Best Find This Year

I have left my local thrift store empty handed for about two months now.

Persistance paid off tho.

Today score, this fine gem.

$1.00.

Shut Up! Yes, really $1.00!!

I know you can see it too, a coat of white spray paint.

The Dr. Pepper bottle is just to show it's size.

And now......

New Buffet

I've wanted a buffet for my dining room for over a year now.

But didn't quite have buffet monies.

My neighbor threw out this record player console.

So guess who gutted it and has a new buffet. ME!

I couldn't believe gutting it would make it

at least 100 pounds lighter.

I still have to find some wood to make doors

and I want to paint it a blue/grayish color.

More to follow on this project.

Well it's done...

It just so happened that the reason I had the primer paint handy,

was because it was nice enough weather to finally paint this....

All I need for this is some cute pillows.

Halloween Wreath 2011

My friend Connie made a really awesome and kooky wreath.

She is so creative.

More Fall to soon follow......

Some Beach, Somewhere.

Besides my must have papertowels from Walgreens on Sunday,

my weekend was full of ...

Suntan Lotion, Ocean Breezes, Salty Waves, and Sandy Flip Flops.

It was Wonderful!

Unfortunatly my hubby had to work, but I spent the weekend with my kids, my Mom, and my Brother.

I just love those smiley faces.

They teach me about finding pleasure in the smallest of things all the time.

Goodbye Summer,

Hello Fall!

Their Trash - My Treasure...

 My neighbor put this beauty in the trash.

She is gonna need some work but I think she looks good on the sunporch.

It will hold my coffee quite nicely. A little paint and knob.

And don't pick on my plastic chairs,

they are holders till my next blessing comes along.

(Her BEFORE Shot.)

Be patient, might be a few before I get the after shot.

I think this view for my new table is

alot better than any view at the landfill.

Wreath Ideas

I love wreaths, and the more unusual the better I like them.

I made this map wreath a few months ago.

I want to make a sheet music one similar to it,

just have to get my hands on the paper.

The Girls over at " Wayward Girl Crafts " made an awsome $2 wreath.

And last for the holiday,  I found this idea over at

" That Red Headed Step Child ".

There is so much wonderful talent out there.

I'm excited to see what my blogging neighbors are

going to come up with next.

Me vs. Baking

My daughter loves Banana Nut Muffins.

So we thought,  

"We'll give this a shot."

We got this recipe over at Simply Recipes .

They turned out pretty yummy.

The kids laughed when we bought over ripe bananas.

"You can't use those mommy, they're bad."

No kids, they are just right. Trust me.

Tell me you would turn this down

with a warm cup of coffee.

You know you couldn't do it.



Featured

I was featured at Delightful Order. I've never been featured before.
So excited. Thank you so much.
Check them out at here .

Simple Pleasures

I thought I would share some items I have aquired over time

that really brighten my day every time I use them.

This coffee cup I got at a yard sale for a quarter really makes me so happy.

It has a milk glass quality about it and I love the vintage design on the front.

I'm so proud to have extended it's life.

My next item is this container.

I use it for my cotton balls to take off my makeup.

The outside has a pearl sheen to it and the silver really sparkles and shines.

Again, thrift store, quarter.

I feel like a queen using it daily. One of the best quarters ever spent.

Went all out at the thrift store for this gem.

Spent a whole dollar. But there is something so fun about

using a vintage item like this for something as

mundane as gloves and hats.

I know I got a steal only paying a dollar for this,

because I see replicas selling for $20 or more.

Be aware of what is around you. If you need storage,

keep your eye open for storage solutions that will really bring you joy.

You're going to have to live with it,  let it serve you in multiple ways. 

 I'm really learning to surround myself with things I realllllly love.

And if you are creative, you really can do it on a budget.

Summer Mantel

This is it. The shutters I found at the thrift store for ($2).

Used my Dollar Tree Hurricanes.

Bag of Sea Glass ($2)

This is Cardboard ($1)

wrapped in strips of an old white t-shirt.

Everything else I had on hand so my spending for the summer mantel was

a grand ($5)

Par-Tay! On the Cheap!

You're not going to believe what I was able to accomplish with about $22.
But I'll show you anyway.

My Daughters 8th Birthday Party.....

She likes Lalaloopsy, so we put buttons on the drinks and chairs.

Tops of the Chairs are Coffee Filters, Buttons are plates backed with coffee filters.

The Breakdown :

Table Cloths $2    Crape Paper $1

Cellaphane $3            Ribbon $2

Plates $4               Balloons $3

Tissue Paper $3        Spray Paint $4

(Used Everywhere)            (Sprayed the Twigs

                                                         on the Table Teal)

Everything else I had on hand.

Beauty Fleeting

From Beauty to Beast in 48 hours. We're guessing this is an allergic reaction.
I'm on meds and hoping for relief.
The Purple Tongue is a Medicine to treat the inside of my mouth.
Found the irony too funny not to share tho.

Make the Time

I'm sure I could have found something to have been stressed about while waiting for the doctor. But I chose to charish this time with my kids. Take a few silly pictures and make them remember I do have time for them. Life is not always so serious. And I DO have time for fun. They didn't want to be sitting there as much as I didn't want to be there either, but hey like everything else in life, "you have to make the best of it". And now I will always have this reminder.
Hold onto those you love, don't let anger or worry rob you of special moments like these.

Ugly Art Recycled

GW Frame        4$
Box of Shell     1$
Paint on Hand
-----------------------
Total                $5

I  was so excited to find the shells. Been wanting to do this project for some time.
Shells finally made it into my path.
I have enough to do 5 more frame and I just might.
They are so pretty but I really don't know where they are going to call home.

Ten Year Anniversary

Today my husband and I celebrate our 10 year anniversary.

Oh, how we both have grown in 10 years.

So much has happened in those 10 years.

Two children, 6 moves, 3 surgeries, and 50,000 kisses later, here we are.

Today I made this video for him.

Marriage is alot of hard work, but very much worth it.

I Love My Hubby!

My blessing from God.

Burlap Completed

Tah - Dah!

My Dad and I made it.

Pallet - Free
Burlap Bag - $0.25

Who says you can't
decorate on a
budget!

The stain,
 we had on hand,
that we put on
the wood turned
out darker than
I wanted, but
it is still
beautiful!

Map Wreath

I have seen so many of these, wanted to copy and have one of my very own.
Didn't quite turn out like the one I saw, but I had no idea
how crucial it was to fold them all identically (hindsight - very important).
But seeing as I got a book of maps at the junk store and had cardboard and hot glue onhand.
I'd say , Not bad for $0.25!
I love it!

The Sun Porch

Wish I could wait and just show the final product, but I'm too excited. I've claimed the sunporch as "my space". I'm having a ball decorating it cheaply. I know the bench was an investment but I loved that I saved it. And eventually the walls will be painted, curtains will be hung, the plastic chairs will be replaced, and the perfect rug will make an appearance.

All in due time. All in due time.

And for the breakdown:

And on the wall behind the photographer is this...

I know what you're thinking. Who would want those old 1970's ugly plates?

ME that's who. I think I'm the only person out there looking for them too.

They have a homely vintage feel to them. I think they look wonderful on the sunporch.

The Burlap Plan

I'm am excited for my next project. The plan is to take

 This

Plus (+) This

And Make this

This is Inspiration

by  http://www.theoldpaintedcottage.com/ 

at  http://www.houzz.com/photos/keywords/framed-burlap

Spring at Our House

Inspired by "What's Blooming" over at "Life in Rehab". I thought I would share the prettys in the yard now.

Is it too small?

I made this beautiful valance with my Dad and Stepmom's help. But I'm battling with the decision to keep it or not.
I got the wrong measurments for it and it doesn't look long enough in my opinion but the optimist in me thinks it might look ok with cream curtains under it. I just don't know?

Yard Sale Finds

I'm slowly but surely getting there.
Decorating the house alittle at a time.
These are two new fabulous additions for the house.
I will be framing the burlap bags in an upcoming blog.

I believe good things come to those who wait.
These wonderful finds did.