The good, the bad and the thrifty

I am getting excited. I can almost small it in the air.. Yes, Spring is just around the corner! The trees are all starting to grow new leaves, every flower in our garden has decided to bloom and yesterday I was at the park in a t-shirt!

But despite such a beautiful day, nothing could turn my little girl into a bundle of sunshine. No sir, she was a very grumpy little girl yesterday.
It was one of those days where the slightest thing would send her into a hysterical fit of crying and screaming on the floor. (She wanted green socks not blue, cheese on her sandwich not avocado, the book that we took back to the library months ago, not the one I was reading her..)

The poor little thing was just incredibly over-tired after a few nights of being sick and not sleeping properly, but I am sorry to say that if 'mothering' was my paid job.. yesterday I would have been close to handing in my resignation! I would have left crying and blabbering on about the 'unsuitable working conditions'. (In the same fantasy I take an 8 hour flight all alone, because the idea of being able to read my book uninterrupted for 8 hours while someone brings me food and tea sounds divine!)

So I thought I would calm my nerves today by sharing some of the cool flea market finds I have acquired in the last week (Ahh.. so that's why Sophie was so grumpy.. she was sick of being dragged around op-shops!)

I have already showed you my new picnic basket, but here it is again, because it may well be my best ever flea market find..


I found some more retro patterns (think play-suits and shoulder pads!)


And some cute little clothes for Sophie.. $2 each..


I'm sure some of my homemade washing powder will get the stains out of this one..


Now, excuse me while I spend the day drinking chamomile tea and practicing deep breathing..

Another day. Another playground.

We seem to spend a large percentage of our weekend in the park at the moment. Or rather, in as many different parks as we can fit into two days.





On Saturday, We met some friends at the park (who are moving to London in a few weeks and I am going to miss them terribly). Tom made banana bread and tea, and I packed it in our new picnic basket that I found in the op shop last week for $6!



We spent the whole of Sunday in the garden, planting all the early spring veggies. We put beetroot, tomatoes and broad beans in our new wine barrel..



Until next weekend.. its back to reality..

Flea market finds

I found this lovely little post over at 'Her Library Adventures' about flea market finds and I was inspired to share some of my latest finds with you..



I had been looking for some sort of table or stand to fill this corner for a while and I found it last weekend for $10.. and yes, it is now full of Frankie magazines!

I got these super retro patterns for 10 cents each at a salvation army stall..



And I can never resist anything this colour (especially cosy blankies for $5)..



Tom actually chose a sapphire this exact colour for the centre stone in my engagement ring because he knew it was my favourite colour.. Yes, I am VERY lucky to have such a thoughtful husband.. (Tom, are you reading this?)

Last but not least.. my favourite tea cups of all time..



I cant take credit for these though. Tom's sister bought them at a flea market for me last Christmas.. I love them so much. I have been looking for a 4th cup and saucer ever since I got them.

It always feels special drinking tea from these cups.. I think its the sunny yellow colour and there is something very nice about using a cup and saucer instead of a mug.

P.s Tom and I went a little crazy last weekend and bought a Canon 550D camera so I hope that the quality of my photos will drastically improve in the next few weeks.. Bear with me!