1 am.

It's 1 a.m. and I'm starting up the old blog cogs again. It's been an epic whirlwind of things happening since I last wrote. For one thing, it's not -10 anymore, but 92 outside..or it was earlier today, rather.

I've also had a major career change. I've made a giant leap into the second hand world by working a Ampersand Estate Sales full time, whilst pursuing the small jobs I've always wanted to do, and improving both Pay What You Can Yard Sale and Oomphotography.

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Back to the task at second hand. Here's some shots from the last two houses I worked on with Ampersand.

This was a house out in Skokie...the biggest house I had ever seen in life. You could get lost in it, I did several times. And the backyard was a gold course. Cause why not?

This was a house in Chicago. The color-coded house was predominantly yellow, and wonderful.

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All this month, you can catch Pay What You Can Yard Sale at Beast Women! Beast Women is a wonderful theatre group that celebrates women performers. Shows are Saturday night at the Prop Thtr. After the show, we do a Yard Sale, with money going back to Beast Women. You should come. It's pretty epic.

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Just found out about a new thing tonight called Buy Nothing. It's a collective of facebook groups from around the world, in which you can put stuff up that you don't want and take other folks's stuff. We don't have one in our neck of the woods so I might starting one up for Lincoln Square/Albany Park. You should see if you have a group already.

Till next week...

Swap and Drop and the Cheap Goods Online

And the cold has arrived in Chicago. I once thought that 30 degrees was cold. Now I can walk outside in a t-shirt at 30 degrees. Today's high was 1. One degree. My goodness.

The cold weather hasn't stopped me from doing a little thrifting though. Recently I've discovered a whole new world of thrifting madness - the internet.

Yes. I'm a bit late to the party. But now that I'm here, I'm having a great time.

Did you know that a lot of cities has a freebie site? Or at least in Chicago? I'm a recent addict of the Rockwell Free Box - a facebook group for folks in my neighborhood to advertise their free stuff. I procured my first freebie on Sunday - a curb alert. Got a bag full of frames after a group member announced there dumpster where abouts.

If you are in Chicago, there definitely is one in your neighborhood. If you live in Ravenswood Manor and Albany Park, join the Rockwell Free Box.


I've been on a few "thrift store" sites and they all so far have been awful. Let me clear - if I see a second hand dress for $50 - that is too much money. So I didn't have the highest of hopes for thredUP. I was surprised. I haven't bought anything yet - keeping an eye out though for a peach dress for my sister's wedding. But the prices are fair. Most items range from $10-20. And there is a return policy. I'm pretty happy with the site. You can sell your stuff too.


And finally, I have your plans for this Sunday. It'll be 34 degrees, the sun will be shining, and you have a closet full of stuff you don't want.

It's time to clean out my inventory, and I'll be doing just that this Sunday at the Pay What You Can Swap and Drop. It's just a clothing and stuff swap. I have 15 boxes of items for you to take. You can also drop off the stuff that you don't want.

There will also be snacks:
Clearance Christmas Candy
Why is it already out Valentines Candy
Holy Crap it's Cold! Cuts

This is a free event. But if you feel inclined to give away money, I will have a donation box. Proceeds will go to the four beneficiaries from last year.

4700 N Sacramento Ave

Bottom Buzzer

Chicago

That's all for now folks. Stay warm, and see you Sunday!