Kitschy Kitchen Stuff

In preparation for our move, I've been doing lots of sorting and organizing (followed by numerous trips to Goodwill).  As I was going through our kitchen cabinets, I started noticing my abundance of wacky serverware.  This pic doesn't show half of it.  I also have plates shaped like pizza slices, a musical cake stand, a chip and dip set that looks like a swimming pool and hot tub . . . and the list goes on and on.  I was going to post a pic of each item and include a link to where you could buy your own - - assuming anyone shares my tacky taste - - but unfortunately, most of this stuff isn't sold anymore.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  I don't know if they were so wildly popular that they sold out, or were discontinued because no one wanted them.  Hmmmm.  I think I know the answer.  Even though you can no longer buy these exact items, I included links below to some of my favorite shops that sell similar quirky things.  

Uncommon Goods

Swoozies

Fake Food Oline (all fake but looks so real!)

Retro Planet

Great Big Stuff

By the way, I mentioned above about my numerous trips to Goodwill.  None of my kitschy stuff went to Goodwill.  I like it too much.  I also mentioned my musical cake stand.  I took a little video so you can see it in full effect. 

Cat Eyes

My new glasses case . . . 

I needed a new case for my glasses.  They were always falling out of my old case and getting smashed at the bottom of my purse.  I happened to see this one when I was roaming the mall. 

Sidenote:  Lest you think I am a crazy cat lover, I am not.  I am a dog person all the way.  However, my husband is a HUGE cat lover.  He had 3 cats when I met him.  A single guy with 3 cats is rare (maybe even a little weird).  Even though I don't consider myself a cat person, I have grown to love my step-kitties very much.  I bought this case in their honor, and to amuse my husband.

I found this quirky thing at Claire's, that store in the mall that sells cheap jewelry and accessories to little girls and tweens.  I shouldn't be caught dead in there at my age - - and I swear I have more sophisticated taste than that - - but they do have some fun, inexpensive things.  I am drawn to buying cheap, kitschy stuff.  You'll see evidence of that in my next post (teaser pic below).  

Bucket List Board

We will be moving soon.  And I'm panicked because there's still so much I want to see and do before we go.

Three years ago, we moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea from Chicago.  Now we're going back to Chicago for my husband's job.  I'm not ready to leave.  I'm a little regretful that I didn't make the most of my time in California.    

We've been to Yosemite (twice), Lake Tahoe, and wine country.  And took dozens of hikes and day trips to Big Sur, but there's more I want to do.  I thought for sure I would've learned to surf by now!  Kidding, I have no interest in learning to surf.  That's not on the bucket list.  

I will admit though, I thought I'd move here and become some cool, laid-back California girl (hence the surfing comment) and not the boring, wholesome Midwesterner that I really am.  I thought that by moving somewhere completely different that I would become completely different.  But as the saying goes, "no matter where you go, there you are".  

Sorry.  I got off track. This is supposed to be a post about a craft project, and not self-reflection.  Anyway, as I was saying . . .  

For the next month, I am determined to make up for lost time and do some of the things I've been putting off.  I decided to create this bucket list board to keep me focused and inspired.  Instead of spending my days doing the usual stuff like work, errands, watching TV, and Facebook, I hope to have fun and explore.  I have three years worth of activities to cram into the next few weeks.  I'll let you know how it goes.

The supplies were purchased from Michael's and included a bulletin board, brown card stock, Martha Stewart alphabet stencils, white acrylic craft paint, and jute twine (I never heard of "jute" until now).  I originally planned to make the triangles out of burlap but decided to go cheap and use card stock instead.

4th of July

My festive attire is somewhat misleading.  I actually didn't do much of anything to celebrate 4th of July.  I just wasn't feeling it this year.  Maybe it was because 4th of July fell on a Wednesday and I had to work the next day.  Or maybe it was because the weather was crummy.  Or it could be that Independence Day just feels a little different here than it does in the Midwest where I grew up.  No fireworks or small town parades.  No hot summer weather.  We live in Northern California so the weather is often cold and foggy, and fireworks are illegal for fear of forest fires.  In the Midwest, parades and fireworks are a 4th of July staple.  July is also usually hot and sunny.  So growing up, 4th of July meant parades, fireworks, bonfires, s'mores, swimming, beaches, and boat rides.  That's what I'm used to.  Even so, I tried to get in the spirit by wearing this silly outfit and creating a patriotic table setting.  I found these cute water bottle labels, straw flags and pennant banner at Tip Junkie.  They were all free and I printed them at home. 

I am a Coca Cola girl and only bought Pepsi because it matched my decor.

Dinner for two.  My husband and I were on our own this year.

Because of my above comments you might think I am homesick and don't like California.  That is not the case.  I actually love California.  We spent much of 4th of July in beautiful Big Sur and attended a festival at Esalen Institute.  My husband wasn't really into the hippie vibe of the festival (i.e. he hated it and felt totally out of place).  Not me.  I enjoyed it and the views were gorgeous.  Plus, only in California can you see mineral baths full of nude people (lots of nude people!) on 4th of July.  Not exactly the quintessential 4th of July experience but it was interesting nonetheless.  Here's to exploring new things and nontraditional holidays!  In case you were wondering, our uptight traditional selves stayed fully clothed.  Public bathing in the nude is not my kind of silly whim.  There is nothing silly about that.  Well, actually there is.  The image did make me want to giggle (no offense to nudists).

See, I told you the weather was crummy.  Beautiful view but gloomy weather.

Decided not to wear my silly 4th of July hat and shirt to the festival.

  

Silly For A Cause

Not all my silly whims are frivolous.  I actually have a career doing special events and fundraising for nonprofits.   I currently work as the Special Events Manager for our local Alzheimer's Association planning their Walk To End Alzheimer's event.  When we recently moved to a new office and hosted a ribbon cutting party, I took it as an opportunity to bring my silly whims to work and decked out my office.  As you can see, I may have gone a wee bit overboard with the logo usage . . . 

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To learn more about the Alzheimer's Association and Walk To End Alzheimer's, watch the videos below or visit www.alz.org/walk to find a Walk near you.

Talk Derby To Me

Image found via Cafe Press.

How's this for a silly whim - - blogging about Halloween costumes in June.  My last post about the Kentucky Derby got me thinking about the roller derby costume I wore a few years ago for Halloween.  I could never be a real derby girl - - although if I was my nickname would be Mad Dog Mary - - because I'm not athletic or aggressive. For example, I could never do this . . . 

Image found via RevGirl.com.

or this . . .

Image found via www.GetDerbyFit.com.

and certainly not this . . . 

Image found via Google Images.

Despite that, I tried to at least look like one. Here are some pics . . . 

This shirt from Cafe Press isn't available anymore, but you can find similar items on their website at http://shop.cafepress.com/roller-derby.

In hindsight, I should've added some cuts and bruises for effect.  Maybe smiled less too.   In case you were wondering, the tattoo is fake.

I wore this costume to a pub crawl in Chicago (hence the beer in the above photo).  I actually skated from bar to bar in skates that I purchased specifically for this costume (and then sold on Craigslist to a real derby girl).  I did pretty well with the exception of one minor collision with a fire hydrant.  The pub crawl was fun, but what I enjoyed most was skating alone in my apartment beforehand.  I played "Monster Mash" on repeat and spent a good 20 minutes skating back and forth across my hardwood floors.  No joke, it was one of the most fun times I ever had. Very silly whim-ish.

Something that is not so silly is a history lesson (snooze), but I was surprised to learn that roller derby has been around for more than 70 years.  I won't bore you with more details, but if you're interested in learning about the history of roller derby click here http://www.rollerderbyhalloffame.com/id3.html.  If you want to find a league in your area click here http://wftda.com/leagues.  You may also be interested in watching the flick Whip It with Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, and Kristen Wiig.  Here's a clip:

Well, that's all I got for this post.  Thanks for talking derby with me.

Kentucky Derby & Cinco de Mayo

I had lots of decorating and party ideas for Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, which happened to fall on the same day this year.  I would have liked nothing more than spending weeks shopping for the perfect props, creating decorations, and throwing a big ol' theme bash.  However, I don't have the time or the money to go all out for every holiday or special occasion (nor does my husband have the patience for that).  So this year the only things I did to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby were to wear this silly hat and drink wine from a margarita glass.  Maybe next year I will wear a sombrero and drink a margarita from a wine glass.

If I did have unlimited time and money, I would have taken ideas and inspiration from some of these fabulous fiesta and derby themed events I found around the web.  

Images found via http://blog.hwtm.com/2011/04/buenos-noches-adult-birthday/.

Image found via http://pizzazzerie.com/parties/host-a-mexican-fiesta-party/.

Images found via http://www.celebrations.com/content/mexican-fiesta-theme-party.

I know this is a wedding and not a Cinco de Mayo party, but it definitely has Mexican flare that fits the theme.  Plus, I am all for a party that requires wearing a costume or buying a new dress.  Actually, I would throw a Cinco de Mayo party just for the excuse to wear one of these pretty dresses and a big flower in my hair.  Gorgeous!  Or maybe I should say, muy hermosa. 
Image found via http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/10/22/real-weddings-kristen-matt/.

Image found via http://www.hwtm.com/index.cfm?page=albums/view_album&albumid=5581#.

Image found via http://www.hwtm.com/index.cfm?page=albums/view_album&albumid=5581#.

Image found via http://loveandhomemaderecipes.com/2012/05/lets-talk-derby-recipes-and-party-ideas-for-the-kentucky-derby/.

Image found via http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-kids-parties-a-kids-kentu-148791.

Image found via http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/kentucky-derby-day-party-00400000043969/.

Image found via http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/04/kentucky-derby-taste-of-derby-official-party/.

Image found via http://blog.amyatlas.com/2011/05/derby-guest-feature/horse/.

All this talk about the Kentucky Derby reminds me of another kind of derby . . . Roller Derby!  If I can dig up some old photos, my next post will feature me as a 'Roller Derby Girl' in my favorite Halloween costume ever.