Re-purposing my life and my home

What a rocky road I walk.  I'm not going to lie, lately things have been difficult for me.  Being a new mom has brought so many unexpecteds with it that I just was not prepared for.  Having a child really does change your life, they were not lying when they said that.  I have been all over the spectrum, going from extreme joy to extreme depression in a matter of a few days sometimes.  Looking back, too many things happened in such a short period of time that I think I went in to shock mode and could not cope.  I brought home a perfect baby boy but within months needed to have 2 surgeries.  I finally understand why people were constantly asking me if I was okay.  And I was.  But reality had to come crashing down at some point, you can't be in survival mode forever right?  Luckily I have an amazing, supportive husband who is always looking out for me.  A few months ago, he took me on a trip to California to help get my mind of things and give me an early birthday present.  Then for my real birthday he allowed me to spend a month with my family in Canada, even though he would be away from our son that whole time.  Both trips were great and helped me get a break from everything and have some fun.  I know this post has been pretty deep but I think that's what is needed from time to time.  Sometimes you just need to unload and get a few things off your chest.  With that being said, it does relate to the title to this blog :-P


While were in California we went to the famous Rose Bowl Flea Market.  It happens on the second Sunday of the month so if you are ever in SoCal on that Sunday, you need to check it out. We picked up this antique globe and tons of other goodies while we were there.  My son got a few vintage hoodies and a vintage t shirt.  He will be outgrowing them soon despite the fact that he is not the size listed: 12 mo. :-(


Where ever I go I can not resist the local thrift shops so I dragged my husband around L.A and found some pretty cool things for myself as well.  Mostly clothing though, so I won't bother posting those.

Moving on to Canada, I had tons of willing thrift enthusiasts there so you know what I was doing!  Plainly, I bought to many things, I actually almost regret it. :-/  My only consultation is that I was also practical too purchasing little glass bottles that look like old medicine bottles, a tea pot, and a winter coat!  But that's besides my point right now.  When I am most excited about is the re-purposing my husband did while I was in Canada.  He turned our old wooden crate bookshelf into shelving on the wall and made other nonfunctional pieces functional.

Crates used as a bookshelf  "before"

Wooden crates used as wall shelving "after".
Inside is an original drawing from a local
artist that I need to get a frame
for.  I think it's fitting though. :-)

Not only that he got all DIY and made some shelving on an awkward wall because normal bookshelves just wouldn't work.  Check out my drawing and see what he did. :-)

I have no idea why the picture was turned and
I can't fix it. :-/

Last but not least, a potato sack I picked up at a warehouse sale by Oodles and Scads!  I love Oodles and Scads sooo much! Every time I go to one of the sales I always bring something home.  I thought this would go in the living room but I think my husband thought that would be over kill ;-P  Then I thought of putting it on top of the stairs but then he didn't like that either so it sat around until I left on my visit.  I came back and he had put it where I never would have thought... in the bathroom.  I have to admit that I like it though.  It's nice to get a chance to appreciate it, instead of just walk past. :-P

The design comes to life!

Re-decorating and re-purposing the things around me couldn't have happened at a better time.  Along with changing up the things around me I want to change and improve myself as well.  It is with a renewed intention that I move to improve my spiritual self and my physical self.  I have been stagnant for too long and it hasn't done me any favors, in fact it has done me harm.  I hope that with positive intention everyday that positiveness is drawn to me and through me in everything I do.

Now for a song that makes me feel happy and on to duties that will make those in my home happy.  Fresh laundered clothing!
Until next time :-)

Happy Friday, get out and find some deals!

I hope you don't mind a minimally worded post for a more of a pictorial on some of my favorite finds.
These are some of things that I have found and have become almost a staple and get basically weekly use.  Some are practical and some are fun :-)

•  Chest
• Tray
• Mugs
• Cream and Sugar set

This little scene constitutes my nightly pass time.  All of these items cost very little or nothing at all.  Total being just under $25.00 for all.  The chest doubles as our coffee table and it gets daily use by us and use for tea and cookies with friends at least once a week.

Bracelets made of metal and wood.  I picked up both of these in the Bay area at different thrift store.  I just love them and actually wear them both at once on the same wrist!
Combined price of approximately $6.00

•  Corning Brand Carafe
• Glass
• Wooden decorative bowl
• Little serving dish
• Table cloth
• Table

I really was not joking when I said I own hardly anything "new".  This was a picture I snapped for my "CSA cooking" diary.  Strawberry lemon with Garlic scape pesto for a snack

Everything without the table came to about $6.00

•  Crate and Barrel Plate
• Table cloth 

Another photo from my CSA cooking diary as well.  The veggies in the fried rice came in the veggie box.  The table cloth and the plate came to $.25.  I got the plate set for $1.00 and so that is the price of 1 plate.  The table cloth was free.

One of the 3 "pricey" items in my home that gets the most use is the living room carpet.  A little more then we would normally pay but we definitely got it at a fraction of the retail price.



I guess the "moral" of the story is you can find anything you need without paying retail.  This is something that I am pretty much against and make very little exceptions for.  The obvious things are personal wear and electronics.  Everyone and anyone can score a great deal if you just take a little more time to look for it.  Sabr.

Seasons Greetings!

Garage Sale season that is.  The actual season that just keeps giving and giving, if you are willing to go out and look for the deals!  Craigslist is amazing when it comes to looking for the best garage sales suited to your tastes and needs.  I have searched "baby" "size 8" and "family" so far and I have not been disappointed in the garage sales that I have been to.  Also on the plus side, they were all in walking distance! Not having a car for the past few months has been an adventure and I actually thought I wouldn't be able to check out the local garage sales because of it.  But of course, with my life long love of deals, I HAD to find a way.

What did I score, many things actually.  I was able to get some books, a kelty baby carrier, fabric, cups,  utensils, a few clothing items (maybe 10 things including winter wear),  scarves, an antique mirror, antique first aid kit, flooring, an insulated coffee cup, a mixing bowl, a few decorative items and a juicer!  I hope I'm not forgetting anything because it was QUITE a loot, and all under $60.00.  I actually didn't even spend the full 60 because I used a few bucks at the grocery store and treated myself to bubble tea.

So far I have worn a pants, cardigan and dress that I bought.  I've have skimmed through one of the books "A History of Art" and discovered an artist that I really like :-D.  I have made a tea for sore throats consisting of ginger, oranges and mint leaves with the juicer.  We went out for a hike with the kelty carrier and my son loved it.  He was content the whole time and even got in a pretty long nap!  We also found a picnic basket and it went out for a picnic the same day with some friends.  The mirror is hanging, and the utensils have already been threw the dishwasher a few times!  I have even found a little bit of time to start a pillow with some of the fabric.  I also treated my husband to some traditional fried bread using my 'new" mixing bowl.  There is not even space to post pics of all the items in their uses so far but we all know what cups with coffee in them look like ;-P 

Anyway, all my purchases have already paid for themselves in their uses and I would encourage any one and everyone to hit up some garage sales.  Take the whole family!  If you are so inclined you might even score an item lower then the sticker price.  I have fond memories of haggling for miniature toys at the tender age of 7!  All these years later, I am so happy that my mom got me up early and took me garage sailing on the weekends of summer with my grandma.  We would also often go thrift shopping after the sales died down around 2-3 in the afternoon.  I don't yet have a daughter, one day I hope to God willing, so for now my guys will just have to endure it!

 Summer playlist status:

Frames, frames and more frames!

When I first started this little blog, I wandered what I was going to write about.  I thought "this will give me an excuse to go thrifting more!" I also didn't update much since I started because I haven't been able to go as much as I would have liked either.  However, looking around my place for inspiration has made me realize there is VERY little that I paid full price for.  I really am thrifty like that!  Looking back at how little I have posted is actually pretty funny considering this.  So it looks like I have a lot of work to do and I better get started.


I don't know if there is anything more boring than bare walls.  I always love it when people have intricate tapestries and fabrics on their walls.  I love seeing it but I personally don't think that I would do it myself.  I know my husband would like to and has gone as far as to pick something out online, but didn't order it.  That's just how he is though, procrastinator.  So instead I've been looking around for frames.

This first frame I picked up at the thrift store I used to volunteer at and it was about 8 dollars but that was mainly because it had a signed ink drawing in it buy a local artist.  The ink drawing was really nice so I kept it just incase I find another frame to put it in eventually.  Seems a little redundant, I know, but I was looking for a frame for THIS painting and unfortunately for the ink drawing this happened to be it.

I have more paintings than I have frames for, so I just need to keep looking for nice ones to go with them.  These next few frames were also purchased from local thrift stores as well.  The large one was about 15 dollars but I made an exception for it because it is in really nice condition.  The original print that came with it is not hanging in my bathroom in another frame that I picked up for 3 dollars.  The 2 smaller frames were 99 cents each and hold these little Counter Culture coffee cards from a tasting my husband went to at a local coffee shop.  If you haven't tried counter culture coffee I highly recommend it.  We first came upon their coffee when we lived in Philadelphia.  Both being coffee nuts we researched the cafes all around the city find the one with the best coffee.  It was all the way down in the "gay"borhood, as the locals used to say.  Spruce Street Espresso is right in the middle of a quaint part of philly with tons of rainbow flags fluttering in the breeze.  I miss it!  Needless to say, when the cafe here advertised a tasting my husband was there!  I had already given up on coffee at this point because I was pregnant :-( or I would have been there as well.  Oh well, a little reminder of our past and one of the good things in Philadelphia is good enough of me now.


This next little frame doesn't quite have a space yet.  I picked up this little hand made, unfinished gem at the same time I picked up the 2 little frames in the above photo as well.  It was an unintentional thrift shop outing, well KIND OF unintentional.  I may have, sort of planned to stop in on my way back from my intended destination.  It's just an opportunity I can not pass up, sans hubby.  It was 3 dollars and I just love it.  You can tell that it is hand made by the imperfections it shows in the alignment.  The bottom right corner is not aligned properly, and to a lesser degree so is the top right. You can see all the natural wood grain with all its cracks and knots.  <3  I just need a place to put it!

This last frame holds my first attempt at calligraphy.  "God is great" in the shape of a heart.  I eventually want to redo this with better attention to the line thickness.  I am happy with it, as a first attempt but I like it as a reminder as to what got me back into and inspired to paint again.    This frame was also just a few dollars as well.  I can't quite remember as I picked it up a couple of years ago.

This last photo is not framed but I am including it because it helps out with my solution to covering bare walls and making my home feel more "complete"

This photo of the Blue Mosque in Turkey was taken by a friend and printed, matted, and finally gifted to us by another good friend.  A long and unintended progression to us, but known by God. It's perfect and huge at 3' by 4' and I absolutely love it in our dinning room.  The whole year that we lived in this new place we always wondered what we were going to do with this wall and the solution just fell into our hands, thank to the Creator.  I love it for it's beauty and above all that it serves as a reminder that He is the ultimate provider. :-)

Anyway, my search continues for more frames and mirrors to put in bare places and if we sign the year lease to continue living here my next plan is to cover more wall space is a inexpensive floor to ceiling bookshelf plus entertainment unit.  I will know whether that post will be made in about a month so stay tuned!

Many lives of a wooden crate.

So as you know, I like old wooden crates.  Well I like anything old.  Unfinished food or metal with a nice patina, I can't get enough!  I picked this one up at the rummage sale I mentioned in my last post as well.  That old man sure was awesome because he had a few gems that I really love!  This one was a little on the "steep" end at 8 bucks but I look at it as an investment in awesome ;-P This old crate had a couple of lives already within my home.  First it just sat at the doorway because I didn't immediately know what I was going to do with it.  Then I decided I was going to put shoes on it, so I did that for a while.  But that role made the crate a little under appreciated.  Next it became a sort of side table.  I just stood it on its side and it held up a lamp for a while.  I was sure that I liked that until I got ANOTHER wood crate that I wanted to use for the lamp MORE.  Sheesh, so then it was out of a job while I looked around my home and tried to find a place for it.  It was then that I realized the width was a perfect size to hold books.  Our old DIY bookshelf is and always was overflowing with books so this actually worked out perfect.  Now our books sit on top of the desk! I always wanted to do this but I never found the "perfect" old brass book ends that I imagined but I definitely like this better because I can still put my painting on top!  But, in the end, who knows where this old crate might end up.  All I hope is to enjoy it for the next little while in whatever roll it takes on next!

And a fun song.  My better half turned me on to this one.  It has become my "go to" fun song.  It has become the first one I listen to when I buckle down to actually try and get something tedious done around the house.  :-)

Dusty Antique look? or just lazy to clean? hhmmm...

It seems as though I can't keep up with this space as much as I can't keep up with my living space.  Everything is being neglected and collecting dust while I try to keep up but fail.  Life of a new mother is grand!  Maybe my "thing" is the dusty antique look?  You will see what I mean in the upcoming posts.   Joking aside, I think that these next few items would have to agree.
My husband has to take the credit for finding the incense burner.  Not only did he score it for just over two dollars, he also brought me back a loyalty card!  I didn't know loyalty cards for this particular thrift store existed, so that was a nice surprise.  Thanks mi amor!

Incense burner and oddly shaped glass

One item of interest for us is oddly shaped glass containers of any sort.  Whether it be vases, jars, bottles, whatever, we just love 'em.  I found this little guy at a rummage-ish type sale last summer for a buck!  This was interesting because it was the same time that I bought the crates for my DIY bookshelf I showed you a few posts back.  The gentleman was very interesting and I admired his way of life, seemingly wayfarer/drifter/hobbyist/collector/hillbilly.

Rich man poor man, The Sartorialist

 He reminded me of this "type" which I guess is hobo chic. He had the look of a crazy person, but you just knew there was much more to it then that.  In the case of this fella, he actually works at Ralph Lauren.

Baby Saddle shoes?  I actually purchased these months before my son was born.  In fact, before I even knew I would have a son because we chose to wait.  Good thing saddle shoes can be for a boy a girl.  I had visions of a little boy in a classic cable knit cardigan or a little girl with a silhouette of a poodle sewn on a puffy skirt.  Either would be perfect with saddle shoes!  Months pass and we are blessed with a baby boy!  The best part is that I can put them away and save them to go along with that little poodle skirt! God Willing :-)

Saddle shoes, on our way to a potluck

Well that will be enough from me for now, I hope all is well out there with everyone.  Please enjoy another "new"ish find.  Would have been newer if I posted sooner...c'est la vie!

Incase the imbedded video is not working, click here.

Freecycle treasures

One of my Charcoals

I think I may have been the last person to sign for free cycle. I heard about free cycle a few years ago when I lived in the Bay area, but it wasn't until a few months ago that I actually made an account. So for I've received a few interesting things and likewise gave away things that I could no longer use. Why didn't I use it sooner! Especially since we have moved from state to state and place to place within the same city most recently. I always just used to old 'put it on the curb' method and that seemed to work fine. But I myself hardly ever found anything as interesting on the curb as I have found on free cycle.

Paper maker

My latest freecycle finds have been pretty awesome, to say the least. A home made paper maker, a print frame and a resistance band. Hey, a girl has gone to get her strength training too! Although I haven't had the chance to use the paper maker yet, it has already been fruitful as I have already learned so much about hand made paper and bindings. Did you know you can make paper out of denim? It looks a little like blue construction paper and its incredibly soft. Along with the denim paper I saw paper made out of another cotton that was used in little journals bound in dried goat and calf skin. Pretty neat! All I need to do now is get a blender and I am in business.

I just went out to a thrift store this afternoon so I'm already looking forward to what I am going to show you next! Stay tuned...

AND just something I've been enjoying while alone in the car.

Burlap belt?

Salvation Army find

Wow, I haven't posted in ages. A lot has happened since then, such as little Qais monster coming into the world. Which by the way has been awesome. Some how that tiny little fact has changed everything, including which the amount of time I have to visit thrift stores. I don't mind though. Things have seemed to even out a fair bit and he is figuring out his own schedule.
Months have passed and I finally made it to The Salvation Army! The initial plan was to find a bread maker and get out. That plan dissolved as soon I was confronted with the accessories as we walked in the door. Gotta love sifting though fabrics! It definitely paid off because I found this amazing braided bet made of natural fibers, from a far as I can tell. I wouldn't be surprised as the buckle is very simple and has quite a nice patina to it. They just don't make things like they used to, that's for sure.
'Twas a steal at just 3 cents over a quarter.