Thrifty Shopping

   Now that the holidays are long gone I was hoping to get plenty of new projects done, but thanks to my work schedule I have been using most of my spare time for some much needed R&R. Since the house is at a comfortable place our project list has been put on the back burner and I am in need of some serious motivation to get back in work mode! We had been working on the bathroom and got the majority of our new wallpaper up before our housewarming party a few weekends ago. We saved the easiest/hardest part for last,  the easiest because it's the smallest area with no obstacles to cut around. Hardest because it's over the tub and our step stool won't fit and I am not tall enough to reach! Sounds like the boyfriend needs to come to the rescue (wink wink). I promise to get back to work soon & post before and after bathroom pictures before long. But for now I will take the easy way out and post about some of my newest finds.

   We went to a great estate sale a few weeks ago down in San Antonio. Unfortunately we hit quite a bit of traffic and got to the sale a half hour after it opened, so we missed out on a few treasures I was hoping to nab.  We were able to pick up a few things for our back yard, like this bird bath; which is one of the reasons I went to this sale. It didn't have a price tag so I stood  by to claim it while Mike went to ask about the price. Luckily it was very affordable so we were able to take it home, which was quite a feat since this baby was heavy! 

Isn't this squirrel just adorable?!

 

  We also picked up a set of fantastic folding patio chairs. They had a set of 8 at the sale, but 4 had already been claimed. At only $6 a piece I couldn't pass up the remaining 4 chairs. They are in beautiful shape and look great on our patio, now I just need a table to go with them! 

  On the way back to Austin we stopped by New Braunfels for a yummy German lunch of schnitzel and to hit up yet another estate sale. This one was mostly a bust, but I did find a piece of snowflake Pyrex for only a few dollars. It had a few stains, but once I got it home and gave it a good scrub most of them came off, yay!

   I've been itching to start a Pyrex collection, but for now I will take it slow picking up a piece here or  there when I find them. I've been stalking the local thrift stores since other bloggers have had luck finding Pyrex there for cheap. It must be my luck or the fact that Austin thrift stores get picked over very quickly, but I haven't had any success in the Pyrex department. However, I did pick up a few things on my last thrifting trip.

  This piece brought me back to my childhood of Orlando vacations visiting my Grandpa who had one of these in the playroom he had set up for the grandchildren. It is in amazing shape considering it is a kids toy, and for $1.99 I simply couldn't resist!

 

  I started collecting souvenir spoons in high school but had completely forgotten about it in recent years. When I found this America shaped spoon display at Goodwill I knew I had to renew my collecting fervor. Most of my spoons were lost to my parent's attic or trashbin when I moved out of the house, but I was able to find a few spoons I picked up in Europe several years ago. Of course my European souvenir spoons don't exactly go with the whole 'American' theme, but I'll just ignore that detail.  

  I picked up the chalkware ladybugs at a local antique shop and the spice rack was an Etsy purchase. The spice rack was new old stock, still in the original box and never used! I didn't think the label stickers would still be sticky, but they were! Unfortunately, out of all the stickers provided it did not have a 'Basil' label. I thought that was odd since basil is one of the most widely used spices in modern kitchens. Maybe basil wasn't as popular in the 70's?

 

  

   We also got a new address plate from Crestview Doors, doesn't it look great?

I guess I haven't been completely lazy, since I've done a bit of gardening. The spring flowers look beautiful! Pictures of the bathroom and new flowerbeds soon, for now here's a daffodil from my new garden.

I also have a shopping question for all of you out there in blog land: What kind of camera do you prefer to use for your digital blog photos? I've been using a mix of my iPhone and my 9 year old Olympus digital camera. After admiring the quality of photos on many of the blogs out there I have been itching to get a new camera, any suggestions?

I Love Lamp!

   Saturday morning I attended the Austin City Wide Garage Sale. Despite the name it's not much of a typical garage sale, more like a weekend long make-shift antique mall. I've been a few times over the years and it can be hit or miss, but I have found a few gems. The first garage sale I visited I found this killer Vargas print my mother in-law had custom framed for me and which now permanently resides above my bed.

   Since it is Labor Day weekend and therefore estate sales were slim pickings I decided to hit up the City Wide instead. As I first entered the door I noticed a table with a large collection of Tickled Pink dinnerware I was instantly drawn to, but I had to pull myself away by reminding myself that pink dishes would clash with my red kitchenware. It took a while for the 'no' to sink into my head while I admired it, but somehow I finally pried myself away. Good thing I did because shortly after I found a great Pyrex dish in the 'friendship' pattern that would go perfectly in my kitchen! Naturally it came home with me.

   A little while later I found a booth with some amazing mid century pieces. The mister was eyeing a Sears Silvertone record player.. but I was obsessed with a 50's pink lamp with a fiberglass shade. I was instantly in love, but it took some convincing to get Mike on board. He's usually very tolerant of my adoration of all things girly pink and has actually agreed to let me paint and one day even possibly re-tile our master bathroom in pink! But once I told him I would like to put the lamp in our formal living room; which will be his 'Record Room' (his equivalent of a man cave), it took some finesse to get him to come around. I was in love and wasn't leaving without it!

   Once I got this baby back to the apartment I realized we really have nowhere to display it until we move in to the house. I'm starting to get embarrassed to even have anyone enter our apartment since I've been acquiring so much stuff for the house that every available space is being occupied with my most recent finds.

   Since I promised a post about some of my new goodies I decided to share a few more lamps I recently picked up. I keep buying lamps and then feel guilty because I have 2 perfectly wonderful matching sets already hiding in the back of our closet (not vintage but new lamps inspired by mid century design). I guess I have a lamp obsession and didn't even realize it!

  I'll start off with this great light my generous stepmother salvaged from a neighbor who was remodeling her 1970's home. She sent me photos asking if I wanted it since she knew it was my style and I pretty much freaked out at how wonderful it was! This lamp will look positively perfect in the breakfast nook of our house. There's also a great chandelier she salvaged but it didn't photograph as well, so you'll just have to wait to see it once we have it installed in our dining room.

   The next one I bought when visiting Jacksonville back in July. I found a great antique mall I had never been to and this wonderful lamp was waiting there specially for me. I actually left the shop without it because I wasn't sure how I would get it to Texas. After dreaming all day and night about it I headed back to the shop the very next morning to make it mine. I was so nervous sending it in the mail, but I packed it with an entire bag of packing peanuts and wrote "FRAGILE" all over the box. Thankfully it arrived safe and sound!

    This last lamp I found hiding in the garage of a marvelous estate sale last weekend. I was one of the first people in line to get in the house and I left with a car full of treasures. I had been scoping out all the rooms in the house and making a huge hold pile when I finally made it into the garage about 20 minutes after first stepping foot in the house. I somehow even walked right past this baby when entering the garage and then noticed it from across the room. I made a mad dash for it, took 2 glances and told the friendly employee stationed at the door that it was mine! The top of it is pretty rusty and the plug had to be replaced, but it works great and is very bright. Just what we will need in our living room since there are no ceiling light fixtures.

   Well that's all of my lamps for now.. at this rate I am sure I will add another one to my collection soon enough!