Thrift Store Thursday

Ahh, the dead of winter. Good times. The temperature hit 25 this week and so I trekked outside for a mile walk on my lunch hour yesterday. It felt WARM! Seriously sick when you think of it. But 20 degrees or more above last weeks highs, so it's all relative. All this balmy weather got me thinking about garage sales. And you know what? When I checked Craigslist, I found TWO garage sales! Indoors, mind you, but garage sales nonetheless. So of course, I hit them up.

One was a total bust, but the indoor church sale proved pretty okay. I got a great sweater and a cute vintage tank, so I consider it a success.

Now, I am really looking forward to the return of estate sales, garage sales, church rummages and everything that will break me out of what could definitely become a thrift store funk if I keep hitting the same spots as regularly as I have been.

Speaking of which, a friend who reads my blog said I should post my favorite thrift stores. Hmmm. Isn't that kind of like divulging grandmas secret apple pie recipe? Dare I give out my most closely held secret? Will you all go rush out and pillage my hot spots? Or should I play nice and share? I could definitely give a pretty good run down for Milwaukee area, Madison area and even my old stomping grounds in Minneapolis. Should I?

Your Favorite Recipes of 2010

This year, I've struggled to find time to do a lot of the things that I love to do. Now, I've never been that huge of a cook, but now that I have VERY limited time to be in charge of the cooking, it's like a privilege that's been taken away. I did try a few things, like cinnamon rolls, the lemon-basil martini, and lots and lots of things out of our very first real-deal vegetable garden.

I get asked to participate in lots of recipe exchanges, and I always feel a little lame having not much to contribute. I get most of my recipes online or out of my favorite Giada cookbooks. But, I would love to be better about recommending recipes, because I always get great ones in return.

So, I thought I'd try something new. Why not do a recipe exchange blog post? Tell everyone what's been cooking in your kitchen lately. I'd especially love to hear your simple (fast? slow cooked?) and kid-friendly recipes. So do share! You can link to your own personal recipe (post it on your own blog), or anywhere in the World Wide Web!

Breaded, Not Fried

I love to bake, but I do get tired of all the sweets. What? Who am I kidding. I don't get tired of the sweets, but I know it's not good for us to eat so much. So I often branch out to bread. I tried the no knead recipe with good results. I also purchased the Tassajara Bread Book and went through the painstaking process of making it the "real" way with all the rising and punching and rising and kneading and all that.


But, I have found what I think is the "up my alley" bread baking book, perfect for a person like me with a short attention span and a busy life. It's the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The theory is that you make up a big batch of dough and stick it in the fridge. You can use it for up to a few weeks to make just about anything from regular old bread to cinnamon rolls. So far we made only one loaf and it was not only delicious, but easy and beautiful to look at.

I got the book from the library, and unfortunately I have to return it soon. But before I do, I'm thinking about trying the bagel recipe. Have you ever made bagels from scratch? Is it worth the effort? What are your favorite bread recipes?

Playing Matchmaker

Today I'm excited to participate in Kelly's Korner Blog "Show us your singles" day when people all over the country tell the world about a great guy or girl they know in hopes that a match can be made. Today I'd like to introduce my friend and coworker, Craig.

So here's the skinny on this eligible guy:
--Craig has strong Christian values and is involved in church activities
--He's 40
--This guy is outgoing, friendly and loves to hang out with his friends, especially if they're going out for seafood or Italian
--He grew up and lives in southeast Wisconsin
--Craig works in the financial industry
--His education is in Mass Communication and Psychology
--Music is a passion for him (listening versus playing)
--Sometimes he likes to inform us that whatever it is we're eating is really bad for us, which is an endearing quality -- he's really into being healthy and likes to work out and be active
--He's never been down the aisle (unless you're talking about the grocery store)
--He's funny
--He likes to travel (Seattle is one of his favorites)

Here's who he's looking for in that special lady:
--Strong Christian woman
--She likes to get dressed to go out, but is also comfortable hanging out in jeans and a sweatshirt (here's my interpretation: he's looking for someone who takes care of herself, but doesn't spend 4 hours getting ready to go out)
--She makes him laugh

Thrift Store Thursday

Here's the latest scores from the thrift store. This week was all about vintage clothes for the ladies!

The plaid dress is by Pendleton, and it's in perfect condition. I wish it fit me, because it's so warm and fun! Pendleton is based in Portland, Oregon and has been weaving fabric there for 100 years.

My other favorite is the tennis jacket with the yellow stripes. If that doesn't sell in my Etsy shop, it's ALL MINE!

Who doesn't need a poodle skirt? This would be so fun to have in a little girl's dress-up collection. I can just see the twirling that would ensue!

This crazy plaid shirt is some sort of western wear. I don't know much about it, but it just appealed to me.

This great scarf I bought at Rummage-a-rama, and I think it's so cool but I have no idea if I'd wear it, or display it somehow.

Wordless Wednesday

Thrift Store Thursday

Wow, I am completely addicted to thrift shopping. It's an illness. Seriously.


I have ALWAYS been a thrift shopper. I have worked at thrift stores. But, it hasn't ever taken over all of my free time like it is now (my free time consists of my lunch breaks and one or two hours on the weekend if naps overlap...so I guess it's not like I spend 30 hours a week at Goodwill or anything...).


Here's my most recent scores. Some of these came from Rummage-a-rama at the WI state fairgrounds. You should go if you're local, it's great!

Why Being a Stay-at-Home Parent is Harder Than Being a Working Parent

Now before you slay me with your rantings about how you work very hard and staying home is all trips to the zoo and eating bon bons while the kids nap, please know that I am also a working (outside the home) parent. I only know my own perspective, and that is one of a mama who goes off to my cubicle home every day. I leave my two kids home with the most hardworking, patient and loving man in the world: my husband.

If you had asked me who works harder -- a staying home parent or a working parent -- when we only had one, adorable, perfectly-behaved baby or toddler, I may have answered differently. I certainly came to work many, many days going "Seriously? They're taking a walk to the park today and I'm sitting through a 4-hour conference call?" But boy, have things changed. We now have an out-of-control toddler and an infant. Talk about a busy day-job!

My hubby calls me sometimes at work needing advice. Like "When I dropped him off at preschool, he was hysterical. Should I go back and get him?" or "He has completely destroyed his room and, oh, wait now he's just peed on the floor. How would you handle it?" or "I had to let the baby cry herself to sleep today so I could get him dressed to leave the house. In the end, I left him in what he wore yesterday and to bed last night. Is that okay?"

So at least I get a glimpse of the world at home when I'm not there. And I get to feel a little bit a part of the parenting choices. But really, I sit here in my cush office, eating a leisurely lunch filled with conversation about TV and what everyone's going to be up to this weekend. Meanwhile, he's trying to slap together something, anything that one will eat will simultaneously putting a bottle in the other. Those of you out there with 3, 4, 5 kids...how do you survive? How do you get through each day? Seriously, my husband needs to know. Could you shoot him an email?

Of course some days are better than others, but I just can't imagine a job harder than raising kids. They are one minute adorable, sweet, fun-loving huggers and the next urinating, screeching, fighting sassy-faces. Even my worst day at work does not involve cleaning up anyone else's soiled underpants, or explaining why it's not okay to go outside in 3 degree weather without a coat on.

So to my hubby, Mr. Pumpkin, I say: you are doing an amazing job, and you are a great dad. Even if some days you'd like to fire yourself and/or hire a nanny, or you feel like there's nothing at all graceful or admirable about what you're doing, you are awesome.

Happy 2011

We rang in the new year English style. At 6 p.m. Central Time it was midnight in England so we did some research and found some cool British new year traditions we could celebrate. For example, we observed the tradition of "First Footing" by having "a dark-haired, handsome young man" (my son) be the first person in the door on new year's day (or just after 6 p.m. at our house) bearing coal (a stick), bread and salt. The items are supposed to bring warmth, food and money to those at the home.

Then, my nieces dropped egg whites into a glass of water and looked into the mixture to find the first letter of the man they would marry. Amazingly, the egg whites do form some interesting letter-looking shapes in water! So there's an "M" in one nieces' future and an "S" in the other's. And of course we had to have a little puzzle for the kids to try to match the funny Britishism to the picture, like hooter for nose, telly for television and biscuit for cookie. Good times!

We ate some awesome English foods, too. No bangers and mash, but we did have beer cheese soup with English ale. Yum! And we had a very nice, roaring fire (check out the great vintage log-getter I scored at a thrift store). It was very relaxing, right up until my toddler woke up at 11 p.m. and SCREAMED his head of like a maniac because he didn't want to go back to bed. And then there was the 2 a.m. wakeup call at my bedroom door from my sister, who was awoken in the basement bedroom to the sound of water pouring down from the kitchen -- caused by an overflowing dishwasher (or more likely all the leeks I had shoved down the garbage disposal earlier). Ugh. So the new year started a little rough, but I'm hoping it'll be looking up!

Did you rock in the new year? Did you make any resolutions?

Wordless Wednesday

New House (New Life) Anniversary

Exactly one year ago today, we signed on the dotted line. We took a big, scary flying leap and landed pretty much right where we wanted to. I was three months pregnant, the working mother of a toddler, and the proud owner of a new home in a new state. Oh, and I changed jobs to make this all happen. Did I mention that it was insane? Do I have to even go through all the emotions and excitement around our house? It was, in a word, a whirlwind.

Over the last 12 months, we’ve plodded along making the new house “our home” and doing all the typical things you do when you relocate – find the closest coffee shop (Starbucks), meet the neighbors (awesome), get acquainted with the area (5 minutes to the closest thrift store, 8 minutes to work, walking distance to Fleet Farm, biking distance to the pick-your-own-strawberry patch, and down the street from the park and school), etc. We’ve mourned the distance between us and our good friends. We’ve missed our favorite restaurants and gotten accustomed to living in the suburbs. We’ve noticed the subtle differences in “there” and “here” such as my new favorite expression: “stop and go lights.” Have you ever heard that one? Charming, I tell you. You betcha.

Now we’re embarking on something different, I think. Less exploratory, more formative. I mean forming a life where we are. And who we are – now a family of four. My oldest (“old” seems like the wrong word to describe a three-year-old) kiddo is in preschool a couple of mornings a week, the little one starting to eat “real food.” I’m settling into the new job. Daddy is settling into stay-at-home dadhood in the new ‘hood. I feel like this year, I have my focus back. Last year I just tried to get my feet under me and try not to let the new job/house/state/baby/lifestyle/friends get to me too much. This year, I’m thinking about some goals. It’s a fuzzy concept so far, but it just feels like a big year, begging for focus and intention.

You? Are you planning on making goals for 2011? Or how about New Year’s Resolutions? If you would, share! I need some inspiration.

A Friend's Search for Heartbreaking Beauty

Growing up I had a few really close friends. One of them was Sonya. She had white-blonde hair and the most adorable smile. And one thing I remember about her all these years later is that she had the best art supplies and an insane amount of talent for a little girl. Did you ever have a friend like that? When she colored with colored pencils, it was like there was no white paper underneath. I swear she out-colored all of us, even in like first grade. And don't even get me started about the notes she passed me in high school or the handmade gifts (like the "How We Look Book" she gave me one year, full of photos of her family with hilarious little descriptions) or when she started entering (and of course, winning) photo contests in high school.


So it's no wonder that today she's a super talented artist, about to set out on the adventure of a lifetime. She's planning to spend a couple of years (YEARS!) wandering the globe documenting what she sees with photographs and writing. When she told me she was going, I started to think "Boy, am I lame." and then, "What's going on with everyone these days?" Didn't I just mention how I just recently ran across an acquaintance of mine who took his entire family (kids and all) on a year-long bike adventure to Mexico and blogged about the whole experience? What is it about right now that's causing people to pick up and take off like that? Or is this something that people have been doing forever and I'm just now catching wind of it?

Sonya says she's "sacrificing security for the sake of experience." She says it's not a new story. That lots of us get jobs to buy cars to drive to work to...wait...what are we doing? Why are we stuck in this grind?

I can see where she's coming from. "Regular" life gets kind of stagnant and you forget that you only get one chance at it, so you better make the best of it. I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of her freedom and I'm anxious to live vicariously through her for a while. She's already seen more of the world than I have, and she has an incredible eye for finding heartbreaking beauty.



She's looking for financial backers, if you can throw a buck or 20 her way, she'd be forever grateful (and I think there are perks to it, too!). If you have $750 to pledge, she will let you choose a location on her itinerary and she'll create a blog post with photos just for you. To learn more about Sonya and her project, check out her Kickstarter pledge pageand her blog, which has a ton of gorgeous artwork and writing.

I'll be checking in with her progress periodically, so c'mon back. Live vicariously with me!

Baby Doll Bed in Progress

I've been a busy beaver lately. Cookies? Check. Knitting? Check. Gift wrapping? Check! Sewing? Check check!


Here's a sneak peek of what's in progress for my little peanuts baby bed. Now let's hope I can get it done in the next four days! So far I have the mattress cover, pillow and pillowcase done. And I'm getting closer on the quilt. My only problem is I can't remember how to do a quilt binding. I think I've only done it once or twice...any tips??

Thrift Store Thursday

This week I had to forego Thrift Store Thursday due to an office holiday party and “ugly Christmas sweater” contest. I was disappointed about not going thrifting, but excited about the fact that I got to wear one of my stashed ugly sweaters. I even brought an extra with me and my coworker wore it. Not to worry, though — not a week goes by here where I don’t get a chance to hit up at least one thrifty sale.

Last weekend, we headed to Granny and Grampy’s house hoping for some good times and a little “date night” action. We had very low expectations on the date night (or date day, for that matter) as my littlest pumpkin has been suffering from stranger danger for about two months. It started with being afraid of anyone but daddy, and now at least mommy is in the “in crowd” but no one else. Even looking at her from too close a distance was a recipe for that sweet little bottom lip to start to slide out like a tectonic plate.

But, as if a switch had been flipped, Friday the stranger danger ended. And thank God! Hubby and I got some good, quality alone time, finally (otherwise known as “time to go to the thrift stores together, without anyone begging for a toy or spending an hour in the toy department trying to ravage everything in sight). And after the kids were in bed, we even had dinner together. Out! Alone! With no interruptions! Ah, life is good!

Wordless Wednesday

Thrift Store Thursday

This week, my big finds were for me. That's unusual for me but kind of a nice change. I didn't photograph it, but one of my biggest scores was a hand knit blanket in off white that's just gorgeous. It's currently snuggling up on my couch, looking wintery and festive.

I had fun hitting my favorite thrift store with one of my favorite coworkers and now I can't believe we didn't start Thrift Store Thursday earlier. It's getting me through my weeks!


Last week I mentioned that one of my finds almost brought me to tears, and here it is. It's an adorable doll bed for my sweet little girl. When I brought it up to the register the volunteer behind the counter (this is one of those independent church thrift stores that are the best kind, in my opinion) said it had been her donation and had originally belonged to her mother. She told me the story of it and that it had been played with by three generations of her family. Yes, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It's absolutely perfect for my sweet baby girl, who *may* be getting a doll for Christmas. And now I have my work cut out for me making the perfect pillow and mattress and quilt for it.

Have you found anything great at the thrift store lately?

Merry Making

We're getting excited for the season around here, especially with a new blanket of snow on the ground. Here are a few new scenes from our house.

I love putting up our old-timey 1960s aluminum pom pom tree, called "The Sparkler" -- and this year our tot got to help, too. Until this year he's been more of an un-decorator than a decorator, but this year was great. Even though lots of the ornaments all got clustered right together on the same branch, it turned out great.

And our little village is charmingly hodge-podge and not quite right, with masses of cords hanging down. But we adore it anyway.

Thrift Store Thursday

This week was all about Christmas. From cool ornaments to little deer to a great granny square stocking. Here's what I scored.






Unfortunately everything has already sold in my vintage shop except this adorable little angel.

Did you hear that there's going to be a show about thrift shopping on PBS? Here's a little snippet about it. I have never heard of Alexa Chung (I'm from the un-cool Midwest, apparently) but it sounds like she's going to be coming from a fashion angle. I'll still watch it, but I can honestly say I'm not all that interested in learning how to dress like a hipster. But like I said, I'll give the show a try.

This week I bought something for my sweet little baby girl. It almost brought tears to my eyes when I found it. I'll tell you why next Thursday!