Round Top fever

I've only been to the big antique event in Round Top, TX once before and that was a few years ago. I found it much too crowded, too expensive and ultimately just too overwhelming for me. Of course taking my hubby and (then 4 or 5 year old) child on a 90 minute drive to shop for European antiques with thousands of other people in the expansive fields of the Texas hill country didn't set me up for success to begin with.

I hadn't given it another thought until I met Linsey. Remember when she visited Marburger {here} and Warrenton {here} last fall? Then she had a shop my house sale {here} following her antiquing trek and I bought these lamps from her {here} and {here}.

Ever since reading her posts on Warrenton with the fabulous pictures and then actually buying some of the things that she bought there, I've been determined to give it another shot.

Fast forward to last weekend.

We borrowed a big daddy pick up truck from a friend and mom met me at my house at 730am on Sunday. Off to Round Top and Warrenton we went. Aside from getting a little sidetracked on the way there (290 actually ends and I missed the exit so we were lost for about 20 minutes), we made it and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The weather was a bit cool which was perfect and there was virtually no crowds. The weekend before is considered the preview weekend but thanks to Ann (Hill Country House blog), I was assured that aside from Marburger, things would be in full swing in Warrenton, La Bahia and parts of Round Top.

I'm done talking now so I'll let you peruse the gobs of iPhone photos from my visit.

The Seed Box near Cole's in Warrenton: La Bahia:

More than Antiques, I think they were located in Bar W or North Gate field in Warrenton. This was perhaps my favorite tent overall {Hans was a real cutie too ;)}.

A great booth in the Bar W area. All reproductions, but great prices and stuff was going fast- Blue Ocean Traders. More from Bar W: Just a few shots from The Arbors Show at Round Top. This booth belonged to Jackson Hill Antiques and Interiors. My tuckered mom resting. Plants for sale in Zapp Hall: Would you believe that I had such fun that I made a second trip out there all by myself?! I have a major problem with buyers hesitation. I have to think things over before purchasing and once I decide I really want it, I become obsessed and have to have it now {cue my inner Veruca Salt}. Such a risky game I play but it aids in my buyers guilt, if it's there when I get back then I was meant to have it...see, all better. ☺

Some of the items in these photos I purchased and some I drove back to purchase but they were quickly snatched up by some other lucky soul, in which case I was not meant to have it. Stay tuned for the transformation in my home with some of these treasures. I'll give you a teeny hint, my big, borrowed pick up truck did take a pretty full load home on Sunday, we made sure of that!!

xo~

T

Spring Break~road trip to the sunshine state

This was my first major road trip since the long haul moving to Houston from Denver in 2003.

I'm not a road trip girl. I'm much too nervous and antsy to be in a car for long periods.

Our Spring Break began on March 12 and we returned home on the 18th. The drive from Houston to Destin, Florida is about 9 1/2 hours. We stayed the night in Mississippi on the way there and drove straight through coming home. All in all it wasn't bad. Having such a great kid who didn't complain once and watched movies contentedly in the back for hours on end helped significantly! We rented a beach house in Destiny by the Sea with some good friends of ours and their sweet kiddos.

We cooked in a few nights during the week and ventured out as well. We had a fabulous dinner at Bud and Alley's then snow cones in Seaside. We spent long days on the beach, reading books and magazines, listening to music and watching the kids frolic in the sand and surf. This was the only overcast day, the rest of the time it was blue skies and perfect temps (70). There were plenty of jellyfish and man-o-wars washed ashore to keep us intrigued. Hubby and I got up early every morning and went running, then walked on beach in search of whole sand dollars. Not many shells in Destin but that didn't stop me from searching......and searching. Until one morning towards the end of the week, I spotted something almost perfectly round sitting on a sand bar right at the edge of the beach. YAHOO~ finding this almost whole sand dollar made me so excited, almost teary eyed even. It's about 2" in diameter (that teeny sand dollar above is the size of a nickel). I put it away and kept it a secret to present to my girl first thing on the morning of her 7th birthday. She loves sand dollars as well. Our house was a 3 minute walk to the beach, where the view was breathtaking. We saw several dolphins and even found what we think is a shark's tooth. Destiny by the Sea.

I have so much exciting stuff to share with you on the home front that I just can't wait!! Changes going on in every room right now and I'm loving it. I've actually awakened at 3am two nights in a row just buzzing with excitement to get it all finished (don't worry, I fought the urge to get up and work and went back to sleep on both nights). If not this week then for sure next week you'll see some fun new stuff in my casa.

xo~ T

::little happies::

Nothing like a fresh blog header and some sentimental goodies to chase away the funk this week.

When my mom and sisters went to my grandmother's funeral in Denver earlier this month, they pulled some mementos for each of us. I received mine last weekend and am so excited to have some of my grandmothers things in my house. Nothing fancy, but all treasures to me nonetheless.

Some crystals for my 'chandy on the cheap', 6 ice cream bowls, a metal sconce light {that's begging to be painted white}, a gold frame, a bunch of family photos and a white chippy mirror. This mirror is so gorgeous but I have no clue where to place her in my house. Maybe she'd fit well in the sun room once it's fully furnished.
This item was a big surprise in the box of treasures and made my eyes well up at first sight. My other grandmother (mom's mom who passed away almost 30 years ago) made this piece of crewelwork herself back in the 70s. It used to hang inside this very frame in her kitchen and I remember staring at it and getting lost in the Paris street scene endlessly whenever I'd visit. I'd wondered about it for years and my cousin recently mentioned that she had it hanging in her house. I guess I made an impression on her during our discussion as she felt the need to send it home for me with my other grandmother's things.

It takes me back to avocado green appliances and orange shag carpeting {yuck} but I still ♥ it dearly and have proudly placed it front and center in my own kitchen.

{thank you cousin Ingrid!}

She even signed the back of it.

{Made by Reba Gothard Alpenfels, 1977}

I'm hoping to work on my table this weekend, in between softball games, birthday parties and antiquing in Warrenton. I like how bleached and faded it looks in this overexposed photo, but in reality it's still a bit too orange for me. My savvy designer friend Laurie {pictured below with me during Spring Break last week} gave me another white wash method to try this weekend. I have one last piece of my grandmother's treasures to share with you, a jade heart pendant. Heart jewelry isn't usually my thing, but jade and turquoise reminds me of her so I love it. Jade is symbolic of energy in gemstone therapy and is said to stimulate creativity and mental agility while also having a balancing and harmonising effect.

The funny thing is I wore this all week last week and took it off on Monday of this week. After my lackluster energy this week I've decided to put it back on and keep wearing it. ☺

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

xo~
T