Friday Finds #2

Last week, I went on a treasure hunt for bargains, again! I, of course, had my" Valentine's decorating theme" in mind for February, but was also on the lookout for anything that might catch my eye for future tablescapes or other holiday decorating.

I wanted to go to many places, but time and lack of money in my wallet prevented me from going to more than one place. I hadn't been to Goodwill in a couple of weeks, so I decided that I would go there and see what I could find! I love going there when I have time to really LOOK. ~ Know what I mean?

Here's what I came home with ---

I spotted this beautiful set of 7 dessert plates and really liked the colors! I picked them up and immediately thought about what sort of tablescape they would go well with. I couldn't really think of one, so I put the dishes back on the shelf. Then.... I picked them up again. Still thinking. I put them back down again, not being able to think of a "theme" that they would go with. Then.... I picked them up AGAIN and put them in my buggy. I decided to let them ride around in my buggy (Or "cart", depending on where you are from! Where I come from, they are called a "buggy"! **Smile**) Before I left the store... I decided that these were just too pretty to pass up! They were only $3.50.... and.... the best part is.... when I got to the register to pay for them.... they were 1/2 off!!! I was a happy girl, then! They only cost me $1.75!!! Wahooo!! They are from Pier 1, too! Ca-ching!!! Yes, there are 7 of them and I only need 6, so I will use the extra one as decoration above my kitchen cabinets! Yay! It was a little "chipped", anyway.

In the Christmas section, I found these cute little snowmen!!! They are actually candles, but who would actually lite them?? -- Not me!! I decided right away that they would be perfect with my "Winter Theme"! They were only $1.31 each and also... 1/2 off, because they were Christmas items!! Wahooo!!



Next, I found this pretty frame. It's really too small to put a photo into it, so my plan is to cut out a red heart and insert it in. It will be perfect then! It cost me $1.31. :)

Next, I couldn't pass up this beautiful vase! I plan to use it as part of my centerpiece for my tablescape. It was only $1.41.

This is what I plan to do with it!

Those were all of my finds at the Goodwill store. I think I did pretty good! I got all of these things for just under $6.00!! Not bad.

The week before, I did my "hunting" at Hobby Lobby and The Dollar Tree. I forgot to post the items that I bought, so here they are -----

I bought this frame on clearance for $3.40 at Hobby Lobby.

My plan is to do something like this with it. I think, since it is a deep frame, I will make a "puffed heart" out of red fabric and place it into the frame. I just have to find some fabric!

I bought these at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 (with 30% off -- $2.00). I plan to scatter them on my table as part of my centerpiece.

These are fake rose petals. They were $2.99 (with 30% off -- $2.00) at Hobby Lobby. They will also be scattered on my table and maybe my mantle, as well.

My next stop was to The Dollar Tree, which is right next door to Hobby Lobby! **Smile**

I picked up this cute little rosebud & vase for $1.00, there.

I couldn't pass up these votives!! Aqua Blue is my very favorite color and these screamed "Beach Theme" to me! So, I bought these to stash away for summer! They were all $1.00 each.



Total money spent on this day --- $11.40! YAY!!

This weekend, I will be transforming my "Winter Wonderland" theme (Click HERE & HERE to view) over to a "Love" theme for the month of February. I bought several items a couple of weeks ago (view those HERE) that I thought would look better if I changed them up a little, so I will also be working on those this weekend. I will hopefully post about my accomplishments, early next week. Be sure to come back then to see how it all turned out!

I am also going to TRY to link this blog up to some other blogs that are all about "bargain hunting". I'll keep you "posted" on whether or not that works out!

Friday Finds

I am in TABLESCAPE and THEMED DECORATING "mode"!!! I'm finding it fun to see what I can find for the cheapest price.

As I have been searching looking reading thru different blogs and I keep finding myself going back to the ones that have to do with TABLESCAPES and THRIFTY DECORATING. I am so fascinated by what people are finding by going to Goodwill, yard sales, thrift shops, & the clearance shelves at many wonderful stores!

One of my favorite blogs that I keep returning to is Linda's blog at A La Carte. She can find some of the most beautiful and interesting things! I also enjoy Marty's blog at A Stroll Thru Life. She loves to decorate and finds such beautiful things at bargain prices!

Soo...... after being ICED in for a day or so.... I ventured out on Tuesday and wondered thru three of my favorite stores... Ross, Marshall's, & TJMaxx.

Here's my LOOT that I came home with! --

I went to Ross first. They always have great holiday items and I had my February Tablescape & Decorating Theme, in mind. I plan to have a Valentine Theme, of course! I saw this adroable jar, first. It was only a few dollars, but I decided that I probably had a jar at home that I could use and make my own jar, like this one. So, I set it back down. (I took this pic with my phone camera. It takes great pics, if the light is good.)

Then, I came across THIS jar. It was only $2.99 and I love the way that it opens. I am not sure what this kind of jar is called. I know that it is not a mason jar, but something simliar. (Forgive my photography skills. I am still working on that!) I decided that I could use this jar to decorate like the one above. Then, I could put candy in it, or maybe love notes to my family! It will be a cute addition to either my dining table, my mantle, or the kitchen counter.

Next, I found this unusual piece! It jumped off the shelve at me because of the beautiful blue color! (I am a sucker for all things blue! Especially, blue glassware!) I'm still not sure if it is meant to be a flask or a syrup bottle! My guess is a syrup bottle! It was only $1.99! My first thought was that it would be a great piece to showcase above my kitchen cabinets. (My decorating up there, needs help!) But, the beautiful blue color, was a little BRIGHT! I carried it in my cart as I continued to shop, then I decided that since it was only $2, and I liked it so much, I really couldn't leave it behind.

My next "find" was this beautiful red vase. (I guess it is a vase!) I think it will be a beautiful addition to my Valentine decorations! It will be cute filled with Hershey Kisses! It was only $2.99.

Next, I headed over to Marshall's, which is in the same shopping center as Ross... so, no wasting gas! This is where I found my favorite "find" of the day!! Take a look at this bowl!! (I guess that is what you call it!) I have seen plates like this with the ribbon running thru the edge, but never a bowl. I love how you can change out the ribbon for different holidays or decorating purposes. It came with this black & white, polka-dotted ribbon... which I love! Ashley told me that her store sells ribbon like this by the yard, so now I have "connections" to more ribbon! YAY! I'm not sure what I will put in it yet, but I can already see it with a pretty red ribbon, laced thru it for Valentine's! It was my most expensive purchase at $6.99. Still a bargain!

 My next find was this sign. I LOVE what it says, but I don't like the "colors" of it. They don't show up very well. So, my plan is to repaint it. I see it in black, with white lettering or an off-white, with black lettering. I will most likely use this as a decorating piece for above my kitchen cabinets, but I think it may go on my mantle as part of my Valentine's decor. It was only $2.50. I was disappointed that Marshall's didn't really have any Valentine decor. Oh well.

Next, I headed over to T.J.Maxx (which is conveniently, right across the street!) where they were in the middle of re-organizing their "home" section. So, it made shopping a little more challenging. Things were in PILES and I had to literally DIG thru things to see anything!

The first thing that caught my eye was this RELAX sign. This had David's name written ALL OVER it!! I had to get it!! It will go perfectly above my kitchen cabinets as a reminder to not only David, but to all of us to do just that.... RELAX! It was only $3.99.

This last "find", was something that I carried around (like the blue syrup bottle) for a bit because I wasn't sure if I liked it enough to pay the $5.99 price. (Yes. I am cheap!) I am always thinking of ways that I can "make" something instead of buying it. It's hard to tell in this photo, but it is Valentine "garland". There are five hearts. Three of them say, "Happy Valentine's Day". I finally decided to get the garland because the more I thought about it... I couldn't really think of something better that I could make. This garland will look nice, draped across my mantle.

Next week, I hope to "hit up" stores such as Hobby Lobby, The Dollar Tree, & Michael's and see what kinds of "finds" that I can find there!