Dressing Room Fiasco

Please excuse my mess if you pop in today.

I am in the process of updating my "look" and as you know if usually takes a few hours tries in the dressing room before us ladies are able to find the Perfect outfit :)

While I am behind-the-curtain why don't you check out these lovely dressing rooms I came across recently. 

Are the padded walls to muffle screams of a bad outfit?? It is awesome though!

Why all the fuss about my look?

Well it seems my lovely pal Heather from {twenty}something nominated me for the Stylish Blog Award and since I was due for a makeover I thought this was the perfect time! --Thanks Darling :)

As with any award there are standard rules and regulations. Thankfully the only ones with this award are to tell you 7 things about myself and then pass this award on to 5 other great Stylish Bloggers. Woop -- even I can handle this!

 Seven Fascinating Things about ME:

1. I am a twin and we have younger sisters who are also twins.

2. I can read a regular size novel in less than 2 hours and be able to tell you everything that happens, almost verbatim.

3. I am always COLD, even in August - in Georgia!!

4. I have never drank a cup of coffee - ever.

5. I do not like to shop for myself but can spend hours shopping for others

6. My eye color changes based on what color shirt I am wearing.

7. I am a music freak but can not carry a tune in a bucket.

Now here are the 5 Bloggers who I think are super stylish! 
Be sure to check these fab ladies out!!

 Just Pleased as Punch

  Scissors and Spatulas 

 Till Death Do Us Part 

  UnSkinny Boppy 

  I'm a Yarner 

 Have a great Thursday ~~ hopefully my dressing room time will be complete soon :)

 

Ikea Initiation

What do you do when your best pal calls you up and says "Hey girl, Since we are headed to Atlanta anyway - do you want to go by Ikea before we head to the museum*?"
Well if you are me you can't say "Yes, Yes, Yes." and "What time do we leave?" fast enough. You see until yesterday I was an I.V = Ikea Virgin!!. *hangs head* Yes I am 37 years old and I have never been to Ikea before -- sad isn't it. It actually always made me laugh when I told people that because I do like to shop so it was a shock that I had never experienced the fabulousness of Ikea before now.

I simply can not Thank my pal Heather from TwentySomething enough for introducing me to my new favorite place. YOU ROCK H!!! I tend not to say this around TheHandyman because he will think it is due to the furniture(he is a furniture builder after all so it is a little sacrilegious to purchase that elsewhere) but in reality it is due to all the wonderful accessories. If you have not been then you totally need to go and quick. They have the coolest items there.

Below are some of my favorites of the day.

 

1. Letter Bookends -- just happened to be displaying the best one -- B

2. Wavy Light Shade - so pretty.

3. Fabulous wall of photos. Even though white is not my color I could so see this in Black!

4. Baskets GALORE -- I was in heaven!

1. This light consisted of wires(sparkler size), Paper flowers, and buttons -- crazy!!

2. Pillow of the Day -- loving the colors and it had Birds on it which is always an extra plus :)

3. Dresser and Nightstand - these beauties were an lovely gray color with the cutest teardrop pulls <3

4. I am totally coveting this sink. The shape is so different and unique it was hard for me to resist haha

LOVE the colors!

This lamp was simply stunning..thin wood strips - loved it!
Above photo linked to Sweet Shot Tuesdays because I LOVE it!
 

Heather with her $19.99 find.

I know she will talk herself into it so we will get to go back soon and pick this baby up!

Emma was our photographer for part of the day and had to get the requisite self-portrait - love this girl!

 Our lunches for the day :)

Needless to say it was an awesome trip and I can not wait to go back. 

When all was said and done my total purchases equaled $3.60 -- see proof positive that I have awesome restraint!!

*Sidenote: If you are in the Atlanta area you should check out the Breman Holocaust Museum. After the Ikea visit we went and heard a Survivor speak then toured the museum. Very moving!

Do you have one of those friends who introduces you to new and fabulous places? If so - what was your favorite?

Thriftiquing 2.1

I am so behind on this post that it is sad -- but I have actually been doing crafting so in my eyes at least that makes up for the delay!

A few weeks ago I was able to spend a Sunday afternoon with Heather just hanging out. Now if you have been reading the past few weeks you know that when H and I hang out it really means spending time doing our fave kind of shopping ~~ Thriftiquing!

Here are a few of the things we spotted:

-- The Metal Chest was a tad pricey but it would be too cute to hold office supplies!

-- I have a secret plan for that fish basket ;) (hopefully it is still there HA)

-- I have seen better priced Spritzers but I loved all these green ones.

-- Vintage Chalkboard -- 'Nuff said!!

-- Cute little Kodak Photo Cutter -- LOVED it!

-- These Acorns were such a sweet pair.

-- Not sure what this huge wooden hand was made for but I give it props for originality.

-- Vintage travel banners and a fabulous old shutter!!

BEST PHOTO OF THE DAY AWARD

-Awarded to Heather@TwentySomething for not being afraid

to very loudly voice her shock at finding great prices on items

and for freely showing love to new found treasures!!  Love you girl!

Are you a lone thriftiquer or you do you like to hunt in pairs or groups? 

Are you a spur of the moment shopper or do you plan the trip for days?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Can't wait till the next trip!!

DIY Date Nite -- Sneak Peek

What do you get when two friends together who are aspiring DIY home decor gals, a few free hours, various tools, and some paint?

The Beginnings to 4 new projects!

This is just a sneak peek at some of the projects that Heather from TwentySomething and I worked on today.
The full posts will be available here and over here shortly - so be sure to check them out!!

Can't wait till Friday H!!!

Treasure Hunting : Iron/Metal

One of the things I kept seeing on my trip down to Mart this week was Iron and Metal items. Whether it be a table or a bed, a lamp or a fan, almost every showroom I visited had some type of iron/metal pieces. The sad thing is the majority* of then were cheap reproductions that once in retail stores cost more than an original piece would -- so sad. *My fave showroom - Go Home has fabulous pieces!! I spent over an hour in their new showroom just looking around!

As I was checking out somethings in the WW of Craigslist today I thought I would see what iron and metal items I were listed -- you know, "just to see". It simply amazes me what some stores will sell knock-offs for when a little looking can get you the Real Thing at a much better price(and sometimes with a cool story to boot!)
*Click on Photos for more information*

#1- Iron Fireplace Surrounds

 

$50.00 - Great Price!

$250.00 - Has more detail

It is rare to find an actual Iron Surround these days as most are wood, however if you look you can find great vintage ones to use.

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#2 - Old Metal Beds

$25.00 Each - Awesome Price as I see these(real vintage) for $150+ normally.

Some online searching found the two knock-offs below - the prices are the average for a full size.

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#3 - Old Hand Water Pumps

Both for $60 (Fair price especially if the left one is as big as it looks)

These I found online but they have NO character at all! ;)

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#4 - Railroad Cart: 

$250 - Fair price if really original.

It is easy to find the hardware so sadly the shops that sell them are reproducing but selling as original :(

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#5 (my Fave Find today) Security Door

$150 -- Fab Price!!

Hard to find an antique door but the new ones(that look old) are between $500 -$900

These are just a few examples of real vintage pieces you can find with just a little looking. Heck sometimes you can find pieces that are completely Free* which is the best kind of deal there is!

*like the table I found for H - it is being delivered Saturday so I can't wait to see if it will fit :)

What are some things that you have seen in the stores/catalogs that you know you can find real ones of?