9/09/2014

Garage Sale How To

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I own a home in an Orange County Neighborhood that is expensive. It isn't spelled out in our CCR's that a rummage sale is not allowed. However, yard sales and garage sales are frowned upon. This is a quick and easy method to have a sale that cleans out clutter in your home, recycles things that are usable and makes a little cash. You will be cleaned up before anyone complains.
Step ONE 
Three Days before the Sale make eight direction signs. I had a couple old political signs. I used the armature and added card board and paper left over from my children's school art homework projects. The signs only need provide direction from the main road to your home. Don't spend money to do this, improvise and recycle.
Call Saint Vincent De Paul for the pickup of what is left over on Monday. The best day for yard sales are a Saturday after the 1st or 15th when people receive a paycheck
Step Two two days before:
Ask your children to remove twenty articles of clothing that don't fit or they haven't worn in two years. Put together old books, toys, appliances, furniture, things you haven't repaired but were thinking about doing but a year went by. All the "stuff "should be loaded into the garage. You can color code price tags or just use colored painter's tape. Think pricing of fifty cents up to ten dollars. The average item being one dollar. You need card tables, some ladders, hangers, and about sixty dollars in one dollar bills for change.


The Friday the day before:
1.Post a Craig's list Ad enter photographs of any large items you want to sell. Add that you will not be taking early birds. Supply a phone number where they may contact you. You do not hold anything. All things are sold for cash only. 
2. Check that you have coffee and some paper cups ( you can sell coffee or give it away) Frankly you can sell anything. I had great success selling potted basil plants
3. The night before remind you helper that they have to get up an hour before the sale. Typically your sale will be from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM (don't go all day - the most sales happen early)

The morning of the sale at 6:30 turn the coffee on. Run and put signs up, pull the tables out on the driveway, put anything such as a ladder with broom handle or hanging area for clothing. If people can see the items, they will buy. Don't just put a box of clothing out. Try to make the items look desirable. Put big items to block your garage doors. You can block the garage with a simple rope or colored tape.
 DO Not allow anyone into your garage or home. Wear clothing with pockets for money. Do not carry a purse. Lock the entry door to your home

Smile, answer questions, greet the people as they walk up. 
No you are not holding anything. 
No you don't take checks.

Things that sell: toys, children's clothing that looks clean, gadgets, tools, crafts, appliances, seasonal decorations, sporting goods, stuff you hoarded...
This is a thrifty way to clean out closets and de-clutter. It can bring in some cash. This makes room for your home to be new and fresh. It is also a good way to prepare to sell your home.
Total time invested : five hours

Think of it as money making recycling.

9/07/2014

Laguna Niguel Farmer's Market

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heirloom multi colored carrots




red chili and jalapeno





























Laguna Niguel farmer’s market is the best in Orange County. 

Sundays 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 
If it is hot, vendors reduce pricing around 11:00 AM because less customers show up.

If you go late at 11:25 AM some vendors put their local produce on sale
 items will be picked over but vendors discount.
Buy Local 
Buy Organic 
Save money at the farmer's market
27271 La Paz Laguna Niguel California 92677 
I suggest you buy what is in season that day. Don't go with a preconceived exact list of what you want. Purchase what is fresh and available. Try a small quantity of a new vegetable. Vendors give free samples and recipe advice

winter melon

farmers market organic

peaches sweeter than mother in law
Yellow and Red Chili


Heirloom Tomatoes


Local Organic Produce Cheap


8/26/2014

Search for your New Home


A soaking tub in your new home












Search the Southern California Multiple Listing Service MLS from your smart
phone or desktop free
http://hbsr.homescouting.com/myapp/54b9393c-a2cb-437e-a2d7-1784249a2081

I offer this application for free. You can shop during the day or night. You can look up the value of your own home. Search for comparable sales in your neighborhood. It will tell you all the open houses near to you on any given day. It links to the Multiple Listing Service directly. When a Realtor uploads a new listing, it is live and available for you to view. A helpful way to search for a home from your smart phone, car, apartment desktop. To sign on you will need my secret code. The secret code is my phone number with no dots, no dashes, no parenthesis... 9496378190 Once you sign in then you will set up your own personal user name and password. Feel free to look at properties as often or as little as you may need. Shop for a friend, share it, be my guest.

When you need a mortgage or home loan just remember me and that I gave you this free Birthday present. Any questions my friends? Please feel free to call me. I am here to help.



Bath tub Bathroom remodel

http://eaglehomemortgage.com/carolinegerardo/

NMLS 324982

8/25/2014

John McLaughlin painting

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John MCLAUGHLIN oil on canvas paintng

John Dwyer McLaughlin (May 21, 1898 – March 22, 1976) was an American abstract painter. Based primarily in California, he was a pioneer in minimalism and hard edge painting.
He lived in Dana Point California about two blocks from my house. My father met him in 1969, they had mutual roots in Sharon Massachusetts. I own four paintings of his work, two drawings and some letters This painting is in excellent to perfect condition which is unusual for his work. John sometimes used house paint, and acrylic over oil that crackled on purpose.
John McLaughlin painting