New Year, Same Habit

Happy New Year everyone!  

I hope you all survived the holidays in one piece. 

We had a snowstorm the Thursday before so we had a white Christmas!

The weather on Christmas day was just beautiful!

We enjoyed abundant sunshine and warm temperatures.

Mr. B's parents traveled from their home in the mountains

and we spent the afternoon talking, laughing and, of course, eating.

We spent New Years Eve as we like to do.

Nothing fancy, a light dinner and a movie.

In bed by 9:30. 

Yeah, that's how we roll, ha!

My resolution for 2012 is the same one

I have each year.

I try to be a better, kinder person (some people make it hard!) and to 

eliminate the word hate from my vocabulary.

I may dislike something or someone but hate is just to harsh of a word, in my opinion.

One resolution I will not make is to

quit thrift shopping!

That is one resolution I would be destined to fail within the first week!

In fact...

I spent several hours on New Year's Eve stopping into several thrift stores!

To be honest, I was on a mission.

Once all of the Christmas decor had been put away 

I changed up the china cabinet in the kitchen eating area and had a plan

for a vignette on the top of it.

It just needs one more "thing".

I, of course, shopped the house first but, "it" was not to be found.

Off I went.

My first stop was our neighborhood Arc Thrift Store.  

It was my lucky day!

Nearly all color tags were 50% off!

Up and down each aisle I went, on the hunt for that perfect "thing"!

Then, I got distracted.

By this

A goblet etched with pine cones!

And, there were 6 of them. 

One of them still had the store tag on it. 

Crate & Barrel!

I would imagine these would have sold in the store for much more

than the $1.50 each I paid!

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spied this!

A Candlewick sherbet dish! 

Only .50!

Did I need another Candlewick sherbet dish? 

Probably not.

Did I want another Candlewick sherbet dish?

Heck yes I did!  

Into the cart it went along with

the pine cone goblets!

I then calmed myself down, a bit, and began anew my search for "it".

Then I saw these! 

Sweet ceramic flower napkin rings, with flowers! Don't they subtly just scream Spring?

$1.50 for all four.

They have a pedestal so that they stand up!  

Love!

I finally realized that this store did not have the "thing" I need for the china hutch 

and decided to try another store.

In fact, I tried two other thrifts but walked out empty handed.

I decided to try just one more thrift store for the day.

I went to a Goodwill not too far from home.

Surprisingly, the shelves were pretty bare.

I found no dishes, I found no glasses, I found no "thing"!

Buuutttt, I did find this,

It's a wooden crate for wine bottles. 

The inserts can be removed

It could be used for storing anything!

It was only $2.99!

Now, I am not sure if the plain wood works for me.

I am thinking of staining it slightly darker.

What do you think?

Stain it or leave it?

I also fell in love with this simple print at $3.99.

It has found a new home on the wall at our entryway.

So, four hours later I came home, laden with thrifty goodies, and was greeted by the poor china hutch.

It is still missing that "thing", that perfect "thing" that will complete the vision I have in my mind for it.

Oh well, there's always next week, right ;) ?