Pretty Laundry

I love Laundries and when I spied this one here today I thought it deserved mention.
and here is another one I have had saved in my decorating folder for ages. Its amazing what a floral curtain can do.

Bianca's Bedroom Tour

BEFORE & AFTER

This is the latest interior decorating project I have been working on. It kept me occupied while I was pregnant with Sienna. Here is a before and after picture of Bianca's bedroom. I was so happy with the final outcome and pleased that I managed it on a shoe string budget. Most things are second hand, repainted, picked up from markets and garage sales etc.

Menu Planning

Well I got my A into G and sorted out my menu planning after finding a useful article on the Simple Mom website.

This is an example of my first two week plan: So the theme on each night stays the same i.e Thursday night Asian night but then I just change the meal.

I am doing my groceries fortnightly as well, and so have chosen to plan two weeks worth of meals at a time.

Week One
Monday – Mexican: Mince tortillas
Tuesday – Fish w Potato bake
Wednesday – Casserole: Beef HotPot
Thursday – Asian: Thai Green Curry
Friday – Leftovers Night
Saturday - Takeaways
Sunday – Roast: Beef Roast


Week Two
Monday – Mexican: Chicken Enchiladas
Tuesday – Fish: w Stuffed Potatoes
Wednesday – Casserole: Sausage Casserole
Thursday – Asian: Chinese Beef Stirfry
Friday – Leftovers Night
Saturday - Takeaways
Sunday – Roast: Chicken Roast

My 10 tips for garage sale & market shopping

One. If its $1 or $2 dollars and you like it, dont think about it too hard just BUY IT

Two. Always make a decision on the spot if you come back to it, its likely to be gone

Three. If you are putting a silent bid on something at the auction house or an auto-bid on trade-me (as an example) put $41 on it instead of $40 or $26 instead of $25, as the round figures are usually what most people pick and you could win it by a couple of dollars.

Four. If you are looking around a stall or garage sale and see something you are going to buy, tuck it under your arm, or give it to the seller for safe keeping so someone doesn't snap it up

Five. Keep coins on you so you have more bargaining power. If someone wants $2 for something, you can offer up a $1 coin. Usually people are likely to take what you offer if the exact money is in front of them.

Six. Have a limit for yourself, say $20 for the market or a morning of garage sales, that way you will be more choosy about the stuff you buy. But keep this flexible if you see a big item that you like.

Seven. Try and envisage a purpose for the purchase you are making, if its a home accessory think about where you would put it or if its something that needs touching up how much will the cost be.

Eight. BUT..... if you see something you absolutely love, follow your gut instinct, you can pop it away for six months. I have done this with heaps of things. My husband will whinge about me not using it and I say 'you'll see', within a year I have always found it a home.

Nine. Dont expect your partner or husband to be all excited about your purchases. My experience is if you buy them a hammer or torch they will be over the moon but when you tell them excitedly that you picked up some babies thermal onsies for $1 they stare blankly at you.

Ten. Always think when you are looking at something what would that cost new? You can get a bit stingy when you get into the swing of bargain hunting and $10 for an item can seem like heaps but when you think about what it costs in the shops eg. $100 you get it into perspective.

Second Hand Junkie

Before Bianca was born Sunday mornings were for nursing a hangover or a lazy sleep-in. Today I was up with a bright eyed and bushy tailed toddler at 6.30 and we were ready to head out the door at 8.30 down to the Sunday market but it was raining so disappointingly I missed out on my weekly fix of bargain hunting.

I am passionate about second hand stuff. I love visiting the recycling centre, auction house, market and garage sales. Most of my favourite items have been gleaned from these places or online at Trademe.(I love retro toys - Bianca loves this ducky trundler and pushing her Ernie and Bert around in the dolls stroller)

The first thing I love is the money saving of course, I brought a jolly jumper last week brand new in its box with price tag still on it for only 15% of its original price. Its also the aspect of it that my husband appreciates as well, which is why he doesn't roll his eyes too much when I come home with another supermarket bag of 'must haves'.

The other aspect is buying something that is beautiful but just needs a bit of tender love and care, a print that needs a new frame or piece of furniture that needs a paint. I have included some pictures of some of my favourite market purchases.




These ballet prints go for up to $40 on trade me I got this one for $3


You don't always know at the time you are buying something that you are going to love, until you get it home and find it a place to live. But all these items I got for under $5 and they were worth every penny



I brought these two mirrors at a garage sale a year ago and have sprayed them both and turned one into a jewellry board for Bianca


The aqua floor lamp isn't everyone's cup of tea but it works perfectly with the aqua accents in my lounge, as does the aqua floral vase that I picked up for $2.I picked this cabinet up from a garage sale for $20, I was hesitant at the time but it has worked perfectly in our lounge with a new lick of paint and handles from the $2 shop. This Crown Lyn Vase I picked up for $2 at a garage sale they sell for up to $100 in the antique stores, and the french trug was perfect for the space I had free.


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