Goodwill Finds

We've been having a lot of dinner parties lately and last week noticed that we were running out of dishes faster than we could keep up.  Perfect excuse to visit our local Goodwill to get a bunch for cheap.  I hadn't been to one here in the Twin Cities yet, so I was blown away when we showed up.  It was huge!  Not to mention it was Thursday and it was half off toddler clothing (which we also needed to pick up since our two-year-old barely has any warm clothing)!  So, we get to dishes and I start freaking out.  There was so many adorable vintage plates!



The top came as a set of 2, they only had one of the middle, since it was a huge serving plate, and a set of 4 for the last plate.  I also got a set of four olive green bowls (my favorite color!).  You can never have too many bowls around the house.

This wasn't vintage, but I had to get it.  I have been drinking tea a lot lately and only had plane white coffee cups.  I needed one just for me.  Something about drinking tea in the morning in a cute mug makes me feel happy!
All in all, it was a great shopping trip!  All those housewares totaled up to $6.00!!!  I love thrifting!


I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  I will be posting some of my holiday pictures soon! 

A Day with the Fam

We haven't got to go out much since its been pretty cold and its the holiday season.  The other day we had a free day and the husband wasn't at work, so we went to the Como Zoo and Conservatory.  My husband had told me awhile ago it was a free zoo, so I didn't think it was going to be that great.  I pictured in my head one small building with a couple of tiny animals and some crazy plants.  I was totally wrong.  It was like an actual zoo.  Some of the exhibits were closed because of the winter, but most were still open.  They had a rainforest room that felt so good compared to the cold, dry air outside!  I wanted to put on my bathing suit and just lay in there.  
They had a lot of monkies that were ssssoooo adorable.  I could not stop taking pictures of the ones with mustaches.  They wanted to play so much!  The mom and baby orangatangs were playing a lot, too.  I couldn't get a good picture because they were moving so much, but you can see in the picture above what I mean.  They kept hitting the dad sleeping, too.  He did not like that so much.  But like my bulldog, he just went right back to sleep.  If you're ever in the Twin Cities, you should check it out!  Its a great thing to do if you get cabin fever in the winter.

What kinds of things do you do to get through the winter?

Breakfast at Tiffany's

I am sad to say that yesterday was the first time I ever saw "Breakfast at Tiffany's."  I was really surprised by the movie.  I heard it was funny, but it was so much more than I thought!  The  party scenes were hilarious.  "Timbeeeeeeer!"  I couldn't help but want every piece of clothing and furniture on the sets.  Especially her claw foot tub sofa and those sunglasses!  Amazing!  Here are a couple of images from around the web that reminded me of the movie.







I now want a cat named "Cat."  My daughter's 3rd birthday is coming up!  That's a great excuse to get one!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday!


Sources:  Audrey, Glasses, Wallpaper, Boxes, Eyes, Coat, Sofa

Weekend Pics

Clockwise from Top Left:

**Amaguri cupcake I finished from Ravelry (Pretty sure I did something wrong...  Just look at their picture compared to mine.)

**Awesome huge dog park that we went to today since it was so nice out (45 degrees and sunny! I can't believe I consider that nice now!)

**The view from our neighborhood--Downtown St. Paul, MN

**My daughter Maggie passed out from walking at the park.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for Christmas next week!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I lived in North Carolina for most of my life.  Not once did it ever snow on Christmas.  Well, I won't say that.  The one year it did snow (last year) I was in California with my husband's parents.  Now that I'm living in the Midwest I thought snow was a given on Christmas.  The forecast tells a different story.  Its supposed to be cold enough for snow to stick, but there is no snow coming!  So here's a little collection of pictures to try and get that snow falling.  Consider this my snow dance!

If you've never read this blog, The Freelancer's Fashionblog, I totally recommend it.  She is funny, gorgeous, and has some of the best vintage clothes I have ever seen.  She does burlesque, is an artist, and a photographer--a modern day Renaissance Woman!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!  These little paws are adorable!

Come on snow clouds!  I know seeing these pictures make you want to spit out some snowflakes!  Who else is ready for snow!


Sources:  Walking in a Winter Wonderland, Nails, Fiona, Squirrel, Snowpeople, Porch, Paws

Crochet Addiction

I guess the first step is to admit you have a problem, so here goes.  I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to crochet.  The last couple of days I have missed posts, and it was because I was using all my free time to work on this new craft.  I LOVE IT!  I somehow found Dana's blog, CraftyMinx, awhile ago because of her Crochet School.  If you have ever thought about learning crochet, you should seriously check out her course.  I cannot believe its free!  She is very good at explaining things, and also has video accompanied with each one of her lessons.  Sometimes more.  The videos are also very slow paced so if you're a beginner, you're actually able to follow.


You make a couple of things through the class, too.  Its not all just learning stitches, which is really nice!  Its cool to see how far you come after just doing a couple of lessons.  If you follow the course you will make a stitch swatch, granny squares, and circle.  Once you get to the pattern reading portion you can choose to make her wrist warmers or pick a pattern yourself.  I chose to make a hat from a pattern I found on Ravelry.  If I hadn't of had Dana's instruction, there was no way I could have done it so well.  My seaming was a little off, but other than that it turned out great!


I just wanted to throw in this picture of these socks I have had for years.  Awhile ago, I used to be obsessed with a store called Delias.  I'm sure I'm not the only one.  Well, they used to have a wall of socks at the store, and I picked up these (if you don't know who this is its Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles!) along with some John Bender, Farmer Fred, and Long Duck Dong socks.  Really wish they still made them!


I am really proud of these projects I have done in the past couple of days.  A couple of them don't really make anything I can wear or show off, but its nice to know that I did it!  I joined Ravelry like Dana said, so I'm already looking for something else to make.  I would love to make an easy afghan since its so cold where we're living.  Its so nice to curl up with a blanket on the couch when its snowing outside.  It would be greater if I actually made it!


Are there any other crocheters out there?  Or any other addicts of craft want to share your addiction?  

Wind Farms are Awesome

A couple of months ago my husband and I drove up to Minnesota to visit some of his family.  On the way, we passed through Illinois.  I didn't think much of the place, especially since we drove through at night and couldn't see anything.  It seemed like it was nothing but a bunch of farms and flat lands until I started seeing flashing red lights in the night.  And they were everywhere.  As we drove closer the lights surrounded us on all sides.  It was crazy!  I stared at the little lights and each time they flashed I saw huge blades spinning around.  Finally, we figured out it was a huge wind farm!  I don't know why I was so excited!  I had never seen one before and for some reason they were so fascinating to me.  On the drive back home, we drove through at night again, so I didn't get to see it during the day at all.  I was crushed.  We drove up to Minnesota again to find a house and drove through during the night again!  I couldn't believe my luck! 


Last week we drove up in separate vehicles and I remembered my wind farm.  I saw a lone windmill and started to freak out in my car (I literally was freaking out, making all kinds of noises and sending texts to my husband)!  Soon I started seeing them everywhere on the left side.  We had chose a different route to drive so we didn't drive straight through it, but I still got to see a lot.
  
I don't know why I am so amazed by them.  There is something really pretty about them.  I'm crazy, I know.  I tried taking a couple of pictures (and by a couple I mean 64) and only a few came out.  So, here are the two best shots I got of part of my wind farm!





Sigh.  I really want to go back and take more pictures of it.  But I know the only way that will happen is if we drive back to North Carolina.  Ten hours is a little far for me to drive just to get some pictures...  although, I did see a lot of antique signs along the way.

[Source]

This is a photo of the actual wind farm that someone else took.  Why are they so beautiful to me?  Please tell me someone else shares my insane admiration for these things!


Does anyone else have any crazy things that they think are really pretty and can't explain why?

The Greatest Picture Ever Taken

For those of you who have followed my blog for awhile, you may know that I find Ryan Gosling and Jake Gylkhkjghfgfsbghaal incredibly attractive.  Ryan Gosling was so easy to fall in love with in "The Notebook" and Jake G. has the best pair are dark, coarse, bushy eyebrows I have ever seen...  Well, aside from my husband.  I have a think for bushy eyebrows.  Is that strange?  But really only if they're paired with some pretty blue eyes.  Sigh. Anyways...  

[Source]

That is absolutely wonderful.  I hope that brightened your day like it did mine!

Tattooed Women

Nowadays, tattoos are pretty much a dime a dozen.  Teachers, doctors, and even some preachers have given in and gotten them.  My mom has even mentioned a couple of times of maybe getting one is the future!  Tattoos are gradually getting more and more accepted everyday, and I think its wonderful.  But this post is all about the women back in the day that were tattooed, not because it was cool or they wanted to fit in, but because they themselves thought it was beautiful.  I can't even imagine how hard it was for these girls to walk around with the tattoos that they did.  Society has come a long way since then, so let's take a minute and admire these pioneers for dealing with all the crap that we don't have to deal with today!







I usually post the tattoo related stuff on Tuesday, but I came across one of these photos last night and couldn't help but post them today.  They're amazing!


Sources:  French Twist, Sitting Alone, Showing Thighs, Undies, Crossing Legs

I'm baaaaack!

I feel like its been forever since I have blogged.  I guess it has been in the blog world.  Haha. A lot has gone on since I last wrote!  We drove up to Minnesota from North Carolina and it was a nightmare!  My husband was in the moving truck with our dog, and I was driving in our SUV with our daughters.  One is 2 1/2 and the other is 3 months.  Let's just say we had to stop...  A LOT!  We're settling in our house and have unpacked, but still have more to do.  Its nice to know that we will be in this house for awhile and won't have to worry about packing up and leaving again.  


On Saturday we had our first snow fall since living here.  Pretty funny that it happened the day after we moved.  We got about 3-4 inches and I'm sure there will be tons more to come. I'm a little nervous about living in the snow and cold climate, but so far it hasn't been bad.  I was actually having fun shoveling snow with my husband the other night!  I know that will get old really fast!  


I have so many pictures to show you, but I still have not found my camera cord that hooks up to my camera!  I'm sure it will be in the last box I look in.  Things always work out like that.  But for now, here's a picture I found that looks like my street from Saturday!

[Source]

I hope everyone is having a good winter so far!  Wish me luck living here!

Blogging Break

I'm sure if you are a daily reader you have noticed I have not been posting as much.  This month has already been crazy and will continue to be crazy until the beginning of December. I am going to take a little break until then.  We have so much to do between now and then!  I just got a new computer so I'm trying to get all my work stuff installed and everything moved from my old one to this one.  Wednesday my husband and I are driving to Minneapolis to look for our new home. Woo! We won't have the kids for a couple of days!  Then Monday we're flying back and getting ready to go my grandma's for Thanksgiving.  Then we're making the big move.  And in the middle of all that we have to pack, I have to continue to keep up with my work, and finish my final exam for school. Whew!  I can't wait until we're finally settled!


Anyways, just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't given up on this thing! Just really busy! Hope you have a good Thanksgiving!  I'll see you when I'm in Minnesota!

Modcloth Musings Vol. II

Modcloth has been putting out some amazing stuff for fall lately, so I have been browsing and wishing I had all the money in the world.  Maybe my husband will stumble over this post and get a couple of ideas for Christmas and my birthday!

1.  Golden Ginkgo Dress

2.  Style Survival Kit Toiletry Bag

3.  Vintage Seventh Inning Snuggle Throw

4.  Perfectly Primrose Tea Pot

5.  La Sardina Lomography Camera in Cubic

6.  Ms. Fix It Tape Dispenser

1.  Above the Clouds Necklace
2.  The Perfect Piccadilly Coat
3.  Upwardly Mobile Satchel
4.  Already in Love Dress
5.  Forties Fashion
6.  Jacket and the Bean Stock

I love everything!!!  What have you been drooling over at Modcloth?

Vintage Love... And Then Not So Much

Awhile ago I bought a strawberry canister set from GoodWill.  At the time it was the absolute cutest thing I had ever seen in the entire world.  And for 9 bucks, I had to have it.  I bought it, brought it home, and basked in its vintage goodness.  I was so happy that I finally found a set that was me.


The thing is, they aren't me.  Yes, they are really, really adorable, but they do not go with my dream kitchen vision that I am working towards.  I knew this when I bought them!  I pushed that to the back of my mind, and I had to have the canisters.  Its like them being vintage and the awesome price tag were calling me to make the purchase.  "Take us home!  Love us!"  


So, is thrifting and antiquing like a drug?  Do we lose our common sense when picking up items that interest us?  Do we get lost when we start thinking about how awesome they are, even if we don't need them, or even really want them?  I wish they would do a study about this.  It would be interesting to find out.  I'm sure a couple of you out there would be categorized as addicts!  


So, am I the only one that does this?  Finds something that at the moment is the greatest thing, and then after awhile wonder, "why did I buy this again?"  If I'm not, let me know!  And if you have a link, share it!

---Maybe I need to open a vintage shop.  Pass all my awesome finds that aren't really my taste for others to enjoy :)---

Last 5 Pins

It has been such a long time since I did a Last 5 Pins post.  And since lately I haven't had much time to think about anything else except my shop and moving, I figured its a great time to do one now!  

This is the most adorable garden I have ever seen!  Its so organized!

My friend did a Roy Lichtenstein costume like this one a couple of years ago.  He's my all time favorite artist, so I definitely need to do this one year!

This was such an adorable picture.  These kids are even cooler than I was in high school.

I'm not going to lie.  When I first saw the previews for this movie I was so disappointed Ryan Gosling decided to do an action movie that I thought was going to be like Fast and the Furious.  Luckily, he hadn't betrayed me like I thought.  Drive was such an a great movie!  Not only did he look amazing and I fell in love with him all over again, the music was awesome!

I really wish I had the money to buy a house now.  I would totally do my kitchen like this.  It has such a vintage feel with the color choices.  I found this picture on Pinterest, but it linked to a now dead LA Craigslist ad.  Sigh.  Someone was selling the house with this kitchen.

I still cannot figure out what is wrong with my layout.  I have tried going into the template and editing the HTML.  Nothing is fixing it!  I add my pictures using the "Edit HTML" tab on the post page.  I tell the picture to be 570 pixels wide and on my actual blog it looks like I added it through the "Compose" tab.  I really hope it gets fixed soon!  C'mon Blogger!!!