You Made It!

My coworkers and I made a trip to the local "paint your own pottery" place, You Made It!, for a holiday outing in December. It's fabulous working downtown within walking distance of many local shops and restaurants. And sometimes you need a little time away from the office to express your creative side! (Not that processing payroll isn't creative for me...)

Most of my coworkers made presents for friends or family, decorated Santa and snowmen candy bowls, or painted neat ornaments for their Christmas tree. I was selfish (and I had already finished my Christmas shopping) and decided to do something for myself. More importantly, something for my newly reupholstered living room furniture:

I now needed something to accentuate the awesome fabric choices.
So, I painted this:

I've never been to a place like this, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and got to take home a neat piece of artwork that didn't look like my masterpiece from fourth grade pottery day in art class. I'll definitely be going back!

My New Toy

I know this girl who is all about thrifting and bargain hunting. I'm constantly eying her wardrobe while wishing I was a few sizes smaller and lived a few miles closer so we could share outfits. I also visit from time to time and ogle over her pretty home, truly designed on a dime, and hope that when I grow up I can be half the decorator she is. Now, she is one lucky duck for having a Goodwill OUTLET so close to her home, but it takes true gusto for one to brave the endless bins of mostly crap in the hit-or-miss world that is thrifting. Does this chick sound awesome or what? Well, that chick is my sister-in-law, Sarah, and I couldn't be happier!

My mother has always taught me the ways of finding a bargain. "Clearance racks are your friend." "Fifty present off is nothing, wait one more week and it'll be seventy!" To try and grasp the awesomeness that is my mother's coupon clipping skills watch this. No, that is not her, but I have seen her do nearly the same thing probably a hundred times.

Now, the difference between my Mother and my Sister-in-Law is hat my Mother does not do the whole thrifting thing. She likes new things, cheap. Sarah is all about finding treasure in other people's trash. And I'm talking real treasure, who gets Ugg boots for 2 DOLLARS?!? Yeah, Sarah does.

How do I fit into this? How do I not!?! I have two of the best teachers right here in my own family!

Last week I combined all of my lessons learned and made one of the coolest purchases to date:

That's right, I purchased a Canon Rebel SLR camera!
WITH an 18-255mm lens!

I know what you're thinking..."Wow, that's fancy, but what does that have to do with bargains and thrifting."

Well, I got this whole package for...$150!!
Right in my budget range!

The best part? After some awesome research on the interwebs by this guy I learned that the lens alone is valued at $650!! I saved $500 on the lens alone!
I guess my boss' trash truly was a treasure!

Check out that ZOOM!

I'm super giddy and hope to soon get as good as this lady, whom (I think it's whom...that whole who/whom thing throws me...) I'm also proud to call my Sister-in-Law!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!