Recently Found (Part 1)

I realised I haven't shown any recent op shop finds for a couple of weeks. 

I also realised that there appear to be quite a few (ahem)

So here is Part 1.

please note: I am an op shop cheapskate so nothing you see in these photos was over $2, except the first thing.

That's how I roll..

If I have to part with more than a couple of bucks I have to do some serious thinking. It has to be really good/coveted/valuable etc!!! 

Unusual picnic cups..

And these ones in glass..

These were actually $5 from memory. I really love them!

MASSIVE piece of fabric for the stash.

I'll never get round to sewing these but LOVE the pix!

20c kitsch as heck thingies. Far too cool for pot plants.

LOVE these colours. 20c the lot.

You can't beat this old cotton.

There is an op shop here that has a free box outside. This is what I took out of there today!
We always had our christmas cards hanging up with those teeny pegs!

This will most likely NOT be used for dishes!


Happy Days!

Strawberry Yum-ness

Strawberries are a certain sign of Summer.. which is well and truly on its way down here in NZ!!! 

My sister gave me a try of this dessert and I just about died of yummy-ness.

It's the easiest, yummiest, quickest thing you could make, and is relatively low fat. It also will be sure to impress as a take-along dessert to those Summer BBQs! 

Thanks to my sister, and Annabel Langbein, here we have 

STRAWBERRY CLOUD CAKE

(I got this Kenwood food processor from an op shop for $8 about 7 years ago, just by the way!)

I did it by hand mixer unfortunately - I'm still waiting for the Kenwood Mixer to present itself at an oppie or garage sale!

The cloud effect is far greater in a mixer (vs hand mixer)

Please try this at home!

That's what Annabel's looks like!

And now for something completely different...

 Thought y'all might enjoy this song and video about our favourite thing - 
thrifting/op shopping!

 I love it!

Happy days

Jumbling On. This Morning.

( I'm still behind on my loot posts, but I'm jumping to today!)

It is right in the thick of Jumble/Gala/Fete season here.

Yesterday's paper promised approx 7 church/school/fundraiser sales..

As it is my boy's ACTUAL birthday today, a big mission was not to be..

but I KNOW the Cats' Protection League ones ALWAYS deliver. Previous haul posts from their sales here and here!

THIS MORNING

I am NOT JOKING!!!
The woman was almost apologetic looking at my huge boxes and bags of 'junk' and asking me for a tenner..

ALL OF THIS for $10: 

I don't do teddy bears. I got this one for the outfit, and she's in the op shop bag already, sans outfit!(sorry teddy lovers!)
I knew Iris would love the 'Toot toot' on the funny pink one.

* I have always wanted an electric knife!!
* Cutest pair of leather shoes
* Yeh cool shades for one of my cool kids
* Water balloons - one of my kids is OBSESSED with these things!
* A purple 'puffle' (If you have kids you might know about these!)

* 2 pairs cool shoes (need a bit of a clean but don't smell and that's what I care about!!)
* Pair of brilliant football boots.
* Large pink woolen blanket
* Also in the box are 2 cotton flannelette FITTED singles sheets.
Never seem to have enough of those.

Large bag of leis. Got a few projects in mind for those.

Old christmas stuff.
Plus a roll of red ribbon
and a kitsch-as-hell bunch of roses candle. 

* Wire storage basket
* duplo giraffe ( We have a duplo set that I have collected ENTIRELY at op shops and garage sales,  piece by piece, like this! It costs a fortune bought new. It's large lego, for the uninitiated!)
* tiny bag of tiny buttons
* tube of beads
* 1963 GIRL annual. Not in great nick, but very entertaining.
*Nice little shelf thing

* 2 fairy wings
* 2 fairy hairbands
* 2 pink wigs
* 2 wands!!!!!

* Loads of clothing for kids/babies of all ages! A couple of items for me but mainly the kids.
* My 3rd son (Gilbert) is very fashion conscious (how the hell did that happen?! ) and he LOVES accessorizing. Those hats are the kind he's always harping on about. Plain beanies, and a peaked beanie, and a cap that is that particular shape (he described it in great detail!)
*Ooops that other pink photo is in there again.

Fabulous dress!

Loads of togs (swimming costumes) and fabric. Incl matching scarf for the dress above.

A page from the 1963 Girl Annual.
I can't help but wonder how many girls' self esteem was ruined by such  labelling. They were encouraged to put themselves in boxes like that, and no doubt tried to follow the 'rules' for trying to make themselves look beautiful.

ANYWAY!!

If op shops as we know them disappear, the old fashioned Jumble Sale might see us through!!!

Get out there and into it!!

And by the way, as of today, I've been a mama for 10 years.

Happy Days!


Sharing at 
Divajools Thrift-along.
A Living Space
Sir Thrift A Lot's Thriftasaurus

Check out other bloggers' 
thrifty scores from all across the world!!

Snapshots

Due to a gun-ho pair of insulation installers, I have had no internet access..Back on now!

I have loads to post about.. but I'll just chuck these snapshots in.

Recently:

Op-shopped bling for the birthday mummy

Yay a tripod! So I might be able to get a decent photo from time to time!!

A 10 year old in the house.. (the cake is a x-box controller - he is very screen-obsessed and would LOVE to have a REAL x-box 360 bless him.)  Sleepover with 6 other 10 year olds.. excellent fun!

Beautiful boy

Birthday Irises

Yesterday hanging with my girls at Mavis & Co 

Yesterday's op-shopping adventure.

More to come with a recent finds post, eventually!

And I have a lot of your blog action to catch up on!!

Happy Days!

Tutus and Teacups/ Gay Red Shirt Day

It all started with a tutu

And a teacup

And some steps.

Check Sarah Misfit's page for the refs.. I'll add them in later here.. Sozz..

I believe Bag and a Beret was where it began.

And Sarah Misfit declared it a challenge.

And it quickly spread to backyards and front doorsteps all over the world. They were donning their finest tulle and putting their pinkies up all over the place.

Alas, teacups a plenty I have many. But a tutu, not one.

I tried to work out if I could make one.

I have no time for such things.

I scoured the op shops.

I even tried to wrap a pink mosquito net around my person.

No dice.

On my doorstep on Monday there appears not one, but TWO, out of the blue! Squeal!

My fairy Godmother gaveth them unto me. I hadn't mentioned how I'd been NEEDING one. It was pure second hand magic. Gold.

Iris telling me how to pose!

Today! John refers to our esteemed leader who described another guy's red shirt as gay - publicly! Nice one.

Gay Red Shirt Day

Christmas Shopping!

I pop into the op shops a lot at the moment. More than usual. 

Just trying to stash up more than usual for Christmas prezzies.

I really don't see the problem with buying gifts second hand.

We have taught our kids young the Reduce, Re-use and Recycle mantra.. and that's how we roll!!

As the kids get older there are becoming coveted toys which are bought new or off trademe.. (ie a certain lego set etc)

But especially for the littlies op shopping is the way to go!

Some of today's scores (not all for prezzies):

Lovely wooden pin set. $3

Not a christmas prez but I love the kitschness of this melamine plate.

VERY princessy sari in the perfect size for Iris, the dress up queen! Looks unworn.$4

I love this money box! It's an old bank savings one.. Iris actually chose this, so I guess it's not for Christmas! 20c

Brand new looking bath towels - SO COOL!  $2 each 

Funky as heck wallpaper with aliens and planets. $1 per roll..

10c lycra book cover for one of the boys.. handmade  by someone.

Another item for the dress up queen! $1.50


What do you think about buying second hand for gifts?

In my family (ie brothers and sisters nieces nephewsetc)
we do a MAKE BAKE SEW GROW gifting thing, which is great.

I'd love to make bake sew and grow all my kids prezzies too but there just aren't enough hours in the day! Usually I make a few things.
And I try to encourage the kids to make stuff.

Happy Days
Go Obama.

Surviving the Election + enter someone else's amazing giveaway!!

This is about 5 weeks late, but this is a little thing for my friends in the USA.. from my mates at the Velveteen Lounge Kitschen..

The other thing is, if you've got kids, you might want to enter the giveaway at CHe & Fidel.. WOWzers!!!