Ronald McDonald Sale

Apparently it's nearly November. I'm not sure how that happened so fast. I guess we just kept super busy. My butt print is starting to fade from my spot on the couch. It's making me nervous. I need some good couch time, stat!

We (Me, HB, Alicia and April) went to the Ronald McDonald House sale two weeks ago. It's also called the ABC sale, for what reason I've yet to comprehend. All of the workers are volunteers and all of the money goes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. You know how a good cause gets me, every time! Plus, if you donate goods to the sale you get to shop a full day earlier than the general public! We always donate. We always get dibs. This is the first year that we were shopping only for ourselves. That made it a lot easier and less stressful.

I headed to holiday first, where they were playing Christmas music. It was set up much nicer this year in that you could go around either end of each row. The rows were not butted up against a wall this year. So, there were less deaths. I found some amazing plastic foliage. Blue plastic poinsettias and leaves with blue glitter, pink plastic metallic sheen holly and silver metallic plastic ferns. If these colors don't make you want to cry, I can't help you. Because there is no help for you.

You will also see one eyeball ornament and one pumpkin ornament. These were a quarter each and covered with those tiny clear beads that look like ice or glitter. The middle vase is also new. I believe it was 50 cents. I bought two bags of plastic foliage at $2.50 per bag. Let's take another look, shall we?


Ahhh...that's the stuff. What could be better? Oh, that's right. Flocked white paper holly with red berries and multi-colored glitter. That's what!! It came in one of the bags for $2.50. Amazing. I'm going to have to hide this from certain people, lest it disappear on me. I know that some of you are thinking, "Sweet Jesus, I'd steal it just to put it out of it's misery." To you I say: Phooey. This shit is awesome. And you're probably just jealous. Or maybe you were never hugged as a child.

Boom, baby.


The large frame was $2 and the smaller was $1. I also found this other nifty wooden frame for $2 and some gorgeous milliners flowers for $2.50. The small bunny doodad was $1. I wrapped it up all nicey-nice in tissue paper and brought it down to my Easter storage bin, moved some bins out of the way, lost my balance and smashed the cute rabbit with another bin. I think I might be able to save it with some super glue action.

I saved the best for last! I wandered into the purse section without direction or a sense of real hope. I stumbled upon some gems and if there had been less people in that small area, I would have looked at every last one of them and probably come home with a carload full of purses. I believe the white patent leather purse was $1 and the crazy 60's daisy clutch was too. The other tiny white clutch with speckles was 50 cents as was the aqua and gold glasses case which I am most certainly using as a tiny clutch. Note to self: Next year start with purses.

Nick and I participated in the First Annual Rochester Tweed Ride. It was a gorgeous fall day, not too cold at all and no rain! There were around 30 people there, dressed in varying degrees of commitment. Who do you think won Most Dapper Chap? That's right! I'm married to the most dapper chap. He was certainly dapper. The only one wearing actual knickers. (that we made from ladies pants) Unfortunately, he had to stop to sell some pape's and soak a few scabbers for Crutchie.


I settled on a skirt and jacket and the hat was the belle of the ball. I like the jacket quite a lot and may wear it in real life. I wasn't wearing heels, however, so avert your eyes. Try not to look directly at the cankles. They'll turn you to stone.


This weekend we are doing both the Dome Sale and the Craft Antique Co-Op. On Saturday. A marathon of sale-ing. But sometimes, you just have to take one for the team. The 'team' in this case being your ill concealed addiction to sales.

Kicking Off The Holiday Season Right

My mother and I have a pact. We are going to do less presents, more outings. Museums, theaters, music, art, science. Notice the omission of math. Thusly it was that she happened to take me to see Amadeus at the Geva Theatre for my birthday. We went last weekend and it was just sensational. Because the theater is so small and the stage is as well, I am always interested to see how it will be utilized to create different settings. I'm always bemused. It included all of the parts from the movie that I loved: Mozart's silly laugh, the large shadow of Don Giovani, Mozart chasing Constanze around under the furniture....ah, so good! I always tear up when they take their bows. I just appreciate their hard work so much. I remember something of what that takes. I want them to know how good they are, how entertaining, funny and sad. I clap extra hard to keep the tears from falling.

The husband is involved with organizing a Tweed Ride in Rochester. I'm helping a bit too, as a non-rider. He borrowed a vintage bike and is pretty excited. I'm helping to find some prizes that we'll give away for "Most Dapper Chap" and such. We have been looking for the right outfits at thrift shops. We haven't been too lucky since we are both pretty hard to fit. He is super skinny and sort of short. I'm very short and...curvy in...places. So this should be fun. I found the following pants, Tweed, $4.99, Ann Taylor Loft, size 6, far too long with a cute cuff. They are pretty 1930's/40's. I was thinking of doing a jaunty Amelia Earhart look with pants, white button up shirt with rolled sleeves, a skinny tie and maybe even some suspenders. After trying the outfit on at home I came to the realization that with my cropped hair I looked like a dude or a lesbian. Sorry lesbian friends, I was not going for that particular look. But you would have though I was hot. ;)

So, I guess I'll have to go in another direction. I think I'll keep the shirt and tie and maybe do a tweed skirt instead. Some heels, you know the drill. The husband found these shoes. He's pretty pleased with them and likes that they are comfortable and interesting enough to wear at other times as well.


We were discussing prizes in the thrift store and he asked me if I had any ideas. I said I'd like to find maybe an old suitcase. Leather or something. He pointed down. I looked. There was a tweed suitcase right next to us! We bought it, obviously. Turns out it was made by Hartmann, one of America's oldest luggage manufacturers! It has a great leather handle and was only $7! Oh, and the inside? Paisley!



So, as you can see, it wasn't a total bust. I also found two pairs of shoes at AmVets which is quickly becoming my go-to thrift shop for shoes in my size. Which is rare. The Merona buckle shoes were $3 and the Xhilaration heels were $1.98. I know they are crap brands, but they were my size and cheap! the black heels have a ribbon threaded through the edges and it ties in the front. Too cute!



I also found this dress from The Limited. The pattern and color are awesome, it's my size and was on half price sale ($2.50!) I am going to shorten in about a foot and a half. If anything is longer than my knees it makes me look like a midget with short, fat legs. (cankles!) As you can see the hem is already starting to come undone, so it's ready for some rework. I'll let you know how it comes out.



As you know, September is the beginning of my holiday season. I aim to start things off right beginning with tonight: a gathering of friends, food and drink at Tap and Mallet. Then comes Beerthday, a show in Buffalo and the weekends just get crazier and more wonderful right through October! I'll try to remember to take pictures and think of witty remarks to share.

Fall-ing

Recently I mentioned that it was nearly time to decorate for fall. If you know me at all you know that my belief system centers around the fact that fall is the beginning of the holiday season. My birthday is in September and therefore I decorate for fall the first weekend of said month. Jealous? Thought so.

Let the festivities begin! I have so many delicious things to look forward to this month! The husband and I will begin helping to organize a Tweed Ride (bicycle ride through the city wherein everyone dresses in period tweed clothes) and begin hunting for the perfect outfits. My mother is taking us to Geva Theatre to see Amadeus, my friends run a marathon and I have about one million fun dinners! So, in the spirit of celebration, I submit to you: these photos.

This is the first year that I've decorated my bathroom for fall. Running out of room for treasures? Who, me?? My love of small plastic doo-dads runs deep.

Happy Dangler.

Toilet Tableaux.

I got the bat candle holder at the dollar store years and years ago. I used to collect bats and vampires. No smart remarks about what I didn't collect. The book has the best cover. I got it at the Dome Sale last year for $1. I think the skull came from JoAnn's quite a while back. They used to have the best seasonal decorations! Not so much now though. I guess I wasn't able to single handedly make it profitable for them. Weird.


This little lady is new. Public market 2010. There was an entire box of them and it took everything within me not to buy them all. I should have. Great. Now I'm upset.


Lights from Avon, a birthday gift from my aunt. Yarn black cat craft, found at The Ronald McDonald ABC sale, one of the first times I went. Sign and metal cat swinger from The Craft Antique Co-op. Pipe cleaner skelly's made by moi.


Sometimes decorating this cabinet gives me a pain in the rump. It's shallow and tall, you gotta stack. Do you see the ghostly Belles haunting back there?

I forgot about the dollar store for many years. Last year we found each other again and stuck up a glorious love affair. Black glitter skull, one dollar. I'm looking forward to our upcoming rendezvous!

Nick gave me the giant glittery pumpkin one year for my birthday. Two things I love getting as gifts: Food and decorations. Please note the 'heritage' salt and pepper shakers.


Beware of the tiny pumpkins! LuLu made them for me. Doesn't the middle one look like he's about to start talking any minute? No? Of course he does! What's wrong with you?

This house is new. I found it at the last RMD ABC sale. I'm not convinced it will stay the course.

I made this at craft night once. I still love it just as much.

I find that this shelf is pretty hard to decorate because it's high up and has walls. But it's stinking cute.

Another dollar store find: Styrofoam tombstone. Antique orange calling card with a creepy font.

A purse culled from my mom's collection. It's actually velvet with a rose pattern and came with that great bird pin on it. The postcard is from my cousin Deb.

Another antique calling card. Just perfect!

That gorgeous cut glass handled goblet is from my grandmother. It has sterling silver on the rim and is quite haunting. The picture is from last year's RMD ABC sale for one dollar. I made the felt acorns.



Now go enjoy the season. Have some cider or some chai or some chaider. Donuts. Pie. Lumpkins!

Buzzed

Today my mom, Ann and I went to the Advent House/VFW sale. I've been at least three years in a row now, and it's amazing every single time. Without fail. I'm still riding high off the fumes of these deals and treasures. Plus, it doesn't cost anything to get in. (unlike other great sales such as the Dome Sale and the Ronald McDonald House Sale)

Now, since I haven't been very good about cataloging my finds this summer, let me just say that it is mostly because of the public market. We've been trying to unload some of our booth stuff there on the garage sale Sundays. It's gone pretty well and let me just say: the people watching cannot be beat! Seriously. Witches, hot shots carrying mermaid planters and swords, women treating dogs like children. I mean, really. The next day we'll be there is September 12.

Ok, let's get to the good stuff. First up is the green chair. All wood, folding. Obviously I need another chair. No, I don't have a problem. Why do you ask? I picture this little glory on the deck of a ship. Some stately old man with a formidable mustache and pipe watching the gulls fly by while draped in a heavy blanket. $5. I swear I've seen it's mate in a Country Living magazine.


Next we have the jewelry. This is the best hit of jewels we've ever gotten at this sale. Usually it's too picked over within the first five minutes. Not so this time! From left to right we have a creamy colored two strand necklace for myself for $1, a beaded bracelet in muted greens to be given as a present, and a black multi strand swag for myself $4. Check out the clasp on that bad boy!

When I sauntered over to the fake flower and craft section, hoping to find something delightful and all plastic I found these gems! 50 cents for the whole bag (8 stems) Lordy. I lost my heart to them. There is something very Miyazaki about them. Little pumpkin spirits. Be careful, they'll spirit you away! A haunting reminder that it is nearly time to DECORATE FOR FALL!


I found an interesting old frame for $1. I'd never seen one with a rounded top and squared off bottom. It also still has the gorgeous original mat!


The husband decided to start shaving in a basin instead of our sink to save him having to snake it every so often. I found a perfect enamel basin for 50 cents. The check out woman almost stole it from me twice. You have to keep an eye on those volunteer workers. They're shifty.


Believe it or not, this next item is a beach towel. It's a present for someone. Yes, she'll seriously like it. I can hear the evil thoughts you are thinking toward this towel, so just stop it right now. She'll love it so much there might be clapping and maybe even jumping up and down. I love the design and colors. It makes me want to do an etsy design in homage. Oh, did I tell you that I have an etsy page and have been working diligently to produce designs to stick on there? Well I do and I have been. So anyway, this towel.



Two bottle brush wreaths. 50 cents for the pair. With ribbon and pine cones. How many bottle brush wreaths does one person need, you ask? Many. And varied.


A tree for my friend who collects trees like I do! This is more her style than mine. Otherwise, I'd have kept it for myself. I don't have any qualms about being selfish when it comes to collecting.


Then I found 6 hand embroidered wine glass coasters for $4 and the Bailey's creamer for 25 cents. I have a friend who has wanted the creamer and cup set for a long while now. The wine glass coasters are for my mom's Christmas stocking and you slip the foot of your glass into the slot and it holds it like a pocket. A-dorable. Look at the colors! The whole thing just about kills me dead. Yum Indeed.



The yellow Pyrex bowl was, in truth, the first thing I picked up at the sale. I almost always find my heaviest item first. Which is fun, because then I get to lug it around for hours. You know, I do it for the extra exercise. I'm all about the fitness. It was $4. I already have the aqua and the green bowls of this set. All I'm missing now is the red one! The entire set sells for $45. It's pretty popular.

Next is the strawberry draw-string bag. I'm a sucker for polka dots. And red things. And things with berries on them. It was $1 and is now residing as my "bag of bags" bag. Don't pretend like you are confused by that. Everyone has a bag of bags.


Bringing up the rear are the two pieces of art. They are both presents, not for the same person. I was thinking about painting the frame on the peacock one, but my friend might like to do that herself. Secretly I hope she does it in teal and then gives it a coat of rad green glitter. We are collectively marrying glitter this fall. You are all invited to the nuptials.