Second Greatest Day of the Year

For the last four years as part of my birthday gift, I get to take a Saturday off and head to a super-awesome city wide garage sale with Tiger. It's a part of my birthday gift because the big garage sale is usually the weekend of my birthday. Anyway, it has become my second favorite day of the year (#1 is German Fest which is in June).

The night before we print out the maps make a list of sizes and wants and then plan our attack. One forseen aspect of the "day off" is that I have to get up early. Wicked early. I left the house today at 6:40am and let me tell you I was near tears when Pax was pulling his stunts at 3:30, 4, 5am. Not cool buddy.

Anyway, I stopped for coffee for both Tiger and I and met her at her house by 7:15am. See the garage sales open at 8am but the last two years I've been there at 7:30am when they are setting up and have gotten some crazy deals. CRAZY!

Oh, and I just want to point out, in case you are wondering, I didn't get junk or unneeded items and I didn't load up on toys. I got wonderful deals on things we would otherwise purchase at full price. I was so proud of my finds so I figured out how much money I spent and then add up everything I bought (not prices just counted items)

Here's what I got.

41 pieces of clothing (only 5 were for me the rest for our ever growing children). This includes the most adorable dress coat for Demand. Grey and Black with matching beret. Mr. Sloth has wanted one for his little French girl for some time. So cute!
3 pairs shoes for Demand
1 pair of water shoes for Demand
1 pair of ice skates
3 pinatas + Candy. One will be used for Demands b-day party, the other two for a rainy day. I couldn't pass up for $0.50/each. Oh, and the candy is only three weeks old and still bagged.
10 children's hangers. It was on my list for the new house anyway.
1 large framed picture of the building of the Eiffel Tower. I am having trouble finding a similar picture online, but know that this isn't a generic Eiffel Tower pictures. It's four pictures of the progression of the erection of the Eiffel Tower and I want to add that this is a high quality framed picture not just something from Wal-Mart.
2 beautiful silver candle sticks
2 sets of Speedo Water Wings. Really good quality, fabric covered inflatables.
1 gorgeous Easter Decoration
5 Crate and Barrel style serving dishes
2 unused Target Party Platter
3 Toys. One of which is for Pax's birthday and one is for his crib. All three educational
3 Strawberry Shortcake figurines for Demand's Birthday Cake.
1 Board Game. "Clue!" I have asked for this game for my birthday and Christmas for years. For two dollars, this deluxe set was mine! Happy Birthday to me!
1 light up Planetarium (homeschool expense)
1 Pottery Barn style silverware caddy
21 childrens books
3 extra large wall maps. I had just decided to get some for our new homeschool room. What a find!
1 crib foam wedge (for when we have another gassy baby)
1 bag of hand/finger puppets
1 and in a twist of irony I bought a small Marian icon at an Episcopal Church sale.

and last, but best this house. I found it a couple hours into shopping and couldn't believe it was available. I bought it immediately for $15. I knew it was Pottery Barn Kids. I knew it was worth more than $15 and I KNEW Demand would love it as a birthday gift for her new bedroom. When I got home I looked up the actual price......$149.

And with that I reveal the grand total. All together I spent (drum roll, please)


<$137!! That's less than what the playhouse actually costs! Not only did I get a ton of needed clothes and shoes but I got homeschool supplies, birthday party supplies, and birthday gifts. What a deal!

In addition to my savings I'm proud of myself for not loading up on toys this year. Gosh it's so tempting to see what you know is a $30 toy on sale for $1, but that doesn't mean we need it. I have no problem buying books though and guess what. The kids were just as excited for a bag of books as they would have been for toys.

Thanks for listening to my exciting news. Luckily you can stop reading now, while Mr. Sloth has to hear about it for days.