Geeks go for broke! Updated 2/17: Wrap-up

[Tink rules]

I told you ages ago... it's the and the

Think carefully as you knock one of them off the shoulder... YOU'D RATHER BOOK ANOTHER MASSAGE ON BOARD OR HAVE ANOTHER DOD THAN SPEND IT ON SHORE!!!

(did I whisper that in your ear???)

 

[Tink rules]

Oh and just remember... you're only going for 7 days... I did the 15 nights and so overpacked that I have things that came home with TAGS still on them!!!

 

[zweihund]

Well, after spending the morning trolling ebay, I bid on two more dresses for formal night. My thought is, while I do currently have a dress that would work well for formal night, I do not own an actual GOWN. If I can get a nice evening gown, I can use my "formal night" dress for Palo. You may recall, I already bought my semi-formal dress. On ebay. For ten bucks.

I think I know why I can't spend my money. It's because I know there are so many deals to be had out there! It's hard to drop $200 on a dress when I know if I am patient, and drink lots of coffee, I can find the same thing for less than $50. Sure, I might end up with carpal tunnel in both wrists, but then I can fashion myself a splint to wear on the cruise so I can hold my DOTD's without pain.

The auctions end in four hours. I will let you know the outcome, and post pictures of any successes. Wish me luck!

 

[anc22]

Good luck

 

[Tink rules]

Nice reasoning... I didn't pay retail for ANYTHING!!!

Oh and Erica... might I suggest one thing... I ordered a small cooler from LL bean - kept it in my cooler box all week and they filled it with ice...kept my water cold and any thing else I put in there... The small size worked wonders... VERY well made and I use it each day here at home so I justified it... over and over!!!

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...langId=-1&categoryId=54231&sc1=Search&feat=sr

 

[zweihund]

Ok, here's what happened:

I bid on two dresses because I wasn't sure which one I liked better. Then, Lionel and I went out to run a few errands. When we got home, I realized I had been outbid on one, but had won the other. At first, my heart sank......in the few hours we had been gone, I had become slightly more attached to ONE of the two. I thought I had been outbid on that one. But then? I clicked on it and realized it was the other way around!

Sweet.

Ok, here they are:

Semi-formal: (which is actually strapless, but being held up by the hanger thingies.....is there an official name for hanger thingies?)

And, the formal: (the only bad thing about this one is I will need to have it altered.....time for a trip to Grandma's house!)

I almost forgot that I have a shipment coming from Old Navy as well of some end-of-summer sale stuff, which is generally wearable in Florida year-round (with the exception of Winter, which usually lasts about 4-5 days). It should be arriving early this week, with luck. Hopefully all of this stuff fits! If not, I guess it's back to ebay. Though I think Lionel is about to ban me.

 

[Tink rules]

& how much of the budget did we blow on these???

They are VERY nice!!!

You will outdress everyone!!!

Did you get the tux for Lionel?

 

[podsnel]

Beautiful dresses!!! Thanks for sharing your shopping!

 

[zweihund]

& how much of the budget did we blow on these???

They are VERY nice!!!

You will outdress everyone!!!

Did you get the tux for Lionel?

That last dress set me back about sixteen bucks. Once you go ebay, you never go back

Lionel actually has a very nice black pinstripe suit that will be great for formal night, but we did get him a sportcoat for semi-formal and Palo. Though he might just wear the suit again to Palo. Who knows?

Beautiful dresses!!! Thanks for sharing your shopping!

Thanks! I just hope it fits.......

 

[TotallyAngelic]

amazing bargains - I feel a bit of an ebay session coming on after seeing your lovely dresses! We are cruising in Octber and I have formals and semi formals to buy for myself and 2 DDs - looks like Ebay is the place to go!

 

[Mozart]

Erica:

Please pass the following instructions on to Lionel. I think they will be of great use to him in the near future:

Open your computer's control panel, then select internet options. Click on the tab that says content. In the box that says "Content Advisor" click on enable.

Once the new box has opened, click on the tab that says "Approved Sites." There will be a box which says "Allow this Web site" In that box, type www.ebay.com, then click on the button which says Never on the right hand side.

Close the boxes and then tell Erica that someone must have hacked into ebay and shut down the website.

Worked like a charm for me.

 

[Tink rules]

Well, not since you told her how to do it!!!

Besides... I didn't know Lionel had a problem with Ebay....

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Just checking in Erica - I was so busy since vacation - I see you are busy SHOPPING!!!! Love the dresses! I am anxiously awaiting your cruise so I can sail with you. We are starting to get excited for our Mexico vacation - talking about excursions with Ryan yesterday. I am looking forward to relaxing on the beach, although I will miss Alex choosing my wine and brushing away my crumbs at dinner.

 

[anc22]

I have been trying to follow your lead with Ebay, but have not had the same luck I can't seem to find the same bargains and I am really afraid of buying things without trying them on first (control issues much )

 

[zweihund]

Erica:

Please pass the following instructions on to Lionel. I think they will be of great use to him in the near future:

Open your computer's control panel, then select internet options. Click on the tab that says content. In the box that says "Content Advisor" click on enable.

Once the new box has opened, click on the tab that says "Approved Sites." There will be a box which says "Allow this Web site" In that box, type www.ebay.com, then click on the button which says Never on the right hand side.

Close the boxes and then tell Erica that someone must have hacked into ebay and shut down the website.

Worked like a charm for me.

Believe me......he was THIS close!

Well, not since you told her how to do it!!!

Besides... I didn't know Lionel had a problem with Ebay....

I got my last purchase in before he threatened to take the computer away from me. That was AFTER I ordered some new stuff on Old Navy dot com
More on that later....

Just checking in Erica - I was so busy since vacation - I see you are busy SHOPPING!!!! Love the dresses! I am anxiously awaiting your cruise so I can sail with you. We are starting to get excited for our Mexico vacation - talking about excursions with Ryan yesterday. I am looking forward to relaxing on the beach, although I will miss Alex choosing my wine and brushing away my crumbs at dinner.

Tammy! When is your Mexican getaway?
I am SO putting a magnetic sign on 6080 in your honor. "DIS Party Cabin!"

I have been trying to follow your lead with Ebay, but have not had the same luck I can't seem to find the same bargains and I am really afraid of buying things without trying them on first (control issues much )

Well, I did try on a few things before I started shopping online to get an idea of what SHAPE would be ok. Plus, bridesmaid dresses are pretty forgiving, unless they have poofy sleeves and are electric blue, that is. But keep looking! At the very least, it may just need to be altered a little bit, and if you only pay $20 then it's still a huge bargain.

Good luck! Then again, there's always Macy's on Labor Day weekend! I got a black Ralph Lauren dress there a few years ago for something like $30 on super mega clearance. It was originally about $200!

 

[zweihund]

You may not believe this, but I managed to do some non-ebay shopping last week. It's true! Pinky swear.

Well, my little bag from Old Navy online arrived yesterday, and I am not the proud owner of two new pairs of capris (I'm not a huge fan of shorts on me), a little khaki skirt and a new tank top. Not necessarily JUST for the cruise, but they will do nicely!

Oh, and all of that cost me $54, including shipping.
Yes, I am a master shopper. Bow down to me.

 

[nenner1]

You may not believe this, but I managed to do some non-ebay shopping last week. It's true! Pinky swear.

Well, my little bag from Old Navy online arrived yesterday, and I am not the proud owner of two new pairs of capris (I'm not a huge fan of shorts on me), a little khaki skirt and a new tank top. Not necessarily JUST for the cruise, but they will do nicely!

Oh, and all of that cost me $54, including shipping.
Yes, I am a master shopper. Bow down to me.

Awww Erica you should have waited a couple of weeks..
Old Navy always has a HUGE clearance of all their summer/early fall merchandise a couple of weeks after school starts (time to make room for the winter stuff....especially down here in FLORIDA...kwim?)
But then again in a few weeks we will be practically on the boat!
So much to do...so little time

 

[silversae]

I have been trying to follow your lead with Ebay, but have not had the same luck I can't seem to find the same bargains and I am really afraid of buying things without trying them on first (control issues much )

I'm the SAME way...so i'm sure you're not the only one!

 

[zweihund]

I mistakingly thought this might be a good weekend to start working on my Secret Mickey gifts. You know, I was running early to meet someone on Friday so I popped over to Target and suddenly had a million great ideas! I'm telling you, if you can't get inspired at "Tar-jhay" then there is no hope for you. Especially when everything is on sale.
Target: second only to IKEA. Might even be a distant third if Orlando every decides to host The Container Store.

Anywho, I had plans. BIG plans. But then? I got called in to my as-needed job. On the one hand, I made enough today to pay for another massage if I so choose, but on the other hand I have things to do! Gifts to make! Lists to write and check twice!

Ebay to troll.

What?

Then I got home, and turned on the news, where I discovered there is a storm of the cyclonic variety heading straight toward our home. You think pre-cruise Erica is anal retentive? You should have seen her checking the batteries and turning on all of the flashlights and making a non-perishable grocery list a few hours ago, because her husband sure got a kick out of it. Never mind the fact that the power lines are underground and that this neighborhood only lost power for a few hours back in the horrible season of 2004......we must have enough water to fill the garage.

Also? We needed some Pop Tarts. Pop Tarts are a must-have hurricane staple. They go right next to the spray cheese and the triscuits. There is something oh-so-satisfying about eating a cold, frosted pastry and writing your name in cheese product by flashlight light as you battle the mosquitos in the balmy hours of the Florida evening after a big storm. It just feels right.

Here's hoping we don't end up in the northeast quadrant. I'm not exactly sure what a northeast quadrant is, but the weatherman insists that it is VERY BAD. Apparenty, the southwest quadrant is the way to go if you are going to be in the path of a hurricane. Personally, I am for no quadrants at all, but then we might miss the excitement of lowly weather reporters standing out on the beach in yellow rain slickers holding their hoods down and saying things like "authorities are saying no one should be outside right now!" and "oh my, that tree looks like it is heading right towar- AAAAAAAAAAAA!"

By all accounts, I am now 100% certain the storm will pass us by because we are so prepared. So if one of you winds up with a 12-pack of Pop Tarts in your fish extender, you'll know who your Secret Mickey was.

 

[CrazyZeus1]

Oh,,, pick us, pick us! DH & DS love pop tarts & they only get them on vacation!! Maybe we should move to Florida, you know, so we can get the requisite hurricane food too!

Being serious though--hope you guys are safe & there's nothing to worry about. I'll keep watching & praying for you guys