THRIFTING FINDS

It is so good to be home in Georgia!  I had a great visit with my daughter!  I will share my visit to Googleplex soon, all I can say is WOW!

I did manage to stop at one thrift shop in Cali.  It was a small Goodwill and while I did not find much,  I did find something to remind me of my wonderful trip to Napa Valley and the vineyards.

These two tiles are so pretty!  I know I will use them in many ways! 

They were only .99 each!

Since returning home I have found a few new treasures! 

This little cat caught my eye and for .40 it can join my cat collection

This adorable snowman tea light holder is a happy find and will be used in my Christmas/winter decorations.  Made by Hallmark and only .50

This Yankee Candle holder is so cute and only .27

I love finding these items that I would not buy new because of the price for pennies!  This is why I thrift!

This glass boot is a shot glass and for only .20 I could not resist it!

A new coffee mug for .60 originally from Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I love the simple black and white design. 

I'm joining the following parties


Thrifty Things Friday
Potpourri Party

Don't forget my giveaway

You have until October 13th to enter Here

Cheers!
Linda

BREAST CANCER AWARNESS GIVEAWAY!

October is breast cancer awareness month!

Many companies offer special promotions this month and none are more committed to this cause then the great folks at General Mills through my friends at MyBlogSpark

Included in this giveaway are the following:

• A 16 oz. box of Total cereal
• VIP coupons valid for one box of Cheerios and Multigrain Cheerios cereal and one cup of Yoplait yogurt
• Betty Crocker Living with Cancer Cookbook Pink Together Edition, which includes a collection of more than 150 delicious recipes with complete nutrition information and a 32-page Pink Together Survivor Ambassador bonus section that shares inspirational personal stories of survival as well as recipes
• Water bottle and removable silicone awareness bracelet
• Drawstring sport backpack
• Rhinestone ear buds

Find hope. Be inspired. Know you are not alone. Join the 2011 Pink Together™ campaign – now in its fifth year of celebrating hope – by visiting PinkTogether.com to connect with a unique online community of people who have been touched by breast cancer and share a passion for the cause. Individually we are strong, but together we are stronger.

You have a chance to make a difference this year!

Visit PinkTogether.com to share your personal story and messages of hope and read about others’ personal journeys. To encourage personal connections, General Mills will donate $1 to the Komen organization for each Message of Hope that is sent to someone who has shared their story on PinkTogether.com (up to $25,000) during October. This is in addition to a $2 million donation General Mills is making to the Komen organization. This year, for the first time in its five-year history, at PinkTogether.comconsumers can choose how $1 million of this donation will be shared between two important Komen programs: the Treatment and Assistance Program, which assists women in securing care they otherwise may not be able to afford, and Prevention Research, which helps unlock the keys to preventing breast cancer. Visit PinkTogether.com from September 19, 2011 through April 14, 2012 to make your choice. Results will be announced on Mother’s Day 2012 – Sunday, May 13. Meet the 2011 Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors, and hear their amazing stories of courage and survival on PinkTogether.com and the Pink Together YouTube Channel. General Mills will also be turning the packaging of participating products pink in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. How to enter the giveaway 1. Be a follower of A La Carte and leave a comment saying so

2. Go to Pink Together.com and "Like" them then come back here and leave a separate comment that you have done soTwo comments, two chances!

That's it!  This contest will be open until October 13th!  Make sure I have a way to contact you or another winner will be chosen.

Now let's wear our Pink!

Linda

“Disclosure: The Pink Together prize pack, information and coupons have been provided free of charge by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

NAPA VALLEY WINERIES~DAY TWO

If you missed my day one post about my visit to the Napa Valley wineries
you can read it here!

Day two we decided to try some of the wineries on the Silverado Trail.

Our first stop was a small family owned winery

Steltzner Vineyards  

We were the only one's there and had a great host who explained a lot about the wines.  They are known for their reds and they were pretty good

Again we used a 2 for 1 tasting coupon

This was the drive up to our next tasting at

Hagafen Cellars 

This was the most fun I had at a tasting!

The hosts were friendly and fun and the wines were very good!

A very cute little tasting room...

  I found another white wine I love!

I can order on line and I just might!

I had just tried a very nice red

We were laughing that Ash's hair was the same color as the grapes!  
It was bright and sunny as you can see!

The view as we left this really great winery

We had a free wine tasting coupon here. I would recommend this as a stop for anyone going to Napa Valley

Next stop was

Black Stallion Winery  

I enjoyed this winery for the great exhibit they had of the different grapes used in wine making

These signs were in front of each row of the grape varieties

Chardonnay....the heat had made these a little beyond their prime

Beautiful Zinfandel

A lovely deep purple grape

Sauvignon Blanc

These looked very ripe!

Riesling is my favorite wine

Lovely sweet grapes

Here I am eating one of these yummy grapes

We had a great time!  The tasting was nice but I was not in love with any of their wines.  
Our last stop of the day was
Ceja Vineyards
We went to their tasting room in downtown Napa

(photo from their web site)
We had a lot of fun tasting their wines and found a few we really enjoyed.  I liked their Rose and so did Ashleigh.  We finished off with a taste of their amazing Cabernet Chocolate Sauce

Tasting NotesRich and seductive, this liqueur was made from our Cabernet Sauvignon and creamy Dutch Chocolate. Pour it over ice cream or use like a desert sauce. Or just eat it off a spoon. Dribble over ripe bananas or big juicy strawberries. Or how about a dollop in your morning coffee? Either way you decide to use this sexy potion you're bound to have a great time!

Production NotesMade by Anette's Chocolate Factory located in Napa.It was very sweet and amazing and I can just taste it on icecream!  Oh my!So ended our wonderful time in Napa Valley!
Cheers,Linda

HANGING ON TO THE LAST DAYS OF SUMMER

I know it's Fall...really I do, but here in Georgia September always feels like the last days of summer to me.  

This table was set for Charlie's Cat Mitzvah party

before I left for California 

I wanted to join Diann's Thrifty Tablescape Party today so decided to take these bones and make this

I started with these tan place mats found for $1 each 

These adorable fish plates were a gift from Diann and I layered them with plates I found on clearance at Marshall's $2 each

I love these napkins and found them on clearance at Kohl's for pennies!  I have a matching tablecloth also.  Napkin rings were a thrift store find.

These shell shaped dishes were also a thrift store find for .50 each, I love that color

I used my bronze handled flatware that I found at a thrift and have used many times

A thrifty brown stemmed wine glass

and the place setting is complete

Simple but appealing I think!  I love how the blues and browns work together

Now for a centerpiece?  I put it together on the table and liked it but added another place mat under it to ground it a bit more

Staying with the browns and blues I choose a Ball jar, shells, blue tealight and a great beaded candle holder to group together

My Hydrangea tree has finished blooming and as they age the flowers become, green, then pinkish and then brown.  

These are the only flowers in my yard right now so I went with them and I'm going to continue to let them dry and age

 Candlelight adds such a nice glow even in the daylight

 (before the place mat...I like it better with the place mat)

Everything on this table was clearance, thrifted or a gift.  

Please visit Diann at The Thrifty Groove for her 

It is so much fun to set a beautiful but thrifty table!

Cheers,

Linda

A VINTAGE THRIFTY THING

It is so good to be home! I am still on Cali time but I think by this weekend will be OK!

I am taking a break from my trip photos to join in a couple of my favorite parties and share some junk!

 

I found this great planter at a thrift store back in the beginning of the summer.  It's been waiting to make it's appearance! 

It's old and has lost lots of paint but it still has so much charm

Are they parakeets?  Love birds??

Do you know? For 50 cents I decided they were a bargain!

**Thanks to a couple of blogging friends I have found out these were made my Morton and are called Love Birds**

I'm joining Suzanne at Vintage Thingy Thursday

and

Diann at Thrifty Thing Friday

Please go by and visit these fun parties!

Cheers,

Linda