Another place for you to score great vintage

Vintage Lawnware Lamp - $17

As you know, Zach and I love going to auctions. They are exhilarating! If you have not gone to one yet, I'm telling you, you are missing out.

But there is another place to find vintage, and that is online auctions. There is this auction house here in Fayetteville that used to hold live auctions, but they have recently changed to online auctions only. At first, I did not like the change. The live auctions are so much funner, and bidding online is kinda like ebay. But I realized after the fact that it is so much easier and cheaper and faster! Well, at least this online auction. I have found that not many people know about regional online auctions. This can make things cheaper. So check out your area for online auctions. This is a great site to find them!

Vintage Mid-century Side Table - $9 (excuse my pack)

I just thought Lennon's face was funny in this pic. hehe

 

The Teahouse of The August Moon

THIS is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but I also own it too. It will never get old for me. I actually adore Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford. Dreamy...

I would categorize this movie as a comedy. There is so much comedic wit and troubles. But this movie also offers love and admiration for the Japanese people. Being 1/4 Japanese, I have a thing for movies set in Japan. (Check out Sayonara. Another Marlon Brando film.) This is also a war movie; I find films with a historical background so much more interesting. 

Set in Okinawa, a captain must enforce the new way of living planned out for the islanders by the US government. Many unexpected events get in the way of this plan, such as a geisha, a distillery, and an obsessed vegetable grower. As I write this description of the movie, I realize how crazy this all sounds. haha. It is worth the time!

Check back in and let me know what you think of it! 
I would love to chat about it!


Pic courtesy of http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Theatre/TheTeahouseOfTheAugustMoon

In with MORE old...

Well, Im gonna give this blogging thing a go...again. I really do love to write. It is a great outlet when you talk to people under 7 years of age most of the day. Don't get me wrong, I looove talking with my bouncing boys, but there is something to be said for adult conversation. And blogging does that for me. lol Writing to you is like having a nice adult conversation. 

Now, I am adapting my blog to talk more about intangible vintage, such as, music and movies. I love those things as well. To tell you the truth, classic movies and music make up a lot of who I am. We'll go into that more at a later date. But for now, know that I will be broadening our conversations about vintage. YAY!

My $2 Side Table

I found this vintage side table at a yard sale last year. It was from the side of an old vanity. When the seller said it was $2, I knew I had to snag it! 

I wish I would have taken a before pic. It had a really cool art deco design. I tried to find a way to save the design, but couldn't think of anything. So I painted it matte black and roughed it up a bit. Those nobs are original too! Love them!

I want to put an old sign on the side. Guess I will have to wait till I find the right one. I thought about painting a sign on the side, but I really want an old rusty metal one. And the search continues...

How a clean house will make you happier

This is totally off the subject of vintage, but happiness is important so I thought I would tell you how I feel about a clean house. Don't get me wrong...my house is not always clean. I have two boys under 5, a not-so-clean husband, and a dog. It is impossible. I DO think of myself as a clean person, but not to obsession.

For me, a clean/picked-up house makes me a happier person. Just walking into my bedroom and seeing a made bed makes me think, "Oh that's nice." You might think me silly, but I like to see pretty things. When my house is a disaster, it makes me stressed-out and irritable. So I try to keep my house picked up all the time.

Let me explain what I mean by "picked-up." The one thing I can't live with is dirty dishes laying all around the house. That is one thing, mentally, I can't deal with. So I am always cleaning up dishes. As for laundry, which I hate, I try to get it done on Mondays. It's not like I picked that day to do it, I just got into a habit of doing it the first day Zach goes back to work for the week. THE TOYS...they can't be avoided. There are always toys on the floor. Of course, I want my children to be happy so I let them play with their toys wherever. And I let them get into certain things (ie my plastic container drawer for food storage) to learn and explore. To keep these said toys at bay, if you will, Cayden and I will clean them up right before Daddy/Zach gets home. Every man (I have met) likes a clean house to come home to.

Am I rambling...I think I am.

I could go on about bathrooms and organization, but I think you get the gist.

SO! This week just try keeping your house picked-up a little more. You will feel more accomplished and happier. And your partner will love it and will appreciate you for all your hard work. I just love when Zach praises me on how great the house looks. It's the little things...

A Silly Verse About Yard Selling

I walk up the lane and take in a wondrous vision. 
So many different things. I am on a mission!

I remind myself not to show my pleasure, 
but I'm jumping inside at the site of these treasures.

Slowly I gaze and wonder around some more. 
Oh look! Oh my! It's milk glass galore!

Another and another. I have found so many things
to fill my spirit. It's as if I had wings.

Walking away, I smile with satisfaction.
I MUST keep going. Its such an attraction. 

-Rachel Harvey

Finished Foyer (Almost)

So it has taken me quite a while to finish my foyer. Mostly because I don't like to paint walls. (It had an awful faux finish that made it look kinda dirty.) I've put it off till I couldn't stand it anymore! I do that quite often. NOW, It is painted and somewhat decorated. I say "somewhat" because I probably will add more once I find the perfect pieces, as in, the right shape, color, and size pieces.

Anyways, I am writing this post to tell you about a great website where you can print off high-quality nature paintings for free!

John James Audubon was an amazing artist who painted all kinds of birds in a very natural and eye-catching way. I just looove his style! All you have to do to print these great paintings to to subscribe to the email list. Easy peasy! Here is the link . . .  https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america

I used two of his paintings in my foyer and I will probably use more around the house.

NOW on to the items I chose and their budget-friendly prices! I like to share the price of things I've found so you can see that it is so easy to decorate on a budget. Just be patient and keep searching. You WILL find great things you can use to decorate with! Everything in this foyer was under $12 each! Check out this list...

1. Picture frames - $7 each from Ikea
2. Vintage Sewing table - $10 (It got a fresh coat of paint too)
3. Refurbished Lamp - $12
4. Yard Sale Orchid(faux) - $2 
5. 1/2 off Wreath - $12
6. Yard sale rug - $3 (Threw it into the washer. Good as new.)
7. Coat Stand (not pictured) - $10
8. Bird Prints - Free
9. I got the basket and violin case at an estate sale. I don't remember the cost, but I know they weren't over $10.
10. Woven Bag - Had it for years and can't remember the cost. It was stored in a closet.

I accumulated all these things over 6 months or so. Patients and persistence is the key. I'll post more pics when it is completely finished. At least it is pleasing to look at, for now. 

Tip - That empty violin case hides the lamp cord and outlet.