Happy New Year!

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Out of all the pictures I took on our trip to EWTN in Alabama this past September, this is one of my favorites. I decided to add the text and effects to it for the new year. 

Merry Christmas!

Greetings from our family to yours ... 

This is the first year in a long time that I haven't gotten Christmas cards out. I feel kind of bad about it, but I just can't dwell on it. There just wasn't time. I was busy designing and filling orders, I did a holiday show, a graduation celebration, presents to make, and a death in the family to name a few. There was just too much ... too much ... too much. We didn't get a tree until right before Christmas and not from the tree farm. Usually we dress in a thousand layers, go on an adventure and hunt down our perfect tree, topping it off with hot cocoa. This year, we settled for the Lowe's parking lot. Not a lot of fun or excitement there. With everything going on, I had a hard time feeling the Christmas spirit. It was lucky we ended up having any gifts under the tree. Thankfully, my husband was able to get that stuff done and my lovely elf, Grace, made sure everything was wrapped. We pulled it together, but it was very low-key this year. And maybe that's not all that bad. 

I joked a couple weeks before Christmas that I didn't have a holiday picture of the kids yet, so in lieu of that, I may just have to use the collage above. That really didn't end up being a joke because that's what all I ended up doing. The pictures are from left to right, top to bottom ... Phillip and Grace snuggling with their faithful pup Suki, a piece of my work that I have on my keychain with the words, "Peace and All Good", the four of at Grandma's funeral lunch laughing and trying to line up for an extended family picture, at Grace's performance in "The King & I" last summer, Grace from her performance in the Ghosts of Galesburg Tour this fall, and Phillip dressed up for a skit the cousins were performing. All good times, and all good memories. So, yeah, I'm feeling a little twinge of guilt, and, yeah, I'll work on getting a few New Year's greetings out a little later. But, for the moment, I'm just going to be happy that things have slowed down a bit. I don't have much on my plate right now, and I'm going to enjoy it. It'll all be back to crazy way before I know it ... ;)

Design of the day? 

Celebrating moms!

She's always there ...

wiping tears, giving hugs, 

words of encouragement,

and taking care of you.

She'll forever be your #1 Fan,

cheering you on from the sidelines.

<3 <3 <3

Project: Habesha Momma Art

11.4.2013 ...Today, I got a message from one of my friends ...

...We have started a business called Habesha Momma Art, US and international artists selling their art to help women in apprenticeship programs become self sufficient. The project we are working on now is for a group of women in Ethiopia who will be trained to make pottery. 

I'm writing you to see if you would be interesting in working with me on a design. My partner in Habesha Momma recently visited these women and the most prevalent theme she continued to feel with them was shame. I would like to create a piece of jewelry symbolizing no more shame. We hope to give these women hope and help them restore their dignity. I would love to see what you could create with this subject in mind.  

                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was truly touched and honored to be asked to work on this project, so I happily and immediately said YES! My brother and his wife adopted from Ethiopia as have some of my friends. Our parish priest is originally from Tanzania, and we've met many of his friends and family over the years. They have all become part of our family. Even though I've never been there, I feel like part of my heart is in Africa. I was thrilled to be asked to do something!

So, that's my assignment is for now. I can't wait to get started.  

~~~~~~~~~

11.8.2013 ... A look into my design process ...

Yes, that's right. Many times, my process starts with a post-it. I scribble different ideas down, and then, I think about it, mull it over, and work it out in my head. The ideas usually come very quickly, a strong image in my head. Then I get it on metal ASAP. It's almost like I can't focus on anything else until I get it out of my head.

My friend said that shame is the most prevalent theme among the women in the village, so I have been focusing on that word and the feelings associated with it. I would like to create a piece of jewelry symbolizing the end of shame. I want to focus on a positive message of hope, helping these women to restore their dignity. I started playing around with ideas and words, until I hit on something. I want to focus on a person's sense of worth, that she is loved, and knowing that she is enough. I think you can see that in my scribbled note on the left side of my picture.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I AM WORTHY

I AM LOVED 

I AM ENOUGH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's exactly the message I want to convey. Now to work up a design

Yep, you got it, more post-it notes. I'm so high tech around here. ;)  I really liked the idea of lining the words up in some way from top to bottom, so I started playing. Sometimes, it takes a while to get the design just right. However, I was itching to get this into metal, so I didn't actually finalize it before I started stamping. I can be quite impatient at times. *lol*

I decided to go with a mixed metal layered piece, brass for the bottom and copper on the top. I quickly stamped one up, snapped a picture, and sent the image to my friend. Here it is ...

I sent it to her just like this, didn't even bother turning the photo around. And then I waited, really worried about what she was going to think. The word shame wasn't anywhere to be found on the piece, and I was concerned about going in a different direction. However, I felt led to design the piece the way I did, and I really loved the end result. I was hoping it would be what they wanted. Of course, facebook messenger lets you know when someone reads your message, so I knew when she saw it. I didn't get a response back for a little bit, so I started to worry ...

When she responded, this is what she wrote ...

             "Wow! so close it has me in tears! worthy loved enough...
           all SO fitting. I also love the mixed metals. This is 
           beautiful!"

Her note, of course, made me burst out in tears too (I'm a big softie like that). I'm so blessed to be able to do something I love so much. I enjoy taking someone's idea and making it into something they'll cherish. Their response is the best part of my job. I also love that this design will be helping some precious women on the other side of the world. It will have a positive impact on their lives. I'm so touched and honored that my friend had the faith in me to work on this project and toward Habesha Momma Arts' cause. 

Habesha Momma Art is targeting November 15th as their website launch date, so I'll be writing more as that deadline approaches. 

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11.19.2013 ... Found this image in my email today:

It brought me to tears. Yes, I know I'm a baby, but I just love this image. The beautiful women that are pictured around the design are the women that the sale of this pendant will help. Such a small act on my part could make such a difference in someone else's life. Seeing this just made it that much more real to me. I love what I do, and I'm so blessed to be able to do it. <3

~~~~~~~~~

11.20.2013 ... My design is now in our Etsy shop. It's very exciting! Check it out here ... 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/169676318/mixed-metal-hand-stamped-necklace-with?ref=shop_home_active

A portion of the sale of this pendant goes directly to the women pictured above. 

How cool is that? 

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11.25.2013 ... The Habesha Momma Art Website Launched! I loved seeing their status this morning: 

"Introducing our website! Please take time to read Habesha Momma Art's story, see how you can get involved, and check out our beautiful art! Join us in buying for yourself or the precious women of your life a Simple 66 Stuff necklace that speaks to the world we are...Worthy Loved Enough!!!!"

Check out their website here:

http://www.habeshamomma.com/

I'm so excited for them!
These women have big dreams and huge hearts.
I'm so blessed to be a small part of their vision. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Make a Difference.

Be the Change. 

~~~~~~~~~~

New designs hitting our etsy store!

Just wanted to show you some of the designs I've been working on. They should be hitting the etsy store sometime this week!

UPDATE

Most of these items never even made it into the store. They ended up being sold  before I had a chance to list them. 

Lesson to learn? 

If you like something that I posted and don't find it listed in the store, just ask me. I'd be glad to make another one, and if you'd like me to modify it in any way, just let me know. I aim to please. 

Journey home to family ...

I’m grateful my brother and his wife heeded the gentle whispers they heard and the subtle nudges they felt. Not all are called to be adoptive parents, but they knew they were being led to help the fatherless. Even though Bill and Gretchen already had three children of their own, they felt God etching this desire in their hearts. By answering His call, they have shown how obedience, hope, and love can change a life. They were able to bring their infant daughter home from Ethiopia in 2010. Since then, she has blessed each of  our lives abundantly with her sweet laughter and loving nature. Here is a recent picture of my beautiful four year old niece:

 

 
This girl's struggle began as soon as she was born. When she was found, she was severely dehydrated and malnourished. Her circumstances were dire. By the grace of God, she fought her way back from the brink of death. She embodies the meaning of courage, strength, and tenacity. Since Bill and Gretchen have brough her home, we have watched this sweet little girl bloom and grow. We've seen her thrive. She has taught us that, even in the darkest circumstances, there is light and hope.
 
Today, her life is filled with people that love and cherish her. Recently, she was posed this question: What would you ask God if you were given the chance? She replied that she didn’t have a question for Him, but she'd like to thank Him for her family. We are fortunate to have this tender heart gracing our lives.
 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
 
There is another precious girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo, waiting to come home to her family.
 
 

 
Unlike my niece, I don't know what circumstances this beautiful girl has faced, but there IS one thing I know ...

 

She has parents who are anxiously awaiting the day they can be united with her.

 

 

 
Nick and Tracy began their adoption journey at the beginning of 2011. Finally in late 2012, they were matched with this adorable, brown eyed girl. Yet, one obstacle stands in the way of holding her in their arms, the funding to bring her home.
 
Here's more from their fundraising page ...
 
We are in the process of adopting our daughter from The Democratic Republic of Congo. After over a year of waiting to bring our sweet girl home, we are at the last step now. Recently, we have had a few setbacks in the process. The first came a couple months ago when we learned of some changes to how adoptions are processed in DRC. For three years, we have expected to be in country 7-10 days. Due to the changes, we are told to expect to be in country 3-5 WEEKS. That alone will increase the cost of our trip dramatically (food and lodging for 3-5 times as long). We also learned of a recommended change in lodging due to safety issues. The new, safer hotel is about twice as expensive per night as the original place we were going to stay. Both of these things mean our travel expenses will be A LOT more than we have expected.

All money raised here is going towards our travel expenses. Every donation helps and is MUCH appreciated. Thank you for helping us bring our daughter home!                                      ~Nick and Tracy Pigg

 
 
Knowing what a difference adoption has made in my niece's life, I was glad to see that the Piggs were answering their call to the fatherless too. I've been following their progress from afar, but recently, I started thinking about something I could do to help them with their efforts. A couple of designs started dancing around in my head, and this is the one I finally settled on:
  

 
I'll be putting this tag in the etsy shop. When one of them sells, I'll be donating to their adoption fund. If you're local, just send me a message, and I'll be happy to make one for you. I'll continue pounding out tags until the Piggs are able to bring their beautful daughter home.
 
Adoption is a complete leap of faith. It takes courage, hope, and love. Who knows what life has in store for this girl? However, I do know that her life will be better because of this journey that Nick and Tracy have begun. Please consider helping them. Take a leap of faith too! Make a difference in someone else's life today. Here's a link to the item in our etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/listing/169946483/hand-stamped-brass-necklace-africa-hope?ref=shop_home_active
 
If a necklace isn't your thing, but you still want to help, check out their fundraising page here:
 
http://www.gofundme.com/4owjqc
 
Any way you can help will be greatly appreciated!
 
 
 
Remember, whatever you do in this life, be the change ...
 
Joyce 

Design of the Day ~ Time Flies

I found a fun & new (to me!) shop yesterday. It's a place called Relics, and it's jam packed with a whole lot of awesome. The store isn't really big, but it is filled to the brim with all sorts of eye candy. Seriously, it takes a while to get through the shop because there is so many great things! One of the things I spied was a bowl full of vintage watch faces. Who can resist that? Not this girl. I spilled them out on the counter, sorted through them, and found some gorgeous pieces. 

After I got home, the wheels in my head started spinning, and this is the end result ... 

    

I'm very pleased with this design. 

I love the different elements in it, and I adore the message ... 

Time flies, but YOU are the pilot.

~~~~~~~~~~~

life is fleeting

we have choices 

make them count

What did our winner choose? *drumroll please*

Last week about this time, we announced a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to be used in our store or on a custom item. We were so excited that we got such a great response. On Friday, we drew and name, and Michelle Blesoe was our big winner. Yay! We like to give things away!!  I thought I'd give you an update and show you what she ordered because I just finished it today. Can't wait, can you?

Michelle asked for matching necklaces for her and her best friend. Next year will mark their 40th year of friendship. Isn't that wonderful? She wanted a mixed metal tag with a heart, BFF, and a bible verse on it. The verse is Proverbs 27:9, "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel". I had a lot of fun with this one: mixing metals, hand stamping, hand texturing, and riveting. Plus, I know this one has a special meaning for both of these women. Friendship is a blessing and very, very precious. So, without further ado, here's the final project ...

I just love how this one turned out, and I'm very honored that I got to celebrate their friendship by making this for them.

What is something that you'd like to celebrate? Or honor? Or recognize? I'd love to make a special piece, just for you.

Thought this giveaway was fun? Be on the lookout for more. Stay tuned to this blog or our facebook page because you'll never know when we'll do it again ... might be soon ... just saying ... *wink, wink*

Pssst ... In case you're worried I've let the cat out of the bag, don't be. Michelle gave me ok to post about the project.

In Honor of Chad ...

When I was asked to become co-owner of Simple 66 Stuff last January, I never dreamed I would end up making hand stamped jewelry as part of my contribution to our company. I’ve made jewelry in the past, but I’d never stamped anything, even though I was very intrigued by it. A few months ago, I bought my first set of stamps, and I was completely, utterly, absolutely in love! We’ve talked about introducing different lines within S66S, and I’ve started calling this one “Impressions”. When I design, I want to create something unique, a piece to be loved and treasured. I’m not simply making an impression on a piece of metal. I’m celebrating, rejoicing, hoping, praying, and crying right along with whoever receives my creation. Bringing joy or peace to someone else is my ultimate goal in anything I craft.

It’s with this in mind that I’ve decided to introduce my newest design. I hope this one sheds light on a painful subject, starts conversations, provides hope, and helps an organization that is near and dear to my heart, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Here is more about this organization from their website, which is: “at the forefront of research, education, and prevention designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 38,000 lives lost each year in the U.S., the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater. AFSP funds research aim to improve our understanding of suicide and ways to prevent it, including: educational programs to increase awareness about prevention, warning signs and the psychiatric illnesses that can lead to suicide. Suicide takes an enormous toll on family, friends, co-workers, and the entire community. AFSP provides opportunities for survivors of suicide loss to get involved through a wide variety of educational, outreach, awareness, advocacy and fundraising programs.”

The reason I want to help suicide awareness is because of this man:

This is my cousin Chad, pictured here with his beautiful nieces. He was born in 1972, a couple months before my little brother. I didn’t know him or his younger sister, Keri, as children. We met them after their mom married our uncle. I remember Chad as a high school student, full of hopes and dreams. He took his own life and left us on January 7, 2008. What happened to that young man so full of life and promise? Suicide was no longer just a word to our family. It had become a reality, leaving devastation and sorrow in its wake. Keri said it best in a letter: “The face of my family changed forever. I was changed forever. He is at peace and hurting no more, but my heart hurts each day for him. Each day I miss him, but I know he is with me and is looking down on my girls.”

Since 2011, Keri has been walking in honor of Chad. He is her brother, her hero, and her angel. On September 29, 2013, Keri, along with her team, will be walking for him again, along with thousands of people nationwide, to spread awareness, to educate, to support those left behind, and to give hope to others. She’s been asking for donations for her team, and I’ve created this design to help her in those endeavors. This item will be for sale in our shop continually throughout the year because I want to keep raising funds for this organization, whether it’s time to walk or not. It’s a hand hammered, hand stamped mixed metal tag with foot prints emerging from the darkness. It can be worn as a necklace or hung on a clip or keychain. A portion of the sale of this item will go to Keri’s team, “In Chad’s Honor”.

Give others hope by supporting this wonderful cause. Purchase one of these tags in our etsy store:

                             www.etsy.com/shop/Simple66Stuff?ref=si_shop

If you’d prefer to donate to Keri directly, visit her support page at:

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfmuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=399140

Suicide is real. Suicide can happen in anyone's family. Suicide leaves its survivors reeling in pain and heartache. However, there is hope. Hope comes by bringing this subject out into the light. It comes with awareness, education, and support.

I, along with Keri and our entire family, appreciate any donations, big or small. Helping this organization could end up making a big impact on someone's life. You never know how much you can help by simply clicking one of the links above.

With warmest blessings and gratitude,

Joyce

Design of the Day ~ Theater Family

This summer's production of The King and I is finished. It feels weird sitting here at home tonight. I feel like we should either be at the Prairie Players' Building or in the Orpheum. I'm going to miss seeing everyone! That is what's on my mind, and it's what inspired this jewelry design. Every play Grace has been in has brought so many new and wonderful people into our lives. We are blessed by knowing them, and we love our theater family!

The King & I

Prairie Players Civic Theater

presents

The King & I

July 19-21, 2013

Cast of King & I

This is what we've been working on for the past couple months. My daughter was in the cast, and I was working on props and helping a little bit with costumes (jewelry).  When you're working on a production, it ends up taking over your whole life. It's lucky we acutally get anything else done. So here's a look back on what we've been up to ... 

After auditioning for this summer's Prairie Player's production of The King & I, my girl got cast as one of the Royal Children. Well, I always knew my little girl was a princess. *wink, wink*  In order to be a child of Siam, some of the cast, including my girl, got their hair dyed for the part. She actually was born with black hair, but obviously, it wasn't that color anymore as you can see by the picture on the left. Instead of a stark black, we opted for a chocolate brown. It looked great! 

Oh, what an actress will do for her art ... 

 

Here are just a few from backstage ...

               

We all learned about Ballet Buns!                        Part of Grace's costume was her own.
                                                                             Glad she had this top in her wardrobe.  
                                                         

Grace with her "dad", The King 

Love the strong bond that everyone forms. 

This boy has been in two plays with Grace.

He's like a little brother to her. 

We love our Theater Family, and 

are blessed to know them all! 

And when it's all done, it's all done. These are the snowflakes that Cassandra and I spent so many hours making. We laughed and laughed and decided we weren't really very good at making snowflakes at all. I can do many things, but I am definitely snowflake challenged. However, it's a wonderful experience that I'll never forget having with one of my good friends! 

Design of the Day ~ Blessings

What's on my mind today? Babies and their mamas! 

In honor of my new niece (and namesake!) and on behalf of my two beautiful children (+3 in heaven), I designed this piece. 

Yes, my "babies" are my blessings ...

Design of the Day ~ Anyone there?

Maybe I should just call it, "Ode to my kids" because there are certainly days like this around here. Or maybe an "ode to moms" because, sometimes, it's just has to happen ... 

Anyone else ever feel like this? 

Or is it just me? 

Either way, these made me smile when I made them this morning. And I desperately needed to laugh a little. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Remember, don't take life so seriously that you forget to smile.  

It's all good ... the highs and the lows. 

Finding the joy in a situation will see you through the storms.

Design of the Day ~ Angels in Heaven

A new design for the day!  

We all have angels watching over us, and I wanted to remember them today. 

My Angels

Family Members & Friends

Some lived long lives, 

Some had their lives cut short.

But I know they are still with me,

Checking on me, 

Praying for me, 

& 

Loving me from Above.

Who are your angels? 

What inspires you?

This quote really spoke to me:

We all have something to teach, and we all have something to learn.

We ALL have something to TEACH. Think about that for a moment. Yes, that's right, every single one of us. We're all given special talents, and we are asked to share them with others. But, I'm not only thinking of the obvious definition of the word "teach", like teaching a subject in school. That's not all we have to teach, that's not the only way we educate. We teach through words . With every word we impart, we make an impression. We must choose our words wisely. A message of love, not of hate. A message of hope, not despair. A message of comfort in sadness.  Are we aware of the impression that we have on others by the words we choose? While it's true that we can teach through our words, we can also teach without uttering a single syllable. Our actions can speak volumes. Do we always choose the path of kindness when interacting with others? I'm not always as kind and loving as I should be. I'm often impatient, and I get irritated with others. Is that what I want to teach? No, it's not. We (I) must try to do better.

We ALL have something to LEARN. That's right. You aren't finished when you cross the stage and accept that diploma. Life is one big lesson after another. Are we taking the time to find out what that lesson is, or are we running around, so busy, that we're missing it? Another way we learn is t take the time to really LISTEN to what others are sayning around us. Are we truly listening? It's not always easy to be completely in the moment. Other things crowd our minds, they block out everything else. Think of all the life lessons we're missing because we're preoccupied with what we have to do, or what we're running out of and have to put on the list, or where we need to be next, or what we're cooking for dinner or etc. or etc. Instead of dwelling on those things, let's truly be right where we are at that particular moment. I'm completely guilty of this: guilty, guilty, guilty! I'm trying really hard to remedy this flaw, trying very hard to just BE. It's funny, I teach my kids new things every single day, but, in turn, they've taught me so much more. I don't want to miss out on those opportunities ... ever.

I love how this one little quote, just a few words strung together, makes me think. And, hopefully, because I see it every day in my dining room, it'll help me to remember to try to achieve the message that it imparts. I'm so glad I found this picture at Anonymously Yours in downtown Galesburg. That's my find for the day, but it's really not about this picture, it's about a message I needed to hear. Imparting a challenge for me to try to do better and to always be in the moment.

What's your inspiration or motivation?

wise words

 Four things you can't recover:

The stone after the throw,

The word after it's said,

The occasion after it's missed,

The time after it's gone.

~Deanna Wadsworth

Makes you think, right?

It's a powerful reminder.

Do no harm.

Love unconditionally.

Choose Wisely.

Enough said.

Make mornings easier! Yes, please!

I'd like to say I'm so incredibly organized that I have time to get everything done before we start school, but I'm not that mom. I try really hard, and sometimes, I succeed. Those are really good days. Then there are the other days, the ones with last minute research, making calls, paying bills, or hunting down things for projects or experiments.  It happens, even when I try hard to have my act together. I admire the women who can do it all ... a lot. Kudos to them! They are my heroes!

For a while, I've let the kids be responsible for their breakfast. Does that sound harsh? I hope not. I thought I'd put some breakfast stuff on the counter for them, but this is where I ran into a problem. It's one of those "in theory, it's great" ideas, that doesn't quite work out as you've planned. I gathered all the stuff in a basket. However, the sides of the basket were so tall you couldn't tell what was in there. Not such a great idea.

This is where my toaster oven comes in to save me. I know this seems completely random, but it's when this idea started. Last week, this appliance, which takes up valuable real estate on my counter but hasn't been used a lot, decided to go nutty and smelled like it was thinking about starting a fire. I'll have no wacko appliances in my kitchen, so it's been banned. Voila! I have some freed up counter space to make our breakfast routine easier. I decided to gather all the supplies and put them together. The only thing I'm not putting over there is the toaster (not crazy toaster oven, but regular toaster) because I think it's totally acceptable for us to walk those six extra steps to make toast. Right?

    =================================================================

OK, can I just say this project wasn't as easy as it sounded when I announced to everyone I was going to make my mornings easier on Friday? Ha! I'm not sure what I was thinking because not one brilliant idea happened over the weekend. Maybe I'll remember that the next time I want to make a grand announcement, promising something wonderful a few mere days away. Or that I actually have a life besides getting this post out on a Monday morning. I juggle a lot of stuff, remember? Anyway, that counter space turned out to be as grumpy as my ousted toaster oven. First off, I had planned to have my coffee maker over there. It didn't happen.  Truthfully, this mom doesn't really care about what's for breakfast as much as getting her caffeine fix. It's what keeps me going. But, the coffee maker wouldn't fit, and my plans went awry in a hurry. Finally, after I'd gotten everything finished and took a step back, this space looked like there was a bunch of stuff on my counter that I failed to put away!  Yikes! That was NOT what I was trying to achieve!

So here's where I am right now ...

Does this just look like a jumbled mess on my counter? I'm not sure if I love this solution or if it'll make things better. We certainly can see things and get to them without rooting through the basket, but I'm not sure if it's in a good way. The only saving grace is that you can't see it when you walk in the door. My refrigerator is hiding it. Also, don't judge our breakfast choices. They aren't always the best, but I've taken a "just get it done, so we can get started" attitude towards the first meal of the day. When they were closeted in my basket, there wasn't any problem with judgement. Success? I'm really not sure, so we'll just use this for a while and see. That's life. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't. If it doesn't work, I'll be back to the drawing board, thinking of another solution.

I snapped a few extra pictures when I was working on this project of things I'd like to share. Even if my project wasn't a success, these things make me smile ...

My "fun find" bowl. It's beautiful, isn't it? And cheery! Plus, I love it next to my stacking bowls

My smoothie cup has a sweater made out of repurposed, felted wool. I know it's silly, but I like to drink them out of the metal cup. That metal gets really cold, so I made the sleeve for it because I'm kind of a wimp. Also, drinking out of that container reminds me of those metal cups we used when I was growing up. Does anyone else remember the ones that were all different colors that also worked well for cookie or biscuit cutters in a pinch. No? Maybe not, I might be dating myself there. Anyway, here it is ...

And, last but not least, my current coffee choices ... yum! I'm caffeine girl, remember? This just makes me deliriously happy ...

That's it for now. I'm not sure if I've been successful or not, but, again, that's life. I'm not sure what I'll be talking about on Wednesday, but, even if I had a clue, I wouldn't tell you. That way, no one will be disappointed. See? I learned my lesson from last week's post! That's something, right?

Until next time, let's try to keep things simple!

Friday Find ... my best hauls ...

I'm not postive when my love for thrift stores and rooting around for bargains began, but I think it started back in high school when I was searching for that coveted vintage preppy sweater. I've been hooked ever since then. If you still are doubtful about the things you may find at that resale or thrift store, let me see if I can change your mind by showing you some of my best hauls.

I'm always finding great purses at stores. I've found it all: great vintage, fun Kate Spade prints, and classic Coach styles. Probably, my best bargain was when Salvation Army was having a buy one, get one free sale on their bags. I bought a canvas bag for $4.99 and snagged a small, black Coach purse for free. Yes, free. Or, if it makes you feel better, let's say $2.50. The canvas bag became my summer camera bag after I built inserts for it, and the black Coach is my goto "out for the night" bag, when I only need to carry a few things. Exciting, right? I have three other Coaches, that I love and use a lot: a small brown one, a classic black bucket, and a black briefcase. I looked up the bucket bag and briefcase last night. The bucket sells for around $100, and that's the resale price because it is vintage. I paid around $5. Pretty cool, huh? I saved the best for last. My briefcase sells for around $448. It's also available on ebay or etsy for about $250. I paid $10. See what snooping around the resale shops will get you? Bargains! I know there are a lot of fakes out there, but I'm pretty sure mine are real. However, if they aren't, who cares? They were still a deal.

Next stop ... clothes. Again, there are great bargains can be found. I especially love getting vintage leather and wool coats for the whole family. Until this year, Grace and Phillip have always had beautiful wool dress coats. Unless I admitted it, no one would have any idea I paid pennies on the dollar for them. Plus, kids grow out of their clothes so quickly that it seemed wasteful to buy things for full price. $150 for a coat. Not this girl. I'd rather pay $4.99, thank you very much. I get lots of compliments on what we're all wearing, and, most of the time, it's from a thrift store. The same goes for shoes and other accessories. If you're patient and learn to wait, you will eventually find it. That's been my experience. My best finds in this department are my Uggs and Dan Post boots. I paid $20 for my Uggs, but they retail for over $200. My cowboy boots were $10, but they sell for $180. Both of these items were absolutely new in the box, never worn. As you can see, they've been worn like crazy since I got them, and I love that I didn't have to pay full price for them.

Last stop for the day ... housewares. It's always interesting what you can find if you take the time to look. I've found valuable collectibles, great furniture, homeschooling materials, musical instruments, and video game components. My favorite to find is vintage Pyrex and beautiful pottery pieces. It's all there. You just have to dig a little. The ikea table and chairs for $30 and my coat stand for $1.99 are my current furniture favorites. The kids' current favorite is the rock band components (drum kit, guitar, and microphone) that we found for under $20.

I hope this has helped you think a little differenty about thrift and resale shops. I'm a huge fan. I may have to wait a bit to get what I want, but I usually find it. Key, classic pieces for your wardrobe don't change from season to season. The same goes for housewares and furniture, a good piece is a good piece no matter what. The next time your hunting for something, why not give one of these stores  try? You may not find what you're looking for, but you never know what you will find. Give it a shot! I promise you'll get hooked.

If you're looking for something specific and haven't found it yet, just let us know. Both Kimberly and I would love to scout around for you. We're always finding things for others when we're thrifting.

For my fellow thrift store junkies, what has been your best hauls?

On Monday, I'll be sharing ways I've tried to streamline our morning routine to makes things less stressful and more productive in our makeover segment. Hopefully, I'll have some tips that'll help others out there.

Until next time, let's try to keep things simple!