Now that I have decided on a title for this blog (actually – it went through a few “changes of clothes” during my brainstorming process – which has lasted several weeks), I can actually write a second post and PUBLISH it! I am such a social butterfly, that I have been semi-dying to publish this (and write several more entries), but I just didn’t feel right in doing so without a clear direction.
Finally…here it is. The title to my blog (as if you didn’t see it blaring at the top) is The Upcycle Queen. As I stated in my earlier post, I am many things, but there is one idea that really is at my core…I am Dutch. If you aren’t Dutch, well, as my great grandma would say, you aren’t much. No for real, if you aren’t Dutch, then you are not privy to the intense desire to scrimp, save, and squeeze as much out of every penny as possible. I grew up thriving on hand-me-downs, shopping at consignment shops, garage sales, and thrift stores, and in general, finding ways to repurpose nearly everything. We do not throw things out – we may find an alternative use for them, give them away to someone else that can find benefit from it, or sell it, but you NEVER throw things out. Literally…in our minds…is is the same as taking a dollar bill and throwing it away in the trash – which is BEYOND my imagination.
Finally…here it is. The title to my blog (as if you didn’t see it blaring at the top) is The Upcycle Queen. As I stated in my earlier post, I am many things, but there is one idea that really is at my core…I am Dutch. If you aren’t Dutch, well, as my great grandma would say, you aren’t much. No for real, if you aren’t Dutch, then you are not privy to the intense desire to scrimp, save, and squeeze as much out of every penny as possible. I grew up thriving on hand-me-downs, shopping at consignment shops, garage sales, and thrift stores, and in general, finding ways to repurpose nearly everything. We do not throw things out – we may find an alternative use for them, give them away to someone else that can find benefit from it, or sell it, but you NEVER throw things out. Literally…in our minds…is is the same as taking a dollar bill and throwing it away in the trash – which is BEYOND my imagination.
Some people call this being cheap – but I choose to call it being thrifty. My rush of excitement comes when I find a brand new same-season satin dress with a coordinating suite jacket for $4 in someone’s garage. SCORE! Likewise, finding my husband a tailored pin stripe suite at our local thrift shop for $4 (I must find good deals in that range) was a slam dunk. My endorphins shoot out of the roof, and it gives me a high, and in our family, if momma is happy, well, everyone is happy.
Still, I need to budget. My detested word – which is almost an oxymoron since the nature of being savvy with your finances starts with a well planned budget. That doesn’t mean I have to like that part.
So, I think it is safe to say that I am a garage sale freak! No, really. I am literally counting down the days till that first Saturday sale when I can find deals for a quarter that I can repurpose for my family. Some people swear by thrift shopping, others swear by mom2mom sales (for their kids). Not me (although I have been known to take advantage of both). I am a die-hard garage sale girl. The months of May-August are filled with Saturday morning trips to various yards littered with another family’s trash – which will later be turned into my treasure. I am a little obsessed. It is probably a good thing I live in a state where there is a “season” for garage salers, or I may literally never see my family on the weekends.
All this to say that I thought “The Upcyle Queen” was an appropriate title for my little blog. I know I will post many things on here about motherhood, marriage, my Christian faith, friends, etc., but at least I have a title…and a (semi) direction. Garage sale season is upon us…only a few more weeks till I can start my yearly upcycle adventures…and I.Can’t.Wait!
Speaking of the season, the Smith family (along with our neighbors) are holding a sale of our own on April 20th. There is a lot of good stuff! Brand name clothes (you know I am a brand snob), household goods, a few baby items, tools, and some furniture. We may not throw things out, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to purge. Spring cleaning has hit our house, and we have a lot to sell – for cheep! Hope to see you on the 20th!
