I love buying and transforming unsightly things from Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore that people wouldn't even give a second look. It's especially exciting when I use part of what I buy (at a good price mind you!) and then donate what I don't use back to these stores. Here is the step-by-step process of what my latest ugly purchase at Habitat for Humanity ReStore looked like:
Step 1: Find hideous faux plant arrangement at your local ReStore.
Step 2: Be judged by your husband as it's brought up to cashier. Take mental note that husband leaves you in store to pay for it by yourself so he can discreetly load into pickup.
Step 3: Have your mother who never questions your design decisions stop dead in her tracks upon viewing your new purchase.
Step 4: Gut the thing like a fish, delicately set aside remains.
Step 5: Have minor meltdown when realizing peach cowgirl boot of all things is glued to basket. Separate carefully.
Step 6: Stick new plant in basket. Debate for hours whether or not you want to keep rope detail. Decide you can cut it off at a later date.
Step 7: Donate the remains back to ReStore. Circle of life complete.
I should also note that I wasn't done shopping when I found this thing so I wanted to carry it up immediately to cashier for them to hold in fear that someone else would see the potential. Jim quickly assured me that "it would still be here" when we were done. He was not wrong. (That doesn't mean I didn't take the tag off when he wasn't looking to ensure it was ours muahaha).
The before. That's a peach cowgirl boot with beads coming down the side. Yee-haw no.
The after. Still debating whether to keep the rope, but once it's gone it's gone and I don't like that kind of commitment right now.