family, shopping, travel

Girl’s Road Trip: Pioneer Woman, Antiques, Jonas Brothers and More!

jill8612

Girl’s Road Trip!

There are few things that I love as much as a road trip! There’s something so exciting about piling into the car with a destination in mind and seeing what adventures await! Our road trip did not disappoint. In fact, it was even better than we imagined. Some of the highlights included a visit to the Pioneer Woman Mercantile, a day of antique shopping, a Jonas Brothers concert, and even a visit to a casino. Join me as I share with you about our exploits!

Day 1: A Picnic and Pioneer Woman

Our trip began when Sister and my niece Hartlea picked me up early on Saturday morning. We had a long drive ahead. Our plan was to visit the Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma in the afternoon. We ended up stopping to eat lunch at the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center in Davis, Oklahoma. This place was a very nice surprise! We knew that we were going to stop along the way for a picnic, but we just happened upon this place.

There were picnic tables, a very nice gift shop, clean bathrooms, ample parking, and friendly people. We enjoyed a picnic lunch of homemade egg salad sandwiches, potato salad, fruit, and brownies. It was a fun place to begin our adventures!

After a LONG drive that took us very close to the Kansas/Oklahoma border, we finally arrived in Pawhuska. Gracious sakes… it was so worth the drive! While we really traveled to Pawhuska with the sole intent to visit the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile, it turns out that this small Oklahoma town is super cool! It is a very quaint, charming, and historic place that features some really interesting architecture, as well. I would have loved to spend more time exploring…

That brings us to our visit to the Mercantile. If you are a fan of Ree Drummond, AKA the Pioneer Woman, then you have probably heard about the “Merc.” It is simply amazing! Firstly, the building itself is so cool. Apparently, the building is about 100 years old, and it has been beautifully restored. The Mercantile features a store, a bakery, and a restaurant. The store offers TONS of unique, high quality, as well as, reasonably priced merchandise. We bought several items, including enamelware mugs, salt and pepper shakers, shirts, and cute little retro looking clocks, just to name a few. The store is well laid out, HUGE, and the employees were super friendly and helpful. We loved everything about it!

Not surprisingly, the restaurant was just as great as the store. The menu offers a good variety of options. The entrees come with a salad and the most delicious biscuits, served with homemade jam. Hartlea and I had the Spicy Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork. It was served with cheesy grits and Brussels sprouts with shallots and bacon. Sister had the Ranch Hand Sandwich. There was a thirty minute wait, but it was very well worth it. We also purchased desserts to go. Sister and I both ordered the pecan pie, and Hartlea chose the chocolate pie. Let me tell you, the desserts were divine, as well!

I’m sure that it is apparent that we loved our stay in Pawhuska and look forward to returning someday!

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma

An Adorable 1920’s Cottage

The rest of our stay in Oklahoma was spent in Tulsa. Tulsa is just about an hours drive from Pawhuska. The biggest surprise awaited us when we arrived in Tulsa. Hartlea had booked a house for our stay through Air Bnb. Gracious sakes… this place was truly a hidden gem! It was simply precious. It was well decorated, homey, comfortable, and so well stocked with basically anything that you could possibly need. It was also very centrally located and surprisingly inexpensive. It was truly a home away from home. I am including a link to book the house for yourself here.

As a side note, on our first night in Tulsa, I was so enamored with the house, that I posted several photos on Facebook. One of my sweet Facebook friends saw my post and recognized the house as that of her sister-in-law. It turns out that my son and the owner’s nephew were former housemates and baseball teammates at Dallas Baptist University. It is truly a small world!

  • Our adorable little cottage in Tulsa

Day Two: Antique Shopping and the Jonas Brothers

After a leisurely morning enjoying the lovely little cottage, we set out on a quest for antique treasures. We visited an antique mall and a thrift store first. While both were just okay, we did manage to find a few goodies.

Then we had the good fortune to happen upon the I-44 Antique Mall. Oh my word… it will be a long time before we recover from that experience. From the moment we entered, we knew we were in a true antique and vintage lovers dream! The last time that we had both experienced such a high, complete with sweaty palms and heart palpitations was this summer’s holy grail of estate sales. You can real about that here.

The I-44 Antique Mall was literally FULL of treasures! This place was brimming with unique and one-of-a-kind vintage finds. We were simply overwhelmed with the selection. Almost all of the booths were well stocked, well displayed, and included high quality and mostly reasonably priced merchandise. Needless to say, we had a great time, bought many treasures, and did NOT want to leave. We also made a new friend! Kurt was so kind, helpful, and full of knowledge. I have included photos of our treasures below.

  • Some of our treasures!

Sadly, our shopping had to end in time for Sister and Hartlea to get ready to attend the Jonas Brothers concert. I opted to stay home and watch the Cowboys game, instead. The thought of facing a huge crowd of screaming, hysterical girls is not exactly my cup of tea. I would add that Hartlea is NOT one of those hysterical screaming girls, but she has been a fan of the Jonas Brothers since she was in middle school. She is a HUGE fan! In fact, she is such a big fan, that she did the whole VIP thing, and was able to meet the Jonas Brothers and have here picture taken with them! So exciting!

The only horrible thing about our trip occurred at the Jonas Brothers concert. Sweet Sister, who was just innocently supporting her baby girl’s love of the Jonas Brothers and attending the concert, was PUNCHED IN THE BACK by a teenage girl!

Here’s the story… Hartlea had paid extra to be able to sit on the floor of the BOK Center right next to the area where the Jonas Brothers walk right by. Well, it turns out that there was quite a few rude, pushy, and utterly obnoxious fans who kept trying to shove their way up into the seats where Sister and Hartlea were. One rude girl, upon being thwarted in her efforts to push her way past Sister, decided to punch her in retaliation… I truly have no words for such immature, entitled, selfish behavior. So disappointing… but aside from that, the concert was also a hit!

Hartlea with the Jonas Brothers

Day Three: Homeward Bound and a Casino Trip

Sadly, yesterday morning we had to leave our cute little cottage and head back to Texas. Day three was rather uneventful, except for a very brief stop at the WinStar Casino and Resort, that is located in Oklahoma, just one mile past the Texas border.

While we are not really gamblers, we have driven past the WinStar numerous times, and it just looks so cool from the outside that we decided to go inside and check it out. First of all, it is massive! It is really pretty neat. There are tons of great restaurants and fascinating things to see even if you’re not a gambler.

I left Sister and Hartlea to play the penny slots, while I walked all the way around. If you’ve never been, the WinStar is divided into different sections, with each one depicting a different city. It was really interesting and a great place to people watch! My personal favorites were the Rome, Cairo, and Paris sections.

Hartlea and I at the WinStar Casino

What a Fun Trip!

We had a great trip, and we’re already thinking about a return trip! Needless to say, we really enjoyed our visit to the state of Oklahoma. I have included links throughout my post to all of our favorite places, in case you’re interested in going on your own road trip.

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Top 15 Favorite Kitchen Collectibles

jill8612

Kitchen collectibles have long been at the top of many people’s lists of favorite vintage items to collect. We are no exception! The great news for vintage lovers is that many kitchen collectibles are very inexpensive and are great fun and easy to search for at almost any local flea market, garage sale, or thrift store!

We LOVE Kitchen Items!

I have mentioned in previous posts that Sister and I inherited a lovely 100+ year old house that was a virtual treasure trove of antiques and vintage finds from our mother. While our mother had eclectic tastes and had a great eye for unusual and one-of-a-kind treasures, her true love was all things kitchen! Sister and I most definitely inherited her love of bright, colorful, and always cheerful vintage canisters, shakers, mixing bowls, cookie jars, etc. If you have ever visited our booth at the Cedar Chest Antique Mall in McGregor, Texas, you will notice that we always offer a large selection of these items.

Our Favorite Items:

While there are very few kitchen related items that we don’t love, there are some that we nearly always gravitate to. I am going to list them here. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and I feel quite certain that I have missed some. Also, these are not listed in any particular order, so here we go…!

  • Salt and Pepper Shakers– If you pay any attention to our booth and/or our Etsy shop, you will notice that we offer TONS of these! We especially love the cute figural and anthropomorphic ones!
  • Aprons– Vintage aprons are easy to find and come in all styles! We especially love all of the hand sewn aprons that are readily available and can be found in any color/style imaginable!
  • Canisters– Our favorite types of canisters are the colorful and wonderful old metal ones.
  • Pyrex– I have written previously about Pyrex. We love it, and while it is still possible to find Pyrex at affordable prices, be aware that it is very popular and people might fight you for it! 🙂
  • Kitchen Utensils: I am including many different types of utensils here. This could mean rolling pins, egg beaters, biscuit cutters, potato mashers, etc. We love the old red and green wooden handle utensils!
  • Tins– Many people love to collect old kitchen tins. This could include spice tins, biscuit tins, coffee tins, etc. Sister found a really cool old potato chip tin recently at an estate sale. You will see it pictured below.
  • Bread Boxes: Bread boxes are another popular kitchen collectible. They can be found in wood and metal versions. Again, we love the colorful metal bread boxes!
  • Cake Savers– Vintage cake savers were very popular back in the day. They are most commonly found in plastic and metal form. Cake savers are not quite as easy to find as some other items, but they are out there!
  • Recipe Boxes– These are really selling like hotcakes for us right now! They are usually found in both wood and metal. It is especially lovely when you find one that is already filled with wonderful, old vintage recipes!
  • Mixing Bowls: Mixing bowls come in many forms. Many people like to collect Pyrex, Jadeite, and other stoneware crock-type bowls. We love them all!
  • Cookbooks– Oh how we love these! We love them so much that one of our first blog posts was dedicated to them. Old cookbooks can be found everywhere!
  • Teacups/Saucers and Teapots: I have collected teacups and teapots for most of my adult life. I loved them even before I became an antiques and collectibles fanatic.
  • Drinkware– Vintage drinkware can include many things. We tend to stock primarily old glass tumblers and juice glasses in our booth and Etsy shop. Swanky Swigs are some of our best-loved items. We find that they are always some of our best sellers.
  • Flour Sifters– Flour sifters may initially sound rather dull…but they’re definitely not! Some of the old metal flour sifters are amazing and quite lovely. They also sell quickly, so you have to grab them while you can!
  • Cookie Cutters– Cookie cutters are still very inexpensive and can be found everywhere. We like to collect holiday related and wooden-handled cookie cutters.

Final Thoughts:

There you have it! The items above are some of our very favorite kitchen collectibles. I feel quite certain that I missed a few, but my hope is that you can, at a minimum, appreciate the variety of items available and that maybe you’ll even decide to begin a collection of your own!
FYI… Almost of the items above are from either our booth or our Etsy shop. A few are from our own personal collections. If you love vintage kitchen collectibles, don’t forget to check our Etsy shop frequently for newly added kitchen treasures!
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This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.


#etsy#etsyvintageseller#etsyvintageshop#kitchen#vintagekitchen#kitchen collectibles #vintagesaltandpeppershakers#vintageaprons#vintagecanisters#Pyrex#vintagePyrex#vintagetins#vintagebreadboxes#vintagecakesavers#vintagerecipeboxes#vintagemixingbowls#vintagecookbooks#vintagecupsandsaucers#vintageteapots#vintagecookiecutters#farmhouse#farmhousekitchen

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Here’s to New Beginnings!

jill8612

Leaving the teaching profession after twenty years was not an easy decision! Teaching is, in my opinion, the most important profession. After all, “Teaching is the profession that teaches all other professions.” -UnknownI did get out of teaching much sooner than I thought that I would…ridiculous expectations, standardized testing, and a general lack of respect for the teaching profession did contribute to my premature departure. Despite all of that, I still feel with every fiber and ounce of my being, that this world needs good teachers more than ever before. I also still believe that despite the obstacles, teaching remains an extremely rewarding and emotionally fulfilling endeavor! The purpose of this blog post is to share a little bit about my journey as a teacher, give a bit of advice to new teachers, and to tell you about my new adventures!

Teaching: A Calling

A good teacher is like a candle-it consumes itself to light the way for others. – Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
I have long proposed that teaching is not, and should not, be viewed as a “job.” It is far more than that. It is a calling. You are performing a public service, You are using your special gifts to “give back” to the world. It is important that teachers enter the profession with these thoughts in mind. When you view teaching through this lens, then it is easier to tap into the reserves of energy and grit that will be required at times as you travel through the journey of being a teacher.
I taught for twenty years at one school. I truly felt “called” to be there. It was a very tough place to teach. It was an extremely high poverty school with a large number of students who were learning English as a second language. Many of my students struggled in various ways. Some of them were homeless. Some of my students were experiencing various forms of neglect at home. Many of my students had never experienced basic life events like those who come from more affluent homes. I had students who had never been on a vacation, gone to a movie, been to an amusement park, museum etc… you get the picture. Why did I choose to stay there? I could have gone somewhere else. I chose it because of what I mentioned previously. For me, teaching was a calling! I truly felt that I was placed there for a reason, and I gave it my all every single day. I don’t regret it for one moment!

Advice for New Teachers:

I could expound upon the topic of teaching and the value of public education for hours because I continue to feel so passionately about it, but I will instead give a few simple little gems of advice that I have for new teachers entering the profession.


Find a Friend or Mentor:Teaching can be totally overwhelming, so find someone to share it with! Find somebody who is willing to listen and to be supportive. One of the best ways to overcome the inevitable stress that teaching brings is “venting” to a colleague.


Laughter Cures Everything!: Yes. Teaching is IMPORTANT! At the same time, nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. Don’t take yourself too seriously. We all need to find a way to just see the humor and LAUGH!! It’s a huge stress reliever. Laughter is also key in the classroom! Students love to laugh, and they love it when you can laugh at yourself. Believe me when I say… you will find plenty to laugh about in the classroom! 🙂


Focus on the Big Picture and Prioritize: Yes. You will have a long to-do list everyday. No. You will not accomplish everything on that list most days. Accept that, and keep your eye on the end goals. Focus on the big picture. Do not get “bogged down” in the little details. When you do this, you will be able to see what the most important items are, and accomplish those FIRST!


Relationships are EVERYTHING! I saved the most important advice for last. Relationship building is the single most important thing! You cannot teach a child if you do not have a positive, respectful relationship with him or her!! You just can’t! Take the time to get to know your students. Ask them about their lives outside of school and LISTEN!

A New Chapter:

Here I am at fifty years old, and I am embarking on a new journey. I am one of those people who gives my all to whatever that I am doing. That may be one of the reasons, that my teaching journey came to a premature end, but I am certain that it was time. I am also one of those lucky souls who has many passions. I have a strong desire to try many different things. There are so many things that I would love to do with my life, and now I will have the time to do them!

A New Mrs. Fritz:

For those of you who know me, you know that I am the proud mom of two fabulous young men. Several years ago, my oldest son began dating and later married the most wonderful girl imaginable. My beautiful daughter-in-law is truly the daughter that I never had. I love her like she is my own. Last May, she graduated from college, and she just completed her first year of teaching! Believe it or not, she is following in my footsteps as a second grade teacher! This thrills me to no end, because I get the opportunity to pass on my experiences and wisdom to her. She was also the recipient of my beloved collection of children’s books that she can now use in her own classroom! The Fritz family teaching legacy marches on through her…

What the Future Holds:

Now that I have made my contributions to the world through my twenty years in public education, I am preparing for a whole new journey! Sister and I launched an antiques and collectibles business recently. We began this journey a couple of years ago, by renting a booth in a local antique mall and have since branched out into online sales through our Etsy shop! We would like to eventually follow in our mother’s footsteps and open an estate sale business, as well. In the process of setting up our website, I have recently discovered that I actually love blogging… Who knows what the future will bring? I leave you with this quote:
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
#teacher #teaching #newteacher #publiceducation #publicschoolteacher #lifesjourney #newteacher #newteacheradvice #twoladybugsvintage #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #vintage #antiques #collectibles #estatesales #antiquemall #cedarchestantiquemall #mcgregortexas

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My Father: A Man of Substance

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“Don’t ever underestimate the impact that you may have on someone else’s life.” Anonymous

Larger Than Life:

In honor of Father’s Day, I would like to tell you about one of the people who has made a lasting impact in my life…my father. There is no denying that my father has led a life of distinction. He is a former CEO, chemist, professor, naval officer, star athlete, author, the list goes on… The greatest thing about my father, though, is that he is one of the most humble, kind-hearted, and self-deprecating people I know. My father grew up in a very small Texas town, where he was raised by parents who believed in hard work and the importance of education. He grew up working on their ranch and learned the value of hard work from an early age. He went on to become a football and basketball star in high school and eventually to earn his PhD in chemistry from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He took time in between to serve his country as a naval officer, and was stationed in Bethesda, Maryland when I was born. In later years, he worked as a professor, in various leadership roles in higher education and in the healthcare industry, and eventually worked his way up to becoming the CEO of Advent Health.

A Gentle Giant:

Don Jernigan didn’t rise to those heights by accident. He did it through hard work, grit, determination, and just sheer brilliance. It also required a strong ability to build relationships, as well as, the ability to empower others and lead by example. All of these things are amazing and exceptional, but here’s the best part…my father is also a kind-hearted, humble, selfless, gentle giant. I use the word giant quite literally, as he is a very tall and imposing figure. Those of us who are blessed to know him well, know that Don Jernigan is a man of strong moral fortitude and Christian faith. He is essentially a kind and tender-hearted man of integrity.

A Family Man:

My father is very much a family man. He is a very devoted husband. He values time together with his children and grandchildren. He understands that any time that can be spent with family is truly a gift. He has taken us all on some exciting and memorable trips over the years, and even though he lives in Florida, and the rest of us are in Texas, he manages to make the most of the time that he spends with us. He is a very proud father and grandfather and loves to tell others about his daughters and grandchildren.

His Legacy:

Because of his humility, I’m not certain that my father truly understands the impact that he has made on so many. I see him daily in myself and my children. I was blessed to inherit his positive outlook, work ethic, determination, and a true understanding of the importance of serving others. My oldest son, Garrett, was blessed to inherit my father’s truly brilliant and beautiful mind. He shares his grandfather’s sense of duty, selflessness, work ethic, empathy, and grace. My youngest son, Gavin, inherited my father’s athletic ability, grit, determination, drive, intelligence, and sense of servant leadership. What a beautiful thing it is to live on through your children and grandchildren. Billy Graham once said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

A Fighter:

Currently my wonderful father is displaying many of his finest personal qualities and is serving, yet again, as a wonderful role model. He was diagnosed last fall with leukemia. He underwent a bone marrow transplant in February. While there have been a few setback along the way, he has faced this challenge head-on with grace, determination, and faith. He is a fighter, and I know without a shadow of a doubt, that he will, yet again, rise to the occasion, show that trademark determination and grit and be stronger for it.

A Role Model:

I have honestly been so blessed to have had two remarkable parents. While they each made their marks on our lives in different ways, there is no mistaking their influence in both their children and grandchildren. What a beautiful legacy!

This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#fathersday#family#legacy#twoladybugsvintage

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Vintage Decor: An Amateur’s Guide

jill8612

While many of us would love to be able to afford to have our homes designed and decorated by professional interior decorators, the truth is, that for most of us, that is just not possible. I would argue that a home that is decorated by YOU with the things that YOU love, and in a style that is YOURS is best!

Be Yourself!

It’s YOUR home! Do what makes YOU happy! It is my personal belief that it is important to live a life that makes YOU happy! Our choices shouldn’t be dictated by the preferences of others. Of all of the things that I most admired about my own mother, it was her ability to live her life on her own terms that I loved the most. I recently came across this quote from Caroline Kennedy that I think is a perfect example of this,
I think my mother… made it clear that you have to live life by your own terms, and you have to not worry about what other people think, and you have to have the courage to do the unexpected. Caroline Kennedy

Go For It!

Now for the hard part…where to begin… Taking the first step in anything we do is always the hardest part. Now, if you are a rule follower like me, you might tend to want to overanalyze your choices and just try too hard! NO! Just get in there and start playing around until you create something that appeals to you and makes you happy. I love to decorate, and I have been known to change around a particular room and/or display hundreds of times. I just enjoy the create end of it all, but I learned a long time ago, just to keep moving things around until you like it! You can always move it again!

Helpful Tips:

While I don’t propose that you follow any particular rules in decorating your home with vintage items, I can share with you some things that I tend to do. Remember, this is the amateur’s guide… I am far from a professional, but here goes…

  • Create groupings of collections of similar items
  • Create vignettes
  • Create seasonal displays
  • Combine vintage and new items
  • Use what you LOVE!

Create Groupings of Collections or Similar Items:

This is my personal favorite! If you love cats, then display a collection of cat related items! If you love a particular color, then display a collection of items that you love in that color! There are limitless possibilities! The following photos are from our own personal homes. I have also included photos from my niece’s home, as well!

Sister's girl figurines

Create Vignettes:

Creating vignettes is simply grouping several objects together to form a picture or tell a story. I think that this is best explained through more photos…

Create Seasonal Displays:

This is especially fun if you’re a big holiday nut like me! I am particularly fond of vintage Christmas decor, but you can do something like the following photos for any holiday and/or season!

Combine Vintage and New:

When decorating with vintage items, it is worth noting, that there is nothing wrong with combining items that we love that are both old and new! I happen to be in love with Ree Drummond’s (of The Pioneer Woman fame) line of home decor items, and I often decorate with combinations of both!

Don’t Forget the Garden!

As much as I love decorating the interior of my home, we mustn’t forget the exterior. Garden decor is just as much fun. There are numerous ideas for using vintage items to spruce up our yards, as well!

Do and Use What you Love!

My true purpose in writing this, is to help you to understand that your home is YOURS, and you are the author of your life. YOU get to choose the items and styles that appeal to YOU! Life is too short to spend it worrying about the opinions of others at the expense of our own authenticity and happiness. Make up your own rules, and happy decorating!

This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#twoladybugsvintage#etsyshop#etsyseller#vintagelife#vintagedecor#decoratingwithvintage#vintagelifestyle#antiques#farmhouse#farmhousestyle#shabbychic#shabbychicdecor#gardenstyle#gardendecor#kitchendecor#vintagekitchen#kitsch#kitschy#kitchenkitsch

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Antiques, Fixer Upper, and Blue Bell!

jill8612

For fans of antiques and vintage treasures, Blue Bell ice cream, and Chip and Joanna Gaines… I have some news for you! You can spend a day experiencing all three in Central Texas! Central Texas offers some outstanding shopping opportunities for those who love vintage and antique finds! One fun option for a day trip spent shopping and dining is an easy drive to McGregor, Texas.

Cedar Chest Antique Mall and More:

The Cedar Chest Antique Mall is an 18,000 square foot indoor mall that offers something for everyone! There is also another smaller mall that is just down the road that is called The Cedar Chest Too! These two buildings are literally full of amazing vintage treasures. As if this isn’t enough… there is also an outdoor market located on-site called The Market at Cedar Chest. All three of these sites offer a wide variety of vintage and antique furniture, decor items in many popular styles, including farmhouse, shabby chic, mid-century modern, retro, and more. There are tons of cool vintage tools, toys, books, jewelry, and so much more!

Fox’s Treats and Eats:

Attached to the main building is a really great little cafe called Fox’s Treats and Eats. This place is amazing! They offer homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches and serve Blue Bell ice cream. Their food is delicious, and their bread is baked fresh daily. They are open Monday-Saturday 11am-4:30 and Sunday 12-4. The ambiance is that of a 1950’s diner. Another really neat touch is the addition of an antique soda fountain from the 1920’s! Sister and I both love the chicken and dumplings, and I also really enjoyed a delicious BLT there recently. It is definitely worth a visit!

Fixer Upper Fame:

For those of you who are fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame, you might recall several episodes where Chip and Joanna were shopping in The Cedar Chest! If you are a fan of Chip and Joanna, then another option would be to drive on over to Waco and spend some time shopping at Magnolia Market at the Silos. It is just a 17 mile drive to Magnolia Market from the Cedar Chest! On a side note, McGregor is also home to Magnolia House, a lovely bed and breakfast that is owned by the Gaines family. that was featured in this article from Country Living Magazine.

Our Booth:

Sister and I have rented a booth in The Cedar Chest for a couple of years now. We have really enjoyed our time there. We appreciate the opportunity to showcase some of our vintage and antique finds in a good location that attracts a large number of shoppers! Below is a glimpse of how our booth has looked over time…

In summary, if you are a Central Texas resident or are visiting this area, and you are looking for some ideas for how to spend a fun day, you should consider a trip to McGregor, Texas!

This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.


#twoladybugsvintage#cedarchestantiquemall#mcgregortexas#cedarchesttoo#fixerupper#chipandjoannagaines#magnoliahouse#foxestreatsandeats#magnoliamarket#vintagefinds#vintage#antiques#daytrip#centraltexas#shoppingtrip#antiquing

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She Sheds: A Girl’s Best Friend

jill8612

A “she shed” is a getaway/hideaway for females. I guess you could describe it as being similar to a “man cave,” but for girls! It is a place where you can relax and do whatever strikes your fancy…read, paint, create, write, reflect, nap…you name it! The best thing about it is that it is all yours. It reflects your personality and interests.

Possibilities:

If you google “she sheds” you can find endless ideas and possibilities. Some possible locations for your own personal shed could include:

  • Old sheds
  • Campers
  • Tree houses
  • Barns
  • Sheds from a kit sold at Home Depot, Lowes, etc
  • Rooms in your home
  • The sky is the limit!

Pinterest Ideas:

I love Pinterest, and it is my go-to source for inspiration and ideas for almost anything. If you need inspiration for all of the endless possibilities for your own shed, check out this Pinterest link! There are tons of great ideas here that can help you to form a vision for your own private retreat!

Decorating Your Shed:

My own personal style tends toward a more vintage look. If you’re like me, then you can find many decorative options at your local area flea markets, estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, etc. We offer lots of great vintage decor items at our Etsy shop. I also purchase items online through Ebay, Etsy, Mercari, etc. Even if the vintage look is not your thing, great inexpensive decorative items can be found at these same places.

My Shed:

Last Mother’s Day weekend, I got the surprise of a lifetime! My wonderful, saint of a husband and my youngest son built me my own shed! My husband purchased a kit from Lowes, and it was relatively simple to build. They were able to complete it in about three days. It is approximately 8 x 12 feet, and it is perfect for me. I painted the inside white, and I still need to paint the outside. Since I live in Texas, and the temperatures get super hot in the summer, I invested in a portable air conditioner. I also purchased a cute, little electric heater for the winter months. I primarily use my she shed to read, blog, rest, and relax. I love it so very much, and I think that everybody can benefit from having their own, private haven as a means to escape the hectic hustle and bustle of life. I have included photos of my shed below, and I hope they will inspire you to consider one for yourself!

#sheshed#gardenshed#pottingshed#vintage#vintagedecor#gardendecor#getaway#relax#readingnook#etsy#estyshop#twoladybugsvintage#mothersday#family#thriftstorefinds#estatesales#fleamarket#antiquestores

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Live, Laugh, Love: A Tribute to My Mother

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On my mother’s headstone are engraved three simple but important words: Live-Laugh-Love.These words were my mother’s favorite quote, and they embody everything you needed to know about her. Those three words describe her life perfectly! Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and I want to tell you about the person who shaped me into the person that I am today.

Live:

Oh, how that woman LIVED!! She lived joyfully, simply, gratefully, and with determination and grit. My mother taught me the value of living life each day to the fullest! When she was confronted with challenges, as we all are at times, she faced her challenges head-on. She refused to allow others to steal her joy, and she was always thankful for what she had. She always said (as I alluded to in a previous post), “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” and that’s exactly what she did! When she went through a divorce and became a single mother of two young daughters, she was able to provide a stable, healthy, loving home for us. The same determined and fearless spirit is what gave her the gumption to quit her boring and unrewarding job as a medical secretary and launch her own business! Nothing could keep her down for long. She always found a way to look at the bright side of life and saw the possibilities. It was her ability to truly live that enabled her to have so many stories to tell as she got older. There was no such thing as “sitting on the sidelines” and watching life pass her by. She was much too busy living for that!

Mother was able to make it to many of my son’s college baseball games before she passed away. She was his greatest fan!

Laugh:

I wish I had a recording of her laugh. It was contagious! She was known for her stories, and they would become more and more outrageous the more times that she told them. She was known to “embellish” her stories a bit…My word, the stories that I could tell about her. We went on so many fun adventures with her. Once, she had a desire to “spy” on some people at a high school graduation. (I’ll leave the details to your imagination). Well, before we knew what was happening, she had rented a car and dragged Sister and I with her to the graduation. While we were too embarrassed to get out of the car, she dressed in disguise, marched herself right into that gym, and sat right there close to the culprits. They never knew she was there. We laughed about that for years! We laughed with her all the time! She loved life, and laughed through it all. I truly believe that is one of her greatest gifts to us. Sister and I can laugh in even the toughest of times. We can nearly always find something to laugh about. It’s good for the soul…

Love:

My mother loved deeply and fiercely. She loved her family above all else. She literally adored her two girls and her three amazing grandchildren. She also gave the gift of time. Mother attended every single event that her children or grandchildren participated in, be it sporting events, band, you named it, and she was there. She was proud of us no matter what. She loved us unconditionally, and that was the greatest gift. She never compared us to each other. She accepted us as we were. Because of her, I learned not to compare my boys and to accept them for the beautiful, unique souls that they are. What a gift. What a legacy. What a life well lived! Thank you for everything!

So proud of her three grandchildren…

This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#mothersday#twoladybugsvintage#tribute#livelaughlove#inspiration#secretsofmotherhood#motherhood#life

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Vintage Garden Style

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My mother’s potting shed

We love using vintage finds outdoors! While the vintage garden look isn’t for everyone, it is perfect for people who prefer a more relaxed, country, or cottage styled garden.

Possible Vintage Items That Can be Used:

  • Galvanized tubs
  • Metal watering cans
  • Wind vanes
  • Wind chimes
  • Pots and planters
  • Wall thermometers
  • Statues or other figural objects
  • Washtubs
  • Wheelbarrows
  • Gardening tools
  • Iron or metal gates/ fencing
  • Birdbaths
  • Birdcages
  • Birdhouses
  • The possibilities are endless!

Below are a few examples from my own garden. While I prefer to use actual vintage items, some cool items are now being sold to replicate the vintage look, and those things would work, as well.

Where to Find Vintage Garden Decor Items:


There are wonderful and unique vintage outdoor decor items to be found in a variety of places. Don’t be afraid to get “down and dirty” in order to find them! You can, of course, peruse your local antiques shops, go to auctions, estate sales, and even thrift stores. Sometimes, such items can be found at flea markets and even garage sales. Who knows? Somebody might even be willing to allow you to peruse their old barn for vintage treasures!

Envision the Possibilities!


Many people see a rusty old metal bucket, tool, or watering can, and think JUNK! I, on the other hand, see such worn out items as windows to the past. A rusty old tub could become a perfect place to show off some lovely, fragrant rosemary. A time worn old garden statue could transform an everyday flower bed into a work of art! Those wonderful old everyday objects may be calling to you, too! Don’t be afraid to embrace the old and see the possibilities!

Our Etsy Shop


While we do offer vintage garden decor items in our Etsy shop, we find that they sell very quickly and that it is difficult to keep them in stock! Keep checking back as we find more!

This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#twoladybugsvintage#etsyshop#etsyseller#vintagecarden#cottagegarden#countrygarden#fleamarketfinds#gardenstyle#gardeningtools#oldgarden#antiquegarden#galvanizedtubs#gardenstatue#fleamarket#vintage#gardendecor

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A Passion for Pyrex

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History of Pyrex

Pyrex has been a staple in household kitchens for over 100 years. If you don’t already know, Pyrex consists of a very wide variety of relatively inexpensive glass cook and bakeware that has been popular with regular, everyday household cooks since 1915. It comes in a multitude of different shapes and colors and has become extremely popular and highly sought after by lovers of vintage kitchen items… like us! You can read more about the history of Pyrex here.

Popular Patterns and Styles

When I think of Pyrex, I tend to envision the iconic nesting mixing bowls. Most Pyrex collectors tend to collect items according to specific patterns or colors. A really great resources for dating the different colors, patterns, and types of Pyrex is the website of the Corning Museum of Glass that can be found here.

Pink Pyrex


This brings me to the inspiration for this particular post. One of my mother’s favorite sayings was, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” She used to repeat this constantly to her grandchildren. Well, this rang true very recently for my lovely niece, Hartlea. She has developed an obsession for Pyrex, and especially pink Pyrex…

Pyrex Tragedy!


In March, Hartlea and Sister went on a antiquing trip to Warrenton, Texas for the Texas Antiques Week event. On their way home, they stopped in to shop in an antique mall in Giddings, Texas. Hartlea was thrilled to find some pink Pyrex at a reasonable price, but she talked herself out of purchasing it. A few days later, she decided to make the over an hour’s drive all the way back and purchase the pink Pyrex. That was when tragedy struck… Upon leaving the store with her box of Pyrex, she tripped and dropped the entire box. The misfortune was twofold. She had lost most of her pink Pyrex, and she was totally mortified by the embarrassment that we all feel when suffering from a public fall.

Making Lemonade

After licking her wounds for a few hours, she remembered her grandmother’s famous words and decided to make lemonade! She found directions for creating really cute necklaces out of broken pieces of Pyrex. You heard me correctly…people are making Pyrex necklaces! She taught herself how to do it and has begun to create and sell her necklaces online!

Upcycled Vintage

I just love the idea of creating something new out of something old! This is a hot trend right now, and my sweet niece has embraced it. I admire her ingenuity and resourcefulness! Her grandmother would be so proud… 🙂

The blog post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#pinkpyrex#pyrex#vintagepyrex#upcycled#upcycledpyrex#pyrexnecklace#pyrexjewelry#vintagekitchen#vintagecollector#pyrexcollector#twoladybugsvintage#etsyseller#etsyshop

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Crazy For Cookbooks!

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Vintage Cookbooks

I love vintage cookbooks! I especially enjoy old advertising cookbooks. If you’ve never taken the time to look at a few, then you really should. Most definitely accurately reflect the times in which they were published. They are really very interesting and can help us to understand the underlying social and cultural values of the times.

Cooking in Heels

Some of them are actually pretty humorous. For example, one that I recently looked at referred to a particular cake recipe as being, “perfect for your next bridge party.” Well… I don’t know about you, but I haven’t ever attended a bridge party, and I’m not even completely certain what it even entails. If you pay close attention you will notice that the cooks are nearly always women, and that they are oftentimes cooking in dresses and heels. Honestly, who does that? Also, if men are cooking it is usually only outdoors on the “manly” grill.

Another cookbook from the 1930’s includes a page of “helpful hints” for ways to help your husband to relax after a long day at work. One suggestion is to, “take his shoes, prop his feet up, and bring him the newspaper and a cold beverage.” Call me a feminist if you’d like, but I am fairly certain that with the lack of modern conveniences at that time, the poor wife had probably been working every bit as hard as he had. Plus, she apparently was doing all of that housework in a dress and heels! :-)Hopefully you get the idea.

Cookbooks for Sale!

These cookbooks afford us glimpses into American society and family life and to me are endlessly fascinating. When we lost our mother, we became the very proud owners of literally hundreds of old vintage cookbooks. We have sold many of them, but we have many more available now and in the future in our Etsy shop.

This post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#etsy#etsyseller#vintage#vintagecookbook#vintagerecipes#advertising#vintageadvertising#vintagekitchen#kitchencollectible#vintageamericana#twoladybugsvintage

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Little Yellow House of Treasures

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A Full House

Many of you know that my sister and I inherited a house full of vintage and antique treasures from our wonderful mother. That story can be found here: www.twoladybugsvintage.net/blog/coming-full-circle Anyway, mother’s house is remarkable for two reasons. For one, it is still full of amazing things. Even after the HUGE estate sale that we put on in 2016, there are still tons of unbelievably wonderful things there that we rediscover all the time. Sister and I marvel at the sheer volume of treasures just waiting to uncover.

A Historic Landmark

The other reason why her house is so remarkable is the house itself. It was built in 1899 by James Ferguson (former governor of Texas) for his new bride Miriam. James and Miriam were better known as “Pa and Ma Ferguson.” Miriam, or Ma, would later be elected as the very first woman governor of Texas. The house was known as their “little red honeymoon house,” and is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. One little known fact is that my mother’s first cousin was Ann Richards, who was the second governor of the state of Texas. It’s a small world…

A Well Preserved Home

The house is in such great condition. It still contains the original old hardwood floors, and has maintained most of its original architectural features. It is in this beautiful, historic home that our mother collected so many unique and wonderful treasures and ran her antique store. We continue to discover new items all the time. In fact, we have listed a few of those items today in our Etsy shop. Check them out!

  • Back Bedroom
  • The Parlor
  • Mother’s Bedroom Many Years Ago

www.twoladybugsvintage.etsy.com

This post was originally published at our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#twoladybugsvintage#etsy#JamesFerguson#MiriamFerguson#nationalregisterofhistoricplaces#governoroftexas#antiques#collectibles#vintage#treasures#annrichards#historic#historichome#turnofthecenturyhome#queenannestylehome

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Coming Full Circle

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Follow Your Heart

Life is a funny thing. There are surprises around every corner. There are also opportunities that we must not be afraid to pursue when they occur. We also need to be willing to follow our hearts when it is time for a change. Let me explain. Our beautiful mother went out on a limb and left her 9 to 5 job as a secretary when she was close to my age. She was tired of the daily grind of an unfulfilling job. She could have chosen the safer path, but she knew a secret that we all need to remember. Life is short.. She was a single mom of two girls and had always worked so hard to provide for us, but once we were grown, she chose to pursue her dreams. She quit her job, and blazed a new path forward. After what I’m sure was was some amount of fear and uncertainty, our mother went on to become a very successful antiques dealer. She ran an antique shop out of her gorgeous 100+ year old historic home, and also did estate sales. I know that she never regretted her choice.

New Beginnings

When my boys were young and I was a stay-at-home mom, I dabbled with selling antiques, but then life happened, and I just didn’t have the time. My life became consumed with raising two boys and being an elementary school teacher. While I truly loved my twenty years of teaching and would never regret having done it, a little voice inside my head has been telling me that it is time to begin a new chapter in my life. Sister retired from teaching a couple of years ago, and I will be joining her at the end of this school year, We are venturing back into the antiques and collectibles scene! We rented a booth in an antique mall two years ago and started our Etsy store in the fall. We hope to eventually get back into the estate sale business, as well. I am so thankful that we had such a smart, resourceful, trailblazing mother who followed her dreams and chose to do what made her happy. Life is short, so here’s to new adventures as we follow in the footsteps of one great lady.

This blog post was originally published on our Two Ladybugs Vintage website.

#twoladybugsantiques#estatesales#estatesale#antiques#antique#collectibles#teaching#teacher#vintage#antiquesales#antiquemall

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Secrets to a Life Well Lived

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This is a blog post that I wrote on my other blog at www.twoladybugsvintage.net/blog.

In recent days, Sister and I have listed quite a few new items in our Etsy shop. Many of those items are Easter and spring related. There are several little chicks. Birds and chicks never fail to make me think about my wonderful grandmother.

For the Love of Yellow

When I think about my grandmother, I always see her in yellow… Strange as it sounds, I associate all things yellow with her. Why you ask? Well, Nanny (as we called her) LOVED yellow. It was all over her house! Her home was full of little figurines of yellow birds, flowers, fruit, you name it. You see, she loved the little things in life. She was happy with her modest white house full of her sweet little birds and such.

A Simple Life of Love and Hard Work

Nanny’s home was a place that was filled with love, kindness, acceptance, and warmth. She loved her family above all else, and she never failed to make us all feel special and loved. Nanny worked hard her entire life. Products of the Great Depression, she and our granddad never attempted to live beyond their means. They scrimped and saved, and always made sure that their family had what they needed. They were products of a much simpler time. There were no grand family vacations, the newest, fanciest cars or new cool gadgets with all the bells and whistles. Instead, we were treated with things of far greater value, sitting outside on summer evenings and catching lightning bugs, going on “rides” around town, going to Langston’s Crossing for weenie roasts, and playing in the sprinkler in the yard.

Nanny loved the outdoors and had a beautiful yard that was always full of flowers. She was happiest when she was outside with her hands in the dirt. She passed on her love of gardening and flowers to my mother, my sister, and myself. I will always associate springtime and flowers with her.

A Huge Impact on my Life!

I know without a shadow of a doubt that Nanny had a tremendous impact on my life. She encouraged my love of the outdoors and gardening. My love of family and the value of making the most of every moment spent with them came from her influence. My strong work ethic and my understanding that it is the small things that are sometimes the most important can also be attributed to her. Most importantly, Nanny taught me that the greatest things in life do not require a lot of money. The most important things in life are family and the time spent with them and stopping to “smell the roses” along the way.

Nanny graced this earth for 100 years! We were all so fortunate to call her ours. We lost her a few short months ago, and I think of her often…always with a smile. Thank you Nanny. Yours was truly a life well lived.

www.twoladybugsvintage.etsy.com

#etsy #twoladybugsvintage #vintage #antiques #collectibles #garden #gardening #vintageeaster #eastercollectibles #easterchicks