adventures in yard saleing

Word of the Week:  Yard Sale Math — The act of rounding things out to the nearest nickle, dime, or quarter rather than giving or getting back exact change while paying for yard sale goods in an effort to rush off to the next yard sale.

(Coined by Moi during this year’s 100 Mile Yard Sale. :cool )

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Or…

I Survived the 100 Mile Yard Sale & All I Got was This Pile of Junk

As promised, I’m ready to recap my adventures during the recent 100 Mile Yard Sale.  Don’t expect much; it was a long day, but not like I came home with a life-size cut-out of my Darling Dwayne.  Or Darling Dwayne himself.  More’s the pity. :scared

The thing I like most about yard sales…especially marathon yard sales…is that you never know what you’re going to find.  And most of it is stuff I never even knew existed!  I mean, if I had, I’d have probably bought it at full price in a regular store long ago.  I’m not at all cheap that way. :eyelashes   But then you get out there & see tables full of other people’s junk, & think, “Oh, my gosh, I didn’t know they made that.  I must have it, & I’m willing to pay a whole quarter to get it!” :kittyplay

Oh, yeah.

This year, I found oodles of stuff I don’t really need…but me likee, anyway. :claphat

Like these gorgeous bits of glassware:  a cute kitty cat tea light stand; sexy bustier mug; & kitties galore candle lamp (complete with brand new, unlit, Sweetpea-scented candle!).  What the heck I’m ever going to use them for, I have no idea.  I mean, I can’t even have glass out & about on display thanks to my very real and very destructive kittehs, but aren’t they fabulous?  I may even use them for some super-fantastic giveaway one of these days…if I can ever bring myself to part with them.  (Yeah, that’s going to take a while, so don’t start holding your breath just yet. :bart )

I also found this gorgeous lamp (which the lady doesn’t even think works & I can’t use because A.) I have no room & B.) kittehs love ribbon & little faux crystals that dangle, but for $1, who could resist?)…

A set of padded steps and a window seat for the kittehs…

A set of skull (as in skeleton skulls for Halloween) silicone ice cube trays…

A set of Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends plush toys (which again, I have zero need for, but they were brand-new & I didn’t know they existed—even included Christopher Robin, which is nearly unheard of!—so I’ll add them to my collection nonetheless)…

An ACE bandage (which you wouldn’t think I would be excited about, but I really, really am because I just got rid of a bunch that had lost their elasticity & now I’ve discovered they don’t make them right anymore; they mostly make only the stupid self-stick tape kind that I hate, so finding this was a whoo-hoo moment)…

This also seemed to be my year for picking up DVDs.  Funny thing is, whenever I love a movie, I buy it on DVD without hesitation, so most of these fall under the category of being so-so films, but rounding out my collection.  (That’s an OCD thing that probably only other OCD sufferers/hoarders understand.)  For instance:  Pirates of the Caribbean 3:  At World’s End,  Hellboy II:  The Golden Army, & Spiderman 3.  They were okay, but I didn’t love them.  Probably wouldn’t have bought them intentionally.  Then I saw them in pretty good condition for only $3 & thought, “Well, I do have the first ones & this would complete my collection, so maybe I should take them.  I know—it’s insanity!  Yard sale insanity, I tell you!

I also accidentally picked up a couple of duplicates.  This could be because I’d forgotten I had them (not!) or because they were in really good condition & were calling to me, & I couldn’t bear to leave them behind for someone less worthy to pick up.  (I told you I’m a little OCD about my shopping habits.  Have I mentioned that I once bought a bag of jelly beans because it had been put down by another shopper in the wrong place in the store & I didn’t want them to feel abandoned?  Uh-huh.  And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of my crazy. :tongue )  Falling into this category would be Bedazzled, Music & Lyrics, & The Amityville Horror.  So…because one of you may be worthy  :howyoudoin …if you don’t mind used DVDs, I may just use these for a giveaway someday, too.

And that about does it for me on the yard sale collectibles.  It was really, really hot that day, so I started to drag early on.  And some of the spots I usually like were more disappointing than usual, which made for a quick perusal before moving on.

I also usually like to end the 100 Mile Yard Sale with a cold drink & nice meal…sometimes even an ice cream cone.  But I just didn’t feel like it this year.  So I dragged myself & my goodies home, & crashed in front of the fan.  But even though I know it will be hot & exhausting, I’m already looking forward to next year!! :mwah

Comments

13 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. Jane says:

    I love the leg lamp. I love the one in A Christmas Story.

    On July 25, 2011 at 3:08 am

    • Heidi says:

      Jane gets the Halo…neener-neener-neener. :angelme

      I love the lamp, too. Cuter than the Xmas Story one, imo, cuz of the soft pink. But if I could find one of the originals for $1…or maybe a tad more *g*…I’d grab it, too. I cannot resist…I am helpless against the cuteness… :argh

      On July 25, 2011 at 10:14 am

  2. Jessica Lemmon says:

    The Amityville Horror with Ryan Reynolds in it? If so, yes, yes I would accept a used DVD. :eyelashes

    …what were we talking about?

    Oh, yes movies… I have SO many movies. And I have to practically restrain myself when I see a Blu-ray DVD at a low price. Even though I already HAVE From Dusk til Dawn, I bought it b/c it was $8. I mean, COME ON. :lildev

    I :bees Bedazzled! I have it my collection also. And that lingerie coffee mug is too cute! As is the lamp. If you know someone handy, they can rewire that sucker for you. Not that you have anywhere to put it.

    On July 25, 2011 at 8:34 am

    • Heidi says:

      You got it! I just need to know that Ryan will be with somebody who can appreciate him & care for him properly. :inbed

      I do the same dang thing, btw! Don’t have a Blu-Ray player yet, but I’ll buy DVDs of stuff I have on VHS…even tho my VCR still works, I never watch it as it is, & it repeats on TV every 5mins. I told you—OCD…plus wicked craziness… It’s fun to be me. :knock

      On July 25, 2011 at 10:16 am

  3. Heidi says:

    Dangit! Forgot to mention the best DVD of all…The Lady & the Highwayman w/ Hugh Grant & Emma Samms, based on a Barbara Cartland novel.

    http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=D17120

    Does anybody remember these awesome movies? There were a bunch & I used to love them, even tho they were sometimes corny. But still—so much fun! And I didn’t know they came out on DVD, which means I now want to hunt around & see if I can find even more! :chick

    On July 25, 2011 at 10:12 am

  4. Paula R. says:

    You got quite the find there, Heidi! Love all the stuff you picked up. The mug is priceless and you just can’t get rid of the other glassware stuff. Put them somewhere safe.

    If I do go to yard sale, the first place I check are the books. That’s pretty much it for me. I’m not big on doing the whole yard sale thing. Glad you had fun despite the heat and not being able to cap the day off with nice meal and ice cream.

    Peace and love,
    Paula R.

    On July 25, 2011 at 10:27 am

    • Heidi says:

      Yes, I fear the glassware is destined for my Hope Attic. It’s like a Hope Chest, but with a lot more space to store goodies. :devang

      And the bustier cup *might* work for pencils…but I’m not sure I want to risk it.

      On July 25, 2011 at 6:50 pm

  5. Hollie says:

    Im a garage sale/rummage sale addict!! I find the most unusual things…like the kleenex box that is the shape of a face..the tissues come out the nose…an absolute favorite of mine!
    Books are also a big draw for me! I love to find out of print books! and if I can pay .25 each…even better! :chick
    or the Coach leather purse for $2.00.
    Im now on the lookout for a couch…… :hide

    On July 25, 2011 at 11:17 am

    • Heidi says:

      I think I’ve seen that tissue box cover & it’s hilarious! :ROFL Y’know what other funny household items I crave…the murder victim knife block & such. They crack me up!

      On July 25, 2011 at 6:48 pm

  6. Heidi says:

    I always check out the books, too, but you know my policy on that: Authors only get credit for books bought new, so when I pick up used ones, it’s to have a “reading copy” (i.e. no worries on mucking it up in my purse or while exercising) or something I didn’t even know existed. Then I usually end up tracking it down new, anyway. :babybook Books of any kind were pretty much nil this year, tho, so I didn’t even get treadmill fodder.

    On July 25, 2011 at 6:47 pm

  7. Laura J. says:

    I gave up going a long time ago. I never find anything cool!! Plus you have to get up early to get the good stuff. I’m so not a morning person!

    But Heidi…You got some great stuff!!!!! Love, love, LOVE the lamp and that cute litte mug!

    On July 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    • Heidi says:

      The getting up early to sift thru junk is the reason I don’t do this very often, either. Once a year for the big one & then if I happen to be out & about & am in the mood, I might stop. But I don’t wake up early to do it! I would rather :sleeping

      On July 26, 2011 at 11:15 am

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