Highway 141 Garage Sales Repurposed Home Decor Treasures Visited Experienced

Highway 141 Garage Sales Visited August 2-3

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Everyone! Glad to have you stop by to visit!

Last year when we moved into our home they had these Highway 141 Sales taking place. I had heard about them, but had not been to them. Guess what? Highway 141 goes right by Coon Rapids! Later on I learned this is a highway I would frequent traveling to Grimes, Urbandale, Des Moines, etc. I had seen different garage sales around town while we were moving, and unfortunately did not have time to visit any. Moving, unloading truck, packing, organizing, etc. I still had some downsizing I wanted to do too. So, I missed that event last year.

This year I was hoping to attend some of this big event. In Coon Rapids some of the homes got started on Thursday night. A friend, and I took her hubby’s pick-up, and got started with a few places.  One didn’t look promising for what we would be interested in. Another one was doing an Estate sale, and unfortunately their prices were high. Nice vintage items, some nice collectibles, but when it’s garage sales I’m looking for those prices too. Cleaning house, making a little money, but priced reasonably so things clear out. Unfortunately, there are a few around like that. 

Our first true visit I fell in love with the place! This woman loves to collect things, and she enjoyed crafting too! She had repurposed vintage oil funnels into Christmas trees, old candle stands were crafted for Christmas with trees on them too. The day before I just viewed things like this, and considered doing this with some of my candle holders I have for Christmas time. So, I was excited seeing some in person, and able to talk with the creator too. She has fun making things, and selling them too. 

We visited another home that had some beautiful colored glassware which I have a passion for. Another home had a multi-family sale that included many items that had been done with glass, and signage. Needless to say I enjoyed the few we went to before supper. 

Next day I was heading over to Urbandale, and Grimes. Once I got away from home, and traveling Highway 141 I seen a lot of garage sale signs, people with homes along the highway offering things, your little areas along the highway to stop and visit would have people with tables set up offering their goods, I seen flatbed trailers with items on them, I seen a sign with a barn sale that was all day long,  car dealer had a tent set up on their lot, pick-ups had trailers with them, and it was so much to see along the highway! It was amazing, and I was really excited with all of it too!! I’m excited for next year already. I am making plans to be better prepared so that I can go along the highway, and to be rested for this day long event.

Below are pictures for a few things that I did get. I snatched up the big white window you see for just $2. I had a couple items I spent $10 a piece on, but everything else was usually $2-$3. I like glassware, and I always look those pieces over. I found 3 pink glass candle holders to use for my cake plates, or whatever I decide to do. I have been working with them to get all the wax out before I wash them up prior to crafting with them. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Take care, and stop on by anytime!

Back to Basics Pretend You Are Moving

                              Repurposed Soap Jewelry Dish Vintage Inspired

                            Vintage Inspired China Plate and Candle Holder

                                      Fairfield Rose Point Pattern Oval Platter

                         Pink Glass Oval Glass Bowl With 2 Upcycled Candle Holders

                                 Mikasa Magic Moods Cups and Saucers

                       Pyrex Butterfly Gold Small Casserole Dish With Lid

                                     Precious Moments Picture Frame

 Back to Basics Pretend You Are Moving

Do you have a lot of inventory with treasures in your homes? You have enjoyed every piece that you have found from Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, Estate Sales, and so on. Got some really good deals, sold a few pieces, repurposed and upcycled a few pieces, and you can remember how you got some really good deals with most of the pieces too. It is sometimes a haunting picture with all the inventory sitting there, right? 

Now, think above all the excuses you use to hang onto your treasures, and imagine you had to move. Oh yeah, Ouch! Some of us are really moving, some of us would like to move, some of us are making plans to move, and some of us are thinking about moving. Happens all the time. Think about if you were moving, and all this inventory that you would have to pack. Yikes! It's a haunting thought isn't it? I know it would petrify me, and the thought does sometimes cross my mind. So, what do you do? 

Over time I have been downsizing my inventory. I have been very very controlling about Not buying anything when I am out thrifting. Believe me it has been hard, much torture, and a fight with an addiction. I have only gotten what is necessary for diy projects, or to accomodate for birthdays, gifts, and that sort of thing. It truly has been very hard, but I am proud of how my inventory has come down, and I have controlled my addiction of over thrifting. Yet, there is still much there that has not sold for me, did not work for a project I thought of, have changed my mind, etc. Some of this stuff has been around for quite some time. When is it the right time to let it go? 

Think of it as Moving. You will be moving soon, and your inventory has to be downsized to make the move easier. When you think about it you got some really good prices on things from thrifting, and yard sales. You did what you could with those pieces. Some of the pieces are still sitting there from when they were bought, and maybe collecting some dust too. So, why not donate them back to charities, and the thrift stores? Let someone else find use for them that really needs them, and can enjoy them as we have. Your best bet is as soon as you think of it you should do it. Don't hesitate, and give it a second thought. You are more likely to move on your goal you have set, box it, and take it. If you leave it sitting, and have secondary thoughts, you just might change your mind, you will doubt your decision, and later the guilt with regrets. That is not the purpose of downsizing things. Remember, you are "moving"....you think you are, and keep that thought.

Just tell yourself that you "have to do it" and "you need to do this" LOL:) Yes, if you are like me you will still purge, but the feeling of downsizing, and thinking of moving really truly does help the situation. 

So, how about it? Finding yourself over whelmed with all of your treasures?  Taking the first step is hard, but so worth it when you do! One step at a time is good. So, go ahead and take it. You will truly be happy with the decision.

You can relate to this, right? LOL:) Don't let it over whelm you, there truly is some hope. I hope you all enjoyed the visit, and the thought of "moving" and "packing" today does help you. Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and see you all again soon. Take care, and Happy "Moving"

 

     

Frist Rule of Garage Sales and Junkin

First Rule of Garage Sales and Junkin . . . . Is to look under the tables! 

Who thinks of this, right? Sometimes people will have a small cloth over their tables with their displays of items, and that can be distracting. Many times we just don't think to look down, and under that far. I know I am guilty of it. As I make my list for items I would like to find this year I am also making a note at the top . . . Don't forget to look under tables! 

You need to remember to look under the tables everyone. Why? Sometimes not all things will fit on the tables right away. So, there they sit in the box waiting for room. But, many times those boxes down under the tables will be for sale as you find them. That's right. A full box can easily be priced at $2.00, $3.00, $4.00 and so on. At first glance they might not look like much, nothing is appealing in there, but make sure you dig through the box. Sometimes things are just thrown together to get rid of them. Many times you will find some possibilities in the box with vintage, home decor, items that maybe you can repurpose or paint, and etc. The boxes are generally full, or have an abundance of items to make it worth your while. Sometimes many valuable treasures can be found this way too. 

It's Garage Sale season, some have already had garage sales, and some will soon be attending garage sales. As we all get ready for this seasonal change of joy with junking, and treasure hunting it's kind of nice to have some reminders of things we should do too. So, make them lists of items you would like to find, and make sure to note on there to check under the tables too!

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams everyone! Enjoyed having you, and hope you found the visit a pleasant one. See ya'll again soon!

Summer Gone Seasons Changing Fall is Coming

Summer Gone, Seasons Changing, Fall is Coming. Hello everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams!

That time of year is once again upon us. Summer is coming to an end, schools are starting if they have not already, vacations have been done, and people are starting to come back to their homes for the season that will soon be changing. Don't give it up to quickly yet though. Still some late summer time left for us before it starts to get cold in the areas we live, and still some things we can do. 

I Love summers! To me when spring comes I get all excited because I can than do what I enjoy doing so much. When I go down the road I will often find myself breaking for the Thrift Stores, stopping by the Yard Sales and Garage Sales that are posted, check out some yummy Rummage Sales, watch the papers for Estate Sales, and so on. I tell you when I see some of them signs posted for these sales it is like they are calling out to Me "over here" or rather "come visit me" and so on. Fall is soon upon us, seasons will soon be changing, but hang on as some of those tempting signages can still be seen. Sorry, but when I see them I just have to stop because you never know what treasures you might discover, and what little goodies might have been over looked by someone else. 

I enjoy looking through tables, and shelves of glasswares, dinnerwares, home decor, some boxes of odds and ends being offered, and I just cannot pass them up. That is the fun of doing what we do, the thrill of the hunt, and also meeting some really great people with some neat stories to tell for some of the items we find along the way too.

That is the fun, and enjoyable part of what becomes our adventures that we have taken in finding once loved treasures. Now, once that part is done we then are faced with the post sale of our business which is the careful, and gentle cleaning of things. Upon completing this we can then see how the pieces really look, and if there were any unnoticed flaws. Next we have the fun of researching different items, recording what we find and read, and then we photograph the pieces as well. This is all a part of the fun of selling online, or even with some who have brick & mortar stores too. 

I so love what I do! Now, if only I could figure out a way of having more hours in the day to do all of this, and knowing what fun possibilities I could have.

Thanks so much for sharing your time here at LilacsNDreams, and I always enjoy you visiting with Me. Remember that sharing, leaving comments, asking a question, and etc is acceptable here. I enjoy them all by responding to you as well. Thanks again everyone, and have a most wonderful day. See you again soon!

 

Reuse Repurpose Recycle Upcycle Discarded Treasures

Reuse Repurpose Recycle Upcycle Discarded Treasures by using bits, and pieces of the past with present, and making something new. Giving things a new life!


Me, Myself, and I along with many others spend time roaming the internet, reading things, learning things, and etc. Along the way with all of this we also will find people who are creative, people showing what they have made, showing what they do, some show how they do it, and so on. Over time this has become a yearning with me to do things by reusing, repurposing, and upcycling items. For me to do this it is relaxing, and it is fun being able to put some of my thoughts and ideas into something too. I enjoy the smile that comes to my face, and hopefully you will smile with some of it too. 


I have googled some of these more common words used by everyone to give an idea of definitions to some of those popular words we use. 


•Reuse - whatever the purpose, you basically reuse the item for the same purpose more than one time


•Repurpose - take an item and reuse it for something else (repurpose it) before it goes through any breakdown, and reformation. For example a shirt that is being used to make a handbag, or maybe a shopping bag. Maybe using a metal pipe for some kind of sculpture. Use something in a new way.


•Upcycle - this is familiar to recycle in which you take something, and rework it into a new form for a continued use. The main difference is that you are not altering its form back into its components for reuse. 


•Recycle - return material to a previous stage of cyclic process; converting waste to a reusable material. Example of a recycled box that is broken down, and made into a new cardboard. Another is plastic is melted down, and melted into a new plastic.


I know, sometimes it gets confusing. How we use the words, and explain them also means something too. 


I hope this minor explanations for some of these popular words has helped you in some way. I know it gets confusing. Heck, I sometimes find myself there too. I have commented before that is you are not able to reuse items as they are why not repurpose them, or upcycle them to make something that puts a smile to your face, and also with others too. 


Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Have a wonderful day, enjoy all that you are doing, and come back to visit again soon. If you have something to add that would be great! Please do as all are Welcome.

What to Look For and Steps For Thrift Store Shopping

What to Look For and Steps For Thrift Store Shopping. 

Welcome back to LilacsNDreams, and Happy Thrifting everyone! It's the 4th of July, many activities happening due to this, and many of your thrift stores and second hand stores will find themselves busy too. When you go out thrift shopping you want to enjoy it, and make your experience a really great one too. Some people thrift because it is a hobby for them, and there are some people who do make a living from thrift shopping too. Most importantly is that you Love what you are doing. Having a passion for this can make a really big difference by doing something you enjoy which in turn allows you to be more active with it too. You have your own style, and what's really neat is you do not end up spending a lot of money. More people have been shopping the thrift way than they have the new way. A penny saved is a penny earned.

Remember when you head out thrifting for the day that it might not always be a bed of roses for you. When shopping just remember that you are doing something that you enjoy doing. When you left to shop this morning were you wanting just cute stuff, things to repurpose with, or were there some big ticket items you wanted to find. Before you leave make sure to search your area for thrift stores, second hand stores, etc. After a few times of thrifting you will start to learn the stores, which ones you like, which ones are more organized, and the ones that you find better deals at too.

When you head out thrifting for the day make sure you are dressed comfortably for it too. A nice pair of walking shoes is a must. Wear some loose clothes so that you can move around easier, and freely. Feel great while you bend, reach, doing some digging, and have fun with it too.

If you plan on being outdoors with some of your visits make sure to check on the weather, and what to expect. Remember that timing can be important in thrifting too. Sometimes being the early bird is good. With tag sales find out for sure their last day of the sale since most will have everything 1/2 price that has not already sold on that day. 

Hey, if you like having company when you go thrifting make sure to take someone with you. Make sure it is someone who also enjoys thrifting so that you can all enjoy the shopping experience for the day. 

Before you leave to go thrifting make sure to budget your spending too. How much are you willing to spend for the day. Remember, it is easy to go over board with spending due to all the goodies, and must have treasures you will find. If you have specifics you are wanting make sure to have a list made to use for your searches. Once them specifics have been found then you can spend some money on other things you find along the way.

Most of all when you are out thrifting for the day, Make It Fun! You have a day out to enjoy, save some money, and digging for those unwanted treasures by others. Flea Markets, Yard Sales, Thrift Stores. . . . . Once loved items found to be reloved again. Have fun everyone, be safe, and enjoy the Holiday too. 

Thanks for sharing with LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon. Take care, and Happy Thrifting!

Trash to Treasure With Thrifting Repurposing Recylcing and Reusing

Trash to Treasure With Thrifting Repurposing Recyling and Reusing. Welcome to LilacsNDreams for a little more share time of something that I, along with many others, enjoy doing. Thrifting, Repurposing, Recreating, Reusing, Collecting, and as some would also consider making Trash into Treasures.

I have always enjoyed vintage collectibles, and another side of me hates seeing things being thrown out too. Every time I might consider throwing something away, or maybe donating it I always have that little thought in the back of my mind....what could I do with this, what else could be done with this, maybe I should paint it, maybe this piece could be glued to that part, is there another way I could use this, and so on. No, I am not a hoarder of treasures, but consider myself to be a keeper of such things.

You have them same thoughts too? Sometimes vintage collectibles are used to repurpose with. Other times it might be a lonely piece that needs a little loving. You know, a single plate, a glass piece that is missing it's partner to it, a single candle stick that came from a set, etc. I love thrifting for things like this. Yes, I thrift for the home, and sometimes things to wear, but I also look for them lonely pieces that no one wants anymore. I feel that if given a new life they could also bring joy to someone adorning their homes with such things. 

Instead of buying new, why not save a little bit of money and do some thrifting, and reusing of pieces. With the reuse market of today you actually will find items that are both good quality, and are inexpensive too. Keep in mind that not all thrift store merchandise is junk. Sometimes they need a little wipe from the dust that collected, maybe just need to be cleaned and polished to be alive again, maybe just a little mending of sorts, and so on. If you would really honestly look you would also find that you will see brand name items being offered in good used conditions, some are like a new condition, once in a while some items are new with their tags and were donated to the thrift stores, and of course this is all found at a much more reasonable price too.

Thrift Stores are found in many areas, and there are many ways to be thrifting too. Visit Goodwill, some stores specify they are a thrift store, your local second hand stores, Savors, your missions stores have some really nice donated items, and then there are some stores that operate with their monies going towards maybe women shelters. There are many kinds out there in all sorts of forms, shapes, and sizes. There are many possibilities hidden within these stores that are looking to be reloved. Consider it doing more with less, and loving your home again. Sometimes turning junk into treasures is a feeling of accomplishment, and loving some of them pieces all over again. 

I have different Thrift Stores I will frequent, but always enjoy finding a new one to add to my visiting list too. Thrift Stores, Second Hand Stores, Consignment Stores, Goodwill, Missions, and more. I find many things to add to the home to make it more comfortable, and to make it a welcoming home for all to visit as well. Where do you like to thrift, and what do you like to thrift for? What are your passions when it comes to thrifting?

I want to thank all of you for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams. Make sure you come back to visit again soon. Never know what I might share next, and of course I enjoy when everyone shares along too. Happy Fourth of July to all.