Buying Great Art on a Small Budget

Friends who visit my house often comment on the various pieces of art that we have adorning our walls. I am blessed to have an artist husband and daughter, but a good amount of our art comes from thrift stores. You can find so many different types of art very reasonable priced at thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales. Some of the art pictured below costs less than $5.00 and all of it was less than $20.00.

Another great place to buy art is at art shows and festivals. The original pieces are most likely over our budget, but the prints are very reasonably priced. Many art festivals will have have a yearly poster with a featured artist, these are also probably a little larger than the prints the artist sell for a better price.

My favorite print painted by my good friend Betty.

Even framed posters can be fun to add life to your art. Like this vintage bike poster and poster from the infamous Weenie Dog Races in Buda, Texas.

Vintage signs, cross stitches and other quirky things like the vintage souvenir plate from Costa Rica can add a bit of fun to your space. 

Thank you for stopping by!
Jennifer

Thrifty Summer Outfit

I haven't done a what to wear post in a long time, so I thought I would share one of my thrifty outfits. The key to a successful clothing thrifting adventure is a good thrifting partner. My good friend Jackie (click on her name to see her blog, she is so amazing) is that for me.

On occasion, we sneak out for a thrifting adventure. We often spend very little but walk away with some fun and trendy clothes, most importantly we always have fun!

On one such thrifting adventure, Jackie, picked out this great top. It was so cute and fun. I told her that if it didn't work for her, then I'd like to try it. Well, it didn't work out for her but it worked great for me! I can't remember exactly how much it cost, but I'm sure it was only a couple of dollars.

I paired the shirt with white ankle jeans that I found on a clearance rack at a fun boutique for only $10.00 with an original price tag of about $100. Such a steal.

Photos credits belong to my daughter's sweet friend and my five-year-old son using my cell phone.

I hope this encourages you to hit the thrift store for some great bargains and fun fashion!

Blessings,
Jennifer

This post will be linked with What I Wore Wednesday at the Pleated Poppy blog and Thrifty Thursday at Living Well Spending Less blog.

Awesome Thrift Store Find and a Garden Fresh Dinner

Saturday we stopped by our favorite thrift store that benefits a Christian homeless shelter. It is such a nice thrift store and we always have fun looking around. With no particular agenda we happened upon a chest of drawers that was just our style (mid-century modern). We actually found another chest there a couple of years ago with a similar style.

We got the price lowered a little with the expectation that we would take it off their hands that day. The problem was the store was closing in about thirty minutes and we don't own a truck.  Funny thing is we were practically guarding the thing so that no one would buy it out from under us and the only reason they lowered the price was that it had been there for awhile. I guess this means we have a "unique" style!

Here is the chest in it's new home in our bedroom. The chest it replaced (from the same thrift store) is now in Harrison's room.

I put a quick call into my sweet friend Robyn and she and her husband were so kind to let us use their truck. Robyn's husband also helped Matt get the chest into our house, my back thanks him!!! Then, we planned an impromptu dinner with combined resources of Matt's grilled jerk chicken and goodies straight from their garden.

We had so much fun fellowshipping and eating wonderful food. Of course, the kids loved playing with their two little guys. This one looks like he could be one of mine and oh I could just keep him and all his sweetness! 

Sometimes the best days are those that aren't planned and this was one of those days! So many gifts from God!

I hope you experience God's gifts everyday. They are all around you, you just have to pay attention!

Jennifer

End of Year Teacher Gift

I guess I'm in the tea cup giving mood after Haley's tea party favors were such a hit. I had these two vintage tea cups that I set aside thinking they might be cute for a little gift. Thankfully, I thought of them when I realized right after returning from a beach vacation that I needed gifts for Harrison's precious preschool teachers as his last day was the day after our trip.

I just filled the vintage tea cups with a couple of tea bags and a modest Target gift card. I enclosed the tea cup and thank you card in a plastic party favor bag that I found at Dollar General. I think they turned out pretty cute! 

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Thanks for stopping by!
Jenn

Haley's Eighth Birthday Tea Party

Haley and I had the best time planning and throwing her birthday tea party and I just couldn't wait to share the pictures with you. Since, we don't have a lot of space, we knew it was going to be an intimate affair where only her closest church friends would be in attendance.

In planning the party we first wanted to give out the perfect elegant invitations. Using a coupon at JoAnne's, we bought a large packet of girly scrapbook paper. This paper would be used for our teapot invitations and in many decorations.

Haley and I had the best time searching for the party favors. We went to several thrift stores and found tea cups. Our goal was to give each girl their own individual tea cup. The cups were filled with nail polish, a chocolate and a note pad.

Haley made a festive sign to greet her guests.

I pulled a lot of decor out of Haley's room to outfit our elegant girly mantle. I also made many banners out of the scrapbook paper. These banners also hung over every window in our living area and kitchen. 

My mom and I pulled together our resources to outfit the borrowed table for the occasion. I also hung balloons with tape from the ceiling  Each girl had a name card. My mom made a strawberry cake and muffins. I bought several fun cookies and fruit from Trader Joe's. The girls had a choice between two caffeine-free teas or pink lemonade. Of course, fresh flowers were a must for the tables and classical music playing softly in the background.

All the girls arrived in sweet dresses and ready for tea.

And Daddy even wore his pink shirt.

The girls were quite lovely and well-mannered sipping their tea.

There was a homemade pink cake.

And there were presents...

And dancing...

And they all lived happily ever after.

On Thrift Shopping and that Small Still Voice

I'm relaxing in bed recovering from injections in my back to relieve pain from a bulging disk that's hitting a nerve. I'm so ready to be done with this chapter of my life. But, it has been a huge growing experience and I want to share more on that later.

I just downloaded an iPhone blog app, so I'm going to write a little post and try it out.

On Tuesday, I was about to "bite the bullet" and take Harrison to Target to pay full price (so not like me) for a Spiderman Halloween costume.

Every time I was going to mention the shopping trip to Harrison, I felt that small still voice urging me not to go. Well, I did have a thrifting date planned for the next day with my friend Jackie (click on her name to check out her blog, she is so inspiring and off the charts creative). But really, what were the chances that I would find a decent Spiderman costume that would fit Harrison, right?

I decided to wait and lo and behold I found a BRAND NEW Spiderman costume for $3.00! I tell you this for two reasons. First, let's face it thrifting rocks! Secondly, as a reminder to listen to that small still voice. Our God really does care about the details of our lives and I firmly believe that He sent me right to that costume! Our God is so cool!

Here is a very fuzzy cell phone picture of one overjoyed four year old superhero!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cheap & Cheerful: What I Wore Wednesday 1

I've been following the cutest blog called The Pleated Poppy. Every week she has a post called "What I Wore Wednesday". The premise is to keep us stay-at-homer's dressed and not in pj's everyday! I've had fun reading this post and thought I might join in the fun!

Of course, I've gotten into thrift shopping lately, so many of my outfits will be from thrift stores. I will do my best to give you a ballpark price when I can remember as well as where they came from.

Saturday

Top: thrift store (no tag) I paid under $2.00

Jeans: Thrift Store (Old Navy) $1.50

Shoes: JC Penney 75% off + coupon $10.00

I forgot to accessorize! I'm not too good at that!

Approximate Outfit Cost: $13.50

Sunday
Flower Pin: ZattDesign $8.00
I am giving three of these pins away now, 
click here to get entered!
Top: thrift store (Mossimo) $3.00
Sweater: JC Penney (Decree) $12.00
Jeans: JC Penney (Liz Claboirne) w/ coupon $12.00
Flower Pin: ZattDesign $8.00
Shoes: Target $12.00
Approximate Outfit Cost: $47.00

Thrift Store Jackpot

Harrison sporting his thrift store outfit.

Yes, it's true. I hit the thrift store jackpot last weekend. So, the week before school starts here in Texas, we have three tax-free days to buy clothes. I have been known in the past to fight the crowds in hopes of scoring some good deals. Since I am now into thrift store shopping, I thought I might find some great deals without the crowds.

I had no idea that my favorite thrift store had an unadvertised sale that EVERYTHING was 25% off. My poor unsuspecting six-year-old daughter had no idea what she had gotten herself into! I told Haley, "Honey, we might be here for awhile!" Let's say she made out pretty good in the end.

Haley with her thrift store shirts.

After scouring the aisles for an hour, the finds included six shirts for Haley, three shirts for Harrison, khakis for Harrison, two pairs of jeans for myself, two tops for me and a little care bear new with tags for my little partner in crime. Grand total $22.00. That's 15 items for $1.46 each and it was all good stuff. I am picky about what I buy. Well, maybe with the exception of the Spider-man t-shirt that I just knew Harrison would love! One of the pairs of jeans I bought are a dark denim trouser style by Kenneth Cole, they would have cost well over $22.00 at any department store alone.

My thrifty outfit totals under $10.00 including shoes and necklace.

A little tip for those of you who want to venture out thrifting. Many thrift stores don't have dressing rooms. If you wear a skirt, you can slip on jeans under your skirt right there in the aisle. I know, I've lost all inhibition, I think this happens after you have kids! But, it did work and I was able to find two awesome pairs of jeans. Also, wearing a tank top works well to try on shirts. If you search the store, you can usually find a mirror or two.

I took my friend back the next day after church and she found some great stuff. She also talked me into buying a couple pairs of sassy heels. Now, I just need a date night to break them out! I also found my man a fun pair of "weekend" J Crew pants. I guess I just enjoy the aspect of never knowing what you might find at a thrift store and the challenge of it.

Confessions of a Bargain Shopper: Thrift Store "Couture"

I've had a few people ask me how I find such great stuff at thrift stores. I am prepared to let you on to a few of my secrets.

Lately, I've been hitting a few thrift stores in hopes of freshening up my spring/summer wardrobe. What I have stumbled on is pretty exciting. The selection of skirts at thrift stores are wonderful. Since skirt styles don't really change much and skirts don't tend to get worn out like tops might, they are a great thing to buy second-hand. Here's a few that I have found lately:

These skirts range in price from $1.50 to $3.75 and include brands like Banana Republic. I have an assortment of solid tees and tanks that work perfectly with each skirt.

The key with thrift store shopping is being prepared to dig through the racks. They can be overwhelming, so take your time. I've found it does help to go in looking for one thing in particular, like skirts.

You also might have seen my $5.00 outfit, click here to see it. I hope this encourages you to check out a thrift store! I love finding bargains, but let's just keep these our little secrets!

Fun Garage Sale Finds

I'm so excited to show you all my fun finds over the last couple of weeks of shopping garage sales. I just recently got back into going to garage sales. Mainly, because I have started a little organizing business and I am doing a friend's house on a budget. There is no better place to find great organizing items cheaply than garage sales. I was also motivated to start back after I went to a lovely lake retreat and saw how the owner was able to put all her garage sale/thrift store finds together.

A couple of years ago, I went to garage sales all the time, but I realized that I had a steady stream of "garage sale finds" heading to Good Will. I've gotten back in the habit which a much different mind set. I am being extremely selective, because my goal is not to clutter my home. I do think I've found a few fun things that are either useful or add a little layering to my decor. Enough chat, here's the goods:

This Fun blue Ball jar spoke my name and for $.50, it's a no brainer

 

Table and chairs, $5.00 each, I'm thinking a pretty good deal and I needed to spruce up my patio

I thought this old store newspaper rack was so cool, great for toys now, plants in the future $5.00

Plant stand $3.00, watering can $2.00

This umbrella only cost $1.00, perhaps you remember this color? Plastic bowl $.25 works great for flowers (I should have cleaned the table before this picture, but I'm remembering this isn't about perfection, right?)

Not sure what to call this, cut off table? Anyways I just thought it was so neat and for $5.00 I couldn't pass it up. I think it adds some neat layering to this table that is one of my favorite pieces

Maybe you can see how it works in the space better here

Little tins, $.50 each

Fun little table for Harrison's room, $5.00, and some kind of spaceship or bat mobile thing that Harrison loves for a dollar

Bracelet $.50

 

Not ready to surrender you Saturdays to soccer, no worries, just pick up a trophy for a $.25 at a garage sale and save your Saturdays

I think I did pretty well, regardless I had a lot of fun in the process. I also picked up several baskets for my client including two amazing large pottery barn kids baskets with gingham liners that looked new for $6.00 total. I think it's fun that everything in our house has a story and not much was bought off the shelf at a decorator store.