Feeling Lucky?

I have been having great luck with give-aways of late. I won a gorgeous Pyrex casserole dish (will blog separately about it) recently and it arrived this week (thanks Brittany-I love it)! Since I was a high school girl, I have worn and loved vintage clothing, jewelry, shoes and such. I used to love to dress up and go out on the town wearing my lovely dresses and skirts. Now that I am a 'grownup' and life is busy with kids and work and home and all the things you didn't realize would fill your life in your 30s/40s (like weight gain!!!), I have fewer opportunities to dress up and show off my brilliant, thrifted finds. I have purged many of my vintage clothing, but I kept many of the favorites too. I follow this blog. I love her Pretty Little Things and she has an awesome Etsy shop as well (I looove the owl and mushroom basket purse-I left one like it behind at a thrift once and have never forgotten). Well, if you like vintage Pretty Little Things, you are going to love her giveaway (ends tomorrow so hurry!). Check out these lovelies:

Be sure to visit her blog and check out the individual photos of the items. Gorgeous with a BIG capital G! Good luck! If I win, I promise to post a picture-a Glam one!! ;)

My (Dis)-Organized Life

(Check out this great "free blog stuff' designer...I love her stuff!)

OK, I just got another promotion at work. This one is big, but will require more...yes, more from me. I will be traveling soon west of the Mississippi for more training and events. I may (please, please, please) get to even go to Oregon (dream for a long time!) I am really excited to be part of the team I was selected for, but...

Some days, I feel like I am just faking that I am organized and in control! (Shhh...)

My desk is covered with mountains of papers, my email box(es) are a mess, and my to-do lists keep growing. I should probably bow out of some of these projects I keep getting tossed my way, but I really, really enjoy a wide variety of work (and home) projects! I thrive on projects!

Do any of you have any good work-geared organization books or blogs you recommend? I, obviously, do not fit the "file type" mentality (I am a pile-er and it is how I succeed). Maybe I just need a good read on time management. I am one of those go-go-go type people that would probably shrink and disappear if I didn't have 20 "irons in the fire". What I need is how to not get burnt by so many irons.

At 40 YO I don't think I am willing or able to switch myself into a file-er or super-organized picture of perfection. And, I have made disorganization work for me, but I definitely could use some improvement!

Thrift Share Monday: Spare Thrift

(Cute pillowcase)

So, ever since I started participating in Thrift Share Monday, I realized two things:

1. I don't always have the patience and eyes for good thrifting as other fellow thrifter (I still say the glory days of the late '80's/'90's are gone, but maybe I'm just lazy...or cynical).

and

2. I thrift way too much (something I did not notice until I deliberately started sharing my finds); I sometimes forget what I bought until Monday.

(Cute dish linen)

I do love Mondays, however, both at Apron Thrift Girl and Her Library Adventures and seeing and reading all about the wonderful things folks find out there (which brings me to 3. I need to find time to hit more estate sales!)

(No.more.dresses.)

This week I am bringing in the crap I have been lugging around in my trunk all week. Last Monday, a federal holiday and a glorious extra day off for me, I went to lunch with my mom. We hit one thrift store which I had not been to in ages. Apparently, in my absence, the store has expanded. They now have a "vintage" section with ok prices. I found a few things: embroidered dishtowel and pillowcase, a couple of embroidery kits, and a (barely) vintage flannel dress (80's). The thrift also added a 'silent auction' section in the store. I do not like these (bad for us out-of-towners). I saw the most gorgeous framed first communion certificate dated 1917. I wanted it and was going to bid (I had a figure of $25 in my head for the high bid), but when I looked the bid was over $70 and it still had weeks to go. I had to walk away.

(My favorite find-Purgatory Certificate)

Then, for the rest of the week, I was on a travel assignment for work. My colleague (and friend) hit a GW and an antique mall. I already shared the GW finds, but the purgatory certificate is the sweet find from the antique mall and helped me (almost) forget all about the silent auction certificate (and it was reasonably priced at $6). This one will share wall space with some other religious type certificates I have thrifted over the years (all dated from the early part of the last century). I plan to add my own kids certificates to the collection (oldest child will have first communion this spring) and maybe my kids will add a purgatory one for me one day ;). it always bothers me someone disposed of these important documents. Some are even framed in heavy, ornate frames.

Today, I saw they are building a new Goodwill here in Louisville (Hey, Sena By the Bluegrass, did you notice it yet? It's huge and out by The Gene Snyder & 60!! I wonder when it will be open?), but I ran through another one. I am trying hard to be selective because I will be moving stuff again soon. I found several items of interest, but only purchased a new Fiona Apple CD, a great chocolate brown dress (the cashier said, "Oh, this is definitely your style!"), and a newer scrabble game.

I wanted to go on to another one, but I stopped myself. Time to switch gears and get ready for the big spring/summer move. I am beginning to finally feel excited!

(Sorry about crappy photographs...)

Big Belated Thanks

I didn't forget to mention a blog give-away I won a few weeks ago, I was waiting for time to make one of her lovely sweets to enjoy it! Thank you, Laura, for the Seattle's Best coffee sampler pack and, even more, the great Peanut Butter Cookies recipe you shared with all of us out here in Blogland (they are yummy and addicting!)