Thrift Share Monday - oh my stars

Dave told me that he's learned over the years of our marriage that I constantly keep surprising him. He tries to prepare himself for what I do, what I bring home and my next "great" idea that I confront him with. Yet on Saturday he told me that his jaw completely dropped when he looked in the back of the van. For my facebook fans I did give a little hint at what I purchased and your guesses kept me smiling all weekend. I loved Guusje's idea that it might be a pony. 

I've mentioned before that I'm a huge dreamer. Remember as children we would draw our "dream" bedroom and it would be silly and full of items that really never should be near a bedroom? I think I had a disco ball, a jukebox, a mini tree house and many more items crammed onto that small sheet of paper. Even as an adult I keep a small mental notebook in my mind of items that I dream of owning. Some of them include:

• okay, so a jukebox is still on the list
• a vintage 1950's popcorn machine
• a little movie theater in my house
• a delorean
• and this-

It was very early on Saturday morning when I wandered into a garage sale and spotted an industrial cotton candy machine. I saw the price tag of $200, sighed and looked around the rest of the sale. When I came back around to this amazingly sweet, tempting pink machine I asked the owner some questions about it. I asked if she was firm on the price. She said yes. I asked if it has ever had problems. She said no. I asked her to turn it on and it worked perfectly. I told her that I would think about it. 

I peeked in my iphone and looked on eBay and saw that one sold for $800. This told me that her asking price might be reasonable. I sighed (again) at myself and looked in my wallet and discovered that I had exactly the right amount of money. I gave her ten $20 bills, gulped and loaded my new cotton candy (floss) machine, a box of nearly 1000 paper cones and 2 boxes of new cotton candy sugar in to the van. I went home since my money was spent.

I don't drink a lot of alcohol. I don't have many vices really but I adore the childlike passion of cotton candy, popcorn and candy. To own a machine that actually made one of my favorite treats on the planet was really a dream.

Then reality sunk in quickly and I wondered seriously what I was thinking. One look at Dave's face helped me get there quickly. Then I thought back to my childhood and at the monthly circuses that I would perform for the family. I sold the tickets (hand written scraps of paper), I sold food & drinks (popcorn and Kool-aid) and I sold them souvenirs (anything I could find in my room that I didn't want). Sure I was only ten years old but I was still an entrepreneur. 

I did the math. The machine cost $200. If I can sell 100 bags of Cotton Candy at our yard sale for $2 each, the machine will be paid for.

Then the idea of renting out the machine came to mind. I spoke quickly to counter Dave's look of skepticism and saw his face relax and eventually he saw the dollar signs. I could rent the machine for birthday parties, celebrations or youth sporting events. I even found some organic cotton candy sugar. Maybe it would be the only Organic Cotton Candy machine in Sonoma County.

Why do I have a bay window full of cotton candy? What I didn't know until yesterday is that they suggest that you fill up the sugar container with nearly 90% of the sugar so you have to keep making them as the floss builds up. I also learned that making cotton candy is very hard. My arm was dying at the end from twirling the little paper cones. I was laughing at the same time because I felt so silly but I had so much fun. The kids were giggling with me, excited at the fact that we now own a Cotton Candy Machine. They now officially think their mom is the best.

I priced out what the machine would have cost me new:

• Gold Medal 3030 Breeze Cotton Candy Machine $569
• Gold Medal 3943 floss bubble double bubble cotton candy machine cover $169
• Gold Medal 3149 Pinkie Floss Cart $369
• Cotton Candy Cones (1000) $19.99
• Gold Medal's floss sugar (2) $8.78
• Total Cost: $1135.77
  

What is the silliest thing that you ever thrifted?

While this purchase may seem crazy I did research it and I planned how quickly the machine could pay for itself before I even left the street of the sale. When I arrived home I realized that it could actually make me money beyond what I paid for it. To me this is a perfect Thrift Investment.

Did you thrift this weekend? Don't forget to check out the party at Southern Hospitality.

Comments

[Sherri]

Wow! So very NEAT! I think renting it is a great idea. Tons of school projects, churches and such would love to have access to one for events.
Not sure of my silliest buy. Hmmm nothing on that scale for sure. But she is a BEAUTY!

[TidyMom]

Selena I LOVE it!!.......this is going to be SO much fun!!

[Helen Ellis]

Love it! You a perfect example of how doing what you love will bring you success.
Helen

[Julie]

I think this is awesome and I applaud you for having the courage to purchase it. What a wacky and wonderful find!

[Elizabeth]

Yum, I love candy floss. What a fabulous find - good on you for buying it - and the idea of renting it out is genius.

[DogsMom]

You are now officially my hero. Last week I bought a larger style gumball machine. I can say "at least I did not..." and point to you.
You have given me my smile for the day. Remember to alternate arms. you don't want to build muscle only on one side.

I had a great day thrifting but haven't posted yet.

[loridkees@gmail.com]

Saw you from Southern Hospitality. How fun, you are super Mom!

[sraikh]

WOW.. I would never lusted it over it but never could have the courage to spend it. but you are right, renting it out is an excellent idea.

The wackiest item.... I bought, I dont think I have ever anything outlandish YET

[Vicki K]

The excerpt that made me bust out laughing:

'...I wondered seriously what I was thinking. One look at Dave's face helped me get there quickly."

[Carol]

Oh, I laughed! I can totally relate (and know the expressions on Dave's face because my husband usually has the same ones)!
I recently bought a Nils Jonsson teak mid century table and six chairs...not crazy until you consider that I have no room to store them...ouch!
I've bought lots of odd things but a cotton candy machine tops them all...

[Barbara]

Wow. What a great find. I've never seen anything like this though would love to rent one for a party - I'm in Scotland so obviously a bit far, but I'm sure you'll have lots of takers. Well done you for taking the bull by the horns. Bx

[Anna]

Wowza! That is definitely a fantasy purchase, and I admire your chutzpah in just going for it.

I'll be keeping this in mind next March when planning a certain second-grader's birthday party in Santa Rosa...

[catpercher]

My husband and I are avid thrifters, and we also have a running fantasy list. I never thought I would find the major item on mine (a ceramic kiln), but ended up buying one for $100 last year at an otherwise sparse estate sale. We're still on the look out for an endmill (for my husband's shop)...

[mo]

This is AWESOME! the graphics- the intent everything! Good on ya for buying it. As soon as I started reading I thought rental too. It would be so cute at a birthday party!

[judy]

Oh! This is AWESOME!

Truly, your kids are correct. You are THE best mom.

My most shocking buy was a vintage baby scale. Left my husband speechless for a bit. We are now in our fifties.

[For the love of thrift]

How cool! I love the bright pink colours. And it is a good investment, you can be thrifter by day and candy flosser by night! My silliest buy was a dreadful black dress from goodwill, for halloween. So bad it was good.

[Mary]

You are amazing!!!!! Absolutely LOVE this cotton candy machine, my girls would flip! And pink?! OMG! I often try to rationalize frivilous buys where I have buyers remorse but love how you are such a smart entrepreneur. I have no doubt that it will become the hot thing to rent for bday parties!

Mary

[Debbie]

How cool is this? You are a cool mom!

Debbie

[Theresa]

Great find!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE cotton candy. You will have no problem making your money back. Love your blog.

[Van]

It's a thing of beauty! Love the cart, the design, and the "organic" cotton candy. With a name like that, it's sure to be healthy...right? We can dream...

[Sarah]

When I wanted cotton candy for Jack's 4th birthday carnival it was actually really hard to find someone who would sell me cotton candy on paper cones. In fact, Chuck E Cheese was the only place and I think they wanted $2/cone. I would TOTALLY have rented one from someone. If your craigslist is busy like ours is, I bet people are looking there.

[Libby]

My mom had a cotton candy machine when I was a kid and we used it every year at the FFA fair to raise money for my 4H group. It is a great thing to have for a fundraiser. Unfortunaley a friend of my moms borrowed it and we never saw it again:( I still miss it.

[Lynn]

This is the first time I've ever visited your blog and I think you might just be my new heroine. I love this!!

[Tracy @ The Wardrobe Wanderer]

That is just adorable and wonderful! I can already envision your amazing cotton candy selling like hotcakes just about anywhere..I absolutely KNOW it'd be a hit at any event, and how FUN for your kiddos! WELL DONE!

[Rebecca]

HOW COOL!!!!! I totally would have rationalized a cotton candy machine....you are the best mom ever!! Neat story!