More teal and kitchen Items and a cool bag!

I made a quick stop and I actually can't remember where I went!  I think it was the Salvation Army.  Yes, yes I remember now because they were having a 50% off sale.  I found this awesome little plate that so matches the colors and the new vibe in my kitchen (not to mention it is a picture of Chocolate Cake!) so I had to have it.   It's a Hershey's chocolate collector plate which I wasn't aware they even had.  so cute!!!  I picked up this little treasure for 1.30 after the 1/2 price.  Awesome!

Then I found at the same place this utensil holder from Le Creuset.  I was very excited!  It is in excellent condition, not chips or anything!  This sells  online on ebay for around 35.00 asking price and retails for 67.00.   I was very excited, I've been wanting the Le Creuset dutch oven 3.5 quart in  Caribbean blue but it is about 200.00.   I'll have to put it out there for Mothers Day : )  Anyway I was thrilled to get it for 99cents, and even tho I wasn't going to go with any red in my kitchen, the boy in the plate is wearing a red sweater and so I think it will go just fine.   

The last two things are accessories and I just love them both.   The first is a dark red/maroon handbag by Relic.  Very cute and in excellent condition, clean inside, for 3.99.  

 Then check out this brand new handbag with the tags still on it that I picked up for 4.99!  It is so cute and flashy and perfect for going out in the summer!!     Oh and anyone who might read this and lives anywhere near Claremont, California, there is a great store out there that I just found recently with my mom, it's huge.  It's actually where I picked up the last item, the new purse.   It is called Charity thrift and the salesgirl told us that on Mondays they have a 1.00 dollar tag sale on a specific color.  One of my favorite Salvation Army's used to do that and now they don't.  So if your are in that area google the Charity thrift and head on over on a Monday for some great stuff.   

The picture isn't the best, it is a really pretty gold bag with a big rhinestone in the middle of the flower, it is very pretty and sparkly. 

Thrifty Spring Finds!!!

I went thrifting on Monday with my mom and we came home with a few great things!   I love what I found and they really go together with my kitchen and the colors I am going with for spring!  This placemat actually includes all my colors.  I found 4 of these at the Goodwill in Hawaii.  I love teal/turquoise and yellow and brown.  All three are represented.   First item is this cute little hardboiled egg slicer.  50 cents.  I am a huge sucker for kitchen gadgets in metal like the more old fashioned looking one.  I have a whole drawer full.  This one was made in Germany.  I forget to use them for specific jobs a lot of the time but I just love finding them and buying them. 

Second thing, these adorable corn holders in bright, yellow plastic, kind of feels and looks like melamine.  Perfect for the yard and a  nicer than the plastic ones at the grocery store.  I have a set of clear glass ones but these are much better for the back yard.   So pretty!  I can't wait to use them.  I love BBQ'ed corn with lots of butter and salt and a little Cholula (?)  hot sprinkle.  $ 2.00

Next is this very cute cake plate and cover.  I had thought I wanted a glass one and maybe I still do! but I saw this one and had to have it, the turquoise bottom is just perfect!  It looks very 50's to me.  It is like Tupperware but is made by a company called Tucker and it was made in the USA.   1.50 for me : )

Lastly is a clothing item, this pretty Lilly Pulitzer dress!!!  I LOVE it.  Big yellow daffodils on it, it is just screaming springtime!  And what an amazing deal on this, so exciting!  I found it at the Goodwill with the Lilly Pulitzer tags still on it including the price tag, $ 278.00 dress, brand new and I got it for..............8.99!!!   This has been a pretty successful week thrifting, I hope you all are doing well too,  Happy April  XXOO

  

I'm back!!!!

I don't know what happened, the last couple of months just flew by!  We are renters and wound up having to move right before Christmas!  Our landlord decided he needed to sell right away and was actually going to give us till the 1st of Jan. but we decided getting into a new place and getting settled for some Christmas would be better than trying to have Christmas around a bunch of boxes.  So we did it.  It was a lot of work really fast but we managed to find a very nice place not too far from our previous house so no changing schools or shopping centers or neighborhoods.  Then I knew I was going to be leaving on a cruise for 2 weeks on the 18th of January and still had some unpacking and arranging to do around the house and then packing and planning clothes for the 15 days of cruising!  Not much time left for blogging but I did thrift a little bit before I left.  3 things, not much but great things that I wound up using a lot.

First, I found this awesome leather back bag by Tignallello.  I found a similar one on their website going for 145.00, I paid 3.99 at the Salvation Army.  It was perfect for the cruise, while I didn't really want to carry a purse on my arm all around the ship, it was a hike back to my room so I wanted to have some things with me and a small leather pack pack did the trick.  It worked perfectly and was out of my way.  I'm not a backpack person at all unless camping but this was perfect.  I've been using it at home since I got back too, so convenient and hands free!

Second, was this great canvas Hawaii bag!  (I cruised to Hawaii) Perfect.  I have seen similar bags for around 25.00 and mine was 4.99.  It has the painted word all over it and glitter too.   It had a little make up on it that I was sure I could get out so I asked if a markdown was possible and I was given another 1.00 off, 3.99.  I took it home, washed it in the sink with some mild soap and it was like new, the interior was spotless.  And to top it of 3 people asked me where I bought my bag.  It is a crossbody type messenger bag and really worked out well for all our running around.  Of course with such a great bag I did wind up carrying things for my sister and my mom too!

Third was this awesome straw beach tote with the cute cotton/canvas liner by Billabong, 4.99.  A similar one from the same brand was about 25.00-32.00.  Score.  Our last day on land was to be spent in Kona.  We decided to do our souvenir shopping in Kona (Kona Coffee!) and lay out on the beach in the remainder of the day and get some sun.   At sea the weather was mostly cold and some rain and the other islands were chilly and rainy too and Kona was supposed to be nice and warm.  We were bounding out of our rooms with our swimsuits under our clothes and our beach bags, my straw bag, etc., when we were told over the loud speaker that we were unable to dock in Kona because of rough water and waves.  OMGosh we were soooo disappointed!!!!   Not only that, the only other stop we would be making before home was Ensenada, Mexico.   It was nice but we did not want to get souvenirs there, we wanted things from Hawaii.  

Ensenada Flea Market

We also did some thrifting in Hawaii, yes we did!!  They had Goodwill and Salvation Army in every port, and a Humane Society Thrift store.  When everyone else was buying their Hawaiian attire at Hilo Hatties at full price, we went to the thrifts and got our authentic Hilo Hattie dresses for pennies compared to the retail prices and they were beautiful!  Score even on vacation.

The red dress is a Hilo Hattie and a similar dress on their website was 125.00, it is fancier and has ruffles everywhere,  she got hers for 9.00.  Mine is the orange one and I got it for 15.00 and a similar dress was 45.00.  For something that we won't wear a lot, it was a great way to not spend a lot.  We of course did do some shopping at Hilo's for their amazing snacks and candies, macadamia nut mango or guava cookies?  The best cookies ever!

Well I was feeling a little under the weather the last evening before we arrived home Sunday, I thought I was just feeling out of sorts about leaving the ship, we had so much fun! But by Monday I had full on strep throat and was sicker than I have been in Years for 5 days.  In bed, flat on my back!!!!  It was awful, I felt like I had swords sticking in my throat.  I ate an entire huge bag of popsicles by myself and whined a lot.  I am feeling a lot better today finally!  I hope to be back out thrifting soon for spring and of course I will be sharing!

Aloha !

Tail end of a Community Yard Sale!

I know everyone likes to get out early to the yard sales, some people are up and out by 6:00am, 7:00.  I do it too.  I know the early bird does catch a lot of worms.  But I have had the experience where I just can't seem to get out the door early on a Saturday and wind up at the yard sale right before closing time.    You can get some really good deals that way too.  Today I stopped by one that was three houses together and as soon as I walked up a lady handed me a box and said to fill it up for 1.00!   Well there was actually tons of cute stuff left so my son and I looked around.  I got quite a few Christmas items here, brand new garlands to decorate with, beaded garlands, glass balls to craft with, etc.   I filled my box with my goodies and gave the yard sale 10.00 for my box instead of the 1.00.  I like a good deal but I can't walk away with so much great stuff for nothing.  At 10.00 it was still and excellent deal for what I found.  

Adorable little corduroy romper for my little niece.  So cute!!

Appliqued piggies, cows and ruffles, so sweet!!

Patriotic swags 

I love this!!   I think it is a cheese cover, that's what I was thinking of using it for anyway, with the little knives and snowflake pattern.  I have a set of snowman dinnerware that this will go with nicely : )

A vintage 1987 DAKIN plush animal, so cute!  He is a duckbilled platypus in an outback outfit.  He's like new!

A pile of Christmas things: 


garlands, beads, candles, glass balls and vintage ornaments and a blue tree skirt for my little silver tree with the all-blue decorations!

I had both of these when I was a child!   We had bags of elves we used to play with and my grandma had a pin just like this.  You pull the string and Santa's nose lights up : )

I just love him <3 <3

This adorable handmade gingerbread couple!  I was thinking of changing their bows to Christmas colors and making the Mrs. a Christmas apron.  

This really cute nutcracker mug still in the box with the packaging.  I bought my sister some pumpkin spice cappuccino last night at a crafts fair so this will be the perfect mug to give her with the coffee  to drink it in.

I found these really cute t shirts that are handmade with cute Christmas pictures sewed on them with some lace.  A bear, a fawn, and two puppies.  The snowflakes have rhinestones on them.   Brand new and still in the bags, they will be perfect for 4 of my nieces for a little pre-Christmas gift.  

I feel like I really made out and found some great things for a great price.  Sometimes everything isn't picked over so I'm so glad I stopped.  Fun, fun!

Happy birthday to me, I'm fifty three!

There's nothing too thrifty about this post, nothing at all really.  It's my birthday today, I'm 53 and proud of it : ). I always celebrate with my twin.  We had Victorian tea.  Very nice : ).

Rummage sale and Halloween Craft Fair on Friday!

My sister came up again this Friday and we picked up our mom and hit a rummage sale.  It was a pretty big one and we all found something.  First off, I picked up a few pieces of jewelry and a scarf for a whopping 4.00!

The cutest little Christmas ball earrings for 1.00, star earrings 1.00, zebra striped scarf/pashmina 1.00!!!!  A snowman pin, .50,  a pair of red rhinestone earrings, .50,  and one USA earring, .50 that I plan  to use as a lapel pin.

I love this scarf and I'm starrting to plan what I can wear with it.  It's pretty big, much bigger than I scarf, more like a wrap.

These no flame candles were a gift from a friend.  I 've been driving her husband to doctor appts because she has to work and is worried about losing her job.  Her husband requires a lot of doctor visits, he crushed his leg a few months ago working.   She gave me these flameless  candles and a nice bottle of wine.  Very sweet : )



Found:  Gurley Halloween candle!!  Vintage witch for 25cents.

These candles were .25 each.  Vintage painted candles.  I remember having these types of candles around when I was little.  The witch is definitely old but the pumpkin head may be a little newer.   Gurley Candle Co. was known for making holiday candles, especially Halloween and Christmas.  They are highly collectible today.  I was thrilled to find one for next to nothing to add to my Halloween decor.  

Isn't she awesome,  I love her!!

I picked up these little pumpkins and basket for .10 each!!!!!!

This little wooden carved cat is a treasure in my opinion, I love him : )  Got him at the Goodwill for 5.00.  I had to have him.  My husband loves wood and things carved from wood so I picked this up for him.  He put it on top of a pretty wooden jewelry type box he has next to the bed.  It looks really cute there : )      ( Excuse my nail polish!!!  I've got to get it off right away!)

We went to a big craft fair called the Sugar Plum.    We have them nearby 4 times a year right before big holidays.  I love to support local artists and try to buy from the people who have the Handmade Items certification.  Some are not.

They always have this cool Halloween house!   This fair really but me in the mood for Halloween and fall but we walk outside and its 90 outside with hot Santa Ana winds!  Yesterday it got up to 92 and it is 930 am right now and I am already sweating and getting ready to turn the air on.  Yuck.   On a happier note I still have tomatos in my garden!  They must like the heat, I picked 5 really big, fat, juicy ones today and there are still a few greenies left that need to ripen.  I love having my own tomatos, I guess that's kind of thrifty too but I grow them because they are so delicious and have so much flavor.

Yes, my 22 year old son here, went with us to a craft fair.  It's kind of a tradition, he always went when he was little with me and his grandmother  and we still love him to go and obliges us.  Nice guy : )   Well I found some great things I think, enjoy!

Thrifty Holiday Decorating

I am a big decorator at Christmastime.  I have boxes and boxes of decorations in my attic and I buy new ones every year too.  Some of the decorations I have on my tree I've had for 30 years.  Ornaments given as gifts, ornaments my children made, etc.   I love them.  And I love the new ones I find too.  Pretty soon I'm going to need two Christmas trees! ( I would actually LOVE that!)   Well I was at the Dollar store the other day and they had a Christmas Village display!  Now that is something I don't have.  I do have a display of an Autumn Village and last year I sprayed it with that spray on snow and used it at Christmas too.  But it doesn't have a lot of stuff.   Anyway, the Christmas Village at the Dollar store was very pretty and had a lot of pieces.  The bottle brush trees are a lot more money at Michaels, etc and here they were 3 in a package for 1.00!   There are all the different stores and lamposts, benches, people, even a skating rink pond.  I am going back ASAP to get all the pieces.   I can get pretty much the whole village for 20.00 and the whole thing will fit on top of my desk, the buildings are bout 3 inches high.  So pretty.  It has holes on the bottom to put in light bulbs and cords too.  If you have a Dollar store check it out!

I stopped in the 99 cent store too and found some really pretty things for Halloween a few weeks ago.  If you find something at the 99cent store you better get it and don't wait because things go fast.   I love owls and found the cutest owl tealight holders and glittery owl stand decoration this cute rubber mat and a black straw hat I'm hoping to turn it to a pretty Halloween hat : ) .    I usually go to the Sugar Plum festival which is a really nice craft fair here in SoCal that sells a lot of handmade crafts for all the Holidays.  I always buy something new and awesome for Halloween and Christmas there too.  Some of their stuff is pricey but alot of it is reasonable and I like to support local artists and crafters.