Thrift Store Finds

Dustin and I made a trip to our friendly, neighborhood thrift store this morning.  Downtown Lansdowne reminds me a little of my home town's main street.  Small, homey and full of cute little shops and businesses.  Unlike Chickamauga, Lansdowne has two or three little thrift stores that I LOVE!  They are within walking distance of our home which makes it really easy for me to stop and rummage through on a frequent basis.

I just wanted to share my cool finds from today and from a few weeks ago.  Hope you enjoy! Oh, I really love dishes and housewares, so you may pick up on this re-occuring theme.


First, I will begin by saying:  there was a sale.  A sale.  In a thrift store.  How does that work?

All clothing...fill a bag for $5. period.

I didn't get a whole lot, but I did score a Brooks Brothers navy blazer; originally it was $15.  I didn't fill my bag completely full and the sweet old man behind the counter wouldn't let me pay more than $3 for all the items in the bag.  I almost felt like I was stealing.  I almost begged him to let me pay the full five.  He said, "Don't tell me how to run my business".  My sheepish reply, "Yes, sir".

I couldn't find a label with the size, but it fits like a glove.

I think this would be great way to wear my blazer...jeans, white tee, blazer
Beautifully simple.

Just a comfy, hooded sweater.

Other things in my bag that I haven't shown:  red, skinny belt; some baby clothing items for my sisters.


Housewares...my fav!

1.  Vintage Petal Dishes
My Mamaw still has dishes just like theses.  Hers are solid white.  I pretty much squealed with joy when I spotted these little beauties tucked away on the wooden shelving.  I went back to a time when I was a child eating chocolate pudding or ice cream from theses babies!  Ah, nostalgia.  Hey, for 50 cents a piece, who cares!

The red matches my nail polish...we belong together.

2.  Solid Copper Mug

Dustin found this treasure...again 50 cent satisfaction.  

The bottom says, "West Bend Aluminum Co.  West Bend, Wis, USA SOLID COPPER"

How manly...made in the USA, Solid Copper, it dates back to 1955 and has something written in Greek on the front.

3.  A Vintage Fire King Planter

This was either 50cents or a dollar.  I love the milk glass look.  Also made in the USA and useful for almost anything.

 4.  Pretty China Pattern
An incomplete set, but that's how I prefer it.  I mean, I think it's more fun to have a mixed up collection of dishes, than all of the same kind.  Aren't these so pretty?  I think they are from the 70's.  Made in Spain by Pontesa.  The Castilian Collection, in the Toledo pattern.  Price tag: $3

A few weeks ago, at another local thrift, I found some really cool items, that I am debating on selling.  This store is a little more pricey than the one above, but they still have some pretty amazing deals.

First, I must say that I have been drooling over Pyrex nesting bowls for forever!

Can you believe that an entire set was only $2.50?  Nowadays, a full set of these beautiful bowls can cost anywhere from $60 - $120.  Consider yourself lucky if you find even one of these at a thrift store or yardsale.  I usually spot these in antique stores, for $20 each, if they're not in a set.  

Friends, I got lucky.

Granted, it's not a set and it's a later version of the nesting bowls, but I am on my way!

Did I mention that my grandmother owns a full set?  They were a wedding gift for her and my Pappy.  I am hoping that one day I inherit that set.  I will keep it forever and ever and pass it down for generations to come....smile.

Okay, I will make the last two quick....

Vintage Sears and Roebuck Percolator.  "Maid Of Honor" edition

Let's bring back the percolator....

Lastly, this item was not thrift store bought.  It was sort of inherited.  My step dad was cleaning out one of his rental properties and found this old industrial scale.  I thought it looked cool and vintage and he needed to get rid of it.  Instead of killing two birds with one stone, two birds were made happy with one worm...does that work? Whatever.

It was made in 1941and weighs up to 20lbs.  A simliar scale from this same company costs $80 - $200.  Great find.

There you have it.  What a wonderful day it has been!

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the rave

Thanks Ben...Words Left Me

I couldn't come up with any words to say it better than my friend Ben did.

I just want to share with you the wonderful community, family, that God has been gracious enough to let me be a part of since since living in Philly.  For me, it all started in Rome, GA and has found it's way up here.

In the beautiful words of Ben,...(check out his blog here)

Overflowing

“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…

…they paved paradise, and put up a parking lot…”

I am one of those who, like the song, all too often doesn’t recognize what I have until it is gone. I want to change that – I want to be mindful, thankful, and grateful as I admit that Yes, my cup is filled to the brim. One more drop, and it will overflow with the sweetness and bitterness, the joy and sorrow, the heart-stopping beauty that means you are alive and breathing and seeing.

I moved to Philadelphia in August, not expecting that I would find a family, a community that would surround me, laugh with me, speak into my life, and allow me to speak into theirs. I didn’t imagine their lives and mine would intertwine so quickly. And last night as we sat around the living room, sharing our highs and our lows of the past week, sharing a meal and laughter and music and prayer, something shifted in my heart, and I really saw those around me. In just a few short months, these (plus a few more) have become a part of me and my heart – my community.

I think that 90 percent of the time, I blunder through life unaware. Yet there are moments the veil is lifted, and the warm, rich, buttery light floods in and illuminates the darkness. My heart and my limbs thaw a little more, and the chill of frostbite that has me frozen recedes a little bit. Last night was one of those moments.

I saw men and women admitting their brokenness, doubt, and pain. I saw honesty and truth piercing the lies that would keep us apart. And I heard words of love, of hope, and of faith being spoken over each person there. Last night, spring came just a little bit closer for each of us – spring and the promise of new growth, of green, of life, of warmth, of dancing and rain and beauty. And I saw it.

My cup – my heart – my life – is overflowing. And I just want to shout it from the treetops – or at least sing it in the forest…

I hope everyone gets to experience this at least once.  God is so faithful.

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Man Day + Girl Day = Dinner at PYT!

The culmination of life!
L to R: Josh, Andy, Potter, Ben, Stephen, Kelly, Me, Dustin

Yesterday began as an all girl day.  Me, Andy, Kelly and Amy (Mills stayed home to do school and Potter was at school) started our day off right with an amazing French Toast and Fruit Salad breakfast.  Our plan was to hit up Fabric Row and check out some cool shops on South Street, then come home and get crafty.

Fabulous plan right?  Right.  Only thing we didn't plan on was the weather.  The high yesterday was around 15 degrees.  So. Cold.  But we were brave and determined and had a great time.  However, I am now convinced  that being out in the cold weather wears you out.  We got back home at 2 and I was exhausted.  I trudged through my sewing project and Andy and Kelly trudged through school and project planning.  Andy did whip up some incredible omelets for lunch.  Onions. Peppers. Feta Cheese. Woa!

Okay, so all of that to say, little did we know what was going on with the men at North 52nd Street.

First of all, I have to say I think it's really cute when Dustin gets together with his guys and hangs out.  It really does the both of us good to nurture and indulge in our friendships outside of ourselves.

Continuing...

These guys had breakfast together as well, Man Omelets and Blueberry Pancakes.  They had their blood pressure checked in Upper Darby in order to get free pizza and pretzels.  Took a trip to Home Depot. They went bowling.  They went rock climbing (indoors) in Center City. And when Kelly was finally able to get a hold of Stephen, the boys the men were all giggling in the background like 13 year old girls and mentioned they were going to shower together (which they later claim did not happen).  So cute right? And kind of scary too.

We were starving by dinner time.  They were still out galavanting.  Which brings me to the culmination of all the days events.  Dinner at PYT.

Outside of PYT...random fella in the pic.

We all met up at PYT in the Northern Liberties section of Philly and had so much fun here!  They are known for their crazy burgers and adult milkshakes, which definitely sound weird and gross, but weird no longer equals weird for me.  Weird = Probably Really Awesome!

For instance, Dustin order their Krispy Kreme Burger.  The buns are KK Doughnuts with a Burger Pattie, Cheese, and chocolate covered bacon in between and a side of Sweet Potato Fries.  Yum or Barf?    Try Yum.

Krispy Kreme's Prodigy

Pay no attention to the greasy fingers

Chocolate Covered Bacon....so tempting

Hunka Hunka Burger Love.....Elvis' Fav.....Beef Burger with Peanut Butter and Fried Bananas.

I opted for a Veggie Burger, not because I'm vegetarian, it just sounded so good.  Titled the Calibunga Burger, it featured a White Bean, Garlic, Basil and Tomato Patty, topped with Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, and Caramelized Onion Special Sauce.

It was a killer choice.  I would order it every time.  Not lying.

Check out their Menu.  We will definitely be going back.

Big Hand #1 

Big Hand #2

See.  Doesn't that look fun?

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With A Little Love And Some Tenderness...

So sorry for the abandonment.  A whole month? Really? Sheesh.

World Domination

Much has happened since the last time I posted.  My family and immediate friends/relative are single-handedly re-populating the world.  Or at least the state of Georgia.  By early to mid summer of 2011 there will be at least 6 new babies in my world since November.  Where are they coming from?!!  Wait, please don't answer that.  Let's move right along....

Dustin and I recently returned to Philly from our Christmas visit to Georgia and I must say that I sure do miss a lot of folks from back home.  You guys make it really hard for me to want to get up and go to work tomorrow morning.  Staying up late and writing this blog is going to make it really hard for me to get up and go to work tomorrow too.  Oh well, sleeplessness can be productive, right?

While at home, we made the normal rounds to visit all parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters and their offspring.  I did get to squeeze in a visit with my Big Mama (translation: great-grandmother) who is definitely in her prime.  She will be ninety in March and I don't think she's worn a bra in the past 25 or 30 years.  Just sayin.  Age ain't nothin' but a number ya'll.

I was thinking earlier, whilst tossing and turning in my bed, that I have a pretty large family: divorced parents, both remarried and 6 sisters and 3 brothers, most all of whom are married with kiddies.  I sometimes wish that we were closer as a family, though occasionally I do feel very connected.  As I was thinking about this and how I could compare it to something to make it make more sense (you know, an analogy...Dustin loves those) a mosh pit came to mind.  Weird, right?  Then it began to click for me.  In a mosh pit, a lot of people are in pretty close quarters all at one time.  However, not everyone is close to every person in that grouping at once.  You move around in the mosh pit getting closer to different people at different moments.  All the while, you're connected, on some level to everyone in the mosh.  Not everyone at every moment, but to each his own.  And I am okay with that.

Certified, Grade A, Mosh Pit

At different times in my life I have been closer to different siblings, different parents, different grandparents even, developing a connectedness that lasts even when a new period of my life (or theirs) brings me further from one and closer to another.  I can remember be really annoyed by sister Caitlin on a very regular basis when we were younger.  We had nothing in common and I didn't really want to have much to do with her.  Now that we both have grown (and through much forgiveness on her part) we have morphed into two sisters who care deeply for one another and are closer than we ever have been, though the physical distance isn't fun.

So, to all those out there who share my blood and those who don't; be it by marriage or by being a great friend;  you are my family.  And I just wanted to say thanks.

I also want to say that I had Hootie and Blowfish serenading me in my head with "Hold My Hand".


I want to love you the best that, the best that I can...

Side Note: We have come a long way in our music videos since the nineties.  Style too.  If you watch the video, which I would recommend, please check out the the crew socks on the guitarist on the far left.  Where was his stylist?

The End.



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Georgia On My Mind + Cute Advent Calendar

Nothing is worse than feeling like you're missing out on something.  I feel like that a lot when I think about my nieces and nephews. Speaking of which....

My youngest sister just had a baby.  Boy, is he the cutest thing ever.  Sweet, Hudson.  I have a video of him sleeping and making the sweetest faces.  My heart melts every time.

My other sis is having a baby in the spring.  I got to be the at doctors office with her when she found out that she's having a boy!  What an incredible place to be.  The gender doesn't matter to me, what matters is that my sister is bringing to life a little human.  Humility and grace, wrapped up in a moment of glimpsing the ultrasound and realizing that what is moving around on the screen is a real person. Wow.

P.S. everyone I know is pregnant right now, it seems.

My brother's wife, is pregnant with a child.  Gender is a mystery still.  Can't wait to know though. He's go two boys already.  A third would be great, but a girl would be so special too.  

Also, my husband's cousin is pregnant.  Due in the early spring I think.  Her and her husband aren't going to find out what the baby is until it's born.  How fun!  I love surprises, but I also loving finding out the surprise before hand... I was the child who didn't want to ruin her Christmas surprises pre-Christmas day.  However, I couldn't help peeking at what my brothers and sisters where getting!  

I am super excited about all these new babies.  Sometimes I get pretty down when I think about how fast they will grow up and how I will be missing out on a lot of their lives and experiences.  

All I can do is learn to make the most of it when I do get to spend time with them.  For them, they will always have an aunt who will spoil them!

Check out these sweet faces that I got to see this past week:

Hudson the cutest reindeer!

Miles...Chocolate Chapstick...the gift that says it all.

Miles, Dustin, Me, and Ethan...What a funny picture!

Okay, so Georgia was great.  I saw my parents, grandparents, and I got to spend some QT with my sibs and their kids.  Most importantly I got to see the new baby.  He was so precious. I love him!

Last thing I want to share with you is my latest craft.  I made an Advent Calendar over the course of a week.  I spent HOURS hand sewing 24 ornaments, felt pockets, and the numbers.  I really would have loved to have kept this, but really it was intended for my sweet nephews (see pic above) and their parents.  I always loved getting to countdown the days until Christmas with our calendar when I was young.  I hope they'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Here you go!  Let me know what you think!  I followed a sew along on a blog I follow Homemade by Jill.  She has some great tutorials if you're into that.  I definitely am.

Ethan made one of the ornaments...see if you can find it!  It's a dinosaur.  What could be more perfect than a handmade dinosaur on a Christmas tree?  He drew it, I cut it out, I threaded the needle, He sewed it by himself.  It's perfect!

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the rave