Thrifty Thursday: It's Chic to Be Cheap {18}

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What do you get when you add this:

plus this?

I'm pretty awful at math, but I think I added correctly!

When I saw that Kimm over at Reinvented did for her weekly Trash to Treasure post, I was inspired to create a festive, welcoming entrance to my home for the the 4th of July.

If you've been reading this week, you'll know that I really have to step up my game to compete with the fabulousness that we have going on next door.

The kicker was that I needed to not run out to Target and buy everything my little heart desired. (tear, sniff)

So I grabbed the grapevine wreath I've had laying around for ages (got it for a couple of bucks at Michaels), and remembered that I had some patriotic garland hiding somewhere.

I had to work quickly because whiny children were involved. If they see me near the front door, they assume we're going to the pool (or "cool" as Michaela Byrd calls it).

Armed with nothing but some scissors to snip the price tags off, I just wrapped the garland and tucked the ends under the grapevine.

I realized later (as you can see from the photo) that one side is all crooked, but like I said, I had to work fast! Even so, I like the effect!

A few "sale" flags later, and it's lookin' pretty patriotic over here on L Avenue. (No, I don't have a giant white brick over my mailbox. Just blocked out the house number. Sorry, had a flash of paranoia.) I love petunias because they are close to impossible to kill. After we got new siding, we don't have plant hangers on the overhang anymore. So I ripped the handles off the plastic hanging basket I have and made it into a regular potted plant.

This isn't a 4th of July decoration, but I like it because old farmhouses remind me of the country and good, old-fashioned American values. Too bad we've been living in a 1970s Colonial next door to the McSloppys for 6 years. Can I just say again how hard my fingers are crossed that a NICE family will move in after it's been fixed up?!

I don't have a "hanger" on the other side of the door, so I hung my little wooden flag from the mailbox. Happy 4th of July, Mail Lady who never shows up before 3!

I love my little shabby garden flag! Have had this one for ages.


I wasn't sure what to do with my larger "sale" flags, so I stuck them in the pitiful ivy urns on either side of the entry.

Also not a 4th of July decoration, but I love my old white watering can. It's handy to have it right outside the front door. The girls each have their own too, and I love the bright summery colors!

They have their names written on them in Sharpie to lessen screaming matches. Natalie at least can read her name.

Like I said, if they see me at the front door, they assume we're going to the pool. Here is Natalie carefully opening the door for her little sister so they can escape!

All in all, I might have spent $5 tops on these decorations. It's not anything spectacular, but it makes me feel more festive and in the patriotic spirit!

{Do you decorate for the 4th of July?}

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