This Is For The Birds..No, Really It Is

Dollar store strikes again. I bought these birds for what else a dollar each, but couldn't just leave them alone. This is a semi before picture, because I had already started to paint it.
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I used just plain old white craft paint, but it was a little too white. I started mixing this and that...a little cream, a little tan and it came out to the perfect creamy white.

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and here they are in all their glory...so proud to come from the dollar store. Actually, now that I look at this picture, everything in it is either clearance or consignment. Except for the little books...they were the girls' when they were babies. I just love the color of them and the memories too.
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I did leave one in it's original color...brown with flecks of blue, because it match a little area in the kitchen.

Old white lamps that were in the girl's room when they were little, spray painted black...

and a cute little metal cake stand that was 75 cents at my favorite consignment shop. The nest with the blue eggs were on clearance too.

I think you get it by now...I don't pay full price for anything.
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I did do a little sewing this weekend and some of it is for tomorrow's Tool Time Tuesday.
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See you tomorrow,
~Karen~

5:26 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Office Calendar Update...

I received a few emails about our family office/computer room that I spoke of in the window calendars in the previous post.
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Thought I would share a few pictures of the room. This room was originally our dining room, but we always have holidays with both my side of the family and my husband's side, so the room was not big enough as a dining room. To be honest we're not the fancy dining room family any way. We're very casual and have too many little ones around to worry about anything breaking or getting messy. Very relaxed here!!
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The corner cabinets were original to the house and we did have them white at one point, but painted them black not too long ago. They hold all the books and dictionaries. There are the calendars on the left.

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Here's the view coming in from the kitchen hallway. Two recliner chairs face the desk. This room is usually filled with my daughters and their friends...always lots of laughing coming from that room!
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Here's one of the corner recliners. Great for reading. I found that little table at a yard sale for $2.00. I started to sand the paint off and realized I liked the different shades of off white and then found the green that matched the chair on the last layer of paint. So I left it in the sanding stage.
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Kind of shows where it's been in it's long life.
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This view is from the desk into what is now our dining room, but not really a dining room, just our kitchen table.

Our kitchen is through the arch way on the right. No table in there just an island and all the cabinets and such.

Also wanted to share a couple thrifting deals that are on the table.

This cylinder and black base thingy was only $4.00. I think the real apples cost more to fill it up, but they were worth it, because they've been in there since before Easter.

This is the after of the topiaries .

This is the sad before picture...an after Christmas deal at $2.00.

The greenery was so thin you could see the foam base.

I removed the silver decorations, added more ivy and re glued the stick.

I painted the silver base black and added moss...

then changed that to a better moss that I bought at the dollar store. I love the dollar store!!

Hope you enjoyed the little office tour. I have another dollar store redo, so I'll be back tomorrow.

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Take care,

~Karen~

6:48 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Pizzelle Recipe and Consignment Goodies...

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Pizzelles are a wafer thin Italian cookie with a crispy texture. They can be lemon, vanilla, anise or chocolate flavor. They are made in a pizzelle maker, which is like a waffle iron. Once the iron is hot, it only takes 15-20 seconds to make each set of cookies. My iron (picture below) has 4 smaller cookies, but some come with 2 larger ones. Although I am not Italian (I'm half Portuguese and half Irish...I know, what a combo), my Portuguese grandmother was famous for these. This recipe is not hers, but still delicious. Which reminds me...I need to get her recipe from one of my aunts.

Pizzelle Recipe
Sspac

3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted (definitely use butter for a great taste)
1 1/2 cups flour (that looks funny, so it's one and a half cups)
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
Confectioner's sugar, for dusting

Preheat pizzelle iron and spray with Pam (especially if it's a new iron). Beat all ingredients together. Batter will be thick. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto hot pizzelle iron. Close cover of iron and bake for 15-30 seconds. This time will vary depending on your iron. I always throw the first batch out and swear a little too. The first ones always burn or stick, but after that it's smooth sailing. Remove from iron and place on cooling rack. While hot, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Cool completely and Enjoy!!
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This first picture is of all the ingredients, but I stuck in a few things to show you. The plant in the background is an Anthurium (I think). My neighbor just gave it to me for watching her house and watering her plants. They also gave my husband a $50 Home Depot gift card for plowing their driveway. I guess she doesn't read my blog...cause I'll be using that gift card for "Tool Time Tuesdays"!!! I bought that little red bell in a school supply store. I use it, much to my family's dismay, when I want them to come pick up something in the kitchen to bring to the table...you know "Ding Ding" Order Up. They just roll their eyes, but they humor me. The polka dot bowls were a gift from a friend and the cherry bowl is a gift from my sister-in-law when she stayed with us. Isn't cute!

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Here's the batter: yummy golden color
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This is the iron. This particular iron is reversible. You can turn the plates over to make waffles.


Here they are drying on the cooling rack...the first sets I was taking a picture of were already eaten by the girls and all their friends who come over after school.


This plate didn't last too long!!

Consignment Shop Finds!!

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Hubby and I went out for breakfast this morning and stopped by a consignment shop that was next door. Roamed around, but found all these in the 75% off rack. I also bought a cut glass punch bowl set for my sister-in-law for $1.25 and a sterling silver candle snuffer for my mother-in-law for 88 cents, but no pictures (I already dropped them off)
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This little chamber set stands about 7" high. It is so cute and only cost $1.50!

This teapot is a piggy bank and is from Mary Engelbreit. It was $1.12, but there were 5 pennies in it so that $1.07!! Woo Hoo.



and these embroidery hoops range in size from 7"-14" and were only $3.00 for all. I want to do that thing that I've seen on other blog where you put fabric in them and use them to decorate your walls.

I haven't been to a flea market, thrift store or consignment shop in a while, but I think I might make it a weekly venture. So many great things out there!

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Have a great rest of the weekend,

~Karen~

12:25 PM | 0 comments | Read More