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A Thrifting You Should Go!

It’s been raining today. After I finished dishes this morning we tried to swim, but got rained out.

snuggle

So we came inside had a picnic in the family room and watched cartoons. After serving her lunch I asked Paige how much she loved me.

paigelovesme

It joys my heart when she does this. Then she said, “I WANT MY MILK NOW!” That doesn’t joy my heart.

I also let John Martin have an Oreo. He scarfed his down and made his way to his sister and managed to snag hers out of her hands. Rover!

She snagged it back.

oreo

And he completely fell apart.

oreo2

So what is the responsible mother to do? Strip him down…

oreo3

And take pictures of him.

oreo1

And give him another Oreo. And this, my friends, is how you spoil a child rotten. Don’t do as I do. Please.
So, what does all of this have to do with going to the thrift store? Nothing.
My intentions were to also show you some great deals we found at the thrift stores this weekend. First, I didn’t find this at the thrift store… but it was cheap and I think it’s cute. I also found a little black knit cardigan to wear over it. It’s from Walmart and I paid $1 for it. I buy most of my clothes at Walmart. I have no problem admitting this. They’re cute and they’re cheap. And their jeans come in lengths. Our local store is “rearranging” resulting in clearance racks that are overflowing. $1. Packs of gum cost more than that. {They have it brown and white too.}

1dollar

These are the precious curtains panels we found for $4. I haven’t completely decided what I’m going to do with them but they sure are fun and colorful.

thingsthatgo

I also found a handful of really great clothing items for me and the kids. And last but not least… the most exciting find was a new stroller. A rockin’ {literally} new stroller.

stroller2

It’s called a Rockstar Baby Stoller {Infinity model} and I paid $10 for it. It’s by Jon Bon Jovi. Seriously. I didn’t know he was in the business of designing strollers but apparently he is. It’s basically just like a Bugaboo {with a smaller price tag} and in my case… a MUCH smaller price tag. The picture above is the toddler seat completely reclined. It also comes off and can face forward. Like this…

stroller3

It was fairly nasty when I got it. But a little elbow grease and it’s like new! I also found this YouTube video that shows all it’s bells and whistles. I may have to loan it over to sister for a while… with a Snugride clip and a pram attachment she probably would use it more than I would. I don’t think they make it any more.

stroller4

I’m not a very big fan of the “graffiti-ish” logo but I can very much get over it, especially since you can’t really see it when he’s in it. And while he rides in it his new nickname shall be John Bon Martin.

Ok, you should hit the thrift stores this weekend…. just don’t go to the ones I like to go to.

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  • Elizabeth
    July 31, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    I never knew jon bon jovi designed strollers either. regardless, it looks really functional

    Cute print on the panels.

  • The Di Vito's
    July 31, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    When I was little I had train twin bed sheets exactly like those curtains. Perfect Match!

  • Jacci
    July 31, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    You cracked me up with the spoiling advice. So true, sister. Some days it's just VERY important to keep the youngest guys happy – even if it means completely derailing all child training efforts. Before I had children I was certain I would never give a whining child candy 😉 And what a find on the stroller! I love that the child can face backward. I have to be careful with thrifting/antiquing. If I start too early in the month, by the end of the month I can rack up quite the total. Little trips all add up. I think I'm going to try to wait until the veeerry end of our pay period (we do the cash system for most things) and *then* if I have dough to blow, it'll be completely legit! 🙂

    XO,
    Jacci

  • erika
    July 31, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    love you and your OP shirt, does it come in XXL? Or maternity? I guess I could buy it for next summer. Car wasn't ready 🙁 I'm headed back to office, what a fun Friday night, huh? I'll call you later. Love you and the Oreo face!!!

  • Old Beach Bungalow
    July 31, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    John Bon Martin cracked me up. You're funny.

  • Allyson
    July 31, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    I agree with the last commenter. You are funny. You make me laugh out loud – Jon Bon Martin – now that's funny. When do you want me and the little guy to come see you?? I'm ready when you are. I think I may be raising a rover, too.

  • katydid
    July 31, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    I have confessed this before, but I am quite new to the blogging world as all my favorite magazines are defunct. But, I digress, and none of that has anything to do w/ my real comment, which is this…I so enjoy reading your blog. You have a fabulous way w/ words and the camera – and when I read about your observations on faith, family, friendship and all things important in life, it makes me smile – every single time! (As do the pictures) – thanks for sharing your journey!! It's really quite lovely. Kathy

  • morethanthestarsinthesky
    July 31, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    The Jon Bon Jovi stroller looks great, but is cracking me up. I just checked on line and they do still sell them. The one I found is a limited edition and it's $699.
    Not that I need one, I just wanted to check. You got an awesome deal.

    Amanda in Alabama

  • GraceK
    July 31, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    I can't BELIEVE you got that "rockin" stroller for $10. Holy cow! Good for you girl!

    I'm scrimping for a Bugaboo (we're city folk without a car but with plenty of horrendous sidewalks, so it'll be a good investment, although a bit of a painful one too), and that stroller is just fab!

    John Bon Martin….lol!

  • MyLittleHappyPlace
    July 31, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    HA!! Love his Rockstar alias!! I'm DYING over that too-cool-for-school stroller – and the price – UNREAL!

    You GO gurrrl!!! {snaps}

  • Debra
    July 31, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    I just adore reading your blog! It always puts a HUGE smile on my face. That stroller- what a great find. I'm hitting the two local thrift shops tomorrow. Have a happy weekend. LOVE Rover!

  • Beth Goff
    July 31, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    Anderson has the same PJ's… oh it would be funny to get them together! Very cool stroller!

  • Jessica Ranjbari
    July 31, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    If Erika doesn't want the stroller, I'll borrow it! 🙂 Why do I never find anything that cool in the Talla. thrift stores?? Can I come visit you and we can go to the thrift stores in Dothan – maybe then I'll find some good deals. How could you not give JM another oreo? He's just too cute!

  • Amanda @ Serenity Now
    July 31, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    Loved the Oreo pictures! I see an angry face like that from one of mine at least once a day. 😉 I have some cute things from WM as well (shhh. don't tell!) Love thrifting! I'd go tomorrow, but I am hosting a bridal shower instead. 😉

  • Beth Anne Goncalves
    July 31, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Let me start by telling you that I adore your fabulous blog- you and your family are enchanting!

    We recently bought a house with a pool too. I was curious if you wouldn't mind sharing the behind the scenes part of your life and show us blog stalkers how you handle pool stuff control- PLEASE! I only have one 4 year old, a hubby, and a stepson 2 days a week, and I can't believe all the wet towels, wet suits, and stuff all over the house. Thank you!

  • Rachel
    July 31, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    I looked up that stroller using the swagbucks search engine and found it on a website called strollermama, slightly different model, but still similar for $699!! Wow, I'd say you got a got and awesome deal! I love it!

  • Dianne
    July 31, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    I thought you just bought a stroller for 2. Remember the green ones that hook together? Am I missing something here?
    BTW…Rover is precious. I think I would've handed him the entire bag of Oreos!!!!

  • Inspired Admirer
    July 31, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    Hi there. I don't look at blogs too often as I work full time, have 2 kids, etc. However, when I was looking for something online, your blog came up and I was amazed by the photos you take of your kids. Especially since you are a novice photographer. I too am a novice but my pics are far from the quality of yours. I know you said that questions should be directed to your friend the professional. However, I just have a quick question for you….along with the hundreds of other questions you get on a daily basis! I'm just curious about which of your two lenses you use the most when taking all these fabulous photos of your kids. You have inspired me to update my equipment and take a photography class. Thanks for sharing your life with everyone!

  • Kat
    July 31, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    I CANNOT believe you got that awesome stroller for only ten bucks… that is INSANE! I would be jumping for joy. I love a good deal. Love the pics of JM and his oreo beard. Too cute!

  • Hannah
    July 31, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    I can not believe you found a rock star baby for 10.00 I looked at those when I bought my stroller and they were only about 50.00 less than a bugaboo!

  • Laura
    July 31, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    John Bon Martin – that cracks me up!

  • The Wood Family
    July 31, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    Ditto on the Wal-Mart and thrift stores.

    I got a cute, solid red shift dress with ruffles around the neckline at Wal-Mart on clearance recently for $7.

    As an Easter outfit possibility, I bought a pair of white Banana Republic dress pants at Goodwill for $4. They still had a dry cleaning tag on them.

    Good deals come to those who dig!!!!

    Claire

  • Melissa
    July 31, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    Love those pics of Rover! I see that same expression at my house! Where do you do all this thrifting? I know almost nothing about it, but looks like you get some great stuff!

  • Abby Maddox
    July 31, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    So good to have you back!

  • nameisgrace
    July 31, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    i am so glad that i am not the only one with a "rover". my child has NEVER been still since birth. ALWAYS on the go and causing a scene. the only time i've ever experienced holding in calm state is when he is sleeping. HA! he is almost 18m now. rover's are THE BEST!!!

  • Iman
    August 1, 2009 at 12:31 am

    Love the stroller!
    I also have to agree with (Katydid)
    I love reading your blog, it's like a fresh new glossy magazine 😉
    Living in a small town I like to support local shops and avoid Walmart. But I'm on vacation visiting my parents in San Francisco, I might just have to pop into wally world and see what's up 🙂

  • Melissa Stover
    August 1, 2009 at 3:28 am

    he is such a cutie pie. go ahead and spoil him. i'm going thrifting today and am up way too early anticipating it.

    love the stroller find!

  • K
    August 1, 2009 at 4:01 am

    hi. New reader…you are an AMAZING photographer. Keep up the good work, and I hope you never doubt your talent.

    God Bless
    <3
    Kari

  • Lillian
    August 1, 2009 at 4:40 am

    What a find on that stroller! And LOVING that print on the panels – so much fun!!

  • Anne
    August 1, 2009 at 5:18 am

    What a find that stroller is!!! And those pictures of John Martin are hilarious! You are going to have some really good ones for when those wedding rehearsal dinner days come along! 🙂

  • Sarah
    August 1, 2009 at 5:40 am

    That Oreo-spoiling thing…I can't resist either. So sad with his big crocodile tears. And so cute.

  • Katiesperk
    August 1, 2009 at 6:05 am

    Well done on your thrift store finds! The Rock N Roll Stroller looks great. Jon Bon Martin will be styling. I am off to the thrift store to hunt up some fabulous finds!

  • Taylor
    August 1, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    Hi there. Love your blog. When Paige opened her arms wide to show how much she loves you and then immediatley asked for milk..it made me think of what I am like with the Father..pouring my heart out in love and thankfulness and then the next second I am back to being a needy child. I laughed at how silly I must seem to him and how amazing he is. I really needed to see myself in that perspective today (like a child). Thank you for being so transperant like you describe in your "about" section.

  • Teresa
    August 1, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    The stroller, and all of the Rockstar Baby line, where actually designed by Tico Torres, the drummer for Bon Jovi.

  • Surrounded By Boys
    August 1, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    How on earth do you manage with 3 kids at the thrift store??? Seems like it would be pretty tough to keep them in line long enough to really search for the good stuff. You are amazing!

  • The 5 Bickies
    August 1, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    Wow – your Rover loves him an Oreo!
    Your thrifting finds are terrific! Think of the grafitti as a monogram. You might not mind it as much!

  • The Howe Family
    August 1, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    Love the thrifty finds! Thanks for the glimpses into your real world. 🙂 I might have to give our kids Oreos or some other treat just to see the cute, messy faces. 🙂

  • Jared, Amanda, and Cooper
    August 2, 2009 at 11:11 am

    Hi! Your blog cracks me up! You see, I have a 2 year old rover!! And while I empathize with you and your sanity…it's always nice to know that you're not the only one! It also gives me hope that in the waaay off future, maybe if I have a little girl, she will not be a rover! I also love it that others love to shop for clothes at Wal-Mart, and that people are shocked when they ask me where I get things and I say "Wal-Mart"!!

  • Amanda
    August 2, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    i love walmart deals/clothes…they have come along way in the last 2 yrs too! sooo envious of the stroller, love it and for $10 that is just great! your pics of the kid–oreo-wars remind me of my christian (19mos) and charlotte (4yrs), they do this quite a bit with grahams, nilla wafers and anything yummy!

  • chelle
    August 2, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    I love your blog. I am a grandmother of 4 little girls all 3 and under. I am raising one and keep 2 others while their mom works. Your post on your nightgowns really caught my eye. I wasn't able to find the post where you gave your pattern info. I would love to get your how to info. They love wearing anything I make but especially dresses. We live north of Birmingham so it's been fun reading your blog. I am thinking about starting one myself.

  • Julia
    August 2, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    okay, we need a post on all of your strollers…

  • Lindley
    August 2, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    I'm a new follower to your blog and I just wanted to say that that is an amazing deal you got on the Rock Star stroller. Great find! You could seriously sell that thing on Craig's List for ten times what you paid for it. But I'd keep it. John Martin will look so cute in it.

  • Mary Frances
    August 2, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    I love my Levi's from Wal-Mart and t-shirts from Target…leaves me more money to spend on "thrifting", too! That stroller is fabulous…you just have to see that through the "dirt"…it's called visualization!

    Mary Frances

  • The Howe Family
    August 3, 2009 at 5:54 am

    Saw this today and remembered your marimekko sheet. 🙂 This is wall paper…

    https://designingmoms.blogspot.com/2009/08/decorate-marimekko-my-walls.html

  • Kathy
    August 3, 2009 at 8:11 am

    You are hilarious! You make me laugh:)

  • April Lowery
    August 3, 2009 at 8:42 am

    I LOVE his screaming face, only because I see it daily on a tot at my own home. I giggled because I can almost see his little feet stomping when I look at the pic. Too funny…LOVE my little boys…most days.

  • Anonymous
    August 4, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    forget the stroller…I love the bulletin board for the art work!! i NEED that.
    -maryanne