Sparks

My friend, Tabitha, told me that I needed to go to this antique flea market in Sparks, KS.  It is about 11/2 hour drive from my house and let me tell you...   it was well worth it.  I only went through about 1/4 of the entire show and ended up not only spending all of my cash, but I had to borrow $6 from Tabitha.    If I had more time this weekend, I would definitely go back!  I spent a total of $71.75 and this is what I bought and here is the breakdown.

Table: $30 (I just saw the exact same table in better condition at an antique store for $150)
Pyrex Bowls (set of 3): $17
Birdhouse: $14
Applesauce Maker: $10  (that metal/cone contraption..... my MIL has one almost identical that I have actually made apple sauce with!)
Hankie: $.75 (for Casey because she had to work and couldn't make it.)

Here is a detail of the table, which will be the nightstand on my husband's side of the bed when I refinish the top.

This is a detail of the table feet:

I have had my eye out for some of these retro Pyrex bowls for a while.  I am excited to find some in such a great color and for such a great price!!!!

I can't wait for next year's show!  Now I have to go to the bank to get money for the bead show this weekend...   it's the best one of the year :-)

Tribute Cake

 I live in this little pocket in the Midwest that isn't populated with any of my relatives. However, within a 30 mile radius, you can visit virtually everyone in my husband's immediate and distant family.  :-)  So in 1997 when my husband and I started dating, I gained a HUGE local family which congregates at least on every holiday and sometimes on non-holidays, just because.  And since I LOVE to bake, my contribution to every holiday meal is dessert.  Every holiday I pick something new and I try to "out-do" myself each time.

About a month ago, I saw the perfect cake to make for Easter!  My husband's grandmother, Bev., is known throughout the family for her spaghetti and meatballs that she would make for the entire family for various get togethers.  I always have her in mind when picking my recipes and I just KNEW that she would LOVE this cake.

Sadly, a little over 2 weeks ago, Bev's health started to quickly decline and on April 17th we lost my husband's grandmother and my friend, Beverly Schmill.

After a lot of contemplating, I decided to make the cake and serve it at her Memorial Wake.  The cake that was intended to impress her ended up honoring her.   I think that she would have been very happy with my cake and I know that she would be glad that instead of bringing flowers, I provided a cake to honor her and feed her family.

I am not sure how my baked contributions are going to be from now on, without my muse.  I will definitely miss her inspiration, bright smile, welcoming arms, her sense of humor and especially our weekly phone calls about family, crafts, books and boys (the toddler kind).  Death is not something that I have dealt a lot with.  The losses that I have experienced haven't been easy to accept, but this loss I think will be the hardest to date.  I hope that everyone knows how much she will truly be missed by all and especially how I will personally miss her very deeply.

My Girl's got a blog!!!

My girl, Jessica has FINALLY made herself a blog!!!  Stop by Chicapea Studio and check it out.

Lucky!

I picked up the latest issue of Lucky Magazine with Zooey Deschanel on the cover.  Not only do I LOVE Zooey Deschanel but I absolutely LOVE the necklaces that she is wearing on the cover!

One is Swarovski and the others are Dior's new line of fine jewelry.  So you know what that means... $$$$  big money.  So what I do?  Make my own.  I have just started collecting enameled charms and crystal studded charms.  I hit Forever 21 today and they have a fantastic selection of really cute enameled charms on 18" gold colored chain for $1.50- $2.50.  Yes please!  Here are a couple that I picked up.

I also Picked up this goodie while I was at Forever 21.

I saw this necklace also in LuckyMag and I loved how it was paired with the orange chunky link seed bead necklace.  The seed bead necklace is $128...  so if I really wanted to, I could probably just make my own.  I haven't figured out if I am going to do that or not....  I kinda have a lot on my plate right now.

I've been sale shoppin, junkin and yard sale-in.  So I have a lot to share in my next post.   :-)

Guest Blogger!!!

This was the 1st time that I have been a guest blogger on another blog!!!  Heather has a great blog called $500 Wedding, about how to save money when planning a wedding!!!  She has super cute and very helpful tips, stop by and check her out!!!  And check out my guest post :-)  Here is a teaser photo.

If you live in the Kansas City area, you can get your "Emporium Vintage Fleuri Kit" at Urban Arts & Crafts.  I used this kit (in the color brown) for all of the projects in this guest blog post. 

Our New Addition

I apologize for being a little distant lately, I have recently had my hands full!  :-)  Many of you didn't know that we were expecting, but we recently made a new addition to our family!!! We brought her home last Wednesday and admittedly, it has been quite chaotic around here since her arrival. Despite the chaos, she is SOOOO wonderful!   She is so big, she is super quite, she sleeps through the night and most importantly, my boys absolutely adore her! After a lot of consideration, we decided to name her Macky.  We are so happy and proud to introduce her to the world!!!  Please give a warm welcome to my new baby!!!!  

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