Always read cardboard signs - you never know what they will say or what you might find

Best Sale Ever!!

While driving home from work on Friday I saw this old, wet cardboard sign that read simply, 'Designer Sale' Ever the garage sale junkie I pulled right in not knowing what to expect. I hit the mother load!! I immediately called my mom (she taught me all I know about garage sales and the art of negotiating) and left a message that I would be picking her up at 8am to come back with me.  I walked into this huge metal garage that was packed to the rafters.  It was filled from top to bottom with pillows, pedestal tables, rugs, lamps, coffee tables, sofas, bed frames, bedding, plants ~ you name it. It was a little overwhelming to say the least. I looked around and told the woman that I would be back first thing in the morning.  

 My mom had me laughing so hard when we were there on Saturday.  She decided that she needed to get to the other side of the room and the only way to get there was to crawl on the concrete ground under a kitchen table loaded sky high with dishes and decorating accents. Now that is how we do it!! Below are the items that my mom and I bought from the Designer Sale.  

We bought this beautiful artwork and the gray slipper chair in the background also came home with us.  We did get 2 of the chairs.

The 2 large white vases were great finds.  They look like a normal size here but they are really big in person.  On the bottom they say, Made in Italy.

Up close of the chair.

I saw this table on Friday and thought about it all night long and now it has a home as a nightstand at my mom's house.  Don't you just love the design of the legs? 

This was the Martini & Rossi magnum bottle light again that I bought at a garage sale this weekend.  Trying it out in the house - need to revamp the shade.

I found these two reversible pillows.  I will use these in my master bedroom. 

Love this piece.  The lady told me this was given to people when they bought an old cast iron  stove and it was meant to go under the stove to prevent fires from spreading. 

The newest additions...

...to my garage!  Here are some of my finds from the weekend. 

I love plate racks...a lot!  This one is fine just the way it is, but I will probably paint and glaze and bring to my next show.  

This is HUGE!  Planning on painting it and adding a chalkboard inset.  Can't you just picture this hanging vertically in the kitchen or in a playroom?

I might have a hard time letting this beauty go.  This piece is also very large.  What do you think?  Turn it into a chalkboard or bulletin board? 

Found this sweet little cradle at an estate sale in Enumclaw this weekend.  Also bought some sheet music, an ironstone gravy dish, a metal bird and a white cake platter (for 60 cents)!!

My mom and I both loved this magnum bottle of Martini & Rossi turned lamp.  I will switch out the shade for a burlap one.  I can totally picture this in an ad for Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware or my favorite, Pottery Barn, can't you? And a score at only $20!

Yes more owls.  These babies will also get a makeover! 

A cute (or creepy) owl cookie jar.

How about you?  Did you score any finds this weekend?  I would love to hear what you found!  

A bowl full of clothespins

Don't ask me why but I love anything vintage and anything with numbers on it.  I found a big bag full of old clothespins at a garage sale for a dollar.  Came home stamped random numbers on each one and put in an old tarnished serving bowl.  I sold quite a few at one of the bazaars I did in December last year.  Just came across this photo tonight and thought I would share.  Hope you all have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend. 

Oh Betty!

Just had to share some of my favorite photos of Betty.  I just love her. 

Thank you for putting up with us.  You are a good girl.

Who wants dessert?

Chocolate Brownie Snickers Trifle

I made this for dessert on Saturday night and it was to die for!  There are so many variations of this dessert that you can make.  You really can't go wrong.  All you do is layer the toppings, chill for 2 hours and serve.

Recipe as follows, I just made it up.

2 Snickers bars chopped up
1 box brownie mix
1 box instant chocolate pudding
1 small tub of CoolWhip

Start with the brownies, top with chocolate pudding, a few dollops of coolwhip and some chopped up Snickers and repeat.  Chill in fridge for 2 hours and enjoy. 

This is what I saw the next morning.  A man and his leftover trifle. 

Happy Birthday Gary!  I made these on Sunday afternoon for our neighbor who turned....yep you guessed it, 5-0!!!  Jay found the cute oversized Happy Birthday plate at Goodwill that morning for a dollar.  We made the 5 0 cardstock numbers on the Silhouette.  

A week's worth of reading and outfits

My dear friend Lindsay (Lulu) had her baby shower this weekend.  I love to give books and onesies with funny sayings or pictures on them.  I shopped around at the local Goodwill and found 7 baby books and 7 onesies and some little pants or jeans.  When looking for the books, I make sure to look at the edges that they are nice and clean, no teeth marks, no inscriptions on the inside etc.  (I always use a Clorox wipe on the books and wash the clothes prior to wrapping.  Next I made seven piles of the books and the outfits and then I decorated each bag with a day of the week on it. I used my Silhouette machine to make some shapes and used stickers and ribbon that I already had.  At the end you have a different bag for every day of the week which makes for a unique gift and a fun one to open.  

I also found an adorable ruffled bikini and flip flops from Old Navy and packed them into a cute beach bucket and added 2 little beach shovels and the card.  Every girl should have a cute bikini ~ let me buy your first one!

Me and Lulu!  Can't wait to meet Little Lily Grace.

Total spent on the books and clothing- $12.50
(Not including the Bikini Beach Bucket) 

Today's finds...

SO remember my addiction I told you about the other day?  Yeah, that's right, that one.  Well I found myself driving towards the Dearborn Goodwill after work today and look at what I found! 

These 2 silhouettes are from Disneyland.  I will add these beauties to my Keep Calm and Carry On wall.  See below.  Loved the beachy barnwood picture frame.  

This was the deal of the day.  Only .83!  And it works!

The 2 lace curtains were half off and will be used in my garlands. 

Ugly, right?  Wait until I paint it white and add a burlap cover.  Then you will love it!  

Here is one of my favorite walls in my house.  I still need to paint the wall a different color,  if you have any color ideas please let me know.  These are all Disneyland silhouettes.  The 3 on the left are myself, my sister and brother.  Josie is on the right side.  All the others are Goodwill finds.  I just love them.  

Heading to the Grimstad Barn Sale tomorrow.  I will take some photos and let you know how it was.  

Wedding Cupcakes and lots of them

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) sweet cream butter

1-2 tbs whipping cream

1 tbs vanilla

Cream together sugar and butter.  Add vanilla and whipping cream and beat together for 1 minute. 

I am so thankful...

For those of you that don't know who this is.  This beautiful young lady is Josie, my fabulous 16 year old bonus daughter.  I cannot tell you how much I love her, enjoy her witty sense of humor, her willingness to help and the young woman she is becoming.  I could not have survived my sister's wedding had it not been for her.  She worked so hard helping me bake, frost, clean, pack, curl my hair and clean up after the wedding.  Thank you Josie.  I love you!