Thrifty Treasures: Good Housewife Edition

It's Thrifty Treasures Day! If you love to read about good bargains and thrifty treasures, then head over to see Rhoda at Southern Hospitality today for her fun "Thrifty Treasures" party. It's like a big virtual yard sale of eye candy.


Last week, I wrote about a great estate sale that I took the girls to (a great peril with all of those breakables!). When we checked out, the sale manager gave each girl a miniature US flag and passed on the tip that the next day would be 50% day.


I forgot about it until we were on our way home from church and saw the sign. Natalie remembered the house and asked if we could go back to "the house what has all of the neat decorations." I took her pleasant demeanor as a sign from God that I should go back in and see if there were any good deals left.


While the girls fought over a child-size chair in the laundry room, I dug through a box of books and found two gems and an interesting ceramic, Fall-themed dish. 

I can't decide if I love or hate the little squirrel, but for $1.50 I decided to wrap him up and put him in the attic until September. 


The first book, McCall's Sewing Book, was a real find in my eyes. ($1) I'm a beginning sewer, and I'm always on the lookout for someone or something to show me some new techniques. The bonus was that it has some neat  illustrations.

My favorite find was The Good Housewife's Encyclopedia. ($1)

I feel like homemaking is making a comeback in a big way, and this little book (published in 1963) has chapters dedicated to making a house a home, entertaining, gardening, recipes, and decorating. Shockingly enough, the book offered some timeless decorating advice. I may have to plan a review!


It was interesting for me to think about a housewife in 1963, who may have had to rely on a book like this. I'm blessed to have the ability to call friends with questions or concerns on my cell phone when I'm at the store, and I can log on to the internet and blog hop until I find a post that shares just the right recipe for homemade icing. 


Housewives in 1963 didn't have the benefits of a good Decorating Dilemmas party either! {wink}

 This is your official reminder that I'm hosting again on Wednesday, which is also my birthday. 

Do you have an empty space over your buffet that you're just not sure how to fill? Is your bedding boring? Have pictures of your empty patio from last summer and you want some ideas for how to make it a livable space? 

Take a photo or two, write up a quick post detailing what you'd like some help with, and add a link to my blog within your post. Then link up your post here at Serenity Now on Wednesday and party! Make some visits and leave a suggestion or two for a few bloggy friends, and you should receive the same in turn. 

You can go here to view the last party if you are new to this blog.

Don't have a Dilemma? Then I'll bet you have a Solution to share! Have you found a way around a pesky design problem? Please feel free to link that up as well.

The party will go live after 10 pm (ET) on Tuesday, April 20th, and the link system will stay open all day on Wednesday. That's one day of partying! Partygoers are encouraged to visit other links.

Note: The party will only be open for a day. I found that people who link up earlier tend to receive more comments, and after about a day bloggers move on to the next party. This will be short and SWEET! If you can't make it this time, plan on coming to party for the next round.


Need more encouragement to join? I'll host a small Giveaway for participants, and anyone who joins with a (valid!) link will get an extra entry in Thursday's Sponsor Giveaway! That's two Giveaway opportunities in one party.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!


{Have you found any thrifty treasures lately?}