Saturday, December 31, 2011

Thrift Store decorations for your home

More decorations for the home. When I am in the Thrift Store I look at things and try to figure a way that I could use them if it catches my eye.

Today I found some really cute items at the Thrift Store that I wanted to share with you and show you the cute things you can do with something so simple.



In this picture is a side table $3, two vintage looking sconces, one cupcake holder, a white wicker frame, old fashioned milk tin pitcher and a basket full of pine cones that smell like cinnamon. All for a total of $12.


I love this old looking milk can. Very vintage looking and would be a great decoration with some flowers in it. Here are some pictures with other pitchers with flowers.

Aren't these beautiful?


CUPCAKE HOLDER


This can be used for the wonderful world of cupcakes but also can be used for an organizer for whatever smaller items need to be stored.



















SIDE TABLES!


 You can do SO MUCH with refinishing furniture and there are some great tutorials out there to take you through each step.

This is a simple, nothing fancy side table that can be turned into something really nice.



An easy furniture refinish tutorial at www.furniturefix.blogspot.com.

                      Antiquing furniture is much easier than would think, don't let it intimidate you.





PINE CONES IN A BASKET!


What would you do with these?

A simple basket full of pine cones and I know what I am doing with these! FIRE STARTERS!

 Click on picture for tutorial from Mrs. Adventure.




I am most excited about this website I found that shows how to make these fire starters. I spend a fortune on these stupid things at the store and they work terrible! I will be heading out tomorrow to buy the supplies for this. It look so simple and will save me so much money.


This will be my official purse hook.




 I have always had a thing for white frames. I love them and I have always wanted to start a wall of only white frames. So when I see one that I like I will pick it up. This one is wicker and in perfect condition and will go on my wall of white. I will just take out what is in there and pick something like a black and white photo to put in it.


More ideas with white frames.

  

I found these beautiful vintage looking Sconces and I am excited to figure out something to do with these. Aren't they cool looking?



Another great day shopping. I would love to hear about some great finds you get! Please share!


*NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CHEAP*


Friday, December 30, 2011

HELP FOR THE ORGANIZATIONALLY CHALLENGED!



One thing I have come to accept in my life is that God forgot to give me the Organization GENE. Sometimes I think we should have up to 50 years for one return to fix the broken things like the missing Gene's. :) It just isn't there, never has been and I so I thought never would be. UNTIL!.........I found "help". The clean home gods are smiling upon me. I need some SERIOUS help in this area and fast. We have nine people living in our house and it is out of control. I blame it on my kids. :) It's just easier that way.  We have four adults, a 9 year old, 7 year old, 6 year old, 1 1/2 year old and a 10 month old. As you can imagine it is a little cramped and we need some storage help for small places. So now I have some WONDERFUL new ideas that are going to make some major changes in my home and hopefully yours as well. If it isn't simple, CHEAP and  takes days to do I don't want to do it. I want smart good ideas that don't take a lot of time and that is what I want to share with you. Just a few changes can make our life so much easier and I REALLY NEED THAT! So help is on the way.



ORGANIZATION IDEAS


This is a lovely Side Table from Pottery Barn that can be yours for only $277.00! That is the sale price! That is insane! I am so used to Thrift Store prices that spending that much would give me anxiety for days.


I bought this little beauty today at ...Drum Rolll please.........FAMILY DOLLAR! What???? How much did I pay you say?  $15 for the table and $10 for the baskets for a total price of $25.00!  We lost a whole digit in there! Now I know they aren't the same in quality obviously but it is just as cute,a tad bit smaller and the basket can be used as storage. . That is a HUGE SAVINGS!


This shows you that no matter what you are looking for there is always a cheaper price somewhere else. Family Dollar has great deals and some really cute decorating items for cheap. Side note: Price shop, I had a prescription that I went to fill at Walgreens and they wanted $106! Gasp!  I called Walmart and got the same thing for $10. 




Like I said before I need some serious help in organization but I also want it to be cute so here are some WONDERFUL ideas for organizing your home and you can bet I will be doing some of these. As soon as the kids get back in school I am going to be an organizing maniac!



This is one of those problem areas I have. When the kids come home from school with all their stuff I get overwhelmed and don't know what to do with it. This is perfect. I am sure I can find these at an office supply store and it wouldn't be hard to put together. Great idea from www.bhg,.com. Thank you BHG!

Another major problem area where we go through towels way to fast. It is ridiculous! What is so hard about keeping water in the bathtub?  I love this idea so each person has their own towel BUT I will add one more as the FLOOR wipe up the water towel. My kids love the bath and can't seem to keep the water in the tub if their life depended on it! Seriously, barbies can make a big mess! You can buy numbers and hooks at Home Depot




Bouncy Sports Balls never stay put and they are always rolling around somewhere unless you put them in a box. Because they are round they never really fit anywhere. Very annoying.  This is an awesome way to contain them and super cheap. Great idea.




This is another cheap way to organize. You can use it for whatever your needs are. Very easy to do and very cost effective. I'm thinking all the little toys so they don't get lost. Barbie clothes, Little Pony, etc.


Yep, another problem I have (I told you I needed help!) When it comes time to use a measuring cup the hunt begins, they are never where I think they should be.  I love this ideas and it will be the FIRST DIY project I do. Such a great idea.




FOOD ORGANIZATION IDEAS


I wanted to share a few ideas that have helped me in the kitchen. These four ingredients I use ALOT!
Green Onions, Tomatoes, Sharp Cheddar Cheese and regular onions. 



 I bought these plastic containers at the dollar store. I got four of them for $1. Instead of having to drag these out every time I need them and cut the onions, etc. I pre-cut all of them and store them in the containers so when I do need them all I have to do is get the container and they are already done. it is cheaper to buy block cheese and grade it yourself than to buy the bag plus it tastes better. We use this alot on breakfast burritos, salads, tacos, quesadillas, etc.  






 Another tip on Green Onions that a friend of mine from Vietnam taught me long ago.
Cuts the ends off of the green onions and wash. Cut them about one inch apart, put them in a grocery bag and tie the bag loose an put in the back of the fridge. Your green onions will last about a week longer. Cool huh?

 
Tip on cutting up onions. Put a cutting board under the vent on your stove and turn it on high while you are cutting the onion so the vent takes most of the fumes so your eyes don't water.

So there you have it once again, a few more ideas to hopefully make your life easier as it will mine. 
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*NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CHEAP!*

JARS JARS AND MORE JARS!

I don't know about you but after having kids I am now wondering how many baby jars I have tossed over the years! Not to mention all the mason jars that I have used or haved received with gifts in them. Now I wish I had them all back.  Today I am going to show you some great ideas that will show you how to re-use these fine items. There are lots of different jar sizes that you can experiment with.



MASON JARS......

I have always loved Mason jars. There is just something about them. I have really taken to the old antique blue ones. You will find lots of mason jars in thrift stores. You will most likely find them without the tops but those are very cheap to buy at the store in the canning section. Here are a few of the blue ones that are antiques. If you are more partial to the blue ones then the fun of antique shopping begins which is a whole new world. You can generally find these in antique stores for around $5.00. You can buy the regular ones in the thrift store for approx $.25-$.50 cents.



These are very very old blue glass mason jars which makes them that much better BUT depending on the project you want to do the new ones may be better. We all know that traditionally mason jars have been used for canning and making jam (at least that is all I have ever known) and an occasional cute hot chocolate gift at Christmas. I am going to show you some other great ideas that they can be used for. 

I really need this for my bathroom. Great idea from www.lizmarieblog.com

 

 The blue really looks great with the yellow. Make sure if you paint them that you don't use the old valuable ones!

                                           
MY FAVORITE! MASON JAR SOAP DISPENSER.


                     Super cute idea from tokketok.com 
                     Ahhhhhh, how refreshing that looks!


 
SO SMART!


So do you see the vision now? Next time you are at the Thrift Store and you walk by the section with Mason Jars you will see them in a whole new light! Pick a few up and create something new or use one of these great ideas.




BABY FOOD JARS!

Luckily, I have access to lots of baby jars now with my grand babies living in my house. My husband wanted me to save some for him to use in the garage for nails, screws, nuts and bolts, etc......A light bulb went off in my head and I wanted to know what other things I could use those little bottles for instead of throwing them away. So, here is what I found.....




MY STYLE
Such a great idea if you have little items you need to store.

 MY HUSBANDS STYLE


These are so adorable. I have to make them.
 
These would be so cute in a bathroom or for a gift. You could fill it with this great idea for Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub. Click on picture for tutorial. I would highly recommend doTERRA Essential Oils.

     


                                 

                           These would be great for a sewing room! Inspired by Salt Tree






From SaltTree as well. I will be doing this one with
CATNIP for Cougar the Cat.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST.......NUMMYS


So there you have it JARS JARS AND MORE JARS! So many great ideas. Hope you enjoy and find new ways to use the jars you already have or jars at the Thrift Store.


*NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CHEAP*
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