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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Thrifted Thursday-Junk in my Trunk

Literally, had this junk in my trunk for a month!  Sometimes you gotta just let things lie and do other stuff.  Like catch up on Y and R, or snuggle with your kids,  and save the hauling in of your crap for another day...or month.  I couldn't pass up the giant coffee maker.  I mean what if I entertain some coffee addicts?  What if I am just really tired and need a 64 ounce cup?  Plus, it was in the box so it instantly called out my name.  The rest: a cute leather clutch, a little red thermos and some Post Haste paper airplane cards.

On another note, the folks over at Junk Mafia were kind enough to let me call into there Junk in my Trunk radio show on Monday.  It was super fun.  They are awesome folks and love junking as much as I do.  They are great for the Kansas City junking community and are going to be on Picked Off in August.  Can't wait!

We are taking a sick day today.  Went to work and got the call from daycare and must admit I was so happy to pick up my kids early.  We are lounging...watching movies...and hopefully napping soon!

Happy Thursday!
xoxo,
Amy

Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday Faves-Republic Bikes







All images via Republic Bike

Aren't these beautiful?  Could you imagine? You can design just about every aspect of it.  LOVE! There is an entire page of bike eye candy if you click on the link.  People send in their own photos of their creations.  Genius.  I've got to get back on the horse.  My brother signed us up for Tour de BBQ so it's time to get busy.


Happy Friday!
xoxo,
Amy

Sunday, July 15, 2012

A week in photos

My son had his last baseball game.  For a kid who had never put on a baseball glove before April, I'd say he did pretty good.  He was really into it too.  He would come home from practice and literally practice another 30 minutes in the yard.  Much different from his go at basketball where my only rule was to simply touch the ball during the game.
It's hard to believe these little guys are only 5 and 6.

 And this little one had her first ballet class!  So exciting, not just for her, but me, and Grandma as well.
*the heels did not make it to class, but you gotta give her credit for trying.
My Saturday ended with these.  Donuts are my absolute favorite food and I ate way too many.  

Sunday was spent cleaning, painting with the kids, officiating wrestle mania and going to open houses. 

Happy Sunday, 
Amy

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Thrifting 101-Thrifting is Dirty Work

*I went to finish this post and after reading through it realized it's been sitting here for 7 months. No biggie right? Anywho, here's my disclaimer: everyone is on the mend (after all, it's been 7 months), but my house is still dirty. So what.

It's been a while since I've done a thrifting 101 post.  In my defense I have been a bit busy.  My hubs had back surgery and after spending all my energy doting on him (haha) for two weeks, the kids and I got sick.  I literally spent 4 days in bed.  When I crawled out from under the covers I was tempted to light a match and burn the house down.  Disgusting.  That's what happens when momma gets sick.  Nothing.  Nothing happens.  Everything was left as it was before you got sick, only now there are layers of crumbs and laundry and dishes and filfth on top of the filfth.  Now that I have dug myself out of the filfth I thought I would write about some handy things to have on hand to get rid of the filfth of thrifting.  
First off-some things to keep in mind...thrifting isn't for clean freaks.
  • Thrift stores can be dirty.  Wash your hands when you leave one and you will see how dirty.
  • If you can't get to a bathroom keep some sanitizer on hand (no pun intended).
  • Even flipping through the racks stirs up dust, dirt, mold, etc.  I know it's gross, but think about it, some of these clothes have been stored, some have been in attics, damp basements etc.  
  • Wash your stuff as soon as you get home (if possible), but it hasn't killed me to leave it untouched for weeks in a laundry basket or bag...just in case you were wondering.
  • When buying furniture check for fleas.  Yes fleas! Especially at garage sales.  I will say in my many years of thrifting I have yet to find any...just heard stories. Check under cushions and if you see anything questionable pass.  If it's a gem and you can't pass it up, you can always clean it and spray it before bringing it in your home.  I know that sounds gross, but if you have animals you know it's not the end of the world. 
 I wash everything in my washing machine unless it's 100% wool or Rayon.  I use the handwash setting for silk, slips, sweaters, or anything delicate.  I hang dry most items like dresses and things that are delicate and dry anything that's cotton or polyester.  Most of them have been washed and dried 100's of times before.  Watch out for Rayon.  It will shrink like crazy!  Use your best judgement.  I have ruined a thing or two I wished I had just dry cleaned.  I have also dry cleaned items I should have just machine washed ie., Burberry Trench-the exterior can be machine washed.  I found this out when dry cleaning didn't get out the stain.  

Second-Some essentials to have on hand:  
Magic Erasers 
Clorox wipes
Spray and wash
Woolite
Soft scrub
Acrysol
Fels-Naptha

This is how gross the water was after handwashing a bunch of silk bow ties.  Disgusting!

 A lot of the stores around here use a grease pencil to mark things, I hate it.  Magic eraser makes it come right off...but be careful...it can also take off beautiful paint and stain. Also try Acrysol or Soft Scrub.


Fels Naptha Soap: amazing stuff, great for removing stains, and can be shredded for homeade detergent
Magic Eraser: don't use on skin.  It can burn.  But it can remove sharpie from a lot of surfaces. It can also remove design elements...so always test this first!
Palmolive: I use this religiously, it's what my mom used and she is super smart.
Acrysol: removes stickers, sticker residue, and those stupid black grease pen marks that thrift stores use.
Soft Scrub: works great and can be diluted (will do another post on this genius miracle worker). I use this to clean suitcases.
a razor blade and toothbrush: nuff said.

That's it! Happy Thrifting...and happy cleaning your junk.  It's not the most fun...but well worth it.

xoxo, 
Amy

Sunday, July 8, 2012

A week in photos

 A brass unicorn.  As much as I thought I needed a brass unicorn I passed this one up because it was higher than beer at a ballpark.  I'm not gonna lie, I will probably go back and see if they've marked it down...or if it sold.  Not too sure that many people out there would be interested in it.

What I did walk away with from thrift.
 Fireworks!



Making tags.  Going to do the Gypsy Market Royale on July 21st.  So if you are in the KC area come down and support local vendors.  It's in the parking lot of Genessee Royale Bistro across from the Golden OX in the West Bottoms.
Surprise firework show from my driveway.

went to Barnes and Noble over lunch hour
spotted this pretty journal. They have an owl journal that is beautiful too.
and this book.  A part of me really wants to move to the country...or country-ish.
Some inspiration.
My girl. Picking her up from school.
My son harldy lets me take pictures of him anymore.  He's a punk.
 poser
 dyeing a vintage slip (pictures to come).
Listing albums.

It's Monday tomorrow and I am not excited about it.  Mondays can suck it.

Amy

Monday, July 2, 2012

How does your garden grow?

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house plants
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I'm getting the bug to start repotting, growing, and adding more houseplants to my home.  I used to have a ton and started weeding them out when my kids were babies.  The sunroom that housed them has since been turned into a playroom.  I once sold a car to a woman who owned a nursery and at the end of the season she had me bring a truck over and take whatever would fit in the back. I still remember driving away, my mom and I both in awe of all of our new plants, so excited to get them home.  Now that my kids are a little older they bring home little plants and herbs of their own from fieldtrips.  They take care of them and like to watch the process of little buds sprouting. There pride in taking care of their own has me itching to start adding some more.  This is a little inspiration to get me going again.  Do you have a green thumb? I can't wait to find mine again.

xoxo,
Amy