Test Blog: Day Off Deals And Steals

It's been a looong time since I have shared any thrifted finds with you.

Oh, I have tried. I've been to the thrift stores numerous times over the past few months but, nothing has caught my eye or excited me enough to buy.

Plus, we are still trying to sell our house so, I don't really want to bring more in.

Then, I had this past Friday off from work for the holiday.

If you follow me on Facebook, then you know that during the week,

I share some photos from local estate sales and ask if you'd pass or buy.

It's a fun little game and I get to know my readers better

by seeing what they pick.

Anywho, I decided to actually go to a couple of the estate sales in person.

The first one was pretty picked over and I didn't find anything worth buying.

On to the second one. This one was full of nice things but most

seemed priced pretty high until I saw this

Mr. B has been wanting a nice chess set for a long time.

I texted him some photos and he responded, all in caps, "GET IT!".

Um so, I did LOL.

It is in really good condition and none of the pieces

are missing which is always good!

He just loves it and can't wait to display it once we get into a new home.

I milled around some more seeing if there was something I could find for me.

I was looking through a closet and waaaay up on top towards the back

I spied something golden and sparkly. I pulled it down and smiled.

It was really hard to get a good picture but, it is a set of Gold metallic, organzay (yes I did just make that word up) placemats.

Yes! 12 of them for $8.00! But wait! There's more!

I looked a bit harder in the closet and found these

Squee!! Matching napkins!

Missing two but, I doubt I would ever use 12 anyway!

I went ahead and paid for my goodies and thought about going home

but, I remembered that it seems like I always want to go to Hobby Lobby

but only remember on Sundays, when they are closed. So, off I went.

Of course, Hobby Lobby, like Michael's, was already setting up their Christmas displays. I read an article recently that said they do this because, get this,

we want them to. I find that really hard to believe.

What say you? Do you want the craft stores to start putting out

holiday decor 6 months in advance?

Well, I wasn't there to see all of that. I was hoping for some 4th of July or Summer items to be discounted. Yeah, not so much.

Red, white and blue items were only 50% off, just like they probably were 2 weeks before the holiday!

Not one to give up easily, I decided to check out some other aisles.

And boy oh boy am I glad I did!

I rounded a corner and saw this

The whole one side of the aisle, at least 4 deep, full of terra cotta wine coolers!

I believe they were used in the faux floral department at one time and they have gone a different route. Some were chipped or stained but,

I grabbed 3 of them.

My mind was going crazy with all of the uses I could come up with!

Centerpieces of course, wrapping with burlap or fabric, trimming them with some bling, distressing with paints...endless possibilities I tell you!!

Of course, when I posted about it on Facebook,

I was told I needed to go back and buy more!

I am here to tell you faithful Facebook followers, that when I showed Ms K the photo, she skittered right down to the store and got herself some

and picked me up 3 more! So, now I have 6 to play with,

Oh, and the price?

Sit down, 25 CENTS each!!

Ack! I kid you not!

Imagine if you were planning a wedding, you could have vases for centerpieces for 20 tables for 5 bucks!! Total!

Not as exciting but still a great deal were 2 of these yellow bottles.

Although I would have liked three of them, they only had the two

but what a nice price!

I'm pretty sure that none of you reading this would have paid $14.99 for one but, I'm thinking there would be an arm wrestling match right there in the store at $1.50, am I right?

My final score was something for my front garden.

Normally $15.99 but it was marked 66% off so I had to get it!