Listing Quickly on eBay

I mentioned before that I had found a way to list items much quicker than I had been. I don't know if this is blog-worthy or not, but a friend asked me if I was ever going to blog about it and today is an Awesome day to list, (Ebay announced a "List up to 1000 items free" 1 Day only sale) so here goes!

I used to start with a category, a title, and then fill in all the blanks about the item (of clothing usually), add my picture and then rewrite it all in the description box. Even though I was using a template (or picking up an old listing and changing it) it was taking me forever to list each item. Part of the reason is that loading pictures to the listing is not exactly fast. That can be aggravating. I don't know if it's just my computer, or if it's that way for everyone. These great Sale days would come along and I'd do my relists in a couple minutes but then I would only list maybe 20 new items if I was really working hard. I decided something (or a few things) needed to change.

First off, my goal is to really downsize my inventory. Get these great clothes out of my ebay closet and into the arms of people who would loooove them! So I needed to list, list, list like crazy. At least to save the Free listing "space". Here's my strategy now:

1. I just listing the title, and fill in the necessary fill-in boxes (pre-owned, size type, size, color, etc, etc).
2. I skip the picture (for now)
3. In the description box the first line reads "Picture Coming Soon" and then I list anything that I think is necessary that wasn't covered in the drop-down boxes (ie tulle underskirt, sequins & beads, side zip, etc). There is no need to repeat everything that is already covered in the drop-down boxes, since the listing will show it right above the description. Then I do have an ending that says "No international shipping, ship within 24 hrs of pymt, check out my other auctions, yadda yadda yadda", but all of that was picked up from the previous auction ad and I'm not actually retyping it.
4. I add my price
5. I select the # of days
6. Double check the shipping price I've decided on
7. I click the list buttons, and I'm done with that listing.
8. Then I get a box that says the item is listed, and I click "Sell Similar" and more on to my next item.

I have been able to do many more listings that way. Then when I am done for the day I can relax. I go back and revise my auctions and add the pictures when I have more time, like the next day. I usually do 3 day listings, because I think people don't really have the patience to wait till a 7 day auction ends. I know I don't! So if I am listing fast like this, I will select 5 days, just to give myself time to add the picture. I've even had people ask me to add a picture or just click to watch the item until I do. I love it when that happens because it gives me incentive to add the picture. If I don't have time to add all of the pictures and some of the auctions end without pictures, I don't stress. Since my item has been listed, I'm one step closer to selling it, and I can go and relist it and add a picture, and on sales like today's where its free, I'm not losing any money if I didn't get them picture on!

Anyway, I hope this helps someone, anyone. It may sound like gibberish, because I'm excitedly typing (and tiredly its 3:16 am) and my fingers are freezing because my house is freezing with no heat on. I think I'll go to bed for now and get up whe my kids go to school and get busy with a ton more listings! How would it be to list 1000 items I wonder???? Thankfully I don't have that much inventory! Have a great listing day!

The Humanity Spectrum

I'm no philosopher, but when you witness humanity at its worst and best, I believe it causes you to consider life.

I dropped my kids off at school yesterday. I pulled up next to the curb, temporarily parallel parking. My kids and my friends kids all jump out, I watched as they got through the gates, and headed for their classrooms. Then I prepared to depart by checking the thru traffic that is always moving. I looked to my left and realized that the person who pulled thru traffic as I parked, is not in their car! They pulled in, hopped out and walked their kids to their classrooms, or whatever. I was incredulous! Infuriated! Why would someone do that?! There aren't 2 parking lanes! I sat for 10 minutes in my car until I could safely back out into the thru traffic, and get around her. I was mad and had daydreamed smashing into their dumb SUV.

I drove out of the parking lot, and to the post office, dropped my ebay envelopes in the box and left. I drove about 2 blocks, and prepared to turn right. In front of me were 2 cars. To the right of me was a van, which was kind of parked in a bus loading shoulder.

I was still mad at the dumb person who dared to box me in at the school. I was mad at the school staff for not monitoring morning traffic (not that they monitor afternoon traffic very well either). I'm contemplating this waiting for the two cars to move forward so I can turn right. Then I realized what my mind was not registering but my eyes had been witnessing. 3 men had gotten out of their vehicles to help an elderly woman in a handicap scooter who had tipped over sideways and was lying in the street at the crosswalk. She probably has miscalculated the curb slope. She hadn't even moved, too in shock, or didn't know what to do. These 3 saintly men picked the scooter up, then helped the woman to sit up and then gently picked her up and placed her in the scooter. Then they talked to her, made sure she was ok to go on, probably asking if she needed medical help. They smiled and then ran back to their cars. I had witness a beautiful act of kindness.  A genuine concern for another person. I realized I was bawling as the man in the parked van got closer to me. I waved a thumbs up and wiped my tears. He probably thought I was nuts. I was basking in the kindness and love and humanity they had shown, and it wasn't even towards me.

It made my previous encounter seem ridiculous. My hard heart softened as I realized possibly I was supposed to witness this. Or maybe the Lord was trying to teach me how to be kinder. I believe He knows us and our struggles and yet is constantly trying to teach us. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ loves each of us as a brother, as a parent, and wants us to love each other as well. I am a mom, who wants my children to share their good example and be kind to others. I am not perfect, I don't expect others to be either. However sometimes its easy to forget, and we get mad and judgemental of others. We take things too personally. By thinking of each person as a child of a loving God, it is easier for me to forgive and love others. I hope they would do the same for me. I am a Thrift store Shopper, an Ebay Seller, a Mom, a Wife, a Child of God and I'm a Mormon.

Cutting Costs

I usually cut my Scotch scrub pads in half because they are so large and this way I can get twice the use out of them before they get all nasty.
If and when I remember, I even wash them with my rags. But sometimes they get all yucky and mildew smelling and then they are bound for the trash.

Apparently one of my short-lings in the house decided they would help me cut costs. I opened the drawer and found this:

2x1 inch squares (REALLY?!), but no this does not help as I can't keep ahold of them while scrubbing dishes! Looks like I need to recruit some helpers with tiny hands! Good thing I know 3 of them. While they are at it I think I will have them work on that drawer as well. Looking like it needs a good scrubbing!

I should blog about that...

Lots of the times in the past few weeks/months I have come across something, whether in my daily life or on a blog or website and I've had the immediate thought "I've got to blog about that!". As you poor unfortunate readers of my blog who've had nothing to read from me lately may guess, I have let those ideas slip right out of my head, hands, grasp. That leaves me wondering later on what was it I was gonna blog about??

Uggh!

I do hope there have been much more interesting things on other blogs for you to read about though! I know I have! How lame is this? I feel like I'm having the worst conversation with myself "Don't say that!", "That's so lame" on and on in my head. So sorry.

In the coming weeks I hope to post on some fabulous blogs I've come across as of late. As well as some that are long time favorites.

What's been keeping me busy? It seems like every time Ebay does one of its fab sales (there were two in the past week alone) I drop everything to list like a mad woman. This is necessary because of the massive amount of inventory I have allowed myself to accumulate. All while using the same excuse, I need a faster computer...Well now I have discovered a faster way to list items on those great sale days and I have been plowing right through my inventory. (I will share it in a future post!)

See I am a really great shopper, but I don't always love the listing. Honestly, I get caught up in the shopping and then when I get home it can be a bit of a letdown cuz I think to myself where is all of this gonna fit?! I have a entire coat closet filled with my ebay clothes and items. I also don't love the clutter and the space it all takes up. When I list items I end up dragging a bunch out, piling them up in different piles around the room. Then I'm grouching at my kids for getting too near them (because an item with a grubby hand on it is no longer Excellent condition). After a couple hours or days I get really overwhelmed with stuff and have to cram it all back into the closet whether I have made significant progress or not. But... I am over the moon when something gets a bid and sells, because that means something else is leaving my house! So... as soon as everything is listed I will be a happy clam. The "1 cent" sale they had about a week ago, I relisted 113 things and listed about 70 new things. Then yesterday they had a "Zero listing on 250 items" sale. I had previously sold about 22 things (more than 10% yay!). So I relisted the remainder about 160 items and then relisted about 50 more. So far I have 2 items with bids! Woohoo!

I need about 2 more good sales and I will have everything listed and I vow to NEVER, EVER let it get that bad again. I do not want to carry inventory which has never been bid n for months and months. Everything I buy I will force myself to list that week sale or no sale. I have gotten better and better at discovering what will sell and what will not. I also like listing particular items like skirts, I love to list them, they don't need too many measurements, and a skirt is always something someone will be looking to add to their wardrobe. So in the future my inventory will be more streamlined, condensed. But for now, I have a lot to pray for to sell!

So to continue with this most random of posts, I am going to end on a goal/to do list. Things I have been putting on but really need to get done. Yeah, I've been procrastinating other things too ; )

1. Clean out my Van (after 2 not so recent trips and a lot of daily messes, it really really needs it!
2. List everything in my ebay closet - one and for all! After all, I cannot go shopping again until I do! S I know I am missing out on some great stuff!
3. Weed my rock beds (now that its finally cooler)
4. Declutter my laundry room (why is it so hard!)
5. Carve pumpkins
6. Check out pintrest - I have heard everyone talking about it as of late.

I'm sure can add more things to this list, my brain is just not allowing me to at this time, LOL. After all, I don't get enough sleep (I work 10pm to 2am Mon-Fri) - now do you understand why I've been MIA? I have been here in spirit though!!

Have a great week!
Em

I've seen a couple of tutorials online recently for these type of necklaces and decided it was about time I gave it a try myself. First thing to do is gather supplies:

1. An old teeshirt - it can be shrunken, stained, have holes, whatever. The only thing to remember is that it cannot be ribbed. Also I find the best ones are the seamless ones, (with no seams down the sides).
2. Cutting mat
3. Rotary cutter
4. Sewing Ruler or even a heavy book
5. A Super-Cute helper/model.

Lay out your teeshirt over the cutting mat (I folded mine in half with arms together)

Measure 1 inch and cut into strips all the way up the shirt till you get to the chest where the arms are (You can also several strips from the short sleeve arms.

Take strip in your hands in front of you.

Stretch strip and the fabric will roll into tube.

The tubes from this old Army PT shirt were long enough for K to wrap around her neck twice.

You can wear plain, or multicolor, or even clip on a hair bow or a sparkly brooch for a bit of extra flair! They are lightweight, versatile and fun! We had such fun doing them that we are in the process of acquiring all shades of tees. That led us to garage-saling and found some steals this weekend! For example a ton of Legos for $2 and a ton of Kinex $2!

Finding Marie at Goodwill

My sister in law came to visit over Labor day weekend. It was wonderful for me to have some grown-up adult time and shop Goodwill to my hearts content. No one except her enjoys it as much as I do.

When she lived in Colorado, there were Goodwill stores she would frequent to buy and sell clothing on ebay. When she moved to Utah, where there are no Goodwill stores she was feeling bummed but planned to visit me and get some serious shopping in before returning to Utah where she could sell. We've determined she needs to visit me at least once a month and also to get her Goodwill fix.

So, we're in our 2nd store of the day, and she hold up a skirt which was just funky enough to be something good and says what about the brand "Free People?" I say "Yes!" that's a great one! Even though it was Monday ($.99 cents on a certain color) hers was not that color and so was to be $3.99, still it was a great deal. Plus, she's military, and every Monday is also Military Monday (where you get 25% off any color tag which is not on sale). So on we shop....

When we're in the car an hour or so later, I'm going through the bags oohing and aahing. I spot her Free People skirt and grab it to get a closer look.

Yes, it's Anthropologie, FREE PEOPLE, and has 66170 as the RN#. It's in great condition. No snags, no tears, and it even has a drycleaning tag on it. Nice. But what's this? The name on the tag blew me away...

Osmond, Marie 9 of 10.....whaaaaat?
This beautiful lady?

Well, I was too excited, and my sister in law said "Must be someone else, because she lives in Utah". Nope. She lives in Las Vegas, where she performs her own show on the Strip. Wowza! I know, I'm a dork. But seven degrees, or whatever, I am holding a garment that either Marie or her daughter or somebody in her vicinity touched!! (ok there is always a possibility there is another Marie Osmond out there, and if this were a Merona skirt I would fully admit that it was not hers, but FREE PEOPLE is not cheap). Isn't it beautiful? I LOVE GOODWILL!

I know...

I'm a slacker.

I didn't actually mean to take a hiatus from blogging but well, it has been a month and I can think of no other words for it. I think life just slapped me in the face. Not hard, just over and over. I'm still rebounding. But I have a great post to come...I have been thinking about it for over a week. Just got my computer moved to my living room so here goes...

Well...it's come again

Another 1 cent listing day on eBay that is!

There are so many other things I should be doing...Laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning. All the result of a family vacation/reunion. I should probably get dressed too ;) But these 1 cent days are not common, nd I have a boatload of things I need to list! So while my kids are happily playing together for the 2nd day in a row, I'm gonna toss my to-do list and get busy on eBay.

Happy Listing!!

Genius & Refashioned / Interchangeable Shirts

Ok, I have fallen in love for yet another blog.  just love the creativity some people lay out on the table for all to enjoy! Nike from Choosetothrive cannot be called anything other than Genius! Well, actually Thrifty, Creative, Savvy, Green also come to mind...ok, ok she's a lot of things, and I don't even know her! You have got to check out her blog if not just to see her tutorial on a great way to re-fashion old, stained shirts into Fun, Free, Fab new ones! I am die-ing to go, and then get back from vacation in order to make some of these, and therefore reduce my scrap fabric pile!

I also LOVE her 4th of July version!

Awesome Nike! Thanks for the Inspiration(s)! I'm thinking I'd like to get one of those snap setters just to cover up stains on my little guys' tees with fun 3 dimensinal things like trucks and dinosaurs! If and when I get to this I will definitely be posting mine too!

Get Selling!

I love it when it happens, though it  does put a certain amount of pressure on me. Tomorrow (well soon to be today - I'm up late as usual) eBay is having one of its great selling specials! One day only - Just 1 cent to list an item! This works out great for relists, but I also like to use these opportunities to get a lot of my inventory up for auction. I'm getting to list mine just as soon as midnight hits, so I can get as many things up as possible. I'm just taking a short break from picture taking to post this fantastic news. So... if you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for?

Just FYI, if you haven't listed anything yet this month, keep in mind that each month you get 50 free listings, so after those 50 you will only pay 1 cent per listing, if you can get that many up in one day!

Round Up of Recent Top Sales

Anthropologie FEI Pink Blouse NWT, purchased for $6.99, sold for $22.00

Betsy Johnson Yellow Knit Sweater with teal flowers, purchased for $4.99, sold for $16.52 

Catherine Malandrino Rainbow Wool Skirt, purchased for $5.99, sold for $17.99

Chicos Linen pants, NWT (with some dirt on bottom of pant leg) purchased for $4.99, sold for $22.78

Hot in Hollywood Sheer Yellow Blouse with Mocha embroidery, purchased for $1.00, sold for $11.39 

Lululemon Athletica Peach Yoga/fitness top, purchased for $1.50, sold for $9.99



Sweet Lily Red & white floral skirt, purchased for $2.00, sold for $9.99

Dress Barn floral skirt with lace trim, purchased for $3.99, sold for $9.99

Mountain Hardwear Athletic/hiking/climbing top, purchased for 1.00, sold for 7.99



Is it Google or me?

Sometimes I find a blog that I really like and I want to let the writer know it, or have some other thought about their posting to include. So I click, "comment" and when I'm all done with my note, I click the "send comment" button and then Google asks me to log in. So I do and it brings me back to my comment and asks me to enter a code word, but then instead of adding my comment it brings me back to the screen to log in. And it does this over and over again. Does this happen to anyone else? Or is it me? Or is it Google?

It sure is frustrating!

So I was wanting to add a comment to a sweet woman who commented on my last post, but got the run around through google again, so instead I am doing a post for her.

Nicole,
I want to thank you so much for your kind words. They put my heart at peace. It's so nice when a complete stranger will reach out to another person in an act of unselfishness and offer support. It's more than the "Human" element you hear of on commercials. It takes a special person, with genuine concern. Thank you thank you for your advice! I truly appreciate it!
 
Part of me says "Yes!" to her suggestion of putting my blog away for awhile, because I have often considered that very same thing. Another part of my feels sad about doing that. This blog isn't widely read, but it is a small way for me to be creative in a neat tidy place, if that make sense. Sometimes I see even the simplest projects online that I would like to try, but sometimes even those are too overwhelming so I never start them, or finish them. I enjoy reading blogs where women put themselves out there and show what they have accomplished. It's inspiring! Here, I can write and whether or not its received, it's something I've accomplished. One day I hope to write even more, but I know better than to start (a lot of) my aspirations until my children are older. That said, I am thinking of maybe doing just weekly posts for awhie so that I can keep it up but it won't be another thing to overwhelm my time (and mind). Who Says I have to write every day or several times a day?
 
That said, I'll leave you with my current favorite song & artist. It makes me Happy :) 
 

 

A Struggle

I've not been blogging because, well, I've just felt overburdened with life.
Ever get like that? I have discovered over the last year, that most of the time when I'm feeling this way, its around my "time of the month", in which case I should just give myself a break - right?! Well its that time and I guess right now I just need to talk it out.

About a week ago I saw a movie called 17 miracles that was first off very sad, heart breaking. But also inspiring, touching, and overall humbling. My mom and I cried all through it (a few days later I took my husband to see it, and well I cried all through it a second time, my husband is a bit tougher). You can read about it here.

When we left the theater, my mom said "Boy, the hardest thing I have to think about is when I'll get a diet coke". Which is wholly untrue. My mom is struggling with some hard things. In fact she had a heart attack this week (she's alright after 4 days in the hospital). However, it made her take a hard look at her life. She has decided she wants to fight to take back her life. She has let everything else take over. She gives and gives and gives, and then does not take care of herself. From now on, I'll be beside her making sure she does.

One of the things that struck me most about the movie was at the end, they had synopsises of the characters lives. Several of the young girls after struggling to make it across the plains in such hard elements, later went on to have 13 children! To me, that is a testament of the will and heart that is possible in this life. It made me look at my life and my struggles, and what I'm dealing with now, is nothing in comparison to what I have dealt with earlier on in my life; or what many other people I know are dealing with.

I'm very blessed, this I know, to have come this far. I'm blessed daily. I have beautiful children and a loving husband. I have a faith in God and in my Savior Jesus Christ. I have supportive friends and family. And yet there are struggles. A big burden I have come to realize trouble with is time management. There is so much I should be doing, could be doing. I should be serving more, loving more, spending more quality time with family. I should have a tidy house that makes me feel accomplished. And yet, it is difficult to make myself do anything some days. And I wonder what that says about me? Am I weak in spirit? Why are some things so hard? Am I depressed? I do have 3 small children, but not 13! I hope that they won't remember me as a complainer, or someone who doesn't want to do things. Right now I see myself being to hard on myself but maybe this will all sound familiar to someone out there. Someone who can give me some advice. I welcome it.

There is a book called "If life were easy, than it wouldn't be hard... and other truths", it's by Sheri Dew. I've started to read it, because although I look at my life and consider it easy compared to my earlier years, and to other peoples struggles, I still struggle some days. I'm hoping to find some answers. I know that when I go to the scriptures I am certain to find advice, and I am trying to do that more often as well.

For now, just to voice this out loud is a help. Now its out of my head and laid on the table. Maybe that's all I need once in awhile. That and a bowl of ice cream! Denali Mint Chocolate Cup sounds good right now ;)

Summer!

With kids home for the summer, I feel like I haven't had much time to think, let alone blog. I've been lucky to list things here and there on ebay, and have had lots of sales recently. I'll blog a few of those later.

But I wanted to share a find that I came across a week ago or so.
Don't these waffles just scream lazy summer days?

I love them! I haven't yet, but I will definitely have to make them for my little ones. They'd be over the moon! And they are so easy!! Kelli, a Real life Super-MOM came up with these and shared her fab tutorial to encourage all Mom's to be SUPER! Check out her blog here. Look around her site! I just love it. She also made rainbow waffles that I will have to make at the very least, on St Patty's Day, if not the first time it rains here in the fall, or any other time it suits my fancy.

Have you ever made fun food for your kiddos??

What is it?

I found this uh-mazing thing at Goodwill on Monday.... a couple weeks ago...you know when I wasn't keeping up with my blogging? Yeah, I'm just now getting around to finishing the post.

So what is my mystery item? Maybe someone out there can help me know for sure, but underneath it has a stamp Meriden B. Company 1779 with a set of scales.

 It has some really pretty and intricate details Stamped(?) or carved into it.

After lengthy internet research all I could find out was this:

• "Meriden B Company was a manufacturer that made silverware out of "black silver" the kind of silver that was economical doing the time, it still had the flare of expensive silver settings and today the silver alone is of high value, since refined silver was getting high in value and the price of refined silver was costly at the time, Meriden B Company started offering silver that was not "refined" before it was marked, it was before "nickle silver" so the silver is still 100 percent! The product itself will appear black before you polish it, which should be left in that state if you want to sell it. All Meriden B Company is over 100 years old and have a historical value, family's that can trace back 100 year will know about the Meriden B Company product. Meriden B Company went out of business after becoming well known for these kinds of products." (www.wikianswers.com)

• The Meriden Britannia Company was formed in 1852 in Meriden, Connecticut. The Rogers Bros firm was purchased by Meriden Britannia in 1862, thereby acquiring the 1847 Rogers Bros line. In 1878, they had a store at Union Square in New York City and a manufacturing facility in West Meriden, CT. According to their 1878 catalogue, the company won a first place medal at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the "large variety of silver plated white metal hollow ware, of excellent quality and finish, and of tasteful designs." They were one of the original companies that joined together to form the International Silver Co. in 1898.  - (www.silvercollecting.com)

 So the fantastic thing is that it is over a hundred years old!
But I really have no idea what it's worth. Or where to find out what it is worth.I checked into Antique's Roadshow but they're not coming here this year. I may have to hold onto it for a bit. Who knows?

Sundresses and Skirts

It seems like all I've sold lately is Sundresses and Skirts. That's not completely true, but it comprises the majority of my sales. For example:

Charlotte Russe floral skirt with lace trim purchased for $2.50, sold for $9.99

NY & Co Blue & white floral Sundress, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.00

Talbots Cream & Red Japaese inspired skirt, purchased for $2.50, sold for $9.99

Dress Barn White Sundress with Roses, purchased for $1.00, sold for $8.00

Speechless Black skirt with satin floral embellishment & rhinestones, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.00

Gap Blue & Green Plaid Sundress, purchased for $$1.00, sold for $8.00

Talbots Circles Skirt, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.00

Roxy Strapless floral dress, purchased for $1.00, sold for $9.99

DownEast Basics "Fall in Love" floral skirt NWT, purchased for $3.99, sold for $9.00

Gap White Halter Sundress, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.00



Coldwater Creek floral faux wrap skirt, purchased for $3.99, sold for $8.00

J Crew Peach and Beige floral sundress, purchased for $1.00, sold for $10.50



Abercrombie & Fitch Cream corduroy mini skirt, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.00

 



A little Comic Relief

...is what I found this morning on my camera, after my 7 year old inadverdantly flooded my bathroom, closet, bedroom, basically half my upstairs. It happened to leak through the  kitchen air vents downstairs before she realized she had never turned off the tub water. Catastrophe!! Anyhow, this guy made me laugh:

 

As well as this little guy who was measuring his apple and told me
"My ..apple..seven, six!"

It's cute, but also funny because he is the reason that I don't measure a lot of the clothing I list on ebay. Occasionally I do, when I FIND my measuring tape, but he is always taking off with them (I have several), and now I have proof! When people ask me for measurements I usually have to grit my teeth and scour the house for a measuring tape.

Aside from waking up late (I work nights 10pm-2am) to my daughters hysteria over the flooding, and the disaster of the flood itself, today looks to be gorgeous! The sky is so brilliant blue it is giving me flashbacks of childhood summers playing in the sprinklers.

There's a sprinkling of big fluffy white clouds (never mind a few pesky gray ones) and a slightly cool breeze. It makes me want to get outside and run! Run away from this messy house complete with every towel in the house soaking up water and a lot of soaked clothing which will all need washing. It's my 2nd daughters' sixth birthday, my little guy has already told me he wants to go to chucky cheese (which we promised for his birthday...in sept). I'm going to take my little girl a special lunch and eat in the cafeteria with her and her friends. I'm so happy to be alive today! It is going to be beautiful day if I allow myself the luxury of enjoying it!
What are you going to do with your day?!

Got Messy Cords?

Here's a simple yet totally GENIUS idea from Unplggd

Nearly 2 weeks

I've been MIA. Sorry about that. I actually do have several posts that I've been working on, but I decided to keep working on them and in the meantime keep blogging. Cuz, I do love to chat and I've missed chatting with you.

A couple great things...

I got to spend a kid-less weekend with my husband and a few of his brothers and their wives in Colorado. We got a really great price on tickets and had some important reasons to see family and just went for it. It was a fun, fast, much needed get-away. I wish I could say I came back all refreshed but like I said it was FAST. Friday night to Sunday night fast. Now had I had a week there, I would be ready to get back to life. But here it is Wednesday and I'm already tired of this week.

I sold THIS on ebay this week:

It's a Anthropologie ODILLE brand blouse. Feminine, ruffly paid $1 for it, sold on eBay for $46! This ranks up there among my top 5 sales ever I think. Boy I wish I would make a $45 profit on every item! I was really psyched and it got me motivated to keep on listing.

Goals

I'm sad to admit I've always been a lousy Goal-achiever. I'm great at making and listing Goals, but the oophf that comes after and leads to success seems to get lost somewhere. I don't know for sure, but I think that its because of my personality type. I'm not really sure how to change that.

Regardless, I plan to continue to keep Goal-setting and this time I am going to switch gears and set goals strictly pertaining to eBay. Kelly, over at MyDearTrash has set and achieved some amazing goals (i.e. Family Trip $4000+; a new computer $2000+; and now she is planning on paying for her daughters wedding costing $5000 in only 5 weeks of eBay selling) and she achieves her goals very well in a short period of time. In the past I've just used my eBay money for whatever comes a long, bills, food, gas, etc whatever. Now I'm thinking I need more focus to make this really worth it, and not just a hobby. Because if I'm being honest, my favorite part is the shopping ;) I need some push to get my clothes actually up on eBay so they can sell, and I can do more shopping ;)

So, that being said here are some goals (in no particular order) that I'd like to achieve with my eBay profits:

• Pay Off my credit card debt
• Buy a new computer (to make listing way faster)
• New couch!
• Gym Membership
• Landscaping
• New Washer/Dryer
• Shopping Spree at Down East Basics (this one goes a long with my losing weight goals ad my Gym membership Goal) I just LOVE their clothing
• Food Storage
• Take my kids to Disneyland
• Silhouette machine
• New bikes for everyone in the family for Christmas

So... what are your goals? What gives you the drive to work harder & smarter?
Its kind of fun to make a list!! Go to it! Some of the things I want feel lofty and will take time others can be achieved in less time than you think if you just stick to it. I've seen it over and over with Kelly and have faith and hope that it can work for me too.

Ice Cream Chore Chart

Spring Break seemed like the perfect time to institute a regular chore system in our home. Am I a mean mom? I don't think so. I'm making it fun! And a week with my 2 older kids home from school meant lots of good practice. I intend to make Spring Break next year the beginning of an annual Spring Cleaning time. My kids are 7 & almost 6 and fully capable of handling small jobs.

To make it fun I drew then copied sheets of ice cream scoops and added all kinds of jobs to them. Everything from wiping all the door knobs in the house, to cleaning all the toilets, to tidying this room or that. Pretty much I summed up all the jobs that could make our home much cleaner and tidy most of the time. Then I laminated the ice cream scoops and an ice cream cone with each persons name on it and taped them to our pantry door.

The goal each week would be for each person in the family to do a different chore each day (i.e. no one person gets to gather shoes each day that would be too easy) Monday thru Friday, and then each person would have a designated laundry day. So by the end of the week we should have a tidy house, 6 scoops on our ice cream cone, and thus earning the treat of the week: an ice cream sundae any choices of toppings. In addition, they could earn 10 cents extra for any jobs done after the first 6. Ever the over-achiever, by the middle of the first day my oldest daughter had 7 scoops ad was angry with me for asking her to slow down and relax. When their dad got home from work they began hassling him to catch up. 

I put the jobs up as I need them done, until then I store them in an old ice cream bucket. I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out. And as more jobs are needed, I can make new scoops and add them to the bucket.

The first week went really well with my oldest earning 12 scoops total, my middle earning 10, dad got his 6, I think mom earned 13 and the 2 yr old earned 3 but he got his ice cream anyway! He's a happy little helper and will grow into it with this system.