Julia, Julia, Where For Art Thou?

HEY Y'ALL!!!
Glory Be. It has been a month since my last post. OMG. And it has flown people. I know it doesn't seem like it out there in blog land, when you want to read a new post, but. It's September 2nd people!

Let me catch you up!

During our last update I was just about to start school and Pitty Pat had just been to the vet. What I did not know was that not only was I having adjustment issues to starting back to school, but so was my furry baby. So on August 13th.. the DAY before I had to go back to work, I found myself in the Vet's office discussing the pro's and con's of Prozac for doggies. FOR REALS. Pitty Pat was so distraught that I was coming and going more and staying gone for longer periods of time... he licked his front left leg RAW. So. We had to wear a cone of shame for a few days. BOOOO!!

After a few days of me coming home for lunch and antibiotics and creams, Pitty Pat seemed to be turning the corner. I was able to remove the cone and he started to get used to our "new" daily schedule. Thankfully, without the Prozac.

One of the coolest things that has happened in my absence from the blog has been that I received an ipad from my school district. I love my ipad. It is so convenient. And. My time that I usually spend blogging, may have been replaced by playing my Mom and Aunt Gwen in online games. Oh yes. And. I usually don't win! Pitty Pat also likes the ipad. He loves to read Paddington stories!

Also. My new hobby of thrifting has kept me VERY busy too! I will update the thrifting blog, but I do want to share a few goodies here too. Here are a few outfits that I have found in consignment stores that have been getting a lot of wear during these Back to School Must Look Professional Days.

 

 

This is a cute brown dress that I found and I also bought it in black too. These dresses are so comfy and look great on too. I paid $5 A DRESS. They also manage to hide the 5 pounds I gained this summer from my cortisone shots. Oh well. At least I look cute!

 

 



This outfit is not entirely thrifted, just the shirt. It is a cute Ann Taylor Loft shirt that looks great with white or black. It also hides the "summer five." If you notice my shoes.. those are my wonderful Orthaheels. My feet feel great even after standing all day in my classroom. And. I know these are YUCKY bathroom shots. I just bought a new mirror today to use to show off some thrifty finds. Now. No more bathroom shots. Living room shots instead! :)

Anyway. I am really enjoying thrifting. This past week alone I have picked up a 4 piece place setting of Correlle, 2 vintage Pyrex mixing bowls, a Susan B. Anderson knitting book that I have been coveting, 5 shirts and two NEW pairs of pants. For $30. Um. YES!

Last weekend my Mom came for a visit and brought me a wonderful "new to me" gift. Over the summer whenever I would visit Mom, I just couldn't wait to use her Keurig to make my coffee every morning. I really wanted a Keurig, but just couldn't afford to spend that kind of money when both Pitty Pat and I are having nervous breakdowns about summer ending. And many Vet visits have been happening. Anyhoo. My mom has been through two Keurigs. Once she got her first one, she went ahead and upgraded to the Mack Daddy Model. She gave her first one to my Grandmother, who was terrified to use it. SO GUESS WHO HAS IT NOW???

Just looking at this picture makes me happy. What you don't know is that to get the Keurig to this exact location in my kitchen, we had to perform a FULL ON KITCHEN reorganization. It was painful people, but had to be done. :) Notice my caddy? It's my old spice rack. YEP. If you feel you need a caddy for your Keurig Coffee... hold the phone. Try your spice rack. SQUEEEEE!!!!!

While Mom was visiting we got to meet Uncle Richard and Aunt Brenda for lunch. It was great to see them and I really enjoyed visiting and catching up with both of them. Here's a snap of me and Uncle Richard. Do you like his sweater???

I found it for him. Still with the tags on it. For $3. I think he really likes it. He put it on right after I gave it to him! :) If you look closely.. you can see Mitzi Mazda in the picture too!

I haven't really done much cooking this summer, or knitting for that matter. I have just really enjoyed being home and traveling some too. Today I decided that my house needed to feel Fallish. So I put away my summer decorations and brought out my fall table decorations and my Department 56 Halloween Village. It doesn't help that it is still 95 degrees outside, but it feels nice in here. I think the Decaf Iced Pumpkin Latte that I had this morning had a little something to do with my urge to change seasons around here!

 

So in a nutshell (eventhough I am allergic to them) that has what has been going on. The beginning of school has been tough and every year I think that it is going to do me in. This year I have been fighting exhaustion like I have never faced. That has been hard and has contributed to the lack of blogging too. I know that y'all don't want to hear how tired I am when you are just as tired too! When Mom came last weekend, she took me to the grocery store because I haven't been in a few weeks. Now that is some kind of tired when you can't make it to the grocery store. I have a dr's appoitment in Charleston on the 13th to deal with some things, so maybe that will give me an answer too. And. Do you know how many consignment stores I can hit while I am in Charleston?????

 

I hope y'all are doing well too and thanks for coming back to read!

Tootles!

:) JKP

 

 

Back to School Tears, Currently, and a NEW BLOG!

Hey Y'all!

Can you BELIEVE that it is August 3rd? I am in complete denial. That and I have been battling a horrible case of food poisoning. Last weekend I didn't leave my sofa for FOUR days! I couldn't eat solid food until yesterday. Y'all. It was not pretty around here!

While technically I don't go back to work until Tuesday, August 14th, I have to go back even sooner. Monday I am going in for a little while to get my furniture moved in my classroom. I will probably go back in on Tuesday to do some more unpacking. I am also getting my hair cut and colored on Monday. It is so long and needs to be colored. I haven't had my hair done since Memorial Day! Then next Friday the 10th, I have to go to ipad training! That's the silver lining on the clouds! The following Monday, the 13th, I have another training session to go to as well. At least I am going with one of my good work friends. That should make it a little bit more fun!

Don't get me wrong, I love working with my students. But it is A LOT of work to get up and running. And it feels like you are getting the life sucked out of you at times. So, that is why there are tears at the beginning of school. That and we are getting about 3 emails a day with stuff that we are going to have to do when we go back. I AM SO NOT READY!

I have also really enjoyed being home this summer and hanging with Pitty Pat. I miss him so much when I am at school!

Like me, Farley is still out for now! She posted this month's Currently today, so here's mine!

Also. I may have developed a new hobby. :) A few weeks ago, I blogged about visiting consignment stores while I was visiting Mom. It really all started with a clothing sale her church had while I was in town. I got several new pieces of clothes for school for under $40. Since I have gotten home, I have continued "thrifting." I have gotten some great things for my wardrobe at FANTASTIC prices. I end up calling Mom every night to share my "thrift deals" of the day. And she always wants pictures. So I decided to start a blog, called JustJulia's Thrifty Finds! If you have visited my blog in the past few days, you might have noticed that I have already added a link to the blog. This is not going to replace this blog, I just didn't want my thrifting deals to have to compete with the cooking, crafting and knitting! And, once school starts, my thrifting may only be limited to weekends. So it won't be updated ALL the time, but I do have some posts that I can't wait to share! The new blog, in addition to this one will also give me another outlet to be creative. And if I am going to survive this next year, I am going to need fun things to look forward to!

So that is what is going on here! I have a few books I want to finish this weekend, some knitting to work on, a celebration of a dear friend's birthday, and of course some beach time to keep me busy this weekend. I am trying to keep the "School is Starting Anxiety/Depression" away.

One more thing...........I took Pitty Pat to the vet today for his 3 year old check up! He is doing great and is very healthy. He does have to go on a diet though. :) So a few less treats for the baby.

That's what is going on here! I am off to snap some photos of today's thrifting deal!
Tootles!
:) JKP

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned!

Hey Y'all!

Pitty Pat and I arrived home on Sunday and we have been settling into the final days of summer routine. I have one more week left until I have to start going in and working in my classroom. I don't actually report for work until August 14th, but I have several trainings to attend ( I AM GETTING AN IPAD, YIPPEEE) and our open house is earlier than usual, so I have to get things set up in my classroom BEFORE I "officially" go back to work.

The last days of summer are great. Sleeping late, running errands, reading books, catching up on movies, beach time. Not much else going on. I do have to take Pitty Pat for his vet checkup next week and get my hair cut and colored. I have been putting off getting my hair done and my roots are terrible! But I figure the longer I wait until August, the cuter my hair will be for Open House!

Y'all also know how I LOVE a good shopping deal. I would not describe myself as a "cheap" person, but there is really NO NEED to pay full price for clothing. Unless. 1. It is a formal occasion. or 2. It is an emergency, like a funeral. Other than that, let the deals begin!

Last week while I was in Beaufort, I found several consignment stores. Let me tell you, if you can find a consignment store in the area of a base or fort you have hit gold. Many officers wives will "dump" their wardrobes when heading to a new location. Lucky for you! And, if you are getting the hives about going into a consignment store, let me share a cautionary tale with you!

Last week, Mom and I were in a store. It was more "thrift" than consignment, but it still had some deals. As Mom was holding her nose in the air, I proceded to pick out THREE AWESOME Lily Pulitzer pieces. A top and two pairs of shorts. Ahem. All in her size. In like new condition. How much did she pay for those items? $10. FOR THREE LILY PULITZER ITEMS!!! YUP.

Now, I have some rules about consignment shopping. These may help you if you are leery of entering the consignment world!

1. Go to major department stores. If you see something you like, TRY IT ON. TRY ON LOTS OF THINGS. You do not have to buy. But this way you will see what size you wear in certain labels and what styles look good on you. This makes shopping in the consignment world easier!

2. Don't let things like missing buttons turn you off. If a sweater or shirt is missing a button, it is an easy fix!

3. Check the clothing carefully for rips or stains. I will not buy anything that has a stain. Just because you don't know what kind of stain it is and you won't know how to get it out. I really look for clothing that is in like new condition or still has it's tags on!

4. Check the label to see if it is dry clean only. This may not be a big deal for you, but it is a pain to get things dry cleaned. But, SOME pieces are worth it!

5. Become a label snob. I only buy certain labels because I know their quality. And the fact that it will last longer. That's not to say if I find a cute shirt, I won't buy it, but I mainly look for Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Jones of New York, Liz Claiborne, Ann Taylor.

6. If you see something in a consignment store and you like it, buy it. I promise it will not be there later. Also, get in the habit of stopping by on a weekly basis. Their stock changes daily.

7. Do not be afraid of the Goodwill. I know. I hear you. You are scared people will think you are poor. But y'all. The world has changed. Lots of folks who HAVE money shop at Goodwill. Yes. You have to dig. But, what you find may be well worth it. At most Goodwill's shirts are $3, coats are $3 and dresses are $5. But, if you are going the Goodwill way, you will have to stop by weekly. Because their stock changes daily. And if you like something, BUY IT. It will be gone.

8. Have a good idea of prices. Let's not forget, this is clothing that has been worn. Or if it has tags, it has been hanging in a closet. You should not pay full retail price EVER. Your goal is to pay less than what you would pay if the item was on a deep sale. I use this guide.. shirts if they are NICE $12 and under, pants $15 and under, skirts will vary. Be careful, some consignment stores mark stuff UP.

9. There are items I will not buy. Shoes. I can't wear someone else's shoes. And. Sleepwear. Enough said.

10. I am a big Vera Bradley fan, but I won't pay $50 to $70 for a purse. Consignment stores and Goodwill carry Vera Bradley! Just check the straps for wear and tear. :)

Now, just because I shop at consignment stores doesn't mean I don't shop in real stores too. It's just about who has what I like and who has the best sale! Sometimes shopping at a major department store is better than a consignment store. You just have to look!

Now. If you still aren't convinced.. here are some of my recent finds at a consignment store!

Like new Ralph Lauren tops. I paid $7 for both!

Liz Claiborne jacket.. $5!

Now. Here's a final caution about consignment store shopping. Just because it is only $5 or cheaper does not mean you need it. If you don't love it, or it is just OK, don't buy it. Leave it for someone else. Because there may be someone who needs it more than you!

Also. Don't forget to clean out your closet and take things to Goodwill or a consignment store too. Because I bet there is someone out there who could use your stuff too!

Happy shopping!

Tootles!

:) JKP



Sh*t Knitters Say... Hee, Hee!

So. Um. Yes. I have said a few of these "phrases" myself as a knitter! :) I thought this was too cute and I had to share! :)

Tootles!
:) JKP

Fuh-Get About It Chicken... and Summer is FLYING By!

Hey Y'all!

These past few weeks have FLOWN by! I had a visit from BFF Marie last week. By last Sunday, I was on the road again meeting my Mom in Mt. Pleasant so she could pick up Pitty Pat for the week! Monday I had my third cortisone shot in my foot (YAY, it is soooo much better!). After my shot, I drove to Sumter to visit with my Grandparents. I had dinner with my Granny and then headed over to my Granddaddy's and Step Grandmother's house. My step grandmother Marge had eye surgery on Tuesday, so I was on hand to drive them around and help around the house. By Wednesday afternoon, I was back on the road to Beaufort. Which is where I am hanging out now. I am not sure when I am heading home, all I know is that I can't get back in my car and drive a long distance for a couple of days... I am tuckered out folks! But I am so glad to be back with my Pitty Pat! :)

Yesterday I did a little back to school (sob) clothes shopping here in Beaufort. Then Mom and I ate at a VERY yummy restaurant with some friends called Dockside. If you are ever in Beaufort, you must eat here! The cornbread is like cake! :) Also, this is the best seafood I have EVER eaten. Yup. It was that good!

Anyhoo, now that I have caught y'all up on my adventures, I thought I would give you a great and EASY recipe for the weekend! Y'all, this recipe is so easy and so yummy that I could eat this once a week. In fact, I am cooking it for Mom tonight!

It is called... FUH-Get About It Chicken (insert Jersey accent here!)
Here's what you will need......

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2 cups of Minute Rice
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can of Cream of Celery Soup
1 packet of Onion Soup Mix
4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Water

Start by mixing the soups, rice (uncooked) and 1 can of water in a bowl. Mix well. Pour mixture into a buttered baking dish. Place the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. Open the packet of Onion Soup Mix and sprinkle a bit on top of each chicken breast.

Now cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 degrees for an hour and a half. Here's a disclaimer... this stuff smells so good, you will not be able to wait to eat it! :)

Make a salad or some veggies and enjoy dinner! :)

Oh and one more note..... You know how I was talking about how much I love my new shoes by Orthaheel? Well, they had a little sale on their website.. so I stocked up on some shoes for school! This is my rainbow of Orthaheels! If you have foot problems, you have to get some of these!

Alrighty!
Y'all have a great Friday!
Tootles!
JKP

p.s. Pitty Pat says he is having a great time at Granny's house! :)

Enjoying Summer

Hey Y'all!

I can NOT believe that it is July! I am in some serious denial. BOOOOO!

I have been very busy! I finally finished my class with a grade of 99/101. I am kind of bummed about the two points, but oh well. I missed two questions on my final... and let's just say it was VERY hard. After finishing my class, I was sick of the computer so except for facebook and twitter stalking, I haven't done much!

Here's some great news! My foot is feeling GREAT! The second shot has really helped. I still get sore at the end of the day, but nothing like I was feeling. I go for my third shot on Monday. Hopefully this will be the last one. I have also found some shoes that are lifesavers! Orthaheel shoes are made especially for folks who have Plantars Fasciitis! These shoes have a built in orthodic and the shoes are cute! I was quite devastated when my Podiatrist told me no more flip flops EVER. But with these shoes, I can have my cake and eat it too!

I also had to invest in a pair of slippers. I can no longer go barefoot. That is a baaaddd thing for my left foot. So I say, go big or go home... get cute slippers!

Orthaheel is currently having a sale on their website, so I stocked up on some more shoes for school. They should be arriving on my doorstep tomorrow! SQUEEEEE!!

In other news, poor Pitty Pat has been sick. About a week and a half ago, Pitty Pat lost his love for his food. And, nothing comes in between Pitty Pat and his food. After a week of struggling to get him to eat and noticing he was not feeling well, we ended up at the vet on Saturday. We were also visiting Mom in Beaufort, so Pitty Pat had to go to a new vet. Turns out, he ate something and it got stuck in his belly. Really stuck. Luckily the vet was able to get it out without surgery. Thank goodness! So after a doggie enema, a cortisone shot, an antibiotic shot and muscle releaxers we were sent home. He is feeling better every day. Last night, the old Pitty Pat was back!

My boy was not feeling well at all.

Thinking about feeling better.

Needless to say, I was a bit stressed out. This is my new "go to" saying these days!

So that is what has been going on here. BFF Marie is coming for a visit today, so I need to get off of the computer and straighten up! I'll leave you with one last picture. While I was in Beaufort visiting Mom, we headed down to the waterfront one night to get some ice cream. YUM.  They have swings set up along the waterfront so you can swing and take in the views. When I was little, we used to do this all the time. It was a nice walk down memory lane! And yes, the ice cream is Chocolate Chip Mint!

Tootles!

:0) JKP



Summer Fun!

Hey Y'all!

Well, I am two projects and one final away from finishing up my Summer 1 class! I did a lot of work this weekend. I am trying to stay off of my foot as much as possible. It is still bothering me, even after the first cortisone shot. I have been sleeping in my boot every night so hopefully with this next shot I will be even better! I will have to say, it is VERY nice to not be in constant pain.

Last week while perusing my favorite author's  (Karen White) Facebook page, I realized that she was going to have a book signing in Pawleys Island! So last Friday I headed down to Litchfield Books to pick up her newest book, Sea Change. It was a pleasure meeting Karen and she was so happy to talk to each one of us who came to the book signing! I like authors who enjoy meeting their readers. Karen is very down to Earth and entertained us with stories of her fans! Unintentionally several of us dressed in the colors of her book cover. Karen took a picture of us for her Facebook page!

After Karen signed my book, we posed for a photo too!

So that was my excitement for the last week! :) It has been too hot and cloudy to make it to the beach, so I have been working on my classwork instead. I am hoping once I get these last two projects out of the way and tackle the final, I can resume my lazy summer!

Last but not least, one of my projects that I had to do for my class was to "edit" a photo in Photoshop. The trick was, YOU had to be in the photo. So I had to go through the archives of Julia and Pitty Pat photos. The one I worked on is about two years old, but I think it turned out cute!

I am off to get some work finished for my class! Or maybe I will catch up on Facebook and Twitter! I don't have a lot of will to work this morning!

:) Tootles!

:) JKP