June | 2010 | myMCMlife.com

Family 4 Quart {Estate Sale Finds}

06/30/2010

Last week I saw a listing for an estate sale with all kinds of great things pictured. I made a list of everything I wanted including an Underwood typewriter, retro striped drinking glasses, a vintage tinker toys set and a small cabinet with cone legs and sliding doors. Sadly, we didn’t get there until near the end of the second day so everything I saw online was gone. The benefit of going at the end, though, is that everything is marked down. We did find some great things.

A Family 4 Quart drink cooler. Perfect for our upcoming beach trip

Five old lady style plastic round bead necklaces (all for $1.50!)

2 vintage kids books: Through the Gate (seems like a knock off of Dick and Jane) and Told Under the Blue Umbrella: New Stories for New Children

A colorful xylophone that doesn’t quite work but looks pretty. I guess it needs some new felt under the metal keys

A small retro glass pitcher (I want to actually USE this but it’s kind of an odd size. Any suggestions? It would only hold enough for 2 glasses of iced tea.)

And two glass vases from another estate sale we passed on our way home

4 Comments | Art, Art: mcm thrift store find, Art: mid-century design | Tagged: estate sale | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Eat More Fiber

06/29/2010

A few people have asked me about the Eat More Fiber poster that we have hanging in our newly (mostly finished) master bathroom above the commode. It’s now available in my etsy.com shop.

I got the “Eat More Fiber” idea from this photo series called Reminders by photographer Erin Hanson (I hope she doesn’t mind.) The poster design is original. I love artichokes! Turns out they’re loaded with fiber.

I also made this other poster based on a quote I love—an excerpt of a poem—from John Greenleaf Whittier.

Yet, in the maddening maze of things,
And tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed trust my spirit clings;
I know that God is good!

It hangs on my cubicle wall. You can get one here if you’re interested.

7 Comments | Art, Art: graphic design, Art: interior design | Tagged: bathroom art, eat more fiber, poster, potty humor | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Third Life

06/28/2010

On Saturday, Jason and I finally tackled the job of upholstering the mid-century chair we got at the TN52 Yard Sale. We’ve never upholstered before so it was pretty intimidating. Turns out this chair has been reupholstered once before (hence, the 3rd life.) Here’s the chair how we bought it (for $5):

Amazingly, we only got frustrated with each other one time. That’s pretty good considering it took us about 8 hours. It wasn’t technically hard just time consuming. It was very much like a puzzle. Jason told someone yesterday that we do projects together— that’s how we avoid marriage counseling.

I’m so thankful I got just enough fabric (4 yards) from IKEA a few weeks ago. I think there might even be enough to do a few throw pillows for the couch.

I took these pictures before we were 100% done. We’re going to add 2 buttons to the back before we can tack the last piece of fabric onto the back. We’re really pleased with how it came out and I think it was worth all the sleep we sacrificed this weekend!

5 Comments | Art, Art: crafts, Art: interior design, Art: mid-century design | Tagged: chair, furniture, mid-century, upholstry | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

06/25/2010

2 Comments | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Birthdays are Fun!

06/24/2010

Actually, I could have called this post Gifts are Fun! But that sounds kind of … materialistic. Maybe gifts is my love language. Regardless, I’m so thankful for each of my thoughtful, wonderful friends and family members and I got some really neat things that I thought I’d share with you. Not literally, you know, just in pictures.

I mentioned yesterday that my first birthday gift was Gee-Wiz.

My sister and brother-in-law sent this beautiful bag from a recent trip to Nicaragua. It seems to match almost everything and is the perfect size!

My brother and his wife sent The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey since I’ve been wanting to read it. I forgot to take a photo but really, it’s not a pretty book anyway.

I got a canister of my all-time favorite tea, Mango Ceylon Republic of Tea, from our friends Nate and Kala. Yummy! I have this everyday and somehow never get sick of it.

My sister-in-law found some great things, just my style. A cute screen printed burlap bag containing a cute little retro journal, gift certificate for a manicure (we’ll go together), and this really fun book by Pop Ink called Fluffy Humpy Poopy Puppy. Tons of wonderful illustrations and funny quips. I need another copy to cut up and frame.

And the mack-daddy of crafting inspiration: Martha Stewert’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. My parents got me this lovely book and a metal water canteen.

My dear husband got me some new tank tops that I LOVE! I can only find a photo online of this one, which is actually more of a beach cover up. (Hooray for beach vacation next month!)

And our friends Leila and Jeremy went over the top giving me a new outfit (skinny jeans and a shirt), candy (that I’ve already eaten), swimming googles (that are already in my pool bag) and a handmade pocket mirror (that I’m too lazy to dig out of my purse to photograph.)

Thanks everyone!! I feel very loved!

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: crafts, Art: fashion, Art: modern design, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends, Family: Jason, Family: Me | Tagged: birthday gifts, books | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Gee-Wiz!

06/23/2010

My first birthday gift this year came from my dear friends who love hunting for mid-century treasure even more than Jason and I. While at an antique mall in Kentucky, they found me this vintage horse race game called Gee Wiz. I did a little research and it was manufactured in the 1920’s. That means it’s almost 90 years old. That’s nuts! It’s a cool collectible and a very unique birthday gift that I’ll treasure.

Thanks Renata and Sean!

1 Comment | Art, Art: mcm thrift store find, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: birthday gift, gee-wiz | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

The Weekend

06/22/2010

I know weekend recap blog posts can be kind of lame but I just had such a good weekend, I can’t help if I’m still savoring it on a Tuesday!

Friday after work I went for a swim in my parents pool, which is a luxurious 92º. Then I finally watched the finale of 24. Jason and I went grocery shopping at Trader Joes and Publix and then had a late dinner at Cinco de Mayo — our favorite Mexican restaurant. Then we watched The Time Travelers Wife.

Saturday was my birthday. Hello 26! I woke up thinking about babies. (I think this will be the year.) I had cake for breakfast — a delicious coffee cake from Sweet 16th, and Jason and I lounged and drank caffeinated beverages at Ugly Mugs. After a little house work (laundry, dishes, mending) I had another quick swim in the pool with my mom while Jason cleaned the house. (My husband ROCKS!!) Then we went to dinner at a new East Nashville Asian fusion place called Watanabe. Jason and I shared an amazing rainbow roll sushi and orange chicken. (Also, I loved their colorful dishes!) After that we had a few of our besties over to the ranch for guacamole, bean dip and amazing chocolate raspberry cupcakes (made by my amazing sister-in-law Ginger). We ended up watching funny YouTube videos followed by So I Married an Axe Murderer. It was sometime Sunday morning once everyone woke up and headed home. A fun birthday!

On Father’s Day we met up with my parents for lunch at Cinco de Mayo. (Yes 2x in 1 weekend. No complaints!) We had enough time to sneak a Sunday afternoon nap before heading to dinner at Olive Garden with Jason’s family. We had a lot to celebrate with his family – Father’s Day for his dad, my birthday the day before, his mom’s birthday the following day and then the biggest surprise – we found out Jason’s brother had cause to celebrate Father’s Day, too. My sister-in-law is pregnant! I’m ecstatic for them. Plus, I get to become an aunt, again. Yay!

4 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Our Vegetable (& Fruit) Garden – June 2010

06/21/2010

In a continuation of Thursday’s post about our garden, here is a look around our vegetable garden and the fruit trees, plants & bushes we have around our yard.

Our green and red pepper plants are not doing so great and we’re not sure why. The plants each have a pepper but have few yellowish leaves and don’t seem to be growing much. We have one head of romaine lettuce, one brussel sprout plant and lots of grape, cherry, better boy and beef steak tomatoes. (BTW, we’re much happier with the beef steak than the better boy this year. I think this is the last year we’re going to plant better boy.)

The peach tree is doing pretty well. We have some little black spots on our peaches but not the big black mold spots like last year (known as Black Spot, from too much rain.)

I can’t wait for these babies to get ripe!

I’ve been loving the black raspberries this year! I’m looking forward to the bush getting bigger so we can eat more than 1 or 2 berries at a time.

Foreground – flowering yucca in our cactus garden. Background, l-r – vegetable garden, compost bin, peach tree.

I know it’s out of focus but that there is a cute, teeny little watermelon. We have 3 or 4 of these pea size cuties so far.

Jason’s Mexican (key) lime tree is looking good. I wonder if we’ll have enough to make a key lime pie.

1 Comment | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation | Tagged: fruit, our yard, vegetable garden | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

06/18/2010

1 Comment | Art, Art: graphic design, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, cubicle, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Our Garden – June 2010

06/17/2010

Are you ever just sitting somewhere enjoying a lovely scene and you think “I should take a picture!” That’s what happened last night while I was sitting out on the patio eating a popsicle. I am so grateful for our beautiful garden and sometimes I become like a proud mama with my camera …