Monthly Archives: February 2011

thrift trip: burnsville loop

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When I leave work feeling like a crabbed-out stress case, there’s one thing that can always make me feel better: Shopping. Thrift-store shopping, to be exact. I wait until traffic dies down, and then grab my iPod, some water and hit the road. While most of my favorite thrift trips are all-afternoon adventures, I’ve got a few routes down that can easily be done after work (even if you’re a 10-6-er like me).

This one, back and forth to Burnsville, is one of my ole stand-bys for those nights when retail therapy is most definitely required. I like to head south on 77 (Cedar Avenue) so I can hit the Savers that’s barely in Apple Valley. Then I cut across to Burnsville on Cty. Rd. 42 which leads you directly to the Unique and Salvation Army stores. (Pro tip: If you’re stretched for time, just hit the Unique and Salvation Army in Burnsville—they’re literally across the street!) From there, you can head back to Minneapolis on Hwy 35W, or cut back to 77 on Highway 13 hitting Antiques Minnesota and the Chap Thrift shop in Burnsville along the way.

(Click the pinpoints to see pics and details like hours, phone numbers, website addresses, etc.!)


View Larger Map

If you liked this post, check out my other thrifting treasure maps…one for St. Cloud and another featuring Family Pathways Thrift Stores up Highway 35.

Hugs!

Meghan

how to: make salted caramel shortbread

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I’m an awful baker. I’m trying to get better by baking a new recipe every Sunday. After two weeks of epic fails, finally…success in the form of salted caramel shortbread! This recipe alone was reason enough for me to plunk down $6 this week and subscribe to Ready Made magazine. The finished result is insanely yummy, but even more than that, if I can bake this without screwing it up, so can you. A few words of warning: You’ll need a good chunk of time to make this, as there is quite a bit of waiting in between some of the steps.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

For the shortbread:

♥ 1 c. all-purpose flour
♥ 1/2 c. cornstarch
♥ 1/2 c. confectioner’s sugar
♥ 1 stick unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

For the salted caramel:

♥ 1 1/4 c. packed light brown sugar
♥ 3/4 c. heavy cream
♥ 6 T.  unsalted butter, softened
♥ 1 t. crushed sea salt

For the chocolate topping:

♥ 7 ounces dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa solids)

HOW TO MAKE

1. If you’re lucky, mix the shortbread ingredients together in a food processor. Or, do it the traditional way by sifting the dry ingredients in a large bowl, adding the butter, and using clean fingertips to rub them together until a dough forms. Form dough into ball (it’ll be super crumb-like), cover with plastic wrap  and put in fridge to rest for an hour. Meanwhile, line a 9-inch square brownie pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and preheat the oven to 325°. Flatten the rested dough into the pan.

2. Prick the top of the dough all over with a fork  and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until the top is light brown and starting to come away from the edges of the pan. Allow to cool in the pan for at least one hour before you make the caramel.

3. To make the caramel, put the sugar and cream in a heavy-bottom saucepan set over low heat. Heat gently, sitting with a wooden spoon as it comes to a boil. Bring the caramel back to a boil and let it bubble gently for 5 minutes, sitting occasionally. Take the caramel off the heat, add the salt and stir vigorously to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed in. Then, working quickly, pour the caramel on top of the cooled shortbread. Put the pan in fridge (or, if you live in Minnesota, your porch) and let set for at least 1 hour.

3. Once the caramel has set, melt the chocolate over a double boiler. (If you want to temper it properly, here are the directions for how to do that.) Pour the melted chocolate on top of the caramel and spread it evenly with a rubber spatula. Allow the chocolate to set before lifting the shortbread out of the pan and cutting into squares with a hot knife.

These babies will keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. But I’m guessing they won’t last you that long.

xo,

Meghan

 

 

style magic: rita coolidge

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Happy Saturday, y’all!

In preparation for tomorrow’s show, I’ve been listening to a *lot* of Kris Kristofferson, including some recordings featuring his former wife, Rita Coolidge. I wish some celebrated rocker wives would emulate Rita’s effortless, natural ’70s style and just say no to Botox and boob jobs. Behold the prettiness…

{Click the image to link to original source!}

xo,

Meghan

clickin’ around, v. 4

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♥ If you love paper dolls like I do, you’ll freak out over these reusable fabric wall decals I found via Lulu Letty (pictured above).

♥ I agreed whole-heartedly with Lindsay’s beef with The Style Network. Do you?

♥ Brandi, over at Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno, shared her go-to recipe for jalepeno poppers. Must. Make. ASAP.

♥ I was so sad to learn I’m going to miss William Eggleston‘s exhibit in Nashville by mere days. I love his photos!

♥ For the locals, Girl Germs Radio has created a bitchin’ concert calendar. If you’re into lady artists of all stripes, bookmark it.

♥ This beachy editorial featuring a stunning Liv Tyler makes me yearn for summer. She’s such a beauty!

♥ I started this book today and already love it. Are y’all reading anything good? I’m always in need of recs.

♥ My ultra-talented business partner in crime started blogging again. Yessss!

And with that..I’m off to work! Have wonderful days, my dears!

xo,

Meghan

My girlfriends tell me how proud they are of me, how beautiful I am, how overjoyed they are to see me. And as much as I love my guy friends, they’ve never done any of those things.

spring things

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Some weeks I wish money grew on trees solely so I could spend it all on Etsy.  Here’s a little random assortment of things I’ve added to my spring wish list this week.

♥ Andrea and I are signing on for another session of community ed swimming, which is reason enough to pick up another vintage suit, right? Right.

{Pastel Butterfly Dream Skirted Swimsuit, $29, Gimme Nicole}

♥ Capes and ponchos serve as fantastic transition pieces during that slushy, suck-filled buffer season between winter and spring.

{Vintage Folklore Cape, $26, Scottie in a Canoe)

♥ I’d be happy to see one of these pastel postcards in my mailbox some dreary day.

{Set of 4 Postcards, $9, Lola’s Room}

♥ I love these creamsicle-colored floral ponytail holders. So cute! $10 for two ain’t bad, either!

{Two Flower Pony Tail Holders, $10, Tamar}

♥ This needs to hang above my desk as a daily reminder that uncomplicated = good.

{Keep it Simple Doily Wall Art, $27, Three Red Apples}

♥ Is it weird that I dream about thrifting awesome sets of pink Pyrex? Because I do.

{Vintage Pyrex Pink Daisy Casserole Set, $65, Sassbox Classics}

♥ Bigger is better when it comes to hair, savings accounts and polka dots.

{Polka Dot ’80s Blazer, $45, Vonlenska’s Vintage}

And with that, I’m off to tidy up the kitchen. Good times. (No.)

xo,

Meghan

 

 

 

the old grey whistle test

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Do you know what can happen when a zillion inches of heavy snow fall? Both your Internet and television can go out. Which forces you do desperate things…like raid your DVD collection. Which is exactly what my honey and I had to do last night, when faced with a TV/Internet-free household. I’m not whining, because we wound up watching one of our favorite bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd perform on “The Old Grey Whistle Test.”

For those of you not familiar with the program, don’t feel bad. I hadn’t heard of it either until my boyfriend, musical genius that he be, introduced me to it. The show, usually abbreviated as TOGWT, was an influential BBC2 television program that ran from 1971 through 1988. The focus was on “serious rock,” rather than whatever pop-y was topping the charts at the moment. Shoestring, would be the best way to summarize the show’s budget. Bands played in front of bare-boned backdrops on simple, non-glitzy sets. (Fact: The entire studio was 32-by-22 feet!!)

Despite the modest set, artists were stoked about the show and many crazy awesome acts of the era appeared. Like, for example, Bob Marley and the Wailers. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Yup. Who else? Um, well, Judas Priest. Steely Dan. AC/DC. THIN LIZZY. Ramones. ZZ Top. Steppenwolf. Electric Light Orchestra.
I could go on and on and on and on and on and on.

Enough rambling…here are some of my favorite clips.

“Rocker,” AC/DC

“I Ain’t the One,” Lynyrd Skynyrd

“American Girl,” Tom Petty

“Reelin’ in the Years,” Steely Dan

“Don’t Believe a Word,” Thin Lizzy

Anywho, if you’re into classic rock and if you are on-board the Netflix train, you might be happy to know that you can get compilations of “The Old Grey Whistle Test” (Volume 1, 2 and 3) mailed right to your door. How sweet is that? Very, I’d say.

Big hugs,

Meghan

favorite find of the weekend

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My sweetheart and I were thrifting fools on Saturday. He moved recently, so we’re hunting for, well…everything. Our first stop of the day was the Salvation Army Boutique in Oakdale. The week before, I had spotted this amazing antique radio/bar thing that would fit well in his apartment. Tragically, it was long gone. (“Flew out the door,” said the manager.) My bummed-ness was quickly remedied by finding this cute little fur piece, on sale for 1/2 off.

Half-off of $9 = $4.50, right? Right.

And that, my dears, is my favorite find of the weekend. Have you been thrifting lately? Have you found anything special? Do tell!

xo,

Meghan

 

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around my room

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Hi!

I spent some time spiffing up my bedroom over the weekend.
Wanna nose around?

I noticed after taking these my bedroom is over-run with three things: photos, the color pink and sentimental sayings. Not pictured in this tour: dust bunnies, piles of dirty laundry, miscellaneous socks and dog hair.

xo,

Meghan

heads up: president’s day weekend sales

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Hey sweethearts!

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If you’re looking to get your shop on, here’s the scoop on some President’s Day sales happening this weekend.

Friday through Monday

Hope Chest for Breast Cancer: Take 25-75% off items at the Orono store, including jewelry, furniture, artwork, desks and home decor. At the St. Paul store, take 30% off any one item. Both locations are running winter clearance sales, too, with items priced at $3-20.

Family Pathways Thrift Store, Pine City: From Friday through Sunday, save 33% store-wide.

Monday Only

Savers: Take 50% off all used clothing, shoes, accessories and tagged bed and bath items. Sale runs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Salvation Army Thrift Stores: All clothing will be half-off at the downtown Minneapolis location, including all the new Target stuff in the basement. All winter clothing will be half off at the other shops around town. Check this page for store locations and hours.

Hidden Treasures Thrift Store: Enjoy 40% off everything in the store. You can also stock up on cold weather gear for a song—$5 a bag for all winter clothing and accessories. Hidden Treasures is open from 10p a.m.-7 p.m.

ARC’s Value Village Thrift Stores: Take 50% off all home goods, including linens, furniture, housewares, games, toys, movies, music, collectibles, craft supplies and books. All locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Unique and Valu Thrift Stores: Everything in the store is half-off! All five area stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Happy shopping!

xo,

Meghan