Shopping Spree for Free

I have a friend. Her name is Amanda over at Part-time Homemaker.

She hosts fabulous themed parties every week for our community group...but the one I'm about to share with you is extraordinarily special.

Would you like to know why?

1. You get rid of things you don't need, like, use, (or wonder how it got into your house in the first place.)

2. You get to compete via paper-rock scissors.

3. You get new-to-you items for free.

Allow me to show you my treasure; and then I will tell you how you can host your own fab party.

1. A book that retells the Bible in a narrative style...fiction to make it come alive for you. 

2. A stack of Paula Deen and other cooking magazines...yay! 

3. A pair of awesome yellow wedge loafers. (I wore these to lunch yesterday and everybody was asking where I got them...they were shocked when I told them they were free....) 

4. A Limited waist cinching belt...I always need belts and never want to pay much for them.

As you can see, I racked up. 

I also walked away with 7 less items in my closet...which is a blessing.

Here is how you can host your own Shopping Spree for Free Party:

1.Gather friends.

2. Have them each bring 5+ items of good to great quality (ie. home goods, clothes, accessories, basically anything. We had everything from a set of dishes to a dvd of Tahitian hip-hop).

3. Give each person stickers with their initials on them (# determined by how many items they brought...around 5-7 per person)...go around and place the stickers on the items you want.

4. If you really want an item, place 2 stickers on it.

5. If more than one person wants an item, you play rock paper scissors to decide who wins. If one person placed 2 stickers on an item they get 2 lives in rock paper scissors.

6. Have round 2. If anything is leftover, donate it to Goodwill.

This is an easy way to update your life with out spending money! It's also a lot of fun to see how people's competitive side comes out...

We had some high-demand items. (ie. galoshes)

Amanda is in the process of changing over her blog, but be sure to check her out...she will provide some awesome ideas for you home-making mavens...and for us other folk too.

The beginning of Maplewood in my Life

Do you find your kicks on Route 66?

Yeah, well...so does Maplewood.

I basically explored one strip of the area...and had a good time:

1. I went to my first pawn shop. (Inspired by the History Channels Pawn Stars; I figured I might find something I needed. (aka. a flipping cameo ring.) No such luck.

2. I went to my first oil & vinegar shop. Very cool for you foodies out there. Not so much my thing.

3. I saw a beautiful bed of Irises. (A sight for sore eyes after all the storms we've been having. I'm impressed these survived.)

4. They have a sweet iron fence built around their newspaper stands. (A good sign of a good town, I think).

do you see the maple leaves? Yeah. I know. Clever.

I am excited to have officially gotten a taste of Maplewood, and I look forward to checking out more of the area...including a restaurant called Boogaloo...sounds like a party.

Decapitating a Lamb

Wow. Was that title too graphic?

I actually really like lambs/sheep. Don't be alarmed.

My French family raised sheep. It startled me to discover this when I peeked my head out their kitchen door, looked up, and there was a herd...

...of 3.

I fell in love.

One of my friends from the program gave me a poster of sheep. It's true.

I still have it. Also true.

So, again, let me state I love lambs.

And, well it turns out that according to someone in our small group, eating Lamb cake on Easter is a must have Chicagoan tradition.

(Can anyone out there from Chicago confirm this?)

Yeah, we were all skeptical of this tradition as well.

All said, the lamb looked delicious, and we did not decapitate it. We, instead, slayed it like we would any other cake---by simply slicing it into pieces.

I don't eat coconut, or I'd tell you how delicious it was.

I do, however, eat birds-nests...

Adorable, right? I found the recipe over at Tastykitchen and fell in love. Who says no to butterscotch and peanut-butter?

As you can see, Easter was very special...and full of unique desserts. 

It was sweet to have a group of people to celebrate Christ together.

Gratefully, no animals were hurt during this event.

Now go enjoy your Springtime desserts.

Part 2: Cherokee Antique Row

So, I know it's been a little slow in coming, but here is the 2nd part of our wonderful adventure on Cherokee Row...and really to a few other places as well.

It was awesome having the rents in town and sharing with them our life here in St. Louis.  It's a different experience having your parents come visit you in your world. Loved it.

My dad is a minister of worship and appreciates all things music. 

My mom's dad played the sax.

Mix those things with an antique district and you get:

A very cool, oh so unique, probably very sought out (by all sax enthusiasts) store/repair shop.

The following picture is of a local St. Louis music instrument factory, circa. early 1900's. Pretty sweet.

As we continued down the street we visited 2 more memorable stores.

(Many of the stores are closed on Mondays FYI...so perhaps look the row up on-line before making the trip to make sure all the stores you are seeking out, are open).

One of these memorable stores is:

Remember Captain Kitty? Yeah, this is his place.

The beauty of Lady Jane's, is that it has every type of stain-glass window, door-knob, or fireplace mantle you can imagine.

So, if you are looking to re-do that awesome row house down in Tower Grove or you need some Victorian accents for that fixer-upper in Kirkwood, this is the place for you.

The last high-lighted store of Cherokee Row is one who's name I missed. That's sad. I'm sorry.


BUT, you can't miss it. Because this:

Is in the storefront window.

Yep, this is an old Victorian coal stove.

My mom's grandmother had one of these in her farm house. She said that she was always deathly afraid of going near that stove because her grandmother, aka. "Big Mama" scared all of the grandkids with stories of getting burned...it's so pretty that, that seems like a mistake.

But no, really, it will burn you.

This is a 1940's stove. Completely refurbished. The rockin husband and wife duo who runs this shop, are very picky about which stoves they take and refurbish, resulting in some awesome products.

They have stoves ranging from  the early 1800's to the 1970's.

They had some crazy ideas of a stove back in the day! (including a retractable one... sounds a little unsafe to me.)

I'm telling you, Cherokee Row really has some great stores with fair prices.

And, as my parents pointed out, they have different antiques...you won't find the same things you might in the South or on the East coast.

It offers a great picture of what the Midwest offered years ago. Antiques always tell a story.

Hello Good Friday

4 Things that make me smile on this Good Friday:

1. Christ died for us so that we may have Life.

2. We have a dove who made a nest outside of our apartment window...and she has 1 egg she is busy keeping warm.

3. We are dog-sitting the most precious little Beagle ever. Meet Hunter:

He's happy to meet you too.

4. We have a beautiful arrangement of flowers to greet us each time we walk through the door.

Go enjoy this Friday that the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it!

Part 1: Cherokee Antique Row

Yesterday marked the first full day of my parents' lovely visit to us here in the Louis.

Remember how I mentioned I was trying not to plan every little detail of the trip?

Well, it turned out that we may or may not have crammed any idea of a plan into one day...and so I'm hoping that today is just as fun filled...even if we've already completed much of my plan...

Neither here nor there...This is what we did yesterday:

Ok. Not really. But we did see this lovely cat outside one of the stores yesterday.

Hello Captain Kitty!! (Yes. that is it's real name... think I'd make that up?)

Moving along.

So, there is this really cool area of St. Louis called the Cherokee-Lemp neighborhood to which I was introduced just last week. (Remember that Retro 101 store? Yeah...same area)

Cherokee Antique Row really went well with the Rents. They adore antiquing...it's all about the hunt...and so this was a hit.

The first store we tackled was Elder's Ltd. This place was packed. They had a particularly good selection of dining and bedroom furniture...beautiful sideboards...so if you're looking for some gorgeous and reasonably priced antiques...this is a great place to go.

I also found this:

It is an old library table. My idea for modern day usage is to build a platform and bolt the desk to it, and then use it as a kitchen island....or, I mean, you could use it as a desk...

I also found these awesomely beautiful and detailed summer fireplace screens:

At $125 a piece these were at the best price and in the best shape of all of the screens I found yesterday.

My Dad pointed out that they would be beautiful as a piece of art on a wall...so no worries, you don't have to have a fireplace to appreciate these.

And though these may not be practical for today's travels, they sure would be a perfect accent for a corner in your house... really.

They even have initials!! So personal. So cool.

As you can see, this store was the perfect way to start our shopping adventure yesterday....I will be letting ya'll know about the other places we visited (and will visit) as the week goes on...

...so keep your eyes peels

Today we are visiting downtown St. Charles, MO and later going to Kirkwood, MO for some more shopping.

Can you tell what we like to do together?

Cheers to good finds and good family!

Contact Information
Elder's Ltd.
2124 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
eldersltd@charter.net
314.772.1436
314.703.4216

A New Week

Today my parents are flying in to visit Red and I for a few days.

I'm excited. It's their first time to visit since we've been married and we have a lot in store for them.

Since they've been to St. Louis before and done most of the major tourist attractions, we are free to do the fun, more hole-in-the wall type things.

I've tried to resist planning every moment ( for a few reasons...1- being that I would get anxious if we didn't do everything on the list and 2- being that I'm hoping we can relax part of the time).

BUT I have planned a FEW things for us to do this week...so be looking for some fun updates as we revisit some of Red's and my favorite places, and as we check out some new spots on our radar.

Here are a few places we will be hopping around:
Uncle Bill's
Cherokee Antique Row
The Hill
Nacho Mama's
Kirkwood
Downtown St. Charles
Forrest Park
Straubs (My dad is all about grocery stores)
And of course some estate sales... (St. Louis has this weird/cool thing of garage sales/estate sales on Wednesdays....who knew?)

Be looking forward to some interesting updates.. I'm sure there will be some fun anecdotes, delicious food, and great finds along the way!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Estate Sale Part 2: Did you say Fedora?

No, I don't mean Larry Fedora.

I mean this Fedora:

Despite what that funny look on my face might be saying to you, I am ecstatic to be rockin this hat.

This is my second estate sale find at $2.50. Yeah, be impressed.

I found it in the corner of the Master bedroom's closet...slammed it on my head...asked a lady if I could pull it off...and walked out triumphantly holding it in my hand wondering if I could wear it the rest of the day...I resisted.

It is vintage and made by Dobbs...a famous hat-maker out of New York.

The fedoras Dobbs makes today run around $150+...so you can imagine my elation in finding this hat.

Every person should have at least 1 good hat...it can add sass, class, and, well, swag...

...perhaps you should be looking to invest...everyone needs swag.

Estate Sale Part 1: Strawberry patches...I love you.

Estate sales make me happy. They actually make my whole family happy. It's our thing.

Since moving to the Louis, I haven't been giving Estate sales my all. Which is very sad...

And it had to change people.

So this past Saturday I started the rigorous training necessary for survival, and visited an Estate Sale for the first time in months.

Comfortable shoes, check.
Cash, check.
Diligence and stamina?..working on it.

So, I was meandering through the sale and found a few good deals that I will be sharing with you through-out the week.

The first find is:

Vintage Strawberry Patches stationary....envelopes and all.

I was rummaging through a stack of things on a table, found these, and in turn, found love.

I'm a lover of all things stationary or papery or pretty...and so these fit the bill.

I figured for a buckaroo, this stationary could brighten anyone's day.

Who doesn't love pretty little gals in pretty little dresses, enjoying strawberries?

Yeah I know. That's what I thought too.

So, if you receive a letter from me in the next few months..be expecting Strawberry Patches.

And, yes, I do plan on writing letters.

Be looking for the future posts sharing my other sa-weet deals!

Much love to ya,

Sunny Day in The Louis

For some reason I think that St. Louis should have a nick name.

And Louis is an obvious choice. And I chose it.

So, yesterday I met up with some gals from my church small group for lunch.

We headed down to The Blues City Deli for a delicious meal in a sweet atmosphere. As the owner says "When you walk in, you're gonna hear the Blues and taste the Blues."

Located down in Soulard (An awesome area to check out if you're coming into town...lots of restaurants, shops, and an incredible farmer's market)... The Blues City Deli is rockin'.

I had an incredibly unhealthy and delicious chili dog topped with cheese and onions, some Zapps "Voodoo" potato chips (right outta Louisiana and straight to your heart...they are incredible...try them.) and an awesome Black Cherry Soda.

Don't be jealous.

After lunch, we decided to head down Cherokee Street and check out a store that Kelli recommended: Retro 101.

This place is incredible. Filled with Vintage clothing, furniture, and other household goods, it is worth taking an hour...at least...to plunder it's troves.

The clothing here seemed to be in extraordinarily good condition. Usually I find some moth holes or a few open seams. I didn't find anything of the sort.

We spent our time there talking about where we would have worn these dresses back in their hay-day...and then talked about having a party where we would rock these frocks.

My vote is for a garden party with a table scape like this one I posted before....and with dresses that make us feel like we could be Lucille Ball's other best friend (Move over Ethel).

I look forward to returning to Cherokee Street--where Antique Row is located.


The parents come into town next week...I think we might be hitting that up.


Get to know Louis real intimate-like.


Bring it.


Also, bring me your vote...garden party in party dresses? Or just garden party? You tell me.

Indulgence is a virtue too, right?

Last night, after church, Red and I met up with some new friends to show us more of St. Louis.

Locals by birth (not re-location)...they are an un-ending source of things to do...places to go...things to eat...everything right up our alley.

We started the night at Vin de Set a rooftop bar and bistro. It is an incredible location around the corner from LaFayette Square and overlooks the city including the Arch and the Brewery.

Specializing in French food, Vin de Set does an incredible job of presenting you French fare in a relaxed and "un-stuffy" way.

We spent 3 hours at dinner enjoying drinks, food, and conversation. It is such a pleasure to experience a new place and for the feeling to be just right. Vin de Set offers up the perfect ambiance for a good time.

Word on the street is that as the weather gets warmer they set up live music on the rooftop---you know just in case the atmosphere wasn't already perfect.

After an awesome dinner ( Both Red and I had the Duck Confit...but the stand-outs were the savory crepes and cheese plate we started the meal with)...we headed to Lafayette Square to the Chocolate Bar.

And, Yes. It was exactly what you think it is. A blend of drinks with dessert...and a side offering of small plates (if dinner wasn't enough)..but really the desserts are the point here.

After scarfing down the complimentary chocolate chip cookies, we had a Bailey's ice-cream Martini...man oh man...

Then for "dessert" (because the drink was not enough my friends..let's remember that we are at the Chocolate Bar)...


I had the Caramel Latte Cheesecake...and it was delectable..

We sat there happily, groggily, and fully indulged.

It was a wonderful night. Both restaurants are worth the trip into the city...and trust me you will be satisfied.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Soothing Nature

Last night we experienced one of those crazy intense Mid-Western thunder-storms.

And as I laid in bed trying to fall back to sleep, I was reminded of one of my favorite possessions as a kid...

A CD of a gurgling brook. Yes. It's true.

My family and I were vacationing in Gatlinburg, TN and I had discovered the cd at some outlet store while my parents' debated over a purchase.

After pleading for it with that "I've got to have it look" on my face...I got it...and

Came home and slept with it playing every night. And then I lost it.

Sad story, I know.

All of this to say...the sound of nature is soothing... a thunderstorm...a gurgling brooke...crashing waves...perhaps monkeys swinging through the forest? (I just threw that one in there...but who knows? That might be someone's idea of soothing...)

So I'm here to tell you: sound making machines...CDs...or  killer real locations where you can sleep with your windows open and let real nature in (sans mosquitos)...are all awesome.

What is your favorite relaxing sound? And how did you discover it?

Happy Saturday!

Magical Dining Experience

Do you ever imagine yourself eating a delicious meal in a place sort of like these places?

Or maybe somewhere like this...

I do. All the time. 

When I was studying in France my sophomore year in college, some of my fondest memories were created with my French family down in Nice, FR.

My French parents had a home down on the coast and we met there to spend a week together. It was incredible...we went hiking...exploring through the local markets...ate Moroccan food in a Medieval village...and laid around.

It was wonderful. 

One afternoon I had been attempting to read a French novel they had laying around while wallowing in bed...and well, in reality I just got lost staring out the open window.

When I returned to reality, I could smell the fish cooking that we had bought earlier that morning at the market...I sauntered to the kitchen, my eyes gazing around the room and taking in everything. Ma mere was cooking at the stove and ma pere had just moved the kitchen table outside.

I remember thinking--huh..why not just buy an outdoors table? But what's the point...they aren't there year round and the kitchen table works just fine...so French.

So I wandered outside and sat down with him. He continued to eat his cheese and fruit, and I sat there gazing over the foothills to the glimmer of the sea. It was a dream; truly. I feel blessed to have memories of such an experience...

Years later, eating outside has a magical feel for me. Perhaps not the normal bbq setting, but some others I imagine. 

I hope to one day have a wonderful garden that would readily embrace all al fresco diners or picnickers...I want some magic in my life all the time...

So, imagine my delight when I discovered Outstanding in the Field. 

In turns out dreams can come true...in places like this:

These photos are from outstandinginthefield

.

Outstanding in the Field basically travels all over the world (including, probably driving distance from where you live); sets up tables in beautiful places; brings in world-renowned chefs; feeds you divinely; and satisfies your soul.

To me, this is an experience of a lifetime. Too expensive to do regularly (for most of us), I think that this would be an exceptional gift for celebration.

Dining al fresco is a way to induce freshness into your eating experience...Perhaps you should consider it for this weekend...

Ooo! And perhaps you would like to share with me one of your dreamy al fresco experiences? Please leave it under comments.

Enjoy my dear friends!

Cleanliness is a Virtue..and a great Gift

Yesterday was one of those glorious days that was warmer than it was supposed to be and invited you to skip over any responsibility you might have had and just be outside...

...and maybe eat a delicious lunch with a friend...

...and maybe mosey around some shops that make you giddy from the inside out.


Provenance Soapworks is one such shop.

You walk in and immediately feel like you should gather up every bar of soap in sight. Seriously.

The owner and creator of the shop, Carolyn (CJ) Holden, blends together country-French style with an effortless clean aesthetic in a way that deeply satisfies as well as entrances the shopper to stop and smell every product (from soaps to hand scrubs to bath oils and bombs).

The products CJ offers are natural, beautiful, aromatic, and creative.

I remember the first time I visited the shop, she explained to me that if it is in the title of the soap, then it is in the soap...

So that bar of peaches and creme?.. Yeah, it actually has peaches and cream in it.

Now, don't be put off by the thought of rubbing peaches all over yourself...it could be a good thing...and besides..

CJ is very well-versed in how these particular ingredients in each product are beneficial for the skin and will happily explain their benefits to you.

A piece of France in Historic St. Charles, Provenance Soapworks is a shop for the senses. Walk in curious and leave satisfied...for yourself or for whomever you decide to buy gifts for.

Be sure to check out the soap-making process in the back of the shop while you try one of their hand scrubs (the results are delightful)...

Be clean and indulge your senses,

Contact Information

Provenance Soapworks
Carolyn Holder

523 South Main Street

Saint Charles, MO 63301

636.577.1972

ProvenanceSoaps@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/ProvenanceSoaps

www.twitter.com/ProvenanceSoaps

Getting lost is part of the deal buddy...

After volunteering this morning, I decided to wander around the city and see what I might find.

By wander, I mean get lost.

I was down on Gravois in South City and decided to turn right....and go for at least 10 miles.

It's amazing how you can discover certain ethnic areas just by venturing down a street you don't know (Bosnian grocery anyone?).

Though I didn't find the "next it thing" it was pretty cool taking in all of the different shops available...

...a vintage toy shop  (going back there)...oriental rug shops...gyro shops...consignment stores galore...

You name it, I probably passed it.

Ok, probably not. But there was a lot of diverse options.

Getting lost is part of the process of tapping into your world. I figure the more I get lost, the more I will find.

What good news! It totally makes up for those slight moments of panic and bewilderment at whether or not your GPS will decide to work.

Totally unrelated in every-way...besides the theme of "lost"...is this Katy Perry video. It'll resonate with you in an unexpected way...especially if you have ever felt lost.



Much Love,