Say It Ain't So

Thursday, January 15, 2015

First Estate Sale 2015

We didn't go to that many estate sales last year. I needed a break because I was bringing home too much stuff. But I'm back, and much pickier! Last weekend Travis and I went to our first sale of the year. It was slim pickings in the listings, but a sale out in Hendersonville looked like it might be worth the drive. The first thing I saw when I walked into the garage was this box so things were looking good...

And the second thing I saw was Lisa from She Was a Bird! Bonus!

I found a few cute toys to fill this box and then went into the house and it turns out it was just a dealer with one room of his stuff, the rest of the house was just his regular house, all blocked with police tape. Womp, womp. There was even a bowl full of dog food! Trick! He was nice, even if half of the stuff he had for sale was $150 to $750. So weird. BUT he looked in my box and said "5 bucks for it all!" Yes!

It wasn't a total bust though. We stopped at Khan's for vegan breakfast sandwiches and cupcakes. Yum! Here is what I dug out of boxes in the garage. All stuff I NEEDED, haha.

The little yellow animals are for a friend. The little oven and plastic turkey made us laugh, and I have a plan for the other animals. Aren't they cute?

A selection of little stuffed animals for my collection. I love that dream pet like skunk.

The weird spotty dog has this tag on the bottom I've never seen. It's made in Japan, but it looks like it got approved and registered in Pennsylvania.

I couldn't resist this mashed up craft lady. The body is yarn, the head is styrofoam with felt, and those fuzzy ears! i was about to add her to my Easter stash, but I think I like her too much. She'll stay out year round.

Bonus, here is Travis with Chloe, who we were dog sitting. Gosh I love her. Sadly her family is moving to Jackson, Mississippi really soon so we probably won't get to watch her again. Wah!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Watch: January

Travis and I wanted to have a goal together for 2015 and since we love to go to the movies, a movie goal it is! We tried watching the AFI top 100 before, but totally failed. Spoiler alert: a lot of those movies are BORING. Haha. So we're making a pact to see 50 movies in the theater this year, starting on Christmas Day (since that seems like a fun starting point.) We've already made quite a dent. So many good films come out this time of year, it's easy!

1. Into The Woods // This was our Christmas day movie and I was pretty excited about it. I love musicals, and Chris Pine! Seems like an easy win. But I kind of hated it. I felt like it would never end and couldn't wait for it to be over. I think it just didn't translate very well onto screen. It got really confusing by the end and there were weird character choices and that creepy song Johnny Depp as a wolf sings to Little Red Riding Hood. The highlight was Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince, and the song "Agony." It is a song where two princes are trying to out do each other when it comes to the agony of their love. It was pretty delightful and the movie hit it's stride and was really enjoyable for a little bit, then lost it again. So disappointing!

2. The Tale of Princess Kaguya // This is a masterpiece of animation from Studio Ghibli. It is a traditional Japanese folktale (some think it is the oldest Japanese story still known today!) so you know there is lots of weirdness (in the best way!) The animation is gorgeous the whole way through, and there is a scene where Kaguya flees (you'll know when) that is all sketchy and strange and just breathtaking! We saw the subtitled version which is always a little better than the dubbed. Highly recommend!

3. The Imitation Game // A story from World War 2 that I wasn't familiar with at all. It is about code breakers in England and tells the story of mathematician Alan Turing who should be much more well known than he is. The story telling is great and Benedict Cumberbatch is amazing in it. The styling is so good, which is maybe dorky to say, but I love it. You might think a movie that centers around thinking and problem solving with machines would be boring, but it never is. Highly recommend.
4. The Theory of Everything // We saw this right after The Imitation Game (as in, the showing was 30 minutes after it ended) and I think that might have tainted my opinion. It was fine, the real attraction is Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of Stephen Hawking. It was a story was wasn't familiar with and he really transforms as the movie goes on. I didn't find it as moving as I think I was supposed to, but it is worth a watch.

5. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies // I love the Lord of the Rings movies but was hesitant about seeing this one because the big battle sequences with humans are my least favorite parts (I'm more interested in elves and hobbits!) but this was really fun. My favorite parts where when they battle animals showed up, the dwarf riding that fat pig! and the little battle goats! A fun ending to the trilogy.
6. The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness // I'm a nut for Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki so when I saw this was coming to the Belcourt I kept an eye out so I wouldn't miss it. It is described as a documentary about the studio but it doesn't really have a lot about the films, it mostly focuses on Miyazaki-san and the making of his final film The Wind Rises. There is a lot of footage of the every day goings on in the studio and Miyazaki's routine. My favorite sequence was him drawing the story boards for the film. He doesn't work from scripts, he just story boards the whole thing, and doesn't always know what is going to happen when he starts them. Really wonderful, essential if you are into Studio Ghibli. If you aren't familiar, find a way to see Spirited Away immediately.

Big Eyes // I'm not counting this one in the total because I saw it by myself. This is the newest Tim Burton film, which you wouldn't know because it doesn't really have that Burton signature. It is still wonderful though. It is about Margaret Keane who all vintage enthusiasts will know. The story of this movie is that her husband took credit for the "big eyed children" that she was solely artistically responsible for. I'm sure it isn't the whole story, Margaret comes off a little TOO clean in this film, but reading about the controversy is fascinating! I love the styling and the two leads are great in the film. It is fun to see Christoph Waltz as a different kind of villain than he usually plays.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Finds From Bennie's Barn

Here is what I brought home from Bennie's Barn in Kentucky.

A little bit of vintage Christmas. Another brooch for my collection! I love the teeny celluloid deer. And that angel!

Isn't she pretty? I hadn't seen one with stars in her hair like this one. I'm in love.

I'm moving some stuff around in our house and I'm cleaning out the "Jesus hall" and turning it into a vintage travel souviner hall. We decided to only get plates and pennants from places we've been.

I couldn't resist the cute Oregon one, and we'll hopefully visit there by the end of the year!

I'm in love with this little bobble head. And two more Junior Deluxe Editions. Too bad I already have the bottom one. Dangit!

And that cute/weird dog with a basket. It originally had a little net in there and was part of a game. I love his squinty face. Not too bad for our first haul of the year!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Bennie's Barn Antique Mall!

We went up to Lexington, Kentucky for Travis' family Christmas this past weekend. On the way home Travis kept an eye out for antique mall's and suggested we pull off interstate 65 for a little vintage break. What a sweet heart! I wasn't even sure where we were until I looked this place up just now. Bennie's Barn Antique Mall in Glendale, Kentucky!

It was a great stop. It was Sunday so lots of places were closed, but it was in a small historic area that had some other promising looking shops and antique places.

There was a good mix of stuff and the prices were really resonable. Not rock bottom like my favorite Kentucky spot, Tickled Pink in Louisville, but pretty good.

Something about this little bobble head doll really spoke to me. Travis tried to talk me out of buying it, but the heart wants what it wants. Look at his face!

There were three floors of stuff to look at! All the way up to this cramped floor right under the roof.

Is this an ash tray? Isn't it weird? I kind of wanted it, but I already have three ash trays in my house, which is maybe too many for a non smoking household.

I was hoping for some after Christmas deals on holiday stuff and found this whole booth! The whole store was 15% off, which is pretty great. There were so many things I wanted! Like that hanging felt Santa!

Or this Santa with the stunning eye shadow and blush.

Have I ever mentioned I have a thing for knit Santa doorknob covers? I LOVE THEM. Travis said I couldn't get this one because it was toooo dangley and the cats would destroy it. He is probably right. But I did get that weird knit google eye santa thing. I have a few hanging on our back door.

This guy is so cute! My guess is you put some money in him and hang him on the tree for a gift. I like his fringe beard.

I haven't seen a bank like this before. I love how GIANT his nose is.

I'm sad to say I left this little lady behind. She was in a grab bag that was 9 dollars and the rest of it was SO bad. And that was more than I wanted to pay for her.

This beautiful lady did make it home with me. Look at the stars in her hair! And her beautiful face!

The woman working there was so nice and when Travis was calling my name she said "Are you looking for that cute girl?" Haha! I totally recommend Bennie's Barn! A wonderful store for our first vintage shopping of the year.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Challenge Completed! 100 Books in 2014!

I did it! My book goal this year was 100 new books and I made it, with some time to spare. I ended up reading 106 books total. Here is a crazy giant image of them all together. If you click my 100 books tag you can see what I thought of most of them, or add me on good reads! I'm doing it again for 2015, upping the goal a little to 110.

Travis and I wanted to do a goal together this year, so we're going to try and see 50 movies in the theater in a year, starting on Christmas. We're already four in, I don't think it's going to be a problem. Do you make goals like this? Do you think I'm crazy for reading this much? When people ask me how I have that much time, I have an hour to read at work each day (two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch) and I read 15 minutes to an hour while falling asleep at night. It is one of my favorite things to do.