"Let's Go Fly a Kite"

Taking a cue from the movie "Mary Poppins"...

... I went to Chicago to visit my sister (Laura) for Easter.

The weather was SO BEAUTIFUL  - we wanted to play outside.

So... we went to Lincoln Park, and decided to fly a kite!

(Make that, a BARBIE kite.)

Don't worry... our "inner child" didn't stop there.

We also bought bubbles and sidewalk chalk!

It was almost too much fun to handle!

I highly recommend doing this... 

Seriously takes you back to the days of being a kid.

Then, we took a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

(BONUS - admission is free!!!)

My sister's boyfriend (Adam), and his good friend (John) came with too.

"ROAAAARRRR!!!!"

Look how pretty the zoo was... 

spring has officially arrived in Chicago!

On Easter Sunday, my sister gave me this adorable basket.

She used a flower pot as the "basket" and filled it with some of my fav candy.

(She made a make-shift handle out of construction paper.)

Next...

We set out to find some Easter brunch.

Once again... it was a BEAUTIFUL day outside.

The place we wanted to eat, was the "Riverside Cafe"...

... but it was "CLOSED!"

So, we decided to hop across the street to "Jane's."

Fabulous choice.

Everything was DELICIOUS!

They had pitchers of Bloody Mary's...

and bread with HONEY BUTTER :)

We bellied up to the bar,

and stuffed ourselves full!

(Our waitress kept the coffee coming.)

My blueberry pancakes just OOOZED with blueberry goodness.

(There was also a mound of potatoes underneath. OMG.)

My sister's crepes were also fresh and fruity.

(Came with a side of turkey sausage.)

All in all, it was a WONDERFUL trip!

Beautiful weather, beautiful people, beautiful holiday weekend.

Mary Poppins would have been very proud :)

Happy Easter!

"Egg-cellent" Day of Antiquing

I LOVE going to antique stores.

It's something my sister and I really enjoy doing together.

Since moving to Green Bay, I haven't been antiquing -

but FINALLY ventured out this past weekend (on a rainy, snowy day)

and stopped by "Somewhere in Time Antiques."

First off - the store was SUPER cute, clean - and didn't have that "funny smell"

that some antique stores do.

The shelves were filled with LOTS of vases and glassware.

I LOVED this little bedside table - really, really difficult not to buy.

I've secretly always wanted a library index card cabinet.

This one was out of my price range ($300+)...

... but someday, I want one!

I'll probably put it in a home office, entry-way or living room...

like this one from Poetic Home.

This antique store also had lots of fun, vintage purses and jewelry.

This one was from an actress in LA.

(On the tags of each item, it said where the pieces came from.)

This table was one of my FAVORITE pieces!

Love the turquoise color.

Not to mention, the ADORABLE place settings!

It was only $15 for the cup and saucer...

VERY tempting to buy.

The coffee pitcher was also cute and cheerful.

I fell in love with the bench under the table... but it was $60 buckaroos.

They weren't willing to negotiate on the price... 

so I'll wait and see if it comes down a few weeks :)

Look what else I found -

A vintage MILKSHAKE machine!!!

Super fun.

This "kidney shaped" table also caught my eye.

It's covered in table linens at the moment... but take all that out - 

and it could be great in a living room.

Finally... a piece I could NOT live without.

(And, since it was in the "Easter Sale" section, I got 20% off!)

I bought this awesome luggage rack for $25 bucks.

I've always wanted one!

Also bought this adorable vintage car planter for $7.

It reminds me of my Grandpa Jake's old car.

(He passed away 13 years ago.)

I'm going to put a plant in it, and give the planter to my dad as part of

a Father's Day present!

Also found this glass-blown violin.

Very pretty... but didn't buy.

Marbles in jars!!!

Only $5.

My heart stopped beating when I saw this.

So lovely.

Could be used as decoration - or a cookie jar :)

Ball jars GALORE!

Couldn't help it... bought 2 of them :)

Lots of fun, vintage chairs... that just need the seat reupholstered. 

Check out this retro cooler!

And... these retro fans!

Would love to put one of these in my bedroom.

(I'm one of those people that can't sleep without a fan going.)

Once I got home, I immediately set up my new luggage rack.

Not sure where I'm going to put it yet...

but I have some options.

One thing I need to do is take off the OLD ribbon - 

and put on some new bands to hold it together.

Once I do that, it could be used as a place to put my purse.

Could use it as a side table...

... since I don't have one for my couch.

Whenever/whatever I decide, I'll be sure to update :)

All in all...

I bought my luggage rack, car planter, and 2 Ball jars for $50.

Not too shabby for an "Easter" sale at the antique store!

"Big Girl" Easter Baskets

We're just DAYS away from kids wrapping their 

little fingers around their big Easter baskets!

Growing up, the "Easter Bunny" would fill mine with candy, toys,

pajamas and a VHS tape of my favorite Disney movie.

But... now that I'm "grown-up"...

that doesn't mean the baskets have to stop!

Here is a GREAT idea for a "big girl" basket.

Whether it's for a mom, sister, friend or cousin.

First off...

Go to an antique store - and look for a Ball jar.

(Seriously, they are everywhere - and range from $5 to $15 buckaroos.)

Once you find one you like, fill the jar with some of their favorite things!

I'm sticking with a "blue, purple, gold" color theme.

So, I found some fun nail polish...

and candy with "blue and purple" wrapping.

I also grabbed this $1 "Peeps" chap stick from Target,

and a really fun, dangly pair of gold/silver earrings from Kohls.

Found some "paper stuffing" to put at the bottom of the jar.

(This was also from Target.)

Once the filling is in the bottom, 

FILL 'ER UP!

Feel free to find a cute "felt" basket to place the jar in.

(I found this one at Target for $1... notice, it's blue and purple.)

Personalize the basket even more, by adding a CD with some of your

favorite "spring time" music.

It can be church hymns, country, Christian, pop - whatever floats your boat!

(Notice once again... it's blue and purple.)

Then, stick a few other fun items in the basket, that can take them 

back to their childhood.

I found these $1 bunny ears at Target :)

Seriously - the $1 section at Target works GREAT for Easter baskets!

Put the Ball jar in the felt basket, add the ears and CD.

And, GIVE IT AWAY to your BFF.

The best part... is that once the "goodies" are taken out of the jar...

it can be used as a decoration around the house!

So, make a basket for your favorite girls!

It's always more fun to "give back" anyways :)

HAPPY EASTER!