Wino

I'm stuck at  home today as my car is getting a state inspection so I thought I would share a thrifty Internet secret with you.  It has nothing to do with home decor and everything to do with my other love...wine!

My husband discovered this website called "Wines til Sold Out"  a few years ago and we've been hooked ever since. 

 WTSO.com is an online store that focuses on selling wine at 30%-70% off original retail prices.  They sell one wine at a time from midnight eastern standard time until it is sold out.  And shipping is free as long as you buy the minimum number of bottles stated on the front page.

Side Note 1:  My FedEx delivery man thinks I'm a total alcoholic.  It's actually really embarrassing, since its wine you have to sign for it so there's no hiding the truth...but totally worth it!!!  

Side Note 2:  I'm thrilled to say I'm being featured over at Knock off Decor!!!  What an honor!!!  Go check Beckie's site out, she showcases the amazing work of some seriously talented designers while giving those with less of a budget a chance to mimic them. 

Cheers everyone!!!

Wedding Signature Frame Minus the Wedding Signatures

A friend asked me today about the best and thriftiest place to buy frames to display artwork.  She wanted to frame some of her Kindergartner's artwork and the first thing I thought of was Michael's.  More specifically they sell a wedding signature frame that I think would be perfect for this.  I'm sure you've seen these at weddings, where you sign the matte instead of a guest book.

The frame is not wood but plastic so its not super high quality but I LOVE that the matte comes with the frame because those can really add to the cost of framing if you need to buy one per frame.  There is something about a matte that really makes kids artwork go from messy to masterpiece!

Plus if they are on sale (when aren't the frames on sale there!?!?!) or you use a 40% off coupon or hit on a day where your entire purchase is 20% off then you can get out of there without spending very much. 

Michaels

I've used these frames in my own home with some Etsy art from Annechovie...love her! 

 I can't remember the exact price I paid for the frames but somewhere around $10 each I think with some sort of coupon or sale.

My blog buddy Carmel over at Our Fifth House took it a step farther and added some fun fabric and a larger ornate frame behind her son's artwork.  Isn't that gorgeous!

Have you all every used these wedding guest book frames?  

Anyone have any other affordable frame options for kids artwork?

Anyone else feel horrible guilt when they trash most of the "artwork" their children bring home from school...usually once they are asleep and can't see the trashing in action.

Anyone else's "artist" find said artwork in trash and call you out on trashing it... 

making you feel even more guilty!?!?

White Stool

Usually a sign of illness if found in a child's diaper...

but in this case just a sick deal on a white ceramic garden stool at Marshalls!!!  

Marshalls (Mechanicsville Turnpike) $39.99

I'm hoping this is not the only Marshalls carrying these!  Let us know if you guys find them at your local Marshalls!  And somebody please go pick this one up!  It's a stool  steal!

Chiavari Chair

Just added this Chiavari chair to my Class and Trash space.  Think it would make a cute desk chair...maybe spray it or switch up the fabric to something a little more exciting.

Class and Trash $25

I was looking for an image of one being used at a desk and stumbled upon these fantastic bar stool versions.  If you are into the bamboo look they would be such a great alternative to the basic bar stool.    

source

At $67 + shipping...they seem very fairly priced.

Would you all ever use these stools in your home or are they too "ballroom furniture" for you? 

Inspired Art

I've been antsy to get my artsty fartsy on lately. 

 I've been seeing so many inspiring things floating around the blogosphere and in particular from the lovely Julia at Pawleys Island Posh. 

 I adore her gold framed artwork (that she created herself!!!) in her living room and wanted to try to re-create it in my own home.

Pawleys Island Posh

So I had been keeping my eye out for a thin gold frame for a few weeks and couldn't find any that I liked so I took matters into my own hands.  

I found these cheapo frames at Michaels in the corner near the mattes.  They were $7.99 each and if you use a 40% coupon...forget it, they are basically free!

The frames are plastic though and super glossy so I gave them a good coat of my fave primer.  Then I glammed them up with the metallic gold spray paint.

I grabbed some thin canvas and a pack of oil paints and went to town.

Here's the thing.  I painted these things weeks ago and they are still VERY wet.  Whats the deal with that!?! I have no idea what I'm doing so maybe I should have treated the canvas first.  Anyone know?

I couldn't put the glass on yet because they are still so wet even after I took my hairdryer to them.

I do love how the frames turned out and the price can't be beat.  They are currently hanging over my loo so I didn't want to give you a distance shot because, really, no one wants to see that!

Julia! Hope you don't mind I totally hacked your artwork!  

If you love her stuff as much as I do, I think she does custom artwork so hit her up!

Bamboo X 3

I was out and about this morning while the kiddos were at preschool.  I popped into a few places I hadn't been to in a while and found some great stuff!

First up, Diversity Thrift.  Of course this bamboo-ish shelving unit caught my eye but the price made me roll my eyes.  $99?  At a store that I'm pretty sure sells old toilets.  Luckily this is the type of place that slashes its prices the longer it stays in store.  

Diversity Thrift $99

Then I happened upon this bamboo-ish table.  Not a huge fan of glass top tables but thought this one was photo worthy!

Consignment Connection $60

And this was the bamboo deal of the day.  Needs a spray job and a fun fabric switch-a-roo but love the details and see lots of potential.  The price is just right at $18.

Consignment Connection $18

Anyone running out to get any of these?!?!

Vintage Bottle Carrier

Love this old bottle carrier I spotted at Class and Trash yesterday.  I think the price is super fair!  Found many on etsy for much much more!

Class and Trash (upstairs) $18

LOVE the look of the blue vintage mason jars in these...using them as vases.

source

Or to hold old bottles like this one.

source

...or as a planter


source

Possibilities are endless people...

Coffee table that needs a bling factor!

Was just out and about and found a great table at Salvation Army Mechanicsville Turnpike.  It's not bamboo but the rings around the legs gives it a similar look.  The current paint colors gotta go but I have visions of a quick coat of gold spray paint transforming it from this.....

Salvation Army $79.99

To something like this.....

It would be such an easy fix!  Literally a can of spray paint!  Who's going to get it?!?!?  

I'm having second thoughts about not picking it up myself (naturally!)

Darya's Digs- Kitchen Addition

My lovely friend Darya had me over the other day for some design advice for a few rooms in her (already cute) house!  Again...have no clue what I'm doing...baffled these people trust me to give advice!  So, I'm first looking to you guys for some ideas for her because I'm sure yours are way better than mine!  

I'm starting with her kitchen.  

I think it's fabulous and so close to being a kick ace kitchen!  She wants some storage on the wall they just put up (had to leave it...load bearing) where she has the table and mirror right now.  Also color scheme ideas.  She also wants to get rid of the kitchen table they have and replace it with something different.  And window treatment ideas.

So what do you all think.  Any opinions?  

Don't you love her glass door cabinets and butcher block island!    

She's excited to hear your thoughts so....don't be shy!!!

Concrete Book Ends?!?!

I was dropping a few ditties off at Class and Trash today and spotted these concrete blocks.  They caught my eye because I love the Waverly fabric called Baja Lattice and they reminded me of just that!

Class and Trash $5 each

Here's the Waverly fabric I'm talking about...

This etsy seller used it for pillows...cute!

I think the concrete blocks would make perfect bookends in a chic bookshelf.  Leave them as is for a more industrial look or paint them a fun color.  Do you all think I'm crazy or can you see it?  

They can be yours!!!  Call Class and Trash and hold them or buy them over the phone!

Spring Break Ya'll

So it's Spring Break around these parts and we started out our week with quite a bang!  I went to catch up on the massive amount of laundry I'd been avoiding to find my washer was apparently also on vacation and refused to function properly.   We were in desperate need of some grocery essentials, mainly milk, and since I couldn't do laundry I thought a trip to the grocery with the kids was the next most productive move.  Well, my car wouldn't start.  My littlest hellion  Someone, who I occasionally let play in the car (don't call child services on me, please) left a light on and killed the battery.

So by the time Daddy got home I was ready to bust the joint!!!  Goodwill...here I come for some retail therapy.  Someone must have been looking out for me because I hit it pretty big at the Goodwill.  My favorite find was this card catalog drawer.

The price was so right at $5.25

It's amazing how someone else's junk can totally turn your day around!  

Fun and Free State Artwork

If you follow me on Pinterest you may have seen me pin this a while back.  This amazing blogger named Jenna at Q.A. Designs is allowing people to download her fantastic state prints for free!  Isn't that fab of her!

Q.A. Designs

She has a ton, and not just states but countries too...here is just a sampling.

Here's the trick though.  In order to have it printed at a photo store...I chose the classy Walmart photo center...you need to convert it from a pdf to a jpg.  Don't I sound smart ;)

So I found this website that does it super quick and lets you download the jpg file.  Just hit choose file and pick the state pdf you downloaded from Q.A. Designs page then I choose jpg quality excellent because...why get good if you can get excellent!

I think it's going to look fabulous matted and framed.  I'll let you know how it turns out!  Anyone else going to give this a try?!?  Wouldn't it be fun to do a little gallery wall of all the places you've lived or the states or countries you've traveled to!

This could be a game changer...

I saw this on my friend Evie's blog today and I am SO trying this! 

A Pinterest Addict

 Now to find the perfect chair!!!  Let the hunting begin!

Friendvious....

It's the disease when you're super envious of your friend...well I am currently suffering from this.  My friend Kate and her husband Pete recently scored this card catalog from a consignment store.  

They got theirs for $225...which I thought was a steal considering I found this one online 

source

for $280!!!

Kate and Pete were pleasantly surprised to find theirs was too separate pieces...and after a lot of elbow grease here is the after!

And how cute is this...her husband has been reading the blog and called her on his way home from work one day and said he would be home soon, had to run to Michael's and pick up some Rub 'n Buff!!!  I die!  

Great job you guys!!! 

My card catalog wants to meet your card catalog and make little card catalog babies!  

PS I'm not sure what they are doing with the other piece but its currently sitting in their garage so if you live in the Ohio area feel free to beg, plead, and stalk them through the blog and maybe they will sell it!!!