Change is a'coming!

Haven't blogged in a really looooong time.  It was fun blogging on local and military discounts in new places as we moved frequently, but I've decided to switch gears with this blog and focus on different things.  Things I'm passionate about.

I was walking through a store yesterday and saw this quote on a big piece of wood "If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders"...  I love this quote!  It struck a chord with me and reminded me of a similar quote I heard about following your passion, something like "love what you do and you'll love life".   If you're lucky enough to be able to love what you do each day, you're pretty lucky, and if you don't love what you do, maybe it's time for a change?  Life is too short to be miserable and feel like you're just going through the motions every day, right?

Well, I thought more about where my mind goes when it wanders and it always seems to go to family, music, movement, creativity and organizing.  I've been lucky to have had the chance to teach PE for 5 years in various states and share my passion for movement with children of various ages and abilities, and I've been fortunate to find a teaching job here on Amelia Island where I've been able to share my love for dance and art.  Finally, this year and last year I've had the chance to teach Kindermusik to babies and toddlers and share my love for music with parents and tots.  All of those jobs have been fun and interesting, but I've never pursued my passion for organizing.

For a  few years now I thought about trying my hand at being a professional organizer, but different worries related to that career idea held me back.  Worries like -- Where will I find clients?  How would I make it into a part-time or full-time job?  How much would be reasonable to charge and maybe I should just do this on a volunteer basis?   I found a book all about starting a professional organizing business and contacted local professional organizers to seek advice, but unfortunately I didn't hear back from the local organizers and I just couldn't seem to get motivated to get started.

But I feel inspired again to start anew with this organizing idea.   I thought maybe I could start by blogging about organizing, sharing organizing ideas -- tips/tricks, and being inspired by other blogs of professional organizers... you have you start somewhere, right?

Consignment Stores (and Fernandina Mulch and Stone)

I heart discounts, "military discounts" and stores which offer them. It's been a while since I posted. We've recently moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida and I've just started scoping out the local stores for military discounts and good deals.



There's a challenge and excitement in finding special stores and good deals. For the past few years I've been drawn to consignment stores -- not only because the items I find there are inexpensive, but because everything in these stores is different. And it's an adventure, and a thrilling hunt, finding the perfect shirt, skirt, whatever I'm looking for that day. I go into a consignment store never really knowing what I will find and usually pleasantly surprised to discover something super cheap and interesting.

Frugal Cachet is one store I recently discovered on Amelia Island. The owner/storekeeper was sweet and helpful. I had the store to myself for most of the time I was there and I found 2 pairs of shoes. The storekeeper said if I bought one of the pairs of shoes I could have the other pair free. Score! (I'm afraid this place doesn't see many customers because they're not in a prime shopping location) This may explain their low prices and great customer service. :o)

Here's the store's address:
1699 S. 14th Street, Suite 4
In the Amelia Crossing Shopping Center
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

They're open Monday through Saturday 10:30-5:30.

There seems to be A LOT of consignment stores on Amelia Island. Looking forward to checking them out. I'll let you know if I find some more good ones.



On a different note, I was recently pricing out some pine straw for some landscaping that needed to be done at our new place. I was pleasantly surprised to find "Fernandina Beach Mulch and Stone" on A1A (right before going over the bridge to Amelia Island) which had reasonable rates for pine straw, mulch, stone, etc... AND a military discount. Hurray for this store having a military discount. Thanks Fernandina Mulch and Stone!

Getting ready to leave Groton!

Wow -- time sure has flown by. We're off to Kings Bay, Georgia in the next month so I'll have to continue my search for military discounts and deals when we get down there.

I'll share my new discoveries when I get unpacked and settled in our new location.

ONE LAST TID-BIT: I should mention that Dan and I have enjoyed the Jonathan Edwards Winery SO much while we've been here in Groton. It's located in North Stonington (about 30 minutes away). We decided to join their "Grape Nuts" wine club once we tried their wine. The winery gets a lot of their grapes from California so their taste was familiar.

As Jonathan Edwards' "Grape Nuts" we were allowed to bring friends to taste their wines for free whenever we wanted and we got a discount on their wines whenever we bought a bottle or two. There was no membership cost (save for having to buy 3 bottles of wine, which we wanted to do anyhow). We will cancel our membership when we leave this area so we're not tied to any additional costs for bottles or shipping. But we know which winery we'll come visit if we ever come back!

http://www.jedwardswinery.com/

Today we visited the "Hauser Chocolatier" in Westerly, Rhode Island.

They have AMAZING chocolate, candies and cakes to purchase and take home. .I saw a delicious Chocolate Mousse cake for around $27.

It is located off of Tom Harvey Road in Westerly -- pass street "A" on your left as you head down Tom Harvey Road and you'll see street "B". Turn left on B Street and you'll see Hauser's Chocolates right there on the corner. Drive to the back of the building and look for the funky wall art painted on the side of the building. The shop and small museum and factory viewing spot is inside!

They gave me a 10% military discount when I asked. Great place! Yum yum!

Lighten the Load...

Do Good AND Declutter!

One of my favorite things to do is purge and get rid of stuff sitting around... don't we all? And us Navy folks get to do it before AND after we move to a new locale -- we always notice there is more to get rid of when we arrive somewhere new, why is that?

Anywho... Here are some websites to aid you in your purging...

General Donations -- excessaccess.org -- will match your things with nonprofits in your area that can come and get them.

Gently used shoes -- Soles4souls.org sends shoes to disaster zones and other spots.


And my personal favorite -- your local Goodwill! The local goodwill in Groton (off of highway 1) will give you a $5 coupon for anything in their store when you drop off goods! (nice...but hey, wasn't I getting RID of stuff...not supposed to be buying?!) haha

Consignment and Olde Mystick

This afternoon I visited a couple consignment stores in the Groton area -- one in Gales Ferry called Village Resale and one in Mystic called the "Chic She Shop". The Chic She Shop is owned by a lovely woman named Tammy who is married to a retired submariner. She offered a 15% military discount for any purchased items. The store already had many discounted items and they carry jewelry, purses, all types of clothes and some art! I would recommend this shop to any of you who like a good bargain and the fun of searching for treasure!


Addresses:

Village Resale
12 Military Hwy, Gales Ferry, CT

Chic She Shop -- phone: 860-536-3424

40 Washington Street (Behind the Mystic Fire Station Mystic, CT 06355)

I also visited the Olde Mistick Village -- it's an Early American (inspired) Village with about 60 shops. I took a look at a few of the stores and found that several offered military discounts when I inquired. The ones I went in which offered military discounts (10% off entire purchase) include Franklin's General Store (great fudge, cheese, funny signs and a variety of goods), the Army Navy Surplus Store (of course!), and the Gray Goose Cookery (isn't cookery a fun word?).

Staying Connected

This week the ITT ticket office at the Groton Submarine Base has given away tickets to see the brand new Harry Potter movie (we'll see it before it comes out to the public!), AND they have given away tickets for a free lobster dinner on base on July 17th.

All you have to do is be aware of when they're giving away the tickets and show up at the assigned time! You can be "in the know" on the ITT's latest give-aways and events by signing up for their emails (I did this by going to the ITT office in the Dealey Center on the Groton sub base, although I bet you could sign up online somewhere). And it's helpful to become faceboook "friends" with the MWR Subase Nlon ---> http://www.facebook.com/mwrsubasenlon