Spring is for Treasure Hunts

photo by me

It is officially spring and at the Post home that means yard sales!!

I'm a little obsessively proud of our cheap yard sale/thrift store finds.  A woman recently visited our home and complimented this or that thing that we have displayed in the house.  As I proudly exclaimed "Yard sale!" "Thrift store!"  "Free!"  She just stared at me blankly.

I guess not everyone loves the used goods like we do.

But that is okay.  Junk is not for everyone, but it is for us!

So despite the fact I woke up feeling not-so-hot Saturday morning, we went out at 7:30 AM on the hunt for the season's first yard sales.  I had a list of 13 and we made it to 8 in 3 different cities by 10:00 AM.  We only made one purchase.

This vintage book display rack for $5!!! 

The seller explained that it was an old book rack from a public library in Provo.  I loved it even more that it had a story.  (Just another reason why I love vintage stuffs)

We've wanted a display rack for the nursery and have been considering this one at Pottery Barn for $100, but just couldn't justify $100 to display books.   We wanted to go for a display rack over a bookshelf so the titles were visible, and we think it's a little more interesting than your average boxy bookshelf.  Sure our $5 version is a little different than the PB one, but it displays the book covers, it's vintage, and did I mention it was only $5?!?!  Man I love a good find.

As soon as I'm no longer cold medicine dependent, we'll give this book rack a good cleaning and a few coats of paint.  There's just nothing like finding the perfect treasure at a yard sale or thrift store! 

I live for the hunt.

A rebellion of sorts and also an invitation

I feel as though I've been rebelliously neglecting this here blog lately.  I get the feeling I should write something brilliant and immediately think back to myself, "No!  No, I won't do it! I won't!"  But sometimes maybe I have some kind of an attitude problem?  I don't know.

It's maybe as if I have too much to say, actually, that I can't particularly decide what to say.  Liken this unto the times I exit my favorite stores empty handed only because I couldn't pick which thing to come home with me.  Oh the choices!  (But I do sometimes have a problem being indecisive).

Kyle doesn't mind one bit, because he would rather me not buy anything at all for the remainder of our marriage.  Unless that thing to buy happens to be some sort of football tickets or perhaps a DVD of some kind.  Because, you know, those are the things that make his heart go pitter patter.  (After me, of course).

When I married Kyle, I also married into some really fantastic family, including nephews who are nearly my own age.  It's kind of a strange thing to have nephews who are 8  and 11 and also nephews who are 20 something.  But one such 20 something nephew did a very good thing in life and married the very cute Ashley, who is my thrift-store-loving twin at heart.  (Good job, Devin).  And it came to pass that we went to several thrift stores over the weekend and we beheld that they were good.

In other news, we will soon be embarking on our very first trip to Texas and there we will visit my eldest sister and her teenagerly daughter and hopefully partake in some southern BBQ and also perhaps some fried foods.  Kyle doesn't know this yet, but I also have plans to scope out some local thrift stores.  I have always had this dream of finding the perfect vintage cowboy boots for my awkward size nines...  if only.

The best thing about thrift stores, is that each one is different and the merchandise changes daily.  Also, things are cheap.  These combined attributes cater to my short attention span, impatience, and shallow pockets.  But also I do love old things, did you know?

And therefore, in conclusion, I would like to offer you this one time chance to suggest things for us to do whilst in the Dallas area.  I shall preface the invitation by first stating that I have high intentions of attending both the Texas State Fair and Medieval Times.  Thoughts?

A Sickness

photo by me

The D.I. and I were recently reunited and it was there that I procured for myself a new berry collander and a few Target sweaters.  I managed, somewhow, to pass up the Santa's sleigh and the collection of Mark Twain's short stories.  But I couldn't stop there.  I needed more!  So I searched craigslist and ksl and soon became the proud owner of a sofa table!  (I have been looking for a decent sofa table for weeks!  Weeks, I tell you!)  And now I can't stop. I want more!  Bring me moreYard sales! Bring me more thrift stores!  I need more junk treasures! 

If someone were to ask me to describe my perfect day, I would tell them: "There would be Kyle, beaches, and endless thrift stores!"  Also, maybe babies.  Fat, wobbly babies.  And sushi.

Speaking of endless thrift stores, Fort Collins has the very best row of flea markets I've ever been to.  I'm sure there are probably better places in the world, but I've yet to see them with my own eyes.  On our most recent trip to Colorado together, I made Kyle stop at the flea markets on our way into Fort Collins.  We had just come from three days of camping, hadn't seen a shower or proper plumbing in all that time, and my first stop had to be the flea markets.  Kyle lasted maybe 5 minutes before I sent him off with the car for an hour so I could browse in peace.  The ONLY reason I didn't buy anything is because I couldn't decide on just one thing.  Or even just two things.  And I still regret passing up that awesome black globe...

I think this is a sickness or something, this need to buy used goods.  It produces a high unlike anything else.  Tell me, do you have it too?  I know I can't be the only one!

Such is Life

We have been doing a lot of this lately:

And by we, I mean Kyle because in this house the wife does not do the mowing and weed-whacking.  You see, Kyle is in love with our patchy, uneven, lawn.  If I were to mow or weed it, what would he do when he came home from work?  What would he daydream about?  How else would he get that wonderful gasoline/grass/sweat smell in the evenings?  And how else would he sunburn the back of his neck?  Really though, I hate mowing the lawn.  Kyle couldn't be more perfect for me because if it were up to me, I'd just throw bags of wildflower seeds all over the grass and bask in the springtime pollen.

Speaking of lawn-lovin', this little beauty came home with the Kyle our first day in the house.  He loves it and I'm so glad he loves it because I really do hate mowing the lawn.  Have I mentioned I don't like to mow?  I tried three times to get this picture to turn the right way and it was just not happening.  It is very stubborn.

We were so fortunate to have both our parents stay a few days to help us move and get everything set up.  If it wasn't for my dad, we'd probably still have splintery wood toilet seats.  (thanks dad!) (oh and sorry about the splinters Abby...)

Proof that Kyle is now officially a handy man.

And THIS is just a small sampling of all the colors we went through before finally settling on "mushroom bisque" for the majority of our wall colors, which is really ironic because Kyle hates mushrooms and I don't even know how to define bisque except that it's some kind of soup.  Oh but Kyle does love soup!  I will share pictures of our mushroom bisque walls when I feel satisfied with the arrangement of our inside spaces.  Also, I'm a bit too lazy at the moment to get up and photograph.

(our kitchen before we moved in. the fake ivy was first to go)

If I get my way, someday in the near future our kitchen will receive blue walls, white cabinets, some open shelving, and butcher block or white tile countertops.  Unless I change my mind before that can happen.  I am rather prone to rapid-mind-changing.  It is a disease I have suffered from for the entirity of my life.

In case you were wondering, as of tonight I am very much less a blonde--thanks Suzi!  It was time for a change.

And guess what?  The cutie neighbor girls walked across the street to introduce themselves to me while I was spray-attacking the masses of tiny insects outside our windows.  I love the cutie neighbor girls!  They are especially adorable riding their bikes at night in their princess nightgowns.  I felt so sad to not have my own cute little girls for them to ride bikes in princess nightgowns with.

I love our new little neighborhood.  It's very small-town but still close to my favorite eateries and shopping places.  AND with the express bus coming every ten minutes, I get a nice 30 minute nap on my way to work. 

Okay okay one more thing: I stumbled upon the greatest little flea market/antique shop just down the road.  I easily spent an hour digging through shelves and shelves of fantastic vintage stuffs.  (Be still my heart)  Miraculously, I did not buy one thing there but only because I couldn't decide what things to buy--I wanted it all!  Also I had just picked up some vintage canning jars and a galvanized metal bucket at the DI and you know I just couldn't overwhelm the husband with extreme excesses of glass and fanceries.  You see, if I bring home a few pieces at a time, he will not even notice what is happening.  So far my plan is working.  Best that he not catch on.

Old Soul

I am an old soul. 

Ever since I can remember I have loved old things: magazines, dishes, fabric, jewelry, hats...  you name it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hoarder by any means; I very much enjoy throwing things out, but at the same time I love collecting old things.  I love how unique they sometimes are and I love imagining the story behind them.  Few things get my heart racing like a good vintage find. 

The D.I. recently blessed me with $12 worth of mouth-watering purchases!  One of which was a depression glass citrus reamer for $1.00! I have wanted one for years.  *sigh*  I think I'm in love.

(Moderntone)
Some of my other personal treasures include a small collection of vintage hats and gloves, costume jewelry, old books, handkerchiefs, various forms of milk glass, and my grandmother's pastel Moderntone dishes.

My sister Kelli understands how I feel about old things and I'm pretty sure it's partly her fault that I love them so much.  Afterall, she was the one who introduced me to a vintage citrus reamer in an Iowa antique shop 8 years ago.  She has also contributed to my collection of old things: a few Moderntone plates, a restaurant style napkin holder, and a pair of very lovely sundae dishes.

Kyle on the other hand does not exactly understand how I feel about old things.  I'm pretty sure he isn't a big fan of all my old stuff, but he is a good husband and lets me enjoy them as I please.  I think it's a pretty fair trade after all the Die Hard movies and sports I've had to watch.