old stuff rocks.

I buy new things now, and I still don't like it. RARELY do I buy something at full price, but when I do it's still such a let down. I know the world has to make money and thats how it all works, but I gotta tell you, most of the things I purchase new aren't so great. 

 For example. Before the holidays I was looking for some festive decor that didn't inflate, needed scaffolding to affix or that looked too cheesy... Easier said than done. Insert a thank you to my friends at Pinterest who show me everyone else's good ideas and then I get to steal them for myself. I saw someone had taken an old sled and propped it up by their front door and it looked great. Of course, it's the "inter web" and that means it's public information for not only me but the other 6 billion people of the world. Old sleds would be a challenge. By the grace of God, I walked into my favorite little thrift store and lo and behold... there it was

it goes nicely with the old golf clubs...

And... yesterday we found this little gem..

Pretty neat that we didn't even realize what a little collection we had started. 

And then. Like an idiot. I went out and bought a brand new soap dispenser...

yep. that's a crack... and crap. 

It's now a rule. Thrift stores must be checked FIRST.

(quality must be good not just price)

Maybe this blog should be 

newstuffsucks

or

oldstuffrocks

I suppose since I'm trying to LOVE more this year... I should go with 

oldstuffrocks

WAIT until you see the jacket I found the other day... 

"I wear your grandma's clothes..."

:)

Rock n Roll Golf?

So as many of you know I spend a lot of my time listening to music at the Rock n Roll Marathons around the world. I'm continually amazed at what a mood changer music is for me, and from what I can gather on people's faces... I'm not alone. The fact that I get to listen to music all day at my "job" makes me a pretty happy "employee"! ha

This morning after I came home from a run on a nearby golf course, I overheard the sound of music coming from near the clubhouse. I figured they were getting their day going the same way I do. But upon following the sound that went from AC/DC to Brad Paisley I saw this...

It's a DJ... On hole #1! 

After a couple of hours of enjoying the music from my house, curiosity got the best of me. I needed to give something away anyway. Yesterday I made a loaf of banana bread to take to my 88 year old neighbor. He said he only needed half of it, he's very healthy, golfs 3 days a week, you get it. So, I had a half a loaf left.

 I grabbed it and a bottle of water and headed over to the golf course. The DJ told me he was hired by a company who was having a golf tournament out there and wanted each player to tee off to their favorite song. It's like Rock n Roll Golf! lol. The poor guy is in a suit with a tie and a vest! He was a little surprised by his assignment today but was rather enjoying himself. And I'm rather enjoying his VERY varied playlist. Glad I could find a good home for the rest of the Banana Bread. He was happy to get a little nourishment to keep up the good work. 

Give something away everyday

  So many of you know that last year I attempted to use up a lot of residual toiletries and ribbons and odds and ends and not buy anything new, for one year. It was pretty amazing to see just how long I could survive on the surplus of "stuff" I had laying around the house. But unfortunately... I didn't get rid of as much "stuff" as I had hoped. The year ended June 1st. I headed straight to Target to get some much needed conditioner and a few other items but it was quite anti-climatic... The choices were overwhelming, my credit card was soon marred from all the added swiping at the cash registers and I didn't have you all to talk to about the "challenges" and insights I was having.

 It seems growing up in Iowa where "stuff" isn't as easy to acquire, I became very wary of just buying something I would use or wear once.  Therefore... I became just as wary of giving it away. Unless my clothes were worn out (even then there were always patches that could be added) they were "perfectly useful" according to my mother. It probably didn't help that my love affair with overalls, umbros and anything in shocking neon colors was, usually, a bit of a stretch to reproduce, and so I hold onto....
 a lot...

  "Ann, are those the same overalls you insisted on wearing when we were in college?"
  "Ann, I can't believe you still have those earrings I gave you in 8th grade..."

 I learned that if you wait long enough, things come back. And in the meantime, when they aren't "in" you never have to worry about someone showing up to an event in the same outfit... right?

 Well, I also have a small obsession with thrift stores. I'm always on the lookout for a gift that has "meaning" - usually comedic in nature, but one that someone will always look at, shake their head and smile, remembering it came from me (or so I hope).

  If you saw my house you'd see that my "office" - if you can call it that, is continually the unfinished project... Making decisions about my own "stuff" is unbearably hard, and therefore always a procrastination point for me, but finding the perfect gifts for others... is something, I even spend my nights dreaming about.

  So... I've decided that this year I'd like to give something away everyday. I'm not a millionaire by any means, which is why most "gifts" are finds from thrift stores or creations I've dreamt up and then attempted to create, but that's where they find "meaning"... I think. Either way, the "somethings" will likely vary considerably. I've even decided that when I'm on the road, and may have a little difficulty giving something away per se, I could fill the day with a handful of compliments, maybe some hugs or a candy bar? ha! I'd like to think it will just bring to the forefront of my mind the idea of putting someone else first, if only for a moment, each and every day.

  But do I need to create a new name for the blog? and more importantly... would you read it?