Fun with a Friend, Fair Finds and The Ugly Chair Shop

I spent Saturday running around like crazy, a chicken with its head cut-off, if you will. While the early morning running was for "obligations," the afternoon was spent garage-saling with one of my very best friends, Victoria. As we headed out (around 1pm), we sort of wandered aimlessly. We didn't have a plan of action; figuring that we would "run into" a sale here and there, we just kind of meandered. Despite being aimless, I love garage-saling. I like the whole "recycle and reuse" concept and, well, you all know how I feel about shopping. I've never been picky about second-hand anything. My entire home is full of second-hand stuff from furniture to decorations. In fact, our "new" pool is even second-hand. I know some people who are appalled by garage sales and do not have the "one man's junk is another man's treasure" philosophy that I do. I figure it's their loss and a few less people I will need to compete against at sales and auctions...
Vic and I did find a handful of sales, with the first being my Dad's "household, estate, junk" sale (ok, I added the junk part of my own volition). I had already perused this sale (and purchased a beautiful pine bench) because one of my early morning obligatory runs was over to his sale to bring him ice for his coolers (he, apparently, is adding water to the items he now sells). Anyway, I enjoyed accompanying Vic while she perused the household items. She did find something to buy-- a boat shaped shelf. Cute piece. It actually belonged to my Aunt and Uncle who are doing-away with a light-house themed living room and selling all lighthouse/boat decor. She was happy with her purchase, especially because she received the friends and family discount. :)
We hit a handful of sales as we cruised around Dryden and then back toward Cortland. I have to say that the act of garage saling is much more exciting and rewarding when it is done with a plan in mind (or a local newspaper with ads circled) and early in the morning! Though we found only fair garage sale "finds," we had a great time together. Granted, a little too much of our enjoyment came from tongue-in-cheek "picking" on people. My personal favorite was the toothless-ravioli-eating-beer-sweating "flea market guru." As we pulled in, he greeted us and pointed out "great deals," like a severely stained mattress, which I suggested my friends lie on and "test-out." She just wasn't into it though... He, also, had a working fan and a makeup set. My friend snatched up the make-up set just for the F/M red lipstick and I warned her that it was highly likely that the makeup, though still in it's original package, was probably old and would lead to a severe break-out. She retorted that, yes, she would likely wind-up with a yeast like infection on her face. It was all downhill from there... I was happy to find this huge collection of horror DVDs. Miranda and her friends are all about horror films, so I grabbed my personal, gory, favorite, Hostel. My other selections included Swarm of Sharks, The Fog, Fear and The Forgotten (which really isn't a horror but was a good movie). I am kind of kicking myself for not grabbing Saw I-V and The Ring Two, but I figure I can always go back because he told us that he was opening a flea market and would be open all summer.
Somewhere between Dryden and Cortland I was struck with a new idea for a business (or perhaps, it was just something flying from the back of the car as I slammed on my brakes to turn into another sale?). The Ugly Chair Shop. Yes, I could open a shop and sell ugly chairs. After all, every sale we did manage to find had one or more ugly chairs. And, who doesn't want an ugly chair? Think pea-soup green chenille with a high back and wide, round base. I would be the next Mackenzie Childs! Within minutes, I'd sold Vic on this idea. Being as clever as she is, she suggested I could add ugly vases, too, as an incentive. Buy an Ugly Chair, Receive an Ugly Vase For Free! We brainstormed several additional ugly ideas. Ugly lamps might look nice (?) next to an ugly chair. When I called Dad to sell him on the idea of The Ugly Chair Shop, he demanded to know if we were drinking. Hmmm. Maybe some of my ideas are a little "out there..."
It made me happy that my very own basement was our last stop (before Chinese food, that is). In my basement, my husband was able to uncover two fans for my friend (which she desperately needed for her house and her son's bedroom in his [student] house). I was happy to have the fans go because my basement is packed-full and in need of cleaning/emptying.
Though I am fonder of the early-morning, mapped-out, logic-model of garage saling, I do have to say that when you hit them later, you are likely to find that Sellers are more willing to bargain ("Fill a bag with anything on this [hand slap] table for only a buck!") Of course, you rarely find much leftover after the career garage-salers have foraged through the original selection of treasures and, definitely, nothing you can fill a bag with, even if it is for only a buck! But, occasionally, you find something fabulous. I didn't find anything fabulous on Saturday but I had so much fun with my friend and there isn't a price tag for that...

Baby Clothes for Cousin's Baby... $1.50

Teflon Spatula................... $0.50

Comfort Grip Bottle Opener........$0.75

Hand-crafted Coffee Cups..........$0.20

Seven Horror DVD's................$7.00

Awesome time with my friend.......... PRICELESS

So, Vic, are we on for next weekend or what??? I will pick you up at 7:00 on Saturday morning! :)