Thrifty Thursday

I had a chance to check out some thrift stores in a town that I don't usually visit

thanks to my son needing to take the STAR test.

Since my boys attend online public school, I have to take them to a testing site for the state testing.

Anyway, while I was in the area, I found three thrift stores within driving distance.

The first two were ok, but I didn't find anything I wanted.

The third was called Tri City Churches Resale Shop, and boy, was it nice!
It was so clean, organized, and big.

I spotted this large, heavy, beautiful glass bowl.

It was marked $10, but I didn't want to spend that much.

Imagine my delight when I found out that housewares were half off that day!

Five dollars for this beautiful bowl. Can you believe it?

I also got this green wooden. . . thing.

I'm not sure what it is, but it looks old.

See the hardware cloth in it?
Any ideas about what it is?

I couldn't pass it up. Especially since it was half off.

The tag said it was $5.

I was thinking that I'd pay $2.50 for it which I felt was a fair price.

For some reason, the checker rang it up as fifty-eight cents!!!

Then I got half off of that!!!

I left paying less than $6 for these two items.

It was so worth my stop!!!

Anyway, did any of you come across any good finds this week?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Do not be overcome by evil,
 but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

This post is linked to Blue Willow House, The Crafted Sparrow, The Cottage Market,
 and Life With Lorelai. 

Lovelies That I Love

I just love anything having to do with maps and globes.

Now, if you knew how geographically challenged I am, you may find that ironic.

Nevertheless, I am a huge fan of maps.

How awesome is this map pillow?

I love it.

Look at this yellow globe.

It is so unique- I think I need it!

Pull down maps like this one are so cool!

I actually have one hanging in my bedroom as my window shade.

Isn't this globe lamp shade great?

Imagine how cool it would look with light shining through it.

This one takes the cake- it's a lunar globe--- a globe of the moon!

Now, that's out of this world :)

I currently have four different globes positioned around my living room.
Every time I bring one home, my boys let me know that we already have plenty of globes.
But I don't know if we'll ever have enough!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever

Psalm 89:1

This post is linked to My Girlish Whims, Between Naps on the Porch, Embracing Change,
Lil' Luna, and Plucky's Second Thought. 

Recipe of the Week #214- Crock Pot Creamy Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup

Crock Pot Creamy Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" cubes
1 lb butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1" cubes
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can (14 oz) chicken broth, divided
1 stick butter, cubed
1 can (13 1/2 oz) coconut milk
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground red pepper, or more to taste
1 1/2 tsp salt
3-4  green onions, finely chopped

Combine sweet potatoes and squash, onions, half of chicken broth, and butter in a Crock Pot. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Puree until smooth in blender, 1 cup at a time, returning each cup to the Crock Pot. Stir in remaining broth, coconut milk, and seasonings. Cook on high until heated through. Serve sprinkled with green onions.

I made this soup for my hubby and I on date night (because I knew my boys wouldn't be too keen on it). It was so wonderfully smooth and creamy. I would say that next time I make it, it needs to be in addition to a meal, not just the meal. It wasn't a hearty enough soup to carry the meal on its own. That being said, it's definitely a repeat recipe!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Let love be without hypocrisy. 

Abhor what is evil. 

Cling to what is good.

Romans 12:9

This post is linked to Tuesdays With a Twist, I Gotta Create, Gingersnap Crafts, and Skip to My Lou.

This Light Fixture Is for the Birds!

For the longest time, we had an old light fixture above the breakfast bar in our kitchen.

Then we even went for awhile with no fixture (not sure what was going on there!).

Finally, my hubby decided to do a project that I'd had in mind for that spot.

He hung a birdcage as our light fixture.

I picked up this wooden birdcage for a dollar or two at a yard sale many years ago.

My hubby drilled a hole in the top if it, then added the light kit and attached it to the ceiling.

To finish it off, he added an Edison light bulb.

I'm loving how it turned out!!!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

For the Lord is the great God, 

and the great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:3

This post is linked to USS Crafty, Simple Nature Decor, I Heart Naptime,
Funky Junk, and The Dedicated House.

Flashback Friday: Unique Jewelry Pieces

I've dedicated the last Friday of the month to flash back to previous projects
all within the same theme: hence, Flashback Friday.

 This week, we're looking at some eclectic jewelry pieces.
Follow the links to read more about each project.

This recycled bracelet is made with an old locker plate.

Unique, huh?

These beaded necklaces each have a sewing bobbin and tiny buttons.

Go here to see them.

I used the leather from an old baseball to make this bracelet.

I just love vintage game pieces.

I incorporated Bingo pieces on this bracelet.



What do you think of these bracelets?
I used pieces of vintage wooden rulers to make them.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. We're going to see Miracles From Heaven tomorrow.
I've heard it's a great movie.
Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;

  let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalm 95:2

This post is linked to Pretty Handy Girl, I Heart Naptime, My Salvaged Treasures,
That DIY Party, and Artsy Fartsy Mama.

Thrifty Thursday #208

Last Saturday morning, while my dog and I were out for our walk, we came across a yard sale.

I spotted something at the end of the driveway that made me stop in my tracks.

It was this surveyor's tripod.

They were only asking $10 for it. (I recently saw one just like it at an estate sale that was $50).

They offered to put it aside for me so I could finish my walk and bring them the money.

I was pumped!

I'm not sure if I'll turn it into a lamp or attach clips to it and make it an awesome photo display.

Any opinions?

After my shower, my hubby and I went to a few more sales.

I got this set of four old bowls for $2.

 

My hubby scored this cast iron skillet for $9.

He loves finding these and refinishing them.

So, did you find any good treasures this week?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things,

to whom be glory forever.

Romans 11:36

This post is linked to Too Much Time, The Blue Willow House, The Crafted Sparrow,
 and My Girlish Whims.

Easter Decor for a Dollar

It's so much fun to go through the aisles of Target and fill your cart with cute-sy Easter knick-knacks.
But I want to show you how you can have cute Easter decor without spending an arm and a leg.

I came up with this arrangement using dollar store vases and printable vintage Easter postcards.

For this one, I put a few artificial flowers in a festive Diet Coke bottle.
(Have you seen those bottles? They're just too cute to throw away.)

I added a vintage postcard and set them both on a silver platter that I had picked up at a thrift store.
You could even use a trio of the bottles.
Easy-peasy.

To make the first arrangement, I bought three tinted vases at the Dollar Tree.

I put a few artificial flowers (also bought at the Dollar Tree) in all of them.

Then I set them on a larger silver platter and surrounded them with old coffee beans.

I searched Etsy for vintage Easter postcards and found these.

I printed them off and set them in menu holders that I found at a thrift store.

You could also use office binders or mini clothespins.

Then I set three of the postcards in front of the vases.
Nothing fancy, but cute!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! 

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 95:1

 This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, Ginger Snap Crafts, I Gotta Create, Tatertots and Jello,
and the Wake Up Wednesday Party.

Recipe of the Week #213- Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon
1/2 lb thick cut bacon
3/4 cup dark brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a cooling rack inside of a pan.
Coat each piece of bacon with brown sugar, then place on the cooling rack. Bake for 20-22 minutes. It will crispen up as it cools.

As you can imagine, this was a huge hit with my husband and sons. It was a quick and easy treat, so I'll definitely be making it again.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,

 to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, The Cottage Market, Life With Lorelai,
and Plucky's Second Thought.

Mini Album Monday #72- My 2016 Month-By-Month Album (or Year In Review)

For this week's Mini Album Monday, 
I thought I'd show you how my 2016 month-by-month album is coming along.

I originally showed this to you in January when it was just a bunch of blank pages.
I've completed the months of January and February.

I started with this 9"x 9 1/4" Project Life album.

I'm using some of the Project Life clear filler pages, but I'm also adding other pages, 

so it isn't completely Project Life.

The intro page is two narrow Tim Holtz pocket cards.

I started off with one that says, "Here and now" because the album features our life right now.

I wanted both sides of the cards to be visible, so I had to sew a larger pocket page to fit these cards.

It was easier than it sounds.

The card on the far left says, "The story begins:"

I wote a little bit about what each of us are doing at this time.

The white page in the center is a small journaling card that looks like a calendar.

I placed one of these in every month's layout.

Instead of writing in the pre-printed boxes for the days,

I used list journaling to write what we did for the month.

The journaling carried over to the backside of the card.

The next page is a clear pocket page.

I cut photos to fit and added a journaling card and some embellishments.

The second page is another clear pocket page, but it has different size pockets.

My additional journaling cards and embellishments are attached to the outside of the pockets.

On the left, my photo didn't fit in the designated pockets, so I cut it to fit, 

then added pattern paper to fill the rest of the space.

The page on the right is a divider page. I added one of these to each month.

The back side of the divider page only has one photo and a large ticket.

The page on the right is half of a large envelope. I added one of these to each month as well to hold various mementos.

Here's where the February photos start.

I added photos to the back of January's envelope 

and listed our activities on the calendar journaling card.

On the back of this journaling card, I had enough room to add a small photo.

Throughout each month, I try to take a photo at each thing we do (although I don't always remember).

Sometimes I add random photos like this one of my dog. She got a hold of a long piece of wood from one of my husband's projects and thought she'd claim it for a chew toy.

At the end of each month, I print off that month's photos.

Then I figure out where they'll fit in the book for that month.

After all the photos are placed, I go back to add the journaling and embellishments.

I have found from previous years, that it's much easier to keep up with this project every month rather than let it build up for a month or two. . . or three. :)

Some photos end up getting cropped quite a bit while others stay in their original 4"x 6" size.

I have lots of extra clear pocket pages stored at the back of the album 

that I can add to each month as I need them.

Because it's a binder book, I can also add extra pages as I like.

This journaling card that says "Just Sayin' " was added

 so I that I had room to add one more picture on the back of it.

On the right is the envelope for February.
I keep things in it like our church newsletter, party invitations,
programs from events we've gone to, and that sort of thing.

So you get the gist of how this album will turn out.
Lots of pictures and memories for every month.
I thought it would be easier to show you how my Year in Review album looks now
 before we get any farther into the year.

I make one of these every year. I just love going back through the old ones.
My boys aren't ever excited to look back at them, but I figure one day they will be. . . .


Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, 

and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High

Psalm 92:1

This post is linked to USS Crafty, Simple Nature Decor, Lil' Luna, Embracing Change,
and The Dedicated House. 

Spring "Wreath" DIY

Can you believe that we've had weather in the 80's all week?
We actually hardly had a winter in this part of Texas.
With all this sunshine, I thought it was time for a new spring-y wreath for our front door.

I had some small flower bouquets that I had picked up for cheap at a yard sale.

I bunched two together and placed them in this small burlap gift bag.

I got the bag in the craft section at Walmart.

Then I finished it off with a large pink bow.

I used pink hem facing that I bought at the thrift store.

I chose it for this bouquet because of the color and the width.

Then I looped a rubber band through two flowers on the back of the arrangement
to make a hook that would attach to the wreath hanger.

I love that it's not the typical wreath.
It gives our door just the pop of spring, I think.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will say of the Lord, 

"He is my refuge and my fortress; 

My God, in Him I will trust."

Psalm 91:2

This post is linked to Embracing Change, Life With Lorelai, I Heart Naptime, and That DIY Party.

Thrifty Thursday #207

I made my weekly thrift store run and got a few good things. . .

Like these two large wooden frames for $1 each.
I'm anxious to distress them and possibly add some Hemp Oil to them.
 I also think they're begging for some chicken wire!

It was love at first sight with this old Reading textbook.

Here's one of the interior pages.
I got this book for a quarter!

I also got this book for a quarter.

It's in great shape, so I'll donate it to the nursery at church.

My final find was two sets of three wooden hangers.
They were fifty cents per set.
I'm going to be browsing Pinterest looking for some cool projects to use these on.

That's it for this week.
Swing by next Thursday to see what else I dig up. :)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

With my mouth will I make known 

Your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 89:1

This post is linked to Artsy Fartsy Mama, Blue Willow House, and Ginger Snap Craft.

Lovelies That I Love

I hope you guys have been having a good week. 

My boys were on Spring Break last week, so we're back to our normal routine this week.

I have some lovelies to share with you today. . .

This bracelet is so beautiful.
Don't you think?

This print is great.

I'm working on a gallery wall in my living room and this would be a nice addition.

I love the eclectic look of this necklace.

I love these vintage camper postcards. Cute, huh?

You can find them here.

Isn't this bag just too cute?
I adore cute tote bags.

I'm not affliliated with any of these companies; I just like their stuff.

I hope the rest of your week goes well.
Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, 

knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

and perseverance, character; 

and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, The Cottage Market, Tatertots and Jello,
and Plucky's Second Thought.