Thrift Store & Garage Sale Lovin'

First I want to show you a set of lamps that I purchased from the thrift store the other day.  I picked them up and put them back a few times before remembering something, that if you ever see a set of vintage lamps that work, you should always buy them.  Not sure if I actually heard this somewhere or if I just made it up in my head!!  But I thought the set had enough potential that I couldn't leave them behind.

What would you have done, is this something that you would have jumped on or left behind?
I still can't decide if they are really cool or just really ugly.

I found these more updated shades at Target.  I like how they mimic the lines on the decorative balls.

So what do you think?  Should I spray paint the brass-y to a creamy white or leave them alone?

This morning I was so excited to have a garage sale right across the street from my house.  My husband usually works on Saturdays and the kids like to sleep in so I never get to go to garage sales.  I snuck over there early and scored some good deals.

First the practical.  I have been meaning to pick up one of these yellow guys for awhile since the kids like to ride and play in the street.  It has never been used.  The booster seat was only $5 and we can always use one of those. 

Lanterns and a wreath.

A large woven bowl that I plan to display on a wall.

A large, wood console table.  My neighbor said it came from a kitchen store and it is exactly what I have been looking for to display my large platters and bowls that take up too much space in the kitchen cabinets.  The bottom is perfect for large baskets to keep linens.  I paid $2 for it.

My only problem with it is that I have a feeling that it has been left outside for awhile and it is damp and molded.  Not sure what to do to remove the black from the finish.  I was thinking a bleach mixture and Brillo pad.  Any ideas?

And last, I scored this great bench.  It is heavy enough that I could not pick it up by myself.  This is the perfect way to wait for the bus when school starts.  My idea is to put it at the corner of our property and plant a Crepe Myrtle tree to provide some shade.  Two planters on each side with some Vinca flowers would look too cute too!

All in all I spent $16.50 at the garage sale and I feel like I scored some great deals.  Now I want to go every weekend, I need to get these kids of mine to wake up earlier... they can eat breakfast in the car, right?!?!

~  Kim :)

Thrift Store Tray Before and After

  My cousin is getting married on the Outer Banks this Friday.  She found these trays online and wanted to have something similar to use for her place cards, without the $59.99 price tag.  I sent her a picture of a tray I had purchased at a thrift store for $4.25 to see if it would work, all it needed was some paint.  She said it would, so I got to work recreating a old and yucky tray into something cute and beachy.

Both trays are from Shore Chic.

....and the yucky before pictures of the thrift store tray.  

Our tray measured 17" x 24" x 3".

This is how it looked after a coat of primer and then I sanded down some of the rough spots.

After two coats of white Satin paint.

 I had a quart of blue paint (Valspar Rain Dance) forever in my garage that was from an old project and thought the color would look similar to the blue on the $59.99 tray.  The technique I used to paint on the blue paint is called dry brushing.  You dip your brush in the paint and then wipe it off on a cloth or in my case, a paper towel.  It took quite a few coats of blue to get the color intensity that I wanted but it was worth it in the end.

The finished tray.  

The tray will be on a table with a white linens and the colors of the reception are royal blue and chartreuse green with hydrangeas on the cake, which I think the tray will tie in nicely to the blue color of the tray.

Not too bad for a $55.74 savings!!!  

I can't wait for the wedding, my sister and my Mom will be here this week, and we drive up on Friday morning.  I am doing the bride's makeup so I am so excited for that too,

(..and the kiddos are staying home with Dad.  Woohoo, girl's road trip!!).  

Should be lots of fun and I'm sure I will have some good pictures, I love the Outer Banks!

~  Kim :)