lemony dreams

When I found this dress for Mo last year, I totally had a vision of her wearing it in the orchards behind our house.

We've had some truly fabulous weather this week (sans winds too) so armed with some mini M&Ms (bribe) I drug a white chair and a stool out to the fields.

A truck drove by in the fields when we were out there -- stopped -- and backed up to see what we were doing. Guessing he doesn't see 3-yr-olds sitting on white chairs all that often out in the fields.

He was super nice and actually apologized for interrupting us, as if we weren't trespassing on the the land he has a job on!

We ended up being out there at noon -- I had wanted to do it in the morning -- so the sun was right on top of us, but I like the sun-filled pictures.

Oh, and I still love my 50mm lens.

weekend update

Mo modeling my weekend find

Last weekend =

birthday party with cousins and a fun caricature artist

garage sale shopping with Jeni

pick up soccer

singing White Lines with Laura

Hairspray with Katie

good times.

conversations with a 6-yr old

Katie with her flea market find: a dolphin for her charm bracelet

Katie was sick this weekend, so instead of attending a birthday party, I made her go to the flea market with me.

I was shopping when I look up and next to me is a girl who is impossibly skinny and way too pretty and flawless for a flea market. I look back and there is a large man with sunglasses following 4 feet behind her. Turns out it was Taylor Swift.

Me: Katie, see that girl with the cream colored dress on?

KT: Yes.

Me: That's the girl who wrote and sings the song that mommy is learning how to play on the piano right now.

KT: Back to December?

Me: Yes.

KT: Why are you whispering?

Me: Well, she's famous and I want to give her some privacy.

KT: How famous is she?

This is where our conversation faltered. I mean, how do you rank famous-ness in the world of a 6-year old? Less famous than Elmo, more famous than Cailou?

Our conversation descended into what other songs she sang (I only knew one other); how many people in the world know who she is; in what countries people knew her in; etc., etc.

in preparation for the tooth fairy

$12 from CuddleWumpkins

$11 from RainbowNest

$7.50 from foreveryoung

running or shopping: hmm...

This morning I asked Katie if she wanted to go with me running and then to play at the park, or if she wanted to go to a couple of garage sales.

She picked garage sales (that's my girl).

Ever since I picked up my blue suitcase awhile back, she has been lobbying to use it.

This morning, we found a blue suitcase for her.

It's heavier than mine, which might prove difficult for her when it's packed, but she "had" to have it.

And, when I saw the matching little case, I kind of felt the same way.

We scored both for $15 which I was quite pleased about.

Later we happened upon a lady who had a table full of thousands of broaches, clip on earrings (none of which matched) and other trinkets. She called it her 25 cent table.

I told Katie she could spend $1.

She picked four charms. We found a necklace on the table which worked perfectly to attach them to and with the help of some needle-nose pliers... voila!

Yes, there are only three charms on the bracelet. One was lost in the car as she was admiring them on the drive home.

Still, a very happy Katie.

thrifty finds

Found this cute little number at the thrift store this week. It kind of reminds me of the Sound of Music play dresses Maria makes from drapes.

Mo loved that it had pockets.

I also hit a little jackpot of milk glass.

There were 9 of the smaller goblets. And, yes I bought them all. I think some are destined for eBay, but a couple will stay with me.

The girls were such good little shoppers.

I even let Mo get a grab bag of books.

The front book was a Diego book, and for $1.39 for three books, I figured why not.

little tokyo

I hadn't been to Little Tokyo in ages when I invited myself along with Miyo and her mom during a recent shopping trip.

It was a trifecta of fun -- Fun food. Fun shopping. Fun people.

We enjoyed "appetizers" before lunch including fried shumai and fried shrimp balls (which I'll pass on next time).

I'm still lamenting we didn't go back and get these when they were done.

Literally dozens upon dozens of pocky and pocky-type treats to chose from.

I love the nonsensical use of English on foreign wares. I think I giggled at almost every turn in many of the shops.

I ended up buying this because I mean who wouldn't want to "enjoy a time with me?"

An entire wall of bobble-head clocks.

I'm not sure if the thinking was to make clocks more fun, or to make bobble-heads more functional. Either way, loved them and might seriously shop though them next time.

And, then there was all the people watching.

I wasn't quite bold enough to take pictures of all the people we saw, but suffice it to say it was an eclectic mix of folks.

This green guy was collecting money for the Japan crisis.

It was all enjoyed, of course in good company.

Thanks for letting me tag along!

bag it

My Canon Rebel is sick.

It's been sent away to see if it can be cured. I'm sad without my SLR.

I think I'm going to ask Santa for a camera bag this holiday season. Emera bags have long been my favorite, but I'm usually in jeans and a t-shirt (or worse) and frankly you just need to dress better to carry an Emera bag.

I've got my eye on these three which mesh better with my more casual (read: not put together) lifestyle.

yellow bird by ketti

rose by jo totes

the bowler by acme

What do you think?

What do you use for your camera bag?

for mo

Maddie loves yellow. When she paints she always chooses yellow paper and yellow paint. Her work is like modern art you see in museums.

When we shop she always grabs random yellow clothing. Most of the time we are not shopping for her as she has a ton of beautiful hand-me-downs from both her sister and Dylann.

Today I found this in a thrift store and had to buy it for her.

Looked up the label and it turns out I scored a vintage 1950s Jean Durain dress for $5.

$2.50 of happiness

Went to the flea market with Mo yesterday and bought three pairs of clip on earrings.

They could not have been bestowed on happier recipients.

(I could not get a good shot of Mo wearing them for the life of me.)

Speaking of fashion. I'm selling these beloved shoes here if you or anyone else is interested.

They have never been worn. I've been holding onto them -- since the late 90s -- waiting for the perfect outfit/event. Alas, it's time to get rid of them. Sniff, sniff.

find

I was out for a run this morning and I saw this out on a curb.


I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I fell in love with it.

What do you think? Paint it? Refinish it?

It's so little and just like I remember from elementary school with the top opening and everything!

We'll see how happy Papa is with my new find.

At least it was free, right?

coveting

pretty aprons from Anthropologie. Can't decide which one I like the best. What do you think?

lovin' these

gotta love the $1 bin at Target.

blue

One of my favorite antique shops is closing so I bid it farewell this week. I've had my eye on this suitcase for awhile. It's pretty much my favorite color -- so, I splurged and got it for myself.

It came as a set. I plan on using the smaller piece for our weekend trips to the Bay Area. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the bigger piece.

Katie is always picking me little flowers, so I also picked up these cute little bud vases that are now sitting on my window sill.

I really enjoy looking through everything. Which is funny, because I don't really like sorting through items when I shop for clothes.

I love that things as adorable as this...

Are literally next to things like this...

I fell in love with these little needlepoint cars. If I had a boy, I would have snapped them up in a minute.

I almost, almost got them for Maddie's room.

She does have a thing for cars -- maybe I'll sneak back out again.

big weekend

I know it's nerdy, but I get excited when the flea market comes to our local fairgrounds.

In addition to our patio set, I found this box on my last shopping trip. It sits on the girls' craft table and is home to crayons, glue, stickers and other odds and ends.

The finds at the flea market seem a lot less expensive than what I've found in the antique stores. I've also found prices to be very negotiable. I guess no one wants to lug a bunch of unsold stuff home afterwards.

Just Window Surfing Today

I'm in love with this little dress from Garnet Hill. It's a sweater knit on top and then transitions into a woven skirt.

With the cardigan -- too much.

Love Me Some Shopping

Lately I've been obsessed with little zipper purses/pouches. I just couldn't resist and I bought this little one from Benny and Heidi this week.

I also love the ones on Plonka by Dalinda. I've fallen for this sweet little number with the Japanese cotton fabric . I haven't purchased it yet, but am itching to do so. Not sure how many little zipper pouches I really need, but I'm sure I can find something to put in them!