sometimes life’s rough & we just need a good ol’ perk-me-up gift basket from our girls.
can i get an amen?
if you don’t already keep a basket or box of little last minute, quick gifts – do it.
i keep my basket of little gifts in my guest bedroom closet. i pick up things here & there that tickle my fancy or are on clearance for a great price. when i need a gift, i look through my basket & pick out items that would fit that person’s interests & style.
this is perfect for those moments when you feel the urge to give but you don’t have the budget or the time to run to target.
when my gal pal mentioned that she was going through a particularly challenging season, my tribe of lady friends pitched in a couple of dollars each & we made her this basket. we included a bottle of izze & straws, nail polish, a cinnamon roll & a bouquet of flowers to add a bit of happy to her day.
i even re-used the colorful izze box, which is just the cutest. from trash to treasure, i say.
a bit of crinkly turquoise paper from amanda’s shop along with sequins, gold, a clothespin & the perfect card to reminder her that she is indeed “beauty full.”
this little package came together in just a handful of minutes & brightened her day!
how do you love on your gal pals? i’d love to read your ideas!
love,
natalie
i absolutely love supporting small artists, bloggers & makers on my blog. hands down, it’s in my top ten list of fave things about this space.
so when lauren of the honaker homemaker contacted me about featuring her string art “create” sign, i squealed in delight. the word “create” means so much to me & her work is absolutely stunning.
also, i just so happen to have the perfect spot for her piece within my home…
we’re working on a family wall gallery in the hallway leading to the bedrooms. it’s just a wee bit awkward at the moment as it only features photos of luke & me (incredible, beautiful photos by my gal pal nikki of nikki toth photography, that is!).
side note: you people with the littles are lucky. framing photos of your chillins is totally acceptable. thirty-four photos of our faces? *uncomfortable*
we’re working on it.
collecting photos of our extended family, that is. ahem.
but i just can’t tell you how excited i was to add my little create sign to our gallery wall. it’s just the perfect pop of color & compliments my painted frames so well.
& for one lucky reader, you can take home this beauty, too!
the honaker homemaker is giving away one string art “create” sign to one lucky reader!
it’s oh so simple.
1. grab a cup of coffee & browse the honaker homemaker shop!
2. like the honaker homemaker on facebook or ig @thehonakerhome
3. leave a comment below with your email address sharing your favorite product from lauren’s shop & how you would feature it in your home!
i’ll pick a random winner at 8 am cst on wednesday, september 10th.
happy winning, friends!
love,
natalie
p.s. get your shop on right now with the code “CREATE20” for 20% off your purchase!
—
giveaway closed! congrats to auntie carrie for winning the honaker homemaker “create” sign giveaway!
if you’ve been around these parts for any time at all, you’ll quickly find out that i’m the gal trying to save a buck or two. i love a good bargain & i’ll wake up at the crack of dawn on saturday for a promising yard sale. almost every single piece of furniture in our home is purchased secondhand & i’m pretty proud of that little known fact.
i am often asked how i find such great treasures while thrifting. today i am here to share my top tips for finding those affordable treasures while thrifting:
1. go often: i thrift or go to yard sales about three times a week. i have a schedule that i follow & a list of stores i visit on specific days. by visiting your local shops often, you’ll find your own rhythm & favorite shops for certain items you’re looking for on a regular basis.
2. know your location: knowing where to find the best secondhand treasures for the best deals is key. take a map or locate your gps app & hit the road. stop at every interesting yard sale you see. once you’ve explored your town & surrounding areas, you’ll find the best places to shop. i visit yard sales every saturday in the same parts of town & i am rarely ever disappointed. find those hot spots in your area & get to thrifting!
3. shop smart: thrifting is in large part about finding a deal. sometimes i cannot live without an item & i purchase it for more than i’d otherwise pay. more often than not, though, i stick to a budget & only spend what i really think the item is worth. if i feel like a price isn’t quite within my budget, i’ll ask for a discount of about 30% off. if the seller won’t budge, i pass. that means something better is just up the road, friend.
4. celebrate the quirky: thrifting is a fun way to express yourself within your home! i love purchasing items i normally wouldn’t purchase or even see at a big box store. the bird chair on the left was purchased for just $5 at goodwill & adds such a pop of fun to our bedroom. don’t be afraid to mismatch patterns & colors. if you love it, make it work within your home. don’t be limited to what you think you should like.
5. see potential: thrifting has a lot to do with seeing the potential in an otherwise forgotten item. i picked up that dirty, old wooden box at a sale. i brought it home, cleaned it up & moved it into our living room. it now serves as our coffee table & it even has extra storage inside for board games. the glass bookshelf below now sits in our dining room with crates full of cloth napkins & hand towels. a bit of cleaning, a fresh layer of paint & a new perspective can turn a secondhand item into a gem perfect for your home.
6. have fun!: most importantly, have fun thrifting! invite a group of girlfriends or your mom to bring along on your thrifting adventures. personally, thrifting is my weekly retreat & i savor the quiet time walking down the aisles of my local thrift shop. it’s my favorite hobby & i absolutely love the thrill of the junk hunt.
what are your top tips for thrifting? please share!
love,
natalie