Wow. I'm officially on the hunt for my own globe. I always thought they were a bit trite and boring, as it seems everyone has one, but THIS, this is too good.

I'm in love with this wooden stamp set from Ebay. I have it in my mind that if I owned it I would use it constantly for fun little craft projects, but the reality is that it would probably get stowed in a cabinet and pulled out once or twice for a special occasion. When you think about it realistically, it's actually cheaper to buy cards other people have made.

Also, I spontaneously purchased a set of 136 3" Black Walnut letters and numbers on Ebay. I have no idea what I'll use them for, but I couldn't resist. I can't wait to post pictures of them.

I'm on the lookout for vintage portraits at the thrift store. Sfgirlbybay's portrait wall has inspired me to start my own collection. So far I've already claimed two vintage landscape paintings that are waiting to be hung. I love the idea of collaging vintage art together the way Victoria has done.

Some inspiration to help me through a tough week. I'm really enjoying Kylie Fife's blog right now and she's provided an enormous boost of inspiration for me.

Also, Bird and Banner has the amazing simplistic style that I crave for my own online journal, and I've been pouring through the archives at work.

Also a big thank you to Ella for mentioning me on her blog. Her kind words really brightened my day.

Saturday's loot was fantastic.

It definitely took the edge off when I found out that my credit card was stolen Friday night after buying a burger.

A sweet acrylic painting on canvas. That little white spot is a place where the paint chipped off, but I think it looks like a ghostly character.

A vintage bowling bag to make up for the last one that I decided not to buy. I'm glad I waited, this one is so much better.

The wooden spoon I've been looking for in a great wooden salad serving set.

(I make these lists of things I hope to find at the thrift store, and I usually find it them so long as its within reason)

A geometric bowl. That pattern is too great.

At work, I sometimes have a lot of down time that I spend reading books I get from the library, Apartment therapy, homework, blogs that haven't been blocked by my company's internet filter, and Etsy shops.

The other day I remembered a poster I saw years ago that advertised the movie Paris, je t'aime. At the time, I wanted it so badly, but the Etsy shop was not selling it, it was using it as a prop to sell the wooden hanger holding it. I did internet searches with no results, and gave up hope of ever finding it again. The thought actually occurred to me to search for the actual Etsy listing once more, but I had no idea where to even start.

Flash forward to yesterday. I was skimming vintage Etsy stores and happened to visit the "Sold" category of HelloVictrory's shop. There, about ten items down, was my poster.

Amazed, I looked at it, and my determination was alit once more. I did a quick internet search, and with the help of a cached blog, found the online Japanese movie poster store that had it for sale for a mere $2 plus $9 shipping. I bought three.

I'm so excited to get it in the mail and have it framed. It will look amazing in our currently art-less bedroom.

I think it was fate that it was delivered once more.

I'm dying to get one of these French style market baskets for Farmers Market come June. It would make me feel like Julia Child in Paris. There really is nothing more adorable than a baguette sticking out of a basket bag with leather straps.

Do you remember a while back when I did a post about this little doll house and how I couldn't justify the purchase? Well, I ended up linking the post to Alex Keller, the Etsy seller, and apparently she liked it. She ended up selling it to me for a discounted price, and now it's mine! It's been a lot of fun experimenting with the tiny things that will fit in the nooks and crannies. I'm just so grateful for the internet and the kindness of strangers.

I spent last night embroidering until 2:30 AM. It occurred to me that I could evolve the nautical theme of the thrift store place mats by adding some stitches.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the other four, but I'm quite proud of the headway I've made thus far.

Today's thrift store finds.

Had a really fantastic Friday night out with Cindy and Shawn. We met up at Desert Edge, a brewery I've never even heard of located on the second floor of Trolley Square Mall. We had a hell of a time even finding it because neither of us could conceive of a bar INSIDE of a mall. We did eventually find it, and we enjoyed a smoky dark lager that tasted as if it contained espresso. Afterwards we headed to the W, but some Brooklyn MC had taken over the place, and it was $10 a head to get in. We may have considered it, but it was crowded and no one was even dancing-- a deal breaker.

On our walk back to our car, Trent and I were stopped by a young homeless man beneath a tree with a broken banjo beside him and a cup for change.

"Trade me hats!" He yelled at Trent.

We looked at each other, and Trent replied that although he had a pretty snazzy hat, he thought I'd be happiest if he kept his own.

"Jason" started to tell us about his banjo and how the money he was collecting was to fix her. I can't recall the exact mapping of the conversation, as the lager had completely overruled me by then, but I asked him if she (the banjo) had a name.

"It's Audrey Horn", he replied.

Trent gave him a ten.

A timeline of Spring. Within a week, the tree in our front yard exploded with white blossoms, bringing to mind the age-old popcorn popping on the apricot tree song.

Trent took that last picture, and I love it.

It's just so cute. I can't help myself. Trent is begging me to do it, and I'm definitely

struggling with the decision. On the one hand, the thought of 3 minute showers and

zero blow-drying sounds amazing. On the other hand, losing all my femininity would

be a big adjustment.

Sigh...

Took a trip to Ikea today and bought a couple frames for our art. This print of the Secret Door is my favorite, and it looks fabulous in our kitchen.

We also got some new dishes and place mats, as well as some roman shades for our giant living room window. That leaves all but one window removed of horrendous metal blinds- Yeah!

Also, I find it hard to believe that no one has taken me up on my offer to have one of the extra prints. All you need to do is email me with your address and I will mail you a copy of this print. It's pretty awesome, so I'd get on that if I were you.

I feel weird about posting pictures of myself on my blog, but I figure it will be cool to look back on them in a few years and see how I was sportin' my hair at 21.

Still getting used to the bangs.

Thank you, Trent for taking a million photos of me so that I could find two I liked. ;)

A $.50 thrift store purchase. I think they're rather special. I wish the colors translated better on camera; each of them are a unique shade of stunning turquoise color and the wicks are yellow from age. It's funny to imagine that birthday candles were once advertised in Life Magazine.

I haven't been having really great finds in the last couple of weeks, and I suspect it's because they're all being overshadowed by the Hangitall. Everything seems lackluster in comparison. I think I need to reset so that I can find joy in the small things. Like vintage birthday candles.