I should have stayed in bed!

Ever have "one of those days"?  Today, I am having one! It started with the alarm being set for the wrong time. I woke up half way between when I was supposed to be up, and when the alarm was going to go off. I raced through getting ready and was only about 5 minutes late for work.

Then one of our maintenance guys really wanted to impress me with his new phone-while I was trying to work on the mountain of things I need to get done by next Wednesday. I didn't want to be rude and ignore him, because he gets his feelings hurt really easily, but at the same time, my mind was screaming over how much work I had to do!

I had issues with the copier all day, and I sent out a mass email for youth group tonight telling everyone it was  at the church, when it's really at someone's house on a lake and they are going swimming and tubing! So, I had to quickly fix that boo boo.

Then I get home to find my sweet, lovely puppy has chewed through the power cord to my laptop because when Adam left for work, he left her out of her crate! Then I called Ebay about the issue with the "too good to be true" second chance offers since I hadn't heard anything from the seller or gotten my items.  I talked to 2 regular phone operators and a "manager". All three of them kept talking over me while I was talking, and they said I have to wait til the 28th to get my money back. They said the seller (who by the way, isn't even a registered Ebay user anymore) has that long to get my money back to me or to send me the items.

It turns out that the seller "sold" the same items to several people. There were at least 6 negative feedback comments that came in yesterday for this seller-most with the same relish tray and coffee pot as their items that they paid for and never received. I guess the saying, "If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is" proved to be true this time-bummer! I was soo hoping to get them for the ridiculously low prices I paid for them!

After all that, I burned my hand making dinner-ugh! It's not been a good day! Tomorrow is another day...and it's only a partial day at work!! The entire staff is being taken to a Detroit Tiger's game!! I can't wait!!! I hope it's a good game!

Hope you are having a better day than I am!!

She brought me more goodies!!!

My friend Janet brought me another basket of goodies at work! She was on her way out of the state for a family wedding, and she dropped off another basket full of fun stuff! One thing from the basket that I don't have anymore is a card table sized tablecloth with the Royal Guard on it, kind of in a Vera-type design.

I really liked it, and could have very easily added it to my collection, or even sold it in the booth,  but I knew someone else who would probably love it! I gave it to my friend Auntie, and I think she was really happy with it! I hope she posts a picture of it on her blog, since I forgot to take a picture of it (hint, hint).

If only I could get the junk treasures to find me on a regular basis! I'd save a ton of money on gas...but then, where would the adventure be? Where would the thrill of the hunt be?

I can't believe that summer is almost over! I'm getting excited for some of my regular volleyball leagues to start up again for the fall and winter. Two out of four of them will be starting by mid-September and I can't wait! by the time April and May get here every year, I am so burned out on volleyball that I don't care if I ever play it again, but by the end of August every year, I'm dying to play again!

I've been doing Weight Watchers for 6 months and I am just a few pounds away from losing 50 pounds-so I'm hoping that the added activity of volleyball twice a week will help me reach my goal-if I don't make it by the date I picked. I set Labor Day as my day to reach my goal. It's not my lifetime member goal, but just my personal goal to strive for. I still have a LOT more to go, but I'm working at it in small chunks.

I went to my friend Auntie's son's wedding last Saturday (gorgeous day, gorgeous wedding-she looked so beautiful-Auntie did, the bride was pretty, but my Auntie was gorgeous! I even found out that she does have legs!!! I've known her 12 years and never seen her wear a dress! ) I wore a dress in a size I haven't worn in about 10 years-I was so excited! It's little things like that, that keep me going. Hopefully she will post some pictures (hint, hint) of the wedding on her blog too-and hopefully she will show a picture of herself so you can see how pretty she looked!

Here is what I found in the latest basket of treasures from Janet...

Mega Mall Flea Market!

Last night, I saw on Facebook that today was the day for the Mega Mall Flea Market, so after church I needed to become scarce so Kevin could get some sleep (he got called in to work last night and didn't get home until 4:30 this morning, so he was really tired), so I took off for Lansing.

I got there about an hour after it started and it was PACKED! With shoppers and with vendors! I LOVED it! There was a DJ playing music, and everyone seemed to be having a fun day. It was perfect weather for it too!

I picked up an embroidered table runner at one booth that was just wadded up and looked it over, folded it and put it down, then folded the second, identical one, and the older lady running the booth (outside), said there were two pillowcases to match. I asked how much the pillowcases were, because I really wasn't interested in any more runners.

She said, "You have to take them all.", I started to say I wasn't interested, but she threw out $2 for two table runners, two pillow cases and a doily-and did I mention they were mostly done in purple? Yeah, so they came home with me!

She said she gave me the deal because she saw that since I folded them up instead of just tossing them down again, that showed I cared about vintage linens and she knew I would enjoy them, so I got them for a great price!!!

When I went inside the mall, it was PACKED there too!! It was hard to look at things because it was swarming with people! I wish my antique mall did a flea market once in a while. The amount of traffic it generated was incredible for the mall and the dealers.

When I got home, I got busy painting another gossip bench-black this time, the legs of a stool and I waxed the green wooden ironing board-all in preparation to go to the booth on the 2nd. I even squeezed in a quick trip to the grocery store!

While I was there, I ran into someone I haven't seen in years, and the first thing he said was, he was looking for a church. It is awkward sometimes when people know that I work in a church-for some reason they think I am the church police or something, and they blurt out where they are going or a bunch of excuses why they haven't been in a while.

I really don't care, not to sound mean or anything, but that is between them and God, and I have nothing to do with it. I wonder if seeing me makes them stress about it-or think I am judging them--even if just for a minute so that's why they blurt things like that out...who knows....it just makes things REALLY awkward!!!

Here are my treasures from today...

More hankies in unusual designs or color schemes.

Two dresser scarves, a doily and two pillow cases.

Very cool pie cutter!!

Manhattan relish tray inserts.

Old bike basket minus the metal straps that connect it to the wheel. I plan to use this in the booth for displaying either kids books or hankies.

Hope you had a great weekend and a great Sunday!!

Fall is in the air

The weather has taken a turn from rainy to cool and breezy-but the skies are bright blue with big puffy clouds-it is just GORGEOUS!!!! I couldn't wait to get out this morning to some sales! I mapped out ten sales all within about 12 miles of my house. A couple of them were sales that I'd been to before but didn't realize it until I got there or almost there. All the rest were new to me, never been there before sales.

It was FUN!! I love looking at the things people have for sale almost as much as I love the thrill of the hunt! The first sale I stopped at I got two giant paper bags filled with vintage glass jars! They were ten cents a jar and a lot of them had the zinc lid with the glass top!

Today was a thrifty day too, everything I found cost right around $20 for everything! Most of it is going to the booth-I will "foster" a few things for a while, and keep a few things. There is a Melon Festival starting later this evening in a nearby town with lots of people expected to attend, so the garage sales were very plentiful.

An even bigger bonus-free lunch at Red Robin! I was cleaning my desk at work the other day and I came across a thank-you card my boss had given me a year ago with a Red Robin gift card as a thank-you to me for a project that I took care of. Eric and I had lunch together, talked, laughed and caught up and I only had to pay the tip!

So far, it's been a pretty nice day!! Tomorrow afternoon, I am going to my friend Auntie's house for her son's wedding! Her youngest son is getting married in her beautiful yard, "by the big oak tree". I stopped by today to offer to help, but she says it's all set...I'm looking forward to a beautiful day tomorrow!

Here is what I picked up today...minus a 1940 Ernest Hemingway-For Whom the Bell Tolls book. Adam snatched it up with plans to cut the pages into some sort of scene...I quickly put a halt to that!! Even though it only cost me fifty cents, those books are going for good money on Ebay!

STINK!!!

I need some advice! On July 31st I got  two messages via Ebay for a second chance on two items that I had bid on. I was really confused because I wasn't the second highest bidder-far from it!

I was bidding on a vintage Fiesta relish tray with inserts in excellent condition, and a vintage Fiesta coffee pot in great condition. The original sell price on the relish tray was almost $100 more than my bid, and the original sell price on the coffee pot was over $80 more than my bid.

I couldn't figure out why the seller contacted me to offer a second chance when there were other bidders who were higher than I was, but I was THRILLED beyond belief to think that I was going to get them both!!! To say I was giddy was an understatement!! I jumped on it and payed with Paypal immediately on July 31. I didn't even ask the seller to combine the shipping!

On August 2nd, I got two Ebay generated emails that said my packages were marked as shipped. I contacted the seller on the 9th to let them know I hadn't received them yet, and to ask for a tracking number. I was told they didn't put a tracking number on them because they usually only sell things that are less than $10, and don't want to pay the extra fee for the tracking number. They said the items were shipped and should arrive any day, and to please notify them when I receive them.

Well...here it is the 16th and still no packages ( I could have driven to Florida, picked them up and brought them home in 16 days!). I sent another email to let them know, but I have little hope of ever getting my items. I'm wondering if they were ever even sent due to the low, low price I paid. Maybe they are hoping I'll get tired of waiting and ask for a refund, and then they can just re-list them and get more of what they are worth in another auction.

The seller only has a 28 feedback-all positive, but all for just low priced resale shop type items-nothing as collectible or valuable as these things. So, it wouldn't hurt them to have to dump this seller account and start up a new one, as much as it would someone with hundreds of feed backs.

I am SOOOO BUMMED!!! I was so excited to think I was getting them, and so excited at the low price!!! What should I do? What can I do? Or am I just out of luck-get a refund, but not my items?? I've only had one thing take longer than this to get, and it was something Kevin bought from a seller in Hong Kong!!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated-thanks friends!!

Somebody Pinch ME!!!

An old friend of mine showed up at my work today and had someone on staff call me to come to the front office. Then the co-worker said, "It will be worth the walk for you to come up here." My office is at the end of the building and is a pretty good walk from the front office, so I try to only go "up front" a couple of strategic times per day.

As I walked into my co-worker's office, my friend was standing there with her back to me, and as she moved, I felt my eyes get huge and my jaw hit the floor! Sitting on the desk was seven pieces of vintage Pyrex refrigerator dishes!!!

Then, she quickly threw into my hands two vintage tablecloths, and an old Little Bo Peep picture and a new mat for our hammock. I was stunned and overwhelmed! I still can't believe it!!! I've been smiling all afternoon!!

It felt like Christmas morning!

Sweet Surprise in the Mail!!!

I got a very sweet surprise in the mail today!!! A sweet thank-you note from Deb at Garage Sale Gal (she won my 600 posts give-away on the 1st), and she also sent me some note cards and stickers!! How awesome is that?!?

THANK-YOU so much Deb!!! I love them!!!

I'm also busy trying out a new recipe for everyone who comes over tonight for some sand volleyball! It's really easy, smells and looks amazing...and I can't wait to try it!!!

Here is how you do it:
          1. Bake a devil's food chocolate cake according to instructions for a 9x13 pan.
          2. Immediately when you pull it from the oven, poke holes all over it and pour a can of sweetened
              condensed milk over it, then pour caramel over that and let it soak in and cool.
          3.Once cool, top with cool whip and sprinkle with heath bar bits.

Splish, Splash Saturday!

I decided to brave the elements again today to see what treasures I could find at a few local sales. I was trying to time my sales hopping so that I could end up near my aunt & uncle's house when my other aunt & uncle from Texas arrived so I could see them one last time before they fly home tomorrow.

I had the timing down, and was right on track, when I got a text that they left late and wouldn't be there until 3:30! They were expected at noon. Oh well, more time for sales and time to straighten up some things at home.

 I did find a couple of sales that were good ones. Nothing major, just a little bit here, and a little bit there. One sale was a manufactured home community sale and the weirdest thing happened as I pulled up. My steering wheel locked up and the battery light came on! My car stalled! Since I was at the curb, I decided to get out and shop the two sales that were there and hoped it would start when I got back. It did-WHEW!!! Maybe it just got too damp inside from the rain-who knows.

Then at another sale, my key fob broke and fell off my key chain! After the stalling incident, I was worried that my car was going to die on me, but it came through and started every time after that. I hope it's not a precursor of things to come! It's 6, almost 7 years old and has 115,000 miles on it, but it's perfect for treasure hunting! Not too big, and not too small. I'd hate to have to have a car payment again!!!

I got to spend a couple of hours with my relatives this afternoon, laughing and talking and just enjoying each other's company. I hope they come back for Christmas!! Usually though, when they come in the summer, they don't make the trip again in the winter.

Did you get to any sales today?? Here are the treasures I came home with...


Have you ever seen one of these sewing box/baskets? How old do you think it is??

Be still my heart!!! Quarter hankies=LOVE!!!

Quarter dish towels and cookies cutters!

Almost the whole haul...there was two stacks of magazines fifty cents a stack-hope to find some good recipes!!

Fifty cent lamp...looking to spray it white.

Planning to soak the fabric in Biz, the white part is a little yellowed. Oh, look...the chaise is back from the booth-exiled to the sunroom until someone (hopefully) from Craigslist snaps it up. I was really surprised no one bought it-maybe it's the color?

Not bad for less than $15 for everything!!!

Feelin Kind of Soggy!

I'm glad I didn't try to do the Yard Sale Trail today!! It has rained pretty much non-stop here all day. Sometimes it is light, and sometimes it just pours. I went to the booth today and did a big clean clean-up and rearrange job. Eric went with me to haul stuff in and out-all for the cost of lunch out!

I was discouraged to find some things missing (again) and glass shards on the floor (again). I've had a long run of missing/broken things in my booth-since about February. I know people sometimes carry things around and drop them off in other booths, but I've scoured the mall every month to no avail. I know it's just part of being a booth renter, but it sure gets discouraging!!

This is what happens when you try to take a picture really fast, so you don't get caught, when your mall has a no camera policy! I like to take pictures of my booth after I arrange it so I can go back and look to see how I had it, and plan for how I want it to be set up the next month.

I don't know if it's the rain, or just too much on my mind, but my brain is mush lately! I left the antique mall twice today and forgot my check both times! I went back the second time, because I realized Eric forgot to put a price tag on a couple things. The third time I went back ( I only got about a block away, instead of all the way home) was because I set down a baggie with my safety pins, price tags, tape and ink pen and forgot it on a shelf in my booth.

Here's hoping for some drier weather tomorrow!!!

Soggy Sales, and a Rain Out for Tomorrow...

I went to a couple of sales after work today, and it was pouring! We need the rain, but it sure made it messy for treasure seeking! Tomorrow's forecast is calling for more rain-all day rain. So my SIL and I decided to skip our adventurous outing on Michigan's Yard Sale Trail. I'm kind of bummed, but kind of relieved to not have to do all that driving. I wish I lived closer!!!

I may or may not try to go to a few sales in my own town tomorrow, I haven't decided yet. I don't really need anything for the booth, but you know how it is when you are always wondering if the next sale will be "the one" where you either find  your dream come true, or you find something really interesting that makes it all worth it-right?

Here is what I picked up today...


A large barn paint-by-number

A huge stack of embroidered tablecloths, not very vintage, but not brand new.

More round tablecloths-I've never found so many rounds as this year-I think I am at 6!

Two giant bags for the granny cart!

Another round tablecloth-with fringe!!!

A bunch of books from my favorite authors at a church rummage sale that I stumbled upon.

How was your Thursday? Get any fun treasures? I'm just getting ready to settle in with a nice warm plate of crockpot lasagna and a good book-it's only 65 degrees out and still raining!

Have a great weekend!!!