My First Artists Date: Antique Shopping

I FINALLY got around to doing my first artists date. I decided to get myself to an antique store for a project I’ve been meaning to do. I also quickly dropped by Pier 1 to take a look at their sale. Okay, before I go any further and show you what I bought, I need to defend my decision to do an artists date that looks ALOT like aimless shopping:). As a working mother, I never actually leave the house on an errand that is SPECIFICALLY to make my house prettier WITHOUT my kids. Well, at least not since I moved to Salt Lake. I’ve sort of just been getting by in our rental house. However, I’ve been feeling a very strong urge to decorate my living room and kitchen the last few days. I had a couple of projects in mind and I needed to get the materials cheap. one thing I knew I wanted was a very large frame. I also wanted  to check out the local antique store. So, I found a place called Moriarty’s Antiques. I managed to arrive Saturday morning at 10:30am and it didn’t open until 11:00am. Pier 1 was just around the corner so I popped in for a second. They were having a serious sale (a reason I hardly wander out of my house during the January through March months! I ended up buying the red plate in this set:

2257834I only saw the little red salad plate, which I bought all 12 they had in store (now that I see the whole set, I wish they had the bowl in the store too! I would have grabbed that baby up!). I have a set of Crate and Barrel white dishes and this red plate is the perfect accent! How much did I get those darling little plates for? $1.50 a piece… $18 later I’m a happy girl! 

At 11:00am, I was headed to the antique shop where I meandered for an hour. Oh happy, meanderings!!!! I love this artists date thing. I just love antique stores because you can really find unique and loved items that have so many uses…I like finding some new use for these old items! I ended up buying a monster frame that was hideous for only $10!!!! And I’ll show it to you soon (I promise) because ever since I bought it, I have been dolling it up for a fantastic kids/kitchen project.

So I would consider my first artists date a total success. I just like giving myself the chance to see something different and new. And I’m addicted now! I can’t wait for the next one!

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San Francisco Day 2

San Francisco: Day 2
Day 2 in San Francisco was a rush around day since Jen and I had decided to paint her apartment. She had picked out colors the night before and picked up paint and supplies in the morning.
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Now that I have mentioned it, I must explain the 7 Layers of Hell. I feel as if I’ve explained this concept before, coined by one Lachelle Smith while Josh and I lived in student housing at the University of Minnesota. It’s basically used in the context of a situation in which you would hate to be doing forever (the reference, I believe comes from Dante’s Inferno). Such things may include washing dishes (Lachelle and Nick’s 7th layer), checking voicemail (a Jen Shaw favorite), or putting gas the car (yes, one of mine…don’t ask me why! I just hate doing it!).

Have a Layer of Hell you want to share? Go ahead. Oh ya, one of my layers includes single cruises (sorry, this is a reference to the post called Airplane Conversations).

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My first trip to San Francisco

Day 1: San Francisco with Jen

I have been on a part-business and part-pleasure trip to California now for 3 days. So I’m here to report on all the fun and fabulous things we have been up to. My girlfriend Jen lives in San Francisco (I am in Salt Lake City) and you can grab her perspective on this trip at theprojectgirl.

So Jen took me to her favorite cupcake place Sprinkles. I am a fan!
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My favorite is white coconut frosting over chocolate, fluffy goodness! Who knew that happiness was so easily attained? I also had the red velvet (not at the same time…although I wanted to eat every cupcake they had there!). If you have a favorite, post it!

We spent the first day I was in town shopping the cool boutiques of San Francisco. Check out some of the shops we went to!

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Why do I love pretty things so much? These shops were filled with the most adorable things! Ahh, you will like this one…

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Hehee. Might be helpful, huh? Had to buy the book just in case…I’d hate to lose my soul! For some reason I am having trouble loading the photos of my very cute buys at the antique store, so I will have them up in the next post!

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Heather Bailey and Madsen Bikes

Well, Jen is in town for business and she’s over tonight (yes, it is 12:25 in the morning) and, of course, we start talking about design (what else? we’re a couple of obsessed neurotics!). She introduced me to a fabric designer’s blog that I MUST tell you about because it is so FABULOUS! Her name is Heather Bailey and it is such a great blog! She has a real way with color:

here’s her blog: http://www.heatherbailey.typepad.com.

My second obsession that i keep meaning to post about is Madsen Bikes. I MUST have one of these bikes in the spring (I am totally going to get one come march). The buckets in the back can hold kids or groceries. I love them! Take a look!

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