home sweet home

hi!  I'm hooooooome. :)

While Maui was amazing-can't even put into words-perfection-relaxation there is something about flying in to your home city and recognizing the lights below you, pressing your face against the plane window and imagining your own bed.

Unforunately as excited as I was to get into my bed-- sleep escaped me. We can blame it on two things:

1. the three-hour time difference

2. a pup that was very excited that a certain two people were home

sigh.

and I know, no sympathy that I'm tired because I was in Hawaii.

Hawaii was so good- not only because of the sunshine and the turtles and the fish but because I feel renewed and have so many ideas for my shop and the rest of the summer. I can't wait to share them with you.

But for now, I'm going to leave you with a few things.

1. Giveaway from Life Handmade! Go enter. You'll be glad you did.

2. we are almost at 100 followers people. You know what that means! Seattle-eqsue giveawy. You should be excited. Tell your friends. (or your dog or mom. I'm not picky.)

3. a HUGE thank you to my three guest posters. If you haven't read them, check out the post from Lindsay of Tails to Tell Studio here, the post from Jen of Rellasbellas here and the post from Manda of Elf House Chronicles here

4. and a  little aloha...

happy friday!

:) Erika

antique stores: not just for grandma anymore

Do you know what I love?

I love that it's cool to go thrift and antique shopping.

But do you know what I hate?

I hate that's it's cool to go thrift and antique shopping because it means that there's more competition for the good stuff.

A few weekends ago I was in Bellingham (last big town before the Canadian border) for my brother's graduation and my mom and I convinced the guys to stop at this three-story antique store.

Once they got in there they were just as engrossed as we were. This place was incredible and had nearly anything and everything you could think of to vintage appliances, old soda bottles, my favorite blue ball mason jars and antique quilts (swoon). Best part of it all? Most of it was pretty reasonable and honestly the best prices I've seen for blue mason jars. (Oh shoot now I'm sounding like someone on Antique Roadshow or somethin'... )

But don't let me tell you anymore about it. Let me show you. (A picture is worth a thousand words right? So enjoy my few-thousand word essay.)

maybe waking up would be easier with this little retro clock. (and i love the basket.)

hello cheerful '60s mugs. You would all brighten up my kitchen so well.

memorabilia from the 1960 World's Fair in Seattle. My friend's grandma met Elvis there. :)

turquoise mason jars are my calling. (and obsession. Sorry husband, but yes we do need more.)

enough vintage doilies for ya?

the only thing not for sale: a vintage funhouse mirror. (isn't my mom cute?)

Are there any fun vintage/thrift/antique stores near you? Can I come visit them with you?

Happy Thursday!!

p.s. tomorrow share what good things that you are thankful for this week with Five Things Friday. :)

giveaways, pit stop and other thoughts

First off, if you haven't been over to the Gussy Sews major giveaway, check it out. I'm giving away $40 shop credit and I have some new fun things in the ol' shop.

And today I am so excited to be featured on After I Do. Krysten is so friendly and encouraging (especially when I was tweeting about my family dog being lost for a few hours) and I'm excited to be a sponsor. Big happy face! :D

And now for a quick story...

Last night was the husband's baby sister's high school graduation. (If you're an avid blog reader you'll know that this is the THIRD graduation the hubs and I have sat through in less than two weeks. Win.) It was down in Tacoma (south of Seattle). Driving there is supposedly a half hour but traffic makes it wayyyy worse...which is why when our way home and we both had to use the bathroom really bad, we decided that there was NO way we could make it home without an incident.

A few exits heading north we were getting desperate. (Don't judge-- you know you all have been there.) In a fit of inspiration, the husband pulls off suddenly to an exit... the exit to one of the casinos dotting the interstate.

Please note I've never been to a casino but hitting one up on a Monday night at 10:45 p.s. sounded like a good adventure. Plus I  was sure they had bathrooms.

We pulled into the lot and discovered that Monday night at a casino is a big night. We drove around in circles looking for parking, hitting every pothole, me gritting my teeth. Finally we found a spot and speed walked to the entrance.

I've never been to Vegas but let's just say this casino didn't really look like anything I'd seen in the movies. But it was HUGE--slot machines everywhere. And they had bathrooms. Score.

But since it was my, and the husband's first time at the casino, we decided we'd try our luck at some slot machines.

Luck is a funny word to have used because turns out we don't have any. We only spent a few dollars but let's just say our "winnings" were significantly less. (Yes, I did redeem a ticket for one cent.)

So we walked out of there a little poorer and but thankfully,  with significantly emptier bladders.

Have you ever stopped somewhere random to go the bathroom? 

p.s. Thanks for all the comments yesterday about "The Berenstain Bears." Thanks to you (and comments on my Facebook) we have determined that it is pronounced "Bear-en-steen" i.e. I was right. (Which is what matters, right?) ;)

p.p.s. Thanks to those who have contacted me about guest posts. Super excited for what we're going to have!!

p.p.p.s. I'm also going to start a new series called "He said, She said." Got a story about the differences between guys & girls communicating? Email me at rougeandwhimsy@gmail.com :D

p.p.p.p.s Is it accurate to write p.p.s. or should it be p.s.s.? These are things I wonder when I'm tired.

let's pretend...

Let's pretend today's Monday and I'm not that behind. I had this post all written in my head but then life got in the way. (That happens sometimes, huh?)

This weekend was filled with family and friends.

Friday night was my dear friend's bridal shower.

We giggled and ate, giggled and ate some more. (I could go for some of those chocolate covered strawberries right about now...)

Saturday I went up to Bellingham with the family for my other brother's college graduation.

It was a beautiful day.

 I need to buy a kite.

My mom says we're special

Hands down though, the best part of the weekend was a quick jont to an incredible antiques store. But that's a whole 'nother post... 

 

What did you do this weekend? Anyone else go to graduations? 

it's a dog's life [at the beach]

As I mentioned earlier, it's finally warmed up around here so the doggy and I headed to Richmond Beach, a few miles north of us in the city of Shoreline (north suburb of Seattle.)

What's great about this beach is unlike Seattle beaches, doggies are allowed. And if you walk far enough past the main beach, there's an area where dogs can roam off leash.

My little guy loved it.

It was lovely to just do nothing but walk the beach with the little pup, listening to the waves. Only ten minutes from my house but it felt like a million miles away.

[Lately I've been discouraged. Just with the market, my blog... lots of things. I love my blog, I love what I make but sometimes it's easy to let the little voices in my head dictate how I feel. Do you know what I'm talking about? Spending time at the beach was mini-therapy for me.]

If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, just stare into that last photo and imagine you're there. (it's working for me.)

how do you relieve stress in your life? 

inspire me monday - portland

warning: lots and lots o' photos

The husband and I trekked down to Portland for my first time ever.

And I loved it.

We took the train down (which made me feel like it was 1915) and is honestly the least stressful way to travel: Giant seats? yes. Wifi? yes. Reading and not feeling like je vais vomir**: heck yes.

and no traffic. sigh. It was utterly relaxing and breathtaking.

Once we got in to Portland, we stayed in a little funky boutique hotel: (ready tiny rooms and shared bathrooms.) We ate a ton, hit up Powells (which was so amazing for the book nerd I am), ate more, sampled beer (which is practically eating), ate more, sampled more beer, walked around and just enjoyed each other and no responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little did I know that I chose to go to Portland the weekend that West Elm was hosting a pop-up Etsy shop. Like what? Did they know I was coming? So I dragged the husband to the event where there was free treats (nom) and ah-gorgeous little booths. Lovely.

The husband limited me to one purchase (which was wise because I have a handmade addiction) so I snagged a little print from Mary Kate McDevitt. Do yourself ALL a favor and check her shop out.

[source]

Yeah this is pretty much me. I love love love getting things done and checking them off my to-do list.

But this inspired me because the shops there were inspiring and as I walked around, admiring their goods and their displays, I kept thinking to myself: I can do this. I can do this.

I came away with a fresh sense of dedication and excitement for my shop.

Other Portland etsy shops there that you should check out:

Verabel + Fox

zanna
annajoyce

e.soule

satsuma press

Moufelt

** that's French for "I'm going to vomit" It's such a nasty thing but it just sounds better in French, you know?

little getaway to a place i've never been

I've never been to Portland, Oregon.

And I'm sure that a lot of people have never been there, but I only live three hours away. I grew up three hours away.

But let me retract that.

I've never been been to Portland. Does that make sense?

I've driven through it countless times-- on the way to the Oregon Coast, on the way to Mt. Bachelor for skiing, and most often, in the back of an Astro van on the way to California.

Quick side story: My parents moved to Washington state when my mom was pregnant with me. Every year after I was born, we went down to California (usually twice a year) to visit extended family. And we never flew.

Never.

I didn't get on a plane until I was 14.

Up until then, we drove to California to see the relatives-- my two brothers and I in the back of a gray Astro van bombing down I-5.

My mom says she's blocked most of those trips out. At least the traveling part.

But back to my story. Portland was the city we drove through, peering through windows at the sprawled skyline just on the other side of the river from Washington. But we never stopped.

[source]

On Friday the husband and I are taking a belated birthday trip down and I can not be more excited.

Everyone is telling me what it's like.

"It's like Seattle, but more hipster," several people explained.

"Just go in a bar and look around," one of my friends told me. "Every guy will have a mustache and be wearing plaid."

your typical hipster (yes I just googled hipster)
[source]

I think they've been watching too much Portlandia, the comedy show about Portland.

All I know is that we're staying in a new hotel within walking distance of a Saturday farmers market.

The city has tons of little food trucks with delicious, cheap food.

foooooood trucks calling my name
[source]

There's no sales tax.

And we're taking the train to get there. (Another thing I've never done.)

Anyone from Portland or has gone to Portland? What do I need to see? Where should I eat?

All suggestions welcome.

[source]

also, mom, if you're reading this, check here for the definition of hipster.