Thrifty/Thrifted Thursday

 Did you think that I forgot about this weekly feature?!

... maybe I did.

Our nearest second-hand shop closes up for the month of March every year. They purge old stuff, revamp the store itself, and restock lots of goodies. Right before they close every year, they put everything on for half price. My mom and I ran in last week, and look at my little treasure...

Is that not the cutest tea saucer ever?! I collect them, as you may know... but only individual plates, never sets. Oh, the colours - pink, mustard, brown, green! The tweedish background... oo la la. Here's a closer peek:

How much did I pay for this little gem, you may ask? A mere thirteen cents! I could actually pay cash for it :) I love this little plate so much, I decided to change the feature header shot to include it! Here's a look at the new picture:

I hope that your Thursday is lovely!

Scrap Happy

When I was sorting through box after box of crafting supplies last week, I found a stack of photos that I had been meaning to scrapbook before we moved. Some were recent, but quite a few were not so current. It was time to work those photos into some pages!

Last night, during a quiet evening in, I seized the opportunity to have a craft night. A few scattered photos, random supplies, bits, and bobbins to use up, and older paper that's ready to be used equals a finished project. Nothing fancy, but better in an album than in a stack of papers.

I'm a happy girl!

Company's Coming!

I don't know about you, but when I find out that we're about to have visitors, I panic a little inside. No matter what condition our place is in, I always get a little nervous. 

To keep myself sane, I have a little house clean-up routine 

that gets our place presentable in a jiffy. 

I thought that I'd share my routine with you today -
maybe it will help you out of a jam!

The pretty entrance at Mom and Dad's house

Here we go!

- Phone rings... we have a half hour to work with.

- I check my beverage supply... take out frozen juice, fill up the kettle, etc.

- Head to the bathroom... take out my handy cleaning wipes.
Do the sink, edge of toilet, and doorhandle. I clean the mirror, scrub the toilet,

and make sure that the shower curtain is pulled over. Done. Light a candle.

 - If there are any dirty dishes, do 'em up quick. Any dried, put them away.

Wipe down the counter and stove, sweep the floor. Done.

- Quick check of the bedroom. Take the towels off the door 

(yes, we reuse our towels... how else do you keep from doing a million loads of laundry?!) 

and make check to make sure the bed is made. No clothes on the floor. Done.

- Next room: living room. Wipe down the side tables, make sure the coasters are clean. 

Fluff the pillows, sweep the floor. If there's time, clean the mirror. Done. Light a candle.

Ahhhh. There. The house is neat as a pin. There's no deep cleaning involved, but your place will appear to be sparkling. Don't you feel a little less stressed?

I also have a rule - a self-made rule. No candle burning unless the room is clean. That keeps me from feeling grungy... like the candle is attempting to cover up the mess or something. Candle equals cleanliness.

Nothing better than a good clean house to welcome visitors into.

Bring on the company!

Welcome, March!

It's March 1st, which means a fresh start - and who doesn't love a chance at a new beginning? 

This month, I'm eager to share some special posts with you...

My Etsy shop progress... and re-opening!

A new regular recipe feature

Lots of Polyvore Loves

Weekly scrapbooking updates

A recycleable, eco-friendly post or two

Home decor updates and inspiration

Hang on to your boots, kids... you are in for a fun ride!
I'm so glad that March is here :)