I started my weekend off right: by taking a few hours of vacation time on Friday afternoon. I just happened to make my way over to Minneapolis, and it just happened to be the open weekend for my occasional markets. Now, I've been a little bummed at these places the past few months and haven't been able to find just what I'm looking for. While there is loads of lovely stuff, it's just that--it's stuff. And stuff I surely don't need and my frugal-self won't buy without purpose.
I began at the Cottage House. I was entranced by cute bird feeders and bird baths. Then I remembered I'm not a fan of birds. I passed. What caught my eye? This beat-up, paint-chipped, dirty old screen. It was $6 and it has purpose.
At least, I thought it had purpose. My plan was to repaint, replace the mesh screen with some type of fabric, and mimic what I saw in a store last month. Seen here near the bottom of the post. However, I am sad to point out that it's too small to cover our fluorescent lights. I'm determined to find some use for this!
On a high off my "I actually made a purchase" feeling, and with time still on the clock before I needed to get back home, I remembered that Flamingo's was also open this weekend and just a mere mile away. I pulled up to see sweet furniture finds waiting for a home on the sidewalk outside the shop.
Among them was this:
I've been on the hunt for something to put our new TV on since January. I even kicked myself for not buying something three months ago that could have worked. Patience paid off--this piece is so much better.
I really like the staff at Flamingo's--seriously nice bunch of people who love what they do and treat their customers very well. The same man we bought the yellow bench from last month helped me carried this to the car. He said this table was less than a year old, and while it has some knicks in it, that's no problem (I'd love to paint it navy anyway). The staff were excited to share with me they had just marked it down by $20, so I brought this beauty home for $29 (and tax)! I've been thinking a lot about my first motivation to shop these markets: the price. I am super frugal. But I'm now realizing the additional benefit of buying used or second-hand. Hello, environment, HoHub and our used goods do love you.
Enough words, now for more photos.
Before: TV on the coffee table. It works, but it means no coffee table.
Much better! (Mess of cords to be dealt with later.)
Coffee table reunited with couch!
All together now! (That dock photo will be going as soon as I start tearing down wallpaper.)
The basement continues to come together. I'm just a little leery to spend so much time down there. Louis mentioned a certain little test kit and I've been putting it out of my mind for months (and the test kit never arrived either). But then another blogger wrote about the high levels of RADON in her home and we set out to the hardware store for a kit.
A kit that hasn't left the box in nearly two weeks. Sigh. We need to set this up. Radon levels are high in the Midwest, although I rest assured knowing: we don't have a sump pump, I haven't found any visible cracks in the foundation, and our basement is finished. I am nervous that we have a sink downstairs and one of the walls is concrete. I WILL get this kit set up by the end of the weekend.
Well, it's shaping up to be a lovely day here in Minnesota: 50 degrees and sunshine! We've seen 40s and low 50s all week. I'm starting to see edges of grass emerging and the snow piles are shrinking!
Slowly shrinking. Slowly, but surely!
No comments:
Post a Comment