Quilt #8

Quilt 8-1997-Twin Size

Five Bucks and a Thrift Shop: Round 5

How about a light for your bathroom?  I'd say this was a pretty good thrift shop score.  I can't remember how much it cost, but I think it was between $5 and $10.  And the mirror was not a thrift shop find, but it was a $19.99 Christmas Tree Shop score (don't you just love a bargain?!) and it's super heavy and solid.  

 

Five Bucks and a Thrift Shop?  What's this all about?

I am a big fan of thrift shopping.  It's not because I can't buy things new and I'm dragging myself to the thrift store out of necessity. Instead, it's for the find, the score, the excitement.  The "I can't believe I found this...and I need this" moment. It's amazing the stuff you can find. It sort of gives you a high.  And then I come home and set up a little display for my husband to gawk at.  Okay, so "Yup, that's nice" isn't quite a gawk, but I'm sure his non-nonchalant, monotonous mannerism is a cover up.  Surely, he's silently just as enthusiastic and excited as me!  How could one not be?!  I mean, isn't this pile of treasures what you've always dreamed of having?  He must be secretly busting at the seams with excitement.  Okay, maybe not. But one can hope. 

What's with the five bucks?  Well, I saw some sort of article somewhere about a woman who goes to the drug stores with coupons and records what she can get for five bucks.  Five bucks is usually what I end up spending at a thrift store anyway. Instead of spending $5 on a coffee, might as well see what you can get elsewhere.


Won't you play along?  If you are a deal seeker, post a link with pictures or describe the awesome deal you got!  I promise I will be just as excited as you!  If no one posts, I'm going to assume no one cares about my treasures.  It will be simply heart breaking to think I'm the only one who gets outrageously giddy over a brand new set of navy plaid cloth napkins for only $0.50. For a set of six, none less!  Certainly, I must not be the only one, right? 

It's the simple things...

Having a child makes me appreciate and notice simple little things.  Experiencing through the eyes of a child is just simply magical.  There were two distinct firsts that I caught on camera this week.  Swings.  Playing in pine needles, watching a pine needle "shower". Shared moments of love.  Yes please.  This is what life is all about.

 I am so blessed.  I am humbled.

Our Remodeled Bathroom

 

We did this a while ago, but I didn't have a blog then.  Wish I took a picture of what the bathroom was.  Bright yellow walls, mint green closet/laundry area.  Sunflower border.  Mirror that had fake flower sprouts.  Toilet was dark green with cream seat.  Sink was dark green with a cream laminate top.  Floor was scuffed, stained and scraped up linoleum.  Ug-ly.  I had to place a towel on the floor and use an iron to melt the linoleum off.  Not fun.  Even when clean, it looked dirty. It was embarrassing, as it didn't match the rest of the house. But we love it now and it was a great do-it-yourself project after the fact.

I must say my favorite part is the apron front sink.  I highly recommend an apron front sink, especially if your bathroom is a bathroom/laundry room. We got a swivel faucet (it's actually a kitchen faucet, but works perfect).  The whole contraption pretty much comes in handy on a daily basis.  You can fill buckets of water with it, a large watering can, use it to hand wash clothes and it's been our little one's bathtub since day one.  He still fits in it just fine at 9 months.  Uses have been endless. I love it.

Check back on Monday to see the score we got for $5 for this bathroom.

Baby Cloth Gift Pack

Believe it or not, a few people I shared my cloth diapering experiences with actually decided to switch.  My cousin is one of those who have jumped to the cloth world.  Baby #3 is on it's way anyday.  I decided to make her a newborn cloth diaper pack.  I like giving (and getting) practical gifts.  

 

Chocolate Drops

The nice part about making and sharing these cookies is my popularity instantly soars.  Especially if I serve these with a nice glass of cold milk.  Mmm.  It's from a recipe I found on the box of Baker's unsweetened chocolates.  And it's divine.  D-I-V-I-N-E.  Trust me, you'll think the same.

Chocolate Drops

Cookies
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cup flour

Frosting

1  8 oz tub cool chip

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Microwave chocolate and butter, stir until melted (I usually do a minute at a time and then stir).  Add rest of ingredients.  Chill (sometimes I chill overnight). Drop by rounded balls.  Bake 350 for 10-11 min (they won't look done, but trust me...they are). 

Make glaze by stirring and microwaving cool whip and choc. chips until melted. (again, a minute at a time, stir in between).  You really have to stir a while for it to look like the picture. Let stand for an hour or so. Spread on the cookies. Try not to devour the whole plate of cookies in one setting.  And if you think of any tips on how I can get my husband to practice portioning, let me know.

Ladder as Towel Rack

 

Yes, this is a plain old ladder.  Easy, Functional, Movable and stores back ups.  And I think it's quite decorative.  For a $10 at an antique shop, you can't go wrong.