I heart ETC

Some people think that I am crazy because I work 6 days a week.

I work in corporate America 5 days a week and on Saturdays I work at my local thrift store.  The Et Cetera Shop to be exact...find them on Facebook here or on the web here.

A lot of people ask my why I choose to work 6 days a week.  I started working at Et Cetera on Saturdays about 3 1/2 years ago.  It all started as a way to earn some extra cash and to have somewhere to be on Saturdays.  I have grown to absolutely love working there.  It is a way to connect with and serve the community.  I have made so many new friends from the people I work with to the volunteers to the customers and the people who donate.  I love interacting with the volunteers - I love hearing about their families, eating all of their yummy treats and enjoying all of the vegetables they bring me from their gardens every summer.

I love that the Et Cetera Shop meets the needs of so many on so many levels.  It serves as a place where people can donate stuff they don't want or can't use any more.  It serves as a place where people can buy clothes and household items for a fraction of the price of buying it new...which helps all of us living on a budget.  It serves as a meeting place - relationships are formed between staff, volunteers, shoppers and those who donate.  The best part of all is that the Et Cetera Shop is not only serving the community, but the world beyond.  It is helping the environment by keeping things out of the landfill.  The profits of the Et Cetera shop are donated to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).  "Your purchase or donation supports the disaster relief, sustainable community development and justice and peace-building work of Mennonite Central Committee locally and globally."  Learn more about MCC here .

I love finding vintage treasures!!

 Need shoes?

 or maybe a new coat?

 These great wooden toys are handmade by one of our volunteers - aren't they great!?!

 Clothing and other items that can't be sold are used to make rugs or place mats or coasters or bookmarks.

These are made on the looms right in the store!

 Need craft supplies - so much more affordable to buy them at Et Cetera rather than your craft store!

 Need buttons - there are always plenty!

  There are always lots of books and magazines too!

 Today was an extra fun day - the Saturday crew was challenged to put together an outfit.  These are on display in one of the front windows and we posted pictures of them on the Newton Et Cetera Shop Facebook page.  We are having a contest between the four of us to get the most "likes".  Below is the outfit that I put together.

I love, love, love vintage things and this is a great vintage dress.  I also love the red vintage purse.  They are sort of hard to see, but there are some awesome red sunglasses hanging on the pocket of the dress.  Go check out the rest of the outfits and vote for your favorite by clicking on 'like' under the picture.  Don't worry I won't hold it against you if you 'like' one of the other outfits more than mine!  

If you live locally and if you are now intrigued by the Et Cetera shop and you want to spend some time with me on Saturdays we are always looking for volunteers.  We have so much fun and you wouldn't be disappointed!  

Scarf Giveaway Winner!!

I am sorry to be posting this a little late today, but I am turning another year older on Monday and the birthday festivities have started already tonight!

**Thanks for a great dinner and a movie, Nancy!  - Sorry that I am getting so old that I can't stay awake during a movie!  HAHAHA!

Okay so, I know you just really want to know who the winner it is so here you go.....

Winner of the SCARF GIVEAWAY is.....

STEPHANIE!!

I love the big snowflakes that are falling right now and covering everything with a blanket of snow. I don't like the wind I also see out there! 
Stephanie


Stephanie, Congrats - send me an e-mail and let me know what color you want!!


Thanks to everyone for entering and keep watching for more giveaways! 


Hope you have a great weekend!

10 thoughts

It once again the 10th of the month!  Where or where does the time go!?!

Once again it's a list of 10 for you.  Today is just a random list of 10 things on my mind....here we go

1.  I am thankful for good friends and family who pitch in when I am in need.

2.  I am tired of all of the snow!

3.  I am really, really tired of spending money on my vehicle.

4.  I am anxious about my Dr's appointment tomorrow.  

5.  I am tired of feeling overwhelmed.

6.  I am thankful that my dad taught me about vehicles so that I could make minor repairs like change bulbs all by myself!

7.  I am tired of being emotional.

8.  I am sort of not really looking forward to turning another year older on Monday.

9.  I need to plan a girls night with my mom, sisters and nieces.

10.   I am thankful for my patient friend, Olivia who taught me how to crochet so that I could make lovely dishcloths and scarves! (thanks also to my mom who tried to teach me many times before I was actually ready to learn!)

Today is the last day to enter for the Scarf Giveaway.  If you haven't entered yet you can do so by leaving me a comment here.

SNOW Day!

What do you do when you wake up to 17" of snow and giant snow drifts?

Well, you dig yourself out first of all!  

These pictures don't really show the depth of the snow very well!

 The snow drifts around my vehicle are knee deep.  

It is just as deep the further into the driveway you go.

 You can see here how deep the snow was in front of my vehicle.  

 You can't see it very well, but the snow drift on this side is higher than the bottom of the door!

 All of the snow we had to shovel off the driveway is now almost 

as tall as my trash can! 

 Most of this snow was drifted between the two cars in the driveway.  

 I am tired all over again after looking at all of this snow.  

I am lucky enough to have a 4-wheel drive so, after I was done shoveling I drove up and down my street in front of my house to pack down the snow so that my neighbor could get her car out.  

So, what do you do after all of that fun?  

Well, I really wanted some Diet Coke so I asked my neighbor if she needed anything from the store and then I called my other neighbor and asked if they needed anything and then we ventured out to get what we needed or I guess wanted in my case because I am sure I would have been fine without my Diet Coke and the other few groceries I got.  

Then when I got home it was time to shower and relax for the day.  So, while I sat and watched daytime TV I finished the scarf for my niece, Korrine.  She requested that I make her a purple scarf.  

I really hope she likes it! 

Don't forget to sign up for the scarf GIVEAWAY!!  

You can win one of your own crocheted scarves  all you need to do is comment on the post here.

What did you do today?

Scarf Giveaway!!

All of my scarf “orders” are finished with the exception of one.  I am currently working on a purple scarf for my niece, Korrine and will be done with it by the end of the week.  That means I need to start crocheting something else and that is where you come in….

It’s time for another  GIVEAWAY!!

When someone gives me a good suggestion I listen!  My friend Karri suggested that I giveaway one of my crocheted scarves – I think it is a GREAT idea!!

To enter to win a crocheted scarf of your own just leave me a comment below and tell me one thing you like about winter.  If you are like me and you HATE winter  then tell me what your favorite season is and why.

A winner will be chosen at random on Friday, February  11, 2011. 

I am going to let you choose what color you would like your scarf to be so be thinking about it!

Good luck!

If you want to see some of the scarves I have made see my post here.

**Thanks for the suggestion, Karri!

Book Club

A friend and I were out to dinner one evening talking about how we didn't really feel like we were being challenged or spiritually fed at church.  I started telling her about Crazy Love and how I had read about it on several other blogs....she reached into her purse holding up a copy saying "oh, you mean this book?"   We decided we should read it together and discuss and that we should invite other ladies to join us so, that is how our book club began.

Shortly after that I got an e-mail from another friend of church about extra copies of a Beth Moore book she had from her book club.  So, we bought those and that is what we are reading now.

I heart Beth Moore!   I have done several of her bible studies, but haven't really read one of her books.

I am looking forward to everything that God has to teach me through this book.  You see - I am sooooo insecure.  You have NO idea how much!  I really hope that I learn how to overcome that!  We are only several chapters in and I have learned some good things so far!

Yucky Winter Day

 This is right where I should have been all day!

It is a blizzard out there - we have a wind chill of -20!!  YIKES!

So remember me telling you about the dishcloths I was crocheting?

Well, I have moved on to making scarves now!

 The one above I made for myself.

I made one the same color only wider for a co-worker.

 This one was for another co-worker.

It is kind of hard to see in the pictures, but it is gray and pink.  

I made this one for an ex-coworker.

In return she made me some beautiful cards!!

I have two more that I am currently working on.

I think it is a good night to stay by the fire and work on the pink scarf!

Stay warm out there!