I've been a bad bad blogger

I know. 

But once I win tonight's lottery, I will have lots of free time to blog. But actually, I will just hire some assistants to do that for me. 

Awkward moment at a Yard Sale

This past Saturday I was at a yardsale with a husband, wife and kids running their sale.  I asked the woman how much the women's shoes were.  She calls over to her husband "honey how much are your shoes?" He answers a dollar a pair.  Then the kid chimes in - Mom why does Dad wear women's shoes.  She answers "Your Dad has small feet"
 
p.s.  Yes, I bought a pair. No, they weren't high heels.  I bought a pair of  Primo by Clarks in like new condition.  So what that a man may or may not have worn them.

World's Largest Garage Sale Review - Warrensburg NY

I usually visit my mom and family in upstate NY at least once during the summer. But this year it just didn't happen (summer just went by too fast!) - so when I saw that Southwest Air had a $98 roundtrip deal from Baltimore to Albany NY - I booked a long weekend for me and Jacob. Worked out well - we left on a Thursday night and came home on Monday. He missed just one day of school since there was no school on the Friday.

As luck would have it, it was the weekend of what is advertised as "The World's Largest Garage Sale" in the town of Warrensburg, NY - which is about a 30 minute drive from my sister's house. Official Website of the World's Largest Garage Sale

Did I buy stuff? Yes, yes I did. But only food and no bargains. I went with my sister, my niece and Jacob (who I have mentioned before is not a patient shopper). So I mainly went for the experience, not really expecting to find any real bargains. Plus it was drizzling and/or raining the entire time. But that didn't stop the crowds - not at all. I can't imagine how crazy crowded it would have been had it been a sunny day.

Will I ever go back to the World's Largest Yard Sale? Probably not. I do like finding bargains and it's easier to do that when you aren't in competition with loads of other shoppers. And I like not having to pay to park when I go to a garage sale.

Some pictures from the day

garage sale traffic jam (see the beginning of Adirondack mountains to the left)







The only place to park was in $10 parking lots


my shopping buddies


a stream of rainwater pouring off a tarp ceiling of one of the booths


a carwash was temporarily converted to a garage sale


We did some shopping at Oscar's Smokehouse.  Rachael Ray grew up in the Adirondacks and has a home nearby.


Garage Sale ATM


pretty house spotted


All kinds of food for sale


even saw people walking around eating onion blossoms - which I think is an odd food to eat while walking around and shopping.


garage sale crowds


there was some sort of garage sale bus, but we never found out what that was about.


So all in all, I think calling it the World's Largest Garage Sale is false advertising. Because to have a garage sale, you need a garage and there was no ginormous garage covering us all from the rain.

My Storage Wars friends - what I did on summer vacation - Part 2

During my trip to Los Angeles back in the summer, I hung out with some new friends and had some cocktails.   If you watch Storage Wars, you know who they are.  We also stopped in and gave Jarrod from the Now and Then Secondhand Store and Storage Wars the thrill of meeting me.  You can just see the excitement on his face. 

On the day when I met up with my new friends, I had had a very busy day and unfortunately given my hair and make-up team the day off, so I had to go as-is.









Ok, you know I think getting autographs is silly, but I knew it would be something my mom would like.   Therefore I was able to get a free Christmas gift for her (because I'm generous that way). My 80 year old mom loves Storage Wars (and Pawn Stars)




Laura Dotson and Nabila Haniss (and of course the guys too - even Dave Hester) were awesome.





Yes, that car parked outside the Now and Then Thrift store really did have a yardsalequeen.com ad on the back (that is my MIL's car and I brought one of my magnetic signs with me to California)








Jacob spotted an empty chair at the Now and Then Thrift Store, so his butt had to fill it.



Next up on my blog agenda, my trip to the World's Largest Garage Sale - (not to be confused with the World's Longest Yard Sale).

Hello hello??? Anyone there?

where the hell is time going?  I gotta get on the stick and show you pictures from June.  Cuz if I don't do it soon, I will blink and it will be June 2013 soon. 

I know I know, I've been a bad bad blogger.

My summer vacation with boyfriend Drew Lachey (and others)

Here it is September already and I've neglected - tsk tsk - to share my vacation pictures with you.  I know you have been patiently waiting.  We took another California trip earlier in the summer with a side trip to Vegas baby.  While in Vegas I got to spend more time with my online boyfriend Drew Lachey.  I told him about our relationship (in case he wasn't aware) and he seemed ok with it.  So here are a bunch of pics.  I will do a Part II tomorrow with more pics - you know - just typical vacation pics like of me rubbing elbows with with the cast of Storage Wars etc etc.

My favorite pool at Mandalay Bay.  Two years ago when we were there I did not know about this off-the-beaten-path pool (South Lagoon Pool).  I don't feel the need to be around screaming 2 year old tourists at the main pool.  

 When driving around, I spotted the sign for Rick's Restorations so we stopped in and got a free tour.

 Me and Drew Lachey again.  It was like we hadn't even been apart.

If you spend money, you can can spin the big wheel at the Price is Right Live! Show in Las Vegas. 

Went to the California Science Center which was near the coliseum. 

 California Science Center

 Santa Monica

 Santa Monica. The drive back from Santa Monica to San Pedro (where we stayed) was sucky. 

 The pool at MIL's condo.  Catalina Island in the background.  Never got tired of going swimming there.

Somehow I convinced my DH to go to a flea market.  It was something, that's for sure.  I did not buy a casket.  

Also convinced my DH to go to the Torrance Antique Faire, which I liked.  I have a video of it that I need to upload to youtube.

 At the flea market.  Jacob's butt is drawn to empty chairs.  

At least he doesn't feel the need to lay down at the flea market.

Lots and lots of spray paint.  

Another chair not going to waste. 

 Palos Verdes

 Wayfarer's Chapel in Palos Verdes.

We had a stowaway with us on vacation.  Our local Chick-fil-a is having a summer vacation photo contest so our plushie cow got lots of photos taken.

Part II coming soon.

$2 Le Creuset Cookware - oh yes please!

Last week I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I went to a thrift I usually don't get to very often (because of the distance). But last week, Jacob had a dentist appointment and the thrift is nearby.

Even I amazed myself - haha. The first thing I spotted was a big red glass vase for $3. I turned it over and saw a Target price tag of $34.99 on it.

Then I spotted the Large Canvas Floor Tote Storage bag. Then looked and saw the tag said "Pottery Barn Kids".  Pottery Barn Kids stuff is pricy, if I spot it cheap at a thrift store, I will buy it.  The tote is embroidered with a "B". Maybe I'll take a Sharpie and write JACO in front of the B. Or do nothing and just use it as is. It's in very nice condition and sells for $55 on the Pottery Barn Kids website. If I was to spent $55 on a tote bag - someone please get my head examined - because something must have snapped in my brain. I paid $2 for it.  Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that there are people in this world who will pay $55 for a Large Canvas Tote Bag, gently use it and then donate it to a thrift store.  But it's not something I would do.

Last but not least I spotted the Le Creuset cookware on the floor next to where a customer was standing. I bent down to pick up one of the lids, and was expecting the woman to say "those are mine". But she didn't. Since most things are not priced at the store,  I had to ask the cashier the price.  She looked at them and said $2 each with lid ($4 total). One has a cracked plastic handle which can be replaced. And the other has a small defect on the enameled handle. I'm thinking these were purchased at a "seconds" store, but never used - since they are spotless.  The black thing on the larger cookware is some sort of plastic spacer thing so it doesn't get damaged while it was in the box (or something like that).

Not bad for a short trip to the thrift store.  I was in and out of there in less than 10 minutes. 

Pawn Stars - I know one of the customers

Well it's happened - I personally know someone who will be appearing (tonight) on a new episode of Pawn Stars.

Here's a pic I took earlier in the summer when I was hanging out with some of the cast of Storage Wars. You know, just another typical day in the life of the yardsalequeen. My friend Phil is the guy on the left, he's the one who will be on Pawn Stars. He writes a column for Storage Treasures And of course, if you watch Pawn Stars, you'll recognize auctioneers Dan and Laura Dotson. Laura and I share a love of large handbags.

A Lesson in Yard Sale Pricing 101

Don't do this.

This photo is a blast from the past. I just saw it again recently in my files and wanted to share in case you missed it the first time around. I took this photo while hitting the garage sales in my old hometown in upstate NY a few years ago.

First for Women magazine - yard sale success

Hey, if you find yourself standing in a long line of the grocery store, browse thru the current issue of First for Women for another piece of yardsale literature on page 90. They used me as one of the experts for the article, and they gave me credit for things I know I didn't say. And there's stuff in the article (from other expert) that I don't agree with. Selling used men's blue jeasn??? NOT a good seller.

We have a lot of catching up to do, don't we? I know you are patiently waiting for our California / Las Vegas vacation pics that we took in June. And after that I can show my pics of our recent trip to Delaware and Williamsburg, VA.

School starts two weeks from today! Hooray!!!!

And a bit of sad news to report. Get your kleenex handy. Walgreen's will be going to a loyalty shopper card sometime in September. No more Register Rewards.

Sorry, I gotta run, I am getting all ferklempt.

ps. That is not me on the cover of First for Women. I can see how it can easily be mistaken, but I am a brunette.