what is peace. love. swap all about?

Well, you can get an idea of what p.l.s is about by reading the about page – but every once in awhile, I like to kind of reiterate what it means to me.  Being that we are approaching the holiday season, and it is a time of giving, what better time to do so.  I wanted to start an ongoing swap in my community because I really just got tired of taking my stuff to consignment stores and having them not accept 85% of it.  Then, the 15% that they did accept, I got very little credit for.  Now.. I am NOT knocking consignment stores – I still shop at this great one in my Nevada City one called Pampered Earth all the time (b/c let’s face it – you are not going to find EVERYTHING you need at a swap)- I also LOVE and support our local Thrift Stores. I am just saying I got tired of doing the whole consignment thing – and ended up taking most of my things to a thrift store for donation anyways.  And, don’t even get me started on taking pictures of each individual item I have and posting it on an online swap site like ThredUP or selling on Ebay or Craigslist. That is awesome for some, but,  I have 4 kids, a husband & a business and I simply don’t have the time for that -It’s been on my list just to take a picture of this pile of stuff for my December swap and post / blog about it for a couple weeks now, so I don’t know how moms find the time to take pictures of each thing they are selling or swapping and post online! I just uploaded the pictures off my camera from July  :) – seriously – I just did that.  But, anyway, back to the subject, what is it all about? the swap is not about bringing this much stuff (the amount of stuff I have pictured) and taking home as much stuff as you bring.  If that is what you are looking for, then ThredUP, or consignment or selling on Ebay, might be more your style = like amount for like amount OR getting money for your stuff.  peace. love. swap – is more… well – what the name would suggest (peace. love. swap = being mellow, helping your neighbors and community & sharing/recycling your stuff) – we really are more about getting rid of your stuff, stuff that you were going to take to a charity /thrift store anyway..but instead of just giving your stuff to charity (which ALL our leftovers DO go to local charities and families in need – almost 100,000 items donated since 2009) you get to TAKE some “new to you” stuff home as well.  I often bring the amount of stuff that is pictured, and I can honestly tell you that I do not WANT to take that much stuff home with me – however, I always manage to fill a bag, occasionally 2, of stuff I need for my kids.  I don’t have to pay for shipping and handling, I don’t have to spend hours taking pictures of and describing all my stuff on the internet, I get see and touch the stuff that I am taking home, I get to hang out with a group of wonderful, green, mellow, fun moms, my kids get to play while I swap, and my stuff is going to charity at the end of the day. However.. I DO NOT get to take this much stuff home.. So, if you are looking for a program where if you bring in 4 bags of stuff and you feel like you should take 4 bags of stuff – peace. love. swap might not be for you ~

I hope this holiday season brings much cheer! I hope you clear out the clutter – out with the old – bring it to a swap or consignment or donate it to charity . or gasp! post on Craigslist or Ebay if you have the time – make some extra money :)

Have fun, and happy swapping.

meg