thrifty finds :)

 Look what I found thrifting today after work. It really is a crime to work next to to good thrift store. I just can't help myself!

 The mirror is HUGE, fabulous, and even had a message for me. (I love you too mirror, so much!)

 It has some crazy plastic molding on it, which I'm not sure if I'm just to replace or paint... The molding almost turned me off, as did the amount of work I'm going to have to put into this beast of a mirror. But the clean beachy white, the sexy curves, and the bead board inlay won me over. (As did the three dollar price tag!)

 Here's a picture frame I thrifted from the same place a while back. I think I'm going to replace the lighthouse with one of my favorite pictures from Justin and I's wedding... or perhaps a starfish...

 I cleaned up all the messages and gave the white a good scrub, and wa-la! Now that's a mirror. Seriously! That has some major wow factor, does it not... or am I just crazy? It can still use a little work such as attaching photo wire from which to hang it. Surprise, surprise it used to be a dresser mirror. However, it's heavy enough that I'm not worried too much about it just sitting for a while. It's so big and fantastic. I love it!

Also I bought this cute bench. I can't wait for the weather to warm up, because this little $1 find is screaming to be upcycled! I'm thinking I will finally get to do one of my dream crochet projects :)

Also, there was a bit of heart-break at the thrift store. I found this...

And I wanted it, bad! But the hubs had a list of reasons (all legit, curse him) not to buy it. It was only $30, though, and soooo midcentury! I must keep telling myself it wasn't that comfy and the upholstery was a mess... "It wasn't that comfy and the upholstery was a mess..." not helping, all I can think is "Avocado green vintage sectional with sexy legs... fail Clare for calling to consult the hubs, uber fail!" What I need to tell myself is, "You just wreck the car a few weeks ago, dummy, you have lots of penance to pay starting with this fabulous couch." that helped a bit. Feeling better about being able to say no... but if it's still there on my drive to and from work tomorrow, I might not be able to pass it by again. I want something like this for my sewing room (which is admittedly non-existent at the moment).

Must be strong. Must hold out for something with nicer upholstery.

like this

or this

Ok, feeling better about saying no... and the two little words that will make me forget that sectional entirely...

Nelson daybed... ahhh, now I feel better. I want one of these for sure! Much more than a ganky old uncomfortable sectional.

looking back...

Well, it's a new year (obviously) and I found this quote. If you don't know about the blog Bits of Truth, beware it's sure to become a guilty pleasure quick. Sometimes as a home owner I feel like we aren't getting anything done, so i need to look back to see how far we've come. I'm gonna make a little list of the big projects we finished last year, but since I'm not masochistic, I'm not going to make a list of things to get done this year, lol... because I would only be setting myself up.

1. I graduated college :)
2. I sanded, primed, and painted all my kitchen cabinets. (With a ton of help of course!)

3. We moved out of the apartment we'd lived in since August 2006.

4. We tore out all the wall paper and tile in the upstairs bathroom.

5. We tore out all that awful carpet...

6. Then we discovered the wood floors only went to half of the dining room... major set back! Then Justin laid laminate over the hardwood... sad day, but much less expensive than lowering the sub floor and then refinishing everything.
7. We painted the living room, dining room, and hallways.
8. We painted the master bedroom.
9. We started painting the outside of the house. (Then the rains came, then winter...)
10. We laid a new floor in the kitchen.

11. Thrifted all kinds of goodies.
12. We set up our living room, master bed room, and guest bedroom to where they're actually spaces we live in.
13. We put up curtains in the living room.

14. I upcycled a lot! My favorite project was the desk into art.

15. I created a custom jewelry display to block that awkward window in our bedroom.

16. I found a chaise lounge, which Journey and I have been living on lately :)
17. Speaking of Journey. The hubs and I adopted a dog :)

18. Journey and I decorated for Christmas. Justin's family came to our house this year, and I made my first ham. It was fun.

19. Justin did a lot of little odd jobs.
20. My mother-in-law fixed our oven, and I baked cookies.


We really did do a lot last year, and I know we are going to get a lot done this year too. The two things on the top of my list are...

1. Finish the upstairs bathroom.
2. And get going on the basement, so I can have my sewing room at long last!

One last quote to inspire and convict you as much as me.

P.S. To my 18 followers. Thanks for joining me! Thanks for stopping by to see what's going on at my house, in my head, and in my life. Thanks for your comments and encouragement. Thanks for reading my blog! You guys are great!!! REALLY!!!