's production was discontinued, but The Farmer's Daughter found it at a Goodwill for $5. Worth a try right?

This morning I enjoyed three cups of English Breakfast all by pushing one button. I think the thing I will like most about this is that I can prepare the machine the night before and then let the tea brew and steep while I get ready. It takes about 10 minutes to steep an entire pot. I was skeptical that it would not be as strong as I like since the water drips over the tea rather than the tea sitting in the water, but I didn't notice a difference. Another plus is that it's an easier mess to clean that tea leaves floating in a pot or crammed into a tea ball. Since it uses a filter, I just grab the paper filter and throw the whole bit away once I've used all the goodness in the tea leaves. I also really like the cute design although I do wish it wasn't entirely white (that may be changing soon). I will still probably do some tea by boiling water in my tea kettle and then steeping in a teapot or mug, but some mornings it will be nice to have the convenience of pushing a button just like all of those coffee drinkers have.

Cheers!

Goodbyes

As graduation is slowing creeping up and real life is starting to hit I am hit with a sudden wave of goodbyes. I dislike goodbyes though, they seem too permanent. I like to think of a better way to depart from a person would be to say see you later alligator, after while crocodile. You know like children do. This way it leaves things open to possibilities and potential. Today I had to say goodbye to the CDL. I almost cried which is very unusual for me. I am sure going to miss those wonderful children a whole lot. Not to mention the other teachers and my fellow labor students, it was just an all around good work environment. This weekend is going to be full of goodbyes, some more permanent than others but that is okay. I keep thinking about that verse in Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Even though God was talking to the Israelite people, I think this verse is still applicable to His children today. No matter what lies ahead of me God will always be with me so as Paul says, " I will press on and keep fighting the good fight until that day comes when I am called home" (that is Amanda paraphrasation for you there). It has not really hit me yet that I am graduating from college in less than 48 hours. Maybe by the time Sunday rolls around it will, but there are still lots of goodbyes to be said, moving to be done, and lives to be lead. It has been a busy week and it's going to be an even busier weekend.
In other news as some of you may remember from last year, there have been goodwill bins placed in many of the dorms on campus. So this afternoon/evening I have been dorm hoping. I have to say that I have seen and found some pretty interesting things. I also gained a few extra things along the way like a huge duffle bag, a new backpack, and a trash  bag full of clothes. This should be an interesting addition to my current wardrobe.
In other other news I have unofficially but officially yet, gotten a duplex apartment with a trust worthy acquaintance It is exciting and will be officially moving in on the 15th. So yall should be on the lookout for me, for a bed and dresser?
I have been looking forward to this summer and what this next chapter in my life has in store. I am quiet excited to see what God has planned for me. My new job at the daycare starts on Monday so that will be fun I do believe. Also am thinking we should all meet up sometime soon I miss seeing you all. Sometimes I wish life would slow down a little bit and maybe even have a rewind button so to go back when we were all in one place and didn't have to travel very far to see one another.
I am getting sleepy so I should stop while I am ahead. But I'm sure I'll be making another post soon about graduating and starting my new job so be on the lookout. Captain Something Fun signing off.

Winter Break

As some of you may know, I was given two weeks off from work while school is closed for winter break. Now that I am currently over halfway through my break, I'll fill everyone up on what I have been doing. The early part of my break consisted of doing a little last-minute Christmas shopping. On Christmas Eve, our immediate family opened gifts. On Christmas Day, my sister and brother-in-law and both of my grandmothers came over and we had a scrumptious meal. It was nice and quiet. Although a bit uneventful, I was happy to visit with everyone and see that they were doing well. A couple years back, I spent Christmas in the Emergency Room after my grandmother dislocated her shoulder (she was chasing after a grocery bag and fell down, of all things), so quiet is good! Haha! 

I haven't spent very much time at home because I have been out and about visiting with my sister and other friends nearby. I am taking advantage of being able to do whatever I want whenever I want and not having to worry about getting up early for work. That being said, I do believe that I have my days and nights mixed up now. I will have to start getting back into my normal routine soon. 

The past couple of days, I have been in a crafty mood. Last night, I helped my mom dye some eggs to give as Christmas gifts (I'm not the only one who procrastinated this year). The process is called Pysanky, which is a traditional craft in Ukraine. It's a little tedious, but fun. Pysanky involves drawing a design on an egg with beeswax, and then dipping it in the dye. The parts of the egg that are underneath the wax are protected from the dye. Once you are finished dying the egg, you melt the wax off with the heat from a candle. My mom likes to put a few coats of polyurethane over the shells to protect them and make them shiny. Once the polyurethane dries, we will be blowing the eggs out, which is something that I haven't learned yet. Below are a couple pictures from last night. 

My mom's original design: A nativity scene.

My original design: a rooster

My rooster after I had completed the dying process. 

After my mom went to bed, I decided to experiment with dying other surfaces other than eggshells. I was curious to see if the dye would stick to a seashell, so I made a Snoopy shell. The dye didn't stick well, but I still think it turned out pretty cool. 

My experimental Snoopy shell. 

 Tonight, I decided try my hand at candy making. I had bought some candy molds at Goodwill awhile back and never gotten around to using them. I made chocolate owl lollipops, and chocolate puppy prints. I also made Oreo balls, since I have been craving them ever since Granny Eyre brought them to our Halloween party. I am planning to take these treats to my sister's New Years Party tomorrow night so that we can have something to snack on. Although I don't want to share, I know how horrible I would feel if I tried to eat them all myself!

That's about all I have for now.  Hopefully, I will make a post soon about my New Years Resolutions

 (that is, if I decide to make any). I hope all is well! 

Until next time, 

Miss Ellaneous