On perpetually running behind, #ThriftScoreThursday, and other goings-on

Sure, this post should have been ready to go at midnight this morning, but as my title states, I am perpetually running behind. Always a few minutes behind in real life, and sometimes a half day or more around here. I wonder why that is? Especially when I strive to be punctual, if not early. Not to sound cliche, but some days it really seems like my get-up-and-go got up and left! Left me in the dust. And I'm running a bit behind to go get some lab work done so I can finish putting a last-minute thrift score post up because I just couldn't let this AMAZING find from late last week go another week without sharing!

Thrift Score Thursday - the thrift score to end all thrift scores!

Here it is, for your viewing pleasure for one last time, a "sneak peek" at my Thrift Score Thursday submission for today! I've been spreading my excitement all week long on this blog and all over social media. In fact, you can probably feel my excitement through your computer screen (if you don't, check your computer because you should totally be feelin' it!), and although it might not be as exciting to you - or exciting at all - I will tell you about why it means so much to me. I love and get crazy-excited over all my thrift scores and treasures, as many of you already know. And this one? It is second in importance to me only to my vintage Steelcase industrial metal desk for $45 and $5 Steelchairs by Harter score from all the way back in 2006. So just what the heck is it, anyway? Read on...

#ThriftScoreThursday, brought to you by the color orange.

My orange obsession and my thrifting obsession have collided. And let me tell you, it is fabulous! But I won't be unloading all my awesome orange in just one post; instead, I'll be breaking it down over time. That way, if there's ever a dud week at the thrift stores, I'll have something to fall back on. Wait...is that cheating? I hope not, because a thrifted deal is a thrifted deal, no matter when you scored it. Right?

So here lately, I've been all about orange. It just makes me happy! And when I saw this little guy for only $2.99, I HAD to have him.

Putting My Best Foot Forward

It is New Year's Eve, and the time for resolutions and new beginnings is upon us. 2014 has been full of wonder and relief when on an even keel, yet also full of debilitating stress and anxiety on the flip side of the coin. There has been very little comfortable and/or boring middle ground, and that is one of the things that I hope changes in the coming year. I can handle some of life's little hiccups with ease, but could always do without the major stresses. Who couldn't? Regardless, I am thankful for all the life experiences I received this year, and am thankful once again for my amazing family, the food we had to eat, the roof over our heads, the cars that got us to the jobs I'm thankful we have. And that my pets are all still with me. Mini is getting old, and we had a scare with her earlier this summer. I'm thankful for all the friends who have been there for me this year and beyond, and hope I have been able to serve them in like kind.

I won't put a huge retrospective together, but did want to share my favorite thrift store/vintage moments from 2014. Some of these are mine, and some are just pics I snapped of interesting things that caught my eye:

Who didn't have a crush on this hottie back in the 70s?

Gorgeous orange Mid-Century chair

Lovely trio of deco milk glass vases

Vintage beaded fringe bag. MINE!

I'd love to lounge on this groovy chaise!

Mid-Century stereo stand

Mid-Century console stereo

Do you fondue?

John Waters would approve.

A cute little coconut clown. Because why not?

The perfect casual, durable serving tray

Vintage Libbey Prado goblet, wine/juice, and champagne/sherbet glasses

I can't wait to see what 2015 brings in vintage finds!

And in the spirit of putting my best foot forward, I scored these gorgeous boots on sale for what amounts to about 25% off during the Women's Boot Sale at Target.

I wish much love, success, prosperity, and happiness for everyone in the coming year! If you are going out tonight, please be responsible. And back from last year, here's Jimi Hendrix's version of Auld Lang Syne to take you into it.

Happy New Year!

A little bit of Christmasy Folk Art

Here's an adorable set of vintage nesting angels (all nested in this photo) I found for about a quarter in a thrift store. They're a terrific edition to my hodge-podge holiday decor! I don't have a clue how old they are, but I love that they appear to be aged. And I thought they complimented the rail of my weathered deck quite well in this photo.

Thrifty finds are amazing!

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Writer's Workshop: You can have your shopping malls and designer boutiques. Take me to the thrift store!

If you've read my blog for a while, then you know how I love to hit thrift and junk stores for various discarded treasures. I try to make it a point to do this weekly, and since I generally only purchase vintage dishes and handbags in need of a good scrubbing, it's a pastime that even I can afford on my very limited budget.

In the past, I have found restoration and repurposing projects, and numerous gorgeous things for my home as well as unique gifts for special people, or can be with a little help. This week was no exception: among the racks of outdated small electrics, I got a little peek at the most perfect shade of 50s mint green. Upon further inspection, this delicious color was attached to a General Electric hand mixer which looked just like this one:


Image Source: © Gwen's Flickr Photostream and issued under Flickr Creative Commons

.....well, mine has a gray bottom instead of white. (No, this lovely photo is not mine. Why, you ask? Well, my camera died. And now my backup camera, my phone, has recently died, so I had no way to take a photo of my own.) /explanation.

I gravitated to it instantly. Even though it was covered with quite a bit of grime, I could see that it was clearly a diamond in the rough. Perfect 50s mint green, with what was probably once shiny gold details. It had metal detailing on the front and back which reminded me of the grill of a 1950s Thunderbird:

Source: etsy.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Image Source: © The 1957 Retro Store

I held it in my hands, and the weight and shape of it just felt "right." Unlike many recent model hand mixers, this one is not as lightweight. It's not heavy by any means, but it is quite sturdy and durable and had definitely stood the test of time, as I had the cashier plug it in for me just to make sure it still worked on all speeds. It did, and I just HAD to have it! (With budget and space limits, I refuse to buy anything that I will not use, so if this didn't work, I'd have had to leave it behind.)

So I bought myself a vintage hand mixer. I took it home and scrubbed the filth off. It looks loved now, instead of simply put to good use. This is such a recent purchase that I haven't even had the opportunity to use it myself just yet, but now I can't wait to and I'm even looking for other attachments to go on it.

Best part? I bought it for $3.20.

What is YOUR most recent "happy" purchase?

{This entry is part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. For more from the workshop, head over here.}