Sunday, June 1, 2008

We Hit the Jackpot!!!!!

No, we didn't go to a casino, gamble, and hit the million dollar jackpot (dang it!), instead we went to garage sales and shopped craigslist religiously and that's the jackpot we hit baby! As a result, Sydnei's room is ready to welcome her into the world.

I mentioned a few posts ago that I scored some great puzzles and alone time garage sale-ing one Saturday morning. Well, let me just say I haven't stopped since then. Back in April my in-laws came to town for a visit. (still need to post about that, sorry I haven't yet, D&C) The Friday they were here, they joined me for some good-old-fashioned garage sale bargain hunting. It was awesome! We literally hit the "garage sale jackpot" and quite honestly, the success hasn't ceased. Allow me to share some of my killer finds and how Sydnei's nursery has come together perfectly and quite inexpensively.

This picture shows the crib set I purchased at the garage sale with my in-laws. I love the story behind this. First off, I lifted it up and asked the man running the sale how much he wanted for the set, he turned to his wife, and she quickly responded, $10 bucks??? I said, super, I'll take it. The crib set came complete with bumper, double layer bed skirt, diaper stacker, and changing table pad cover. Right after I agreed to purchase it the wife couldn't stop talking about how much she loved the set and that she purchased it for her first child. She explained:

"we had it custom made at pottery barn kids...you know...with your first child you do everything custom. By the time my son was born I just chose my favorite boys crib line they offered."

I, of course, smiled, nodded my head, and acted like I understood. In my mind, I kept thinking, "Right, right, I totally know what you mean considering I'm shopping for baby stuff at a garage sale!" Ha ha ha...Thanks to her high end taste and initial investment, we're able to enjoy this sweet set.

Continuing on at the same garage sale, check out this solid wood changing table with drawer and new changing pad. Can we say $25 big ones for this bad boy? Hello! Talk about a steal! I couldn't believe it and was so dang excited and grateful to have found such a stellar table for a rock bottom price. The changing pad cover I mentioned that came with the set is pictured. Oh, and you'll notice on the bottom shelf just next to the wipes, a sage green changing pad cover, from the same line at Pottery Barn Kids. Yep, I paid a lady $7 bucks for it at a garage sale over a month after I purchased this table. It still blows my mind how I managed to piece this all together from different sales.

The precious diaper stacker that came with the crib set. Note the satin hanger that it hangs on was 50 cents at a garage sale--such a sweet touch.

Here is a nice close up of the brand new, never used, lambs and ivy musical mobile. The same day I came home from finding the crib set, I did a search for a mobile on Craigslist. This precious little thing popped up for sale by a lady not far from our house for $5 bucks!!!!!! Apparently, the seller had decorated for a girl and was surprised with a baby boy. I couldn't believe she only wanted $5 for it. It sells for $49.99 new on babies r' us.com! Simply amazing. Here's a link to prove it: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2299870.

Another craigslist score, this green glider which came with ottoman (not pictured) is in excellent condition and cost me a whopping $30. I love that I have one upstairs and downstairs. When I rock Sydnei in the middle of the night (gearing up for the 2-3 month sleep deprivation period) I won't have to go downstairs and it matches the color scheme! YAY!!!

Continuing on, we found this solid wood dresser for $40 on craigslist. The previous owner put brand new nobs on the drawers and casters on the bottom. Each drawer is set on metal gliders so if either of the kids try to pull the drawer out, it will not fall on top of them, what a nice safety feature. The drawers are big and deep and this bad boy is going to be around for years! The lamp on top of the drawer was one I had in college (> 10 years old) and the sage green lamp shade is one of the two things I actually purchased new for the room.

This darling lavender gingham check valance was the only other item I purchased new for the nursery. It goes PERFECTLY with the pattern of the crib set.

This hamper that I LOVE was a gift from my good friend, Lindy. Seriously, I'm so practical, I would have never purchased it and would have just used some hamper I had around the house but she knew how much I loved this one. Thanks, Lindy. It goes perfectly with the nursery. :)


Here is a picture of the whole room, the killer closet door mirrors help provide a panoramic view and as my father-in-law states: "they're supposed to make the room look bigger!"


To recap cost:

Crib Set: $10
Changing Table w/Changing Pad: $25
Extra Changing Pad Cover: $7
Musical Mobile: $5
Glider w/Ottoman: $30
Dresser: $40
Lamp Shade: $13
Valance: $17

GRAND TOTAL: $147.00.....CCCChhhhh-ING!!!!!


All in all, we're very much a "reduce, reuse, recycle" frugal, and practical kind of people. We feel that by finding the vast majority of these items in excellent used condition is a way for us to do our part to reuse and recycle these items for good. We have been blessed more than we ever believed possible and couldn't feel more grateful and humble to be prepared for Sydnei to join our family.

Stay tuned for a couple of extra unprecedented finds: Cradle set (from the same garage sale as the crib set), Reese Li designer diaper bag compliments of craigslist, and finally a gender neutral baby papasan vibrating bouncer chair from another garage sale 10 days ago--in perfect condition. I just haven't taken pics of these things yet.

We're so excited and ready...now if Sydnei could just decide to be born!!!


p.s. Ry said this post sounds like I'm introducing products on the Price is Right...LOL...fantastic, mission accomplished.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You see what you can do when you do your home work. There's bargains out you just got to search for them diligently.

Tori said...

Holy freakin' crap, Storm! I think I need to go yard saling with you when I have to decorate next time!

Tori said...

and didn't you eventually get a few custom things for Sofia? I seem to recall a custom made strawberry bedskirt and curtains...a shortcake diaper holder. Nothing as precious as what you got now, but that counts, right? Granted she wasn't a newborn when she got it...and it wasn't from the Pottery Barn. I was just thinking about it because I found the pattern when I moved and was thinking about you.

Lori said...

SCORE! My goodness! Mega shout out to sale'ing! Frugalism rocks my world.