Thrift Store Finds

I changed my weekly thrift store trips from Friday to Thursday,
because...well...Ayden is in school on Thursday. 
And he thinks thrift stores are boring, and there's nothing worse then a bummed out shopping buddy. 


so....


Today I found some really great stuff,
and I thought I'd share them with you: 

A vintage brown weekender bag. 
It's in perfect shape for being 50 years old and it was only $2. 

I also found a Superior Electric Fan that still works!

And it's a beautiful shade of avocado.($10) 

I also found a McCoy Cookie Jar (in the 50's he was responsible for making all the kitschy cookie jars) and this one is so cute.  ($3)

This lil' oil painting I found at a new thrift store in Loma Linda for 50 cents.  (it's not so gray in real life, the lighting in my house was so bad thanks to this horrible stormy humid weather.)

I didn't find this today, but on my trip last week to the salvation army-  it's vintage Descoware. A total find for $5. 

It has a few chips on the enamel but it's cast iron, so it'll last an eternity. 

Next week I'll post a few tips on thrifting.
And a few places you can check out too.


xo 

Crafty

A loooonnnggg time ago,

(last month)...

my sister in law, Lauren and I went to the Renegade Craft Fair.

It had been on my calender for months.

I seriously couldn't get there fast enough.

When we left,

we were so amped up and so inspired!

Here are a few things I've done since then:

Wire headbands!
They are so simple,
so sweet,
and I've been making them like crazy.

This one is braided copper wire with a vintage brooch. 

I just finished this craft over the weekend.
It's a succulent terrarium with butterflies.
It cost me $10. 
I love it so much.

And here is the bunting I made at the craft lab with Lauren at the fair.

Now go get crafty!

Second to Pre-K

(Breakfast at Martha Green's before school. Its our favorite spot.)

Ayden started preschool today.

A really great preschool, with a really fun teacher.

And his cousin is in his class too.

Which made the first day a lot easier on them both,

 I'm sure of it.

I was actually okay and didn't cry.

I held it together.

I was so excited for my son and my niece.

They were smiling so big,

you couldn't help but smile too.

Tales...from Brandon's bed....

Dear Brandon,

No wonder you wake up with a sore back and neck!

Look at your bed! You are sleeping on a library.

At least, I see that you have hidden some late night snacks...sneaky lil' guy. 

Yummm...gushers.

Remember when I told you that once the "Clementine" box on your bed was full no more things should be on your bed???

Well....I think it's full now. 

No more please.

Thanks,

Mom

PS - Oh and I took a peek into your locked treasure box...
and found the picture of me. i love you.

Backpacks & Bites

Our Ayden boy is starting preschool next week.

So today we went school shopping...

and honestly, watching him pick out his very first backpack made me alil' teary.

He decided on a Transformers backpack ...

he's all boy, 

and very much like his daddy.

He also decided that he will only wear skinny jeans,

because he wants to be a "cool dude."

*****

On the way home, 

he proceeded to tell me that I was not allowed to put any of 

Lucas's things in HIS backpack.

"OKAAAYYYY mom?"

His backpack is for big boys only!

He also decided it would be a good idea to stick his finger in Lucas's mouth.

Which, by the way, has a total of 8 very sharp baby teeth.

Bad call dude!

Ayden starts screaming and crying...

because Lucas would not let go.

When Lucas finally did let go,

Ayden looked at me and

"Mommy, we need to send Lucas back and get another baby!

He's a vampire!"

PS- boys are the BEST!!!!!!!!!! 

I hope your week is going great!

The Bass

Meet my husband's new toy.

It resides in our bedroom...

I have nightmares that it will crush our 9 month old.

But it's beautiful.

Covered in argyle (which will soon be black),

And he found it for free, nailed to a wall.

He's a smooth talker. 

That's one of the reasons why I married him (#12 on my list). 

first to third

Brandon started third grade!

Do I really have a 3rd grader?

He was so excited to go back to school,

he started talking in a funny "german" accent.

Funny kid.

9

Our Lucas boy is 9 months old.

The time has flown by with this love of ours.

I know I say that all the time...

but it's so true.

These are all but fleeting moments.

Moments that pass like the wind.

Moments that will never be here again.

Each day I pray before the day begins

that I will cherish each moment.

That I will have an abundance of energy,

PATIENCE,

and wisdom. 

and although some days are better than others.

Some days are great learning experiences. 

Other days I can see the test, and am thankful to be challenged because I know that it only makes me a better mom.

And with Lucas,

he rounds out our family perfectly.
It's funny how that happens?

haha!

He is a treasure.

And a light in our life.

Saturday we took Brandon to the Harvest Crusade.

I remember going there as a little girl,

I remember how in awe I was of this place,

and how good it felt being there.

It holds some really fond memories for me.

So I wanted to share that with Brandon.

(Lucas came too. Ayden however stayed back with grandma. He's a home body these days.)

Brandon loved the music and he loved seeing the masses of people.

And I know he enjoys being my big boy who gets all of mama's attention. 

He's getting so big, and as he gets older I know how much he craves one on one time.

 

New leg

Tuesday, the short black leg that was part of our family for so long was removed.
For good, let's hope.
It's nice to see both his legs again.

His leg is skinny, hairy and could mistakingly be confused with that of an alligator leg.
Take a peek (beware it's really hairy).

Yikes.
It's supposed to fall out soon.
It's really funny compared to his other leg.
He likes it though, he said it looks like his daddy's leg, except without Patrick.


To celebrate, I decided to make him a batch of cupcakes. 
Strawberry shortcake.
And I finally mastered buttercream!
Yay!
It was light, airy, not to sweet, not to buttery...it was really good.

Before Ayden's appointment I got my hair colored.
Back to red. 
It feels good to be back to my ol' self again.

Now I've got to get back to cleaning house.

It's been neglected.

And things are dusty and piling up.

Scranton, PA

You see, my husband is pretty smart.

Like a private investigator he searched the internet for the address of Dunder-Mifflin.

Google Maps was a big help too.

And when he found it, 

it was like he found a bucket of gold.

Driving there we were all excited.

Even the boys.

They have a soft spot for Dwight and were hoping they'd see him.

It's off in the middle of a bunch of businesses.

Hidden.

They had this fake fall tree in the corner of the sound stage. 

I guess they are trying to make it "feel" more like the east coast.

haha!

Check out Meredith's Mom Van!

The Schrute Camero!

We stood out there for awhile hoping to see a familiar face.

Kyle and Brandon got to see "Creed" walking into the office.

I didn't, I was walking far behind with Ayden.

Soooo Bummed. 

But seeing the cars and the building, 

seeing where they filmed some of our favorite scenes....

made up for it.

It was so much fun.

I'll leave you with "the Seabring",

because it's always good to end with Michael Scott.