thrift store shopping 101

The last few weeks I have been doing a bunch of thrift store shopping. I'm on the hunt for a few things and by going often I have also found other cool stuff but that is another post.

As I have been hunting I really paid attention to what I do at the stores. I'm new to the area and had to find the cool stores and now after getting to know the stores, learning how they have things organized and where things live. I figure out my shopping loop.

I go strait to the furniture then to the frames. Next nic-nac's and housewares. I go around the nic-nac's a few times. Then to the books and clothes, only if my kids are up for it.

When I'm shopping I look for the things I collect. And for things that I have seen in magazines that I like and want to decorate with. Sometime those things need to be fixed up. I have to weigh out price and time to fix it up and the price of it and how much I like it. If I really like it and the price is good I get it. Because more times then I can count I have passed on something and wish I would have gotten it.

I like to go to the store often. It is never the same place twice.

My Formal Dinning and Living Room Curtains

When my folks came to visit a few weeks back between all our playing my mom and I worked on my curtains. It wasn't quite as easy as I hoped but we got it done. We also made some pillows and that really finished off the rooms.

The chairs in the last photo we got at Costco last year and started working around them. In the fall I found the same fabric that is on the chairs. So I put it on the bottom of my curtains. How cool is that.

So I have a question... I like having the pillow pushed down in the middle like the chair on the left, my husband likes the pillow on the right. What do you like? Right now they are both pushed down.

My 1st Blog Award!

I received my very First Blog Award!
A BIG BIG Thanks to Angela over Secrets of a Super Mommy.
Check out her cute Earth Day Dinner. She really is a Super Mommy. I really know this because we are friends in really life.


10 Things That Make Me Happy.

1. Being a Mom! Sticky hands and all
2. Power Tools/ Cool Tools
3. Finding a good deal or better yet dumpster diving
4. Working along side my hubby
5. My kids laughing!
6. An organized house
7. Eating fresh raspberries
8. Knowing I get to be with my family forever.
9. Having good friends
10. Home cooked meals


I am Awarding this Blog Award To:
Melissa @ 320 * Sycamore
Stacie @ The CrEaTiVe CraTe


Here are the rules for accepting the award:
1. Copy & Paste the award on your blog
2. Tell who gave you the award and link to their blog
3. List 10 Things that make you happy
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.

New Spring Mantel

My other mantel was more an Easter spring mantel and the egg wreath needed to go. So I made a new wreath just like the egg wreath but with out the eggs. I found some cool shutters at the Habitat Restore and knew what I wanted to do with them. I painted then a Buttercup Yellow. I could not be happier with them. Well, I might put a brown glaze on them. I'm still thinking about it.

I LOVE how the shutter make the mantel look.

Wreath Holder Stands

So I'm still bummed about my Atlanta post and I will work on it soon. While I was pouting about all the hard work that was lost with the links to all the cool places, I worked on making a wreath holder. I cut a 4 foot dowel in half and a piece of MDF 6 inches x 6 inches. I stapled the dowel in the middle and then screwed the top knob on. (I got a pack of 2 at Lowe's for around $3)

I got my handy black spray paint out sprayed it then sanded the base then put another coat on. I then screwed the hook on. I just eyed it to see where it looked the best and where I thought it would work for a wreath.

I ended up making 2 the one is a little shorter so it could go on top a stand. It didn't take long to make these.

I linked to Beyond The Picket Fence Party

IT'S LOST!

I just spent over an hour working on my Atlanta trip post and I just lost all my work. I think I'm going to cry. I don't have time to spend another hour on it right now. Ahhhhhh!

same idea 2 differant things

A few weeks ago I went over to my friend to do a tee shirt redo. We had seen a redo on Blue Cricket Design and had to make one for our own. We played around with different fabrics and ribbon and colors we came up with 2 different things, yet the same.

Spring Break

I hope that you all are having a wonderful SpRinG BrEaK! We went to Atlanta to visit my sister. We did a lot of fun things for little or no money. When we are done playing I want to tell you all about My Not Too Shabby vacation to Atlanta on the cheap. Plus I was able to go to Hobby Lobby for the 1st time ever. Those stores are so cool. For you all that have one in your town you are lucky.

Spring Mantel a happy ending!

I'm jumping for joy. It pulled together better then I hope for.

Spring has sprung at my house.

Spring Mantel part 3

I cut strips of burlap and raped them around the wreath.

I spray painted plastic eggs and splattered them. (They look like kill deer eggs.)

Then I hot glued them to the wreath....