Comments on: Good Reads: Garage Sale Edition http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/ Encouragement for a Simple Home Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:40:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Wordless (Loser). « Lauren from Texas http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9624 Wordless (Loser). « Lauren from Texas Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:26:29 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9624 [...] further reading… I am loving this post: Good Reads: Garage Sale Edition (via Small [...] [...] further reading… I am loving this post: Good Reads: Garage Sale Edition (via Small [...]

]]> By: Cherry http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9622 Cherry Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:04:06 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9622 Heads up clutterholics! Oprah is airing a new hoarding episode tomorrow, Thurs. Oct 8., "Hoarders: A Family's Secret Life Exposed" Heads up clutterholics! Oprah is airing a new hoarding episode tomorrow, Thurs. Oct 8., “Hoarders: A Family’s Secret Life Exposed”

]]> By: Leanne http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9618 Leanne Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:26:13 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9618 Since she lives a couple hours away... maybe you could suggest that she keep some of the bigger items at her place, so your boy will have things to play with when you come to visit? It's no fun always having to bring the toys with you when you come for a visit! And, if she's storing them, it might cut down on the amount of big stuff she thinks she needs to get for him. As for the items that you just don't want (ripped books, smelly used toys), I think it's fair to take them home and then donate them on/get rid of them. If she asks "What happened to X?" you've got two possible ways of answering. Honest (which may be harder at first but will probably help nip the habit in the bud eventually): "We noticed it had a strange funk so we got rid of it." White lie: "He wasn't really playing with it, and it took up a lot of space, so we passed it along to another kiddo." Or be proactive with the suggestions. My mom loves to garage sale, and would come home with random stuff we didn't need. I started saying "T loves his duplo blocks and can always use more; if you see any at a garage sale..." and that helped direct her acquisitions. Since she lives a couple hours away… maybe you could suggest that she keep some of the bigger items at her place, so your boy will have things to play with when you come to visit? It’s no fun always having to bring the toys with you when you come for a visit! And, if she’s storing them, it might cut down on the amount of big stuff she thinks she needs to get for him.

As for the items that you just don’t want (ripped books, smelly used toys), I think it’s fair to take them home and then donate them on/get rid of them. If she asks “What happened to X?” you’ve got two possible ways of answering. Honest (which may be harder at first but will probably help nip the habit in the bud eventually): “We noticed it had a strange funk so we got rid of it.” White lie: “He wasn’t really playing with it, and it took up a lot of space, so we passed it along to another kiddo.”

Or be proactive with the suggestions. My mom loves to garage sale, and would come home with random stuff we didn’t need. I started saying “T loves his duplo blocks and can always use more; if you see any at a garage sale…” and that helped direct her acquisitions.

]]> By: Amy http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9616 Amy Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:05:24 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9616 I'm not much of a garage sale girl myself these days. I am working on booting stuff out of our house this year. By the way, thank you so much for linking to my site! I really appreciate it! I’m not much of a garage sale girl myself these days. I am working on booting stuff out of our house this year.

By the way, thank you so much for linking to my site! I really appreciate it!

]]> By: Kika http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9615 Kika Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:52:49 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9615 Living in a small town means on a "busy" garage-sale day you might find FIVE sales. Still, my 9yo daughter and I have fun garage sale-ing (spelling?) some in the summer. This Summer we found tons of great wooden frames to house kids' artwork or a couple special things of mine (fabric from Malaysia/ art cards I like). I also like garage sales for skates and rollerblades in excellent condition. Living in a small town means on a “busy” garage-sale day you might find FIVE sales. Still, my 9yo daughter and I have fun garage sale-ing (spelling?) some in the summer. This Summer we found tons of great wooden frames to house kids’ artwork or a couple special things of mine (fabric from Malaysia/ art cards I like). I also like garage sales for skates and rollerblades in excellent condition.

]]> By: Erica http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9614 Erica Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:29:25 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9614 Talking about garage sales and decluttering, I'd like some suggestions from mothers on how to handle this situation. I have an 18 mo old son, and my mom who lives several hours away seems to be buying larger size gifts every time we see her. My husband and I have both commented that we feel we are running out of space and other ways to nicely hint that we don't want more stuff. My parents are serious packrats as well. The problem I have is my mom seems to buy used things in poor condition. I shop at consignment sales for my son's clothes and toys so I am not opposed to used items. This weekend we went for a visit and she bought him a large stuffed Elmo which he liked but smelled bad. She said she washed it in the washing machine. I think perhaps it was cigarette smell, not quite sure. Neither she nor my dad smelled it. She washed it again and offered to restuff it (I said not to worry about restuffing it). Even after rewashing, I noticed the odor returning. I find the smell gross and my husband said our son smelled like it/bad after hugging it a lot. She also got us a sort of Big Wheels tricycle with our college team cutouts scotch taped on (I think she thought those were cute). The bike was pretty worn. Now that these gifts are larger I can't get rid of them without her noticing when she comes to visit. What should I do about this? She will buy very worn or outdated clothes and these smaller things I have just started donating bc she won't really be able to tell. In August, she brought up the Little Tykes basketball set (in good condition but takes up a fair amount of space). Another example--books, she bought him a pop up Christmas book but every pop up was torn. I don't want to hurt her feelings so I'm not sure what to do. To be fair, for Christmas and baptism I have said he doesn't need anything and for these major occasions she has given to his college fund but she is still giving me large presents every time I see her. I do have a garage and basement and have just made a play room so I do have storage space technically but I don't want to store stuff I don't want. Also, I don't like the idea of her spending money on these items and worse I feel guilty getting rid of them but I don't want them either. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your help/advice. I like your site. Talking about garage sales and decluttering, I’d like some suggestions from mothers on how to handle this situation. I have an 18 mo old son, and my mom who lives several hours away seems to be buying larger size gifts every time we see her. My husband and I have both commented that we feel we are running out of space and other ways to nicely hint that we don’t want more stuff. My parents are serious packrats as well. The problem I have is my mom seems to buy used things in poor condition. I shop at consignment sales for my son’s clothes and toys so I am not opposed to used items. This weekend we went for a visit and she bought him a large stuffed Elmo which he liked but smelled bad. She said she washed it in the washing machine. I think perhaps it was cigarette smell, not quite sure. Neither she nor my dad smelled it. She washed it again and offered to restuff it (I said not to worry about restuffing it). Even after rewashing, I noticed the odor returning. I find the smell gross and my husband said our son smelled like it/bad after hugging it a lot. She also got us a sort of Big Wheels tricycle with our college team cutouts scotch taped on (I think she thought those were cute). The bike was pretty worn. Now that these gifts are larger I can’t get rid of them without her noticing when she comes to visit. What should I do about this? She will buy very worn or outdated clothes and these smaller things I have just started donating bc she won’t really be able to tell. In August, she brought up the Little Tykes basketball set (in good condition but takes up a fair amount of space). Another example–books, she bought him a pop up Christmas book but every pop up was torn. I don’t want to hurt her feelings so I’m not sure what to do. To be fair, for Christmas and baptism I have said he doesn’t need anything and for these major occasions she has given to his college fund but she is still giving me large presents every time I see her. I do have a garage and basement and have just made a play room so I do have storage space technically but I don’t want to store stuff I don’t want. Also, I don’t like the idea of her spending money on these items and worse I feel guilty getting rid of them but I don’t want them either. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your help/advice. I like your site.

]]> By: Zengirl http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9613 Zengirl Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:10:33 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9613 I think you are smart than rest of us, some of us (read: me) would buy sometimes because it is bargain, but not needed, just wanted when we see it. How are you doing with 2 kids? Curious to know. I am still getting hang of it with my 4 years and 7 month old, trying to get back to normal or find a new "normal". .-= Zengirl´s last blog post ..<a href="http://happy-heart-mind.blogspot.com/2009/10/10-creative-and-frugal-hacks.html" rel="nofollow">10 Creative and Frugal hacks</a> =-. I think you are smart than rest of us, some of us (read: me) would buy sometimes because it is bargain, but not needed, just wanted when we see it. How are you doing with 2 kids? Curious to know. I am still getting hang of it with my 4 years and 7 month old, trying to get back to normal or find a new “normal”.
Zengirl´s last blog post ..10 Creative and Frugal hacks

]]> By: Anna http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9611 Anna Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:39:48 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9611 Oooo...fun links. Looks like a list of inspiration to me. (PS-Much prefer a thrift store to garage sales. All organized in familiar zones and easy to do a quick run through if you're short on time!) .-= Anna´s last blog post ..<a href="http://thesweetnest.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-how-do-i-love-thee.html" rel="nofollow">Pumpkin, How Do I Love Thee?</a> =-. Oooo…fun links. Looks like a list of inspiration to me.

(PS-Much prefer a thrift store to garage sales. All organized in familiar zones and easy to do a quick run through if you’re short on time!)
Anna´s last blog post ..Pumpkin, How Do I Love Thee?

]]> By: se7en http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9610 se7en Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:46:51 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9610 Oh great links!!! Like I have nothing else to do but follow cool links!!! "Love the things we cherish" link... I live in mortal terror of sorting through my parents home, where they have lived and stashed for fifty, yes FIFTY years... imagine fifty years worth of junk mail and fifty years worth of nicknaks and magazines... As I write this I can see exactly where my stuff phobia comes from!!! .-= se7en´s last blog post ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/org/se7en/~3/zkwUwNdwE1I/sunday-snippet-the-ten-commandments-a-giveaway" rel="nofollow">Sunday Snippet: The Ten Commandments – A GiveAway…</a> =-. Oh great links!!! Like I have nothing else to do but follow cool links!!! “Love the things we cherish” link… I live in mortal terror of sorting through my parents home, where they have lived and stashed for fifty, yes FIFTY years… imagine fifty years worth of junk mail and fifty years worth of nicknaks and magazines… As I write this I can see exactly where my stuff phobia comes from!!!
se7en´s last blog post ..Sunday Snippet: The Ten Commandments – A GiveAway…

]]> By: Corene http://smallnotebook.org/2009/10/04/good-reads-garage-sale-edition/#comment-9608 Corene Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:04:40 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1531#comment-9608 I switched to cloth diapers with child #3 thanks to BumGenuis and found the process not that difficult! And the diapers STILL fit my almost 3 year old, though he's not using them anymore. Love them. I did usually use disposables for day trips and travel. I switched to cloth diapers with child #3 thanks to BumGenuis and found the process not that difficult! And the diapers STILL fit my almost 3 year old, though he’s not using them anymore. Love them. I did usually use disposables for day trips and travel.

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