better than i expected

 I'm glad we chose to paint this old cupboard white!

 It fits our space beautifully

 and fulfills an important storage function in the dining area of our kitchen.

SO happy we lugged this cabinet home from a garage sale!

just imagine

Well, now that you've seen how we restored the (free) vintage stereo,

just IMAGINE how this cabinet will look restored!

Seen here lying on its back, it stands up beautifully 

and has several shelves to its credit.

I can't wait to show you how it looks when my husband is finished with it.

(It was discovered in the very back of a garage of a house uninhabited for nine years

as friends conducted a garage sale before auctioning the house.)

is this better?

 You shamed me into it!

 I folded up my three corduroy skirts (black, olive green and burgundy),

- and, yes - that's how I store them...

Well, not on top of my jewelry box, but folded and on shelves....

and donned a pair of blue jeans.

Same black Tee, though.

"Is THIS better?"

I STILL say I'm as comfortable in my skirts as blue jeans.

Thanks for your comments.

It was interesting to read them

and to try and figure out why I'm so "different".

Before and After

This Before and After session was brought to you by

a proud and happy wife!

After finding this old stereo/radio cabinet advertised for free

on Craigslist, my husband went to work to transform it

into a handsome piece of furniture with multiple

options for storage.  (We live in an old house, and storage options are ALWAYS useful!)
It is taking the place of THIS one - also an old radio cabinet
(with less storage options)....

 We change things up a LOT around here!

rolling pins - phase 1

 All these rolling pins were thrifted in the past--

in my first "rolling pin phase".

 

I didn't have a good way of displaying them, but while on vacation,

I saw a different style of wine rack fulfilling this purpose.

I remembered that I had THIS one stored on a shelf in our garage.

So I brought it in to try it out.

 

 I think I'll use it!  (I have 3 additional rolling pins--one in a drawer that I use as needed.)

 I believe I'll keep my eyes open for a larger rack.

Then I can begin a SECOND rolling pin phase!

Do you have a rolling pin collection?

How do you store/display them?

vacation miscellany

 Three see-through plastic storage boxes.  Fifty cents each.  Always useful at OUR house!

 Never one to pass up ANYthing blue and white, I snatched up these candles.

 I've always loved this quote (above).  

I was happy to find it on a plaque - very reasonably priced.

 This, I believe, is a juicer.  It has already taken its place in a wooden bowl

 containing other wooden kitchen tools.  ($.25)

 I've never figured out how to wear scarves properly myself, but I admire them...

 and I COULDN'T pass up this colorful one made in Italy designed with a map and scenes 

 from Greece.

Maybe one of these days I'll show you the books I bought while visiting thrift stores 

in states south of ours.  I just can't seem to resist scouring the book shelves.

I DID resist several furniture pieces.  There just wasn't room in the car!

storing

 I just KNEW if I let this shopping cart set out in view for awhile I'd come up with a grand idea for its use!  The idea came during the night...and this morning my husband cut out a piece of wood to fit the bottom.  It prevents the rolls of wrapping paper from falling through.

ALL the wrapping paper I own fits into this contraption which in turn fits perfectly into the back of our laundry closet.  The wheels make it easy to pull out when I need to use it.
A bag over the handle will store ribbons and bows.

It was another thrift store buy (as is a lot of the wrapping paper and wallpaper).

To my clothing fashion followers:  Please be patient.  Very soon, I'll be fitting back into my existing thrifted wardrobe.  At that time, I'll be a little more enthusiastic to post the clothing aspect of thrifty style.  Thanks for hanging in with me!

CLOSET THERAPY

Need some spring cleaning/closet organization motivation? I've found it! Maybe I'll be posting pictures of my own soon. But in the meantime, I'm suggesting you go see THIS one. I think Shelley has done a FANTASTIC job of organizing, decorating, and photographing hers!  THIS picture is NOT Shelley's closet, by the way!

After our taxes are done (one of this week's projects) and sun-porch cleaned off in preparation for our little granddaughter's visit later this week, I just MAY tackle the closet.  It is definitely time for a little closet therapy at my house!

Meanwhile, do you have any closet tricks to share?