Thrifty Finds in '09

So we have been really enjoying the sloth mentality around here lately. I can't believe that school is back in on Monday. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It will be nice to have the house a little more quiet and I can continue to purge the house without "help", but then again it will be just me kicking around. I do have to say that as always the new year inspires me to want a fresh start. Our winters here are SO VERY GRAY that I'm really feeling the need to lighten up the house. Of course, the best way to make a house feel lighter is a trip to the old G-Dub (Goodwill) However, I'm afraid that it is more effective when you are donating instead of shopping :0)

Today my mom and I hit the local G-dub. All of their Christmas stuff was 59 cents. Didn't matter what it was it was 59 cents. They had a bunch of boxes of really pretty ornaments that would have been perfect to make one of those ornament wreaths, but I resisted. Most of the stuff was pretty picked over but we did find two MAJOR scores. My mom spotted this Fitz and Floyd Santa plate and I thought it was cute. I had looked at one similar earlier this season, but didn't want to spend the money, but for 59 cents how can you pass it up? As we were walking towards the check out my mom this Fitz and Floyd water pitcher. Now it is a bit much as far as my tastes are concerned, but again for 59 cents?? While we were looking at it, another lady came up and said, "you know it has a chip" (yes, I very small one you have to look to see) and "it seems like it would be a a pain to store all year" (yes, probably) "I don't think they will give it to you for 59 cents. It way too nice of a piece" (do we detect some sour grapes?) Long story short, we got both pieces for $1.18.

Now whenever we get a screaming deal, we always go home and check it out on line. This pitcher is no longer on the FF site, so I'm thinking it is retired. However, similar ones on ebay were going for $60-75. Bottom line, great score. I have a couple of other "old world" type santa things, so I'm sure I'll be able to find somewhere for it. If not, I can always ebay it to feed my thrift store habit.


Speaking of thirfting, I think I have converted my son Ben. We were at another G-dub recently and guess what he found. A brand new looking and working Homedics Massage Recliner. It was only $40, so he bought it (or at least half of it) It is now sitting proudly in his room. Again, we went on line and it turns out that his chair is around $350. Amazing what some folks will give away.

So lovin' the G'dub

My thrifting mojo seems to have returned. Today I went to the local Goodwill and was doing my usual browse. I was looking for some red transfer ware, but I'm a little OCD and must shop the store in a certain pattern (does anyone else do this, besides my mom?) Anyway, as I perused the linens something caught my eye, some pink chenille. I LOVE chenille!! So on further investigation it turns out to be a quilt and sham set (1 F/Q quit and 2 standard shams). I look a little more closely and see that they are "Simple Shabby Chic for Kids". SCORE!!!!
I have been wanting to redo Sam's room for a good 3 months now and I just haven't had any luck finding the right bedding. I had found some stuff, but it would have required some sewing, the pieces weren't completely right and I was getting a little overwhelmed. So today when I saw this set I snatched it up.
Now truth be told, it isn't exactly what I wanted. The blues are a little more 'aqua-y' than I like, but it was cute, complete and close enough. I have looked at the shabby chic stuff at Target many times and on several occasions come close to breaking down and just buying it, but I could never bring myself to pull the trigger on the $120 price tag. I figured I should really, really love it to justify that kind of money. On the other hand, for $38 close enough works just fine.
When I brought it home to show Sam, she loved it. I think this just might be the shot in the arm to get things going. I also saw a pic in the new BHG that showed some white cabinets with the backs painted pink. It looked great and I'm thinking I might do this with the shelves I got a couple of weeks ago. I love when stuff starts to fall into place.

Fabu Find

This past Saturday my mom and I did our usual garage saling. Since the weather has been less than stellar so has the garage saling. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. Well, the sun was actually out (for a while) on Saturday so we drove around looking for treasures. By far my biggest score was this tray.
Now some of you might recognize this tray. You too may have been invited to a Southern Living at Home party. Now don't get me wrong, truth be told, I like the stuff. I think a lot of it is really pretty. However, I do NOT like the price tags. This little baby is listed in the catalog for 70 bucks (not including tax and shipping) I however paid a whoppin' $2.

I like the Fleur de lis details on it and I think it will look really great when I dress my hutch for fall. Right now it is a little "heavy" for all the pink dishes I have in there now. Most of the SLAH stuff in my house I have gotten from garage sales and craiglist. Joji gave me a hard time once because I spent the afternoon in the car driving 20 miles to buy a cookbook stand for $5. The really sad thing is that I had just purchased the identical stand a few weeks earlier at a party for almost $50. Foolish I know. But you have to buy something at those parties and I already have the items under $20. What is a girl to do??

Ben is feeling better today so he and Joj went to go watch our friends clear trees at their job site. Ben gets to chop wood all day and is as happy as a clam. I was going to putter, but Holly called and we are hitting the beach. It is still gray, but not as windy. We should have the beach to ourselves and that will be nice.
Speaking of nice, I just had to share a pic of some flowers I cut from my mom and dad's house. We don't know what kind they are, but they are the best roses. They are long steamed, hardly any thorns and spell fantastic. If anyone knows what kind they are I would love to know. Of course, they are my favorite shade of pale pink and I love how they look in my cobalt vase.
Happy Wednesday Everyone :0)

Super Shabby Thriftiness

I'm so excited. Tonight I got the most screamin' deal at the Goodwill. I don't know if all Goodwills are partnered with Targets, but around here they are. That means that what doesn't sell at Target ends up at one of the local Goodwills, or the "G-dub" as we like to call it.
Anyway, I was at GW a couple of days ago and saw a shelf I wanted to get for Sammie's room. It was one of the Target kids' room furniture pieces and it was nice, still in the box and only $35!! It was a little taller and more narrow than what she has in there now and I thought it would work better. Plus I would then be able to use her current bookshelf in the nook outside our room for a little "library". Win, win all around so I was off to the GW.
I was worried that my little shelf would be gone. A screaming deal like that would surely be gone by now, but nope it was there and waiting. As I walked over to it, I saw something that really caught my eye, a big ol' "Simply Shabby Chic" box. Inside was a tall bookcase with a cute little draw on the bottom. I was even more excited when I looked at the price and it was only $40!!! I know this furniture is expensive so it was a no brainer to get it. It looks like the only reason it was at GW was the fact the box was pretty thrashed. We looked inside and everything seems to be there. I'm so excited!! Joji is going to put it together tomorrow :0)

Cheese Dome Revamp

Here is a pic of my version of the revamped cheese dome.

Tina at Cherry Hill Cottage used a teacup as her base, but I really liked this bowl and I think it works. These are so great. Cheap, cute and easy: my kind of project!!

:0)

Fun Finds at the GW

Today was a good day at the local Goodwill. I can't remember the last time there were so many good things. Lately it has been very hit and miss (more miss actually) but today I must have been my day.
I had gone to GW to look for a glass cheese dome. Tina over at Cherry Hill Cottage had made some really cute covered cake plates and I thought I would see if I could find one for myself. Sure enough, 99 cents. I have a cute Southern Living plate that will be perfect for it. While I was over in the glassware section, I found this little milk glass compote and Pfaltzgraff creamer.
I have a friend who collects Fiesta ware and I thought these little flowerpots were in very "fiesta-y" colors, so I will that takes care of her bday present. :0)
Usually the picture area leaves a lot to be desired, lots of junk and kind of expensive, but I decided to dig and see what I found. First I found this trivet. Totally my colors (blushy pinks, light blue and cream) I hung it on the wall of my kitchen and it really pops off the red. When I found the beach pictures, I wanted to keep them (again, my color palette), but my mom is more "beachy" and already has a couple of neat beach pictures, so now Mother's Day is taken care of. (actually, I already gave them to her, they were too cute to keep wrapped up)
A few more odd bits (an Mary Engelbreit tin and cute dish for my bathroom) and I was out the door for 20 bucks. Nothing beats a good trip to the GW :0)

Happy Toile

It has been very grey here lately and I'm finding it difficult to get motivated. Everything seems do dreary and depressing. This weekend while on one of my many thrift store trips, I found this little purse. Now I am NOT a purse person, but I just had to have this one. I love toile and it just seemed "happy". I knew it was meant to be mine when I asked the clerk how much it was and she said $1.99. Not bad for a brand new Liz Claiborne :0) Long story short, I have to say I feel better. The power of toile, who knew?