I gotta say, if there is one tip I have for yard sailing, do it when you’re 8 months pregnant. You WILL get the best deals!! This season is starting off strong, and I think my negotiating skills are a whole lot easier with a big tummy staring them down. This week I found some lovely items that will help with my nursery and my husband’s warehouse, all without breaking a sweat.. well maybe a little sweating, grunting and wobbling was involved, but it was so worth it!

School Projector Cart, $5

I picked up this sturdy school projector cart for just $5! It will be a great addition to my husband’s warehouse and tote all kinds of sewing tools back and forth. I couldn’t believe the price-tag when I saw it. What a “steal”.

Retro Metal Children’s Chairs, $2

Can you believe these adorable mint condition kiddie chairs were just a buck a pop? Yea, talk about showing off that baby bump for a steal of a deal! This is almost the yard sale find of the week.. but the item(s) chosen just happens to be something I’ve been on the hunt for.

Retro Flip Clock, $2

I am totally in love with this clock that will be making it’s way into our son’s nursery. It’s a flip clock that works sort of the way those boards in the train station do! They infatuate me and this clock is totally functional for my brain since I never read clocks that have the hands for time.. meet digital’s way cooler cousin.

Industrial Fan, $40

A heavy metal fan! But no metallica here, this beast will bring our humid Richmond summers some relief to the warehouse crew, and this fan is worth at least 3-5 the cost and was basically brand new.

Vintage Esso Richmond Map, $1

As we’re headed on a vintage travel theme in our nursery this map certainly fits the bill. Especially since my hubs used to pump gas at an Esso when he was just a boy, tying both of our babes homes together in one cool piece of artwork.

Waffle Maker, $3

Nothing like some buttered waffles to start your day, or babyshower! Yes you heard that right, my babyshower is going to have a waffle station, so finding these magical tasty making machines on the cheap was on my list of scores to watch for!

Whale Trivet, $2

This adorable little hot plate is in desperate need of cleaning. But it wouldnt come off with my standard household cleaners. Either way, it’s got great bones! And was too cute to pass up.

And now for the Yard Sale Find of the Week!

Vintage Suitcases, $10/Each

Speaking of our travel themed nursery, I’ve been on the hunt for several months for some awesome vintage suitcases. But you would be amazed at how much these babies sell for in antique stores, most upward of $50-$90 each! I was overjoyed when we came across this sale where the buyer was a collector of sorts and had all his old maps and magazines stored in adorable vintage suitcases. I asked if they were for sale, and he said no, and somehow big belly had me walking away with three for $30 sweet bucks. I love you big belly, and I love you vintage suitcases!

So I’ve been on the hunt for a new vacuum.. Even though I have a Dyson, it sucks! Actually, it literally doesn’t suck! So.. that’s why I need a new one. In our investigative research we would be spending upwards of $400 or more to get a vacuum that would satisfy my needs, and last a few years to boot. This just made me so discouraged since my Dad and Aunt have these 50 year old Electrolux canister vacuums that barely ever need maintenance and vacuum like a charm. In essence, I really wanted one of those old monsters, and told them both that they should be-will them to me. Morbid, but practical, I know!

So you will not believe my luck while out running errands when I stopped by this estate sale around the corner from my house yesterday morning.

Electrolux Super J Vintage Vacuum Cleaner, $20

My yard sale find.. of the SEASON! Pouf, it appeared to me. Something that I really really wanted for just $20 sweet bucks. I tested it out in house, and this baby SUCKS! It picked up every single crumb I set out to get. I have to say, when the season starts out like this.. it might only be downhill from here..

Until this..
AMAZING ENAMELED COOKWARE SET, $7

A vintage collection of Catherine Holm enameled cookware and canisters for just $7!! I must be dreaming. Or April Foolsin!

Notice the subject, this was not a yard sale find! I had to miss out on sales this week for my bff’s bridal shower. It was hard to skip the routine of running around all over richmond looking for happy treasures, but I resisted the urge in order to be on time to her house for our 9:15am decent to Newport News. It was especially hard when I drove past this awesome mid-century house on Westover Hills Blvd, which happens to be my favorite house in the entire neighborhood! I almost stopped, but resisted the urge to be the one that held up the group. And afterall, the bridal shower was so much more fufilling then any YS find of the day could have been, I mean look at these lovely ladies I’m sharing with in the wedding party:

Not only was it a super fabulous time filled with good food, good friends and good gifts! But somehow the thrift gods decided to pay me back today by giving me something I REALLLY wanted from the moment I laid eye’s on it.

The Thrift store find of the week

Americraft Kitchen Kutter, $15

You may be thinking, Carley WTH is wrong with you and your obsession with food processors, slicers and all things kitchen. And I may be asking myself the same thing. But I promise this one is different. This one is the ONE!

You see I was at a trade show a few months ago and somehow I got sucked into this cooking show demonstration. There was a fast talking slick salesman, slicing veggies with ease, I was pulled in and I took a seat. This veggie cutter he was demonstrating was AMAZING it cut everything but the peel of the peel of the squash or the onion, it did it so fast and effortlessly, it was my kitchen dream! I sat and watched as the rest of the FOURTY FIVE MINUTE presentation went on, regarding their excellent cookware, which doesn’t need water to cook your veggies might I add (yes I really did want the cookware too). But I waited till the very end of the presentation, because I knew I had to have that veggie cutter, that apparently was only sold in live demonstrations, no online resale, no retail stores! Then the price came out of his mouth, it was a shocking $350 (I think cannot remember exactly)! That just couldn’t be!! It was more than my precious food processor more than anything I’ve ever bought for my kitchen including my refrigerator, and I walked away with such a sad face. I knew it wasn’t meant to be, until we struck gold, or some other miracle amount of cash fell into our laps.

Then enters this new thrift store on Jahnke Rd a half a mile from my house. We stopped by today, and there on the shelf was an Americraft Kichen Kutter, ALMOST NEW with the silly apple sticker on the front. I thought, this cant possibly be the one I have my heart set on.. can it?? On well there is only one attachment and that other one had a bunch, oh look here are he others.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I almost skipped to the checkout with glee!! But decided not to so I didn’t trip and cut my fingers up on these super sharp blades. There was still one question however, no price tag was anywhere in site. And I was for a moment scared they wouldn’t sell it to me without the price marked. The cashier called the owner to check on the price, and replied $15, but it’s worth $75 retail… MORE LIKE 4 times that amount!!

I paid scooped it up and randrove home as quickly as possible. Set it up in seconds and cut up a carrot with all the attachment blades much quicker, easier and with more variety than my food processor. Then I found them online, selling for $250 used! I proceeded to watch 30 minutes of demonstrations on youtube! I must admit, I’m a little too excited for a good kitchen utensil. Something is freakishly wrong with me. But I am thrilled, and in possession of my new favorite kitchen utensil!

See what I mean here!

Finally spent a weekend in July checking out the sales. I hit the town with one of my bests, Catie, and we browsed all over Richmond for the best deals we could find. She barely gets a Saturday morning off, so this was a special treat for her. I worked the best magic I could find and she went home with a few treasures. We lucked out, the weather was nice, the sales were great, and the company was even better. Isn’t life grand sometimes?

Sugar dispenser, $1

This happens to match a salt and pepper shaker we own, and is the perfect accessory for my coffee lovin husband, who like’s his sugar raw.

Veggie Steamer, $.75

I’ve got a rice cooker that also steams veggies, but I figure it could come in handy for when I’m too lazy to get the rice cooker off the top shelf and deal with all the parts needed to plug it in.

John Deere Stationary, $.50

Another perfect gift for my coffee lovin husband, only this is so he can write home on the farm with some apropos stationary. 7 cards for .50 cents is a pretty nice find.

Emily Haines CD, $1

One of my favorite singers, couldn’t let her make it to Goodwill. Check her out if you haven’t already, she has a beautiful voice.

Target Jacket, $1

A cute little number at a sweet little price.

And now for the best of the best, the creme de’ la creme the yard sale find of the week!!

Large Floor Pillows, $9

Look at these beautiful sage green floor cushions! They will match my living room or den, and supply a couple extra butt spots, when seating is limited. At $4.50 a pop, I couldn’t refuse.

Zues agrees, theses pillows are great!