Little Miss is now on twitter…. http://twitter.com/littlemissvixan Come Visit!

The two craft books that I have been looking through and planning gifts for family members (and not all gifts) are from these two books.  I found out yesterday that my cousin is pregnant!! I have many baby things to craft up now   I am happy about this!!

Back to the books:

I have really enjoyed both of these books.  I prefer the Eco Crafts since I am able to reuse common stuff.  I really like one craft in particular that I am not making for anyone specific so I can post about it…. The reusable lunch bag that is made from plastic bags.  This is an excellent idea and I do need a lunch bag (well really a bag for my dinner).  When I make it I will post about it…  

Last Minute Knitted Gifts has many great ideas and it is broken down into the time it takes to make the gifts.  I have marked some for gifts for all of my family!! But two I would like to make for myself are: I have made the cowl before but I like the one they have.  Plus I really want to make a pair of fingerless gloves…. We will see how it goes!

Well I have been spending alot of time at the Library and taking out tons of books.  Here are some of the books that I have taken out and are going to be reading. 

I did spend the day with my aunt yesterday and she bought the Sookie Stackhouse box set so when I am done the books from the library I will start on those.

I will leave a review of what my opinion was on the books I am reading. Feel free to suggest any books or comment on the books too.

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Well life is looking up as I mentioned yesterday. I think I am still happy about all of this that I am thinking further than I should… and thus not sleeping very well. I search for some more personal finance information last night. I have some links to some PF blogs and sites that I think are worth reading.

Some Tips to save your Pennies

• The Simple Dollar – This site has some of the best advice and ideas to save that I have read so far. I hope that all you can learn as much as I am with this Blog!
  
  • The Simple Dollar » 100 Things to Do During a Money Free Weekend – I intend to use many more of these… Save more = better future!
    
  • The Simple Dollar » 31 Days to Fix Your Finances – Very Informative!
    
• Debt Tsunami: The Best Method For Paying Off Debt | Man Vs. Debt
  
• Track Your Spending: The First Battle In The War On Debt | Man Vs. Debt – This is tied in with the cash jars… You need to focus on how you are spending your money so tracking it with good old pen and paper is the best.
  
• Budgeting | Man Vs. Debt
  
• PlainCents — Financial, debt, and personal budget help resources
  
• gailvazoxlade.com – I love her show on Slice “Till Debt do us Part”. I really feel that I should instill the Cash Jar system.
  
  • Student Loans « gailvazoxlade.com – Some info about Student Loans
    
  • Gail’s Guide to Building a Budget – Some great tips!!
    
  • Gail’s Interactive Budget Worksheet – I like her worksheet! Very easy to follow!
    

This is all part of my whole life challenge… Well I must say it is not really a challenge as more of a revamp. I made a list of personal goals in Janurary and I am happy to say I am making progress at witling them down.

Well there was some happiness for me today! I have a JOB! I went back and had talked to my old boss and she said she was really looking for someone! Basically begged me to come back! I didn’t make myself look to desperate but of course I said YES!! So Little Miss has a job… maybe the bad stuff is starting to get pushed out!! Bring me the money! Soon I will have some extra cash – with it I intend to purchase some new supplies and start making things that I can sell on etsy or too friends/family. Plus I thought this would be a good time to start creating some gifts for birthdays and Christmas!

Plus I plan to add to my Whole Life Challenge some money challenges… I want to learn more about finances and saving!!

Here are my goals (regarding the money)

1. MAKE A BUDGET ( I will update you on this)
   
2. Save more MONEY
   
3. Make more Cash on the side. Do something to earn more
   
4. Learn to evaluate the NEEDs from the WANTs
   

Update to Original Whole Life Challenge – I have lost almost 10lb

Well I must say I have been a huge slacker on the actual craft front… I have blogged about all the pretty things yet have not actually tried. I feel like there is a GIANT block, and yes I have some idea as to what the block is… The fact that I am jobless. I have applied to multiple jobs every day, yet no bites. I hope that once the money is more available the crafts may come back. But I do have a lot of yarn and I am going to make a diligent effort to get back into the sticks and string.

To revamp my love – and hopefully help me move the giant block. I am going to work on the Project Spectrum. The current direction is:

SOUTH (July/August)
Color: Red
Material: Metal
Season: Summer
Element: Fire

I will give some ideas tomorrow J

Oh I almost forgot to mention! I am sporty too… I went out the other day and hit a bucket of golf balls with my dad!! It was for daddy’s day! We enjoyed the time!

Life has been hectic! I am trying to find a new job! Yet these days with the recession there are not a lot of employers hiring! I have been neglecting my crafts due to time and being busy with life. I have been reading all the wonderful blogs. I do recommend using Google Reader – its great for sorting your blogs and keeping up to date.

I am hoping to get back into the crafts soon!! I am feeling the knitting bug coming on. I was looking at some new books at Chapters.

I have been working hard toward my Whole Life Challenge! I have managed to lose 10 lbs!! I am very happy with my progress! I think that it has had a lot to do with drinking less pop and when I say less I mean… maybe 1 can of pop a week if that! There have been some times where I have gone 2 weeks without it! Also I have been eating a lot of fruit and looking at healthier options. I have been reading many healthy blogs – I need to figure out how to export my Google Reader to show all the blogs I am enjoying.

Surfing the blog world now! May find something fun to post about… I usually do!

Today was an awesome Saturday!  Curly and I went wondering some flea markets.  His xbox recently got the red ring of death, so he pulled out his old PS2.  We went looking for a 2nd controller and some games!  We managed to get 5 games and 1 controller for $40.  Except the controller doesnt work so we have to take it back.

After we went looking at his stuff he said what would you like to do?? We went down Locke St, this street is one of the artisans streets in town!! I now heart Locke St.  We went into some funky little shops.  One in particular – Textures.  It was a store that had ALOT of handmade things in the store!! I saw some handbound books as well as other neat things: rock quote, bags made out of jucie packets, felted items – dog balls, rings, cuffs (there was a beuatiful cuff) and other felted nick nacks. I am going to try to make some stain glass!  yes I know that I am all over the place when it comes to crafts but I am happy and exploring all things!!

This is the front door… I took it to show you all! Plus I didnt get a shot of the whole store it wouldnt turn out on my BB that was all I had with me

Here are the stain glass Kitties that I thought were super cute!

Well we have to run, hanging out with some friends tonight and Curly really wants to head out! So I will finish this post later!!

http://papermuse.files.wordpress.com

How to:

This video shows you neat ideas for cheap presents on a budget!

This video shows you how to make a little mini planner and all you need is a printer, scissors, and an exacto knife.

Tutorial for this: http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-tuesday-make-a-do-si-do-book-4019/