monday melodies: a christmas mix for YOU!

tumblr_mxoby9ijCN1rtr67io1_500

Seriously, how much do you want to swap circumstances with the woman pictured above? Trade the computer and office for a pool float and crystal-blue water, bobbing with ornaments? Where do I sign up? Alas, I’m at work today, wrapping up loose ends and getting ahead before a gloriously long, nine-day (!!!) break. In case you, too, are spending today in front of a screen, below is a mix o’ music I put together for your ears only. It’s eclectic as all get out, but I hope listening to it makes your work day feel a little bit (79 minutes, to be precise) shorter. If you like what you hear, I shared a holiday mix here a couple years ago, in case you want to give that one a listen too.

Christmas break, here we come!

xoxo,

Meghan

Photo c/o: Honey Ryder

heads up: empty the nest’s music + jewelry sale

There aren’t many things that can entice me to slog through rush-hour traffic more than I have to (twice a day). But when I got a sale alert on Thursday from Empty the Nest with the subject line “Turn Up the Music, Bring on the Bling,” I kind of had to see what it was about, even if it meant more time on the road.

vscocam1488If you haven’t been, Empty the Nest’s warehouse is a big, two-room, packed labyrinth of stuff, meaning, it takes time to wind your way through. Starting in the front, I worked through the shelves of china, around the game and book section, and back towards the racks and stacks of records, passing by loads of great furniture (highboys, side table sets, ottomans, dining sets, cradles, etc.) and lamps.

vscocam1481   As part of this music-themed event, Empty the Nest put roughly 800 LPs out for sale, priced at $1 a piece. In addition to records, they also have some funky instruments, stereo systems and sheet music, all priced to move. I took home a chunk of records (18, to be exact), but left a lot of great ones behind.

A sampling of what I bought…

records1The other focus of this weekend’s event is costume jewelry, which they had quite a bit of, including clip-on earrings, brooches, necklaces and scarf, sweater and money clips from the ’50s through present-day. From the promo email, I was expecting tons more jewelry to pick through, but I do have a hunch that more stock will be out today and tomorrow. On the plus side, prices on the jewelry were great, with most pieces running around $2.

vscocam1475Open today and tomorrow from 9 to 4 p.m., I would say this is definitely a sale worth checking out. Directions to their showroom, located right off 35W in Burnsville, are here. While you’re in the area, here are some other thrifts you might want to check out.

I hope you have lovely weekends!

xo,

Meghan

not your typical tuesday

lynnandersonDisagree all you want, but I believe that spring break is a state of mind. And today, on this random Tuesday, as flurries and freezing rain fall outside my window, I’m taking a mini break to go see a singer I love, Lynn Anderson. My friend hooked me up with a pair of tickets ages ago (thanks Meg!), and while I certainly wish it was little more spring-like outside, I’m not letting any sleet-storm silliness dampen my enthusiasm for seeing this legend! Unfamiliar with Miss Anderson? Let’s fix that! Here are a few performances from the ’60s you might enjoy.

After the show, I’m hoping to fit in a bunch of thrifting, making this an all-around wonderful day. Here’s hoping yours is just as magical!

xo,

Meghan

P.S. Album cover artwork featured above was sourced from the eye-candy filled blog, Country Covers.

2012

Another year is about to end and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad to see it go. 2012’s been amazing. Here are a few of my favorite moments and memories.

In January, I starting volunteering for Free Arts, saw the Bears lose to the Vikings and spent a lot of free time playing baking and playing bingo.

photo(56)

In February, Rae and I hosted a lingerie sale at Mighty Swell. It was, by far, one of my favorite events we’ve ever put on.

photo(46) In March, my friend Erica and I co-hosted a French-y dinner party at my house for a dozen of our favorite gals. (Tammy Crackers not included.) It was such a fun night and a tradition we hope to continue!

photo(48) In April, the Iron Range blew my mind with its beauty. Mighty Swell hosted a kick-off party for the Summer of Dresses gals and we also popped up at The Hive Salon (which was super fun).

photo(49)

In May, I saw Ronnie Spector at the Girls Got Rhythm Fest and my best broads and I paid a visit to Kansas City. We had a fabulous time thrifting, eating (barbecue), sitting by the pool and hitting the local honky tonks.

photo(44)

In June, the prettiest girl in the world moved in with me and together with my hon’s family, we road-tripped to Texas to celebrate his grandparents’ 65th wedding anniversary. I ate a lot of Whataburger, spent a dreamy day at the beach and found with my dream (trailer) house.

photo(52)

In July, Rae got hitched (prettiest wedding of all time), I saw a bunch of amazing shows and accidentally met this guy.

photo(45) In August, I left my old job for a better one and started blogging again.

highplainsthrifter_bettycrocker

In September, we made our annual trek to the State Fair, took in a Willie Nelson show down in Mankato and kept on finding new ways to make nachos.

photo(53)

In October, my honey and I went to our favorite country music venue to see Moe Bandy and later in the month trekked to Fargo for a record show (and some thrifting).

photo (18)

In November, I saw George Jones, Bruce Springsteen and Loretta Lynn within a period of eight days (!!!) and I turned 30, a milestone I celebrated with, what else? Cookies.

photo(54)

And last but not least, December. It was definitely a busy month at work, but it ended on a lovely note with a full week-plus off.

All in all, it’s been a pretty good year! I sure can’t wait to see what 2013 brings! I hope you all have wonderfully relaxing New Year’s days.

xo,

Meghan

clickin’ around, vol. 37

I kicked off my birthday week last night with a visit to a hippie/punk alley pizza party that happens on Sundays at a house a few blocks from my house. My pal Dana and I had a ball, stuffing ourselves silly with delicious ‘za (favorite one pictured above was topped with squash sauce, sauerkraut, apple, ricotta & blue cheese…so yummy!) and cheap beers. It was a perfect end to the long weekend that’s for sure.

Check out the delightful styling put out by Antipast, a Japanese stocking company. I love the balance of brights and neutrals.(You can find more lookbook images from them here!)

Good question: Is our retro obsession ruining everything?

Thank you for this, Srsly Liz: How to not spend a million dollars at Target.

Three recipes I’ve pinned, made and loved this past week: Slow Cooker Bacon-Apple-BBQ Chicken (TO DIE FOR), Tomato Tortellini Soup (I swapped out the cream cheese for this and added a can of lightly draned diced tomatoes—so good and so easy!) and Pumpkin-Cider Beertails (sweet, spicy and dangerously easy to drink).

Have y’all heard of Retro Roadmap? I can see it being a super handy resource for summer road trips.

There’s a lot of inspiration to be had in the home tour of 100-year-old artist Gisèle d’Ailly van Waterschoot van der Gracht.

I need to find some wall space at home ASAP so I can snap up this Veronica Lake print guilt-free. I’m smitten with it!

And finally, I was surprised (and humbled) to be named the no. 1 thrifting blog in this top ten list. Thanks catalogs.com!

I hope you all have wonderful Mondays. The birthday week celebration continues tonight with yet another lady date. Two of my favorite blondies and I are going to see my favorite Marilyn Monroe movie, followed by pie. I can’t wait!
Have good ones, loves!

xoxo,

Meghan

weekend in wisconsin recap

Hi guys, and happy Monday!

 It’s been a long work day and I’m sort of out of words, but I wanted to pop in quickly and share some snippets from my weekend in Wisconsin with you.

Friday night’s dinner: Baked lemon chicken, potato logs, beans and chocolate pie (not pictured); all recipes (minus the beans) were from Loretta Lynn’s (awesome) cookbook.

My cabin = coziest place on earth.

Treasure hunting at a small town thrift store.

Pretty view of Lake Superior’s south shore.

Wisconsin Bloody Marys, I miss you so.

Dairy Queen pit stops…there were two.

My favorite lady country singer, who we saw perform from the third freakin’ row. It took me four songs to stop crying from happiness…it was literally like a dream.

And last, but not at all least, three days straight with this guy, who isn’t embarrassed to road trip with a lady in rollers apparently, bless his heart. After four years together, he still treats me like a treasure (even when I act like a turd). And that’s just one of the many, many, many, many reasons why I love him so.

I hope you all had wonderful weekends as well, and that your (short) week’s off to a stupendous start. Be back here tomorrow with a lovely list of links I’ve been diggin’.

xoxo,

Meghan

P.S. Photos in this post were taken with VSCO Cam.

this weekend is going to be a good time

It’s finally Friday friends! We made it! This weekend is exceptionally exciting because today, I’m heading up to my family’s lake house with my honey. And tomorrow?  We’re road trippin’ to a part of my home state I’ve never visited, my favorite coal miner’s daughter, Loretta Lynn. My sweetheart surprised me with tickets…THIRD ROW TICKETS…as an early birthday present.
Keeper much? I’d say so. Besides seeings Loretta, we don’t have much of an agenda, which I’m perfectly OK with. I’m hoping to stop at some of my favorite thrifts on the way up 35-W and I wouldn’t mind trying the beer at this little brewery in Ashland when we drive through there, but we’ll see how it goes. After such a busy week (month?), it’s going to be nice to not be in any kind of rush.
I wish you all wonderful weekends! See you all back here on Monday?
xoxo,
Meghan
P.S. The photo of Loretta was found on this blog. It was taken the moment she got word she had been been accepted into the Grand Old Opry.

how to: thrift for records

This past July, my forever-long wish to own a stereo was granted. And ever since, I’ve been obsessed with hunting for records. Like anything else, looking for records at thrift stores, garage and estate sales can be a crap shoot. And an overwhelming one at that! Here are some super basic things I keep in mind when I’m out and about.

Before you you get your heart set on a specific record, check the condition of it first. See deep scratches, scuff marks, chips, cracks or gouges? Skip it. And be sure to inspect both sides too!

Make sure the record isn’t warped. (Warped records = distorted sound.) The easiest way to check is to hold the record up at eye level.

This is a total no-brainer, but while you have the record out, make sure that it matches the jacket. How sad would it be to go home thinking you’d found a rare Kitty Wells record, only to discover some crappy Billy Joel album inside.

Keep a running list of what you’re looking for. I have a friend who keeps her record wish list on Pinterest, I personally keep a running list in my notes on my phone. Either way, just like thrifting for clothes, I find it helpful to keep tabs of what I’m hunting for.

Take a chance! If you come across an intriguing cover, artist or song, and the record’s in good shape, where’s the harm in taking it home for a listen? I picked “Mustang Jazz,” a recording of the Southern Methodist University Marching Band out of a $1 bin at a record fair last month and it pumps me up every time I listen to it!

And last but not least, it’s OK to thrift records just because you like the cover art! Inspired by this Easy Record Cover Art DIY I spotted over the summer, I painted over a pin-up-y instrumental album cover. It sits on my vanity now and I love looking at it when I get ready each morning.

Some other good resources for learning more about thrifting records:
Thrift Store Vinyl: “Listening to used records so you don’t have to.”
The Thrift Store Record Collector: “Collecting records the cheap way.”
How to Clean Old Records

Do you have any tips for thrifting records you want to share? If so, let us hear ’em down below in comments!

xoxo,

Meghan

as close as i’ll ever get

My honey and I are going to see George Jones tonight. It’s our second time seeing him together and I’m so stinkin’ excited. As much as I love to see him perform—his voice is astonishingly well-preserved considering his age (and former lifestyle)—my mind always goes to my no. 1 lady, the First Lady of country music, Tammy Wynette. Seeing George is as close as I’ll ever get to Tammy, which is exactly why this show couldn’t be missed. They really did makee quite a pair didn’t they?

{photos from here, here and here}

xo,

Meghan

happy friday!

“My clothes are all ragged / my goodwill coat’s not the best /
And I’m a walking on cardboard in my last dollar dress.”

I heard this song on the radio yesterday morning and was hooked after the first line. Gotta love a song that talks about a Goodwill coat in the first verse, especially when it’s sung by the queen of rockabilly herself, Wanda Jackson. I hope you all the most wonderful of Fridays!

xo,

Meghan