We pullled it off! We hosted our first ever house concert last night, though you wouldn’t know it today—aside from having all our furniture in new and exciting places, and what with the exhaustion we’re all feeling. As in, can’t drag butt off the couch, can barely reheat leftover Indian food for lunch, kind of exhaustion.

Our friends Peter and Sally are on a national tour promoting Sally’s album and we managed to convince them to play that hot Portland nightspot known as “Tonya and Neil’s Living Room.” Amazingly, they were happy to do it, which meant, shit, we have a ton of work to do! Invites went out, a menu was planned, and when they pulled in town on Wednesday with their dog, Sampson, we were ready to go.

I let Neil rearrange my (my!) living room and dining room to accommodate his vision for the show, and though I disagreed then, I’m willing to admit publically that he was right. His vision involved a lot of furniture moving but it ended up creating the ultimate salon setting for the show. A setting that will not show well in my photos below. Somewhat because we had a small house filled with people and therefore could not move into the proper photo-taking positions, but mostly because I’m a bad photographer. There, I said it.

So the scene was set, food and drink was put out (including some generous donations by Maple’s Organics and Zarra’s Monumental Coffee House—Thank You!), and the house filled with people. Friends, I’m so impressed! Thank you for coming and making for one truly lovely evening of music and laughter. Also impressive? I think your combined donations to the band amounted to more than some of their gigs have paid. For real. You are very generous and I (and they) thank you!

Here are some rather bad pictures from the evening. Some funky setting on my camera takes these fuzzy shots which I kind of like and mostly don’t.

Sally and Peter play on our poorly lit stage.
The sound was incredible which had a whole lot to do with their amazing talent and a just a teeny bit to do with the acoustics in our house. I’m thinking about hiring them on as our house band. Actually, I’m thinking of hiring them to be our kitchen help, too. Aside from their musical abilities, they cook and clean like dream houseguests. Love that!

One side of the living room and a glimpse of the dining room. I swear it was more crowded than this makes it look.

And just one more photo from last night, which I like to call, “Sweet Potatoes Is Good.”

The newest book of the month is brought to you by Cory Schnaible, age 8.

Originally printed in 1987, Mad Balls was an instant classic. Any book that you write as a child and is laminated by your parents is a keeper. I would pick an excerpt to share with you, but I couldn’t pick just one. You’ll see why. With Cory’s permission (right, cory?), I will reprint it in its entirety.

“Mad balls are MaD like skreeming mamy and skullface and fistface and BadGuy like wolfBrat SlimBall and [illegible] and sik ones like slim Brothor and fistface and wolf Brat and one [illegible] madBall. and his name is momy Mad ball and their #16 Madball and their some Madballs are siko dont you think so?
I do! I do! me to! me to! I do! I do! me to! me to! I do! I do!”

Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

When you’re the thrifting kind, you’re always receptive to the perfect items calling out to you, tempting you with their cuteness, awesomeness, and general must-take-me-homeness. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s these thoughts that bring you back to thrift stores again and again hoping for that lucky find. Thrifting luck is usually defined by finding a matching mug for your vintage pyrex set, or snatching up the retro fabric before someone else sees it. Well, that’s my definition anyway.

My friends, luck was redefined yesterday and I’m trying really hard not to be jealous. My friend bought a vintage purse over the weekend and spent a few minutes cleaning it out yesterday at home. What was inside? Three hundred dollars inside a very old envelope.

Remind me not to go thrifting without her.

I think I’ll welcome the new week by sharing one of my vintage finds with you. This beautiful tin recipe box is one of my current favorites:

Found in an amazing, seemingly never-ending thrifty antiques mall in Mitchell, South Dakota (right down the street from the Corn Palace!) in the summer of 2004. I fell in love with it right away and it’s housed my favorite recipes ever since. The index card dividers that you see below came with it and also the recipe for Bicentennial Cake that was clipped from a newspaper and taped to its cover. I haven’t made it yet. Truth be told, it sounds kind of horrible, what with all that food coloring. Regardless, it will forever live taped to the lid of the box.

Here’s the recipe, complete with original typo. Makes it more authentic, no?

Bicentennial Cake

1 package white cake mix

Prepare as directed on package. Divide batter into three equal pats. Leave one part white. Add blue food coloring to another part and red food coloring to the third part. Spoon alternately into pan size 13x9x2 inches. Bake as directed on package. Serve with whipped topping.

Happy Bicentennial!

Today is my 31st birthday. How can you tell it’s different from other days? Well, I’ve not only taken a hot shower, but I’ve also put on makeup AND dressed nicely. This kind of trifecta is only possible on special days, birthdays included. I’d show you a picture to prove it but I’m shy.

Having a quick, romantic lunch with my sweety (modern version of quick, romantic lunch: we sit at the same table eating yummy sandwiches while writing blog posts on our laptops. sweet. romantic. swoon.), and then I’m off to have a manicure/hot stone pedicure for my birthday treat. Woo hoo!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday. I will be back with a vengeance tomorrow and will hopefully be able to share some exciting news. Something to do with shopping. Something to do with vintage goods. Something I’m really thrilled about.

Until then….