Fabulous finds

2 Barbies & accessories $2
Math book 50 cents
Skirt $2 (I plan on wearing to the 127 sale next week in TN)
Cute silver bucket, now my new office trash can, 25 cents
50 cents for the letter E
Bench $5
4 aqua plates 50 cents for all 4

Large lidded jar $2

Pyrex measuring cup 10 cents
Disney frame $1

Decanter $2

My fav... 5 vintage keys $1 each

It is such a great feeling to get out in the fresh air and find such fun treasures. 

• A very sweet woman selling the vintage keys explained to me how rare it is to find a skeleton key with a "heart bow". The bow is the loop on the key. The fancier the bow the more valuable it is. I will be looking for skeleton keys on my trip to the 127 sale. And this nice woman also shared with me that she has turned many many keys into several pieces of framed art in her home and the trick to attaching the keys is to use silicone. I am guessing that might mean the silicone tubes you can buy at Home Depot that you use to caulk your sinks, etc.
• On the bottom of the bench the retail sticker says "Display Benches Set $125.00". REALLY? OK. (There was only one bench for sale)
• I bought the large lidded jar because I am excited about adding glass jars as storage containers in my pantry.
• The Barbies were going to be for Christmas for the girls. But they FOUND THEM before I could hide them and they begged to play with them. They are pretty Barbies with many accessories. I was going to put them in fancy boxes and put them under the tree in December, but instead I asked the girls to cleanup the ENTIRE PLAYROOM before they could open up their new dolls. That was a BIG job!
• The letter E I could use to make this decoration for my wall. So cute! Just need to find a couple more letters to go with it. :-)

(found this photo on Pinterest.com)

GUESS WHAT I PAID FOR THIS GOLF SIGN FOR MY HUSBAND?

$10

He loves it!

Guess what I paid...

My husband plays golf, watches golf, reads about golf, coaches golf and, I am sure, dreams about golf. This sign immediately caught my eye at an estate sale. He will love it!
The homeowner told me to make him an offer. It came from a golf course, that closed down, where he was a member. Certain members were allowed to take home a sign that marked the holes.

When I brought it home, I told my husband I found his Christmas present. I really should have saved it for December 25. But I couldn't wait. He loves it! We will hang it up in our backyard somewhere.
Guess what I paid...

more goodies from last weekend

from last weekend's treasure hunting...

I filled my car many times! 

These treasures went straight into my "secret suitcase" hiding spot. Christmas Presents!

games & books & DVDs 

50 cents - $2 each

Barbie golf bag $5

adorable vintage Salt & Pepper shakers $1

clock with stand $1

Footloose CD 25 cents - I need it on CD - I only have it on cassette :-)

brand new ipod speakers marked $10 but I made a deal and got it for $8 (shhh it might be a Christmas present for my husband)

Disney Princess kickboards 50 cents each

Rollerblades in EXCELLENT condition $10

Hello Kitty rain boots $3

I did not buy that table this weekend. That was a gift from a friend!

When I found this picture I got goosebumps. $5 

It exactly matches my shower curtain that I found at Salvation Army for $5 ! 

The mirror was $5 and it is now hanging by my front door.

The story of this rug is incredible! The cutest, sweetest young lady was unrolling it and I was the first to see it. She mentioned she purchased it from Pottery Barn a few months ago for $250. She is getting a divorce and selling the rug because it reminds her of her ex husband. I knew it would sell fast! I wanted that rug SO BAD!

$40 SOLD ! 

Gorgeous! Love it !

Just a portion...

It was a busy weekend of garage sales, flea markets, church rummage sales, estate sales...

This is just a portion of what I scooped up this weekend. 

pink booster seat $5

pink Christmas tree $2

striped scarf 50 cents

flower pot $1

Disney princess carriage $1

bin storage $20 YAY! love this! I am going to organize our craft supplies in this.

4 fans for $3 each

apple peeler corer slicer $3

A portion of my family stayed at our house this weekend. aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents, mom. It was a full house! 13 of us total. We all went to the flea market, estate sales and garage sales together. 

My grandma showed us how she makes her homemade applesauce and we used my apple peeler corer slicer! 

brand new, heating pad for my mom $3

pink beverage pitcher for my mom $1

brand new, pink and gray sports bag $3

Justice Tshirt $2

horseshoe set $1

flower rain boots 50 cents

one of my favorite finds this weekend was this Schwinn bicycle I found for my daughter. $10 !!

I will post more photos from this weekend's adventures throughout the week.

congratulations

Congratulations! 

 Nicole@Rare Bird 

said...  

AND....I "liked" your FB page. (Can you tell I love this giveaway?!)

send me a message Nicole !! 

My blog's 1st birthday & 1st giveaway

My blog is one year old!

I never knew blogging would be so fun. I have learned so much and met so many supportive, wonderful people. There are so many gorgeous blogs out there that I admire.

This year has changed my life!

our stairs redo

  

          I admire the blogging and decorating expertise of ThriftyDecorChick.com

She is MY FIRST BLOG LOVE. 

          I was hooked on her detailed DIY tutorials. 

         SHE inspired me to redo our STAIRS. 

          I am so amazed at how much

          she transforms in her home.

  

Girl In Air

Then there is Girl In Air who is very creative and ambitious! I fell in LOVE with her  Magnetic Chalkboard, Dry erase, with sliding ladder wall!

She has wonderful tutorials for home decor! I am so impressed by the AMOUNTS of projects she has accomplished! Wow! And she has an Etsy store. http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlinair
I really wish she could come to my house and create that fabulous Activity Wall !






And someone whom I have met in person... the very talented Sarah from ThreeBoys-home.blogspot.com. She has transformed some amazing pieces of furniture! I really could learn a million things from her!!

This is just to name a few of the many blogs that inspire me!
I really enjoy following all the amazing blogs out there! You motivate me!
There is so much talent out there and I am in love with all the creativity!


It has been a big year for Garage Sale Diaries...


I had the opportunity to meet the sweetheart Cari Cucksey from the HGTV show 'Cash and Cari'. I have managed to visit MANY of her estate sales this summer. One sale is where I found this amazing treasure for my dad's collection.



My family and I traveled to the world's longest yard sale along highway 127. The sale runs over 600 miles from Michigan to Alabama. It was an adventure to see what other people collect and sell in other parts of the country. Every year it runs the first week in August. We are going again this year!!

Also, this past year I saved our family a ton of money by purchasing the girls' Christmas gifts and Birthday gifts at garage sales. It is amazing all the BRAND NEW goodies you can find. And I shared my secret hiding spot for the presents. I just kept adding treasures to a very large suitcase throughout the year and at Christmas time I had more than enough to put under the tree! 

I won a Silhouette machine from Thrifty Decor Chick! This machine rocks! 

It cuts paper and fabric in any shape and font that is on your computer!

And I have continued to decorate our home with garage sale / estate sale treasures. 

Including 7 tables in one year! 

This next year I want to learn more about transforming furniture! Home Depot has had some fabulous colors of OOPS paint that I have been buying up for $5 for a gallon and $1 for a quart. 

In celebration of my blog's 1st birthday I would like to present a gift to my friends!

My very first GIVEAWAY!!

FLEA MARKET STYLE MAGAZINE 

(retail $9.95)

There are so many inspiring photos and articles in the 144 pages! 
I love this magazine and I want to share it! 

Ways to enter my giveaway:

1. Become a follower of my blog. Then leave me a comment letting me know you are a follower. If you are already a follower just leave a comment letting me know!

2. Follow me on Twitter. Then leave me a comment. http://twitter.com/#!/garagesalediary

3. Like my Facebook page. Please leave a comment letting me know.
 www.facebook.com/garagesalediaries

4. Post a comment about your favorite garage sale treasure, what you like to look for at garage sales or your favorite garage sale story! I love to hear about everyone's treasures!

I want to thank you all for reading along with me on my adventures!!

Yes, this is open to everyone, even my friends outside the U.S. (you there in Australia and China)
This giveaway will be open for 6 days, until next Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at midnight EST. I will announce the winner of a FLEA MARKET STYLE MAGAZINE and post my new treasures I find over the weekend on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 !!