Five Bucks and a Thrift Shop, Round 9

A telling time book 

A cookie press, with pieces still in plastic 

Two more wooden boxes, which I collect for organizing 

Two yards of 100% cotton fabric

Two brand new bags of number tiles

Two brand new bags of letter tiles

A terracotta pot

Two different unopened packages of elastic

Three different ribbons

Unopened bag of foam shapes

Cost: Exactly $5, before taxes.

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? 

Strawberry Picking

Happiness is...

A summer day with my little country bumpkin.
 Rows of deliciousness, just waiting to be picked.

 Having a helper who is quicker than his mama at finding the reddest berries.

 Watching the first taste of a strawberry (yes, I'm a bad mama....I let him taste a freshly picked, unwashed one).

Having a differing opinion from my little one about an appropriate number of strawberries to consume in one setting.  (He was quick at grabbing the ones I was picking too).

 Dirty faces.

 Red stained fingers from the tiny bits of perfection.
Bowls of deliciousness.

The delight of tasting fresh berry jam in the winter months.

The mutual love and affection between this mama and baby.

Play Kitchen Accessories Part 5: Play Apron

I complimented the mama behind Bug-a-boo beanies (http://www.facebook.com/bugaboobeanies), who has been a friend of mine since our 4-H days as kids.  I loved her beanies.  She loved my creations.  We decided to trade.  This is what I made her little girl:

And then I caught the bug and made oodles. So many I decided to sell them.

If you want to give it a go, here's a quick way to make an apron:

1) Measure how big you want the bodice. Cut two pieces that size. 2) You can just use thick 2 or 2 1/2 inch ribbon for the neck strap and ties. Place right sides together, pinning neck strap in place. Stitch top and sides of bodice. Turn right side out. Press. 3) Measure desired skirt length,leaving room for bottom hem. Width is 2 to 2 1/2 times bodice. Hem sides of skirt. Baste entire length of skirt 1/2 inch in on top leaving ends loose. Pull threads to gather and make a ruffle. You may need to pinch and move gather to ease it all in. 4) Place right sides of bottom skirt and bodice together so ruffle matches. Stitch in place. Press. 4)Cut long ribbon 3 1/2 to 4 times the length of the bodice. Pin the middle of the long ribbon to the back of the bodice, covering the unfinished stitches. Stitch (one side of the ribbon stitch in the ditch the other side of the ribbon hand sew so you can't see through the apron). Press. 5) Hem bottom apron. 6) Turn in and stitch the end of the side ribbon so they don't fray.

Play Kitchen Accessories Part Four: Felt Veggies

A little bit of felt (made from recycled plastic bottles), some old quilt batting and some imagination and you have play veggies for the kitchen.  I didn't use a pattern for these, I just started cutting and sewing.  This is what I came up with in two evenings.  It seems that they will be well loved in the future. Cost less than $3.00.

A new skirt for mama

Excuse the wrinkles.  It was ironed at the beginning of the day.  However, by the time I go around to taking the pictures, it was no longer ironed.  And with a hungry baby, I just decided to take the pictures ASAP without re-ironing. Forgive me.  Sigh.

Anyway, it's been a looong time since I've made something for myself.  I am in a dear friend's wedding this summer.  The skirt of the bridesmaid dress is so roomy and comfy!  I made a pattern by tracing the skirt, adding a seam allowance one night and I and whipped it up the next evening. It's sooo comfy!

I got the fabric at a yard sale for $.50.  I bought a zipper at a thrift shop for $.50.  So, a new skirt for a buck.  Can't beat that.

Ice Cream Sundae Toppings on a Chocolate Cupcake

Now, doesn't this look delicious?  My husband thought so.  But then again, he always likes my sweets.  This recipe was born out of using up contents from the fridge.  What do you do with ice cream toppers once the husband has demolished all of the ice cream?  Well, here you go.  The cake recipe is not mine, but the rest is all crazy me.

 For the cupcake:

This recipe is shared with permission from Emile DeRouchie -McMahon, a friend from childhood. I found the recipe in the 1991 church cookbook.   It has been in her family since the 1940s.  She's the fourth generation to make these cupcakes.  How neat is that?!  I love how easy and quick they are.  They live up to their name, as I haven't failed yet at this recipe.

No Fail Chocolate Cupcakes

1 egg
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup sour milk

Put in bowl in order given.  DO NOT stir until last item has been added.  Beat well.  Divide into paper lined cupcake pans. Makes 18 cupcakes (I make 14 out of this recipe).   Bake at 350 until done (which I bake them for 20 minutes).  Let cool.

Whipped cream topping:

1 pint of heavy cream
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar (more or less to taste)

Whip all ingredients.  Chill for one hour. Once chilled,  place heaping tablespoon on cupcakes.  Create a finger indent well in the middle (this will be handy when adding the chocolate).  Chill again until the whip cream is firm.

Chocolate topping:

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/8 cup butter
1 T. light cream
1 T. powdered sugar

Melt chocolate and butter in small bowl.  Whip in light cream and powdered sugar.
Make sure chocolate is not too hot before you spoon it over the cupcakes.  If it's too hot, the whipped cream will melt or the chocolate will slide off of the cupcake. 

Sprinkle chopped peanuts and add a cherry.  Store cupcakes in the refrigerator.  Enjoy!

Quilt 11

Quilt 11 - 1999 - Twin Size