Thursday, June 21, 2012

Thrifty Finds Thursdays! Here's what I found this week!

You know me, I'm always out and about, looking under rocks, fallen trees, and such, lol for a great deal or bargain.  Here's a few more that I've picked up over the past couple of weeks that I thought I'd share with ya'll:
Ok, this one is about 15" tall, & the most expensive at $17, but I still thought she was SOOO worth it (oh, that's a leaf down where the hoo-haw would be, lol...just sayin', in case you think it's something else)

OMG, I LOOOOVE this one...I only paid, get this....39 cents for it!! seriously!! It's about 6" tall, ALL hand painted, including the 14 karat gold, I couldn't believe it was only 39 cents, but yep, that's all I paid for it!!

I paid just $1 for this 3 pc set of vintage prints with wooden, gilded, vintage round frames...I'm a sucker for vintage prints, lol

Ok, this one, you just may NOT believe...can you guess what it is??? it's McCoy!! not one of the oldest, but still McCoy. It does have one small 'character' chip on the rim...but I picked it up for a SONG at our church rummage sale...can you guess how much I paid for it??? all out of guesses...25 cents!! lol yep, only a quarter!!

now, my FAVorite piece!! again, I picked it up at our church rummage sale last weekend.  A very old print.  Wavy glass, old, gilded, carved frame...just $2!!  that's it, 2 bucks!!
Ok, it's Thrifty Finds Thursday...what great thrifty finds did YOU find this week???? share with us, we'd LOVE to see!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Yet another frog in my garden pond...grrrr!

Every year, without fail, I find a frog or two...or 5, living in my pond at any given time.  Now, I love the aquatic living world that my pond creates, that's not the problem...the problem is, frogs eat fish.  I stock my pond with feeder fish, some make it to a couple inches, some die or get eaten before then.  But my poor poor fish, I know whenever a frog has been in the pond, they'll have part of their tail fins gone, lol.  Well, yesterday morning, I took the dogs out and looked over and saw a frog just as he dived into the pond.  Oh boy, there goes my fish, lol.  I had errands to run, so I didn't have time to fish him out.  On my way out the door to run errands, I saw THIS:
Can you see him???

here's a close up of the lil' turd!! lol
Pretty big frog, eh???  yeah, that's what I thought too.  He's just sitting on my water lettuce, like it's a lily pad lol  enjoying the trickling water, fish swimming beneath him, living it up on MY dime...sounds just like a teenager, lol.  Well, I haven't seen him today, but I'll be keeping my eye out, need to fish him out with the net and walk him back to the creek and toss him in...which will leave my pond frog-less, until he figures out how to make it from the creek to the little pond again, lol, but it might buy my fish some time.  So far, I still see 2 fish, 1 is always hiding, so I don't know if he's made it away from the frog or not...time will tell!

How about a 'GREE'N' Giveaway??! Book Giveaway: 'practically green', Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making!

Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making

I picked myself up one of these books, and thought, 'hey, my readers might like one too,' so grabbed another.  This giveaway is sponsored and offered by ME, myself, and I lol.  It's full of great ideas and 'green' tidbits that you may not have even thought of.  Includes instructions for USEFUL crafty things, reusing things, and really brings in the Reduse Reuse Recycle thought process.

This book contains:
  • Essential information to help you make smart, green choices for your family
  • 30+ easy, earth-friendly DIY projects and ideas for when you make instead of buy
  • copy & clip guides to simplify shopping
excerpt taken from Amazon, where it's listed for purchase for $7.60:
Practically Green takes the guesswork out of reading labels and will show you how to make smart, healthy purchases for your family without spending tedious hours researching the pros and cons of all of the products available on the market today. Each chapter is broken down into "Buy It" and "Do It" sections. The "Buy-It" section provides key information about everyday purchasing decisions and includes clip-out checklists for you to reference while shopping. The "Do It" section gives DIY ideas for how to make things that are good for your family and good for the environment, such as simple sewing projects, non-toxic cleaning products and luxurious, homemade beauty products. Plus, the author shares some of her favorite recipes that are sure to please the entire family!

Interested in winning this book?  Great!  Entry is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY please, no entries from other countries allowed (sorry, but I'm the one shipping it, and I can't afford the extra postage, I hope you understand), age 18 and over!  Giveaway ends Sunday, July 8, 11:59 EST!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer:  This giveaway is in no way associated with Amazon, or any person/entity that is associated with the book.  The prize is offered and provided by myself.  

Check out the GORGEOUS Milk Glass I picked up on the cheap!!

I love milk glass...but not just any old milk glass, like all those same ole same ole vases that you see, you know the ones I'm talking about.  No, I like the ones that are different, that aren't necessarily rare (can't afford THOSE babies, lol), but that aren't necessarily common to find.  Like these:



Now, the top one, without the frog, I see a lot at thrifty stores and yard sales.  But WITH the flower frog??? very rarely do I find one of these that still has the glass flower frog with it.  Guess how much I pd for that baby??? guess!!!  $1.39!! seriously!! a buck and 39 coins, that's IT!!  Now, how about that huge, beautiful...um, would you call it an urn??? flower pot??  compote of some sort???  I dunno, but I only paid $1.49 for that one, and it's HEAVY!

I like to stop in at obscure, out of the way places, they generally have the cheaper finds.  But THIS baby:

It appears to be a hand painted ginger jar? canister?  I can't tell if it was suppose to have a lid or not.  It's marked Bavaria, Germany, and the flowers (Lavender, of course) are hand pained on both sides.  It has an art deco feel within the mold itself.  I found that at a VERY prominent, HUGE, antiques mall here in St. Louis, stuck in a little corner, people passing it by, until I saw her...shining with a halo above her, lol.  I only paid $2 for it!!! yep, just $2!! I couldn't believe it.  I made my husband carry it around instead of taking it up and sitting it on the counter for them to hold while we continued to shop...I was afraid someone might get it confused or something and let someone else take her, lol (I'm paranoid that way, lol).  You can see some of my vintage flower frog collection next to it.  The orange iridescent one to the left above the rare blue ceramic one, I picked up on another day, but at the same antiques shop, and pd $3.25 for it!! :)  things and DEALS like that, make me all warm and fuzzellly inside, lol.

What kind of great deals and steals have YA'LL found lately??? I'd LOVE to hear about them!



Monday, May 7, 2012

Newspaper Art Nails! Super easy! TOOOO flippin' cute, just HAD to share!

Ok, so I know that these have been getting to be really popular lately.  I stumbled across this young high school girl, who, yes, she talks a lot, lol but she's just too adorable, with her YouTube channel, reviews, cutesie stuff, I just HAD to share this video of her 'how to' on making newsprint/newspaper art nails, with WATER, not alcohol.


I've been seeing these with an adorable pink (light, even some brighter), and a baby or sky blue instead of white or light grey.  I hope that she doesn't mind that I shared this with you, I'm sure she'll love the link back love and new subscribers if ya'll are up for it.  Out of all the tutes on how to do this, I chose her's to share, because I have 2 teenage girls who are whizzes at putting stuff up on YouTube these days, lol and she just reminds me of them doing something that they love and think is cool!  kudos to her!  Good job! iluvjesse444 (dunno if that's her name, but that's her channel)

How to create the perfect Emergency/First Aid Kit for car or home from things found at Dollar Tree!

I sure hope everyone who's reading this has a Dollar Tree around.  What our world would be like without a Dollar Tree, I shudder to think, lol.  Over the past year or so, I've been creating good sized emergency first aid kits for all 3 vehicles, plus one for each floor of our home...5 total.  I've not spent a lot of money on them, but they're packed with perfect items that should always be at the ready.  I thought I'd share how I did it, and mostly, how everything came from Dollar Tree!!

First, for the bags, these may be the only things you won't be able to pick up at Dollar Tree (sorry).  For the vehicle start out with an insulated lunch tote.  You may have one lying around the house.  Maybe you or one of your kids use to take lunch/snacks to work/school and you don't use it anymore...perfect, use that. If not, try a cheap one from the Goodwill, yard sale, etc. Make sure the bags you use are zippered, that way you can lay the case down, and when you unzip it, you'll be able to see everything at a glance.  If nothing else, use large quart slider-type zippered bags until you find a suitable sturdier bag for the job.

For the home, I used a couple of clear vinyl zippered bags that some products I received came in.  One was from a set of curlers, another one was from a small quilted pillow (not the larger ones, they'll be too big), just something that's less than 10"-12" long, 8"-10" wide-ish, should work.

Now, for the collecting of items to put in it.  When you're thinking of what to put in it, think of your family's needs.  For example, I have a golden retriever that chews on her legs at times, and sometimes causes sores, so my downstairs kit has extra rolls of gauze wrap and pads, as well as the medicated creams from the Vet (and one in my car's kit, as well).  Maybe you have a lot of poison ivy around, make sure you have alcohol and calamine lotion in your kit.  As you go through the health aisle, think about what you use now, and what you might NEED if the circumstances arise.  What's great about buying packages that have many of the same item in it, is that you can split it up into more than one emergency/first aid kit.  Like the bandages and gauze below, 15 of each of the bandages, and 7 gauze pad in each of 2 kits.

These are all from Dollar Tree, perfectly fine quality for any emergency/first aid kit:

Assured Sterile Gauze Pads, 15-ct. BoxesAssured Waterproof Adhesive Bandages, 25-ct. BoxesAssured Fabric Bandages, 30-ct. Boxes
Assured Pain Relief Hot Patch, 2-ct. PacksAssured Alcohol, 16 oz.Assured Cotton Swabs with Travel Cases, 2-Pack Sets

Assured Hydrogen Peroxide, 32 oz.Assured Antibacterial Bandages, 40-ct. BoxesTriple Antibiotic Ointment

Assured Dressing Bandages, 6-ct. BoxesAssured Adhesive Bandages, 100-ct. BoxesRoyal Paper Tape for Sensitive Skin

Royal Sterile Rolled GauzeNatureplex Hydrocortisone CreamMurine Plus Eye Drops for Dry Eyes, .5 oz.

Children's Pointed-Tip Scissors, 5Gold Bond Travel-Sized Medicated Body Powder, 1-oz.Hefty OneZip Sandwich Bags
Absorbine Jr. Ultra-Strength Pain Relieving PatchesDr. Fresh Marvel Heroes Sterile Bandages, 20-ct. Boxes

Don't forget scissors for cutting gauze and wrappings.  Dollar Tree usually has 2 packs, whoop whoop! 2 for 1's we LOVE'em!  NOT shown, but Dollar Tree DOES have, elastic bandages (ACE-type), which are handy have in a pinch, I usually keep 2 different sizes in each kit, both of which I've found at Dollar Tree.
Something that I've added to my kits, for some reason in my head, lol, emery boards...they have a LOT in one pkg, so be generous in each of your kits with them, they'll be useful, trust me lol. I've used mine to have my daughter file my dog's nails to keep her occupied while I doctor her legs up, lol you never know what you could use'em for.  Cotton rounds, I buy one pkg and split it up between each kit, putting them in zippies, to use for alcohol or calamine lotion, etc.
Donna Michelle Salon Basics Emery Boards, 36-ct. PacksAssured Cotton Rounds, 80-ct. PacksGold Bond Travel-Sized Ultimate Healing Cream, 1 oz.
Assured Travel-Sized 2-oz. Hand Sanitizers, 2-ct. Packs

For your car kits, add sunblock and after-sun care, just in case of a sunburn, plus other items that you may keep in your medicine cabinet for home use, but may also need in the car or while travelling at times:
Max Block After Sun Soothing Gel, 6 oz.Max Block SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion with Aloe Vera, 4 oz.Iodent Maximum Strength Oral Analgesic Gel, 0.42-oz. Tubes
Assured All-Day Allergy Relief Tablets, 14-ct. PacksAssured Nasal Decongestant Tablets, 24 ct.HALLS Menthol Cherry Cough Drops, 18-ct. Bags
Advil Tablets, 6-ct. PacksPremenstrual Relief Tablets, 12-ct. BoxesAssured Extra Strength Acetaminophen Caplets, 40 ct.
Assured Heartburn Relief Tablets, 12-ct. PacksAssured Antacid with Calcium, 60 ct.Assured Extra-Strength Gas Relief Softgels, 15 ct.
Soft Foam Earplugs with Plastic Case, 4-ct. Packs8-ct. Packs of Pocket Tissues

Also, keep wet wipes of some sort, whether a baby wipe, antibacterial wipe, whatever.  These are good to clean around wounds so you can see and treat them better, clean away debris on/around wounds, etc.
Antibacterial Wet Wipes with Aloe, 60-ct. CanistersHuggies Supreme Baby Wipes, 16-ct.
Ok, a couple of other things that I add that aren't shown here, but Dollar Tree DOES carry:
Tweezers (great for pulling splinters, debris, etc.).  Calamine-type lotion, which is great for rashes, poison ivy, bee/bug stings, etc.

One thing that I add that Dollar Tree does NOT have, and you can generally find it at Walmart, and other pharmacy sections: Prid salve.  Prid is a thick, blechy looking gunk, in a small tin, that you put on a splinter, sliver of glass, etc. that's embedded into the skin, no matter how far down (just put a tiny dollop of it on the location and then put a bandaid on it).  The next day, take the bandaid off, wipe it clean, and voila, the embedded debris has miraculously been extracted.  Don't ask me how it does it, I have NO idea, lol, but it works.  I also put a small bottle of Ipacac and Mercurochrome (just in case), you could add Betadine instead if you'd rather, but it's usually in a bigger bottle. One other thing that you might want to include in your kits that you'll have to pick up at a different store, latex gloves.  Dollar Tree carries various types of gloves, but none that are intended for medical use.

I add to my kits here and there, since we all know that Dollar Tree gets items, name brand, and more, periodically, that they haven't had or may never have again.

After you put them all together, sit back and look at what you've done for yourself and your family, in the way of being prepared, and count how much money you spent and saved creating them.  For around $30 (with the items above), you've collected enough items to make at least TWO first aid/emergency kits tailored to you and your family's needs.  And you have all the essentials needed.  Of course, add other items as you like, take some away, etc.  And also, you can add things from your stockpile (if you're a stockpiler) to help save money, add to it, etc., and feel free to pay for name brand products at another store, if you like.  I just thought I'd share how easy it is to collect and create a first aid/emergency kit from items found at Dollar Tree!  Create your kit to fit the needs of you and your family, just always remember the 'what ifs,' because as soon as you don't add that ONE item thinking you'll never need it, that's when you'll wish you had it....it's always better to be more safe than sorry.

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