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[gidgetgh]

Apologies for being somewhat absent lately. I've been reading faithfully. Some health related stuff but I'm feeling so much better now and feeling like posting again.

I saw this yesterday and thought of our group. Everyone is doing a great job. We all just keep plugging away. 

[gidgetgh]

Ok, I have one for today. A little bit of a "what do I do with these"?

I haven't put up a Christmas tree in years. Probably 8 years.  I do decorate some for Christmas, but my Christmas tree with ornaments days are over. Most of my ornaments are gone.  I gave another 9 to Goodwill last week and have 4 left that I just can't part with yet. That's ok.

But, I have 11 extremely high end ornaments that I don't know what to do with. I bought a few, my husband gave me one and a few others were gifts. I have absolutely no emotional attachment to them. The artist who made them is Patricia Breen. Sold at Neiman Marcus and like 3 other places in the U.S.  When I got them in the late 90's and early 2000's they were very expensive but now are massively expensive. 

I have no one to leave them to.  My sisters kids won't want them. My sister is in the process of downsizing her Christmas stuff.  I don't want to give them to Goodwill because they'll be dumped in a bin for people to look through and they'll be broken in 1 second.  I don't want to donate them to a nursing home for the same reason. While I am really not attached to these emotionally, I do feel a sense of responsibility to "do right by them".

I put them in 2 clear shoeboxes and took them to my consignment store. I could tell she was hesitant. Like I really don't think she wants to fool with them. She does Facebook live videos. I think what she's going to do is feature them on one of her live videos and say they're available for 24 hours only and have to be picked up in store.  No shipping. And if they don't sell I'll go back and pick them up. I told her that I was hesitant about them being out on a shelf for people to sort through because they'll get dropped and break. 

I took them on Saturday and she's done a few live videos since then but hasn't shown them yet. I'm hoping that she will in the next few days. I also told her that if she absolutely doesn't want to try to sell them, that's fine with me also. Just let me know.

Other than that, I've still be plugging along. I bring some stuff in, but way more things go out than come in. 

[magicmoodz]

@rnmom Great job on your weight loss--especially dropping a size or two! It is so rewarding when loose clothing is evidence of your hard work. Congrats! I am currently living a low carb lifestyle before the holidays are in full swing. 

@KathyM23 When you purge your closet you don't fool around. Great job! It is not easy to put the brakes on buying new clothes. I wish you well in your goals!

@amyb I can relate to your comments about price increases. Minnesota is notorious for its high cost of food and I have not seen any relief. I am hosting another dinner party Saturday night to celebrate a birthday. I was at the grocery store yesterday and remembered he loves Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and looked to see what they had. I don't even remember the brand, but it cost $10.99 for a 1/2 gallon. Somehow I don't think that ice cream was sitting in a cargo container from China, so no tariffs involved!

One thing I have to really work on is cutting back on going out. To be honest, dining out is our love language. We both really enjoy trying new restaurants or visiting some of our old favorite places. But the prices! Yikes!

I recently purged a few more things from my closet--mostly to compensate for the two tops I purchased from 32 Degrees. I was not familiar with this brand (I am not a Costco member), but took a chance ordering during their sale. 

I continue to TRY to eliminate emails, texts and photos, but honestly I feel as if I am fighting a losing battle.☹️

[rnmom]

@gidgetgh - I'm sorry that you had health concerns but I am glad to hear that you are feeling better now! Welcome back!

[rnmom]

@gidgetgh - Oh boy, that Christmas ornament situation is a tough one. Maybe the consignment shop will feature them on a live show when it gets closer to Christmas and she feels they have a better chance of selling. It is a bit early still.

The only other thing I can think of is posting them for sale on Facebook Marketplace but I don't know if you do that or not. 

It's too bad that you don't know someone who will use and enjoy them. 

[gidgetgh]

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@rnmom wrote:

@gidgetgh - I'm sorry that you had health concerns but I am glad to hear that you are feeling better now! Welcome back!

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@rnmom - thank you. It was a very difficult summer and fall, well, since the end of March really, and I was very concerned that maybe it wasn't in the cards for me to get better, but I'm feeling so much better now.  Not 100% but getting there. 

[magicmoodz]

@gidgetgh 

I am so sorry you have been ill for such a long time. It's good to know you are finally feeling better.

I had a thought about your ornaments. Have you contacted high-end consignment/antique shops in your area? That seems like a perfect place for them--you will have "decluttered" and maybe made a handsome profit for your efforts.

There is an antique shop in St. Paul that comes to mind. I will post a few pictures to show you the kind of merchandise they deal with. I suspect your pieces would fit in beautifully.  

My husband was gifted a painting by one of his clients. Her brother was a famous local artist who had died. While a beautiful gesture, it was not a painting I wanted to hang in my home. Many years later I called an art gallery, explained the painting, and the owner asked me to send pictures. He was blown away that hanging in his gallery he had almost an identical piece by the same artist. He made us a very fair offer right over the phone.

Here are some pictures of the Anthony Scornavacco Antique store in St. Paul. I fully admit I have never been there. Knowing me, one false move and my handbag could clear an entire tabletop.🥴

Good luck with whatever path you take!

[amyb]

Ok, just dug out my heavy winter canvas zipped bag from back of upstairs closet.

To go to various places, depending who takes what:

That J Crew bomber jacket I mentioned the other day.

Brand new pair of brushed cords, pull on jeggings from Grace & Lace. Bought two colors a few years ago, one cranberry, one teal green which I love. However they were final sale, and though both the same size...the green were never properly sized, too tiny, more like a size or two down. I kept thinking when I lost some weight they'd fit (they went with a pretty teal plaid flannel tunic top I still have from G&L, I wanted these for.) I have lost some weight, am lucky if I keep it off & even if I lose that "other 5" I always want to lose, unfortunately, these are never going to fit...time to let them go. Boo, G&L wish they'd been sized right!

A Susan Graver old henley tunic sweatshirt hoodie I bought in navy & black years ago...don't need the navy. Will keep the black, I wear it occasionally in winter over leggings, indoors on snowy days.

A wool knit dress.

A print knit dress.

A black, embellished with beads, tunic sweater. Always liked it but I'm done with the look, have worn it enough.

Tossed an old pair of Ryka sneakers. Last time I wore them feet bothered me. They still look like they have support, but never were the best support, overall...feet have hurt before after wearing them to walk in. I have better ones & need to update my athletic sneakers, when I get around to it.

Still going through things, in "that mood." Ps & btw...these clothes are bulky...so, why/HOW is that closet upstairs STILL packed?! The canvas/zip winter bag WILL be lighter....unless...I buy more this year. 

Considering letting go of another knit dress I bought with that one above I mentioned, at Marshall's, years ago. Loved them both. Worn them lots. But feel they fit me better back then. Going to try it on (or not to avoid aggravating myself, lol)...not sure I like it on me anymore. I'm kind of over both of them anyway.

That's it for today. Now I have to wash a few things & start distributing them & get them out of the house!

The bag I started for donation is living in my car trunk. Like others always say here, once I let go, I want them gone!

Still have to dig out that ornament tree, too, for consignment.

[gidgetgh]

@magicmoodz - I've taken the ornaments to the consignment shop I always use. She still hasn't listed them on my account or shown them on a video though. I need to check on that this weekend.

I don't know of any really good high end antique stores in my area. But I appreciate your suggestion. 

[amyb]

@magicmoodz Wowza...what a beautiful antique shop!

I agree, @gidgetgh sounds like the perfect place for your ornaments...getting them safely to that store, maybe another issue, but maybe doable, and if he's interested, he probably would know how to get them. (assuming you don't live in that area.) 

Also @gidgetgh glad you are feeling better, though sorry you were dealing with health issues...glad to see you posting again. I just figured you (probably are) were just so caught up with all the decluttering...sounds like you've done the lion's share of what you wanted to do in recent years. But like all of us here....after a while, sometimes we suddenly look at something and think...ok, I'm done with you now, too! Anyway, nice to see you post again. I hope you find a good place for what sounds like, very special ornaments.

Happy weekend, everyone.