Running for the checkout line!

August 12, 2011
I go to thrift stores alot.  When I say alot, I mean ALOT.  I have made friends with most of the employees and have actually received a couple job offers!  Most of the time I don’t buy anything.  You have to go often to find the good deals, but that’s what makes it so fun for me.  It’s that one score you make out of 100 trips.  Here was a visit to Habitat Restore when I found lots of goodies but nothing that made me jump up and down and run for the check out line until the very end.
If I didn’t already have a desk in my sewing room, this would have been perfect.  I can’t remember the exact price but I know it was under $100.00.
This $30.00 leather chair would have been perfect with the desk!  I didn’t buy either.

I love to buy original paintings at thrift stores, but I couldn’t tell if these were Anthropologie worthy or if they were just scary.  $8.00 each, I walked away.

Another Anthropologie look for $1.00 each.  Unfortunately all my dishes are blue, green, and white so these beauties were left for someone else.
Yes I am that person that takes their dog in the store with them.  You can’t just leave her in the car when you happen to drive by a thrift store. Thrift stores seem to be ok with dog visitors but don’t try a grocery store.  Apparently there is something about health codes and they will ask you to leave and embarrass you in front of your children.

This $50.00 table would look so great painted black and distressed.  No room in my garage so I walk away again. 



Lots and lots of pins today! I get reallllllllllly excited but only find one that I really love.
This $.50 toaster cover will make a great little coupon holder.  So far I have spent two whole quarters.

It hurt my heart to walk away from this beautiful dining set.  I could see the table painted off white with different colored chairs and funky fabric.  All distressed and glazed to give it an antique look.  Again no room in the garage, so I don’t even look at the price.
I am just about to leave empty handed (except for the dog I have been carrying around for an hour) when I spot something out of the corner of my eye.  Brown, wood, I need paint……… it seems to be coming from those candlesticks.  Yes Yes Yes a great find, 5 real wood candlesticks for $5.00!!!  Now I can leave a happy woman!
I am barley get out of my car before I have the candlesticks painted different colors of blue.
Distress a little with some sandpaper.

Finish off with a protective coat of dark wax, which will also add some dimension and dull the brightness of the blue paint.

I heart thrift stores.
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Hot Summer Days

August 10, 2011
Depending on where you live, you may have a few days or a few weeks left of summer vacation.  We have about two weeks until school is back in session here in the Charlotte area.  If you are like me and trying to keep your kids from killing each other or from playing to much Wii, than search no further.  I have a fun, easy, and CHEAP way to keep your kids happy and occupied for a least a couple of hours!
I love to use canvases for all sorts of art projects, however they can be expensive if you buy them at a craft store.  When I see a canvas at a yard sale, I always grab it up regardless if it’s been painted on or not.  Most of the time I just paint over the original painting, but we had a better idea with these three flower paintings (1.00 each at a yard sale).

Lilly and her friends wanted to paint.  At first I gave them the canvases to paint over but they loved the flowers and the colors.  So they decided to use their imagination and add to the existing painting.  I pulled out several paint colors and told the girls to go for it!

How creative, using the back of the paintbrush to add little dots.  I will have to remember that!

Ahhhhhh painting can be very tiring.  An ice cream break is sometimes just what you need to get focused again.
Or you could pull out a bucket of buttons to get everyone’s attention!
I swear when I saw this bucket of buttons at Value Village Thrift Store, I nearly passed out.  A BUCKET OF BUTTONS!!!!!  There is nothing in the world that I could buy that would make me happier.  But wait that isn’t the best part.  Did the price say $3.43??????  Again, I nearly passed out.  When I got home, I walked up and down my street to see if anyone was out so I could show off my new purchase.

Oh yes what were we talking about….Painting and embellishing with buttons.  The girls had a ball digging around, looking and comparing all the different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Little Dixie May wanted to paint too!!



A fun afternoon and the girls had something to take home to hang in their room,
(no fighting or electronics involved)!
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Hi, My name is Angela and I am an introvert.

August 8, 2011

Large crowds make me nervous.

Parties make me sweat.
Loud music and lots of people talking make me want to rock back and forth in a corner singing, Yes Jesus Loves Me.

I went to my husband’s 20 year reunion Saturday night. We went to the same high school, but I am wayyyy younger. I graduated the year behind him. I was excited to see everyone and catch up but I knew I was going to be nervous and uncomfortable. Hi, my name is Angela and I am an introvert.

It has taken me many many years to except the fact that I am an introvert. I’ve tried since high school to be the fun, loud, outgoing girl, and I succeeded. I fooled everyone including myself. I was the first one at the party and the last one to leave, I danced all night and I talked to anyone and everyone. But I knew deep down that wasn’t who I really was. I was giving the world what I thought they wanted and what I thought would make them happy. But I wasn’t happy.

The past two years I have done some major growing up. I have excepted myself for who I really am, I’m becoming my own best friend, and learning to love myself. I would rather be at home in my PJs reading a good book then at a swanky party all dolled up. I’d rather grab coffee or go on a walk with a friend then go out for a big girls night out. I thrive and get energized from being alone in my sewing room. I get lost for hours creating forgetting to feed my family or go to the bathroom.

As I sat on my bar stool sipping my tenth glass of water, I watched as everyone danced, laughed, and had a great time. It was sooooooooo great to see everyone and catch up. I wanted to take each of them one by one out for coffee so I could really hear them and really listen to what was going on in their lives.

I started to get a little down on myself for not being in the middle of the dance floor when an angel appeared. Angels seem to show up when I least expect it and need it the most. This sweet dear friend slide a bracelet on my wrist, hugged me and whispered how proud she was of me. It meant the world to me. Thank you dear friend.

I may not be the life of the party, I may not be the most exciting person in the room, I may sit quietly and just take it all in. But I am being true to myself and that feels really good.

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