A Great Way to End the Year!

I've had many good trips and fun times in 2012.

Some of them I blogged about, some of them I never got around to blogging about.

About two weeks before Christmas my sister and I took a drive to Santa Clarita to get some Christmas shopping done. Santa Clarita is about two hours south of Bakersfield. When we got there we happened to notice on the way out of town that there was a huge Goodwill Store right there on Lyons Avenue and we both said, "Look, Goodwill! We need to bring mom!"

My mom loves thrift stores and I've learned to love them as well through her. My sister Lisa...not so much. So today, we had nothing to do other than the normal grocery shopping, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, laundry, you know...all the normal stuff that we do on the weekends to get ready for the next week...so we took mom to Santa Clarita instead.

That in itself is not such a big deal, the big deal was driving the Grapevine. The Grapevine is notorious for having bad weather during the winter months and earlier in the week the California Highway Patrol had to escort traffic through the mountainous area.

When we left it was a bit overcast here in Bakersfield, but we convinced my mom that the weather wouldn't be bad and that once we got over the mountain the sun would be shining. I guess maybe we should have checked The Weather Channel before we left.

We hit snow! Not bad snow, but snow none the less! I was driving and I have never driven in snow. Well I've driven in snow after it's on the ground, but not during a snow storm. Well this wasn't really a snow storm, mostly a lightly falling snow. But you can see the snow from earlier on the side of the road.

You know a weird thing that I never knew about snow? That when it falls it doesn't stick to and wet your car's windshield like rain does. I didn't even need my wipers. Now it may be that when it falls heavier that it does, but this one didn't.



Picture taken by my sister from the rear window of the car.

Needless to say...my mom was not a happy camper! She doesn't like to go outside during the winter and doesn't even like to look outside. So to be in the backseat of a car at 5000 elevation with snow falling around her was sheer torture! We tried to tell her it wasn't that bad and this is a great adventure and something we will remember forever, but she wasn't buying it!

A couple of times I contemplated turning around and going back home because many times people get to the other side of the Grapevine and then it snows so much that the CHP closes the pass and you can't get back. You can go around but that adds hours to your trip. But I'm nothing if not stubborn. I figured the driving wasn't so bad. Everyone was going at a decent speed and I wasn't scared, so why not continue on and if we had to get a hotel room and spend the night in Santa Clarita, well then we would. This was an adventure after all!

I'm happy to say that we made it over the Grapevine. And it was sunny, a bit cold but sunny. We had a yummy lunch at Coco's and then took my mom to Goodwill. The Goodwill in Santa Clarita was a tad more expensive than our local Goodwills, but my mom still had a good time. I found an awesome cookbook, 1,000 Classic Recipes from Around the World! The sticker price on the front said $17.89 but I got it for $5.00. This book is like four inches thick and filled with pictures and super heavy! I can't wait to look at it and try some of the recipes!

I've also been collecting Jodi Picoult books, trying to get them all and I found another one today that I didn't have in my collection. Haven't read this one yet, have no idea what it's about, but I love Jodi Picoult books and can't wait to read it! And the sticker on the front says $8.43 but I got it for $1.99!

And my favorite thing I found was a silverware caddy. I had been looking for one for quite a few months now and hadn't found anything I really liked. My cousin Stella has a perfect one that I believe she got a Ikea or Pier 1 Imports, but I haven't been able to find one exactly like hers. This one is great because it has touches of green, my favorite color and the color of my kitchen curtains and it has butterflies, which I love and have several of all over my house.

I already got it all washed up and placed the silverware in it. Not sure this is going to work for me because the utensils tend to slip out of the bottom. I put some cupcake pan liners in there for now but I'm hoping to find some acrylic containers that might fit in there. See the butterflies and the ivy leaves? So cute!

So my sister, mom and I had a great day! I wish I had thought to take a photo, but let me share one of the three of us making Biscochos for Christmas this year.

From L to R...my sister Lisa, my mom Tomasa and me!

Yep...a great way to end the year!

Mosaic Monday - Things Treasured

Many people have questioned my passion for collecting trinkets,
baubles, curios and doodads.

Junk, jewelry, novelties and whatnot's.
Many people have scoffed at the idea of traipsing
through someones home at an estate sale,
or spend a Saturday touring thrift stores.
They wonder how it could possibly bring me pleasure
to go through someones things.

"Doesn't it make you sad?" they ask.
"To rifle, go through, grab, pillage and plunder
someones possessions?
Someone who is now dead and gone?
Someone you never knew?"

My theory is a simple one.
The joy, pleasure and sheer ecstasy I feel when I find a treasure;
I know that someone else upon my death will find that same
joy, pleasure and sheer ecstasy in rifling, pillaging and plundering
through my treasures.
That's it...simple enough.

And someday, when someone goes through my things, perhaps,
perchance; it will be a kindred spirit of mine.
Someone who also will consider my death not as an end
but as an beginning to inherit and cherish the items
I collected
with
J O Y

Please be sure to visit Mary at Little Red House for lots of other beautiful mosaics on this Mosaic Monday!

Thrift Shop Treasures

Whew! I just barely made it.
For what you ask?
Well of course for Rhoda's final "Today's Thrifty Treasures" event!

She's going to be taking a break now that fall is here and yard sale season is almost a distant memory.

I barely made it because I just got off a train and raced like a bat out of "H E, double toothpicks" to my computer to write my post to link up to Rhoda.

I just got back from visiting my daughter in Turlock. My mom and I rode the Amtrak! That was the first time for either of us and I'll post stories and pictures later, but let me tell you...I found lots of treasures. The ones below though are from last weekend.

Hey...Happy Easter! I know, I know...it's almost time for Halloween, not Easter, but I just couldn't pass on this! Isn't it adorable! I can't wait for Easter now!


And I finally found a real cloche. This one is pretty small, you could probably fit a cupcake into it. I still want to find a beautiful, ornate stand for it. But it was a great buy and they are hard to find in our area!

And I found this gorgeous bird cage. Still don't know what I am going to do with it. Any ideas? For now I moved the Russian Nesting Dolls and my daughter Tea Cup from the upside down hurricane/cloche and displayed them in the bird cage so the photo would have more than just an empty cage.

I found another beautiful birdcage today at a Thrift Shop in Modesto, but unfortunately because we were on the Amtrak I couldn't bring it with me as I already had my suitcase full and it wouldn't have fit anyway.

So that's it for today. I found lots of goodies this weekend as well; including many pumpkins and fall display items, but unfortunately I've had no time to clean them up and get them photographed and posted. I'm going to have to find another wonderful hostess like Rhoda to get me through the winter months. Anyone?

Be sure to go see what treasures everyone else found. Just click on the button below.

Iwanna Wednesday

I can't believe I almost forgot about Iwanna Wednesday! It threw me off as Monday was a holiday. Now I feel like today is Tuesday since this is only the second day I've worked this week!

But luckily I remembered just in time. I am your hostess...Iwanna.

Iwanna is a name given to me by my sister because it doesn't matter what store we go into there is always something "I Want" the second we walk in...hence the name Iwanna.

And just because Iwanna things doesn't mean I get them, although I have to admit there have been a few times that I do get them, thanks to my loved ones, especially my daughter. Thank you April.

Ok, so let's get to it shall we?

As you know, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality hosts a Monday Thrifty Treasures party where you can link up to her to show what thrifty treasures you've found. I've participated quite a few times. Now my Iwanna Wednesday would not be necessary if Rhoda just moved out of her house and let me live in it, cause Iwanna everything she has in there! It's gorgeous!

Alas, even Iwanna can't have that, but Rhoda did give me a great shopping idea. She has a special giveaway to Southern Living that she is doing. You just need to go visit Southern Living and post a comment on Rhoda's blog to be entered. Eazy Peazy!

So I went...cause who doesn't love a giveaway right? And I entered...and I fell in love, with Southern Living. Iwanna stuff bad! Just check out their catalog.

I picked out a few of my favorite things. JUST LOOK!

*sigh* Iwanna this lovely little serving bowl. Just in time for fall and the holidays. It's called a Christmas Memories Serving Bowl and it's set into an Ornate Iron Bowl Stand...dreamy no?

Iwanna this lovely trifle bowl. This is called the Devonshire Lidded Trifle, and it has so many uses!

I really Iwanna this one. It's just so perfect. I would love two of them please. One to display on either side of the painting over my couch. This is the Damask Wall Accent with a metal finish.

What Iwanna from this next one is the serving tray. The colors just catch my eye and make me smile. I can imagine placing it on the table filled with home made cookies or muffins (anyone wanna come over and bake them?) The bowl is pretty too...but I'm drooling over the tray. This is from the Gail Pittman Veranda Collection.

This is my next to the last favorite! If I can't have the green wall accent above, then Iwanna this one. The vase is removal from the sleeve. This is called the Juniper Vase with the multi-layer reactive glaze with a removal curling metal sleeve.

And now, the Grand Finale...the Pièce de résistance. This is four Filigree Iron Wall Sconces displayed in a way that makes it look like one whole piece. Of course Iwanna the Cordova Candle Sconces on either side as well. And as long as this is Iwanna Wednesday, just go ahead and throw in the whole display on the mantle as well...and the fall leaf garland. I've been looking for some of that anyway.

Well that's it for Iwanna Wednesday. Now what Iwanna is for you to tell me which one of these lovelies is your favorite?

Trash to Treasures at Along the Way with K & J

I had a very nice visit from Katie with Along the Way with K & J. She asked me to link up to her blog for her Trash to Treasures post and I did, so be sure and visit her blog. She's very proud today to have been featured on The Best of Your Before & Afters for her makeover of desk that looked pretty unsalvageable to me but she turned into a work of ART! I think I'm spending my morning looking at other makeovers that The Best of Your Before & Afters has featured. If you're visiting from Rhoda's be sure to read the previous post for my Thrifty Treasures and please become a follower! Happy Labor Day!

Thrift Shop Treasures

Found some great things this week. Hit quite a few yard sales and 2 Goodwill's. Once you see all my goodies, be sure to head over to Rhoda's "Southern Hospitality", gracious host of Today's Thrifty Treasures blogging party. Like Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ, click your heels together...and hit the Today's Thrifty Treasures button below to be transported to a magical land of thrifty treasures!

So as luck would have it I had a yard sale right across the street from my house. It was about 8:30 by the time I had showered and done my hair and make-up. I asked my mom if she had gone and she said no and now it was probably too late because all the good stuff was gone. But I convinced her to go with me and good thing I did because we found some great things.

My mom found a really nice purse for $1.00 to use to put her church book, missal and water bottle in when she attends daily mass. She also found a stack of dishtowels. There were about 15 and they were $1.25 for the stack! I found a really nice nick-knack shelf. It was pink and I didn't really know where to put it until I remembered my bathroom is pink and blue...it's perfect.



Now I just have to find butterfly items to display.

That yard sale put us in the mood to hit some thrift stores. On our way to Goodwill we hit a few yard sales where my mom scored a pair of PJ's and these handy little condiment/prep cups.

We are a Salsa and chips loving family...but we aren't too thrilled with double dippers into the salsa bowl. So we've gotten into the habit of each person getting their own little individual salsa cup, like these and that way there are no double dippers into the main salsa bowl. I know, how OCD are we?

They look black, but they're actually a really pretty blue.

At Goodwill. I found the LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE signs you see pictured in the shelf above. I debated getting them, but there have been too many times I don't buy something and regret it later. I'm glad I bought these at only 75cents each. They were brand new.





I love the bright happy colors! Not sure where they will finally end up, or if I will paint them, but for now they seem happy where they are.

That was about it for nick-knacks but it was really my day for PJ's which is good as I needed some.

I bought all of the below, plus two gray t-shirts, one blouse for me and 3 books and the LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE signs for $20.00. The fun day and memories I made with my mom were included for FREE!

Love the ruffle detailing on the bottom of this one.

Love Pink!

Kind of a night shirt style.
These I found for my daughter. They have such a cute little sheep pattern, for those nights where you need to count sheep to get to sleep!

Here's a close up...aren't they adorable?

Can't get PJ pants for my daughter and not get some for my son. Not as cute as the little sheep, but very manly don't you think?

Bought a cute little ruffled top for myself.


And that was it for my day. Now I have to go and launder all my goodies! Be sure to head over to Rhoda's to see what else everyone else found. . .and don't forget to add yourself as a follower.

Happy Labor Day!

Thrift Shop Treasures

Once again it's time to show off my thrift shop treasures. I'm joining again Rhoda's "Southern Hospitality's" Thrifting Treasures party. Be sure to go visit Rhoda and all the other party goer's and see what treasures they found.

I didn't get around to much thrifting this weekend. Too many errands to do. I had a fix-it man come fix my leaking toilet on Saturday morning. Then I also had to pick up my lower mower which was being repaired and I also had to get my car smogged. Pretty much took up all my yard-saleing, thrift shopping time!

Luckily I did make my Friday after work visit to the American Cancer Society's Discovery Store...where I scored that beautiful kitchen table a couple of weeks ago!

This week I found something really special and it was only $2.00! It's a home decorating book/binder! And I love it!

Here's the front cover. The title is Creative Home Decorating, Easy Ideas for a Beautiful Home. It's published by International Masters Publishers. It's one of those companies where they send you a set of cards every month until you have the whole collection. It doesn't seem like they have this particular collection for sale anymore but the ones they do have charge about $7.95 for a set of cards. So this book probably cost someone between $240 to $300, and I got it for $2.00!! Whhhooooo hooooooo!

As you can see it's a pretty thick book and it's totally a complete set!

The first page of each card shows a project. . . (click on the photo to enlarge details)

then the page folds open with instructions and pictures to help you do the project.

The last page shows a couple of other different ideas using the same technique.


I don't know how many of these projects I will actually end up doing, but I did find one idea for someones birthday that is coming up in October. But Shush, it's a secret.

I didn't link up to Rhoda's party last week because I went to visit my daughter in Turlock, but I did do some thrift store shopping and found some treasures to share with you.

I found these cute little plastic "molcajete's". These molcajetes will not be used to make or serve the dish I told you about from my dinner at Mi Casa. Nope, these little beauties will be for guacamole or salsa, maybe a pico de gallo. Mmmmm, mouth is watering already! Don't you love the bright happy colors? And guess what? They were only 19cents each!

Here's another 19cent item. A cute little salt shaker. What I loved about this shaker is the color. I love green in any shade. It makes me feel calm and happy.

Also found a beautiful leaf plate to display for Autumn and a lovely wrought iron plate holder to hold it.

I hung it in my living room next to another thrift store treasure that I bought many months ago, this mirrored window. I have a small shelf I want to place underneath, but I haven't had the time or energy to paint it. I'm thinking that I'm going to do a plate of the month. Like this one will be for September since that is the month Autumn officially starts, then I'll do a turkey plate for Thanksgiving, a Christmas plate, etc. Not sure what to do for New Years, any ideas?

On a side note I bought this pretty little dish at Big Lots on Friday night after having dinner with my mom and my sister. Isn't it awesome? I love the color and I'm a big fan of butterflies already! See butterflies here, here, and over here. This was a thrifting bargain since it was reduced to $3.00.


So that's it for this week. I'm heading over to Rhoda's to see what treasures everyone else scored. Please feel free to become a follower and have a great week!