Is it almost August already??

This summer has flown by.Where did the time go??Tomorrow is school registration for my two oldest kids;I've got one going into the 8th grade and one going into the 11th grade.School starts August 6th-the earliest I've ever remembered them starting.Craziness I tell you. At least now we're in line with all the Back-To-School sales.
With the big kids going back to school,that leaves me with the four year old at home.I wish we had the money to put him in preschool, but unless money starts falling out of the sky(Dollar bills, not change.That might hurt.) it's not going to happen.There is a preschool at the elementary school he'll be attending next year, but it's for special ed.I did, in fact, ask them 'How special does he have to be?' The answer was special as in he has a documented disability(Facebook didn't count as documented).They also said that they have a few regular kids in there to be a "good example" for the others.It was at that point I just gave up because out of all the kinds of examples there are in the world-I wouldn't say his was "good"(in fact,he leans more towards "horrible warning").It's not that he's a bad kid...he's just rambunctious...and independent...and mischievious...and curious.Like MacGyver, Evil Kenevil,and Dennis the Menace all rolled into one. So it's still up in the air, what I'll do with him during school.Hmm...maybe I can get his grandparents to chip in for Mother's Day Out as my Christmas present(something to think about).
I'm hoping with the big kids back in school, that means I can do more on Ebay.Honestly, though, it's not the kids stopping me-it's the heat.All of my inventory is located out in the un-air conditioned play house and I just can't bring myself to go get some work done.And ((whiny voice)) it's too hot.The temperature is supposed to top out at 102 today.102!!!((Groan))My sales have reflected this too. I've sold one thing in the past few days- a light bulb for a movie projector.

Bought this for $1.65.Sold for $19.99. I bought it because 1)I thought it was pretty and if it didn't sell I could make something "steampunkish" with it, and 2)I know any kind of projector bulbs can get expensive.My dad gets overhead and opaque projectors at the school auctions and when the bulb goes out,it's cheaper for him to buy another used projector than a new bulb.Seriously.

Gotta go- my four year old just picked a fight with the fifteen year old and I can't ignore it any longer.Sigh,this is my life.Entertaining thoughts of running away from home..or maybe I'll just go to Goodwill for a couple of hours.

New Opportunities

Sorry I've been gone so long...not that I've had alot to post about. My Ebay sales have been close to non-existant.Just abysmal.I'm trying not to take it personally since almost everyone's having a slump, but it's very discouraging.
I've been eating healthy and working out more since I've gotten the walking boot off my foot(down 18 pounds-woohoo!).The tendons still get pretty tender after I've been doing stuff all day,but it's way better than it was before.The doctor said that tendons are the slowest to heal-it could take up to six months.All I can do is make sure I wear my brace when working out, try not to overdo it,ibuprofin, elevate/ice at the end of the day.The workouts have been pretty intense,but I'm training for my black belt test in December.
I've also been busy with the kids just enjoying the summer.Karate, water fights, sleepovers, fireworks, museum,swimming,cookouts,driving lessons...we're on summer time.No school.No schedules.No tests(except for the Driver Permit test my 15 year old took).They're getting so big.

    How did I get to be the mother of two teenagers and a four year old?Weren't they just babies?
Onto the reason for my post...New Opportunities.As I said,my Ebay sales have been terrible.I've been selling some things for a friend lately and taking a commission.This friend happens to be an accountant for a firm that has several nursing homes.They've got a ton of equipment that they've just updated and now they've got several storage units of things like phone systems,servers,etc. that they want to sell.She said that the last phone system she bought for the company was $100,000.Her boss wanted to know if she knew anyone that sold stuff on Craigslist or Ebay.Ding, ding, ding!!! ME!!!She said I can do it at my own pace and set my own hours since it'll be a commission job.
It's still not set in stone yet, but hopefully this is something I can do.Fingers crossed and prayers said.

Sales This Week-June 16-22

This week I sold a grand total of two, count 'em 2 items.I know...the word "pitiful" comes to mind.
The first sale was this set of Hasbro softies plush Bert and Ernie-sold for $7.99.
The other sale was for a package of 50th birthday decorations-sold for $9.99.
See? I told you...pitiful.
I blame my ankle. With my foot in a boot(pulled some ligaments and a tendon while sparring at karate), I haven't felt like doing much, especially things that involve being on two feet.So all those treasures stayed out in the playhouse .. or the thrift store.
The ligaments feel much better now and even though it'll take a while longer for the tendon to get back to 100%, it no longer has that "Son of a B*#@&! That F**ing Hurts!!" kind of pain.
So this week it's back to listing.I guess the old adage is true.."The harder I work, the luckier I get."
Wishing everyone great sales(and no injuries).

Sales this Week-June 9-15

Holy crap, this week flew by. Between starting a new diet, taking the family to a water spray park, and karate, I feel like I've been running all week.
I've been reading "The Skinny Rules" by Bob Harper(you know, the trainer from The Biggest Loser) and have been following his diet plan since Monday.It's a good read-there are sound principles behind his "rules" and I have to say, not the hardest diet I've ever tried. I still miss butter...and salt...and potatoes...but my hips sure don't.I've lost 6 pounds since starting-6 pounds people!
I rolled my ankle Wednesday night while sparring.I was kicking someone and when I went to land on my right foot, I felt my toes roll under and I landed on my ankle.Ouch!! Thank goodness no bones broken, but I pulled some ligaments and a tendon.That means three weeks in a boot, then the doctor said I'd go to a brace.Normally, I'd just wrap it up myself and deal with the pain, but since I'm testing for black belt in December I didn't want to take a chance on making it worse.I hate wearing that stupid boot(especially in 90 degree weather-sweat city) and missing karate, I'm trying to stay positive by focusing on my diet.
Ok, enough about that...onto the sales!
This week I sold 11 items on Ebay for a total of $226.79.

Little Einsteins Rocket-not the one that brings alot of money,but still worth it to pick up if you can get it cheap enough.This one was missing a few pieces, so I added Annie. Sold for $19.99.

A Thomas and Friends blue trackmaster set(this is not all of it).I had it photographed and ready to list a long time ago, but a certain four year old decided to help himself to some of the pieces.So I had to gather everything up and photograph it again.This time, however, I took blue painter's tape and bundled the pieces and numbered them.It made it alot easier when it came time to ship too.Sold for $50.00.

This is a bunch of needlepoint wool that was in a bag with a kit that I bought for a $1.00.The kit hasn't sold yet, but this lot of yarn sold for $20.09.Did I mention I love selling yarn?

Sold this Megalodon tooth for a friend.I think a Megalodon was a dinosaur shark, all I know for sure is I'm glad they're extinct.Look at that tooth! Yikes! Sold for $48.63

Sold this vintage Fisher Price Little People set for $31.00.I could've gotten more,but I only paid $4.99 so I'm happy.Am I the only person who hears the cash register sound in my head whenever I get my hands on vintage Little People?
I also sold two vintage paint by number paintings that were not in the best shape($9.99),a lot of two Blue's Clues toys($15.99),a camera($9.99),a vintage toy car($12.34),two Barney toys($7.78),and some Mickey Mouse Magic Choo Choo Replacement tracks(.99).
Hope everyone has an awesome week.

This Weeks Sales: June 2-8

I had 11 Ebay sales this week. Not to great, but I made up for it in stuff I found. I stopped at a thrift store that happened to have a half off the entire store-it was awesome! I walked out of there with a huge box and a huge bag full of stuff and only spent $14.82 (one of the items was a Kosta Boda crystal candle holder that'll pay for the whole trip).
This week I sold:

This lot of My Scene boy dolls for $49.99. I had bought these in a bag with 5 more regular Ken dolls for $15.99.Sold the Ken dolls for $15.99 so this was profit-Yippee!!

A pair of vintage cat eye sunglasses.Paid: .50 cents(Seriously,why isn't there a cents sign on the keyboard?) Sold for $25.00.

A Poloroid sx-70 Land Camera with Leather Case.Listed this on consignment for someone.Sold for $75.00 + shipping.Also sold a little 16mm spy camera with flash for $9.99 for her.I have a couple of more things that are up for auction that are hers,then I'm done.I don't mind consignment work for friends,but I like selling my own stuff better.
Other things I sold:
Barbie Doctor Accessories-99 cents
Pair of My Scene swim shorts-99 cents
Lot of Barbie doll clothes-$13.00
Casserole dish-$4.99(had this for a while.GoodBye)
NWT Liz Claiborne pants-$12.99
Lot of Barbie shoes-$4.50
Another lot of 6 smocking magazines-$14.99(that $3.00 box keeps on giving.One lot left to sell)

And now for this weeks WTF?! Ebay sale (at least for my husband anyway).I saw this ceramic cookie jar at Goodwill and snatched it as soon as they put it out because I knew it would sell. My husband took one look at it and said,"That is the ugliest thing I ever saw."(Name that movie)

Front side

Back side

Bought it for $2.99.Sold within 2 hours of listing it for $19.99(I think I could've asked for more).The best part: the "I Told You So" dance I did in front of my husband(it involves much pointing and shimmying,lol).

Hoping everyone great sales in the next week!!

Woohoo!! 200!

I looked this morning and saw that I have 200 feedbacks on Ebay.I know it's not a big deal for some people,but it makes me feel like awesomesauce. You see, I don't chase people down after they buy something whining,"Hey you didn't leave me feedback!" I feel if I've done a good enough job,then the feedback will come.Build it and they will come(Quick-name that movie!). On to 300 and more!!

PS-Answer: Field of Dreams

PPS-Speaking of Kevin Costner,did anyone see "The Hatfields and McCoys" miniseries?I recommend it.It was fantastic!Some of those people were cray cray-it was like watching a train wreck.

The Spoils of Thrift

Got some great deals-not so much at yard sales, but Goodwill and a thrift store that was having a half off sale.My favorite find was the church plate-it's the same church I grew up at and my parents still attend.Now to get it listed.