tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821418664348012562024-03-13T03:46:58.484-07:00One Girl's Adventures in ThriftingLiv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-42611734507502775502013-02-17T11:22:00.001-08:002013-02-17T16:11:12.488-08:00Necktie Recycling and the Spirit of Crafting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m probably not supposed to talk about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But…several months ago, I
got an email from the Etsy Legal Team with the subject “Etsy Infringement
Notice.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scarier yet was how all of my
handmade necktie wristlets had been deactivated from my shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poof!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The email said that I had violated the Copyright and Intellectual
Property Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?! Was I some
sort of criminal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the very
least, I must be a bad person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
turned out that someone was mad at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This stranger had said that I had stolen her idea--her patented
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was being instructed to
not, I repeat NOT, sell anymore necktie wristlets. If I did, my shop would be burned to the ground and my family killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or something like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I felt a lot of
emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one hand, the
necktie wristlet hadn’t been my original idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen one somewhere, sometime, and these wristlets had
sprung from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What creativity
isn’t inspired by others’?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had,
in fact, seen lots of things made from neckties in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t a new idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People have been recycling neckties
since the dawn of crafting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
felt mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Selling things made out
of neckties is a leisurely hobby of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m a professional educator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crafting is not my livelihood, but merely something I dabble in and
enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was this stranger really so
threatened by the nine wristlets I had sold over the past 5 months that she
needed to shut me down?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the Legal Team’s email,
I was given this stranger’s name and email address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to contact this woman and reason with her. I
believe in the power of communication. If you have a problem, you talk about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I swallowed all those feelings
of anger and sent her the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: ArialMT;"><i>Hi,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: ArialMT;"><i>I
was really confused when I received a notification from the Etsy legal team
regarding copyright infringement. After looking in your shop I see that you
make a similar necktie wristlet and have been doing so for some time. I'm truly
sorry that you feel I've copied your design and original idea. That was
certainly not my intent at all! <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: ArialMT;"><i>I'm
a teacher in a public school in Milwaukee. Crafting and
having an Etsy shop is just a hobby of mine. I've been in love with vintage
neckties for a long time and I first started making purses from them several
years ago. I guess my point is that I'm not out to take away business from you
or steal your ideas, but just that I enjoy making purses and wristlets out of
old neckties. My hope is that we can resolve this matter in a way that makes
everyone feel good and that is in the spirit of crafting.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: ArialMT;"><i>All
the best,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: ArialMT;"><i>Liv<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That should do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except that this woman never
responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so much as a
peep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, that’s not in the
spirit of crafting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spirit of
crafting is about sharing ideas and inspiring creativity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about appreciating that someone
else out there in the world likes making things out of old ties the same way
you do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weren’t we sorta like kindred spirits? I guess not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
spirit was quickly turning into spite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A part of me now <i>wanted</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> to
take business away from this woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I contacted my
lawyer-friend for advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
decided that if I changed my design and made it different enough, that it would
no longer be copying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to
feel energized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing inspires
quite like spite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been
thinking about improving my design anyway, and now it was time to get to
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would turn this stranger’s
negative energy into positive, spite-filled energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Instead of two pockets, I
added a third pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I changed
the design of the strap to incorporate the skinny end of the necktie, and I
used the tie label to hold the D-ring in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Voila!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
that’s a necktie wristlet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkPPJZlGWhM/USEqbJPP4II/AAAAAAAAAP0/G0AhFDsqzVk/s1600/DSC00738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkPPJZlGWhM/USEqbJPP4II/AAAAAAAAAP0/G0AhFDsqzVk/s320/DSC00738.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old design. Yuck!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zH858o9-ZAc/USEqqLyzRdI/AAAAAAAAAP8/wksly3B2zJU/s1600/DSC00704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zH858o9-ZAc/USEqqLyzRdI/AAAAAAAAAP8/wksly3B2zJU/s320/DSC00704.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New and improved!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t really like
lemonade (it makes me thirsty), but the old adage rings true:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">When life gives you lemons, make
lemonade.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Or, in my case, when
life gives you copyright infringement, make a better product and sell it for a
few bucks more.</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-17505637151063917862013-01-22T21:06:00.001-08:002013-01-23T08:48:24.687-08:00The Best Ties in Life are Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The “free” page on Craigslist is a fascinating and confounding place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section could also be aptly named “large and heavy.” Free concrete utility sink anyone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just come and get it out of my basement! Don’t get me wrong, the majority of what is listed as “free” on Craigslist makes perfect sense. There are couches and mattresses and sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are pianos and wood chips and clean fill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I once listed a rose bush that I wanted removed from my front yard, but couldn’t justify just ripping it out and tossing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a few hours I had someone excitedly coming to dig it up. Please, be my guest!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things like that make sense—not right for the thrift store, but perfectly good items someone could use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, there are those items listed that perplex:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">3 c vacuum bags: size c vacuum bags they are the wrong size for our vacuum if you could use them they're yours”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Repti Calcium: Container of Reptile Calcium. Expires 03/15. Used one teaspoon.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Free Envelope Of Coupons (NW Milwaukee): I have a thick envelope of coupons.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t understand this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The few times I’ve sold things on Craigslist, it’s work: responding to people, trying to decide if they’re murderers, finding a time to meet/get murdered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wad of cash at the end of the sale was almost not worth the effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely if I had 3 unneeded size C vacuum bags I would just throw them in the Goodwill box in the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would NOT list them for free on Craigslist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could that possibly be worth the effort?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s not even a wad of cash at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s not like I’m giving away baby formula or diapers or something people really <i>need</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m no baby expert, but I’m pretty sure no infants will be saved with vacuum bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is perplexing stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then again, maybe someone wants those vacuum bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s not so perplexing after all… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A fellow thrifter and colleague of mine occasionally peruses the “free” listings on Craigslist, and one day he appeared at my classroom door with a note that said “neckties” with a phone number scrawled beneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart skipped a beat and my knees got a little weak with excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I called the necktie-stranger to inquire:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I have your necktie collection?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man had lots of questions for me and seemed suspicious of my motives. He gave me the impression that others had been hounding him all day for these free ties—was it possible that they had? I told him that I, in fact, recycle old neckties into purses and wallets and after a lot of explaining and reassuring he declared that I was the chosen one who would receive his beloved neckties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great, I said. I asked if I could pick them up the following day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it had to be tonight or else he could just give them to another interested party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited for him to specify which dark alley I should go to. What if this necktie-stranger turned out to be a necktie-strangler??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That night I drove to a suburb with my pregnant friend for protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house looked normal enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rang the bell and an older woman appeared with a large box filled with neatly folded neckties—a lot of neckties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband was not at home, she told me. Her kind but distracted small talk gave the impression that she did not want to chat nor did she want to kill me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I offered money and she declined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minutes later I was skip-walking away with this huge box of over 70 cool, old ties:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope this necktie-stranger, whoever he is, knows that I love his ties too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this was his goal, to find someone with a mutual-appreciation for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who among us wouldn’t want the things we truly love to go to a good home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe knowing someone else loves your things as much as you do is all the payment a person needs.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-90717964406138618802012-05-13T18:42:00.000-07:002012-05-13T18:50:33.470-07:00Mayonnaise Makes the Salad Creamy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The geniuses at Jell-O thought of everything. Seriously,
I’m pretty sure the last thing you think to suspend in Jell-O is lima beans and
they came up with that one. In the
“Crown Jewel Dessert” recipe you actually suspend cubes of Jell-O in more Jell-O. Man, that's so meta…</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rbGBc_zKCp8/T6_XnfO88sI/AAAAAAAAAO8/zrqWnJPb8IM/s1600/IMG_3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rbGBc_zKCp8/T6_XnfO88sI/AAAAAAAAAO8/zrqWnJPb8IM/s200/IMG_3619.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">In <u>The Joys of Jell-O</u>,
one of my favorite </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">vintage cookbooks, there are lots of recipes </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">with mainstay
ingredients like pineapple tidbits </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">and miniature marshmallows. But if you’re </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">going to devote an entire
cookbook to </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Jell-O, you need to get creative. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Here’s a </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">list of tasty ingredients spotted in various </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">recipes:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">¾ cup Post Grape Nuts cereal</span></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tI_FuiiH3uQ/T6_XgWOz1eI/AAAAAAAAAO0/afi1bzJplWM/s1600/IMG_3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tI_FuiiH3uQ/T6_XgWOz1eI/AAAAAAAAAO0/afi1bzJplWM/s320/IMG_3608.JPG" width="238" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">¾ cup finely cut cooked
prunes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">1 bottle (7 oz.) cola
beverage</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">1 avocado</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Marshmallow-Mayonnaise
Topping</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Horseradish</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Shredded Cabbage</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Tabasco Sauce</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">¼ cup chopped dill pickle</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">1 ½ cups chopped spinach</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Barbecue Cubes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">¾ cup drained sliced pickled
beets</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">pickled herring</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">1 can (1lb.) whole kernel
corn</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">2 bouillon cubes</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I wish I wrote this
cookbook. Then, not only could I
have developed and eaten a bunch of Jell-O concoctions, I could’ve written
descriptions like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyHu6rVLqZQ/T6_bcttYsgI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/KMZs1strYrw/s1600/IMG_3625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyHu6rVLqZQ/T6_bcttYsgI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/KMZs1strYrw/s320/IMG_3625.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>The fruits for this
dazzler are available any season of the year.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Orange and Grape Duo)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>This tasty salad is a
lovely luncheon entrée with cold cuts and hot muffins.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Waldorf Mold)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
A tart mold of grapefruit
perks up the most humdrum lunch or dinner.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Grapefruit Salad)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>The sunshine of the West
is reflected in this delightful salad creation.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (California Fruit Salad)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>This tasty salad is
economical in cost, but there’s no shortage of flavor.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Penny-Wise Salad)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>An easy way to glamorize
inexpensive canned pear halves.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">
(Cardinal Pear Mold)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zl73MGmL_NM/T6_XYsru-EI/AAAAAAAAAOs/nhcAEkqOnww/s1600/IMG_3612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zl73MGmL_NM/T6_XYsru-EI/AAAAAAAAAOs/nhcAEkqOnww/s320/IMG_3612.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>A colorful jewel of a salad that will crown your meal regally.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Cauliflower Radish Salad)</span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>A charming finale to a
meal.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Apricot Bavarian Cream) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I think my lifelong wish to
come up with paint color names is eclipsed by my desire to title Jell-O mold
recipes. Here are some of my
favorites from <u>The Joys of Jell-O</u>:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Zw3QakuhM/T6_XISlyP3I/AAAAAAAAAOk/uOjReSub4Co/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Zw3QakuhM/T6_XISlyP3I/AAAAAAAAAOk/uOjReSub4Co/s400/IMG_3624.JPG" width="298" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Creamy Freeze</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ice Cream Party Dessert<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cherry Cheese Charmer<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ring-Around-the-Fruit<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ring-Around-the-Tuna <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fruited Perfection<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Three-Fruit Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Under the Sea Salad</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hawaiian Eyeful<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Supper Salad</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Also, if anyone needs to
name a cat, there is:</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Orange Frost<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Ribbon Loaf<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Cooky Stacks<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Frosty Melon<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everyone, I present to you
my cat, Cooky Stacks:</span></div>
</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jo_1ITbWvt0/T6_WcialwkI/AAAAAAAAAOU/wuSBp_4ma20/s1600/chum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jo_1ITbWvt0/T6_WcialwkI/AAAAAAAAAOU/wuSBp_4ma20/s320/chum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Joys of Jell-O, indeed!</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-61968351032257807782012-03-26T07:43:00.021-07:002012-07-31T12:13:40.107-07:00Necktie Mother-lode: a necktie upcycling tutorial<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Not only did the Salvation Army in Menomonee Falls have a jam-packed, 4-sided, multi-tiered rack of neckties, there was an overflowing laundry basket full of ties on the floor next to it!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 130%;">Sifting through the mass, I pulled out some real beauties…</span></div>
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lun08WujAoA/T3CX0cYaalI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ZuRYETC94aw/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724242053615479378" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lun08WujAoA/T3CX0cYaalI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ZuRYETC94aw/s320/IMG_3369.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Seriously, I don’t think I’ve been this excited since this Flying Club trophy entered my life: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9hYt0ctP5k/T3CXzxZ8BNI/AAAAAAAAAOA/was0yU1IAo0/s1600/IMG_3519.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724242042079151314" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9hYt0ctP5k/T3CXzxZ8BNI/AAAAAAAAAOA/was0yU1IAo0/s320/IMG_3519.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Where have these neckties been? 1976 wedding? 1979 parent-teacher conferences? I’m guessing they haven’t been loved in a while so now it’s time for them to feel some love! (After I rip them apart, cut them up, and stab them repeatedly with my sewing machine needle, that is.)</span></span></div>
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kZs2mMovrpM/T3CIYttSdMI/AAAAAAAAANc/wW9TrA1dVTw/s1600/IMG_3491.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724225084555687106" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kZs2mMovrpM/T3CIYttSdMI/AAAAAAAAANc/wW9TrA1dVTw/s320/IMG_3491.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Hello, little necktie wristlet carrying case thingy…here’s how you were born:</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;">1. Cold wash, hang dry, and let ‘er rip!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724222606767660786" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmmPwXCev4k/T3CGIfOlnvI/AAAAAAAAAMs/AJrUiDxXFuM/s320/IMG_3379.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqyyTS3wVCA/T3CGIMnJADI/AAAAAAAAAMg/KhPpFBHLx6c/s1600/IMG_3381.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724222601770369074" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqyyTS3wVCA/T3CGIMnJADI/AAAAAAAAAMg/KhPpFBHLx6c/s320/IMG_3381.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;">2. Cut accordingly. To fit my iPhone, I cut the pouch piece 13.5”x8”. The strap is 13”x3” and the piece to attach the D-ring is 3”x3”. It takes a wide tie to accommodate these measurements.</span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YHO2KM69VLk/T3CGHcDSKvI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/CQKnmaoHkTY/s1600/IMG_3382.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724222588735073010" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YHO2KM69VLk/T3CGHcDSKvI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/CQKnmaoHkTY/s320/IMG_3382.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;">3. Iron on some medium weight interfacing, pin and sew!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvrD743jG_I/T3CGHCZop8I/AAAAAAAAAMI/HofbTQXrZS0/s1600/IMG_3386.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724222581849499586" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvrD743jG_I/T3CGHCZop8I/AAAAAAAAAMI/HofbTQXrZS0/s320/IMG_3386.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;">3 ½. Bonus tip! Sew a piece of ribbon or cord inside your strap to easily turn it inside-out. (this will save you 20 minutes and several swear words)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-19YG_bg0kI0/T3CFRbxBTMI/AAAAAAAAAL4/Wp2dAj8PU14/s1600/IMG_3390.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724221660945534146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-19YG_bg0kI0/T3CFRbxBTMI/AAAAAAAAAL4/Wp2dAj8PU14/s320/IMG_3390.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Press, pin and sew your little pouch together.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">When topstitching the edges of your strap, leave about an inch open at the triangular end so when you complete the strap loop you can fit the end neatly inside.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFkZHIuyl1M/T3CFQXeZ7XI/AAAAAAAAALw/DYh3p1Vk-ts/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724221642613845362" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFkZHIuyl1M/T3CFQXeZ7XI/AAAAAAAAALw/DYh3p1Vk-ts/s320/IMG_3392.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;">5. Attach your D-ring and strap and you’re almost there!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ce1JSr7yYWk/T3CFPXvo3dI/AAAAAAAAALk/jW_4zzKDHcY/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724221625506258386" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ce1JSr7yYWk/T3CFPXvo3dI/AAAAAAAAALk/jW_4zzKDHcY/s320/IMG_3395.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;">6. Add a snap in a snap!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LV9gxNE-dY/T3CEpNuDUBI/AAAAAAAAALY/Bz94CygMp3A/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724220969980219410" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LV9gxNE-dY/T3CEpNuDUBI/AAAAAAAAALY/Bz94CygMp3A/s320/IMG_3402.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 130%;">7. Now you’re ready for a night out on the town spent effortlessly dangling this little beauty on your arm. Enjoy!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qk2oAyHSKdY/T3CEZzQz7HI/AAAAAAAAALM/7u_2BOHIJ4Y/s1600/IMG_3489.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724220705180216434" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qk2oAyHSKdY/T3CEZzQz7HI/AAAAAAAAALM/7u_2BOHIJ4Y/s320/IMG_3489.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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</div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-64777161020591077082012-01-29T19:49:00.000-08:002012-02-02T16:13:11.900-08:00My First Thrift Store<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>46</o:Words> <o:characters>264</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>324</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">In high school, I discovered my hometown thrift store: The Thrift Shoppe. It’s the crown jewel of Whitewater, WI as far as I’m concerned. This thrift store has a special place in my heart, not only because it is where my love of thifting began, but also because it hasn’t changed since. It’s a time capsule of bargains.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKUYeFRZg4g/TyYXMR1uO1I/AAAAAAAAAKo/nphLkORF0Ow/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKUYeFRZg4g/TyYXMR1uO1I/AAAAAAAAAKo/nphLkORF0Ow/s320/IMG_3271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271477825911634" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>69</o:Words> <o:characters>395</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>485</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">From the outside, The Thrift Shoppe looks like your grandma’s house. On the inside, however, you’ll find no doilies or plastic-covered furniture. Instead, the 9 rooms of this 100-year-old house are chock full of neatly organized treasures. Owned by the nearby Lutheran Church, this thrift store has been energetically staffed by beautiful grey-haired volunteers for 45 years. In my opinion, it is top-notch in pricing, variety and service. Plus, it’s the definition of “quaint.”<!--EndFragment--> </span><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pBFUo0WUGQ/TyYXLx7BP2I/AAAAAAAAAKc/tjaPDaDG32g/s1600/IMG_3276.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pBFUo0WUGQ/TyYXLx7BP2I/AAAAAAAAAKc/tjaPDaDG32g/s320/IMG_3276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271469258194786" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XNm9t6jMsM0/TyYW7m_rLbI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/Mgh0J9ejoI0/s1600/IMG_3274.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XNm9t6jMsM0/TyYW7m_rLbI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/Mgh0J9ejoI0/s320/IMG_3274.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271191447023026" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0FYpRDWa3zo/TyYW7G1hVXI/AAAAAAAAAKE/VQODOO6dPnM/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0FYpRDWa3zo/TyYW7G1hVXI/AAAAAAAAAKE/VQODOO6dPnM/s320/IMG_3284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271182814500210" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>62</o:Words> <o:characters>356</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>437</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;">I still remember the first shirt I bought there, in large part because I wore it so often. I loved that shirt. I’m pretty sure I thought it made me super cool, although looking back I needed more than a shirt to help me in that department. I don’t know what happened to it, and sadly the only evidence I have now of its existence is this picture of me wearing it and playing the contra-bass clarinet. Was I super cool, or what?</span><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79zq4erW8jQ/TyYW6-mgX5I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/edkNArywSXw/s1600/Scan3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79zq4erW8jQ/TyYW6-mgX5I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/edkNArywSXw/s320/Scan3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271180604039058" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>155</o:Words> <o:characters>884</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1085</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I do find it strange that I don’t know the whereabouts of that shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I tend to hold on to well-loved clothes long after I’ve stopped wearing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I still have the jean jacket I adored in 5<sup>th</sup> grade, a sweater I coveted and saved up for in 9<sup>th</sup> grade, and several items from my formative thrifting years in college (some of which still make the rotation to this day).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Why do I hang on to these clothes? Why am I so attached? Am I saving these things for my future children, in the hopes that they’ll be as super cool as I am?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or am I just too sentimental?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I let go of the much-loved things in my life, am I somehow letting go of a part of myself?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">These clothes are woven with memories, and for me, part of the memory is the moment we first met:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Me, tirelessly searching the t-shirt racks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I spot something promising and my heart skips a beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A quick scan for stains, size, softness--all signs point to…YES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>Well, it is very nice to meet you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You’ll be living with me from now on.</i></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Special bonus for being funny or weird. Here’s one of my all time favorites:</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CMlmLjbS0w/TyYW6vFJE4I/AAAAAAAAAJs/bsr1lBjCTlM/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CMlmLjbS0w/TyYW6vFJE4I/AAAAAAAAAJs/bsr1lBjCTlM/s320/IMG_3286.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271176437568386" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>129</o:Words> <o:characters>740</o:Characters> <o:lines>6</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>908</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">It’s not always easy to visit the Whitewater Thrift Shoppe.<span> </span>While they have scheduled hours, they aren’t plentiful.<span> </span>And if you’re only in town because it’s a holiday, forget it.<span> </span>They will probably be closed a week before and after.<span> </span>But this is all part of the charm and what makes it great. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Goodwills may be open on Sundays and have a rack of t-shirts a mile long, but they sure don’t have charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>What The Thrift Shoppe lacks in convenience it more than makes up for in character: the handwritten price tags; the carefully organized craft section; the lovely woman who will write out your receipt in loopy script and gently wrap up your purchases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She will ask you if you go to the university or if you are an artist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She will rip apart the receipt, stab the store copy onto the metal holder and wish you to have a great day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the sparkle in her eyes, you will know that she means it.</span></p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>33</o:Words> <o:characters>189</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>232</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">This is the thrift store I want to shoppe at.<span> </span>The next time I head up the creaky stairs to sift through the shirt rack in the attic, I’ll catch a glimpse of the dusty corners of my youth.<span> </span>And it will feel a bit like going home.</span> </span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zZk1L94c22A/TyYW6d95ZUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/C5UnPkdPJ8o/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zZk1L94c22A/TyYW6d95ZUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/C5UnPkdPJ8o/s320/IMG_3279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703271171843777858" /></a><br /></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-53794402473610423572012-01-07T10:04:00.000-08:002012-01-08T00:13:23.541-08:00Intermittent Forks<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>295</o:Words> <o:characters>1684</o:Characters> <o:lines>14</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2068</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">When I was in teacher school, I learned about the power of intermittent reinforcement. That's why casinos are such a lucrative business. People feed slot machines because they want to win big and the sporadic small payouts fuel that hope while emptying wallets. Similarly, the intermittent reinforcements of thrifting keep me coming back for more. Going to one estate sale full of Precious Moments figurines and XXL women’s clothing is validated when I score a pile of vintage wrapping paper at another. I find myself not only scouring thrift stores and garage sales for these treasures, but also the places of daily life. My treasure-hunting-antenna is always up!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">As a middle school reading teacher (and reinforcement distributor) in Queens, New York, I was lucky enough to teach a program requiring a class-size of no more than 15 students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Having a small class not only saved my sanity, but saved me money while stocking my prize bin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My students never knew when or for what they might receive a raffle ticket, but the chance kept most of them in check. If intermittent reinforcement can wrangle middle schoolers, it is a powerful force indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">As a side product of my small classes, however, I was sequestered away in the old home economics room, which hadn’t been used in several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Opening the door for the first time felt like cracking the seal on a hyperbolic chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The stale-aired room was cramped, dusty, and resembled the inside of a house in desperate need of remodeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rows of wooden cabinets lined the walls beneath a mysteriously stained drop ceiling and wooden boxes covered exposed gas jets that remained from the previously removed ovens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ah, to be a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Middle school is an inherently strange place, and this environment made the experience that much more bizarre. Weirder still was the fact that many of the cabinets and drawers still contained 40-year old dishes, pans and cooking utensils. I don’t know what middle school home economics class made fondue, but look what I found:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnEZYwFImf4/TwiKMNpynkI/AAAAAAAAAII/8dl53eIJlVo/s1600/IMG_3224.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnEZYwFImf4/TwiKMNpynkI/AAAAAAAAAII/8dl53eIJlVo/s320/IMG_3224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694953671238000194" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>80</o:Words> <o:characters>458</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>562</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Unless there is suddenly money in the budget to teach the finer points of cheese-dunkery, I’m pretty sure no one will miss it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Several of the drawers and cabinets had been screwed shut, and on the last day of school, I brought my screwdriver and went to work, hoping to unearth a hidden treasure. What I found was better than a pouch of magic beans: a whole drawer full of silverware, several pieces of which were stamped “BD. of ED. N.Y.C.” Jackpot! I couldn’t dream up a better reward for my harrowed time spent in the throes of NYC public education.</span></p><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3ILDAyRhsk/TwiKL5Jzl_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/2KL3OkM6Ou0/s1600/IMG_3236.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3ILDAyRhsk/TwiKL5Jzl_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/2KL3OkM6Ou0/s320/IMG_3236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694953665735137266" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>19</o:Words> <o:characters>109</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>133</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Now, every time I sit down to enjoy a meal I can savor that job as a distant memory, one bite at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After all, I earned it.</span> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-44049788241134319032011-12-30T11:41:00.000-08:002012-01-03T18:01:48.504-08:00Wrapping Paper Nut<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>61</o:Words> <o:characters>348</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>427</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;font-size:100%;">A friend of mine recently went to an estate sale she lovingly refers to as “The Pencil Sharpener Nut Sale.” This is because the house contained approximately 3000 pencil sharpeners, all proudly displayed upon rows and rows of shelving built specifically to hold them. In addition to the pencil sharpeners, the house had hundreds of thimbles and knick-knacks, all meticulously logged on a gigantic Rolodex. I kid you not:</span></p></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxx3F6bIhr4/Tv9dW00ML2I/AAAAAAAAAH4/UQevQ_zrj0c/s1600/pencilnut3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxx3F6bIhr4/Tv9dW00ML2I/AAAAAAAAAH4/UQevQ_zrj0c/s320/pencilnut3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692371100735647586" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01DOkw3dkOc/Tv9dW7GB-ZI/AAAAAAAAAHo/aa8Y08MYzsw/s1600/pencilnut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01DOkw3dkOc/Tv9dW7GB-ZI/AAAAAAAAAHo/aa8Y08MYzsw/s320/pencilnut.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692371102421088658" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-mIt7DU4LU/Tv9dWZzzjaI/AAAAAAAAAHg/PdjUaKEaZDs/s1600/pencilnut2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-mIt7DU4LU/Tv9dWZzzjaI/AAAAAAAAAHg/PdjUaKEaZDs/s320/pencilnut2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692371093486276002" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>10</o:Words> <o:characters>57</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>70</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;font-size:100%;">I’m left to wonder, at what point does collection become obsession?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT;font-size:100%;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>42</o:Words> <o:characters>244</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>299</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:ArialMT;">Once a year, there is an explosion of vintage Christmas wrapping paper, ribbons and bows so densely covering my living room floor that even my cat has a hard time getting through. Some people enjoy hobbies such as sports and watching movies. Me? I like to play with my wrapping paper collection.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT;font-size:100%;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>82</o:Words> <o:characters>468</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>574</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">This was one of those guilt-free, easy-to-start collections. Wrapping paper is small and flat. It’s functional. I can buy it knowing it will be a temporary resident in my home. For a while, I had it limited to one large Rubbermaid tub. Eventually, I had to separate the Christmas wrapping from all other paper requiring me to expand to 2 large containers. And still, trying to fit the lids on is akin to sitting on a suitcase to close the zipper. And let’s not forget about the ribbon bins. And the overflow area. It’s a good thing I love giving gifts.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT;"> <!--EndFragment--></span><p></p><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8DSgGmo78BY/Tv9dWOoZ1AI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/br4Zi_psT0I/s1600/IMG_3105.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8DSgGmo78BY/Tv9dWOoZ1AI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/br4Zi_psT0I/s320/IMG_3105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692371090485662722" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>87</o:Words> <o:characters>499</o:Characters> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>612</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;">If you’re getting a gift from me, however, don’t expect anything extraordinary. My best wrapping is reserved for those who appreciate it; those who carefully remove it without tearing and fold it up to be reused. If that’s not you, don’t worry. We can both be happy knowing that the paper you tore off, balled up and threw aside was nothing too special. It’s a win-win.</span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;font-size:100%;">At this point, I like to believe my interest in wrapping paper lies safely in the collection category rather than obsession territory. Now, once I start logging my wrapping paper in a giant Rolodex, I’ll know I’ve gone over the edge.</span></p></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SBi_jJh8oM/Tv9dV_HubzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/5DeZpjLtaMw/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SBi_jJh8oM/Tv9dV_HubzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/5DeZpjLtaMw/s320/IMG_3114.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692371086322069298" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-38536051081342432882011-11-20T16:57:00.001-08:002012-01-02T21:26:28.351-08:00Yardstick of Craftiness<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>72</o:Words> <o:characters>413</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>507</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I have an affinity for things of uniform size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m not sure where this lands me on the OCD spectrum, but anytime I see another vintage yardstick for sale, I want it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=" ">I like the way they look. I like the promotional messages:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>There isn’t a farm job going we can’t lubricate </i></span><span style=" ">and <i>One stop shop for all your sewing needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></i></span><span style=" ">I like the idea of them all lined up together and their upcycling potential. Plus, if you want to cut them up and glue them to the top of a dresser, there’s no need to measure!</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9cHneC-_gI/TsmiVxhxYxI/AAAAAAAAAFM/16OBHrio1LA/s1600/IMG_2868.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9cHneC-_gI/TsmiVxhxYxI/AAAAAAAAAFM/16OBHrio1LA/s320/IMG_2868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677247300233159442" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-65610527546766443832011-10-23T19:17:00.000-07:002013-04-22T16:40:20.312-07:00Breaking the Rules<div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>51</o:Words> <o:characters>292</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>358</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;">Due to my perpetual fear of crossing into hoarder territory, I have 2 simple rules to follow when thrifting:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;">Rule #1: Do not buy anything you don’t have a specific use/need for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;">Rule #2:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not buy anything bigger than a breadbox, ESPECIALLY if you don’t have a specific use/need for it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;">That’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rules are pretty simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I broke them both:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY-h-ZcbWes/TqTMVqgzMpI/AAAAAAAAAE8/0QI9SZDgzm8/s1600/IMG_2791.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666878903700107922" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY-h-ZcbWes/TqTMVqgzMpI/AAAAAAAAAE8/0QI9SZDgzm8/s400/IMG_2791.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>10</o:Words> <o:characters>57</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>70</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;">When it comes to impulse buys, some people buy candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Apparently, </span>I buy bikes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <!--EndFragment--></span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-47625113593987057122011-10-16T20:18:00.000-07:002012-01-02T21:30:31.686-08:00Proclaiming a Collection…Gulp!<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>90</o:Words> <o:characters>517</o:Characters> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>634</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I’m scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think I have a new collection, but I don’t want to admit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I say it out loud, it will be real and then there’s no stopping it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>People (myself included) will buy me this item as a gift. I will suddenly be neck-deep in this useless thing, gasping for air. Every time I see a new one, I will have to evaluate:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Should I get this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Does it pass muster? Do I really have room for one more thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh, the anxiety!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I’m not sure the number at which something officially becomes a collection, but if it’s at least 6, then I’m afraid I’ve got a collection of trophies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There. I said it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Gulp…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I collect trophies.</span></p></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hRPPyb4pt5M/Tpue3DGzu5I/AAAAAAAAAEk/dlk5Ztu4dak/s1600/IMG_2767.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hRPPyb4pt5M/Tpue3DGzu5I/AAAAAAAAAEk/dlk5Ztu4dak/s320/IMG_2767.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664295624912386962" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>96</o:Words> <o:characters>551</o:Characters> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>676</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I’ve got 6 and I want more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love old trophies:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the shiny statuettes, the ornate bases, the engraved nameplates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love imagining the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was there a ceremony?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Did everyone cheer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How did someone’s achievement end up in this thrift store for $1?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">And why do I want this trophy now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Am I so starved for success that I need to collect someone else’s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or is it like taking in a stray animal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No one else is going to love this trophy so I’d better give it a good home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Whatever my reasons, I have come to accept this new path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will bravely march forward into this dangerous new world, scanning the thrift store aisles as I go.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-50123509451957497872011-09-28T20:00:00.000-07:002012-01-02T21:30:31.686-08:00They Would Want Me to Have It, Right?<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>97</o:Words> <o:characters>556</o:Characters> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>682</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">If you’ve never been to an estate sale, you haven’t fully lived. Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because an estate sale means you are walking around the home of someone who likely just died. All of their possessions are priced and laid out on tables, and a bunch of strangers are milling around touching everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s weird. And I’m one of those strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A part of me feels like I should be somber and dressed in black when I go to these things, but honestly, I just want bargains on cool stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I justify it because I truly love the things I buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Better those vintage Anchor Hocking glasses go home with me than to Goodwill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who knows what unappreciative lout they’ll end up with there?</span></p></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P09I9ghAMQ/ToPlB8uIZDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ZXQkPw-SAXg/s1600/P1000371.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P09I9ghAMQ/ToPlB8uIZDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ZXQkPw-SAXg/s320/P1000371.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657617378549720114" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>173</o:Words> <o:characters>987</o:Characters> <o:lines>8</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1212</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Sometimes it’s the family who runs the sale, and sometimes it’s a company. They’re called “estate liquidation companies.” Clinical and cold-sounding, I know. That’s why they have names like “Caring Transitions” and “As Time Goes By.” They are professionals at organizing, pricing, and executing the sale of stuff left behind when you are gone.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I think of these sales as antique stores without antique store prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This equation usually holds up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Estate Sale=Old People=Cool Old Stuff</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">AND the last day is usually half-price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Heaven.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">There is one estate sale company in Milwaukee that seems to have the corner on the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They have a suspiciously large number of sales. They’re called “Prestige” and they’re hardly prestigious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hate them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here’s why:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They have an “estate sale <i>with</i><span style="font-style:normal"> antique store prices” policy</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They refuse to barter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve tried.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are <i>always</i><span style="font-style:normal"> having a sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ratty orange signs advertising 60% off are an insult. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I avoid sales by this company now, but before I knew better, I would become so irate my blood would boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Five dollars for this old cookbook?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Are you insane??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh, it’s 60% off?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, in that case…Ugh!</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NbjBfMEuZmc/ToPkq6tm2iI/AAAAAAAAAEU/6KmYjkhZJeo/s1600/IMG_2758.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NbjBfMEuZmc/ToPkq6tm2iI/AAAAAAAAAEU/6KmYjkhZJeo/s320/IMG_2758.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657616982873659938" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>41</o:Words> <o:characters>239</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>293</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">For some unhealthy reason, and for which I am supremely embarrassed, I felt it my duty to steal from these people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;" >Everything about these sales seemed like a major injustice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would show them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would steal this Santa Claus-riding-a-bike-plastic-canvas-magnet and teach them a lesson!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYnyCJhUWOY/ToPkgUNMEqI/AAAAAAAAAEM/wa2VnObjP4k/s1600/P1000298.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EYnyCJhUWOY/ToPkgUNMEqI/AAAAAAAAAEM/wa2VnObjP4k/s320/P1000298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657616800738448034" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>60</o:Words> <o:characters>344</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>422</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">And even now, I wonder if stealing this makes me a horrible person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I mean, can a horrible person even own a bike-riding-Santa-magnet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Is that possible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My brain tells me it’s wrong to steal, but that part of me that feels entitled to a bargain is powerful and it tells me that I’m right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And maybe, just maybe, the dead person who spent an hour of their life creating this Santa magnet would want me to have it.</span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-73452628046822234202011-09-25T16:05:00.000-07:002012-01-02T21:28:04.484-08:00FREE-lation: Artist Unknown<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>115</o:Words> <o:characters>658</o:Characters> <o:lines>5</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>808</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">There must be a formula to calculate levels of thrifting elation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For example, finding a 1960’s spaghetti swag lamp in pristine condition for $40 is kinda exciting, but finding that same lamp and paying $8 and I'm grinning wildly all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m picturing a Venn Diagram that factors in cost, condition, and awesomeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the center where everything intersects is the holy grail of thrifting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Needless to say, when I find something super cool for FREE, I’m happily smack-dab in the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This usually happens when least expected…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">After final exams last year, it didn’t take long for the hallways of Washington High School to clear out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I found this incredible busy/artwork on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What luck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect artifact from this urban public high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jN7hC05Y0T8/Tn-0UxOdcYI/AAAAAAAAADM/bvTkU3VtmGs/s1600/P1000402.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jN7hC05Y0T8/Tn-0UxOdcYI/AAAAAAAAADM/bvTkU3VtmGs/s320/P1000402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656437925905002882" /></a><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">There is so much to love:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sparkling grill, blood-drips tattoo, huge square diamond earrings, and glimmering money sign eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The faint footprint and maze on the back are icing on the cake.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Elation levels through the roof!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Move over Mona Lisa, this is one for the mantle.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-13765003296090626212011-09-20T18:06:00.001-07:002012-01-02T21:30:31.687-08:00More Weird Stuff I Want: Optimal Video Game Freshness<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>108</o:Words> <o:characters>618</o:Characters> <o:lines>5</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>758</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Other items in the "weird stuff I want" category include things I think I can upcycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I can make this super cool, yet useless thing functional, then I will have won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will NOT die buried under a pile of businessman trophies because I will have made them into a coat rack. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Although my craft room is overflowing with stuff like this, I have had a few successes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Take these beautiful powdery blue refrigerator crispers I found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Useless junk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Certainly not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t know where I was storing my Nintendo games before these crispers came along.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">On the infomercial, I’m sweaty and surrounded by piles of unruly video games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I throw my arms up in frustration: <i>If only I had somewhere to store all these pesky games!</i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnk_E3YHzog/Tnk5AGqrsxI/AAAAAAAAADE/wX6qBnPOJgA/s1600/P1000316.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnk_E3YHzog/Tnk5AGqrsxI/AAAAAAAAADE/wX6qBnPOJgA/s320/P1000316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654613481092789010" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Ah. Much better.</span><br /><div><br /></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-35186343986096266692011-09-17T10:35:00.000-07:002012-01-02T21:30:31.688-08:00Weird Stuff I Want: #1 Businessman<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Sometimes when I’m thrifting I’ll see something that just speaks to me.<span> </span>It’s never anything I need to survive, except that in some strange way, I do.<span> </span><i>Need</i><span style="font-style: normal; "> it, that is.<span> </span>And, if the thing is only a few dollars, the decision is easier to justify.<span> </span>A part of me worries though that I’m one fine line away from officially being a hoarder, so I hem and haw. Usually, I’ll see something in this category and tell myself: </span><i>I’ll just carry this businessman trophy around for a while and see if I still want it later.</i><span style="font-style: normal; "><span> </span>Turns out that yes, I did in fact need that:</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGsNQLwntT0/TnTa7mMCqLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/KY1JZGP9O3E/s1600/P1000272.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGsNQLwntT0/TnTa7mMCqLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/KY1JZGP9O3E/s320/P1000272.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653384149655005362" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">If I die buried under a pile of businessman trophies, I’ll know I should’ve put it back.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-5599204709299369132011-09-13T19:05:00.001-07:002011-09-14T11:22:31.083-07:00Cut Throat<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>149</o:Words> <o:characters>853</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1047</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">For those of you who aren’t in the know because you haven’t taught in an urban public school, if someone is cut throat, they’re ruthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For example, “Ya’ll be cut<i> </i>throat stealin’ my Flamin’ Hots!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Someone who is cut throat is sneaky, selfish, and can’t be trusted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although it’s not my nature, when it comes to thrifting, I need to be <i>cut throat</i><span style="font-style:normal">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Normally I don’t bother with rummage sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They’re usually full of baby clothes and really crappy knick-knacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s mostly stuff that people buy, and then put out at their garage sale 3 years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is not to say that I haven’t had some great finds at rummage sales, it’s just that they’re few and far between. I mean, you can find good stuff occasionally, just like you can find needles in haystacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I recently went to one garage sale because it was described as “the contents of an antique mall booth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ok, sign me up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No baby clothes here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Walking up the driveway, I spotted 2 fabulous red chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Totally worth it. They looked like this:</span></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zdw8wqWk5A/TnAMHPveitI/AAAAAAAAAC0/Ay7t6-pUT4A/s1600/chairsvinylred.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 235px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zdw8wqWk5A/TnAMHPveitI/AAAAAAAAAC0/Ay7t6-pUT4A/s320/chairsvinylred.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652030850974255826" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>202</o:Words> <o:characters>1153</o:Characters> <o:lines>9</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1415</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I love chairs like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They deserve to be nestled under a smooth, chrome-legged Formica table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Convenient--I happen to own just the table!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At 3 dollars apiece, these chairs were a steal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was going to buy these chairs.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I’d just do a quick scan of the stuff in the garage, grab the chairs, and be on my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No need to worry about those three collegey-looking, Abercrombie-wearing girls over there—definitely not a threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They don’t like cool stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But wait—one is walking toward my chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just be cool…nothing to worry about...AH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She’s calling her friend over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“I dunno, should I buy these?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Should you buy those?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>NO!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I casually approach the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Were you gonna to buy these chairs?” I hear myself asking, like a complete idiot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Yeah,” the girl is saying, “I think so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I grit my teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so nonchalant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Oh, okay.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I walk away and pretend to seriously consider a purse.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Stupid! Not only did I just convince her to buy the chairs, now there’s <i>no way </i><span style="font-style:normal">I can possibly have them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut, wait for them to inevitably walk away, and take the chairs I so clearly deserve to own more?!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Except that I didn’t deserve those chairs more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I failed because I was trying to be nice. I should’ve taken them before anyone else had the chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Survival of the fittest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And if I’m going to be the fittest thrifter around, I need to be cut throat.</span></p>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482141866434801256.post-15149209808357511062011-09-11T19:14:00.000-07:002012-01-02T21:30:31.689-08:00Gold Medal Thrifting<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thrifting</span>. A lot. I have routes. Routes that span distances, mind you. Robust routes that require me to rise early and eat in the car just to make it to that final destination before they’re turning off the lights and demanding all purchases be brought to the check out…Now! I know which thrift stores have the bathroom I want to use. I know which ones have the weird hours, which ones are bound to have a sale. And I have opinions. Don’t get me started on the decline of St. Vincent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DePaul</span></span></span></span><span style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> Thrift Stores. Seriously, I’m really upset about it.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>155</o:Words> <o:characters>889</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1091</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1287</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> I have a terrible memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can’t remember the name of the person who starred in the movie I just saw—actually, the title is escaping me right now, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was really good though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I still have to look up my own mother’s birthday, just to be sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know it’s in September, but is it the 13<sup>th</sup> or the 15<sup>th</sup>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, ask me to recollect where I purchased that vintage embroidery wall hanging with the swaying tree on it, and I can describe it for you in detail. </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><i> It was a perfect summer day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was on my favorite route, visiting the Saint Vinny’s in Watertown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I spotted it perched high on a shelf amidst a sea of nature prints and religious art and I knew immediately:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It would be mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There would be no hemming and hawing over this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Five bucks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hell, yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would’ve paid $15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would have regretted it forever if it was $20 and I didn’t buy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><i>I felt a rush of elation the whole way home, as if I had just won the gold medal in an Olympic event.</i></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> I really did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m starting to wonder what’s wrong with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, you can decide for yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here it is:</span></p></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QC7NCy3b1-g/Tm1sqmOv3dI/AAAAAAAAACs/PawCMxQU1iA/s1600/IMG_2750.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QC7NCy3b1-g/Tm1sqmOv3dI/AAAAAAAAACs/PawCMxQU1iA/s320/IMG_2750.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651292586492550610" /></a><div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Liv Svanoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062261133492402677noreply@blogger.com4