Scotland Adventure: First Stop, the Airport

My first stop in my Scotland adventure is the airport (obviously). 
However- not so obviously, is that I am taking a first class airport adventure. 

I am flying British Airways first class. No, I didn't shell out $4,000 for the ticket- I got new credit cards to get the points with the bonus. I was concerned of having to sit for the extended period of time in a regular seat given recent medical issues. 

Upon my parents dropping me off (thanks mom and dad!), I checked in and instantly had great service. They asked if I knew where to find the airport lounge, put a priority tag on my luggage and directed me to the first class security line (which is no line). 

Upon arrival at the lounge I found the option of having dinner before my flight or snacking at the buffet (with a full bar and espresso maker). 

While the first group of business men left me feeling under dressed, soon after, people started trickling in also clothed in jeans. 

I enjoyed a cheese and cracker assortment with a couple (large) glasses of chardonnay. 

Capped with a loving phone call from my husband- can't complain at all! 

My favorite spectacles are.. 
.. the business man who hasn't gotten off the phone since I arrived.. 
..the older gentleman on his iPad and seemingly having a difficult time of it.. 
.. and the middle aged man who obviously has used some hair dye to hide his grays who can't figure out how to position his iPad so he can drink champagne and do whatever he is doing that is making birdie sounds at the same time (I almost offered to sell him an iPad case with stand, but thought better of it).. 

365 in 365: Day 11, the Dogs try to help

My dogs must be trying to help me clean up- they exterminated this toy from their toy box. They even got it OUT of the house! 

I also have this fella, Oso, an oversided, excited, toy destroyer. He will definitely help me weed through their toy box! 

Items in my house: -16

365 in 365 Day 10- making up for the missed time!

Ok- I have been slacking. I have been getting general cleaning done and finishing up some projects to move them from half completed to fully completed, so that is helpful. I also had surgery so was out for a while. 

Here's my husband's contribution to our clean out: 

I am too attached to my adorable crabbie salt and pepper shakers to throw them both out, so I just have a pepper shaker in this now.. one less thing though! 

I've also sold the top bag of star fish for $5. They were from my bridal shower decorations. 

The lower bag is now in my yard sale box- along with... 

 Items: -15 (and a lot for a yard sale!) 
Dollars in my pocket +$5 (total of $33!)

Back on the Wagon- 365 in 365 Day 9

I fell off the wagon, but I was catching up on much needed things around the house- laundry, foster puppy, etc. Here's our foster Nevaeh, spayed and going to her forever home later this week! 

Here is my item from my hiatus- a shirt that is stained and in the trash. 

I also looked through some of my pinned pinterest posts and found a few organizing calendars to follow. They recommend doing a bathroom cleaning out. My OCD makes me a hoarder - yet I have been working on this gradually. I found ear cleaner from when I got my ears pierced 3 or 4 years ago- obviously that isn't needed. 

In addition to just throwing things, I have been trying to use items up. That lotion that is half full, the five bags of dog treats that are open and can be consolidated if only you had stuck to one bag (the pups are happy to help with this). I don't think they count as items, but they are having a great effect on my overall clutter problem! 

365 in 365: Day 8: Sweaters and Shirts

I took 15 minutes from my lunch break to spend going through just ONE shelf in my closet and hanging stuff up/clearing out. I found five shirts/sweaters that I really was never going to wear again. 

Items in my home: -13

365 in 365: Day 7- useless lampshade

Today's item is a lampshade that won't stay on a lamp. In the trash!

365 in 365 Day 6: Old Business Supplies

I used to have a direct selling business but have stopped selling and still have items in my house! I have to say- it was refreshing to get rid of so much stuff when I made the decision to stop selling. I have been trying to sell as much as possible to other women who have businesses that could use them to at least regain a little of the investment. 

I recently sold 2 ring sizers to someone for $2- they are out of my house, in the mailbox. Success! 

Items out of my house: -7
Dollars in my pocket +$2 (total of $28!)

365 in 365: Day 5 - Old Winter Boots

Today I got rid of my "back up" pair of winter boots. They are no longer water proof- that is why I got a new pair. I did save the laces as I had just replaced them the same season that I last wore them so they were practically new. I will need to find a place for them. 

(Sorry they are sideways..)

Total Items from my home: -5

365 in 365: Day 4

Today I got rid of a pair of dog eaten shoes. I won't even try to defend why I kept them.. except maybe I was in denial that my foster dog ate them. At least she waited until they were at the end of their lifetime anyways. 

Total Items from my home: -4

NYC Father-Daughter Weekend 2014!

Last year, I wanted to do something special to celebrate my Dad's retirement. The rest of the fam wasn't into going to a Yankees game at the new Yankee stadium- so just he and I went. Hopefully it has become a tradition as we went again this year! 

We stayed at the Calton Hotel, a part of the Marriott chain under their "Autograph Collection" (AKA: fancy!). I had a promo code through Travel Zoo so it wasn't too bad on the budget. Like a typical NY hotel, it had a lot of character. Here's the stairwell, although the photo really didn't do it justice. 

On Friday, we checked in then headed uptown from 29th st to Central Park. We stopped at the library, one of my favorite places- the genealogy room and a clean bathroom! Last year we found Dad's name in the registry of births in NYC. This year we looked up my Uncles (his brothers), and my grandmother.. they didn't exactly get her info correct... considering its Lenore Locicero born Aug 1.. Oops! 

We headed over to Fifth Ave after that and walked up to Central Park- of course stopping at Tiffanys on the way. Central Park is one of my favorite NYC sites- including this site right here. 

We were too late to ride the carousel was closed on Friday but we went back the next day and had a carousel ride! 

Then it was off to the Yankees game. We were able to make it down to Monument Park before it closed- and saw the new retired #42. Very cool since we saw Mariano play last year. 

Overall it was a great game- since it didn't rain and the Yankees won.
 

We got free hats! 

And a few souvenirs from scavenging at the end of the game. 

We walked around Time Square that night and did a little shopping. The next day we were off to the Green Flea on the Upper West side. It was a cute flea market! Some good things, and some stuff that probably had fleas.. 

365 in 365: Day 3

This is Day 3 as last weekend Dad and I went to NY and weren't home! I made up for the missing days by throwing out 3 pairs of old underwear when I was packing- but I won't make you look at a photo of my old underwear. 

Today's item is our old scale. It stopped working (or I became VERY skinny!! haha no- one of the feet broke..) and I bought a new one but in typical Ali fashion, never threw out the old one. 

Now though, it is finally IN THE TRASH!!

Total Items from my home: -3

365 in 365: Day 2

I finally sold my two remaining ring holders on line. I sold them for $9 each plus shipping- so $18 in my pocket from this one! 

Does that count as 2 items? Hmm.. 

Total Items from my home: -2
Dollars in my pocket: +$26

365 Things in 365 Days

The Challenge: Eliminate 365 items from your home in 365 days. 

One item a day- not hard right? 

Maaayyybe.. 

Day 1: Extra Utensil holder

Our silverware came in this utensil holder, however, it didn't fit well in our drawer so we never used it. I sold it on line for $8. 

Items in my home: -1
Dollars in my pocket: +$8