Thrifty Thursday

I can hardly contain my excitement as I type up this week's Thrifty Thursday!  Yesterday I decided to visit 2 of my favorite shops in a nearby town ~ one is a consignment store and the other is a home decor store that carries a few antiques now and then.  Wait until you see what I found!

First stop ~ the consignment store.  What do I see as I step in the door ~

It was marked $4.00!  This will find it's home in the kids' bathroom. 

I continue to browse the store and am not having any more luck, when I notice that the stop owner has opened up another room in the store.  I make my way back and there I find these ~

The spice box was $3.00 and the cabinet was $4.00!  I can't help but think to myself, "Why would anyone get rid of these treasures?!" ~ but am I glad they did.  On to the next store I go.

I rarely purchase anything at the next store as it is a bit pricey for my budget, but I LOVE TO LOOK!  The shop owner knows how to decorate!  The last time I visited, I noticed that she had a small corner of antiques and wanted to see what may have been added.  I made my way around the store and up to the loft to check out the corner  ~ it wasn't there anymore :(

So, I decide to take one more look around the loft and then head home with my bargain treasures ~ when I notice something hiding behind one of the chair displays.  As I head over to see what it is, I can tell it's old.  With each step closer, my excitement starts to build.  By the time I reach the chair, I'm hoping that what I think I'm seeing really is what is hiding there.  I move the chair and there it is ~ an antique dough board!!  All I could do is stand and stare.  Finally, I pick it up ~ there is a tag describing what it is and stating that it is around 120 years old!  So now I really want it.  I have seen all these great looking displays on everyone's blogs using dough boards and was going to see if my dad could make me one, because I know the real thing is hard to find and probably costs an arm and a leg.  But here I am holding a real one and it's huge!

Then I have a sinking feeling in my stomach ~ I can only imagine (knowing what the prices on the other items in the store are) what the price for this beauty is.  With a deep breath, I turn the tag over, read the price, and almost drop the dough board.  I can't believe what it says!  Are you ready ~ I mean are you sitting down, well of course you're sitting down ~ it was $30!  I seriously couldn't take it to the register fast enough!  The shop owner says that it hadn't been in the store very long and asked what was I going to do with it.  Well, I was almost hyperventilating by this time and could barely answer her ~ plus I was worried that she would take a look at the price and say it was a mistake, but she didn't.

Here is a photo of the beauty ~

Photos just don't do it justice.  It is one big piece of wood ~ not 2 pieces glued together.  The cut marks are fantastic and I love the shape.  It measures 1 inch thick, 20.5 inches wide, and 28.25 inches long.  It's hard to tell if the nails on the ends are square heads are not.  DH says that it is indeed an antique and not a reproduction ~ the aging of the wood, the aging of the nails, and the fact that it is 1 piece of wood are good indicators.  I can tell that the cut marks and wear are genuine and not added for looks.

Can you see why I'm excited!  Now I just have to decide how to decorate the top ~ I was thinking about trying my hand at making a pantry cake and adding a shoo fly cover.  Can anyone tell me how the pantry cakes are made or provide me with a recipe?

Come back tomorrow and see this week's makeover result!

Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday

Have you been thinking about this makeover all weekend ~ LOL!  This will be the first goodie that my family will actually use once the makeover is complete.  When I saw this in the Goodwill store, I wasn't quite sure what it was ~ still not sure if what we will use it for is the intended purpose.  However, I could see how useful it would be in our home.  I just can't wait to get it finished up and put in it's place ~ neither can DH!

Once you take a look, I'm interested if you have seen this before and what you would use it as.  Also, I'm thinking about starting up a selling blog ~ I may not have room for all these makeovers/treasures and am wondering if there would be anyone out there in blogland that would be interested in purchasing one or more of my creations/finds.  I would be delighted if you would leave a comment and let me know your answers!

Here's the before photo ~

This piece is screaming for a good primming up!  The black paint is all ready to go!

My First Blog Award!

I have received my first blog award from my dear friend Hayley at Consider It All Joy!  Thank you so much!!!  Take a peek at some trivia about me and 15 blogs that I enjoy following!

Seven things about me ~

1. I graduated first in my class of 20 from high school.
2. I graduated ninth in my class of 300 from Central College ~ Go Dutch!
3.  I was accepted into the accelerated program at Drake University Law School.
4. I felt that the Lord's plan for me was to be a stay-at-home-mommy and not a lawyer.
5. My husband and I met while "scooping the loop" in the town that my children now attend school in.
6. I love studying Bible prophecy ~ especially the End Times and the book of Revelation.
7. I am an organized "freak of nature" ~ just ask my friends!

Fifteen blogs that I have recently discovered and enjoy (in random order, I included the link for each) ~

1. Hayley's HeARTwork
2. Parker's Paradise
3. Primitve Lifestyle
4. Country Girl at Home
5. BusyBee
6. Primsue's Heart and Home
7. AMBPrimitives
8. Dusty Tattered Cupboard Doors
9. The Barely There Primitive Bear
10. The Olde Farmhouse
11. Preferably Prim
12. Bubble Gum Primitives
13. Parker's General
14. A Primitive Place ~ Tammy
15. American Girl Primitives-N-Stuff

So to the hostesses of these wonderful blogs, here are the rules to accept the Versatile Blogger Award ~

•Thank and link back to who gave you the award.
•Share 7 things about yourself.
•Pass it along to 15 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy.
•Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award.
(*For those that are not already, it would be great if you would become a follower of my blog as well!)

Thanks again Hayley!

Goodwill Goodie Finish Friday

I'm so excited to share this makeover finish with you that I'm posting it a bit early!  It turned out better than I had envisioned!  At first, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the box once I had it painted and distressed.  When I found the battery-operated taper candles (see yesterday's post) and pip berry picks, it all came together.

Remember what it looked like before ~

(2 lovely country geese had taken up residency on the front before I kindly removed them)

And take a look now ~

I purchased the bowl during a recent Goodwill visit for $.25 and was going to give it a makeover.  However, I think it's the perfect fit here!  This is running a close second to the quilt shelf makeover as my favorite.  It distressed so nicely and the candles primmed up fabulously.  I will be able to easily switch it up for every season!  As you can see, I had to tweak my TV display ~ the crow, leaf candle plate, candle, and Americana plate have found new homes. 

Next week's makeover is all ready to begin.  This is a piece that I have never seen before and it will be extremely useful in our household.  It will be interesting to see if anyone has come across one before.  Be sure to watch for Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday to find out what it is!

Please continue leaving your comments ~ I really enjoy reading through them!  It's nice to hear from you all!

Thrifty Thursday

Today's Thrifty Thursday is dedicated to dollar stores ~ Dollar General, Dollar Tree, etc.  These stores have treasures just waiting to be discovered.

Here are a few that I have uncovered ~

Glass hurricanes = $1.00 each on clearance
Wood pumpkins = $1.00 each
Gingerbread scented votives = $1.00
Battery-operated string of 10 white lights = $1.00
Battery-operated taper candle = $1.00
Salt box house plates = $2.50 each on clearance
Battery-operated small pillar candle = $1.50 on clearance
Battery-operated large pillar candle = $2.50 on clearance

The taper candles can easily be spray painted ~ check back tomorrow to see a few that I have primmed up.

It's amazing that even these stores will clearance out merchandise.  I couldn't believe my luck when I came across the hurricanes and battery-operated pillar candles at 50%  ~ I must admit that I bought all the cream colored ones they had left! 

I have purchased many, many items from dollar stores and have never had a problem.  Baby clothes, baby items, adult clothes, shoes, school supplies, food, cosmetics ~ the list goes on and on.  One of my favorite thrifty items is their greeting cards.  They only cost $.50 a piece!

If you have a dollar store near, I would advise you to check it out!  Open your mind to the possibilities that await in each aisle!

Sneak Peek!

Here's a quick sneak peek at this week's Goodwill Goodie Makeover ~

I'm still tweaking this one!  See the reveal on Finish Friday!

Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday

Good Monday Morning to All!  It looks like we will be in for another week of wonderful fall weather.  On Saturday night, we had the first frost of the season.  I'm hoping that it killed off the mosquitoes and no-see-ums.  Sitting out at soccer games has not been enjoyable with those pests!  Even with bug spray, all we seem to get done is swatting.  These late mosquitoes are the size of small airplanes, and they sound like them as well!

Yesterday in our Middle School Sunday School class we decided to change up the curriculum a bit.  We haven't been thrilled with the lessons since we took over the class, but hadn't been able to find a program we were happy with.  So after much prayer, we feel that God is directing us to produce our own lessons each week.

Asking the students 20 questions dealing with different aspects of the Bible and Christian life is where we started out yesterday.  With all the chatter and questions from the students, this took the entire 50 minutes of class.  This group is a challenge to keep on task ~ one of the reasons why we felt a need to try a different path of teaching.  We fight the chatter every week and need to keep them focused.  The fact that they feel so comfortable around us is great and we enjoy it.  However, it makes finishing a lesson and driving the point home a challenge.  They didn't seem to understand that they were to simply answer the questions that we asked ~ if they didn't know the answer, they were told to write "I don't know", not ask a thousand questions about the question :)  With all 20 questions finally asked, it was time to dismiss and head up to church.

Back home, we took a look at the answers.  DH and I weren't sure exactly where or with what we were going to start, but these definitely helped us make our decision ~ at the very beginning.  It seems that even after years of Sunday School and AWANAs, the kids are missing the basics of the Bible.  Some didn't even know which book told the story of the creation.  Needless to say, we were shocked.  God has lead us down the right path (like He would lead us down the wrong one, right?!).  So, we feel very secure with our decision to move away from pre-planned lessons.  I'm very excited to see where this will lead.  DH and I were beginning to feel burned-out and had thought maybe it was time for someone else to take the class.  However, after today, we are feeling energized and that this is where we are supposed to be.  I will keep you updated with how things go!

Now ~ onto this week's Goodwill Goodie Makeover.  This is something that I picked up for $1.99.  Imagine it with 2 lovely country geese and hearts on the front (I forgot to take a photo before I removed the glued on wood figures).  It is already painted, as I had some extra time last week to dedicate to it.  I just have to decide what to use it for.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I had thought of a plate holder, but I don't have any plates yet.  Leave me a comment with your ideas!

Keep checking back this week ~ I may do a sneak peek at the end result!