Cheetah Velour

the hello experiment

super nova

Tip o' the hat to Kitschy Kitschy Coo for sharing  a sweet ad for the Chevy Nova (with tent option!!!) and inspiring me to share a little something from my own Nova collection.

It's not much of a 'collection', really, but I am the proud driver of a '76 Nova Concourse (aka Grandma's Grocery Getter) and I do have a few magazines and ads lying around. Here's one of my favorites- the '76 sales brochure. OUCH! My eyes! MY EYES!! (Click on any of the pictures for a better look IF YOU DARE.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, Aries

Federal Glass astrology mugs over in my Etsy shop

They're all there except for Aries. Guess somebody kept that one?

flea market finds (now with more links!)

I finally got out to the Alameda Flea Market over the weekend. I hadn't been out there in months. Nothing like good company, kitschy finds, and kettle corn by the bay! Besides, this blog has been seriously lacking in kitsch lately, and it's high time I did something about that.

THIS was the find of the day- the Official Cheetah Velour Ice Bucket! I'd been resisting buying an ice bucket forever. Sure, you can find one in any thrift store but I was looking for just the right one. This is it! Now every drink will taste just like being in the Jungle Room at Graceland.

 

I also got these sweet Nugget Sam AKA Last Chance Joe cocktail glasses for a buck each. The real Sam/Joe is 36 feet tall and lives in Sparks, NV. (Side note- if you click on that link, Roadside America  also lists the Guns and Jewels of Elvis display as one of the 'Nearby Offbeat Places'. Yup, THAT'S ME!)

 

Hmm, what else? This cute planter (thrown in free with the ice bucket, I didn't even have to haggle)-

 

and this paint-by-number, perfect for the spare room.

 

If loving cheese is wrong, I don't want to be right.

What have you brought home lately?

white elephant sale

It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that!

Here are a few pictures from my favorite rummage sale- the annual WHITE ELEPHANT SALE in Oakland, CA. The parking situation is terrible, but the sale is worth it. "ACRES OF BARGAINS FOR PEANUTS", PEOPLE!

 

 

 

I actually really liked this next one but I didn't buy it.

 

What's up with all the owls?

 

 

 

I was tempted by this next item, but I wound up leaving it and buying a Pendleton shirt/jacket instead. You can see a little bit of it peeking out from behind the jeans jacket. Mostly I felt sorry for the Huey Lewis jacket- like if I didn't buy it nobody would.

 

After a big rummage sale, nothing hits the spot like a refreshing Mai Tai. Fortunately Tiki Tom's is just a couple of blocks over. It was Happy Hour, too. A four dollar Mai Tai- you can't beat that with a stick!

 

 

 

PS- The other really great thing about the WES is that every year the Girl Scouts are out there selling their cookies. I gotta have my Thin Mints.

spare me

Now that we have the bad bowling pun out of the way (it was either that or "I can't believe it's not gutter")...

Let's:

because:

 

As if you needed an excuse!

I love bowling so, so much. I am really, really, really bad at it, but that is beside the point. Everything about bowling appeals to me (but again, I am really bad at it).

Let us start with the shoes. Bowling shoes are the great equalizer. Can't nobody look good in these.

 

Bowling balls and the selection of them make no sense to me. I tend to go for the prettiest bowling ball and/or the one with the most personality.

 

Here's a particularly lovely neon bowling ball. See how I try to become one with the bowling ball? Doesn't actually work. The bowling ball does not care, even though it says "Smart Ball".

 

I did manage to make some inexplicable trick shots with my serious lack of skills. Don't ask me how I did this on the first try.

 

Perhaps someday I will end up here, if I try hard enough. Bowling runs in my family. There are awesome bowlers on both sides of the family. To be honest, I think it died with me so if there is a Wall of Shame I'm more likely to end up there.

 

It doesn't matter if I win or lose (and for the record, I lost 4 out of 4) but the bowling alley is beautiful to me. If only I had these great lockers at home-

 

Not to mention the mind boggling carpet! I don't understand this pattern at all, but I like to call it "Space Bacon".

 

 

If nothing else, the bowling alley (or video arcade in this case) taught me some words to live by-

 

I typically don't ask for refunds. Two out of three ain't bad, or is it?

more thrift scores

A few more things for the Etsy shop, too!

These cute 70's salt and pepper shakers-

 

South Dakota, I love you.

 

this one's for the ladies

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

-Groucho Marx

 

Who doesn't love a good book? Why, the thrift stores are just chock full of interesting reads! There is truly something for everyone.

Ladies, say you want to meet that special someone. These books should make it easy, but may make you look a little desperate in the process.

 Don't know what to say? This book will tell you all you need to know. Of course I didn't buy it. I don't have a problem not knowing what to say. I have a problem knowing when to stop talking.

 

The awkwardness doesn't end there! They say a way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but what if you're the type who can burn ice cubes? Another HELP! book to the rescue.

 

Be thankful it's not The Seventeen Cookbook! Those recipes would frighten anyone.

 

 

Suppose it's not a man you're after at all! Sometimes a gal just needs a little time with her ladies. The Seventeen Cookbook has the answer, of course.

 

Whatever you do, you always want to make your guests feel at home in your home. Er...maybe not too much at home.

 

So remember, life's too short! Get yourself some thrift store books and start improving your life today.

 

(This last book has nothing to do with anything. I just thought it was really cheesy.)

Etsy shop update

Holy cow, I love this book.

 

 

 

 

I'd keep it for myself, but honestly, I'd burn ice cubes if given half the chance. If you're up to the task of planning a slumber party or a Holiday in Mexico Prom or a  Sukiyaki Party for the gang, then you're a better woman (or man) than I.

If cooking isn't your thing, then there's this, which is actually quite practical!

 

 

And this - 

 

CRAFT AHOY!

favorite places: Urban Ore

If you are ever in Berkeley, CA then take the time to stop in at Urban Ore. It's a junker's dream! There are not only heaps and heaps of building materials up to and including the kitchen sink(s), but also more random weird stuff than you can shake a stick at.

You never know what you'll find at Urban Ore. That's why it's so much fun.

 Money can buy a lot of things, but it certainly can't buy taste. This is the ugliest shelving unit I have ever seen. I WANT IT.

I wish the photo had come out better, but those are (almost) life-size panthers built onto those shelves. SO TACKY. Again, I WANT IT.

 Let's take a closer look.

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

You know you want this sign.

You can also find that special something for that steampunk or Myth Busters wannabe on your holiday gift list.

 

 

I love you, Urban Ore.