I am trying to be fairly regular about posting and wanted to get one more blog in this week.  But all my creative efforts have been poured into preparing for New Beginnings.  It’s my turn to be in charge of the big event.  Due to a scheduling conflict, we had to move it up two days.  This means our planning activity had to be moved up a whole week.  So, we are going to prepare and make official invitations this Tuesday instead of next Tuesday.  Long story short, I had to hurry and get things done today.

For my first stop, I went to the mecca of under-budget events: the Dollar Store.  I often hear success stories of fabulous and cute decorations found there.  I’m not short on creativity – until it comes to crafty things like this.  I text J-Girl to see if by chance she was available to help.  She wasn’t.  I went alone and wandered through the store.  It’s possible I walked up and down the party aisle a bazillion and one times. The invitations just would not work.  Our theme is the same as the mutual theme for the year, “Arise and Shine Forth.”  I searched for some cute “light-themed” decorations.  Nada.

It wasn’t a total waste.  I found some paper for the programs with candles as a border.  Sure, they are birthday candles, but it will work.  I think.  I also got supplies for another upcoming activity. 

As I walked to the check-out stand, I saw an array of artificial flowers.  Mom’s grave doesn’t have a headstone yet (something about it being too cold) nor any sod.  Basically, her dirt mound looks quite pathetic and very sad.   I decided to take a cheap vase and anchor it in the ground.  We can at least put some flowers there.  The cemetery probably won’t like it but I want to make sure passers-by understand she is not forgotten.

My purchases came up to $5.78 but I still needed invitations.  There is no way I’m going to run to Wal-Mart on a Saturday.  I went to K-Mart.  There were some really cute ones that said, “From one princess to another,” with a picture of a crown on them.   At that moment, I wished the girls would have picked “Daughter of a King” for the theme.  But, they didn’t.  So, I refrained from buying the invitations.

K-Mart purchases on left. Dollar Store on right.

I found some plain-janes that I can make work.  I’m just going to make a little something to go on the back to tie in the theme.  Three packages (30 cards total) cost me over $15.  The tight wad in me grimaced as I paid more for the three items than I did for six items at the dollar store.

Speaking of my fiscally retentiveness, I had to get some cold-sore medicine yesterday.  For some reason, I have been suffering from cold-sores almost continually.  My third one in a row just popped up yesterday.  To be helpful, people ask me if I’m under stress.  Yes, from all these cold-sores I’ve been getting. Actually I didn’t think I was under stress now.  A few months ago, yes, but not now.  The other piece of unsolicited advice I get is to go to the doctor.  Um, I’m hiding from my doctor right now.  The moment he walks into the room where I’m waiting he looks at his computer.   His computer annoyingly reminds him that I’m past due for the big C.  The doc then loses focus on my other ailments and wants me to set up an appointment to have that taken care of.  No, thank you.  I’m more focused on the other end, right now.

Abreva next to my jump drive. I call it Gold-Cream!

So, I went to Wal-Mart yesterday looking for over-the-counter relief.  I had seen a commercial for Abreva and thought I’d give it a try.  This little guy cost over $14!  When I opened it, it has a little seal that needs to be punctured.  As soon as I popped a hole in the seal, the ointment spurted out of the tube.  “Hey!”  I scolded it.  “You are the equivalent of Gold-Cream.  Do not jump out of your tube uninvited!”

Falling from the ceiling

Today, I came home and found this piece of molding on the couch.  Just sitting there waiting for me to return.  I’m not sure why it decided to drop today but it did.  I’m just hoping it isn’t joined by its friends soon.

And finally, this disturbed me so I’m going to share.  Click on this to see what I’m referring to.  Now, I’m not one to judge so all I’m going to say is, “Alrighty.”  But I will mention a couple of things.  First, if I were going to kiss a car, I don’t think I’d kiss the front.  It seems like I’d have to spit out a few bugs later. 

Can you imagine?  “Looks like you got something in your teeth.”

“Oh, that’s probably a fly.”  That’s just gross.

Although, looking back on my sentence, I’m not sure what part of the car I would kiss.  I’ve never done it so how would I know?

Secondly, the make of the car surprised me. I was expecting a sporty or muscle car.  I’m just saying, if someone is going to have an intimate relationship with a vehicle, a Porsche makes more sense (I can’t believe I just typed that). This looks like something that would be a teenager’s first set of wheels.  A hand-me-down car.

Now that we’re all disturbed for the day, I guess I have nothing more to say.  Have a great weekend – and good luck getting the images of that last bit out of your head.  I’m still working on it.