'The Art of Being Cheap': Grown-Up Edition

Some of you may remember the 'Art of Being Cheap' essay I did back in highschool (the teacher, Mrs Berry, actually kept it to use as a model of "perfect essay-writing" for future generations... yes, my poor brothers had to endure "Your sister wrote that?" when they hit that grade, haha). Well, here's another thing to add to that list:

Taking clothes from arena Lost & Found boxes!

Omg, yes, I can't believe I do that, but I do. I'll admit it. And hey, why not? That stuff just sits there, no one comes back to claim it. And at least I'm not totally shameless about it, I have the kids root through the stuff for me. Who's going to say anything about little kids sorting through the stuff, "looking for toys", right?

Over the years we have taken home:

- a pair of girls figure-skates for Lena (perfect size, too)

- countless name-brand clothes  (the expensive brands, too!)

- brand new mittens and toques

- warm snuggly fleece blankets in amazing condition

- a pair of brand-new winter boots for Ryder (who forgets their child's boots at an arena?)

- toys (Barbies, toy cars and trucks, etc)

So the point of this post is because I want to brag about the BEST L&F find I ever made. 

We were in Olds last Friday night for Gunnar's game and during the second period, Ryder got a drink from the water fountain and ended up soaking his shirt. SOAKING it. The entire shirt. (How does that even happen?) And guess what? Stupid Mommy didn't bring the spare-clothes backpack! It was back home, sitting on the floor by the front door. Argh! So we had to go downstairs and check out the lost & found bin for something he could wear. One good thing about the bin's location is that its only player change rooms down there, it was practically deserted (no one to witness us rooting through everything! yay! lol). And in a streak of good fortune, I found a canvas grocery bag in the bin to put all our 'loot'. 

I found TWO American Eagle hoodies (both mens sizes) and a beautiful "vintage-style" (what it said on the tag) girls sweater. The only reason I was hyped about the American Eagle brand is because lately that is ALL Gunnar talks about, "Mom, I need you to take me to the American Eagle store in the mall, that's what everyone is wearing now, I have to some of their clothes, next year I'm only getting AE jeans, etc". *Sigh* The typical style-conscious, peer-pressured teen, right? 

I did actually take Gunnar to that store over Christmas holidays, he walked in, browsed, and was out in 10 minutes, telling me in a low voice "I need to save up more money before I can get anything", and considering he had a wallet with $100 in it, I KNOW that place is effin expensive. 

So the two mens hoodies I found have got to be worth upwards of $150 each, I figure. They're practically brand new! 

Anyway, I guess most people would be too embarrassed to go through a lost and found bin or at least admit to it. Meh, the way I see it... look who's going home with the AE hoodies, booya!