PICKUPS: Hermes & Vineyard Vines Ties

Although I never wear ties, I love picking them up.  I hope to be able to transition out of the back office world of ill-fitting polos fairly soon, but who knows.  While I see good deals, I have to pick them up!

Many of my items come from thrift stores and eBay, I simply can't afford retail for the type of stuff I like. In addition, I am a member of several forums in which the members post their recent finds.  There is a number of sales and trades behind the scenes via private message as well, and I tend to partake if I spot something I like, and the price is reasonable. 

Both of these ties came from such transactions.  The first is a wonderful Hermes from a thrift store in Colorado.  A forum acquaintance sold this to me for the reasonable sum of $50.  This is the most I have ever spent on a tie, but I really like the graphics, and Hermes ties tend to retain their value.  I would have preferred navy blue, but this forest/army green is quiet pleasant as well.  This tie is in absolutely MINT condition as well.

 

The second tie came from another forum acquaintance located in the Chicago area.  It is a Vineyard Vines tie, which I mentioned as one of my summer favorites in a recent article.  It features a lovely bee graphic in a beautiful aqua color. A great tie!

Moving...Again

I have been fairly quiet over the past month, and I apologize for my absence.  I have been extremely busy in my private life, and both my eBay business and blogs have suffered.

There are a bunch of reasons.  Most importantly, I moved from Enfield, CT to South Hadley, MA.  We moved because it is closer to my wife's school and it is much cheaper than the location where we were before.  In addition, it is quiet, in a great town, a different apartment.  Hardwood floors, a large living room and kitchen are the benefits, while a small bathroom, smaller kitchen and old neighbors the downside.  Second, I have been studying hard for my CFA exam that will be coming up in December.  It requires a ton of hours on a daily basis, and both my healthy routine and the rest of my life has suffered.  It should pay off in the end.  Finally, work has been busy, so some of my spare time for blogging has dried up. 

Moving was a pretty fun experience.  Two of my good friends came, and although it was a rainy day, we were able to move all of the big furniture.  It's great exercise as you are carrying, coming up and down stairs, and working as a team.  I consider it extremely paleo style excercise, because it is quite primal in nature.  It is remniscient of a barn-raising, as you get a group of people together doing physical activity for the good of one of your community members.  I am definitely indebted to both of my friends!

I have drank a ton of great beers lately, although I have tried to keep that to just the weekend.  My weight loss and body building have been at a moderate standstill, but I don't think I am gaining anything back.  I will continue to try and make progress and meet my goal of 190lbs by the end of the year