clickin’ around, vol. 54

Posted on July 2, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

tumblr_n5y3f1rDaJ1rbqpjlo1_500 ♥ Class of ’21 entertains the graduating class of ’71 during commencement and reunion at Smith College via Vintage National Geographic. In case you, too, need a little light this week.

♥ 3 new takes on classic summer lemonade and summer salads made for toting. Who wants to picnic?

♥ Poignant shots of modernist homes just prior to their demolition.

♥ In defense of old-lady perfumes. Amen to all of this.

♥ Really digging this #girlboss video series that’s going down over on Nasty Gal. Lots of inspiration and wisdom in those two-minute videos!

♥ Last but not least, a candid interview with lil’ ol’ me re: my favorite local thrift stores and people I like on Twitter (and in real life).

xoxo,

Meghan

how to: make a polka dot tablecloth

Posted on June 30, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

Hi cutie pies, happy Monday! If you like polka dots as much as I do, hop over to Goodwill’s blog to see how I transformed a plain ‘ol thrifted sheet into a party-perfect tablecloth. Not only is it a completely customizable project, I love that you can wash and reuse it, unlike store-bought plastic or paper table coverings. A few basic supplies and a couple hours are all you need!

xoxo,

Meghan

pinned it, made it: kentucky bourbon cake

Posted on June 17, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

Last night, I met up with a couple lovely ladies over a dinner of snacks to talk through an event idea I’ve been noodling. Aiming to impress, I dusted off my as-yet unused Bundt pan with this bourbon-spiked baby in my sites. It’s from the fabulous book, Vintage Cakes, which I pinned here, where I store the brunt of my Bundt-obsession.

Despite the fact that I ran out of cake flour, this cake turned out splendidly. Served with fresh strawberries and a little cava on the side, it was a fitting finale to a productive evening.

Have you baked anything delicious lately? If so, lemme hear about it!

xo,

Meghan

clickin’ around, vol. 53

Posted on June 10, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

♥ News of Rifle Paper Co.’s wallpaper line caught my eye, especially since I’m kicking around the idea of doing my bathroom. That Peonies pattern in mint is calling my name!

♥ This lovely essay by my friend Kara about her family’s farm had me all kinds of choked up…not that that stopped me from reading it through twice in a row.

♥ Didn’t know I could love Betty White any more, but then I go and see this little tidbit. So cute!

♥ 10 common types of writers block (and how to overcome them, quickly).

♥ Thanks, Bust, for this handy guide to annihilating street harassers, just in time for summer.

♥ Truth bomb of the burger variety regarding the age-old book vs. movie debate.

Photo c/o: Sylvie-Vartan.

pinned in, made it: pizzucchini

Posted on June 9, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

I have this terrible tendency to want to eat pizza every day of my life. No joke. But seeing as I ordered my beloved jalapeño-pineapple ‘za from Jakeeno’s last night, for the sake of my wallet (and my waist), I figured tonight, I should switch it up. So I pinned these Pizzucchini c/o Dashing Dish and went on my way.

I loved how these babies came together super fast. Like one episode of “Orange is the New Black” and dinner was done. I felt so good about eating an entire zucchini for dinner, I almost forgot to miss the crust.

Definitely a recipe to remember this summer, especially if you’re a fan of both zukes and ‘za.

Wishing you all wonderful evenings!

xo,

Meghan

Top photo c/o: Dashing Dish.

heads up: can’t-miss country club garage sale

Posted on June 6, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

I love days when blog-topics literally fall into my lap. Like this morning, when my co-worker Erin mentioned she was going to a “fancy” neighborhood garage sale on Saturday. Considering the source, a woman whose collection of vintage St. John is utterly mind-blowing and never looks anything less than 100-percent pulled-together, I knew had to get the scoop and share it here. If anyone gets the actual true definition of “fancy,” it’s her!

Here I go, quoting the Craigslist ad:

“The King of all garage sales. Tomorrow (Sat.) from 8-1:00. Near 50th and France. HWY 100 to 50th Street Go East to Wooddale. Look for the Green signs. There are other sales going on in the Country Club Neighborhood….here are a few of the addresses participating:
4511 Wooddale Ave
4524 Arden Ave
4503 Wooddale Ave
4525 Drexel
4208 Sunnyside Road
4508 Bruce
4514 Wooddale
4501 Casco”

So there you have it! Not a lot of details, but definitely a whole lot of promise, given the zip code. If you’re unfamiliar with Edina, don’t be deterred if you get a little shade thrown your way by its residents.

It comes with the territory.

Wishing you all the best of weekends!

xoxo,

Meghan

Photo + GIF c/o: Lucille Bluth Knows Best.

heads up: furniture sale at the downtown salvation army

Posted on June 4, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

This Saturday, the downtown Salvation Army will unveil a new buy-by-the-pound shopping model. (Here’s my take on the change.) In anticipation of the big reveal and to make room for the brand-new layout, today and tomorrow only, all furniture at the 4th Street location will be DEEPLY discounted, with items starting at the eye-popping price of $1.99. (!!!) As someone who has purchased several large, prized pieces of vintage furniture at this location specifically, I’m sorely tempted to check out what’s up for grabs today after work. You certainly won’t find prices better than this on furniture anywhere, so it’s at the very least worth a quick look-see, right?

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!

xo,

Meghan

pinned it, made it: chickpea cakes with shaved asparagus and yogurt

Posted on June 2, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

Raise your hand if you overdid it a bit on the food front this weekend! From a cookout feast Friday to multiple plates of Brasa at Angie’s (gorgeous) wedding Saturday to a steak and twice-baked potatoes dinner last night, the hits just kept rolling (in the best possible way). In the mood for something a little lighter, I turned to Pinterest to find a recipe using three ingredients I had on hand—chickpeas, farmers market asparagus and some leftover yogurt sauce.

One of the recipes I pinned was this one from Naturally Ella…chickpea cakes with shaved asparagus and yogurt.

I had everything called for on hand, saving me from a stop at the store on my already endless commute home from work. #score Can I tell you how happy I am to be stir-frying in shorts with the windows open? Seriously, so happy.

The resulting dish was so BEYOND GOOD, I’m already looking forward to eating my leftovers for lunch tomorrow. The patties were flavorful and crisp and the tomato-asparagus melange on top was simple and perfect. Over the top went some leftover dill-y yogurt sauce, to which I added a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and dash of smoked paprika.

It was the perfect foil to all deep-fried, meaty goodness I consumed for the 72 hours prior, and it didn’t even take that long to whip up. Are you pinning any fresh summer suppers? If so, leave me your profile address so I can follow along!

xoxo,

Meghan

Top photo c/o: Naturally Ella.

heads up: hula hoop your way to savings

Posted on May 31, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

Work your waist tomorrow at Empty the Next and you may earn yourself a half-off discount! Simply show up between noon and 4 p.m. and shimmy-shimmy as many times around as your rhythm will allow. Each time the hoop goes round your waist, you earn you 5% off any item of your choice. Three times = 15% off, five = 25%, eight = 40% and so on up to 50% off. Fun right?

Here are a few things I wouldn’t mind picking up on discount…

♥ Pink and White Singer Cabinet Sewing Machine (model #626), $40

♥ Yellow Homemade Toy Chest (for storing my deck cushions in), $10

♥ Sweet utility/bakers/potting rack (great potential when repainted!), $25

To see all 80+ items Empty the Nest has listed on Craigslist, click here, but also know that their warehouse is big, consistently full and new stuff is put out constantly.

Happy hooping!

xo,

Meghan

Top photo c/o: Moment Momentum.

to-do tonight: girl germs tribute to women in rock

Posted on May 30, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

This whole week, I’ve been equally depressed/enraged by the #YesAllWomen posts. (If you’re unfamiliar, @mostlypregnant’s tweets have been summing it up nicely.) If you, too, could use a night to focus on something positive, let me tell you about this incredible show my friend Dana and her pal Sally have put together, happening TONIGHT at First Avenue. It’s a tribute to women in rock ‘n roll, with seven local bands playing music by a female artist of their choosing.

Here’s the lineup! (Pssst, you can read more about the bands and their selections here.)

Night Moves–performing the Cranberries
Pink Mink–performing Bikini Kill (!!!)
Strange Names–performing the B-52′s
L’Assassins–performing Thee Headcoatees (!!!)
Fury Things–performing Hole
CRYSTAL (feat. members of Brute Heart)–performing Sade
Lydia Liza (of Bomba De Luz)–performing Dusty Springfield (!!!)

The event will be hosted by the legendary Lori Barbero and my incredibly talented friend Jen Hughes will be DJ’ing. (P.S. Watch clips from Jen’s 25 essentials albums by female artists here! It’s a must-read, fabulous post.)

Sweetening the pot (literally), is Girl Germs’ partnership with Glam Doll Donuts. The bakery created a masterpiece of a treat for the event—a blueberry-packed cake donut topped with MORE blueberries and a homemade lavender marshmallow. I had the chance to taste-test one a couple days ago and holy cannoli, it’s literally the best thing I’ve eaten in ages. These pretty babies will be available at Glam Doll all weekend AND at the show tonight. DO NOT MISS OUT.

So, just to recap, we have a feminist rock icon hosting, an amazing DJ filling your ears with music between sets, SEVEN bands and yummy fruit-filled donuts. Clearly this concert belongs on your calendar, am I right? Tickets are a measly $10, and if you’re in the area, you should definitely come. It’s going to be a glorious evening.