I need your opinion, please...

Hey Girls...I need y'all's opinion, please. I am thinking about the children's outfits for Christmas and pictures with Santa. Originally, I was going to do the green polka dots with the red and white polka dots. Then, I got a super sweet deal for the boys' sweaters and it totally changed up my plan. This is where y'all come in...

I plan on making the pink style dress, with layered gathered tiers in the way I have them laid out here.

Here are the boys' sweaters. I got Fisher's from Goodwill for $2.60 and its originally from Holland. Love it!! I got Jackson's from my new favorite thrift shop for 50 cents. Makes Goodwill sound like highway robbery, huh?? Anyway, I am thinking the boys will wear khaki pants?? We already have those and I am all about saving while I spend, you know what I mean?!?!

Okay, here is another view of Lilly's fabric choice. I plan for her to wear tights and black maryjane's. I am going to make more yo-yo's to either cover the headband or cluster to the side.

I plan on getting this sweater from Target to wear with the dress.

My questions are...

*Do y'all like the black, red, and white together??

*Does it pass for Christmas enough??

*Does it look too Disney or UGA{Georgia Bulldogs}??

Thanks in advance!!

Hello, my name is Elise and I'm a shopaholic...

The day started out innocently enough. Kids climbing into Fisher's crib with him. Me changing his diaper and giving him his bottle. Wondering why my husband wasn't freaking out when it was almost nine o'clock{he has to be at work at nine}. Cory told me his boss told him to just come on in at eleven o'clock. I thought he was kidding for a minute. Anyway, we decided to go get breakfast. Afterwards, the kids and I went to the local thrift shop. I felt drawn there AND it was on the way to Wal-Mart, which is where we were supposed to be going.
Found a brand new Guesstures game, still sealed and for only $2.00. We love to play games with friends. Also found a blue and cream sheet which is going to become a patriotic pillow among other things. A toaster which we badly needed. Hopefully nobody powdered arsenic in it!! Love me chunky frame!! I am thinking I am going to paint it antique white, distress it and put a small, aged American flag in it.


I loved these frames. I think they are going to get another paint job.

Everytime I would go into Belk, I would see bowls similar to these. I never did buy one, cause I cannot stomach paying upwards of $15-20 for one bowl.

A subtraction puzzle for the kids. Jackson said, "I can do homeschool later!!" He is not so super excited about homeschool and wants to go to "regular" school. Too bad, kid...

Is this cream pitcher not cute?!?! I am going to put little American flags in it a' la Cherry. I couldn't resist the orange latte bowl. So cute!! I will probably use the doily for Valentine's, but in the meanwhile Lilly can put it in her kitchen.

Thanks for looking at my junk. I promise I don't go shopping everyday!! Hahaha!!

Oh, while on the subject...I am looking for metal embroidery hoops. If you have an aunt or grandma who has some and would like to get rid of them, I would love some!!

Thrifting goods...God's provision...

I took my camera into Best Buy yesterday, and thought while I was in the other town that I should make the best of it and go thrifting. Boy was I glad I did!!
Our house didn't come with a vent hood or a microwave over the range. I didn't really want to shell out the $$$ that it would take to get one. God knows what we need and what we want though, and I'd like to think He honors our waiting and looking by giving it to us for less than we could have thought possible sometimes!!
{Drumroll please...}

A black microwave to go over our stove!! For...$40!! Yes, you read that right, only $40. The price tag on it was $50 and I asked for a discount. Ask and ye shall receive!!

This little grouping only cost $3.00 at various yard sales on Saturday. The table runner was free. The little lady said she didn't want to take it back home. It is in disrepair, but I am going to display it in one of my picnic baskets. Love all the work someone put into it. You can't buy that at Target.

This frame was also from a yardsale. I paid $1 for it. Kind of...It was brass originally and this is the only picture I could come up with on the fly.

I got this rolling cart at that yard sale also. I'm gonna spiffy it up with some paint and sew a liner for it.

These little treasures also came from the same yard sale as the two above photos. All of it was $6 and that included two toys for the kids. I didn't think y'all would care about a nude Ariel doll and Mater. Hahaha!!

Yesterday, I went to the Habitat ReStore and found this bed. I like it for Fisher better than this one. Plus it goes better with Jackson's bed. I think I am going to paint both of the beds navy blue to tie them together. Wanna guess how much this was??

$5.35!! Oh yeah, a great deal!!

This I also got at the ReStore. For FREE!! The man who helped me with the bed told me to just give him $5.35. I was so excited!! I love FREE!!

$5 and some change...

I just love it when you can find some treasures for about five dollars. I went to the local thrift shop and while ago and found these things. The wire piece holds pots or something of the like. I was thinking of painting up some pots and hanging this in the schoolroom/craftroom to hold pencils, crayons, etc. Also, I got a book, Home Grown Kids, it looks interesting. Some plate holders that I really needed, a measuring spoon for my laundry detergent, some child scissors with four holes. Anyone know what those are for?? I also found a pretty glass bowl. I have another that matches this one that I got from some thrift shop or another.

I love the delicate detail on the bowl.

Check out the scissors...Interesting, huh??

Love this pot holder, wall thingie.

This set is from another $5 and something trip to Goodwill just the other day. I saw the plaque and knew I would reuse it for some other project. I love the vintage ones with the little loop holder part. The workbook is brand new and was only 75 cents. And that bowl...be still my heart. Love it!!

Check it out...I love the floral detail and the crazing adds to the charm. It will look great in my hutch!!

Tell me, what have you found for $5 and some change??

Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup baby oil{I use equate Aloe Vera & Vitamin E Baby Oil}
10 or so drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Couple teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix all together in a bowl and store in an airtight container. Use a small amount and rub over your body for super soft and silky skin.

This makes a great gift. I gave it to my Mom and Mother in law for Christmas one year and they loved it. In fact, my Mother in law has been requesting it ever since. I gave this jar to her this morning along with some Ghiradelli dark chocolate{she loves dark chocolate} for her birthday. She will also be getting a framed photo of the kiddies, but that will be after Easter, when they are all dressed up and we aren't getting flooded. ;)

You can use any kind of container. I usually pick up the jars in the photo from Goodwill, but I haved also seen similar ones at Hobby Lobby and World Market. Truly, I don't measure the oil and vanilla, but just wanted to give y'all an idea of how much to use. I just shake it in until I like the scent. Y'all will have to let me know if you try it.

I Heart Other People's Junk!!

I haven't been thrifting in a while. At least it seems that way...I know I went to Goodwill and got the kids a couple of books and a cheese dome that I have grand plans for, but I didn't get anything too terribly exciting. Well, I went to my old{GREAT} Goodwill Tuesday after ballet and then to another thrift shop and hit the motherload. Then today, while out in my Mom's neck of the woods, I went to this estate sale shop that I have been wanting some stuff from. I didn't get the things last time and vowed that when I went back, and if money allowed, that I would get them. Didn't exactly get everything I set out for, but did get some great stuff.

I passed this bench up back in the fall, because we didn't have the funds for it and we were still in our rental and I didn't know if I would have space for it. I called the lady and she still had it. I was so excited!! After I paint it, it is going in the dining room with all my other thrifted furniture. Just cause I know you are dying to know, I paid $35 for it!! She gave the book to me, too.

The gingerbread man was a Goodwill find from a few days or a week ago. I love gingerbread men!! I am just going to change out his tie for something that will match my home.

Who-o-o-o could this owl and jar with a G be for?? Hmmm...I plan on making the bell jar into a cloche and paint the frame.

I love egg baskets and this one was so much cheaper than I have ever seen one. I looked for them on ebay before. Ouch!! The masher will become a recipe holder. The plaque in the background I plan to repurpose.

I got some frames to repaint. Don't exactly care for the pheasant print but the chunky wood frame is awesome!! A little container of glitter, the chunky kind!! The mini muffin tin is brand new and still had it original $25.99 price tag from Kohls. I paid $5.

I also love picnic baskets. This one will join my others on top of my armoire. The jar...love it, but the potpourri's gotta go!!

Some more ugly frames with potential. The red and white printed linens are a Pottery Barn full size duvet cover and shams. I am hoping to make something off of them to help offset what I spent. I could not pass up the squirrel print crib sheet for Fisher's bed. You all know how I heart squirrels. The lavender rose print Laura Ashley pillowcase will look pretty on Lilly's bed or make a super cute pillowcase dress.

We also got Lilly a skirt. Oh, the bedside carafe is from Southern Living at HOME and cost a fraction of the regular price. It helps to know what you are looking at. I also just love it and think the etching on it is so pretty. If you have one and don't know what to do with it, its great for holding mouthwash on your bathroom countertop.

Just another view. Not sure what I am doing with the basket, but I have seen something on a blog and liked what they did with a similar basket. Now where was that??

Love, love, love a pretty apron!! Someone put a lot of thought and detail into this one. Isn't it pretty??

A full size shot. Whoever made it was tiny, I don't think it would go around my waist. No worries, its going to hang in my {not} farmhouse kitchen!!

I almost didn't get the plates. Jen said I should. Yes, I called her to ask her opinion!! Glad I did, because they are going for a pretty penny on ebay!! They are by Rosanna and sold at Anthropologie and Williams Sonoma and probably elsewhere, too. I paid a dollar for each of them.

Thanks for checking out my treasures!!

Farmhouse Kitchen

So I don't really have a farmhouse...A girl can dream, right?!?! I do like to use older looking things in my decor to give me that old farmhouse feel. I put my utensils in a vase then put it in an egg basket. I think its handier to have them out and accessible, then tucked away in a drawer. My friend, Michelle, gave me the chick for my birthday. Does she know me well or what?? I love the cheery spring colors of the towel.

We also plan to put up a backsplash. I want to do either beadboard or brick pavers. I am thinking the pavers, though, because I want to do beadboard on the bottom half of the wall.

Here is a corner of my kitchen. I found the plate at Goodwill. It originally came from a ritzy gift shop. Jen made the R for me. Love it!! I have always wanted an old dough bowl, but they are so expensive. I found this one at a craft show and snatched it up. I put a few old cookie/biscuit cutters, an old grater, the embroidery Jen sent me for our Valentine's swap, and a candle I got at Joann's on clearance in there and I think it gives me that old fashioned feel I was going for.

A closer view. Love that candle!! Wal-Mart also carries them. I just love red, green, and white together. So happy!!

So, here's my kitchen!! Wanna share yours??

Goodwill Goodness

We have been on a much tighter budget since we moved into this house. I did, however, get to go to Goodwill almost two weeks ago. I was looking for a tube pan, but found these goodies instead. I love the vintage-looking lines of these kind of baskets. The are probably more associated with funeral flowers instead of the Easter baskets of yesteryear, however, I love them!! I have been wanting to collect little lambs as well, and this guy starts my collection beautifully. He was actually a part of a Nativity set someone made, but Goodwill was selling each part separately and at eighty eight cents I couldn't pass it up. When I see The Little House on the Prairie books, I snatch them up.

Here is a closer view of the little lamb. He's so sweet.

Christmas In The Big Woods.

Gotta love Goodwill!!

Tweet, tweet

Welcome to Lilly's fourth bird-day party!! Come up the path...notice the bird wreath on the door. I am sure I am the only one that really cares about that...

A birdie mobile adds to the theme. It is a little undone, but I threw it together at the last minute so it will do. {Actually, I learned to let a lot of things go this time...}

This plate of Lilly's hospital picture and a birdcage will greet you as you walk in the front door.

Hungry?? We had pbj pockets, grapes, chicken salad with croissants, artichoke dip, salsa, and veggies with ranch.

Please help yourself...

If you're thirsty we have pink lemonade, sweet tea, Dr. Pepper, and Mountain Dew. We also have bottled water if you feel like bending down and getting it off the floor. ;)

The cake wasn't exactly how I pictured it in my head, but again, I am letting go of my inner Martha here. Jen, does that bird look familiar to you?? I couldn't find plates like I wanted so I used my 10 cent dessert{or bread and butter} plates I got from a church thrift shop.

Happy Birthday to you...wait, you're not supposed to be blowing out the candles yet!!

Lilly gets a good laugh as Dad re-lights the candles!! I love this photo!!

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Lilly, happy birthday to you!!

Now, you may blow out the candles.

We did a little craft. I found a package of 12 wooden birds, had Cory drill a hole, strung twine thru, and the kids smeared peanut butter and covered them with birdseed.

Jackson is seriously concentrating here!!

Time to open gifts!! Paper's a flyin'!!



What's that?? A hummingbird feeder from Nana!! Lilly got lots of great gifts, had lots of fun with her friends, and it was great to have everyone over!!

Glad you could all come!!