3 Thrifty Finds: Chevron pillow covers

When Michael moved in last fall and I started man-ifying then den for him (missed that mini makeover? Click here to play catch up), two things happened: 1. we found compromise with the whole mounting-a-deer-head-on-the-wall issue and 2. the front living room began to inch closer to girl-land.

Without much thought, I started picking up girly finds. A floral scented candle here. A pretty coffee table book there. All of which somehow found their perfect resting spot in the living room.

Now, when I happened upon pink and cream chevron throw pillow covers at Hobby Lobby for only $6.99, there were no words. They had to be mine. I know some over you are soooo over chevron, but I’m still onboard that train—catch them on a half off sale week and just you try not to pass out from excitement. These beauties (and their handsome buttoned up friend) were destined for my girlier-by-the-minute living room.



In case you gals are thinking to yourself  “my boyfriend/husband would never go for such a girl-centric pillow cover on his couch”, Michael is actually a big fan of the new red and white pillows in the living room. The boy may be colorblind, but I’m cool with it if it means the pink pillows are safe.

 

 

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2 A Faux Reno

With the palette I dragged home a few weeks ago already transformed into a precious pair of DIY bookshelves for my kitchen, I couldn’t leave his partner in crime hanging out in the carport all by their lonesome. I had big plans for this mannequin stand—an estate sale steal for $10!

I knew its cute details and vintage charm would lend themselves perfectly to a new life as a floor lamp…

But let’s be honest, life around the construction site can be crazy town at times, and with one fabulous mailbox revamp the main focus of my DIY brain cells this week (check back tomorrow for the reveal!) I wanted to give this soon-to-be-lamp a purpose with little effort for the time being. Have my cake. Eat it too.

Soooo…I found a lampshade tucked away in a closet…

And wheeled this bad boy into my master bedroom right next to those darling divas I framed up earlier in the week.

Someday he’ll be able to shine his little lamp heart out, but for now, I feel really good about him just looking the part.

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0 Thrift Porn

Lord help me, I love a good trash-to-treasure coffee table book.



So when I found Better Homes & Gardens Flea Market Decorating at an actual thrift store at an unbelievably tiny thrift store price? I lost my home-loving mind.



I need a cigarette.

PS…No, I don’t really smoke. That’s dirty.

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0 Thrifty Find: Nerd Love

Disclaimer: If you are not a fellow nerd (or are deep down in your soul but have a hard time coming to terms with such an admission), this post is not for you.

Now that we’ve cleared out all the cool kids, eat your heart out at this fantastically thrifty nerd find. Can you spot the new nerd-tastic addition to my den?

Did you find it? Well, of course you did! My fellow nerds can sniff out a dewey decimal system a mile away. Welcome my very own chunk of an old-school card catalogue! As a proud holder of a frequently used library card, this find rocks my page-turning socks off.



Happy Friday, y’all!

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4 Smuggle Up

When it comes to vacation souvenirs, shopping is fun, but really I’d rather play like a three year old and see what I can dig up in the surf. My most recent last minute Mexican getaway was no exception. Upon arrival I told myself I was leaving with just one piece of sea junk. Just one. I was good on my last Mexi vacation and ended up coming home with only this prize winning companion in tow…

 
I loved him so much, I knew I had to smuggle another one of his cousins across the border.

But when I got here…

 
..and found all these…

 
…bringing home just one was no longer an option. I really had no choice but to make a valiant attempt at leaving no man behind. So packed securely in my carryon, I contemplated my game plan for dodging airport security.

I thought of every possible scenario from: casually reading the “if-you-have-any-of-these-items-in-your-carryon-including-an-excessive-amount-of-sea-paraphernalia-you-will-most-definitely-be-the-disgrace-of-your-nation-not-to-mention-locked-away-for-the-rest-of-your-puny-little-life” list and providing a cheerful “Nope!” to throwing an all out fit complete with elephant sized tears and deafeningly loud “Let me keep one, just one!” should they discover my stash.

I was rehearsed and ready…and sure enough I was the lucky one selected for a luggage search just minutes before boarding the plane in Cozumel. My sister breezed right through, turned around to give me a “uh oh, you’re in for it” look and headed out to the tarmac.

The security personnel, who we’ll call Lola for these purposes, began with the pat down. While Lola was half my size vertically on a good day, horizontally was an entirely different story. Read this: Lola was not one to be messed with. Turn around, empty your pockets, take off your shoes…once satisfied that I was not harboring illegal material on my body, Lola grimaced and moved on to my carryon…I knew my life was about to be over. Lola opened every zipper, felt every corner, and poked every single inch of the perimeter of my rollaway carryon suitcase. Every single stinkin’ inch…except for the very middle of my bag, which of course was where the concealed goods were stashed…under four days worth of dirty drawers.

And that, my friends, is how you smuggle sea trash.

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2 eHow: Hidden Gems at a Thrift Store

Today’s eHow post by yours truly!…

As a self-proclaimed home nut and bargain shopper extraordinaire, nothing makes me happier than coming across a killer steal-of-a-deal at my local thrift store.
Stumbling upon a hidden gem is thrilling for two main reasons:

• The "one of a kind" factor: You'll grin on the inside when your friends realize they can't pick one up just like it at Target.
• The price is right: You just can't beat thrift store price tags.

Sounds great, right? The hard part comes into play when it's time to sort through the aisles of not-so-stellar items in order to find the diamond in the rough. Any savvy shopper will tell you, thrifting success goes hand in hand with a strategic game plan…click here for entire post

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7 Thrifty Finds: Coffee Table Book

You know I couldn’t stay away for long. My thrifting itch needed to be scratched again yesterday, and what a treat I uncovered among aisles of other people’s discarded-yet-still-fabulous leftovers.

The Living Modern coffee table book caught my eye, not only for its killer price tag of just $2.99, but for its ability to tug on my Mad Men loving and 1950s ranch home owning heart.

Following Modernism from its birth to the present, take a peek at these glossy pages…


Looking good with the rest of the coffee table crew…

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9 Thrifty Find: Windows

Judging from my master bedroom set up, it wouldn’t take a Mensa member to figure out that I am smitten with old windows.


So my heart could not fathom the thought of turning away these three window finds from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore—especially with a $10.00 price tag…total!

 

These guys were in need of a home and I have just the spot in mind. Cue the massive, vacant dining room wall!


Check back next week to see how my three amigos settled into their new space. Happy weekend!

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