Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Some more of my weekend!

Happy Hump day everyone!!

Hope you are all having a fabulous week! I know its downhill to the weekend but I want to go back to last weekend and share a bit more. I was going to do this post yesterday but I left my camera with all the picts at home, so today it is!

On Saturday my Mom was in town. She was "on a mission" to pick nearly 200lbs of blueberries for orders back home and a few for herself. I went to help her pick at a no-spray farm which was located across the street from a parachuting business. Every 12 minutes or so there were anywhere from 12-20 parachutes in the sky. It was pretty fun to watch, especially the pros who would do a few tricks in the air. Don't get me wrong, its scares me half to death just thinking about jumping out of a plane but watching them glide back to earth looked kind of fun. I told my mom if I ever was to jump I would need complete silence..no talking to me, no talking around me. I also wouldn't want any lag time...just jump and fly! Otherwise my logical mind would take over and I would run to a corner of the plane and rock back and forth.
Have you ever parachuted? I would love to hear your stories:)
PS With some help from her sisters my mom reached her goal:) I took a few blueberries home but in my household they are gone in a flash!


Before I met up with my mom at the farm, I ventured over to one of my favorite thrift stores in the valley called MCC (Mennonite Central Committee). I took this little excerpt from their website explaining where the money goes that they generate at the store.

Your purchase or donation supports the disaster relief, sustainable community development and justice and peace-building work of Mennonite Central Committee locally and globally.

Shopping and helping the world at the same time are a match made in shopping heaven!
I love shopping there and it was a bonus that they were having 50% off clothing and 25% off hardware/furniture when I went in. I feel in a thrift store you really need to comb through aisles because just glancing over the racks will not get you $300 jeans for $20 (Yes, My friends have done this!). I usually just stick to the clothing and books section but this time I ventured over to the hardware side of the store and picked up some great finds.


YAY!! A dehydrator! Mine looks just like the one in the pict! Now, its no Excalibur but for $3.50 I could not resist. Yes, it was that cheap and it works! It needed a a little elbow grease but its shiny and practically brand new! I don't know when I'll be able to get an Excalibur so I thought I would just play around with this model for awhile and make some yummy treats and dry some of my herbs.


These two pots for some house plants were $3 in total!

I don't know what it is but I love just browsing for books and titles that catch my eye. I find it very relaxing and you never know what you are going to find:)

I loved the movie, PS I Love You, so I thought I would enjoy the book even more. I've just started but it's already a great read:) The bottom left is The English Patient. Another movie that was amazing, so I'm hoping the book can deliver!

This book is by SARK. Have you ever heard of her. She writes sometimes on CSL and her articles are so inspiring and they turn on the inner-child in me that sometimes gets buried with adult "stuff". So I can't wait to read this! The lovely Lauren actually just wrote a post on that subject so check it out!




I love my herbs! This book has detailed information on a gazillion herbs and also recipes to use them in. I'm really interested in making my own beauty products so I can't wait to give some of these a go.

I could have bought a bunch more but I thought that should do for now. I need to get back to the library one of these days and just rent out the books! I already have too many books, not including the textbooks I kept from university.

Hey hubby! Can you build me some bookshelves, please? From: You know who:)

Wahoo clothes!! A simple tank top that is made from organic cotton..score! Then a fun hooded jacket that is very light.

Awesome!

That's a Vero Moda blazer that I got for $1. Plus a fun tank top with knitted straps!

It fits like a glove!

I didn't take a photo of the sweet Danskin racer-back top that I got too! It's yellow!


Everything together was around $17. Score! Do you love to shop at thrift stores? honestly, it's almost boring going into a regular store where everything is the same on every rack. I love the thrill of the hunt!
On Sunday, the hubs and I went to the gym and then headed downtown! We went out for a late lunch at our fave spot, The Naam.


The hubby's meal! MASSIVE burrito!



My yummy dish!! It's called the Dragon Bowl. It has steamed veggies with shredded carrots and beets. It lays on a bed of rice with miso gravy. It's SO good!!!


We then proceeded to a part of Vancouver that we really love called Gastown. It's a very old part of the city and I'm in love with the architecture there. It's also a very popular tourist spot and so I didn't hear a word of English for quite a few blocks. Love it!

Not the best representation of the buildings there but you get a small idea at least:)


We then headed more downtown and walked around Granville Street. It was pretty bumpin' as it was Pride Weekend in Vancouver! It's a fun place to walk around because they shut down the street to cars.


The Adidas store had a wicked asymmetrical photo display in the shape of their symbol. I really want something similar for my living room photos..just not in the shape of a flower:)

This was written on a wall besides a guy who was singing some rap music on a street corner. I never would have seen it if it wasn't for that artist! I really love it.


After a little downtown fun, we headed back into the valley to watch a flick. I had heard great things about Inception so I was really excited to see it! Okay fine, I love Leo..just a little:) He is not only a hottie, he is a huge activist for this ailing planet of ours. Just check out his site!

Ahh..dreamy!


Have you seen Blood Diamonds? It's a huge favorite of mine!
Okay..stay focused Mel...LOL!
Such a great cast! If I had to explain this movie I would say its a mix of The Bourne thrillers and 007 with a mind/psychology element built in! I really enjoyed it and the theme was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I definitely had to pay attention to the film because it has many layers to it which were unraveled throughout the film. There was a lot of action in the film too which I loved! Of course there was a side love story..but it wasn't your typical love story so I found that refreshing. I really want to know where they did the filming because the locations were amazing. I don't want to give a lot of the plot away so I won't go any further. Just go see it!!!
As for the patience thing. Well, we were trying to rent out our suite for nearly a month. We had so many people go through. Some said they were interested..we called them back..not interested. GRRR. I have learned a lot since becoming a landlord...patience being the one that has developed rather slowely. Then, on Sunday we found an amazing guy who called us back and took the suite! Patience is a virtue they say! I apparently didn't get that memo LOL. But it all paid off and I'm so happy with the end result!
Do you have patience?

8 comments:

HiHoRosie said...

Oh Leo...he is easy on the eyes and incredible actor and love the fact he's an activist too! I just watched Shutter Island but I really want to see Inception!

Awesome finds!!! Congrats on the "D"! Looks like it'll work great. And all the cute clothes - for $17! Major scorage! lol

Boy, that's a lot of blueberries your mom got! And I would love to go to that u-pick farm you went to. Seeing all those parachutists flying. How awesome. I used to want to do that when I was younger, not so sure now. :O

I miss Vancouver! Need to plan a trip up one of these days. I hear their international district is HUGE and you can get all kinds of yummy and exotic produce.

Patience? What's that? ha ha! For me, it always depends. Generally, speaking though, I can be patient. But there are times though: nuh uh. Glad things worked out for you with your new tenant.

shesarunner said...

Hi lovely! First of all, thank you so much for the shout out. And thanks for mentioning Sark. I'm very interested in that author and the book...I'm definitely going to check it out.

I can't believe that you got all of that stuff for so cheap! And it's a good cause too. I'm going to look for a place like that around here. Unfortunately, I never have much luck with thrift stores and it all comes down to your last question about patience. I have NO patience, and it takes a lot to sift through all of the stuff in the store. I could be there for hours looking for stuff, but after a while I tend to get antsy and I want to move on. I should really learn to be more patient in this case, because it looks like you got a lot of good stuff! I can't believe you found a dehydrator. I've been wanting one for so long (yummy raw crackers, kale chips, and granola, anyone?) but unfortunately I can't afford the Excalibur at this point in time.
I love the clothes you found too! So adorable.

No, I don't think I could ever parachute. I hate the feeling of free falling- it literally makes me sick. I also have a slight fear of heights and a strong aversion to being out of control. If you add it all up, I would not be a good candidate to jump out of a plane lol.

I've heard so many good things about Inception! I really want to see it...after your great review, I think I might try to go this weekend. I also have a thing for Leo...he won my heart in Titanic when I was really young, and then he really amazed me in so many movies after that. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he is a hot activist.

xoxo

bitt said...

That dehydrator will be just fine for many things--including kale chips! The round ones are harder for crackers but some people have just made circles and it works well. Lucky you, great score.

I love Gastown. I so need to get up to Vancouver again.

Nelly said...

omg. we were talking about gastown yesterday. john's uncle was over and he travels to vancouver at least once a week, for work...i told him to take me with him and leave me there...haha!

i never have luck with thrift shops or vintage shops. i wish i did.

so excited about your dehydrator...you can totally make so many things in it...and i love your pots also...would love to find pots like that for that amount of money...and i love the organic cotton tank...and who am i kidding, i love everything you purchased.

did you really pick 200 pounds of bloobs?

have a beautiful thursday.

<3

Melissa said...

Hey Heidi - Oh yes Leo is definitely easy on the eyes:) I LOVED Shutter Island..fantastic movie! You totally should come up to Vancouver..I would love to visit:)I'm glad I'm not the only one who is situation-dependent patient LOL!

Hey Lauren - You are very welcome for the shout out:) I haven't gotten into the book yet but I know it's going to be powerful. I'll do a review when I'm done!
Thrift stores are a great place to learn patience LOL! I hear ya though..I reach my limit and then it's over and I need to get out of there! PS there are some great dehydrators on craigslist like the one I have. It's not an excalibur but it would be awesome for just playing around with!
I love your parachuting reasoning..so true. I don't like not being in control either..but it might do me some good to try:)
YAY for Leo love!! Glad most can agree that he is pretty fab:)

Hey Bitt - I'm dreaming of 6 trays of kale chips lol! You totally need to come to Vancouver!! Seriously, it misses you:)

Hey Nelly - That is too funny about Gas town. HAHA I'll pick you up after he abandons you!!!!
Thanks for the thrift store love! I need to take you to West 4th they have the best consignment and thrift stores..its heaven!
My mom did pick 200lbs!! She had some help with her sisters. But the berries are really big too so that helped!

Maggie said...

I *heart* shopping in thrift stores and I can't stand buying clothes at over priced stores anymore. My old work used to run a "free store" for anyone associated witht the non-profit society. It was basically a thrift store, but things were free :) We would always bring a little donation if we could and in return I would be able to get clothes for my whole family. It was awesome :D I wish more free stores would happen in our area :)

If your ever on the Island then check out Parksville SOS thrift store, they are huge, and have great prices too :)
http://sosd69.com/thriftshop.html

Loved seeing all the treasures you found! I haven't read PS I love you, but I bet it's even more sad than the movie. Gerard Butler is so...yum ;)

Some of my friends in Vancouver say they LOVE The Naam too! One day when I visit I must try it out :D The food looks amazing!

And I LOVE Gastown! The streets, buildings and don't forget the epic steam clock, so beautiful there :) I was just visiting that area of Van, in early June. The asymmetrical photo idea is really neat. Very cool idea.

Great post!
~Maggie

evergreen said...

So happy that you have a dehydrator! I love thrift stores, can spend more than an hour at a time in them...hehe! Many of the dishes and plates on my blog are thrift store finds. You have quite a haul there!

As far as patience...I am a little too patient, if there is such a thing!

Melissa said...

Hey Maggie - Oh my gosh!! That free store sounds awesome. Isn't it crazy how much great stuff people don't want?
Thanks for the link to that island thrift store...sounds amazing!
I'm such a sucker and a crier LOL! I loved the movie and thought Gerard was fabulous:)It was funny we were sitting outside the starbucks by the steam clock and it was picture central!! Then it whistled that tune so that was pretty cool. I HEART the Naam so much!

Hey Angela - You and Me..thrift stores = too much fun:) Too patient? Wow! I need to learn to be that:)