Ice Cream and Painted Rocks Oh My

Every Sunday we try to take our two boys out for ice cream. Ryker got a smoothie, Robbie got a cone and my husband and I got flurries.

Good thing I'm not allergic to peanuts as mine came with one Reese's pieces. We usually park and eat in our truck. As we were sitting there, this person parks like this close to us.

After ice cream, we went to Goodwill and I found this guy. They had two see no evil ones but no hear no evil so I just bought speak no evil.

My husband and Ryker went to Game Stop while Robbie and I were at Goodwill. There is a rock painting group here who hides rocks around town. Ryker and Bill found these at the strip mall where Game Stop is.

What $5 Bought

A Super hero belt and a Nintendo wallet

They were $2.99 each but I had a 25% off coupon so it brought the price down to less than $5. I'm surprised the wallet was so cheap. They usually start at $4.99

I've been needing a belt for some time. I ordered a buckle less one off ebay but it still hasn't arrived so I'm glad I found this one.

The wallet has a lot more slots than the one I currently had. My son loves Nintendo and I'm sure he wanted this but it doesn't have a strap and wouldn't fit in his pocket.

Tell me your cheap finds in the comments.

Google AdSense

Back in 2014, I was following a blogger who monetized their blog with Google Adsense. She said it was the easiest way to make money. I started the process but never linked a bank account for payments. I honestly forgot about it and life went on.

The beginning of this month, I got a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers. I open it up and it is regarding this adsense account. Apparently, in the past 6 years I made like $76 woo hoo Right? I had to sign the paper and mail it back. Of course, I again put this off. Curse you procrastination.

Yesterday, I get an email from Google Adsense stating my account has been dormant for too long. I had until August 19 to sign into my account otherwise Google would escheat my account balance to the government. So I sign into my account, add a checking account, get verified and am now able to make and receive payments. However, the payment threshhold is $100 Guess I have to wait another 6 years to make any money?

So, no, my dear readers, unless you are a popular blogger, which unfortunately I am not, Adsense is not an easy way to make money.

Would You Have Bought It

Wow! It's been almost two years since I posted anything here. Anyone still check in from time to time? I think when I originally started this blog, it was to show my thrift store finds and offer advice on what to sell on ebay. Mostly now days, I post my finds to Facebook. I'm still doing ebay but haven't really had any BOLOs to share. However, when the pandemic first started, I sold a book by Dean Koonz titled "The Eyes Of  Darkness." At the time, a story was going around claiming the book predicted the outbreak of the coronavirus. Prices skyrocketed and I sold my copy for around $100. Since being debunked, the book has dropped in price.

Anyways, since the thrifts opened, I haven't really found anything spectacular but since I titled this blog "would you have bought it", I'm going to show you what I bought that caught my eye.

Two side tables made from suitcases.

They are a little too high for my liking but I'm going to try to get Bill to cut them down. So, dear readers, would you have bought it? Leave a comment below and tell me what you found.

Four Months and A Day

My mom passed away August 13, exactly 4 months and a day from my dad's passing. She took the loss of my dad very hard. Her last month, she simply gave up. They had 50 wonderful years of marriage and the thought of going one more year without her beloved, was too much to bear. Although it isn't the official cause, I believe she died of a broken heart.

My dad had a passion for life. He was thankful for everyday he had on this earth. My mom, on the other hand, felt she had become a burden to others.  She had been staying in assisted living since the end of March and fell into a sadness. The bright spot of her week was when I brought my father to visit her. This is the last picture of them together.

After he had passed, she would ask me why he no longer came to see her. It broke my heart to remind her that he was with God and that she had gone to his funeral. She would look at me and then with a sorrow in her voice would say "oh yes, I remember."

We said our final goodbyes to her on Friday. She is entombed next to my dad and has now joined him with our Heavenly Father.

Would You Have Bought It?

I have been looking for something to store my winter blankets in. I wanted a chest or a trunk. I found both. Now I'm not sure if I should keep both or sell one.

On Saturday, I found a trunk at the thrift store. Unfortunately, someone painted it a baby poop brown. I don't see these often, so I bought it. It was marked $39.99 but with my 25% discount, it came to a little over $32 with tax. I want to see if I can get someone to repaint it white.

Today, I went to Goodwill and sitting in the furniture section was a Lane cedar chest. My husband thought it was too much at $49.99 I remember years ago buying one new for over $100 and it wasn't a Lane chest. It's a little scratched up on top and missing the key but in otherwise good shape.

 So now I have 2 things to store my blankets in. They should all fit in the cedar chest and at this time, I'm storing my childhood toys in the trunk.

Would you have bought either?

To The Moon and Back

On January 12, we took my dad home from the hospital to stay with us. Exactly 3 months later, God took him to his eternal home in heaven.

I miss my dad. He always had a song in his heart and a story to tell. At 85 years old, that's a lot of stories. I wish I could hear another one.

I miss my dad. He drove me crazy. I wish he was here to drive me crazier.

I miss my dad. He was always so kind and never met a stranger. I wish I was more kind.

I miss my dad. He had a smile most of the time. I wish I could smile more.

I miss my dad. He was so generous, he would give you his last dollar. I wish I were that generous.

I miss my dad. He was so grateful and said thank you all the time. I wish I were more grateful.

I miss my dad.  He was strong in his faith. I wish I was that strong.

I miss my dad. But I know he is in a better place and some day I will see him again.

Love you to the moon and back