May 7, 2011 / katelynb

You Can Have IT ALL… For A Lot Less!

Today (and yesterday afternoon) were the very first days of the beautiful season of yard sales. There is seriously no better time of year, not even Christmas! It’s a time to get out of the house and stock up on all your housewares, decorating things, baby clothes, etc. etc. etc.. I mean yeah, of course we still buy things at retail cost throughout the year but I am determined to do less of that this year as we have acquired so many things at rummage sales already and have limited storage and living space for too much. Here is a look at some of the things I gathered and the prices I payed:

1. Side of the Road Find during Clean-Up Week in Town. I washed up the glass plates and might spray paint it a different color, but for the perfect condition and FREE price tag, I had to give it a chance! It is in the corner of our dining room right now and that is where it will stay for now. I can’t wait to get some pretty green plants on it and bring some life back inside!

2. I was really reluctant to buy this huge key wall hanging from the Salvation Army Family Store a few weeks back just because I didn’t know exactly what I would do with it. I picked it up, carried it around, put it up against walls in the store, put it back, picked it up again, put it back again, walked away but I just couldn’t leave it alone or stop thinking about it. I know it is just one of those big, quirky pieces or wall art I had to have and I could make it work. It wouldn’t look like old outdated crap in my house because I am “too cool” for anyone to think that! Sorry, I have a bit of a big head sometimes 🙂

Now I really should have taken a before and after picture of the key because in this picture, I have spray painted it with two coats of matte black and it looks amazing. Before it was shiny (plasticy looking) black with cheesy gold accents to make it look worn. I have it hanging on the wall downstairs in my craft room which will someday be Emma Jane’s bedroom… I think it will look great with some color on the bed and pillows, etc. etc. Love It! ($2.99):

3. Now I am not usually much of one for buying used floral arrangements, in fact I am a little scared of them. We don’t even have any in the house, not until now anyways! I found this cutie for $2.00 at a church rummage sale this morning. Originally, I wasn’t crazy about the flowers but I really liked the metal planter they were in and planned to toss the flowers and re-do the arrangement. Well when I got it home and on top of the piano (my new favorite place to decorate) it looks amazing with the green walls and other colors we have in the room. I’m glad I didn’t pass this up, it looks amazing and SO sophisticated. We have a grown up house!

at the same church rummage sale I snagged this adorable picture frame and great condition for $4.00:

Look at the adorable detail, and the best part, I can make new tags and switch them out to say different things if I want. I think I am going to put a picture of Baby brother in there or find another one of our gorgeous wedding photos… thanks MJoy Photography, you did an amazing job!!!

Just for fun… on the cheap! These were less than $1.00 per game:

I was delighted to hear Tony’s reaction to this tree for $0.25 … “I actually like that”:

Doesn’t it look fun in front of that round mirror hanging above our dresser. What he doesn’t know is I plan to keep it up for all seasons and add appropriate blossoms and leaves and “stuff” … think hearts for v-day, easter eggs, shamrocks…

This little thing is just SO DARN CUTE and Emma is really, really, really into these board puzzles right now. $0.25:

This momma has to have something new to wear when I go back to work after my 8 weeks off, right? These are both brand spanking new (they’ve got that new car smell and I can just tell they have never been through the wash before) I packed them both in my paper bag that I payed $5 for at the church rummage sale: