Thursday, June 30, 2011

A house is a home when you make it your own..............

The Goodwill Outlet-
it's basically a huge room
I'm not a seasoned diver
and I never will be but
on occasion I have been known to grab a few bargains-

Take this for instance-



A dollhouse
An assembled one at that-

Years ago, I built one for my oldest daughter-
I think it took me a good month just to glue together-
Then I painted and wallpapered contact paper-
I bought some furniture for it-
My daughter loved it but
 her friend's plastic fisher-price house had more appeal-
So, I learned from that attempt
and my other girls got fisher-price houses-

Sorry for that segue,
 but I couldn't pass this up
brought back such memories-
For $15, I can make another little girls heart go pitter patter-
until the gleam in her eye focuses on the Playmobile modern house-

oh well, it's mine for now!!

Well, gotta fly-Claire
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The "Monogram"

I don't have to remind you all how much I love monograms!!
I did a post way back showing all my monograms-
clothes, jewelry, bags, etc...

So, I was so taken by this recent window treatment I spotted


100_2982
Cassie has one lucky daughter
and I can't wait to replicate this-
somewhere- some place- some window!!

Go check this out,
and salivate over the re-do of her little girl's bedroom-
It's to die for!!

Well, gotta fly, Claire


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Friday, June 24, 2011

Ahhh....what a relief it is!!

Today is my last day of school-
My summer begins today at 1pm-
To say I'm excited is an understatement-

It's been quite a year
Starting off back in September-
2 weeks into the new school year and I broke my foot-
3 months later and I finally got the boot off-
Limping down the halls with a cane was enough to make me jump!!!

Before I knew it, 2011 was here!
What a winter we had-
so much snow
and more snow
and more snow-
oh no!!!

Needless to say, that's why today is the last day of school-
snow days galore!!

My spring was filled with illness
and family sadness

May came and left in the blink of a tear-

June arrived in a humid fevered pitch


The kids at school had wiped their hands together and were done!!
But, now, it's finally here and I am looking forward-
forward to a summer filled with
relaxing, reorganizing, refinishing,
revitalizing, recharging, and  renewing-





Ahhhhh......
Enjoy-
gotta fly-Claire
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Thursday, June 23, 2011

thoroughly thrifty adventures-Goodwill #8



On my most recent GW adventure,
I spotted something across the room-

Oh, I don't need another chair-
I know that and you do too!!

But, I can't help myself-
it's an obsession-

there, I admitted it-
I have a problem.

But, how could I resist-



The carved backs-


The roses-

The tapestry has seen better days-
 so bye bye to that and hello
to new cushion with fab fabric!!



And put together, they will make a beautiful bench-
Stay tuned-
Can't wait to show the finished product-
Oh, and silly me-
forgot to mention, each chair cost me $4.99-Gotta love it!!

But, as always, gotta fly, Claire



Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Hanging out on a limb

I was in one of my favorite discount chains the other day and spotted some pictures I loved-
At $30 a pop, there was no way they were coming home with me-
so I took a few pics with my trusty phone
and started re-creating in my mind!

I am always picking up framed art at GW-not for the art but for the frames-
and with my trusty Krylon spray-
the frames are new to go!

After flipping the art over, I spray mounted some scrapbook paper from my stash-
My chalkboard vinyl was perfect for the birds and
the words would be created with "the machine"!!
I hadn't used this in awhile so I was excited to bring it back to life-
With a few cranks-it was set-
the letters popped out-
and I was good to go!!

I didn't want to use the same black vinyl for the limb
 so I decided to use the real thing and spray it
and I attached it with hot glue-
the clothespins also got a quick spray
and
voila, a simple and very cheap project-
floating pictures for my screened porch!
The smaller pic- mommy and daddy bird
and
the larger is the whole flock!



The whole thing cost me a whopping $3.98-( the cost of the 2 framed "art" pieces!)
I had everything else-
Just what I love, a cute and simple project for pennies!


Well, gotta fly-Claire


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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tag "Sailing"!!


I have never been a big tag sale shopper
Not because I don't love a bargain-
 but-
I'm not good at it!
My main problem is stopping at someone's home-
looking through all their stuff-
and walking away empty handed-

Does anyone else feel bad about this?

I can't do it
I always have to buy something-
it's a problem-

GW, and other thrift stores are so much easier to shop in-
there's no personal connection-
the only person you have to look in the eye is the cashier
and they don't care if you buy or not!
Ahhhh, it's such a relief-
no guilt-
no trying to slink out a back exit, empty handed - lol

But,  lo and behold I got a call the other day-
my darling daughter and some friends had stopped in at a tag sale
and she saw a chair I might like-
with the snap of technology-
she took a pic-emailed it to me-



SOLD-for a whopping $5**!!!
I did the happy dance-
I got a bargain without the guilt!!

But,
she couldn't fit it in her car- so, momma needed to pick it up-
I met her at the sale-
of course, the couple and she were chatting up at storm-
she knew their whole story-
Yale professor and lawyer-
moving to California from New Haven, Ct-
couldn't take alot with them-
yadda yadda yadda-
you get the story-

Funny thing is-
I wouldn't have gotten that info-
I'd have been too uncomfortable-
looking at their stuff and not buying it all up!

So, we loaded up the chair, wished them luck and slunk home,
my daughter was telling me about all the cool and funky things they were selling
and
I was feeling a bit guilty that I should have bought more!!
I definitely have to bring my personal bargain shopper with me more often!!

Gotta fly-Claire
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Monday, June 13, 2011

Eye Candy Galore

One of my favorite sites for superb eye candy is
The designers are amazing-
the decor is super funky-
checkerboards galore-
I can't get enough!!
Sinks
The sinks are so pretty-who wants to get them wet?
Butterfly Collection
the butterfly collection


Lighting
the lamps- oo la la
Flower Basket Collection
The flower basket collection




Garden Decor & Tools
What bird could resist?

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Apparel & Accessories
As you can see, nobody can resist!!


I love looking at each piece and figuring out if I could make my own version-
the items are unique but they all speak to home and making your place your own-
Enjoy the view-gotta fly-Claire

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Goodwill #7

I've missed my GW jaunts so...
I'm back at it-
and boy oh boy did I score !!!


My thrifty shopping brought me to
 the Salvation Army-
I rarely go here
because it's a wee bit further away than my local GW
and when the need arises, I need a quick fix-
 Look at these beauties


The lines-the curves-the cut outs
woohoo 

Don't know what I'll turn them into but I can't wait!!
Almost forgot the best part-$7 total cost!-yippee
Well, take care-gotta fly- Claire


Friday, June 10, 2011

Lights-camera-action

So, now that the porch is structurally sound,
the screens have been replaced
the fencing is in place
and the porch is lovely and liveable-
it was time for some lights outside-
but stringing lights is not as easy as it sounds
It's not that hard either!!
Placement is the key-
 so the final outcome looks magical-






 The magic of little Christmas lights, even in the summer,
gives a warm and cozy glow to
any decor, both inside and out!
Gotta fly-Claire

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Butterflies are free

The butterfly is...

 a universal symbol of change,
resurrection,
 transformation,
celebration,
young love and the soul.


Have you noticed how butterflies
 are entering our homes now?

It's seen everywhere,
from frames to wallpaper,
from dishware to pillows-
artwork to napkin rings-
Sketched Wings Shade               
lamps at anthropologie

Butterfly Embroidered Calligraphy Pillow Cover, 20"                
pillows at pottery barn



Product Image
Butterfly Art - Target


Open your eyes to the flora and fauna
that surrounds us and bring the beauty of  nature indoors - 
to transform your surroundings! 


Sometimes the butterflies land on you, just to keep you remembering......


Gotta fly-Claire


Monday, June 6, 2011

nyc

N.Y.C.
a fun weekend
bryant park
lunch and drinks
shopping
Revlon Corporate Headquarters
people watching
subways
Wall Street

Kerry's apartment
rooftop cocktails
Adrienne's Pizzeria
more people watching
Rooftop views
South Street Seaport
taxi cabs
Canal Street
shopping
Louis Vuton
Gucci
Coach
subways
6th Avenue street fair
10 blocks of glorious food
shopping stalls
music
Rockefeller Center
woohoo!
Cupcake heaven


yum yum

Fun weekend with my girls - PRICELESS!
Gotta fly- Claire