Just a few of my finds this week. Most were refurbished and resold, a couple I kept!
Friday Findings 3.15.13
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Friday Findings * Instagram Style
I’ve been a little quiet… Lots going on, lots changing around these parts! But one thing hasn’t changed… I’m addicted to my local thrift shop! Here are some of my finds from the past few weeks. I’m thinking I would like to start having a linky party every Friday, but want to know if you, my fabulous readers, would be interested??? Let me know!
Mail sorter. Love that I found this and how well it turned out despite my hasty painting.
Vintage Pyrex. The multi-colored stripe one is rather rare. I even got the salt and pepper shakers with the original lids to match!
Isn’t she cute!?!
Vintage Dooney? Yes, I think so! She was buried beneath a pile of hats.
This guy is going in my boys room! Redo to be debut’ed soon!!!
PS if you’d like to follow me on Instagram, I’d love to have you join me!! @TrilalaO
Christmas PJ’s 2012
We all have the tradition of Christmas PJ’s. Most open them Christmas Eve, and we used to as well, but this year I decided to do things a little different. I really wanted my kids to wear theirs to our family events and have pictures taken in them before the actual morning of Christmas. Because, let’s face it, not everyone looks their CoverGirl best on Christmas morning, and my boys are no exception. So, my boys got their jammies the first week of December, after bath time of course, so out came the camera!
I’ve always loved the catalog Chasing Fireflies. I have to black out the prices mentally, though, in order to look at the beyond adorable goodies. So, while trying to come up with an inexpensive solution to the Christmas Jammie situation for this year, I saw these plain pj sets at Target and immediately thought “MONOGRAM THOSE BABIES!” I picked up one size and then hunted down the other at another Target just shortly after Halloween (yes, Halloween.) Thankfully I have 4 at my disposal around my son’s school.
I hopped onto Etsy, picked up some wool felt in teal and when it arrived, I used my handy dandy freezer paper stencil, Heat n’ Bond, hand stitch technique that I use for almost all my applique’d items.
The boys LOVE their jammies, would wear them every night if they could. And, they’re versatile enough to wear until it gets warm!
What did you do for Christmas PJ’s this year?
Triana’s Christmas Decor 2012
It’s been a little quiet around here… seems to me that a little fun decor show and tell is in order!
My decor this year hasn’t changed a whole lot. With the exception of omitting most of the lime green from my decor I kept it pretty much the same.
I did however, add a few new little treats in with the standby’s!
The milkglass collection got a little love from some vintage ornaments I found at the thrift store. The love sign is from an AMAZING company called Caravan Shoppe.
The top of the TV cabinet also got some vintage love from some ornaments, the ornament hanger box and the tealight holder. Are we sensing a trend yet?
Last year’s advent calendar is back, although I think a new one is in order for next year. I’m thinking we may need to go a different route. Also, isn’t that plaid mug just too cute?! It goes so nicely with the vintage thermos I found that matches a large one my hubby’s grandpa had in the garage. Oh and, see the stack of washi tape up top? If you haven’t heard of washi tape, I strongly urge you to pause your reading, head on over to Etsy and find a washi tape dealer. NOW! That stuff is too good not to share!
This was my birthday present from my hubby. Thank you to West Elm for creating such a beauty! I was in heaven when I saw it!
Now, if I haven’t sung the praises of my local Facebook yardsale site enough, I got all these trees (plus about 5 more and fences,etc. for $2. The little vintage white house is a thrift store fine (as are the jars) that I spruced up a bit. Ok, I think that might be it with the vintage hehehe, maybe… maybe not. You never know with me!
Our tree is real this year, and with a real tree comes “character” Our tree had a sizable gap in the front, a little bit of a curve to the trunk and one side that’s a little too long. The hubby likes to tease me that it’s a “Charlie Brown” tree…. but, goodness, I love this little tree! To fill the gap in the front, I decided that I’d copy Taylor and make a glitter house… only I didn’t glitterize him for fear that my boys would get ahold and sprinkle my house with glitter love. I also found a use for the umpteen berry baskets I received in a giveaway!
Thanks for touring!!!
Send us a link to your Christmas decorations, we love to see how everyone decorates their abode’s for Christmas!
Guest Post: Vintage Sheet Blog
I am so excited about this guest post today (our first ever!!). This darling blogger is an Auntie blogger who loves to make things for her nieces and nephew. How cute is that!? (Hint, hint Haley!!!) Be sure to check out her cute Etsy shop, Grow Home, too for some fun vintage finds. Now, onto the post:
Hi Plum Verbena readers. I’m Heather from The Vintage Sheet Blog. I love finding potential treasures at thrift shops and transforming them into something wonderful. So, I brought you a little upcycled project that I made for my little niece. I hope that you like it.
Baby Doll Bed and Ruffled Quilt
I transformed a thrift shop doll cradle with some spray paint. I also made a little ruffled doll blanket out of some cute vintage sheet fabric scraps.
I started with a white doll bed that had wide lace covering the cute wicker sides. It also had a faded fabric cover that was ug-ly.
I tore off the lace and fabric, using a blow dryer to melt some of the adhesive. Using a can of spray paint, I painted it a pretty light pink. Pretty!
With a fresh coat of paint, the doll bed looks so “modern vintage.” Next, I made a little doll blanket.
To make your own ruffled doll quilt you will need:
6 strips of fabric, preferably vintage sheets 
measuring 3″ x 12″
Extra wide double-fold seam binding
Sewing machine, thread, pins, scissors, seam ripper
To ruffle the fabric, sew down the center of each strip, pulling on the thread to tighten the tension. No need to back stitch here.
You’ll have to play around with this. Too tight and it might break (bad), too loose and it won’t work (also bad.)
Stretch each strip so that they are equal length.
With right sides together, attach two strips together using a straight stitch and then a zigzag (or, use a serger.) Repeat with remaining strips.
Then, sew the seam binding on each short end of the quilt.
Remove the thread that runs down the center of each strip with a seam ripper.
Finish by attaching the binding (cut at a 45 degree angle) to the other sides, overlapping at the corners.
Done!
Thank you so much Taylor and Triana for letting me share today. Now I’m off to make a doll blanket for my other little niece. Her favorite color is purple.
Thanks Heather! It was so fun having you post for us!
Eight: The Spa Party
Did you think I was dead!? Last week was C-R-A-Z-Y. You see, I did a little craft show with a friend. There were a few mix ups on the dates, as well as whether we had a booth or not. Long story short, we DID end up with a booth, but I somehow scheduled Ansley’s birthday party for the same night as the first day of the show. Thank heavens my Mama came to town (for the whole week!!) and saved the day. Both the booth and party went off without a hitch. More on the booth later, today it’s all about the party!!
For her 8th birthday party Ansley requested a Spa theme. I had grand plans of manicures, pedicures, facials, the works. However, with the scheduling mishap things had to be scaled back. It actually worked out perfectly!!
This party was so much fun to plan and execute. I know that most of the details were lost on the girls, and that they aren’t importnant. But, that’s the part I love!
We started the party with glitter nails!! I was lucky enough to have several helpers for this!! Thank you again!! I set up a little nail station with apothacary jars I found at the DI (Triana, are you SO proud!??), nail polishes, and a file for each girl. As well as mini paint brushes.
I was too busy painting the nails to get a picture of the finished product!? But, to make the process of glittering 200 tiny fingernails as neat as possible, and using the smallest amount of my beloved Martha Stewart Glitter I bought a tiny paint brush for every glittle color. This worked great! I simply painted a nail, dipped the brush in glitter, and then painted it onto just the bottom third of the nail. Topped with a clear coat. If anyone is interested, leave me a comment and I will do a tutorial.
After nails, we did a pasta bar! Such a fun idea my Mom thought of after Ansley shot down my idea of pizza. Fettucine alfredo, with assorted toppings (chicken, broccoli, peas, bacon, and extra cheese. I think, sauted peppers and mushrooms would be a great addition for a grown-up party!) was a hit with the girls (and the grown-ups.) I used this recipe for the sauce. It’s a keeper!! I skipped a salad (so hard for me!) and just served garlic bread.
Next up, we made a simple sugar scrub. This doubled as a party favor! I made up little labels on Picmonkey (shocker!?) to tie around 4oz mason jars. The girls loved it! I will post my recipe and label in a seperate post!
Once the girls tested out the scrub, it was time for cake and ice cream. My Mom was awesome- baked the cake, made the icing, and scooped the ice cream into the cupcake liners. I will do a full post about the cake as well, because the cake and frosting combo were to die for. YUM! (And the milk glass cakestand made it’s debut!!)
For the decor, a few banners (using this paper), my tulle Halloween wreath from last year wih a felt bow, and some scallop circle ornaments. Nothing too over the top. I have to mention, that the girls were really impressed with the paper wrapped water bottles! Too cute.
Happy 8th Birthday Ansley!! I hope your Spa Party was everything you hoped for!
Friday Findings- To keep or to refurb and sell?
We hope everyone had a glorious Halloween and are sneaking into their kids buckets for a little bit of a sugar high (you know you do it too!)
(Triana, Master G and Baby A as our favorite characters from Peter Pan) We had a glorious time at our annual party and trick or treating in a very amazing neighborhood, we’re honored to be guests every year!
Onto my findings!
I was pretty lucky to get this piece since I saw it Wednesday but didn’t pick it up, it had no price tag and I really didn’t want to ask… didn’t feel like it. But, I thought about it ALL night long. So when I went back yesterday and saw it… I picked it up and HAULED it through the entire store, good thing it’s light!
I saw a photo on Facebook (I can’t find it, I meant to save it but I was too sad I didn’t pick the headboard up so I didn’t save it.) where this exact headboard was painted teal and put up against a grey wall. GORGEOUS! So, when I saw it today I thought I could refurb and sell and make someone with a cute little girl really happy. When I got home and put it up against the fence, I turned to look at it and was kinda smitten with it all over again. I kinda want to keep it, and I kinda want to keep it white.
My only problem… I don’t have anywhere to put it at the moment and no girls in sight beside myself. She’s a little dirty, a few areas could use some E6000 to make sure they don’t come loose, but man… So delicate and pretty! What to do!? (White girl problems, as Taylor would say!)
She could definitely use a new coat of paint, but that’s fixable!
Love the accessories, but the setting could use a MAJOR face lift! I think it might be time for some paint.
Please, leave me some insight! Is it too 90′s? Does it need to be painted and find a new home?? Or do I need to keep it, use it as a photo prop, put it in my boys room… anything just so I can keep it???
Happy Fall Friday!
Triana
Recipe – Tom Kha Gai
A few weeks ago, my little family of men and I were invited to dinner at a friend’s parents house. The lady of the house is Thai, and although says she’s just learning to cook… pshaw! She is killer in the kitchen! She made us this soup that I was craving for days afterwards and thus, made my hubby take me to a Thai restaurant on our date that weekend so I could get it.
I’ve now found myself hankering the soup again and because I’m too embarrassed to ask my Thai friend her recipe or how to make it, I have been searching for a recipe ever since. I found a recipe I liked, but tweaked it just a bit to fit my taste and on Sunday got up the nerve to make it! I even posted it on Instagram (Follow me, I’ll follow you!! The more, the merrier! Promise!! @Trilalao). Enjoy!
Tom Kha Gai (Coconut Curry Soup with Chicken)
- 1 can (16 oz.) premium coconut milk
- 1 can (14 oz.) reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 6 quarter-size slices fresh ginger
- 1 stalk fresh lemongrass, cut in 1-in. pieces
- 1 pound boned, boneless, skinnless chicken tenders (I poached these in the chicken broth and coconut milk mixture, then cut after they were cooked)
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced or quartered
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar (weird, I know but it makes the soup!)
- 1 teaspoon red chili paste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
Combine chicken broth, coconut milk, ginger, lemon grass and chicken tenders in a large pot. Bring to a boil until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken and cut into chunks (I hate that word!) Return chicken and add mushrooms, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili paste. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve over rice, if you’d like and garnish with sliced basil and cilantro.
This soup also reheats well if you’re looking to make a bigger batch for a smaller crowd.
Eight: Preparing for the PARTY
You all know we love throwing a party! The past few years it seems that birthday parties for my girls just haven’t happened though. This year Ansley requested a Spa Party! Fun!!
I always start my parties with a trip to Pebbles in my Pocket. I usually have some ideas in mind though. Not this time. Luckily, I fell in love with a line of paper that was girly, but with a grown up edge. Just you wait until you see it!! I am in love. I can’t wait to start making all the decorations out of it!! But, today, I am going to declare my love for PicMonkey and show you the invite I designed using their site.
This site is so user friendly. It’s awesome! It’s free. Can’t beat that. If you have any questions about how I made the invitation I would be ahppy to answer in the comments below!
Next up. Banners. And party favors.
Thanks for your patience and sticking with us and our crazy busy schedules! I think we are starting to find a little balance, and clearing some time for the ole’ blog here. Fun things are happening, you don’t want to miss!!
Parting with Furniture: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
When my hubby and I were first married, I made the silly mistake of sending him out for our first apartment. We were building our town home and just needed something to house us for 6-10 months until it was finished. The day after we got home from our honeymoon and open house at his parents in Las Vegas, we hurriedly moved into a 500 square foot married student apartment with all his bachelor furniture. To say we felt like sardines is an understatement. We were eating meals on the coffee table and using a computer as our TV, not to mention our bed was on the floor and we had a piano in our bedroom. Some days I think it would be nice to go back to those times, they were definitely more simple and a whole lot easier to clean, but on the other hand, I don’t know that I could live crammed into that tiny of a space ever again.
We moved into our town home on a very cold and wet day JUST before the end of the year and ate our first meal sitting on the floor in the middle of the kitchen. It was two weeks later that we went over to a big box store and got a beautiful bar height table and chair set that had a butterfly leaf and a lazy Susan. The only piece of furniture we had purchased until we finished our basement in that town house (We ended up with 2000 square feet… oh what I wouldn’t give to have that back!) Oddly enough, Taylor had the EXACT same set in her town home. We like to say that great minds think alike!
With our impending move, I’ve been searching rental units and I’ve been noticing the cramped space our budget allows. The dining and living spaces are MUCH smaller so out my large furniture has to go. I have a LARGE sectional that I grew up with and my dining table and chairs, our king size bed and my son’s bed that was my hubby’s bed as a kid. Downsizing is difficult, there are lots of memories tied to these pieces.
The Good:
Letting go of furniture my family and friends have handed down is giving me the opportunity to let my own personal style come through. It’s also giving me a chance to get rid of the REALLY heavy/large pieces of furniture we have collected.
(This bed is a loft style bed, it has two massive pieces, a desk and dresser, that go underneath. It took 4 guys to carry the dresser down the stairs from boys room when we moved from the town home. That thing could withstand a hurricane!)
The Bad:
Furniture is EXPENSIVE and time consuming to find just the right piece. I’ve mostly been hunting garage sales, Craigslist, my local Facebook 24/7 yard sale sites and KSL (our local news station has a classifieds page.) It might be more frustrating than looking for an actual apartment. But I just don’t have the budget to buy new, wish I did…. one day!
(the dream. Pottery Barn $2000+)
(In the budget, but is it cute enough??? Is it going to hold up to my monsters!?)
(I love the style and shape of this couch, I’d totally get it and re-upholster it. If I were brave enough!)
The Ugly:
(not my couch, and I hope not to offend anyone that has one like this. It’s just not my style.)
Man have ugly pieces of furniture been made! I realize they may have been in style at one point or another, and that people really love their overstuffed recliner sofa’s, but it’s just not for me. Also, having to be SO careful of where something came from is pushing my non-germaphobic limit.
Thankfully, for now we have options. Always keep your options open! I’m having such a hard time letting go, but now that I have, it’s feeling kinda nice. Hoping to not have to move the two biggest and heaviest pieces of furniture left!!!
Any tips for finding good pieces of inexpensive but designer-like furniture????
Thanks!!!
Triana
