How They Hanging? Simple Coat Rack Idea

A while back I saw that Pier 1 had some cute glass (okay, really plastic knobs on metal) door knob hangers like this one featured at Back Porch Musings.


I liked the cream. I enjoy a heaping helping of country cottage - but hubby gets a lump in his throat. He's a bit more...dark and rustic. So, I looked online to see if it came in any other colors. They offered verdigris. (Green? Nah.) And, also a brown - so close - but I didn't like the colored knobs.
So, to get what I really wanted I needed to do just a bit of spray painting. Just a little tiny bit - done in the blink of an eye. I called ahead to my favorite Pier 1 location, gave the friendly young man the SKU off their site and he set aside 3 of the cream colored hangers for me.

Clearance - like $4 each.
*swoon*Next I taped em off.

Then, at night, when I could hardly see...
I went out to our front porch - in my PJs...
Because I'm a lunatic...

I felt - with every fiber of my being which way the freezing cold Chicago wind was blowing - moved aside and spray painted two different colors onto the cream hangers.

I used a copper (purposely inconsistent) first coat and a second (equally inconsistent) coat of oil rubbed bronze. I didn't wait for the first coat to dry - just sprayed the oil rubbed lightly right away. (Hey, did I *mention* I was nearly nekkid and it was freezing?!)

When they were dry and the tape was off, they looked like this.
How pretty!
I brought them inside, plopped em on some paper towel and I was immensely happy. The oil rubbed bronze had pitted and pooled just like I was hoping. (For those of you keeping score, nope, I didn't spray the backs - they are still plain ol' cream. Don't tell.)

In no time, our hallway went from this...

To this...

I asked the hubby to place them on the small unused wall next to the door. He was done in a snap and I was back in the kitchen working on our next project. (Reveal soon!)

Oh, and we removed a bunch of lightweight spring coats that we really don't need right now - considering Chicago is supposed to get pummeled with 24 inches - yep you read that right - of snow this week. Ack!

Easy breezy. Pretty. And, *metal* so the hubster won't feel all sissified hanging his coat on them.
For $12 - I'm pretty happy :)

What quick projects have brought a smile to your face recently?
Do you have a wacky coat rack or hanger?
Comment and share!

Linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick Inspired Room and Funky Junk.

Coupon Tips - How to Really Save Money

First, it's NOT TOO LATE to link up your favorite chicken recipes at "Flipping The Bird"!

There are lots of coupon myths out there.
(And, of course there are also many different styles of couponing.)

I was PLEASANTLY surprised to see this feature from Comcast about coupon myths (sponsored by All You Magazine.)

Here are the myths. (See the Comcast slideshow linked above for each explanation.)
I've included my own comments.

Myth 1: Those dinky 25- and 50-cent coupons aren’t worth bothering with.
FALSE
Find a site like jillcataldo.com for your neck of the woods and save big. For we Chicago types, Jill spends HER day compiling all the best deals - so WE don't have to. She'll show you how to take the 50 cent coupon, put it on a sale price, add in a manufacturer deal going on that week, and poof - your getting free toothpaste, free Barilla pasta, free veggies, etc.

Myth 2: Collecting and sorting coupons eats up too much time.
FALSE
Nope, people like Jill (see above) spend the time, not me. I might spend 30 minutes a week and save 60% off my groceries. Seriously. Shows right on the receipt. You DO have 30 minutes, right?

Myth 3: If I join a company’s e-mail list, I’ll be deluged with spam.
FALSE
First, you use a junk mail account anyways, right? Second, as Comcast notes, respectable sites have opt-out for 3rd party boxes.

Myth 4: Programs that you download to print online coupons contain spyware. FALSE
I believed this, but I was wrong. You DO have to install a coupon program for many of the top sites. But, this is NOT for loading spyware onto your computer. What it's doing instead is it takes you computer's unique IP address and codes it into the bar code on your coupon. It does mean that chances are you can only print that coupon twice. But, it reduces coupon fraud - do NOT photocopy those and sell them. You WILL get caught and prosecuted.

Myth 5: Coupons are mostly for processed, packaged foods. FALSE
I save on eggs, cheese, milk, healthy cereals, organic meats - well you get the idea. :)
Do YOU coupon?
If not, why not? Tell us below!

Flipping the Bird - Link Up Your Recipes!

ME: Hun, can you grab the package of boneless chicken from the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw?
HIM: Sure, which one?
ME: Er, how many do we have?
HIM: Bone-In 3: Boneless 1
ME: Oh.
HIM: Soup time, eh?

I had no idea I bought so many on the last mega sale. So, it's chicken time. And, sure I'll make my knock off of the Corner Bakery's Chicken Pesto Cavatappi (LINK AT BOTTOM.) And, he'll make amazing soup.

We'll make chicken salad, maybe Lisa's Chicken and Dumplings, and I'll toss a chicken enchilada quick casserole in the oven.

But, I'm in a bit of a rut - need to flip this bird - so to speak. So, what cha got, peeps?
(Ugh, sorry about that one...)

If you don't have a blog, we'd still love to hear your recipe.
Simply add it in the comments section.

Link up below and give us your favorite chicken recipe!
Cross your fingers for me, this is my first Linky Party.

Industrial Chic Sideboard!

Can you see the forest for the trees?
This was on Craigslist Chicago earlier today for $125.
And, I love it.

Each of those colors is a separate section.
4 mechanic's tool chests.
*swoon*
Imagine this. Take the silver top section keep it on one of the black/brown chests. Then place those directly on the green (footed!) section at the bottom.

Tell me that wouldn't be the coolest industrial sideboard ever.
You'd have plenty of storage for your place mats, candles, spare flatware serving utensils, wrenches, screwdrivers...just checking to see if you are awake. ;)

Then take the middle two sections - the (other) black/brown, put it on the (non-footed)green section - and make a coffee table with em!

Or, 2 low end tables.
Or, gosh, use your imagination...

Can you see it? How would YOU use these parts?

Picture Postcards - And Magic Revolving Doors

Remember those ABC After-school specials?
I always liked those - not because of the drugs or whatever was the abuse of the week. But, rather I liked them for their dive into history. So many times the main character would go through a revolving glass door in a drug store and wind up in a time gone by. You got a chance to see (at least Hollywood's version) of what life was like in that era.

Pleasantville, It's a Wonderful Life, To Have and Have Not...they all take me back. Well, take me there - it's not like I can go back to someplace I've never been.

I get that same feeling taking the Metra commuter train into Chicago. Or, riding the El "Elevated train" around the second stories in the Loop. I love to see the intricate architecture - corbels - visible only from that height. You get a chance to see the ghosts of those painted billboards on the side of huge expanses of wall - barely there, yet legible - still proclaiming the craft, the location, and perhaps be forewarned that they are "Closed on Sundays!"

If my emotions were true to the times, I should look at those and feel hungry, tired and poor. (And, likely feeling recent relief from "yearning to be free" with the rest of the huddles masses.) But, my emotions are not accurate to the time, thank goodness, and I'm filled with warmth, comfort and I'm energized - imagining early cars on the road, kids selling papers and ladies shopping wearing gloves and big hats.

Let's see that snapshot again.
That's a 1905 image of Chicago being sold on Ebay by Postcardsusa.
I could get lost for hours in images like that.

I do have one memory of a real-life time - someplace where I can literally be "taken back."

My family and I were in Mackinac Island, Michigan where life is lived, in many ways, like it was in at the turn of the last century. There are no cars allowed on the island. Our hotel has no air conditioning, and the TVs in the rooms were apparently a new addition - a concession after receiving so many complaints from guests who couldn't go without.

Here's a pic I took down the road from our hotel on Mackinac Island...
where the most used mode of transportation is bicycle.

What draws YOU in?
If you could walk through a magic revolving door...
Where would you like to visit for a day?
Tell us below!

Time for Inspiration!

Wow, time for a little inspiration?
Today's inspiration comes from The Passionate Home.

Check out this dumpster dived table - Before & After.

Cool huh?
Check out The Passionate Home on Facebook, too.
Now...
Stop by our Cooking At Cafe D Facebook Page...

And let us know what YOUR best side of the road find was!

Heartfelt - 16 Lovely Ideas for Valentine's Day

I really needed this today. A friend posted this lovely assortment of 16 hand-picked lovelies - and she included my newly listed Rose Jardin plates. (I'm under the weather. This made me smile.)

Thank you to Valerie over at mistflowerphoto (who is apparently offering a BOGO sale of her gorgeous photography).

Click on any of the pictures below if you see a gift waiting to be loved by you.

What is the prettiest pink / rose/ coral (you get the idea...) you've ever seen?

Tell us below.

Pottery Barn Free Shipping (And, Target, and Amazon...)

Believe it or not, each of those are categories of Free Shipping!

A year ago I did a quick post about Pottery Barn's Free Shipping and it remains one of our most popular posts. Let's expand that to Amazon, too! It's not a secret - it's a technique.

After each major holiday I head to my favorite sites, Pottery Barn, the super fantastic wonderful world of Etsy, Target, etc. and I search "Free Shipping" in quotes. Yep, that's it. I find all sorts of clearance items and with free shipping, heck they're practically free.

Are you a fan of Amazon?
Do you use their Super Saver Shipping to it's fullest?

Simply put in your search term, Retro Clock, or what have you, and then to your left, click on the Super Saver Shipping filter. I search from those to see if anything jumps out, then I take the filter off to see if there is something I would like more - even if I *had* to pay shipping.

Do you get frustrated with Super Saving Shipping because you find you are always 61 cents (or some stupid number of pennies) away from getting Super Saver Shipping on Amazon?

Wish you could just PAY the stupid 61 cents and get the shipping rather than trying to find an item to bring your total up?

Don't fret!
Use the Amazon Filler Item Finder!
Just plug the amount you are looking for - in our case 61 cents - and Poof!

I don't have to know what a Precision Twist Parabolic Drill is or what Grade 5 Zinc Plated Carriage Bolts are. (I'll just toss whatever it is in the Hubby's toolbox.) I just want the free shipping!

What are YOUR tips for getting free shipping?

Comment below and share the wealth!

Oh, I almost forgot!
I'm linking this up over at Hope Studio's "Tutorial Tuesday!"
Lots of wonderful ideas there each week!

"It's the Plumber - I've Come to Fix the Sink!"

My pal, Lisa, over at The Cutting Edge Of Ordinary is not having a very good day week.
You see, she has no not water.

No hot water for cooking. Or cleaning. Or bathing.
*sniff*

Hopefully the plumber is on his way.
Until then, I guess the best I can do is send a smile.

Anyone remember The Electric Company's plumber guy?

Click the link above or go here

Drool - Vintage Postal Scale!

Oh my!
Look at this amazing old postal scale!

Nope, this isn't from our shop.
I don't even know the seller, Old Crow Farm, on Etsy.

Just passing along some random love.
Paying it forward in the year.

Hoping that this adorable vintage pieces will find a new home.
Since...sniff...I have no room for it myself.

Wedding Day (& Valentine's) Gift Guide for HIM

Nope, the gift guide below isn't a bunch of things from the CafeD Etsy shop.
(Actually none of them are.)
I'm just spreading the love around to some perfect strangers.

I think these would made some lucky groom very happy.
And, since my husband helped to built this treasury - he agrees :)

You can see each of these items on the gift guide treasury page.

No one you know getting married?
Take a gander below anyway.
You might find the perfect gift for your special someone.

Tell us, what is a very special gift you've received?

My Kitchen Looks Like A Banana Split.

My kitchen looks like a giant banana split.
And I love it.

Why, you ask, would I do this?
Okay, here are the real colors.
According to Behr.

The cream is indeed the largest portion. Then the red is a "swoop!"
And, the chocolate - I mean brown - is the woodwork and windows.

This scheme keeps reminding me of something.
Something BESIDES banana split.
Oh, I know!

It's the card from Candy Land! I keep picturing the - is it the Neopolitan?!
Hubby says it is. :)

Well, there's a perfectly good reason we're painting our kitchen in vanilla, cherry and chocolate - and I'm NOT telling.
Not yet!

But, soon. Very soon.

Meanwhile...

What was YOUR favorite board game growing up?

Tell us!

Canyon Flowers - A Valentine's Gift Suggestion

The adorable vintage collector plate, Canyon Flowers, features a young Native American girl surrounded by blue clouds - with a rose colored beaded barrette in her hair holding a pink flower.

This is a limited edition and bears the number 90 of 1250. The plate has never been displayed and is in excellent condition. It has a diameter of 8 inches. The protective case is included.

We are selling 4 Native American children plates from the Bob Eubanks collection. Truly beautiful artwork.
See our store at CafeD.etsy.com

Me Want.

While I'm not quite ready to let the cat out of the bag, I have a reveal that is forthcoming.

And, my hubby just found these!
LOVE. THEM. full stop.

Hubby saw them at Mendard's, but he didn't like the price. And, I'm really cheap.
So now he found a whole myriad of colors at American Tin Ceilings.

If you need me, that's where I'll be.
Drooling...