***TELEGRAM***

***TELEGRAM***

SUPER GOODWILL CALIFORNIA UNTIED STATES

GREETINGS GOODWILL-(STOP)-LOVE THE JUNK AT STORE -(STOP)- FRUSTRATED AT HIGH PRICES -(STOP)- REMEMBER YOU ARE THRIFT STORE NOT ANTIQUE STORE -(STOP)-NEED PETITION SIGNED BY THRIFTERS FOR LOWER PRICES -(STOP)- COTTAGETHRIFTGIRL

*Holly Bake*

I love Cinnamon Rolls, actually I love anything Cinnamon, so I thought I would share my Cinnamon Roll recipe.
They are delicious, at least I think they are!!

CINNAMON ROLLS
-8 large rolls--
Dough:
1 1/2 package dry yeast
1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. shortening
1/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1 egg -beaten-
4-5 c. flour

Filling:
1/4 c. butter -melted-
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

Add warm water to yeast and let soak 10 minutes until softened.
In small saucepan scald milk.
Meanwhile place shortening in large bowl, pour scalded milk over shortening, add sugar & salt, let cool until tepid. Add dissolved yeast and beaten egg. Add 4-5 cups of flour, one at a time, beating after each 1 cup addition. Dough should be soft yet firm enough to handle. Knead dough until elastic and smooth. Turn dough into well oiled bowl. Let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Press dough down and roll in large rectangle. Using pastry brush, brush on melted butter. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon then layer over melted butter. Roll up jelly roll style. Cut 1 1/2 inch slices and place in greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Cover and let rise for about 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-23 minutes.

Frosting:
2 c. powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. butter -room temperature-
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Milk or whipping cream

Mix together powdered sugar, butter and vanilla, add a little milk until thick consistency. Spread over warm rolls.

*Holly Bake*

The restaurant I work at uses more egg yolks then egg whites, so I asked them to save them for me so I could try out some new recipes.
--Though I now have 26 egg whites sitting in the fridge!--

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, one of my go-to recipe sites and thought I would use some of those egg whites.

I like the cake part, it is flavorful and yummy, but the filling was a little dry and grainy. Maybe I didn't make it right but I don't think I will re-try that filling recipe again.
As for the frosting it reminds me a lot of Marshmallow Creme, sticky and sweet but it tastes good. Though next time I think I will stick with Swiss Meringue I think it is the perfect frosting.

So that's my thoughts on that!

Princess Dress

My friend, Barb, made this dress for my daughter...isn't it adorable. It is all handmade with no pattern, which is really impressive.
I love the flower details on the tutu-skirt.
Thanks Barb!!

P.S. Never an easy task to get a picture of a 2 year old. My cousin, who is a great photographer, is going to take some of her in this dress...I post those later!

Backyard And Junk

If you remember from this post, we needed to finish our back yard. So we worked on our backyard this weekend and finished the rest of the garden beds. My husband spent hours digging, putting in sprinklers and moving dirt around. We planted a Japanese Maple (in the wine barrel) a lemon tree (though right now it looks like a bush), African Daisies, Yarrow, Zinnias, and Marigolds.
I can't wait until it all grows in...should be pretty.

I had saved an empty space in hopes of putting a wheelbarrow there...I just had to find one in the neighborhood junk piles. And guess what I found this morning!!! It's perfect, I didn't think I would find one this fast, I do believe this is a "junk find" record!! So now I need to fill it with potting soil and I think it will make a nice herb garden.
We got these wine barrels for free while at garage sales this weekend and put them right to use. In the corner you can see our raised garden beds. My husband made those last year and they were so nice for our garden. I found the headboards in a junk pile last summer, but all the paint is peeling off of them so I may have to repaint this year.
Here is a full view of our yard.
See the windmill...my brother, who is a handyman, got that from one of his clients and he gave it to me! I'm just waiting for the ground to settle so we can sink it into the dirt.
So glad this project is complete...until the weeds start growing!!!

*Holly Sew*

My husband ripped his (Favorite) pair of shorts in a spot that was un-fixable. I didn't want to just throw them a way and waste the cute material, so I though long and hard....and this is what I came up with.

I cut the leg off the shorts and cut it until the sides were even.
Then I sewed it all together and added some elastic...
Whipped up a cute shirt and a flower and now my daughter has a new summer outfit...at no cost. I had the navy material in my stash (I knew there is a good reason for all my fabric collecting!).

I would of taken her outside to get some better pictures...but she was in no mood for that...now time for her nap!

Junk Day's

Neighborhood junk clean-up is in our neighborhood and I have been rummaging through my neighbor's junk...I have no shame! This morning I found this rocking chair = SOLID WOOD! With a little sanding, priming, painting and a new seat it will be ready for someone's living room or front porch.

View Blog
In the same pile I also found these to old washboards. I can't believe these were in the junk pile they are apart of America's history. Though I don't plan to go all "Little House on the Prairie" and start doing my laundry this way but I will use them for something. I feel like a "junk superhero"
I think my motto would be...
"Saving one piece of junk at a time!"
I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!!

Garage sales..thrift store...junk day

Went to garage sales this weekend and picked up this cute pink enamel pot = $2
Can't wait to boil pasta in this one!



Found this Dansk pot at a thrift store for $2.99, I walked away happy. It is worth at least $30.00...I love these finds!

Score of the weekend...this bed in a junk pile near our house...how could someone throw this away??? But good for me!! My husband went and took it while I was at work. I'm in love...can't wait to paint it up and hopefully sale it!Oh, also got this, but not at a garage sale. My first "mom-car"...at least it is not a mini-van!

Spring has Sprung and my Garden has Grown!

Sweet Peas are Here...and I'm as happy as can be!!!

I love Spring time because then I know that Summer is coming soon...plus this year is better than any other since I have my first SWEET PEAS!!! I love Sweat Peas and have wanted to grow them forever and I finally did it. Aren't they Gorgeous (and smell even better)! They were easy to grow, I just had to remember to plant them in the fall and thanks for the reminder from my wonderful friends, Doug & Barb, I have these beauties.

My husband and I have been working on the backyard since we moved into our home and it is finally looking good. He made the birdhouses out of scrap wood and my design ideas.

This is the only side of the yard done at this point. We do have raised garden beds on the other side but currently they are full of weeds. Though soon we will have tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini (just one plant!), bell peppers and other yummy goodies. I can't wait!