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Some New Friends

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Everytime I go to Goodwill I make new friends.  Sometimes they are ceramic.  Or brass.  Or wood.  But all are loved friends. 

And I always like sharing when I get something because:

1.  I like to brag on the prices

B.  It gives me a point of reference for future presto-change-os (like when I tell you about how I bought some lamps & then how I renovated them.)

4.  It will benefit me for insurance purposes if our house ever burns down.  Knock on wood.

5.  Did I mention that I like to brag on the prices? 

And since it’s been a while since I updated you guys on what made it’s way into my buggy, there is quite the slew of newbie friends in our home.  This is most of the stuff that I have bought since AUGUST.  Three and a half months worth of shopping…whew, I am just shakin’ with retail adreneline just from thinking about that!

I wanted to present this little white bunny figurine first.  I love it.  I love it oh-so-much.  You can imagine me sitting in the corner while tightly holding this with two hands close to my bossom and lightly petting it’s shiny ceramic back while whispering “I love you” into it’s long stiff ears and you would not be far from the truth.  It was a dollar, which makes me love it all the more.

Then we have a $4 ceramic pot with a lid.  I think it was a cookie jar.  I got it to put my wooden spoons and ladles and such into.  I used to have them in a drawer but baby stuff took over.  Next to it is a $2 Popcorn bowl.  This thing is bigger than it looks.  Like it could hold four bags of popcorn.  I might use it as a gift package for my dad.  I would stuff it with a Blu-Ray movie and some gourmet popcorn and other nummy theatre candy.  My mom told me not to because she doesn’t want to have to house this thing…I can understand that…because it is BIG. 

This $2 ironstone platter had to come home with me.  It’s smaller than the average platter – which is perfect for when I just make a meal for me and the boyfriend.

This little $1 pastel green dish is my new favorite pea dish.  My boytoy does not eat fruit or vegetables….did I tell you that before? Yeah…BUT he loves peas.  So I make them all. the. time.  And sometimes, when a girl is sick of eating peas, it helps to have a pretty pastel green dish to encourage them down your esophagus. 

My mother has a little beehive container that she uses for hunny when she serves people tea.  This $1 version gives off that same feel…but I think I will use it for syrup.  I don’t know.

I’ve already used these gold embellished little drinking glasses as votive holders.  I adore the twinkle.  I’m like a bird…attracted to anything that shines. 

I don’t know why but I love this brass candle holder.  It’s really large.  I guess for one of those giant three wickers.  I might try that Blue Magic stuff on it to see if it turns silver.  I guess I have to figure out if it is brass plated or solid first.

Ok…so these two ceramic canisters were at a local thrift store.  Both for $5 then half off…and then I broke the lid on one.  I saw it slipping.  It shattered into a million smithereens.  Right there in front of me.  My heart broke with it.  So I had to try to remember my homeschool spanish lessons to conjure up a semi-decent (let’s be honest…it was god-awful) sentence to tell the cashier that I needed a broom.  Talk about embarrassing.  She got the gist…but only after I came up with some hand signs…another language I don’t know.  I really wish that never happened.  Partly because I really wanted both with lids (although the lidless one is perfect for my scissors and rulers in my craft closet) but mostly because thrift store floors are some of the most disgusting things in the universe.   Yuck. 

I got the first ceramic urn at the same thrift store (the one that has very well-swept floors now).  It was half off.  Original price $4.94 – and I have big plans for this puppy.  The $3 glass footed hurricane is darling with all those bubbles.  I love the small-scale…perfect for our mantle…where I already used it 🙂  

 

Okay…don’t judge me.  This striped sweater made it’s way into my cart.  I plan on NOT wearing it.  Let’s just leave it at that.

Moving on to Target purchases. 

I got two white frames on clearance. 

Nice prices huh?  Yeah.  I plan on doing a white frame gallery…and these will fit right in.

We have a king sized mattress.  And no king sized mattress sheets.  Jeremy insists that he can tell the difference between 400 and 600 thread count.  I don’t know how but he swears it.  So I am obliged to buy 600 thread count.  But they are sooo expensive.

I got this pale blue set as a backup.  For $20 I couldn’t pass em up.  Has anyone had any experience bleaching blue sheets white?

Hobby Lobby got some more love from the Bower clan.  I bought this $5 album…love the yellow.  love the design.  love. love. love.

On our anniversary roadtrip, we stopped in my favorite discount store in PA.  I got these grey & white frames for $3 each.  Not too shabby.  I love the chunkiness…oh yeah…and the wood look. 

I also found this one for $3.  It’s so darling.  My sister saw it and thought that it was a picture of me & Jer in it.  She was like “that’s a weird picture”.  Yes Norn it is.  But now I want a copy-cat version where it is actually Jer & me…just to be weird like that.

I got this three pack of hanging boxes.  They say HO HO HO.  I’m 99% sure that I am going to repaint them.  They were only $5 for the set…and I think they would be a lot cuter if the insides were painted too. 

I’m shopping at TJMaxx now.

These lanterns were $6 a piece.  I used them in our Halloween tablesetting.  They are worth every penny.  The pack of oranges was in the clearance section for $6.  Not the best price in the world but I couldn’t walk away from the citrus scented faux fruit. 

 

Also at TJMaxx, I picked up a slew (A HUGE SLEW) of Martha Stewart photo albums and storage boxes.  I couldn’t take photos of all of them…so I just wanted to share a couple.  The smaller one is going to be Will’s memory book.  The larger is perfect for his future artwork (oh…and btw, he just did his first masterpiece today…and look out Michaelangelo…Cistine chapel, WHAT!?!) 

Now let’s move on to Ebay.  Yes’m I purchased stuff online. 

Namely (punned!) these Bowers tins.  I order them only when they are under $4 plus shipping.  Then I clean them out and stuff them with…well….stuff.  This one is my new tea bag holder.

 

 And this one is perfect for holding…wait for it…

…hot chocolate and instant spiced cider.

Lastly (WHEW!) is a VERY old purchase that I wanted to tell you about before I forget. 

We scored this West Elm file cabinet at the Pottery Barn outlet for $40.  It was still online for full price.  WHOOP WHOOP.

 

Sorry for the crappy picture.  But just know that it is perfect for my little craft closet. 

Are you guys as high as a kite from the shopping adreneline?  I feel worn out just telling you about it.  So did you see anything you loved?  How bout those lanterns?  Or the ceramic urn?  Or the bunny?  Or perhaps you saw those Martha Stewart albums too and grabbed one?  Or had a great score from E to the bay?  Maybe you are just Christmas shopping and can’t focus on thrift store stuff right now.  Whatever your shopping, I want the gorey details people.  Spill.

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Comments

  1. I’ve never been much of a thrift store or good will shopper…but you’re really making me want to go shopping there! I do already love TJ Maxx, so I’ll have to add Goodwill to the list! Thanks for the shopping ideas, love your blog 🙂

  3. The nice thing about shopping at Goodwill/thrift stores is that it lacks the guilt. I never feel bad for picking up a two dollar knickknack

  4. How fun! I’m living overseas right now where nothing is cheap, used, or on sale… ever. I’m oh-so-missing me some bargain shopping! I did, however, do a little online Christmas shopping this past week at macys.com and (after spending an hour on the phone w/ customer service b/c I’m in a foreign country and can’t order online), spent $95 and saved $115. oh, what a shopping high that gave me! I’m afraid I’ll be dangerous when we go home next summer!

  6. Love them all! Consider me en route to TJ Maxx and Target right now. Thanks for all of the great suggestions and the reminder that you CAN get cute new stuff for your house on a budget!

  7. I had a field day at a Crate and Barrel outlet recently. Such great steals. And, my stalking of eBay has finally landed me a brand new, sealed box Medela breast pump. I saved $80 bucks by going the eBay route for that…it took some serious down-to-the-second bidding, though! You should see what shows up in Google ads and other ads once you’ve searched the term “breast pump” a few dozen times…

  8. oh, aaand, when the bunny at the top showed up on my reading list, it looked like a ceramic butt. 🙂 i was relieved to find that it wasnt.

  10. You sure have the eye to weed out the good from the junk. You inspire me to hold out for rock bottom prices. I just recently stepped foot into a TJ Maxx and was shocked by all the good affordable stuff.

  11. I love love love the metal lanterns. Our neighbors across the street put some just like those up on their porch when their flowers in hanging baskets died. They look fabulous! I so want to copy the idea to spruce up our winter porch, but it seems too obvious since, well, I’d be copying from across the street instead of a magazine or blog!

    I also snagged some awesome thrift store purchases about a month ago. Which reminds me, I really need to blog about them soon. Thanks for sharing your awesome deals!

  13. Katy that is hilarious! I will definitely have to keep my eyes peeled for a big white butt….oh wait, I see one of those everyday in the mirror 🙂
    xo – kb

  14. Using the beehive container for syrup tops my list because as soon as I read the word syrup, I thought about pouring syrup on bacon. Yummy.

  18. i liked the little bit about the syrup container. and i read a sentance over and over i wasn’t sure if it was your humor or just a little blip where you spelled honey (hunny.) i was second guessing myself with a “is that how it’s spelled and i’m a dummy right now?”

    gotta love moments like that. and i do love your blog ever so much! =)

  19. Good find on that bubble glass hurricane. I’m pretty sure that’s from Partylite (if not it’s a great knockoff) – and it’s about $40-50 from them. I’m amazed at the finds you have. I don’t know how you do all that goodwill shopping with a baby, I lose my patience with my little ones in about 2 seconds of stepping in a place like that. That might also have to do with the fact that I can’t go down any of the breakable aisles without saying “don’t touch” about a million times!

  20. Holy crap. I had THAT bunny. And one either bigger or smaller than it that looked the same. Like THAT one. Well, probably not the actual one you bought, but one just like it. I’m glad you love it. I was never so nice to it.

  22. Don’t bleach the sheets . . . yet. Buy a couple of boxes of Rit Color Remover and follow the directions on the back of the box. I used one whole box on a pair of pants so you may want to use at least three boxes for your sheet set. Rit will whiten your sheets without breaking down the fabric fibers. After the cycle finishes, then you’ll want to clean the drum of your washer. Run a “whites” cycle and add bleach as you normally would. This is the step where you could bleach your sheets if you decide you want them whiter still.

  27. good gravy, what fabulous finds. I’m a thrifter/goodwiller/TJMaxxer/outlet/eBay shopper myself and always love seeing what other people find. Love the white ceramic bunny- I recently scored a .99 white ceramic kitty on ebay. I, too, love that thing like it’s real.

  28. Care to let us PA residents know what your favorite discount store is!?! We need to take advantage of it when you’re not in the area 😉

  29. I have that popcorn bucket, it’s from crate and barrel and it was like $20-$25 so you got a great deal!

  32. What great finds! So, I’ve always wondered…. where do you store all this stuff? I live in a small city rowhome with an utter lack of storage, so I drool over the huge assortment the fun decorating accessories that you have! I have to stick to a small collection of totally season-neutral stuff, since I don’t have room for much extra other than what is on display. I would love to see a post on how you store your accessory collection!

  33. Great finds!! I was just at goodwill today. I got some great items…… an owl I am going to spray white. a nice matallic (sp?) bowl, 3 frames, a new in the box cupcake set toy, and a candle stick. I haven’t blogged about them yet, but will soon.

    I have that same latern- I love it!! (I got mine at Marshalls).

    I love that hobby lobby photo album. I will have to see if mine has that.

  34. p.s Katie, you will have to post the after pics of that ho ho ho boxes. They remind me of the ones Layla from the lettered cottage has in her kitchen. I think they had spice names on the front. Very pretty!!

  35. Denise has it right- Rit Color Remover is the way to go (and I’m pretty sure you can find it at Target). I orginally saw it on Pink and Polka Dot’s blog where one of her readers had used it to turn ivory slipcovers white. It’s on my to-use list for all my white shirts that are no longer white.

  36. Thanks Katie A. for the info on the popcorn bucket…it’s always nice to know for sure you didn’t overpay (which is entirely possible at thrift stores sometimes!)
    xo – kb

  37. It’s called Gabriel Brothers. It went through a renovation in the last year and it’s not quite the same…but I love it all the same 🙂
    xo – kb

  39. I love American shopping! – in the Uk its good, but its not vintage thrift good like Us.

    Im such a saddo, im going to Vegas sept 2011, and i have already worked out where the nearest Target, Wallmart and Goodwill is!! hahaha

  40. I LOVE that hurricane lamp! I thought the bunny was my favorite, hands down, until I saw the hurricane lamp. I am jealous, jealous, jealous. (Yup, three jealouses.) In reality, I already own two or three crackle glass hurricane lamps, so I don’t really need more, but what can I say? It’s an obsession. And now I’ll have to keep an eye out for ebay stuff with my last name on it too. How clever!

    Great finds, Katie!

  41. I would make that stripped sweater into a Christmas stocking, it’s so cute. For your blue sheets, RIT dye makes a color remover, I don’t know how it would turn out, but maybe worth looking into and practicing on something less expensive! I love all of your purchases and am sooo jealous I don’t have a Goodwill nearby.

  42. Love today’s post. Mainly cuz I just got back from a nice shopping trip to Goodwill (hello BCBG dress with the tags still on…$5!!!).

    I made myself put back a fab gold rabbit cuz we just don’t need it (reminding myself that I want to DE-clutter, not RE-clutter!), did buy a large pale brown glass hurricane (so perfect for fall!), & some clothes & one wonderful pair of black boots…All while keeping my 17 month twins from revolting (empty boxes, plastic lids, lots of snacks, & a few admiring ladies helped make the dream a reality). Oh yeah, & I found a Diaper Champ for $4 in great shape. I love finding deals on stuff I want, but I really love finding deals on stuff I don’t want to spend $$$ on, but need.

    Your honey/syrup pitcher…I hate to say it, but I think it won’t pour properly since it doesn’t have a spout. I hope I’m wrong cuz it’s cute.

    The trio of wooden boxes: I have the exact same set, but they’re unpainted wood & they have different seasoning (thyme, sage, etc) & a quote burned/etched on each one. I guess two different companies in China bought them & decided to go in completely different directions!

  43. ohhhh Gabriel bros, how I love you! Ours recently closed but there is another about 15 minutes away, I need to get off my lazy booty & get over there. Which one do you go to that recently changed??

  47. I was just going to ask about that! It’s in York, right? Although I think that there are more around, I think my Aunt has/had one in West Virginia

  49. Boo. I only find junky stuff at my Goodwill. Well, ok, I found a cute wooden pear for 99 cents once that I have since spray painted within an inch of its life. But every time you post, you inspire me to stop by… maybe this will be the time I find something awesome!

  50. Walid to go, Katie! I especially enjoyed seeing the new frames you got, and the ceramic bunny is so cute!

    The ceramic pot for your spoons and ladles made me smile and reminded me of my own. My Mum found me an earthy-coloured version that actually says “SPOONS” on the front. It’s so easy to keep things together.

    Well done! Thanks for sharing your superb acquisitions.

  51. Way to go, Katie! I especially enjoyed seeing the new frames you got, and the ceramic bunny is so cute!

    The ceramic pot for your spoons and ladles made me smile and reminded me of my own. My Mum found me an earthy-coloured version that actually says “SPOONS” on the front. It’s so easy to keep things together.

    Well done! Thanks for sharing your superb acquisitions.

  52. Oh yeah! I think the honey pot is a neat idea, but how would you stop honey or syrup from constantly dripping down the sides?

    (By the way, please pardon the double comment above. You can delete the first one where I turned “way” into “Walid”).

  53. A Pittsburgher here loving your finds and heading off to Gabriel Brothers (Gabes to us) to look for some of those frames. Saving money is still spending money, but it sure is fun.

  54. I saw that oversized Martha Stewart Album at Marshalls and I wanted to get it but I didn’t know what I would use it for. Now that you have given me the idea I have to go back and get one for my 4 month old’s artwork! I’m so excited about it I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sleep

  57. You know what Ashley, I didn’t know at first either but then I remembered my sister telling me that sometimes the kids come home from school with great art that is just too big for normal albums. LIGHT BULB MOMENT.
    xo – kb

  58. I call it Gabes too Kelly…just didn’t want to confuse anyone 🙂 Glad to know that I fit in with the natives of Steeler nation!
    xo – kb

  59. My mom has this little honeycomb on a stick thing that I would probably want to get. It is small enough to stick down inside and you just dip it into your tea or allow it to drizzle over your toast. I know this is hard to imagine but it is really quite clean 🙂
    xo – kb

  60. If you continue to not know why you love the brass candle holder with the toy soldiers, I will take it off your hands but really it’s a PERFECT military family Christmas decoration. You have really scored some wonderful pieces. You are a thrift/serendipity shopper extraordinaire!

  61. I love all of the frames! And I am so jealous of your ability to find such great treasures at Goodwill. Our local Goodwill is in a not very nice part of town and the few times I have ventured out there, I didn’t see anything promising. But maybe I just don’t have the eye for picking out the good stuff like you do!

  62. Ok, the image of you and bunny made me laugh. Out loud.

    Totally jealous of the cheap pic frames @ Target. When did you get those?

    So I have to ask. Do you get all this shopping done with Will? Or does he stay home?

  63. Hi Angela,
    Actually Will is a very good shopper. He really likes to be pushed around and since I am what I like to call a “walking shopper” – I don’t really stand around in one area but if I am interested in something I stash it in the buggy and keep on moving – he never gets bored. I literally lap stores 🙂 And we have been known to breastfeed in the car before and after shopping excursions. Oh and I got the frames about a month ago 🙂
    xo – kb

  64. Its possessive doesn’t have an apostrophe…never did and never will……

    petting it’s shiny ceramic back while whispering

  65. I love the black lanterns. I recently scored some at Pier 1. They are silver and I got a large and a small one for $15.00! Totally excited and totally versitile. I love the goods you’ve found, now I want to go to Goodwill and buy some more.

    A tip on the brass candleholder: if it’s especially heavy, you can assume it’s solid brass. It won’t turn completely silver, but it will turn a light gold color.

    http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/how-to-update-brass/

  67. You can find it in the laundry products section at most grocery stores. I know that WalMart and Kroger stores carry Rit products. Good luck!

  68. Hi Katie B!
    I wanted to say how much I love these types of posts from you! You never cease to amaze me with your thrifty finds!

    For a future post idea: Can you please post your Christmas wishlist? It can be a hypothetical one where the sky’s the limit….

    Thanks 🙂

  69. Hmmm interesting request Andrea P…isn’t my sidebar kinda like a Christmas wishlist? Maybe not. Maybe it needs to be it’s own post…
    xo – kb

  70. Don’t get me wrong, you sidebar wishlist really fries my bacon too….but I would also love a full out post with more goodies!
    I love your taste & I need Christmas ideas! 🙂

  71. Total SCORE on those sheets!! Let me know how the bleaching turns out–but they DO seem beautiful as is, too!!

  72. Funny. I’m a Bower too (yay) and I also buy those tins when I see them at thrift shops or antique markets. We have a sizeable collection. I wonder if I’ve ever gone up against you on eBay.

  73. I think that you must have better thrift stores than we have in upstate NY! Your find have encouraged me to scour the Goodwills, VA’s and Amvets in our area. I have found a few “Bower” inspired pieces, but on rare occasions. It seems like you score big every time!How often do you visit your local stores?

  74. Hi Christina,
    Gosh, I probably visited no less than six different thrift stores or Goodwills in one month. Some branches (my fav one is a Goodwill) once a wekk…so there are lots of times that I walk out empty-handed. Sometimes I only pick up a baby book or a little item for someone else…but you can imagine that I don’t always find what I am looking for. I’ve been looking for matching wood sidetables for three months…so obviously it’s not great stuff everytime 🙂
    xo – kb

  75. Just read an old post about thrifty shopping from nov 2010. You mention your favorite discount store in PA from you anniversary road trip. What is the store, town? Thanks so much!
    I live in Pa and am always looking for a great new shopping experience

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