June 30, 2025

Ahh. Monday. I contemplated calling in sick today which wouldn’t have been such a bad idea considering our system at work is down and has been for the last four hours.

I spent some time talking with colleagues about reincarnation and family. I then tried to unsuccessfully read my current book, The Mountain Is You.

My mind has already checked out of working today because of the abysmal start so I ended up death scrolling on Insta.

Wednesday last week 6/25, I left work and ended up at the market. I spent an hour really considering my meals for the next few days. I did pick up mackerel for a dish I planned to cook my Aunt. I added an extra fish for Lucifer. I enjoyed shopping. There is no one pressuring me to hurry up. No one sighing, no one judging me for taking the time to choose my onions or my peppers. I picked up bok choy, bell peppers, shallots and yellow onions on sale three pounds for ninety-nine cents and three bags of Roma tomatoes. I bought two heads of cauliflower and a head of cabbage for roasting. I bought a replacement bottle of hoisin sauce for my Chinese sausage with spinach and egg dish.

$56

On the way home, I stopped at Marathon and got a full tank of gas. $40.77

I order a bunch of things on Amazon due to deals and sales. First off, first aid items like anti-diarrhea meds and first aid ointment also pantry essentials like flour, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks and dried hibiscus. $115.89

I also caved and ordered the potting bench for delivery on Sunday, $71.78.

Thursday. I needed to drop off Amazon returns at UPS also an eBay order of yarn I had picked up at an estate sale last weekend that sold for $16.

Ross. I continue romanticizing my life. I bought a set of two firm pillows ($16.99) planter ($6.99) two sets of seamless underwear ($5.99 & $6.99), a set of 3 seamless cycling shorts (for dresses, $12.99), a pair of red flowy pants ($10.99), a new bath mat ($9.99), a new set of white bedsheets (on clearance, $14.99) and a bag of Tate’s snickerdoodle cookies ($4.99)

Romanticizing life is expensive. $98

Friday after work, I went straight home. I realize I’ve been spending a lot of money lately and though it makes me feel good, I mean who doesn’t like new clothes and shoes I don’t want to get used to this cycle of working and spending needlessly. So I spent Friday mapping out the weekend. I decided to garage sale early for the best deals and end with a trip to Safeway for lactose-free half & half and other staples.

Saturday. I left the house at 7:45a for the first garage sale. I arrived at 8:05a but they weren’t set up. So I told the guy I’d be back (not) and headed off to sale #2. At the next sale, I ran into a thrifting friend, Alex. I spent $3 at this sale on a vintage Made in USA Disneyland California tee. I also picked up some post its, a sealed package of aluminum trays and two burlap rice sacks for personal use.

Sale #3. I picked up a Tumi bag and ten pieces of clothing for $1 each. Many of the clothing items still had tags affixed but all of these items are going up for sale on eBay and Posh. $15

After the sales, I hit up Safeway. I bought four cartons of creamer, four blocks of cheese on sale for $1.97 each, a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs and a chocolate covered donut with multi-colored sprinkles. $50

I arrive home at 10a. Shocking! I never return so early especially when garage sale-ing. Anyway I’m glad I do because I get to drink coffee and converse with Auntie. We talk a lot about politics and current events. I clear out a lot of her recycling and start loading her laundry. I finish four loads of laundry all dried, folded and delivered by late afternoon. I do a lot of other cleaning and organizing but I watch a lot of B horror flicks, too. Balance.

I put the groceries I bought on Wednesday and today away. I also wash all the new clothes I bought on Thursday.

I wash and lay the knitted sweater I bought at a garage sale ($5) on my new folding dry rack ($15.99).

Sunday. I wash all my beddings. I remake the bed with fresh sheets. I prepare all my ingredients for chicken stew. I wash and dry all the organizers that store my onions, shallots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and ginger. I clean out the air fryer. I wash the rice cooker and cook new rice. I boil a pot of water to refill sport bottles for the week. I throw out two bags of trash and refill my compost bin with produce peels. I arrange my bed. I do an underarm spa treatment then wax both my pits and my eyebrows. I finish by applying the brightening whitening kojic acid before bed. I salvage shriveled up sweet potatoes, peel and roast them with red onions seasoned with crushed garlic and balsamic vinegar glaze from Trader Joe’s for two days worth of lunches. I roasted pine nuts and put some feta cheese in a small container for lunch today. I also receive my potting bench but run out of time to assemble it. I assemble the two small tables I ordered off Amazon last week. I sweep the floor in the areas I decide to situate these two tables. Now my bag has two places to land on when I come and go. It has definitely made a difference to my mental health.

I end the work portion of my Sunday by cooking the chicken stew I prepared for throughout the day and it turns out wonderfully. I have lunch for the whole week and Auntie has meals until Friday. Yay!

Total spent $272.66