This Valentine's Day, get her what she really wants

The Clipper Coupon magazine came in yesterday's mail.  I always look thru it since sometimes there are some good restaurant coupons in it.  Well this issue is Valentine's related with a cover that says "give her what she really wants".  Can you guess what the woman wants??? Maybe like a day of pampering at the spa?? Or just some time to relax? Maybe, or maybe not. The answer to the age old question of what women want, is answered below.



I went to a nice event a few weeks ago - a work party held by my husband's work. It was held after hours at the Smithsonian Institute Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. As I've said before and I'll say it again - I love me some nuclear power. Hoity toidy food, open bar, music and Imax.   Plus I got to spend some alone time with the Hope Diamond - without having to be amongst the riff raff and the commoners. Now if only I had thought up a way to lose the security guard.









Nice little bauble:
















Similar to what I like to wear around the castle:


 Ohh spooky how the dinosaur has so many ghost bubbles surrounding it.




And now, drum roll please...... the answer to age old question "What do women really want???"

The answer is:  bathrooms, countertops, kitchens, carpeting and sinks.

So God made a farmer....

and they had 11 children and a big barn. One of those children - who grew up to be my aunt - passed away recently at the age of 92. Going thru some old photo albums, I found some barn pics that took back in high school using black & white film. I'm so glad that I have these photos since I don't think anyone in my large extended family took photos of it.

The pond in winter was good for ice skating. Having to shovel it off first - not so much fun.

Decluttering books

So DH's book collection was getting out of control so I did something that kinda turned into a pain in the ass for me. I saw a nice bookcase ($25) on Craiglist so I went and bought it for him so he would have room to expand his collection.

So as he is going thru our bookshelves, he starts weeding out all sorts of cool books of MINE - and decides we don't need them anymore. I don't think so. If he thinks I am getting rid of my "How to Pick Up Men!" book (copyright 1972) he is crazy. If anyone ever asks me for picking up men advice I will need to have a resource handy since I am pretty rusty.

For example I'll give you a tip from the book (page 58). To get a conversation going, go up to a man and ask him the size of his chest. Explain that you are knitting a sweater for your brother.

You're welcome.

My first thrift store buy of the year

Here's a pic of my first thrift store buy of the year.  Bought on Jan. 2 for $5.  It's a sewing machine cabinet (minus the sewing machine).  I plan on refinishing it and giving it to my mom (who needs a table about this height).

Just a post to say I'm alive

Happy New Years to all and just a quick post to say that I'm still alive and still amassing my fortune in junk.

Just returned from a trip to upstate New York where I got my annual re-qualification in driving in hazardous and treacherous snow covered road conditions.  And managed to find an estate sale to boot!

More to come, I promise.

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.