My trip to Ikea--Raskog purchase!!!

Ikea is like Costco...you go in for one specific thing and leave scratching your head asking "how did I spend so much?" and "what the heck did I just buy?" ha ha ha.

Unless you live right down the street from one...the trip to Ikea is pretty rare.  I've been there before (maybe 3 or 4 times), but always with my family so we go in and get out as fast as possible.  Today, I made the journey by myself :D  

I went specifically for the Raskog cart.  I've seen lots of crafty ladies on Instagram and 2peas fill their carts beautifully and I have been drooling over it for a while.

It was so easy to put together...isn't it so pretty!!  The best part is it matches my turquoise accents in my room! (They do have a dark grey though--if you don't want turquoise.)

I really wanted these Antonius insert, but I could not for the life of me find them.  

I went through the Marketplace and found where the Antonius items were, but there weren't any inserts.  At the end, I searched on the Ikea computer and the computer said it was in stock and located in the "Secondary Storage"...ok, where is that?--couldn't find that on my map.  I made my way backward through the Marketplace, then again through the maze looking more closely.  Still nothing--boo!  Maybe it was upstairs, but I wasn't willing to trek back to the elevator to go through the entire building again.

At the end, before checking out, I looked through my cart again and realized I really didn't need to get some of the stuff I have put in there, but I really didn't want to just leave it there (working in retail for 2 years trained me to never leave items willy nilly throughout the store :D ) and I definitely didn't want to work my way through the maze yet again to put the stuff back...so it all came home with me--ha ha ha.

What is all that?

4 hanging Bygel Containers (99 cents a piece--woo hoo!)

(Because I am boring, I just got the dark grey--I didn't see any white--otherwise those would have come home with me instead.)

20-piece Dragon flatware set (12.99)--I probably didn't need this at all since there were only 4 place setting--I have no idea why I bought these.  Maybe I will just hold onto them until one of my kids move out.

50-pack Blue napkins (1.99)--for my son's graduation party--in May!!!  Why?  No clue why I bought these either--but these definitely weren't going to be put back where I got them since I picked them up at the beginning of the maze!

Red Wrapping paper (1.99) cute for Christmas

Floor Mat (19.99) I had to get this because I needed a floor mat in my office without those poky things on the bottom and this one doesn't have them--although the picture looks like it does. 

2 Samla containers (3.99 each) since I couldn't find the Antonius insert.

(I wish I had gotten a 3rd one--ugh!)

Kvissle Whiteboard--this was my total score of the day.  $7.99 regularly $29.99!!!  They don't have it online since it was on clearance.

(it looks weird in this pic, but it is basically glass with a white background.)  Did I need this, NO!  But I could NOT pass up that deal.  ahahaha...see Ikea = Costco! :)

I was there for 2 hours!  And it was so relaxing not hearing "are you done yet?", "what do you need that for?", or "when are we leaving?".  But by the end, I realized, I was that person in everyone's way--ha ha ha...the person I curse under my breathe because they aren't moving very fast ha ha ha ha.  I did get a little workout because of the way their carts move, my left foot hurts from trying to keep the cart straight.  It hurts like when you have just been roller skating after years of not skating...you know your left foot hurts from using it to push off to go?  Maybe it is just me ha ha ha.

I will have to have a separate post sharing how I fill up my cart.  I have plenty to put inside.  I really wished I had gotten better inserts though...I like the Samlas, but the handle in the center wastes precious storage space, you know :)

Antiquing

I have been in the market for a manual typewriter for a while.  Last year, I even dragged my husband to San Juan Baustista to look through all the antique stores.  They had some (one store had quite a few), but they were more vintage (aka expensive) than I wanted.  This past August, I talked him into going back because there was an antique fair going on.  Again, no such luck at a great find.  He is a good sport though because he also took me to the DeAnza Flea Market in September--where there was one, but not at a good price--and I am not very good at negotiating.

So this past Sunday, my friends, Liz and Jossie, and I went to the monthly Alameda Antique Fair.

Wow is all I can say.  That place is huge!!!

(this was the view of San Francisco--to the left is the market)

There were lots of vintage items.  I would have loved to buy so many things, but I would not know what to do with them!

Like this speaker from a drive-in movie theater.  Cute, but not for $35?!?!

Jossie made out like a bandit in the few hours she was able to attend.  Liz got a few items.  For me, it took me an hour and a half before I made my first purchase ha ha ha.

Then I finally found a typewriter at a reasonable price.  Although I had seen this same model on Craigslist for $5 cheaper down the street from me.  Oh well...it was all about the day.  I had purchased this item towards the back of the fair and I thought I could carry it around, but luckily the clouds parted and there was a vendor that had a granny cart for sale...10 bucks...done deal! 

Did I mention that the fair was humongous?!  Liz and I were there for 5 hours...and we didn't even stop that often.  Talk about being sore...then we were in such a hurry to get into the fair, we didn't bother looking to see what aisle we parked in (it was aisle V!!!) and that made the trek back to the car dreadful ha ha ha.

Any whoo...I got out of there with only spending $52.  Breakdown:

Typewriter $35

(I've named it Buck. Why?  On the side, it had a sticker that said "Property of Buck.  You touch it, I'll breaka (sic) your head") (as I was taking the label off I realized I forgot to take a picture first :/ )

Cart to lug the typewriter around in $10

Cigar box $6 (I am not sure what I am going to do with it--I kinda just bought it because after an hour and a half I was just wanted to buy something!  ha ha ha) 

Unfortunately, it doesn't smell like cigars...it just smells like old :(

Box of 1989 baseball cards $1 for my husband.

The things I didn't leave with (these pictures are not from the fair, just the internet...I didn't take too many pictures at the fair :/ )

school desk--Some were $60...seen one place that had 2 for $25 each...I wish I need one :)

(photo courtesy of Education article)

50's table and chairs--didn't check the price, but it was in awesome condition

(photo courtesy of Retro Planet)

rolling server cart--the one I really liked was sold, so there wasn't a price

(photo courtesy of Moxie Thrift on Etsy)

card catalog--none at this fair, but so want one (not that I would have bought it though).

(photo courtesy of Poetic Home)

vintage camper--not for sale, but one of the booths had one as their "store front" :)

(photo courtesy of Cornbread and beans quilting)

But in all honesty, unless it fits in my office, I am sure my husband would be like "Where are you going to put that?"  ha ha ha.  Our "decor" is modern.  Heck, I had to negotiate to paint every room in the house a color--he wanted it all white! :D  But I do love looking and when I win the lottery, I can have as many themed rooms that I want...even if the 50's table is never seen :D

World Cardmaking Day (Halloween)

Today is World Cardmaking Day.  I didn't have time to make any today, but I thought I would share the Halloween cards I've made over the past 3 years.

These were on my Etsy shop that is currently closed.

These two were mailed out to my daughter and aunt this season.

And these three were mailed out a few years ago to my nieces, nephew, and aunt (2 of which were probably toss away too soon!).

Every year, I swear I will not buy any more Halloween paper.  And every year, I usually pick up a pack at Michaels on clearance :D  

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

(yes, I changed my blog background to pink)

Earlier this year, my best friend called to tell me that her mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I was stunned.  Luckily, she was able to "only" have to have two lumpectomies and went through some radiation treatments.  She was cleared earlier this summer (yay!).

I had made this card for her after searching Pinterest.

I used my Cricut.  I welded 2 hearts together to make the card base (can't really see the flesh colored base here).  Then I used the Life is a Beach cartridge to cut out the bikini top.  (I had to trim the bikini top a bit to fit the heart.)  I cut 2 rectangle pieces from kraft paper and ran it through the Big Shot with the Swiss dot embossing folder then rounded the corners and bent it like a band-aid.

I kinda wanted to lift her spirits...although my husband said it might make her sad.  I haven't talked to her since, but my friend said she liked the card.  That is always a touchy part of having to go through any health related issue.  I know I use humor to get me through hard times...this card wasn't humorous, but I can't even imagine the difficult time some people have dealing with the unknown.

Take care of those girls, girls!!!

"Grab Bag" Box from Amy Tan(gerine)

When I was 8, I loved to go to Gift Gate (now called Sanrio) at Eastridge Mall in San Jose and get their Grab Bags...they were always awesome because you were always surprised what was in them--and you couldn't go wrong with Hellow Kitty, My Melody or the Twins!  

So when I seen Amy Tan had posted on Instagram that she was selling "grab" boxes a few weeks ago, I knew I had to get one.  Her first batch was $25, but sold out in 30 minutes and I was too late.  But then she did another batch for $40 that promised more product than the other one.  I was fast enough and bought one!

Then she had a baby (yay!), but my tracking number just sat as "mailing label printed" for a week :(  Totally understandable--BUT today my husband texted me to let me know I had a package...I finally got my Grab Bag in the mail...talk about happy mail!

I figured there would be some new stuff but lots of "used" items. Like this

  

But those were the only "scraps" in the box...

Mostly the box was full of new stuff!!

Amy Tangerine papers...from Sketchbook, her original line, and Yes, Please, along with blue corrugated paper!

12 sheets of Glitz paper

More 12x12 papers including Basic Grey, Pebbles, October Afternoon, Authentique, Echo Park Paper, and Studio Calico

A few solid paper (I'm guessing American Crafts)...the white is maybe Bazzill Dotted Swiss Cardstock and a Hambly transparency.

All Double Sided--the paper alone at a local scrapbook store would be more than $40!

Need buttons, sequins, or ribbon?  I got some!

BUT that's not all folks...brand spanking new stickers, stamps, veneers, and a daybook! 

I could not believe all that was in that box...totally worth the price and the wait.  I already have the roller date stamp, but my daughter is starting to scrapbook her college years, so she will totally be able to use it!

After I took the Amy Tan class at Scrapbook Territory in April, I knew she was awesome, but now I think she is even more awesome!

Project Life~Weeks 25-28a (February)

It's been a while since I've posted about my Project Life because I am behind.  I actually finished February in June, but hadn't posted it. :/

The first 2 days of week 24 were January, so I was still focused on my resolutions.  Since it was easier for me to take pictures of "themed" months, I used February as a month of "Things/People I Love".

Week 24

 

Wednesday - Fat Free Creamer (Health)
Thursday - Making the Varsity team (Health)

Friday - Love for Instagram

Saturday - Love for Pinterest

Sunday - Love for Friends (SuperBowl Party)

Monday - Love for my Uncle--Hate for Cancer :(

Tuesday - Love for Happy Mail :D

Week 25

(theme for the week was cameras)

Wednesday - Love for my SLR

Thursday - Love for my D50

Friday - Love for my D300

Saturday - Love for the Giants World Series wins

Sunday - Love for my iPhone camera

Monday - Love for my underwater camera

Tuesday - Love for my uncle's all manual camera

Week 26

Wednesday - Love for Traveling (and guide books)

Thursday - My Valentine (husband)

Friday - Love for Starbucks

Saturday - Love for my son 

Sunday - Love for my daughter

Monday - Love for "autobiography" books

Tuesday - Love for reading books on my phone and iPad

Week 27

Wednesday - Love for Linkin Park

Thursday - Love for Christina Aguilera

Friday - Love for my sister-like aunt

Saturday - Love for Duran Duran!!

Sunday - Love for 50 First Dates

Monday - Love for Grease

Tuesday - Love for The Notebook

Week 28a

Wednesday - Love for my Scrapbooks

Thursday - Love for yarn

Friday - (March 1)--Husband traveling

Thanks for looking.  Hopefully I will get in a groove and finish this PL before the end of the year.  I have pictures printed through June...I just have to journal.  I also have pictures for July & August, but I need to get some printer ink (or send them off to be printed).

Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe EVER!!!

Since I was sharing a recipe yesterday, I thought I would also share this one originally from Family Fun Magazine in 1999.

I really don't remember when I started making this recipe or how I even came about it--I do know I found it way before Pinterest was invented :D

I cannot wait to make some loaves this season.  

Pumpkin French Toast Bake--Pinterest Recipe

I pin lots of recipes on Pinterest...I mean with photos like this, who wouldn't?

But it is rare that I actually make the recipes I pin--Mostly because I don't cook very well.  Baking is another thing though :)  Before I had kids, I baked all the time for my extended family and for my now husband (he still complains every once in awhile that I don't make him white chocolate chip cookies anymore).  

So I finally decided to take a stab at this recipe because I LOVE pumpkin bread and french toast, so why not combine them?  I know technically it isn't Fall yet, but close enough...Pumpkin everything is everywhere!

Sometimes when you click the pictures on Pinterest, it turns out to be just a picture, but luckily this one was linked to the actual recipe from The Minimalist Baker.  I used almond milk and I didn't have any pumpkin butter so I used pumpkin puree doubled the vanilla, pumpkin spice, and brown sugar, plus I added a few dashes of ginger and cloves.

(letting it set overnight)

I just used regular white bread.  If I like raisins in my food, I would have loved to try cinnamon raisin bread.  

The result (I didn't use any nuts because I don't care for nuts in my food either--ha ha ha):

ok...it looks wet which the recipe says to bake until no longer wet...but this picture was taken after transporting it to work under foil--so it is just the condensation--I promise you.  Why did I take it to work?  My husband doesn't like French Toast and my son doesn't like Pumpkin...I know, right?

This was at the end of the day.  It wasn't as sweet as I had hoped it would be, but everyone told me it was good (I hoped the 5-6 of 10 people in my office that tasted it really liked it and weren't just being nice :D )

Would I make it again?  Probably not, because my family wouldn't enjoy it.  But it would be cool to try with either pumpkin butter or more sugar in the bake so syrup wouldn't have to be added.

I can't wait to try out more pumpkin recipes this fall.  With my daughter off at college and my husband taking some classes twice a week (plus off watching football on Sundays), I have some extra time to be creative.

My first online class--Studio Calico Letterpress

It has been a while since I've blogged, but I haven't really been too crafty this summer.  A few weeks ago, we dropped my daughter off to college...so I've been adjusting.  Then I went into "depression shopping" mode (aka Retail Therapy) which can be dangerous.

When the L Letterpress first came out a few years ago, I totally wanted one, but held off and then I forgot about it.  Then I seen Mrsjennyg on Instagram had found the letterpress kit on clearance at Hobby Lobby and also found inks on clearance at Joann's...thus my "awesome deal" search began.

I was not as lucky as she was at any of the stores in my area, though.  So I went to Google and found that you can use the letterpress plates with a Cuttlebug or Sizzix Big Shot, which I had!!  Yay!  Then I found this awesome Letterpress class that Studio Calico was offering.

(It was a week after I left my daughter 2 1/2 hours away and it was late...I was both sad and tired and I hit the "buy the class" button--oops!  ha ha ha.)

But it came with this awesome kit (I LOVE the vintage camera!)

As I was googling, I came across the Sizzix Letterpress plates which were all on clearance.

I bought all 14 of these on clearance with a free shipping code...$40!!!  (less than $3 a piece--woo hoo!!)  Even through my depression shopping, I have to find the best deals :D

The Studio Calico kit only came with a few pieces of Letterpress paper, but I didn't want to use it all up.  So I tried watercolor paper and some card stock I had on hand, but nothing was really making the impression on the paper, so I headed over to Aaron Brothers (with a 50% off coupon I got online) and came home with 15 sheets of 300 gsm 9x12 paper!!!  It isn't as bright as the paper my kit came with, but it is good enough for practicing.

This past week, I also found this super cute Halloween Letterpress plate on Amazon (thanks to Kismet1990 on Instagram).

Originally $25, I got it for $13 including shipping!!  

Then I went to eBay and bid on some Silver ink which was $3.50 (w/shipping) and I won.  I also bid on a a tube of black for the same amount...that auction doesn't end until Monday though (fingers crossed).  I really don't want to pay full price ($6.99 plus tax and shipping) and I haven't found anywhere around me that sells the ink anymore.  Good thing you can use stamp ink though :)

I am afraid to tally up all my spending on this new obsession though since I also had to buy a brayer and new cutting pads for the Sizzix to make a crisp impression--oops ha ha ha.  

I cannot wait for the class to start tomorrow.