Work in Progress 3

I go through "spurts" of craftiness. When I have time (which is hard with teaching and a two-year old), I LOVE to paint, work on little projects, and rearrange my house...

I found this rub-on decal at Wal-Mart.

This is a mirror I bought five years ago; I painted it to match the fabric in Ava's room.

This is an embroidered handkerchief that I found in my grandmother's cedar chest.

I also found this apron in her cedar chest, so I cut out the bird to frame:)

I saw a cute idea in a magazine to frame family member's recipes.
Here's my mother-in-law's pie recipe. I'm working on doing more now.

I painted this cross and framed it in a "Goodwill frame." :)

My computer cabinet had clear glass that showed way too much junk! My sister suggested covering the glass with left-over fabric from another project. I like how it turned out.

The large frame was another find at my grandmother's house.
It is from the 1950s. I painted the frame black and painted over the print.

Brooke's Bargains 10

I was surprised by all the sales today!
I got some great stuff:)

Ava's Bargains
Poodle Slippers, Two Pairs of Sand & Sun Shoes,
"Make-Up" (Her Favorite!), Chair, Five Shirts,
& Baby Gap Dress
Total: $10

Scarecrow with Bowl $1

Born Shoes (Most Comfortable Shoes Ever),
Nine West, & These Cute Silver Shoes from Target
Grand Total: $5

Two Plates for $3

Two Pair of Jeans, Ann Taylor Black Skirt, Five Shirts
$7.25

I'm linked to Thrifty Thursday.

Sweet Treats

My cousin, Tracey, is one of the most thoughtful people I know. She NEVER forgets birthdays! Today she dropped off some goodies for Ava and me!

Tracey loves to give gifts which is perfect for us.
Ava and I love books!
She brought Ava a Halloween and Thanksgiving book, and for me-
Mom's Journal, a Max Lucado book, a super-cute notepad, and a special occassion book.

She also brought these cute American flag wall hangings. I am going to take them to school to decorate my U.S. History classroom and bring them home in May to use for the summer:)

Special Occasions

My 28th Birthday!
I love October- pumpkins, fall weather, football gatherings, chili, candy corn, & my birthday!
My parents always threw parties for our birthdays,
so we're keeping the tradition alive by celebrating each of our special days together.

My parents gave me these goodies: "M"/polka dot Christmas ornament, Aromatique Summer Sorbet potpouri & candle (it smells incredible and reminds me of my college roomate, Jeanine), fuzzy socks, lotion, and grape bubblegum- I loved this gum and none of the stores have it around here. My parents went on a little road trip last week and stopped in like 20 places to find it!
So sweet.

My wonderful friend, Anna, gave me this beautiful pottery (Etta B).

My other wonderful friend, Meg, gave me this adorable painting.
It's already hanging in my kitchen.

My dad, mom, sister, daughter, and me (Ron took the picture:).

My mom & sis

I made one of my favorite dips for our get-together: spinach dip.

Brittany made these INCREDIBLE chocolate covered, peanut butter, and Ritz cracker cookies!
Get the recipe HERE:

Anna & Meg took me to dinner at a Japanese restuarant, and we sat there and talked for hours.

http://cinemovie.tv/cinemovie/images/stories/MoviePosters/the-proposal-movie-poster.jpg

Work in Progress 2

I spray painted these two pumpkins brown & added polka dots (my fav!)
One I put in my Lowe's urn & the other is on candle stick from my sister's wedding.
I added my yard sale moss underneath both pumpkins.

Here is my front door.
I used an old grapevine wreath around it & attached my $1 yard sale patio lights.

I made a non-traditional wreath for my front door.
I got the materials at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.

I'm linked to Transformation Thursday & Poppies @ Play.

Brooke's Bargains 9

It was sooo cold this morning but we still had a great time!

I bought 6 shirts for $6 (Lucy is posing too:) Abercrombie, Aeropostale,
JCrew, Gap, Charlotte Russe.

Any Given Sunday dvd and Columbia fleece jacket for Ron- $2

$4 (it had a $30 tag still on it)

Ava's loot: Dora pinata (for next year's birthday party), hat, 11 books, chihuahua pj pants:), Talbots Kids sweater & shirt with tags, Old Navy shirt & fleece pull-over, Gymboree shirt, 2 Christmas dresses, beach ball & sunglasses (still in packages), Children's Place pjs...All for $10!! The Talbots shirt alone had a $28 tag on it.I'm linked to Thrifty Thursday.

Brooke's Bargains 8

Random finds: hat, metal cracker box (Brittany said it was a must), & a silk pillow cover...$2

Classroom decor: American Santa:), Happy Fall sign- $0.75 for both

2 pairs of jeans, khakis, brown cords (Gap, J.Crew) $1 each

Ava's goodies: butterfly backpack, Dora & Madeline books, Cheaper by the Dozen DVD, Children's Place shirt, Baby Gap dress, Ralph Lauren dress, Carter's dress, Old Navy shirt.
Total: $7

Basket, 4 wall hangings (that will get some TLC first) $1 each

Family Fun 2

I made Ava's "birthday banner" using card stock from Hobby Lobby (one of my favs) and peel and stick letters from Target (Crayola brand, I think).

Her cake that I had made to match the invitations.

One of my sister's Goodwill finds...

I painted the area behind my kitchen sink with chalkboard paint.

Very, very tired after her birthday celebration!

Work in Progress

My sister & I love going through our grandparents' sheds for 'treasures.' Sometimes I have stuff for a while before figuring out what to do with it. For example, the roofing tin sat in my garage for two years before I painted it with chalkboard paint and hung it on the patio (with Ron's help:).

This was a gift from Brittany (she found it at a local flea market).

I painted it with a light coat of paint.

Artist-in-training.

On a BEAUTIFUL summer day, Brittany & I dragged all our stuff out to my backyard and painted all weekend while Ava swam in her pool:)

So much fun! This picture reminds me of Sanford and Son.

These shutters were a yard sale find. All of them for $2, I think.

This old door is from my great-grandparents' house. I never met my Great-grandmother Little, but I do remember my great-grandfather. I love this! Maybe it'll become Ava's headboard...

I'm linked to Vintage Thingies Thursday.