Field Trip Thrifty Finds

Friday after The Bean and I fit some halfway educational things into our day, we, of course, hit the thrifts. This was a town 20 miles away, so these were new thrifts for me. One was the Battered Woman's Thrift and it was a pretty good one. Very low prices and a bulletin board by the door with lots of Specials on it - 1/2 Price Jeans, Shirts, Jewelry, Vases and Record Albums that day. I'd hit it frequently if it were closer.

And now, on to the thrifting...

This is a hand painted 50th Wedding Anniversary Plate. I normally would have shyed away from something like this - but check out the wedding date - 1915! So, the plate is from 1965, which is an antique in itself (Hey! Wait a minute! I was born in 1966!)not to mention they were married in 1915. I thought it might sell, not sure though. It was only 75¢.

See? 1915!
And this fabulous glass bead necklace was $1.00. The beads are huge, as you can see from the penny in front. Not sure what I'll do with it, but it is pretty cool. It has a little gold tag with a name on it, but I can't quite make it out. Those darn 1966 eyeballs of mine.
These little charms were in a teacup in the glass jewelry counter. They were in groups of 10 on a keyring and the tag said "Charms 50¢ each". There were three rings of them - so 30 charms total. Jewelry was 1/2 off that day. So, I thought 30 x 50 = $15.00 - 50% = $7.50 (I should have had The Bean figure that out...). I didn't want to spend $7.50, so I was going to pick out about ten of them. I asked the lady if I could take them off the rings and she said, "They're 50¢ for the whole ring." Well, alrighty then. That's what I love about volunteer run Thrift Stores. One person prices it one way and someone else decides differently. So, I got all thirty charms - 50¢ x 3 divided by 2 for 75¢ total. Cha-ching. (Anybody need a charm?)

This crow was $2.00. Love the rusty star in his mouth. I have quite a bit of crows as that is The Bean's Cherokee name (Crow Walker) and I am on a bit or a star kick right now, plus who doesn't love rust?

I must be nuts for buying this. Ha ha. This handmade wooden box has glass on both sides and houses nuts of all sorts inside preserved for prosperity. I have no idea why anyone took the time to do this or really why I even bought it, but I did. It was 75¢ and now that I have it home, I really love it. It's just quirky. When I saw it, I put it back, but decided to get it since it was so cheap. I wonder if it was from someone's childhood home from all the trees or something - acorns, pecans, walnuts, almonds. Well, I guess I just answered my own question - I don't think I've ever seen an almond tree. Oh well, it's fun Folk Art.

I got excited when I found an entire aisle of craft items. None of the thrifts that I frequent really have a craft area. I love the pompom fringe - I've already used the white in my Sweet Goodness Hanging Heart Swap Project. The card of buttons, bag of red buttons (the price read "29 red buttons - 25¢"), all six doll faces and the pompom fringe were all 25¢ each. They had six packages of the doll faces, but I only bought one package. Of course, now that I'm home, I'm wishing I had bought them all as I now have an idea for them. Doh! The cowboy scrapbooking stickers were 50¢ and the roll of cupid ribbon was 25¢. The giant roll of Sasheen ribbon was 75¢. I recently learned that vintage Sasheen ribbon is all the rage. What luck to have found a roll.

I think there are 375,000 feet on the roll. Seriously, it's HUGE!

Today, on the not so thrifty front, we bought a new couch. New, new. Like from a retail store new. Of course, it was on sale and today they were paying the Sales Tax, but still - NEW! I never would have found a used one that I liked anyway, but there is just something about a used couch. Eeew. A girl's gotta have her limits. We'll be picking it up Wednesday, so I'll post a photo then. It's pretty blah - taupe and plain, but that's what we wanted. Man, the furniture today is so fanceee and big! We had a terrible time finding a plain old couch. I didn't want a lot of fancy material or 100 pillows on it. Just a couch. One that would fit into my old junky rusty chippy yard sale decor. You know what I mean, right?

Friday Field Trip

The Bean and I took out on a Friday Field Trip yesterday. Our first step was a Public Library about 25 miles away. I'm not sure how they got it, but somehow they snagged the model of Rexy from Night at the Museum. It's not the life sized model, but the model they used in the computer stuff. He's still pretty good sized - about 20 feet long or so.

I also taught him how to use the "Card Catalog". I use quotes becuase it really doesn't even exist anymore - it's all computerized. Sort of sad. I'd like to have one of those card catalog cabinets to suet the TV on.....Oh, what? Sorry. Miss Thrift took over. I can't believe they don't reach them how to use the Card Catalog anymore!

After we left the library, we passed this sign:

No big deal to most of you, but it's the only one in the STATE and we had never seen it before yesterday. Did we stop?

Oh, yea.
The guy behind the counter gave The Bean a quick rundown of how they make the donuts. Educational, no?

Next stop - an old railroad car. We read about and learned a bit about the Frisco Railroad and what they transported from this area. (Apples, if you are playing along at home).

Across the brick street from the railroad car was the "Dollar Saver". It is in an incredibly old falling down historical building and has been there forever. I hadn't been in there for over 20 years. I remember the back corner was the fabric corner - rows of wooden racks with bolts of material and a cabinet full of embroidery floss and buttons in the back corner. I could remember it like it was yesterday. It looked just like this:

Seriously, it had not changed one itty bity bit. I think it was the same material even! Time warp!

What's that? In the corner????? Could it be the real thing? And only $129.00!

Hey! How'd they get my wedding picture???????

(If I was rich, I would buy this).

On the way home, The Bean snapped photos of clouds for Monday's "Cloud Identity" lesson.

It was a good day.

And, yes, we went thrifitng. But, I'll save that for the next post.

Pies, Cakes and Cupcakes, Oh my!

We had a slight dusting of snow last night. I went outside to snap a photo of it before The Bean got up (in case he missed it). I have this funny rock face nestled in my rock garden. Doesn't he look cold?


I've been overly crafty as of late. I am in four Valentine swaps - a record for me. The swap buttons are all on the side over there. I had to decorate two heart shaped candy boxes and fill the candy cups with bits and bobs and odds and ends of ribbon, buttons and all things red, white and pink. Sadly, I had enough, er, treasures, that I could have filled a dozen boxes. I had a lot of fun decorating the boxes and then filling them up. They are not due out yet, so I cannot post photos yet.

I am also participating in a Valentine Swap at the Misadventures of Mama and Jack. I had to make 14 Valentines. This was my first attempt at mass card making. I generally just make a card here and there for certain occassions. I think they turned out cute, but I am anxious to hear what others think. They are cupcake themed, so I don't think I could have gone too wrong.

Then there is the Hanging Heart Swap at Sweet Goodness. That one had be bewildered for awhile, but tonight, I hunted and gathered and came up with my project. I was leaning towads a Valentine Cone, but decided to so something different. My partner is an Art Teacher - so talk about pressure. Eh, gads!

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My Valentine Tree: I keep my tall natural looking woodsy tree up through Easter in the living room. It looked so bare after Christmas with just the white lights, that I decided to go ahead and make a Valentine's Tree. Truth be known, I still have a shelf of Santas up that I haven't taken down and here I am full out Valentine decorating. I found several miniature glass cakes, cakes on cake plates and cupcakes at Wal-Mart for 50¢ each after Christmas so I decided to go with a SWEET theme. I also found some plastic red and white striped ribbon candies and glass peppermints as well as some red glass heart ornaments at Hobby Lobby. At Hobby Lobby I also found some sweet litle porcelain plates with slices of pie dangling from them. Suddenly I had a red, white, pink and all things SWEET theme. At Target they had these silver fancy swirled initial gift tag tie ons for 9¢. But, all they had were X's and O's. Well, hello? "XOXOXO" Hugs and Kises for my tree!

The tree in the corner. (Excuse the other messes and the Curel bottle. I have a Curel bottle in every room. I am addicted to my lotion!)


"Be Mine" tree topper - a $1.00 pillow from the Dollar Tree.


Cupcake ornament scored after Christmas for 25¢.

Small glass cupcake with glass "cherry on top".

Pink glass cupcake with "cherry on top".

The chocolate glas cake slice on a blue glass cake stand is one of my favorites. I made the felt cupcake with the cherry on top beside it.

I made this cake slice without a pattern and think it turned out prety darn cute, if I do say so myself!

And ya gotta have some glitter - a red and white glittered birdhouse that I made from an after Christmas purchase.

The red beads and red and white pompoms were all after Christmas finds. I bought the little conversation heart buckets at Walgreen's last year, but I found another set at the Super Cheap Thrift for 50¢ last week. Kismet!

Tuesday Thrift Therapy

I went thrifting today. I needed to stay home and educate my poor child. I needed to do the laundry and make preparations for tomorrow. But, it's the preparations for tomorrow that made me need to go thrifting. Tomorrow is the funeral. I hate going to funerals. I know no one is all, "Ooooo, a funeral. Yippee. What fun." No one likes to go to funerals. But, I hate them. Skin crawling hate funerals. but, you have to do what you have to do. I go. But, I sit in the back. The way back. The "so far back no one even know you were there so you sign your name really big in the guest book to compensate for it" back. And, when they come to the aisle for you to go "up front" I go "out the back". I have a lot of hang ups about the "D" word, and rightfully so. I had several very bad experiences involving death and bodies that sort of left me messed up in the head about the whole thing. (Hey, hey, this is a super fun post so far isn't it!) So, knowing I have to go to a funeral tomorrow has really gotten me uptight. Therefore, thrifting was neccessary.

Now, this will sound insane to some of you. (Not the stuff you just read - but what you are about to read). But, to the die hard thrifters reading this you will completely understand. I knew, do you understand? I knew that there was a vintage tablecloth waiting for me at the thrift. And, I knew I had to go get it. I just felt it. Was I right? Hmmm, let's proceed.

My first find were these five very big and fun cupcake shaped invitations. The invite slides out of the paper liner. I don't plan on using them for invites - I will reuse them into collages or something. 25¢ for all five.

I seemed to have a party theme going today. The "Happy Birthday" tablecloth is a flannel backed oilcloth. I've seen them for every holiday and season, but never a birthday one. I'll consider this my "Going Green" tablecloth as I buy a cheap disposable for every party and now I won't have to do that again. It was 75¢. The vintage "Happy Birthday Book" is just precious. It is by Charolette Steiner and dated 1953. The illustrations are wonderful.

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear ________, Happy Birthday to you."

See the little pixies decorating the cake? Wouldn't this make a sweet gift or a wonderful swap item? Yea, too bad - it's mine. ;o) I have this one shelf that I keep decorated year round for each holiday. And in August I have trouble finding something to put on it. And, well, my birthday just happens to be in August, so I think I have a new theme. ME ;o)

This quilt top isn't exactly stunning or anything, but I just cannot seem to leave handmade items at the thrift. Not things that took months to make anyway. I have no problem leaving crocheted toilet paper covers and hot glued sunflower wreaths and those god awful safety pin, plastic bead keychains behind. This quilt top has all sorts of materials. Some squares are several materials within themselves. It was $2.00. I sometimes put these in my garage sale just to use as table covers and someone always oogles it and wants to buy it. I say, "Oh, it isn't really for sale" and they pout and make an offer of like $10.00 or $15.00 and I take it. I think they think I don't appreciate it and they are saving it. Hello, I did that in the first place!

Well, I guess that about wraps up my finds for the day.

What? A tablecloth, you say?

Did I find one?

Uh, yea.

I looked in the ROUND TABLECLOTH bin and found nothing. I looked in the SQUARE TABLECLOTH bin and found nothing. So, I thought my psychic tablecloth jou-jou was off. But, then ----- Zsa-zsa-zu!

I don't know how I definded my powers of "vintage vibe" but I spotted that cloth from three aisles over and knew it was a tablecloth. The tablecloth. My tablecloth. Not a piece of cloth, but a tablecloth. It is amazingly bright and clear. Red with white vintage roses on it. Not a hole or stain or anything bad at all. It is rectangular and quite large. And, since it was at the Super Cheap Thrift, it was a mere $1.50.

I know this pictue just doesn't do it justice, but it is really so very pretty. If only I had a big table for it or I used tablecloths. Or ate at a table. Or didn't watch "Wheel of Fortune" on the couch with my plate on my lap. Oh, well. It's still pretty and oh so vintagey.

We went on to the Salvation Army, where I rarely find anything very interesting. I usually buy baskets, books and videos there. As we were paying for the very large poker playing dog I bought for my Dad's bar (What? No picture? Gasp!) I spotted a box in the sacred glass showcase. I asked to see what was in it. I found this set of silver spoons from Brazil. Each one has a large stone in the top to make them different. The larger one is more of a scoop. I think that the bigger one is for scooping sugar into the coffee or tea and then the smaller ones are for each person's coffee or tea. I looked at them as the checker watched me, (they were in the sacred glass showcase, you know) I said, "I have absolutely no use for them whatsoever. I'll take them!" She laughed. I figure but them now, figure out what to do with them later. They were only $3.00. Surely I can fool someone into thinking I am a world traveler with my fancy Brazillian spoons.

I picked this tin up at a thrift last week. It was sort of a splurge at $2.00. I know that isn't much money, but I literally have hundreds of tins and do not need anymore. But, this one is heavy and old and I have never seen a hillbilly themed tin before - what do you suppose was in it originally? Or did all tins come with something in it or could you just buy an empty tin? Why did things come in tins? How come other things didn't come in tins? These are the questions that keep me up all night. Okay, not really.

(Aren't off centered photos all the rage???)

P.S. - Don't be worried about me and the funeral thing. I'll go and be fine. I just don't particularly look forward to it. But, does anyone? Beisdes. There's a thrift between there and home. Thrift therapy. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....

Floral Delivery for YOU from ME

Do you have a Lowe's near your house or work? Would you like a FREE houseplant?

Here's a quick and easy deal for you to do.

Go here and register. It's a website that offers gardening tips and looks quite useful. After you register they offer you a $10.00 off any houseplant at Lowe's coupon. Just print it out and take it to any Lowe's. It goes right through, now beeping or questions asked. In fact, the checker said, "Ooooooo, I'm going to print one of those off too!"

DH got this lovely Peace Lily.

I got this nice "Pole Plant".

Each plant was $8.97, but the coupon took $10.00 off. DH found some masonary bits marked down from $12.97 to $2.47, so he only paid $1.47 for his entire purchase. I bought two really nice barnwood looking frames that were $9.99 each, on sale at 50% off and a quart of exterior gloss white paint that was $11.97 marked down to 60¢ (Can you believe that?). In the end, I paid $10.40 for two frames, the quart of paint and the houseplant. That would have been $42.00 regularly.

*Disclaimer - when I signed up earlier in the week, it did not say "LIMIT ONE PER HOUSEHOLD" on the coupon like it does now. I wouldn't have registered DH and I both if it would have said that in the beginning.

Sadly, DH's Aunt passed away last night. She was a sweet little gal. She and her husband were married nearly 60 years. He died nearly one year ago to the day. So, we find ourselves going to a funeral this week at some point. The Peace Lily will go to the family at the funeral. I couldn't have afforded a Florist plant right now, so I was very fortunate to have this coupon printed and ready to be used.

Hopefully your houseplant will stay with you and bring you happiness throught this winter dreariness.

College Stoodents Iz Stoopid

Are you familiar with Chick-fil-A resturants? Their advertising features cows with very bad spelling and vocabulary. We are big fans of Chick-fil-A ans the only one near us is across town in the snooty area where the fancy Mom's gow ith their preschool children and sit round and talk about holidays spent in the Bahamas. So, I don't go over there very often. Since we've lived in our little town, every tiime they bread ground for a new business, house or parking lot, we all say our prayers that it will be a Chick-fil-A. We hadn't had much luck until one day there tore down a perfectly good car wash about two miles up the street and then they hung a glorious sign up saying, "Future home of a new Chick-fil-A." Yeeee-ha!

So, they've been building it and we've been watching them build it. And, tomorrow, January 10th is THE BIG DAY. Grand opening. We won't go near the place for at least a week until the big ta-do tames a bit. Chick-fil-A has a promotion when a new store opens. First 100 people in line get a Free Combo once a week for a YEAR. That is about a $275.00 value. I figured people would line up about 4:00 am. Wrong.

This is the scene at noon today. 36 hours before Grand Opening.
At least 50 tents set up all around the new resturant and in the new landscaping. Ice chests and sleeping bags strewn about. This is on the corner that leads into campus at the UA. School doesn't start until Monday, so I guess they are looking for some free entertainemnt and some free food.
They were training inside and I saw them come out with giant trays of free food for all the people waiting, plus they had giant cofffee makers set up for them. What a great company to take care of their customers! But, I would not be out in the 25 degree weather in a tent in a parking lot for free food. And, I, my friend, am the Queen of Free.

Cheap Thrills

Sunday morning I was trolling my boards seeing what people were finding at Target. "Hidden deals" we call them. Things that are ringing up at Clearance prices, but a) are not priced and/or b) or do not look like items that should be clearanced. I had sworn that I wouldn't return for more! But, I casually mentined to DH and The Bean that there were deals and they said in unision, "Let's go!" So, off we went with my list in hand. We struck out on a few items, but hit paydirt with others.

The Christmas scrapbooking items on the regular Christmas ailse were scanning at 90% off. Not all items, but many of them. I got four sets of the Jolee's stickers that look like little Santa Suits. I could never use them on a card or in scrapboking - I just love to look at them. And, at the normal prices, I would never buy them. But, they were 39¢ yesterday.

The packs of paper on the right were $9.99 each, only 99¢ yesterday - 100 sheets of patterend paper in each pack. The items at the bottom are $19.99 Shadow Box Kits. I won't use them "as is", but will make something with the shadow box and use the scrapbook-y items in other projects. They were $1.99 each. I put one int hecart and DH picked it up, looked at it and made a "huh" sound. Then he said, "That's a good deal - you should get two." I told him that he was an enabler. He should say, "Do not buy anything else!!!!" But, he was right. It was a good deal!
Lots and lots of scrapbooking and paper items at prices ranging from 9¢ to 59¢. Ignore the cat. I do.

I also found two glass and wooden candle boxes in the garden center. I had bought one for myself last week at $4.99 and I thought that was a good deal. But, yesterday they scanned at $1.99, so I bought the last two for gifts. I also found tow nice amyrillis in beautiful copper urns for 89¢ each. They are both beginning to grow, so it will be interesting to watch them.

Today I heard that very large $29.99 willow baskets were ringing up at $2.99 and it is taking every fiber of my being to not go and find some of those. I actually saw them in a stack last week, but didn't know they were considered "Christmasy". Eye-yi-yi.

We went to Walgreen's since we were passing by, but the manager was boxing up the Christmas items and giving dirty looks to anyone that dared cross his box strewn path. I'm used to dirty looks, so I went on in. I really only wanted a new power stake for the yard - one with a timer on it. I grabbed it and left him to his dirty look boxing.

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Today was back to the books around here. I am having trouble with the homeschooling thing. We are doing it and spending time with it, but I feel like he should learn something every day in every subject. He says, "We didn't even do that in real school!" So, I am trying to follow the books and fill in with my creativity. But, let's just say the crativity wasn't flowing today. We bought a book on orangutans and read that today as part of our Science lesson. Did you know that orangutans watch people and copy what they do? They have been known to watch the villagers row their canoes to land, tie them up and walk inland. So, the orangutans go down, untie the canoes and row off into the river. That is too FUNNY!

We've also decided to get a lawyer and take all this to a higher level. We were done wrong, the Bean in particular. He deserves to be heard and for someone to know what happened - from the drug interaction to the school giving him the old heave ho. His life will be forever changed due to what happened to him this year. And, mine too, for that matter. Our savings are nearly depleted and the credit card is maxed out - all due to medical bills that were completely unnecessary and not needed. So, we need someone to do what is right for The Bean.

Because of this, I haven't mentioned it lately and I most likely won't be talking about it at all in the future. Mostly because I don't want to add anything that someone might find and read. But, also because I need something to do to take my mind off everything that is happening and that has already happened. So, blogging will be free of legal and other school related talk. I will still talk about our homeschooling studies and ask my dear readers for ideas. (I'm considering a Social Studies project based on "Where my Blog Buddies Live".) Oh yes and he still gets to be a part of the unified Volleyball Team since it is an after school sport. I am very anxious to get him back involved in that and with his friends. He needs it! (Me too - I "coach"!)

Have a happy week!

Sonicare Toothbrushes

Do you have a Sonicare toothbrush? If you don't, then you should. I am currently using the Sonicare Elite toothbrush system as a test for the Sonicare Company. I call it a system because it is much more than a toothbrush. First of all, it is a magnificent Electic Toothbrush that makes my teeth feel incredibly clean. Like "I just left the dentist" clean. And, that's not just a line. It's the truth. It has a regular setting, sensitive setting and a massage setting. It is incredibly relaxing and honestly, it just makes your teeth feel great. I did have to start using it on the sensitive setting for a few days to get ready for the regular setting. Also - Don't put turn it on until it is in your mouth or you, as well as your mirror, will be wearing toothpaste!

The coolest feature of this toothrush system is that it has a UV sanitizer right on the charging base. Did you know that the bacteria in your mouth goes onto your toothbrush, lies there until the next time you brush your teeth then goes back in your mouth and then back onto the toothbrush again? Can you say "Eeeew"? And, if you are sick, you are just re-infecting yourself day by day. I've always found it odd that people keep their toothbrushes together in a cup by the sink. And, just think - how far is your toothbrush from your toliet? Can you say, "Eeeew" again?

The UV sanitizer is really easy to use. You just pull the head off the toothbrush, open a little door and place the head inside. Close the door, press the ON button and it sanitizes itself. I feel better just knowing it is safe and clean to use the next time. The charger is located on the very same base, so it is compact and easy to use. I only have to charge mine about once a week. It also has a nice travel case for those little road trips you might be taking.

If you happen to be in the market for a Soniccare - leave me a comment with your email and I will send you a coupon for $10.00. And, if you own a Sonicare, please leave a comment with your experiences and likes or dislikes.

Shop 'til You Drop

(Pssssst. Hey! Quick. Does anyone know how I can hide seven bags of Hobby Lobby stuff from my husband??????????)

The Bean and I got up early and headed out the door at 9:00 this morning. That is early for us now that we are on our new "at home" schedule. We get up early, but leaving the house early just doesn't appeal to us. I had heard a rumor that Target might be going to 90% off this morning, so I wanted to get there early. Once we did got there, it was still 75% off. Isn't it sad that I am disappointed when it is "only 75% off"? I have really gotten cheap and tight in my older/wiser age. I picked up a few things that I can use year round including two big wooden stars with rusty star inserts. They are actually tree toppers, but I am going to let DH loose with a pair of wire cutters and see if he can get that foolish corkscrew contracption off them. I want to put them in the panes of the old window I hung above the couch to hold our Christmas Cards. The cards are gone (well, okay, they are not gone as 99% of my Christmas stuff, sans the tree, is still up all over the house), but I do want to leave the window up there from now on. So, I want to rusty-junk it up.

Since Target was sort of a disappointment, I asked, er, begged The Bean to let me have a spin around Hobby Lobby. He is a good sport and doesn't do the typical teenage boy stuff like roll his eyes, wear his I-Pod or walk ten paces behind me. In fact, he is quite the opposite. He likes to look and shop and drag crap home as much as I do. His poor, poor wife. I knew that Hobby Lobby was only ("only"!) 66% off so I really just wanted to look around and see what they had. When we got there, the sign on the door said, "80% off all Christmas." "Get a cart!", I said as I darted through the door. They had plenty of super cute fun things, but I did really good. I only succomed to four tchotckes and a tabletop feather tree. I bought a lot of fun trims, edgings, pompoms, ribbons, garland letters, scrapbooking things, glitter, beads and lots of other craty things that I should be able to use in my crafty eneavors and turn into more money next year.


Here are two of the things I had to grab. The snowballs are boxes. Too cute and glittery! My rational was to buy them as possible gifts next year. Yea, right. The Bean and I shone with glitter on our faces the rest of the day.

It turned out to be seven big Hobby Lobby bags full of stuff in the end. But, I spent the evening taking the robbon off the spool, opening all the packages and condensing it into one of my vintage picnic baskets so it is hidden. Yea, for me!

We ate lunch at Chick-fil-A. We had bought two $20.00 gift cards in order to get the free calendars before Christmas. So, today we used two coupons for free sandwiches and used the gift card to pay $4.66 for waffle fries and one drink. Not a bad deal.

Next it was on to Wal-Mart for groceries. No deals there! $125.00 later we left. It was only about 32 degreees at that point, so I didn't mind leaving the groceries in the car while we did a quick thrift run. I deserved it at that point!

At the thrift, I donated our old winter coats, then had a look around. There was a box of little junky toys and stuffed animals and I started digging in it. I always find a goodie in the toy box. And, I did! I found a little miniature Steiff Leo the Lion. That's two Steiff in less than six months after never having see one EVER. It was a quarter and made the entire trip worthwhile. In fact, I can't think of anything else I bought except a vintage Rock 'Em Sock' Em Robot Game that the Bean found. Oh yes! I bought a lampshade which was the reason I went to the thrift in the first place. I priced them at Target, and decided to check the thrift first. Found the exact size and style I needed for 50¢. So, the lampshade I needed for 50¢ and a Steiff thrown in for 25¢. Not a bad thrift trip, I suppose.

What after Christmas Clearance Goodies have you found this year?

A Year in Junk

I decided to share with you, my "Year in Junk".

Collection of vintage figural and standard Christmas Bulbs. $1.00 for the whole lot, if I remember correctly.

Vintage Christmas and Vintage Kitchen. A common theme of my junkin' travels.

Old wooden toy clothespins, a very old slate and other fun children's items.

Old ledger, celluloid rose pin and a set of huge old wooden beads.

Ah, this was quite a sale. Everything was priced 10¢, 25¢, etc. I bought so much. See those Santas in the middle? I was excited to find those for my Santa colleciton. I wonder where they are because I totally forgot about them until I saw this picture. Darn organizational skills anyway.

Lots of cool old stuff scored in one morning. I seem to have a reoccuring "red" theme in my finds. I don't really even have red in my house!

Probably my most favorite find of the year. The top flips open to make a step ladder. I love this thing so much. $7.50 is a lot for me to spend, but I whipped it out Pront-O when I spotted this one. Red and white, go figure!

This is a very old Beauti-Box tin from the 1930's. I found this by digging to the bottom of the box of fruitcake, cookie and other unremarkable tins one day. Bliss.

A very old Betty Crocker iron with lot of cool old graphics. Lots of red.

A stack of old metal boxes scored at different sales. The red one is an ammo can,t he green one is an explosives box from Korea and the blue one is an old tool box. I also have a larger red one that held a toy train.

I scored this sweet little vintage child's metal folding chairs and table in the trash on Spring Clean Up day. When I stopped to grab it, the couple came out and asked me to take several other things too. They had everything set up like a yard sale hoping people would take it before the trash trucks came by. I am happy to have saved this one from the landfill. Oh yes, and it is red and white, of course.

I got this potting bench at a sale for $15.00 this summer. I had a ball gathering up my old junk and displaying it on it. As you can see, it is still sitting in the driveway and I already had it junked out. I found the big metal 3's that day too and they just seemed to fit on the bench. They are still right there today.

My junkin' goal at each sale and thrift - looking for matte white pottery. I have done well this year. This photo was taken last January when I put my collection back out after Christmas. Yesterday I put my collection back out and I have 51 pieces! I have done well finding them for 25¢-$1.00 each. I know I spent $2.00 for one and that was my most expensive one. The entire collection started after reading an article in Country Living several years ago saying it would be the next "hot" collectible. A few weeks later, I went to a sale and they had twelve dirt encrusted matte white pots sitting on one table. My heartrate sped up knowing I had found a treasure, but I didn't know the price yet, so I knew not to get too excited. I asked and the lady said the sweetest words, "10¢ each." I scooped them up, took them home and soaked and scrubbed them until the glistened. I remember finding a McCoy, Royal Haegar, Floraline, Shawnee and lots of other name brand pots. I really intended on selling them, but I just fell in love with them. I decided to keep them since I had so little invested. I have been fortunate to find (and have been gifted!) more and more to add to my collection. Someday I hope to have a hutch full of pottery that I can fill with my old Shiny Brite collection at Christmas.

So, there you have it, my Year in Review. My year in Junk. This year I vow to only bring home what I love or what I can sell. And to actually SELL IT. I vow to show restraint and not have empty hand syndrome. Leaving empty handed is okey-dokey hokey-pokey. I vow to bring it home and put it where it belongs and not pile it sky high on the kitchen table. I vow to list it quickly or store it WHERE I CAN FIND IT (see Santa note above) and then list it when appropriate. I vow to organize and cull out a lot of my junk and have the YARD SALE of the year this spring. I vow to get my collections organized and dust free. (That's a good one! Snort!)

Hey, I think the thrift re-opened today! I vow to GO!