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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Brooke's Bargains 31

I had weekend guests & didn't go to any yard sales Saturday morning, but I did take a minute to see what Goodwill had this week. I picked up this garden flag at a gift shop too (mine was so faded that it had to go). Also, I had $125 worth of Old Navy gift cards that my sister and four of my best friends gave me for my birthday:) So far, I have gotten this great yellow coat and some brown leggings...Maybe I'll go back and spend the rest after work today...retail therapy! ;)

large wicker and bead bowl $3.99 (right now, it's holding fall magazines on my coffee table)

topiary $2 (looks cute on my buffet for the moment)

I've liked these Target play shoes for Ava for a while...$1.99. She picked out the Disney princess phone- $0.59.

I love my new flag! Not my thriftiest purchase at $13.

Gotta LOVE gift cards! I'm ready to wear this new coat, but it is still way too warm here in Mississippi!!


Thursday, October 21, 2010

No Cost Re-Do

Recently, my friend Niki was having Bunco night at her house; she asked me to stop in and help her with her entry way. I love a "no cost re-do;" it was so therapeutic for me after a busy week at work! :) A few months before I found this secretary in her attic, and we painted it with leftover paint and stain. She also had an old, gold-framed mirror that wasn't being used. I mentioned that it would make a cute chalkboard, so Niki painted the frame white and used chalkboard paint on the mirror portion. She had these great Walter Anderson prints
(a Mississippi artist:). I love how they add color. I just rearranged the space a bit and hung the wall art. She loved how it turned out (and husbands love when it doesn't cost anything)!

Before..
After...
Look how cute Niki's family of pumpkins are!

The girls have fun, while we decorate and talk! :)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Big 29 + Fall Decor

Tomorrow's the BIG day: my 29th birthday! I love celebrating my birthday; however, it is weird this year that it's the last birthday in my 20s! Seriously, where does TIME GO!?! 

My parents, sister, brother-in-law, Ron, & Ava helped me celebrate last night. We had dinner at my house, opened gifts, and talked 'til late. Next year, my nephew will be here too! Can't wait.

Changing subjects...I mainly just decorated my buffet this year for fall. I like how it turned out (here's last year's front door). When I pack up seasonal decor, I also pack Ava's seasonal books along with it. It gives us something different to read...

Oh, and to answer a reader's question: Yes, I'm a Mississippi girl too! :)









Monday, October 11, 2010

Fall Weekend FUN!!

Last weekend was so much fun! I took Ava to the pumpkin patch at Cedar Hill Farm. She loves all of the animals! We saw a pig race, and she rode a pony. Then we went on a hayride to the patch where she got to pick out her own pumpkin while I took lots of pictures! :) After we left the pumpkin patch, we went to visit Ron at work. I asked her what she wanted for dinner, and she said,"Mexican!" How cute! (And you never have to twist my arm when it comes to that!:)


The next day after church, Ron, Ava, and I met my parents and Job and Brittany at the Mid-South Fair. There's so much to see, do, and eat at the fair! Ava's favorite ride was the giant slide that she rode with her daddy! She also rode a mini-roller coaster with me for the first time. She put her little hands up in the air- adorable! I had a flashback of my childhood when Ava rode the little motorcycles because there is a picture of me doing the same thing at the fair when I was around her age..We ate funnel cake, cotton candy, lemonade, corn dog..nothing ever tastes quite as good as it looks though. Ava also really enjoyed the petting zoo at the fair. I knew better than to ride anything that goes in circles, but I let Ron talk me into one ride that caused me to be yucky-feeling the rest of the day:( After the fair, Ava fell asleep in the car on the ride home. She was so out! I LOVE MY FAMILY.


Here's my favorite pics from the weekend:











Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Before...

The first time I decorated for someone other than family (my sister, mom, grandmother, and mother-in-law have all been my guinea pigs;)was over two years ago when one of my best friends, Niki, bravely let me makeover her master bedroom while she and her family were on vacation.
Since then I've helped her re-do furniture and do some no-cost decorating by rearranging her own stuff. Also, she has gotten me other decorating jobs-- her sister, Mandy, and neighbors. Here are some "before" pictures of rooms that I am working on now: Niki's dining room and Mandy's master bedroom/bathroom. I'm excited about these thrifty room makeovers! :)
Niki had the dining room painted and molding added last year, so we'll leave that alone.

The china cabinet will get a face lift, and there are plans for a table runner and a centerpiece.

We've found some curtains that will dress up this large window and 'soften' the bold colors of the walls. We'll also find some wall art.
 Mandy's Project: 

The walls and window will be addressed. An older home can be challenging but the character they have makes them worth it. I think this is a home from the 1950s.


new shower curtain coming soon...

We're going to try to add storage and wall art to make this bathroom warm and functional.


The walls are getting a great gray paint job! We're accessorizing with whites and yellows. I'm thrilled at the bargain I got on the yellow/white damask quilt!!  I have found some great stuff at Goodwill too! Can't wait to put this room together.

I found curtain panels with grommets at Marshall's for $10/panel on clearance! Yay!

The furniture got a pale, pale gray paint (almost white) to 'flow' with the walls. Very pretty.







Saturday, October 2, 2010

Brooke's Bargains 30

Ahhh, I love October's weather! I got out at about 6:45 this morning and probably ended up going to 12 or so yard sales. The good things about getting up early on Saturday mornings are the thrifty deals and getting stuff  "over with" before the crowds are out.... I went grocery shopping too..All before 10 a.m.! Britt had to work today, so it was just me...

wrought iron plate holder (one of my favorites today), greenery in porcelain planter (at one time I was 100% anti-greenary, but it does help when used in moderation!), set of 8 votives, pottery vase, ultra-feminine picture frame for Ava, hanging platter (that I will paint!)... $19...Since I've been decorating other people's homes lately, I'm trying to have a little stock of random things I can use for them too.

HUGE basket $5...I'm going to use it at the end of my bed for pillows and extra blankets

I love finding things for my nephew (he'll arrive very soon!!!!) puppy costume and book $2.25

at this yard sale there was a lady who works for a company that sells salon products so I got all of these otherwise expensive items for $5....I'm most excited about that Fake Bake-- it is great!

these whimsical figurines are my newest addition of fall decor $3

pillowcase shirt and pants for Ava $4... it'll be great for next summer