Sunday, July 26, 2009

Thrifty Treasures & My 200th Post Giveaway!

This is my 200th post! If you stick with me until the end of this post, please check out my Giveaway. When I announce the winner on Friday morning, there will be another exciting announcement that will involve everyone and you'll have a chance to win another Giveaway!

But first things first! You see the button here, so you know it's time for Thrifty Treasures! Please be sure to check out Miss Rhoda's new and improved Southern Hospitality blog to see what kind of amazing bargains everyone found over the weekend. Rhoda has some sort of yard sale treasure sixth sense...I don't know how she manages to come home with all of those diamonds in the rough.

Just a simple, average ceramic pumpkin, right?

Turn it around, and it's actually a little "house" for a tea light!

$6 is a little more than I'd normally spend on something at Goodwill, but I had some cash, and it says "Hallmark" on the bottom, so I am assuming it was a lot more than $6 at one time, considering the size and weight of the piece. Also, Natalie begged me. I'll just have to find a nice Autumn home for this pumpkin.



I spotted this tray for $2! It has nice, clean lines, and I will be spray painting it white this week to use at my sister's bridal shower this coming Saturday. I might use it to hold the favors.


This is my favorite find of the week...it doesn't need any work! I got it at Salvation Army last week for $1.50, and I knew Rhoda has one too. She showcased it here on her old site. When I asked her about it, she said someone told her it's a Southern Living at home piece.


I plan on filling the bottom with tissue paper or something and using it to hold the silverware at the shower. This is the third Southern Living at Home piece I've scored at a yard sale or thrift store! I love the chippy details.


Now for the GIVEAWAY!

200 hundred posts is not too shabby, and I'd like to first thank all of you for sticking with me! Besides my sister; Suzanne, Paula, and Donna were my very first readers, and they still faithfully stop by to visit and comment. That means a lot to me.

This blog has become such a great spot for me to not only share funny stories and my attempts at updating my home, but I've also had the priviledge of meeting some really wonderful people!

It's fitting that my 200th post should fall on a Thrifty Treasures post because so many of you have inspired me to realize that just because I have two kids now and can't go out and buy whatever I want anymore doesn't mean that I can't create a home that is both pleasing to the eye and welcoming.

I've been reading a lot about Christmas in July lately, and that got me started thinking about the quickly approaching holidays. I decided that I want to plan ahead even more this year so that I can enjoy Christmas with my family, and not feel like a big ball of sleepy stress.

Something that goes hand in hand with cooler weather, the holidays, and comfort food is the idea of setting up family traditions and creating a warm environment for your family to enjoy while they spend more time at home.

I'd like to give away a copy of Family Fragrance by J. Otis and Gail Ledbetter. On the cover it reads "Practical, Intentional Ways to Fill Your Home with the Aroma of Love."

That might seem a little cheesy to you, but after thumbing through my copy (I got one for me too!) I think this book can be a helpful resource to anyone who wants to make their home an inviting place. You don't have to have children (young OR old!) or a spouse to want people to enjoy the time they spend in your home. (Guys who are reading this, you'll probably get major brownie points for presenting your girlfriend, fiancee, or wife with a copy of this book.)

Some of the ideas might be a little old-fashioned, but the basic premise still stands. Here's an excerpt, so you know what you might be winning:

"Family fragrance is not dreamy-eyed sentimentality. What we want our family members to feel when they pull into the driveway of our home is a reality so inviting, they can't wait to get inside..."

The authors focus on "how-tos" to help the reader create a home that cultivates intentional warmth through AROMA:

A ffection
R espect
O rder
M erriment
A ffirmation

I hope the lucky winner will have a chance to read this book in time to create a safe haven in their home in time for the holidays!

TO ENTER:
1. Just leave me a comment letting me know you'd like to win (so I can differentiate between those of you just commenting on my Thrifty Finds). If you don't have a blog, please leave me an email address so I can find you! Continental U.S. residents only, please. (Sorry, guys, can't afford postage to New Zealand!)
2. Followers get an extra entry. Please let me know if you are a Follower!!
3. Leave me a separate comment after you've blogged about my giveaway for a third entry

I will announce the winner on Friday morning (July 31st) and then I'll announce ANOTHER fun event that all of you can participate in! (I promise it's going to be so much fun!!) There will be another Giveaway for that event.

Thanks so much for sticking with me today...I know this was a long post, but I wanted to be sure to highlight this awesome book so you know what you'll be (possibly!) winning.

{Good luck and Happy Thrifting!}
post signature

79 comments:

  1. You managed to find some very cute things too!

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  2. Hi, Amanda, congrats on your giveaway! Thank you for being a faithful participant in my Monday party. And how fun that you found that same white SL tin, love to score those pieces at a discount.

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  3. You got some great things! I have found several S.L. items and always am in shock that someone would get rid of them! Linda

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  4. Absolutely, enter me in your giveaway! Looks like a great book.

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  5. Hi Amanda,

    Don't you just love a good sale? Love that pumpkin light. Please entr me in your give-away, and congrats on your 2ooth post. :)

    Debbie

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  6. All this for my birthday? You shouldn't have! LOL

    But I'd like to win!

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  7. I subscribe to your RSS feed (follow). :)

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  8. Amanda, You got some cute things this week and I especially like the little tray. It will be so versatile painted white! I'm a follower and would love to be entered in your give-away. congrats! :-) Sue

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  9. Oooh, I like that tray. Cute!! Thanks for visiting my blog. This thrifty blog party is too fun!

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  10. Over from Rhoda's to check out your thrifty picks; however, I noticed we follow some of the same blogs and then noticed we like many of the same things (from your list). I'll be back for sure! Please put me down for the lovely giveaway as now... I'm a follower:)

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  11. Hi Amanda, congratulations on your 200th post!!! Oh, and that tray is so cute!! Great find

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  12. Congratulations Amanda on your 200th post and great finds!! Can't wait to see what you do with them all! I love that pumpkin! Would love to be entered into your giveaway! Looks like a great read!

    Hugs to you,
    ~Victoria~

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  13. I LOVE each and every thing you found while thrifting. Whenever you find SL things you know you have made out GREAT!!!

    Congratulations on your 200th post! I would love to have a chance to win that book....it looks great!

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  14. You found some great bargains. Love the tray. Congratulations on 200!

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  15. Please enter me in your givaway! I love the suspense! That pumpkin is adorable. Hardly seems like summer is here and fall is right around the corner. Love trays so that's a nice one.
    Shirley
    scorwin1@mac.com

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  16. Great finds! I especially like the tray. The book does look like a good one, and not cheesy at all. :)

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  17. Congrats on your 200th post! That pumpkin is so cute!

    Manuela

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  18. Ooooh, love your finds!!! And you have a very fun blog...it's not hard to keep coming back!! :)

    suzanne

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  19. I absolutely love the tray! I bet it will be perfect at the shower. Please enter me in your contest. The book looks like a winner to me. Oh, and I just clicked to be a follower, too! Hope to see you over my way one of these days...

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  20. Congratulations on your 200th post.
    And a yes for me about the give away and I am now a follower.
    Now, about TTT's. I love the tray and the pun'kin lite is too cute.
    Come to see me!
    Rhonda

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  21. Hi Amanda !
    Congrats on your 200th post !
    I love your finds this week and my fav is that tray too - I love it when we find them PERFECT !
    Hugs ~! Kammy

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  22. I realize that my chances of winning your SECOND giveaway is very slim, but I'd like to give it a try!!!! It looks like another good book.:) And, I could use all the help I can get!
    I'm already a follower too.:) Be back again after I blog about you. lol

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  23. Hey Sweet Amanda! Happy 200th sister!!! Here's to 200 more. Looking forward to everyone of them. And I love your finds today too. Have a great week.

    Hugs

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  24. oh great finds again! I love showers :) and that tray will be gorgeous, I am jealous!!

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  25. And I would love to win that book! I love books especially ones that may do me some good haha

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  26. I would love to win that book...sounds great! Thanks for the chance! Congrats on your
    200th post! Yay!

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  27. Love your finds!! All of them! So fun!

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  28. Ok, my little heart skipped a beat when I saw that book! Ohhhh, I want-a-that-a book!
    I am now a follower...so glad I found you through 4re!
    Also, that pumpkin house?! LOVE IT! Worth every penny of those $6.
    Sonya

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  29. I would have bought the pumpkin at that price too. Very cute without being over cute, if you know what I mean:)

    Congrats on your 200th and thanks for stopping by to see me!

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  30. Hey thanks for coming by! You got to see my son's bongos! I now have my Thrifty Treasures posted if you want to view that too!

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  31. I love that tray, so classic and such clean lines. Can't wait to see pics of what you do with it. Congratulations on your 200th post! What an accomplishment.
    Alicia

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  32. Love all of your finds especially that tray! It's sooo cute! Congrats on 200 posts!! Awesome!

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  33. Congrats on your 200th post. What a great giveaway . . . I have not heard of the book but am intrigued by it.

    Have a great week.

    Beth

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  34. I want that!

    Love your thrifty finds too!

    Congrats on 200!

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  35. I would love to win the book - sounds perfect for me! Also, you got some great finds - I also have that SL tin and I love it. Thanks for the giveaway =)

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  36. Oh, and I am now a follower of your great blog!

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  37. Great finds! I love the Southern Living tin.

    Congratulations on your 200th post! I think that book sounds great. Count me in.

    Jane

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  38. I love that pumpkin. I bet you'll find a lot of uses for that tray too!

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  39. Happy 200th! I LOVE the pumpkin! Send it my way when you get tired of it. In the meantime please enter me in your giveaway. I AM a follower.
    hugs
    Bonnie

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  40. Congrats on 200 posts!!! I absolutely love that pumpkin! It gets me excited for fall decor. Can't wait!!

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  41. Love your finds and congrats on 200 posts! :)

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  42. just found you from the nesting place . .and aren't I lucky. . you are having a giveaway . .I would love to read that book. . right up my alley . .as my blog is called The Intentional Home. :) I will be back to read more. . thanks.

    Su

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  43. What a cute pumpkin!!! Your giveaway...awesome read!

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  44. I found you from Rhoda :-) first visit today. I would love to win the book, it is a whole new perspective to me. I have been concentrating on making our home cozy with furniture and color....but never considered aroma! hope to hear more on the subject. and i love the bunny, nothing like a huge warm cooking with ice cream on top!!!

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  45. Back already, I have made my first comment and screwed it up since I was looking at two sites. I like your pumpkin...have just bought some mums so it feels like twinges of fall already...and i hope you end up with a cookie pan someday (heehee)

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  46. Fun giveaway! Enter me, please!

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  47. Hi Miss Amanda,
    You know I follow you girl and yeah I'd love to win...great finds too btw:)

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  48. Oooh, please enter me in the giveaway!! This sounds like such a lovely book! Even if I don't win, I'm gonna copy this down and buy a copy! :) Congrats on your 200th!
    Blessings,
    Stacey

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  49. Congrats to one of my best blogging buddies on her 200th post!!!

    That book looks like a great read!

    ~Amanda

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  50. Congrats on your 200th!! As always, awesome finds and deals!

    I'd love to win the book! Who couldn't use a little more aroma of love in their home?!

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  51. Congrats on your 200th! I love that pumpkin, but then I love anything to do with Fall!

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  52. I told you this today, but I will say it again, I love your blog and I read every day! :) I am pretty sure I am a follower too.

    Congrats on 200 posts! ;)

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  53. Hi Amanda! I'd love to win. Sounds like a great book!

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  54. I love all your finds! The tray is really nice. I’ve been looking for one like that but have just not seen one yet. Stop by my blog to read my most recent “funny” Goodwill story and share one that you may have. I’m going to compile them and post them all together for everyone to enjoy!

    Kendra @ Domestic Princess in Training

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  55. Hello Amanda - congratulations on your 200th post! Thank you for the chance to win such a great giveaway. Love your finds, especially that tray!

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  56. Oh, and you already know I'm a happy follower!

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  57. Congrats on your 200th post. Thanks for the opportunity to register for your giveaway.

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  58. I've also added myself as a follower. Please come over and visit my blog as well.

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  59. Hi Amanda! Congrats on 200! I have the southern living tin as well (found at a yard sale) I am drooling over that tray...

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  60. Way cute finds!!! And congrats on 200th post...enter me please,and of course I am a follower!!! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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  61. I always love to read your postings...count me in on your giveaway!

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  62. Great finds! Thanks for letting me know about your give away. I'm now following and would love to be counted in on this one! Congrats on 200 posts!

    Christi

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  63. The book sounds great! Would love to win it! Congrats on 200 posts!!
    God bless,
    Amanda

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  64. I've been looking out for Southern Living items, too. You did well this week -- I like your tray also.

    Please enter me for the giveaway, that books sounds right down my alley. Creating a home that is a haven is my passion.

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  65. I'd love to win ... found your blog by following a link from Southern Hospitality.

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  66. I'd love to win a copy of Family Fragrance. Thanks for the opportunity, and congrats on your 200th post!

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  67. how could you not love the pumpkin?
    it's tooo adorable.

    and, of course! i'd love to win a copy of family fragrance.

    you have a great blog, great entries.

    randee

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  68. Congratulations on 200 posts and super cute finds - I wouldn't have been able to turn down the pumpkin either!

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  69. You've gotten quite a lot of interest in this giveaway. I'd love to be included. Sounds like a great book I know I need to work on the "O" part of the AROMA everyday before M comes home. Loved your pumpkin house.

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  70. Congratulations on your 200th post! Definitely "not too shabby"!

    I've never heard of the book you're giving away, but the principles certainly sound like they're ones I'd be interested in. Thank you for doing a giveaway; it's very kind of you. I'd love to be entered.

    All the best as you continue to do a great job with your blog!

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  71. Love the pumpkin!

    I'm a follower and would love to win!

    Congrats on post #200!

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  72. I love it!

    I have always tried to make our home as warm and fuzzy as possible.

    This looks like a great book just for doing that.

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