thrifty thursday

Wow!  I haven't done a thrifty thursday post in forever!  But you better believe that we are still hitting the thrift store as often as we can!

A few weeks ago when I was out thrifting, I had already made my purchase and on my way out of the door I saw this sitting on the sidewalk:

Isn't that the most precious toy box you have ever seen?  Right now it is sitting at the foot of Moonpie's bed holding all of her stuffy friends.

Moonpie and Buddy share a bedroom.  Just in case you are wondering what her side of the room looks like, here's a little peak:

Maybe one day I'll do a proper room tour!

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What fun treasures have you found out and about lately?

and he's off!

A few months ago I was looking for a vintage bike for Moonpie on Craigslist.  That same day I was talking to my brother as he was driving by an antique store. He mentioned that they had the coolest kid's bike out front.  I asked him to turn himself around and go back and get it for me!  

When we got it from him we realized that it was a bit small for Moonpie, but just perfect for Buddy.  This weekend John got the seat lowered, the wheels shining, and Buddy boy was off!

Moonpie had coached him through riding without training wheels a while back, and he is do really well!

Man, he sure is cute on his banana seat bike!

As far as a bike for Moonpie goes, have no fear- last week I was driving by our thrift store and lo and behold...

As you can imagine, it was the enormous handle bars that caught my eye.  I turned around as quick as I could and raced back.  It was priced at only $12!  It is a great size for Moonpie, but needs more work than Buddy's did.  We need new peddles, new inner tubes, and I'm dreaming of recovering the seat in something really cool.   Her only request was that we find some silver streamers for the hand grips- I can do that!

thrifty thursday

I haven't done a thrifty Thursday post in...a while.  Probably over a year.  I don't want any of you to be worried though!  I still hit the thrift store almost every Thursday.  Phew!  I know, what a relief!

I always thrift with my children.  Our thrift store sells children's paper backs for $.25 a piece.  We hit half of the store and then make our way back to the books.  They sit for about 15 minutes and look at books.  They can then choose their favorites, and we move on to the second half of the store.  While I'm digging through sewing notions, they usually just sit and look at their books.  Sometimes they dig with me if they are trying to replenish their own crafting supplies.  I know lots of people thrift alone, but this system at this stage in our lives works for us.  And truth be told- I really do enjoy their company!  It's fun having someone to model crazy hats with!

I realized a while back that thrift shopping can be as big a trap for me as the Kohl's one day sale is for other women.  If I saw something that I liked, I jumped on it with little thought.  I began to feel conviction over this, because spending is spending.  And rarely it is about the amount, but more so about the accumulation of stuff.  We like living small.  Small living requires discretion about what comes into the home.  I really had to realign my thrift store spending.

With that said, I have a confession.  I have restraint problems when it comes to vintage trays.

Exhibit A)

This is where it all started for me.  This mid-mod mermaid tray.  Here is a close up of the detail:

Isn't she lovely?  And I truly had noble intentions for this one.  I needed a place to hang my chicken scratch recipes that I scribble out while I'm making something.  These trays are magnetic!  Yes!  Beauty with function!

Here is what it usually looks like:

 Recipes stuck to it, surrounded by crazy ingredients.


And then along came Handsome Man:
Exhibit B)

This guy is huge.  And oh so lovely.  Here's a close up shot:

He guards the cookbooks.

And then, the little ladies:
Exhibit C)
(these pictures are horrible.  sorry about that.)

I like to pretend these little ones have a purpose.  I use the top one for guest's jewelry and the bottom one for Moonpie to use as a sorting tray for her math work.

Moonpie working out her tens and ones.

So that is the collection.
So far.

How about you?  Any thrifty treasures you have a hard time saying no to?

a few projects

here are a couple of my projects that have been keeping me busy.

this is a little table i found on the corner on trash day.  when i found it, it was in much better shape, but after my two it became...just gross.  this picture is after i sanded the top and decided i didn't want to sand anymore.  the paint was oil based and really hard to get off.  

so i grabbed a jar of mod podge and a couple of vintage books i've picked up while thrifting.  this is the biggest decoupage project i've attempted.  i've discovered that i'm not very good at it.  oh well, i'm pleased enough with the end result.  i got some vinyl cut in the fabric dept. at our local big box store and picked up some old school desk chairs for a buck each!  the little chalk board was 50 cents and the cutey mug was part of a set- 4 for a quarter!  (i already had the shelf).  so, including the can of paint, i think this whole area was created for under $5.  i love how it has brightened that corner of our kitchen!

this lamp shade is the one i bought for moonpie's nursery before i had her.  it's awfully cute- for a girl!  but since my kid's share a room, i wanted something that they'd both like.  i found the greatest fabric EVER and have used it in 2 projects thus far!

here is the little reading area we created after john painted their room.   the little 'table' the lamp is sitting on is a vintage puzzle holder turned on its side.  the frames are both thrifted.  i always hate to throw away dust covers from our books.  the art is so great!  here is one solution we've come up with (i've also used them to wrap gifts).  moonpie has requested that i 'girl' up the selection a bit, so we'll be adding more soon.

(look at the way buddy is looking at me here! haha!)

thrifty thursday

my favorite thrift store find thus far! behold the loveliness of my vintage nesting bowls: $15

thrifty thursday

needlepoint pillow with a very important message for 2009: $4

thrifty thursday

i have been a thrifting fool lately. it seems like we are at our local thrift stores weekly- usually on thursday. in honor of my new favorite past time, i am creating a new blog feature entitled, 'thrifty thursday'.



here's a rundown of my five favorite finds (and trust me, i'm being generous- $10 buys A LOT):

a vintage bridal veil for moonpie's christmas ($2)

milk glass tea cups ($1 each)

for my messy spoons ($1)



lovely velvet and satin covered hangers ($1 for 7!)