Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Pullin' a "Wendy"

In our family, my sister-in-law Wendy is the ultimate consumer. We go to a cruddy antique store? She finds the one really, REALLY cool thing. And then gets it for half the marked price. She is never afraid to ask for the deal, and she usually gets it. So her name has become synonymous with getting a steal. Last week, I pulled a Wendy. Literally. In the strip mall that houses our local Hobby Lobby, there was a restaurant called Summer Kitchen Cafe. And in the last few weeks, the building has been painted and the restaurant has gone out of business. Last week, I was having a crummy day so I ran over to Hobby Lobby for some retail therapy after the kids went to bed and noticed that the painters had taken all the letters from the Summer Kitchen Cafe down and thrown them in a pile on the sidewalk. So on my way back to my car, I took advantage of the dark to sort through the pile of letters. Most of them were cracked or broken, but one of the "m"s was in great shape. It needs a little TLC, but was intact. Under cover of night, I threw it in the back of my car. And giggled all the way home. It's huge, but wouldn't it look cute over a family room sofa? Maybe in our next home, there will be a perfect spot for it.

And in other "m" news, Lemon Annie has been spotlighting cool Christmas tree decorating ideas and one of these was using miscellaneous letters to decorate a tree. We all know how I feel about "m"s and I get a lot of them as gifts. So I dug out all my hanging "m"s and made a few more with frame ornaments with rub-on "m"s applied in the window and added some cool aqua blue ball ornaments. It turned out pretty cool! Now, I have to figure out where to hide it until after Thanksgiving so Tony won't give me a hard time...

14 comments:

Scribbit said...

All the best people have M names you know.

Montay said...

I agree I love a good "m" name

Shawna B. said...

You did the right thing taking that "m." Nothing like that should go to waste! It's great, Amber and definitely would look terrific on the wall over your sofa ... or anywhere really because it's such a cool piece. Also a fun reminder of Nebraska. Are you really moving? Sigh. My heart hurts for you. Glad you still have some time left in Pappillion! (sp?)

Happy Thanksgiving! Sending lots of love the McIlleces!

PS - love your covered star idea. I am all over that! Can't wait to make a Christmas one!

Our Complete Family said...

My maiden name starts with an 'M' so my Mom had M's all over our house! She had a huge metal 'M' from a store sign, too! I secretly wished I'd marry someone with an 'M' name so I could beg for it! No luck!!! I'm an 'E' now! What a sweet idea to put your most fav letter all over a Cmas tree. I love that!
Hope you're feeling better today hun~ Les

Jeni said...

AAAAAA I LOVE that 'm'! Just leave where you have it in the picture or at least leaning someplace to be seen if you don't have the perfect place for a perfect 'm'.
OMG do I adore that 'M' tree! I have really got to concentrate on looking for some 'H's' so I can copy some of your coolest ever monogram ideas. That tree there you could even leave out all year near your front door or something. I am so excited to bust out my Christmas...all I have done is the Georgia tree upstairs.

Kristi said...

Very huge but cool find!!! The tree is a great idea for all your M's!

Albanie said...

That is so funny! I wished I would've been in the parking lot to watch you steal that "M"! HA!

Kathleen said...

you want to know what's sad? i totally recognized that "m" before i read where you got it! (and, summer kitchen just moved out to giles street, but the interstate--just in case you were wondering...they have pretty good food and kids eat free monday and tuesday nights!)

anyway, great find for your collection and, as always, cute tree idea!

Tonia said...

Right now I am sitting here picturing you in the dark, hauling that thing to your car and saying you go girl! That is great and you put a great big smile on my face!

Heather said...

Love it!! You're living on the wild side now!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I have an M name and all Ms are welcome in my home!

zakkalife said...

what a fun piece for decoration, I'm sure you'll find the perfect use for it

condiefamily said...

I am proud to have a fabulous money saving manuever named after me! Love the M. Love you too. 'C' you later!

just jamie said...

Damn. I LOVE that "m." Have I ever shown you my "A"-wall?