Rummage Sale Birthday Party

A 10 year old girl that attends my daughter's grade school is having a birthday party, so what you may say. Her party is a rummage sale and bake sale to benefit the local humane society. Each guest has been advised they will be helping run the sale and if possible to donate some items. What a socially responsible young girl and a clever idea. Her mother must be proud. You can check out the entire story here. Since the sale is only a few blocks away, I will try to make it to support her cause.

Speaking of kids, the other day I over heard my daughter ask her brother if he'd like to play rummage sale. I had to chuckle, as she set up all her goods all over my living room. It was cute, even if the mess was in left sitting for two days. I guess maybe we have been going to a few sales this summer, but after all we are the Junk Mammas.

Enjoy the weekend.

The Junk Mammas

Junkin finds and a recipe

Since summer is in full swing our schedules are filling up, so our junkin has slowed a bit this week. I did manage to go to Goodwill and found some things and I did stop at two sales on the way to an outing. It is so hard for me to resist a garage sale sign.

I think I am going to attach a bird house to one end of table leg then put in my garden. Maybe the same for the shovel or maybe I will just hang it on the outside of the garage. Who knows with me. Don't forget to check out all the other finds at the Rhonda's Southern Hospitality.

Someone requested us to share this recipe.


Chicken Delight(Divan)



2 10 oz packages of frozen broccoli

2 cups cooked chicken

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup mayo

1 Tbs lemon juice

1/4 tsp curry powder

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup croutons, we use more

1/2 stick butter

2-3 cups cooked rice


Combine soup, lemon juice, mayo and curry in small bowl. Melt butter and mix with croutons for topping. Save for later. In 9x13 greased pan layer cooked rice, broccoli, chicken, soup mixture, and cheese. Top with croutons. Bake @ 350 from 30-45 minutes.


I usually half this recipe for my family and use light soup and mayo. You can play around with the amount of lemon and curry to your taste. And don't forget the croutons because it's the best part.

The Junk Mammas

Gardening

Planting flowers and growing a vegetable garden are some of our favorite things to do in the summer. We have a large back yard and I have tried to make it cozier with planting along the fence and using non-tradition planters.

We love old garden gates. Below, I used some posts and a gate to make an entrance to my veggie garden .


The black one was found curbside, I used it on my back fence behind some perennials.

I lined my back steps with tin coffee pots that I found and some old buckets. This area does not get a lot of sun so I used impatiens and fern type plants.

Some old washtubs I found rummaging are filled with a fern and some shade blooming flowers.

Kimba's having a garden party @ A Soft Place to Land, stop on over for some great ideas or join the party.

The Junk Mammas

Weekend finds

Here are some of our junkin finds from this weekend. Although, we only went to a few sales we think we found some pretty good stuff. All the stuff in the picture below was $1.00 or under, most marked $.25. We discovered church sales this year. The stuff is super cheap and there is usually a huge selection. Love it.


These chairs were only $4.00 for all of them, yes $1.00 each. The lady didn't want them back in the house again. They are already a nice creamy color all they need is some new fabric on the cushions.

Of course we love the farmers market on Saturday morning, I picked up these peonys and put them in one of 25 cents ball jars. Simple pleasures.

Check out Rhonda @ Southern Hospitality to see what other stuff was found this weekend.

The Junk Mammas

Last day of school

I can't believe it, but it is the last day of school. I have been a tad sad because my first born will be finishing Kindergarten. OK, I have being crying at just the thought of the last day of school. I guess I am just sad because she is growing up. In Kindergarten they still have rest time, free choice, and special helpers, all the fun little kid stuff. In first grade she will be heading into more of the scholastic side. I guess she really is a big girl. Life must go on, I just will be the one hiding behind sunglasses at school today.

I did put together a easy little teacher gift. I wanted to make something to add to a gift card, so I decided on paper covered clothes pins. Added some cute little school wood thingys I bought at Micheals. I wrote the teachers name on the chalkboard, but didn't take a picture of that before I tossed in the gift bag.




The Junk Mammas

Meal in a box

One the best gifts I received after having my children was dinner. Friends and family delivered a couple complete meal. After a long day of tending to little ones it was heaven to just pop the already home made meal in to the oven.

My niece arrived a few weeks ago, so I put together a little meal box for my brother and SIL. The meal box included a Chicken Divan Casserole, Mandarin Orange salad, and a favorite of my SIL dipped pretzels. I also included a healthy snack of apples and a sweet treat which isn't pictured because I picked it up at the store on the way to their house. I was literally finishing the casserole in the back of my van in the grocery store parking lot.(LOL)I had forgot the croutons, and they are the best part of the dish. Organization people, I sometimes am lacking in that department.

I converted a lid from a paper box to a tray by covering it with wrapping paper. Used an onesie drinking glass from the cupboard to hold the pretzel rods and covered with a cello bag tied with of course pink ribbon. Placed all the salad fixings in the pink gift bag. And don't forget to add cooking instructions, I used manila office tags and hand wrote baking instructions. I will be keeping my eye out for new looking dishes, I can use for my next meal box. No worries about returning a dishes.

The Junk Mammas

Mondays Weekend Finds

We went rummaging this past weekend. The weather was great and the sales were everywhere. Although, they turned out not to be the best, we still managed to find a few treasures.

Found this little storage cabinet for $5.00. I painted it red, just need to find new knobs and it will be going in my son's room.


Found some old pop bottles, a silver tray, cute little bird cages and a few dishes.




A soda crate to display special mementos in my son's room. Some pharmacy boxes and little container.

Check out Rhonda @ Southern Hospitality for some other good finds from this past weekend. She has a linky as well so share your own finds with all of us.

The Junk Mammas

Frugal Friday Party

Wendy @ The Shabby Nest is having a Frugal Friday Linky Party. Being the Junk Mammas that we are we had to share some frugal decorating ideas from our own homes.

Often we change things around in our houses, just adding a few new bargains to spruce things up a bit.

Yesterday, I made a new center piece for my dinning room table. I used this white bowl that I picked up a few years ago for maybe $5.00, if even that much. Thought I could use it for salads, but works great for displays.

Made moss balls again, but this time I used wiffle balls that I purchased from the dollar store, 5 for $1.00. Colored eggs that I had, and some wood spindle things I have been collecting for a while. Chippy wood things are just one of my must buy items when I find them, but are never sure what to use them for.


Sea shells from a vacation to Florida when we were first married.

I love the way it turned out, and I can add pieces and change it out whenever I find something new.

I have had bare walls in my living room for some time now. Try like 12 years. I have been meaning to purchase some ledge shelves at Target, but I am a cheapo and couldn't shell out $40.00 + dollars for them. I found these at a sale for $2.00 each. For that price if they didn't work, I wouldn't be out much.
Next, I rummaged around the house for things to put on them. I dressed them up with some more wood spindles in a silver cup. Wood finials I found at Hobby Lobby last fall at 90% off, and some other misc. items.

I still feel like maybe they need something underneath them, but all in all I like the look.

The Junk Mammas

Lighting

Lighting creates a mood in a room. When I choose a chandelier for my dinning room, I knew I wanted something simple. Something that could change with my styles. I found all of this in an inexpensive chandelier from a local hardware store. It is rust colored, has brown paper colored shades and fits into our home great.

I added a chain cover that I found at Hobby Lobby on sale to give it a bit of elegance. I also added crystals. Some that I purchase from a hardware store for a few dollars and crystal chain from the fabric store.

Someday, I would like to cover the shades in fabric, just haven't decided what color yet.

Stop on over to the Nesting Place the Nester is hosting a Lampapalooza party.

The Junk Mammas

Junkin Finds

We were lucky this week to be able to go junkin together. Since it was Memorial Day weekend, there wasn't a ton of sales but we found some junk to add to our collections. And we always have fun, eat a few snacks and drink diet pepsi. We have very similar tastes, so at times we "fight" over the goods. We really don't fight, we more so jockey for position. It is all in good fun. Do you junk alone or with friends?

Some of our loot includes a ornate picture frame and picture. Locker basket to store beach towels, a lamp for my sons room, and a quilt for picnics. A bag of goodies was full of the hooks, window pulls, and a backplate. If I don't use these for a project I thought they would look neat in a jar or bowl on my coffee table.

The bed was from Salvation Army and is for my daughters room. It does need some TLC, but I love it's shape and it was a sturdy piece. Don't forget to check out Southern Hospitality for others junkin finds.

The Junk Mammas

Now how did that get broke

Now how did that get broke, is a phase I seem to say a lot. Love the husband but he tends to break a lot of stuff around the house. These past a couple weeks, a lot of what I scored has been broke. &%$#@ He kids he should be in quality control, cause if he can't break it is good quality.


I have been looking for some everyday white dishes but just couldn't fork out the money at Target for new dishes. And I wanted to be able to buy open stock too so if, I mean when, something gets broke I can replace easily.

I tend to be drawn to the pictures in magazines with open shelves stacked with dishes. So I thought I should just buy white dishes when ever I see some at my favorite stores and garage sales for a great price. And even it they are mismatched, the white color will tie them together. So this is what I found so far. The husband commented as I was unpacking the cups, Oh good more white mugs for me to break. Nice.

I also have been collecting white ironstone looking platters and plates. I didn't spent more than $3.00 on any one. It was the plate hangers that cost a little money. But I love the look. I want to be able to add more the wall too. I too seem to be in a breaking phase, cause two plates bit the dust when I was hanging them up.

The Junk Mammas

Junkers anoymous-Thifty shopping

Do they have such a group? We are definitely addicted to finding thifty treasures, hitting the sales whenever possible and Goodwill at least once a week. We seem to buy and buy, then we are left pondering what to do with the stuff. Here are just a few of the treasures I purchased this past weekend.

Tin coffee pots, I think these would look really cute with plants in them, I went a little over board, but I have this need for collections of items. Besides the lady that was selling them literally had hundreds of them and it was hard just to leave with only 7.

This table was something I could not resist, loved the style, but am not real crazy about the color. Also, picked up the silver pitchers on top this weekend.




The last thing I will share with you, yes there is more, but I need to save them for another day. A vintage typewriter. I have wanted one for a long time. I really wanted the keys, but now that I have one it may be hard taking it apart.


Have some good finds that you would like to share. Rhonda at Southern Hospitality has a linky party every Monday. Hope to see you there!

The Junk Mammas

Wrap it up

In the last few weeks it has been celebration o'rama around here. So between three family birthdays, a new baby niece, and three classmate parties, I did manage to came up with a couple cute packages.

I found a cute jump rope at Target and wanted to use it as part of the gift. So I wrapped the package and tied it up with the jump rope. It did take me about 15 minutes to figure out how to actually wrap the jump rope around the package.

The next was a gift for my niece and wasn't that original but it was a little extra. I just tied a pearl initial found at Michaels for a buck on the bag for a personal touch. My mother always adds a rattle to any baby gift. People really do appreciate the extra effort.

We also wanted to give a BIG THANKS to Nicola @ PMCTIPs for giving us our first blog award. We really appreciate it Nicola!!

Weekend finds and projects

We had a beautiful weekend here and the sales were all over. Many of our neighboring towns had citywide sales. We spent most of our morning on Saturday shopping.

I had this great little jar above sitting around and thought it would be the perfect place to put my daughters hair accessories. Bought a Scrabble game for $1.00 this weekend. With epoxy I attached the scrabble letters to the front and filled it up. I think this would be a great idea in the kitchen as well. You could do one for coffee, dog treats, etc....


We are always on the look out for planters. Love to put flowers in old tea pots, washtubs or anything else that can hold a little dirt. Found this silver electric coffee pot for a couple of dollors. I removed the guts and polished it up, finished it off with a plant inside.


Here are some of our other finds. A big frame, two small tables, a silver thingy and a couple pottery pieces. Working on painting the tables today, but ran out of my favorite spray paint. Kilz Casual Colors-Brown Sugar and Walmart no longer carries it. I will be making a trip to the home improvment store after I picking up my daughter at school to search for something that will work.

The Junk Mammas

Weekend Junkin Finds

We went junkin this past weekend. Rummage sales, Goodwill, you name it. Do you ever get home and wonder why did I buy that? Or you find the perfect item you picked up and purchased wasn't so perfect when you get home. A hole in something, a corner missing off of a picture frame or a big chip out of that white transferware. Hate that.


Anyways, here are a few items that we purchased without regrets this weekend.

This giant gold frame was a must have at only $6.00. I am going to have my husband cut a board for the inside and turn it into a chalk board for the dinning room.

I bought this little wicker purse for only $.50, it looks great with a posy pin and hangs in my front hallway. Thought I could use it to store little things that we might need before we leave the house.

Found a pair of buffet lamps at only $4.00 each. Not that fond of the gold, but love the black shades and think thay will look great in the dinning room with a coat of cream paint.

Last, but not least the FREE chandelier. Yep found this beauty curb side. Thought it may work on my porch with candles and a coat of paint over the gold. Thinking maybe robins egg blue??

Hopefully this coming up weekend we are heading to the 100 mile rummage sale....

The Junk Mammas

All you

While reading magazines at the checkout at Walmart, I found this one, all you. At only $2.49, it was a bargain over the others I buy on a regular basis.

To my amazement, this magazine was packed with great recipes, some good articles and the mother load of coupons over $76.00 worth of savings.

A buy one get one free Rimmel 60 second dry nail polish, this was one of our Fabulous Friday Finds. It's a great inexpensive polish. Good for wiggly little fingers and toes, lots of nice colors and it really does dry in 60 seconds.

Next time you are out take a look at this one. You can also look online @ allyou.com for a listing of coupons in each months issue.

The Junk Mammas

Frugal Friday Linky Party

Wendy at The Shabby Nest is having a Frugal Friday Party! Our chic cheap tip is to use flowers and plants!

Almost every grocery store has a floral section, some even have a reduced section. Even cheaper yet grow your own, or cut your neighors, kidding. In the summer our favorite place to get flowers is at the farmers market. In our town there is a farmer market in the parking lot of Goodwill on certain days. Lucky us.

And vases or planters can be pick up any where. Look for vases with narrow opening, so you only have to use a few blooms to get impact. Almost anything can be a vase or planter, be creative. You can also mix real with faux. I used fake lilacs in the one picture with real potted gerber daisies.

One of our favorite blogs The Pleasure of Homemaking , we love how she uses flowers in home. Check her blog for other gardening ideas.

Have a great weekend!

The Junk Mammas