Ghetto Garden, Garden Grow!

The ghetto garden has made an appearance again this year at the Maine household. It is ever so slightly less ghetto since we didn't use the kiddie pool this year, but instead opted for lots and lots of pots. 

What we have here is a lot of tomato plants (celebrity, whatever that means), a green pepper plant, a sweet red pepper, and some cilantro in the mix. The tomato plant to the right already produced a beautiful, enormous red tomato that my husband was watching for a week with hungry eyes. Unfortunately, a squirrel (or one of the giant pigeons living in my neighbor's roof - this issue is still up for debate) got to it first. Greg's heart nearly broke.

In an effort to make use of every square inch, there are plants on top of our teeny little shed. Here we have multiple types of hot peppers and some roma tomatoes!

This particular pepper was so cute it got its own closeup. Teeny tiny thai peppers!!

 Basil in a pot! I liked the really little basil leaves we had last year (covered more surface area) but Greg prefers these. As he is the one who keeps the garden alive, I guess he wins.

 The multi-colored lettuce was bought at Rochester Public Market (#1 in the US, if you didn't know). It is basically awesome mixed lettuce in a planter. Yum! The green stuff was planted from seed by Greg, but the squirrels/pigeons keep digging the center up. Greg has constructed what he imagines will deter and hopefully impale one of the offending creatures.

We also keep plants along the side of our house. Here we have a roma tomato plant that is taking over the entire planet! Greg keeps having to add more sticks to prop it up, and keep it from choking the hydrangeas! 

This thing is a cayenne pepper. I had no idea they could look so twisty and evil!

And I have saved the best for last. That, friends, is the world's tiniest cucumber!!! Dear cucumber, I will be eating you shortly. Grow quickly, ghetto garden!

The Return of Salvo Wednesday!

Well, it's taken me forever to take the pictures and write about them, but I DID go Salvoing last Wednesday! For the first one of the summer, I ventured a bit further off the beaten path than I did last year. My mother and I went a bit past my hometown and visited the Salvation Army in Hornell. I did find a couple of nice things there:

J Crew, $4

 Now, I love this dress, but I was suuuuuuper annoyed that the tag was not only not on the label but on the fabric itself (a major pet peeve, as you know if you read any of last summer's blog), but through both the front and back so I couldn't try it on. They will also not sell things to you at the Salvo if they don't have a tag - they won't retag it then and there, you have to come back another day, and I certainly and decidedly was NOT planning to return to Hornell in the immediate future. So I had to take it to the cashier and ask HER to remove the tag, trembling in horror as I did so in case she doesn't know how to be gentle with those darned staples. Fortunately, the dress escaped unharmed, and it was worth it all in the end.

$1, Old Navy

Adorable, light, lovely.

Club Monaco, $2.50

 I didn't buy this one for myself, largely due to the fact that I would never be able to decide when to wear this. When it's hot? then the sleeved arm would be too hot. When it's cold? then I'd need a sweater for the bare arm. Too tricky. So instead, since this $2.50 little number is probably worth $50 even second hand, I am going to try to sell it on Ebay. I've done it once before and it was fun... now I just need someone *cough cough Sarah* to help me take good pictures.

The best part of my trip to Hornell was the brief conversation I had with a little old lady in the aisles. She offered me a gold sequined halter top, being apparently a very helpful little lady. I started to politely say, "No thanks, I'm not really -" and intended to finish the sentence, "a sequin kind of girl." But she finished it for me " - classy?" I choked on the rest of my sentence and had to move on quickly. Posted it to FB immediately, though, because the world needed to know.

On to Dansville Salvo. I usually do really well here,  but had to be satisfied with a few nice things.

$3, Old Navy

I love having cardigans in pretty much every color! It's a necessity in summer in case I go indoors. You know... where there's *shudder* air conditioning.

J Crew, $1.50

 Stretchy, non-clingy. BEADED!

Banana Republic, $3

This was my favorite item. It's Banana Republic and ANGORA! So soft, and not the creepy kind of soft.

I will leave you with one last item, purchased at Henrietta Salvo back in May at an "accidental" Salvo Wednesday. I was across the street at an eye appointment and it just called to me. I walked away with this, so no regrets here:

Maeve, $7.

POCKETS!!!

A whole summer of Salvo Wednesdays is ahead...

Bienvenu, l'été!

It's here. It's finally here! This winter was mild, but it hasn't made my longing for warmth and long summer days any less.  I had a wonderful school year (I may or may not have gotten teary as they walked down my hall on the last day), but I am still willing to greet summer with open arms. Especially since my first evening of summer break involved 90+ degree weather, reading my Kindle in the back yard with my dogs, eating sushi on the pier in Charlotte with the husband, and a glass of wine at Pier 45. This is an auspicious beginning to my favorite season.

I have been studying French for the first time since high school. I bought software (Fluenz, in case you were wondering, and it's worth every penny... many, many pennies) and am nearly through Level 3 and have been listening to French podcasts instead of audiobooks on my commute. So I apologize in advance for any French I try out on you. Hopefully most of you don't speak French and won't notice any errors.

And since I know this is what you are all waiting for: Next Wednesday. Salvo Wednesdays officially return. À mercredi!

Salvo Wednesday - Spring Break woo hoo!

Well, my spring break hasn't been exactly "woo hoo" (it's a Friends quote, for those of you who can't quote every line of every episode. Some of you got it without any explanation... you know who you are). It's been more work-out-do-housework-obsess-over-learning-French. But these are good things, if less fun than lying on a beach all day. And best yet, it means that summer is juuuuust around the corner. And don't worry, this summer I'll be back to visiting multiple Salvation Armies every Wednesday, with a few special thrifting treats planned.

This Salvo Wednesday wasn't as rewarding as some Wednesdays, but I got a few very nice items.

J-Crew t-shirt, $2
Seven jeans, $3.50

I have been seeing this color pop up in my classroom constantly lately. Sometimes I look at the room to see a FLOOD of this color, and I love it. So I had to find something in this color. I was fortunate to find it in the form of J Crew!

When I made my first stop at the Henrietta Salvation Army, I found a pair of Seven jeans for $3.50 that were CLEARLY too small for me. I tried them on anyway, because, come on. They're SEVEN! I got them zipped up but nobody needed to see me in them, ever. So I gave up and moved on, and had the surprising luck to find this pair in my size at the Irondequoit Salvo for the same price. Wheeeee!

Ann Taylor Loft, $2.50

Light, gauzy, pretty. Yes, I bought a sweater just as warmth is returning. I figure this is the best way to make sure it doesn't get cold again before summer!

To the Max, $1.50

One dollar and fifty cents. Sundress with pockets. I don't think anything else needs to be said here.

$1

I judge myself a little for wanting these, but these are solely for back yard purposes. And to make me giggle. Don't get any ideas... I still don't want to wear music in any other way. No treble clef necklaces, no keyboard belts/scarves/what have you. These are enough for a decade or so.

The only other thing I bought was not for myself. Mind you, if they had been my size instead of a size small, I would not have been so generous. I knew my vintage-loving, tiny-footed friend Sarah would go wild over them, though, so there was no leaving them behind.

And that's it, friends. The school year is winding down - just one last marking period to go, a few concerts, a few seniors to graduate and thus break my heart, and that's it. Then it's me, Salvos, and sunshine. Summer, here I come!

Salvo Wednesday - February Break!!

Every year, about 3 weeks prior to our school musical (always an event that I am extremely proud of, and also extremely exhausted by), we are blessed by a week of vacation. Now, I love vacation in general, although obviously summer is the highest form of this, but I think we can all agree that vacation of any kind is a welcome thing. This one is always especially welcome, however, after a couple of months of a crazy rehearsal schedule. We spend hours and hours together, and the kids get sick, and I get sick, and we pass it back and forth and make each other generally miserable (this year, I had three different illnesses right in a row). So when this break happens, we have a much-needed chance to get healthy. Then I usually have a healthy cast for the show.

Of course, I also welcome the chance to go to the Salvo on a Wednesday! I took a break from my resting, running and house organization (eek) to hit a couple of neighborhood Salvos. As has become my habit this year, I started in Henrietta.

$4.50, H&M

I always love finding dresses the most, especially cozy knit wrap ones with fun patterns!!

$2, Miley Cyrus

Don't judge me for the brand. I loved the shirt despite its humiliating origins.

$1, Old Navy

 An adorable shirt for a dollar? Couldn't resist. Too bad they decided to staple the tag directly to the fabric instead of the tag again - and this was a delicate fabric, so despite my careful removal procedure, there's a couple of little holes. :(

$1, Eastern Mountain Sports

 Made entirely from recycled materials, a nice basic, simple shirt, one dollar? Man, I love getting things for a buck.

$4, Ann Taylor Loft

 Cute, simple, comfy. Yes.

$1.50, AB Studio

 This is going to look so cute with a brown pencil skirt and brown Mary Janes!

$2.50, Express

 Express. $2.50. Enough said.

$3, Mossimo

This is probably my favorite find of the day. New concert shoes!!!!

Next step in the day, Greece Salvo. It used to be the first step but it's gotten bumped by Henrietta, which has the dual advantage of usually having better stuff and also NOT requiring me to drive on 104 all the way there. Ugh.

$2.00, Take Out

$2.50, Converse One Star

So, two cute things, but not nearly as good a hit as Henrietta. By the end, I had a migraine, so I skipped Irondequoit.

I also made a couple of quick stops earlier in the week, so I'll share those with you as well, mostly to torture Sarah, who is surely going to want to steal this from me:

$7

Got this little number at Goodwill. It obviously cost more than anything at the Salvation Army (of course), but ohhhhhh it's so cute. I can't wait to wear this in summer! 

$8

Eight dollars. EIGHT dollars. VOA overpriced Goodwill! For shame, VOA. For shame. Still didn't keep me from taking it home with me, but how can I enjoy it as much as my $1 recycled shirt, even if it is a dress?

One more break coming up this school year - so expect another post in April!

Incidentally, if anyone in the Rochester area wants to see an outstanding high school production of Guys and Dolls, come see us in Marion on March 9th (8pm) and 10th (2pm and 8pm). Tickets cost $8 and will be on sale next week. And I'm not kidding... this show is going to be outstanding. I love these kids and they are just so stinking talented. I'll have to wear my new black shoes to play in the pit!

Salvo Wednesday - Christmas Edition!!

It's that blessed time of year - the time where I get a week off and can go to the Salvo on a Wednesday! I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but any Salvoing is better than no Salvoing at all. I had an early post-Lasik appointment across the street, so I was sitting outside the Henrietta Salvo at exactly 8:55, waiting for them to open their doors.

Take Out, $2

I tried on 7, count them, SEVEN dresses and didn't like any of them. This is extremely heartbreaking to me. I was about to walk out with just a pair of shoes (below) when I saw this hanging on the reshop rack. It's no dress, but cute nonetheless.

Mia, $2.50

I headed to the Greece Salvo next. My favorite part of this trip was that while browsing through some shirts, I heard this sentence in the next row over: "This is like that ugly-sweater style... only without the ugly." It made me giggle and I posted the quote immediately on Facebook. I continued on, only to discover that the people in the next row were Amanda and Gretchen Roesch and I had just posted the words of someone I knew. It's going to be one of my favorite Salvo stories for some time. Anyway, here's what I found:

Ya Los Angeles, $5

I can completely, utterly, 100% guarantee that my husband will HATE this shirt. I can also predict with about  90% certainty that this will be in one of the next rounds of Ann-me-downs and it will be greeted with a good deal of mocking. I don't care, I'm going to wear it with a black pencil skirt and boots and enjoy it at least once or twice. It's fun and crazy and too bad for my husband.

Lux, $2

 Those rainbow stripes are sparkly. YES.

Gap, $2.50

This sweater-ish shirt is light and green, which makes it tolerable, considering it's a sweater.

The two items that made this trip feel like a success instead of a mild disappointment were not clothing items. The night before I had done two things while sitting on my couch. One, I had spent considerable time googling bread slicers. I have been baking my own gluten-free bread and it turns out I stink at cutting even slices. I hadn't found any with more than mediocre reviews and the cheapest ones were $20 before shipping, which seemed steep for something half the reviewers didn't like. I resolved to look at the thrift stores - something which never turns out well for me - and this seems to have been the exception that proves the rule. Behold!

It even folds down - something that $20 model didn't do, and I don't think even the $50 model did. And it cost me a whole whopping dollar. BAM!

Two, I was about to start a new knitting pattern and realized that I could only find one of the two required size 3 knitting needles. I didn't even think about looking for them, but as I was standing in the line behind the Roesches, I saw needles in the miscellaneous basket on the counter. Guess what size? It was a Christmas miracle!

So no dresses, which always is a disappointment to me, but still a good day, all things considered. I have a Wednesday off in February, so I'll see you all then! Happy New Year!

Salvo Wednesday, Thanksgiving Edition!

I had my first Wednesday of the school year off, so of course I took the opportunity to hit up a couple of area Salvation Armies for half-off Wednesday!! I started at Henrietta, and even though I was in a hurry (didn't even take the time to try these on!), I did pretty well if I do say so myself.

Wet Seal, $3

 It's that time of year, folks. Despite how beautifully warm this fall has been, I've already started realizing how woefully few sweaters I have. This one doesn't make me hate it, so it had to come home with me!

IZ Byer California, $4

 Finding a dress is always my favorite! Obviously this one needs a belt.. poor lonely belt hole!

Covington, $1.50

I love how drape-y shirts are in this year. Not the suck-it-in skin-tight shirts of the last few years. It's flattering on everybody, and the materials they're made from feel amazing. Love this one!

Mossimo, $2.50

 I always have a hard time with stripes. I see them, love them, buy them, and then never wear them. It doesn't help that Greg was in the room when I tried this one on and called it "fashionable prison wear". I am going to wear it! I am!

Bedo Femme, $2

 I love the shiny part around the neck. Of course, when Greg saw it, he said it was a great shirt except for the "shiny junk." *sigh*

Old Navy, $1

 I never have enough black tops to go with all my fabulous skirts, so at $1, how could I resist?

I had to leave the Henrietta Salvo quickly for an eye appointment, but afterwards, I still had time and energy for a little more. I took myself to the Greece Salvo. In general, I didn't find as much there, but they are more likely to put the price tags onto the shirt tag instead of on the material of the shirt itself, so they get two thumbs up from me.

 

Ann Taylor Loft, $1.50

Adorable.

Apt 9, $2

Can't wait to wear this tucked in to a black pencil skirt!! If you can't tell, it's polka dots!

MKM Designs, $2

I saw this one on the reshop rack after I tried on everything else (and rejected most of it). Didn't bother to fight for the dressing room again... just took it home, where it belonged.

Claiborne, $2

I'm sure you can't tell, but this is ribbed sweater material. I found one like it at the Henrietta store, and was so disappointed that it wasn't in my size. I was SO surprised and pleased to find it again, but in the right size this time! Can't wait to wear this with sweater tights when winter decides to do its worst.

However... it's clearly not happening yet. Thanksgiving was nearly 60 degrees and sunny. I got to run the Turkey Trot in sunshine and near-warmth, and then Greg grilled turkey and we ate it... OUTSIDE. It made me giddy with joy, and I've warned him that he probably won't hear the end of it for the rest of our lives. "Remember the year we got to eat outside on Thanksgiving?!?"

I will see you all again after my next Wednesday off... Christmas break!