A Sweet Goodbye Gift

As the Garage Sale season comes to a close I morn. I weep for the lost weekend adventures, the bargains, and the romance that is other people's junk. I will miss the rush of finding something great for barely nothing. My kids will miss the gluttony of "new" toys and clothes. Perhaps even Mr. Hotness will feel a twinge of loss (as in, he won't have as many reasons to poke fun at me and my precious junk).

When loved ones have to part it is a common practice to give parting gifts. A memento of your time together, something special to remember the person by. Last week I received just such a gift from one of my special loves.

Last week I went out for one last hoorah with my good friend, Garage Sale, and we had a lot of fun. Mainly I just "window" shopped, eavesdropping on other people's lives through their castoffs. But then Garage Sale Buddy presented me with my goodbye gift. A gift that will keep me smiling through the long cold months until Garage Sale Buddy returns.

Doll house furniture. Not just any doll house furniture, though. You see, the value of garage sale treasure is not just in the item itself, but in how little you have to pay for it. The less it costs the higher it's value. And this is where my gift becomes so special to me. I got all this lovely doll house goodness for... (DUN DUN DUN)... a dollar. No, not a dollar a piece. One dollah! For all of it!!!

How often do you get to be Lord over your own tiny little world for just a dollar?

And, no, this is not for the kids. These are all mine. MINE I tell you! But, maybe, if the kids are really good and pretend to like everything I make for dinner tonight, maybe I will let them watch me play with these.

Maybe.

P.S. Can anyone tell me what this line is from?:

"Looks like Darth Vader's bathroom."

H-A-P-P-Y

How do you spell HAPPY?

I know it is Sunday and I should NOT be thinking about this.... but.

On the way to church today I saw 3 of these lovely signs. Yard Sale season is starting early this year and I am happy. =)

My awesome DSSH bought me a box of Samoa Girl Scout cookies and I'm not expected to share with anyone. I love treats just for me and so I am happy. =)

Two people in church made comments to me about how I'm such a skinny pregnant lady and that I looked great. Compare this to last week when I got several comments about how I was so big for only being so far along, and yes I am happy. =)

I went to the library and picked up some fun movies (two classic horrors, a classic, and a romantic comedy) that I get to selfishly watch tomorrow and I am happy. =)

This year I FINALLY remembered to buy my corned beef early so we can actually have our St. Patrick's day dinner. And I also FINALLY remembered to buy my Easter eggs two weeks early so that they will be good and ready to be hard boiled (if your hard boiled eggs never seem to peel without falling apart it is because your eggs are too fresh) and so I am happy. =)

I have bought books and am developing a way to get my artist son to read more and to get my daughter to read more than just fantasy (I will share it once I have it up and running) and so I am happy. =)

How do you spell happy?

Follow The Neon Signs

I have been doing my Bunz O' Steel exercises all winter long preparing for Summer time. Not because I want to look good in a swimsuit (for that I would have to do Body O' Steel) but because I want to look good while assuming the rummage-and-find position: Yes folks, it is summer, and summer means YARD SALES or GARAGE SALES. Oh how I loves me a good yard sale. I like to think that when I shop at yard sales I am contributing to the recycling process and keeping our landfills clean (ok, not really, I just love cheap junk). The best is when I find stuff new, or things I have been wanting to buy but couldn't afford. I'll never forget finding the leapfrog toy. As a new, and rather poor, mom I had been browsing a children's toy catalogue wishing I had the money to buy from it. Then I saw it. A Leap Frog Phonics Writing Desk. At the time it cost $30 and that was an impossible amount for me. I wanted Cookie to have it, though, and decided to save up for it. I clipped its picture from the catalogue and stuck it to my fridge as a reminder to count my pennies. It sat on that fridge for 3 months. One sunny Saturday I was out running errands and happened on a yard sale. I stopped to look around and while rummaging through a big box of toys I saw it. It looked brand new! The amazing toy that was going to make my daughter a child prodigy was just sitting there in someone's front yard. There was no price tag. I cringed. They would probably want more than I could afford. I calmed myself down and tried to remember all the yard saling tactics my mother had taught me as a child. I lifted it up and lazily called to the lady sitting in a lawn chair, "Hi, this one doesn't have a price tag. How much do you want for it?"

"Oh, how 'bout a buck?" I almost choked. Stay calm, stay calm.

"Ok, I think I'll take it then."

That $1 toy lasted through 3 children. And that, dear friends, is why I like to yard sale.

Tips for yard saling:

1. In the summer time plan all your errands for early mornings on Fri and Sat. That way you are already out and about and can get the most for your gas. Do grocery shopping at the very end.

2. Keep your eyes alert and slow down at all intersections. You never know when you'll see some neon or an arrow. Make sure the signs you follow look fresh and new. You don't want to drive around looking for last week's sale.

3. You can yard sale with kids. Mine are always willing to sit in the car because they know when I come back I will usually have a new little toy for them. (most yard sales have a little 10 cent toy bucket)

4. If you see something you really like but the price is too high just ask yourself, "At what price would I be willing to buy this?" Then offer them just a little bit less than that. That way you have a little wiggle room to go up. If they don't meet your price then just say, "hmmm, I'd love to buy it, but I just can't at that price. Thanks anyway" They will understand.

5. If there is an item that you REALLY want but they wouldn't come down on the price then get their phone number or give them yours and say "If you don't happen to sell it and you are willing to go down to my price later, please call and let me know"

6. When buying kids clothes I usually go through the stack and find what I want. Then I wait till there is no one else near and I quietly approach the salesperson and say, "Hi, I know that you want $1.00 a piece but I usually only pay 50 cents each for kids clothes. Would you be willing to sell to me at that price?" I am very fair about the prices I offer. And I set my offering prices based on what I see at other yard sales. If they say no I know I can wait and find things at that price elsewhere. I will pay more depending on the quality and newness.

7. Don't hesitate to rummage and dig. Often times people just toss a bunch of small stuff in a box (like my Leap Frog toy) and you never know when you will find a treasure underneath a bunch of junk.

8. Before you start yard saling think about the things you need or want. If you truly have a need say a prayer before you go. I know this may sound hokey but I have too often found things that I really needed in answer to prayers. I'll never forget my sister in law's lamps. She was pregnant, newly married, and very poor at the time and was trying to furnish a new apartment. We went out and at one sale she found a lovely green lamp for $3. 2 yard sales later she found its exact match for $2. They would have cost her at least $50 if she had bought them at Wal Mart and they would not have been as nice. She was so happy she almost cried. When I was expecting Cookie I was able to get everything I needed for her (crib, highchair, clothes, books, walker, strollers, etc) for $100 and all in one weekend.

9. When in doubt walk away. We can all use less junk in our lives, so if you are sitting there thinking, "I don't know.... should I buy it?" then the answer is probably, "NO".

Now get out there and find yourself some neon signs and follow those arrows till all your cheap junk dreams come true!