Hidden Gems

For some years now I've really wanted to own a gadget where I could create those embossed plastic labels. I've always thought about it but never done anything to get one. It wasn't until I created a couple of things lately that I thought I really need one.

 

The problem was I didn't know what it was called to go in search of it and that's where Yahoo Answers came in handy as I was told about Dymo. I looked it up, choose one and then asked my younger brother about whether they had anything like it at work. He checked and said 2 of their suppliers sold them so will have a look when he went to work. Only he got to work and someone recommended this.. 

Looking at the cartridge prices etc... this worked out cheaper. It only came with a paper tape at the moment but after searching online on Wednesday I came across a seller that lives a couple of street away on eBay. When I asked about collection they were so rude and said no, yesterday we had no internet due to the company doing some work which meant I didn't see that e-mail until today. I started looking around to see if it would be worth it for me to buy from there. It was my lucky day as my younger brothers work place came up as supplying it.  I texted him with all the details, he's ordered it and now I need to wait patiently to get them. If you decide to get this I recommend buying a charger for it as other wise you need 6 AAA batteries. I've got some rechargeable batteries but I'm waiting for an adaptor. It's much bigger then I thought so I know the batteries won't last long. 

 

This label maker is a present from my older sister.

When I went to collect my label maker that my brother had reserved, I visited a couple of shops and came across these shoes that look like slippers and feel like it too. They are completely bliss on my now slightly swollen feet. They are from Wallis even though we only have a tiny Outlet with a couple of the high street names selling there.

 

Whilst I was there I suddenly felt like going to Saltaire, its not really somewhere I visit or feel a need to go to but for some weird reason I did that day so I went as I thought I could pick up some postcards too.

I visited the gallery, then only picked up that one postcard as last time I went (about 3 years ago) they had postcard booklets but this time they only had individual ones which weren't my thing. As well as buying these 2....

I bought a wrapping paper book from Yozocrafts which I loved and mostly use it to wrap my graze boxes when sending packages. I really wanted some more but the price put me off a little as the sheets are small. I came across a table full of booklets that I couldn't decide which ones to get and in the end I choose these 2. The first is a Turkish theme one the 2nd paisleys as I usually like them but this booklet I didn't like at all once I took the plastic off. I'll still use it though and I'm sure it will look nicer when covering my packages.

 

I left the gallery and visited two shops opposite, the first I bought this...

I just knew as soon as I saw it that it was for me. The lady tried to get me to buy the bigger one as it was only slightly more but I preferred the smaller one. I just love it.

In the next shop...

I could have gone insane but I'd already spent a fortune that day. They had fluorescent  plain tapes and giant ones. They also had a label maker with neon tapes but it was a small plastic thing so I was relieved I didn't see it earlier as I may have bought it.

 

After that I decided not to visit anymore shops as it was getting quite lethal.

 

Have you had some fun shopping sprees lately?

A Fetish for Red....

Lotus boots from Barratts shoes

I think I may have an addiction to red things at the moment even though its a colour I've never really liked much but you wouldn't think it from these....

I bought a pair of red boots because I wanted something a little different....

from ebay

and then came this red polka dot phone cover case....

Its now resulted in me choosing this red bag...



ouch bag from TKMaxx



 

 

 

 

 

I tend to buy a new bag once a year along with my shoes so I don't mind spending a little bit of money in order for them to last since I use them pretty much every day. The bag I'm using at the moment I've had for a couple of years. I think I had one in between it but I'm not sure... It a little worn around the edges and the fabric inside has bubbled but otherwise its not too bad. The thing with that bag though is that 3 of us at work bought one at exactly the same price. Myself and one of the ladies continued to use ours as we'd also bought the same shoe design but I decided this time I'd like to get something completely different. I've looked for a while but haven't really seen anything new and exciting as most of the shops sell pretty much the same thing for years. Anyway it was my husbands birthday, I never know what to get him as he just isn't in to anything...sports, food, technology etc... I usually end up getting him a gift bag full of junk food which he is happy with or clothes. This time I decided to get him some jumpers but having wondered around as many shops as possible I decided to try TKMaxx which I hardly ever venture into and I did find him 2 there. They have a bag section where everything is stored by colour... I really wanted a purple bag but didn't see any I liked. I then spotted this and a green bag but decided not to be hasty and continued wondering around a few shops before coming and buying this one. I picked up this bag without checking to make sure a strap was in it, the sales assistant started wittering on at me that I wasn't focusing on the bag to realise it had no strap in it. I came home to see if my kindle fit in it which it did (yes!). Only then did I realise the strap wasn't there, I went back but was refused in the store because they were going to close, I was told they were open the next day which surprised me as I never realised a single shop was open in Bradford on New Years Day! I've never ventured out on this day to find out anyway. I did end up going back the next day, the other bag was still there but what baffled me is that I asked the sales assistant just to let me take the strap out of the other bag and she said no... I could have a deduction instead but the whole reason I bought it was because it had a longer strap so I could put it on my shoulder or across my body but with tonnes of shopping the last thing I want to do is worry about my handbag as well.

from Asda Living

I said I'd rather have a refund unless I could swap it for the other bag which she agreed... the other bag was covered in plastic except the zip bit where I could get the strap out and this one I bought was not because the sales assistant the day before had taken it off... so would it not have been better to let me keep the bag I had, give me the strap and reduced or left the other bag at the same price with plastic covering still on? Hopefully you are still following that and can also understand why I was baffled. Well anyway I have this bag still and love the fact it is so different but its also weird having something colourful as colourful is something I like!

I even ended up getting something red for my niece. I encouraged my sister to buy my niece pumps for school as they are so cheap which means you don't care if they step in playdough, paint and in my nieces case sand.... but also they are comfortable and easy for her to move around. My sister did this but the school once insisted that a pair she was wearing was theres and on another occasion they swapped them for a really disgusting pair which we knew were not hers as I'd only bought them the week before. My sister has let her wear some of her home shoes but they aren't lasting long. She keeps also trying to buy her black shoes but once she starts school full time and has to wear a uniform its all she will really wear. I've been looking out for a pair like this for some months now and was over the moon when I saw them and they only cost £6. I showed them to my sister on video link and she just went but they are red... last time I saw your daughter she was such a girly girl. I think these maybe a little big though as every shop sizes are different.

from the supermarket

And I ended the day with a red velvet cake. This wasn't a choose I made but the sales assistant came up to me with it and asked me if I wanted a cake for 19p! I thought he said 90p so nearly laughed when he repeated it. I've never tried it before but have to admit I didn't enjoy it. The sponge was nice but the white chocolate butter cream was too rich... I can't complain at that price though can I?

I'm now thinking of getting a red kindle cover to match everything. I was debating between plain red or polka dot but theres no need to think about it as polka dot is the only one available.

What colour are you into this year with out intending to go for it?

Things...

A couple of weeks ago I went to see a house. We waited ages for the man from the agents to show us around and it turned out he was showing someone  around another house in the next street and he asked us if we wanted to see it. Since it was in our price range we agreed as there was no harm looking... We saw the first house which neither one of us really liked but my husband made an offer anyway which was rejected. The other house was really nice even though it isn't quite set out the way I wanted but I encouraged my husband to make an offer anyway as we both liked it. His first offer was rejected, the 2nd offer has been ignored so he's phoned quite a few times to find out what's going on. In the end they told him that the person dealing with it is on holiday but they have had a higher offer which was rejected so ours won't be accepted either... despite that they want to make sure we can actually buy the house which is annoying, I got them to phone the bank to find out about my mortgage, they wanted proof of my deposit which unfortunately I only have details for 2 accounts, the 3rd is in stocks and shares so not even I know whats going on with that. I ended up going to the bank today to try and see the person dealing with that side of things but he's on holiday! I just feel so angry as I have just been so tired and a little unwell this week, then I'd spent 6 hours straight working (we can arrive at work any time and work 6 hours including lunch time and then go home early)... I'd been on my feet re-arranging furniture etc... so I'm not in the mood for all this as they probably won't even give us the house. I wouldn't be so negative about it but I saw a house in August last year, they told me someone had made an offer but after viewing the house twice we made an offer a week later. The person who was supposedly buying it still hadn't got things moving but the vendor decided that they should continue to have the chance to get the house. Well this 2nd house we saw is opposite that house and it turns out that this house never sold and ended up being taken off the market. The person who was selling it decided to fix it up and put it back on for resale for £10.000 more and it had a sold sign on... I just think it could have been my house. Of course this other house we have made an offer on is actually better though as it has a bigger garden, drive, garage and kitchen, also it has a new bathroom, kitchen and converted loft.

Anyway I ended up making my way through the Arndale centre to my car and decided on the way to pop in to Claire's. I saw these Jelly baskets and it whipped me right back to my childhood. My sister and I had bags like this, my sister used hers for the library but she had to put her books in a carrier bag first so that they didn't get wet in the rain. I actually thought these were banned from being sold because they would melt like ice-cream if they were anywhere in line with the heat of the fire (even if at the other side of the room). Its so tempting to get one just because but of course I won't.

Did you have one of these bags in the 80s?

I just can't help spending money....

Yesterday I spent way too much money. I went to the shop to buy some plastic wallets for my current project on Bursts of Bubbles and ended up buying all of this instead.

The tickets I had looked up on eBay because I wanted some for one of the envelopes I was making and have used them in the past on something else but it was £10+ a roll. If I wanted a couple of colours it would have worked out too expensive so I didn't get any at all and made my own. Then yesterday when I saw that rubber stamp set I had to get it even though I hate things with words on. I can however use my pro markers to go around the outline so can miss the words out. I really hate some of the wording as you can only use them for a partner which limits it so why do it?  Those stamps by the way cost me £6.

I then came across those frame rubber stamps which I whipped up straight away as they were only £2.50 and I've already made good use of them on my envelopes, I love them! There was another set but that had words to go with it so you didn't get as many frames as this one as this has a frame within a frame.

I then went to the craft shop in the city to buy some pro markers only like an idiot I left my little chart at home of the colours I needed so only picked up these 2. Before I even got to the markers I came across these origami sheets which I had to get as I really wanted some more but the website that I ordered my batch from years ago seems to have disappeared and no where else seems to sell a great variety as them. It may still exist but my last laptop went haywire and I lost everything which is why I thought I'd saved all my banners, buttons etc... and couldn't understand why I couldn't find all of them... thankfully I eventually did. 

I bought 2 of these from Primarks yesterday for £3 each... I couldn't believe my luck as they were on for £7. I am one day going to buy myself the bigger one which is double the size of this as it would fit so many of my letter writing things in and I can write more often downstairs. At the moment its on for £12 and with having spent so much already I couldn't bring myself to spend anymore on myself. I'd also bought some cartridges for my calligraphy pens but they still won't work properly :(.

One I bought for the daughter of someone I used to work with, this teacher is having a year out to do other things so I thought I'd give them both a little something as her mum would truly appreciate it. I'm thinking of filling it with little bits and pieces but I've no idea what yet.  Maybe you have some suggestions what a girl of around 8-9 years will like?

This is the left overs of a take away we had last night. My older brother told us to get one each as there wouldn't be enough to share. I didn't even get half of it eaten and was full as it had the most amazing super chunky chips too... now a days take aways only sell fries. I've never had this before, its like a pizza with a twist. The base is chicken covered in bread crumbs, I've no idea how many chickens they would have used to get it to the size it was as it was the size of half a pizza. It was then baked with cheese and peppers on top. On the side it had an onion, sweetcorn and pepper salad with cheesy cabbage. It was really nice and super filling. My younger brother choose 2 of these and for my mum and sister they had a bologneses topping which I tried a square of and actually liked more as the tomato paste left a tangy taste. I still need to pay my brother for this! Its the first chicken type thing that I truly liked as usually they are too chunky with squidgy bits in that I hate.

How has your weekend been?

Project: 30 Days Journal Challenge

When making up these project list it really makes me realise how quickly time it flying by. It's Friday already, not that I'm complaining as its almost the weekend... yes! I just need to make my way through work and another horrible rainy day first.

So here it goes.....

Day 16: Short, sweet, and straight to the point :) What are you wearing today? Write it, doodle it, cut it out of a magazine, whatever!

Day 17:Today you are going to illustrate a day. It can be today, it can be yesterday, it can be a significant event that you have had in your life :) Use pictures, labels, words, doodle, sketches, anything you want, to describe your day! This is a cute one. Enjoy!

Day 18:Music is one of my most favorite things ever!! It translates emotions that I can't even imagine putting into words. I love it. Today I want you to create a playlist of some kind. It can be your summer playlist, your July playlist, songs from your wedding day, or favorite songs of all time :) This one will be another fun one to look at down the road.

Day 19: Today I want you to create a "guide to your city." What are the must-see things that you would want a visitor to experience in your city. This can guide can be for your city, town, or state.

Day 20: Here is the age old question, what is in your bag?? This has always been a great photo prompt that i have seen all over the blog world. Today, you are going to write about the contents of YOUR bag, or illustrate it, or take a picture of it, whatever :D

Day 21: What is your most favorite quote? A quote that inspires you, or your mantra. I literally have 4 journals from college filled with quotes that inspire me and make me smile. Today is the day to share your inspiring words with your friends.

Day 22: Today I want to know what your favorite holiday is!! There are soooo many holidays out there and the cool thing is that they differ depending on where you live, your family, and your religion. Teach me all about your favorite holiday and why it's your favorite.

What are you up to this weekend?

What's inside your Handbag?

On Wednesday I mentioned that I bought 2 bags so decided to share with you the contents of my handbag whilst I'm at it...

I bought this bag for £6 at Wynsors and its the style of bag I really like but also at that price you really can't go wrong can you. I will keep an eye out for another bag as I'm really in the mood to have a colourful bag as I always seem to have black (black shoes, bags, purses and coats!).

I also bought this Minnie Mouse Tote Bag for £5 which fits in to the front side pocket really easily and its going to be used as a re-usable bag instead of using a plastic shopping bag. Plus I really dislike the fact that some of them are see through and people can see exactly what you have bought... its not so great when you have certain personal items.

My bag has actually been quite light for a while now and I keep thinking I've lost something. I usually have reciepts and wage slips in but I've started putting them in my shopping bag now so if I need to keep them I will put it away safely straight away otherwise throw it away. I also have a phone in there too. I really need some more keyrings as I've had these so long, my car key one the leather is really worn out and will fall off any day soon and I also had a little carved elephant on it but that fell off a couple of months ago.

What's inside your handbag?