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!

Christmas.

It's Christmas Evening. Logan is relaxing in the other room, we just finished watching "The Interview." I had a great talk with the parents. It's a good time for reflection. This year has been a great one. Lots of adventures both professionally and in my personal life. Lots and Lots of second hand adventures. A bit of a run down:

There were four Pay What You Can Yard Sales. Total amount of money made was about $1000. Not too bad to a yard sale where you make up the price. Over the next couple of days, I'll be sending out a info packet to folks that I think could be interested in doing their own Pay What You Can Yard Sale. If you are interested, please let me know and I'll send you some info! I'm hoping to do at least six next year.

On a side note, I'm doing a Pay What You Can Swap and Drop on Sunday, January 11th. All free stuff for this one. It's chance for me to clean out my storage, and for you to clean out your storage and bring me stuff! Come get stuff from me and drop off things you don't want. There will be a donation box if you'd like to donate to last year's beneficiaries: Show Party!, LBTQ Giving Council, Whiskey Rebellion Theatre and Gear Up Alliance. We'll also have treats! Come on out!

There were other adventures besides PWYCYS.

In April, I tried my hands at selling my buttons. By day, I'm a graphic designer and sometimes I put my skills on buttons. Didn't do too bad. But I think I'll be hanging my button hat for a while. Don't worry though if you never got a button. They are free at Oomph Studios.

In June, Logan and I went to the Antiques Road Show. We got to meet Mark Wahlberg - the host. Also met a very lovely family that came from 300 miles away. Awesome folks.

Our stuff turned out to not have monetary value, but it was still a fun experience. You came in, stood in line. Talked to folks about their stuff. Stood in line again, talked to more folks. Stood in line.

Well, I thought it was fun!

Lots of weddings happened in 2014. One of which were my darling friends Kristin and Anthony, back in September. Such an awesome wedding!

The day after...by good buddies Matt and Nicole and I went to a thrift store...which was surrounded by many thrift stores. Epic times. Here's a picture of us going to Meier at four in the morning.

Also in September, I tried my hands at Wolff's Flea Market. Started the day at 3:00 a.m., to get to the place by 4:00 a.m. I was selling things that I had around the house. Didn't make much, but had a good time. Will be doing that again!

In October, we celebrated the end of an era. Hot Dougs closed down. We were there for the second to last day. And boy was it magical... (this has nothing to do with second hand, but we should honor the Hot Dougs).

That's a good sum up of the past six months. More will be coming in 2015 and I'm very excited. Have a good rest of your year and see you in 2015!

May and the Sales you Need to Go to

May was very much the busiest of months that Oomphotography had seen since it's beginning. Lot's headshots, performances, a super hero book, all good stuff!

But there was also a fair share of second hand awesomeness!

There was the first Pay What You Can Yard Sale, and it went pretty great. For the first sale, I'm pretty happy about how it went. Show Party! Made $118, and a lot of awesome stuff went to good people.

yep...same picture from before. Scrooge McDuck didn't grow on me. 

The next sale is July 12th. Stay tuned for more details!

The month also brought Chicago's best yardsale, the Ravenswood yardsale. And it did not disappoint. 

Picked up signs, jewelry and some actual useful things. 

Nope, Logan wasn't injured...he likes to buy crunches to make video equipment...

David bought a bunch of Magic Cards.

And then there was Noelle and Rachel's Yardsale. Noelle and Rachel are two very epic folks who are Neo-Futurist Alumni. Some of the best writers I know. 

Walked away with a few books, some jewelry and A COPY OF QUARK! 

Oh Quark, God rest yee soul. I remember when I had to go back and forth between you and Adobe as my wonderful mentor, Susan was a Quark user. I'd choose Adobe any day, but it did handle fonts better.

I got their top of the line for two bucks - there are files at work that are older than dirt that Adobe doesn't dare open. 

This month has slowed down a bit, but there are some sales I'm checking out and you should too:

The Rockwell Yardsale - Next Week

The Andersonville East Yardsale - (Info not up yet, but I saw a banner at MidSommar Fest that it's the last week of June. 

That's all for now!

The amazement that was the first Pay What You Can Yard Sale

We came, we sold stuff, we made money. And it was grand...

This weekend was my first ever attempt at a Pay What You Can Yard Sale - the yard sale that helps charities and idea makers out by selling items for what folks want to pay. While the turn out was lower than I wanted - I wanted a million, I got 17, the folks who came were very excited about both Pay What You Can Yard Sale and Show Party - the theatre group that this Yard Sale helped out.

We made $157 - not bad for a sale that wasn't really publicized and was inside a house. I very much want to do this again! If you want to make money for your charity or idea, let me know!

Some pictures of the goods:

I leave you with a Top 12 list of ways that you know you are the thrifty one of the bunch. 

Pay What You Can Yard Sale

Best yardsales in Chicago: 

#3 - Andersonville Yard Sale 

#2 - Lakewood Yard Sale

#1 - Ravenswood Yard Sale

Grand prize epic best yard sale ever - Pay What You Can Yardsale

That's right! The sale this Saturday! Buy what you want, pay what you want can. Sales go to the theatre group, Show Party.

It's going to be epic!

And now, something else that's neat:

Here's a blog about stuff

Easter Flea

Easter was my first trip to the flea market of the season! I went to do a little shopping, do a little studying - My buddy Matt and I will be vending sometime this summer.

Wolff's flea market is pretty decent in the fact that you can get some quality vintage items, but also the cheapy dollar store items too. I tend to shy away from the cheepy stuff, but it's nice that I can buy a brush or a new tank top there for a dollar, on my way out of the market.

Got some great signs, an apple box and plastic charms - one of my addictions. I love those plastic charms and whenever I find them for less than $5, I grab them.

Go to Wolffs Flea Market - epic!

Also, come to this!