Thrifting fun

It's the time of year again when I go in search of vintage fun for my Christmas stash. Gary doesn't think I need any more stuff but...

I went with a girlfriend on Friday and hit three stores down towards Oregon City. We were pretty excited about our finds at the end of the day. This first photo shows a couple of days worth of great finds.
This next photo shows the detail on a great "tea towel" I found that I think I will make a pillow from. Amy and I found a similar one at a frou frou store in Bridgeport on Sunday. Way more than the $1.50 I spent!
I hear all the time from people that they never find great things at the thrift stores. You have to go often and early in the day before things are picked through. I look to see what tags are 1/2 off when I enter and actively search for those items. I have a price in my head that I am willing to spend and if it is more, I put the item down and check back in a week or two...it may then be on sale. I find the best prices at Paws and Claws, Salvation Army, Friends of the Carpenter and Value Village. However, Goodwill has the most items because those deposit spots are everywhere.

I'm always game if someone needs a thrifting buddy...just let me know.

About Friday

This is what we did Friday night-it was so much fun. We went to the early part too where it was just Steven sitting at a microphone with his guitar. He sang requests, took questions and told stories about some of the songs he had written.
We didn't realize that Josh Wilson and Andrew Peterson were touring with him. That most assuredly was a pleasant surprise! There were more stories through out the night which makes hearing the songs so fun because you know the whys behind them.

Gary even bought the new CD's of each of them that they had available for only $10 ea. So now I get to relive the date over and over again!

Of all the songs sung last night, even including Cinderella, the song that brought me to tears and got me nudges from my sweetie was a song that Steven wrote for his then 11 year old daughter. I have been on a journey of self discovery this year and this song touched the 11 year old in me that never got past feeling "good enough".

The computer is not letting me load the video but I have posted it on my facebook page if you would like to see/hear it. It's not a SCC video but one someone made with the lyrics that so touched me.

New favorite thing

Pinterest

Have you heard of it yet? Chances are you have, and either you're already obsessed (like I am), or you're wondering what it's all about.

Do you love to bop around different blogs and online stores gathering inspiration and just enjoying the fun things people are doing and making? Do you bookmark things you don't want to forget, projects you want to try, etc. -- but then you forget all about those things once they're tucked away in your bookmark folder?

Well, Pinterest is wonderful for visual people. It's like a virtual inspiration board, so you can keep track of all the great things you see online -- crafts, recipes, home decor, anything you like. Set up categories with your own titles, it's always easy to see at a glance whatever you're trying to find. You can also post photos of things you've done or find online. This is what my boards looks like right this now:It's also a fun social sharing thing, because you can follow other people whose taste you like, and others can follow you. If you want to see what I've been pinning, you can take a look here.
Oh, and one nice thing is that you don't have to follow every category a person creates. I have a few people that I just follow their craft posts. Their pins show up on my main page and if I want to add the items I just "repin" them onto one of my boards. It's great that it's not an all-or-nothing follower thing.

Let me know if you want an invite from the pinterest page) and I'll send you one! Be forwarned, you will start lots of conversations with "on pinterest I saw/got..."
This isn't a sponsored post -- I'm just loving all the inspiration that I can't help sharing the fun!

Sugar cookies!

Last night was cookie decorating night at our little house. I made the cookies on Tuesday and then after dinner we started in. Gary took a few photos to get us going...
Gabriele looks like she really wants the snowman-
Awe-they look so sweet as they steal some treats to eat...
OOPS-Nick has the camera now, you never know what will end up on the camera!
Mixing frosting colors and toppings-
that red turned out sorta pink-
artistic shot-
Gary's back!
wow-I was really close to her wasn't I?
My shaky thumb makes it difficult to take in focus shots!
Changed position of my hand and this one turned out but he wouldn't look at me-
Focused-
All spread out to dry-
Nick got a bit adventurous in his colors-
love those big coconut flakes-
a bowtie-
oh and the spiritual one made a Jesus cookie-
now to figure out which one to eat! :)

a Valentine's Day

Valentine's day portrait....
Started the day at New Heights East and heard a great talk about how to pray. We also got to see the "boy" playing...always neat.
Gary's coffee to start the fun-
Then off to Mississippi Ave. in Portland for a sunny stroll through shops-
The plant store had a bunch of different chickens and this one was smart enough to come inside for breakfast-
Photos of us-

Lunch at Mississippi station-
with a BLTA-
and an open faced burger- oh and a half order of french toast (made with bread pudding) to go. Yummy without even warming it up!
oh that guy likes to take my picture-
a bowling ball for the sphere garden-
then home for a nap and movie...fun!!

The beach

Here we are at the beach-on what ended up just being a get away trip. We drove down to take portraits of a senior at Fort Stevens but ended up having to call her and tell her not to come. It was just too stormy looking there for portraits. We then drove down to Seaside/Cannon Beach and the sun peaked out to warm us a bit. I also added a photo of what it was looking like...still not too bright but nicer.
Gary was laughing at me, he says my weight loss is funny in that I'm always saying "take my picture!" Here is one I liked...
I liked this row of multi-colored mailboxes-
oh, and there was a restored antique car show going on...this is the one I want!
It was a nice break in routine...

She's doing it again...

michelle my belle is doing another giveaway!
Beware...cuteness overload....

Allen Designs Goody Giveaway
Enter to Win some of our Favorite Designs:
Party Animal Cat Box, Sunshine Smile Print or 2 sets of (3) Art Blox.
4 Chances to WIN. (we'll draw a different winner for each item)
Here's 3 ways to Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me one special thing you're doing this summer. If you're at a loss for summer ideas check out Meg's list.
2. Sign up for our Newsletter on the top right hand side of her blog. Not to worry, we don't send many and the ones we do send include some amazing close-outs and giveaways.
3. Promote our giveaway on your blog and get 3 entries! Feel free to pull this image to use on your blog. And don't forget to leave me a comment so I know you did.
contest will end friday, july 3rd
Go, don't tarry to enter....

What I'm thinking...

Take note-this is a long post, so much going on!
It was a very good year for Canazzi Photographics and a few people will be having a very good Christmas...
Baking is never more fun than when it is for Christmas and the carols are playing and snow is falling outside.
These are called almond clouds-

these are Spice girls made with Chia tea in the mix-

these are cranberry bliss bars before the icing...

Chocolate crinkles are Nick's favorite...

Gary and Amy like these fig and pistachio biscotti...

Kitchen thoughts- I am not going to miss this eyesore on the counter- or the faded clock radio/tape player-

or the stove right next to the fridge-

or this lovely space for cookie sheets,etc.-

or the contact paper covered top for the built in dishwasher that was never built in!

I won't miss having no light over the sink-

or the messy organization in the sitting area-

or the drawers that don't close-

or the very icky sometimes working ceiling vent-

or the dreaded black hole of the corner cupboards-

or the funky cut off cupboard that we did to accommodate our HUGE microwave when we moved in 20 years ago.

Sneak peak-markings for where new cupboards will be-

SNOW-SNOW-SNOW!
On the holly trees-

on the lovely cottage-

on the new MONSTER house-too bad snow won't cling to vertical surfaces!

and my new chalkboard in a vintage frame outside of the kitchen-

These are blurry but fun. Our trip to Peacock Lane in Portland.

Them...
Us... Snowy kisses under the mistletoe...

Hope you all have a lovely day-k