Checking In

Good morning!

Well, people, it was pretty much the most awesome weekend ever. So awesome, I feel the need to chronicle it in my Monday morning post. I have a lot on my plate at work today, but let's hit the highlights! Items:

((teenybopper screaming ensues))

• Friday: Eartha and I did not die in the Great Freezing Rain Storm of 2013-- while the back roads of Ashland City were initially a little confusing to us ("Does this road just end? What is with this stop light?"), we did make it through and found some goofy little goods to take back to town. Among other things, I got a stack of early 80's Twilight Zone: the Magazine issues and more hankies than anyone should honestly own; Eartha guilted herself into buying a blue-eyeshadowed, human faced fifties' plush cat and some UH-DORABLE children's books. Run over and see her post on her finds here. It was fuuuuuuun!
• Saturday: I hit the flea market for day one with my pappy. Later that day, Matthew was called in to his secret side line gig as an Elvis impersonator (you thought he couldn't be cuter? You were wrong), and check this out for an event-- it was the Humane Society's annual fundraising dinner/dog fashion show, "Unleashed". The mayor was there. Nudie apprentice and suitmaker extraordinaire Manuel was there. I even saw Mike Wolfe in a weird, awesome, glitzed out Roy Acuff style cowboy jacket standing near the cordoned off media area. Not only were we at this swanky hotel on West End, not only were there freakin' dogs of every size and color everywhere, but Matthew actually got paid to attend! The life of a musician never ceases to amaze me. We ate crazy good pad Thai at the Smiling Elephant afterwards, and went home to watch old episodes of Project Runway. Roaring success of a Saturday.
• Sunday: Rae and her husband Travis called us up to hit the flea market for last-day discounts, and boy, they had no sooner to say "You guys free this morning?" than we were at the fairgrounds, rarin' to go! We had many laughs and seriously, those two must have had their regular eyes removed and replaced with hawk eyes, because they are GOOD at spotting the best stuff. We even ran into fellow Nashville bloggers Jenna and Elizabeth at one kitsch strewn table, which was crazy, because again, this weekend for me was like "here are all the bloggers you like, but in REAL LIFE." Though, I guess if you wanted to get a good shot of meeting up with Nashville's die-hard pickers, between estate sales and the flea market, you're going to spot one of us in our natural habitat, haha. I got a whole plastic sackful of dresses and a couple little knickknack guys. My love affair with the flea market continues.

Sadly, I was too busy having fun to take pictures! But I have made this representative collage of some of the things I found:

Now, these are all similar items from ebay or etsy instead of the actual thing in my home, but I think they're pretty similar to the finds, and will do in a pinch! Clockwise from top left: 1937 Homer Laughlin "Briar Rose" pattern dishes, $11 (16 pcs, four cups,  four saucers, four salad plates, four dinner plates...no crazing and only one cracked cup...must keep on the lookout for bowls!); a Himalayan Salt Lamp, $8 (I didn't know what it was when I bought it, and I'm still not 100% sure what it does, but it looks so cool!); 10 vintage hankies of similarly bright graphics, $8 (including one of the Empire State Building); and a 1953 "Eh! Cumpari" novelty charm bracelet, $5. The musical instruments on the chain are all different instruments mentioned in the song "Eh! Cumpari". You coulda knocked me over with a feather!

Today, I've got another lead on some Craigslist bounty-- will have to let you know later in the week if it pans out, but keep your little fingers crossed for me! I think it is the FINAL ITEM to be put in the den. You thought I'd forgotten, but I haven't! Here's a preview pic plus Matthew (like a quarter, I can use him to demonstrate scale):

Intrigued? You should be; I am SO. EXCITED. ABOUT. THIS ROOM. Now, if we could only get that DANG carpet up (patience is a virtue).

What all did you get into this weekend? Did you find anything good at the sales? Let's talk!

I gotta jet so I can get crackin' on the workload, but I will see you guys here tomorrow!