City Wide Weekend!

I always get excited at the prospect of selling and shopping at City Wide Garage Sale, on account that it's the most fantastically amazing thing ever created.

Whenever I started shopping and then eventually selling at the City Wide, I felt a little bit like Markie Post or Meredith Baxter Birney in one of those Lifetime movies about the perils of addiction - "Unraveled: The LeAnn Stephenson Story" - in which I rob from the kids' chore money and pawn my pancreas to get one more shopping fix. 

The way I figure it, everyone has a vice of some sort or another.  I probably will never have a drug addiction, or gamble my inheritance away, or take up a smoking habit in which I smoke so much that I spontaneously combust. 

My vice is vintage and antique shopping.

The first time I experienced this particular show, my eyes immediately caught fire and my heart raced when I saw booth after booth of vintage goodies awaiting me.  In my opinion it's the finest example of vintage shopping porn in central Texas.  I recall having to catch my breath, sit down, and put my head between my knees so I wouldn't pass out the first time I visited.

I always find amazingly groovy junk, I mean treasures, from the many vendors at City Wide.  And because I had specific request from a faithful stalker, I mean reader, I want to show you some of the goodies I picked up at this fall's Antique's Week that I plan on bringing to this weekend's sale.

Lots of beautiful needlepoint . . . .

. . . . . tons of new vintage frocks . . . .

. . . . . rainbow colors of vintage crystal inventory . . . .

. . . . . and of course piles of vintage textiles, napkins and damask tablecloths.

The sale is at the Palmer Events Center here in Austin.  I'll be set up near the red skirted info desk. There is a $7 charge to park in the garage or there is a free parking lot at One Texas Center on the Southwest corner of So. First and Barton Springs Road, as well.

Saturday morning between 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m., City Wide offers early shopper passes for $10 each.  This allows those who so choose to have early access to the show and get first dibs on vendors' merchandise before the general admission customers enter at 10 a.m.

I hope you get a chance to come and see me, cuz I have some really marvelous goodies this show!

Have a great weekend and I'll see every back here Monday!

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I Don't Think That's a Thing: Dude!

OK, so, I have a story . . . . Not just any story . . . . . But an "I Don't Think That's a Thing" story. And I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the eighty-something year old little lady that was an essential part of making my day last Friday.

To begin with, I should share some pertinent information prior to relaying the details of the story. Just a few blocks from my house is this great car wash that will wash and dry your car by hand while you wait out on a patio and lounge in one those humongous cedar rocking chairs and watch them detail everything on your car, down to buffing the rims of your tires and hubcaps.

"Well, . . . . I don't know what to tell you, that's what the guy said," the lady sitting next to me hissed defensively into her cell phone. "Yeah," she continued "a 'HAND JOB' . . . . a-a-a-a-and he even said he'd throw in a 'RIM JOB' for free since it was Senior Day!"

I decided at that point that it would be an opportune time to put on my sunglasses and turn my head so that she wouldn't see me bite my bottom lip in an effort not to laugh. As I turned, I caught a glimpse of the little high school guy sitting on the other side of me. His jaw had dropped and his gaze was fixed on the little old lady - he leaned slightly my direction, without taking his eyes off the lady and loudly whispered, "Dude! I can't wait to get old!"

Image courtesy IMDB, Alcon Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox

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Simply Brilliant: Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

I had to post about this amazing establishment in London called Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, and their work through The Ministry of Stories.  Being this close to Halloween I also couldn't resist posting some of these images!

The Ministry of Stories was founded by Nick Hornby and co-directors Lucy Macnab and Ben Payne. Hidden away at the back of The Monster Shop, the Ministry of Stories provides a free space for young people to write. Mentoring is provided by volunteers, local writers, artists and teachers, all giving their time and talent for free.

The aim of the The Ministry of Stories is to inspire young people and to help transform their lives through writing. They believe that unleashing a young person's imagination can build confidence and self-respect.  All forms of writing are encouraged - from song lyrics to play scripts, screenplays to journalism, blogging to games, poems to graphic novels.  In short, they strives to inspire a nation of storytellers.

Love these rules written on the front doors!

Too funny!

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Photos courtesy The Ministry of Stories, Hoxton Street Monster Supplies and Mark Wu