First Garage Sale of the Season

I went to my first garage sale of the season!! The weather has been warmer than normal and the season has started earlier this year. Usually it hits around May! I went to my first sale in April! It seems like forever that I have been to a garage sale when its really been about 6 months! 

But now that they are here I am getting ready! Spring cleaning and organizing. Making space for my new treasures! We have taken at least 4 car loads to Salvation Army this Spring so far! I have spent a lot of time sorting and storing everything away in bins in the basement. I need more bins and more time to put EVERYTHING I own away! But, so far, I have a total of 54 bins in my basement. And I need more!! I want it ALL tucked away so I know right where it is when I need it. 

My bins are labeled:
Lightbulbs
Books
Bubble Wrap
Easter (2 bins)
Valentines
Halloween (3 bins)
Snowpants, Hats, Gloves
Ice Skates
Winter Boots
Craft Supplies
Sheets
Wedding (from 10 years ago! I should look through there one of these days - should be interesting)
College
Picture frames (3 bins)
Photos (4 bins. I have both of my grandmas photos because I should be scanning them and putting photo books together!)
Tote Bags
Beach Towels
Old toys from when I was little (2 bins)
Christmas (18 bins. yep 18)
Girl Clothes size 7 & up (2 bins for my oldest daughter for school next year)
and I have 7 bins marked JUNK because I need to SORT the contents out! I just have a hard time letting stuff go. I am getting better! Can you believe it? I guess I am border line "hoarder". But NOW I am committing to USING everything I own or getting rid of it! It feels good!
OK I am still working on it! But it feels good to be moving in the right direction!

This is what I purchased at my one and only garage sale so far this year! It was a great sale! I was her first customer! She had gorgeous BRAND NEW items! 

2012 is going to be a GREAT year of garage sales! 

New Queen bedspread $6. New SUPER SOFT cream throw $6. New Full size blanket $6. Pillows $2 each. 2 brand new roman shades $2 each. Total $26

Today's baking challenge. Cake Mix Cookies.

We tried this cookie recipe using a cake mix. 

The picture looked so adorable I had to try it!  

The 3 frosting bowls came from a garage sale. $1 for all 3 bowls.

Recipe is from Parents Magazine, April 2011, page 190

1 box yellow cake mix

1 large egg

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup buttermilk

colored sprinkles

1 can vanilla frosting

yellow, red, blue food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. 

2. Combine the cake mix, egg, oil and buttermilk in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Shape 1-inch mounds of batter into balls and flatten slightly. Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. 

Top with sprinkles. 

3. Bake until cookies are golden and firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack. 

4. Divide the frosting among three bowls. Use a few drops of food coloring to tint frosting. Sandwich the cookies together with frosting. Makes 30.

YUMMY!

Ok, so this makes 30 cookies, which makes 15 sandwiches. And when the 3 cooks must sample a few you only end up with about 10 sandwiches. :-)

Linking up to Creative Party at http://todayscreativeblog.net/

Treasure Hunting Last Week

We are updating our guest bathroom and have painted the walls a calming, light blue. The paint is OOPS paint from Home Depot. It was a great deal. $5 for a gallon of Behr Premium Plus paint and primer in one!!

I needed a new shower curtain and this one is SO FUN and a perfect match to the paint color. A great Salvation Army find for $5!! The shower curtain hooks were BRAND NEW from a garage sale last summer for $1 ! 

On Friday my girls and I went to Cari Cucksey's, RePurpose Estate Sale in Northville. They were filming for Season 2 of Cash and Cari. 

- our treasures - 

oval mirror, decanter and glass set,

ADORABLE lemon salt and pepper shakers,

petite accent vase,

and a UNIQUE set of 18 connected vases.

I CANNOT WAIT to fill each vase with spring flowers for a centerpiece! 

It was a FABULOUS week. Cannot wait to see what we find this week!!!!

I am still debating on the table I found on Craigslist. We took a look at it in person. It's a nice, oval, oak table. But I am thinking I want a rectangle table. Hmmmmm.....