Thrift Shopping My Way Through The Holiday Season

This holiday season, I had a very particular problem--how was I going to keep our beloved rescue Beagle, Bernie, from snatching ornaments from our Christmas tree?  All of November, I wracked my brain for ideas on how to Bernie-proof the tree. I needed something functional and sturdy, without being an eyesore. And while I was thrift shopping the weekend after Thanksgiving, I found just what I needed.

I didn't expect a secondhand solution to come my way. But fortunately for me, a trip to Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, PA yielded this beautiful vintage fire screen. It guards the tree, and in my opinion, may even add a little nostalgic flair to it. 

To think that I almost passed it by. But after stepping back to let a crowd of thrifters pass, I gave it a second look and sent a picture to my Dad to see if he thought it was too big for the job. He thought it was a perfect find...and a total bargain for $10. I gave it a thorough clean and polish. And now I consider it the crowning achievement of my holiday thrift haul. 

My entryway table, which is usually a catchall for mail, keys, cups of coffee and whatever else I have my hands filled with...is looking especially festive. And though it's not entirely secondhand, I do love the various shades of metal we have here. The worn looking galvanized metal star bucket, the mercury glass bottle, the golden bowl of fruit. 

When it comes to decorating, I love featuring a mix of colors and textures. 

Even our key bowl is spruced up with $1 golden grapes.

Maybe it was because I started early, or maybe it's because I went often. But between my crafty Christmas up-cycle featured in the last blog post, and the gorgeous fire screen...I feel that the Ghost of Christmas Past paid me a little visit...or at least the Ghost of donor's Christmas Past. 

Stay tuned for one more crafty Christmas post prior to the big day...featuring lovely pieces of ephemera and Grafix Shrink Film.  In the mean time, I'd like to know:

From decor to gift-giving, has thrift shopping helped you this holiday season?

The Story Of Our Secondhand Dog

Suffice it to say, these last five months have brought some big changes. As some of you may recall from previous posts, I have been battling a medical diagnosis that put me in a dark place----emotionally, mentally, physically. I thought it had drained me. I thought it had broken me. 

But I've pulled through, thanks in large part to the newest addition to our family. Growing up in a household that always included a dog or two, I had come to realize that a part of that emptiness I was feeling could be filled by a furry family member. James and I searched high and low, did research on the risks and rewards of pet adoption, and put several applications for available dogs in hopes of finding the one for us. 

Thanks to The Burlington County Animal Alliance, we found him. At the time of his rescue, this sweet-faced Beagle/Dachshund mix was known as 'Atlantis.' One look into his eyes and we just knew he was meant for us. After almost two months of uncertainty as to his availability, we got a message that would change our lives forever. And just like that, I came home from work to find James lovingly tending to a trembling, tired dog that was curled up on our living room floor. 

His eyes still carry a sadness to them, one I hope that he can forget. It breaks my heart to think that someone could harm or abandon this sweet boy. But after traveling some 300 miles, spending almost two years in transit, in shelters, and with foster caregivers, he is finally home with us. 

And something tells me he likes it here. So without further delay, I formally introduce you to our loving rescue Beagle, Bernie. He plays with his toys, takes naps in the windowsill, and a is a professional cuddle provider. 

So please, if you are able to open your heart and your home to an animal that will care for you as much as you care for them... adopt, don't shop.

We may have saved a secondhand dog, but in a lot of ways he saved us. Dogs are extremely empathetic animals. They know when you are ill, or sad. And for the record, let me just say that it's  pretty hard to be depressed when you're greeted with affection, charmed by a playful demeanor, and reminded every day how lucky you are to have found such a loyal companion. 

James and I couldn't be happier with our decision to adopt our Bernie. And I think Bernie might just feel the same.