Buttn Button Who's Got the Button?

I do!! Now they are also getting organized.

I have kniited a Swiffer cover from a pattern from the book Mason Knitting Outside the Lines by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne. Zero Waste Cleaning Set because with all this craziness people are stockpiling their supplies and some store have run out. 

Pattern for Swiffer cover here.

This pattern uses two buttons to close the cover around the mop.  While I was looking for buttons to choose, I decided to organize my collection.

Butoons all layed out

Once I matched everything up, I realized that I needed a way to store them.  The different sets needed to be separated so they wouldn't get mixed up again. I thought of maybe a storage box with adjustable dividers. Unfortunately, with the Coronavirus going around, I didn't want to go shopping so I thought I have around the house.  I finally decided that the simplest thing to do was to copy the original cards that some of my old buttons came on.  I had plenty of cardboard, string and time on my hands.  I read somewhere that "If you don't have money, you need time.  If you don't have time, you need money"

Original Button Cards

First I gathered some cardboard boxes that needed to be recycled. I tried to get some that had white on the inside. I found a couple but not as many as I would have liked.

Had to eat a lot of cookies!!

I then traced the outline from the original cards.

Template for cards

I tried to just put the needle through the card but it wouldn't work. I had to use the seam ripper to poke holes in the cardboard,  Unfortunately, I also poked a hole in my finger.  Fotunately, I had a tetnus shot last summer so all was fine.

Holes go in the card, not fingers

I then just took a need and thread and "sewed" the buttons on the card.  Pretty simple but very time consuming. 

Back of card

After getting a bunch of cards done. I still needed a place to store them.  Somehow I just happen to have a giant jar that used to be filled with cheese puff was available at my home (ahem).

I made a label with some scrapbooking paper and a button with no match. 

Viola!!

Jar ready to use

Oh and here is the Swiffer cover with the two buttons that started this whole mess.

Ok. Here we go!!

Well I am going to try and use this blog to keep myself organized and more on track especially as an accountability space. I am starting to think that is what most youtube and bloggers use their media for.

Anyway, I cleaned my bedroom.  This is what it looked like before I started cleaning.  Not very pretty.

However, just by putting thing where they go, In just under 2 hours. It looked a whole lot better.

However, just by putting thing where they go, In just under 2 hours. It looked a whole lot better,

One of the things that I think really helped me get this done is to use a timer.  I started my stopwatch and it took was 1:53:08.43 to get everything back to where I wanted it.  The older I get, I learn that when I am organized my life it better.  I don't get as sad or depressed. I am able to be more productive and take advantage of opportunities that I might have missed.

This is just one post about my organizing and I know that I am going to do others to keep myself on track.  If you are interested in learning about how I am changing my life, I bought a program called Personal Productivity Program from Alejandra.tv and it has been wonderful.  I have not just cleaned up but have learned about my style of organization, how to think like an organized person and how to set up systems so I won't go back to my old ways..

Anyway, keep striving,
Martha

Love Trumps Hate

With the new election and all the drama, the only way I can process this is to try and make the world a better place. Trump received 279 electoral votes so for the next 279 days (which should bring me to August 15th) I will do a random act of kindness.  Since he is a bazillionaire, I am also going to try and not use much money for this project.

So far:
Day 1- I bought clothes for a family that our school said needed some help (sorry it did cost money but I hope this is an anomaly)

Day 2- Helped a teacher by watching one of her students so she could better help the rest of her class.

I haven't decided what to do today but I am learning that being organized is going to help alot so I will be working on ideas and cleaning today.  I will get my random act in somehow, currently I think I may write a note/letter to someone I feel need a pick me up.

Day 3- Fixed a "to go bag' for a friend who is headed to Nashville for a Tennessee Titans game tomorrow. I made rice krispy treats, apples and deviled eggs for her to take on the trip.  I had all the ingredients at home so, this only cost me time

Sunday Day 4- Took my "extra" boy scout coupons to Food City and gave them out. They were if you spend $20 you get $2 off

Day 5-  Cleaned the playground after school

Tuesday Day 6-  Complimented a teacher about all she did for Homecoming.

Wednesday- wrote Thank you notes for the parents that volunteer for the book fair


Any suggestions?

Ooops!

Well, I did take pictures but didn't blog about the trip in a timely manner. Sorry.

Here are some of the pictures:

This is the free tarp!

 

I am woman hear me roar!  I put it up all by myself.



After putting up the tents we found a little problem.  My friends' air mattress had a leak.  Their pump had to be plugged in and our bathroom facilities had no outlet :-(  So we had to take it to the ranger's station.  It wouldn't fit in the car on the way back so we had to get creative.

Fortunately, it was less than a mile walk. 

We also found out that I had forgotten my food bag back and the house.  My friends said they would share but, they forgot their's as well. The people who were joining us from GA fortunately had packed plenty and we had alot of group meals.

Hots and beans are a classic

Some friends of friends and children of friends joined us to watch the amazing fireflies.  I couldn't take a picture of the fireflies but trust me they were AMAZING!!

Had a great time around the campfire.

They next day my friend showed up to take me to Dollywood and Splash Country.  Unfortunately, she only knew that I was at Elkmont campground. She drove around the whole area to find me. She is a TRUE BLUE friend.  I was resigned that she wouldn't find me but she did.  I was glad too. I just couldn't hike anymore.

Loyal friends are a treasure.

The last evening one of the campers played the Dulicmer and gave us acupuncture to help up relax.

Beautiful music for a beautiful night

Camping and my bucket list

This weekend I am going camping in the Great Smoky Mountains.  I have never been before but a longtime friend has invited me. The main reason for accepting the invitation is the fireflies.  In the particular area, they have what are know as synchronous fireflies http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/fireflies.htm

It has been on my bucket list to go see them so I am willing to do a little camping to participate.
This also fits along with my free luxuries blog for several reasons

1) Great Smoky Mountains park is FREE!!  When one of the Rockafellers donated money to make the park one of the rules was that the park had to be free to everyone.

2) Borrowed a tent from one of my hiker friends.  Thanks JV.

3) Had a coupon for a free tarp from one of the local hardware stores.

4) No camping bag but I am using an old heavy comforter I have had for years.

5) Food is bring your own and since I have started cooking again, that will be no problem. One of my friends said she was buying me a water bottle about a month ago.  I hope it gets here in time :-)

6) For Lent this year, I gave up on additional electricity (i.e., lights, tv and computers) so I feel pretty comfortable without electricity now.

Well, I am looking forward to and nervous about this trip but I have promised to take pictures and will blog about them soon.


XOXO

ps. I was told to buy some COMET and put a ring around my tent so creepy crawlies don't get in.

Not exactly $10 but better.

Last weekend was amazing!! I should have played the lottery :-)
This is how everything played out.

Saturday morning, I got up and got some last minute things done. I made some muffins and got some things prepared for Sunday. When I met up with JV, she wanted to get some breakfast.  We stopped by Chick-fil-a  and ordered some food.  When checking the bag, JV noticed that there was 2 chicken biscuits. We even checked our receipt.  We scored an extra biscuit. Woohoo!!

We arrived in Pigeon Forge and went to the Wonderworks free teacher day.  We received a goody bag with some free stuff as well. One of the fun things, beside pens and brochures, was a passport to the Rainforest Zoo for 4 people. We did just about all the activities. My favorite was the flight simulator. JV's was the ropes course. While we were there they took the requiste photo in front of a green screen. We were looking at the pictures at the end of the day. The sweet girl let us have them for free!!  I think she took pity on us. \
After that, as part of the trip, we got a free ride in the hot air balloon. We arrived at dusk which was perfect. There was the setting sun and the clouds with the ferris wheel on one side and then farmland on the other.
We went to the hotel and JV needed some water.  I wanted some chips so I went out to go to Kroger's to get some.  While out there, I decided to get her some gluten-free cupcakes. I went to GiGi's cupcakes.  They have amazing strawberry gluten-free cupcakes.  When I got there, they didn't have any though. I thought about leaving but decided to ask anyway. She said "I don't have any today to sell to you, but I have some from yesterday that I can give to you for free" Whaaaaaaaa? Heck yeah!!

The next day, we went to Ripley's Aquarium. When we arrived we got another free goody bag. This one had a plastic water bottle. Some "dinosaur claws" and magnets and other accessories. We also got to see my favorite turtle. Sue the green sea turtle.

We then went to the Davey Crockett Mini-Golf. Jill won, of course. We then left for back to the big Johnson City, TN.  I spent more than $10 on the hotel room and dinners and gas but it was well worth it.
 

$10 Weekend Again

Well, last weekend was a washout. JV used the money she had saved to buy some dinner for herself on Thursday (which I don't blame her for) and I used the money for a baby shower gift on Saturday. Then we both ate lunch out that afternoon at a very nice restaurant. So I have decided to "start over" again.
Of course the problem is when I do things with other people. I don't want their fun to be diminished because of my "philosophy" but then again when I do things against it (i.e. lunch at a restaurant) life just doesn't seem to go well.

Anyway, this weekend I haven't bought anything but I did go to lunch with my friend Angela and that was $20. Technically since it involved someone else it doesn't count but I still feel kinda disappointed.

However, on the good side, I have gotten to do somethings that were free that I normally wouldn't have.  On Saturdays @ 10:30 Evergreen of Johnson City has wonderful seminars.  The one this weekend was on Fall Perrenials. The person was extremely knowledgeable and I learned so much.  Plus they also had giveways and refreshments. :-)  Next weekend is there Fall Festival which I can't go to because next weekend is Free Teacher Weekend at WonderWorks in Pidgeon Forge.

I tried to go to the ETSU observatory Open House but got lost and it was dark so I wound up coming back home. I will try again next month.

At the library I got my free DVDs for the weekend and a couple of cookbooks. I also found a book called Zero Waste Home which I am really enjoying.  It is about a family that is trying to cut out on waste and they are doing a great job.  She even has a blog (surprise, surpise) that can be found here.

I think I am going to adopt some of her ideas and incorporate them into my $10 weekend.