Bethjoy.com

Monday

On Monday morning Mom and I went to the airport to pick up my cousin Erika. She is visiting us during her spring break and she is from Virginia. And she likes shopping so we immediately went from the airport to the Thrift Store where I only purchased about ten dollars worth of stuff. Then we went to Walmart where Erika purchased the materials to make a fancy formal dress after a Jessica Mcclintock design. Once we got home preparations got underway and we used the test fabric Erika had gotten to experiment and learn what did and did not work. And my memory is not serving me well… Oh, I didn’t buy anything at Walmart and that was not normal

Tuesday

One Tuesday some comic books by Dilbert were read and we went to the Mall and Dollar Tree. At the Mall, which impressed Erika greatly as it is two stories high and quite large, I again purchased nothing but I enjoyed looking at everything and seeing the tiara I planned to purchase for myself on my birthday. Lately I’ve been trying to be more frugal and it has been having an effect on me.

Wednesday

Wednesday morning we did a bit of sewing if I remember correctly but the big event was going shopping after Lunch. We ate out at lunch with some friends tow of which were having a wedding anniversary and didn’t know that we were going to be there, or their son who had flown out from California. There was great surprise by them when they came in. After Lunch we went to Borders where again I purchased nothing. Erika got instructions on how to speak Gaelic and some CD’s. I’d like to have many CD’s only I want them in my bank earning interest(Certificates of Deposit). We then went to Target. They had the cutest little toys at Target and once again I didn’t buy any of them but I plan to go back and remedy that on my Birthday if not sooner. After Target we went to a different Mall. This one was very upscale(not sure on that word) and had a Jessica Mcclintock store. Erika went in to see if she could see the dress she liked. She saw one like it. I saw myriads of dresses I liked and I carefully studied the construction techniques of them so that I would be able to make them myself later. Once again, I didn’t buy anything.

Thursday

This day was probably the best shopping day. On this day, I did buy things. I made up for all of the frugal decisions that I’d made earlier and I was very glad I had been frugal earlier. To begin with, we went to the Dollmarket. The Dollmarket is the largest doll store in the United States, or one of them anyway. I very much enjoy going there and I wandered about look at the dolls. Previous to my arrival there I’d made out a list of the dolls and other things I was interested in and from that list I think I only bought one thing… However I bought two very nice paperdoll books, a teaset and… Clarissa. Though Clarissa isn’t her technical name but she doesn’t have a name and is just “American Model Basic Brunette” and I think that Clarissa is a much nicer name than that. She stands at a height of Twenty-two inches high and considering that I don’t think I have a doll over eighteen or nineteen inches high she’ll probably be the tallest of my dolls. She is so tall I understand that sewing for her is like sewing for a real person. I’m really interested in seeing what Clarissa looks like for she doesn’t arrive in stock until May and though I’ve seen her picture and other American Models, I haven’t actually seen her. However the doll they did have in stock that I liked was a grand total of $239.99 and I ultimately decided that while I could afford $79,99 for a basic doll with the cash I then had on hand I couldn’t afford the other one.

THEN we went to Hancock fabrics which is in that area. Shortly after my arrival there I learned that Mccall Patterns and Butterick Patterns were on sale for 99 cents. I was quite pleased about that. Last time I’d been to that store the Mccall patterns were on sale, but not the butterick patterns. And there were definitely some patterns I wanted. I quickly pulled out the butterick pattern book and looked up the costume section and saw some Hat patterns and thought “Oh wouldn’t it be fun to know how to make hats” so I promptly got that. I suppose I won’t detail out the entire process but I got two evening dress patterns with interesting skirts and a gorgeous turn of the century pattern that is quite complicated and a pattern for making footwear. I also got some remnants and had a good time.

After eating supper at the Olive Garden I then proceeded to spend the remainder of my money at Dollar Tree. However Frugality was still upon me and I still have Eleven Dollars left even after this week of shopping. That’s quite impressive for me. True I did have to break into my emergency one hundred dollars but that is what it’s there for. Anyway, I had a great time. When we came back home Erika resumed work on her dress and pretty much finished it last night. It looks quite interesting. I’m very glad that Erika is pleased with it.

Friday

So far it is Friday morning. Presumably I’m not awake yet and I don’t know if Erika is either. Mom said she wouldn’t wake me up this morning so although I woke up about an hour ago I’ve been quietly in my room reading my Bible and writing this post and preparing for the last busy day since Erika is going home again tonight.

This post is almost the first thing i’ve really written this week. It hasn’t been a writing week at all but hopefully next week will be. I have that pirate story to finish… So until I write again, the End!