My latest ETSY favorites

Etsy is one of those sites that I just have to go on every day. Mostly it's to be inspired by all the gorgeous stuff on there, and to smile at the fun and unique things. I love when people share their personal etsy favorites on blogs, so I thought I'd give it a go.

1.) Prairie Seed dry goods.

This shop is a lovely mix of vintage and handmade items such as sachets, wedding accessories, and aprons.
I love the sweetness and playfulness of their items. And the photographs are so beautiful, I had to look at every item. They look like they're from a magazine.

Here's what caught my eye:

1. lovely lavender and chamomile sachet, $8.  2. gingham gathering apron, $30.  3. custom wedding cake decoration textile flowers, $38.  4. Giraffe cake topper in wool, linen, and vintage lace

5. beautiful vintage milk glass plate, $20.

Too bad the cookies weren't for sale, I'd buy those too! ;)

2.) In the "cute but I'll never buy it beccause it's too expensive for me (at least for now)" category is this Vintage Drawers credenza ($1,150) by mamnyc. 

I just love the vintage-y/funky look it has.

3.) Yellowsquarelove is one of the most fascinating stores I've come across on etsy. Here you will find the most intriguing and delightful lamps, made out of everyday objects in an unexpected way. For example, you'll find lamps made from thermoses...

and vintage Fisher Price toys...

and radios. The hubby would like that one.

There's a few I really love in there, one of them being this

little number for the kitchen.

Nostalgic Thermos lamp, $78.

1970 Fisher Price toy plane lamp, $128.

Am/Fm Radio lamp, $120.

Vintage Hy-Klas Coffee tin lamp, $86.

4.) This Hydrangea lamp from Sarah Foote is so beautiful, especially lit...I would just stare at it. $649.  They also have a seaweed lamp and a spaghetti lamp! 

5.) I want this! And it's so affordable! I think I'm going to have to point this out to the hubby...the initial bunnies bracelet, $24. From iadornu (who, incidentally, has a lot of other stamped jewelry in unique designs...which can be hard to find, at least for me).

Little bunnies for each of my babies. I love it.

What are you loving on etsy right now?

If there's anything you really love, let me know!

catching up.

I recieved a lovely belated birthday call yesterday from a friend, and that made me realize I forgot to post a picture of the gorgeous vintage jewelry Nate bought for me!

And it came with matching earrings :)

He knows of course how much I adore vintage.

Thank you for my present Nate! ❤

We also had a nice Father's Day. We took the kids to the park,

then they played in the front yard for the rest of the afternoon.

For dinner there was steak, twice-baked potatoes, salad,

and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Yum.

A thumbs-up from Dada 

declaring the top of the jungle gym a-ok.

Oh, doesn't someone look so innocent here.

Who me?

Liam's stage right now: climbing!

No joking--he's wearing a Disney's Cars shoes,

t-shirt, and hat. Were he fully potty-trained, his chones

would probably be Cars too.

If he isn't wearing something "Cars" he gets upset!

I love that I have such a silly little girl,

though she can be a true handful sometimes! 

Just give me some dirt and a Hot Wheel, and I'm good.

The first day of summer today and it was 104 degrees out.

Soon we move to the ocean and what a change in temperature

that will be. Exciting changes around the corner!

dada day.

They go by many names, but to us--he's "dada."

For my first Mother's Day--when I was pregnant with Addie--

he bought me flowers, a card, and a baby-care book

with the most beautiful inscription inside.

As the pregnancy moved along, he would look at 

baby magazines with me, eager to learn all there was to know

about the sweet little baby we awaited.

He went to every single doctor's appointment with Addie--

even rushing from work in order to make it.

When Addie was born, he was so genuinely

excited, happy, and proud.

Like any good Dada.

Even when another little baby joined our family

less than a year later...

He still kept his cool :)

And met Daddyhood head on with a smile.

Then baby #3 joined us...

adding a new kind of chaos to the mix.

He still kept his cool.

And his sense of humor ;)

With each birth, he was there for me unconditionally,

calming my worries and fears.

He's greeted each child with immense love, protection,

sweetness, and joy.

As they've grown, he's guided steps,

fixed ouchies, and made them laugh like mad.

Thank you, Dada, for being exactly who you are.

And thank you to my dad for all he's ever done for me

(which is a LOT!)

and for being such a wonderful Papa.

And Poppi, thank you for being wonderful too!

I am so blessed and grateful for all of you! :)

To all men who touch their children's lives

through their love, guidance, and protection--

thank you.

Happy Father's Day!

Birthday (thrift store) Haul

Yesterday was my birthday, and because we are on a tight budget due to our upcoming move (right around the corner--well, not literally, but time-wise), I told Nate I wanted to go thrift-shopping for my birthday. I mean, seriously...when one doesn't have much money to spend, isn't thrifting just the perfect way to feel like you've gotten more "bang" for your buck...especially if you've found a real treasure?


So! Here is what I found:

First up, an old creepy-cool clown painting from the 50's or 60's. Did I mention I ADORE vintage art? Even the kitschy stuff! However, this one is going into my shop.

(Case in point: doesn't this collection of random vintage paintings from Oh Happy Day look super-cool?)

This somewhat garish 70's framed art beckoned to me, I'll admit.

It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland.

Keeping the kitsch factor going, I present to you this vintage potholder.

Isn't it funny how cartoon-y things like this

were a lot more common back then?

Now for some books, which a good book-a-holic like myself

can never miss.

This series by Peggy Parish was one of my absolute favorites as a kid.

Therefore, I was thrilled when I saw this book!

I loved books (such as the one above) about "mysteries," clues, etc. as a child.

I find it very cute that Addie already shows a like

for the same things. One of her favorite shows is Scooby-Doo, 

and she's constantly telling me we have to "solve the mystery."

At the same thrift store, I found this old "Garden Flowers" volume of The Nature Library.

It's from the 20's, and has the loveliest pictures.

More old books--sigh :) The kids and I love Maurice Sendak.

"Little Bear" (the cartoon, not the book--yet) is big around our house.

(p.s. I also like the cute little retro price sticker on it!)

I dunno why, but I just liked this one--

maybe because I "believe" in ghosts and have caught a few evp's myself?

I have to share about this cool website I found! 

It's called "Vintage Kids Books my Kid Loves."

The author reviews old vintage books, how cool is that?

The only worry I have is now I'm going to start falling

in love with a lot of old kid's books once I see them on her blog!

Okay, I gotta sneak these in....moreoldpillowcasesinbrightcutecolors.

I just can't resist. 

This is a really cute 70's "teacher's" game. I found the illustrations charmed me.

Of course, whether some things make it into my shop or not

isn't always up to me. It's also up to Addie. The game above

is one such example. I think she's already claimed it as her own :)

Speaking of Addie, this lil girl is doing a number on me lately.

She is being SO sweet to her two little brothers...like crazy.

Not all the time, but enough to make me notice, lol.

Does she do this because she KNOWS even the most 

stressed of mommies will turn into jell-o upon seeing 

her kids--dare we say it--get along?

And actually being affectionate?!

Addie making one of her odd faces below.

She is such a comedienne.

And she's been buttering up to littlest brother, too.

Here's one of Jakey without his big sister draped all over him.

I'm amazed he's walking in this pic, and not running.

Well, that's what's been going on with us.

I'm again linking up with the fabulous Sophie and her cute blog,

called Her Library Adventures--stop by for more vintage finds!

Hope you enjoy your weekend!