My mom & dad came in from Fort Wayne Indiana last weekend and they arrived hungry. The boy and I decided to take them to get some “real” BBQ at a St. Louis favorite. Pappy’s BBQ has been on the Travel Channel when Adam came to St. Louis with his show, Man V. Food.  (WATCH VIDEO HERE!)

This smokehouse is one of those places where you wait in a long line, they take  your order at a small counter, wait at gingham tablecloth picnic tables, and then your served your food in little plastic baskets. The atmosphere definitely makes the place and if you’re in town, you should definitely stop by. I suggest getting the pulled pork sandwich.

Eating great tasting bbq is a perfect way to start a day on Antique Row. Pics from Antique Row were shown last week.

Do you have a favorite BBQ spot?

I really have found my favorite pastime. In the past I would say shopping or going to the movies, but these days…it’s the thrill of the hunt in antique and thrift stores. There is nothing more fun and exciting than the unexpected treasures that awaits in these types of places. The shops have taught me to be open minded because you never know what you’re going to find. One day you leave empty handed and the next you’re trying to decide between two pyrex sets because buying both would be silly.

I love all antique stores but the ones with a focus on mid-century are the ones that steal my heart. I could peruse the racks of stay at home mom aprons and vintage toys for hours. I walk through these stores dreaming of taking home a living room set or a globe lamp to hang from my ceiling. The day I actually own a home of my own will be the day the local antique/thrift stores sell all of their stock…to me and my house.

I love the possibility of haggling for a lower price. I love the idea that all the seat cushions on a dinning set could be reupholstered with your favorite fabric. I love how all the clothes could be reworked to make them work for “today”. I love sifting through the stacks of vinyl to find that one record that you’ll take home and play on repeat for the next week.  Everything about the shops keep me coming back for more. Each time the trip is slightly different and just as exciting as the last.

Do you guys have your favorite hang out spots?

DISCLAIMER: This post wasn’t written to be a stab at any vintage sellers out there and it really isn’t intended to stir things up. My intention was to propose a conversational topic that people in my blogging community could chit chat about…because we’re all friends and share similar interests, right?? (this might be a lengthy post)

Actually two articles got me think. Read through them and I’d love for you to share your thoughts.

What All Vintage Clothing Sellers Should Know (an eBay Review)
Far too often new vintage clothing sellers enter into the vintage board with questions about how to sell and in particularly how to source vintage items. It’s not the questions that are unfortunate, it’s the replies that never cease to amaze me. Most responders politely reply that it’s a secret, many years of sourcing and building contacts and no one in their right mind would divulge their secrets to potential competition. Many others are not nearly so polite.

If you were to lurk on the boards long enough you’d see, as I have, that these questions are repeated like clockwork every few months. This guide is to dispel that myth and will probably annoy many vintage sellers but it’s necessary. It’s not my goal to annoy anyone, but it’s counterproductive to not educate potential vintage sellers. Every day mass produced copies of once rare vintage items are rolling onto docks across the world. Vintage sellers need to be educated about what they are selling or the entire market suffers. Buyers lose trust in the very term vintage and before you know it, selling vintage for a living becomes less and less a viable option.

Just about everyone wears clothes so finding vintage is far from a mystery. All it takes is knowledge, a willingness to learn from your mistakes and an outgoing personality helps. A vicious rumor has started in the vintage world, propagated on fashionista blogs, that vintage sellers simply head to the local Goodwill store, buys mounds of great clothes and jack up the price on eBay. They’ve made it sound simple, like anyone can just go and grab a handful of dress and make $2,000+ a month selling clothes from their living room.

Far too many potential sellers believe this and jump right in head first, last few dollars in hand, hoping this will be the way they finally make money on eBay. Yet another reason why the market is slowly collapsing. JUST BECAUSE A DRESS IS OLD DOESN’T MEAN IT’S VINTAGE!!!
Keep Reading this beauty–>

Why do I care? Why did I post this?
I’m a lover of most things old (I like to called them previously loved) and my collection of previously owned items is constantly growing. I value my collection because each piece was hunted down over a period of time. My knowledge of what makes something “vintage” is evolving and I’m learning little nuggets of information from all of you. Sometime in the near future I hope to own my own online business where I can extend my love for vintage/old items into the digital space and share my love with my readers. Before I take that leap I thought it was important to be knowledgeable about what classifies something and in turn, what kind of price tag you can put on something.

I thought this article was perfect in stating the facts. Having a vintage store on etsy is becoming a growing trend and I think a lot of people are jumping in without being educated. I would love the value of vintage to withstand the current trends, so we all need to be aware of what are treasures are really worth.

Here’s what I really want to know:
Where are vintage sellers sourcing their vintage? And how are vintage sellers determining the value of their product (price of product)?

I know I’m not going to get a single person talking about where they get their vintage items. There is a secrecy attached to this business. Its a no boys allowed type of thing. So if you’re brave. Spill the beans and educate us. True vintage sourcing takes LOTS time. I hear sellers of true vintage say they been pounding the pavements for years looking for the next best item. Curious what everyone has to say.

Alright, I’m signing off and leaving the “forum” open. Speak your mind and lets talk vintage/old pretty things!!!

I also thought this would be the perfect time to mention that I’ve got a lot of great vintage blogs in my Daily Reads link above. Check out those lovely ladies and buy their gorgeous products from their shops! (who cares if it’s real vintage or not)

A little over a month ago I fell in love with blogger LLYMLRS. She has impeccable care free outfits and amazing jewelry. Anytime she would post an outfit post I would envy her collection of jewels and dream to have them. Well guess what peeps??!! She has a little online shop and sells jewelry! (product is always being updated)  It’s amazingly priced and really unique pieces.

I recently bought this bunny ring from her shop and patiently waited as it traveled to me from Europe. (This bunny has been getting around!) All week, I’ve been getting double takes around the office. People ask, “WHAT is THAT on your finger? It’s amazing!” The intricate design and quality are definitely reminiscent of pieces like those from a fine jewelry supplier. I highly suggest checking out Lily’s blog and her cute little shop.

One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is walking through a flower nursery and looking at all the flats of flowers. My mother has been working at a flower nursery for as long as I can remember, so being surrounded by plants/flowers is somewhat comforting and makes me feel close to home.

*Check out that pineapple thing above my head!

One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is walking through a flower nursery and looking at all the flats of flowers. My mother has been working at a flower nursery for as long as I can remember, so being surrounded by plants/flowers is somewhat comforting and makes me feel close to home.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve acquired my mother’s green thumb because I seem to have the hardest time keeping houseplants alive. I’ve never had the space to have an outdoor garden, so maybe my luck will change when I attempt a real garden. Let’s just say indoor plants hate me and I tend to go through them pretty quickly. However, if you’re looking for expert care for your outdoor greenery, from roots to canopy, Sierra Crest Tree Service provides complete tree care to keep your landscape thriving. Contact Liberty Tree Service for expert tree removal and trimming services.

On Sunday I was in my normal Sunday Slump, doom and gloom mood and the boy did a really good job at filling the afternoon with things I really love to do. We visited the loop and spent a good amount of time at a thrift store where I found a perfect vintage white knit top and a denim sun dress. On our way home we stopped at Bayer’s Flower Nursery to check out there succulent selection. Succulents are my only real hope at keeping something alive, so I thought I’d restock. The nursery was bustling  with weekend warriors and you could tell everyone was excited to bring their backyards to life. I came home empty handed, but really enjoyed soaking up the sun and smelling all the greenery/dirt. So refreshing!

Are you guys planting a garden this year?

*wow! Who knew I could ramble about plants.

I’m going to take you on a little tour of one of St.Louis’ most eclectic neighborhoods. The Loop is home to a lot of St. Louis’ well known Landmarks such as the Tivoli Theater, Blueberry Hill restaurant, Fitz’s grill and bottle works, The Pageant concert center, and Vintage Vinyl. This area of town really comes alive when the weather is nice. “Starving music artists” fill the streets playing their instruments for eclectic crowds that pass by. It has a very artsy/hippy vibe and the stores in the area cater to this kind of crowd. If you’re not there for eating and shopping, at least there is great opportunities for people watching.

If you every have a chance to stop by St. Louis Missouri, I would highly suggest stopping by Jake and my favorite spots on the loop: Star Clipper comic book store, Avalon Exchange thrift store, Ziezo clothing company, Vintage Vinyl, and Cheeseology. (see our trip to Cheeseology and Vintage Vinyl)

Do you guys have your favorite neighborhood in your parts of the woods? Favorite places to visit that are iconic to your city? I’d love to see them. Post a link in the comment section and I’ll stop by to check them out.

The Veda House had a really good week this week. Not only was it a good week for me personally, it was a really successful week for the blog. Thanks to Danielle over at Sometimes Sweet for choosing me as her spotlight blogger, I now have a bunch of new readers I can hopefully get to know better. Thank you Dani!!! I was also hit with a little bit of clarity about what my next big adventure is going to be. You could say I’m inspired and have a jolt of energy to share with you guys.

1^ I’ve been so inspired lately I think I have too many projects going on at once. I might have to streamline some things.
2^ It was a crazy week at the agency. Working on new businesses pitches are fun, but so exhausting.
3^ My family is coming to visit next weekend and I’m taking three work days off. I’m excited for them to come and for the couple days to recharge.
4^ St. Louis was hit with another heat wave this weekend. It was 85 degrees for both days with sun and a nice breeze. The humidity is also back.
5^ Check out this blogger. I’ve fallen in love with her style and free spirit.
6^ Taxes are done and I’m getting money back!!! yipee!!
7^ Are we friends with Google Friend Connect?? If not, all you have to do is click the button in my side bar and I’ll come check out your blog!!!

Happy Sunday!

So last weekend the boy and I were enjoying a lunch out on a restaurant’s patio and we had a breakthrough. Here’s what went down.

The boy: I think I want to totally revamp my closet with thrifted clothes. I’m really sick of wearing what I have.
Me: Really, or are you joking?
The boy: No for real. Let’s hit up some thrift stores.
Me: Like today? Or just sometime in the future?
The boy: Today…On our way home. I want to get some really “out there” t-shirts.
Me: Awesome. I’ve been waiting for you to say that.
The boy: Yeah. I need to find a shirt with 3 wolves howling at the moon. It’s time I join the wolf pack.
Me: I  don’t think you need a wolf pack shirt.
The boy: Hopefully I find one that also has an eagle flying in the background. That’d be killer!

SO there you have it guys. My boyfriend has finally accepted my love for thrifting and claims he wants to join the Wolf Pack. I’m just glad I won’t have to drag him along anymore and that he will be joining me willingly and with enthusiasm. Yahoo for breakthroughs! (that rhymed)

I’ll keep you guys updated on his search for the perfect wolf pack shirt. Where does he get these crazy ideas?

I must thank miss hulaseventy for reminding me how important it is to make list, even for the simplest things. Simple pleasure lists are free from expectations and instead should be used as daily reminders. If you don’t mark anything off the list, who cares….try again the next day.

I thought it would be fun to do a compare and contrast type post where I’d compare what simple pleasures I hope to mark off the list compared to the items the boy would like to mark off this spring season. I tasked the boy to come up with 10-ish  items to share. Here’s what we came up with.

For me this will be the perfect exercise to improve my ability to “stop and smell the roses”. I’ll keep you updated on our progress, but since so many items on our lists match I don’t think we’ll have any trouble marking things off.

*Note. I’m going to be putting together a FAQ page on my page because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about this and that. If you want a question answered please leave your question below and I’ll include it.

If you create a list of your own, leave your link in the comments section and I’ll check it out!

I must say THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on my outfit post yesterday and all the great healthy snack suggestions. You guys inspire me to keep on truckin’.

If you know anything about me, you know that I eat goldfish crackers, bananas, bread, fruit…and that’s about it. I’m the pickiest person on the planet and I can give your two-year-old a run for their money. I’m getting a little better and have recently added Ceasar salads to the list of things I like and mixing chicken with cheese is a big one.

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Anywho, I decided that I need to try some new things and with me, I only try new things when it’s my decision and want to do so. Constant nagging from the boyfriend is not how you get me to try something. If it smells like dirt, I’m not going to eat it no matter how many times you tell me it’s delicious.

Here’s the plan:
I specifically chose 6 foods I could use as snack foods throughout the workday. They needed to be raw foods with little to no sugar in them. This is what I chose – almonds, celery, edamame, hummus, oatmeal, and cucumbers. I also read many good reviews about Morning Complete by ActivatedYou so I decided to try it. Holy cow that’s adventurous for me! I shocked myself with the list, but I was proud of myself for putting on my first pair of big girl panties and sticking with the plan. But does you feel nausea, headache, etc after eating? Then one must know about the food intolerant. A food intolerance test is becoming very popular these days since very often people suffer from symptoms like indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, constipation, diarrhea, etc after the consumption of certain food substances. Food intolerance occurs mainly when certain food substances make the person feel unwell. The signs and symptoms of food intolerance greatly vary from one person to another. food intolerance test uk is quite necessary to find out the types of food substances that you are sensitive to. visit this website for more information.

I shopped around the grocery store with my head chopped off, tying to find those 6 things. I don’t usually spent too much time in the produce section or the nuts and seeds aisle, so I was lost big time. If felt good leaving the store with everything on my list and no sweet treats for “just in case”. $50 dollars latter I was ready to do this.

Here’s what actually happened:
I hated all of it. Every last item. I was hoping that I’d be able to report that hummus was my new favorite snack, but that’s a no-go. I’m a bit frustrated because I was determined to like these simple snack and my taste buds refuse to let it happen. I’m in need of your help.

I need your help:
I need healthy snack option suggestions to add to my second “Food Challenge”. Keep in mind things need to be simple, nothing too fancy and easy to make.  What are your favorite things to snack on? Send em over! If your food suggestion is accepted by my taste buds you’ll be getting something special. Can you tell I’m desperate?

Oh, how was everyone’s weekend?