I've Been Etsy Shopping...

Sunshine - tie head band/head wrap from joyfulstar - for me.

Pretty hair pins, vintage blue from your wishcake - also, for moi.


A custom-made sign for Mom (a Mother's Day present) that will look sort of like this, only one line and saying: THE FARM Est. 2008 - my parents can post it at their property.
From Distressed DeSigns.

I'm so excited for them all to arrive!! In the meantime, go check out those shops!

Guaranteed Income

Right now, I only work per diem work, meaning it's like relief shifts. I still get quite a few shifts, almost full time hours, but that's not always guaranteed. I am just waiting around for full time at this point. It will come, I just need to be patient.
Once I get full time, I will have a salary, which will be exactly what I need to finally get my finances in order and develop a real budget. And, of course, with said guaranteed monies, I have some plans.

When I get a real person (full time) job, I want to get:
1. An iPhone (But my current phone, a Motorola Krzr is less than a year old... so I can't justify it yet.)
2. A real couch (Can I do this and keep my loveseat? It's a pretty small apartment, but the loveseat is kind of sentimental.)
3. A big girl bed (I currently have a twin, I want at least a double. And a pretty new bedspread.)

It's all about becoming a grown up really. I have an interview tomorrow for full time. I think there might be a few people ahead of me to get the spot, so I may not get it this time... but it's worth a shot! Wish me luck.

Shop Local

I found this over at The Transformation of Kern, and although it's an American thing, it completely applies everywhere.

Go here to find out more about it.
My parents own a small business, so I know how super important it is to support small businesses. Sure, I can be caught time to time going to those big box stores, after all, I'm only human, BUT, the more you shop at small businesses, the more products those small businesses can offer you and the more small businesses your town can support. When you shop at local small businesses, that money stays in your community instead of going to a large corporation. Not to mention, the quality of service you get from small businesses is about 1000% better than at those big box stores (you know, when you have to hunt someone down to help you find something who then makes you feel bad for wanting them to go out of their way to find the product you want to purchase?). So shop small and shop local, guys. Everyone benefits!

Pretty Please?

Please please please will somebody buy me this Threadless shirt!?! It is called Mister Mittens Big Adventure. In return you will receive my undying love and devotion.
(Ladies 2X fits perfectly, just in case you were curious...)

Go Enter This Giveaway!

Over at Allie's Answers you can enter a giveaway for a Gaiam rug. They're made from recycled materials and fair trade. SO cool.

Kickaroo!

Today, I went to the pet store, and on a whim I bought a Kong Kickaroo for Thunder Kitty. Ours is the cow pattern.Let me tell you, if you have a cat who likes to fight like my badass cat, this is the cat toy for you. Thunder Kitty loves it. And it is named Kickaroo. Come on! I have never blogged about a cat toy before, so this is kind of a big deal!

Heads Up!

Hey guys! There's a contest at Oh, Hello Friend! Get your butt over there and enter it (or don't, so I have a better chance)!

An Update in Photo Form

I finally bought a feather headband! I got this one from Urban Outfitters.


Thanks to Doniree, I got to make my very own Obamicon!


In other news, Thunder Kitty is still cute - even with creepy camera flash eyes. He's back on weight control kibble, but I think it's weight control because it doesn't taste good, he hardly eats it!

What I Do on the Internet

This week's Friday 5 is about Net Habits. It's been a while since I've done a Friday 5, so I thought I'd give this one a shot.

1. What types of blogs do you usually read?
Toooo many... there are 182 in my Google Reader. Mostly, though, they are personal blogs or art/design blogs.
Here's a few you should go read if you don't already: Bliss, Classy in Philadelphia, LilySpeak, Me Melodia, Snapshot Chicago, Stylish Handwriting, The Holly & The Ivy, The State That I Am In,The Transformation of Kern, Turquoise Ribbons, Writing to Reach You, Yes and Yes, and You Are My Fave.

2. What kinds of products do you usually buy when you shop online?
The last two things I bought online were my Matt & Nat purse (which I am still waiting for... stupid UPS...), and my Mole Book.

3. What kinds of online videos do you usually spend time watching?
Here's my fave YouTube videos:









Hope you enjoyed those.

4. Besides Friday 5, what weekly memes do you particularly enjoy?
I don't really do any weekly ones, just when the mood strikes me.

5. Where do you like to go for streaming online music?
Well, I've heard fantastic things about Pandora, but unfortunately, those of us North of the Border aren't able to listen to it. If I listen to streaming music, I usually go to AOL Radio. I will also listen to music on YouTube, which reminds me, I was doing that the other night and rediscovered the video for Crash Into Me by the Dave Matthews Band. I love the song, but it had been a while since I saw the video, so I had forgotten just how beautiful it is. Y'all need to go here and watch it (because embedding is disabled). It's like the most gorgeous dream. Seriously, go watch it.

A Few of My (Current) Favourite Things

I have zero ambition to actually write a real post, even though I have many things to write about. Instead, I am spending my evening with laundry and apartment cleaning and Don't Forget the Lyrics. So, instead of writing a real blog post, I will share with you a few of my favourite things (that I have purchased) from the past few weeks:

Live and Live Luxe by Jennifer Lopez - they were both at Winners and I was pumped to find them there (for you U.S. viewers, Winners is like T.J. Maxx I think - brand names at a discount). They smell gorgeous and are light enough to wear every day! Score!

My Geode Necklace from Urban Outfitters. It reminds me of the rock/geode/jewel collection that Dad used to have in the garage growing up. I went through a stage when I was super interested in rocks and minerals too, I think it may have been a mandatory stage for a jeweller's daughter to go through, no?

My Foxy Necklace from Montreal-based company Frug. I mentioned way back in October my newfound obsession with foxes, and this necklace is just perfect!

A week or so ago, my lips were crazy chapped. I tried every lip gloss I owned and nothing helped. I went to the drug store in hopes of finding something to relieve my lips, and they hardly had anything. Dismayed, I grabbed one that looked alright, LypSyl with Eucalyptus, and ended up even more disappointed when I realized it was the kind you squeeze and the gel comes out when I thought it would be a soft solid. Well imagine my surprise when I put it on, and it feels amazing! My chapped lips healed up incredibly fast and I've kept using it ever since because of how awesome it makes my lips look and feel. I totally recommend it!

And finally, I splurged on some new body wash yesterday. Olay Botanicals Hydrate is amazing! With patchouli and soy, it smells incredible and helps fulfill my secret dreams of being a hippie (a clean one!).

There you have it - Erin's Current Favourite things, you know, other than the things I have already blogged about (like my new bag and feather headbands).

Fiscal Irresponsibility With Erin Continues

I just got myself a new purse. Or, at least, I will get it in a few days and I can not wait.
It's the Matt & Nat Jorja Small in Coffee Japanese Paper and it is perfect and beautiful. Y'all know how much I love Matt & Nat. (I told you about it here, here, here, here, here, here, and also here. My goodness.)

Please arrive soon, beautiful purse??
Please arrive sooner, paycheck????

Christmas is Almost Here!

Want to get me a last minute Christmas gift? Here's some ideas!

Kitty no.26 by penguinandfish

Tree Print Green Jersey Scarf by PrettyRaccoon

Happy - A stained glass star by PamelaAngus

Monster Cat Loves You (Large Moleskin) by nowvember

Alphabet Soup Necklaces by taprobane

The Dinosaurs Deserved It T-Shirt @ Threadless

Two of My Favourite Things

Urban Outfitters + Free Stuff!

Y'all need to go and get yourself a free year's subscription to Nylon Magazine!

Amazing!

I Want the Moon!

Requesting that someone bring you the moon is no longer unreasonable, thanks to some Russian designers. Both the spoiled princess and the hopeless romantic in me want this, badly. And look at the beautifully whimsical pictures of it!! Please, I would like it for Christmas!! I think I even want the moon more than a Kitty Wig (that means I want it a lot)!!

via Treasuring and English Russia.

My House Still Smells Pretty!

I bought this Wood Wick Cinnamon Sugar Fusion Candle at Chapters this weekend, and let me tell you, it is the best freaking smelling thing ever. It was a little expensive, but totally worth it. My house smells like Christmas baking and I don't have to lift a finger. I thought y'all should know.

More Fiscal Responsibility by Erin

I went shopping today, as every unemployed student should, and I thought I would share with you my major purchases:
Matt & Nat "Depeche Mode" small bag in earth, comes with a long green across the body strap, exactly what I wanted - something larger than my lovely Roots Village bag, but still an across the body bag, so my hands can be free but I can ride the subway without feeling like my bag could be stolen. And Matt & Nat - we've already covered how much I love them here, here, and here.

And new boots! Kind of like these, only with a buckle instead of the loops and made of leather not fabric. Otherwise basically the same. So comfy! I wanted short boots that were completely flat, because the other boots I bought this fall are a bit too tall and fancy to wear every day - especially at the shelter. These new ones will be perfect for everyday!

I also bought a new pair of jeans from the Gap, and these hilarious Unocorn slip-ons, only in blue and yellow (on sale for $15 at Winners!).

Maybe someday I'll learn to be fiscally responsible... But for now I will be pumped about my new purchases!

I *Love* Mail!

A few weeks ago, I was the WINNER of Oh! How Lovely! Shops giveaway from Picky Picky Designs... AND THE PACKAGE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL TODAY!!
Look!!

I used great restraint in taking the picture before ripping open the package!

My prize is wrapped up underneath!

A beautiful acorn necklace and a personal note from the seller! Yay!

Totally made my day!! Thanks, Sally and Jamie!! Go check out Sally's shop and find yourself something pretty! And, seriously, go to Jamie's site and enter the giveaways, YOU could be the next winner!

I'm Sorry...

I've been a bad blogger. In my defense, placement was busy this week and I was sick with a cold.
My birthday party is tomorrow, and today I went shopping with my neighbour-classmate-friend to find the rest of what I am wearing. I came home with a very large bag of stuff, it was an excellent shopping trip. And a hair cut, I came home with one of those too. Perfect! Just a bit of grooming and nail painting and I will be ready to go for tomorrow night! Just that pesky problem of having things to do for school in between now and then. Clearly, I am not doing school work yet, but instead watching tv and browsing Etsy.
Just a note: Wheel of Fortune makes me really angry when people just can't figure out the answer to the puzzle and it's really obvious.

Another Note: I want this unicorn mask to wear for Hallowe'en... or just whenever.

Also, I want this cat costume for my cat. Or any of Seamstrocity!'s cat costumes, for that matter. I think I might be able to get away with dressing TK up on Hallowe'en and not have my friends and family disown me.

That's all for now, I'll try to post more in the coming days and be less negligent towards my blog.

Tres Belle!

(That is the extent of my grade-school Francais)

Everyone's favourite etsy-themed blog, Oh! How Lovely! is holding another contest! This week features jewellery from Picky Picky Designs.

My faves?
The Bee
The Octopussy
And, most of all…
The Acorn!

Hoorah for Being Fiscally Irresponsible!!

Did I also mention that I bought something for myself from ebay this week? It was my very first for-myself ebay purchase!

I've wanted these beauties all summer long but vowed that I would not buy them full price. Thanks to ebay, I didn't pay full price. They're being shipped to me as I type. Eee! I can't wait!!
Note: This is why I am attempting to be a hermit and spend as little money as possible until my OSAP comes in. I highly doubt I will ever be able to teach my clients life skills around money management. Clearly I can't even handle it for myself.