Shop Small

Support small shops!

Small Business Saturday is November 30th. This is the day when we can show our support for our community by shopping at local small businesses. I thought I would make a small list of my favorite places to shop.   

TresYours Vintage

Vintage Wear

TresYours Vintage Corner - If you have read my blog or viewed my Facebook page, you know that I can't stop talking about TresYours. It may look small tucked in the back corner of the Rockton Antique Mall, but I have easily spent more than three hours in there. You can go in and  put together an entire outfit for any occasion you may have - dresses, handbags, jewelry, hats, shoes, even stockings. The clothes are clean, they are from all eras and are well priced. You can even shop from the ceiling if you look up and notice all the beautiful vintage umbrellas hanging upside down.

Rockton Antique Mall

Antiques

Rockton Antique Mall - The first thing you will notice is the long inviting front porch. Once inside you'll realize why it's called a mall, it's huge! When I first went to the mall, I would walk past everything and not stop to look at anything, my focus was on the clothes and nothing else. I finally slowed down to look at the rest of the vendors and I have found some interesting items for my home and as gifts. It will take you most of the day to really get a good look at everything in the mall, but it will be well worth it. 

Angela's Attic

Angela's Attic - Angela's happens to be directly across from the Rockton Antique Mall and is just as big. The old factory is split into two sides with the main desk in the center and then split into separate spaces for different vendors. They even have a backyard that is opened in the summer with many cool weathered items that are placed on every surface available, so it makes for a fun hunt. Some areas have items hanging from the ceiling, so don't forget to look up or you may miss some awesome finds.

Bargain Barn - (Not pictured) This large building has antiques, records, coin area & even homemade crafts. There is also a second floor with a variety of items hanging on the stair wall as you go up.

A Lovely Reprieve

Jewelry

A Lovely Reprieve - If you don't buy vintage jewelry for fear it may fall apart due to age, or it's simply too expensive, but you still need something to complete your vintage look, I suggest A lovely Reprieve. Their jewelry is handmade, beautifully crafted and have a vintage look. If vintage isn't the look your after, the same piece adapts well to a modern outfit. It saves you money to be able to buy one piece that goes well with any look you want to wear.

Culture Shock

Records

Culture Shock - Once you notice the pickle shaped wine stopper, record shaped coasters, cool t-shirts, cute dresses & hear the cool music in the background, you just can't help being in a good mood. They carry vintage records from different eras as well as the current modern bands. They just recently moved to a larger building directly across from the old building and now have even more space than before to fill with happy.

Other suggestions-

Tillymint's Antiques

The Antique shops of Rockton

 

What I love about shopping small - 

You will find, fun, interesting, collectibles, homemade, one-of-a-kind items that will make for a more interesting find. Plus, who doesn't love saying their item is an original and know that it didn't come from a table that had a hundred more of the same thing.

You get to know everyone and it makes for a nice enjoyable shopping experience. In one certain shop, I can't start my shopping if I don't get my hug and a little chat. 

You know where your way around. I'm not saying things don't change, but there certain areas that must stay and that helps. I have more than once, had to run inside to grab something for a party, gift or even for myself when I regret not buying something at the time, so it helps to know where to find it.

There are more reasons as to why I enjoy shopping small, but I hope that maybe you will come up with your own reasons on November 30th.

Scarecrow Festival

Sitting with Smokey Joe Scarecrow

Early in October my kids and I attended the Scarecrow Harvest festival held at The Midway village Museum for the first time.They day was filled with many activities for a harvest festival. We enjoyed dancing in the barn, making yarn dolls, walking on stilts, wagon ride and of course making our very own scarecrow. The kids had fun drawing a face on the bag, stuffing the clothes and finally putting him together. My son named him Smokey Joe after one of his favorite songs from the 1950's, Smokey Joe's Cafe by The Robins. It was a fun filled day and I know we will definitely continue to go this event every year.

My daughter & I loved the chalkboards

Laundry day

Learning to square dance

Artist at work

Halloween memories

Mrs.Lovett is tired of making pies

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!! No I'm not in it for the candy, well, ok maybe Recess Pieces, Pop rocks and maybe throw in a couple of Sweet Tarts for good measure. Halloween brings back so many cool memories...Making Jack-o-lanterns with my parents, watching the candles flicker in the pumpkins as we walked from house to house as my friends & I yelled "Trick o' treat, smell my feet give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care cause you're wearing smelly underwear"!...Thinking about it now, I probably wouldn't give myself any candy that's kind of rude.

Halloween is special to me, it brings back memories of my father allowing me to stay up late with him and watch the Saturday night horror shows. The movies were mostly cheesy 1950's flicks with menacing spiders, killer ants or giant crabs attacking large cities. They were fun to watch & my father would  add a funny joke or ad-lib a line to make it fun for me. Sometimes the movies were the really awesome classics with the greats: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney jr..and I had such a crush on Vincent Price. Classic or cheesy films didn't matter, I loved them all, because it really meant I would be spending time with my dad talking about anything I wanted while we snacked on cool treats my mom would make us and watching movies until the wee hours. I carry on this tradition of staying up late watching cheesy/classic flicks with my kids, blankets on the floor, snacks and talking about anything they want. Sometimes we put in a really cheesy movie and turn the volume down low and have our version of Mystery Science Theater 3000. 

Halloween has become a time to frighten people with some really scary movies, costumes & haunted houses, and I do enjoy that as well. I do like some of the newer creepy films, but the old classics are still my favorites. Halloween is fun and the memories I'm making with my kids while watching these films are something I will never forget and I have Mr.Price, Mr. Karloff and especially my father to Thank for that.

Here is a small list of movies I remember watching and suggestions for snacks to enjoy into the wee hours watching frightening flicks....

Good-                                                                                     
(1933) The Invisible man
(1935) The Bride of Frankenstein
(1940) Dr.Cyclops
(1948) The Fly
(1956) Invasion of the body snatchers
(1963) The Raven
(1971) The Abominable Dr.Phibes


Not so good, but fun-
(1953) Robot monster
(1956) The Crawling eye
(1957) Attack of the crab monsters
(1958) Attack of the 50ft. woman
(1959) Plan nine from outer space



 Scary drinks and snacks


Bloody Punch with floating hand

First mix some water with green food coloring, till it looks like a zombie hand. Then fill a plastic glove(make sure it doesn't have any powder) with the water and tie it. Freeze overnight.

Mix the following in punch bowl-

• 3 cups cranberry juice
• 1-1/2 cups apple juice
• 1-1/2 cups grape juice
• 2 cups caffeine-free cola
• 1 cup frozen strawberries

Add floating hand that has been cut out of glove and make sure there is no plastic on it. Place in Bloody punch bowl. Enjoy.



Eyeball Eggs

Hard boil a dozen eggs, crack, peel, cut in half length wise, remove yolk and put into a bowl. In another bowl mix 3 cups of water with 4 drops of blue or any other food coloring you would like. Then carefully place egg white into the bowl making sure eggs are completely submerged. This will give your eggs a creepy eye color. Place in fridge till filling is made.

Filling-

• 2 tablespoons Mayo
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 2 chopped baby dills
• Egg yolks 
• Pimentos

Mix all the ingredients until they are all well blended and creamy.
Drain egg whites, remove, gently pat dry. Using a cake piping bag, fill the egg whites with yolks and place on platter as you fill them. Add pimentos to make corneas.

Happy Halloween!!

Vincent Price

Cat's Pajamas

My pretties

I recently attended The Cat's Pajamas vintage show held at The Hemmens Cultural center. This year I went to the 1st show on a Friday instead of the 2nd show on a Saturday to figure out which I would prefer. Here is my review on the event.

What I liked -

The Hemmens Cultural center surrounding area is interesting and very beautiful. There's an ice skating rink, a cool looking library, shops down the street and a nice view of the Fox river.
Plenty of free parking areas.

Inside the center they have great cafe food, free art gallery, plenty of rest areas & an available ATM.

A map is handed at the door with the vendors information. If you like their merchandise you can visit them.

The vendors are spaced out and not shoved together.
Some racks are organized by color, era, or article of clothing.
The second floor has makeshift dressing rooms with a mirror.

Many vendors are willing to bargain or do bundles.

Two day shows...attend one or both.
Friday show is held later in the evening 5-10pm, so it wasn't very full. There is a best dressed contest, cocktail bar and live music. Beautiful vintage clothes & a cocktail is a nice way to spend a Friday evening.

Saturday show 10-5pm Entry fee is less. It will be packed, but not uncomfortable. They have beauty demonstrations, contests and play retro music. The clothing racks will be easier to shop from since the Friday night shoppers have lighten the load. The first floor will have natural light coming through the large windows to brighten up the floor. Being the last day, vendors may give you a better deal.

Lots and lots of clothes from every era!

What I didn't like -

Friday show entry fee will cost more. Being the first day of the show, you may not get as many deals. It's an evening show, so there won't be any natural light to help out in the dark corners. The corner vendors need more light.

Saturday shows I noticed the vendors packing up earlier than expected, I felt rushed.

Bins are packed and placed on top of each other.

Vendors pack the racks so tight that you're almost too scared to pull something out for viewing and risk tearing it.

Some vendors didn't price or check for missing tags.

The storage room used as dressing room could use a curtain in front of door. Many people mistakenly opened the door and embarrassed some ladies.

Helpful tips:

Wear something that is easy to remove for trying on clothes.
Know your measurements & bring a measuring tape if you don't want to try anything on.

Make a shopping list & place your must haves on the top, so you won't forget.

Set a budget. It's very easy to get carried away. 

Bring cash and avoid using ATM with fees.
Check items thoroughly for holes, stains, missing buttons,etc.. items cannot be returned.

Try to park close by for easy drop off of your vintage finds & go back for more!

I've been to both shows on separate occasions and I personally like attending the Saturday show. I like shopping on the first floor early in the morning with natural light coming through the large windows. It helps to get a closer look at the jewelry or clothes. Saturday morning surrounded by gorgeous clothes and people who share your love for vintage is a nice way to spend the day.

The vendors are kind and helpful at finding you that perfect outfit. Don't let some of the prices scare you away, there are deals to be found. Some items items are one of a kind and it may be worth the price. It's up to you to figure out if the item is worth the price or not.  I fell in love with a certain dress, but it had ink stains and about a dozen holes. Nevertheless, I still wanted it even a little more when the vendor cut me a tiny deal. I thought about for a couple of minutes and then I chose to walk away. I didn't regret it, further down the aisle, I spent the money on two wide brim hats and shoes instead of one dress!

The Cat's Pajamas has many unique and exquisite jewels to add some sparkle to your outfit. The clothing and accessories are in abundance, it cuts your driving time from shop to shop. It's a great vintage show, that will have gasping at the racks and racks of clothing. You will be hooked right then and there. The Cat's Pajamas is truly the Cat's Meow...You knew that was coming.

WWII days - What I wore & more

1st day- Heels,  I went alone

Dress & Gloves - TresYours Vintage
Hat - Pec Thing
Shoes - Thrifted

2nd day- No heels, I took the kids

Dress & shoes - Thrifted
Handbag - TresYours Vintage

USO Dance

Dress - TresYours Vintage



......Just a couple more photos

WWII - Part 2

The Midway Village Museum not only has the re-enactments of WWII battles, but they also host a USO- style dance. The dance is held at Veterans Memorial Hall, a perfect for setting for the evening. The Moonlight Jazz Orchestra played favorites from the 1940's and 1950's. They even had members of the band move around and play in other areas of the hall, just as Glenn Miller used to do with his band.

Although I love to dance and meet new people, I have the best time watching everyone dressed in their beautiful dresses and the soldiers in their formals. This is the highlight of the entire weekend for me. It's a fun filled night with great music and gorgeous dresses.

WWII days - Part 1

The 17th annual WWII Days at Midway Village Museum recently took place and I was fortunate to attend.  It has over 1,000 re-enactors representing the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, France, Japan, Italy, Russia and the Ukraine. They use a variety of  uniforms, 1940's attire, vehicles, posters, and maps to inform you of every detail. The town & the back woods are used to demonstrate certain battles and each camp has been set up to represent each of the countries involved. The participants are always ready to answer any question you may have and will demonstrate any props they may be using. This is one of the largest re-enactments and it should not be missed.