My $20 Yard Sale Rug

I am participating in Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures Monday. Hello to everyone stopping by from there! I look forward to Rhoda's party every week. I so enjoy visiting the participating blogs.

I found this rug while "sale-ing" last year with my sister. It was only $20.00 and I absolutely fell in love with it. I bought it to go in our master bedroom but then decided to use it in the dining room instead. I am so glad I did! It has colors that I normally would not put in this room but I think it adds a certain richness. I love the huge luggage tag design on the rug. It has so many beautiful colors. My sister is my partner in crime when it comes to helping me load large pieces like this. I could tell you a story of how she helped me get a cabinet in my Mom's Suburban which was already loaded with groceries--but I'll save that for another time :).

I took these pictures with my iPhone so the quality is not the best. I heart my iPhone by the way. Please head over to Southern Hospitality to admire more treasures.

What's Been Going On With Me Lately

What's been going on with me lately? Let me see....hmm....where to begin? I have been seeing an allergist regarding my persistent rash (4 years) that no one can seem to explain. So far, the consensus is eczema. I'm allergic to something. "Something" is the mystery word. Hence, the picture below. The "x" below was the control spot for the allergy skin test. If you have a reaction on that spot they are able to tell if the test is working. It stung like a bee sting for a few minutes so I guess it worked.

Yardsale season is in full swing in southern Alabama. I was out at 6:00 a.m. this morning headed to my first stop of the day, a church yardsale. I am a yardsale junkie! It was still dark outside when I left home.

OH MY GOODNESS! It could not have been a prettier day! The Azaleas are in full bloom! It is so beautiful with the big bursts of color everywhere. The downside is they will only bloom about a week longer and then they are gone until next year.

I found several things--some to sell and some things to keep and even somethings for family. I saw two unique vases at different sales. When I saw the second one I was like.....Ok....what's going on? When I asked how much the vase was the woman running the sale asked her mom "Mom, how much for this Gladiola vase?" Mystery solved. It has a unique fan shape. It kind of resembles a seashell. I know you'd like to see a picture of it. Too bad--it's still in my car. Since it was $2.00 so I decided to take a chance on it. I'm glad I did. When I researched it when I got home I saw several in the $60 range. Mine is unmarked so it may not be as valuable but I figure IF I get ready to part with it, I'll be able to make a little profit. I also discovered that the flower is also called Gladiolus. I love learning new stuff!

The good news is that I've already listed on eBay a lot of what I bought this morning. If you'd like to see my eBay auctions you can go here: MsJackiesJunque's auctions.

Tacky Heart Part Deaux

What's up with me and all the tacky heart items that I've been finding lately? This find is on the same scale as the other one.

So I'm making my usual rounds at one of our local Goodwill stores when this monster catches my eye. I pick it up and notice it's in the shape of a heart. WHAT THE! That was bad enough. Then I noticed the gaudy horse racing fabric and huge faux flower at the top center of the heart. Craft project gone WRONG!

Random Picture Time

I heart my iPhone. I find myself capturing random things. I'm going to share a couple of pictures. Let's call it the "Camera Roll Mix."

Example: A lobster tail butterfly made by a chef at our favorite Japanese restaurant. We arrived at 9:00, which was late for a weeknight meal. The chef was so gracious and served us as usual. At the end of the meal he took the time to make me a butterfly out of hubby's lobster tail. Just to make things clear, hubby is not a lobster--he had ordered lobster. Ha!

This is a picture I snapped from inside my car. I had just pulled up at my parents' house to pick up my Mama when I looked out at my Dad's barn area. This neatly stacked wood caught my eye. I couldn't help but tear up a little bit. This wood represents my Dad's constant hard work and planning. They have a wood burning heater and this wood would help keep them warm this winter. I hope I have learned from my Dad's example.....be prepared.

Finally, a quirky one, not for the faint of heart or the cholesterol challenged:

This is my Mama's ham pan. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas she bakes a ham in this very pan. The morning after Thanksgiving I was in the kitchen with her when she pointed out this image in the pan. She had put water in the pan to make cleaning it easier. It made a perfect turkey when the grease from the ham floated to the top and dispersed. Weird, huh?

Happy Valentine's Day

Since I had Friday afternoon off due to the BIG HONKING ALABAMA SNOW STORM OF 2010, I decided to do a little baking. I used my Wilton mini heart cake pan and made some cupcakes and little heart cakes.

I whipped up a batch of buttercream icing in my trusty KitchenAid mixer and I was all set. I heart my KitchenAid mixer. I recently splurged and bought myself, at Jacob's insistence, a work bowl with a handle. What took me so long? Instead of the old political adage "A chicken in every pot," what about A KitchenAid in every kitchen?

Some of my sweets:

Little heart cakes

Cupcakes

I lurve this platter. It is huge. I found it in Pensacola one day when I went thrifting with Diane and Ralphie. I have used this thing time and again! It's on display right now on my table.

Here it is with more pretty cupcakes:

Now boys and girls.....it's random picture time! I don't believe I've ever posted a close up of this tole painted lamp. The detail is beautiful.

Just call this my faux flower Valentine vignette. Do not pay attention to the husband's foul weather parka on the chair at the end of the table. Stop looking at it. Maybe I should call it the faux flower foul weather parka Valentine vignette. Say that quick three times!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tacky Clock Valentine

I was in my favorite thrift store the other night and ran across this clock. It was necessary that I purchase this clock for two reasons. First, it was the week of Valentines. The week of love. How could I walk away and leave it on the shelf? Second, I knew that it would make the perfect Valentine gift for my friend Traci. We have the same sense of humor and I knew she would appreciate it as much as I did. And, it didn't hurt that it was .99 cents. So, when I went to work yesterday, in the middle of the snow storm, I whipped it out of the garbage bag in which I had carried it, and presented it to her. She loved it as much as I thought she would!

This has to be the most HIDEOUS clock I've ever seen. This clock has so much going on inside of it. I can't pick a favorite part. Is it the overall heart shape? Or is it the variety of fake flowers beneath the plastic protection? Or what about the tarnished plastic boy and girl plaque in the corner? This clock screams romance. NOT! Imagine some poor wife or girlfriend accepting this little gem. Tacky with a capital "T". So for .99 cents we had several good laughs.

The eighties called. They want the clock back.

Snow of January 2010

For most people snow is no big deal. Some people find it annoying. But, when a little snow storm hits southern Alabama--pandamonium sets in and we get giddy with excitement! There was a LOT of hype over this snow event. It snowed at our house for about an hour.

I had to go to work so I missed the heavy snow. But hubby was kind enough to take pictures and video and even made me an iddybiddy snowman.

No, it's okay, really. It only snows like once every 20 years. Really. Don't worry that you didn't give the snowman a face. Or a scarf. Or even a baby carrot nose. All joking aside, hubby was sweet to document everything for me. He's thoughtful like that.

So, by the time I get home like 3 1/2 hours later, every. single. flake. had melted.

Oh, and about my snowman.....