A Thrift Store & An Attic Sale

11 Mar

Last week, my dad came to town to bring me some items to donate to the Junior League’s Attic Sale. When I asked him where we should meet to make the exchange, he said, “The Goodwill Store.” When I got there he came out to the parking lot and ordered me to go inside to see something he was thinking of buying. Intrigued (and a little scared), I walked in. He took me over to the shirt section…all the while telling me how he had promised himself he wouldn’t even look at the shirts because he had enough at home already. (After all, Mr. Fashion has that sweet denim one in his closet, remember?) He pulled a red shirt off of the rack, and much to my surprise, it was nice looking. A button-up red shirt with a Georgia “G” embroidered on it. Well played, Dad.

Now, I am not exactly sure how long my dad had been in the store, but it’s probably safe to say that he had been debating whether or not to buy that shirt for a good 20 minutes or so. He asked my opinion, so I told him, “I love it. You can wear it to a game, so you should get it. How much is it?” His reply? $3.75.

Y’all. For $3.75 I would’ve thrown 30 of ’em in my cart. I guess this is why I live paycheck to paycheck, but I digress. On my way out of the store (Dad was still shopping), I heard him tell the cashier, “That’s my daughter. She’s never been in a store like this before.” Um, yes I have. Silly Dad. Some of the best vintage finds are in thrift stores!

After departing the Goodwill Store, I took my things over to the building where the Junior League’s Attic Sale held. The Attic Sale is our biggest fundraiser, and for a mid-sized city, we do pretty well with it. This year, for example, we raised over $55,000 that will go back into our community in the form of grants and donations.
The Attic Sale is basically a gigantic yard sale (think an entire warehouse packed full of stuff) where people start lining up at 5am in the morning to find deals on anything from clock radios to baby strollers. You see all types of people at the sale – old, young, rich, poor – the clientele is quite diverse. There are people like my dad, who love a bargain, and even if they don’t need a gently used tennis racket…they will walk away with one. There are people there who know that some of the items donated come from the fancy-pants houses in town, and want to see if they can find a Tiffany lamp for $5.00. And of course, there are people who come to the Attic Sale because it’s where they stock up on their kid’s clothing, shoes, blankets, toys, books, etc. This year, I watched a little girl’s eyes light up over a used baby doll that her mother told her they could buy. It broke my heart and warmed my heart, all at the same time.
When you clean out your closets in anticipation for Spring/Summer, or if your kids (or grandkids, or nieces and nephews) have toys they no longer play with – please donate them to a local charity or thrift store. Whether your items end up in the hands of a cheap old man, a Carrie Bradshaw wannabe, or a needy family…the proceeds will go back into helping the people who need it most.

Lyrics That Fit My Life

9 Mar

When the stars line up
And you catch a good break
People think your lucky
But you know it’s grace
It can happen so fast
Or a little bit late
Timing is everything

You know I‘ve had close calls
When it could have been me
I was young when I learned just
How fragile life could be
I lost friends of mine
I guess it wasn’t my time
Timing is everything

Well I remember that day
When our eyes first met
You ran into the building to get out of the rain
Cause you were soaking wet
And as I held the door
You wanted to know my name
Timing is everything

From “Timing is Everything” written by Natalie Hemby and Troy Jones

Monday.

7 Mar

Woke up.
Put on robe.
Let dog out.
Made coffee.
Filled coffee cup.
Walked upstairs to get in shower.
Made it four stairs.
Fell.
Coffee flew everywhere.
Cursing begins.
Legs start bleeding and swelling.
7:00am.
Monday.

Hey America, Let’s Give Up Charlie Sheen For Lent

3 Mar

I was trying to avoid addressing the subject of Charlie Sheen, but it looks like he isn’t going to go into a coma as early as I expected him to. (Yikes, was that a little too cutting? Oh well.)

If you looked up egotistical manic addict in the dictionary, you would see a photo of Charlie Sheen. The man has taken to calling his girlfriends “goddesses” and himself a “warlock” with “tiger’s blood.” And, while that’s all kinds of crazy and weird, it’s also quite entertaining. I find myself turning the channel and then switching it right back, the way I do with scary movies. Pathetic? Absolutely.

Somehow, Charlie Sheen has turned me into a Charlie Sheen interview addict. If he’s done it to you, too, click here for a compilation of “No, really, I’m not smoking crack anymore” interview highlights.

Side note: I saw an interview with one of the “ladies” he had over to his house during a binge party. He paid her $30,000 for 3 minutes of “alone time.” Ten thousand dollars per minute, folks. I bet Oprah is pissed. It takes her at least 5 minutes to make $10,000.

I Love What You’re Wearing

2 Mar
So, Michelle Williams, who looked like a train wreck at the Golden Globes, went and knocked my socks off at the Oscars. At times, she has a tendency to look messy – you know, the same way Renee Zellweger does (Renee could benefit greatly from a hairbrush, but I digress). This time, however, Michelle simply looked like a movie star. The Chanel gown and the hair and makeup (reminiscent of Twiggy, no?) were stunning. Elegant and stunning.
She rocked that red carpet, and although she lost out on the Oscar, she definitely won “most improved sense of style” in my book. Ms. Williams, you’ve come a long way since Dawson’s Creek. And thank goodness…haven’t we all?

Past, Present and Future

28 Feb

I attended a beautiful wedding in Charleston this weekend. Being “back there” always makes me nostalgic. It reminds me, of course, of a wonderful time in my life. A time of friendship, laughter, love, happiness, and anticipation of so many good things still yet to come.

Perhaps I’m the only one who does things like this, but in the midst of dancing and singing loudly with my best college girlfriends, I had a moment where time seemed to briefly stand still. I looked around at them, and thought about all that we had been through in the past 10 years. Sorority parties, broken hearts, failed classes, fun vacations, wild nights out, boring nights in, the countless times we moved to different apartments (then cities), the serious boyfriends, the graduations, the engagements, the marriages, the baby bumps, the career choices and career changes.
As dumb and as sappy as this sounds, in that moment where I looked around at our group of friends, I felt an enormous amount of pride. 10 years later, there we were: Laughing, loving, sharing in another happy occasion…and anticipating so many good things yet to come.

Today Was Not The Day

24 Feb

I’ve been in a fog/funk sine I heard the alarm sound at 6:30am. That said, today was not the day for Best Buy to tell me that my refrigerator was going to be delivered between 1-3 and for them to not show up or call. I’m getting a $75 gift card out of the deal, but seeing as how I already bought the damn refrigerator, I don’t know what the heck good that’ll do me. How about $75 to Neiman Marcus? Macy’s? Target, even.

Today was also not the day for a stranger to call my work line and ask me if I could get him tickets to the Masters. First of all, ’round here, we don’t call ’em “tickets.” They’re badges. And, if I could get anyone “tickets” to the Masters, it wouldn’t be a stranger from Phoenix, Arizona. Even if he was creative enough to tell me it was on his bucket list. (That was a pretty good effort, though.) If I could score anyone a badge, it would probably be someone in my family, a good friend…or Bradley Cooper.

One Of Those Weeks

23 Feb

I’m having one hell of a work week, folks. Blogging will be a priority just as soon as I’m finished with a big event I’ve been working on. (Not blogging at work, mind you, just having the brain power to write period.)

Don’t give up on me, and if you do…don’t tell me. Holla at your girl on Thursday.

A Mood Enhancer

17 Feb

Betcha can’t watch this and still be in a “Seriously, it’s only Thursday?” funk:

Status Update Gems

16 Feb

Ever since I “fixed” my newsfeed options on Facebook, I’ve been reunited with all of the inappropriate (or just funny) status updaters that I’ve come to know and love. It’s both glorious and disgusting.

Recent status update gems:

  • It would be a “happy” Valentine’s Day if my ex gets food poisoning.
  • This may be a gayfail, but I am sick of Lady Gaga. She’s obnoxious and not really worthy of our time. Also, her new song blows. If that’s 2011’s gay anthem, I quit as a gay.
  • I hate every person I work with! They are STUPID, LOUD, AND ANNOYING!!!
  • If you a fat dude with skinny jeans on…slap ya damn self.
  • If you want to know what I’ll be doing tonight, I’ll be drinking as much as Charlie Sheen does on a Monday morning.
  • Happy Valentine’s Day to my wonderful husband. It’s Cowboys and Indians for you tonight….Giddy up.
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