Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Together we can.
To be Equal
What does it mean to be equal? What does equality actually look like to someone? To anyone for that matter? Equality is dependent on the measuring and who is taking the measurements. Equality to someone who is comfortable financially and has many other aspects of their life “in order” they view equality as in existence and fair. Whereas someone who is of less privilege, with more actual and not perceived struggles equality is something they strive to attain. Such disparate views of the environment in which we live is the direct cause of inequality. When one side views something as fair and just there is always going to be another side that views it as unequal and inadequate. With equality comes all sides being heard, with equality comes fair access to resources, to forward progression, to opinions and to the freedoms that are “free” but have a large price tag.
So if equality exists what would it look like? Now imagine a place where it doesn’t matter what neighborhood you are from, but rather what you have to bring to the world? What if the color of your skin was reversed and we as a people asked the Caucasian candidate to provide us with his birth certificate and throw bigoted comments at them based on something as trivial as the color of his/her skin?
Equal by definition is to be the same in value, size, quantity and degree. So in this definition to be equal it means in essence to be the same. So then why are some people born and then immediately made to be less than someone else? To live in this country and to have the opportunity to be anything we want is the American Dream. Truly the American dream should be attainable by all Americans, however there are those people who are born less equal than someone else. So what is equality then? Equality is to be born to the right parents, to have the right color of skin, to have the correct amount of money in the bank, to love the opposite gender, to learn the same way as everyone else. Right? Or is equality being born as a baby, raised as a child, and respected as an adult? Or is equality the notion that regardless of any of the above stated criteria you are born, you live and you are treated the same as your neighbor? You see equality is one of those things that is subjective. Everyone is equal when the scale leans toward you. It would be callus to say that people who believe that equality exists in this country believe it and think it because they themselves feel equal. Is that not where our opinions are determined; from our own personal experiences? Well if you answered no to that then you should rethink your own opinions seeing as they are truly not yours. Equality exists among people when the barriers to a life of equality are taken down and when the path to success is not paved with privilege but instead paved with perseverance.
Fighting your entire life for something is a concept that has died in our society as of late and from that lack of additional effort, or the will to continue fighting has gone away it is due in part to the fact that people on the long road to equality have lost sight of why they started down that road to begin with. I am reminded every day that equality is something worth fighting for. I choose to remain humble in my life because with humility comes consciousness. I am no better than anyone in this world, I have struggle, I have flaws and I also have dreams, and passion. It is when we decide not to focus on the fact that we are less, but focus instead on the fact that we have the ability to fight to be equal that is when we as the less win over the few that are more.
The long and lonely walk toward equality is something that all people have been walking for centuries. Where there is room for improvement there will always be room for inequality. Why is it that some get so much and others get so little? I believe love, peace, compassion and the will to be better not as an individual; but be better as a people, united in struggle, coming together in unity; that is when equality balances when we stop looking at what makes us different and we start looking at what makes us alike. Peace will come from people who feel and believe to be equal.
Challenge yourself to become aware of equality. Challenge yourself to stare inequality in the eye and demand something better. Challenge yourself to look past a persons place on the pyramid and focus on how that person got there and how they can continue to move forward. If this is too idealistic for some people I understand. That is sort of the point. I believe in ideas. I believe in change. And I believe above all else the only way to have either of those is to instill that in people.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Ways to make your football season more...thrifty
Thrifty football season you say...oh good sir. So there are many duh things that come to mind when I think of all the ways that you can be thrifty for football season.
- Make food...don't buy it. Obviously you have to buy something in order to make it however it is much easier to call Zaxbys and order 40 chicken fingers as opposed to going to the grocery store and purchasing a couple of random ingredients and making something to take with you. Here is a fun, easy and inexpensive dish to prepare for a tailgate, and regardless of the outside temperature this dish will remain yummy.
--Poor Mans Caviar--2 Cans white corn
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 or 2 cans black eyed peas
1 bottle italian dressing
(mix it up, put it in the fridge over night, grab a bag of Tostitos) done. You can add different things to it to make it spicy etc.
This will cost you around $8-$10 as opposed to Zaxbys chicken which will run you around $40ish. No you will not be full as Thanksgiving dinner, but is that what you want? To be so full that you cannot move? Didn't think so.
-Away games/crappy home games: for away games unless you absolutely have to go...stay home. And crappy home games are defined as follows: tickets are too expensive...the game is at noon and the other team sucks....or you flat out do not want to go...stay home. I can bet there are other people who would be willing to stay home too...maybe have people over and watch it together. After all we spend the majority of our time at the game with other people, but rarely find ourselves watching the game. Also if I have to watch football...a t-shirt, and comfy pants are much more up my alley than uncomfortable everything...
Despite my first comment about how I don't care who you cheer for...I am a Clemson fan. I wish them a wonderful season! And of course...GO TIGERS.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
t-shirt...or so you thought
This post will not have pictures for many reasons...however all you really need is an idea to get rid of all of those t-shirts that have been shoved, crammed and otherwise used as rags for the better part of a decade. So grab those bad boys, a sharp pair of scissors and start cutting.but wait before you make paper dolls out of a tiedye tee let us take a trip into my world... I don't know if you have been paying attention to well, pinterest, the people around you etc; but apparently the newest trend at the moment is as I like to call it scarfage (and no I am not talking about you being on a diet until Thanksgiving). You can dress up almost anything with this simply accessory.
Me for example: ask anyone, I typically do not dress up, honestly I feel that in what I do bee-bopping up into work in a skirt, a nice top, heels and jewelry all over the place is not exactly the best outfit to get on the floor and play Legos or squat down to get on the eye level of a seven year old that has had a bad morning...however you can totally do that in cute jeans, a plain colored tee and a scarf you made out of your t-shirt from college or wherever...
Last weekend I met up with two of my "partners in crime" (friends/co-workers/mirrors/therapists/people) at Goodwill. Let me tell you first of all I have never, ever laughed that hard at the Goodwill in my life...but we had ourselves a pretty decent time to say the least. Of course I spent the most money (duh) and they decided that they would challenge themselves with the task of finding me an outfit (also known as Lauren in drag). We scooped up some jeans, a top, a cardigan (which turned out to be busted as all get out) some baking dishes, an awesome Jack Daniels cycling jersey...(ha!) and I got to thinking to myself...these two gals would not tell me A. that something looked good if it didn't and B. they wouldn't pick something out, watch me pay for it, tell me it will be cute and be full of it...so I ran with it. I got home, tried it on and well, everything fit a little funny. The pants were a little short (later to find out they are supposed to look like that), the t-shirt fit just fine and the cardigan was busted as hell (there was a reason that bad boy was at Goodwill. But I said all of that to say, I inadvertently took my own advice; with the assistance of the two lovely ladies that accompanied me on that journey, it is time to reinvent myself...again
Scarf: in SUMMER? Yes apparently that is how I have decided to reinvent myself. But in an effort to remain thrifty and Lauren I am making them at home, with stuff I already have (except hot glue because I need more of that). It is the simplest thing I have ever made. Get a t-shirt, scissors...cut the t-shirt under the armpits, cut the bottom seam off=BAMMMM. scarf. Or you can take that shirt and cut across (hot dog style) strips of the tshirt, stretch them out gatherem' up and wrap the seam part around the top...boom. done son. I have made around 6 in 2 days, totaling, 15 minutes total time spent on being fabulous. And I have gotten many compliments on this new look (well i've gotten like 4 so that's a win enough for me.)
The newest part I will try and accomplish is adding a little pizazz to the scarf...a flower made out of fabric, or maybe a different style...I haven't decided yet, however I like this new style...it is different, but normal in a sense...I mean I am not walking around with 12 new piercings so at least we have that squared away. And sadly despite my entire life of not believing it...if you can't beat them...join em.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
My Girlfriends Closet
Therapy: Okay, not your typical sit on the couch...retail therapy...the best kind. The Upstate Women's Show is the largest group therapy session in the upstate! There are hundreds of high end vendors at your finger tips, and you do not even have to drive around town...they come to you! The best part about it is that the proceeds raised at My Girlfriends Closet go directly toward the services Safe Harbor provides to victims of domestic violence and their children.
What happens when you buy something that supports Safe Harbor?
A mother and her children are able to leave an abusive home and have somewhere safe to sleep tonight, tomorrow night and be together when they wake. You would never imagine the type of transformation a decent night of sleep will give someone who has been living in fear...peace comes in many forms; Safe Harbor tries to provide peace and safety to all victims big and small...sometimes being safe is the first step, staying safe is the next.
What do you mean have somewhere safe to sleep?
I mean literally safe. There is no threat anymore, no more fear, danger, fighting or abuse. Someone, yes someone with a name, a story, a child and a family is running for their very life tonight. Imagine what that life would be like without a place like Safe Harbor. Beyond sleeping Safe Harbor provides all the comforts of home, a safe home: food, laundry, counseling, programs, children's activities, domestic violence education...Safe Harbor meets these families where they are at...literally.
Is is more than just a safe place to sleep?
It is profoundly more than that. It is a safe place to start over, a place to make a change, a place to grow and it is a place where people breathe again. http://youtu.be/y0fEdWoqmBM
How can shopping at My Girlfriends Closet help?
My Girlfriends Closet along with the Resale Shop fund the programs that are essential to reaching those members of our communities who need help. By shopping not only at My Girlfriends Closet, but also at the Safe Harbor Resale Shop you, yes you are helping save someone, helping a child smile bigger, helping a mother heal...you're helping someone who needs you...I encourage you to experience this feeling.
What can I expect to find at My Girlfriends Closet?
You can find a number of items. Clothing (from fantastic boutiques that support Safe Harbor), jewelry, some children's clothes and you can also find personal joy from knowing that you helped someone. I think that above all else is the best find one can have.
So why should you check out the Upstate Women's Show and in particular My Girlfriends Closet? Because it is thrifty, local, fun and empowering. I mean who knew by shopping you can change someone's life...not just change your clothes?
There are many other events in the near future that you can become a part of to support the mission, the cause and the life of Safe Harbor. For a complete list of upcoming events please visit www.safeharborsc.org
"without change, there would be no butterflies."
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Food...generally speaking
Food: believe it or not you actually need food to survive. I know the latest cover of your favorite magazine may make you question that concept...skeleton is the new thin...however it is not. So this post is to help you shop wiser...without even having to reach for your favorite scissors and coupon clipage...
Grocery stores operate on the concept that you are smart enough to not reach for the "brand name" food...however there are some things I would rather not try the store brand of...for example Dr. Pepper...no no Dr. Bob I will stay loyal. But other things are literally the exact same, but it depends on you to know what to buy. Below are some examples of this:
Cheese: sandwich cheese, shredded cheese, stringed cheese. Go store brand...usually they are made exactly the same and cost drastically less.
Bread: Honey Wheat is honey wheat regardless of the brand...just squeeze gently (not like you are juicing an orange) to see how soft it is.
Milk: that mess is expensive as whaaaa nowadays...go with the store brand...a cow is a cow, happy or not.
Tuna: regardless of the fancy label that mess can sit in your house for 3 years and still be good.
Granola Bars: Nature Valley is great...but the store brand is just the same HARDER THAN A ROCK.
There are other things that you can substitute for the brand name...but this post would be like three and a half days long...but I figured you got the concept.
When to shop: Okay this took me a few times to perfect, but now I think I have nailed it pretty good. Grocery stores with a bakery, butcher etc will bring things out throughout the day/week and leave them on the shelves...but oh my you say, won't that go bad? Yep it will...but when? Welcome to the concept of Close Dated. Close dated merchandise is my favorite thing in the world. If it is the day before or the day that a pack of meat (sorry veg heads I'm a carnivore) needs to be frozen not thrown away it is marked down because the store doesn't want to throw it out. These items will be marked down by $.50 increments...I purchased this big ollle pack of pork chops a while back that started out at like $11.50 and I bought that bad boy for $3.00. I took it home and froze it...read the label...freeze by date...not throw out date.
Secondly the store bakery (I'm talking about breads, rolls etc) will close date items that have been in the bakery a few days. And unless you have a bread maker...this is the closest thing to fresh bread as you will get (unless you know a baker, which I do but either way). These breads can be used for many things. If you are like me I would never buy a big Chicago loaf to take all the guts out to make a bread bowl at regular price...but if that Chicago loaf is $1.00 I will do it all day long...and you look fancy doing it. Also at my house we typically have "fancy sandwich night" which means yours truly was lazy and did not want to cook...but I scooped up some nice hoagie rolls, cheese, meat and stuckem' under the broiler...the husband loves it, it is easy and relatively healthy...
And because it is my purpose in life to screw mine up, blog about it to help you prevent that happening to you here is a concept to think about. I have been lazy the last few weeks, haven't wanted to cook, grocery shop, pack lunches etc...whereas before I would go to the grocery store and spend $150.00ish on groceries for 2 weeks where I cooked, packed lunches etc...I have not done that...instead I am lazy and spent instead around $100 on eating out ALONE...husband not included...and he loves Chick-Fil-A...not their political opinions which means he probably spent more than me...Had I gone to the grocery store, cooked or packed lunches we would have saved like $200...on top of the $150 I would have spent...think about it...I sure as hell am at this moment.
Special advice from the husband: Buy one get one free is not always a good deal...two boxes of Cheezits...buy one get one free....NO WAY yes way...but is it a deal if you buy the ONE for $4.49? NOOOOO....when are you going to eat two boxes of Cheezits...well maybe cheezits were a bad example...Perishable items: unless you are going to eat 50 cartons of yogurt...just because they are 20 for $8 doesn't mean it is a good deal...and no one needs that much active cultures in their bodies...lets be honest. Do some math, look at the ounces, whip out your iPhone and calculate that bad boy...you'd be surprised when all that math that "mom, I'm never gonna use this." Lies, yes you will.
Obvious Advice:
-Don't shop hungry...you'll come home with bags full of food you'd find in a potheads room.
-Make a list
-Shop a menu: don't pick up dinner every single night trying to justify it as not eating out because you're at a grocery store. False honey boo boo, $30 Monday-Friday...you shoulda gone out to eat and saved some money.
-Shop after 3pm!!!! That is when they mark down the food...holla!
And eat what you like, when you like it. Portions, portions, portions!!!!
Grocery stores operate on the concept that you are smart enough to not reach for the "brand name" food...however there are some things I would rather not try the store brand of...for example Dr. Pepper...no no Dr. Bob I will stay loyal. But other things are literally the exact same, but it depends on you to know what to buy. Below are some examples of this:
Cheese: sandwich cheese, shredded cheese, stringed cheese. Go store brand...usually they are made exactly the same and cost drastically less.
Bread: Honey Wheat is honey wheat regardless of the brand...just squeeze gently (not like you are juicing an orange) to see how soft it is.
Milk: that mess is expensive as whaaaa nowadays...go with the store brand...a cow is a cow, happy or not.
Tuna: regardless of the fancy label that mess can sit in your house for 3 years and still be good.
Granola Bars: Nature Valley is great...but the store brand is just the same HARDER THAN A ROCK.
There are other things that you can substitute for the brand name...but this post would be like three and a half days long...but I figured you got the concept.
When to shop: Okay this took me a few times to perfect, but now I think I have nailed it pretty good. Grocery stores with a bakery, butcher etc will bring things out throughout the day/week and leave them on the shelves...but oh my you say, won't that go bad? Yep it will...but when? Welcome to the concept of Close Dated. Close dated merchandise is my favorite thing in the world. If it is the day before or the day that a pack of meat (sorry veg heads I'm a carnivore) needs to be frozen not thrown away it is marked down because the store doesn't want to throw it out. These items will be marked down by $.50 increments...I purchased this big ollle pack of pork chops a while back that started out at like $11.50 and I bought that bad boy for $3.00. I took it home and froze it...read the label...freeze by date...not throw out date.
Secondly the store bakery (I'm talking about breads, rolls etc) will close date items that have been in the bakery a few days. And unless you have a bread maker...this is the closest thing to fresh bread as you will get (unless you know a baker, which I do but either way). These breads can be used for many things. If you are like me I would never buy a big Chicago loaf to take all the guts out to make a bread bowl at regular price...but if that Chicago loaf is $1.00 I will do it all day long...and you look fancy doing it. Also at my house we typically have "fancy sandwich night" which means yours truly was lazy and did not want to cook...but I scooped up some nice hoagie rolls, cheese, meat and stuckem' under the broiler...the husband loves it, it is easy and relatively healthy...
And because it is my purpose in life to screw mine up, blog about it to help you prevent that happening to you here is a concept to think about. I have been lazy the last few weeks, haven't wanted to cook, grocery shop, pack lunches etc...whereas before I would go to the grocery store and spend $150.00ish on groceries for 2 weeks where I cooked, packed lunches etc...I have not done that...instead I am lazy and spent instead around $100 on eating out ALONE...husband not included...and he loves Chick-Fil-A...not their political opinions which means he probably spent more than me...Had I gone to the grocery store, cooked or packed lunches we would have saved like $200...on top of the $150 I would have spent...think about it...I sure as hell am at this moment.
Special advice from the husband: Buy one get one free is not always a good deal...two boxes of Cheezits...buy one get one free....NO WAY yes way...but is it a deal if you buy the ONE for $4.49? NOOOOO....when are you going to eat two boxes of Cheezits...well maybe cheezits were a bad example...Perishable items: unless you are going to eat 50 cartons of yogurt...just because they are 20 for $8 doesn't mean it is a good deal...and no one needs that much active cultures in their bodies...lets be honest. Do some math, look at the ounces, whip out your iPhone and calculate that bad boy...you'd be surprised when all that math that "mom, I'm never gonna use this." Lies, yes you will.
Obvious Advice:
-Don't shop hungry...you'll come home with bags full of food you'd find in a potheads room.
-Make a list
-Shop a menu: don't pick up dinner every single night trying to justify it as not eating out because you're at a grocery store. False honey boo boo, $30 Monday-Friday...you shoulda gone out to eat and saved some money.
-Shop after 3pm!!!! That is when they mark down the food...holla!
And eat what you like, when you like it. Portions, portions, portions!!!!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Thrifty is a way of life
Okay, so as I sit day in and day out and contemplate what I am going to talk about on this blog I am constantly reminded daily of all the little things that I do to be more thrifty. I have said countless times to myself, "Self, you need to quit spending money." Well Self has not listened too well, but the amount of money that I do spend goes a lot further than the amount of money I could spend...
Poor Minded: Okay I operate off of a poor mind. For those of you who do not know what this means here are a few ways I like to describe it: There is too much month at the end of my paycheck, I am uncomfortable without at least $200 in the checking account (but then again this is where a wonderful husband comes in handy), sorry single gals, and finally can I do it myself? Okay being poor minded is a choice first of all. As my wonderful husband likes to remind me, Spendarella just because it's there doesn't mean you have to spend it. Obviously, but where is the fun in that? I enjoy crafting things...making something out of nothing, or just using what we have to make things work. I also enjoy giving gifts to people, typically things I make (not bake) because I like to invest in people and however I choose to invest in others depends greatly on my relationship with them.
I recently got married to my wonderful husband and we had a pretty large wedding, wedding party, reception...which auto-freakin-matically made it expensive up front. However it was strategic choices throughout the entire process that made it all together a lot less than what it could have been.
Wedding Party Gifts: We each had 10 attendants, a flower girl and a ring bearer...that is a grand total of 22 people. Shut the front door. I know right? But it was wonderful and everyone was fantastic and I loved it...but those 22 people invested their money, time and utter patience into being part of our wonderful day and I felt it to be very important that they receive a gift that was personal and a representation of my gratitude to them. But that is 22 people...ha! So here is what I did.
Girls: Tote Bag, favorite wine, pack of playing cards, nail file, champagne flute, travel pack of kleenex, pack of gum, Smart water...okay that sounds plain, and it was until I did a little magic on it...with a lot of help from my outstanding wedding planner. And everyone also had a personal note from me.
-Tote Bag: Monogrammed with their initials (Bought at Market in Atlanta, each on with monogram was $10)
-Favorite Wine: didn't do anything special to it. (Total Wine on Sunday, which made it cheaper)
-Playing cards: printed stickers with their initials on it and stuck it on the top of the box they came in; thus making it personal. (Michaels)
-Kleenex: I printed labels that said "Just in case"
Smart Water: Printed labels again with quote on it.
Gum: obvious reasons
Nail File: Giraffe style
Champagne Flute: Painted their first intial. Well I did not, my fabulous wedding planner did! (Ikea)
These gifts could have cost me a lot more money but they did not because instead of making it easy and just ordering things already made, I made them myself...
Boys: The husband and myself chose our wedding colors based off of the bow ties we got for the groomsmen...which were purchased one year before the wedding. This helped us save a cost by buying them early instead of leaving that to the last minute. So the boys were given their bow ties, their favorite six pack of beer, hand made cufflinks and the wedding favors.
The cufflinks were very special to me because they were personal to the guys and something that they can keep...if they want to wear them again that is fine, but if not then they were not that expensive to make! I ordered the cufflink backs off eBay I had 10 sets which cost $7.00 and no shipping, the legos were just picked randomly (the cheapest I could find them). I hot glued them to the cufflink back and put them in a teal box (Michaels) and inside was a label I printed that said, "thanks for being a connecting piece in our life together."
There were so many other elements to our wedding that were cost effective other than the wedding party gifts, but here is another thing that we did...it is on my good friends blog because she was so wonderful that she actually made these for me because I was on the verge of killing people if I had to make them myself...so go check it out and follow this blog as well! http://cpandb.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/give-em-the-bout/
I will explain other ways that my wedding was thrifty over time, but I thought I would leave you with this seeing as it is almost time to go back to school and maybe you wanted to give a teacher something nice, or maybe you are getting married...I don't know the details of your life; I only try to explain the details of mine!
Poor Minded: Okay I operate off of a poor mind. For those of you who do not know what this means here are a few ways I like to describe it: There is too much month at the end of my paycheck, I am uncomfortable without at least $200 in the checking account (but then again this is where a wonderful husband comes in handy), sorry single gals, and finally can I do it myself? Okay being poor minded is a choice first of all. As my wonderful husband likes to remind me, Spendarella just because it's there doesn't mean you have to spend it. Obviously, but where is the fun in that? I enjoy crafting things...making something out of nothing, or just using what we have to make things work. I also enjoy giving gifts to people, typically things I make (not bake) because I like to invest in people and however I choose to invest in others depends greatly on my relationship with them.
Girls: Tote Bag, favorite wine, pack of playing cards, nail file, champagne flute, travel pack of kleenex, pack of gum, Smart water...okay that sounds plain, and it was until I did a little magic on it...with a lot of help from my outstanding wedding planner. And everyone also had a personal note from me.
-Tote Bag: Monogrammed with their initials (Bought at Market in Atlanta, each on with monogram was $10)
-Favorite Wine: didn't do anything special to it. (Total Wine on Sunday, which made it cheaper)
-Playing cards: printed stickers with their initials on it and stuck it on the top of the box they came in; thus making it personal. (Michaels)
-Kleenex: I printed labels that said "Just in case"
Smart Water: Printed labels again with quote on it.
Gum: obvious reasons
Nail File: Giraffe style
Champagne Flute: Painted their first intial. Well I did not, my fabulous wedding planner did! (Ikea)
These gifts could have cost me a lot more money but they did not because instead of making it easy and just ordering things already made, I made them myself...
Boys: The husband and myself chose our wedding colors based off of the bow ties we got for the groomsmen...which were purchased one year before the wedding. This helped us save a cost by buying them early instead of leaving that to the last minute. So the boys were given their bow ties, their favorite six pack of beer, hand made cufflinks and the wedding favors.The cufflinks were very special to me because they were personal to the guys and something that they can keep...if they want to wear them again that is fine, but if not then they were not that expensive to make! I ordered the cufflink backs off eBay I had 10 sets which cost $7.00 and no shipping, the legos were just picked randomly (the cheapest I could find them). I hot glued them to the cufflink back and put them in a teal box (Michaels) and inside was a label I printed that said, "thanks for being a connecting piece in our life together."
There were so many other elements to our wedding that were cost effective other than the wedding party gifts, but here is another thing that we did...it is on my good friends blog because she was so wonderful that she actually made these for me because I was on the verge of killing people if I had to make them myself...so go check it out and follow this blog as well! http://cpandb.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/give-em-the-bout/
I will explain other ways that my wedding was thrifty over time, but I thought I would leave you with this seeing as it is almost time to go back to school and maybe you wanted to give a teacher something nice, or maybe you are getting married...I don't know the details of your life; I only try to explain the details of mine!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Switcharoos!
Okay so going on right now in Greenville is the fall version of Switcharoos...Which has all the moms, aunts and grandmothers going GA-GA over wonderful items at a drastically low price. This is so not even close to thrift stores, this is beyond that honestly..this is a thrift store on CRACK! Switcharoos is a local show/event-apalooza that showcases individuals items that are consigned and put into the TD Center and it is free to the public. Switcharoos basically takes the sifting and searching out of thrift stores and slam dunks the deals into your face. There are two shows a year, one in August and one in February.
This event is interesting because it puts places like Second Time Around and Little Pampered People temporarily out of service because everyone knows that those places try and make money, whereas the clothes that end up at Switcharoos are literally only there trying to clean out their spaces...having said that you should know that the prices that are marked on the clothing are made up by the owner...not someone else. Win..Win..Winning. This is when you pray for an idiot. Who would sell a $90 dress for $10...ha wouldn't that be brilliant. But this show not only sells children's clothing it sells furniture, toys, baby gear...literally it sells everything except the baby...well maybe the really bad ones...
Switcharoos is overwhelming to say the least. I literally and figuratively was overwhelmed at the sheer volume of the stuff that was in this place. However it was organized very well...except maybe for the checkout lines that were lengthy...People are everywhere, so if crowds freak you out maybe scope it out before you go in. However there were a ton of people there, it wasn't like "excuse me, oh I'm sorry" there was plenty of room to move...
Items that I saw that were overpriced: Okay so here is the problem with the owner of the clothing creating the price...they think it is worth a ton of cash...when they are forgetting that it is second hand, and a jacked up price is only going to get discounted, looked over, or flat out not bought. A few items that I saw that were just simply too expensive: An 18 month Polo Ralph Lauren Onepiece okay this was cute, but faded, a nice brand but not kept up very well..I would have priced it at $4.00 at the MOST this person priced it at $12...that one will more than likely be there on Sunday and thus end up not being bought. Various other things were priced ridiculously...for example: an infant pair of shoes: dirty (not really sure how that happened unless this parent dragged their kids feet in the mud) they were priced at $15...I actually said out loud "really?" the woman next to me laughed...we both agreed this price was dumb.
Smock-a-freakin-palooza: Holy mother of sewing there were more smocked things then I have ever seen in one place ever...these were reasonably priced. Except a few that were not only too expensive but they were not even really that cute...But considering the original price was at least $80 per dress over 12 months any price at this point would be good...except this one I saw that was priced at $45...I thought, they're cheaper on eBay and you can do that on your couch...either way there were some really nice items there.
Point Proven: I found one of the exact smocked Jon-Jons I found and purchased at a thrift store where I paid $2.25 for and it was $12..yes I win. I was also surprised at the lack of baby gear that was actually there. Around 30 strollers, no car seats, 2 pack n plays, no cribs (at least none when I was there) lots of bath tubs...and some random TV's. It started to look like a yard sale when you got to the back end of it, which was highly entertaining to me of course...ha! I thought to myself, people are just trying to get rid of their shit...haha.
All in all, I was pretty impressed with this show/event. It was very organized but you could tell that it was not very regulated price wise..but it makes tons of money and then at the end items not sold (if specified) get donated to local non-profits that serve kids. Safe Harbor has actually received items from Switcharoos...therefore I am a fan.
This event is interesting because it puts places like Second Time Around and Little Pampered People temporarily out of service because everyone knows that those places try and make money, whereas the clothes that end up at Switcharoos are literally only there trying to clean out their spaces...having said that you should know that the prices that are marked on the clothing are made up by the owner...not someone else. Win..Win..Winning. This is when you pray for an idiot. Who would sell a $90 dress for $10...ha wouldn't that be brilliant. But this show not only sells children's clothing it sells furniture, toys, baby gear...literally it sells everything except the baby...well maybe the really bad ones...
Switcharoos is overwhelming to say the least. I literally and figuratively was overwhelmed at the sheer volume of the stuff that was in this place. However it was organized very well...except maybe for the checkout lines that were lengthy...People are everywhere, so if crowds freak you out maybe scope it out before you go in. However there were a ton of people there, it wasn't like "excuse me, oh I'm sorry" there was plenty of room to move...
Items that I saw that were overpriced: Okay so here is the problem with the owner of the clothing creating the price...they think it is worth a ton of cash...when they are forgetting that it is second hand, and a jacked up price is only going to get discounted, looked over, or flat out not bought. A few items that I saw that were just simply too expensive: An 18 month Polo Ralph Lauren Onepiece okay this was cute, but faded, a nice brand but not kept up very well..I would have priced it at $4.00 at the MOST this person priced it at $12...that one will more than likely be there on Sunday and thus end up not being bought. Various other things were priced ridiculously...for example: an infant pair of shoes: dirty (not really sure how that happened unless this parent dragged their kids feet in the mud) they were priced at $15...I actually said out loud "really?" the woman next to me laughed...we both agreed this price was dumb.
Smock-a-freakin-palooza: Holy mother of sewing there were more smocked things then I have ever seen in one place ever...these were reasonably priced. Except a few that were not only too expensive but they were not even really that cute...But considering the original price was at least $80 per dress over 12 months any price at this point would be good...except this one I saw that was priced at $45...I thought, they're cheaper on eBay and you can do that on your couch...either way there were some really nice items there.
Point Proven: I found one of the exact smocked Jon-Jons I found and purchased at a thrift store where I paid $2.25 for and it was $12..yes I win. I was also surprised at the lack of baby gear that was actually there. Around 30 strollers, no car seats, 2 pack n plays, no cribs (at least none when I was there) lots of bath tubs...and some random TV's. It started to look like a yard sale when you got to the back end of it, which was highly entertaining to me of course...ha! I thought to myself, people are just trying to get rid of their shit...haha.
All in all, I was pretty impressed with this show/event. It was very organized but you could tell that it was not very regulated price wise..but it makes tons of money and then at the end items not sold (if specified) get donated to local non-profits that serve kids. Safe Harbor has actually received items from Switcharoos...therefore I am a fan.
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