Thrifty Thursday

Since we're out of school (Daddy and I) I have more time to scour the thrift stores.  And since I gave away almost all our baby things, there are quite a few things I'm hunting!

Last week I went to the Goodwill, the Recycling Center Thrift Store, and a single garage sale.  Here are a few of the highlights...

This lovely glass canister was $3 and is currently housing dried herbs.  The stainless steel watering can was $1.50 and the books total less than $2.  I found one I was really hoping for The New Baby!  (Anything to help us transition to a family of five).  And a Laura Ingalls Wilder lift the flap book!

In addition to these finds there was a $1 wicker basket that is currently holding puppets, two Halloween costumes (should work for this year)$2 (total), and a couple new baby outfits.  If I haven't mentioned it yet, the new baby is another GIRL!!!  Too bad I didn't save any of S's baby clothes.

What have you found thrifting lately?

The Chalkboard

So this summer I found a small chalkboard at a garage sale for $0.50.  I've been meaning to try it out.  And who doesn't love incorporating new traditions into Christmas???

Here's what I've done with the chalkboard the last few days...

I realized a couple days in, just having words wasn't working for the kids.  So from this point on it's just pictures and maybe a word or two.  They knew exactly what the Gingerbread house meant and they were so excited to see it.  It's a good opportunity for me to brush up on my drawing skills too.  As you can see by said Gingerbread house, they are quite rusty! 

Frugal Friday

I'd like to start a new trend 'round these parts.  Frugal Friday. 

You know my motto is "Use it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do, or do without!"  If you added, "Scour thrift store" somewhere in there it would be more accurate.  I'd like to remember my finds and share my tips with you.  So here goes:

Thrift Store Score

This lovely Pottery Barn Kids quilt was $3.99 and the beautiful book (Marushka and the Month Brothers) was $0.49.  Thank you Salvation Army! 

Tip:  I have three thrift stores I visit.  I try to thrift once a week, rotating which I visit.  There is a fourth one that I will occasionally visit, but I may turn it into the store I donate to.  I pick one that I like the cause and donate there.  But I don't donate much as I have a good network for hand-me downs and Freecycle.  As a rule, I don't usually shop where I donate.  Otherwise, I'm looking at our old stuff.  :)

Reading Corner

I found this little shelf through our local Buy-Sell-Trade.  It was the perfect size to fit a corner of our living room that was just bugging me.  Lord knows I'm no interior decorator, but I needed more storage for books and that corner needed *something*!  I knew what it was when I saw it and $5 later it was mine. 

Here it is all cleaned up and decked out for Autumn...

R promptly sat down and declared it the "reading corner".  I thought that was a fitting title. 

Tie Dye

This may become an annual event. 

For months, I collected white, cotton things from thrift stores and garage sales.  A few things were purchased new.  Then, we experimented with different dyes:  Rit and procion from Dharma Trading Co. and were smitten with the procions. 

Of course, Nonna came to help!

Thrift find and Storms

We've been hunting for vintage lawn and/or patio furniture.  We've scoured several Thrift Stores, Antique Malls, Junkers, etc.  No luck.  But I did find this little jewel.  A morel mushroom print for the playroom. 

Since we've been back from a visit to Great-Grandma's we've had nothing but storms.  AND a near-miss with that nasty tornado.  N spent many hours getting water out of the garage.  I've had my hands full with a wet basement and power outages.  I'm washing up a ton of things that have gotten wet and funky.  It's about time to make up a new batch of homemade laundry detergent!  I'm not too upset.  Spring cleaning was on my "to-do" list anyway.