First Day of School,Permits,and Sales....

Today was a busy day to say the least.To start the day off it was my daughters first day of kindergarten.I hadn't done preschool so this was literally a first for me letting her out of my sight with anyone other than my mom!She was SO excited though that it made it easier on me.I was brave and didn't start bawling until the bus pulled away with a piece of my heart on it.


After I composed myself it was time to move on with the day.My son woke up with a million "where's sissy?" questions.My husband had taken the day off work to be here for our daughters first day.We got ready and he took me over to the DMV so I could get my permit.I'm 30 and have never had my license.My anxiety gets in the way.I've had my permit half a dozen times but never follow through with getting to the licensed part.Sounds silly to probably most of you but its pretty bad...but I also know I need to conquer my fear so here's hoping I get it done this time around.

I will say it is totally nuts to me to walk into a DMV and have no one in there(definitely not in California anymore)!Unfortunately I showed up 30 minutes before they closed for lunch and they require an hour to take the test.I filled out the paperwork I needed and then went back out to tell my son and husband we had an hour to kill before I could test.



Luckily for me there are a few thrifts in the town next to me where the DMV is located.One was total garbage with a clerk that barely looks up from what she's doing to say "hello" to you.The next was was gold!Unfortunately I only had change on me and wasn't able to do as much damages as I could have easily done.I did with my $4.00 in change manage to score this lovely lamp shade:



And this set of 2 dinner plates,2 bowls,and 2 salad plates:


I had to leave this kitsch-tastic Elvis bust behind...I told myself it was okay cause he was chipped BUT if he is there when I actually have money to spend he will be mine.



Well,I went back to the DMV,took my test,passed.Husband made me drive half way home which was TERRIBLE!My palms were sweating so bad and I wanted to throw up.I kept driving 5-10 miles below the speed limit which royally pissed off the poor bastard behind me.He has plenty of chances to pass me and didn't.When he finally did decide to pass me he made his anger well known is a series of hand gestures and I just smiled cause I wanted to yell "I JUST got my permit,literally JUST got it" so hopefully I didn't ruin his day,he definitely wasn't going to ruin mine.But that is where my anxiety comes from.Not so much myself driving but not being in control of others around me but practice makes perfect...or at least not so  an anxiety riddled weirdo when driving person which is what I am in hopes of becoming.

Okay,well getting back to the plates I scored...when I first saw them I was like "oh Taylor,Smith, & Taylor Cathay pattern,sweet!" but something seemed off and I couldn't pin point it till I got home and went to put them in my Heywood china cabinet next to the already existing few pieces of that pattern when I realized its NOT Cathay!Turned it over and yep,it was Harmony House in the Marimba Bay pattern.Nearly identical pattern just different color combos.




Finally the time came for the bus to bring my baby girl home to me.My son and I waited outside.He kept shouting "Sissy!Where are you?!" As much as his eagerness for his big sister to come home was adorable it was unfortunately short lived as it started POURING rain.I had to run him back inside and grab an umbrella!


Luckily as her bus pulled up the sun popped back out.I don't think I've ever been so excited to see a school bus in my whole life.The only thing better was seeing her face beaming with joy from her first day.Awe,my little gal is growing up too fast.



And now that the excitement of school supplies and clothes is behind me it is time to start back to less than thrilling things like bills so my etsy shop now through next Monday is having a 30% sale!

Dillinger Date Night...

Not this last Saturday but the Saturday before that (let it be said now I fully admit I am a procrastinator) my husband and I had a very rare occurrence happen,we went on a date!We live about 45 minutes away from Little Bohemia so he decided to take me there!Now if you're not a history nerd like me or a John Dillinger fan Little Bohemia is where Dillinger and his gang had their infamous shootout with the FBI.

I wasn't sure what to wear but Bakelite was definitely in order.




We arrived as the sun was setting so it unfortunately didn't leave me much time for photos but I was thrilled when we pulled into the long driveway.


You can't tell in my photos but most of the building is riddled in bullets!







Inside has a small area of things Dillinger left behind.Though it was very busy when we arrived it didn't take too long to be seated.





The food was delicious and the scenery is beautiful.We were right next to the window that views the lake and really nothing says "Romance" like dining next to windows that have been victims of gunshots!





I look forward to going back in the daylight sometime.If you ever find yourself in Wisconsin do make a trip of it!

Weekend Whatnottery ....

This weekend was an all around good time.My husband had to take the car to get serviced on Saturday morning so he wasn't able to run me to the post office as usual to ship out my orders for the week.BUT I got to do something even better!I got to walk by myself there while he watched the kids!Me sans kids is a rare treat so even an hour walk downtown I relish in.Yes,even mommies need "me time",any way you can get it.Since I didn't have any little hands to hold I got to take photos of my beloved downtown.



I even popped in a few thrifts and the antique mall.Most everything in my town is old and has never been updated (thank the gods!).Rummaging can be a dirty job which means hands do get dirty.Luckily one of the thrifts was kind enough to let me wash up in their restroom and I got a kick out of the old sinks,tile work,and this sanitary container.



My town is also filled with beautiful old churches.I didn't get many shots of the glass windows but that is a project for a different post.



When I got back the car was ready to be picked up so when my hubby got back we loaded up the kids and Sam and headed to Lake Superior.I felt bad having to leave Ollie and Lug behind but water isn't really their thing.Ollie likes attacking the lawn hose and that is his extent of water play.Sam was DEFINITELY in his element though.





My Monday started off pretty well.I've given up coffee.Its been 3 days now and I'm just now starting to get the headache from no caffeine  to lighten up a little.So despite it being Monday and no coffee I can't really complain.


I still have most of my home projects in limbo so they're not ready to "show off" but here you get a little sneak peek at my stair way,isn't the green fun?!

Wall Hangings and Tea Cups...

Today my family and I ventured into a different than the normal one we frequent grocery store.I like it because the produce is WAY better than the one we were going to AND it has a thrift store a few shops down from it.Naturally I had to go in because if you can at any time hunt for vintage you shouldn't miss the opportunity.

I didn't find too many things but a few pieces that made me chalk the visit up to well worth the effort.If you've ever had to drag a "I don't like thrifting" significant other into a store you understand the importance of finding at least SOMETHING so you can spare yourself having to hear "well,that was a waste of time.You didn't even find anything."

I think I mentioned this before but most of my Vernonware Heavenly Days broke in the move.My Heywood Wakefield china cabinet was looking a little bare.I've since given up my rigid only 2 china pattern rule and stuck with similar colors.I'll show off the lovely hodge podge I have completely when I do my dining room post...still sadly haven't been able to get baseboard for the room to finish it.Every time I have the funds something else comes up,I'm sure you know how that goes.To put on display I found this set of 3 aqua teacups!


I scored 2 sets of wall hangings.The first set was these swans from Miller Studios.I'm saving them for my far off bathroom remodel.


The other set is from Syroco and will be going up in my living room which I have a feeling will be the next room I'll be able to finish and show off on here.


I was starting with a blank slate in my living room and once I found the big pieces like the couch I knew what direction I'd be heading.The pieces I found all point to a mid 60's look so that will be fun to do I think.I'm sure I've looked like a crazy hoarder buying pieces here and there saving them for when I'd be ready to do it.I'm in the process of wallpapering which is a tiring chore that I need to hurry up and finish so I can then paint and THEN set up.

Only factors I'm missing are small details like I want to find end tables and a coffee table in DARK wood because the blonde I currently have I think clashes too much with the dark wood on the legs of the couch and chair set I came across.Yeah,I'm really annoyingly matchy matchy like that.And also a credenza or something to use as an entertainment center because currently we have a modern black glass entertainment center that my husband obviously picked out and its hideous.

The Cedars Motel...

A few days ago I did some exploring in my town and in a direction I never go was this little gem!This motel has been for sale for awhile.I hope when it does sell the new owners embrace the fantastic retro-ness of it instead of trying to modernize it!I love old signs and the ones for this place don't disappoint.







The pale peachy pink and minty green color combo is divine!






Unfortunately there is no one there to let you inside and I don't know if it'd go over well to call and make an appointment cause I just wanted to take photos of the inside.I'm very curious to see if the inside is as much of a time capsule as the outside appearance.Judging by the office curtains I could see,perhaps yes!





And how freaking cute is the mailbox?!

Lurking Around Old Apartments...

If you wanted to know what I did today the title would sum it up.One of the antique shops I like to frequent is an old building with a door on the side of the building that is NOT an entrance to the shop.Where does it lead?Up stairs that one could not pay me to go up or down if I was not 100% sober at the time!The gentleman that owns the shop unlocked the door for me and let me have free to roam status as I admired things of yesteryear.



The apartment hasn't been used as an apartment in a long time.The man uses it now as random bits of storage for the bigger furniture in his downstairs shop.Its dusty,run down,and a little eerie..what I'm trying to say is that it is awesome!If I was a single gal I'd definitely be bugging this gent to let me rent this place.



Wall paper in the kitchen


I fell in love with the floor lamp in this room!







I moved into my home in November and there is still a lot of the home I need to furnish on top of repairing.My bedroom is one of the things that needs furnishing,I've been holding out for a 20's or 30's bedroom set on the cheap.I haven't had much luck so I'll probably just have to piece together similar pieces unless the vintage gods decide to throw me a bone here (ahem,seriously vintage gods throw me a bone!).If that is the case I think I'll be coming back for this piece when I have some spending money(why was I shopping when I was broke?I like to torture myself and I wasn't shopping I was lurking remember!?).



I love my vintage purses and I have TONS,but I do have one modern purse and yes,it is Hello Kitty.Today was one of my very rare no vintage days,even my cat eyes today were repros.






I have a morbid sense of humor and most of the things that ran through my head run a good chance at offending some.When I opened a few of the closets I didn't get anything out of it but for some reason when I opened this one in one of the back rooms it gave me a creepy vibe and I envisioned a neon sign that instead of reading "open" said "hang yourself here". Then I laughed,felt bad for laughing and shut the closet door ,and hurried out of that room.

China Pattern Addict...

I try and limit the things I collect,I really do.Vintage china patterns are a hard one for me to resist.Today while I was out thrifting I feel like the vintage gods were telling me "sure,2 more patterns is TOTALLY okay to add to your already all over the place pattern list!" So I did.I went ahead and picked up the Canonsburg Temporama gravy boat




and the 2 Taylor Smith & Taylor Cathay dinner plates.




The blues blend in well with my already existing Vernonware Heavenly Days,Canonsburg Florence, and Franciscan Oasis displayed lovingly in my Heywood Wakefield china cabinet.You'll be able to see that they mesh together well when I get the dining room finished (yeah,still waiting to get base board trim!So close yet so far!)

To show I do have SOME restraint though,look at all these darling patterns on these teacups I passed on today!And they were only 25 cents which I think shows extra praise!



In my head I'm justifying going back and using them to make candles in...that way I won't feel the need to collect ALL the pattern.Gods,I need help I know.Vintage china patterns are like Pokemon for me,there is this weird need to collect them all!