A Thrifty Find (And 27 Days of Thankful #22)

If you have children or if you were ever a child then you know how difficult it is for them to give up a toy.

Even if it was a pink plastic Barbie compact from a McDonald's Happy Meal that laid forgotten at the bottom of the toy box for 3 months.

With Christmas coming, the T house is about to be inundated with another truckload of toys. I wanted to stay ahead of the game this year, so I've been practicing my stealthy moves.

Last week, when the girls were napping, I raided their toy box and canvas toy bins and chucked a whole lot of STUFF into two big bags and a box. I crept out the front door and hid the loot in the back of my car, and they were none the wiser.

On Friday morning, T stayed home with Natalie to watch Mulan for the 856th time, and I loaded Michaela Byrd up to make a donation to the Salvation Army. Of course, no one was working in the back, so I had to unload a fidgety toddler and haul her past an open case of ceramic cows to get someone at the front desk to sign my donation slip.

As I waited in line, singing every verse to "Old MacDonald's Farm" that I could think of, my eyes wandered across the store and I spotted this gem:

I breathed a quick prayer that the woman browsing that section would overlook my find and continue inspecting the 40 year old Tupperware she picked up.

The Thrift gods smiled on me, and I run-walked across the store as soon as my slip was signed, trying to look nonchalant, but I am sure I had the gleam of a good bargain in my eye. Once the apothecary jar was in my hands, I had to figure out a way to hold onto it and my toddler. It was like Sophie's Choice, I tell you.

I did a happy dance out of the store, after having paid only $1.50 for my new apothecary jar. It's the largest one I own now (I showed Michaela Byrd's hand so you could see how big it is), and I can't wait to fill it with pretties for Christmas. I love it when I happen upon items on my "wish list" when I'm not really even looking for them!

Do you use apothecaries in holiday decorating?

It's Day #22 of 27 Days of Thankful. Click the link to find out what's going on here every day in November until Thanksgiving Day.

Today, I am thankful for unexpected thrifty finds.

{What are you thankful for today?}

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