Gracias, ajsmama :). Now it all makes sense. At least till I forget what I just learned; occupational middle-age hazard these days! Re. the ebay/thrift store relationship--do you think that the now ubiquitous online markets (EBay, Craigslist etc) have hurt, harmed or not affected bricks n mortar thrifting? Years ago (I was working PT, had more time to do fun stuff like this) my MIL and I enjoyed going to local bazaars,yard sales and church rummage sales. There were fairly often some nice things dumped in there. Now I suspect many more people are doing what flyleft encountered, shopping in order to then resell. I think there is a whole new 'entrepreneur' niche, at least I've read about people who make their living or at least some income from selling online. Dunno, just wondering what folks who are more in the know think about this? Ann

I would try to fix the crack, if you can get the insert out of the door frame; that's just me - it would bug me. If you can show us the room and bed it's going next to, it may spur more suggestions. Another option for the top, if you have the painting bug and perhaps something on the top doesn't come off with sanding, would be to clean it and sand it smooth and do something like a faux marble paint job on it. It's really very easy. This was my first (and only so far) on the top of a small pine desk/table. I did it with acrylic craft paints. It doesn't show here, but it had a stain on the top from some very red colored stain that just wouldn't come off.

I thought I was going to get rained out this week but the rain stopped early. The first stop I only picked up two stuffed animals. Nick has a fit if I don't bring him something like that and for under $1 each, I oblige him. I admit I do it to keep him interested in yard sales! Second stop was a jackpot of sorts. For $5 (she said she'd take $4 but since I had a 5 dollar bill, I gave her $5 since she discounted everything that was cheap to begin with), I got a bag of 5 bigger beanie babies, Halloween and Christmas themed. I find with small children, those are fun and safe to bring out around the holidays instead of traditional (breakable) decorations. I got a Phillies Jack in the Box. Dan loves Jack in the boxes but they can be so expensive. I also got an ornament, and a T-shirt to work out in - it says Miss Teen America Pageant LOL. Oh, I got a dance workout DVD too - I laughed since it was marked 'used only once'. There was a Christmas promotional CD in with that too. Remember ALL of it was $5. I was going to quit but I brought Dan out for another run and I scored big - that dream item you specifically want but don't think you'll ever find. It was a Sesame Street tool bench with some extra tools for $3. Some of the Sesame Street tools are missing but Dan doesn't know. It still talks and he loves it. They have one at the daycare where Nick goes to before and after school and I used to have to tear Dan out of there kicking and screaming because of that tool bench. He played with it as I carried it to the car and had a screaming fit when I put it in the trunk. Last stop I got two Sesame Street DVDs ($1 each) and a clay/ceramic loaf pan (25 cents). Got a couple of books at Goodwill too.

Great idea and so sophisticated looking! I definitely scour the thrift stores in search of pots or vessels that can be used as such.