The Thrifty Groove: March 2010

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

An Easter Brunch for the Three of Us

This is just my version of a fun Easter brunch table. I used all thrifty finds. Most of the items here are 2nd hand. This is definitely a "play" table. Just complete whimsy. I had fun playing around and our little simple meal at this tablescape was just fun and silly. I wanted a "wow" Easter table for my 2 year old and I suceeded! LOL She loved it! So, beware, lots of "stuff" on this table! I don't normally do such a filled table but, we were really looking for fun here!

I didn't take pictures while I "built" the table because I kind of did it backwards for me. I started with the centerpiece and then shopped around my house for all the little cute things to add. And the very last thing I did was set the actual dishes, silverware and glasses.

No head over to Tablescape Thursday to see other fun tables!

Don't forget to stop by and see all the Thrifty finds at Thrifty Thursday!

And I am joining a new party to me, Tresures and Trinkets Thursday!

Wow! It's the Last Day of March!

This has been one VERY busy month for me here at The Thrifty Groove! I'll be honest, I wasn't sure at the beginning that I was going to be able to pull off the whole "Entire Month Blogoversary Party"! But I did! Woohoo!

As you all know by now, today is also the last day to enter my Grand Finale Giveaway for the Tablescape for Two. If you haven't entered yet, I hope you do. You can just click on the link and see what is all included in this giveaway and enter!

This month has been a very crazy month but, it has been such a blast! I have had the opportunity to "meet" so many new people and visit awesome blogs that were new to me. Y'all have made me smile each and everyday. And I want to thank you for that!

I hope everyone else has had fun visiting this blog and seeing the new giveaways each week.

Remember, tonight (Wednesday March 31) is the last time to enter my Grand Finale Giveaway!

My ENTIRE Tablescape GIVEAWAY!!

Win this complete tablscape for two! It is my GRAND FINALE GIVEAWAY for my month long Blogoversary party!! Ends Wednesday March 31, 2010! So, head over to the link above and enter!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Works for Me ~ The Letter K

Today is Works For Me Wednesday at "We are That Family"

AND

Today is ABC Wednesday and we are on the letter "K".

K is for........

Knickknacks!

I should probably tell you my definition of kickknacks. For me it is any decorative item that is non-functioning/or I don't need. Just something I like for pure ascetic purposes. so, it can be little ceramic doo-dads, vases, pillows, pictures, dishes, bowls....the list goes on. Granted dishes and bowls do have function and I only really need one set, but.........LOL

According to Websters Dictionary, Knickknack = a small trivial article usually intended for ornament

Pretty darn close to my own definition. always good to know.

Having the attention span of a 2 year old, I get bored very easily. With different little decorative items, I can change the look of an area quickly. No big major repainting job or buying expensive furniture. I can redo a shelf or a tabletop and do a completely different look within an hour and make my room or area have a fresh new look.

I discovered, and gave myself permission, to not feel the need to put EVERYTHING I own out on display at once and all the time. I can change out things, move things around, add things, remove things and just play any time I want to. Woohoo! Freedom!

As any one who reads my blog fairly regularly knows, I thrift a lot. I use my "play allowance" money and buy my play stuff. And that's what it is for me, play. It's fun and when you know you aren't spending a fortune on something, your can venture outside the box and try different things that you would not normally think you like. I have surprised myself by some of the things I have gotten and then found out I really liked...who knew? But, then again,I have gotten things, added it to my home decor, stood back and thought, "What the heck was I thinking?". And down it comes and on Ebay it goes! LOL

A fun example is dishes. I have always loved beautiful china. Didn't matter the style, china is always beautiful to me. But, lately I have been finding some awesome retro dishes and have been loving them! When I bought this little set of retro dishes, I figured I would use them once or twice and then sell them.

But when I set this table, I swear, I felt like I was Mary Tyler Moore playing Laura Petrie in the Dick van Dyke show! It was so much fun. And I absolutely love this little set!

So, now my home changes it's look on a regular basis. Things rarely stay the same for very long. Poor Hubs has had a struggle with this concept. He grew up in a home that everything stayed the same. But, he is slowly starting to understand me. And it has only taken him 10 years. LOL

Remember, tonight (Wednesday March 31) is the last time to enter my Grand Finale Giveaway!

CURRENT GIVEAWAY!!!

This is my final giveaway for my month long party! Make sure you head over to enter!!

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A Red and White Wednesday!

Hi everyone! It' Rednesday and White Wednesday already! Wow, this week has been flying by. Stop by It's a Very Cherry World and check out all the reds people are showing us today. And then head over to Faded Charm and check out all the beautiful whites being shown!

We used to have a St. Vincent de Paul about 5 minutes from where I live. I loved that. I could drop off stuff in the middle of the night, which seems like the time I get the urge to do organizing. LOL With it being so close, whenever I filled a bag of a box with donation stuff, I could immediately run it over there. But, several years ago it burnt down. I really miss that store. now the closest one is about 20 minutes away. Not bad, but not "run over in the middle of the night in your pj's close".

I haven't really been shopping this thrift store very much. Last week the Little Princess and I decided to check it out. Although I found a few bargains, I don't see myself making any effort to go back any time soon.

I know we all have seen the thrift store prices go sky high but, the St. Vincent de Paul tops them all! I really need to start taking my camera with me when I go thrifting. Maybe I will take a trip back there in the near future just to take pictures of the pricing!

Any dish set that had at least 3 pieces for four people started at $35.00!! Now, this stuff wasn't vintage or antique or even uncommon in any way. I saw one set that should have had a 4th piece for each of the settings that you can head to your local Big Lots and purchase brand new for $19.99!! They had several sets of dishes on the floor that were well over $100.00! That is just insane! All of the prices were way overboard.

What I really should do is take pictures of these items and their prices and then go over to Big Lots and take pictures there and then write a letter to St. Vincent's Corporate office and included these pictures. Yes folks, that is the kind of thing I do!

This is straight from their website.....

Mission Statement
"To broaden the Vincenation mission by providing low-priced goods and services for our neighbors in need, so that they may live in dignity."

Vision Statement

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store will offer low-priced goods and services by invigorating volunteerism through partnerships with local Vincentians, businesses, schools, churches and other civic organizations.

I think it is time to revisit their Mission Statement!

Okay, enough about that. I know y'all stopped by to see some pretty red and white for the day and instead get Diann going of on a rant. Sorry LOL

So, with no further ado, here was one of the few bargains I found.

Isn't that a pretty platter! It is really a nice big one too. It is about 14" x 16". I think it wasn't marked high because it wasn't mass produced. there is no marking on the back and so I think someone made it. Doesn't matter to me. I just really liked it.

I love the shape of it with all it's scrolly flourishes and the creamy white works to use with so many different dishes.

And the bright red roses in the center just set it off!

Remember, tonight (Wednesday March 31) is the last time to enter my Grand Finale Giveaway!

CURRENT GIVEAWAY!!!

This is my final giveaway for my month long party! Make sure you head over to enter!!

Subscribe to The Thrifty Groove by Email