Easy Trash Finds for Christmas

It’s great living next door to a caterer.

My neighbor, the caterer is ever so kind in sharing leftover food from weddings, special events, etc. and more often, her decorating ideas.

She’s a genius.  This last month, she inherited a huge box of antique sheet music.  She’s made a sheet music wreath, wrapped candle sticks and bird houses in sheet music, added holly and red glittery birds, candy canes and snow flakes.  Her house is a winter wonderland.

Much of her decorating reminds me of some of the stuff Kelly and I saw at Anthropologie, like this Christmas tree, made out of sheet music priced at $38.00.

And these Mason & salt/pepper shaker jars, full of a Christmas tree and snow.

No reason to pay this much for cute Christmas decor, when you can make the same type of stuff from thrift store finds.  My neighbor, the caterer, had a box of old Christmas decorations ready to take to Goodwill, when she offered them to me.

I brought them home and paired them up with the 20 feet of garland I purchased at a garaging this weekend (paid $2.00 for all of it).

I strung up more garland across my windows and paired it with the caterer's decorations she gave me.  

Remember my gorgeous Christmas tree I found at a garage sale last year?  The home owner charged me $1.00 per foot, pricing the tree at $10.00.  Yes, this is the counselor's childhood sleeping bag covered with football mascots used as a tree skirt.  The counselor put up the tree while I was out garaging and the tree skirt was his idea.  We all have our battles, don't we. 

With the colder weather, Reef needed some warm shoes.  I found these leather boutique European boots at D.I. for $4.00.  

I love how he pairs them with his swimsuit.

Ride like the wind, little guy!

I found little sister's Christmas dress on Goodwill's dollar day this summer.  I found the red shoes last week at Deseret Industries for $2.00. Here she is after church.

We took family photos on Sunday.  I went thrifting with my mom on Saturday, hoping I'd find something fun and bold with a hint of Anthropologie coming through.  I found this Jones New York 1990's jacket and loved the color.  It was half-off day at Goodwill, so I paid $7.50 for it.  The boys all had their $1.00 day Goodwill sweaters.  Eden and I are wearing hair pieces I made from vintage silk flowers.  I think it's the only time this year Chandler and Payson have worn something besides basketball shorts and Nike t-shirts.

I'm glad I have some extra cash to start my holiday shopping.

I’d have to say my biggest payoff of the year was this credenza I found a few weeks ago.  

I paid $10.00 for it at a church rummage sale. It’s the same song and dance I’ve heard before and the reason this blog is called My Dear Trash.

“Yeah, it’s just an old ugly thing ready to go in the dumpster.  You really want it?  $10.00 and it’s yours.”

So, for $10.00 it was mine. 

It’s all in the eye of the beholder and I could tell this piece of furniture had a home somewhere.

Solid wood, no scratches, excellent working condition, so I listed it as-is on craigslist.

It sold in just a few days for $150.00 to an interior decorator who has huge plans for it.

What a way to start my holiday season.
Linking up to:

My favorite garage sale find? A wig box.

I haven’t been garage sale shopping for weeks and weeks.  With a husband who works most Saturdays, it’s a bit overwhelming to consider taking care of all 5 kids, let alone running around to garage sales.  When the weather cools and every community is having large rummage sales and just a run to the grocery store I'll encounter 20 yard sale signs along the way, it’s easy to see why Saturday mornings I go through shopping withdrawals.  So, this Saturday, with the counselor home, I asked if he’d watch the kids so I could go have some fun.

My first 20 minutes out, I found this crazy huge credenza for $10.00.  This beauty is 98 inches long.   I’m not certain if I’ll paint it or not, but I already listed it on craigslist.

I found Eden a Madame Alexandra doll of her very own for $10.00. 

My favorite find was this vintage suitcase for $5.00.  I laughed out loud when I zipped it open.  It’s a wig box, mannequin and brush included. 

This little dresser was $10.00.  I can't wait to paint it up, maybe a robin's egg blue.

The antique church pew was $20.00.  I think this will go down to the shop at QcumberZ.

Vintage tamborine?  Why not.  Teather ball new in box?  Why yes, thank you.  Vintage clock radio and game all $1.00 each.

Retro bar stool for $2.00.  Love it.

This chair with the original fabric is very Anthropologie and for $10.00, I'm certain I can flip it for a profit.

Note to self:  Never run into to Costco while the car is full of yard sale finds.  It got very crowded in here.

Shopping trash on Saturday was busy, so Eden and I took it easy Sunday morning, browsing the latest Anthropologie catalog.

I loved the great clothes, but Eden loved looking at the chicken and horses.

Benefit Garage Sale for Garrett Tanner

My darling little sister, Becky was amazed at the turn out for the Linda Call Funeral Fund Yard Sale sponsored by My Dear Trash. As you remember, our community raised $2,000.00 to help pay for Linda Call’s funeral expenses. Everybody pulled together and Kelly and I received loads of dear trash for the sale.

Well, now, Becky is having her own benefit yard sale for someone she loves and My Dear Trash is helping again; turning trash to cash for a good cause.

Here is the information:

Benefit Garage Sale for Garrett Tanner

Garret Tanner is a family friend who broke his spinal cord over two years ago in gymnastics.

This is Garrett before his accident

and this is Garrett now.

You can read his story at:

www.gogarrett.org

He was going to therapy for months and doing great, even rolling over, but his insurance won’t cover the therapy he needs. This young man is so inspirational, and I KNOW he will benefit from continuing therapy. He has not been able to go, and this breaks my heart.

Becky would like to get him started up again.

Becky is collecting anything that you’ve set aside to be sent to the thrift store.

Clothes, books, furniture, toys, etc.

Where: New Horizon School for the Performing Arts

446 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa 85204

Crossroads are Mesa Dr. and Broadway

When: Saturday, February 27^th

Time: 8:00 to 12:00

Please drop your items off by Friday, February 26^th.

Donations can be dropped of Monday thru Friday, 7:30 to 4:00

Thank you. I know together, we can make a difference in the man’s life.

Now, this sale is the same day as the Fraser Fields Swap. Both events are just a few miles from one another in downtown Mesa. Shop for a great cause and swap for a great cause.