Dollar Tree Finds

As I mentioned earlier, the local Dollar Tree has some interesting items. Here are some of the latest finds. Notably, these were all spotted on one trip.

(Special thanks to my accomplice who was willing to humor my need to document everything.)


Can you spot the problem?













Paradox: The back of the "My 1st Birthday" celebratory ribbon warns, "Not for children under the age of 3."
















Would you buy the bottle without the label, assuming that it's probably the same as a marked bottles?
















At first I saw this candy and exclaimed, "I bet these are good!" Then I saw the tiny print on the back: "Excess consumption may have a mild laxative effect." Hypothetical purchase aborted.














Wake up to learning with the Prime Ministers of Canada! This durable placemat is sure to brighten your breakfast and provide valuable facts to impress your friends! (Yes, I've worked in marketing. Why do you ask?)








Be sure to check out the logo at the bottom of the display: "Toxic Waste candy sponsors a cleaner world."
















There is evidently buried treasure in Argentina.

Something else is wrong with this map. Can you spot it?

Happy Fourth

I know, I know -- my holidays are all kinds of jacked up. Here it is August, and I'm blogging about Christmas and the Fourth of July. What can I say? I guess Smokey Bear's Birthday just isn't as bloggable.

Last month, on July 6, the realtors of our work building came by to drop off a bag of festive candy. I wondered if they waited until after the 4th to take advantage of some "after-holiday" sale. Or if they just didn't get around to delivering it on time. Regardless, I was happy to chow down on it. (And since I'm evidently the only one at work eating it, it's lasting quite a while).

What was in the bag? Among patriotic Tootsie Rolls and Fireballs:

Because what says "Happy birthday, America" better than Swedish Fish?

Christmas in August

The other day, a coworker was shocked to learn that I hadn't seen It's a Wonderful Life. She promptly brought me the movie the next day and encouraged me to watch it.

While I was a bit unsure about watching a Christmas movie in the middle of the summer (and not just any Christmas movie - the quintessential Christmas movie), I began looking around my apartment and noticed that perhaps it wasn't so out of place.

The Evidence:
I know that one poor ice skater in the foreground is broken. My bad. I was using it as a game piece for a board game and got a little overzealous in counting the number of spaces I was to advance.






































Jimmy Stewart, here I come.

6 Things

This one's for you, Ariel! (Thanks for the tag AND the blogging encouragement today!)

Assignment: List 6 random things about yourself.

1. I like rearranged furniture. My favorite is when I rearrange my bedroom and wake up the next morning to see something new.

2. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are sitting in the kitchen right now calling my name.

3. On my first day at my new job, my mom sent me this pretty plant. So far, so good (meaning that it's still alive). It brightens my day whenever I look at it!

4. When I drive by a house for sale, I love stopping to pick up the flyer about it. House "window shopping" is a favorite hobby of mine.

5. Reading materials on my nightstand (in various states of being read, including "not started"): Entertainment Weekly, Peace College alumnae magazine, scriptures, Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence, and Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works by Janice (Ginny) Redish.

6. I will miss LOST while it's on hiatus :(

Take My Stuff. Please!

A few weeks ago, I helped my mom clean out her attic and have a yard sale. Valuable Lesson Relearned at Every Yard Sale: No one will pay as much for your stuff as you originally did.

A Few Favorite Finds from the Attic:
1. A 5" floppy disk of Quicken (trashed).
2. A time capsule I made when I was seven (saved).
3. A globe with the U.S.S.R. on it (first item sold of the day – ha!).

Most Popular Item Among Kids: A totally 80s gray and pink Le Clic camera. When I set it out that morning, I said that it would be a hit. Indeed, almost every kid that came by dropped to his or her knees and started playing with it. In the end, two little kids bought it and were so excited! Before I even looked up, I knew they were playing with it when I heard little voices saying, "Cheese!" They shyly brought me 50 cents and scurried off to play with their new toy. Super cute.

Most Popular Item Among Adults: An old bike. Go figure.

Most Popular Item Not for Sale: My old Little People dollhouse. I was going to sell it, but by the time I set it up, I couldn't part with it. I set it to the side and got a number of inquiries, but I selfishly stood firm.

Most Profitable Customer: An antiques dealer came by and got a bunch of stuff. Yes, my mom has good taste :)

Hardest Item to Move: A sleeper sofa. My mom recently remarked to my uncle about my lack of upper body strength. His matter-of-fact reply: "She can't help it." We laughed about that A LOT.

Speaking of which...

The coworker I just referenced is actually a new coworker. "New hire?" you may ask? No, that would be me. I'm the new hire!

I changed jobs recently. It's exciting, nerve-wracking, challenging, and all kinds of things wrapped up together.

Just thought I'd mention it!

Filter much?

Excerpt from my day:

Coworker: "I have a couple of questions for you. Do you want to do it now or later?"

Me: "Just let me finish up this little thing I’m working on. It will be 10 minutes or less. Like a pizza! But that would be really fast for a pizza."

As soon as I said it, I realized that last part would have been better left as a portion of my inner monologue.