Woman in Real Life

An après-ski party is just what it sounds like - a party after skiing. Because, while we ski independently, it's also nice to hang with friends and family on a ski day. That "we" should be in quotations because I do not ski. Ever. I went skiing once in high school and it wasn't for me. I kept throwing myself down on my butt on purpose to avoid picking up speed.

Fortunately my husband and my kids like to ski. (I have a few characteristics I'm happy my kids didn't inherit, like cowardice.) I'm always open to going along on a skiing excursion, so long as there is some sort of ski lodge with abundant hot beverages and maybe a liqueur or two. I'm certainly willing to join in for a little chocolate fondue party at any time as well.

Après-Ski Blog Hop

My thanks to Ariel from PMQ For Two for arranging a blog hop around all things après-ski and winter fun. At the bottom of this post, you'll find links to other bloggers' lovely ideas for après-ski happenings. There will be new posts each day until Thursday this week, so come back daily for new additions.

I visited my mom and dad at the cottage last week. Mom and I now have a routine involving lunch in town and a quick pop into the thrift store. Since I bought so many vintage glass baking dishes last time we went to the thrift shop, I avoided buying more of those. But I found this little orange flower cream and sugar set irresistible. I don't know what it is with me and orange flowers. I can't pass up a vintage dish with orange flowers on it. This sweet little set was made in Japan.

The ease and beauty of summertime calls for table settings that are eclectic, pretty and practical. Don't put away your formal china - summer "casual" doesn't have to mean plastic cutlery and paper plates. Instead, opt for a mix and match summer table that nods to summer's informal qualities while celebrating a season made for socializing.

Classic and modern, formal and informal, bold and demure, floral and check, silver and gold, fun and serious, high and low - all of these elements can work together for a lovely summer table. I was challenged to take a few pieces of fine tableware from Classic Replacements to act as the foundation of my summer table.

On my most recent visit to the thrift store, I discovered an abundance of vintage white baking dishes. I found the patterns so cheery and the prices so reasonable that I couldn't resist picking up a few. Plus my mom was with me and she got her senior's discount, for another 10% off. These dishes were all $2 or $3 each to begin with. Practically a steal, no?

As we attempt to purge our clutter-filled homes of all things ugly, unloved and excess, Marie Kondo advises us to keep only those items that spark joy. My question to you is, what if far too many items spark joy? When it comes to thrifted and inherited dishes and vases, the current state of our dining room clearly demonstrates that you can have too much of a good thing.

Thrift lovers unite in 2016! With 2015 behind us and surely more thrift shopping in our futures in 2016, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of my favourite items/posts of last year. It was interesting to examine my old posts and reflect on which thrifted and gifted items became favourites, brought joy and were just generally more useful. Of course there were other items that ended up kind of falling to the wayside. And that's just as telling, isn't it?

I highly recommend looking back at your old purchases to help you find better, more useful treasures going forward! It goes back to the advice of popular organization expert Marie Kondo - keep only those items that bring you joy. And each of the items pictured above gives me joy.

Yesterday I bought a small table (chef's table/work surface) to help me with my food photography. It's going to sit under my kitchen window, but it has wheels so I can move it around to catch the light (which is becoming increasingly more scarce as fall progresses). Under the bamboo tabletop there are wire shelves that will hold some of the plates, bowls, napkins and cutlery that I like to use in my pictures. (We don't have the table put together yet, but I'll be sure to show it to you when we do.)

I used those new shelves as an excuse to stop off at the Salvation Army thrift store after I purchased the table. Because I am trying to limit the items that I bring into the house, I restricted myself to looking for small dishes and cutlery. The great thing about using small plates for food photos is that you can purchase just one of each style - you don't need to find matching sets. I found these three plates, above, two for 99 cents each and one for $1.99. I also found a few pieces of cutlery for 25 cents each.

First up, I want to mention that this week's Vintage Bliss Tuesdays linky party will be live for two weeks. Why? Quite frankly, I am having trouble getting ALL THE THINGS done with a couple of oft-bored kids in the house. Who decided against summer camp again? Oh yeah, that was me.

I headed into summer with visions of a sea of free days to spend as we wish - at the beach, sipping Italian sodas at the coffee shop, making vegan ice cream and reading books. And, yes, there have been such days, but I forgot to plan for the days when I have two freelance articles due, a bunch of blog posts to produce and those aforementioned bored kids to contend with.

Do you ever start a collection unintentionally? I picked up a couple of pieces of this cheery vintage orange flowered dishware a few years back. And then, as I said in this Flower Power post, my lovely blogging friend Jill sent me a whole bunch more matching pieces. And a collection was born.

So when I saw these matching lidded soup bowls at the thrift store this week, how could I pass them up? We may never use them, but they sure do look pretty with the mugs. These pieces were made in Japan for the now defunct Consumers Distributing stores. I believe they are from the seventies.

When we visited my parents on Canada Day, we drove into town for lunch and a little stroll. The Salvation Army store was closed for the holiday, but we noticed that people had left a lot of donations by the back door. I admired a large brown vase and a glass serving platter.

The next day, my mom and I headed back into town to do some errands and decided to stop by the Salvation Army to see if the vase had hit the shelves yet. We didn't see it around, so my mom asked one of the employees about it. He said he had come in early that morning and there was no vase outside. He added that people often rifle through the donations at night, taking what they want from the piles. And here I was being all ethical. Anyway, I spotted a few legitimate finds in the store, like this happy flower mug for 50 cents.

On Friday, I shared photos of me and my sister shopping at the Salvation Army thrift shop. It's always more fun thrift shopping with another deal hunter, isn't it?

I last shared a "Thrifting Sisters" post back in March. My sister and I don't get to shop together often, but we can do some damage when we do. On this particular trip, she got the cute necklace she was wearing in the Friday pictures. I, of course, got some dishes, including these little Enoch Wedgwood "Blue Heritage" plates. I can't resist those pretty blue patterned dishes! Can you?

I am avoiding the thrift stores at the moment, seeing as I must be stopped from adding to my giant collection of dishes. I will be visiting my sister soon and she will no doubt drag me (kicking and screaming of course) to the nearest thrift stores.

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to share a look at our mid-century telephone table. My husband and I bought this from a friend many years ago before we had a house or any idea of what our interior decorating would look like.

My friend Ruthie commented on a post I did in April asking me where I keep all of the treasures that I collect from thrift stores and my parents' house. Here is her comment:

Love that pizza dish! How cute! Great finds, all around. But you need to do a post on WHERE you keep your treasures. Because I, uh, need help.

As I told Ruthie then, I'm not sure I'm much help, because our house is overflowing with dishes. But, although (like most women) I'm working hard to get organized, I do believe in making a place for the things you love. Many of my dishes are from my mom and dad and I wouldn't think of parting with them. The others I have no excuse for. But I'm keeping 'em anyway!

In my "Small Town Shopping" post last week, I showed you a few of the treasures I found while browsing the thrift stores in the small town of Dunnville, Ontario. I have just a few more goodies to share.

My husband and I went shopping without the kids, much to my daughter's dismay. I promised I would bring her something back. I found this cute owl piggy bank, above, at the Salvation Army shop. When I brought it home, she said, "Is that all?" Well, I like it anyway.

In addition to enjoying the beach at my parents' house this past weekend, my husband and I also ventured into the nearby small town of Dunnville to browse some shops. There is a great thrift store in town with lots of vintage dishes and records. I looked at the dishes while he looked at the records.

While I was picking up half price green finds at the Salvation Army store, I also spotted a couple of lovely items that weren't included in the sale.

Let me just say, I don't know much about the value of things when I'm shopping at thrift stores. I am not buying to resell, so I just buy what I like, as long as it seems like a bargain to me.

I liked the rustic charm of this wire egg basket, above, but I wasn't sure if I should bring home something quite so rusty. I decided to go for it. I can't quite remember how much it cost, but I believe it was under $2. I did some research since then and found out that similar egg baskets are priced at $30 or more.

As I mentioned in my first "Keeping it Green" post, the local Salvation Army Thrift Stores came up with an ingenious concept for this eco-friendly month. For two days, all green items of any kind were half price. Last week, I showed you the bigger pieces that I bought, mainly serving dishes.

This week, I am showing off the smaller gems that I added to my cart that day. Even a touch of green made it half price.

Isn't this a sweet little pitcher and saucer set, above? I have so many decorative items in my home that I no longer have shelves or tables to place them on. Or so I thought. Then I realized that the spare bedroom is hardly decorated. That's where this little duo ended up.

The Salvation Army Thrift Stores came up with a nifty concept for Earth Month. For two days this week, all green-coloured items of any kind were half price.

So, on Friday I bought some green stuff (dishes and clothes) and saved some green stuff (yes, that would be money). Technically I wouldn't have bought anything if they didn't have the sale, so I didn't really save any money, but at least I'm reusing. Thrift store shopping is one great way to help our environment, after all.

I got this large Bowring serving dish, above, still in the box, for $3.50. Doesn't it just say "spring time?"

March Break, Day Four - My sister and I spent the day thrift store shopping in St. Catharines, Ontario. She always heads for the clothes and accessories, while I head straight for the dishes. She often finds clothes for me too, so I don't have to do the grunt work.

On Saturday, I took my daughter to buy much-needed new tap shoes. She has grown a lot lately!

Shoes bought, I asked her to accompany me to the Salvation Army thrift store. We were pleased to see that it was a sale day...half price on anything with pink, red or white on it.

I just happen to love pink dishes anyway. I chose this small Royal York "Sweetheart Rose" plate.