Thrift Shopping - In the Mountains!

 Twice a year me, my aunt, and an assortment of girl cousins, head to the North Georgia mountains to get away for the weekend. We get away from work, husbands, kids and everyday boredom. We escape to the mountains for fun, relaxation, food and shopping! No malls, no departments stores. Its thrift stores, consignment shops, flea markets, estate sales and yard sales!

On this trip we hit numerous yard sales, several thrift stores, one benefit yard sale/BBQ, an estate sale, and the 4th Annual Loganberry Farm Garlic Festival.

I have a 17 month old grandson (Greyson), and a new grandson (Abel) coming on Sept 4, so I've been mainly looking for stuff for them. Clothes, books, toys. Here is what I found...

Toy Grocery Cart - $4.99 at Thrift Store

. Greyson will have a ball with this!

Jay Jay The Jet Plane - .25 at a nursing home fund raiser

Mud Splashin' Shoes - $1.00 = Yard sale

Toy Train/Rattler for Abel - .50 Yard sale

       Cute tractor pajamas for Greyson....he LOVES all things vehicular...cars, trucks, motorcycles...tractors!!!!

                                                                 

Book for the boys' library - .25 = Yard sale

                                                                  Toy Register $1.00 = Yard sale

Abel will sleep snug as a bug in this sleeper. Yard sale = .50

School bus with kids - $1.00 = Yard sale

Greyson will be the cutest monkey around this Halloween! (Yard sale = $1.00)

Mama loves zip up sleepers. 79 cents at a thrift store!

Toy Story hooded towel - $1.00 Yard Sale

Three pairs toddler shorts - .50 each = Thrift Store

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrift Store Shopping - August 5, 2012

              This week's thrift store finds come from Goodwill of Athens and El Cheapos of Snellville.

Baby Abel will keep snug and warm in this zip up (his Mommy's favorite kind) sleeper by Gerber. Almost new - $1.00 at El Cheapos!

Greyson loves trucks and will love this Cherokee shirt in the fall! $1.00 at El Cheapos!

My grandson is adventerous so this shirt by Baby Q is perfect! El Cheapo's - $1.00.

CARS is his fave movie right now . . . he'll be wearing one of his fave characters at Christmas time! $1.00 El Cheapo's (Disney/Pixcar).

This warm medium weight jacket by Oshkosh was half off at Goodwill...that's only $1.49.Has mock shearling collar!

Found this like-brand new UGA jacket for $2.98 at Goodwill. Greyson says Ruff-Ruff!
And Koala Kids tough boy camo shorts for $1.00 at El Cheapo's!

Brand new earrings at El Cheapo's - $1.00!!!! The owner stocks all kinds of brand new costume jewelry. Mostly not my style...but I like these!

It was a good week of thrift shopping!

Thrift Store Shopping - June 23, 2012

Do you thrift shop? If not, you need to try it!  Here are some thrift store and garage sale finds for the week!

Christmas Plates - set of four with cooridinating bowls and saucers. 25 cents each at the FISH thrift store - Loganville, Georgia.

Two Paula Deen hard back cookbooks - $1.00 each - FISH thrift store also!

Children's books - like brand new - clean, no writing on pages - 75 cents each - Goodwill, Lawrenceville.

Sconces - $2.00 for the pair. Garage sale.

Metal pinecone candle holders - .99 for the pair - Salvation Army Store - Covington.

 

Thrift store shopping can be a lot of fun! You can find some real bargains! Of course sometimes you can get ripped off too. Make sure if you buy clothing to look for stains, missing buttons, tears and busted zippers. When buying other items look over the item carefully for tears, breaks, cracks, and missing parts. Things bought at garage sales and thrifts stores typically cannot be returned or exchanged. You can usually buy items for a fraction of it's 'brand new' cost. But Goodwill has really gone up on their prices and sometimes you can find the same items new at Walmart for a lower price! Just go thrifting...and have fun! Only buy items you can really use as it is or that you know you can re-purpose! Go with an open mind and you can find all kinds of cool stuff!

Easy Cafe Coffee Drink!

Do you love the coffee drinks you get from Starbucks? Or even the cheaper versions from McDonald's or other fast food (fast drink) places...but hate the prices?

You can make a DELICIOUS version of these drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen...at a fraction of the cost! It's easy! Really! 

Just follow Kitt Cat's simple instructions for a YUMMY coffee delight!

You will need:

Instant Coffee

Boiling hot water

Flavored syrup

ice cubes

coffee creamer 

milk

whip cream

chocolate syrup

First, you need some instant coffee. Regular or decaf...your pick!

Put two spoons full of instant coffee into a tall cup or glass. I use Folger's Decaf.

Add a tablespoon of flavoring. I like Torani's sugar free Classic Caramel. You find these syrups in the coffee section of your grocery store or Walmart.  They come in regular and sugar free flavors...like vanilla, caramel and hazelnut!

Mmmmm - - - sometimes I add another 1/2 tablespoon of flavoring!

Next, add  three tablespoons of boiling hot water - for a stronger coffee taste, only add two tablespoons of water. I heat my water in the microwave for 2 minutes while I am assembling the other ingredients.

Now you want to add ice cubes...if your glass is tall...add about 10 ice cubes. If your glass is short, add only eight!

Now you have coffee, flavored syrup, hot water, and ice cubes.

The next step is to add some creamer...I like French Vanilla flavor! I add about 1 inch of creamer to my glass. Stir with a spoon!

Now, add some milk...filling the glass/cup all the way to the top!

Stir, stir, stir up the goodness!

Now comes the fun part! Add some whipped cream to the top!

Oh! I am making myself thirsty! Your creation is almost finished!

The final touch is a drizzle of Walden Farms Sugar Free - Calorie Free chocolate syrup!

The chocolate syrup makes it so special! And not a single calorie involved! You can find Walden Farms syrups on the grocery aisle with ice cream toppings!

Now, just pop in a straw and enjoy your Cafe Coffee drink! Sluuurrrpppppppp!!!

 

 

Kitt Kat's Simple Hints:

*Make your cafe coffee decaf if you get the jitters

*Use low fat or sugar free creamer and whip cream 

*Use sugar free syrups

*Use whole milk for a richer drink...or low fat or skim milk for a lower fat version

*Occasionally I enjoy a coffee treat from Starbucks or McDonald's. When I do, I save and reuse my cup!

Make a Super Easy Lanyard!

Everything you need to make a lanyard: 

 

• A measuring tape or ruler
• Ribbon (I used grosgrain)
• Split ring 
• Decorative button
• Scissors
• Needle and Thread

 Step 1.  Cut a length of ribbon to suit your taste and/or use. I used a piece about 38 inches long.

 Step 2. Threat a split ring onto the ribbon.

Step 3. Bring the two ends of the ribbon together so that the ends are together and even. Then fold the ends over about 1/4" and stitch the ends down and tie off.

Step 4. slide the ring down toward the sewn ends of the ribbon.

                                         Step 5.  fold the ribbon about 1/2" to 3/4".
                             

                                              Step 6.  Holding the ribbon down, place a 

                               coordinating button on top, covering the edges 

                               that were sewn together in step 3. Sew the button

                               on, going all the way through both thicknesses of 

                               the ribbon.

                 The lanyard is now complete! You just slip it over your head 

                 to be used to hold a badge for work or school. Or attach a 

                 key to use as a key holder. 

Here are two I made with the same ribbon, but different colored buttons! My job requires we wear an i.d. badge, and this is a great way to have it close at hand!

Simple Tips:

1. Make lanyards in all different colors and patterns to coordinate with your outfits. Lanyards sell from just a couple of dollars up to $15.00 at stores. You can make them in many colors for probably $1.00 or less each.
2. For key straps, make the lanyard about 1/3 the length of the ones you wear around your neck.
3. Ribbon lanyards are inexpensive and easy to make. Make them to sell at church bazaars or other fund raisers. Make them in local school colors!
4. Look for future posts for other lanyard ideas!