THRIFTY MONDAY: sittin' pretty

It seems like forever that we've been searching for extra chairs to go with our dining room set.  Our set consists of one oak table, four oak chairs and one leaf for the table.  And since we're a family of five, a four seater table just doesn't cut it.... don't get me wrong, we don't have one of the kids sitting on the floor while we eat or anything like that.... we have a little old farmhouse chair (that I love) that the girl-monkey's booster seat sits upon....

So, yes, we do have enough chairs for our family.... But, what a pain when we have guests for dinner....

Well.... pain  no more!

Last wednesday, Mr. Monkey found an ad on Kijiji.... 6 pressed back chairs with newly re-caned seats for $375.  Not a ridiculous price for 6 caned chairs.... but also not truly a thrifty price either.... again, if you know me well, you know how I don't like to part with money, I'm thrifty, cheap, like that :D

Aaaanyway, the chairs were in a little town 15 minutes away.... we bundled the girl-monkey up and off we went. 

Conclusion.  They were nice looking chairs; however, with kids, I don't think caned seats are practical.  Not to say my kids are ram-my or overly rambunctious, they're pretty gentle on our furniture (we've trained them well).... but, they are kids and kids drop food and spill drinks (heck, so do adults) and the thought of trying to clean food and drink out of caning - no thanks.  And - And!  They were wobbly.  And loose.  And not at all the solid and heavy chairs that we were after.

We thanked the lovely gentleman and were on our merry way, sans chairs....

We hopped in the family bus, and decided to head into the city to check out Bibles for Missions.... But, on the way, we stopped at our favourite Antique Shop, Brooks' House.  We've purchased a number of items from this place and have found the prices very fair and reasonable.  The nice lady who owns the store told us long ago when we asked why her prices were so low, that if she priced like other antique stores, she'd never move anything.  Makes sense.  She prices her items so she gets her money back with a little extra for profit.  Pretty fair in my books.

And you can tell, if you visit her store once a week for a month, that her stock changes all the time.  She chooses quality pieces and if they need some TLC, her husband fixes them up in his workshop.  Perfect!

We found a beautiful table and chair set almost immediately when we walked in.... and as luck would have it, it was priced NOT as a set!  The chairs were priced at $196 for 4 solid oak pressed back chairs and the table was $275.

The smarty-pants that Mr. Monkey is, he brought along one of our own kitchen chairs to match up to anything we found.... BRILLIANT!

The height of the pressed back was perfect!  The colour was off; but, seriously, nothing in my house matches anyway and that's just the way we like it.

So, the million-dollar question, asked by the wheeler and dealer, Mr. Monkey, 'What's the best you can do on them?'  And that's the great thing about buying from an independent seller, there's always a deal to be had.... Because they needed a little TLC upon arrival to her shop, she could only do 10% off.  Good enough for us!

These beauties are now a permanent fixture in my home.

We have extra seating for company; of course, our table still only comfortably seats 6, but has fed upwards of 10.... you do what you have to do, right?  The table will be replaced later-later, no rush on that, just gives me time to find something I really-really love.

So all-in-all, they were a great price for something old and something solid and best of all, something with character.  Less than $50 a chair.... PERFECT!

And, somehow the thrifty-ness must have filtered down to the girl-monkey, she came away with this....

A vintage tin that housed a few vintage buttons for the HUGE price of 50 cents.  And so her button collecting career begins.... I LOVE IT!

Have a lovely January day my dears....   ;)

THRIFTY MONDAY: santa's gift to me

Santa must have been watching me for the past few months, because look what I found.... hidden in one of my dresser drawers.... obviously, a-hem, Santa forgot to wrap it and slide it under the tree before Daddy noticed.... Aaaanyway, sometimes Santa slips up too....

This is THE cutest little Spring Blossom bowl, from the original launch in 1972.  It features the same larger patterned flowers as one of my previous finds.

See.... if you're a good girl, sometimes Santa comes through with the gifts that make you smile.

;)  .... that's me.... smiling .... have a lovely day....

COUNTDOWN: six

6 shopping days left!  You heard me, SIX!!

I love crocheting, betcha knew that though.... Aaaanyway, if you know a few basic crochet stitches, you can make some quick, easy, and useful gifts....

It's ba-ack!  The POT SCRUBBIE!  Yes, people, the pot scrubbie.

When you first look at it, you wonder, Is this thing really going to revolutionize my dish washing experience?  Honestly, no.  But, they are very eco friendly, they last for-ever, and can be made in some pretty fun and funky colours.... Doesn't everyone need a little colour to brighten up the mundane job of scrubbing pots?  I think so.

Anyhow, the basic pot scrubbie is simply two circular, single crocheted coasters sewn together.  That's it.  Revolutionary?... Again, no.

If you aren't into giving pot scrubbies as gifts, give them (single thickness) as coasters.  And, if you don't know how to crochet, you can make coasters using just about any kind of cloth you can get your hands on, hand stitch or use your sewing machine to sew together sandwiched fabrics; or use 4" x 4"  tiles and mod podge pretty scrapbook paper to them, then attach little cork or felt pads to the bottoms.... Super simple!

Give it a try!  Your gift recipient will love them!

Have a super day  ;)

THRIFTY MONDAY: more pyrex love....

I found both of these little pretties at Value Village....  

This pattern is Spring Blossom, first introduced by Pyrex in 1972 to accompany Corelle's Spring Blossom dish set (1970).  Spring Blossom was also relaunched in 1979, no longer in avocado green; it featured a scaled down pattern size and available in lime green and dark green.  The dish in my collection (pictured above) is from the original introduction in 1972, and I'm happy to report that it has been lovingly cared for and shows virtually no signs of use... YAY me!

This pretty turquoise Butterprint dish, is quite possibly the oldest in my meager little collection.  This pattern (Butterprint) was introduced in 1957 and produced until 1968.  Orange and pink versions of this pattern were also printed but discontinued in the early 1960's.  You know I've talked previously about wanting (needing) pink Pyrex....  well, now that I know there are also orange pieces tucked away in someones cupboard, believe me, my want for this colour almost overshadows my need for pink :(    Aaaanyway, this pretty mixing bowl is beautiful on the printed side with one or two little (teeny-tiny, really) scratches; however, the inside looks like it's made a few cakes in it's time.... it's all good though, I still love it completely!

I've come to realize that finding Pyrex in pristine condition, like the first few pieces I purchased, is not so easy.  And I've also realized that since finding those few pristine pieces, that I cannot settle for pieces that are, well,  less than.... It's pretty clear when pieces are washed in a dishwasher, the pattern become etched and faded.... you can imagine just how sad this makes me.  I've found my coveted pink Pyrex, several times, in several locations; sadly, they've all been abused by the dreaded dishwasher one to many times.... I just can't bring myself to adding something so terribly cared for to my collection of gleaming superstars.... is that me just being prejudiced?

Anyhow, there's your Pyrex history lesson for today.  Have a happy, thrifty Monday  ;)

THRIFTY MONDAY: signs.... ok, just one sign

My local consignment shop is one of my favourite places to browse for clothes for myself.   I tend to go there at least once every two weeks....  But, it's not just clothes.  They accept everything from clothes to living room sofas.... the shop is pretty small, but they know what moves....

The lady who owns the shop is one of the very sweetest people I have ever met.... and I admire the fact that she remembers every. single. person's. name..... that's pretty amazing, considering her shop clientele is HUGE!

Aaaanyway, for the looooongest time, she had a beautiful restaurant sign displayed above one of her clothing racks.... it's fairly large, about the wider than a king size bed and roughly 15-18 inches high.... I had admired it for such a long time and never ever asked about it.  I had actually assumed that it was just a really cool display piece she used in her store.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I inquired, she said it was definitely a consignment item and the price tag was $200.  A little more than I like to spend on a thrifted item; however, finding a sign this size for such a small price (as far as signs go), I just couldn't pass it up.... She agreed to sell for $175 cash.  NO PROBLEM.... I'll gladly take that baby off your hands....

Ho-ly buckets!  This things weighs a TON!  Thus, the reason for only the sneak peak you see here.... I just couldn't lift the thing on my own to get a better shot....

It looks like it's from the inside of a restaurant.  You know, the ones with all of the kitschy pictures and signs everywhere?  Aaaanyway, this big green beauty will find it's place in our future finished basement family room.... I am so looking forward to seeing it anchored to my wall.

Happy Monday peeps!  I hope you can find room in your hearts for some lovely thrifty-ness too  ;)

RANDOMNESS: keeping up with 'stuff'

I know everyone has days, weeks, months, when they feel like they've just let everything s-l-i-d-e.... I've felt that way since summer.... I KNOW!  Lazy or what?!

Well, I'm trying to get back on track now.... I've made up a house cleaning schedule for myself.  Something I should have done a very long time ago.  But, cleaning is one of those things where I always feel behind, and the nagging guilt I have over it some days is excruciatingly painful and paralyzing.  Can you relate?

Anyhow, I'm 2 weeks into the schedule, and I have to say that I feel much less stress about keeping house.  And, truth is, the schedule isn't really far off from what I was doing before; it's just that I've printed it off and posted it so that it's a BLAZING reminder of my daily tasks.  And, I guess that's what I needed.... ACCOUNTABILITY.

It's funny, I demand accountability in my children's actions and the actions of others; and myself, for that matter.... just not in the context of a clean house.  Why, I wonder?.... Is it because I know the house will never, ever be totally clean (untidy).... I'm not delusional.  I have kids who create messes, I create messes.... and I'm generally the type who 'shoves' things.... thinking I'll get to them later.... but, oftentimes, later never comes.  Please tell me you understand.... give me an agreeing head nod....

I have to say, that this pressure and stress I feel over house work, is pressure I put on myself.  Why do we do that?  If you ever find a reasonable answer to that question, please enlighten me; because all of the answers I have come up with are completely insane when you really think about them.

The world will not end if I don't put the dishes away before bed.... my children will not be forced to wear dirty clothes.... my friends and neighbours will not stop speaking to me because I haven't vacuumed in two days.  I know this.

So, here's the thing.  I make this schedule, and I'm not talking 3 hours of house cleaning a day.... just 15 minutes to half an hour on top of the daily pick-up and tidy..... do at least one load of washing and drying and putting away a day to keep on top of the mountains of fabric that pile up in my laundry room.... and most importantly, MOST IMPORTANTLY, putting things away, right away - NOT saving it for the later that never comes.  HA!

It's working for me.  I'm less stressed, I'm able to rationalize house cleaning better because I know I've accomplished my daily task, I have more quality time with my family and I'm satisfied that my family is not living in filth.... ok, so my house isn't filthy to begin with, just untidy at times really; but nonetheless, I find it somewhat stressful....

Aaaanyway.... In conclusion, I'm happier knowing I'm holding myself accountable for keeping a tidy home....  Have a great day, I'm off to clean the loo!
;)

BESTIES OF ETSY: apron love

I don't know what it is about an apron that I love so much.... maybe because it reminds me of Happy Days.... I love that show.  Mrs. Cunningham always working away in the home wearing her beautiful day dresses, ever protected by her kitchen aprons.

Last year, I added an apron to my Santa list, and as luck would have it, he obliged!  It just makes sense to wear one really.... how many times have I been making tomato sauce and splattered one of my white, off white or lightly coloured shirts?  I'm sure you can relate, right?   Anyway, I thought with baking season getting into full swing over here, that I'd show you all a beautiful collection of very useful aprons.... ENJOY!

Vintage-inspired print, full apron by my very favourite apron maker, Chadley of Terrace Hill.  I've had the pleasure of e-mailing back and forth with Chadley, and she is SO. NICE.  Someone who builds these beautiful creations using equally beautiful designer fabrics.... and doesn't skimp on customer service.... I hope one day to be the proud wearer of a Terrace Hill apron....

Nerdy Owl apron by Zig-Zags.... I am a self-professed nerd, and so I can truly appreciate this cute piece of work....

From Sunday Afternoon, a vintage, large-patterned gingham, half apron complete with rick-rack detailing and pintucking at the waist.  Couldn't you just see someone wearing this in a tiny little cupcake bakery?

I love making little apron and chef hat sets like this for birthday presents, then giving them with a children's cookbook.... This set is from Sweet Apronz n Cupcakes.

I'm thinking this little number, by Snappy Shop, would be the perfect apron to wear while hosting an evening dinner party where martini's are the featured beverage....

And lastly, every household needs an apron for cleaning, for holding yard sale money, for playing store with the littles.... This one is the perfect size, with very generous pockets, in a super-fun print.  By Little Miss Dinah.

I hope you enjoyed this tiny collection of kitchen-y goodness!  Check out Etsy for TONS more....

Have a great day everyone  ;)

P.S.  Check me out at Tutus and Tea Parties.... she's having a Pinterest-ing linky party!  Click the button in my sidebar and it will take you to her blog :)

THRIFTY MONDAY: rotary dial

As you've heard, I am a LOVER of everything vintage; like seriously, if vintage stuff were people, I'd be a stalker....

And if you know me personally, you may also know that I am a little s-l-o-w getting with the times; I mean, I still have a slide-type cell phone (eek!  it's 2 years old! for shame!)....  I wouldn't say I can't let go of possessions; that's just not me; and you must understand that I began having my own thoughts and ideas in my teens and twenties which were in the 80's and 90's.... and as far as I'm concerned, the only things that came out of the 80's and 90's were very big hair and extremely bad fashions; I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't hold on to things for nostalgic reasons, I'm not a hoarder; I'm an appreciator of things from the past.... However, I did meet my husband in 1990.... so, I guess something good did come out of those times for me :P

 Aaaanyway, both Mr. Monkey and myself like vintage and antique items, and I guess I can't take credit for this as Mr. Monkey was the one who found and purchased it; but, I do love it.... I love the sound of the ring, with just two ring settings:  hi or low; which truth be told, are both ear piercingly LOUD! I'm just not in love with the colour; I'm on the hunt for an avocado green 'chicklet' push-button wall mount (do you know the one I'm talking about?).  Anyhow, here it is....

Our bedroom phone.... the rotary dial; when speed dial referred to how fast you could whip the numbers around with the strength of your own fingers;  in the days before cell phones and wireless connections;  before i-pods and wii....

Those days were simpler.  A little less hectic-rush-rush-go-go.  A stark difference from then to now, don't you think?

The modern version of the rotary phone came into the Bell System around 1919.  Models, like the one we have, with a plastic rotary, were introduced around 1949.  These models began to phase out in the 1960's after the introduction of push-button dialing at the 1962 World's Fair held in Seattle Washington.

I can tell you this much about these phones.  They are reliable, they are well built and weigh a TON!  You can still use these phones in your home as long as they've been rewired with proper jacks; or hardwired right into your phone wiring system; and also as long as you have a modern push-button phone somewhere in your home.  Modern phone systems and emergency dialing systems do not support the rotary phone.

We found this one at a very junky flea market in the city close to where we live.  I think we paid $20 dollars for it.  A fair price, I think, for a little piece of history; a tiny slice of a slower time....

Have a great day people  ;)

Interesting.... no, Pinteresting....

I am in love with Pinterest.... if you don't know what it is, check it out, it's pretty self-explanatory....  Think brainstorming-idea centre-organizing thoughts.... Ahhh, all in one place....

Anyhow, I've been having a great time browsing everybody's idea's and adapting them to my own life/home/what-have-you....  Just thought I'd share some of the Pinteresting things I've found of late....

Organization - Pinterest

Peacock tutu tutorial - via Pinterest

Fairy lights - found on Pinterest

Headband tutorial - Pinteresting

Chocolate chips and raspberries - via Pinterest

10 things to make with cereal boxes - found on Pinterest

Pinterest is for anyone looking to organize and share their thoughts.... have a look, you may be inspired to do something you didn't even know you wanted to do....

Have a great day everyone ;)

Saturday thrifting.... never again....

I don't normally go near my beloved, Value Village on a Saturday.... it's a very treacherous place to be.  It's extremely busy with bargain hunters especially with Halloween so close; and I don't know if I've mentioned the poorly designed parking lot which it shares with a large Staples store and a very busy gym.... aaaanyway.

They really should get you to sign a waiver before entering that parking lot on a Saturday.... "I, Mrs.Monkey, do solemnly swear that I understand that by driving onto this parking lot, I am taking the lives of myself and my children into my own hands...."  again, aaaanyway....

I was on the hunt for a shirt and tie for the little monkey who will be taking the bus to an away hockey game.... Yes, folks, it's getting to this point in his hockey career.... the shirt and tie.... EEKS!  Another affirmation that he's growing way too fast!

Snagged a great deal on a nice button down dress shirt, casual dress pants and v-neck wool sweater.... had to buy a men's tie; but, that's easy enough to MacGyver into something suitable for a young lad  ;)

Cost Breakdown:
$  5.99 button down shirt (a bit more than I like to spend, buy hey!)
$  3.99 GAP casual dress khaki's (with no visible signs of wear)
$  2.99 GAP v-neck wool sweater (also no signs of wear)
$  3.99 men's tie (feel bad chopping it to bits.... nah, not really)
$16.96 TOTAL for an outfit that looks great, and will likely not be worn together again :P

Can't beat that price anywhere!  And the nice thing is, he didn't even bat an eye that I was buying him this outfit from a thrift store.  I love that!  I hope my kids grow up saying that their mother loved them enough to buy them the things they needed while at the same time putting our family, as a whole, first.  Because that's what it's all about for me.  Sure, I could go out and buy brand new outfits for occasions like this; I have the means; I like new things too.  But, the reality for me is, WHY?.  Why, when there are places like value village, and people who love to trend shop.... it makes no sense for me to spend my husband's hard earned money so frivolously.  Not to mention, it's about recycling and breathing new life into something old-ish.  I figure it's a win-win for everyone:  I get the deals on items that are still as good as new; my children learn the value of a dollar and to prioritize; stuff gets recycled; and local charities benefit from my meager spending.... see, win-win!

Okay, on with the post.... Of course, I couldn't leave without checking out the housewares section, and as usual, there were more vintage pieces of Pyrex.  Only problem was, they were very worn.... Nuts!  It really saddens me when I find a pattern that I love and the previous owner(s) didn't give it the white glove treatment.... boo!  Oh well, there'll be more....

I did find a pretty gingham half apron that will make it's way into the shop, and books, LOTS of books for the kids!  My guys love love LOVE Captain Underpants.... at first, I really didn't like them and didn't want them reading them; but, after seeing how involved they get.... well, how can you take away something they're reading?  I mean that's the point, right?  They're reading something.  And of course, little Seuss books for the miss, and her favourite author, Eric Carle.

And, I didn't come away totally empty-handed myself.... more vintage canning jars with the screw tops (which is a rare find), there were a few more, but I opted for these 3.... I'm beginning quite a collection of these too; but, I do use them.... honest.

Anyhow, hope you have a happy Sunday filled with family and fun.... later folks  ;)

Fiesta... ole!

I . LOVE . FIESTA WARE.

Just so you know ;)

The vibrant and fun colours, the clean, simple and concentric lines, the art deco styles of the vintage pieces.... What's not to LOVE???

I've never owned any of my own.... unti-il today  (SMILES)

Aaaanyway,  while browsing a long weekend outdoor antique market, I came upon these little pieces of eye candy.  Beautiful plum, turquoise, yellow, periwinkle, and sunshine....

They were missing their saucers; but, really, I'd never use them so I'm not too concerned.... Do you use saucers with your tea cups? ....Well, I guess I shouldn't say I never use saucers.... when I use my china tea cups for Christmas gatherings, I use saucers; but, seriously, a fine china tea cup is totally naked without a saucer, right?

6 beautiful, genuine, authentic Fiesta ware tea cups.... $15!  Yes, I said $15!  Anyone wanna come for tea? 

I have a couple of other thrifty and vintage pieces to show you in the very near future.... believe me, it's hard not to snap fifty-thousand photos and post them all at once....  I'll just say this... It's time to get my girl-babes room under way....

Have a great night all ;)

Squeaky clean....

Something new in the shop!


More scrubbies! Made out of the softest, 100% cotton baby yarn.... scrumptious! They're good for dishes too, that is, if you feel your dishes need that extra special touch of softness....

Have a great day people ;)

It's all mine....

Ok, so by now, you're probably all getting a little tired of my obsession with aluminum ware; but, too bad :P

Here's another thrifty find I couldn't pass up!


The kitchy-est little double boiler, don't you think? I'm bursting at the seams with this stuff.... When I first decided I 'needed' a collection of aluminum, my intentions were to just find a few (7) coffee percolators and tea pots to display on top of my kitchen cupboards.... well, with the addition of this one, my cupboards are looking a little too overdone :(

Something has to go.... but not today, I'm going to mull it over for a bit, do some re-arranging and shuffling about.... I'm sure I can make IT. ALL. FIT.... Mr. Monkey is not so sure.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot.... this little buddy only set me back $3.00 plus tax at my favourite 'Thrift Store'.... great find, I say.

I'll return later for this weeks installment of the Friday Night Video.... any requests??? Have a great day my lovelies ;)

The newest addition....

I've been waiting to meet these little guys in person for a looooong time.... and today, I finally brought them home....


I've been scouting for a set of these aluminum canisters for what seems like forever, and though I've seen them online like a ka-jillion (yeah, it's a word - in the Monkey-Momma dictionary); a-hem, like a ka-jillion times, I can't seem to bring myself to pay the horrendous shipping charges, or have the patience to have them shipped to either my sister in Massachusetts or my in-laws in Florida and then have to wait for someone to bring them home to Canada....

Aaaanyway, I found them today at an antique market - a place not too far away from me that I like to browse, but rarely purchase as usually the prices in places like that are jacked up way too high. However, this set of three and bonus extra 'sugar' were only $12.50.... How could I pass them up? Well, I couldn't so they are sitting on my counter as we speak, waiting to be suds up then filled....

I'm really quite excited, I've never had canisters before.... it'll be interesting to see if I like them or if I just find them annoying to have cluttering my workspace.... Do you have canisters or do you find items like that useless?

Anyhow, people.... I'm off to finish up some more Sea Star washies.... have a very restful night ;)

New and coming soon to the shop....

For a while now, I've been throwing around the idea of adding a wider selection of 'stuff' to my etsy shop. You know, I'm a little more diverse craft-wise, than just hats, I really am.... I love ALL things crafty.

And as I admitted yesterday, I have a new obsession: finding fun and totally vintage patterns and pattern books. I've already added one vintage pattern of a cute kids/teens cotton dress/cover-up to the shop; and will be adding the other books that I just found too.

I've also been really liking the hand embellished kitchen towels that I've seen in stores, on etsy and elsewhere.... I decided to try my hand at that as well. Yesterday I added this cute little lady to the shop.... of course, this is an in progress picture, you can find the finished towel in the shop....


Secretly, I'm thinking that if it doesn't sell quickly, I'll just add it to my own kitchen towel drawer because I like it that much ;)

And, AND! The sea star washies are working up very nicely and quite quickly.... there'll be sets of those available later in the week, too.

I dunno what's going on with me... wasn't I just saying recently that I wasn't feeling much like crafting? Well, that drought seems to have passed. My mind is racing a mile a minute with different project ideas, and just last night after I had the kiddies tucked into bed, I whipped up a hip sack for Hammy. The boys have had their own for quite some time. They use them every time we go on a hike. They tuck their rocks, leaves, and anything else they find into them. And this time, I took pictures of the process.... I'm hoping to find the time to make up a tutorial for the hip sack soon.

Aaaanyway, nothing more to add today.... hope you all have a great day ;)

What's up....

Hey! It's been a while.... so sorry for the crickets chirpin' around these parts.... We've been busy having lots of summer fun, as I'm sure you have been as well.

Last night, after I got the kiddie-kats to bed, I devoted my ENTIRE night to the hook! Something I haven't done in a loooong time.... and I didn't feel even the slightest twinge of guilt, which is a major thing for me as I usually feel some degree of anxiety when I take time just for me (clearly, content for a future blog-therapy session).... Do you feel like that sometimes too?

So, aaaanyway, here's what worked up as I watched American Pickers (a new fave) and Dateline NBC (an old fave)....



Pot scrubbies; super soft baby scrubbies; and two super cute, sand colour 'sea star' washies.... Again, the scrubbie-love rears it's glorious head.... I just love making these up, they're so quick and more importantly - USEFUL! I'm hoping to make up a bunch more of the 'sea star' washies and list them in the shop.... They're the perfect size for doing dishes, washing baby (or yourself - they're not discriminating), using as a hot pad.... and anything else you can think of!

I also announced on my 3 monkeys inc facebook page that I'm NOW TAKING ORDERS (yelling through a megaphone) for skull and crossbones hats.... trying to get some of my repeat customer orders filled before the rush.... So, if you're interested in some pretty cool (or warm) and unique gifts for Christmas, check out my 3 monkeys facebook page or my mini etsy right over there on my sidebar....

Aaaanyway, just a quick little bit to let you know I'm still around and that I haven't forgotten about you.... I'll be posting this week, and will be back for sure on friday for our usual installment of the Friday Night Video.... Cheers peeps! Have a wonderful day ;)

Thifty fun....

So, while perusing Value Village, looking for clown costumes for my boys, I spotted this baby....



My first thought: "I must have it."

My husband's reaction: "What?! Where are we gonna put it?"

I don't know. Does it matter? It's perfect.... to go.... ummm, it'll fit.... somewhere?....

It reminds me of an early television set, I love the legs, I love the concave shape of the drawer fronts, I can live with the colour.... but seriously, why, when I have such a great source for spray paint, thank you Home Depot....

But, really, I think I've found another addiction. I can't pass up little pieces like this. I know I'll find the perfect spot in my home for this little cutie.... and if I don't, I'm sure one of my friends will.... although, truth be told, we all know this will NOT be leaving my house.

This thing is solid with one little blemish on the top.... nothing that can't be fixed with a little elbow grease and sand paper. Living in a small house, I think you're forced to seek out anything that will be able to house 'stuff'. That, for me, is certainly criteria for a piece of furniture coming through my doors.

Aaaanyway, drumroll please, the sticker price on this amazingly retro feeling stick of wood....

$9.99 .... cue fireworks....

Have a great day everyone ;)

Thrifty thursday....

Today, my Hammy-Girl and I ventured to my favourite thrifty store, and here's what we came away with....


A vintage camp lantern that's very rustic, in a great shade of red, perfect for my guest-bedroom-in-progress; a vintage single flat bed sheet that will be perfect for a couple of sweet summery twirly skirts and maybe an apron or two; and two children's books, because really, a child can never have too many books....

The grand total for today's haul....
$ 8.00 camp lamp
$ 1.95 bed sheet
$ 0.50 2 books (.25 each)
----------
$10.45 plus tax

I love this place! So many little treasures.

Have a great night everyone ;)

Fun in the kitchen....

So, I've been taking this week off as a little breather.... much needed, and well deserved. But, this is what I've been checking out lately.... I love kitchen gadgets! I don't quite know where the love came from.... but it leads me to finding some really interesting, fun and useful items. Check out these cool and hilarious items.... things my children would certainly appreciate as much as I do!


The Condiment Gun, found at Danna Bananas.... how much fun would that be at a BBQ?


Corny Corn Holders, found at the joie shop, yay, no more burned fingers!


Kitsch Gadgets Pizza Cutter, also available at the joie shop.


Fred M-Cups, who doesn't love Russian Dolls? Available at Danna Bananas.


And last, Fish Chopsticks, from Kitchen Stuff Plus. Certainly would make eating asian food less daunting for kids (and some adults).

Have a great day peeps ;)

The before: the story of a beautiful lamp in the making....

That's right folks.... I'm tackling this worn out, diamond in the rough this weekend. So here's what she looks like today:


a little scarred and marred, a little tired and old.... but her bones are good. She has a nice solid wood base that will take a sanding quite nicely, I'm hoping.... I'm not sure if I'll strip it down completely (a messy job that I've done a few times before... but am thinking is not totally necessary with this girl; of course that too could change once I get started....)

I have a love of refinishing old and new wooden pieces.... I'm NOT; however, in love with chemical stripping; but, sometimes it's unavoidable.... Aaaanyway, hopefully next time you see this little lady she'll be dressed in her new digs and casting a soft glow upon my new guest bedroom.... The fella in my beloved THRIFT STORE says she's sure to light up a room; unfortunately when he tested her for me, I had my back turned. Go figure. Ahhh, well, a wiring job is not an impossible task either (something I've tackled with another lamp project.... pretty easy and straight forward).... which brings me to another point that I want to make:

Ladies. You don't always need a man for small refinishing and re-wiring jobs.... my dad always thought it was important for me to know how to use tools (power and manual) and to be able to do small fix-it jobs around the house. His way of thinking is that sometimes there's not always a man around (or one willing to do what you're asking) so it's best just to do it yourself. A valuable lesson/skill/what-have-you that I've learned, and now in my adulthood I've come to embrace my confidence as a quasi-pseudo-handywoman.... there's nothing like the feeling of tackling something that people would otherwise think is man's work, yourself :D And, AND! I know my husband appreciates the fact that I can help out with the fixing and remodelling instead of running off to fix a chipped fingernail (btw... who has time for painting fingernails when you have several littles chasing after you???)

Aaaanyway, I digress.... So stay tuned in the next week for the sequel of the lamp....

The after: renewed and grounded and happily living in my basement

Have a great afternoon everyone ;)