Yard Sale Pride & Creative Parenting (yes again)
Jun 21, 2009 I Forgot to Tag
Hello! I hope you all had fantastic weekends with the people you care most about. I know I did. Mi Familia is back and as chaotic as always. I am currently loving every minute of it. (ask me next week)
On Saturday after the gym I decided to hit up some yard sales on my way home. I have been looking for a few key items (a couch for Tara, clothes for the kids, a foot locker for X, and cool picture frames/dishes/vases to add to my “collections”) I think I picked up my love of yard sales from my mommy, and I enjoy having non-pottery-barn-or-ikea-mass-produced items in my house. I mean, some of the things are really cool but I hate walking into a friends house and being like “OMG I totally have that too!” to 4 or 5 things on display.
I stopped at this one by my house on my way to the gym. I found this kick ass mirror. The kind that is a full body mirror but is on its own stand. I dont know if it is considered vintage or not… but it looks old school to me. I had not gone to the bank yet so I didnt stop. I figured that if it was meant to be, it would still be there when I returned.
Guess what? It was. 
I am going to refinish it to a darker wood stain eventually, but this bad boy was $10… talked down from $15. Right?!
I then stopped at a community garage sale. I hit the 2T girl clothes mother-load.
The problem: This bitch thought her yard sale clothes were the best thing since sliced bread.
The t-shirts were $2 a piece and the pants/skirts $3. Granted, they were all in really good condition but I am not really up for paying more than $1 for stuff like that. Especially when I am interested in buying more than 1 item. Yard sale purchases should be negotiable.
Me: (walking up with a pile of shirts and pants and 2 pair of shoes) “Hi.”
YardSaleBitch: “How many things do you have there?”
Me: “4 shirts 2 pants 2 shoes. I would like to offer you $10 for the clothes and then 4 for the shoes”
YSB: “DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE KIDS CLOTHES ARE?!”
Me: “Uh, yeah I have kids.”
YSB: “These prices are firm.”
Me: “Really?! I get that you like your stuff, but dont you think this is a little steep for used kids clothes… at a yard sale?”
YSB: “Um. These are NAME BRAND.”
Me: “Well then you can haul your NAME BRAND items home today then. I would rather pay full price than buy shit from you. Have a good day.”
YSB: (talking to her friend) “It isnt my fault she doesnt know quality.”
Me: (stopping and turning) “Excuse me?!”
YSB: “I was talking to my friend.”
Me: “ABOUT ME. Let me tell you something. I am not going to make a scene because there are kids here, but you are about the snottiest, tackiest woman I have ever met and I am not going to stoop to your level. HAVE A GREAT DAY.”
And I got in my Tara’s Escalade and left. 
It sucks because I really liked the clothes. But I would rather not pay that bitch a fucking dime. Luckily, the lady with the mirror had a shit ton of cute stuff for Charli for $.25 a piece. Take that YSB. Right in the ass.
Now on to the business of my next Creative Parenting venture. Are you new to my blogs?
I like to creatively punish my kids.
Like: X kept leaving the lights on. So he went a day without any power. Cold showers and all.
Or: When he kept trying to wear the same clothes every day so I made him wear the same clothes for an entire week.
*grin* He will always remember these moments. I wont be the mommy known for ass whoopins. I will be the mommy known for these things.
For those of you who didnt read TMIT last week, Xavier stole $50 from his cousin when they were in California. We pondered what we would do when he got home for punishment.
This is what we came up with:
Now I introduce Xavier George: Inmate # 1488720 of the House County Jail
We held court. D gave the synopsis of what he was accused of. Xavier did the right thing and plead guilty. He was sentenced to 5 days in jail (with 3 days suspended) 45 days probation and 100 hours community service. He is going to spend the good portion of the summer working this off.
If he violates his probation, the other 3 days of jail will get fulfilled. I am typing up the terms of probation tomorrow.
So his room was stripped of everything but his bed, 1 pillow and 1 blanket. He had his desk and we gave him 1 book and some paper and a pencil. He wrote definitions of words that I picked that were related to his crime and sentences in his words using the words I picked that showed he knew what they meant. He was allowed 3 meals a day. Those consisted of oatmeal and toast for breakfast and D went and bought the Banquet TV dinners for his lunch and dinner meals. Blech.
Oh well. If you do the crime you gotta do the time. He didn’t get gourmet food like celebrities do.
I had him write a paper about this experience that I will share with you all tomorrow. I really really hope that he learned from this experience. I dont want to have to kick his ass, nor do I want to have to bail him out of real jail.
In other news, Father’s day has been relaxing for all of us… and I am not looking forward to going to work tomorrow. Boo.
Have you ever been to jail? Did you learn your lesson?
Have you ever scored big while thrifting or yard sale-ing? What was your big find?
What (other than sleeping all day) would you rather be doing tomorrow than working?
June 21st, 2009 at 21:41
I have never been to jail. I’ve never been that much of a rebel. And my tastes in things don’t often go outside the law.
I can’t remember finding anything at a yard sale that totally freaked me out, though an old gf’s mom picked us up an actual Rouge Moog with instruction booklet for $20. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the whiney high pitched synth that Dr. Dre loved so much.
I’d rather be doing anything than going to work tomorrow. I totally hate my job right now. Assfucks do not appreciate me.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:08
I have imagined that you were that much of a rebel… even though I knew already that you werent.
June 21st, 2009 at 22:06
I have never been to jail as someone who was invited by the police to spend time behind bars. I have been there to pick up the EX after he got a DUI (funny story attached to this one) and to see clients. I actually enjoying going to jail to see clients – they get this hopeful eye like I’m a lawyer and am going to bail them out, and then I burst their hope like a needle in a balloon.
I get clothes for free off CL and freecycle. (Plus hand-me-downs from friends) I pick out what I like, wash it thoroughly, and then pass on the rest on CL, freecycle, or Goodwill. I think I may have spent a total of $15 on Katelyn when I was pregnant – crib was free, clothes free, diapers free, swing free, etc etc. It’s hard to do yard sales with two kids in tow.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:09
You are evil because I am almost positive that the bubble bursting leaves you with a cackle on the inside.
June 21st, 2009 at 23:26
I love your creative parenting, I hate yard sales hence I have never hosted one, and I want to bite the naked dudes ass – like rub oil all over his body and bend down and just bite his hot nekkid ass. I dunno how to explain it.
Also I am getting nervous about meeting you guys. I know what its like to have your expectations of meeting someone not be met when you do finally meet them and I don’t want to be that for you. So, I am slowly getting scared shitless.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:09
I want to bite his ass too. Yum.
Stop being nervous. I am excited to have lunch with you. LIKE SO EXCITED OMG.
Heather G Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:18
I’ll get over the nerves, part of that is the way I manifest excitement (read:freak). We are working on finding a sitter for Thursday night. I have a friend whose niece only lives about 15 minutes from the strip and she’s 16, so all we have to find out now is if her parents would let her come hang out in our room for the night. Depends on the hours. But we’re trying
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:40
June 22nd, 2009 at 04:59
Q: Who the hell buys “NAME BRAND” clothes, at “BRAND NAME” prices, for kids?
A: Pretentious bitches, cause real moms know better.
If I could bitchsmack her through the internet, I would.
But that may just be the mood I’m in too.
/shrug
Imma email you&Q later. I has an issue.
.-= Squish´s last blog ..Chapter One: In Which Everything That CAN Go Wrong…. Does =-.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:13
Right. The only time I get name brand anything for my kids is when they are on clearance or consignment.
June 22nd, 2009 at 05:13
I have never spent time behind bars, but have picked up people just released from their time. I have zero desire to EVER spend time back there. EVA.
I love yard sales. Don’t have too many of em around here tho. My one BIG find, I picked up thirteen years ago when I was preggo with Oldest. Big four drawer dresser with all joints dovetailed. sturdy (ready HEAVY) as hell. Still have it, it’s survived dozens of moves) and it’s been in use every day since I counted out $20 for it. I have a YSB story too.(tons of em really.. but this one stuck out) when Daughter was about 3 or 4, I found PURPLE overalls in her size. well, a size bigger, but overalls = do-able like that. she was then obsessed with purple as she is now. and she loved overalls. these were PERFECT. I was very broke then. I asked how much they were.. and she said 10 bucks. I did a triple take. I looked at her.. and said two?? and she said ‘no, 10. those are calvin klein and are worth so much more.
i looked around me, looked at her, and said. ‘lady, no disrespect meant, but you’re in the ghetto. people here don’t pay rent cuz they’re in income based housing and don’t have any money. *glancing at her piles of ‘name brand’* the reason you have everything still is because of that attitude. people here are NOT gonna pay store prices for yard sale clothes. period end of story. Now, will you take my 2 bucks and let my daughter have a pair of purple overalls, cuz thats all i care about, or are you gonna stay up on your brand name high horse and go home with no money and a pile of clothes no one bought?’
I got the overalls. and still smile when i think of that. and she wore those things until they became highwater.. then i cut em off and she wore em as short-alls.. probly got 4 years out of them. They were her favorite.
I friggin LOVE getting deals…
As for what I would rather be doing…
I’d rather run around and do ALL those pesky errands that need doing, pay all the bills, do all the shopping, that’s been put off for a month.. and then go have a spa day… but can’t. cuz asshat STILL hasn’t paid. srsly. now he’s in breach of contract. this will be lovely… heh.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:19
I want a spa day. And to get you paid. What a douche.
June 22nd, 2009 at 06:21
Now THAT is fucking awesome! You ROCK! I am calling you for ALL of my parenting/disipline questions. Seriously.
<3 you!
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:19
June 22nd, 2009 at 06:22
I have never really been to a yard sale, so no bargins for me.
Yes, I spent a night in jail for shoplifting and have not stolen a thing since……I could have got out but I refused to call my mom and had to pay my own bail. lol
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:23
I got caught shoplifting 2 times. The second time was the one that sunk in.
June 22nd, 2009 at 06:53
Number 1. That child is fucking gorgeous.
Number 2. I bow to your gangster parenting skills.
.-= Miss Tricky´s last blog ..Men are from Stupid. =-.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:24
1: He knows he is. Don’t be fooled by the puppy dog eyes tho. He is evil. Pure evil.
2: <3 I try to do the right thing.
June 22nd, 2009 at 06:55
I love your creative parenting. I think it’s really smart! Is X upset about it?!
And good for you for telling the YSB that she was tacky. I’m glad you were able to get an even better deal elsewhere.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:25
I am not sure what he is. I had him write a paper about it… so I guess we will find out in due time.
Me too. It was hard to let those clothes go. It was principal though.
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:25
That is the best punishment ever. I woulda just yelled a lot and grounded. Adding this to my index for future reference.
I have been in jail and then got 3 years probation. I never walked such a straight line in all my life as I did those 3 years. I was not going back to that rathole. I was so good on probation that my officer loved me and wanted to get me released early but I still had hella debt to pay the county and they wouldn’t release me ’til it was paid.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:28
Man. The government really knows how to handcuff you, don’t they. Blah.
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:45
Nope. Never been to jail…unless you count all the times I’ve visited my brother, my sister, Angela and Doug in my life. Good times.
Caleb go ‘grounded’ to a specific stretch of the yard the other day after he went around the front of the building and left his brother alone in the back yard. The funny part of it was that the other two proceeded to taunt him from outside that are HAHA.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:52
HAHAHAHAHHA. LMFAO.
June 22nd, 2009 at 09:21
I’m not a kid person… but after a glimpse of the way you’ve raised em, I’m pretty sure I would LOVE yours.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 09:23
You pretty much just made my day with this comment.
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:16
PS. I know that you know I have never been to jail.
I conform because I was “jailed” so often as a kid that I never want to be that confined or controlled ever again.
I wish I could find things at yard sales, but I don’t like getting up early.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:41
Shoot. I dont get up early. I was out of the house at 10:30 when I went on Saturday. (read: closer to 11)
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:42
Since this is “tomorrow” I’m going to say I’d rather be working. I “celebrated” one year of job hunting a couple weeks ago. I were a happy camper that day.
I’m not trying to say, “be grateful for what you’ve got.” I’m just saying I’d rather be working; the flip side to your coin.
I loved your punishment for X so much I read it aloud to Keith. He cracked up and applauds you!
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:44
I totally get your perspective. I guess what I mean to say is that I hate my job. I love that I have a job, but this job is … *yawn*
I am so happy Keith got a laugh.
Anne Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:48
And I get your perspective, too. Reading one of your recent blogs (unless I dreamed it) it seems that the word “fuckertwat” applies; Micromanaging, correct?
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:50
Nail.On.The.Head.
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:09
I love yard sales!! And Thrift Stores!
Can always find something cool~!
You should DEFFINATLY have a naked Lady Party!
Fun Times!
I wish I was at home, in bed with a good movie!
aahhhhh…….
~Donna
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:11
Me too on the nakedinbedwithamovie.
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:19
Seriously? I would never pay anyone a dime. Because I don’t use dimes. I don’t spend them. Why would I do that?!?!!!
.-= Jaime´s last blog ..Addiction =-.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:23
Nerd.
Jaime Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:24
Yes I am!
.-= Jaime´s last blog ..Addiction =-.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:28
June 22nd, 2009 at 14:06
Nope never been to jail. Never been arrested. I have had handcuffs put on me a couple times and both times by cops, but that’s a whole OTHER story.
I am not really a yard sale person. I could have a yard sale in my house right now.. but it’s too much work.
X is going to remember this for a very long time. Lessons learned need not be repeated.
i love you and miss you! xoxoxox
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 14:52
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
June 22nd, 2009 at 16:52
I love the creative parenting. I think it’s important that kids understand the boundaries. Sass took money from her brother one time. She also walked out of Walgreens with a pretty little ring one day. I talked to her dad and we agreed she needed to admit her wrongdoing to the manager. Which, by the way horrified my little monkey. She cried. She learned her lesson. She learned the “you don’t touch it unless YOU are buying it” rule. CLEARLY.
LivingWicked Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 20:32
I bet she was horrified to have to admit wrong doing to a grown up. A strange one at that.