Sunday, March 31, 2013

Shabby Apple Giveaway (Closed)


Happy Easter!

Spring seems to have arrived this weekend, so to celebrate I am teaming up with Shabby Apple to bring you a $50 gift card to use at their online shop!  EEEKKK!

Dresses and blouses and skirts.  Oh my!

Here are a few of my faves.......

                           gingham skirt                            polka dot dress                           shoes


To be eligible, you must have a USA shipping address.  To enter, go "like" Shabby Apple on Facebook.  Then visit their online boutique.  Come back here and tell me which item is your favorite!  Don't forget to leave your email address!

Additional entries can be made by:  following This Vintage Grove via Bloglovin' and/or GFC;  liking This Vintage Grove on Facebook;  following This Vintage Grove on Twitter; or following This Vintage Grove on Instagram.  For each activity you choose to do, please leave separate comments!

The giveaway will close at midnight on April 6th!  Winner (chosen at random) will be announced on Monday, April 8th!

Good luck!!!










stillbeingmolly

Friday, March 29, 2013

This Week (in Instagram)


Hello Friday.  I've been waiting for you.  See, there's no school today, so you are my favorite.

Now for a little recap of what brought me to you.

Dinner out with the sis and her bebes last weekend.......


The mister is a child whisperer.  Magical, I swear.  They l.o.v.e. him.

*   *   *   *

A little retail therapy.........


A pair of Minnetonka moccasins never hurt anyone.  Even if you can't pull them off.

They were on sale.

*   *   *   * 

Field trip anyone?


When was the last time you rode one of these?

Jealous?

*   *   *   * 

If that doesn't make you long for a trip on a big yellow bus, maybe this will.....


Our annual trip is to Fantastic Caverns.

It's pretty dang neat.  And it ended up being almost seventy degrees that day.

*   *   *   * 

And finally.  A little practical joke on the mister.........


One of his biggest pet peeves is when folks block a loading dock.  He gets stuck.  He then has to hunt down the car owner or just wait.  This is not convenient for FedEx drivers.  Who are on a time crunch.

Don't block loading docks.

Anyway.  He called me to say that he was at a pick-up location right by our house.

I thought it would be funny to hop on over, block him in, and hide.

Totally worked.

It was hilarious.

Hopefully a payback isn't in the works.









*   *   *   *

Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Vintage Mug Swap


Recently, I participated in a fun little swap..........a vintage mug swap.

My partner and I received our packages on the same day!

She sent me..........


I was thrilled with that particular mug.  I collect Jadeite!!!  How did she know I had only one that needed its mate!?!

But that's not all.

She also surprised me via email.........


Starbucks?

COME ON!  I about died.

She really took her time to find out what I love!

I was just hoping she'd love what I'd sent her.........

(stolen from Ann Marie's Instagram)

I went all daisies for her......with matching mugs, fun tea, and a vintage canister.

According to her Instagram post, she ended up a happy camper too!

Thanks again to Sarah for hosting and to Ann Marie for her thoughtfulness!

I can't wait for the next swap!









Sunday, March 24, 2013

Thrifting Frenzy


Thrifting has been picking up around here a bit.

Spring break didn't hurt either.  I could hit up some thrifts that I usually don't make time for.

It started with these finds..........


Somewhere in the middle of the week I found two sets of pillowcases.......


These don't match any of my bedrooms at all, but they kind of make me want to collect vintage pillowcases.

If they were just singles, I think I'd have an easier time parting with them.  But they both came in pairs.

I think Sir Chester agrees.  Keep.

Another keep..........


I have a growing collecting of these Avon Christmas perfume bottles.  I'm only missing the candle and the bells.  I might have about three of the Santas already.

I just can't resist them.

I can't resist floral paint-by-numbers either........


Or little pitchers. 

Or vintage sweaters......


I bought this to sell.  But then I put it on.

It's mint green.

I think I'll add it to my 80's sweater collection.

So what then, out of all this, will I part with?

I think the only thing that will end up in the booth is this........


And really.  It pains me.

I've had it priced and ready for a week, but something keeps telling me to wait.

It doesn't even fit.

I need an intervention.







*   *   *   *

stillbeingmolly


Friday, March 22, 2013

A Letter


Dear Winter,

Here we are again.

You sure did do your job this year.  Thank you so much for the four snow days you've delivered.  And thank you for the beautiful scene in my sister's backyard yesterday.......


Thank you for the text I got last night, allowing me to sleep in today.......


However.  Now that it's actually SPRING, I think you should probably take a leave of absence.

You've had a great run. 

It's time to leave with some dignity.

Not that I won't love every last minute of today, but the countdown to summer isn't getting any shorter with your snowy surprises.

So.  While I can't wait to see you again (next year) I think it's time to part ways.

Love,

Danavee



Photobucket

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

What I Wore (on class picture day)


I know I wore a mustard and gray outfit recently.

I really love the color combo.

So I wanted to wear it again......on class picture day.

This time, however, I switched it up by wearing mustard on bottom and gray on top.........


This was my attempt at recreating a pin I loved.

Mustard, gray, white, and brown.  It's a good thing.

But let's talk about my hair..........


Last Friday, I did something I'd been dying to do forever.

Pun intended.

I made an appointment with my hairdresser.  For an ombre color.......in red violet. 

And I love it.

The mister does too.

The fourth graders in my life aren't so sure though.

Can't please everyone!








Sunday, March 17, 2013

Master Bedroom Decor


About two years ago, I purchased matching vintage windows.......


I knew exactly where I wanted them to go.  Flanking the curtains in our master bedroom.

Why it took this long to hang them, I don't know.  It's just kind of how I operate.  I mean, you know how long it took me to finish the special room.  I'm weird.

Anyway.

After spray painting my nightstand black last week........


I finally had the urge to get them on the wall.........


The mister was lovely and patient while I told him "a little higher on the right" and other such phrases.

Still need to paint.........light gray??

Still need lamps.........mercury glass, I think???

Still need to decide on an accent color for pillows and accessories.

But feeling a little closer to being finished.........


Do we like the red as an accent?

What about turquoise?








Linking up with:


stillbeingmolly

Friday, March 15, 2013

Spring Break (in Instagram)


One whole week off.

Between lunch dates and sleeping past 6:00 am, it's been a good week.

I welcomed spring break with fun mail.........



Some thrifting did occur..........



The booth got freshened up and rearranged........



It was finally warm enough to spray paint..........



I baked a new-to-me cake.........



And tried to decide where to hang these babies........



But then I remembered that I'm crazy.  The whole "must be perfectly symmetrical" thing.

It's an issue.

And that hanging them alone would only end badly.

I mean someone has to hold them while I'm standing at the foot of my bed eyeballing how high they should go.  How many inches they should be from the curtains.  Their distance from the nightstands. 

Right?










*   *   *   *

Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

What I Wore (to a wedding)


Went to a wedding on Saturday.

The temperature that day was like springy perfection.  The wind, however, was a beast.

I gave up at getting a decent picture.........


While frantically tearing through my closet because I was determined NOT to go shopping for a new dress, I found this never-been-worn forgotten frock shoved at the very back. 

Sometimes the Express clearance area can be a girl's best friend.

Intuition can be too.

I knew I'd need a cheetah print dress (with pockets) someday.











Sunday, March 10, 2013

Fudge Brownie Cookies


The mister loves brownies.  I love cookies.

So when I saw a recipe on Pinterest for Fudge Brownie Cookies, I figured I couldn't go wrong!



Fudge Brownie Cookies


1 package of fudge brownie mix (18 to 21 oz.)
1 1/4 cups of flour
1/4 cup of packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted and cooled butter
2 Tbsp water (or more as needed)
1 cup of large milk chocolate chips

Stir the brownie mix, flour, and sugar together.  Stir in eggs one at a time using a heavy duty spoon as the dough will be very thick.  Add the butter and water.  If it appears that it needs more water, add one more tablespoon.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Cover and refrigerate dough for two hours.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a cookie sheet.  Drop heaping tablespoons onto the cookie sheet.  Press down slightly on each cookie with a spatula, barely flattening them.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Allow cookies to cool for two minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.


*   *   *   *

We ended up eating every last cookie.

That's what happens when you make them on a snow day.







 *   *   *   *

Linking up with:


Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Momsstillbeingmolly

Friday, March 8, 2013

Weekly Recap (Instagram Style)


Spring break is here.

I just have to make it through Friday.  Then I'll be footloose and fancy free for nine days.

The week leading up to spring break is usually long.  Long enough that this was the scene by Wednesday........


Yes, I had a large Coke three nights in a row.  Yes, all three ended up on my bathroom counter.  Yes, they are all still sitting there.

I have nine days to clean the bathroom coming right up.

*    *    *    *

While work was tough this week (spring fever, you know) we did have some fun........


The zoo came to see us!

Now I want an owl.

 *    *    *    *

More on work.

So, there's this gigantic bulletin board outside my classroom door.

Whomever invented bulletin boards can go jump in a lake.

Anyway, this monstrosity needed to be changed.  The snowmen had had a good run........


Luckily, I share this bad boy with another teacher.

We decided to poll our classes.

Mine are avid believers.

 *    *    *    *

Got a new blouse.........


Couldn't decide if I should knot the tie and let it hang orrrrr tie it in a little bow, shortening it up a bit.

What sayeth you?

 *    *    *    *

And finally.

Leola's Spring Open House.

Looked forward to it alllll week.  It never disappoints.  Especially when you buy something awesome......


This little table and I have a long-standing relationship.

Once upon a time....

I spotted a photo of it when Pheona's posted their sale preview pictures on Facebook!  I went to that sale specifically to buy it.  I was too slow that morning.  It had already been snatched up by the time I got there.

That was well over a year ago.

But clearly, this story has a happy ending!

A vendor at Leola's purchased it.  It ended up in her booth.

And now it's mine.

We will live happily ever after.

The End!








*   *   *   *

Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

What I Wore (Shanspiration)


I am not an outfit planner-outer.

I might go through two to three outfits before I make my final decision most mornings.

Thus the special room is regularly in a state of disarray.  As I discard the outfits that do not win on my guest bed.

(The mister said it wouldn't last.  A clean guest bedroom, that is.  He gave me a week.  He wins.)

Anyway.

One day last week, before getting ready for work, I was hitting up my favorite blogs.  And one of my daily reads provided all the inspiration I needed to make that morning as easy one.

Shanna had posted her own Pinspiration that morning.......... 
 


I knew I had something camel, red, and striped in my closet piles.  I called it my Shanspiration....


To work with what I had, I reversed the look.  Camel on bottom, red on top.

Not a perfect knock-off.

But it was the only outfit that I had to try on that morning!  So nothing was added to the pile on the guest bed.

Annnnnnd Shanna gave me her seal of approval on Instagram.

Which is all this girl could ask for.

Does that sound stalker-y?

Sorry, Shanna.