Goodwill, Garage Sales & One Year of My Dear Trash

I can’t believe it’s been over a year of blogging on My Dear Trash.

My, how time flies. 

When I first started writing on My Dear Trash, I couldn’t wait to get to the computer and write.  I’d have an experience, grab at my camera and start flashing photos.  Everyday situations all of a sudden became blog-worthy.  I still feel the same way about sharing my experiences.

The theme My Dear Trash surprises me.  I can’t believe how many experiences in my life revolve around stuff I find used, either at thrift stores or garage sales.  Either I’m totally brilliant or totally crazy; some days both at the same time.

To celebrate this anniversary, I wanted to list my personal top 10 benefits of blogging on 

My Dear Trash:

10 – Blogging keeps me focused on writing.  As a writer trying to get published, this is very important to me.  When I think I have nothing to say, I’m usually wrong.  I write about things I never thought I would, like 20 toy boats and $5.00 sand piles.  The very exercise of blogging makes me feel like a real writer.

9 –  I’ve meet so many nice people along the way and I love it.  I recently received this email from an eBay shopper:

Hi Laura,

I'm an avid reader of your blog, and I thought I'd let you know that the name of this item is misspelled. You may want to change from Vera 'Want' to 'Wang' so that it shows up on buyer's searches. Best of luck and keep up the amazing work!

Many hugs.

Isn’t this the sweetest email?  It’s so nice other people are looking out for me.  Thank you for caring about the little things.

8 – I look at the world differently.  All of a sudden, a walk down the street becomes note-worthy.  I've learned to see more humor in life  like pushing too many children (in a used double stroller I paid $75.00 for on craigslist) while walking the dog and feeding Princess Peanut her milk bottle.  

(Do not try this at home.  This scene was created exclusively for My Dear Trash by a trained professional.)

7- The counselor and the kids enjoy reading My Dear Trash, something that surprised me from day one.  They hope I blog so they can read about what I have to say about them.  

Like how sweet Chandler is with Eden ...

Or the day the counselor planted a garden and I threw his dirty clothes away because I didn't want to wash them (hey, they only cost $1.00 each, so I didn't feel too bad),

or how Reef likes to help me lay out my thrift store finds when I take pictures.

6 - Writing on My Dear Trash keeps me motivated to shop for great trash.  Not that I ever need an excuse to shop, but would I have found this $70.00 leather couch, $75.00 vintage hutch and $40.00 worth of vintage fashion sketches if I wasn't shopping as often as I do.

  5 - Writing on My Dear Trash keeps me humble.  Do you know how many times I've taken a photo only to find my weakness of poor housecleaning sneaks into the frame.

  4 - I'm able to help friends learn how to make money or sale their trash for them.  On eBay, I just sold this Jones New York 14 NWT $179 Petite 14 Black Dress for $27.08 for a friend of mine.

Currently, I'm listing this NWT gorgeous formal "bella"dress on craigslist for a friend.  

And don't worry, Mom.  I'll get over to take a photo of your treadmill to put on craigslist.
3 - I never stop learning how to make money.  Who knew this Women's J. Crew Size 12 Ocean Lighthouse Linen Skirt would sell for $24.55.  I didn't know linen was such a desired item so late in the season.

2 - When I run into an old friend, I rarely need to catch them up on my life.  They know that pencil skirts are selling really well on eBay

and that I didn't realize this J. Crew turtleneck had cashmere in it until I returned home from the thrift store and how excited I was about that

 and that Reef loves his portable tv/vcr that I found at the thrift store for $20.00

and that when Mayer needed a jacket for camping, I found one at Goodwill for $1.00

And, the #1 benefit of blogging on My Dear Trash?

YOUR COMMENTS.

And that you keep coming back and reading and sharing.

I'd love to hear what your favorite My Dear Trash blog post is, whether it's Kelly's or mine.  

And here's to another great year.
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