We’re having one this Saturday.
I love having garage sales. Some people don’t feel the amount of work you put into it is worth what you earn, but I’ve always liked having them, even when I haven’t made an insane amount of money. In this case, the money isn’t even going to me. It’s part of our Relay for Life Team’s fundraising effort.
Already we have several boxes of things for sale. Tonight and tomorrow is pricing and planning, then we’ll be up early Saturday morning to get things rolling. I have some team members helping me out, and several people I work with have been great about donating items.
The fundraising effort has gotten off to kind of a slow start, but we’re getting there. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Saturday gives us good weather and a good turnout.
If you’re in the area, come check out our sale at the corner of 9th and Moro in Manhattan, KS.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Craigslist Spammers Go Away!
Craigslist has always been one of my favorite places to browse for free and cheap stuff. It’s also been one of my favorite places to try to sell stuff because it’s so easy (I’m generally too lazy to take out a paper ad, and a garage sale only works if you have a lot of stuff to sell).
Unfortunately, while the process is still easy, it’s gotten more annoying. Spammers have started replying to my “For Sale” ads with emails saying “Do you need help?” or some variation thereof. One said “I can help you. Give me your number so I can call you and tell you how.” Sure dude, it’s 1-800-GETALIFE (my first response wasn’t that nice, actually). I didn’t actually respond to that one, but out of curiosity I did respond to another one. I got an automatic reply that linked me to somewhere I didn’t bother to explore because I don’t care for spammers and scammers.
Seriously, the only way you can help, jerks, is by handing over a wad of cash and buying my stuff.
Unfortunately, while the process is still easy, it’s gotten more annoying. Spammers have started replying to my “For Sale” ads with emails saying “Do you need help?” or some variation thereof. One said “I can help you. Give me your number so I can call you and tell you how.” Sure dude, it’s 1-800-GETALIFE (my first response wasn’t that nice, actually). I didn’t actually respond to that one, but out of curiosity I did respond to another one. I got an automatic reply that linked me to somewhere I didn’t bother to explore because I don’t care for spammers and scammers.
Seriously, the only way you can help, jerks, is by handing over a wad of cash and buying my stuff.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Crafting for Charity
My big plans to try to sell things on etsy have been postponed in favor of trying to sell things to raise money for the Relay for Life this year. I’m not sure if anything is going to sell to tell the truth. My stuff isn’t all that exciting…it’s actually pretty basic…and because I’m still a beginner, there’s a lot I have to learn. But you have to start somewhere, right?
These are the three scarves I have finished so far. I can kick one of these out in about two days if I work at it. I love extra long scarves that can wrap around a couple of times and I like working with different yarns and colors.
I also tried my hand at a couple pairs of earrings last night, and while the finished product isn’t perfect by any means, I’m kind of proud of myself for just doing it.
Hopefully I’ll be getting some tutelage from a friend of mine on how to enhance my knitting skills very soon. I also have an idea for a knitted purse which I think I could do with the right material, small needles, and my need to try different things. I wonder if my friend could teach me how to read a pattern too…I know it can’t be that hard, right?
If you see anything you like, let me know. While I’m officially selling things at our in-town fundraisers, I’m always happy to take a Paypal payment with shipping and handling and mail it for anyone out there.
These are the three scarves I have finished so far. I can kick one of these out in about two days if I work at it. I love extra long scarves that can wrap around a couple of times and I like working with different yarns and colors.
I also tried my hand at a couple pairs of earrings last night, and while the finished product isn’t perfect by any means, I’m kind of proud of myself for just doing it.
Hopefully I’ll be getting some tutelage from a friend of mine on how to enhance my knitting skills very soon. I also have an idea for a knitted purse which I think I could do with the right material, small needles, and my need to try different things. I wonder if my friend could teach me how to read a pattern too…I know it can’t be that hard, right?
If you see anything you like, let me know. While I’m officially selling things at our in-town fundraisers, I’m always happy to take a Paypal payment with shipping and handling and mail it for anyone out there.
Jon and Kate Exploit 8
I know I shouldn’t get on a soapbox about a show I don’t even watch, but lately all I hear and see is Jon and Kate this, Jon and Kate that, Jon and Kate file for divorce, blah blah blah. And no, I don’t take the time to read the articles because I don’t watch Jon and Kate and I could care less what they do or don’t do.
I do feel sorry for their kids, and I’m sure I’m not alone. This is not a cliché but a reality. I wasn’t a child of divorce but I’m not blind or ignorant to the issues friends of mine dealt with when their parents split up. Having said that, I’m also a firm believer that kids are resilient and can bounce back from a divorce, though it would be naïve to think it doesn’t have a lasting effect on them in some way.
I have to wonder if these kids have a double whammy against them. They’ve been on a television series first of all. That alone is kind of cringe worthy. Can any fans out there tell me what the point of this show is? The Duggars have their Christian, frugal living thing going on, which I can respect. What’s Jon and Kate’s deal? From advertisements, I get the idea that one or the other of them were just trying to cash in on their brood. So now, after all that, the parents are getting a divorce which has become media fodder in itself. Even if they’re trying to keep their kids out of it, they’ve already invited the camera vampires into their house…I don’t think there’s any going back.
I don’t feel sorry for those two at all. But I hope the kids don’t experience any emotional side effects from this whole thing, at least not any that are going to seriously damage them later in life.
NOTE: Okay, so it was explained to me that the kids are a set of twins and set of sextuplets and the show started out as a documentary. So that’s something, anyway. Still feel sorry for the kids, but it seems as if fans of the show were rooting for the couple to work it out. I still kind of get the exploitation vibe from the whole thing, but I can admit my wrongs as long as I can voice my opinion.
I do feel sorry for their kids, and I’m sure I’m not alone. This is not a cliché but a reality. I wasn’t a child of divorce but I’m not blind or ignorant to the issues friends of mine dealt with when their parents split up. Having said that, I’m also a firm believer that kids are resilient and can bounce back from a divorce, though it would be naïve to think it doesn’t have a lasting effect on them in some way.
I have to wonder if these kids have a double whammy against them. They’ve been on a television series first of all. That alone is kind of cringe worthy. Can any fans out there tell me what the point of this show is? The Duggars have their Christian, frugal living thing going on, which I can respect. What’s Jon and Kate’s deal? From advertisements, I get the idea that one or the other of them were just trying to cash in on their brood. So now, after all that, the parents are getting a divorce which has become media fodder in itself. Even if they’re trying to keep their kids out of it, they’ve already invited the camera vampires into their house…I don’t think there’s any going back.
I don’t feel sorry for those two at all. But I hope the kids don’t experience any emotional side effects from this whole thing, at least not any that are going to seriously damage them later in life.
NOTE: Okay, so it was explained to me that the kids are a set of twins and set of sextuplets and the show started out as a documentary. So that’s something, anyway. Still feel sorry for the kids, but it seems as if fans of the show were rooting for the couple to work it out. I still kind of get the exploitation vibe from the whole thing, but I can admit my wrongs as long as I can voice my opinion.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Russell Stover
I had every intention of taking pictures on our trip yesterday, but I walked out of the house and forgot my camera. No worries though...it was completely rainy and gross and we didn't do much. We had a chinese buffet, walked the mall, sold Jon's cards, then headed home.
I did score several jewelry making things at JoAnn's Fabrics on the cheap and we stopped at the Russell Stover candy store in Abilene, KS. It's one of those places we've always said we wanted to stop at but never did. Yesterday we decided to do it.
The store is pretty nice, though new things are pricey. They had chocolates Valentine's Day and Easter that were marked down at a pretty good discount. We snagged some "bloopers" for cheap, some salt water taffy, and Sherbet fudge.
This won't be a normal thing, but the outlet is close so I'd definitely be up for making another trip at some point. And right now, that Sherbet fudge is sounding good...
Friday, June 19, 2009
Back in Groove
Now that the first meeting for Relay for Life is done, I’m back to feeling gung ho and motivated for this again. We have our theme picked out…”Footloose”…and it seems as if our fruit sale is going okay after only two hours. Our biggest seller is bananas. Haven’t done a money count, but it’s looking good. I’ll be extremely happy if we can get rid of all the fruit we bought today. I’ll be even happier if we run out due to high demand.
Tomorrow, Jon and I are taking a day trip to Salina to meet someone who wants to buy some Magic cards from him. I’d like to get an early start to the day and just have a serendipity adventure…no planning, just checking out what looks like fun and browsing around the city. Having never been to Salina except to drive through it, this should be an adventure. It’ll also give me a chance to take some pictures. We’re working with a tight budget, but I’m fully of the mind you can still have a nice day on just a little bit of money.
This means I might have something exciting to post on this blog in the next day or two. Here’s to hoping.
Tomorrow, Jon and I are taking a day trip to Salina to meet someone who wants to buy some Magic cards from him. I’d like to get an early start to the day and just have a serendipity adventure…no planning, just checking out what looks like fun and browsing around the city. Having never been to Salina except to drive through it, this should be an adventure. It’ll also give me a chance to take some pictures. We’re working with a tight budget, but I’m fully of the mind you can still have a nice day on just a little bit of money.
This means I might have something exciting to post on this blog in the next day or two. Here’s to hoping.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Relay for Life: Trying My Hand at Organizing (Again)!
Right before we moved, the prospect of having my own place, getting involved in more things, and doing something good with my time all seemed like a great ideas. I was highly motivated, had all these thoughts and all this energy, and was ready to just go. But between then and now, I got tired.
I decided to head up a Relay for Life Team for work. Cancer has touched a good number of people, including myself, and it’s another cause I feel strongly about. Plus, I’d always heard good things about the Relay for Life. It’s a tiring venture: an all night walk where members of your team take turns walking so that everyone has at least one team member walking for 12 hours straight. I had a good response for a first timer and we currently have a team of ten members.
But with everything else going on, I’ve been slacking, and by slacking, I’m also beating myself up a little bit. I don’t want to let the team down. I want to be a good captain and I want to raise our team goal. But in the several years since I’d last organized anything, I’d forgotten that even responsibility doesn’t overshadow my procrastinating ways.
I’m sort of back on track…kind of hanging on by one rail…but I think I’m getting there. We have our first meeting tomorrow and our first fundraiser a week from Saturday, a garage sale at my place. Luckily I had the foresight to take the Friday before off so I could gather tables, make signs, etc. We also have several other fundraisers which are pending approval.
Wish me luck in organizing this and making it successful for our team. If anyone out there would like to make a donation, the link is http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09National?px=11338073&pg=personal&fr_id=17355
I’m also looking for fundraising and theme ideas, so don’t hesitate to give me your thoughts. Or send me some momentum in a bottle. I think I’m going to need it.
I decided to head up a Relay for Life Team for work. Cancer has touched a good number of people, including myself, and it’s another cause I feel strongly about. Plus, I’d always heard good things about the Relay for Life. It’s a tiring venture: an all night walk where members of your team take turns walking so that everyone has at least one team member walking for 12 hours straight. I had a good response for a first timer and we currently have a team of ten members.
But with everything else going on, I’ve been slacking, and by slacking, I’m also beating myself up a little bit. I don’t want to let the team down. I want to be a good captain and I want to raise our team goal. But in the several years since I’d last organized anything, I’d forgotten that even responsibility doesn’t overshadow my procrastinating ways.
I’m sort of back on track…kind of hanging on by one rail…but I think I’m getting there. We have our first meeting tomorrow and our first fundraiser a week from Saturday, a garage sale at my place. Luckily I had the foresight to take the Friday before off so I could gather tables, make signs, etc. We also have several other fundraisers which are pending approval.
Wish me luck in organizing this and making it successful for our team. If anyone out there would like to make a donation, the link is http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09National?px=11338073&pg=personal&fr_id=17355
I’m also looking for fundraising and theme ideas, so don’t hesitate to give me your thoughts. Or send me some momentum in a bottle. I think I’m going to need it.
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