Shopping Lists Con't + Update

Not engaged anymore.
I'm Good.
Here are some shopping lists.

Found this cute one at Home Depot:

Here are the rest in no particular order, found at Home Depot:

 (Shout out to Walgreens) 😄

 

Acro Milwaukee, WI 

 

Front + Back, Found at Kroger: 

 

Here is one found in a restaurant parking lot in Saint Clair Shores, MI:

And last, here is a doodle found on the sidewalk near Grosse Pointe on Mack Ave near Rockefeller's Oyster Bar & Grill (now burned down):

Enjoy!

- D

Jobless Crapness

Something Ive been meaning to write about... me being laid off. I was laid off in October, but I think I can finally write without anger or using disgusting communication that I'll permanently leave on the internet.

I am currently working at a place part time as a costume entertainer. I like the job.
(I am also collecting unemployment because, well, nobody can live on a part time job when you are depending on yourself financially. But the money I make I have to report, and I only get the difference in the amount of my unemployment. So I am really not even making any money. I would be making more money sitting on my butt at home than to be working).

My heart is still seeking that gratification that yes, I did it! I hold the true title of "Interior Designer," put my $130,000 crippling debt Bachelors degree to purpose. Whether it takes me a few weeks to a few years, I am still determined.

I thought a career change would be good for me...I've already tried getting other seemingly non-related positions (receptionist/HR which I actually have interest in and I think I would do a pretty excellent job at). But since I have a degree in Interior Design, well, people that are not of the design world do not understand that I know how to do more than pick out wall paint and put plants in the corner.

Anyways, I initally read some "motivating" and "uplifting" articles on when you first get laid off, and there was all this jibber jabber about how you should go travel somewhere you've never been or do that one thing that you want to do at some time in your life that you haven't been able to do... But how can you POSSIBLY want to spend the money that you don't have? You are freaking out like, "How the hell am I going to pay my bills?" My advice would be... don't. Don't go spend the money you don't have. Instead, do what I did and let the debilitating fear of failure consume you.

I'm just kidding, please PLEASE go take that cross country trip to California and GO FIND YOURSELF. Then let me know how it went, unless you had like, a ton of money saved up before you got laid off, because in that case, I don't want to hear about it.

Hopefully you have someone to rely on, and I am blessed as can be that I do actually have that someone.

My parents are also alive and in a house too, so there is that, which I am most fortunate for, but I am trying to use that as a last resort. It's just a better kind of relationship. Once you've moved out of your parents and you move back, it's not always rainbows and sunshine.

Nonetheless, I was reading some inspirational quotes related to getting my ass back on track with working (because I am seriously depressed and my motivation is getting eaten alive every day by the existing failure and fear of the future...) Here are a FEW of my favorite lines.
(You can check out the full article here!! )
 

Title: Business Insider

LinkedIn - 42 Successful People Share The Best Advice They Ever Received

"You're never as good as your best review, and never as bad as your worst."

Vivian Schiller, Chief Officer at NBC News, former CEO of NPR.

"In the beginners mind, the possibilities are endless. In an experts mind, the possibilities are few."

Anand Chandrasakaren, Entreprenurial Product Leader at Yahoo. 

(via 'The Book of Life' - J. Krishnamurti)

AND

"Clint had a rule of thirds for happiness in life. He told me to ask three questions: Are you happy with your job? Are you happy with where you live? Are you happy with who you're with (depending on your circumstances that could mean friends, spouse, partner etc). If you answered Yes to at least two out of the three, you found your spot for the moment. If not, you need to make a change to one of them."

Jeff Selingo, Columnist and Editor. (Via Clint Williams)

And I would like to add... in relation to becoming successful, this is the best advice I had ever gotten. From my high school band teacher, and he said it often during practice for our performances.

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity."

(Mr. Hilton)

So to those of you who are suffering like I am, and nobody understands, well, I do. Just keep going. If you feel you are in the same boat I am, my advice would be: Improve the skills you already have and take up a hobby you have not tried.

(end)

Donut Peach / Saturn Peach - New discovery.

Yesterday I made a trip to Kroger... and was trying to get around a lady in the produce isle by backtracking past the peaches... What caught my eye was what I thought was a genetically grown smashed peach... There was a pile of them with no price or label as to what it really was, but I just HAD to get one. (It cost me 36 cents)... $2.99/lb @ .12lbs

^One medium bite showing the buttercream-colored flesh

Donut peach pit is small, as anticipated.

Would I pay 36 cents again? Probably.

The flavor and texture of the skin and flesh of the peach are practically the same as a regular peach (to me, although I haven't had a regular peach in a long time), except it took about 6-7 medium bites (did not peel it) to eat whereas a regular peach might take double to triple the amount.
 
I imagine this would be ideal for children's lunches or a snack for people on a calorie-based diet.

A quick list on why my discovery was worthwhile.

And a special thanks to China for introducing this into our culture.

-D

Psuedoscorpion AHH!

As I sat on my sofa and watched a movie - "The Brass Teapot" (it's a decently enjoyable movie with a positive message, you can find it on Netflix) - I noticed something CRAWLING ON MY WALL!!!!

So I Googled "Little bug with crab claws" and found out I have psedoscorpions! At first, I was disgusted. But then after reading further, they are of no harm to humans. In fact, they help us because they eat all the other bugs we really don't want around. Here is my psuedoscorpion. It is not nearly as ugly as the other ones they have online. If anyone thinks I mislabeled this little guy, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!

 

Clay

I just wanted everyone to know that I am miserable and trying to find a second job. My idea was to become a master artist so I decided to make a clay hand. I mean, my talents are CLEARLY endless.

That page is from the book "How to Make Clay Characters" by Maureen Carlson.
My cousin gave it to me but you can buy one here: This is the link to buy the book on Amazon.

New Homeowner

Hellooo

SERIOUSLY
Buying a house is some gahddamn work. Let me tell you!

I am going to show you some photos to describe our early experience with purchasing a home. For reference, our house falls between $50,000 to $160,000 and was built in the early 1960's... I don't want to give out too much info on here. It is a 3 bedroom 2 full bath, kitchen, living and dining space with an additional living space in the "basement".

WIN: Rumor has it that small modifications and repairs are $100 every time you do something for it. Well, before we even moved, I managed to pick up a few things to clean with which was roughly $100. I got all of these items at Target and they were all 5% and 10% off because of the target coupon app - Cartwheel. The light bulb was an impulse buy because it was on sale and it just so happened to come in handy within the first week when the light went out in the laundry room. I felt like I won so hard.

FAIL: A little blurry, I know. I am a professional photographer after all. But this mop I got at Meijer. It was the most expensive of its type - Casa Bella roughly $20. I thought it was hard win - lightweight, visually appealing, and functional. My intentions were to use it to wipe off the walls. Unfortunately, this was not exactly the right tool to use. The sponge was hard to maneuver and water dripped down the walls. Old rags and a bucket of water and vinegar seemed to do the trick instead.

WIN: Don't forget one of these. Yes that is a toilet bowl brush. 

WIN: You're going to make a bunch of these. On paper, napkins and cardboard.

GROSS: If you are not buying a new house, you may have a lot of this. Dust. (And wall paneling!)

And this:

...from your kitchen cabinets. Eww. 

But you might opt to do this in addition to cleaning:

WIN: Contact paper. It comes in a variety of patterns. White shows everything and contact paper is thin, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone unless they are brand new cabinets. Our existing cabinets had contact paper in them with cougars and zebras... possibly from the 70s as we concluded that the current cabinets in our kitchen are not original. I was able to find contact paper at Ace Hardware ... the one location had contact paper, but the other location did not have any when I went to pick up more. The price of a roll was about $7-12. I have a million receipts and I don't feel like going through them right now. I covered 5 base cabinets and 3 upper cabinets with 4 rolls. I have two extra rolls. I saved the strips as I was cutting and used them to cover in the far back of the cabinets. It took me around 8 hours to do all of the cabinets and it is a total pain in the ass.

Overall, I would say that time and money become and extremely valuable thing when you become a homeowner. I would suggest anyone to save at least $5,000 - $10,000 for initial repairs, save all receipts.

We started with less than $1000.

The top ten things I would suggest a new homeowner to invest in (small things):

1. Bleach/vinegar (I used vinegar to clean mostly, because bleach is potent and I hate the smell)

2. Cut old shirts / pj pants for rags and wash them to save $$

3. Sponge/scrub mop & bucket

4. GLOVES. lots of these. (like 12 sets to start per person)
5. Cheap scrub sponges (like 8... $3/pack of 2) and a scrub brush to discard ($4)
6. Paper towel  - for those really nasty things you don't want to use rags on

7. Ladder/step stool

8. Flashlight

9. Scissors

10. NEW LOCKS FOR THE DOORS!

We are renovating our bathroom and I decided this will be a future topic of discussion.

- D

La Le Updatee.

OHHH HI

In my last post, I was super excited to grow my terrarium. WELL let me tell you something.
The seeds grew... and they grew some more. BUT.

:(

Alas, they cease to exist.
They grew to about 1 inch and then it got too wet inside, some of the plants became brown, and a little mold grew, so naturally I took the top off. I don't know what it was, but apparently that didn't help because everything DIED!! D=

Except for one of course.
But then it died too.


SO.


Lets talk about growing up and what it takes to be a fully developed, well-rounded, societal-adjusted woman. Currently where I live, the way of it all is to get married, buy a house and have babies.
So far so good I have successfully avoided any pregnancies. And like previous posts, this engagement thing is happening.
So about the wedding... It's been a slow-go and very unorganized path, but I figured out some goodies. YAY!
I think I will have a Mediterranean spread for a late lunch. My uncles confirmed we can have our wedding in their backyard (SO THANKFUL!!) and I am allowing my mother to buy my dress because that's what's going to make her happy. Kyle (my fiancé) and I wanted the option of having the wedding in our own backyard of our own house. SO the house hunt continues.

Trying to find a house with what we want, priced around 100Gs is pretty exhausting. Everything is compromisable. But as noted, the plan is to produce mini - us's and do the whole shebang.
Here is our requirements:
Large yard (for my children and I to frolic in and plant gardens and maybe have chickies!)
3 Bed 1.5+ Bath (for us and the babies)
Garage (Kyle insists even though I think we can always build one if we need to)
Basement (because its un-taxed usable space)
Out of the place I call the "ghetto creep" AKA good neighborhood projected 20+ years (kids)
Good school district (kids again)

Not so bad, right? WRONG.
We have definitely found these houses, but the list continues with broken windows, heating systems from the 40's, tube and wire electrical systems, broken foundations, septic tanks, asbestos, lead paint, and duct cleaning from gobs and gobs of pet hair. Oh and auction houses... those are fun. Along with homepath homes and bank-owned.

...I just might lose my shit this year. I am hoping this year doesn't kill me between wedding stuff and a house. Nobody really tells you this all happens at the same time. I mean, unless you want to get married and live in your parents houses... Come on?
Come. The F. On.

And then we all know that once you get a house the kids just start going.

>awkward end<