Hey there, good-looking!

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking, though I am stressed beyond belief due to things way beyond my control. But....I'm getting things done, because that's what I do. I don't particularly like it, but what can I do? So far my best means of coping have been binging on Supernatural on Netflix and thrifting. But my thrifting means more awesome furniture and decor for my home, as well as potential for more money from the Etsy Shoppe.

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...

Friday Favorites for 2.27.15

This is a trio of Harkerware stoneware cups, most likely from the 40s-60s. They are adorable in cool gray with other speckled colors! These were all thrifted over the years for about fifty cents each; maybe even less. The blue one is "Blue Mist", the white one is "White Cap", and the pink one is "Shell Pink". There is another color in this particular line of dishes, a yellow one called "Golden Dawn" which I have not come across yet in any of my thrift hunts, but am on the lookout for. Yes, I have seen plenty on eBay and Etsy and the like, but I enjoy the thrill of the hunt! Plus, the hunt is much less expensive AND I don't actively collect this pattern.

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!

As silly as this sounds.....

Today's Coffee Chat topic is "What makes you feel the most confident/attractive/sexy?"   Well, honestly?  Most days I simply don't feel that confident, or attractive, let alone sexy.  I could to on and on and ON about how unhappy I am that my weight keeps yo-yo-ing, I keep struggling with my finances, and am really feeling the pressure to provide for myself a year after my divorce.  But that's boring.  That's negative, and I am doing my best to no longer be a negative person.  I am choosing to be happy.  Happiness is attractive, and confidence is attractive, and right now what is giving me confidence AND happiness is accomplishing goals....or at the very least, progress towards the accomplishment of goals.  Sexy will just have to come later, when I'm ready.

Speaking of goals....I currently have a few smallish projects that I am working on and am ready to turn an old dresser into an entertainment center (that's a project that has languished for years due to needing a place to haul the current entertainment center - the one which will no longer hold a decent sized TV because TVs were square when I bought it and not rectangular).  Even though that will take a while, I am still starting to think about what to do in my office space:

This is not my current setup, but this IS still the location of my "office."  (a wall in the living room right off the front entrance)  I just LOVE my retro-industrial metal monster desk and Steelcase vintage office chair!  And the desk has some great storage - but I do need the piece to function not only as a desk, but crafting/art area and sewing table.  The chair is definitely getting re-upholstered after all these years.  And I'm still debating whether or not to paint the desk.  And yes, it may take me more years before I complete it!  

Song of the day:  a song from your childhood, and an explanation for why you picked it.

The Steve Miller Band - "Dance, Dance, Dance"

I went back to EARLY childhood for this one.  I remember my Dad used to race cars and Fly Like An Eagle was one of the tapes we'd listen to on the drives to and from the racetrack.  This song in particular just made me happy to hear it!

And that's Day 1 of 25 Days, 25 Songs for a wrap!

#coffeechat #noraguild #25songs25days

The perfect way to spend a spring afternoon

This is a photo I recently took when the weather first started getting really nice. (I've already Facebooked and Instagrammed it, so it may look familiar to regular readers already.) It was an amazing day - I had the day off work and was able to sit on my back porch to read my Flea Market Style magazine while enjoying some light lemonade in one of my newest thrifted treasures, one of my Mid-Mod Federal Glass roly-polys in Black Diamond. And I always have a favorite pair of cateye sunglasses to keep the sun's rays out of my eyes!



What are some of your favorite ways to spend a warm spring afternoon?

Participating:

Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday Bloggers
Wordful Wednesday





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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.}

Yum!

For today's Wordless and Wordful Wednesday, how about some yummy cream cheese wonton?

I just love takeout from my favorite local Chinese eatery, Meteor Buffet! And these adorable vintage Homer Laughlin platters and sauce cups I picked up while thrifting a while back are so perfect for serving!



For more Wordless Wednesday, go here: here.
For more Wordful Wednesday, go here: here.