Thrifty Miss Priss

Back to Reality

There's nothing like going back to work after a great vacation to give you a fat dose of reality.  

I really do like my job, but I like watching the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and eating breakfasts like this every morning.  Served TO me on the 11th floor balcony overlooking the ocean.

My son in law served breakfast to us every morning like this.  It felt like I was getting room service or something!  He is an excellent cook and we all benefited from it!

To be honest I only saw one sunrise.  The rest I missed because I was sleeping in and enjoying not having to be anywhere.

Dinners were enjoyed at little local places.  This one has been around since before my husband was born, and from the looks of the inside they've never redecorated either.

But our theory is if you eat where the "locals" eat, then it must be good!  This place is always full of police officers and fire fighters eating their meals. 

When we were on the way home from the beach I was dreading our trek across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  I used to drive over this bridge with no problem as a teenager going to the beach for the day...but now I'm pretty terrified of it.  I have to read or look at something inside the car to avoid seeing that huge drop.

As a kid my dad used to take our boat under the bridge and fish.  It never really scared me then, but I could see the huge expanse of it and the height. My husband likes to point out all the nice boats WAY DOWN THERE in the water as we're driving across, and all I can do is yell at him to stop looking at the pretty boats and watch the ROAD *&%#$.  

So I'm sitting in the seat with my gaze locked on the pavement passing by...not really looking DOWN. 

and I'm having a conversation with myself that goes something like this:

"chill out....just relax, this will be over in a few minutes......there is not a thing you can do about this situation at THIS moment other than get through it.....yadda, yadda, yadda" (yes I guess I'm certifiably crazy for talking to myself through this, but it's that or hyperventilate.....)

The next thing I know a car passes by and the license plate says "His Will".  Ok-ie Dokie.....That about sums it all up......Instant relief came over me as if all was well....

 I finally got some pictures of a few of the treasures I found while I was at the beach last week.

  
 I don't know if these will get plucked or sold....I can't decide. The blooms are beautiful and the velvet centers on those daisies are just really nice!

 

 I love the blue Ball Jars.....I'm starting to gather a little collection.  The ornate frame in the back is a picture of Pope Somebody...but I loved the frame.

and then there was a box of this.  

These were once a baseball score board, according to the little old man that sold them to me.  I liked the bold numbers but really had no idea what I'd do with them.  Upon further inspection, they really are not done that well.  The numbers are a little wonky and I'm not sure if I'll be using them.  There were lots of blank ones as well so I came up with this

  So now my head is spinning with different phrases to use to make more of these.  

Even though it was wonderful to get away for a long vacation at the beach, I really missed my pups.  

 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

On My way to Silver Bella

So.  Imagine my shock when I checked my e-ticket on Saturday.  The e-ticket thats getting me to SIlver Bella on Thursday.  I pulled it out because it was with my supply list for Silver Bella.  I glanced at it and

My ticket was for WEDNESDAY not THURSDAY!  When my husband booked my flight for me he didn't hear me say THURSDAY.  I was not looking at a calendar at the time and I told him "Thursday the 11th".  Well if I'd looked i'd have noticed the 11th is WEDNESDAY.  So.  I get to go  a day early!  Yippee!  That means an extra day of fun!  My "big" little sis Karla already has big plans for lots of bellas, including a shopping spree at a fabulous vintage wallpaper place and a guided bus tour sponsored by Jessi!

If I had not looked at that paper, and waited until Wednesday night, I would have missed my flight!

I can't wait to share this experience with all of you! 

Lots of pictures when I return!

Beach Thrills

While we were at the beach I got bitten by the thrift bug and wanted to find some local thrift stores.  We had to drive in to Delaware but found a pretty good one.  We passed several cute little shops and we stopped along the way.  Lots of them were not open mid week.  The thrift stores closed at 3pm and were not open on Saturday!  So it was hit or miss. 

We happened to drive by this tent sale and I asked my husband to  stop.

 

 

These cute little ball jars were full of shells and sea glass.  They were $30.00!

 

This great doll house was nailed shut and not even usable.  The inside was just spray painted white.  It reminded me very much of the one Sue gave me that someone found and left on her porch. 

I still have not started on the makeover, but that all white beach house at the tent sale was certainly some inspiration.  Oh, did I mention that it was $200.00? (Sue, do you want your house back?!)

 

I loved the color on this mirror!

 

this little yard conservatory was made from cabinet doors and old windows.  It was $150.00.

I thought this little child's chair was cute with the "cottage" sign screwed into it.

We went to another shop

which was so cute.  It was full of cottage style and shabby decor.  The prices at both the tent sale and this little shop were super high I thought.  I walked away with nothing.  I complained to my husband that the prices were just too steep.  He said "You want a junk store!" so guess what?  we found one!

 

my husband doesn't like to do these kind of things...so he waited patiently in the car.  This is where I found these frames

  

Then we found a HUGE church rummage sale....and again my husband waited in the car.  They had it broken down by rooms...kitchen.....linens...etc....it was very organized inside this wonderful church.

That's where I found this beauty that I showed you before

 

and I just loved those glass ball jars with shells so I found my own!  For PENNIES compared to what they were charging at the tent sale.

when the flowers are gone, I have plans to put shells and sea glass in these just like the display I saw.  We found a HUGE store called seashell city......it had every shell imaginable.

this place was so amazing.  I've been there before but never really appreciated all the beauty.  It probably deserves it's own blog post at some point because I took so many pictures in here.  I also laughed my head off because my husband was putting HUGE sea sponges on his head as if it was a hat.....and smelling the shells to see if they stink (they DO).

One vendor at the tent sale had made these mirrors....so pretty...but so time consuming and expensive!

 ok, back to my thrifty finds

The one thing I've been looking for FOREVER is a small chandelier for the hallway....it was the first item I spotted at the church rummage sale outside in a box.

I will shab this up and paint it.  It's tiny enough that we won't bang our heads every time we walk down the hall.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my thrifty deals from the beach!  The next time we go I'll do my homework ahead of time and dedicate more time to searching for junk.

Have a great weekend!

I was smart and took today off to unwind from my vacation....or in all reality to prepare my brain for going back to work.  I'm geared up and as ready as I'm going to be........

I worked all day in my art room...it's become the dumping ground for every yard sale/thrift store purchase.  I was making great progress and then I'd find something interesting.  I'd stop and play around with this and that, then get back to organizing.  Then I had to stop and take pictures of my thrifty finds........then I'd get back to cleaning........then I felt it necessary to cover a cigar box with pretty fabric......then I got back to cleaning.  I need to see a dr. soon for ADD i'm sure.

Here's some journal pages I did on vacation

  

Here are a few I did in my "Journal of Interest" book, which I will now refer to as my "pretty book"!  I'm using all my best papers and trims for this book.

 

I found this picture when we went to Lucketts in June.  I thought this little girl looked like she was up to something, in fact...she reminded me so much of my oldest daughter when she was a baby.  She was a little schemer and once when she wore me down from begging and whining for something..she walked away and told my husbands mother "Works like a charm every time!" so I thought this was the perfect caption for this photo!  The date at the top is my daughter's birth date.  I forgot to share this with her so I'll have to show her!  It's been a big family joke ever since then.....wear mom down and it works like a charm every time!

So after I was cleaning and throwing away today...I came across this picture of my mother in law as a baby.

Do you SEE the resemblance????  The little girl in the top photo looks JUST like my mother in law

so I had to dig out my favorite picture of my mom and do a two page spread dedicated to the both of them!

  The background journal paper is from Lori.  In fact, the little watch that belonged to my mother is glued on to a little decoration Lori used on one of the bags she sent me in our swap.  I like to recycle!

The lace is tatting that my grandmother did years ago and never used it for a project.

 

I don't like having to use the flash but I was in the mood to take the pictures so I couldn't wait for daylight.

 

while I was cleaning I came across this box of flash cards I got about TWO years ago....I know....the things we find when we clean!

I've been having fun with these all afternoon.

 see what I mean?  I copied the pictures of the mamas and now they're in my sight every time I sit down to play.

That little "k" on the bird picture came from Karen's shop at Lucketts (Karen is also the graphics fairy

Later this week I hope to show you all the great things I found on vacation!

Here's a sneak peek:

Have a great week!

Back to reality

We just got home from the best vacation EVER.  We went to Ocean City, Maryland, about a 4 hr drive for us.

We stayed in a penthouse condo right on the beach.  It was pure heaven.  Except for the whole elevator thing......

The condo was decorated so cute!  Pure beach style all the way.  The colors were a little bright and not what I'd choose to decorate but it was really done well.

This is the living room overlooking the beach. 

and here's the dining room

Master bedroom

and the second bedroom

   

this room was on the ocean side as well, with it's own private balcony overlooking the beach.  That little chase lounge is where the little one slept while she visited.  It was all slumber party style...we had cots, couches, and all beds in use at different times. 

Waking up early to squeeze every possible moment out of every day.....

This was the stairway going up to the bedrooms!  We all almost busted our behinds more than once on this....but still it's just so cute and quaint.

We ate a ridiculous amount of good food....got an enormous amount of sun and sand and were out late whooping it up every night.  I've never laughed so hard for so many days straight in my life.  These two had a LOT to do with that.

 

My daughter and her friend that went with us.  They are both walking comedians. 

We went down to the beach last night around 7.....when the sun is gone...it's perfect timing for great pictures.  I made them do 100's of poses...they felt so silly but I kept telling them "you'll never see these people again in your life!  who CARES?"  they got into it and I got some GREAT pictures.

See what I mean?  One would do something to make the other laugh uncontrollably...and laughter is contagious!

see that CUTE blanket?  and that BIG pearl ring I'm wearing?  Yup...found myself some junk places!  I'll be sharing the loot later in the week but lets just say by Wednesday I was in NEED of some junk.  I did google searches and with the help of blogging friends...found a few places!  Went back a second time too!  I was LUCKY enough to find a Church Rummage sale...small town style...my favorite! That sweet blanket was $2.00!

I pulled it out of the car and thought "PERFECT beach blanket!"  It's lightweight and made of sear sucker.  My daughter thought it was silly to take it down for our photo shoot...but these were times I wanted to remember!

In the afternoon after we'd come back from the beach, I sat on the balcony listening to the roar of the ocean waves working in my journal.  I stuffed as much stuff as possible into this box, and only used what I had.

So now it's back to work, laundry, yard work and all the other things.  I guess all good things have to come to an end sooner or later!

Have a terrific week!