Look What I Found!

Just as I am preparing for winter and Christmas, I stop at a Caring Transitions estate sale in Woodstock and found a wonderful shabby white iron planter for $20.  I couldn't pass it up.  I was already planning ahead for spring and what I would do with it and where I would put it.

You just have to grab that item when you see it or it will be gone.  I loved the patina and the scrolls on it.  I was surprised that it was still there.  Lucky for me!  That's why I love to treasure hunt.

Carriage House Antiques and "Good Stuff" 21 E. Crystal Lake Ave in Crystal Lake is having their holiday open house starting on Thursday Dec 5 from 3-8 and then Friday-Sunday.  I love going to their open house.  Always so much to see and to buy.  There is always a good assortment of ornaments.  I'm looking forward to this. Plus there are refreshments, a raffle and door prizes. 

It's Christmastime.....

I always usher in Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  Christmas is my favorite holiday.  After clearing away the dishes and food from Thanksgiving, we headed out for Black Friday specials.  We sometimes go out early Black Friday morning, but this was the first time we headed out on Thanksgiving.  I wanted to get some good deals at Kohl's and I did.  Some really nice sweaters  from $9.99 to $15.99.  I also had a $5 off coupon plus 15% off.  The savings were worth the trip.  Kohl's also gave out Kohl's cash to be used the first week of December.

So, I spent about 5 hours on Friday creating my winter wonderland.  I love putting up my 3 vintage tinsel trees and looking through my vintage ornament collection.  I forget how many wonderful ones I have.  This year though, I put up less then usual.  (Which is still a lot).  All the while listening to Christmas music.  Tonight, we will stand in the cold on the Woodstock square like we do every year, to watch the lighting of the square.  It is really magical. 

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with those you hold dear and may you usher in the Christmas season with health and happiness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a happy healthy Thanksgiving. 

I have a lot to be thankful for.  We lost power for 2 days this week and with no power is no heat and no water.  It's not fun....very stressful.  But, it could have been much worse.   I'm thankful for all that I have. 

I have been thinking about my Baba (Grandmother) lately.  She passed away 9 years ago.  I grew up with her around all of the time.  She made the same cookies all of the time, but we loved them.  I only make them around the holidays.  I have been wanting her sugar cookies for some time now.  The last time I tried to make them, they were missing something.  So, today, I tried again.  I use the same type of cookie tins that she did.  They came out perfectly.  Even if I say so myself.  Just taking a bite brought me back to my days with Baba.  The memories are precious.  At least I gave my family a taste of what I grew up with.  I have shared my memories of her with them and they feel very close to her.  I'm thankful to have had her in my life. 

I hope all of you have wonderful memories of loved ones this Thanksgiving. 

Felted Knit Purse

I finally had some free time to finish a felted knit purse that I started a few months ago.  It turned out really nicely.  I used a multi colored yarn on the top portion for some color.  After looking through my pin collection, I find a really nice one that blends in perfectly.  It felted nicely.  I always love the finished look of the purses.  The felting is always unique and the shape always varies.  This one came out just right.

After having the boys Christmas picture taken today, (at Portrait Innovations in Algonquin.  We had a coupon for a holiday special of 56 portraits for $12.99 plus a free coffee mug.)  we headed across the parking lot to Half Price Books to sell them 3 boxes of books.  We got $25 for them and ended up giving it back to them with purchases we made.  I have another few boxes to take after I see what doesn't sell on Ebay.  Ethan and I cleaned out his bookshelves this week and I am selling his collection of Star Wars books on Ebay.  His room looks much neater and now he has room to buy new books.  We love Half Price Books. The problem is that we always find something to spend our money on.

Vintage Santa Fun

I love Christmas!  I especially love vintage Christmas treasures.  Every year, the day after Thanksgiving is spent decorating for Christmas.  I just love rediscovering my treasures as I unpack them.

Today, Ethan and I spent the day going to doctor/dentist appointments.  Since we were in Lake Zurich, I thought why not stop at the Goodwill.  We haven't been there in a while.  It has changed so much since we were there in the summer.  It's a little more chaotic and messy, but, isn't that the thrill of treasure hunting?  While looking through the Christmas decorations, I spotted two Santa's that I don't have in my collection.  One is a red plastic Santa that held candy.  Since it had an orange sticker on it, it was half off.  So, it cost 25 cents.  The other is a black Santa.  I haven't been able to find one in my treasure hunting.  He was 99 cents.  I was so excited.  I had to glue some of his fur back on, but he looks great.  He is going to stay a part of my collection.  I just love it!

Mistletoe Magic

Mistletoe Magic was so much fun at Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock yesterday.  I found soooo many wonderful sterling silver rings, a necklace and bracelets, a few vintage pins and 2 wonderful knitted hats.  Of course, one was for me and the other one is for a gift.   Not to mention that the kids and I bought a lot of cookies.  We started out with 2 lbs of cookies.  Before we left, we ate a few in the car and knew that we needed to go back inside to buy 1 lb more of our favorite ones.  So, we did.  We also bought a tin of brownies and chocolate chip cookie bars.  Yum!  We saw so many of our friends at the sale.  It was a nice festive atmosphere to catch up with friends.  I look forward to this sale every year.  It is held on the first Saturday of November.

We did get to the Algonquin Library book sale on Friday night.  We managed to fill up a huge bag of books, dvd's and video games.  The next sale is March 13-16, 2014. 

I will be updating  my pages with 2014 sale dates so keep checking back for dates to add to your calendar.