Thrifty Treat Tuesday...and then a little more...

Hi there!  Bet you thought I'd gone back to being a flaky blogger, didn't ya?!  Well...okay...admittedly I got a little busy there for a bit, but I'm back and I promise to play catch up!  I'm starting a daily feature on here, in an effort to keep me honest as a blogger, to be able to connect and hear from you, and quite simply...to have some fun!  Each day will be dedicated to a subject and I'd love to have it become a linky party with YOU!  Because yesterday was a holiday, I'll start with my Thrifty Treat Tuesday and because I haven't thought of anything for Monday!  I love having fresh flowers in our home...they can lighten a room in an instant and smell so wonderful.  They seem such a simple touch with a huge impact.  But fresh flowers can get pricey, especially on a weekly basis!  So I get mine at Trader Joes.  This beautiful bunch of stock and hydrangeas cost a whopping $7, and the scent is heavenly!  I used a cylinder vase from TJMaxx ($2) and wrapped it with some burlap tied with twine.

The total cost for this arrangement was $9, and it made me smile!  And anyone who knows ANYTHING about a happy home knows...if MAMA is happy, EVERYONE is happy!  Right?!  ;)  I'd love to hear how you "splurge" in a thrifty way when you need a little pick me up!  Please link to this page and let me know!  And stay tuned every day for a new topic...tomorrow is Wallet Winning Wednesday, with budget friendly fashion, followed by Thrift it Thursday!

On a separate note...I want to tell you about the best flea market ANYWHERE!  Last month I went to the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market for the very first time, with my partners in crime...mom and Madison.  The boys (dad and the hubby) tagged along  graciously offered to be our muscles and do the heavy lifting and trekking purchases to the trucks...which was wonderful because there was MUCH to see and buy!  I have to say...I was OVERWHELMED as a newbie...so much to look at and we didn't make a dent!  In fact, I was so overwhelmed that I forgot to take pictures and only came away with a few!  We got some amazing deals and will be going back in November!  I highly recommend the trip! If you are planning a trip there in the near future, it is the second Sunday of every month.  Wear comfy shoes, a hat, bring water, a cart for all of your treasures, and cash!  There are ATM machines there, should you need to replenish!  ;)

I will share more about what we "found" on Thrift It Thursday..because in my world and this is my blog therefore I'm the boss, flea markets qualify! ;)

I can't wait to read about your thrifty treats to yourself!  Have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY!

HUGS!
Tracy

A Junkin' We Did Go...and a Bag!

My dear friend, Shelly, had a birthday in June.  As with all of our birthdays, our group of friends seized the opportunity to make a girls' day out of Shel's day!  We started at Bell Street Farm in Los Alamos, http://bellstreetfarm.com/, for a little lunch.

 Deb and Helen checked the lunch specials before entering...wise decision.  I did NOT and it took forever to make a choice!  I finally settled on the Rotisserie Pork Salad...ummmm...heavenly.  Seriously.  Words don't exist to accurately describe this salad.  The pork is juicy, and succulent, and beyond flavorful...

Bell Street Farm feels like home to me.  The owners are charming, funny, and awesome, and the ambiance and way they have decorated feel like a page out of my book!

We stopped in Los Olivos for a little shopping and dessert...

And Shel said that it was the PERFECT day!  Which was really the best part of the day, because she is one of my dearest friends, and that's the best part of friendship...knowing your friend is happy!  So there I was, feeling happy and stuffed full of good food, when I saw this...

...in my friend, Helen's, garage.  I gasped.  Out loud.  Everyone thought I had just had the worst attack of indigestion from all of the food I consumed.  Then they saw what I was staring at and thought I was just having a stroke instead.  They don't get "junk" pure unadulterated beauty like I get it.  I asked Helen why she wasn't using these gorgeous lockers and she said, "You want 'em?!  You can have them!" DO I NEED WANT THEM?!!! Of COURSE!  She then invited me to look around and take anything else I wanted, saying, "Only you would see the beauty in this junk!"  (This is why the four of us are friends...we GET each other! No judgement!  Only love!) I found a few more things, made my "pile" and promised to be back in a month after all of our vacations were over.

Fast forward to yesterday.  Mr. Birdie and I only put in half a tank of gas because to fill it would mean one of our children can't go to college filled the tank of our truck and headed to Helen's house.  Two days before  she asked if I'd be interested in a....BARBER CHAIR...as well!  I urged Mr. Birdie to break every speed law on the drive to her house, lest she changed her mind.  He wouldn't...he is in law enforcement after all.  And so, after an hour five minutes of convincing Mr. Birdie that everything WOULD fit in the back of the truck (even if it meant me sitting back there holding on to everything), we loaded all of this rustic, perfectly distressed, industrial, and heavenly GOODNESS...

And I am FEELING it today!  That barber chair up there?!  Yeah...it's HEAVY!  I have muscles hurting today that I didn't know existed...and I work out on a regular basis!  But oh...it was worth every aching back, sore muscle, stubbed toe, curse word...!

And Mr. Birdie?  He LOVES his new barber chair...

And I love HIM!  For always being willing to go along with my crazy, hare-brained brilliant ideas, even if they don't initially make sense to him!  And for being part of my dream...and for making my dreams come true!

A close up...

Oh.  One last thing...my new line of totes...Masterpiece Classics.  I'm working on a huge order of ring pillows, guestbooks, burlap bridesmaid gift envelopes...and sometimes...I just HAVE to take a break and make something other than a pillow before I lose my mind!  So, while watching Wuthering Heights on Masterpiece Classics...I came up with this...

The Bronte Bag. It's on my Etsy...if you like it.


HUGS!

Let's catch up, shall we?

I wanted to play catch up with you today, and fill you in a little on what's been going on in my little part of the world...but Blogger is not wanting to play very nicely with others today!  GRRR!  I do NOT like this new layout...the photo I used as my header at the top is now very small and disproportionate for this page, but I can't seem to figure out how to fix the problem.  Clearly I'm not technologically advanced enough the problem lies with Blogger and not me!  Ugh.  I apologize for the boring layout...I promise to have this site cleaned up and pretty as soon as my teenagers get home!

The photo above is my daughter, best friend, cheerleader (literally...first year of high school JV cheer...YAY, Madison!), and Little Birdie helper extraordinaire.  She and I styled our first wedding two weeks ago and had a BLAST! We literally had two hours notice to gather up props from around our house, load the car, get ready and go!

(I know, I KNOW...this picture is not very good.  Yuck.  I'm GOING to get a good camera....I AM!)

 The venue was gorgeous, the bride was gorgeous, the day was gorgeous!     I've been so busy and orders are coming in every day...I'm extremely grateful that this little dream of mine is taking off a bit.  It is so comforting to know that I can contribute to our family's extra activities fund, in these difficult economic times.  Things are a bit tight for everyone, and this has definitely allowed me to help pay for the kiddos "extras," for which I'm extremely grateful!  Have you seen how much cheer uniforms cost these days?!! HOKEY SMOKES!  But those kiddos are worth every penny...and then some!  ;)  (yep...they're cleaning their rooms and doing the dishes right now so I can be nice...)

I'm also working on a wedding for a darling girl, Rachel.  The wedding is in November, in Vegas, at the Hard Rock.  She wanted to do all of her flowers, centerpieces, etc, in paper, and I was definitely up for the challenge!  We are going for an edgy, vintage music theme....here's what I've got so far:

I'll give you a closer peek at her bridal bouquet...it's kind of scrumptious if I may say so myself.

The hardest part about making everything for her wedding is letting them go.  I feel like these bouquets and centerpieces, cake topper, boutonnieres, have become part of my decor!  What will I do when they're gone?!  Someone plan another wedding STAT!

I just want to create beautiful things.  I want to see something beautiful in what someone has discarded.  I love this crazy, beautiful, junky adventure that I'm on...wanna join me?!

HUGS!

I'M BAAAACK!

WOW!  Has it really been that long?!  My how time truly does fly when you're having fun!  Because that's absolutely what I've been having...a whole lot of creative-juice-flowin' fun!  But I have missed this little blog o' mine, and people have asked me...okay, ONE person asked me if I had one, so I figured now was as good a time as any to get this thing up and running again!  LOTS of things to chat about...events, new products, new opportunities...I can't wait to fill you in!  I'm thinking that a giveaway is in order soon, to celebrate the resurrection of this little site and the fact that I was able to figure out how to link Twitter to all of my pages!  All by my little self!  Turns out I'm NOT the ditzy blonde (well...it's a bit more red and gold...strawberry blonde, if you will) that my Calculus professor thought I was.  Yes...he REALLY did say those words to me...in front of the entire class!  I wish I knew then what I know now!  ANYHOO...stay tuned for more details on my little giveaway and how you can enter to win...and then enter again, and then invite a friend and increase your chances even more...you get the picture!

For now...this little birdie has MISSED you!

SUCCESS!

How do you define success?  Webster defines it as: a : degree or measure of succeeding
b : favorable or desired outcome.  I define it as having a dream, vision, goal....and then working hard to make that a reality.  And I feel like this past weekend was a SUCCESS!  

I attended my first show as a VENDOR!  Yes, it was a LOT of work!  We were a little late in the game, and only had 5 weeks to prepare.  There were days when I wondered if I had truly lost my mind.  My husband and children were afraid to stand still lest they be covered in burlap and passed off as "vintage!"  The last four days before the show were filled with meals that consisted of Taco Bell, McDonalds, Jack in the Box, and pizza...in no particular order!  But in the end, we all survived!  And yes, there are things I will do differently next time.  But I had so much fun!  It was really special for me to be able to do this with my mom.  This has been something we have both talked about for years, but were always too afraid, too hesitant, to try.  We put ourselves out there, sent in an application, and we're still here today to talk about the experience!  Imagine that!  We are already planning for the next show in April...I can't turn off my brain!  I'm looking forward to re-connecting with the new "friends" we made, setting up our booth next to "old" friends, and being able to connect with like minds!  Thank you to The Three Speckled Hens for giving us our "breakthrough!"  

I'm also very happy to be able to return to the everyday rituals that I couldn't keep up with, like cleaning the house, cooking REAL meals, and decorating for the holidays!  This is my absolute FAVORITE time of year!  I love wearing sweaters and boots, the colors of fall, listening to the falling rain while snuggling on the couch in front of a crackling fire!  I can't wait to make all of the comfort foods that go along with fall and winter...soups, osso bucco, mashed potatoes, turkey, holiday desserts...BRING IT ON!  I'm also looking forward to game nights with our kiddos, watching my son play football and my daughter's graceful beauty on pointe.  These are the times we must cherish...they go by so quickly!

I'm going to try and post more regularly on this blog, give it a new look, start adding some tutorials...hopefully connect with more of you!  

I will leave you with some pics of our booth...I'm off to create!  

HUGS!  
Tracy

I'm still here!

YES!  I'm still here!  Really!  I've spent the last month getting ready for Three Speckled Hens (http://www.threespeckledhens.com/) and now...it is only 3 days away!  I'm so nauseous excited and can't wait to set up our booth!  I've been working on a LOT of goodies and will post pics as soon as everything is organized and decorated.  Our home has been looking like an episode of Hoarders buzzing with the sounds of sewing machine, power drill, table saw...all in anticipation of this show!  Here is a little preview of what will be in the booth:

(Messy garage and hands are NOT included in the sale price...)

Stay tuned for more pics of the show!  Wish me luck! 

THREE SPECKLED HENS!

It's official...I got a booth!  I'm so incredibly excited and nervous at the same time!  It's still a little surreal for me, considering that I started this year with the DREAM of getting a booth at http://www.threespeckledhens.com/  in one year.  That was my goal.  And...8 months later...it has become a reality!  Now I'm just praying I don't fall flat on my face  look like a total novice that I can finish all of the projects and furniture I have for the show!  My partner in crime  mother will be joining me and I'm so happy that she will be a part of this!  So I might not be on here very often in the next month or so...not that anyone is keeping track!  Need to buckle down and work on finishing all of these goodies!

And many more!

HUGS!