Announcing A New Weekly Link Party

Our creative and thrifty (and generous) pal Van from

has begun 2012 with a fresh and ambitious outlook.

She is encouraging us all to share our goals once a week with a Sunday link party which will help us to remain focused and allow us to encourage and cheer on each other.

Let’s all contribute to making her new link up a success.

I would also love to hear what is working best for you in reaching your goals when you post.

Still suffering from the deadly head cold virus here (and lack of oxygen that comes with it) so posting mainly blog announcements and giveaway chances and party hops and reading and crafting challenges on my other blog.

If you have something you wish for me to promote, please give me a little advance notice.

My email address is found on my About Me page or you can find me on FaceBook as Laura DogsMom or Google Plus as LJ DogsMom.  On Etsy and Pinterest I have the screen name Bestlectic.

Does anyone have links to how best to use G+ and Pinterest?
My goals for 2012 include learning how to use those sites to a better advantage with a minimum of time involved.  A goal I am working on (continuously) is to organize my home and work space so I can more easily sell off the excess. I have already read 2 books in 2012! Now to let them go and move on.

I went out once only after Christmas to take advantage of the 75% off Christmas items at a local Goodwill Store and the customer appreciation 15% coupon.  I will show you the goodies as soon as I can breathe again.

I will add the names of the parties I am linking up to as soon as I see who is up and running.

I fear I have been away a looooooong time!

I want to add a few words here about another new linky party good for those of us wishing to show off our collections.

Some Good Stuff  at Some Good Times blog will be a weekly link up to show off your collections.

Sunday:

The Penny Worthy Project

Flea Market Finds

Blog Love

Goal Share

Monday

Thrift Share

Market Yourself

Motivated Monday

Tuesday

Anti Procrastination

Nifty Thrifty

Going to The Dolls?

One of the thrifty items that did NOT fall into the necessity category was soft dolls.  
Or should I say two things?

She is definitely not an original Raggedy Ann but was there an orange haired cousin perhaps?  Neither doll is marked, I doubt older than the 80s, if even that.  For a dime each I could afford to add them to my growing Raggedy collection. They also fit into the genre of promotional merchandising.

Ann was not inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame until 2002, when she was 86 years old.
For more fun facts about Raggedy Ann, her family and friends, click here.

A different collection I have also covers two genres (at least) : Campbell’s Soup and promotional merchandise.  I have many Campbells’ mugs and soup dishes, dating from the 1950s to the 2000s. Until this weekend I have not had a Campbell’s doll.

I scoured the house as best I could, even asking the young father overseeing the sale
(between burp towel changes) if he had perhaps seen a boy doll.
For now, Miss Campbell will have to enjoy the company of a canine best friend.
For an interesting read about the similarities between Dolly Dingle and the Campbell Soup Twins
click here.

One more promotional item that falls into the doll category is my friend Sprout.

This is a more modern version than the one I had as a child. I think the original Sprout was scarier.  This version has a friendlier, more positive vibe, better to convince youngsters to eat their vegetables.

Sprout,  the cute little wagon which I am sure once held flowers,  and his new doggie pal set me back 50 cents.

The last dolls, which in my greedy haste I mistook for a modernized Cabbage Patch Kid couple, are around 20 inches tall, made of a harder rubber and have “real” opening and closing eyes.
In fact they are made in Illinois by Davidcraft,  still in the 1980s.

After doing some research I am pleased to say each still wears original clothing, socks and shoes and has all eyelashes.

To read about more Tuesday Treasures, Thrifty Finds and Good Memories, please visit Charm Bracelet Diva’s Club GW,  The House on the Side of the Hill for Tuesday Treasures,  Tuesday’s Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia , and 2nd Time Around  on A Picture Is Worth…  And Meet Virginia’s Thriftoholics. 
On Wednesday Junker Newbie plays a game we call Would You Buy This?

What Happened To DogsMom?

By now you are all thinking that I got carried away with Gypsy Dreams and ran off
to live the lifestyle.

Some days I wish I could but then I would have missed out on a lot of other kinds of summer fun.

I spent a day with my cousin watching a painting horse and doing good things for rescue horses.

I revisited a place that captured many of my younger weekends.

There was some improvement and updating done in the kitchen.

And one of my Besties swept me away to play for a day.

 Of course you know the vehicles are all trained to pull over for sales on the side of the road.
There was a little thrifting going on.

I found these 2 green plates. I doubt they were part of a set.
I think they have more decorative use.

And the softest throw, made in my favorite colors, was only $2.

 

The best part…

(well, not the dry clean part)

What have you been doing this summer?

For an Inspirational After Irene story please visit the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Frustration Note:  whenever I try to add a link in this post, or tell you to which parties I am linking up I am being booted offline.

So I will mention the parties but can not link back. To find links please check out my parties and hops page (see right column) or visit my other blog http://lovevisiting.blogspot.com 

Thrifted Vintage Artwork

Around my house the artwork is eclectic, whimsical, non coordinated
and to be honest frequently dusty.

I showed you the framed poster I found last week

and the framed card it matches.

You may get a feel for artwork I am attracted to,  that speaks to me.

This hangs above the toilet.

 It is one of those you find often preowned and in various sizes.

I’ve had it a few years and joke mine is the original.

 Can you see the brushstrokes? 
 (Well, trust me)

Not long ago I found another portrait to share the same wall

 as soon as I change the hideous color of the frame.

Still, I like the shape and for under $3 ( I even hesitated at that! ) I was persuaded to bring her home.

Another one that took no hesitation on my part is this Vintage reproduction of an old cereal ad.

 
I will find room for it in the kitchen or breakfast nook area.

 

I could even say I made it myself, but prefer to think I would have done a better job of mounting and Modge Podge.

I have one more to show you but will have to save it and hope you come back.

Linking up today with Vintage Thingee Thursday
Thrifty Thursday
Trinkets and Treasures 
Tickled Pink 
Just For The Joy

and invite you to come back and meet more of the fur kids on Furry First Friday.

National Garage Sale Day? Who Knew!

Sorry- no pictures today. I have been out the past couple days thrifting, visiting other people’s yards and garages and barns and sheds and a few churchs.  Besides interesting plunder and some great books I was treated to good conversation and a wonderful bakery that brought back childhood memories.  Nope, no pictures of that either, it was yummy and gone fast.

How did I find out there was a National Garage Sale Day?
Thank you Ms. Selena  from  Apron Thrift Girl   who holds a fun Monday Meme  Thrift Share that I would love for all of you to join.  Don’t wait until Monday, please hop over to ATG now and read her post about National  Garage Sale Day.  She has a delightful and practical  gift for you there.

I promise there will be pictures after I finish unloading the van and sorting out my treasure.  Prepare to be amazed  (at what I will drag home.)

I am linking this post up to Frugalicious Friday  at Finding Fabulous where she has a post with details on another thrifty source – senior living centers.
Please go read it yourself.

 Since this post is short I have room to send a shout out to all my classmates from high school.  I did visit with some of you at the pre reunion bar thing Friday night.  Still trying to get my hearing and voice back.

And to all my readers, if you have a favorite recipe from your childhood and want to send me a link, maybe with a brief story of your memories, I’d love to read it.

How do you find garage sales?
A few ways are local newspapers, on paper or online,   services such as CraigsList  or Garage Sale Finder  or local Saturday morning radio programs.

Anouncement:  There is a party going on at Under the Table and a prize for linking up to her Sunday Showcase so go add your project.

Happpy To Design  offers you a chance to repost one of your favorite posts on Sunday, and since I am reblogging ATG’s information, this is sort of a repost.

Kuzak’s Closet  has a contest for you  and an opportunity to share favorite things in your life.

I heart naptime  has a contest for you today as well.  Link up your project or just visit and see great things made by others and become inspired.

Linking this post up to Market Yourself at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality (note- only 1 more month to join in this season)
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 
Twice Owned at House of Grace 
Toot Your Horn at A Silly Little Sparrow 
WordFULL Wednesday at 7 Clown Circus 
Penny Pinching at The Thrifty Home   and a reminder of her Refinished Furniture link party   that you can still join and share.
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts   – also look at the great projects she recently share for her Back 2 School party.
Another Back to School Bash was held at Lizard & Ladybug  and presently she has an event planning type party. Go read for details.
And I am going to SPOTLIGHT myself at It’s So Very Cheri 

Because going through other people’s stuff is a favorite past time of mine I am linking up to Favorite Things Saturday.