Woman in Real Life

A look back at the week using simple, sweet cell phone photos. That's the idea behind Insta-Friday. The "sweet" is optional. While this looks like a pretty scene, above, it's actually our van stopped at the side of the road on the way to the cottage last weekend.

The kids behaved well for most of the trip, but they got a little out of control at the end. When fists start to fly we generally pull over. This time, the husband and I actually got out of the car. (Don't worry, we took the keys with us.) Kids are pretty impatient. We have found they will behave in order to get back on the road.

When I wrote about how I store all of my thrifted and inherited dishes about a month ago, it really made me think twice about doing any more thrift store shopping. How many dishes can one family use, after all?

This past weekend, I once again visited the small town near my parents' home ("the cottage"). I couldn't resist checking out the local thrift shop, which has all sorts of amazing vintage dishes. But I was strong. I decided anything I bought would have to be useful in some way, and I only bought two small things. I plan to use this pretty dish, above, to hold soap in our master bathroom. It would also make a nice candy dish but candy wouldn't last long out in the open around here. It cost me $2.

I am avoiding the thrift stores at the moment, seeing as I must be stopped from adding to my giant collection of dishes. I will be visiting my sister soon and she will no doubt drag me (kicking and screaming of course) to the nearest thrift stores.

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to share a look at our mid-century telephone table. My husband and I bought this from a friend many years ago before we had a house or any idea of what our interior decorating would look like.

In my "Small Town Shopping" post last week, I showed you a few of the treasures I found while browsing the thrift stores in the small town of Dunnville, Ontario. I have just a few more goodies to share.

My husband and I went shopping without the kids, much to my daughter's dismay. I promised I would bring her something back. I found this cute owl piggy bank, above, at the Salvation Army shop. When I brought it home, she said, "Is that all?" Well, I like it anyway.

In addition to enjoying the beach at my parents' house this past weekend, my husband and I also ventured into the nearby small town of Dunnville to browse some shops. There is a great thrift store in town with lots of vintage dishes and records. I looked at the dishes while he looked at the records.

While I was picking up half price green finds at the Salvation Army store, I also spotted a couple of lovely items that weren't included in the sale.

Let me just say, I don't know much about the value of things when I'm shopping at thrift stores. I am not buying to resell, so I just buy what I like, as long as it seems like a bargain to me.

I liked the rustic charm of this wire egg basket, above, but I wasn't sure if I should bring home something quite so rusty. I decided to go for it. I can't quite remember how much it cost, but I believe it was under $2. I did some research since then and found out that similar egg baskets are priced at $30 or more.

As I mentioned in my first "Keeping it Green" post, the local Salvation Army Thrift Stores came up with an ingenious concept for this eco-friendly month. For two days, all green items of any kind were half price. Last week, I showed you the bigger pieces that I bought, mainly serving dishes.

This week, I am showing off the smaller gems that I added to my cart that day. Even a touch of green made it half price.

Isn't this a sweet little pitcher and saucer set, above? I have so many decorative items in my home that I no longer have shelves or tables to place them on. Or so I thought. Then I realized that the spare bedroom is hardly decorated. That's where this little duo ended up.

The Salvation Army Thrift Stores came up with a nifty concept for Earth Month. For two days this week, all green-coloured items of any kind were half price.

So, on Friday I bought some green stuff (dishes and clothes) and saved some green stuff (yes, that would be money). Technically I wouldn't have bought anything if they didn't have the sale, so I didn't really save any money, but at least I'm reusing. Thrift store shopping is one great way to help our environment, after all.

I got this large Bowring serving dish, above, still in the box, for $3.50. Doesn't it just say "spring time?"

I'm back with another edition of Thrifting Sisters. My last post was in November. If I lived closer to my sister, you can be sure there would be many more of these posts. Having someone to shop with fuels the addiction, doesn't it? Our first stop was Bibles for Missions in St. Catharines, where I picked up this piece of pottery made in Vineland, Ontario.

March Break, Day Four - My sister and I spent the day thrift store shopping in St. Catharines, Ontario. She always heads for the clothes and accessories, while I head straight for the dishes. She often finds clothes for me too, so I don't have to do the grunt work.

On Saturday, I took my daughter to buy much-needed new tap shoes. She has grown a lot lately!

Shoes bought, I asked her to accompany me to the Salvation Army thrift store. We were pleased to see that it was a sale day...half price on anything with pink, red or white on it.

I just happen to love pink dishes anyway. I chose this small Royal York "Sweetheart Rose" plate.

Last week, I told you how I found a vintage sewing basket while shopping for thrifty kids' clothing. I also found these assorted small treasures.

I'm a bit of a sucker for items that are displayed nicely. The clever thrift store employees arranged shelves of neutral-toned items that all worked in harmony with one another. I picked some lovely pieces from these shelves.

I haven't done much thrift store shopping lately. The house is full up with dishes and stuff and any spare funds the last couple months went toward Christmas shopping.

Last week, my willpower faltered though when I got an email from the Salvation Army saying they were having a one dollar kids clothing sale this past Friday. The fact is, my kids don't need any clothing, but $1 for jeans? Why not?

Of course, I knew I wouldn't pass by the housewares aisle without having a peek. I loaded up on kids' jeans first. I even got each of the kids a coat for $1. Then I headed over to peruse the dishes.

Yesterday, I told you how the kids and I had fun on Friday making our first Christmas crafts of the year. On my last trip to my parents' house, when I was rooting around in the basement (as usual), I found some Christmas stamps that my siblings and I used as children. As I have said before, if I used it as a child, sadly that makes it vintage.

By the way, my mom also gave us the rosemary plant. She is handier than any store. And free!

Last week, I talked about thrifting with my sister while visiting my parents in their small town. Besides the goodies I got at local thrift shops, I also came away with more vintage stuff from my mom.

But, first I want to show you some of the cool things my parents own that I haven't taken home...yet. 

My mom isn't going to be too happy to see the cobwebs in the photo, above, but the collection is up by the (high) ceiling and I didn't feel like dusting all these objects. My parents live by the lake, which means lots of spiders! This is just a part of my dad's collection of beer steins, etc. My favourite item is that little guy who pours shots. He actually moves. I loved it when I was a kid.

Back in June, I told you about a thrifting outing I took with my sister. This past weekend, she and I hit the thrift stores again. Bargain shopping is never far from my sister's mind, and I am easily convinced to go along. We were in my parents' small town, where the thrifty deals are greater than they are in my area.

At the first store we visited, I found this large Blue Mountain Pottery jar, above, for $5. The woman at the store said she thought it was hideous. Luckily, I know what I like...namely bargain-priced home accessories. I love the orange "drips."

The last time I took $10 to the thrift store, I got lucky. Read about it here if you like. But, that was a different type of thrift store...one that we don't seem to have in my area.

So, today I thought I would experiment by taking my $10 to a chain (read over-priced) thrift store in my area. I decided on the Salvation Army store.