Goodwill Hunting Roundup

It's that time of month where I show off my Goodwill finds.  Ready to see what I have found?

First up, I came across this Kids Kraft kitchen for $3.99.  The only flaw, it was missing a knob on the back splash.

There was also the matching refrigerator for $2.99.  Which was in perfect shape.

The only problem, Grace has nearly this exact fridge and stove, which we paid full retail for her 3rd birthday.

Since I didn't want to feel the guilt I experienced last month, buying a dollhouse

When we already have a dollhouse...

I called a friend, who came over and bought the kitchen set herself...for $7!

So, instead of buying the kitchen, and justifying having 2 kitchens, I bought this little bunny for .99 cents.  If you haven't already guessed after Grace's bunny themed birthday party, we have a thing for bunnies.

This bunny sits atop a basket which opens.  Inside, another bunny.

And that little bunny, goes perfectly with the newest addition to Grace's dollhouse.

With temps tipping up to 100 degrees (!), it seems the perfect time to shop for ice skates.  I picked up this pair, on half off anything with a pink ticket day, paying only $2! 

And, thanks to Bliss Ranch, I am already thinking about Christmas (in July!).  I might break my never having made a wreath streak and make Bliss Ranch's Ice Skating Wreath.  I just need to find some red laces now.

I also bought a glass jar, with a cork stopper, for $1.99 and a complete Scrabble game $1.99.  I added the Scrabble tiles to the jar for instant home decor.

And lastly, not a Goodwill find, but rather a Home Goods purchase, I found the perfect sheets for Grace's new big girl bedroom.

Princess - Ballerina Toile.  A twin bed set for $19.99.

Until next month, happy thrifting!

Summer Home Tour

Hello!  Welcome to the While Wearing Heels home tour.   Don't worry, you don't have to wear heels to join the tour.

Step right up and come on in to our 100 year old house!

Don't mind the no soliciting sign on the door. 

Most of the construction dust has settled in our house.  We've changed every room in our house by ourselves and on a budget...and, now that I have seen some of the beautiful homes in the summer home tour, I might have to get out my paint brush and tool belt and start again!

Our dining room, since we moved in, has been transformed twice...darn pinterest! 

No sew black and white curtains, flea market finds and decorative trim make this room special and complete. 

Our living room...

Has beautiful built in bookcases.

Perfect for displaying family pictures

and our favorite flea market finds.

Instead of showing off my bedroom, which has been slightly neglected, I'll share one of my favorite space in our house...My closet.

The custom shoe rack is my favorite.  If you like my closet, you have to check out the before pictures, they are proof ANYONE could have a closet like this.

This isn't the only custom closet in our house, Grace also has a custom closet with her own custom shoe rack.

Grace's room is currently in the transition from going from a little girl room to a big girl room.

Some things will stay, like her Grace quilt, and some will have to be packed up for safe keeping.  

The transition to big girl room starts on Thursday so make sure to come back in a few weeks and see what changes we've made.

Let's heat things up and head to the kitchen.

Our kitchen was gutted down to the lathe boards and built back up. 

And, though I love our kitchen, especially the green house window we added...

I am looking forward to repainting and adding a chandelier (read:  momma isn't going to know what to do with herself when only child goes off to school).  

From the kitchen, you can enter my other my favorite space in our 100 year old house...the pantry, though it looked nothing like this when we moved in. 

Besides for the hand painted stenciled walls, the addition of the library ladder (including its charming hardware) makes me wish it was socially acceptable to entertain in this space.

Our basement has a few special nooks, where my $3.99 Goodwill chair has place of honor.

I also have a craft nook, nestled in between a treadmill and a weight set (hence the TV above the Ana White desk we built).

Though I do have to share this space, I have tried to make my nook my own.  In addition to my LOVE sign, I also have a custom While Wearing Heels sign the talented Holly at Full Circle Creations made me. 

 

Lastly, come on out to onto our back deck.  We finally got around to decorating and updating it this summer.

We hung some curtains, added some barn wood foxes and made cushions for the chairs we found on the side of the road.

But the most impressive While Wearing Heels house, is Grace's handmade dollhouse, which includes a custom replica of the nursery we brought her home too.

Thanks for visiting!

Don’t miss the other bloggers on the tour this week.  There homes are beautiful and impressive.  Here’s the full schedule.

Monday, July 22
Atta Girl Says
The Happier Homemaker
Rain on a Tin Roof
Better with Age
Top This Top That

Tuesday, July 23
Mom 4 Real
Cedar HIll Ranch
Practically Functional
While Wearing Heels
French Country Cottage

Wednesday, July 24
The Lily Pad Cottage
Marty’s Musings
Confessions of a Plate Addict
Town and Country Living
Adventures in Decorating

Thursday, July 25
Good Life Of Design
A Stroll Thru Life
Worthing Court
Back Porch Musings
The Rustic Pig

Friday, July 26
Our Southern Home
StoneGable
The Everyday Home
Recreate and Decorate
Sophia’s
Vignette Design

Bunny Themed Punch Box

Pinatas, with all their stick wielding fun, have been a popular party pass time.  'A Casarella, though, is doing her best to take down pinatas and replace them with punch boxes and she isn't even using a stick to do it.  Her tutorial for making your own punch punch has gone viral and I can see why. 

Instead of getting a bunny shaped pinata, and subjecting said bunny pinata with a lashing, we decided to make a bunny themed punch pox for Grace's Bunny Themed Birthday Party.

I decided to share just a few tips for making your own punch box (for the full tutorial, you'll have to visit 'a Casarella).

Finding a thick box is the key, it makes it easier to cut your holes and cover.  I found my boxes at Aldi, the thick cardboard boxes their produce comes in AND, I painted it white, with regular household paint.

To personalize the outside of your punch box, incorporate your theme.  Since Grace's party was a bunny theme, I cut out some 2 inch bunny silhouettes and grabbed double sided tape...

And I gently placed them centered in the punch box hole.

Though I used bunnies, the possibilities are endless to personalize the punch box but even plain, it still makes for a fun party game.

 

The kids, well, they certainly liked being encouraged to 'punch' something and retrieve a prize. 

*I filled the punch box with prizes I found at Goodwill.  Right after Easter, Goodwill got in a shipment of new Target brand Easter toys (stuffed animals and crafts).  I was able to find a prize for each punch box hole for  .50 cents, spending $6 total on prizes. 

This is our second year of opting to go pinatas-less and I suspected, though I haven't started to plan for next year's party yet, that we'll have a punch box for Grace's 6th birthday as well. 

Grace's circus themed birthday party.

For a more detailed tutorial on how to make your own punch box, visit the very talented Elena at 'A Casarella.  

Hand Embroidered USA Quilt - Big Reveal

Finally, the hand embroidered USA is finished.

 

AND...has beautifully been turned into a quilt by none other than the Queen of Quilts herself, my mom.

In her very capable hands and her professional long arm quilting machine, she stipple quilted a tight and detailed free motion design...

around the entire United States, into each detailed groove of each detailed state.

When you turn the quilt over, you can appreciate the detail she was able to achieve.

  She even precisely quilted around each of the states.

And, again, I am left in awe that the Queen of Quilts was able to take my hand embroidered USA...

And turn it into another beautiful quilt.

 Yes, another...this is my second USA quilt. 

We shall see if I get inspired to make a 3rd next year.

Both USA Quilts are for sales in the While Wearing Heels Etsy shop, along with other handcrafted items.

Wordless Wednesday

*photo credit to Mr. While Wearing Heels

Mason Jar Fairy House

Grace was recently invited to a fairy themed birthday where she got to create a fairy house our of a mason jar. 

AND...it was so adorable, I had to share.

To make your own fairy house, find a mason jar.

Fill your jar with things like moss, feathers, jewels and little trinkets. 

Feel free to decorate the jar with nature themed stickers.

Add some ribbons, flowers and, if you want, a personalized name tag.  This felt tag was embroidered but you could always attach a paper tag if you'd prefer.

When your jar is done, wait for the fairies to arrive.