goodwill...good heavens!

My mom took the 2 older kiddos to the library this morning so I could grocery shop.  I got my shopping done quickly and had about 30 minutes to kill until I had to pick them up. 

There is this GIANT Goodwill right behind Publix, and I'd been wanting to get in there and look for some old/antique-y looking frames.  I saw this awesome frame display on Pinterest and I'm determined to re-create it ;)

Anyways, I got in the store and was shocked by the sheer size of it.  My original plan was to just check out the frames and maybe some fabrics (did you know they sell fabrics/blankets at Goodwill that can make some AWESOME photo backdrops/textures/colors, etc.?).  Not only was this Goodwill huge, it was very, very well organized... There were literally racks upon racks of color coordinated items.  For example- women's shirts- there was every color from black to white, and every shade of color you can imagine.  If you want an aqua shirt, you go to the blue shirt section and there are 40 shades of aqua... it's really amazing.  And what I found to be even more amazing than the color organized store, was the brands and condition of the clothing.  I know Saint Augustine is a wealthy area, but ummmm.... WOW.  I found oodles and oodles of CUTE, name-brand clothing with tags.

Normally I have terrible luck at thrift shopping.  I look at other bloggers and am envious of their thriftstore finds! ;)  But today, I have turned a new corner.  I found a handful of awesome goodies.  My fave item are these, Steve Madden flats:

These were 3 bucks.  THREE DOLLARS.  And there isn't a scuff mark on them.  I am blissfully happy :)

I also managed to find a hard book set of Beatrix Potter's "Mr. Toad" stories for the kids (99 cents), two frames that will be re-painted (each 99 cents), 1 pink Tommy polo for me (2.99), 1 sparkly Express tank for me (2.99), 1 long sleeved gymbo sweatshirt for Henry (1.00), and a vera bradley make-up bag (just a tiny one- 99 cents). 

I will be visiting this Goodwill at least once a month to see what other treasures I can dig up. 

If Ryan was with me on this past trip, we'd have come home with 2 sailor chairs.  But they were crazy heavy and I had no clue how to move them with Stella in the cart. 

Yay for recycling & saving money, right??? :)

quickie saturday morning post...

Yay for being a fave. in the paper mama's weekly photo challenge :)



And here's my entry for this week... "SUMMERTIME!"

This photo was taken in MI, a couple of weeks before we left.  I was looking back at some old pics this morning and actually got a little teary seeing the old house.   

Anyways, I'm planning on "snapping up" my Saturday today-  bigger post coming later ;)

yay! :)

4th place :)

                                                                      and my entry for "Sweet"



Today's a big day down here... my mom is holding the first open house for her new studio!   It kind of blows my mind that we're really starting ALL over down here.  I remember when my mom started the studio up in our backyard (in Michigan).  And now here we are doing it again.... 

Along with the open house, I'm trying to get a menu together for the week so I can finally go to the farmers market and actually purchase something that we'll use!  I've been going to the market every Saturday morning, but haven't really bought anything (other than a tub of salsa) because I haven't actually cooked since we've been down here!   It's been a lot of take out, going out, and eating at my parents- which has been great... but I guess its time to get back to reality, and COOK.

Ryan is hoping to get to the beach sometime this weekend but apparently the weather isn't supposed to be so great.  It rained most of yesterday and we're starting off today with overcast skies.  The good thing about the weather is that even with overcast skies, its about 90 degrees- plenty warm enough to go to the beach!

Oh- and my last random thought for the day-  yesterday, I was seriously the dumbest person on the planet.  I had been planning on taking the kids to the pier to watch the shuttle launch but it was sprinkling and overcast.  I thought for sure they'd cancel the launch.  Instead of checking the news or my phone, we went to Hobby Lobby, and I assumed we'd watch the launch either tomorrow or Sunday.  Well, we all know that the launch went off yesterday- and we missed it.  The very last launch, and we missed it because we were in HOBBY LOBBY... ughhhh!  I am so ticked with myself!

Anyways, I hope you all have a great Saturday!  Post and pictures to come of the farmers market :)   

Success!

FINALLY!!! 

Thanks to a blog reader, Erin, I have cracked the DaVinci code-orrrr rather, how to load photos on blogger without your color being sapped. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And for anyone else out there struggling with this issue- check out THIS POST! :)

oh sweet Monday :)

Well... YAY!  I hopped on my blog this morning and read 16 (I think that's my record for comments... besides a give away:)  lovely, encouraging comments from some super sweet fellow mama bloggers.  I also am feeling some extraaaaa blog love today, because my friend, Manda, gave me a blog award!  Check it out:

In order to accept this award I must:

A - Thank the person who awarded to us.

B- Share seven things about myself .

C- Pass along our "stylishness" by awarding the award to 15 other bloggers, and then let them know I did it!


So.... #1... THANKS MANDA!

#2... 7 Things About Me:

1. I hate fruity candy.... such as skittles, starbursts, sweet tarts, etc.  Barf.
2. I have reoccuring dreams of plane crashes :(  They're always different, but have the same premise- a plane crashes... eek.
3. I get my feelings hurt very easily. 
4. I love honey :) 

                                                                      9/365

 5.  I want a big family.... although pregnancy and I don't mix well.  And then there's the whole money thing... kids cost some big bucks!  :)
6.  If I had a million dollars (or enough money...) I'd live at Disney and order mickey waffles for breakfast every morning... and take the kids on "It's a Small World" every night :)  That's such a heavenly dream, huh?
7.  I am probably THE most unorganized person ever.  Really, its awful.


So those are some riveting facts, huh?  Now onto "rule #3".... my fave. 15 blogs :)

....and the award gets passed on to....

• "We're Growing!" -the Pollak Family :)
• The Paulk Family
• Stepping On Cheerios
• The Power of The Pink Lines
• Staying Above the Water
• Don't Blink
• Life At 5 Feet
• My Boystorous Life
• Moments & Impressions
• The Franklins
• Deb Duty Photography
• Jessica Noel Photography
• Ramblings & Photos
• It's On The Tip Of My Tongue
• ELF: A Family Blog

Each and every one of the blogs listed above are worth a good read/look at! :)  Keep sharing the bloggy love! :)

Happy Monday :) 

OH MYLANTA!!!!!!!

The Paper Mama chose my picture for the weekly challenge.  "Blessings" was the theme, and here is the link
to the picture I submitted :)

Along with being picked as top photo for the week, I get to be a part of the big monthly contest! :)  Go HERE to vote for my picture:)


So... just for good measure, because I am seriously on a PHOTOHIGH right now, check this out (again)!:



AHHHHH! :)  Thanks Paper Mama!