Question? How does shopping trash bless my family?

This Sunday, the princess and I wore matching red dresses to church.  

It’s so fun dressing up together, especially when each dress was only $1.00 at Goodwill. 

I’m not used to shopping retail, so back to school shopping was interesting.  For all the bargains I find, this was the day to let the boys pick out what they wanted, bargain or not. 

Yes, all these shoes are for my growing boys.

And they looked great the first day of school.

Still, we’ve shopped plenty of trash over the last few weeks. 

Payson found this must-have lava lamp at Savers. 

I found this mid-century dresser at an estate sale and Chandler decided he wanted to paint it orange (color of his favorite basketball team, the Phoenix SUNS) with black fixtures.

Now all the boys want to paint there dressers.  

Notice the Phoenix SUNS banner hanging on the wall.  My mom found this at a yard sale for $1.00, but didn't like the Budweiser beer advertisement on the bottom.  She crossed out certain letters and now it reads:

"B-Light, B-Wiser"

Thanks, mom.  Great words to live by!

My neighbor the amazing caterer hosted a wedding brunch and brought us over plenty of leftovers.  I invited my parents and in-laws to enjoy the festivities with us.

Eden loving her tutu I found at a garage sale for .50 cents.

I found this guitar at a garage sale and paid $20.00 for it.  

I signed Chandler up for guitar lessons and was told he needed a guitar book, which would cost $20.00 to get him started.  When Chandler took his guitar out of the case for the first time, that very guitar book was underneath his guitar, never even been used so we saved another $20.00.  Wow!   

Shopping trash never gets old.

Chandler’s guitar lessons cost $80.00 a month.  Let’s see if I can pay for his tuition off the money I make selling trash.

This beautiful $25.00 desk sold for $80.00.

I brought this jewelry hutch home for $65.00 and sold it for $85.00.

I found this toy box at the thrift store for $15.00, cleaned it up a bit and sold if for $30.00.  A little tea tree oil on a damp cloth took off the permanent marker that had been colored all over it. 

Chandler enjoys another month of guitar lessons and I feel good knowing I paid for it off other people’s trash.

Hope your kids had a great first day back to school.

How does shopping trash bless your family?
Linking up to:

And She's Off...

It's been a whirlwind around here. One daughter gets married and is now expecting our first grandchild, while our second oldest has left for Germany for 3 weeks then off to college! Here she is at the airport ready to begin her journey. She's always been our adventurer, wanting to go and do since she was little. This will be the first stamp on her passport- one of many that I'm sure she'll earn! Upon her return to the states we'll have less than 24 hours to get her off to her new dorm at Northern Arizona University where she'll study international affairs. I'm sure there will be many scenes like this in our future...
We'll miss her so much but are so proud of her accomplishments and so excited to see how she'll make her mark on the World. Now, enough of the gushy stuff and on to the next matter... We now have an empty bedroom- not an extra bedroom mind you- just an empty one.
Here it is just waiting for a make-over. (We made-over this room 6 years ago for my daughter's 12th birthday- notice the fur headboard Mr. Right and I made and the hot pink furniture?) My 4th in line has been anticipating the day she'll have her own room and the time has come. With number 2 having left on Monday and school starting today- we had to work fast to make the switch as smooth as possible. So, less than 8 hours after the room was vacated, this is a LITTLE sneak peek at what we've done...
I LOVE this color blue- it's called Cullumber by Behr. A super soft blue/gray that almost looks white when wet. We cleared the room, painted the baseboards and walls and hauled in white furniture that I redid a few months back. The colors will be blue, white and silver. We're keeping the fur headboard- so I'll definitely need some colored pillows to offset all the white. We're also looking for a silver chair, a vanity and a few accessories. I'll make sure I post more pics when it gets all done- If you have suggestions- I'd love to hear them. Love, Kelly

A Reliable Wife – What would you do for love?

A Reliable Wife; a novel written by Robert Goolrick with the premise what would you do for love? 

The novel follows Ralph Truitt, a wealthy middle-aged man looking for a wife by placing an advertisement in the newspaper.  The book stars with him standing at the train station, waiting to meet his mail-order bride, Catherine.  

From the beginning, I wanted the best for Ralph Truitt.  He’s lonely and somewhat sad, he’s loved yet been abandoned and my heart ached for him.  He watches others, observes families in his community, couples that are in love or not, families divided, babies born, babies that die.  The time is the early 1900’s; an era where people fight poverty, illness and brutal Wisconsin winters.  He employees most the people in his small wintry town and with all the earthly things he will ever needs he doesn’t have the one thing he wants- love. 

I wanted his new bride to be good and honest, to be what Ralph Truitt deserves, but she’s nothing like that at all.

Catherine’s motive to marry Ralph Truitt is difficult to swallow, but even with her evils, I learned to love his bride, even cheer for her, for love.  I was able to read about her past, what she’d been through as a young girl, poor and orphaned; a self-made woman who does grow to love Ralph Truitt.

It’s not often I read a book written from a male perspective and it’s somewhat refreshing.  How men think, how the react, how they feel; it made me look at my own husband differently; understand him better and not be so quick to judge. No newsflash here that men think differently from woman, but Ralph’s outlook on devastation, the cruelties of life are not what I expected.  When I thought he’d react with anger, he reacts with compassion.  When I thought he was being deceived, he was aware of the lies all along.  When I thought Catherine was in charge, it was only because he was submissive.

And it’s not an accident the storyline takes place in Wisconsin, during long winter months of solitude, dormant plants and a white barren landscapes.  This all adds to the great need for Ralph and Catherine to find love in each other.

Ralph’s money is used for all the wrong reasons.  For a man with little needs, his wealth is an obstacle in his path to love.  He hides behind his beautiful suits and well-pressed shirts.  He only has the finest things in life, but really, they have no value to him at all.  He gives money when he should give more of himself, but in the end, I learned Ralph is a selfless man. 

Finding love is not easy.  We have to let our walls down and let others in.  At first, Ralph is closed and proper, not willing to share even the slightest part of his true self.  He was prideful and believed love was dead, but opening his heart even to the idea that love was out there made it happen in his life.  It’s amazing what Ralph Truitt does for love and that in the end, it finally does find him.  

A Reliable Wife is suspenseful, dark and brutal.  My life is nothing like that.  My life is full of children with morning kisses, curious eyes and innocent laughter.   Funny, I couldn’t put A Reliable Wife down.  Why is that?  Isn’t it great a book can pull us into another world, let us into the minds of people we may never have any other chance to meet?  

I'm Going To Be A Grandma!

My sweet Amanda and her husband Brennen are expecting! Words cannot express how excited we are to welcome a sweet baby into our family. I'll keep you posted on her progress- due date should be sometime in April 2012! Love, Kelly.

eBay Nostalgia

I was browsing through Apron Thrift Girl’s linky party 

and came across some amazing blogs, particularly Savvy Saver Secrets

(image found here)

Janessa has some great sales on eBay and great ideas on how to make money off trash.  Her best sale?  She came across some boots while out garaging.

  She knew they were valuable and picked them up for $35.00.  Would I have spent $35.00 for them?  Sometimes it’s hard to put out the money knowing you have to make it back, but make it back she did.  Not only did she start her Miss Capezio turquoise butterfly inlay vintage cowboy boots at .99 cents, not only were they the most watched item on eBay that week, but they sold for $785.00.  Now that’s a success story.

And it made me nostalgic, for those beautiful days of eBay, where I could talk the talk, shop the shop, then post a great find, watch it build for a week, have enormous success, and share it with you on My Dear Trash.

And I think its time to start the fight to get reinstated on eBay.

If they’ll listen to me.

If they care?

That I got kicked off eBay because of a pair of ankle jeans.

I'm going to send them my experience, typed and double-spaced, all 5 pages, because they're dealing with a want-to-be writer, so they're going to hear the truth all in a well-written narrative with a sassy main character, ME!

I miss eBay!  eBay, please listen to my story and let me come back home.
If you want to hear how I got kicked off eBay, click here, here and here.  Be sure to have some tissues close by.  For those of us who love to sell trash, this is a real tear jerker.

Trash To Cash Wednesday and A "Comment" Party!

After reading through the comments a few weeks ago, the general consensus seems to be, keep the comment party. I have to admit, it was great to just scroll through all of the comments and read everyone's top sellers- super fast! So please leave a comment with either a link, or description of your best sellers for the week. Here's my top sellers on ebay...

Women's The Limited Size 8 Silky Graphic Dress 10.50

Women's Cabi Size M Black Knit Full Skirt 10.50
Women's Lane Bryant Size 14 Long Denim Skirt 12.50

Women's New With Tags Ann Taylor Size 2 Plaid Career Dress 14.50. I sold over 30 items this week, but very few received more than 1 bid- It's been a little slow this summer, but with back to school approaching- Sales should go sky high these next few months. I still made over $250, but I'm looking forward to those $500 weeks. Don't forget to leave a comment- we love to hear your stories. Love, Kelly.

Woman's Day

I've missed posting, but have had a great time being at Girl's Camp with two of my girls. Just a few hours after we arrived home yesterday- one of my daughter's began the journey of what we call "womanhood" I thought I would share a tradition that I started with my oldest daughter that makes getting this monthly gift something to look forward to, rather than dread. Woman's Day! This is a day of shopping for a new outfit, lunch and pedicures. I look forward to the opportunity to visit with my daughters about the blessings of being a woman and the amazing gift and responsibility of being a mother. I'm sorry I don't have pictures to post of our wonderful day- I'm trying not to completely humiliate her, but wanted to share how grateful I am to be a mother of 6 incredible daughters. My oldest is now married, my second oldest is leaving in 5 days for Germany and then off to college and I'm feeling the sting of letting themgo. I'm grateful for days like this where all that matter is our time together. Love, Kelly.

Sometimes, It's the little things that count . . even when it's just a little.

Every once in while when I'm out shopping for trash, I'll find something like this:

A bumbo chair.

For $2.00, I can't pass it up.  

Because I know I can list it for $20.00 on Craigslist.

Now, I know $18.00 isn't a huge profit, but I find the little things add up.

This headboard was $10.00.  I later sold it on Craigslist for $30.00.  Another little profit, but what if I sell a few more little things.

A little end table; paid $15.00, solid it for $40.00.

Purchase for $5.00, sold for $25.00.

I paid $5.00 for this beauty and solid it for $25.00 also.

These crates were $10.00 for the bunch.  I sold each for $10.00, making the total sale $40.00.  A $30.00 profit isn't too bad.

I paid $2.00 for this Pottery Barn lamp and sold it for $20.00.

This knee board was $5.00 and I sold it for $40.00.

This vintage suitcase was $6.00 and I sold it for $25.00.

This Brighton watch was $2.00 at a garage sale and it sold for $15.00.

Little things can sometimes add up.

Like spending an afternoon browsing art galleries in Scottsdale with my baby sister Anna

or eating BBQ on a summer's night

or wishing someone you love Happy Birthday.

"Make a wish!"

I've heard it's the little things that count, but when it's selling trash it takes on a whole new meaning.

Poof! One Day - Laura Lofgreen vs. Emma Morley

I recently finished a booked called One Day.  

I’ll try not to give too much away, as I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone else who plans on reading it.

One Day was a fun read, full of witty writing and specifically two interesting characters; Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew.

One Day wasn't life changing, like other books I’ve read this summer (The Help or Sarah’s Key), but it was worth the journey in many ways.

I laughed, I cried and know more about London then I did before.

One Day follows the relationship of Emma and Dexter, from just after their college graduation all the way into their forties.

There are highs and lows, bad jobs and even worse hair cuts, lovers and heartbreaks, but around the age of 35, Emma’s dreams come true.  She publishes a young adult book and every writer’s dream, writes sequels.  Next come the movie rights and merchandising. 

And I was jealous, of a fictional character mind you named Emma Morley, because I want to be published like her.

I actually mopped around, feeling sorry for myself, talking to my husband about it, until I took a step back and really compared my life to Emma Morley.

Emma, this non-real/non-person who’s never taken a human breath, is married in the book at the age of 38.

I’m 38.

And I wondered, where would my life be if I just married?

If I’d been single all these years.

Laura life before meeting Derek.

I loved college, thrived on higher education and was prepared to start a Master’s Degree after receiving my bachelor’s in communication from ASU.  

I loved running.  I ran everyday, up Camelback Mountain, around Papago Park, on the canal out to Red Mountain, around the track at ASU.  I ran at least an hour every day.  I always had index note cards in my hands when I ran; memorizing notes I needed for my advanced public speaking classes and other course work. 

I was a nerd in running shorts and a highlighter pen!

I think I was happy, although I do remember feeling lonely often, wondering if I’d ever find love.

A few years earlier at the age of 17, I'd read a book called Diet for a New America.  It changed how I looked at food. I became a vegetarian and wouldn’t eat meat for another 10 years. 

I loved children and was a professional nanny.  Actually, I was a professional at playing house in very expensive homes.  I played, traveled around the country and drove every type of Mercedes and Volvo with childproof locks.  I loved to cook, learning as I went, and was happy to do all the grocery shopping.  I cooked gourmet meals for the families I worked for; stuffed peppers with goat cheese, lentil soups with curry chicken, eggplant parmesan and homemade cheesecakes with glazed peaches. 

But at night, when I was at home in my apartment eating raw carrots and tofu, I remember feeling lonely. 

I wanted someone to love with all my heart, but how would I ever find him?

I never thought love would happen to me.  I knew I was different.  I didn’t have many friends.  Socially, I felt awkward, plus I was Mormon, which means not drinking, no sleeping around, dressing modestly and attending church on Sunday, very much not like Emma Morley.

I worked full-time and went to school full-time.  

Most my clothes were from the thrift store, vintage and hippie with a conservative edge.  

I rode my bike to school because I could not afford to pay for student parking.  

My bagged lunch was most often a brown rice sandwich; really it was quite good with lettuce and mustard.  

I was on a full-ride academic scholarship and worked a part-time internship.  

The night I met Derek I had no idea what was about to happen to me, that very soon I would be in love with this 6’5 beautiful person.  That I would have more happiness then I ever imagined, that he would change my entire world.

We meet in the parking lot at ASU, (hey, better then a dark alley) and talked about our goals for the upcoming new year.

The year was 1998.

We were friends for four months.  

Derek called and asked me out.  I told him I was too busy and didn’t want a boyfriend, but asked if he’d like to help me plant a garden in the small patch of dirt on the edge of my back patio.  He obliged and afterwards, I made him whole wheat pancakes with real maple syrup.  

I told him we could be friends, but he persisted with flowers left on my door step and red balloons tied to the handlebars of my bike.  He wrote poetry and mailed it to my apartment.  He had cookies delivered and invited me to the movies or out to dinner.

Until I finally said yes.

We dated for four weeks when he proposed and we were married three months later.

I was married 2 weeks before my 26^th birthday in a borrowed dress and a handmade veil to the very best person I’ve ever known. 

At 26, Emma Morley was working as the manager of a cheesy, and I do mean lots of cheese, Mexican restaurant, wondering if she should date the new guy just hired to wash dishes.

Emma’s life is not exaggerated by author David Nicholls and I appreciate that, it just takes her a long time to figure out what’s best for her.  There’s no Derek to sweep her off her feet.

Personally, I would not have been friends with Dexter Mayhew.  He is toxic Emma and drags her down for way too long.  When I was single, I knew men like Dexter Mayhew.  Rich, arrogant, searching for the meaning of life in a bottle of beer; I could never be with this type of man.  I would be a very different person if Dexter Mayhew kept showing up in my life; confused, strung out, depressed, lonely.

I needed someone quiet, but strong, smart, but humble.  I needed someone to teach me what love was by how he loved me in return.

I needed someone who thought I was beautiful and would run 5 miles with me, which he did once.

Of course, I didn’t know all this when I married Derek.  I just knew I loved him with all my heart.

So, would I be a published author  like Emma Morley, traveling to Paris and taking a couple years off work to study my art? 

What if I wasn’t married with 5 kids?

Would I be a famous author?

My life is full of miracles; six to be exact.

My husband and five children like precious gems built into my heart.

I can’t be sure exactly, but without the love of my family I’d still be searching, hoping love would find me.  I wouldn’t be complete.  I’d still have only half my heart. 

Sometimes I say to Derek, "I can't believe you found me."
I'm so grateful he recognized me and saw something in me I'd never seen before.

Still, the desire to write burns inside me and I can’t put it away. 

So, I guess reading One Day did impact me more then I realized.  It made me look at my life differently and isn’t that the best thing about a gifted writer and the written word.  

So, here’s to unfinished novels, unsolicited queries and unedited manuscripts.  

Here’s to dirty dishes, dirty diapers and dirty socks and here’s to you, Emma Mayhew, for getting published and finding love in Dexter along the way.  

I’m not jealous of Emma anymore, alright, maybe just a little bit, but hopefully my time will come.