March 9, 2011

Junk Hunt Tips



It's not rocket science and you don't have to be some "expert" to find amazing things at thrift stores. If I can do it anyone can. Some people just have more experience than others. Unless you have a job on Antique Roadshow or that one junk show on cable that I have no idea what the name of it is (I've never seen it but I hear I would love it) then don't call yourself an expert.

I'm not an expert.

But my advice and number one rule for good junk hunting is:

#1. Go often. Seriously, go as much as you can. I have three main joints I hit up weekly - sometimes more. Most days will be misses but on the days you do find gold you'll be so happy and will want to keep going. At least that is how I feel.

#2. Stay open-minded. If I go with a certain item in mind I may end up being dissapointed when I don't find it. When I go with out any expectations is usually when I find some really neat things.

#3. Take hand sanitizer. Some thrift stores clean their items before putting them out on the shelves and some say that they do but I wouldn't always count on it. Some places don't clean anything before they sell it. If you're out and about for the day hitting up multiple loacations you should have some hand sanitizer on-hand. I leave a small bottle in the jockey box of my car.

Any hoo, I just thought I'd share some of my experience with you.

See all of my junk hunt adventures here.
 

Junk Hunt


I'm not so good at finding name brand items on my junk hunts but when I saw this I snatched it right up. It stuck out like a sore thumb in between two frumpy old maids staring at the purses in the thrift store so I carefully slid my arm in between them and threw it in my cart. It was $3 and it's real. Who would knock off a Todd bag anyways? It's not like it's Chanel. Speaking of Chanel, one of my dream purchases is to have a black quilted Chanel bag.




and these vintage shoes that I may or may not wear


March 8, 2011

brain farting - a post to skip over (it won't hurt my feelings)

We had snow dumping in mind numbing proportions which resulted in a desperate need to call my therapist except that I don't have a therapist so there was a lot of complaining to random strangers on the street, and Twitter.
 
I've had really good intentions to finish my book that I started around 20 years ago if it had in fact been written that long ago.
 
I tell stories based on the facts as I see it.
 
Music has consumed my mind tremendously lately but I've spent very little time listening to any which has resulted in some strange anxiety over this minute tragedy.
 
Next weekend is Frederick's birthday - he'll be 4. I would like to give him a sister Boston or French Bulldog to play with but I'm afraid we still have to hold off on that for a bit.
 
Cooking, cleaning and organizing have been my priority since Sunday. My world has turned up-side-down because of this. None of those things are ever a priority mostly because it makes me unpleasant (bitchy). I may not like to clean but I do love making lists and checking things off. That kind of system really makes me happy and even more happy when I get to check things off. I keep a happy demeanor by never adding things like laundry and dishes to any of my lists. I found an app that I'm sure most people already have but since I am slow to the game I am just now discovering it. It's called Springpad. I now have lists for Das Blog, Das Shop and Das Personal Life.
 
Frederick even lucked out and got a bath. We had a little at-home puppy spa night. I even trimmed his nails, cleaned out his ears and brushed his teeth.
 
#dogmom
 
I made more rolls last night so that we could have them to munch on during the week. I think I've landed on eating them as rolls rather than buns. They suit us better that way. My love for these rolls is getting serious to crossing some strange boundaries that I'm sure may be illegal in some states. They're just so hard and crunchy yet soft on the inside (insert joke here).
 
A little story that delves into how much of a jerk I can be, after The Temp had been here for a little while he told me a story about when he had Bell's Palsy (not a joke) and some how I translated that into him having a stroke. So, one day I mentioned something about his stroke and he looked at me puzzled and said, "I've never had a stroke. Do you mean when I had Bell's Palsy?" Me: "Yeah, sure whatever." Every now and then I ask him how his stroke is going and he in turns says fine except looks at me with a slanted face accompanied with drool hanging from his lip or he just simply says "Do you smell burnt toast?" Well, he called in sick recently  so I sent him a text asking if he had another stroke. He replied, "Yes, on the other side now."
 
Now I'm going to get Bell's Palsy related hate mail and spam comments.
 

More Hippie Food



Best Comment lately!! I laughed so hard because the Hub and I enjoy making fun of hippies and yuppies (hippies w/money). I definitely deserved the comment after posting a veggie burger recipe. And even though I've started to embrace the way "hippie" way a little more and more I'm still a garbage burning, waist loving, sugar eating, trendy, cheap clothing buying disgusting american.

we didn't have any fancy fixins this time but they were still great

the touch of honey in these makes all of the difference - yummy!

I tried a different version of the veggie burgers inspired by the Working Class Foodies DIY BBQ series of videos. And also made their homemade buns featured below in their video. This time around instead of using pinto beans I tried them with traditional black beans and added rice which helped them stick together better. These buns turned out so good and they were SO EASY. I was scared because I have ruined bread before and have since stayed far away from it until now. The leftover buns were perfect for breakfast with butter and honey. We also tried the potato salad too. So good. Check out their videos. I love them.


click the pic for more recipes

March 7, 2011

Home Tour (picture heavy)

Finally the post I've been meeting to do for awhile now. Here's our home starting with the bathroom.




























Hope you enjoyed it!