sweet european dreams

Out with the New, in with the Old

2012-01-27T08:54:00.043-07:00

Dearest vintage-loving friends,
I hope that 2012 is finding you well!

We are finally back in routine from the holiday madness!
I always look forward to a new year.
Not sure why, but it’s like a breath of fresh air.

And speaking of fresh, I’ve started a pre-spring purge throughout the house. Amidst the great purge, I’ve been noticing a trend in my giveaway piles.

I clearly remember registering for sparkly new must-haves at department stores for our wedding, and now I find those formerly treasured items slowly exiting the premises.

And what’s replacing them?
Secondhand treasures that I’ve picked up at thrift stores, estate sales and auctions.

Yep. Out with the new, and in with the old.

Not only do I love the nostalgia of these sweet picks, but I love the quality of the materials they’re made of. Odd things of the past, such as wood and glass!

And with my recent discovery of the dangers of many household plastics,
I feel good about going back to the basics that I grew up with.

So now I’m playing around online and thought I’d share some fun swaps (old for new!), that could easily make your place a little greener this year.

Here they are!

I have a thing for deviled eggs, so egg platters are always a must.
(I'm actually still kicking myself for selling a precious Italian one a few years back!)
If you want to buy something new, here's one from Tupperware.

But, here's an upcycle option that I found on Etsy.

I could have bought this cheery bed set at Dillards...

But then I found this vintage chenille coverlet instead!

You can save your pennies (a lot of them) and get this cute owl canister at Anthropologie...

Or, you can adopt this little guy off of Etsy...

If you have a thing for linens (like I do!), then you could add some poppies to your kitchen via Williams-Sonoma,

or you could follow Oma's lead and go vintage!

Cute stuff and the prices are right as well!

I love that thrifting is fanatical right now. You can pretty much decorate your entire home off of fun finds from the past, while saving money as well.

If you plan on thrifting or picking this weekend, I wish you much fun in finding just the right pieces (and prices!).

Until next time...be blessed!

Diggin' Vintage. In Austin!

2011-07-21T21:12:00.021-06:00

I hope you’re all in the midst of a fabulous summer.
We’ve just unloaded from our Austin market this past weekend.

It. Was. Bliss.

If you’re a lover of vintage, and you haven’t been to Austin?
Oh my.

My husband and I lived in Austin for a good 10 years before we began traveling with Uncle Sam and Co.

Austin doesn’t just have some great spots for vintage shopping, but the city itself will give you some immense vintage inspiration!

I wish I could have taken pics over the weekend, but I was so busy at the market that my camera never stood a chance.

So…once again I’ll be relying on some awesome bloggers out there who have some noteworthy blogs that I can promote.

First up on Austin’s vintage list is Austin’s City Wide Garage Sale, which is where we were selling this past weekend.

99% of what you’ll find there is pure vintage.

Old-school clothes, furniture, linens, knick knacks, toys, you name it.
The biggest vendors are there for the October, November and January markets, so those are the best months to stop and shop.

This next little tip on vintage picking in Austin is going to get me in big trouble with fellow antique dealers, but here goes...

Burnet Road is a tried-and-true spot where dealers do some of their picking.

There are several places to sift through, so I think a stop here is definitely worth your time.

Here are some places to look out for on Burnet...

Top Drawer Thrift
Assistance League of Austin
Bethesda Resale
Antiques Marketplace (pricier but a fun stop anyway…)

Here’s a nice little write-up on Austin thrift that was just recently posted.
Good stuff!

When you’re done with Burnet Road, you may want to give the Austin Antique Mall a shot as well.

It’s a mere 5 minute drive (if that) from good ol’ Burnet Road and I’ve found some really fun stuff in there.

The place has been there basically forever and it seems like their prices are still very reasonable.

If the thought of vintage food doesn't sit well, bare with me.
For all you foodies out there (I’m definitely one…), Austin has a plethora of food trailers.

Groovy little roadside trailers that host some spectacular eats.

No, the food isn’t vintage, but the whole roadside dining concept certainly is.

I just love roadside spots and I’m thrilled that Denver is finally catching on to this. (now, If only I actually lived in Denver…)

So when you do plan your vintage outing in Austin, here’s a link that will guide you to some tasty trailer-style eats…

Food Trailers Austin

You may want to schedule a trek to Austin on October 22nd for the Austin’s annual Gypsy Picnic.

It’s a fabulous food fest featuring the best in food trailer fun.

Yummo.
Wish I could be there…

I could say sooooooooo much more about vintage and Austin, but I'll save it for another time.

For now, I hope this has inspired you to get your vintage-fix in Austin someday.

Signing off from the toasty Texas hill country for now...back in CO shortly!

Stop by & play!

A European Sweet Spot

2011-06-09T19:48:00.031-06:00

He’s off to foreign lands for a while,

And now that things on the homefront have settled some,
I’m back!

Thanks so much to so many of you who wrote the sweetest comments to me while we were in the midst of his departure!

I’m back to blogging, and thrilled to be here!

So…here we go!

For you travel bugs out there, I need to share with you one of my favorite Euro spots to check out.

See if you can imagine a place such as this…

Blissfully clean streets,

fabulous shops galore (including an Italian outlet mall!!!),

cobblestone paths adorned with fresh fruit and vegetable markets,

your choice of Swiss delicacies or an Italian menu,

and all surrounding a true-blue gigantic lake.

Any clue where this may be?

On the south end of Switzerland, just on the Italian border, is a dreamy little spot known as Lugano.

My American-Swiss friend Brenda took me there just after college graduation, and my senses have never been the same!

Lugano is truly the best of both worlds.

Here are a few websites that will help you plan your trip to Lugano.

Wiki's Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugano

Lugano's Official Tourist Site

And one of my favorite bloggers, Expat with Kids.

I had to miss Switzerland on this year’s buying trip, but I’m planning on hitting good ol' Schweiz next Spring!

And...you can bet that Lugano will be on the map!

My apologies as these pics are borrowed from other fabulous sites, but it appears that my sweet soldier borrowed my thumb drive…containing all my travel pics.

That thumb drive is now stationed somewhere in the middle east!
Oh well…

As always, thanks so much for tuning in!

Come on over!

There He Goes (again...)

2011-05-24T23:52:00.011-06:00

hi friends.
Just a quick hello and a little explanation as to why I've been absent.
You see, our family is walking into this again...

For those of you who aren't military, this little pic says it all.

He's deploying.

12 long months where I will cram-in as much antiquing, rat-packing, and crafting as possible. (These are the things that get me through!)

So, please excuse my absence these past few weeks.

Family time has been a major priority for us, and I will return to blogville shortly.

Until then, blessings to each of you!

Checkin' In

2011-05-07T20:55:00.007-06:00

We're back from a big market day in Denver.

All showered-up, pj'd and ready to read your posts!

Hope you've all had a great weekend!

Happy Mother's Day!

Market Madness

2011-05-03T18:46:00.036-06:00

I'm about to post an obnoxious amount of photos here, so I thought I'd explain a little.

Last weekend was our first antique market of the season, and I always take oodles of pictures at each market.

Let me just say that what you see in our Etsy shop is such a minimal representation of what we actually carry. Like, maybe 5% of what we actually have in stock!

So...I wanted to post some pics to show you the fun variety of kitsch that we do have to offer.

First off, you'll always see our little banner hanging around...

Our funky ladders are always loaded!

We like to mix Oma's trinkets with those of Granny's.
They get along well...

Here's Oma's corner...

Foo Foo fit for a queen (or Kate...)

And last, but never least, our Yummy Linens...

Our next market date is Saturday, May 7th at A Paris Street Market, in Littleton, CO.

For those of you who aren't local to us (Colorado!) we just may be in Texas at some point this summer, and we're looking at the possibility of...drumroll...the Country Living Fair in 2012.

We'll see!

As always, thanks for tuning in!
Until next time...

To Market, To Market...

2011-05-01T07:36:00.006-06:00

Hi Friends!

Just wanted to drop a quick note and say that we're at our first market of the spring season this weekend, and we'll be at another next weekend!

I'm actually working on a market post that I'll publish soon...it's coming!

Have a wonderful weekend, and if you're in the Colorado area, stop by Monument and see us at the 35th Annual Pine Forest Antiques Show!

Hoppin' Around in Blogville

2011-04-22T22:55:00.013-06:00

So blessed to be walking into this Easter weekend!

Instead of working like a crazy-person to publish a new post for the weekend,

I'm taking my sweet time, catching up on my most favorite blog pages, while also finding some new and inspiring blogs to follow.

Wherever you are and whatever your plans, have a wonderful weekend.

We have a Winner!

2011-04-19T18:45:00.012-06:00

First of all, thanks so much to all of you who played along this weekend, in our fun little vintage giveaway!

My "assistant" asked to help me in doing the actual drawing today.

We were very professional...

And the winner is...

Christie @ Three Pixie Lane!

Here's her cute little blog button, if you want to say hi!

Congrats to Christie!
(A little vintage treat will be shipped to you shortly!)

Ya'll have a blessed week!
I'm off to prep for our first Spring market of the season...more details to come!

Vintage Faves & THE Giveaway!

2011-04-14T20:22:00.053-06:00

Hi all.
I'm hoping that your week has been blessed with some fun vintage finds.
I thought I'd share a few of my favorite finds that have been with me for quite some time now.
Here's a pic of one of my favorite little areas of the house.

It's just inside the entryway, so as soon as folks enter the house, they know that they've entered a sweet vintage-inspired home.

All the way to the left is a creamer & sugar set.

No, they're not Fiesta, but they looked close enough to the beloved Fiesta, so I snagged them off eBay for almost nothing.

See the sweet little tea set?

These were actually designed by Sigg of Switzerland.
Sigg still makes those adorable water bottles that my kids are always wanting more of!
I found this tea set in Switzerland several years ago, and I'm really bummed that it was wayyyyy before I even had my business in mind.

It turns out that these babies are quite rare and worth some bank. They aren't leaving my house.
Not for anything!
I love these pieces. A lot.

The floral black tin was also a fabulous Switzerland find.

Next up is my most favorite enamelware bowl.

I use this a lot to display small items in some of my shows, but it's never for sale!
Love it.

The little black tea cups that are pictured are French and I featured them recently in this blog.

They were worthy of their own little write-up!

If you're wondering what all of these little things are perched upon, it's my most incredible find ever...

My German schrank.

I'll write about this sweet thing in a future post.
It's my end-all-be-all of vintage finds in Europe.

Okay, enough of my hoarding for now.

In March I promised that I would host a GiveAway upon returning from my buying trip.

And...here it is!

The giveAway starts right now (immediately!) and ends Monday night (April 18th), 8pm Central time.

The winner gets to choose from one (uno, eins, un) of the following items...

A set of 3 mini pewter chargers.
4" in diameter & each has a little hanging hole on the back.
Perfect for an Oma-inspired kitchen!

Or...

A fun little retro doily.
Measures 23 x 11" and is in perfect vintage condition.

Or...

This fabulous Victorian inspired doily.
Incredible jacquard weave and measures 15 x 8".

How to win??? It's quite simple.
-become a follower of my blog and leave a comment, letting me know that you've joined our little crew. In your comment, let me know which one vintage freebie that you would like to take home with you. (for those of you who are already following (God bless you...), leave a comment letting me know which freebie you like best!

for additional entries...
- "Like" our Facebook page.
-follow us on Twitter
-and...if you post a little something on your blog, telling your followers about this giveAway, it's worth an additional 2 entries.
If you do put this on your blog, be sure to let me know so I can count these entries as well!

That's it for now.
Best of luck to each of you & have a blessed weekend!

Linkys! Join us!

Vintage Bunny Bliss...

2011-04-07T21:44:00.029-06:00

Besides dreaming of spring all winter long, I'm also counting the days 'till Easter.
I absolutely love to decorate for Easter.

I was super inspired these past few weeks in Europe, as every store I visited was loaded with Easter decor & trinkets galore.

Here are some fun pics that I took to inspire you as you get your home all ready for this springy occasion...

And don't forget the chocolate!

And more chocolate...

Kinder eggs!!!

Whether vintage or brand new, these are my favorites!

Inspired yet? I am!

I'm working like a crazy person to get all of our inventory ready for spring markets.

Woohoo!

I absolutely love market season here in Colorado.
Fabulous weather & fabulous folks!
Here's a little peek at what's in the shop right now for Easter...

Please note that shipping on Easter linens is FREE within the continential U.S.

Hoppy shopping! (I couldn't resist...)

I promised you all a fun little giveaway, upon my return from the buying trip, so I'm working on those details now!
If you want something vintage, delivered straight from Europe and FREE, then stay tuned!

Linkys! Come play with us!

Paris, Anyone? Part 5 (Cinq!)

2011-04-03T21:46:00.082-06:00

Wow. I can’t believe we’ve already plowed through 4 weeks of Euro travel tips!

March 6th: Intro to Hopping the Pond

March 13th: Get Yer Transportation On!
March 20th : Where to Sleep?
March 27th : Eating your way through Europe...yummo.
April 3rd: Shop 'till Ya Drop! (that's TODAY!)

Now we’re onto the really fun part of Europe travel.

Shopping.

In true frugal mama style!

I’ll be covering my personal favorites, where I’ve found the best deals. You won’t see me posting about the Gucci store or Yves Saint Laurent. I just don’t consider those a good deal – ever! But, that’s just my style.

I’m actually going to go ahead and split this blog into two weeks. As I was typing this all up, it got long - really long! I have a lot to say here!

So this week we’ll cover Euro shopping for Housewares, Antiques, and Crafts & Fabric.

Next week we’ll head over to clothing, shoes and foods (ie; chocolate!).
Okay, so get your pen & paper ready (or printer!).

Here we go!

Housewares
While in France, look up BHV- the sister store to the fabulous Galeries Lafayette.

I definitely recommend visiting Galeries Lafayette, just so you can say you’ve seen it. I never thought that a department store could be considered “beautiful”, but this one is stunning.

Fun to visit, but high prices.

So anyway, onto Gallerie’s sister, BHV.
BHV is actually great for housewares, books, and I’ve found a few great deals on clothing. Most of their stores are @ 3 or 4 stories high, so you’ll have plenty of things to peruse.

In Switzerland, Interio is fabulous. IKEA-like prices, but more of a chic and somewhat shabby feel.
I’ve wanted to bring the entire store home with me several times over!

Crafty-Mamas...
By far, the best place for interior fabrics is Marché Saint-Pierre in Paris.
This is a fabric store that will boggle your mind. It's actually an outlet to the big-daddy fabric district of Paris, so prices are incredible.

I've written about this area of Paris previously...you can find it here!

I purchased this fabric for @ 10 euros per yard (@ $13 per yard)

Once I got it home, I realized that it wasn't just 60" wide - it was 90" wide! That's a ton of fabric, just waiting for a whole lotta fun!

For more crafty fun, again, I've gotta send props out to BHV in France (see above). Crafty supplies like I have never seen in any country. You will have fun!

My favorite location is in Paris, on Rue de Rivoli. (you’ll find crafts in the center of the 2nd floor – woohoo!).

Fabric Markets!
Most fabric markets throughout Germany and France and much of the Netherlands, carry the same fabric vendors, so if you can hit just one of these, you’ll be happy.

Just a warning that fabric prices are insanely higher than Stateside, but once you lay your eyes on some Danish fabric and trims, you’ll be opening your wallet several times over!

(fabric junkies: consider yourself warned!)

A wonderful resource on Euro fabric markets is Angela (one of my true besties…).

I’ll actually be posting a blog soon on a recent Fabric trip that she and I took just a few weeks ago. It was yummy.

Sorry to say that for now, I have no favorites in the area of crafty stores in Germany. They may exist, but I just never found them! I’m still investigating Switzerland and Italy for their crafty spots.

Antiques (savin' the best for last...)
Oooooo la la. My favorite subject.

Outdoor & flea type markets will be your best friend here!

And, no worries if you’re traveling in the dead of winter – they have these rain or shine or serious cold!
(I’m pretty sure I’m still experiencing frost bite from a Paris ’09 trip. It was crazy cold, but it was worth every frozen moment!).

My favorites for antique-lovin' markets are always in France...

For those seeking Paris markets, Why Go Paris has this great write-up that's full of info!

In Metz, France (in the Lorraine region), they have a wonderful antiques market hall.

All the antiques there are impeccable. If you want to see some amazing true antiques, this is the place to go, but be warned that the prices are a bit higher than most markets in Europe.

If you don’t find something that you want to spend some Euro on, you can always go just to look and eat. Here’s a pic of their “food court”.

You’ll be pleased.

The Sunday market in Tongeren, Belgium is a very popular market. You will find all kinds of info about it online. Here’s a good blog about it.

Tongeren is a lot of fun and offers a large variety of Euro antiques, but is also not the cheapest place to go. In my experience, the smaller, more unorganized markets offer the best deals.

In Germany, look for signs along roadways that read Floh-Mkt. These are flea markets that have a little of everything. New stuff, old stuff, weird stuff.
It’s all there.

And because they are not an organized and well advertised antiques market, the prices are much lower.

You'll find links to Italian markets here and here, but I can't vouch for any of these as of yet...I'm still working on my sources for Italy as we speak!

Now, just being honest here. I have my favorite little spots that are major suppliers to my business. It took me several years to find these little jewels, so I'm afraid that I can't divulge any info on these. These babies are my trade secret, so my lips are sealed...

No matter what market (or country) you’re visiting, don’t be afraid to bargain. I bargain with sellers all the time and I actually think they get a kick out of it!

If you don’t speak the language well, just carry a little notepad with you to clarify pricing between you and the seller. No matter what language I’m hearing, I always get 2, 12, and 20 all corn-fused.

A notepad could save you some serious pennies!

Last note about antiques & flea-type markets.
Cash is KING. Euro cash, that is.
You will not find near as many ATM's overseas as you find here in the States, so make sure that you load up every morning on your way out!

When planning your trip, please note that in most countries located in western Europe, there is no shopping on Sundays. I’ve found a few open stores on rare occasion in France, but I can guarantee that Switzerland, Italy and Germany are ghost towns on Sundays. Sunday is the perfect day to sight see or enjoy wine & cheese in the park. A day to rest your worn out shopping toes!

Or, you could always gear-up and head to Tongeren!

Smaller towns in Switzerland and several in France also shut down for lunch during the week. A lengthy lunch. Like, two hours typically. I told you that Europeans enjoy their food!

I think that about covers things for now.
I hope this helps and please know that this is info based on my personal experiences. You will find loads of Euro shopping info both online and in some great travel books - check out these on Amazon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I'm working like a mad-woman on prepping & pricing the new inventory and also putting together a few more Euro blogs!

Hope you're having a fabulous week!

Linkys! Come play with us!

Paris, Anyone? Part 4

2011-03-26T20:37:00.022-06:00

If you’re just now joining us, we’ve been chatting about how anyone
(that means You!)
can travel to Europe, and on a frugal mama’s budget!

Here’s what we’ve got going on:

March 6th: Intro to Hopping the Pond
March 13th: Get Yer Transportation On!
March 20th : Where to Sleep?
March 27th : Eating your way through Europe...yummo.
April 3rd: Shop 'till Ya Drop!

This week we’re taking a peek at where to eat while in Europe.

Mama Mia…this subject always makes me hungry.

When in Rome, do as the Romans. In other words, while in Europe, eat like a European! Europeans are natural foodies (well, most of them are…) and they truly enjoy food.

My last trip to Paris was an all girls trip (actually it was an all mommies trip!) and believe it or not, my favorite part of the trip was our nightly evening meal. We spent hours over our meal with lots of wine and dessert included. We talked and talked and talked, with no interruptions.

It was bliss.

So be ready to relax a little over meal time – Europeans cherish food and good conversation and you should too!

Here is how our food is typically mapped out within a day. Remember that this is the frugal mama way to tour, to get the best bang for your Euro budget!

Breakfast: we grab a wonderful cup of coffee and a pastry from the local bakery (there are @ 3 bakeries on every corner) and we’re on our way!

Lunch: if we are in more remote area, we stop that morning at a local market and grab some bread, tasty cheese, fruit, and water (or wine!) and pack it with us for the day.

If we’re in a more metro area, we eat off the streets! (no, not literally…).
We find the most delectable paninis, crepes and such, made right there in little street stands - they are wonderful and cheap!

Dinner: We only have about two actual nice sit-down dinners a week. Most nights we will stop at a walk-up restaurant or grocery and purchase fresh baked chicken and scrumptious salads…oh, and of course wine and dessert!

Eating this way will save you a ton of money, you will enjoy a great variety of foods, and you will actually be eating like a real European!

Here are some notes about Food by Country, based on our experiences:

Switzerland Favorites
KaseKuchen. In Germany this is their version of cheesecake (I’ll get to that later…), but in Switzerland, this is an amazing thin-crusted cheese pie. It’s a nice combo of emmental, gruyère, and appenzell cheeses and it literally melts in your mouth. Here’s a recipe that I found that looks pretty close to the real deal.

Poulet Curry Sandwich. This is just a basic curried chicken salad served on some tasty bread. Most bakeries carry this and it’s a perfect grab for lunch!

Laugen bretzel. These are basic pretzels that have been split and made into a little sandwich. I literally eat my weight in these – I can’t stop. These are found in local bakeries.

Bircher Muesli. This is a must-have for breakfast. I’m not a big muesli girl, but this is a major exception. A mix of muesli, yogurt, fresh honey, juice, heavy cream and fresh fruit. Most tea rooms and hotels serve this. You will also see it in little yogurt cups at the grocery, but that’s not the real deal.

Last on the list for Switzerland (and most important) is a visit to the Sprüngli store. They make the most killer macaroons. I’ve tried them everywhere I can find them and nothing compares to the Sprüngli version. Tons of sugar, but not too sweet and they melt as soon as you bite into them. Besides sending your taste buds through the roof, look how cute they are!

Italy
The best advice for Italy, is to stay away from Italian restaurants that advertise a lot or those that are in the heart of touristy areas – go to those found in side streets that don’t have many tourists eating there – eat with the locals!

Gelato: all I can say about this is eat as much as you can possibly stuff down! I realize that there are gelato shops in the States now, but there’s nothing like a scoop of pure Italian gelato- and for only 1 euro per scoop!

Germany
The fresh fish on the menu is always tasty and if you order a steak, it will actually be a side of beef – they believe in big portions!

For coffee, order a Latte Macchiato (tiny bit of espresso with lots of foamy milk) – it’s the perfect pick-me-up.

For olive fans, there are Turkish olive bars all over the place. I accidently spent a whopping $22 on olives the first time I stopped by one (my husband was not amused). But trust me, it’s olive heaven.

The pastries are not as good as they look – they don’t use much sugar in them, so their flavor is very floury. Their cheesecakes look divine, but the looks are deceiving . Try one if you like, but your best bet will be a pastry that includes some good ol' German chocolate.

For breakfast, milchreis is amazing. It’s a version of rice pudding that is both filling and sweet.

A note about pizza – in both Germany and Switzerland, pepperoni is actually banana peppers. If you want our version of pepperoni on your pie, you have to order your pizza “mit salami”.

France
If you’re in a more metro area (Paris!), a quick bite can be found at Brioche Dorée. This is a little in and out café that has something for everyone, and you’ll see them all over the city. Prices are very reasonable and the food is always fresh and tasty. This is a no-frills eating experience, but if you’re looking to get back to the shopping district in a flash, this is where you’ll want to eat!

My personal favorite food in France is the Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame. Let’s just say it’s the gourmet version of a grilled cheese.
The Croque Monsieur is the simple version,

and the Croque Madame includes a fried egg on top.

My husband was the brave one to first order the Madame version and we ended up fighting over his sandwich. True story. It was worth the fight.

The Croque Monsieur/Madame is amazing for either lunch or dinner, and you can find this little foodie in both walk up cafes and nice restaurants as well.

So our trip down Euro-foodie lane was more extensive than I had planned, but it was deliciously worth it. Be sure to take a peek here next week - it's all about the frugal way to shop Europe. You won't want to miss this one!

Now that I’ve been through all these favorites, it looks like I’m heading to the store to stock up on some Euro cheeses. Mmmmmm…..I can’t get enough. Now if I could just find some Turkish olives as well…

Have a favorite post that you would like to share again?
Join Chari @ Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites!

Home Sweet Home

2011-03-25T16:14:00.019-06:00

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...back on U.S. soil!

I dearly love to travel, but I'm always so grateful to come home again.

It still warms my heart when the customs officer hands me my passport and says, "Welcome home, Ma'm". Nice.

Europe is a trip - literally. You never realize the absolute blessings (conveniences!) that we have here in the States until you travel abroad.
Trust me - we are spoiled!

While I was packing my little heart out, I did manage to snap a few pics of some of my favorites that are on their way here now.

I'm seriously praying that these babies arrive the same way they looked when I packed them...the hazards in bringing glass across the pond really makes me crazy.

I try not to weep when something sweet arrives in pieces.

So here's a sneak peek of a few faves...

For those of you who like to pre-order, I have no idea what pricing is like at the moment. I'm still calculating cost, shipping, travel, you name it!

Stop in on Saturday night for
Europe, Anyone? Part 4

We'll be chattin' about chowin' in Europe.
Don't come hungry.
You'll be sorry!

Here's who we're hanging out with. Join us!

and...Debra @ Common Ground

Mini Love

2011-03-20T13:40:00.016-06:00

A got a nice surprise today. I stopped off to rent a car for a few days, and specifically asked for the cheapest, most economical 4-wheeler that they had.

The price was great, and I was ready to get the keys to my European clunker.

The nice little Euro guy handed me the keys and said, “You will find your BMW Mini Cooper in slot number 9”.

At that point, I felt the need to squeal in delight, but I remained dignified (that’s the European way…) and took the keys.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that a Mini is THE car that I would drive if I didn’t have my munchkins. (just a side note, that I would definitely prefer to have my munchkins than any car!)

So, off I went in my hot temporary wheels!

I’m pretty sure that the cars driving anywhere near me on the autobahn were a little concerned.

After all, it’s not every day that you see a Mini on the road, with a hysterically screaming woman at the wheel.

Woooooooo hoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

And here’s something interesting. There’s a mini wave.
Yep. Any mini that drove past me stuck their hand right out the window and gave a friendly wave. (yes, all 5 fingers...) Who knew?!

As always, thanks so much for tuning in.
Tcheuss for now! Tomorrow we’re hitting France!

Can I keep it? Please?

Paris, Anyone? Part 3..

2011-03-20T02:26:00.011-06:00

How’s your French coming along?
Have you been stuffing more cash into that Europe envelope each week?

Here we are at week three, in the frugal way to Hop the Pond.

If you’re just joining us, here’s what we’ve got going on.

March 6th: Intro to Hopping the Pond
March 13th: Get Yer Transportation On!
March 20th : Where to Sleep? (that's Today!)
March 27th : Eating your way through Europe...yummo.
April 3rd: Shop 'till Ya Drop!

So, onto this week!
Today’s info gets a bit wordy, so I’ve included several pictures of some of the apartments that we have stayed in, to add a bit of splash between the paragraphs!

Okay, so your plane has landed, you have your luggage (prayerfully) and you’re ready to find a place to rest your tired little noggin.

Forget those dingy European hotels – stay in an apartment! Our family finally caught on to the blessing of renting apartments all over Europe and I sure wish we had known more about them on our honeymoon….that’s another blog all in itself!

Here’s why you’ll be glad you booked an Apartment:

1) The difference in price compared to a tiny European hotel room is staggering,

2) you have all the amenities of home and,

3) you get the experience of living like a local – that in itself is priceless!

Our family has used these two companies for finding apartments and we have never had a problem, mishap, or the dreaded…scam.

For Paris Apartments only, Centre Paris is our choice.

For Apartments throughout Europe, we choose Homelidays.

Look how cozy this one was. One of our favorites!

Finding the Right Apartment:

Location, location, location…
First you’ll want to figure out what area of the city will be best for your stay. Paris is the easiest place to book, as the entire city is mapped out by numbered districts.

If your stay includes major metropolitan areas (ie. Paris, Rome, Berlin, etc), make sure that it is near a Metro/Train station – if it is, they will definitely have this in the description.

After you have a good location in mind, play online and look through the apartments for location, size, pricing, etc.
Don’t forget to check their availability calendar!

This was the first apartment we ever booked. We were in Paris.

As you can see, it was kid-friendly!

This was the bakery that was directly across the street. I was there, um, several times during our short trip!

Booking Your Apartment
Once you find a few that suit your needs, pick out your most favorite one and contact the owner/property manager (each website has instructions on how to contact the owner or property manager). Typically they are very quick in responding and most of the time, their English is fluent enough to communicate all the details.

Here’s an example of an email we received from booking one of our apartments:

“The place is available.

This large family flat is located in the heart of Paris. The rooms are large, very well decorated and the flat is very bright. The flat is very comfortable, located on the 5th floor with a lift, it is very quiet .

There are many shops and stores for food around the flat and the open air market located rue Montorgueil is just 15 minutes by walk from your flat. There are plenty of food stores, and restaurants immediately around the flat.

This brand new flat is located in the heart of Paris. In less than 15 minutes you can walk to Opéra, 20 minutes to Louvre Museum. It has direct connections with the major tourists attractions such as Opéra Garnier, Champs Elysées and mains streets for shopping (10 minutes). The largest European pedestrian area “Rue Montorgueil” is located less than 15 minutes by walk. This area is full of restaurants, food shops. It can be reach easily by every airports and train stations.
Walking distances from the apartment are: 2 minutes for the nearest metro station and bus.
The area is safe and quiet. There is a supermarket just in your street .

For several days or more, benefit from the large space of the apartment with a living room, 3 bedrooms, a separate kitchen, a bathroom, a toilet.

Make yourself at home, cook for you, your family or friend. For leisure and for business, enjoy this fully equipped, brand new and ready-to-live-in flat. The flat has been renovated in 2004, equipment is brand new. A wooden floor is covering the floor.”

This email from the property management actually went on to tell us about check-in, deposits, etc., so you can see that you typically receive very detailed information prior to booking.

Here is an apartment we booked in Rome.

It had not been updated in quite a while, but you could tell that it had been an amazing home in the art deco era. Very fun!

Deposits
I can almost assure you that there will most definitely be a deposit required (in Euros, no credit cards), that you leave with the property management upon picking up the keys. Some of these deposits are hefty, but we have always received ours back in full.
Details on your deposit will be in the information you receive from the owner/property management. If they don’t mention a deposit, be sure to ask – you don’t want to be caught off-guard on this one!

So, that’s about it. You find an apartment, you book it, then you get to look really cool amongst your peers when you say, “I have the greatest apartment in Paris that I could recommend to you for your upcoming trip”.

I promise that it's actually a very easy process and you will be so happy that you stepped out and did something different from the hotel route.

That’s it for now.
I'm actually typing away while in Europe right now.
It's Sunday here, so no shopping.
That's okay. An extreme shopper needs to take a rest as well!

Have a favorite post that you would like to share again?
Join Chari @ Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites!

Greetings from Deutschland!

2011-03-17T15:04:00.023-06:00

hi Friends!
I'm finally writing to you from "across the pond"!

Ahhhhh...even if the skies are thick with a murky overcast, it's great to be in the land of divine chocolates and pristine coffee!

Sweet Angela greeted me with a treat - this precious vintage leather canteen.

She knows me well!

I just landed this morning, but as always, we've already hit the pavement, finding fun vintage trinkets to bring back!

Here are a few shots from today's shopping ventures...

Check out this custom set of dinnerware.

How blessed were Lara and Maxi to receive this as a wedding gift?

Then we ran across these hand-painted jars. Adorable.

And of course we have to add some shabby into the mix.
Look at these elegant vintage doilies.

Oh. My.

Well, it's only been 23 hours since I've slept last, so I'm going to say Guten Nacht for now!

Stay tuned for more fun from...Across the pond!

Want a peek at more vintage treats?
Visit Suzanne @ The Colorado Ladyborder="0"/>
and...Debra @ Common Ground

Paris, anyone? Part 2

2011-03-12T22:07:00.036-07:00

This little travel series was originally published in the Spring of 2010, and here it is again...start packing your bags!

Last week I did a brief intro of how we frugal mamas can realistically get “across the pond” (if you’re just tuning in, you can find it here.

Now I’m going to get into the nitty gritty of travel to Europe.

Here’s how the next few weeks of this series will go:

March 13th: Get Yer Transportation On! (that's today!)
March 20th : Where to Sleep?
March 27th : Eating your way through Europe...yummo.
April 3rd: Shop 'till Ya Drop!

Okay, so let’s chat about booking flights. I know this is not necessarily a Dreamy topic, but let’s face it, it’s probably THE way you are going to get there, so you need to know about it!

Do not (I repeat, do not) book your travel through a travel office. If you have a ton of money to travel, these companies are great, but if you are trying to get there the frugal way, then you need to book tickets on your own.

1) I use the following airline’s sites: American, Northwest, United, and Lufthansa (Lufthansa is my favorite…better seats & better food!).

Occasionally I do find decent prices via Travelocity and Expedia, but for the most part, the best tickets I've booked have been through the individual carriers.

2) Hopefully your dates are somewhat flexible – flying midweek (typically Wednesday) is much cheaper than weekends.

Each airlines typically has a flexible fares chart that shows you pricing by day of the week or pricing throughout an entire calendar month.

3) There are often amazing flights leaving from NYC to Europe. I’ve booked flights using different carriers before. Example: A flight from Houston to NYC via Delta, and then a flight from NYC to Paris via AirFrance. You have to become your own travel agent, but it’s worth it to save some $$$ for other trip necessities (like shopping…).

If you think you won’t have the time for this, carve some time away from your typical online duties (ie Facebook!) and use that time for your travel homework.

4) If you would like to see more than one country (which I would highly recommend), we often fly into one country and then fly home out of a different country. Example: Fly into Paris, take a night train to Rome, then fly home from Rome.

To look at flights like this, most airlines have the Multiple Destination option to search.

5) Flight prices drop dramatically in early September and do not rise much until the end of April. I typically hit Europe in early September or early April as these are not peak months and the weather is still somewhat decent.

Summer months are when you see the crazy flight pricing…try to avoid summer travel dates if you can.

6) One last tip regarding booking flights is to consider baggage charges. When I was booking flights recently for this month's travel, I noticed that US Airways had a ticket that was much cheaper than American's.

I did a little digging and noticed that to check a second baggage, it was an additional $200 on US Airways, while it was only $50 for a second checked baggage on American.

That is very significant to me, as bringing some sweet stuff is at the top of my travel list!

So, now that you’ve made it across the pond, let’s chat about how you’re going to get around those cobblestone paths!

Trains, trains, trains! Most major cities have a metro rail and that is what we always use – incredibly cheap, convenient and fun to figure out!

Don’t be afraid to get lost – your fun little adventures will make for a great blog later on!

Most cities have their rail maps posted online, so you can study them prior to your arrival.

Here is Paris’ Metro

Here is Rome’s Metro

Here is Berlin’s Metro

Once you arrive in your city, you can purchase a Metro Pass that will save you a ton of money (see? Your shopping stash is growing by the minute…).

Most Europeans speak more English than we speak of their native language, so you can always ask for help. I have to say that the Swiss and Germans speak a LOT of English, even though they personally think their English stinks. The French don’t seem to speak as much English, and can be somewhat reluctant to help, but we have always found a good Samaritan in a pinch.

In any country, the key to starting off right is being able to ask for help in the local language. If you do need help at some point, at least attempt a little of their language - they will find your horrible pronunciation endearing, and they will in-turn help you out.

Just a Note: Nothing is more annoying to me than sitting in a quaint European bistro, and being interrupted by a loud American screaming, “DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH ??!!!”.

Funny story: When I took my mom to Paris, she had this weird theory that if she spoke in English, very SLOWLY and LOUDLY then that would aid a non-English speaking person to suddenly begin to understand what she was saying. This theory does not work.
Do not attempt this.

Two more Tips before we part for today:
1) To work on your travel cash, start cleaning out your closet. You’ll make some cash in the meantime (don’t touch it!) and you’ll be making room for your new precious purchases from overseas.

2) To get really inspired about your destination, go get a Rick Steve’s book and start planning. Rick has always been right on the money and he’s a frugal dude as well! Here are some of his books on Amazon. You can always buy last year's version - they don't change that much from just one year to the next (more pennies saved!).

Start your planning now and you may be posting a picture that looks something like this:

Thanks for stopping by this week!
Stay tuned next week, as we learn how to book Your sweet Euro Apartment!

Now I'm off to pack, pack, pack. Three more days to go!

Have a favorite post that you would like to share again?
Stop by and visit Chari @ Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites!

Frugal Mamas go here...

Paris, Anyone?

2011-03-05T19:23:00.024-07:00

Passport? Check.
Comfy shoes? Check.
Camera ready? Check.
Paris, anyone?

I realize that many of you are starting your Spring & Summer plans, so I've decided to go ahead a re-post my mini little travel series on "hopping the pond" (aka traveling to Europe!).

Thanks to Chari @ Happy to Design, each Sunday I will be reposting my Europe travel tips.

Here's the order!

March 6th: YOU can go to Paris too!
March 13th: Get Yer Transportation On!
March 20th : Where to Sleep?
March 27th : Eating your way through Europe...yummo.
April 3rd: Shop 'till Ya Drop!

Ready for this week? Part 1: You can go to Paris too!

I’ve been hopping “across the pond” for many years now - the first trip when I was just seventeen years old. (thanks grandma!)

As I return from each trip, I love sharing my various experiences, but I always come across the same comment from so many lovely ladies.

Most of the time, it goes something like this, “Oh, I would love to go to Europe someday, but I could never afford a trip like that”.

And to that, I say,"Boo honky!" (that's Texan for "whatever")
Start packing yer bags, sister!.

First let’s do a quick cost comparison. Let’s compare a stateside trip to the Coast versus a trip to Europe – this way you can see the cost difference on paper…

Oh, and I did these numbers, assuming that 2 were traveling...

So, for $910 dollars more, you can accomplish your dream of traveling to Europe. Trust me, that $910 is worth it!

(since I first published this post in 2010, flights pricing has increased some, both for Stateside flights and Europe. In the end, the price comparison remains the same!)

Wanna be frugal? Then do your homework!

Book your own flights…I go both to individual airlines sites, as well as the big dogs like Expedia and Travelocity…it takes time, but you need to be your own travel agent.

Forget hotels – stay in an Apartment!
Our family finally caught on to the blessing of renting apartments all over Europe. It's much cheaper and you get to live like a local!

Eat with ease via bakeries and local grocery markets – that crusty bread and cheese is dreamier than you could imagine!

Forget the rental car…while in Europe, travel like a local via Trains!

Get your Europe fund rolling now.
A yard sale is a great place to start!

Don’t touch your Europe fund – no matter what!

You will have memories to last a lifetime…and hopefully some over-stuffed shopping bags to take home with you as well!

So...are you intrigued?
If a trip across the pond seems appealing to you, stay tuned for next week’s detailed version of The Frugal Mama Takes On Europe!

Stop by and visit Chari!

Dreamy French Teas

2011-03-03T21:51:00.035-07:00

I gather and sell a whole lotta stuff, but there are some pieces that I just can’t part with.

You may have had a peek at these on a former post.

This is one little set of tea treats that will always stay with Me!

I found these in France and I honestly had no clue just how cute they were until I got them home.

They were sitting on a shelf in a (very) packed store and all of the pieces were DUCT-taped together! (gasp!)

I thought the entire set was black with yellow cups.

Mais, non!

Just beyond the duct tape and dust were beautiful hues of orange and lavender!

The maker’s mark is “Ceranord” with a swan and doing a teeney bit of research on them has shown that they come from a long line of pottery and porcelain makers.

The Ceranord brand was established in 1908 and closed it’s doors in 1962, however, the Ceranord label originated from a long (very long) line of pottery-glass lovers who started their initial business in… 1705.

While writing this, I found this set of Saint Amand plates on Ebay France.

It’s actually a set of dessert plates – one design for each month of the year.

Oh. Help. Me.

I’m warning you now that if I ever find this set of plates on one of my treks across Europe, I can guarantee that you will hear my squeal of joy all the way over here!

So this is one of my little French treasures that I just had to share.

Hoping your weekend is full of fun vintage-inspired finds!

Fun Linkys...Come join Us!

Cindy's Romantic Home

Get Yer 'Shop On…

2011-03-03T08:59:00.012-07:00

Just a quick little announcement that both
Sweet European Dreams and Kitschy Stitches
will be going on vacation mode, starting Saturday, March 12th.

So….

If you want any of this…

Or this…

You'll need to order soon!

As I’ll be doing this….

Here….

Have a fabulous week!

Vie Gehts? Merci! Café, bitte…

2011-02-28T14:22:00.025-07:00

Yep. It’s that time.
In just 14 days, I’ll be on my way to Europe for our 2011 buying trip!

Here’s what my work room looks like right now…

Maps and more maps...

Busted the Piggy Bank...

(no worries...I plan on taking a little more than what's pictured...)

Language Books...

These pages are a matter of life & death!!!

The plotting and planning are in full swing!

L'excitation monte!

I still remember the initial conversation that I had with my husband regarding this little business venture. I told him that if the only thing I gained from this was an annual trip “across the pond”, then it would be worth it!

There’s nothing like that feeling I get when my boarding pass & passport are in hand...waiting to find my (tiny) seat on a plane (after I've been tortured through security procedures, of course!).

I’ve been getting a few requests from our regulars (aka fabulous fans!) as to what they would like for me to bring back this Spring…vintage Easter linens, vintage designer buttons, kitchen kitsch…

Let me know if there’s something sweet and European that you’re dreaming of and we’ll do our best to hunt it down for You!

I'm off to continue my plan of attack!

Big Smiles...

2011-02-21T14:55:00.023-07:00

I get super excited when I'm featured on another blog, included in an Etsy treasury, or even when someone walks by on a market day and says, "Cute stuff".
It doesn't take much to put a smile on my face!

It's always encouraging to know that someone besides me thinks my business is kinda special!

The last few days have been especially encouraging as my blog was featured over at A Few of My Favorite Things...

my business was featured over at Poor Pitiful Pearl's spot...

and today, the shop was featured over at the Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market site.

Woohoo! Feelin' the Love!

So just a thanks to all these sweet peeps who have put a big smile on my face this week!

Go check out these lovely ladies - you will be inspired!

From Our Hearts to Yours

2011-02-13T23:26:00.013-07:00

Just had to say Happy Valentine's Day to our beloved followers out there.

Here's a sweet memory from a Valentine's Day in Paris.

My love was far away in the sands of Iraq, but luckily I was in great company with the grand chocolatiers of France!

Merci!

And on this Valentine's Day, here are some treats that we made here in our home.

(Take a quick look, because in the morning these will be quickly demolished by 16 kindergarteners.)

And the little Valentine's girl who warms my heart everyday.

Hoping your day and week are off to a Sweet start!
Blessings!

My Favorite Winding Road

2011-02-10T23:33:00.022-07:00

Back in our glory days of residing in Germany, we lived in a teeney little village (seriously small) and we were surrounded by many more teeney little villages.

The scenery there was ah-mazing.

There was one little winding road that was just outside our village, that I drove quite often.

Especially when I was missing “home”.

When leaving our village of Rohrbach, and then taking a few curvy turns, this sign always greeted me:

Go a little further, and then you would see this crazy-looking building, which is actually someone’s home:

Just across the street from this house is a field, and here’s what you’ll find there:

Pretty cool, huh?

Here’s the story...

There was an Austrian soldier who was shot down over Germany in WWII. He was rescued and befriended by U.S. soldiers.

This house and land belong to him.
You see, he never forgot his American friends, and he has spent the past 60+ years (his lifetime) showing just how much their kindness meant to him.

I’m really bummed now that I can’t remember his name, but I do know that it’s possible that you can still see him walking the streets of Baumholder and neighboring villages, posting his signs.

When you do see this Austrian soldier, he is always (always) dressed in his full WWII gear and toting flags from the nations that he loves most.

I always felt so blessed to see him and his signs.

You see, I never realized what an amazing country America truly is, until we were living thousands of miles away from it.

Of course the locals there think he’s looney, but I think he’s passionate.

So here's to my far-away Austrian friend.
We never met, but his devotion to My country is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

Friday Favorites @ Whistlestop Cafe Cooking