What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Valentine Decorations

I decorated for Valentine's Day far too early this year and I am about sick of it. But, I am glad that I got it all out. I am looking forward to receiving my Heart to Heart swap from Sarah.  It is my favorite swap all year long!  The little girls I made for the swap are in my header. I forgot to make myself one, so I need to whip a little Valentine cutie up to keep too.

Everything crammed in the corner where I do all my holiday decorating.

This is the first time to use my white feather tree (I swapped Sarah for this too).  In the past, I used my skinny tall Christmas tree, but I wanted a lighter look this year.  I missed the lights of the big one, but I like this one too.
I decorate with hearts, of course, but also candy, cupcakes, cake, pies and sweets of all sorts.  I have "X's" and "O's" and other hidden surprises on the tree this year.
I have a lot of old kiddie Valentine's, but I never knew a good way to display them.  Finally, I took a cork board and just stapled them all over it in layers.  I tried to put the politically incorrect ones on top  like "Honest Injun" with a Native American.  So, not cool anymore.
My infamous shelf that I use for every holiday.  I can pack that sucker full.  Things I look for when thrifting:  Vintage heart shaped candy boxes (I had several and sent them in swaps, now I wish I had them back), old chocolate covered cherry boxes, vintage cards, anything with "14 on it", candy boxes and hankies.  You can see a lot of my prior Heart to Heart swap items mixed in here and there.  I made that little cone for last years swap.
Chocolate covered Cherry boxes, my I Love Lucy Salt and Pepper shakers (they don't fit into my house at all, so I made them fit in with the Valentine stuff, just so I could keep them!), a bucket full of sparkly hearts and a vintage Valentine vase that was last year's one and only vintage Valentine find 9at a thrift I hit three times a year, but am going to tomorrow!).

Kind ofold candy tins, a Dollar Tree wooden LOVE plaque and a funny fat spun head girl I made last year.
The vintage heart box, really isn't vintage at all.  I found a box that was sticky and ruined, so I salvaged off the ruffles and roses and put them on a Dollar Tree Heart box.  I just noticed I used a 4 of Diamonds, that should be a four of hearts, der.....
My apothecary cabinet that I lurve.  HTH items on the knobs.

Child's typewriter and flower frogs with vintage Valentine's and more HTH swap items.

This funny monkey gal was 25¢ at the Super Cheap Thrift.  Had to have her!  Had to!

Happy Valentine's Day...almost!

8 comments:

  1. I'm so sick of my decorations too, but I like looking at yours! I need to find some of those chocolate covered cherry boxes. And monkey gal needs a name. You can't just call her monkey gal!

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  2. You have so many cool Valentine Decorations...I have almost none! Maybe something to be on the look out for during the coming year.

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  3. Hey Shara,

    I love your decorations - especially the vintage Valentines! What a great way to display those. I might have to borrow that idea for next year!!

    Are you guys getting more snow with this current storm? I am snowed in here in Maryland! It's ridiculous! Baltimore has had 80" of snow so far this winter. We normally get 18" so as you can see, we've really outdone ourselves this year. lol

    Hope you guys are staying warm. I'm still thinking of your family & I hope your Grandma is improving.

    Lori

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  4. Mighty nice Valentine collection!!!
    Cute monkey!
    I'm thinking about Easter ~ and may start to put a few things up this weekend.
    I'm so tired of all the snow and cold.
    Happy Valentine's Day.
    Deb :)

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  5. You have WAAAAAYYYYY more Valentine stuff than me and I am tired of mine as well. It is coming down bright and early on Monday morning and I am going with the uncluttered look for awhile (if that is possible in my house!).

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  6. I always LOVE seeing your holiday decor. I did not put up one thing for Valentines Day this year, but I probably will get my Easter stuff out in a few weeks.

    Hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day!

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  7. I just LOVE THIS!!!! I didn't decorate at all this year, since I was knee deep in boxes to go thru for the craft room....I just love how you did this! Where did you get your tree????? Also, I have one of those pinic hampers! It was my folks! I never knew the manufacturer name! WOw....it is the kind of burgandy red color....thanks for the post about them!

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  8. I like all of your valentines, the old Brach's cherry candy box is great! My mom always used to buy those!

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