This weekend Lisa and I were supposed to head down to San Diego to visit with our friend Wendy. We’d been looking forward to the trip for a couple months, but unfortunately plans got screwed up when some other events got changed around so we had to postpone the trip for later on in the summer. Although we were bummed because we love spending time with Wendy and were looking forward to seeing her new house, we decided to not let the weekend completely get away from us. Lisa came out to my place on Friday, we talked until the sun came up, slept a few hours, then decided to hit up the local swap meet.

Although I’m nowhere near the swap meet enthusiast that Lisa is, I do find it fascinating to see what people are selling. At my local swap meet, videos, as in old VHS tapes, were in abundance, whereas I didn’t see a single DVD (maybe they all sold?). There was also lots of clothing and jewelry and junk, for lack of a better word. Things that I’m pretty sure I’ve seen piled in my dad’s or my own garage that we just don’t know what to do with even though we haven’t used it in a dozen or more years. Although Lisa and I didn’t find any treasures at the swap meet, we decided to keep trying by hitting up a few thrift stores.

Lisa has an eye for finding treasure, and throughout the rest of our shopping day she found all sorts of goodies. I found a couple books for my son and a couple shirts for myself that look like they’ve never been worn. Score! Lisa found some clothing and an exact duplicate of a glass bowl her friend Eddie lost when his house burned down last year. We came home with quite a few bags of goodies, and what made it all the more exciting is that we spent less money than we would have if we’d gone out to lunch. Guilt-free shopping, it’s one of my new favorite things to do!

The guilt-free shopping made the regular shopping I had to do yesterday that much harder. I needed a few things for my upcoming vacation, but after spending so little money at the thrift stores, I could not get myself to pay full price at the bigger chain stores. A shirt for $45 when I got two for less than $10 at the thrift store–two shirts that were just as nice (and one of them from the same store–label still intact–that wanted me to spend $45 for one in the same style)? Heck no I’m not paying that. I did pick up a few things that I absolutely needed, but I sure didn’t get the thrill out of it like I did from my thrift store shopping.

Which made me realize something–well, something I’ve known but really hit home for me with two shopping days back to back. I want value for my money. I want to feel like what I have is worth more than what I spent. If I feel ripped off, I’m not going to enjoy wearing (or using, as the case may be) the product I purchased. So why purchase it? Maybe that’s why so many big chain stores are going bankrupt. The economy woes have made people realize what they’re willing to spend and what they really need and can do without, and it’s simply no longer feasible for the majority of folks to spend $45 for a shirt (can you tell I’m really stuck on that ridiculous pricing?)

I’m sure plenty of other people feel the same way as me. It’s no longer convenient to spend more money just to be done with the act of shopping. I’m becoming a bargain hunter more than I ever have been before. When I do part with my money, I want to feel good about it. I now spend more money buying handmade items on artfire and etsy than I do buying mass-produced goods.Most of what I buy has a story or a history to it, because that makes it more fun and memorable and special. I’m buying things I’ll hold onto for years and years, and not because it’s junk I’m not sure what to do with so I throw it in my garage, but because it’s special to me.

So has anyone else had any shopping epiphanies lately? Or is there any places you can recommend for good deals or exciting finds?

As I was driving to Jen’s house, somewhere in between–perhaps half way or so, I know there was nothing but desert out the window–I remembered what it was that I was supposed to do before I’d left.

Write a blog post. Whoops!

I suppose my brain is a little full these days and stuff’s gonna spill out no matter how hard I try. I’m gearing up to start having a booth at my local swap meet. I want to get rid of some stuff and having a garage sale on a street with no traffic is, well, futile. By doing a swap meet, I can get rid of stuff as well as perhaps sell a few Twilight’s Fancy necklaces, too. It’s always fun to meet new people. (And I’m such a kamikazee flea market shopper. Good golly, is it an addiction for me… Which is perhaps the biggest reason why I need to sell off some of my surplus! Then again, for me it becomes more of a swap meet because I’m basically swapping goods for the money I put in years ago.)

I’ve been buying second hand stuff for over fifteen years now. Luck is usually on my side, too. Usually. Or maybe it’s just that I have such a long mental list of stuff that I’ll buy if I find. Yeah, I think that’s more likely.

For instance, a few days ago I found an antique doll body at the flea market. While I have a stash of doll heads, I have very few socket ones that require ball jointed bodies. I prepared for the normal price of $100+ when I asked, “How much?” But the guy said, “Twenty bucks.” It was everything I could do not to do cartwheels down the aisle and back. I handed him my yuppie food stamp and he handed me the bag o’ doll parts. The head for which I bought the doll…?

Queen Louise has been in my collection of doll heads for about 11 years now, just waiting for a body at the right price to come along. She’s cracked and broken and glued back together, so getting either a brand new reproduction doll body or one in great shape just wouldn’t work right. Plus, prices for them things even in poor condition are a helluva lot more expensive than $20. Luck was finally on my side. Finally.

I wonder how many years it’ll be before I finally assemble doll head onto body, but hey, I’m one step closer than I was a week ago. Plus, the only thing I don’t have for her is a hip joint ball. Over the years, I’ve collected all the other necessary bits (wig, eyes, dress). Perhaps I’ll make her my next project. I can likely hit up ebay for that silly hip joint ball.

Here’s to cleaning house and making a small return for the trouble! I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

For reasons I don’t understand, I had an incredible lucky streak yesterday. Read about it on the Dual Voices blog.

This day

I will marry my friend,

the one I laugh with, live for

dream with, love

Today hubby and I celebrate our twelfth wedding anniversary.  Twelve years…not too shabby, right? And we dated for five years before that. I’ve been with my hubby for more than half my life. Pretty cool, huh?

I love you, honey, even more than I did when we kissed in this photo a dozen years ago. Here’s to a dozen more dozens!

The saying above the photo came from my wedding invitation, which I came across when I started browsing my wedding album trying to decide which photo to share. So much has changed in the last dozen years. As I was flipping through my album I noticed how many people who were at my wedding who aren’t in my life anymore. There have been deaths, divorces, and people who I’ve simply lost touch with over the years. But it also made me thankful for the friendships that have lasted. All of you who regularly follow this blog know that Lisa and I have been friends for-evah. Heck, I’ve known her four years longer than I’ve known my hubby. So, since this is the Ashleigh Raine blog, I thought it appropriate to close this post by sharing a picture of us on my wedding day. Holy crap we were young.  Look at Lisa’s hair! And me–way too many pounds ago. LOL.

Today was looking like a great day for most of it. I didn’t hurt myself in yoga class (any worse than I already am). I was making progress on the website I am building. (I seriously don’t know how to start from a blank page, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do and I ain’t afraid of adventure.)

In fact, I was so wrapped up in it that today flew by. I kept telling myself I’ll take a break…after I fix that alignment…after I figure out how to get that element to show up in the correct spot…after I fix all the text colors, the link colors, etc. ad infinitum.

If lunch hadn’t already been in a bowl in the fridge, I think I’d've missed that today, too.

I’d still be nose-deep in html if it weren’t for the file mysteriously disappearing. Yeah. Like, as I was using it, POOF! File not found.

WTF?

I’m learning so much, and I was finally feeling like I was getting somewhere. I’ve pulled out half of my hair and there’s a keyboard-shaped dent in my forehead, but I was really getting somewhere. I can’t say that I’d actually figured anything out because that would imply that I kinda learned exactly what it was that I was doing rather than a whole lot of trial and error that was more and more based on educated guesses.

I found a backed-up file that’s very basic, but might be better than nothing. I haven’t even opened it yet. I’m too terrified. I don’t think I really wanna end my Friday on this note. I was almost ending it with 85% of a website done. Almost…

Better luck next time? Good golly I hope so! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone…or at least less stressful than mine’s gonna be!

Today I’m over on the It Takes Two/Dual Voices blog trying to figure out where all the time has gone, and if I can get it back.

One month from today I’ll be arriving in London for the start of my vacation, where I get to spend three glorious days before I take a two week Mediterranean cruise, which includes several stops in France, Spain and Italy. *squee* I’m so excited I feel like a kid again, where the only way I can get out my excitement is to run around in circles, dancing and squealing and flailing my hands in the air above my head. Which I’ll admit I’ve done a little. Okay, a little more than a little. But it was a dignified dance and squeal and flail. All right, to be honest I probably looked like I was having a seizure, but I don’t care. I’m going to Europe!

Of course, to fully enjoy my vacation I have to finish off a pile of responsibilities both for the day job and for my personal life, which has me working 12-15 hour days and riding myself ragged. (Which is also the reason I’m posting late today. I got so involved in work I almost forgot to blog.) But the nice thing about that is it’ll make the time speed by, and once July 13 rolls around and I’m driving to the airport, I’ll be in full vacation mode and won’t have to worry about anything besides how much fun I’m having.

I’ll be spending three full days in London, and I have a list of must-dos and can’t-wait-to-sees. Lisa, who has traveled to England 3 or 4 times now, I think, has told me that if I do nothing else, I have to see the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, so those are on the top of my list. My son–who is an even bigger Doctor Who fan than I am–has told me that he wants to see some of London that has been featured on the show, so we plan on visiting The Eye. For those of you who’ve been to London, do you have any suggestions of what I should see?

This coming Sunday, I’ll be at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and Craft Fair in Pasadena… In my very own booth! And I’m nervous!

Last month, I was in a tiny booth by the front, but in two days, I’ll have a regular size booth in the Arts and Crafts section. Like, it’s really real. I’m really doing this. It’s not my first booth, but it is my first bigger-than-just-a-table booth. I’ve made all sorts of necklaces and purses, so I’m not worried about filling the space.

I’m worried I’ll just be stupid and forget to bring it all!

One of my friends is going to help me out. She’s the one who got me back into the paranormal field in the first place which lead to me becoming a TAPS member last year. I’m really hoping she’s my good luck charm again. Jen might be coming along, too. It’s always fun to see people I know… Just like at book signings. I smile at everybody, but screaming girly hugs are always fun!

If you’re anywhere near Pasadena, CA, come out to the Rose Bowl. It’s an amazing sight–so many vendors that it takes several hours to see the whole thing. I’ve only done it once and I was practically running. I should’ve gotten there sooner. This time, I’ll be in my booth and I might even bring some beads to make a few more necklaces while I’m there. Or customize. Or, or, or…

I’m just so nervous.

But that’s a good thing. Like in my theater days. I worked backstage, but the best shows were the ones where I had butterflies in my stomach before the curtain went up.

And now because I like to celebrate my Fridays with a little laughter, here’s a shot of two of my turtles. The one on the top (his name is Barge) just really likes to be out of the water and dry off real close to the light. I mean, real close. As close as he can get even if something (namely Flip) is in his way…apparently.

The turtle on the bottom has a pointy shell. If Barge is that determined to get what he wants, perhaps I should be, too. See you at the Rose Bowl! I’ll have the stuff you see below…plus a whole lot more!

I blogged about the mysterious “something” missing over on the Dual Voices blog.

June has always been a pretty busy month for me. Looking back on my life, many of the major events happened in June. There are the standard June events–high school and college graduation. I also got married in June–hubby and I celebrate our twelfth anniversary at the end of the month. The first house I purchased, we moved into in June, then out of in another June five years later. (To move into the second house we purchased…in June.)

The biggest and most important day in my life also happened in June. I became a mom on June 9, nine years ago, to the most amazing kid on the planet. To celebrate, we’re going to dinner tonight–sushi–my son’s choice. Then tomorrow, I’m taking the kidlet to Disneyland for the day. He doesn’t know about it though–it’s a complete and total surprise. It’s hard to keep anything a secret from him because he’s pretty smart and aware, but I’ve managed to plan the trip without him figuring anything out. My entire family’s attending, as well as my bestest friend Wendy, who’s driving in from San Diego with her son. I remember my parents surprising me with a trip to Disneyland when I was a kid–it’s one of my favorite memories–and I wanted to give my son that special memory as well.

Happy birthday to my beautiful boy. I love you, sunshine. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and my best, proudest accomplishment.