Thursday, March 23, 2023

Favorite Find: Rechargeable Light Bulbs For Emergency Preparedness

This post contains affiliate links. Check out the links at the bottom of the post for more emergency preparedness ideas.


The past few years have taught me a few things, one of them is to be prepared. With that, I've been slowly adding items to my home to help. Obvious things like extra food, water, and batteries, but fun things like this light bulb have been included also. This light bulb works just like a normal light bulb. Comes on and off with the switch, but when plugged in, it is constantly charging just waiting for the chance to be used when the power goes out. 

All it takes for it to come on is to complete the circuit. So, as long as it stays plugged into the wall during a power outage, and you turn it on, it will come on. Likewise, when it is not in a socket. This amazing little guy can turn on just by touching it with your finger, hand, or wet clothe. It's like a portable flashlight ready to go whenever you need. 

The set comes with two rechargeable light bulbs along with two power hooks that you can use and make them more portable and have the ability to hang. The charge lasts for about 3-4 hours. Check out the video I made about it below. It's amazing that even secured into the lamp, I'm able to turn it on without it being plugged in! No remote needed :)


I was able to use these a few months ago when the power went out, and it was like it never really did! I had my lamps going with no problem. 

Let me know what your favorite emergency items are in the comments! Also, if you'd like for me to share more of mine! 

Here are some of my current go to things for emergencies: 


Find more of my favorite finds on my Instagram in the story highlights. 
  




 Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Vintage Spring Decorating Ideas | Front Room 2023

This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome! Today I'm joining the Spring Home Tours  hosted by Marty from A Stroll Thru Life where over 30 bloggers get together to share seasonal decor of their homes!  If you are stopping by on the blog tour hop from Pink Peppermint Design welcome! Isn't Tammy's home beautiful and full of inspiration?

If you have any idea on how much I hate winter, then you'd understand how excited it makes me that I'm actually using the words "spring decor" in this post! That being said, spring around here doesn't come until about May :) In fact, we have a whole week of snow lined up for us....yay goody! haha. There's at least a light at the end of the dark wintery tunnel! I'm excited to show off my vintage spring front living room with you today...at least it's looking like spring in my house. All the winter stuff is down and I'm so ready to welcome warmer weather! 

I've been in a slow process of changing out my mass produced items for more unique antique/vintage pieces. Because of this, this little area of my front living room got a recent update. This bookshelf was an old barrister bookcase that's missing it's doors. I topped it off with this new to me mirror. I fell in love with the scroll work on top. It was a robin's egg blue when I picked it up...not quite my style, so I added some paint and Rub 'n Buff in Antique Gold onto it. 
This barrister bookcase was the perfect place for my antique book collection. Some of these books are from the 18th century! I added some other vintage finds with the gold frames, stoneware jars, clock face, and architectural salvage. 

This room is home to many of my books with multiple bookcases like this secretary hutch. 

This hutch folds open and is the perfect desk for when we do homeschool. Although I have quite a bit of furniture in here, I like to keep the bigger items painted white, they tend to take up less visual space. 
The bench that acts as a coffee table also stores a mass amount of toys! I topped it with this vintage fruit crate, old books, and these vases I found at Hobby Lobby.

Now for my favorite piece in here, my faux fireplace mantel. I picked this up for a steal years ago. My mom gave me this mirror that was my great great grandmother's. It was the perfect fit and color! It's amazing it's in decent condition considering it survived a fire! 
Rug: Rugs USA    Storage Bench: Link         Chandelier: World Market         $30 shiplap tutorial: link




For the top, I used some long garland from Hobby Lobby. This is my favorite garland with how it hangs. I placed some terracotta pots along the edges, and filled a few up with the extra garland. 
I found these beautiful framed reproduction vintage artwork and tucked them into the back. I have 7 of these prints throughout my house. 

On the other side, I added some vintage books for height to even out the side with the prints. 

As you can see, candles are necessary for me! Along with lots of layers. I double upped these rugs, and added my favorite pillow to this chair. These pillow cases are from Hobby Lobby also, which sadly they are discontinuing. But I have found some at Antique Farmhouse as well. I use them throughout my house. 

Back in the day, my husband would give me crap about not using photos in our home. Then I had children, and way to many photos to count. I added a gallery wall similar to this in almost every room. So I went from not having many, to having a ton. Although my style is evolving, I still love this gallery wall in here!


And that wraps up the tour! I hope it gave you inspiration that old can still be beautiful! Also, always remember, there is no real rule to decorating. Yes, I've been through design school and there are lots of "rules" per se, but when it comes to your house, do what makes you happy! Add all those quirky things people will scoff at that you love, add that trim that is out of style that makes you smile at your room when you walk by. Be yourself, and make a home that you want to be in and brings joy to your day :) 
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Check out the lineup of more spring inspiration below from other amazing bloggers! Next up on the bloghop tomorrow is  Country Road 407.  Be sure to go check her home out.

I have lots going on behind the scenes! Be sure to follow me on my social channels 
  


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Vintage Spring Dining Room Decor | New Hutch and Vintage Crocks

This post contains affiliate links.

What do you collect? My collections change as months go on.... there was a time it was spoons, rolling pins, smashers, books, candlesticks....the list can go on and on. Recently, I've been collecting vintage and antique stoneware, mostly European. It's fun to collect, but can definitely get expensive if you don't know how to shop...even if you do. I'm not saying I do, I just have found some deals and can finally notice when things are overpriced. With this new collection, I've been wanting a spot to start displaying some of it. So, I've been on the hunt for a hutch to go above my buffet in my dining room. I literally can't fit another piece of furniture in my house (as much as I want to try!), so this space in my dining room was the only place for my collection to live.

I came across this hutch one day at the thrift store, bought it, and then proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes in high winds trying to Tetris it into the my SUV. I made it work...after it fell twice. But it survived :) It was well worth the hassle! It's larger than it appears apparently!

When I bought it, it looked like this picture below. I took off the doors and was setting to paint it, when I realized it would be a great backdrop for the stoneware and ironstone pitchers. 

The curves of this is what sold me on it, even though it was a little more narrow than my vision for the space. With the narrowness, I have been able to still decorate on the sides which is a bonus!  

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been playing around with what to put in here....mainly in fear that my cats will jump on it at any moment :) So far, I think I'm safe. It's amazing at how much these crocks can cost, if they fall, it would be devastating! But, alas, that's the risk when you have a kitten and a cat running around.
Having another space to decorate has been so much fun. Small pitchers and creamers with a "vintage" painting tucked behind it graces the middle shelf. I didn't know that I collected these small pitchers until I realized how many I had. I tend to think I go for them because they are quite cheaper than the larger pitchers. This painting is a new favorite find of mine from Amazon. They have quite the selection when fully stocked of these vintage-esque prints for under $15. (linked here) I have a few of them throughout my house now. 



I found a wonderful seller on Etsy from England and bought the majority of my smaller ironstone and stoneware crocks from her. I had them shipped over here, it was about the double the purchase price, but still half the price of what sells here in the States. My other vintage crocks I have found through various local antique stores along with sellers on Instagram. There are some amazing sellers that do weekly or monthly sales. I'll list a few that I have purchased from here:
https://www.instagram.com/1100_west/
https://www.instagram.com/little.shop.on.maple.hill/
https://www.instagram.com/bethhamptonshome/
https://www.instagram.com/the.huber.homestead/

This plate was a birthday present from my husband, and the pitcher from my children. Even though they aren't antique/vintage, they still hold a special place in my heart! 

When styling this piece, I made sure to add height in different places with the books, the artwork, the plate and the stems. For the bottom, I used half of the apothecary drawers that used to sit on my buffet (tutorial here). I love them so much, I had to figure out a place for them. Although there's a lot of contrast with the dark wood and white/creams....I'm itching to paint this white! I know, I know...The way I see it, I've lived with this for about a month now. I don't mind it, but I don't love it. It seems rather looming in my dining room....just a big dark piece shadowing over us as we eat. Dramatic? Yes :) But that's how I feel. 
Myrtle Tree: Hobby Lobby

Not saying it's going to happen soon, but eventually it will be white. What do you think? Leave it or paint it? 

Also, one of these days, I'll have to gather up all my stoneware and ironstone crocks and show them off to you! I'm realizing they are all over my house in every room so I have way more than pictured in my dining room. They are great for display, to use as vases, candles, or holders for pencils, makeup, or spoons! Plus, they have history! 

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I have lots going on, check out my social media for every day life, more inspiration, and behind the scenes here at Thrifty and Chic!
  


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

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