Thursday, December 4, 2008

OOPS

I posted yesterday, but discovered that I posted on the wrong blog...that's what happens when you've arrived at the advanced age of ummm 50....so hopefully I'll get that post put up later tonight.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

Turkey in the oven. Check. Ham in the oven. Check. Hot rolls rising. Check. Cup of cocoa. Check. Ahhh, how I love the holidays! Dinner will be at 1pm, but I have to get the roasting out of the way to make use of the oven for all the side dishes. Sis will be here around 10am to start working on her famous sweet potato casserole. Sis-in-law is bringing baked beans and cheesey potatoes..She's a fab cook, so whatever she brings will be delish. Last night, I baked two pumpkin pies and made 3 lbs. of fudge. Junkette #2 made a Chocolate Chip Pecan pie. We should be good on the dessert part of dinner, in addition to a the aforementioned foods, we will have the standard mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, green beans, corn and cranberry sauce. Junkette #3 made a great Carrot Cake Cheeseball, but she's taking it to her future inlaws for dinner tonight..it was really good, she is serving it with grahm crackers. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A Thrifted Trunk with a History


This sweet trunk comes with a little history. One day, my Sis called my office and wanted to know if I had an extra trunk she could use for a coffee table. I didn't have one, but one of my best friends, Sandy who is hands down the QUEEN of all things junk, would probably know where we could find one. It just so happened that day was one that Sandy was working with me, so I ambled back to her office, asked if she had any trunks. Well of course she did...in the back of her van parked outside of our office. I went out and looked at it, it was in great shape, and I immediately fell in love for it, worked out the bargain price I was hoping for, and ran back to call my sister. She was floored. She said "Who else but Cindy would have access to whatever I asked for, or at least had a buddy that carries furniture around with her!"

I took the trunk home to store it until Sis could pick it up. After a while, we sold our house and we packed up everything to move (Sis's trunk as well) and moved out. I had to put a lot of stuff in storage, (Sis's trunk as well) because we had downsized to a house that was less than half the size as the previous one. After about a year, I decided I needed a new look for our bedroom, and went shopping in my storage building. And then I saw the trunk..I called my sister and asked her if she had any intention of coming to get that trunk, because I really thought it would be perfect in my bedroom. She graciously told me I could keep the trunk, since I had moved it all over creation while storing it for her. So kept it, I did!

Getting it all whipped into shape..

Well, I caved. I shampooed my hall carpet. I had been putting it off, knowing that we would be replacing it soon. But, there is family coming for dinner on Thursday, and I didn't want them grossed out by the skanky carpet. It looks somewhat better, but the only real cure is to throw it in the garbage, and being the thrifty soul I am, that hurts. We will be replacing the hallway and office area with wood flooring. Most of our flooring has already been replaced gradually with wood, which has really helped with our allergies. Not to mention, that now I see the dust and clean much more often.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Thanksgiving Shopping Spectacular

Well, I've finally decided that I will do my Thanksgiving shopping at...Wal-Mart. Generally, I hate shopping at Wal-Mart. The store is too crowded, the prices are too high and the check-out lines are enormous..not to mention the rudeness of the employees. As well as food, I need some fabric to finish a quilt I have been working on for our nephew Stephen who is marrying his lovely bride, Rebecca on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. So a trip to Wal-Mart it will be. Maybe I'll find some good deals..clearance..etc..

Thursday, November 20, 2008

The $25 Bathroom Makeover

Yes, for only $25, a new look for my poor bathroom! Being the thrifty soul that I am, I washed my shower curtain liner. That worked out okay, but then I put it in the dryer and, well, it kind of melted. I hung it back up anyway, because Jim couldn't take a shower without the shower curtain liner. Basically a shower curtain liner with holes, is not much protection to the shower curtain. I decided that a trip to Gabriel Brothers was in order. Not only did I need a new shower curtain liner, but I had left our bed pillows in the hotel when we went to our niece Courtney's wedding in North Carolina.

Gabriel Brothers is a very cool store, loaded with lots of STUFF at super discount prices. I got a super nice heavy duty (read hard to melt) shower curtain liner and two very firm queen size bed pillows for next to nothing.

I was lamenting the loss of the shower curtain liner to Junkette #3 and she said, "Mom, I saw the coolest shower curtain at Family Dollar, and it was your favorite brand..CHEAP!!"

So we headed out to Family Dollar, and yep, there was a whole rack of cheap shower curtains. I found a really cute black and khaki fleur de lis printed one for only $6. What a steal!! At that price, I thought, why not redo the entire bathroom..so I did. I got a great balloon shade in khaki, a solid black big loop bath mat, and a really big black and khaki rug for in front of the lavatory. I traded out a print I had in the bedroom, and voila..a new look for less than $25. Oh how I love a bargain!

And by the way, the bed pillows I got were too firm, Jim and I both got stiff necks, so we're back to using some extra pillows I had in the linen closet..I'll save the new VERY firm pillows for the guest room....





This is the before picture of my bathroom...









This is the after picture of my bathroom

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Canadian sugar and creamer..eveyone say Ebay!!


I got this sweet set from Ebay, straight from Canada. I have searched for this pattern all over the internet, because I would love to get some additional pieces. I paid more for the shipping than for the set!!