Crunchy Peas

I'm a sucker

 

For knee-length, belted coats, with french labels, picked up at the thrift store for $4.  Because of the savings I think I could justify buying these right?  We all know how I need to dress up everyday being the svelte homeschooling Mom I am. (Roll eyes)

steal of a deal(s)

Well, have I got some goodies to show you!  Saturday, after my little baby-store-grand-opening-public-relations-event, I didn't go straight home. Oops, my cell phone was on silent and I missed the 50 calls from home asking, "where are you and what is for dinner?". Without the children in tow, I knew just where to spend my free time.  The thrift store.  Look what I came home with:

A sweet little blue dress for Laurel baby.  The tag said vintage, I bought it for $2.  It has that olivejuicekids look don't you think?  I really love it.

Then, being the daring fashionista that I am, I snagged this shirt dress for $11.  It is very cute with my tall brown boots. A little fallish, but I can wait.  (no, my waist is not 8" in diameter...but cinching the belt this tight was the only way to get it to stay up for the picture.)

Then, waaaay back in a dark corner I spotted a lovely green leather.  I reached up to the top shelf and pulled down this case:

I had been looking for a cute/practical way to carry my camera around and it was perfect except for the price- $39.  Yikes, for something old I wasn't sure I wanted to pay that much.  But it was cool... and green to boot, so I resolved that it would be best if it were mine-even if I had to pay $39.  Just then a voice from heaven came down (or maybe it was the shop's owner) and said, "Did you know that everything in that corner is on sale for $2/item?"  Glorious- it was almost too much. 

When I came home and explained my missing whereabouts, I added that the grand total of my shopping excursion was less than $15 and that buying similar items online at places such as jcrew and the like would have been HUNDREDS (for drama) of dollars more...he smiled and I was in the clear.

newly found

I don't want you to get the wrong idea here...the pictures you are about to see are from a couple of weeks ago.  I wouldn't want anyone to think that while my family was recently sick that I would ever dream of leaving them alone to fend for themselves while I was out having a coffee, getting a pedicure, perusing the book store, working out, or thrifting of all things.  Heavens no!  Why on earth would I want to leave my plague-ridden house filled with whiny, needy, snotty (literally) people to go shopping?  Such selfishness I tell you.

But last year, I mean a week or so ago here is what I found:

Some lovely wool sweaters.  I have a weakness for them.  They are somewhat misshapen and don't necessarily fit anyone...but I can make something from them right?  Any ideas?

Some sweet sheets- they might help inspire my seriously slow quilting along progress.

My new "happy" cup and Bettie Rubble beads.  I went to wear the beads the other day and had to fish them out of the dress up box in the girl's room :)

Also found recently is this clothing company for kids and babies.  Am I the last to know about them?  I am MADLY in love with everything they make!!

Hey how about Mansfield Park last night?  Wasn't it great?  Good ol' Fanny!

not going to make it...

Well, I have come to accept the reality that my advent garland will not be totally complete by tomorrow.  I have mittens 1-12 finished, there is no way that I will get to the other 13 by the end of the day.  Oh well, I guess it will just be a "get- it- done- as- I- go- along" kind of project. 

I have all kinds of filler for it.  Three tiny little trinkets or treats will be stuffed inside each mitten. This was the really fun part (did you know that 3 things for 3 girls for 25 days equals 75 things- eek!) My Grannie (who is a feeling a bit sick...hi Grannie) gave me her old craft box.  Inside I found all kinds of vintage figurines that were used in cake decorating. I also threw in some peppermint sticks, suckers and tons of other little thrifted doodads. Next year I think I will stuff them with ornaments -much easier.

I am headed out tomorrow for an overnight shopping trip with my Tante and my cousin.  Looking forward to some girl time...have a great weekend!

Tante

My Tante (aunt in french--she prefers this title).  Over the years she has taught me so much, like a stand-in mother of sorts (I lost my mother when I was 14).

(I stole this picture from her Real Estate site...pretty don't you think?)

From her, I learned that frosting colors for sugar cookies don't have to be plain ol' boring red, white, and green.  Instead, they can be periwinkle, blush and turquoise.  Also, I have learned never to spin my plate around in order to eat something from the other side of it. Tantes are good for etiquette rules like that.  She taught me that the secret to finding a good man lies in the details...like whether he knows how to match his belt to his shoes. Minor but very, very important. Another practical tip she gave me: it's okay to spend more on the wrapping paper than you spend on the actual gift.  Everyone loves a pretty package.  Every morning when I look in the mirror I can hear her saying, "get totally dressed- clothes, shoes, belt, bracelet/watch, earrings- accessories and all, then... take one thing off."  Simple, understated elegance is her specialty. More importantly than all these little notions, she has taught me what grace looks and acts like.  She has taught me how to love fiercely, to forgive, and to carry on. 

Since living with her during some of my college years (much of my behavior during that time period I have since apologized for) I don't see her as often as I would like.  So, you can imagine my glee when she agreed to spend the ENTIRE day with me!  For a whole 2 weeks I looked forward to our time together. (Tantes are busy ladies).  Finally Sunday arrived and so did she. We were off to lunch and some antiquing. 

It took less than 30 seconds and we were blabbering to our hearts content.  She, offering wise words about how the circumstances of life change us- making us less idealistic, and more accepting- and me, about how I can't seem to get the decorating right in my house.  You should see her little rock house cottage- like the pages of a magazine! Tante has a way of incorporating rustic with romantic.  Chandeliers, lots of chandeliers.

At one point, my feet began to hurt.  Being the retired ballet girl that I am, I suffered for a while.  I casually mentioned later that I was feeling betrayed by my new shoes.  What I love about Tante is her willingness to have fun (I have seen her cut some rug at several family weddings.)  Without a thought, she said, "Well then, let's trade.  You wear mine and I'll wear yours."  When I balked that we would look silly she said, "pshaw- no one is going to care."  Sweet relief- much better.

(still learning how to work my our new camera)

Chatting and shopping, shopping and chatting.  Our browsing coiled us through the entire building.  Not wanting our time to come to an end, I would linger a little longer- and walk a bit slower.  Finally the day drew to a close, but not before she bought me this:

A perfect match for my blue kitchen.

I love my Tante and I am thankful for the way she was placed in my life.  She has seen me through the incredible loss of my mother, teenage misunderstandings with my Dad, break-ups with boyfriends, and wearied days as a new mother. She has become a shining example in my mind of what faithfulness looks like, what tenderness feels like, and how Love loves.  Thank you Tante.  Thank you.

 

Thrifting

I went to a few church rummage sales over the weekend.  I took the older girl  with me (on the condition that I would buy her something sweet at Starbuck's) and we snuck out Saturday morning before anyone else could tag along.

This coat came home with me.  I saw it and held on to it while I was browsing.  One of the ladies working at the sale came up to me and said, "Oh, you found my mother's coat.  She has passed on, but my father bought that for her when they went to Paris in the 1960's."  That totally sealed the deal for me.  It is so great to know the story behind these things isn't it?

And this also found its way to my kitchen shelf.  Perfect colors.

Vintage sheets (in the process of being re-purposed- stay tuned), yummy sweaters, goddy clip on earrings for playing "dress-up", and a bundle of Dr. Seuss books were just some of the loot that we made out with. (oh yes, and the obligatory stuffed animal that Emma fell in love with- roll eyes)

So, we are off and running for the week.  Everyone seems to be adjusting well to the new schedule.  Everyone, that is, but me.  There is so much to do.  Something always falls by the wayside.  The fridge might be stocked, but there are no clean dishes.  We might have fresh sheets and tidy beds- but no clean clothes.  I might be on time to pick up our friends for the carpool, but enter our dirty car at your own risk! Fortunately, we (my family and I) seem to find ways to laugh about it.

I was longingly looking out the window at our neighbors house on Friday as her cleaning lady showed up.  Sometimes I feel fairly inadequate.  Shouldn't a stay-at-home-mom be able to keep her house clean and everything running smoothly?  How do all the working mothers do it? Time management has never really been one of my strong points.  I guess that might explain why I am sitting here!  Okay, off I go.