Twirl!

It’s so easy to smile when this is my scenery.

Twirl, twirl, twirl.

I found Eden’s Cinderella dress at Salvation Army for $2.50.

Every day, she puts on her dress, I turn up the music and she twirls.

As a little girl, I loved to dance.

I loved to play dress up too.

My nieces; lighting up my world with their love.

Finding joy in baby's first steps.

At Goodwill, I found Eden and her cousin Shelby matching dresses and then they danced too.

Children are a gift.  They remind us to enjoy the simple things and to twirl instead of worry, to dress up instead of put ourselves down and to smile instead of frown.

Does Anyone Remember The Barn Boutique In Gilbert?

We had a fantastic show this weekend- over $2500 in sales in just 8 hours!  We are truly enjoying participating in these vintage markets and are so grateful for those who are willing to put in the work to sponsor them.  Speaking of shows- I was curious to know if any of you local arizonans remember "The Barn"  that was located on Greenfield Road in Gilbert?  Carolyn Reidlinger was the sponsor and put on the best Boutique of it's time.  This was back in the early 1990's (maybe even late 1980's) and lasted through 2001.  The Reidlingers built a home that resembled that of an old barn   Here's what it looks like today- being used as a reception center.  Not long after, Carolyn and her husband Don purchased a real barn back east and reassembled it on the property next door to their original barn. Here's that barn today- which has been rebuilt (looks very similar though) to meet building codes for the church that purchased it from the Reidlingers.  It was at this location that history was made in the boutique industry.  The two enormous empty fields would be filled with cars when the boutique would open each October, November and December for just 3 days.  When you pulled up you could instantly smell the homemade cinnamon rolls, and tamales.  Most of the decorating pieces in my home that I won't part with (and that says a lot since I move things around weekly) are from the barn.  I would save all year so that I could go and purchase gifts and home decor.  The Reidlingers then purchased another old building, The Shenandoah Mill.  This was reassembled at a separate location, also in Gilbert.    They had a few boutiques there, but the mill soon became a reception center.  Here's a picture of the mill...



It was a sad day when the barn was sold and the boutiques ended.  September 11th had a hand in these decisions, I'm sure.  With my recent participation in these vintage markets, I have been reminiscing about the good ole days at the "The Barn"  Two weeks ago I was working on some projects for my daughter's teacher when my phone rang- "This is Carolyn Reidlinger, I got your name and number from a recent show you did in Queen Creek.  We're starting "The Barn" boutique again and wondered if you'd like to be a vendor?"  It may seem silly, but you would have thought I was being called by a magazine for my home to be photographed (a little dream I have)  I couldn't believe it!  Of course I would be a vendor!  And so,  I'm over the top excited to tell you that the Barn- Now called The Barn @ 3080 (because of it's new address) is this weekend!


Please join me in welcoming back Carolyn by attending the barn Friday or Saturday between 9-5.  This is the first one, so we need to get the word out.  Feel free to borrow any of the pictures on this post- blog, tweet, facebook and let everyone who loves shopping know- THE BARN IS BACK!  If you've ever attended one of the past barn boutiques, please leave me a comment letting me know- so I don't feel like the only one who's obsessing here.  If you can make it, stop by my tent and say hello.  Hope to see you there.  Love, Kelly.

It's Show Time!

We're packing up to go to Junk In The Trunk!  Here's a sneek peak at some of the items we'll have for sale...

 I love this french dresser in pink

 Don't be too impressed with the lettering on the chalkboard- I used an overhead projector and traced it!

Junk In The Trunk will be INDOORS! (The skies have been threatening rain and it's been super windy today)  There will be 70 vendors all selling vintage and handmade items.  Come join us Saturday at WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ from 7am-3pm.  For more information visit Junk In The Trunk.  I'll be in space #46 so stop by and say hello.  Love, Kelly

What it that color?

Last weekend, the counselor scoured craigslist and found this dresser for sale. 

For $50, he brought home the credenza with two matching night stands.  It didn’t take long for it to go from questionable to gorgeous.

What color did I use?  I have no idea because this is opps! paint.  I have been on the lookout for a great greenish blue semi-gloss.  I think I found just what I was looking for; a gallon for $7.00.

This dresser is headed down to Qcumberz. 

I’d love for you to friend me on facebook and My Dear Trash has a facebook page too.

My book The Memory Catcher is getting great reviews.  

Over the past three decades, Sarah Hinze’s groundbreaking research on “prebirth experiences” has provided solid evidence that unborn children can warn, protect and enlighten us from another plane of existence.

Sarah’s initial quest was to understand what happened to her own miscarried child.  The answer she received eventually opened a world-wide discussion on where our children come from before they are born.

She has compiled hundreds of accounts that tell of heavenly encounters between parents and their soon-to-be-born children.

Now for the first time, Sarah shares the key experiences that shaped her life and set her on course to become The Memory Catcher—one of the world’s greatest advocates of the unborn.

Click here to order your copy.

Have a great weekend and hopefully get some thrifting in.
Linking up to:

Big Bird and Fried Foods

I have so many highlight of the last week, I don’t know where to start so I’ll just start.

Halloween was spook-tacular.  On Monday night, we celebrated at our church Trunk ‘or Treat with dinner and then trick or treating in the parking lot. 

Here is the gang, including a few neighbor girls and a very sad Mayer because he dressed up like a skater only to realize when we got there he's always dressed up like a skater. 

"No one will know I'm wearing a costume," he said.

I'm happy to say someone stopped Mayer mid-evening and told him he looked like a cool skater dude.  Such a compliment sure changed his mood.  I doctored up and wore my scrubs I found from Goodwill on $1.00 day. 

The kids were easy and really pulled together there own costumes, 

of course Eden needed a bit of help to pull of her ballerina look,

but it was the counselor who made it complicated by wanting to be big bird (well, not really big bird but more a political statement).  He needed me as his sketch artist and costume manager, so I got to work and drew something up on a yellow shirt he found at Goodwill.

PBS as Pull Big Bird’s Salary

Then, Wednesday night, Halloween we started all over.  I was ready for a change and at the last minute pulled out this funky lace strange shirt ($1.00 day at Goodwill again) that I would never wear any other night but Halloween.  

I asked the kids “Who do I look like?  What should I be?”  Finally, it was decided in such a shirt that looked like a dress, but even more like a ballet tutu I should be the black swan.  I’m not sure if the black swan is scary or just psychotic, but here’s my best attempt.

If you think that is scary, I should caution as you read ahead.  This weekend, the counselor suggested we do something really frightening!  

Go to the fair (remember the opposite of thrifting?  One of my favorite blog posts of all time).  The fair takes a few days for me to prepare for.  What will I feed my children?  How much money should we spend?  How much time should we waste?  I’m just kidding about that last part because it really was as much fun as I could muster.

We started with just taking it all in; the sounds, the lights, the greasy smelling food.

Suddenly Eden stopped, hesitant to go forward.  She was frozen with fright.

I took her by the hand, coaxing her to walk with us when I realized what she was staring at.

I was able to distract her with watching some good old fashion bungee jumping.

Payson begged to go bungee jumping, which says a lot about Payson's personality.  I was a mean mom and said "No!"

The rides were great.

Shouting "I love you," to the man down there holding the camera.

How excited was Reef to visit the petting zoo?

I never knew I could fall in love with a llama, but I did.

The butterfly exhibit was a huge hit.

They had us dip a q-tip in some sugar water and then we went collecting butterflies to feed.

Reef held extra still for this shot, not quite sure if he should be excited or afraid a butterfly had landed on his head.

Eden thought it was magical.

One last ride to end the evening, the giant death slide.

You too could have 4 seconds of fun for only $5.00 a turn.

And they say money can't buy happiness!

The entire fair experience smelled like fried foods.  I’m happy to say I didn’t eat a single fried item, although I did feel a bit fried when we finally left for the night.

Solid and Chunky

Post claimer:  Solid and chunky - two words that I hope are never used to describe me. (haha)

The counselor calls me on his way home from work and I can tell by the tone in his voice he has something for me. 

“What did you find,” I ask.

“It’s old,” he says.  “Solid and chunky too.”

He’s talking about a dresser, or course, his latest kill. 

My man has turned into a thrift store carnivore and fortunately, we live in a town were on his way home from work he can stop by a handful of them.

Here’s his latest find and my latest paint-up with sage green opps! paint.

Solid and chunky; that man know's what he's talking about.

We’re a pretty great team, wouldn’t you say.
To read my blog post on the American Night Writer's Association blog, click here.
To order my book The Memory Catcher, click here.
Have a great weekend.