Chicago 2012 visit

I just got back from a nice visit to Chicago--I enjoyed catching up with my friend K and others, enjoying the cool weather, eating lots of great food, and doing lots of window shopping and actual shopping down Michigan Ave and other little unique neighborhoods.  Here are a few pictures from the trip!

My welcoming party

Delicious pizza and salad at one of K's favorite neighborhood haunts

Shopping on Lincoln Square

Wienermobile sighting!

 

Takeout bao?  Yes please!

A vintage DVF discovery

And of course Garrett popcorn

True dat, Garrett popcorn!

Wishlist Wednesday: a fluffy kitty

Meet Fluffy.  This little cutie was my first pet companion--I got her when I was a junior in high school and she and I became inseparable.  When I left for college, my brother's family took her in and she became theirs.  Whenever I would visit, she was not happy to see me for oh about six years or so.  Cats hold grudges evidently.  Fluffy's disposition also soured after a couple of moves and two toddlers running after her.  She was infamous for her "double claw move" where she'd hiss at you and try to swipe at you with not one but both claws.  But after a near death experience, Fluffy decided to give in and embrace life so she now tolerates it when the kids try to play with her and she also snuggles with me in bed at night and purrs loudly.

While I love my two pups dearly, there are times that I really really want a kitty.  I think my temperament is more suited to having a cat--they are independent and yet loving.  And mostly seem to respect personal space, unlike two puppies I know.  However, I suppose getting a cat would then leave the door open for B to begin creating his own personal petting zoo complete with goats and pigs.  He's even got them picked out already...

So, which are you?  A dog person or a cat person? (or in B's case, a dog/goat/pig person?)

Vintage Monday: Treasure hunting

So you've seen most of my treasures on Vintage Mondays.  Today, I thought I'd show you where the treasures usually come from.  I do a lot of online shopping through ebay and etsy, but what I love best is to be able to view and touch things in person.  Bonus points if you have to dig for it.

There are vintage/antique stores that are carefully edited, and then there are stores that believe in cramming in items onto every available surface.  These stores tend to have the best deals and it's fun to root around and see what you can come up with after all the dust has settled.

Vintage shopping/thrifting is not for the faint of heart.  I present you exhibit A:

Just think about walking into this room.  Is this your worst nightmare?  Or do you feel lightheaded with all the possibilties?

Let's say you decide to take a step forward and examine the room a little closer.  Do you say to yourself: "Why on earth is there a neon palm tree in here?"  Or do you think "Hey, that would be perfect for the patio!" (don't worry honey I didn't get it)

These pictures are from Good Finds, a really fun place to dig and browse here in Tallahassee.  And just when you're about crossed eyed from all the goodness in the store, you go outside and up some rickety stairs at your own peril...

To find another floor of treasures waiting to be unearthed 

Sometimes you come out empty handed.  And sometimes you come out lucky...

But most of all, if you are willing to look high and low, you'll always find something that'll give you a good laugh!