The Vintageholic Frog

finally

2011-11-01T19:06:00.004-05:00

hello friends! so it's been almost a year since my last post letting you know about my plans to launch a new blog. Well, I finally did it! If you are interested, you can visit me at my new home, here.

Hope to see you there :)

Hello friends!

2010-12-16T08:55:00.004-06:00

So it's official- I am definitely starting a new blog. I am currently working on the template and other little details- but I will be sure to post a link here once it is up and running.

I am also working on new inventory for the shop.

Before adding all of the new stuff I have (including shoes and dresses!) I would like to clear out some of the older inventory. Which is why I am having a little end of the year clear out sale:

40 % off everything in my shop! You MUST enter the coupon code at checkout: XMASCLEARANCE

This offer is good December 16-23.

Thank you so much- I hope you all have a great day!

thankful (and a few thoughts)

2010-11-24T16:52:00.006-06:00

Hello friends! So it's been over two months since I posted on here- and there are several reasons (other than laziness) for that. A big one is that I am currently mapping out an idea I have for a new blog- a blog that would be less focused on my vintage shop and more on my other hobbies (photography, baking, decorating) It would be a bit more personal.

Sometimes I get the urge to share something on this space- and then I stop myself, because I feel like if you visit this space- you care about my thrifting and not so much about the other stuff. I know that this is not the case with everyone, and I also know that this is my space and I can publish what I want- but I honestly feel like The Vintageholic Frog Blog- should be mostly about things relating to The Vintageholic Frog Shop.

So does this mean I am done with this blog? I don't know. If I'm going to work on growing my new blog- I am probably going to have even less time to work on this one (remember I also run the very busy Blog Giveaways site) but I don't want to make any rash decisions. Anyway- I just wanted to share my thoughts with you. Once I have my new blog up and running I will let you know.

Now for some Thanksgiving thoughts:

The big things I'm thankful for:

* My health
* The health of my loved ones
* My husband, family and friends

The little things I'm thankful for:

* Starbucks Caramel brulee latte (it's back!)
* My camera
* Flowers and other little surprises from my husband
* thrifting!
* my new (to me) vintage blue coat
* access to baking recipes and tips online (makes trying new recipes less scary)

If you are in the states, I hope you and your loved ones have a very Happy Thanksgiving! If you are somewhere else in the world: have a happy Thursday! :)

P.S. Olivia and Elliot are still alive! woohooo!

elliot & olivia

2010-09-21T12:38:00.003-05:00

#3 in my seven little things list is done.

I would like to introduce you to Elliot and Olivia.

Elliot is a "Moon Cactus" I actually had one before. Now that I actually looked up information on how to care for this little guy -I realize that I might have burned my previous one with too much sun. I didn't think that was possible with a a cactus- but there you go. (see info for caring for a moon cactus here)

Olivia is a simple Pothos plant. I found info for caring for her here.

My shelves look so much better with these little plants- so I am going to make a sincere effort to keep these babies alive. Wish me luck :)

new in the shop

2010-09-16T10:13:00.006-05:00

Here is a peek at some of the things I have recently added to the shop.

The Goodwood cheese dome platter is my favorite find from last week. It is definitely on my list of "things that I secretly hope no one buys"

This list is pretty long- full of my finds that I truly love and if I had a big house with lots of cabinets and shelves and walls I would keep for myself. But alas, I don't have the room for everything and these items deserve to be used and loved instead of just being stored in the basement. But I still secretly hope no one buys them.

On another note- two days ago I started working on #6 of my seven little things project and I am in pain. I don't know if I'm hurting from the simple fact that muscles I haven't used in years were put to work or if I was doing the poses wrong- but the point, is I am sore. Tonight I will be giving it another go- I am determined to get the hang of this Yoga thing.

organizing my jewelry

2010-09-14T10:49:00.005-05:00

or: 2 down, 5 more to go.

I crossed off another thing from my seven little things list.

Yesterday I wrestled with tangled up necklaces, paired up earrings, cleaned my rings, and organized my bracelets.

It felt so good to finish that I wanted to take pictures asap- but my camera battery was dead. I took these with my phone, which is why they are a bit dark- but you get the idea.

Everything has a place- and I can now actually see all of my pieces, which means maybe now I will wear them!

sprinkles cupcakes

2010-09-13T11:59:00.002-05:00

Every year for our anniversary my husband and I make sure to buy some cupcakes. On our wedding day, when it was time to cut the cake and share a piece- we actually shared a cupcake. So it's a nice way to remember our special day.

We have been making sure to try a new cupcake place every year and this year I was very excited because Sprinkles finally came to Chicago!

My cupcakes: Raspberry and Key Lime
His cupcakes: Chocolate Marshmallow and Lemon Coconut

new (to me) dishes

2010-09-10T18:07:00.004-05:00

So as you have probably noticed I have a thing for vintage dishes and I also have a thing for the colors green and aqua. So it should come as no surprise that when I spotted these beauties, I immediately snapped them up.

I paid $1.50 for 12 plates and one bowl- and except for two plates with small chipping around the edge, they are in excellent condition.

Sometimes even I can't believe my thrifting luck!

Have a fun weekend everyone :)

one down, six more to go.

2010-09-07T09:54:00.003-05:00

We visited Starved Rock State Park over the weekend. It was a great hike- we worked up a good sweat (and we rewarded ourselves with delicious fudge once we were finished, ha!)

So happy I put this on my list because it really motivated me to stop putting it off and just go.

seven little things

2010-09-03T10:44:00.002-05:00

My to do list is filled with mundane tasks like "Pay cell phone bill" and "prepare packages for shipping" - but I also sprinkle it with fun and little things like "go to that new restaurant" and "bake a carrot cake!"

Unfortunately those things usually get pushed to the bottom of the list (or get completely ignored) and before I know it another month is over and I still haven't made that cake!

So I decided that this month I am going to cross off seven things that have been on my list for a couple of months now. These are little things- nothing too complicated, nothing fancy.

But they are things that I really, really want to do and I know that making the time for them is going to make me very happy.

~~1. Visit Starved Rock Park~~ (9/05)

2. Make at at least one crock pot recipe

3. Buy two house plants and actually read all the information I can find online on caring for them. Follow instructions! p.s. Cleofas is dead.

~~4. Organize my jewelry armoire~~ (9/13)

5. Make at least 10 new pieces of repurposed jewelry for the shop.

6. Give Yoga another try (be it in a class or with videos)

7. Print photos to display in the vintage album I talked about here.

My goal is to have all seven things crossed off by September 30, 2010. I'll keep you updated as I cross things off.

Want to join me? publish your own list and leave me a comment with the link so I can check it out. (feel free to use the image above)

d.i.y carpet bags

2010-09-02T10:30:00.003-05:00

How adorable are these carpet bags?

They are actually made using place mats- read all about how you can make your own here.

Wouldn't these make great gifts?

Another reason for me to learn how to sew!

(images via LuLu Pretty)

i want

2010-09-01T14:29:00.001-05:00

one of each, please.

(images via Mary Kate McDevitt)

busy bee

2010-08-30T23:31:00.001-05:00

After having been a busy bee lately- I finally got a chance to thrift. I can't wait to show you my finds!

For now, I leave you with one of the things keeping me busy. My other blog, Blog Giveaways- was in dire need of a facelift.

Here is a screen shot of the new background and layout:

I did most of the chances this past weekend, it's nothing too fancy- but I'm really happy with the results :)

10 things

2010-08-20T12:42:00.005-05:00

This week’s 10 things post is inspired by Emily’s post here.

10 little things that make me happy:

1. When I find milk glass vases while thrifting.

2. The first minute after I finish my morning jog. Finally being able to stop and catch my breath feel so good!

3. When I make a recipe for the first time and it actually tastes good!

4. My husband’s text messages throughout the day that let me know he is thinking about me.

5. Coming home from the thrift store with lots of new (to me) books

6. Slathering on scented luxurious cream after a shower.

7. Taking pictures of my loved ones

8. Looking back at all the pictures I have taken!

9. Cold water- I drink lots of it throughout the day and it makes me happy when it is ice cold.

10. Taking apart an old and ugly necklace and making something beautiful with it.

Thank you for reading!

If you do a 10 things that make you happy post- please leave me a link in the comment section so I can head over to your blog and read it!

a birthday!

2010-08-18T10:51:00.004-05:00

Saturday was my hubby's 30th birthday and we had a small party to celebrate.

Yellow is one of his favorite colors, so I decided to go with a yellow theme, but added bits of gray and black so it would be a bit more grown up.

I designed the invites myself and printed them at home.

The banner I made for the gift and cake table was super easy. I simply used the same colors from the invitation and printed the words out on card stock paper. Then I punched holes in the paper and used twine to hang the banner. Easy as 1,2,3!

I also ordered an 8x10 collage of some of his funny baby and growing up pics and had it displayed in a frame on the cake table. People loved looking at the pics and making fun of the b-day boy. I wish I could show it to you, but my hubby is shy and refuses to let me post his embarrassing pics for the internet to see!

So that was one of the things keeping me busy lately- throwing even a small party is a lot of work. Now I can get back to thrifting! :)

death

2010-08-12T19:37:00.004-05:00

On Monday, I found out that a family friend, whom I had lost touch with over the years, had cancer. It shocked me because she is only one year older than me, and has two small children. Somehow, it seemed surreal, that a young girl of 28 could be battling something so vile.

A few hours ago, I received a call letting me know that she passed away.

I am still in disbelief and can't begin to imagine the pain her family is going through. I'll be attending her wake, and I will be repeating the above c.s. lewis quote in my head, over and over again.

".... there are better things ahead, than any we leave behind"

I need those words to be true.

10 random things

2010-08-11T22:50:00.002-05:00

1. I took the picture above at the Garfield Park Conservatory- I kept hoping for a frog to show up, but no luck.

2. I'm loving this 24 things list.

3. and this blog.

4. This week has been a bit hectic and it has reminded me that you can plan all you want, but God will have his own plan- so it's not good to sweat the small stuff.

5. I ran 3 miles this morning. This is such a big accomplishment for me (the girl who used to get out of breath after running one block!)

6. My husband and I started watching Rubicon- still not sure what I think about it.

7. I really want to learn how to sew. I think that is going to be my "before 2010" is over resolution. Learn to use a sewing machine.

8. I guess this means I need to buy a sewing machine.

9. I bought a new nail polish today! it's minty green.

10. Summer is winding down and that makes me sad- I'm not ready for cold, gloomy days!

garfield park conservatory

2010-08-10T17:18:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, when my aunt was still in town, we visited the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Chicago has lots of tourist attractions and although the conservatory is not on on one of those "top places to visit" lists- I think it should be.

It's a beautiful place- the website refers to it as "landscape art under glass" and it really is. These are only a few of the many pictures I took that day.

Did I mention that entrance to the Conservatory is free? They gladly accept donations- but this outing will not break the bank.

I especially love visiting during the winter- nothing like entering the warm Palm Tree room when the weather outside is below zero.

shop update

2010-08-09T12:35:00.003-05:00

This weekend I added some new stuff to the shop, including the Art Lamay print pictured above.

I haven't thrifted much this past week or weekend- but luckily I have some items I never got around to listing here at home, so I have plenty of more stuff to add to the shop.

CSN Stores: Review

2010-08-02T23:06:00.004-05:00

Remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about CSN stores giving me a $60 gift certificate to spend at their 200+ stores?

Well I decided to be practical and skip the shoes. Instead I got two things that I had been meaning to get for our house, yet somehow always forgot or kept putting it off. I got a crock pot and a fire safe security chest.

I really liked the variety of items that CSN stores offer- it makes shopping easier and fun. This was my first experience shopping at CSN stores and I loved that it was hassle-free and fast! I placed my order on July 21- and the items were at my door on July 26. Is that great service or what? Both items were shipped using UPS and they were safely packed in separate boxes.

Now on the items I picked:

I have never used a slow cooker- but I have read and heard that they are wonderful for those days you don’t want to be slaving over a stove. I’m excited to try the crock pot out - so if you have any favorite recipes- feel free to post them in the comment section, or leave me a link!

Now for the fire safe chest- it’s going to house our passports, marriage license, insurance papers, our wedding DVD, a CD with our wedding pics and other important documents. It’s also going to keep safe our portable external hard drive that has tons of our photos and music. It’s nice to know that if anything were to happen, we can just pick up this little chest and run out the door- instead of looking all over the place for these important things. Also, in case something were to happen while we are out- these things would be kept safe from a fire.

so that’s it- I would definitely recommend CSN stores for your shopping needs- and I will be sure to update you once I make my first dinner with my slow cooker!

inside my purse

2010-07-29T20:52:00.002-05:00

wanna peek at what's inside my purse?

Allison from Petit Elefant has a cool what's in your purse series- and today my bag was featured! check it out!

my books

2010-07-28T07:55:00.003-05:00

I have a tower of vintage books in our living room. This picture shows only the top portion of my tower- and I added this quote because, you see- most of the books I have displayed here are books I have not read. I purchased them because of their lovely covers.

I think sometimes it's ok to judge a book by it's cover :)

15 minute thrift stop

2010-07-23T10:37:00.000-05:00

On Monday in my hurry to get to the post office before a it got too busy (I hate waiting in lines) I ended up getting there 20 minutes before they opened.

Luckily there is a thrift store nearby. These are my finds from 15 minutes of thrifting.

The Junior Deluxe Editions are my favorite find of the day. The covers are so detailed and beautiful (even the page edges are colorful!)

And how could I resist this knitting bag stand?

Not too bad for 15 minutes.

p.s. all of the items will be in the shop by tonight.

CSN giveaway is up!

2010-07-23T10:05:00.003-05:00

You can win a $60 CSN stores gift certificate- to enter, click here.

new jewelry : Etsy trading

2010-07-21T11:49:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago Rachel, who runs Balanced- a lovely jewelry shop, and I participated in a trade. She got some vintage goodies and I got two beautiful pieces of jewelry.

My package arrived all the way from Ireland- with beautiful packaging. I can’t wait to wear the necklace (the earrings are on my ears as I type this)

I have to say- I love trading on Etsy. The people are so nice and it has always been a fun experience for me. Have you traded on Etsy?

Bedroom vanity crush

2010-07-20T13:24:00.003-05:00

Do you ever see something, fall in love with it and wish you had a use and/or place for it?

Today this happened to me while bedroom vanity browsing on a CSN store site.

I present you with the Stein World Vanity Desk and Stool.

I love the color, I love the simple design with delicate floral details. I love that it can be a vanity OR a desk.

But there is no space for it in our one bedroom home. And I don’t think my husband would approve of me getting rid of our bookcase (that holds 50+ books) to make room for this vanity.

Or would he?

Ok, so he won’t approve and I have no business looking at bedroom vanities. I was only taking a peek because I was offered a chance to do a review for CSN stores and well, a girl can dream right? I guess I’ll just have to look at the other 200+ CSN stores and pick something to review that is a bit more practical for our home.

Like shoes.

p.s. CSN stores will be offering a giveaway to my readers on Blog Giveaways- I’ll be sure to let you know once the giveaway is up and running!

i love you more than...

2010-07-20T08:32:00.003-05:00

Remember my chalkboard heart?

I still have fun leaving messages for my husband on it.

Meet Cleofas

2010-07-19T15:33:00.000-05:00

Some of you may remember Riley.

Soon after that post, Riley went to plant heaven. She was the victim of over watering. Whoever said succulents are impossible to kill...lied. (just so you know)

Anyway, I would like to introduce you to Cleofas- named after my great-great-grandmother. (true story)

She is smaller than Riley- and lives in a beautiful aqua vase. On the way home I promised to take care of her and do my very best not to kill her.

I think she is scared.

10 random things

2010-07-18T22:10:00.000-05:00

1. Good things come to those who ~~are too cheap to pay full price~~ wait. My new aqua studded flats set me back $4.98 – they were originally $19.99. Thank you Target clearance section!

2. I hate wasting a beautiful day by sitting inside in front of a computer. This means that during the summer I am a total slacker when it comes to updating my blogs and shop.

3. I have convinced myself that this means I really need a laptop or a netbook . That way I could work on computer stuff, while lounging on a picnic blanket in the park.

4. I will not be splurging on a laptop or netbook anytime soon, so I apologize in advance for any future lulls in this little space of mine.

5. Why doesn’t Target offer super discounted laptops in their clearance section?

6. I need a haircut.

7. I think whipped cream is the greatest invention ever.

8. I just finished reading The Piano Teacher. I did not like the ending, but it was still a very good read.

9. I stalk the wardrobe remix pool and really wish I had the guts to submit my own outfit photos.

10. I saw Despicable Me this past weekend and it made me want a bunch of cute minions to do my bidding all day long.

vintage shoes!

2010-07-14T23:02:00.000-05:00

I am in love with these new (to me) shoes.

These are also part of my July 4th weekend thrifting loot.

The last pair is a tad too big for me- but I'm thinking with tights they might not be too uncomfortable. I'll give it a shot- if they end up not working for me, then I'll go ahead and list them in the shop.

I got an e-mail from a reader after my last post on vintage shoes asking how I disinfect them.

I am not an expert- but this is what I do:

I never purchase shoes that look very dirty/ and old. It’s just not worth it to me to go through the hassle of trying to clean them and to be honest- if they are in bad condition, why would I want them? I always look for shoes that have been taken care of and show little signs of wear.

Once I get them home- I wash them with warm soapy water (or a moist towel if the shoes are made of a material that might be damaged by too much water) then I spray the inside of the shoe with Lysol disinfectant spray.

After the shoes are dry- I put them in a large Ziploc freezer bag and pop them in the freezer. The cold will kill any bacteria that might still be hanging around in the shoe. This last step is something that many people believe is unnecessary- but it is something I have been doing for years and I have never had a problem with my shoes or feet. I leave them in the freezer for one or two days, and then they are ready to wear!

Do you have any tips or tricks for cleaning vintage shoes?

beach policeman

2010-07-13T11:47:00.003-05:00

We spent this past weekend lounging on the beach and swimming in the lake.

While soaking up the sun, I noticed women in cover-ups, women in modest one piece suits, some wearing bikinis and I even saw a few wearing thong bikinis.

When I saw the thong bikinis, I immediately remembered the photograph of the beach policeman.

The year was 1922, and his job was to make sure that bathing suits did not go over six inches above the knee.

I tried to imagine his reaction if he had been sitting there with me, watching the thong bikini girls walk by.

I think he would've had a heart attack!

(beach policeman photo via shorpy)

playing tourist

2010-07-11T09:21:00.000-05:00

My aunt is visiting Chicago for the first time since 1974, and we have been showing her around our great city. Last Wednesday we spent the day at the Sears Tower (I still can’t get used to calling it The Willis Tower) we also visited Buckingham fountain, Millennium Park and then ended the day with a visit to the Art Institute.

My favorite picture of the day is the one at the very top of this post. My mom and aunt wanted a little rest before exploring Millennium park- so they settled themselves under the shade of a tree. We didn’t bring a blanket with us, but they didn’t care. They are both so relaxed and I love the smile on my aunt’s face. I can picture them doing this when they were little girls- sitting on the grass and gossiping.

I have to admit, it has been fun playing tourist. Sometimes we get caught up in the desire to visit far away places that we forget to look around and enjoy the beautiful places close to us.

a little sale

2010-07-08T15:22:00.001-05:00

Hello friends! I am having a little sale in the shop. From July 8-July 11: EVERYTHING in the shop is Buy One get One (of equal or lesser value) at 50 % off!!!!!

Simply checkout and I will refund the difference or wait for a revised invoice.

This sale does not include shipping- but I am always happy to combine shipping , and remember that I always refund any shipping overcharge.

I will be having a very busy weekend and therefore all items purchased between July 8 and July 11 will ship on Monday, July 12.

Thank you!

my frog collection

2010-07-08T12:43:00.001-05:00

want to read about my frog brooch collection? click here.

Thank you Kristal for such a lovely post!

another small glimpse

2010-07-06T11:42:00.002-05:00

I still have more items to clean and photograph- so here is another small glimpse of the goodies I scored this past weekend.

I am keeping the vintage suitcase to store some beads and supplies. I like that I will be able to just pick up this small case and take it with me whenever my friends and I get together to make jewelry. I am also going to keep that vintage brass frame- not sure what picture it is going to house yet- but I really love the detail on the edges.

The vintage country scene lithograph in the plastic green frame and the Italian chalk ware statue of St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin Mary are both in the shop already. As I mentioned before, I love vintage religious items and I seriously considered keeping this figurine, but I am running out of space in our little home. I hope it goes to a good home!

More cupcakes!

2010-07-06T08:29:00.001-05:00

I promised pictures of our fourth of July cupcakes and here they are. These were also made by my talented friend, Hazel. They were devoured in a matter of minutes.

I have to say that I am loving having cupcakes for celebrations like these because they are less of a hassle (no worries about storing, cutting and serving cake) and there is less waste. There is nothing I hate more than cleaning up after a party and seeing lots of plates with half eaten pieces of cake on them. It kills me- especially when the cake is delicious. Cake does not belong in the garbage!

If I’m at a party and I’m watching my weight or am stuffed, I always ask the hostess for a smaller piece of cake and if I get a piece that I can’t finish, I take it home and have it for breakfast. Am I weird for doing this?

When we cleaned up after this party- there were only empty cupcake liners to throw away- so that made me very happy.

thrifting finds

2010-07-05T11:47:00.006-05:00

Hello friends! How was everyone’s weekend? I had a great time- and in news that is mostly of interest to vintage lovers like myself (like you, my lovely readers) I had an A-mazing thrifting weekend. Yes, that is amazing with a capital A, and a hyphen to put even more emphasis on how amazing it was. I am a dork.

I don’t have pictures of all of my finds yet- but here is a small glimpse:

I am keeping the dancing Buddha. It’s a planter- but I am just going to display it as a nice figurine.

I am also going to keep that lovely plate. I have been collecting vintage plates- in hopes of doing my own plate wall, similar to the ones featured here. But this is the first time that I have loved a pattern so much, that it makes me want to actually collect the entire set and use it on special occasions. It is the “Cantata” pattern by Franciscan. As soon as I got home I did some research and found out that it was produced from 1965-1972.

It is going to be difficult to collect all of the pieces in good condition and without breaking the bank- but I am not in a hurry. I will be keeping my eyes open at flea markets, thrift stores, and estate sales. I already told my mom and cousins to keep an eye out for me too. And when I have some extra cash to burn, I will scour Etsy and Ebay for good deals.

The file cabinet, the Renoir print tray, the mirror and the brass napkin rings will be in the shop soon.

I am still debating if I want to keep that vintage album or sell it. It has a leather cover- and although it shows signs of wear, it is very good condition. I am thinking of putting vintage family photos in it- and some more recent ones printed in black and white- then it would be the perfect coffee table album. If I went to visit someone and they had this out, I would definitely want to flip through it- wouldn’t you? Ok- I think my mind is made up- I’m keeping it!

Ok- so this is only the tip of the iceberg-I will photograph more items soon. Thank you for stopping by, I enjoy sharing my finds with you :)

Have a great weekend!

2010-07-03T14:24:00.002-05:00

This weekend I'm looking forward to:

* a family cookout
* fireworks
* patriotic cupcakes (will share pics on Monday)
* a thrifting and flea market trip with my mom, aunt and cousin.
* enjoying the fact that my husband has an extra day off from work
* cleaning out my closet (I actually enjoy this)
* bike riding
* and enjoying the beautiful weather we are having

I hope your weekend is just as fun and relaxing, wherever you are. And if you are in the U.S.A- happy 4th of July!

(image via riptheskull)

thrifted picture frame.

2010-07-01T12:15:00.003-05:00

I bought this print back in March. I finally framed it on Monday. What took me so long? Well, for one- I am a procrastinator. Big time. If there was a contest on who is the biggest procrastinator in the world I wouldn’t win because my entry form would be late. No lie.

The second reason it took 3 months to frame this, is because I refuse to buy new picture frames. All but four frames in my house are thrifted. And of those four, one was a wedding gift and the other three are from Target’s clearance section- so I paid something like $5 for each one.

When you visit thrift stores as much as I do- you are constantly finding beautiful frames, in excellent condition and at crazy cheap prices. So when you visit a retail store and see frames priced at $19, $30 and $45 you roll your eyes and move on.

I had a clear idea of the frame I wanted for this print and on Monday I found it! It was priced at $3.99- but it was 50% off day. So I only paid $1.99- for a large wood matted frame (the print is 8x10- to give you an idea of the size of the frame)

And that, my friends, is why I never buy new picture frames- nothing beats a $1.99 price tag!

What about you? Is there anything you refuse to buy new or at retail price?

cupcakes!

2010-06-28T19:51:00.003-05:00

I wish I could take credit for these beautiful (and delicious!) cupcakes- but they were actually made and decorated by my friend Hazel.

My mom had a garage sale this weekend and Hazel came over to hang out and sell some of her stuff too. She sold some of her jewelry and cupcakes (a steal at 50 cents each one) I need to take some pictures of her jewelry- I ended up buying 3 pairs of earrings and a bracelet for myself. Hazel makes lovely jewelry- I keep getting on her case about updating her Etsy shop more often.

Anyway- I have lots of new items for the shop- so I will do an update this week. I will keep you posted. Have a great week everyone :)

a lovely day and perfect banana bread

2010-06-17T14:52:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of the great weather we are having. We found the perfect spot under this tree to stretch out our blanket.

While my husband read his book, I decided to work on a crossword puzzle.

Since we had already enjoyed a delicious Thai lunch, we snacked on a few slices of the Perfect Banana Bread that I had baked a few days before.

I call this Perfect Banana Bread because not only is it yummy- but it is super easy to make. I follow this recipe, except I like to add chopped walnuts and reduce the sugar by ¼ of a cup when I make mine.

It was so relaxing and fun- I’m looking forward to more lazy summer days like this one.

How has your summer (or winter if you are on the other side of the world) been treating you?

This is not the healthiest breakfast

2010-06-16T11:05:00.002-05:00

But I can assure you that it is delicious.

This is how you prepare it.

Cook an over easy egg. Chop up about ½ of an Oscar Meyer weiner and cook slightly in a pan (yes, I am having hot dog for breakfast). I use the same pan that I make my egg in, since I make my egg with as little oil as possible. I like to let the meat brown slightly.

Toast one slice of whole wheat bread. Spread some avocado on the bread (feel free to use as much avocado as you like). Top the slice of bread with the egg and the hot dog. Drizzle with chile de arbol salsa.

enjoy!

a new dress and shop a update

2010-06-15T16:11:00.003-05:00

I bought the dress pictured above at a thrift store a few week’s ago. It is not vintage, it came from Target and had the original price tag still on it. The price tag from the thrift store was a bit hard to read- so when I was at the check out line I asked the cashier:

“Is this dress $7.99 or $1.99?”
Cashier, looking closely at the tag,: “Hmm…I’m not sure, it can be either one”
Me: “I know, but I guess $1.99 is too good to be true”
Cashier, looking over at the crazy amount of books and house wares I’m about to buy: “You know, the more I look at it the more it looks like $1.99”
Me, smiling like a fool: "I think I love you"

Aren't thrift store employees the best? :)

In other news, I have finally updated the shop with some new goodies:

I hope you stop by and visit.

Dad's B-day!

2010-06-01T09:56:00.003-05:00

Memorial Day weekend was a lot of fun. We celebrated my dad's b-day, doing what he loves best: grilling!

This first picture was taken by my little brother, Mike. He hadn't turned on the flash- and I love how it looks soft and blurry, kind of like a Monet painting! All I did was crop it and brighten it a bit using Picasa. I am definitely going to frame this picture- I also love how you can see my mom's flowers :)

and yes- those s'mores were delicious. I made myself go for a run today after thinking about all of the calories I consumed this weekend.

On the vintage front- I didn't do any shopping, but I did photograph some goodies I already had for the shop. I will be sure to post the pictures by tomorrow.

How was your weekend?

two of my favorite things

2010-05-28T13:35:00.002-05:00

sunny days with gorgeous clouds and ice cream.

I hope to spend this weekend enjoying the sun, celebrating my dad's b-day, eating ice cream, grilling skirt steak and pineapple, riding my bike and remembering the brave people who have given their life so we may have freedom and peace here in the States.

Have a fun weekend everyone :)

p.s. I will also be adding some new things to the shop- just in case you feel like shopping this weekend.

New banner and a friends blog roll

2010-05-27T22:12:00.001-05:00

Hello friends!

I have been gone from this space for a few days, but I have been thinking about this blog and how I would like to grow it. Today I designed a new banner, using one of my all time favorite shop pictures. What do you guys think? It was definitely time for a change!

Also, I am working on a Vintage Friends Blog Roll- which is basically a way to help promote other vintage shops and blogs. I have a blog roll right now, but it’s just links and I find that to be kind of boring. Not only that, but as an avid blog reader- I know that a pretty ad/button is more likely to catch my attention than a simple link. So- I want my Friends Blog Roll to be a collection of pretty buttons linking to fun shops/blogs.

If you have a vintage shop or a blog with an emphasis on all things vintage-and you would like to be listed in my Friends Blog Roll- just e-mail me at thevintageholicfrog (at) gmail (dot) com and include the following:

The link to your shop or blog and your picture button (measuring 160 x 80) I really want to stick to 160 x 80 size banners- so please don’t e-mail me any in another size.

That’s it! Easy as 1-2-3 :)

Mom's Birthday!

2010-05-17T08:35:00.003-05:00

Today is my mom's birthday. She is the most amazing mother and a wonderful friend. She is also a beautiful woman (those are her real eyelashes!) I am blessed to have her in my life.

Happy birthday Mom, I Love you!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

2010-05-05T09:17:00.000-05:00

In honor of 5 de Mayo I give you some lovely vintage Mexican magazine ads.

you can find more over at Sr. Mexicant Vintage Ads.

Have a great Wednesday!

when you really like someone

2010-05-04T12:31:00.000-05:00

you don't mind watching bad tv with them!

Isn't this illustration by Christine Young perfect?

(found via where the lovely things are)

blog crush

2010-05-04T10:15:00.003-05:00

I recently came across Melissa's blog: So about what I said... and I absolutely love it.

This post is a must read. If you have ever agonized over your looks- if you have ever felt like you are not good enough- stop what you are doing and read that post. You will be glad you did.

Have a great Tuesday everyone :)

fantastic camera collection

2010-05-03T16:04:00.002-05:00

How fantastic is this camera collection?

it belongs to Hilda- who takes lovely photographs and blogs here.

(image via Forever is Today)

i want them all

2010-05-03T12:10:00.003-05:00

pretty nail polishes.

(via just be splendid)

Frog Bling

2010-05-03T10:11:00.002-05:00

Remember my frog brooch collection? Well this new guy is actually a ring- but I couldn’t resist getting him to add to my collection.

I got him at Forever 21- and he was only $3

I wasn't able to do any thrifting or go to any flea markets this weekend- but I did get to meet one my favorite authors! Elizabeth Berg did a reading and book signing at The Book Cellar on Thursday night.

I purchased a copy of her new book and was able to talk to her for a couple of minutes. She is so beautiful and approachable- meeting her was definitely the highlight of my weekend!

i will knock you out

2010-04-30T16:24:00.003-05:00

um, not really.

Since I get bored of treadmills, elliptical machines and such- I am always looking for new ways to get my body moving.

For the past couple of weeks I have been boxing with my husband. Basically, he holds up targets and I get to punch the hell out of them. I am learning all about jabs, uppercuts, hooks and right crosses. I am also learning what a good stress reliever boxing can be.

There really is something special about punching something over and over again. Especially on days when you missed your train, you ran out of coffee and the insurance company had you on hold for 2 hours just to clear up a small billing issue. I definitely recommend it!

Anyway- I hope you have a wonderful weekend! see you Monday :)

dream kitchen

2010-04-29T13:09:00.002-05:00

I would be very happy if my kitchen looked like this.

(images via SaltyCotton's Flickr Photostream)

weekend thrifting finds

2010-04-28T08:39:00.002-05:00

This is my loot from my latest thrifting trip.

Everything pictured is headed for the shop. I bought a shirt and some jewelry for myself, but I forgot to photograph them.

I went thrifting on Saturday with my mom and cousins and it was so much fun. We always find more stuff when shopping together because we each keep an eye out for whatever the other is looking for.

Do you shop alone or do you have favorite thrifting companions?

eat your veggies

2010-04-27T08:12:00.001-05:00

I have always been a junk food lover. If something is good for me, odds are I hate it. If it full of sugar or artery clogging fat- then I probably have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But I am slowly trying to eat better (except for my nutella addiction that refuses to go away) Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and trying to be more responsible- or maybe it is the fact that my jeans have been getting a bit too tight for comfort.

Either way, my lunches have looked like this lately:

p.s. check out this list: 30 habits that will change your life. I stumbled upon it recently and I’m really digging some of the suggestions.

vintage greeting cards IV

2010-04-26T18:46:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday everyone :)

Here are a couple of vintage cards from my collection for you to enjoy- remember to click on the pictures to make them bigger.

If you use these images in any of your crafts, I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

my breakfast of champions

2010-04-23T09:05:00.002-05:00

Whole grain toasted bread, nutella and a sliced banana.

Not the healthiest, but definitely the yummiest!

This weekend I'm looking forward to:

* thrifting date with my mom and cousins
* my mom's homemade pozole
* dinner with my husband and a few of our friend's at a new (for us) restaurant.
* drinking a couple of glasses of wine
* a slice of pineapple and coconut cake from our new favorite bakery
* taking lots of pictures
* bike riding

what are you looking forward to this weekend?

Hello!

2010-04-22T10:56:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I have not forgotten about this space. The thing is, I haven’t been thrifting much lately- which means that I don’t have much to share with you in terms of vintage finds. I was thinking about that the other day, how I miss preparing posts for this blog. And then I got to thinking that maybe it doesn’t have to be always about my thrifting. This is my space and there are no rules to follow- so why not just post whatever I feel like posting?

So here is my post for today.

I was at the grocery store the other day and I saw a sign that read “Lemon-Oranges”

The fruit had a lemon shape- but was the bright color of an orange. I was intrigued and immediately added a few to my basket.

When I got home, I cut one up in quarters and took a bite out of the pulp. It was sweeter than a lemon- and it had a distinct mandarin flavor- perfect for lemonade!

I can’t believe I had never seen or tasted a Meyer lemon before- I feel like I have been living under a rock. I did some browsing online and found this: 100 things to do with a Meyer Lemon.

That article definitely makes me want to go back and stock up on these yummy lemons!

scarves!

2010-04-05T14:35:00.003-05:00

Today I photographed these colorful and beautiful scarves. They will be in the shop tonight.

I have a few scarves in my personal collection that I hardly ever wear. I'm considering framing them or turning them into pillows as seen in this post.

Shoes!

2010-04-01T10:59:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone!

here are my new vintage navy Etienne Aigner shoes:

They are in great condition- even the heel is perfect.

And I also wanted to share these gorgeous shoes I found a few months ago.

They are marked “Came- genuine leather” I haven’t been able to find any information on them- but I absolutely love them. I remember when I first spotted them in shoe rack at a thrift store- they stood out so much and as I started reaching for them I kept repeating in my head “please be my size, please be my size” and they were! And the icing on the cake? I paid $3.00 for them. The pattern is so fun don’t you think?

Not shoes

2010-03-31T22:21:00.004-05:00

Since the photos I took of my shoes (that I mentioned yesterday) were not the best quality- I am retaking them again tomorrow. So for today I will share the handbags that will be making their way into my shop very soon. I want to keep the gray one, but I already have so many beautiful handbags (many of which have been sitting in my closet for years) that I really can’t justify holding on to it.

Hopefully it will go to a good home ;)

Getting back into the swing of things

2010-03-30T09:27:00.001-05:00

After a week and weekend of mini celebrations, I finally feel like I am back on track with my projects.

Yesterday I was able to go thrifting and I found some wonderful stuff- including a gorgeous pair of Etienne Aigner heels that I cannot wait to wear. They are ½ a size bigger than I normally wear- but I will not part with them. I’ll be photographing all of my loot today- so I will be sure to post pictures tomorrow.

p.s. I listed these items in the shop last night.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Happy Friday!

2010-03-26T08:39:00.005-05:00

Tuesday was my b-day- I am now 27 years old, and it feels… the same as 26!

My husband showed up with this bouquet on Monday night- he took Tuesday off from work so we could spend the day celebrating my b-day! I absolutely love bouquets with Star Gazers because not only are they beautiful- but they hold up very well.

We had Starbucks coffee, and went shopping for a new cell phone for me. I have officially ditched T-Mobile and that feels very good! For dinner we went to Fogo de Chao and we stuffed ourselves with delicious meat. We definitely overindulged and couldn’t move for a few hours after leaving the restaurant.

Part of my birthday gift from my husband was this aquamarine ring.

I am in love. I’m considering having it re-sized so I can wear it on my ring finger and I can alternate days between this and my engagement/wedding rings- but I also like how it looks on my middle finger.

My brother gave me a box of my absolute favorite chocolates- Fannie May Marsh Bars. True Story: A few years ago, Fannie May announced they were closing all of their stores and stopping production because of financial problems. I was so sad thinking that I would never have another Marsh Bar- so my husband (who was then my boyfriend) and I drove all over Chicago and purchased approximately 12 boxes of Marsh Bars. Thankfully, they resolved their financial issues and slowly re-opened their stores.

Wednesday we had dinner at my parent’s- the picture of me with my cake was taken at their place.

Tomorrow I am celebrating with my girlfriends. I told my mom that I kind of like all of these mini celebrations- it has felt more like a birthday week instead of just a day :)

Anyway- enough about me. I hope you have had a great week and that you have a fun and relaxing weekend!

hello and a shop update

2010-03-22T15:32:00.006-05:00

Hi friends!

I wanted to remind you that the Trading Phrases giveaway will close tomorrow- so be sure to enter if you haven’t already.

I wasn’t able to do any thrifting this weekend- but this was actually good because it forced me to photograph a few items I already had that needed to go into the shop. I did a small shop update:

metal organizer
racquet
storage box
metal file box
vanity mirror tray
three soup cups

I’ll be back later in the week with some new vintage card images for you to download.

Thank you for stopping by!

rather be thrifting

2010-03-15T23:26:00.001-05:00

If I had a studio I would love to have this print in a super large (thrifted) frame hanging on my wall.

(image via Ashley G)

Trading Phrases Giveaway!

2010-03-15T22:51:00.007-05:00

I'm very late on this- but it is technically still Monday :)

The Trading Phrases giveaway is up and running. To enter click here.

this I will keep

2010-03-12T09:00:00.000-06:00

I always purchase religious vintage items whenever I am thrifting. Not only because they sell very well, but because I like them. They remind me of my grandmother’s house.

When I saw this print, I immediately put it in my shopping cart and had every intention of putting it in my shop.

When I got home and started inspecting my finds to prepare them for a photo shoot, I turned this print over and saw that the back had writing on it.

I tried to increase the contrast in the picture so you could see the handwritten message in the back, but this was the best I could do.

It reads:

“My first engagement gift from Mrs. Hagen*. January 1952”

As soon as I saw that, I knew I would keep it.

I imagine a young girl in love- excitedly planning for her wedding and her future as a married woman. I imagine her smile as she opens this gift, and how she looks forward to finding the perfect spot for this print in her new home. I wonder what happened to her. Was her marriage a happy one? Did this print hang on her wall for 50 years? I hope it did.

Yes, I am a sentimental fool. But I am keeping this print and I will find the perfect spot for it in my home.

* The handwriting is a bit faded- this could also read Mrs. Hagan or Mrs. Nagan- I’m not too sure.

chalkboard heart messge board

2010-03-11T09:11:00.011-06:00

Hello friends! I’m so excited to share my new chalkboard heart message board.

After looking at pictures like this, this and this- I really had an itch to get some chalkboard paint for our kitchen. I was sure I didn’t want to do a whole wall, but was debating if I should paint a spot on our wall or if I should get a chalkboard frame. Well, a few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Samantha of Trading Phrases offering me an opportunity to review their products.

I had seen vinyl lettering and designs for walls in home tours on different blogs, but it had never occurred to me that a company might offer chalkboard designs.

After browsing the Trading Phrases website, I was thrilled to discover they offer a chalkboard category and I immediately chose the heart chalkboard vinyl.

The chalkboard heart arrived in a tube with one promotional design, a practice design, a plastic spatula shaped tool to help burnish the design and detailed instructions.

Putting it up was super easy. The whole process took maybe 12 minutes (and that is only because I took my time measuring where I wanted to place it on the wall) I was very happy to see that the vinyl is thin and so it doesn’t look bulky and doesn’t stick out. In fact, it kind of looks like I painted a chalkboard heart on my wall!

I started using chalk on it right away- I wiped it clean with a slightly wet cloth and it looks good as new every time.

Please excuse my messy handwriting- the only chalk I had on hand came from the dollar bin at Target and I think the giant sticks are more suitable for sidewalk doodles.

I will be buying some smaller ones with smaller tips, I think those will give me better control.

I can’t explain how ridiculously excited I am to have this up on our wall. I can leave messages for my husband, write important to do lists, or even use it as a scoreboard when our friends come over for game night!

Oh and I have good news for you too- Trading Phrases will be offering a giveaway to one of my readers! I will post all of the details for the giveaway on Monday morning so please check back.

Have a great day!

daffodils

2010-03-10T08:46:00.000-06:00

On Sunday, Jewel had daffodils on sale for $1.99 each bunch. They were completely closed and didn't look too promising.

I bought two bunches and now I have three vases in the apartment filled with blooming yellow daffodils.

Pretty good use of $4, in my opinion.

new in the shop

2010-03-05T18:24:00.002-06:00

I just added some cool stuff to the shop.

sarne handbag
wooden wall display cabinet
paul revere bowl

Thank you for looking- I hope you have a great weekend!

cheap nail polish

2010-03-05T15:19:00.004-06:00

There is no poladroid picture today because the program is acting up. I think I need to download it again.

I went to Target this week to pick up some essentials and, of course, walked out with two new nail polish colors. Target is dangerous like that, it will put all of these pretty things in your face and make you believe that you need them. Like right now.

The good news is, I buy cheap nail polish. So it’s not like these trips to Target put a huge dent in my budget. I have a few nice ones, but mostly I get Sally Hansen and my favorite super cheap nail polish brand: N.Y.C color. Some people complain that these polishes only last about a week without chipping, but that is ok with me since I like to change my color up weekly anyway.

Today I will be giving myself a manicure with the soft blue cashmere cream nail polish.

What is your favorite nail polish brand?

Thrift find of the week

2010-03-03T18:17:00.002-06:00

On Monday I found this beautiful dress at one of my favorite thrift stores. I am in love and I can’t wait to wear it. I just need to get the perfect black slip because the dress is completely see-through.

In other news, I have been busy with some new projects and have been neglecting my shop. This is not good. Today I photographed some items and I hope to have them listed by the end of the week. Here is a small sneak peek:

See you soon! :)

vintage greeting cards III

2010-03-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of vintage cards from my collection for you to enjoy- remember to click on the pictures to make them bigger.

If you use these images in any of your crafts, I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Our Saturday dinner

2010-03-01T23:29:00.000-06:00

On Saturday we headed to an Ecuadorian restaurant with a few friends and I am happy to report that everything was delicious. It was a BYOB restaurant, so had a couple of bottles of wine with us- the one I posted in the picture was my favorite.

For appetizers we all ordered empanadas. The dough was light and buttery and the filling (beef) was seasoned well. My plate was skirt steak (not too different from what I would order at a Mexican restaurant) but it came with an order of broiled potato covered in a light peanut sauce. Loved it! One of our friends ordered the spicy shrimp dish and he raved about it- I think I’m going to have that the next time we go.

We got a couple of side orders of their fried plantains and I could not stop munching on them. I have had them at Cuban restaurants and they are a bit soft and soggy- but this place served them in thinner slices and they were crispy.

For dessert, we all had flan. This was seriously delicious flan. I have eaten flan at countless of restaurants- but this place got the consistency and the caramel sauce just right.

We left happy and stuffed!

blog crush- a collection a day

2010-03-01T16:17:00.001-06:00

If this blog is not on your reader, it should be. Lisa is posting a picture of a different collection every day in 2010. The pictures are always beautiful and inspiring.

p.s. I also have a crush on Lisa’s home.

(images via A Collection a Day)

Goodbye February, Hello March!

2010-03-01T15:19:00.004-06:00

Hello everyone :) I just wanted to share a few pictures from my weekend:

My new favorite cupcake, Chocolate cappuccino cupcake from Sugar Bliss

My husband and I went for a walk and these pigeons followed us around- hoping we had food with us, I’m sure.

And of course, I managed to squeeze in some thrifting.

How was your weekend?

p.s. I’m doing a separate post with the pictures from our dinner at the Ecuadorian restaurant. ;)

poladroid Friday and 3 things

2010-02-26T08:35:00.002-06:00

This week’s poladroid is of one of the stargazers my husband gave me- he is a sweetheart.

3 things I’m looking forward to this weekend:

getting some Sugar Bliss cupcakes
shopping here
meeting friends at a new (for us) Ecuadorian restaurant

what are you looking forward to this weekend?

I want this closet

2010-02-25T08:27:00.000-06:00

(image via sweet space)

At the window

2010-02-24T20:36:00.002-06:00

There is a woman named Dorothy, she is about 70 years old, who lives a block away from my parent’s house. She is always looking out her living room window. She flat out admits that she is being nosy and likes to know what is going on with her neighbors.

When I saw these pictures they reminded me of her. Maybe I’ll ask her one of these days if I can take her photograph.

(images via Square America)

Abandoned houses

2010-02-24T07:55:00.004-06:00

I came across this website and looking at the pictures was a bittersweet experience.

The pictures are beautiful. As someone who loves vintage items, I can appreciate the beauty of peeling paint on window shutters. But to see an abandoned house is kind of sad. I can’t help but wonder, who lived here? Where they happy? Where are they now?

Let me sleep

2010-02-23T17:39:00.002-06:00

I have never even attempted embroidery, but I want to learn so I can make a few pillowcases like this one.

(image via The Purl Bee)

stacking storage pots

2010-02-23T16:30:00.002-06:00

I can’t stop staring at these beautiful stacking pots.

(image via mirror mirror)

Thrifting tips

2010-02-22T10:53:00.003-06:00

This is my loot from one of my thrifting trips last week.

It was one of those days when I didn’t plan on shopping, since I didn't have much time, but on impulse I decided to stop by one of my favorite shops for a few minutes.

When people ask me how I find awesome and super affordable things at the thrift store, I always tell them the #1 tip for successful thrifting: Shop often.

Most places put out new merchandise every single day- so the odds that you will find what you are looking for will obviously increase if you go at least once a week as opposed to once a month.

Tip #2 is: look in every crook and cranny. Open every box you see. This gem was in an unmarked cardboard box at the bottom of a shelf. The box was covered with tape and I’m not sure if the person who priced it even looked to see what was inside, because it cost me less than a cup of coffee.

Tip #3: Be nice. This should be a given. I shouldn’t have to tell you this. But I have seen enough rude people while shopping that I think this is worth mentioning. Be nice to other shoppers and definitely be nice to the employees.

There is a very nice woman who works at the store I stopped by last week and she loves to talk. I will sometimes be browsing the book section while she is stocking it and she will tell me about her grandchildren or what she is planning for dinner. I always listen to her and smile. She never really expects me to talk back, I think she just likes knowing someone is listening.

Anyway, when I showed up on Thursday and she saw me, she immediately beckoned me over and pointed to the shelf with the camera pictured above. She knows I always buy old cameras and she thought I might be interested in this one. I probably wouldn’t have seen it if she hadn’t shown it to me because it was in a section that is usually nothing but old curling irons and cheap electronics- and I only had 30 minutes to browse the shop. Being nice feels good and it can work to your advantage- it’s a win-win. :)

Ok- I have a lot of work to catch up on today- so that’s it for today.

Do you have any tips for thrifting?

passive aggressive much?

2010-02-19T23:36:00.002-06:00

This is one of my most recent finds

It reads “One beautiful person and one old grouch live here”

I picked it up because the beautiful pressed flowers caught my attention- and once I read the message I couldn’t stop laughing and I had to get it!

(listed here)

vintage greeting cards II

2010-02-18T09:05:00.000-06:00

Here are a few more cards for you to enjoy- remember to click on the pictures to make them bigger.

If you use these images in any of your crafts, I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Shop update

2010-02-17T21:02:00.003-06:00

I’m doing this later than I had planned- but sometimes life gets in the way of your plans. Anyway- I have more items to photograph, but I think these look beautiful together.

They will slowly make their way into the shop tonight and tomorrow.

bon o bon

2010-02-17T11:00:00.001-06:00

As a little Valentine’s Day surprise my cousin gave me these delicious chocolates.

My aunt sends them to her from Mexico (we have not been able to find them here in the States) After doing some research online I found out they are actually from Argentina. They are milk chocolate with a super thin wafer layer and a smooth and creamy chocolate filling that has a hint of peanut flavor.

Perfection.

Perfect hoop earrings.

2010-02-16T17:20:00.001-06:00

Remember this post? Well I finally got myself the perfect sterling silver hoop earrings. I ordered them from Spiral Stone and I’m happy to be able to check off one more thing from my 2010 resolution list.

They are the perfect size- and so lightweight that I actually forget I am wearing them. Yay!

(image via spiral stone)

Tuesday Blues

2010-02-16T15:52:00.003-06:00

We had such a fun and relaxing long weekend that I think today I’m suffering from weekend withdrawal.

Anyway, I did go thrifting with my mom and I got some very cool stuff- sorry I haven't posted pictures. Most of it will be in the shop tomorrow- I will do a blog post with a sneak peek in the morning.

p.s. the picture is of one of the roses my husband gave me this weekend :)

snow

2010-02-10T23:04:00.004-06:00

This is what our streets look like right now.

Since it seems like the snow is not going anywhere- maybe I should stop wishing for summer and indulge in a little snow ball fight. These people sure look like they are having fun.

Oh and yes, that man in the last picture is shirtless. I won't be doing that anytime soon- I need my sweaters, hats and scarves to keep the cold away!

On the agenda for tomorrow is some thrifting with my mom, like always, I’ll be sure to share my finds with you. Hope you are enjoying your days wherever you are :)

(vintage images found here and here)

10 things

2010-02-09T14:27:00.003-06:00

We are covered in snow. Again. And there is more on the way, so I am daydreaming about summer.

10 things I’m looking forward to this summer:

1. The beach- I love the feel of hot sand on my feet.
2. cold watermelon
3. wearing skirts and sleeveless shirts
4. picnics in the park
5. bike riding
6. Mangos!
7. family cookouts
8. waterparks
9. paletas from the paletero man
10. flea markets! (this should have been my #1, I know! lol)

what are you looking forward to?

Image sources:
Anniebee
Von Aisaider
Sassyart

I need this

2010-02-08T18:30:00.001-06:00

I love this home office tucked into an armoire.

It would be wonderful to close the doors and hide all of my mess!

(images via Oh Happy Day)

poladroid friday

2010-02-05T12:59:00.002-06:00

Meet my new favorite slippers. I got them at Target and they were on clearance for a mere $3.25. Aren't they cute?

I have a lot going on this weekend- but I hope to sneak in some thrifting with my mom.

On Sunday we are having our annual Pajama Superbowl Party. Pizza, PJ's, Wine and football... can't wait! :)

what are you up to this weekend?

One for me, one for you

2010-02-04T18:38:00.004-06:00

I found these large mid-century Anchor Hocking ashtrays while thrifting the other day. They are in the Soreno pattern. One is honey gold and the other is turquoise.

If you read this blog regularly, you know which one I’m keeping. The other one is listed here.

vintage greeting cards

2010-02-03T08:51:00.001-06:00

I’m in the process of scanning some of my favorite vintage greeting cards and thought I would share some with you. You can click on the images to make them bigger.

If you use these images in any of your crafts, I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

I miss real letters

2010-02-02T21:59:00.002-06:00

Don’t you? Yes, e-mail is great- but remember how nice it felt to go to your mailbox and find a letter from a friend? I was thinking about this last week when I found some pretty vintage postcards.

Well today I stumbled upon Project Pen Pal. Just what I was looking for!

If this is something you might be interested in, head over to My Teacups in Peopny and sign up before Monday :)

Shop update!

2010-02-02T17:18:00.002-06:00

As proof that I don’t keep everything I buy, here are some items I recently listed in the shop.

Stoneware Pig coffee mug by UCCTI Japan
set of 3 ceramic plates with a botanical pattern
leather brown wallet by Heritage
mid-century green sewing basket/box
pair of glazed coffee mugs with a lovely bird pattern
Small vintage floral trays
Yellow and Orange Daisies- a salt and pepper shaker set

aqua thrift finds

2010-02-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

On Friday before heading out to dinner with my husband, I gave myself a manicure.
I did my nails in a bright aqua color.

On Saturday, I went thrifting with my mom.

On Sunday, as I sorted and photographed my finds, I realized that I had a nice pile of items that matched my nails.

How cool is that?

Finds:

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. I loved The Time Traveler’s Wife, so I was excited to find this book.

The floral print with the silver frame is not vintage, in fact, it still had a $27.99 price tag on it- but I scored it for $2 and it’s going up on my living room wall.

Next to that frame is a large vintage album from Hallmark. I love how the white flowers stand out against the aqua background, and although I bought it with the intention of listing it in the shop- I changed my mind and decided to use it to showcase and store my (growing) vintage postcard collection.

The hardcover book is a 1947 cook book, titled The American Woman’s Cook Book. It’s illustrated and has over 800 pages- I’m also keeping this- no way will I sell it!

The vintage small frame with the golden trim is going to be listed in the shop later this week.

This vintage print is housed in a lovely chipped frame. The sink the woman is standing next to reminds me of the one in my grandmother’s house in Mexico. The one in her house has a concrete washboard inside that she used for her laundry. This print is already listed in the shop- mostly because I don’t have the room for it.

And finally, I found 8 little dessert plates with a beautiful blue and green pattern. I’m keeping two and will be selling the other 6.

So in conclusion:

I love aqua

and want to keep pretty much everything I find while thrifting.

Have a great Monday everyone :)