our local thrift shop is called The Et Cetera Shop.
the town i grew up in had one also so it's been part of my life for a long time.
i donate LOTS of stuff to it every year. (kids out grow out of clothes so fast!)
but i buy LOTS of fun stuff there too.
i stopped in yesterday for their grand re-opening after remodeling….ya know….just to peek.
i left with a box almost too big to take to my car myself.
oh my.
this seriously heavy duty fish shaped bottle opener could not stay there all alone.
it needed me.
it was lonely….it had traveled all the way from Moses Lake, Washington!
a little spray paint….
a little oxi clean….
maybe some RIT dye for the chenille…
another chalk board.
i just can't resist them!
and if they have a green painted chalk tray….forget about it?!!!
it must come home with me.
talby came home and said "what does thrifty mean?"
thriftΒ·y/ΛTHriftΔ/
| Adjective: |
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| Synonyms: |
economical – frugal – sparing – saving – economic
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craig may disagree that i am "thrifty" BUT at least i enjoy a bargain when i find one.
pottery in the perfect shade of turquoise….
teeny red cardinal salt and pepper shakers to be saved for a craft someday…
a silver dish to hold bracelets in my bathroom….
and a handmade blanket that screams "happy valentines day!"
a weathered globe….
and a yard of sweet heart fabric.
it was a fabulous day at the thrift shop.
i love those kind of days.
we are painting this after school…because….it's pretty!
(source…)
and i can't wait.
it looks completely relaxing to paint that.
pattern and color over and over…..ahhhhhhh.
do you have big valentine's day plans?
i will be honest with ya'll….i don't celebrate Valentines.
i don't decorate.
i don't make treats.
i buy the $2 box of cards for my kids to take to class…with Victorious and Angry Birds.
i am sure if craig was one of those guys that went nuts with gifts and flowers for valentines i wouldn't object to that but seriously i just don't really care.
i know i am loved everyday.
and my kids know it too.
here is my ode to valentines….from the Lord.
thank you Lord for that kind of love.
amen.
:)
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don't forget to enter to win a $100 gift card to the Olive Garden HERE.
Jeeva - These are really funny. I would be esatctic to get the knot one in the mail. Also, a note, I’ve been reading your blog for a while, don’t think i’ve ever commented, but wanted to tell you I have really enjoyed reading your post.
Imran - these are so uber cute and special!!! Thank you so very much for srnihag!!! When I do a new blog post I will link these to my blog—I think that’s how you’d term it—-(I’m new at this)—be blessedBeyond Measuretammywww.bbbm.weebly.combartlettpair4atmsndotcom
Mehran - Oh I am ALWAYS out of ink… I think my Printer literally dinrks it before I can ever use it.. LOL!! These are Really Cute… I seriously need to learn how to use my photo elements that I bought Two years ago still sitting in the Original Box Unopened because of FEAR!!! .. π But thankfully there are WONDERFUL people like you who offer such CUTE Free things to print.. π
Terrie G - so, how did you like the geodesic dome? My husband’s cousin made it. It’s like setting up all the dominoes…I wouldn’t have the patience for it!
Kristin S - Ugh, our thrift stores are so lame! Tempted to drive all the way to Kansas…
Bethany - Ah… I saw that afghan in their facebook pictures. Dreamy. But I didn’t make it up that way for the reopening. Glad it went to a good home. π
Karen Pittson - I found that EXACT “Bless our Home” plaque at the Goodwill. You can see how I transformed it here http://alilbird.blogspot.com/2010/08/gussy-up-your-80s-plaques-and-crazy.html Loved the pretty pages of hearts, and your darling girls. Thanks for sharing your life with us π
Brandi - I made the Oreo pudding poke cake for my kids on Valentine’s Day. It was a huge hit. How could it not be, right? I’m going to try the water color craft later today. If it turns out like your daughter’s, it will be a framer.
elisa - I love vintage chenille. Love. And that pink and red blanket!!!!
megan - whoa. i’m kind of dying over your thrifty finds.
fabulous!
and
i don’t decorate for valentine’s either.
and, perk #142 of homeschooling? not having to make valentine’s cards. π
i’m kind of a valentine’s grinch.
the Mr. and I did leave the kids home alone to go out for an early dinner, though.
xoxo
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - P.S. I also meant to say that I had this exact same globe(your newest one) when I was in high school. And I actually used it for school:) If only I had known then that Id want them years later…
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Im jealous of that chalkboard. I have one in my home that I made over from a cheap, gold frame of a full length mirror. It turned out great but Id love a huge rectangular one for my kitchen wall. We just repainted in there after the fire and its so much brighter!(Ive cooked meals almost every night since we repainted…a sure sign that its more fun to be in there now than when it was red:))
I recently scored a globe at a new thrift store here in town and it was still in the box! I got it for $7.
Vonda - You know how some things take you by surprise!? Well I just got the mail and my daughter gets Popular Photography and as I laid it on the counter YOUR picture was on the back. I was like “I KNOW HER”. lol. Been following your blog for a long time. It was a nice surprise!!! π
denise@victory rd. - i never have such luck when i go thrifting. never. love the globe. i am so in the market for globes. found some last week for $50-$60, used! that’s not thrifty.
Lisa - I can’t believe someone could part with that beautiful crocheted afghan! But what a score for you! I have one just like that in yellows, oranges, & browns that my grandmother made for me when I was a teenager . . . with a matching pillow! Sentimental love! And who can ever pass up chenille anything! Looks like a successful treasure hunt.
Yby5 - I would have wrestled you over the globe and chalkboard..I have the same love of those as well π
what a great day you had!!
Jenn - That’s awesome the the fish bottle opener came all the way from WA :). I am using your comments to find people who live close to Moses Lake since I live (semi) close to there too. I like other WA bloggers. So thanks for that! As for Valentines, nothing big, usually just a sweet note to one another and a bottle of good wine. Simple and fun.
Melody - fun finds! My mom grew up in Moses Lake WA so we were there MANY times over the years visiting family (and still have some there to visit) π
Lori Austin - Great finds! Love the bowl and the chalkboard….I’m waiting patiently to find some older (character filled) chalkboards in my town. No luck so far.
Love V-day. Start the day with heart plates and yummy breakfast with a couple of special surprises by my kiddos plates. Worked the party at my daughter’s school. Home to make our “special family dinner” with small valentine mailboxes filled with cute little items. Pink, purple, red color everywhere. Love it!! (plus my hubby one up’d the flowers this year and came home with the 2nd season of Downton Abbey on DVD. Woohoo! π
Mindy Harris - i love all of your finds. wonderful wonderful. i may hafto make a special trip to ETC. ha. happy heart day.
Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - At first I thought that box was full of things you were TAKING to the thrft store and I thought “Why would she get rid of all that awesome stuff?!”. Makes so much more sense the other way around π Happy heart day!
Wendy - My girls went to school with their Valentines this morning without the accompanying lollipops … bc they ate half of them last nite π
Kristin - Oh my what good finds! We don’t celebrate Valentines Day either, our anniversary is a week later. π
Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Hello Miss Meg, Happy Valentine’s Day to you. Just letting you know I “borrowed” your 1 Corinthians verse for my blog. Hope it’s okay. I didn’t think you would mind. P.S. Love the fish bottle opener π
Carrie - wow oh wow what an awesome thrift store day!! the globe is awesome!!! jealous of it all!!! π
Juli - I have that exact chalkboard! Yours originally had a green rope that went through the holes. Mine hangs over my son’s headboard and currently reads, “I love you, Jackie poo-poo”, a “love note” from his sister! HA!
kristin - ha! i had that afghan in my arms for about 10 seconds and put it back….feeling overwhelmed by my growing box.
: )
Rebecca - rad finds Meg!!! love that blanket!
Mary - I bought that exact same Bless Our Home sign last year at Goodwill! I painted mine turquoise and orange. And I’m thinking about repainting it again. So fun!
Marianne - Love the turquoise bowl!! We have a white and charcoal grey kitchen and I visit second hand stores to collect colourful dishes to display! I have come across some real lovelies but now that my open shelving is getting full I am becoming more choosie. I don’t think that’s a word but you get my drift… π
Kerry - What an awesome name for a shop! You got really thrifty there Meg – I can spend HOURS at the charity shop – buying stuff for ‘What if’ and ‘Just Maybe’ Great finds π
I don’t really celebrate Valentines either, but I got a bottle of Jimmy Choo perfume, so I’m all smiley anyways xx π
Jen - Oh that red and pink afghan is AMAZING. Wish I could find one of those!! We had heart shaped pancakes for brunch, but we don’t do much else… I’d rather celebrate love all year long than just today!
Margo - I am so happy you found such great things! As we put the store back together on Saturday I saw that globe and totally thought of you! If I had even had time to really look around that bowl may have been mine….ha!
kirsten - if only I could find stuff that cool at my local thrift shop.
i read your last post right before bed last night, and then dreamed that i came to visit. it was SO much fun visiting you in dreamland. π
Amy - Moses Lake is right next to where I live….we go to their water park during the summer and they’ve got a great pizza place! let me know if you want more fish for your sea…. π
I made homemade nutella poptarts this morning for the kids….with strawberries to look like hearts! that’s it folks! I’m actually wearing black today….oops! Love the family and the hubby everyday!!
happygirl - I love your thrifty ways. It makes reading your blog so much fun. I don’t make the treats either. I’m glad I’m not the only one. π
Maria - Ugh, auto correct… A night off cooking…not alight…just ignore any other typos…
Maria - We keep it simple here. We order dinner out instead of the whole, grab a sitter,wait, wait wait with everyone else. I’d much rather just have alight off cooking and just relax at hometown catch up on the DVD together.
Flowers…if I don’t pick them out at SAMs myself (I can’t help myself sometimes), I’ll usually see a simple bouquet brought home, which is fine. This year I gave a big hint on which ones I wanted from SAMs. We’ll see…otherwise I will get them myself later this week…
As for candy, I have to pick up brachs candy hearts ( the big ones) every year….in fact, I already bought them…i am addicted to the orange ones…my kids get the rest…mostly.
Happy Valentines Day!
Ashley - Oh, how I wish we had an awesome thrift store like that! My grandparents have that Bless Our Home plaque. I have always loved it.
The boys helped make treats for school, valentines from balloons for friends, and we open small gifts with the kids. My favorite was my oldest’s pair of Night Fury sunglasses from the store. Just a small, fun gesture. It’s always been kind of big for me because it’s when the hubby asked me out nearly a decade ago. Sentimentality, I guess. Showing the love daily rocks, though, an that’s exactly what we strive to do! π
Have a happy day!
sara @ it's good to be queen - yes, love the etc. shop. you better believe that is a must stop whenever we’re in kansas. it is SO CHEAP!! way better than goodwill. i got a huge box of goodies over christmas. milk glass for a quarter? yes. please. i love all your finds. so great. happy day!
mandy friend - okay, your state is the place to thrift! we NEVER find cvool stuff like that in oregon…or if we did it’d be in an antique stor for lots of $! i paid almost $40 for the globe i was finally able to find!
shannon - Oh my goodness those goodies you got!!! I love the globe and that blanket is perfect, especially for today π Your thrift store looks amazing, ours is not so great. Hope you and your loved ones have a great Valentine’s Day
Meg Duerksen - thanks so much dana!!!
Dana D@BoysMyJoys - Here’s a link from my pinterest page for the heart print- http://pinterest.com/pin/71142869083511516/
And here’s the link for where she sells the print in her shop- http://www.etsy.com/listing/92537572/small-v-color-study-print
LOVE all your great finds!
Ali - Oh my goodness!!! I seriously would have bought every single thing you did. I loooooooove it all!!! Awesome π
Happy V-day!
geneva - I agree about Valentines Day! Just a commercial holiday to make $. Treat your love and loved ones the same way everyday! Who needs a “made up” holiday!! ;)Anyway, my love’s birthday is today! π
Jolene (Homespun Heritage) - I do NOT normally DO Valentines Day…its just not a “holiday” with much meaning to me…we love our family daily and don’t let the media or the masses tell us what day we have to set aside to show them that. So, imagine my surprise when the hubs comes home for lunch with a bouquet and a balloon?!!? It *IS* extra special simply because that is a rare treat and I love him surprising me! (He usually does that sort of stuff throughout the year and not ON V-day).
I told him I planned a nice family dinner but I can’t gift wrap the pork chops very well!
Lori H - Valentines is no big deal at our house. My husband knows not to buy the overpriced roses…I love the tulips from Trader Joes ($4.99). Now that my kids are older, they don’t take cards to school. Just a Hallmark Holiday in my eyes. Love your thrift store finds. Gives me the itch to go hunting!
Laura Phelps - you are so thrifty π
Nick is in LA for a while….
but cupid left treats for the kids
and I am off to do some fun baking
i do like valentines day
its my moms birthday
and well…
love is just so darn hard
so I am happy today to have so much of it around me
I dressed the dog
ha!
in a heart print dress
its killing me
tonight I think it is frozen french bread pizza for the kids and a little writing for me
yup
romantic
love to you and your family
xoxoxoxoxox
Amy@BuffaloRoam - Very cool finds! Love me some thrifting. π
Whitney - Good thrifting!
Such a cute painting, I can’t wait to see what the kid’s versions look like!
Happy Heart Day!
Kerstie - You so scored at the thrift shop. Valentines day IS over celebrated. Showing love threw buying flowers and chocolate… not my thing. We do do heart shaped pizza, heart cookies, and cards the kids scribble on. I am a crafter soooo some V-tines day crafting does happen. π
Happy day!
Tiffany - Oh man, that art is cute & simple, i like that, we may have to give it a go too. Thrift days are like that, feast or famine. And you know what they say about men and thrifting…A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need, itβs sooo true in my house, sounds like yours as well. Happy Valentineβs Day!
Jenn A. - I am sad that anyone ever got rid of that handmade blanket! But it is balanced out by the fact that it now has a loving new home. It’s gorgeous and so very HAPPY!
Mary - i love your blog, i visit often but don’t leave comments much, i figure with so many it’s just one more to read…:)
but i want you to know i look forward to each new post.
grace and peace
Seriously Sassy Mama - Valentines is not big at our house either. I tell my girls it is for grown ups. I get my husband a card every year, and the girls the $1 Russel brand chocolate box at Walmart, plus a tiny craft. This year it is a bead heart necklace I got for %50 at Hobby Lobby. I spent $1.50 on each child and they loved it! Personally I would just like someone to do my dishes today, and clean the girls toilet. That would be a great gift! God’s love was the first thing I thought about this morning when I started reading everyone’s Valentine stuff. Have a happy day painting, and yeah to your thrifting.
Molly - 1. love the verse!
2. we don’t go all out for valentines either. And that is fine with me! I do like to give the girls a little something special….like heart shaped marshmallows:)
3. Love the thrift store finds…makes me want to go be thrifty!
4. I had a dream about you last night….my family was driving through Kansas and our car broke down. You tried to fix it with your hair dryer. But we needed a place to stay and you said we could stay with you even though it was craft weekend and your house was already full. I think you even got my husband to do a craft.
5. I am pregnant with #3 and have been dreaming alot:)
Mandy - Love the fish bottle opener!!!
I just painted valentines day cards for my co-workers and it was very therapeutic! Highly recommend diving into that painting above….
Kim - i vote yes to your thrifty finds.
fun, fabulous, and educational too! π
i LOVE that bless this home sign.
LOVE LOVE LOVE. that is a diamond in the rough for sure.
and i’d be snuggling with that valentines blanked 24/7. i love a good pink and red combo. throw in some chevron and you have a big winner. π
happy valentines day!
Lisa McCracken - We celebrate Vday around here, just a little. But I think it’s “over”-celebrated to some degree. But it’s fun!
Can you tell us where you got that amazing print of I Corinthian’s? Is it something that can be purchased?
Thanks! and Happy Valentine’s Day! π
Kim - Nice finds! We really celebrate Valentine’s Day here – it’s my daughter’s birthday. She is such a sweet girl, having a b-day on Valentine’s Day really suits her. So today I am busy making lasagna and brownies, wrapping presents and all that fun stuff.
courtney casper - moses lake?! haha teeny tiny town..right next to my husbands even teenier and tiner home town!
good find!
Holly - love a good thrift store day!