Help! Silent Auction Question?

Someone Donated these Antique Earrings. How high of a reserve should I set? I want them to sell, but I want them to make a certian amount of money.





Item: Antique ‘Floral Bouquet’ Cameo Earrings


Medium: Genuine Bull’s Mouth Shell


Mount: 800 Silver


Circa: 1900


Condition: Mint


Estimated Value: $250.00

Help! Silent Auction Question?
I do quite a bit of fundraising. I am hosting a huge silent auction in March for an abused childrens shelter.





I usually start my silent auctions at 25% of fair market value. Understanding that most items end up selling for less than full retail.


One of my items is a 3 night stay in Breckenridge, value 1800.00. I am starting bidding at $500.00.





You have to have some discretion, if it is high ticket. What you have is a pure impulse item, and would not appeal to everyone. I'd set the reserve price at $100.00 %26amp; see what happens.





Lots of luck!
Reply:I would set the reserve for $200.00 and if they don't sell this time around, relist it and lower the reserve a little.
Reply:sick friend---start at $500.00 remember the cause
Reply:It all depends on what the "estimated value" represents.





If the ring was valued at $250 then that may have been a replacement value, and therefore easily DOUBLE what it would make in a normal auction. If that was an insurance valuation, same thing. Keep this in mind.





Nothing kills a lot dead like too high a reserve and a greedy owner. Sorry, that has to be said.





It's worth what someone is willing to pay for it on that occasion, not what you decide it's worth to you.





If it's a silent auction at a sort of charity sale, and people are drinking and someone falls "in love" with it, then it may go higher. Are they "fashionable"? Can you imagine wearing them yourself? If not, keep the reserve reasonable. Drunken punters mean higher prices at any auction, especially if they are private buyers with too much money and it's a good cause.





Personally, if I were in charge, I'd set the reserve at $125 or $150.
Reply:ONE PENNY
Reply:...........................................
Reply:set the reserve at 245

Do You Feel Relaxed When You Read This?

Read this list SLOWLY and tell me how you feel after you read it:








Soft Rain





Puffy Clouds





Floral Bouquet





Sailing





Hawaii





Massage





Dreaming





Bathrobe





Bed and Breakfast





Cool Breeze





Sunlight





Joie De Vivre





Positive





Angel's Wings





Music





Rainbow





Warm Sand





Blue Waters





Pineapple





Guava





Tropical





Palm Trees





Bubble Bath





Love Making





Candle Lights





Lavender, Jasmine, Chamomille





Meditation





Ocean Waves





Nature





Smiling





Soft Kisses





Holding Hands





Touch





Passion Fruit





Strawberries and Bananas





Acoustic Guitar





Piano





Care Free





Laughter





Sleepy





Soft Pillows





Fluffy Slippers





Comfy Blanket





Paradise





Calm





Euphoria





Release of Toxins





Feeling Lighter





Feeling Relaxed





Pleasure





Harmony





Balance





Healing





*If you've read this slowly, you may experience any of the following: relaxation, peaceful, calm, detox, etc.....





Let me know how you feel

Do You Feel Relaxed When You Read This?
I feel relaxed, my back hurt really bad and after reading that for 10 minutes, it felt relaxed THANKS!
Reply:AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
Reply:Hm... I'm cooking right now so I'm not relaxed... hehe... but it did put a smile on my face!
Reply:I feel indifferent
Reply:zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Reply:yes, right away
Reply:I felt a little more relaxed... not a lot... would have helped if I'd turned off the TV I suppose, lol!





Gotta admit, I was afraid you were gonna pull a mean trick... I was bracing myself for something really creepy or nasty or scary at the end... I guess I dont trust ppl enough!
Reply:i feel real annoyed
Reply:I read it slow and it didn't make me feel any different. I'm very hyper and it takes a lot to make me calm down.
Reply:Can you say frustrated
Reply:Hungry is how I felt time to order dinner.
Reply:peaceful,,, ,,
Reply:FRUSTRATED!!! because I would love to have all of those things, and my life is very hectic right now and I can't afford a relaxing vacation. thanks A lot.
Reply:sorry - nothing
Reply:I got bord with the list. I had to skip to the bottom of the page to answer this question.
Reply:so much better
Reply:i think that im add, i couldnt read all of it
Reply:Nice list of items..


I wish I could go on a vacation to experience some of them...


I need to relax more but have a hard time doing that...
Reply:some
Reply:can i have those for real?............as in now?
Reply:Yes l do.
Reply:yes
Reply:No I feel just as stressed out as when I opened this ?.
Reply:sorry, unless u mention my boyfriend, im not fully happy.
Reply:my eyes hurt coz i read it too slow......but i like it....how i wish to have a long vacation and experience those things...

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For opponents of same-sex marriage--would you take money from one?

Inspired by this article about all the money same-sex marriage is projected to bring into California.





http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008...





Would you photograph the wedding, if you were a wedding photographer? Bake the cake? Arrange floral bouquets? Would you have a twinge of conscience about accepting the money?





I ask as a same-sex married woman who would like to know why my opponents think as they do.

For opponents of same-sex marriage--would you take money from one?
No, with all respect, I would stand fast to my belief and not seek to profit from something that I don't think is right.
Reply:i would not.
Reply:Before my period of enlightenment, my husband and I owned and ran a photography business. This very topic came up, and we actually called whats-his-face, the head of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), to ask if we were required by law to accept the contract for a gay "wedding" (which did not exist at the time, but we all kow people hold weddings whether they be recognized by the state or not). We actually called a lawyer so that we could turn down those vile gay couples, and know we were in the right. We certainly would not have accepted their money unless it were illegal not to.





To quote Michelle from Full House: "How RUuuuDE"





I'd jump at the chance to shoot a gay wedding (or whatever) now. There's no 'making up' for the things I did and said, but I can be thankful for my change of heart, and move forward.





Blessings!
Reply:I personally would not... however that being said I don't necesarily disagree with the practice. Not to disagree, but I'd like to know where Jesus demands us to take photos of a same sex marriage, or bake a cake of a same sex marriage? It's one thing to cut out the politics, but don't replace it with religion!
Reply:How about you cut the politics crap and go bake a cake for some same-sex folks. Jesus demands you too!

What is a fabulous way to thank an awesome bridesmaid?

My maid of honor was incredible! I thought she would hold a bouquet for me and perhaps throw a shower, but she took being a bridesmaid to a whole new level! She threw parties, went shopping with my mother for a dress, created floral arrangements, made me breakfast on the wedding day, drove me everywhere, went to my dress fittings, anticipated my every need, coordinated details with the other bridesmaids, transported the wedding gifts, the list is so long. I'd like to thank her in a huge way. Any ideas? I have $100 I could spend. Thank you in advance!

What is a fabulous way to thank an awesome bridesmaid?
Honestly, this was the kind of MOH I was for my best friend, everyone commented on how they had wished that their MOH's were more like me. Her husband bought she and beautiful matching rings and wrote a letter that was read at her shower about what he thought our friendship was. It was really beautiful and I was so touched that they had made something that was totally about them about me as well. BUT in all honesty, nothing I recieved gift wise was worth the thank you note that I got from my best friend afterwards. It was heartfelt and genuine and full of such gratitude towards me and my husband as well.


No gift will replace a really nice letter and that will be enough for her. Remember she didnt do all that stuff for a gift at the end, she did it because it was her pleasure to help make your special day awesome.
Reply:thats all you have to spend?





cant do much with that... if it were me i would prob send her on a trip somewhere... maybe get her tix to that concert, or play or show she wanted... something that she would do for you...





seems like what she did is priceless... dont limit yourself on $100. if you can find something free, but more meaningful than money can buy, go for that instead.
Reply:I like the spa certificate idea. I also like givign people keepsake boxes with little trinketts in them.
Reply:Wow...is she for real? Just kidding :) That's wonderful! There's so much you can do, and not even have to spend money. Throw her a thank-you bbq, play all of her favorite tunes and make her favorite food. Make her a "friends" cd of all songs about friendship on it. A personalized engraved picture frame. A day outing for the two of you to a spa, a hiking trip, or a picnic...a girl's night with some chick flicks and a pizza (the last one is my answer to pretty much everything-hahaha)...use your imagination, and congrats on the wedding!
Reply:go out and buy her a few small items and put them in a designed basket with a card
Reply:Take some time and find great pictures of the 2 of you together over the years and make a small or not so small scrapbook for her. I made photo albums/mini scrapbooks for all the bridesmaids and groomsmen with just pictures from our wedding weekend and have received tons of comments on them. They all appreciated having the memories and the pictures (some candid) from our special day. Take some from all the years you have been friends and put them in a thank you book. It is has personal meaning, it's cost effective and you know that she will love it!
Reply:A spa gift certificate so she can relax





a gift certificate to her favorite store





a jewlery box with her name engraved
Reply:I agree with everyone else.... get that girl a spa gift certificate!!!!
Reply:Maybe a gift certificate to a day at a spa? Massages, pedicures, facials, etc. You two could go together.
Reply:Send her to the spa for a massage or a pedicure or something...she deserves it!

Wedding day question...?

I am trying to choose my bridal bouquet. I have looked into both real floral bouquets and silk flower ones. Anyone have any feedback on either one...which did you choose, which do you like best??? Etc.





THANKS!!!

Wedding day question...?
I think that real flowers really make the difference at a wedding. It's the look, the feel...and the smell. Even if you choose fragranceless flowers, they still smell fresh, where as silk flowers have that craft store smell to them.
Reply:REAL!





Silk looks cheap.





Go for real flowers that will smell great and look nice and bright. Plus, you can dry them out and have a memory of your special day.
Reply:get the real thing its worth the extra cost...congratualtions!! get what you like personally and see if they match your dress and the decor.
Reply:I couldn't decide on just one kind or color of flower, so my bouqet was a real mix of lilacs, white roses, tiger lilys, and daffodils. They were gorgeous, but remember real flowers have to be chilled and cared for. I'd sugguest drying them out to keep them for memories afterward. Go with what catches your eye!
Reply:Silk flowers can be very nice and some you can't really tell unless you get up close and touch. You can then have your bouquet forever.





Real flowers are real flowers. Due to some personal issues I could not abide anything fake at my wedding but you might like the silk ones.
Reply:I decided on real flowers for my wedding, they really do look the best. It's something that I am glad I didn't skimp on!!! Good luck to you
Reply:fresh bouquets are beautiful but I chose silk because I wanted to keep my bouquet and not have to worry about it dying on me.
Reply:Hey just my opinion but Silk flowers can look just as real and can be cheaper. I have seen many bouq done in silk and I didn't know it till after the wedding!





Here is why I enjoy "fake flowers"


1. no worries about the weather (which can make flowers wilt, not open, not be in season,


2. you do not have to have the dried afterwords (do you know how flowers are dried....they use the same powder as kitty litter is made out of) So you are paying way to much for Kitty litter. plus you can keep them for ever no worries about transporting them, plus your maids can keep them.


3. price can be cheap or expensive as you want, you can make them yourself and have plenty of time to practice with them before hand....as in real you cant unless ahead of time and practice then the day before the wedding buy more flowers and do it all over again!


4. the one thing I have talked to every bride about and they have a complaint about is the flowers (they were the wrong color, they were closed, they were open, the ribbon was wrong, the flowers are wrong, etc) Silk you can see before the wedding and make sure everything is right!





Best wishes and good luck in all your planning! It really depends on what you like!
Reply:I would get real ones, becaus they seem more romantic and smell great and feel nice and they are lovely. You don't have to save your silk flowers, your photographers will save everything you need:)
Reply:Choose what you like an can afford.


I used real for my bouquets and boutonnieres, and silk for decorations and tossing bouquet.


We made them ourselves and spent about $60. and got lots of compliments.


Good luck
Reply:get what ever matches your dress - and which ever your heart desires most -but remember fake flowers last 4 ever
Reply:I would go with fresh because then you can get all the flowers in the church and corsages that will all match.


And they will smell alot nicer too.
Reply:My sister got married last October. Sadly, the grooms mother has leukemia and for reasons that i'm not sure about, she is unable to be around fresh cut flowers due to the treatment she is receiving. For this reason, all the tables had silk flowers on them. They looked fantastic...and it is something that can be kept forever as a memento of the big day.
Reply:I used silk. I've seen too many problems with fresh flowers, mostly discoloring and wilting. You can get really quality silk and unless you're holding the bouquet, nobody knows the difference. And then you can keep it forever!
Reply:well real and you can dry the bouquet. or silk but nice quality ones and it will never die and never crumple to dust when its very old and dried out
Reply:I say go with real flowers. You can always have your bouquet duplicated in silk.
Reply:You HAVE to have a real bouquet! Even if all of the flowers in your wedding are silk besides the ones you're holding. You have to remember all the pictures people will be taking. Close ups on your rings and the edges of the silk flowers will show. If its smell you're worried about with your guests or yourself, no one will be bothered by what you're holding or you can ask a florist about an arrangement that has little scent. If not then the scent of those flowers will remind you of your big day for the rest of your life! You won't regret it, get the fresh ones.
Reply:I have been in several weddings and am married myself... my oppinion and views are as follows.





Pros of real flowers. smell pretty


look pretty


Cons they can die befor the event is even over


they are not very strong


very expencive


Pros of silk beautiful


can get out of season flowers


very cost effective


hardy


easy to work with


most people wont know they are silk


cons


there will be some people who don't care for them








this summer my sister got married and had real flowers they cost close to $4,000 for 7 bm 7gm and the fam. it was hot and our flowers were wilting befor we got down the aisle. The flowergirl stept on my flowers and broke many of them as i was helping her up the stairs so we just stuck pins in them to stay up.





I had 4 bm and 4 gm and the fam for my wedding and i made all the flowers for ours with sliks and no one knew they were fake and they cost $60 and were breath taking.





All in all it is your decision but if you are looking for a way to cut the budget this is the way.


good luck
Reply:i went withreal i always pictured real ones for the smell and the feel i never even looked at the silk.
Reply:I'm planning my wedding right now and am initially planning on real flowers. I love the cool feel and texture of real flowers, and the smells. Also, when they dry, they have an amazing antique look. My mom is a horticulturalist (she arranges flowers), and some of the things I've noticed when she works with real and silk flowers is this:


Real:


-It is real and beautiful


-smells very nice


-not always in season or available


-Sometimes can break during handling and arranging


-will wilt if not stored properly.





Silk:


-Many silk flowers (esp. expensive) do look amazingly real


-Some do have a light scent, and then, you could also perfume them


-Can be handled many times and may just need refluffling or a clean cloth to restore it's beauty


-Come in a multitude of colors, types, and textures.





I think it is really is going to depend on your budget and what your theme or color is going to be.





Also, my mom has done a combination of the two when certain flowers weren't available. That would be beautiful and hard to tell if it is fake or not.

A new Sims 2 expansion. What do you think?

January 4, 2006 - While we'd already collected plenty of evidence on the third expansion to The Sims 2, today Electronic Arts gave us a tap with the Wand of Officialdom: The Sims 2 Open for Business is indeed the next add-on for the popular sequel.











Open for Business lets you run your own business enterprise -- as conventional or outlandish as you wish. You're in charge of opening shops, hiring employees, managing your staff, keeping customers happy, and selling any number of goods -- from toys to floral bouquets to robots. You'll help your sims respond to each customer, dropping prices or even using "wacky outfits" to woo a cranky patron.





The expansion will offer more than 125 new items to support your Sim-business, including display cases, a beauty salon chair, a toy workbench, a floral station, and cash registers. Slick equipment will help, but you'll still need good business sense -- from training to promoting, from hiring to firing -- to bring in profits and grow your op

A new Sims 2 expansion. What do you think?
The Sims 2 is my favorite game, and as with the original series I am always excited when an expansion pack is released. I have yet to be disappointed; not only do they always come with 100+ new objects, but they expand the actual gameplay. I am especially looking forward to OFB, as it sounds like it will essentially add a tycoon-game aspect into the already delightfully fun world of the Sims.
Reply:I can barely wait for it! Only 19 more days and it's out. I'm so excited about the robots!
Reply:I love the sims, can't get enough! I'm sorta excited about the new game.
Reply:pretty neat i think
Reply:lame... its not worth it...
Reply:I think its pretty cool
Reply:i think open for business will be alot of fun it comes out in march i cant wait

nike casual shoes

Do cats behave themselves around vases of flowers?

I want to have a floral arrangment delivered to my friend who's just moved into a new home. She and her husband have three cats. Is there anything special that I should keep in mind while choosing a bouquet?

Do cats behave themselves around vases of flowers?
don't get something that can be knocked over easily. some cats do behave, but others don't. also, make sure the flowers aren't poisonous to the kitties.





(have 3 cats, only one broken vase in 3 yrs.)
Reply:Keep in mind what type of lowers to get, a major poisonous flower is Lilies. Cats like to eat plants and lilies cause acute kidney failure-usually fatal after just a little bit of flower or pollen. Go to the ASPCA website and their poison control has a list of flowers that are poisonous, as well as what isn't.
Reply:In my experience, NO, they do not behave around them. If mine smell fresh flowers, they are all over it! But, I would also guess that your friends are used to dealing with this with their cats. Otherwise, I'd look for something a little less appealing to the kitties.
Reply:Don't get any flowers that are potentially poisonious if ingested.
Reply:i wish i could say yes but i often wake up to find smashed vases and trails of sick with bits of flowers. Cats will do anything to get to the flowers and the only thing you can do is glue them down.
Reply:nope srry
Reply:As a general rule - try to get something with a larger base and possibly an arrangement in a pot. Also things that hang far down - such as ribbons or ivy might not be a good idea. Most kitties will want to explore the new addition to the room, but they're not necessarily going to try and destroy it. If it can stand up to a head being rubbed on it and a little tugging, it should be relatively safe. My cats have chewed on a lot of plants so far. The only plant I know of that you have to be truly careful with is a poinsettia.


But I wouldn't worry too much. Your friends will surely find a safe spot to display the flowers where their kitties can't get to them.
Reply:Some cats leave house plants or cut flowers alone, some don't. My cat is very gentle and careful not to knock over a flower arrangement, but likes to eat some types of plants. She LOVES anything with baby's breath (but that's tacky anyways!) and will chew anything with large leaves. She generally leaves most flowers alone, particularly if they are very fragrant. One trick my Mom taught me was to get a pot of cat grass at the same time and encourage the kitty to eat her plants, not yours. It works well with her cat, but not as well with mine. I think it's up to the individual cat.
Reply:From my own experience cats tend to break vases and eat flowers so maybe think about sending a fruit basket. It is nice and the cats don't bother it much.
Reply:You should see which plants are dangerous to cats (there are many out there). You could look at any vet websites, ex. aspca.org. Try not to use a glass vase if you can, it will most likely break soon. Hope I helped.
Reply:how about a basket
Reply:Damn no !
Reply:You're kidding right? :-)





Our cats bahve themselves around flower arrangmeent, that is until we walk out fo the room, then it becomes a free for all. And of course, they will look innocnet when you walk back in and see the leave still falling tothe ground. :-)





Some flower are poisonous to cats too. I'm thinking that orchids are the ones that are very toxic, but not positive.
Reply:I have a few cats myself. Some of them leave plants alone, some don't. I learned along time ago that it was destined to have no plants in my home. For a house-warming gift, try something a little more practical. I personally wouldn't want flowers. Try somethign they can actually use in there new home.
Reply:not really it depends on what type it is
Reply:They might. Like people, all cats are not the same. Mine love to munch all flowers and will go to any length to get to them. I have completely given up on having them in my home because there is nowhere the kitties won't be able to get to them.





Here's another idea though - someone I know received one of these the other day and it was fantastic.
Reply:NO.
Reply:You might try a basket instead of a vase :) Harder to knock over.


Cats are very curious animals, so you might select flowers that won't be toxic if ingested.





Let us know how it goes! :)
Reply:if they have three cats they probably know how to handle them they will know where to put breakable things and where not to put them,
Reply:Cats are very interested in everything, especially smelly dangling flower pettles or leaves. They may not mean to knock over the vase but the flowers needed to go.
Reply:yes, don't do it. The cats will probably eat whatever you send making them sick or knock it over making a mess.


I would recommend a nice bottle of champagne instead.
Reply:They will knock it over as soon as they see it. If you get something that the cats aren't going to be poisoned from and if you make sure the vase has a very study bottom and is wide enough to not be tipped over that would be better than a traditional base. Good Luck!!!!!!!!





PS I am sure they could keep the cats in a room away from the flowers or vice versa....they could make it work I would send it.
Reply:cats are wild it depends on the cats personality and how they act arounf your furniture