Hunting and Gathering

In love with these canisters. I got the whole lot together.. about $2 each, which is more than I'm in the habit of paying for such things - but they look so great together and the big ones are a good size.
nb I don't store food directly in these - the plastic issue as they most certainly aren't BPA free!
 I'm getting quite a collection of retro plastic storage canisters now - mainly yellow, orange and brown of course!

I'm getting kitscher and kitscher every day. Can't pass these by.  They have mounting hooks on the back, so all ready to adorn the walls somewhere.

Wierdly I got these on consecutive days. They just presented themselves to me. I had a whistle like that when I was a kid so naturally had to buy them when I saw them, for nostalgia's sake. 

My haul (plus some kids/baby clothes that I haven't photo'ed.. There's a shop that has a fill-a-bag-for $1.50.. and they ALWAYS have cool stuff in there if you rummage. (which I do!)  

Belt that will fit around my expanding circumference, some knitting needles for my colourful stash

and a 70s craft book.. 

Can't resist plastic basket weave. 

70s shades = 50c
. I'm excited to announce that I found a NEW op shop that I'd never been to! I knew it was here somewhere. Hamilton is not a big place, but there are a couple of areas that I don't know very well.. and this was in one of them. I've been looking for it for ages! I finally google-mapped it (der!)
It's got old fashioned cheap prices (10c, 20c, 50c etc and nothing appears to be more than $3.50)
Rad. 

Interesting to hear people's hair-going-straight etc  stories after my last post.

For the record - my hair didn't go dead straight. 

It still has a wave and I can make it go curly if I work at it.. 

Happy Days

 Linking up to Her Library Adventures.. go over there and check out what else has been scored in the thrifting world this week! 

versatility

I've joined the Versatile Bloggers ranks thanks to the lovely Libby from Truly Myrtle. (If you want to see a FANTASTIC styley crafty mama's blog, go and check her out! Plus I know her in real life and she's as cool as her blog..)

I don't know quite what the versatile thing means.. I think I should win a Collector of Crap award or an award for Most Chaotic Blogger.

Anyway, if you didn't already know,

The rules of this award are as follows:

* list seven things about yourself,

* let the person who you have awarded know you have nominated them,

* nominate 15 other blogs, and

* list this set of rules.

SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

I might have mentioned some of these in passing. i am trying to think of things that you may not already know about me..

I am going to try and make these interesting. And I'll add a pic or 2 if I can find one that illustrates my random points. 

1. I am a twin.

Me and Paul

2. I always had curly hair. Like really curly. When I had an operation in 1988 my hair went straight! Random. That was when curly hair was cool, so my Mum, feeling sorry for me, took me to the hairdresser (first time ever!) for a perm.

Me and my curly hair.

Now I have one curl that persists, especially on rainy days. It's on the top of my head and is quite unruly at times. It makes me laugh sometimes because it sticks up. But it never goes away, even though I can disguise it at times. 

3. I have shockingly unhealthy teeth. I am onto my 3rd root canal in 10 years. (They can't finish it until after the baby is born, as they need to x-ray) It all came about when i started having babies. There's an old midwives tale: "A baby, a tooth" so I guess that's right in my case. I pretty much vomit regularly throughout the pregnancies and I believe the enamel has been stripped off my poor pegs. The expense is the worst part of it.

4. This one is a bit of a snigger. I was a cover girl once.  NZ Hot Rod magazine. An embarrassing poodle-esque hairdo. 

5. Although I love second hand stuff, and most of what I own is from an op shop or garage sale, I draw the line at 2 things. I will never buy a second hand refrigerator or a second hand mattress. And I would say undies too, but then I had to concede that I have bought bras and spencer-y things in the past with no issues.

6. I am the world's worst housekeeper. I used to be quite good, before I had kids. But now, my priorities have changed. And there are too few hours in the day, and too much to do!

Thankfully, I don't have a picture to illustrate this one. I'll just say that I am often living in CHAOS (Can't HAve Anyone Over Syndrome)

7. I don't drink alcohol. I used to. Quite often. Randomly, I begun to have allergic reactions to it. And they were unpleasant. Like my face going bright red and my breathing speeding up and my throat feeling like it was swelling up.  Usually only after a sip or 2.

Occasionally I have a try at drinking again.. and sometimes there is no reaction at all. But generally I can't be bothered risking it.

This is a photo of me drinking. It was my 21st party. 

So as a result I am a 2-pot-screamer. A cheap drunk.

And so here's the tricky bit - trying to pass the award on. I can't find anyone who doesn't have it. Sorry. Don't mean to cop out or break the rules. This blog award has been around for a while, so most people already have it I think. 

Maybe if you're reading this and you'd like a little bloggy love, let me know and I'll pass it to ya all official-like!

I'll put you all out of your misery now!

End of post! 

Happy Days

Top o' the Weekend to ya!

This was Friday's frock. I bought it last week. As usual, I'm having trouble fitting myself into it.

So not the most flattering, but a really beautiful dress. 

Comes to just below my knees. Very comfy fabric.
As always, I rarely seem to be able to get a full length shot. Must invest in a tripod. But first I hope I find my camera! (still borrowing my sister's but need to give it back) 

It's got some crossing over bits that I didn't get sussed at all.

Yeh I've lost sight of my feet now..

But if I stick my bum out a bit I get a glimpse of them!

I love these shoes. I DON'T love the state of my swollen pregnant feet right now.  Attractive.

Iris looked adorable in her Friday Frock. Perfect for mowing the lawn of course!

Gilbert and Iris teaming up.

Everything apart from my shoes is op shopped..(even Iris's sunglasses and the mowers!)  I bought the shoes new a couple of years ago, for about $10. They are uber-comfy. 

Happy St Paddy's to y'all.

Op Shop Booty

Here are a few things I've found on recent op shop trips, during the last week...

Another nice  kitsch-ish cookie tin. Lid destined for the wall. 

Iris chose this pallid looking baby. I'm impressed with his/her outfit!

Great fabric, smashing green dress and some more plastic beads.. 

For those of you who have kids who are into Sylvanian Families (like my boy Joe) you'll know how blimming much they cost.. This is the department store/cafe and was $4. Quite a bargain. I almost felt bad paying it - but I knew someone else would get it for that if i didn't! The lady at Vinnies was apologetic that it was so much. Bless.

2 curtains. very cool fabric.

Desk chair . Love it.


Quite a good stash. Probably about $25 for the lot.
I love Hamilton!


happy Days!


Linking up to Her Library Adventures to share the thrifting love! 

It's Frocking Autumn!

It seems that Autumn is upon us. 

I love this dress - it's got a bit of an autumnal feel..

I can't complain about the weather - I LOVE the cold mornings and nights and the beautiful clear days. 

* Right now I'm only JUST squeezing my bust into this.
It's pretty snug!
* The dress has a mighty handy pocket at the front.
* The length is perfect. 

Dress: $5 from an op shop in Taranaki, a couple of years ago.
Plastic beads from some garage sale somewhere!
Bust : All my own. Homegrown.

Iris's frock is quite a short one - but instead of bloomers she's wearing a pair of cords with it..
The dress was handmade by my mama.  I have a photo somewhere of me in it.



Having a busy few days.
Op SHop Daddy is kayaking down the whanganui river with some old school friends.
Must be FREEZING!

Frocks on Friday

This is not, strictly speaking, a frock. But it could probably pass for one. It's quite hard to find dresses that accomodate a large bump like that.

Skirt - 70s fabric made into a skirt.. op-shopped many moons ago..
Top and cardy - op shopped of course
necklace - gifted when I was the 'best woman' at my brother's wedding
shoes - bought for the same wedding! (co-incidence. the wedding was 7 years ago)
fat feet - pregnancy swelling. CHARMING!
That's why i can only wear sandals such as this!

Iris dressed herself.
Despite being very 70s  inspired, this groovy dress is a modern one, gifted from my sister-in-law.
She applied her own lipstick and her brother Joe did her hair and nails. 

We went on a tramp in this same dress last Sunday. A little over dressed, but try telling her that!

Happy Days.

Laughing Breastfeeder

For those that don't already know - I've been breastfeeding for 10 years, with only a couple of small breaks.  The only thing I DON'T love about it is that I can't wear frocks much! 

I am totally in love with this video and had to share it.

The little guy had a blocked nose that made a whistling sound, and totally cracked him up!

Happy Friday!

I'll do a frock post later.. Because right now I CAN wear frocks!