Monday, September 8, 2008

Monday Menu and Some Thrifty Finds

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This weeks menu follows. We deviated some from last weeks menu, so this week we are having the meatloaf recipe from last Friday.

Monday: turkey meatloaf, salad, fresh green beans
Tuesday: tacos, with homemade salsa
Wednesday: chicken pot pie (from Super Suppers) - easy recipe and so delicious!
Thursday: grilled salmon, rice, steamed broccoli
Friday: pizza casserole

I am dying to try these cookies...I avoid sugar, so I will have to tweak the recipe a bit and hopefully, stevia will be ok to use. I LOVE anything pumpkin - yummy!

This past Saturday, I popped out of bed at 7 am, determined to drive my SUV around town and scout the local yard sales. It was a nice, cool morning with a hint of rain in the air. Now, let me tell ya'll my "plan". Yes, I always have a "plan". The night before, I read all the newspaper listings and craigslist g-sale ads. I look for neighborhood sales first - they are usually my best bet, as all the sales are in one area together - makes for quick stops and easy grab-n-gos. I highly recommend neighborhood sales - they are usually never disappointing.... as long as you get there early! Early is the key - dealers are always early ( I have heard some reports of dealers knocking on doors as early as 6 am!) and after they hit a sale, most everything I am looking for is gone.

Next, I look for sales near my area and those neighborhoods that are more pricey and upscale. I write all of the addresses down, along with some sort of general direction for me to follow, so I know where I want to go first, second, third, etc. I think this is a pretty good system, although because I am new to this town, I am still learning what neighborhoods are good and what aren't - for sales.

I found some neat finds at a sale recently in Midtown. Midtown is a neighborhood full of beautiful, stately homes from the 40's and 50's - tons of character. It is the hip place to live in this area. The tree-lined streets hold many mansions as this was where oil tycoons built during the oil boom. As soon as I got there, I saw the line.. Oh, the dreaded line full of dealers, curious joes, and regular ol folks like me waiting for the security gate to open. Waiting, watching, speculating and hoping that by some bit of blessing from heaven we would all find a great deal.

I happened upon this chair. Isn't it fun? I love the zebra print. It could probably stand to be recovered, but I am leaving it as is. It is petite, yet substantial enough to be comfortable and will fit well in my living room next to the piano. The other chair I was considering for this space will be used somewhere else. It was 8 bucks!

I also found this pretty oil - just 5 dollars! It hangs in a spot in my hall.


Here is a rattan tray/table with fold up legs. I put this next to the leather sofa in my hubby's office as a side table, as it is pretty substantial. It brings a bit of whimsy to an otherwise stuffy space. I think it might have been used outside, so I need to find some type of oil to shine up the finish again. Any suggestions? This was 7 dollars.

I have more finds from this weekend and will post those later this week....


Have a nice Monday!

9 comments:

Sue said...

Great finds. I especially love that sweet little picture.
Hugs,
Sue

The Beauty Bargainista said...

I am locing that awesome chair!! WTG! :)

ellen said...

Loving the zebra chair! And how early are you talking about???

Ashley said...

i am trying not to be too envious of that GREAT chair and fabulous price you got for it!!

Denise said...

i love the painting.

now where do i get the recipe for the pot pie and pizza casserole (and by the way don't let it get out that i asked for a casserole recipe because i am well known for being anti the casserole, it's the pizza that has me intrigued.

R said...

dude...i'm so ready to go garage saling now!! thanks for the inspiration.

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Oh I love that zebra chair & that rattan tray! Very british colonial looking. That is so my style!! Please stop by my blog sometime & say "hi"

Home as Hobby said...

The zebra chair is so...SASSY! Love it girl!
Jenn

Kari said...

Hi Jerri Lynn!

I *LOVE* the photo on your header-so textural and yummy. You have a great eye, I can tell already! I also LOVE that chair w/ the zebra!

Thanks for visiting my blog & check back soon!

p.s. where can I get the chicken pot pie recipe? Sounds delish & I bet my kids would eat it!

Thanks,
Kari

~ Humility ~

Humility is perpetual quietness of heart.
It is to have no trouble.
It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore,
To wonder at nothing that is done to me,
to feel nothing done against me.
It is to be at rest when nobody praises me,
And when I am blamed or despised;
it is to have a blessed home in myself
where I can go in and shut the door
and kneel to my Father
in secret and be at peace,
as in a deep sea of calmness, when all
around and about is trouble.