I Love/Hate ebay!

ThIs is the time of year when I really love/hate ebay. I've been selling for almost three years now and this holiday season has been my best ever. Sold quite a few things and the money has really helped out. I list enough to keep me busy but not too much like some sellers out there, makes me whoozy just looking at how many items they keep listed!  As you know, the more things you sell the more chance you have to run into nut jobs. This year in particular has been FULL of them. For example, I purchased a few Tommy Bahama T shirts at Macy's. Now mind you, these are brand new with tags attached. Sold one last week. Get a message yesterday that they want to return it because they don't think it is "authentic". They think the picture on the back looks "printed on" . Uhh, last time I checked Macy's doesn't sell counterfeit items? And the graphic looks printed on because IT IS PRINTED ON. Maybe they think I put fake tags on it?? Like I said, crazy. Another person purchased this purse from me

Cute Michael Kors bag.  She attempts to pay for it, payment says pending, she messages me 6 times..all with the same message "Did my payment clear". No, your payment did not clear because you have NO money in your Paypal account and you have no backup account to pay for it if your Paypal is empty. Then she says to just cancel it. So I do. Like the completely rational person she is, she messages me again saying "I don't want a strike against me, so I do want it, I just paid" again the payment is stuck in Pending because AGAIN, she has no money in Paypal to pay for it and still no backup account.  Yet again she messages me (about 10 times) to see if her payment has cleared. Does she think fairies are gonna fly in and magically pay for this purse for her? I finally canceled her stupid pending payment, opened a case, and blocked her from ever bidding on my stuff again. Seriously what is wrong with people?? I could give you ten more stories but I'm sure if you sell you know exactly what I'm saying. People are loony tunes! 

Anyway enough about Febay!  I'm totally taking the month of January off from it! 

Now in thriftin, decorating, Christmas news, I have most of my decorating done..yeah me! A few months back I was out shopping with my sis and came across this AWESOME cardboard santa sign. I knew he would be front and center in my decor and I couldn't wait to get him up! Check it...

Heres a close up. It hung in a bank and it says ~ "and suddenly it's Christmas. Join our Christmas Club" Serious love. And so true, because doesn't all of the sudden it seem like Christmas is coming way too fast this year?? 

In retrospect, I wish I HAD joined a Christmas Club. People were so much smarter with their money back then. (And bought 90% less crap, guess that helped too). 

One last decor shot. This time we are in the kitchen. This is my bakers rack near my back door and fridge. Decided to house my mug collection there, you know, in case I get thirsty.

A girl can never have too many mugs. That's my motto anyway. 

One Room Down (sorta)

So I sorta started my decorating. I have sooo much stuff and sometimes it's a little overwhelming to get started. Ever feel like that? But I am hosting my annual Christmas Cookie exchange party on Dec 14, my extended family is coming over for Christmas Eve (first time ever!) and my kids would kill me if I didn't decorate. So, gotta get busy! I got one room sorta done. The dining room.

I had this old cupboard in my living room, but I decided to get craaazy this year and move it to the dining room.  In keeping with the crazy I moved the white table in from my hall and put the cupboard on top (genius, I know). 

My uber talented sister painted that box for me. (In about 5 minutes no less ) I steal the ideas off Pinterest, she makes em for me :) . It is an old sewing box. Love. 

My 30.00 Goodwill table and 5.00 each Pottery Barn chairs. Gotta love garage sales and GW! 

On the other side is my beloved hoosie. My mom bought it for me abot 15 years ago and I will have it forever! Maybe they can turn it into my coffin? Anyhoo, I went with mostly white and wood in here. White rooms really aren't my thing, but I thought I'd do it in just ONE room. (Doing the whole house would seriously put me in color withdrawal). A few more shots just cuz...

Who doesn't love a tree in a pot??? Nobody, that's who.

So, one room about 90% done (it needs fresh greenery and such). But like Scarlett says, "I'll think about that tomorrow."

You've got mail

My middle son turns 21 this Friday. He can't come home from college for his birthday since he will be here a week later for Thanksgiving break. I decided to mail him a surprise package.

Of course I found this idea on Pinterest. I'm great at copying. Know what else I copied?

Jar cupcakes! After you cook em, top with frosting, seal with lid and freeze. The day you are ready to mail them you just take them out of the freezer, throw in a box with an ice pack and WALLAA! Fresh from home cupcakes! The blog I found these on said she mailed hers clear across the country (2-3 day Priority) and they were perfect when they got there. So keep your fingers crossed for me that they turn out. These are Arkansas Red Velvet in case your wondering ;)

In thrifting news I found something today that I have been searching for. It is a Flat On The Back Side Light Up Hanging Santa Face (pretty sure that's the official name ).  I have lots of blow molds, but this particular one is one that my Great Grandmother had when we were kids and I've wanted one forever! This may just kick start my Christmas decorating :)

Isn't he purty??

Some Halloween Fun

I love decorating for Halloween. I won't say I love it better than Christmas but it's pretty darn close! Here's a few pics.  First up my mantel

An assortment of black and orange

Found the 31 metal tag today at an antique store. It's an old cow tag! 

Some vintage horns in a glass flower frog

Box of honeycomb pumpkins

My favorite old cabinet for decorating!

Gurley candles, and assorted smalls

Old garden gate I found this summer. Also found the shutter and painted it black

My built in shelves. Sorry it posted the shelves twice. New to this blogger app and not sure how to delete pics! A small snippet of my home. Next post the dining room and hall. Hope you enjoyed the mini tour!

Egging Me On

So I wasn't feeling the Easter decorating this year.  Little bit lazy, little bit busy, and been sick for over a week!  Nothing like a vintage find at a thrift store to get me motivated.   Found this paper mache egg for 1.99 at the thrift last week.  Score!

 

 

Love these made in Germany eggs.  I had a few others so I threw some spanish moss in a basket and added them all.

I did add a few other vintage goodies around the house.  Not a lot, since my kids are grown I don't do as much as I used to.  (but they still seem to want me to whip them up easter baskets, go figure)

Well, a little Easter/Spring cheer anyway.  And with our newest addition of 8 MORE inches of snow I needed something to brighten up this joint.  I am so over winter.

In other news today is my birthday!  Happy B DAY to me. Oh yeah, it is also my husbands.  So Happy Birthday to him to, I guess :) 

Trapper Keepers Rock

I sell on ebay every week.  It's great extra money and I enjoy doing it.   My favorite thing, however, is when I hear from a buyer on why they bought an item from me.  Recently I had just such a story and it will be hard to ever top this.  I had read somewhere that vintage Trapper Keepers are good sellers.  I always look for them but never find them.  My luck changed 2 weeks ago when I found one in the Design Series line for .99 at Goodwill.  After looking at completeds I decided to list it for $44.99.   On Thursday I got a message from a buyer stating that he would like to purchase it for a commercial shoot for a movie promo he was doing for MTV.  Only catch was he needed it the next day.  After working out the details of shipping etc, he purchased it and I overnighted it to him.  Here's a pic of it

Ok, here's the best part.  The movie is called The Internship featuring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.  The promo for the movie will run on MTV. Owen Wilson pulls out his vintage trapper keeper while all the young kids pull out their iPads, etc.  I'm hoping that they will really use it.  Seriously how cool is that???? If nothing else I impressed my kids :)