Renting garments!

What in the world was I thinking?!

Week after week going to the thrift shop to scout out what nice new garment I might find to bring home.

Time and again, carting back bags of skirts with waists too small and blouses that look dull and aging on me.

Convincing myself that I was being frugal by spending so little to get so much!

Yet, in the long run, I have wasted more money this way than if I'd purchased a few good items, brand new from the dearer stores in town.

 Being frugal is not always about spending less money for something.

If you find a good quality garment that you will own for years and looks really nice on you ..then it's a bargain.

On the other hand.. if you pay money for things you soon end up giving back ..doesn't that mean you were only renting them to start with?

I am happy to support charity shops - don't get me wrong.

But I have had a sneaking suspicion for a while now, that my attraction addiction to buying clothes at Goodwill shops might be just a wee bit over the top - well I was right!!

Just look at this -

 3 bags full of clothing to give back to where they came from :-(

Ugh!! Not good!!

Am I the only one who does this?

Settle for an item that is not quite right for the sake of saving a few pennies?

Now and then it probably doesn't hurt..yard clothes to do the gardening in don't have to be perfect after all.

But when the bulk of your wardrobe starts to look like you live in the potting shed..something has to go!!

Living-room Makeover

I'm always amazed at what a difference a little elbow grease, and a tin of paint can achieve in a room!

This is a 'before' photo of a dull corner of my living room that we repainted recently.

I had tried painting a deepish pink on the far wall as a 'feature,' to try to bring in some colour against the boring beige/peach that the previous owners had used everywhere in the house.  

And this is how it looks now, after being repainted in Dulux Antique White USA.

The new white colour reflects so much more light in this room and brightens it up considerably!

Sitting beneath a collection of blue and white vintage plates is the new table, made by my clever husband (aka 'the Woodman'), and a wicker basket of silk flowers reduced from $90 to $15 because of some shop damage -which I've hidden under a green scarf.

And of course... moi!

Burning the midnight lamp!

 ummm...

Well more like 9pm actually  :-)

And when I'm not meeting you at the table..I'm snuggled up in my faithful old chair by the fire reading..thinking..and praying.

It doesn't have to take much to make a cosy, comfy corner in a home.

Trust me - a few old plates and chairs and a tin of paint can work wonders!

x Trish

              I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday

Some thrifting favourites

Hello sweet ladies, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend enjoying some relaxing time with your families. I look forward to the weekends very much, because I love having my hubby home for two days; just taking things easy, pottering around together with no pressing schedule. Taking a Sabbath rest with loved ones..it's a good thing you know..He said so !
Well, today I thought I would share a few pics of some of my thrifting bargains with you. I know there are many ladies who enjoy goodwill and op-shopping and I'm definately one of them.
It's a real treat to find pretty or useful things at such affordable prices in these places, and I look through them regularly-usually weekly to see what wants to come home with me :-)

Some nice things I've found recently are a very cute quilted wall hanging for $4.. a crocheted teapot and bunch of silk flowers for $1 each..and these pretty handpainted glass salt and pepper shakers which cost just $3.

Little touches like these can transform a room without stressing the family budget, and I think they help to foster a sense of loveliness in the home.

And doesn't every woman deserve to have something beautiful in her domain; something to bring a smile and a sense of celebrating femininity whilst caring for the home? I'm a believer in the double blessing of charity shopping. We help others by purchasing from there and we get the benefit of saving money..and sometimes we find beauty in the bargain!

I wonder how many of you agree with me?

blessings..Trish