Seven Yard Sale Observations

Remember my bucket list that I've discussed before?  Its really long and not actually written out.

I should add that to my bucket list: "write out bucket list" and then do it.

Anyways on it was something like "host a garage sale, at least once".

True story:  I have never shopped at a yard sale.  Yet I decided to host one, with KM's and my mom's help, of course!  These are my partners in crime. 

Here is what I figured out:

Seven Yard Sale Observations From A First-Timer

1. Prices should be set high, and haggled down.   This was the hardest part of the whole event for me.  I had no idea what was the going rate for ugly southwestern pottery!  So we guessed and argued and then guessed some more.  Things I thought were over priced by myself, I sold!  Things I thought were under priced by the sticker got haggled down to way less.  You just never know, I guess.
2. People will buy anything.  A little cosmetic case full of girls headbands.  Again, I knew who's head they were on and what diseases she doesn't have...but people just trust away!  Best $2 that lady ever spent on her kid.  Also, used candles?  Really?  So weird.
3. Excellent signs make all the difference.  KM made them, she is very proud of them and we still have them for the next time, should we do it again.  We drove around to make sure they worked and they were easily the best signs EVER.  Legible, clear, concise.  Also: pink.
4. People will buy anything.  A bath mat.  The thing you put in your tub and stand on while you bathe.  The thing you don't dare think about what is living in and growing on.  Granted, it had never been used and we knew where it came from...BUT the lady who bought it didn't know. 
5. You need to learn Spanish if hosting a yard sale in southern AZ.  How mush?  Lower? Es bueno?  Que talle?  WHAT?  Try telling a young Latina woman that yes that tv works, no I don't have the remote, yes its color and its 10$.  That was a fun conversation.  My spanglish is laughable but I think it gets the point across.  I was very proud.  So was my mother, I think. 
6. People will buy anything.  A leather jacket with mystery "stuff" all over it.  It was very dirty, I have no idea how you clean leather, so I figured...let's try to sell it!  (A family member donated it.)  It sold.  For a whole $1.  I couldn't believe it - I almost let the lady just have it since I was in such shock. 
7. Fridays are very big yard sale days!  We made 4/5ths of our money on Friday.  We were spoiled.  We expected so much on Saturday since Friday was so great, but we were let down.  Still, we are thrilled to have made 5/5ths. It was approximately 5.5 times what I was expecting to make.

Next, I gotta cross  "shop at a yard sale" off my list.  I gotta get brave.  I like thrift store shopping, but yard sale shopping just feels...different.

Are you a yard sailor?  (see what I did there?)

PS: Totally forgot that my 100th post is coming up...and this was it!  So much for doing something special to celebrate?!  yay me!

Seven Life Goals

'Ello!

Do you have goals in life?  I think everyone does, right?

Some people aim to pay the bills.  Some want to get to the next level  in that video game.  Some want to have x amount of kids by x age. Some wanna climb that corporate ladder! 

I have a lot of goals, way more than 7.  I have a revolving list that is completely intertwined with my own personal bucket list.  Its complicated.

Every year right about this time near my birthday I evaluate some goals.  I have taken some of my goals and narrowed them down to 7 that I'd like to accomplish in the next year(or so).  Crazy things to do before I get to that strange age I'm headed to!

Ready?

Seven Goals For The Next 365 Days:

• Canning.  I gotta try this.  I cook food for a living and this is right up my alley.  I have never canned anything.  I've made jams and spreads and jellies but never for long term preservation.  I read several blogs about this and I feel like I need to make my own pickles this year sometime.  Its also aligns well with another goal...
• Live A More Sustainable Life.  This is for the betterment of myself and the world I hope to one day bring kids into.  I have cut back my plastic bag usage by 80% and that's a big goal.  Its a challenge to remember, its sorta annoying to the employees, but I am saving thousands of bags from hitting the landfill.  I am trying to eat healthier and buy organic and or local as I can afford or where its available.  I want to cut back my hygiene products this year(baking soda and vinegar shampoo anyone?).  Every renovation I do to my house is eco-minded too.  Basically when I have the option of living more "green" I am going to take it.  It just feels better.
• Ride A Motorcycle.  Yes, I have never ridden a true motorcycle.  A mini bike once.  But never a scooter or a motorcycle.  This year, I'm gonna.  I'm gonna ride one.  Maybe it'll scare me away from them or maybe I will have a new goal next year of driving one.  We shall see. 
• Gardening.  I am going to get rid of some of the lush landscaping on my property this year and move or re-purpose some irrigation and build a raised bed garden.  I'm gonna use cedar wood, its gonna be about 6" above ground level, and I'm gonna grow some veggies.  This goes with sustainability too, but mostly because I want that pride.  I kept the roses alive this year, good job Dev, now grow a garden!
• Soda Maker.  I want to make my own carbonated beverages.  I don't think I want that silly soda stream machine, just a co2 charger and limitless flavors!  I love soda, I love carbonation and I want to make my own.  I am actively drinking much less soda because of the HFCS and sugar contents.  I see a Devyn named soda coming up folks.
• Skydiving.  This has been a goal of mine for years.  Since I was about 17 I think.  It might just kill my parents.  I wouldn't tell them until after...but I'd totally do it.  I think one of my brothers is down too, so maybe a partner in crime will inspire this dream to become a reality.  
• Spanish.  More than ever I feel compelled to take advantage of my heritage as a part Mexican and learn the damn language!  Its a beautiful language, a valuable skill and just something I NEED to do.  It would make my grandma very proud, I know and would make me very happy.  Daily I use words here and there but I need to make those sentences happen!  I need to learn Spanish.  

Know what I just realized?  By putting this out here I have just built myself some accountability.  I feel accountable to all of you invisible millions of readers.  Make me achieve these goals, ya'll!

Do you have any goals I should help you with?  Tell me in the comments!

Seven Things I Wanna Do Before I Die

Hi there!  Thank you for reading my humble blog, I truly appreciate it. 

I need to watch the movie about bucket lists.  Is it called The Bucket List?  I need to see it.

I think I have a bucket list though.  Its constantly evolving which is what I think is the best way to have a bucket list.  Some of my list has already been accomplished, but there are some bigger list items that are works in progress.  These are 7 of my  buckets.  I don't think that's what they are called, but I like to call them buckets since they are on my bucket list. See what I did there?

Seven Things I Wanna Do Before I Die(Big Buckets Edition):

• See All 50 States.  I'm on my way.  I've seen 15 or so by my last count.  I was feeling pretty good about it until I met two kids last night that have seen 24 states and 4 countries already.  They were both under 12.  I've never left the country....
• See A Foreign Country.  Maybe even 2 or 3.  I have never left the good ole USA.  Not even the Mexico side of Nogales.  Poor me. 
• Have a kid(or two).  I love kids.  I want my own.  Before I get old.  That's all.  My parents have also made no secret of their desire to have grandchildren! Thanks guys!
• Have a Book Published.  I write all the time.  I have most of a novel hidden away in digital land.  I just am not confident enough with it.  I think non fiction might be fun too.  Who knows? Maybe this blog will lead to a certain kind of book!  I can dream.
• Visit Graceland Again.  I have a thing for Elvis.  This is no secret.  I have also been to Graceland  once already.  An amazing experience that I highly reccomend.  However I want to be there at one of the two biggest weeks there or over Christmas.  I'm talking about the week of Elvis' birthday(January 8th) or of his departure(August 16).  Someday this will happen.
• Own a 1965 Ford Mustang.  Girls can dream about cars too, fellas.
• Get Married.  Ummm, two words here.  Fairytale dreams.

Thems are my buckets, do you have any buckets?

Tomorrow we begin Harry Potter week!  Hooray! Are there any Harry Potter fans out there?