You know you’re busy when you haven’t been to the dollar store in over a month. Or at least I do. When I went shopping for the first time this year, I spent over $35 at the dollar store. Seriously. How do I possibly need thirty-five items from the dollar store? Don’t ask. I could justify each item if you did.

We’ve spent the last six weeks traveling the world…or at least we got as far as Key West anyway. We visited my in-laws in Georgia, our friends in San Diego, my parents in South Florida, and my sister-in-law in New York. I’d like to think we are world travelers, but the truth is, the long trips take more time and more $$$. Fitting in a few shorter domestic trips was much easier. Plus, we’re saving up the moolah and keeping our fingers crossed for “the big trip.” Details to come. That is, if we don’t owe the IRS $8K again this year. Damn government.

I had to come back sometime, get back into my routine. So I thought I’d start easy. No one has time for serious crafts right after a vacation. I’m still processing all of our laundry. Okay, that is not entirely true. My husband does the laundry. Ladies, don’t be jealous. I know I scored big time with that one.

Item #1 from the “dollar store thirty-five” was a candlestick. They didn’t have a cute candy dish on hand, so I picked one up at Michael’s. Whoever put our Michael’s and Dollar Tree right next to each other was a genius. A little hot glue or glass glue will stick them together perfectly. Apply a thin layer to the top of the candlestick and set the dish on top. Now I have a prettier dish for my desk. I mean, I can’t just have a plain ol’ candy dish sitting on my desk can I? People might think I’ve been vacationing too much, slacking on my crafting duties. Because, you know, I’m sure everyone at work notices the little things.