My Holidays are already Complete....

 

:: Very Cherry Vintage Necklace, $26 ::
 

Last night, after clearing the kitchen of a dinner dishes and folding 18 loads of laundry from the weekend (why do kids insist on throwing everything they wear - if even for only 23.65 seconds - into the laundry hampers around here?) I half-heartedly agreed to my sweet man's pleas for assistance in a treasure hunt of sorts.

You see, it's hunting season again (blechk. but I do look forward to our deep freeze stocked with meat) - bow season, deer, for those of you reading who have no flipping idea what huntin' season's all 'bout here in the Midwest. It is literally a life change - a new pace, if you will - Joshy loves this time of year as much as I love Nordstrom's sales on Nine West heels. (although, at this time in my life, who wears high heels at home working? hmmm. Well, you never know when you might need them.

Anyway.

Upon seeing how relieved he was that I would help, I poured myself a mommy-sized glass of red wine and descended to the storage room in the basement. Now, basement: finished and our kiddo land - filled with toys, books, bowling, chalkboards, tvs and movies galore, dress up clothes, etc. But the storage room? Not so inviting. Let's just say it's a winter project of organization on the highest level. You know that space in your house where you shove, store, and stack all things that otherwise have no proper place? This room is that space for us fo' sho'.

(( And before going on with the story, I have to tell this chapter for all you women reading who have lay witness to a similar situation of man-looking-for-something-he-can't-find-but-he-really-isn't-looking-that-hard-because-he-knows-his-wife-knows-where-it-is, or she'll find it. ))

I found Joshy standing, arms to his side, staring (literally, staring) at a section of shelving that is filled with a mix of odds and ends, including a spray of things we moved when we were hit by the summer storm that soaked half of our house from roof to basement floor. In short, it truly is a treasure hunt experience....and keep in mind, I have absolutely zero idea what component of hunting season necessity for which I am searching.

The search was short and unfruitful, to say the least.

Instead, we both got interested in boxes of other forgotten things, including the vintage Christmas decor that I can't wait to string all about this big house the minute Turkey Day leftovers are in the fridge. We unpacked and examined a ton of glass globes sprinkled with 'snow,' big-bulb primary color Christmas lights, a tree topper from the 1950s and to Joshy's credit, he allowed my contagious excitement to trump looking for a rut deer caller (I know what you're thinking...what the heck is a rut deer caller? all I know is that it is of most importance to find before our hunting/camping/jewelry boutique drop off weekend trip..oh yes, and that I saw a shirt at the farm store last year that said: "In the fall I Rut, and in the Sprintg I strut" which I found downright hilariously over-the-top.)

Speaking of over-the-top, my heart did flips of joy when, in the very bottom of this tote of vintage holiday goodies, I found a box labeled in scrawling, elementary-age handwriting: Cherry Lights. Christmas.

 
 
 Perfecto. I just love them! And they all light up, and not a single one is broken.

So, I felt quite complete this a.m. when I woke and found these still sitting on my counter. Maybe I could find a place to string them up for some pre-holiday festive feeling? 

Here are also some new pretties to share, all listed for purchase here and here. The autumn hues and sweet finds of vintage things have been making creating that much more fun for me. I love this season...and not just because it is a prelude to the season o' stringing my vintage cherry lights either (: 
 

 :: green jade vintage earrings, $22 ::

 
:: vintage Czech glass necklace, $52 ::

 
:: black and tan necklace, $28 ::

 
:: octupus vintage earrings, $18 ::

 
:: black filigree shoeclip bracelet, $28 ::

Now, back to the drawing board for mucho mas creating!

I am most excited about making and packing up the new things I am working on all this week: Joshy's cousin has the sweetest girlfriend who I adore, who, upon first meeting her two years ago, felt like a soul sister...and she also happens to be the new owner of a boutique in Nashville, Ind. (the mecca for fall/winter unique shopping around these parts) and so, at her so super nice request to host my pretties, I have been working on an entire line of mix-and-match upcycled vintage necklace, earrings and bracelet sets. All perfect for gift-giving, and I am hopeful, perfectly appropriate for the buying crowd in Nashville. I have been trying for some time now to find a good spot for my jewels in this little village town that welcomes literally throngs of shoppers by the thousands year round, especially Oct. thru Jan. And I really couldn't be more happy that they will be in good care with Trish at her adorable boutique!

 

:: envy green vintage bracelet, $26 ::

So, after a chock full season of Joshy working long hours thru the weekdays, and this momma packing up nearly every single Friday night for weekend jewelry selling, we are soooo looking forward to a weekend filled with a different vibe! For me: Hopefully a few long yoga sessions with Trish (her boutique is also a yoga studio, where she teaches - love it!), a drive on south to me wee sister's casa at IU, maybe lunch on big sister's sweet man (hee hee) and because I know Josh would rather scrub toilets than stroll thru boutique and little-shop land, some time to myself to do just that. And for Joshy, deer huntin' to the extreme on his uncle's land in the area with his younger cuz.

(just typing all that makes me feel rejuvenated and relaxed!)

With just a tiny bit of time this day before school lets my monkeys out, I hear my beads calling from my creatively chaotic office...wishing you a happy, blessed day!

He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate. ~ Henry David Thoreau