Mighty April

April is starting to get on my last nerve.  It will be glorious for a day.  Sunny, radiant, nearly 80 degrees, even.  Then come the rains, the 40 degree weather and the sinus infections to go with it.  I'm creeping up on two weeks with this blessed condition.  Looking and feeling like a human poster for infection.  Delicious.  

Screw spring.  I want summer.  Full-on summer.  85 degrees, blinding sun, boob sweat, the whole shebang.  I want to wear sandals and bracelets again.  I want to remember what it's like to hear those delightful bangles chiming away on my arm.  I want to wear huge earrings with pointy bits that I can't wear during the winter on account of the fact that they will get caught on my scarf.

If it doesn't happen soon I'll go out of my gourd.  I'll dress in my finest white jacket and sit in a very plush room.  You hear me, April?  I'll do it, I swear I will!

Anyway...

There have been a lot of church sales this month, much to my delight.  It's not enough to save my brain from the knowledge that it's freezing and raining like ark time out.  But,  I've gotten tons of stuff for the Etsy shop, though I won't bore you with those details.

Check out what I did get, though: 

Please don't miss the red Cape Cod fish coin purse.  I cannot wait to use it.  At yard sales, obviously.  You are used to seeing the vintage picture frames.  I really want to stress how amazing these look all spray painted up in some crazy bright color.  So unique.  You should really try it.  Plus, this one was like a quarter.  You can't even get a crappy picture frame that will break in two seconds at the dollar store for a quarter.  It being the dollar store and all.

Now, you might think this is all one glorious study in plastic.  And it is.  But it's not one piece.  There are two Christmas pieces which have white plastic holly, silver holly, glitter and red Christmas balls.  Who doesn't love Christmas balls?  Eh?  Eh?  

This picture really isn't doing justice with regard to the bird house.  Let me break it down for you:  It's a brown plastic faux wood birdhouse coated in white glitter snow.  I know, right?  I could stop right there.  But no, there's more!  One yellow plastic bird greets you from side A while side B sports a blue plastic birdie.  Then, there is the grass on the bottom made of cellophane tipped in, you guessed it, white glitter snow.  Despite all the snow, I'm making it an Easter decoration next year.  Because really, it's more honest here in upstate NY.

Recently we've had a very big piece of news here in Ra-ch-cah.  A Mighty Taco opened.  Now, this is a fast food taco chain from Buffalo, NY.  The husband, like all Buffalo natives, is in love with it.  Would defend it to the death and ask for it as his last meal before said death.  He used to work there, ate there nearly every day and it was and is both his favorite job he's ever had and his favorite restaurant.  On earth.  Ever.  A fast food taco joint.  I'll just let that disturbing information sink in.

So, as you can imagine we were there on opening day.  With bells on.  We waited an HOUR AND 45 MINUTES for food we've had one million times.  Food that we just had two weeks prior, actually.  It would have been faster to drive to buffalo and get it.  But the husband was just ecstatic the entire time.  Witness:

So, now it's five days later and the line is still out the door.  No lie.  People, let's get it together here.  Fast food tacos, ok?  I mean, even if they are the best fast food tacos on earth, they are still fast food.  See?  No?  No.  They don't see.  Well, congrats Mighty Taco, and welcome.  Apparently you are well loved here in the Flower City.  Hopefully I don't see you every week, but it looks like there is a slim chance of that.

So, in summary:

April kills dreams, puppies and unicorns

Plastic is a balm for what ails me

Fat Americans

First Sale of the 2012 Season

The first sale of the 2012 season was at a middle school in Irondequoit. I'd never been to this sale before, and I don't generally let my expectations run amok in that situation. But, when we arrived, the parking lot was full and people were already pulling away with truckloads of things. Literally. This made me practically run to the entrance. When a sale has started minutes earlier and people are already leaving with truckloads of items, you need to run. That's like, one of the most basic rules. You might want to write that down.

I was caught off guard because there was a $1 admission fee. I wasn't prepared for that so they had to break a 20 for me. Salers consider that kind of a dick move. To make them break your 20 dollar bill first thing in the morning? Yeah, I was that jerk.

So, it was set up in the gym and it was full of vendors. Like a mini dome sale. Which, incidentally some of the exact same vendors were at. (I'm looking at you overpriced vintage jewelry salespeople!)

In attendance: Me, husband, Sarah Mae, Kara, Kelly, Noah & Vito. A good, hopeful crowd. I'll show you what they got in alphabetical order. And I apologize. These are phone pictures.

Kara

Kara got a vintage wine selector booklet, a gorgeous vintage rhinestone pin for her mother with the most amazing colored blue stones, a squirrel couple that hang on a pot (Word on the street is that she's going to hang them in her office so that they are peeking at her from above her monitor.) and a vintage mirrored 3d (Did you get all that?) picture of Niagara Falls. It needs a tinch of tlc, but it's nothing a few minutes with a hot glue gun won't fix. The thing is gorgeous. It even has faux flowers in there. You can't imagine what the person was thinking when they created this as a souvenir. It's amazing. And I think it was like $2. I was able to help Kara purchase more things than she normally would with my super power: Enabling.

Maybe that's my X-Men power. I had a dream the other night that I was a member of the X-Men. But I never got to use my power during the dream on account of Prof. X not wanting us to when we were out in public. And we were at the movie theater. Scott Summers used his powers though. He was mad that they wouldn't let him out of the parking lot because they said he owed them money for parking. He just lasered the crap out of the arm on the booth and drove right through. I told him that Prof. X was going to be upset at him. On second thought, I think my power is more likely to be in the bossiness realm. (Not a peep from any of your!)

Kelly

Kelly bought a book about the Pyramids and a Diet Coke. They had a full on lunch area at this sale. One second longer and I would have caved and had a nice bowl of chili. It smelled so good. And you just know some middle schooler's grandma made it. Old Lady food is always the best, don't try to deny it. Probably I need to ask Kelly why she picked this book and then dazzle her with my theory about movies and pyramids. In case you are dying to hear what that is all about yourself, I'll tell you. My theory is that any movie involving the pyramids in any way is a sucky movie. Can you think of one good movie involving the pyramids? Nope, Stargate doesn't even count, so don't try it. You know it's a sucky movie and just because you don't want to admit it, it doesn't make it less true.

Nicholas

Ok, I didn't take a picture of the husband and his stuff. I forgot. And I had his stuff in my bag and so that added to the forgetfulness. He got files. For $1 each. You know, like, tools? Yes, those files. He said they are about $15 each or more in the stores. He was pretty excited about it, really. I should have taken a picture.

Noah

Noah got to the sale first and scored the awesome glass turtle lamp. For $1. It's very beautiful. He also got an Apple keyboard for $2 and a game new in the package for...cheap.

OK, now I'm going out of alphabetical order, but it's only because Sarah Mae bought the most and the biggest (obviously) and it's going to take a while to get through her stuff.

Vito

Vito got this entire pile of tools for $10. He was pretty impressed. He waved one clamp at us and said that just that one item would be over $10 new in the store. Check out the dudes scoring some stuff they can get excited about. I love when that happens.

Sarah Mae

Don't act like this surprises you. If you've been reading this blog over the past year you know that Sarah Mae likes herself some creepy babies. And while these little guys aren't babies, they are creepy Dickension Christmas carolers.

Then we have this fun bunch of trinkets. I love souvenirs.


A group shot including the Noel mugs with elves as handles!

Here are two items that I found for Sarah Mae and bought for her. On purpose. The pink haired fairy baby on the left shouldn't be confused with an angel. Because she isn't. Firstly, she has no halo and wings that I'd clearly categorize as fairy wings. Lastly, she's in a negligee. The "Baby" statue is terrifying. I know it is. But, it's what she likes. Try not to think about the fact that the infant is in a semi-sexual coy pose. There are a disturbing amount of these items out there.

Sarah Mae also bought a large roll of upholstery fabric from the 1960's for $10 in shades of brown, white and orange and some 1940's paper print block things for $1 each. They have some great illustrations from the 40's.

Last but not least: Me. I got a few things for my Etsy shop and two other things: A roll of green crepe paper streamers and an unopened bag of vintage chenille pipe cleaners. I think I spent less than $5 all told. And I didn't take a picture because I'm lazy. But I will leave you with this pleasing image:


My mom brought these back from her trip to Florida for me. I have the most awesome mom on the planet.

Also, the covert craft project is coming along well. Only one more to do! Then I can show you what I've made!

So, in summary:

Power Of Enabling
Don't Be Jealous Of My Dream
Movies With Pyramids = Not Good
Forgetful And Lazy
Creepy Babies Want To Seduce You
Yes, I Did Need Another Pair Of Converse

The One Where I Score A New Purse For $3.74

Firstly, I want to thank Target. They just moved into our neighborhood about six months ago. We already had four or five of them in the Greater Rochester area, but this one is about three miles from The Snug Bungalow. We aren't big shoppers in general - unless you count thrift stores, yard sales and flea markets. It seems that now we can obtain all items of necessity in one plaza. Target and Wegmans - who needs the mall? *shudder*

I hate having to buy a new purse. Don't get me wrong, I have many and varied purses and love picking up a new specimen when one happens to speak to me. I hate needing a new purse, being forced to find a new one.

Most of my purses are "occasion" purses. The kind you use for a wedding, the movies, going on vacation, holidays...I even have a purse that is specifically for picnics. I love occasion purses, they are fun to buy. Everyday purses, on the other hand, incur more stress. I have very specific ideas about my everyday purse. I hate short straps. The kind that go over one shoulder and fall down with every twinge of movement. (This is fine and acceptable for an occasion purse, but not for everyday) I have to have a long strap that I can sling across my body. I don't want to constantly be hiking it back over my shoulder or holding on to it to keep it in place. I hate pinching it between my bent arm and my body in order to make it stay put. I want my hands and arms free. Range of motion.

I'm practical and get irritated easily. That is why since high school I have carried some type of military surplus bag which I call "purse". Sort of a mini messenger bag. A long line of used up, frayed and ragged army green bags lay in my wake.

I have known for a few weeks now, that the current bag's (which I did, in fact, purchase in high school) time was drawing nigh. I tried denial on for size, fearing the moment when I'd have to begin "the search". Finally I gave in and put it on the Target shopping list. I nestled it right between two high glamor items: A mattress cover and garbage bags. Yes, we lead a charmed life. Yesterday we visited Target. Yesterday I walked directly into the purse section, head held high, while my husband cowered nearby. He feared the worst, as did I. The trenches, the long haul, Charlie. Oh but, what's this? Green and black long-strap purses? On sale?? $3.74?!? Well, #$%*^& me! The lining is an adorable floral pattern, something that I had never encountered in the military surplus aisle.

I rose from the trenches a happy soldier. Charlie on the run. Victorious.