Welcome to our new weekly newsletter…

February 20, 2020
Watch for it every Thursday or every OTHER Thursday!
Volume I  Issue 6

 

Hi! Welcome BACK to our new “Lynn’s Consignments” newsletter. This is Issue 6!

The people have spoken and it is OFFICIAL! We will now and forever be known as Lynn’s Latest!

Wayne Vargo from Australia (a longtime ezine reader) came up with the winning moniker and will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the store…..Not sure how that is going to work Wayne?  LOL!  Wayne has visited my eBay offices in Palm Desert before, not sure if we can convince him to come out this way during his next US trip.  I will sure try.

Here is a snippet from my March 26, 2016 ezine that features Wayne and his visit.  If you want to read that ezine here is a link.  http://www.thequeenofauctions.com/articlepages/ezinev12is04.html

Here are me, Wayne, and my mom in my eBay office & warehouse in Palm Desert.

“I have had some crazy fun run-ins with my ezine readers lately. Seriously! Can you believe that I have ezine readers in Australia? Well, yes I do. One of them, Wayne was going to be in San Diego visiting his son this month and he emailed me back in January to ask if we could meet up. I said “for sure” if I am not super busy.

He emailed me once he arrived at his son’s home in San Diego and I asked him to pop by the office to see my mom and me during one of our workdays. What a treat! He was so nice, kind, and sweet and even brought gifts for us. Shirts for Indy and Houston and a beach towel for me.”

While grabbing that photo of Wayne from my 2016 ezine, I saw a photo of Indy and Houston as she was getting ready to leave for her Junior Prom. It is such a cute photo, I just had to share it….and here is what I wrote….

“Here is Indy posing with her brother in front of our “new” door. Throughout the five-plus years that we have lived here on this faux lake, I have always taken pictures of the kids in front of the front door since the lighting is always the best.”

OK, but back to the store, because that is ultimately why were are here….. Right?  Check out these amazing Leather Arm Chairs by South Cone (a High-End Brand).  They are priced at $295.00 each.  That distressed black bookcase just came in and is priced at $195.00…it has two lower doors and is really awesome!

Time for an eBay score!  This is a Mottahedeh Bowl showcasing the White House in the shape of a shell.  It sold for $99 right before Christmas!  I bought it at an estate sale for $5.00.  I LOVE eBay!  BTW, Mottahedeh is a really good brand.  Buy it when you see it 🙂

https://tinyurl.com/mottahedehbowl

Back to the Timehop app that Emma put on my phone….so much going on from two and three years ago.

It’s hard to believe, but just three years ago, my mom, Indy, and I were in Europe to visit Houston.  We flew to London and then headed to Heidelberg (where he was doing a year with Pepperdine) and then all of us went to Krakow.  It was an amazing trip and was such a happy time.  When we returned home to Palm Desert, I got the terrible news that my dad had just been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer.  I love this picture of the three of us at lunch in London before we knew of the awfulness to come.

And then, two years ago on the same day was the craziness of setting up the store!  One of the photos that popped up was just sooooo representative of what was happening that I posted it on Instagram and Facebook.  If you don’t follow me, please do @LynnDralle and @LynnsConsignments….I would appreciate it!

Here is what I wrote about this photo….

Two years ago today, on a Saturday night, this was the view from my office. The store had yet to take shape, but somehow I knew it would. With a lot of faith, luck, hard work, friends, family, and love from Ventura….we made our March 1st opening! Please join us Sunday, March 1st for our 2 year anniversary!!!! We love you #ventura #everyonewinswhentheyshopatlynns #startup #entrepreneur #womenownedbusiness #familybusiness

Please join us on Sunday, March 1st for our 2nd Anniversary Party.  There will be food, drinks and door prizes!  Help us celebrate what should have been my dad’s 86th Birthday. Happy Birthday, Papa!

Our paint class two Saturdays ago was Awesome!  Here are the gals with a before picture of a table that we ended up painting during the class.

Here is an after photo of that table painted in (my favorite) Duck Egg Blue along with some other pieces that we have painted in Annie Sloan.

Our next Annie Sloan paint class will be held on Saturday, March 7th from 10:30 to 12:30 ish. The cost is $69. Spaces are limited so sign up here now.

If you have any questions please call the store at 805-628-3289…

http://www.kickstartcart.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=7FF2CB21-8A24-49FC-9294-87759EA393E1&pid=efe98f6b99584f1a87e510b15acb1d41&bn=1

This is the Basic Course offering an Introduction to the Annie Sloan Method of Chalk Painting…Furniture, Lamp Shades, Fabric, and just about anything!

You will create 3 Sample Boards with different finishes to take with you and all the confidence and knowledge you need to go home and tackle any project!!!

Can’t wait to see you and help you learn about the…..

BEST PAINT IN THE WORLD!!!

Our New Front Window Display

is “hideous” furniture that no one will want waiting for a makeover…and guess what…we are going to do that makeover LIVE in the front window! FUN FUN FUN! Since we redid this window last Saturday, we have sold 3 of those “hideous” pieces prior to painting. I will never call them hideous again because “BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER”.

Amazing News!  Annie Sloan is coming to So Cal!   My friends, Linda and Brita, at Red Rooster Vintage in Redlands have pulled it off!  I am so proud of them and super excited to meet Annie in person!

Saturday, March 14th at 1 pm I will be in Redlands and I encourage you to attend as well!  Let’s get a caravan going from Ventura…Here are more details 🙂

OK, time for another eBay score because…well just because.  They are soooo much fun!

Long story short, Indiana wanted Doc Martens for Christmas.  She thought she was an 8 so we ordered those on eBay.  They arrived and were too big.  So, we got her a 7, also too big.  Finally, we got her a 6…Just perfect!  In any event, I $80 for these Docs on eBay and decided to just resell them instead of returning them and paying to ship back.  I took the best offer of $80 plus $19.95 shipping and actually broke even!  YAYA!

https://tinyurl.com/indydocs

CARLOS’ Corner…..OK, so yes I am obsessed with my new kitty, Carlos.  He is AWESOME!  and so darling.  I will update you on his progress in every newsletter!

He is still a sweetheart but has been struggling with some health issues.  He has had two rounds of antibiotics and they got rid of his kennel cough, but he still sneezes and has a rough coat.  The doctor wanted to do another round of antibiotics and I said “NO”.  We are now trying a probiotic.

Here he is in his usual spot “helping” me do my work.  LOL!  NOT!

One of the reasons I decided to not do another round of antibiotics was because my really good friend Kimberly Wallace and her husband Mike were here visiting on Saturday.  So fun to have friends that I met in 1993 in Bellingham here in my “new” hood.  Kimberly is an amazing Doterra vendor and she is really good at advice for health, oils, etc.  https://www.instagram.com/kimberlykwallace/

We totally messed up and did not take a photo of the three of us in the store…UGHH!  But Kim did get this hysterical selfie of us with Carlos in the background eating the window displays from Indy’s 21st birthday.  LOL.

Now, let’s check out some of the new fun furnishings that came into the store recently.

This Linen Klaussner Sleeper Sofa is priced at $595 and just arrived today!  It is brand new and gorgeous.

For those of you who don’t know, the prices on our consigned items go down 20% every 30 days…for two markdowns.  Now, that makes shopping FUN!

Don’t forget that most of our gift items can now be purchased on our website!  Super FUN and please keep checking back as we add more and more items.  We will even be adding unique one-of-a-kind items from the store that can be shipped or picked up in person.  Here is a link to our website.  https://lynnsconsignment.ricoconsign.com/

Super excited to announce a new course that we will be offering and it is being taught by one of my very first consignors…Joy Goldowitz!

She is a teaching dynamo!  Her course “Calligraphy:  The Art of Beautiful Lettering” will be offered on Saturday, March 21st from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.  Joy will even be bringing you tea and homemade scones to enhance the experience!

The course is just $49 and includes a gift box full of calligraphy supplies and a special tote bag!  What?  This is unreal 🙂

From Joy’s handout…”In this beginning class, we’ll start from scratch with an introduction to sound technique, some nib knowledge, then move straight into some practice exercises, and on to letterforms.  By the end of the class, you will be able to write your name and a favorite short quote.  You will embark into the wonderful world of modern calligraphy.”

Joy is a retired (after 37 years) elementary school teacher. She is a lover of the relaxing art of hand lettering, beautiful inks, and stationery of all ilks. She is a passionate teacher who happily loves sharing her techniques with others. She will guide you on a journey creating lovely letters to embellish words, names, addresses, cards, gift tags, etc.

OMG! I want to take this class!

Sign up here. http://www.kickstartcart.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=7FF2CB21-8A24-49FC-9294-87759EA393E1&pid=9919156fa2e54964a61038764a1a0cdc

Emma just returned from OKC Oklahoma City where she spent Valentine’s day with my son, Houston. Such a cute photo of them from her recent trip. Glad she is back! But I miss my Goose! He will be home on March 12th for Spring Break. Can’t wait!

So, for those of you who don’t know, my son is getting his Masters in Education at Notre Dame….He attends classes in the summer in South Bend and teaches at a Catholic School in OKC during the real school year and will graduate with his MeD in two years with no tuition cost.  And…… my daughter is a Junior at Pepperdine majoring in Theatre!  She was selected for the super competitive Edingburgh Theatre Program and will spend this summer in Scotland…. I am sooooo proud of both of these kids 🙂

Emma (with Sandy and Doug’s Help) made Houston a really neat gift for Valentines’ Day.  Sandy suggested this and Doug cut the boards.  Emma painted them all with Annie Sloan Paint!  What a great gift…showcasing some of the important cities and how far away they are…. that Houston is missing!  BTW, I may be proud of my son, but he seriously needs a haircut.  I offer to pay for that haircut ALL THE TIME!

Back to the store, here is another photo from 2 years ago and it shows Tony building my front counter!  OMG….he did such a great job 🙂

One last photo from the store because we just added new items to our beachy vignette!  There is so much fun stuff in this photo…please email me if you have any questions or want to know prices.

Before I end, I want to share a quote that has really motivated me lately.  I am a huge fan of Gary John Bishop….He is the author of Unfu*k yourself.  I bought everyone in my life one of his desk calendars for Christmas this year.  My favorite quote so far this year is this……

“Either be your best self or admit you’re not up to the challenge.”

and I text a photo of this quote to Indy and she wrote back with “THAT IS MY FAVORITE QUOTE IN THE CALENDAR SO FAR”.

Then she sent me a photo of where it is on the wall in her dorm room…Great minds think alike!

Again…..A Happy New Decade from Lynn’s Consignments team to you and your family!   We hope to see you soon!

Pictured…Katie, Sandy, Indiana, me, Val, Adolio, Peggy, and Mor Mor!

Before I end this new “Lynn’s Latest” newsletter, I want to say a HUGE Thank You to my amazing team! I am beyond Blessed! These women (and Adolio) give their heart and soul to the success of my store. I am forever grateful! I saw this post on Instagram this morning and it is sooooooo true. These ladies care so much about my store that it is hard to tell who actually owns it….and that is a true GIFT and BLESSING from God!

Thanks for reading my ezines!  I appreciate it….as always!

eBay with Heart & Design with Heart……Lynn

 

P.S.  All of the professional photos I use on Instagram, Facebook, and in these newsletters were taken by my friend Denise’s daughter, Jaclyn Sabo.  She is amazing!  And I will be hiring her again for photos during our 2nd-year anniversary party on Sunday, March 1st.  Hope to see you there.  To learn more about Jaclyn….https://www.jaclynszabo.com/

P.P.S.  If you have a friend who wants to sign up for this newsletter.

 

Welcome to our new weekly newsletter…

February 13, 2020
Watch for it every Thursday or every OTHER Thursday!
Volume I Issue 5

 

Hi!  Welcome BACK to our new “Lynn’s Consignments” newsletter.   This is Issue 5! And today would have been the 43rd birthday of my favorite dog, Springdale Buffington.  Weird how you remember those specific days.  He was born on February 13, 1977.  Yikes, that makes me feel old!

I showed him through 4-H and also in AKC and CKC shows.  My dad was my biggest champion and drove Buffy and I all over Washington state and Canada.  He was only 1 point away from becoming a Canadian Kennel Club Champion when I was OVER it!  I was a junior in high school and it was time to focus on my friends, getting into college etc.  However, I will never trade those days with my dad and Buffy.

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with such amazing suggestions for our newsletter title.  About 5 % of you have voted…I would love to see 10% participation before choosing the winning title, so PLEASE

Please place your vote by following this link.  VOTE

https://forms.gle/qb8DxAQjbV7BRzNX9

Whoever comes up with the winning moniker will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the store…..

Before I forget, Happy Valentines Day!  I hope your Friday is AWESOME!  Don’t forget that the DAY AFTER Valentines day is our first Pop Up in the Lot Sale!  Hope to see you here 🙂

My time last week in Palm Desert was AWESOME!  So great to see my friends and I come back with some crazy items to sell both in the store and on eBay.

Here is a picture of my crew and me out to dinner.  Kel, Mo, Candy. me and Tina B.

OK, but back to the store because that is ultimately why were are here….. Right?  Check out those Foo Dogs up close that I got at a “fresh” Palm Springs Estate Sale.  I think that they are Marble or Alabaster….not really sure?  If anyone knows more please come in the store and check them out and let me know the actual material.  They are priced at $695 for the pair and they are “killer”!

Time for an eBay score!  This is a Henri Matisse Limited Edition Rug/Tapestry from 1951 that my estate sale contacts sent with me to sell on eBay.  I am guessing that it will be a score.  From my research, these sell in the $2,000 to $2,800 range, but the asking prices range clear up to $9,500.  Yowza!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/312989257538

So, I have this app on my phone called Time Hop. Emma, my son’s girlfriend (who is now working at the store until she finds her forever job….Hello Patagonia…are you listening?) loaded the app for me last year. It brings back sooooo many memories. Two years ago this week, I was packing up the remainder of my house and making the final move (out of three weekends of moving) to Ventura.

Crazy! Here is a photo of my friend Kel (also in the recent Palm Desert crew pic) helping me pack up the eBay merch in my living room (which had NO furniture left…it was all in Ventura already). LOL…what a mess and the moving truck was arriving in the am. Thank God for friends like Kel!

Here is Steve Labrano of Labrano’s Moving https://desertsbestmovingcompany.com/ packing up the final truck (of three full trucks) on a Saturday to Deliver to me in Ventura on a Sunday.  Yikes!  All of this just makes me exhausted 🙂

And then, on the other end…that Monday when we arrived in Ventura, here are the girls (can you spot Cindy?) unloading the eBay merch in my garage.  EEEgads!  I honestly can’t believe that I had the “hutspa” to pick up my entire life (16 years raising kids in Palm Desert) and move three hours away and open a brick and mortar retail store in a city where I knew NO ONE (had no track record like my family does in Bellingham etc.)….Living on a wing and a prayer…that would be me!  LOL…Thank you Ventura for embracing me and my store!  WE LOVE YOU!

Our paint class this past Saturday was Awesome! Here are the gals with a before picture of a table that we ended up painting during the class.

Here is an after photo of that table painted in (my favorite) Duck Egg Blue along with some other pieces that we have painted in Annie Sloan.

Watch for it…..My next front window display is going to be “hideous” furniture that no one will want waiting for a makeover…and guess what…we are going to do that makeover LIVE in the front window!  FUN FUN FUN!

Our next Annie Sloan basics only paint class will be held on Saturday, March 7th from 10:30 to 12:30 ish. Cost is $69. We found that it was almost impossible to get you out for an evening paint class so we have now moved it to the day. Way more fun! Spaces are limited so sign up here now.

If you have any questions please call the store at 805-628-3289…

http://www.kickstartcart.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=7FF2CB21-8A24-49FC-9294-87759EA393E1&pid=efe98f6b99584f1a87e510b15acb1d41&bn=1
This is the Basic Course offering an Introduction to the Annie Sloan Method
of Chalk Painting….Furniture, Lamp Shades, Fabric and just about anything!

You will create 3 Sample Boards with different finishes to take with
you and all the confidence and knowledge you need to go home and tackle any project!!!

Can’t wait to see you and help you learn about the…..
BEST PAINT IN THE WORLD!!!
OK, time for another eBay score because…well just because. They are soooo much fun and this is why I have been selling on eBay for over 20 years!

This Cornish Ware Blue and White Stripe Salt Container sold for over $60 this past December. Fun Fact…I got this for free at a Church Rummage Sale on Lummi Island (One of the San Juan Islands) that is right across from my mom’s beach house. Shout out to Mor Mor, Indy and Emma who were with me!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/312506867348

CARLOS’ Corner…..OK, so yes I am obsessed with my new kitty, Carlos.  He is AWESOME!  and so darling.  I will update you on his progress in every newsletter and Emma thinks it should be called Carlos’ Corner…any other ideas?

He really is a rescue cat as he is “obsessed” with food.  If I am eating popcorn, he will “literally” fly through the air and grab a piece and dart off to eat it in a corner.  It really worries me because he was alone on the streets of Oxnard before he was found.  That breaks my heart!  Ughhh….we keep trying to give him lots of love, but it seems like something is off…..Can anyone else relate to this or have some advice?  Thanks!

BTW, I had posted on Next Door right before Christmas that I was looking to rescue an Orange Tabby Kitten. Thank you to everyone who responded and a HUGE THANK YOU to the gal who posted a photo of Carlos. I saw his face (teared up a little bit) and immediately drove to Newbury Park to pick up the little guy. Thank you Thank you!

Now, let’s check out some of the new fun furnishings that came into the store recently.

The chicken wire console is priced at $295 and is amazing!  The wooden high design Mercana console table on top is priced at $495 (actually it has had it’s first markdown and is now $396).

For those of you who don’t know, the prices on our consigned items go down 20% every 30 days…for two markdowns.  Now, that makes shopping FUN!

Don’t forget that most of our gift items can now be purchased on our website!  Super FUN and please keep checking back as we add more and more items.  We will even be adding unique one-of-a-kind items from the store that can be shipped or picked up in person.  Super EXCITING time as we continue to grow our business both here and all over the world!  Here is a link to our website.  https://lynnsconsignment.ricoconsign.com/

AND in HUGE news!  Baggu came out with their new SPRING line two days ago.  My favorites are the Lobster and the Cheetah…come in and check out the new Baggus before they sell out!

Super excited to announce a new course that we will be offering and it is being taught by one of my very first consignors…Joy Goldowitz!

She is a teaching dynamo!  Her course “Calligraphy:  The Art of Beautiful Lettering” will be offered on Saturday, March 21st from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.  Joy will even be bringing you tea and homemade scones to enhance the experience!

The course is just $49 and includes a gift box full of calligraphy supplies and a special tote bag!  What?  This is unreal 🙂

From Joy’s handout…”In this beginning class, we’ll start from scratch with an introduction to sound technique, some nib knowledge, then move straight into some practice exercises, and on to letterforms.  By the end of the class, you will be able to write your name and a favorite short quote.  You will embark into the wonderful world of modern calligraphy.”

Joy is a retired (after 37 years) elementary school teacher. She is a lover of the relaxing art of hand lettering, beautiful inks, and stationery of all ilks. She is a passionate teacher who happily loves sharing her techniques with others. She will guide you on a journey creating lovely letters to embellish words, names, addresses, cards, gift tags, etc.

OMG! I want to take this class!

Sign up here. http://www.kickstartcart.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=7FF2CB21-8A24-49FC-9294 87759EA393E1&pid=9919156fa2e54964a61038764a1a0cdc

For the first time, in this “baby” ezine, I have not “really” mentioned nor pictured my kids. For those of you who have been following me for the past 20 years…they are my heart! And the reason I write these crazy tomes….so that someday they will have a baby book or some type of history of their lives.

I just Googled “Dralle Ezine Houston Indy” and what came up was an ezine from May 2013 and it was Volume IX and issue 5. Since this is our Volume I and Issue 5…why not share this little tidbit that highlights my KIDS!

“Let’s get back to Indy for a change! She wrote an essay for the Desert’s Best Moms contest and was chosen as a semi-finalist. Go Indy! 25 lucky moms got to attend a beautiful luncheon on Saturday, May 11th with their kids and we got HUGE gift bags.

Here are me, Indy, and Houston at the event.

I am sooooo proud of her. If you would like to read her essay—here it is.

 Best Mom: Lynn Dralle
 by Palm Desert Student: Indiana, Grade 8

(Mom is the sun in this poem) The sky may grow dark, and lightning may offer its dreadful spark, but the sun always hides behind those gloomy clouds, waiting for the moment to brighten up the dreary day. When your heart is cold and your nose is running, the sunshine will offer its familiar warmth and cradle you in her arms. Even when it seems like the sunshine is no longer there for you, she is still there. She is just waiting for you to run to her, and she will give you the brightest of smiles to make all your melancholy thoughts disappear. This sunshine continues to take me out of my darkening days and she will always be there in the sky, even when it turns to night. I’m sure that you have a sunshine that you cannot live without, too. However, I know that in my heart my sun will always shine brighter than the other suns because she is mine personally. My mother was designed to put sunshine into my life, and I am forever grateful for that.

Aw…Indy!  You are sooooooo sweet!

Here is another photo from 2 years ago and it shows my office just getting set up.  BTW, on that shelf is a trophy from that “Best Mom” ceremony 7 years ago.  Next time you are in the store, please ask me to show it to you…I am pretty proud of it and sooooooo proud of my kids!

One last photo from the store because we just did this awesome vignette!  Love the hip look of the faux leather sectional $425.00, the black and white arm chair $249.50, and the industrial aluminum table $295.00.

Again…..A Happy New Decade from Lynn’s Consignments team to you and your family!   We hope to see you soon!

Pictured…Emma, me and Indy!

Thanks for reading my ezines!  I appreciate it….as always!

eBay with Heart & Design with Heart……Lynn

 

P.S.  All of the professional photos I use on Instagram, Facebook, and in these newsletters were taken by my friend Denise’s daughter, Jaclyn Sabo.  She is amazing!  And I will be hiring her again for photos during our 2nd-year anniversary party on Sunday, March 1st.  Hope to see you there.  To learn more about Jaclyn….https://www.jaclynszabo.com/

P.P.S.  If you have a friend who wants to sign up for this newsletter.

 

Welcome to our new weekly newsletter…

Watch for it every Thursday or every OTHER Thursday!
Volume I  Issue 4

 

Hi!  Welcome BACK to our new “Lynn’s Consignments” newsletter.   This is Issue 4! As this newsletter evolves, it may become an every other week kind of thing.  Or maybe I will just write it when I feel like it.  There are no RULES!  Praise the Lord there is one benefit to owning your own business!!!!

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with such amazing suggestions for our title.

Please place your vote by following this link.  VOTE

https://forms.gle/qb8DxAQjbV7BRzNX9

Whoever comes up with the winning moniker will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the store…..

For those of you who don’t know, my grandmother was Cheryl Leaf of Cheryl Leaf Antiques & Gifts…a Bellingham, WA Antiques & Gifts store that she owned & operated for over 52 years. She was AMAZING!

In each of these first few newsletters, I will be sharing fun tidbits about my grandmother because she is a big reason I opened this crazy fun store! She is also the one who taught me so much about business and antiques, but most importantly lessons about life!
After we closed my grandmother’s store in 2002, I decided to move back to California (where I had gone to college…. USC Trojans baby!) and I chose Palm Desert as a great place to raise my kids.

We lived in Palm Desert from 2002 until we moved to Ventura in 2018 on Valentines day (almost exactly 2 years ago today!) to open the store. I still have a lot of great estate sale contacts and great friends that live in the desert. After not being able to source very successfully for my eBay business in the Ventura area, I have decided to make a trip once a month to the desert. Business & Pleasure!

As you are reading this I am having the time of my life in Palm Desert because it it Road Trip time!
This February sourcing trip is super fun because one of my best friends from High School, Tina Burke Brown, is going to be down from Seattle. She and her husband Jerry used to own a vacation home in Indian Ridge Palm Desert, but sold it recently. Bummer!

We used to spend a lot of time together hanging out at my eBay office…and we both miss those days! So will try and recreate it on this trip. Here is a picture of Tina, my mom, her sister-in-law Polly (who is married to her brother Billy) and Aaron my UPS driver at my eBay office in Palm Desert. BTW, Tina’s brother is Billy Burke (the actor) who played the dad in the Twilight Series!

In my Instagram post from 2015 I talk about those awesome foo dogs!  Well, I just picked up some amazing Alabaster stone Foo Dogs here in Palm Springs….Check them out in the back of my SUV.  Not sure what I am going to price them but they are…..AAAAAAAAAWESOME!

OK, but back to that photo of Tina and me from 2015…Let’s compare it to how we looked back in 1981 in high school.  There are quite a few of my high school best friends in this photo.  Can you guess which one is me?  Which one is Tina?  I will give you a hint…I was born with strawberry blonde red hair 🙂 and got a perm just for fun.  LOL.

OK, but back to the store because that is ultimately why were are here….. Right?  Check out this amazing faux leather brown chaise lounge that just came in….$395.

Time for an eBay score! I bought this vintage Cigarette box at a local estate sale here in Ventura. I paid $15 which wasn’t cheap, but it was done by a famous mid century designer Bjorn Wiindblad. Gotta love eBay!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/312824560366

But back to my trip to the Desert (Palm Desert), I will also be hanging out with my awesome friends Mo, Kel and Candy (all of us friends because our boys played baseball together)!  We always have fun when we get together, usually thrifting and then happy hour.  Here is a recent picture of all of us on one of our annual trips up to Bellingham to visit my mama.

I woke up the morning of my road trip to a text from both my son, Houston, and my daughter, Indiana!  I LOVE it when that happens 🙂  Very rare occurrence unless they need money!

So, lets first discuss the text from the Goose aka Houston.  It was just a photo from the front door of his house in OKC showing snow…LOL! Finally!  I text him back and said “Your first snow since you were a kindergartener!”

Then I looked closer at the photo.  There was my dad’s Mercedes across the street from his house (I circled it for you).  I miss my dad….ugh!

Long story short, my dad passed away recently and he left my son (Houston) his pride and joy….his Mercedes.  It is a “sick” beautiful green sedan that originally belonged to Bill Gates.  And now it is buried in snow in Oklahoma City.  LOL!