midsommar

Every year my friend Shawn and her family celebrate Midsommar, a celebration of the summer season, and the biggest holiday in Sweden  This was my first year attending, and I can't wait for the next one. We made flower wreaths for our hair, sang Swedish drinking songs called schnapps, ate Swedish meatballs with jelly, and danced around the midsommarstang (the maypole) to less than conventional Swedish songs...such as Justin Bieber and Mariah Carey. 

three mushroom ragu

At least once a week I text my mom and ask her for an "easy" recipe. When she sent me this recipe (found here) for a three mushroom ragu, the word ragu alone intimidated me. She reassured me that the recipe was simple and yielded amazing results. Of course, moms are always right. Using three different mushrooms and creamy Italian mascarpone cheese, this recipe takes 30 minutes to make and will have you going back for more. 

PS - just a little hint, mascarpone cheese can be pretty expensive at the grocery store, around $5 a tub. But Costco sells three tubs (of the same size) for $8 and it lasts a couple of months!

deals and steals

Part of the reason I continue to thrift every day is for that natural high one gets when one finds the deal of a lifetime. You know that feeling I'm talking about? When you're in the thrift store and you see that beautiful bamboo mirror from across the room and hope that the person standing next to that beautiful bamboo mirror doesn't notice it too. Your heart starts racing and your adrenaline is flowing. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I really don't feel like going to the Goodwill or to the consignment store, mostly because it smells so bad. But finding something like that bamboo mirror for $3 keeps me going. Or that pair of Christian Louboutins for $121 (I have my friend Shawn to thank for those!).

Have you ever bought something and felt like you were basically stealing it because it was such a good deal? I would love to hear! Please share your comments below!

A classic pair of Christian Louboutins found at a Milly Valley thrift store for $121. My friend and flea market partner, Shawn, found these and called me immediately!

A pair of Tory Burch sandals found on major clearance for $125

Coral j.crew bracelet found on sale for $10. Snake bracelet c/o my friend Alex

That bamboo mirror. Found for $3 at a consignment store

Lamp base found at a thrift store for $8

asian inspired brown rice dish

This recipe for an Asian inspired dish (found here) is quickly becoming one of my favorite summertime dishes. I buy the shrimp precooked and use instant brown rice, so it takes less than 15 minutes to put together. It's tangy, fulfilling and has only 400 calories per serving. So go ahead and have seconds.

thrifting around slo

Even after living in SLO for 5 years, I still managed to miss a couple of thrift stores. I'm super bummed I never stopped in Brook's Woodcraft, which is just blocks away from my old house. From the outside it looks like an unfinished wood shop, but inside it is a treasure chest of vintage and antique finds. And if you don't look close enough you're sure to miss something. 

I wanted to bring home that big rattan chair so badly...it was only $45!! The chair reminded me of the beaches off the coast of Spain. But I brought myself back to reality because we have absolutely no room for it. The rattan chairs continued to haunt me at the SLO Swap Meet, there they were $20. And how about that "hand" chair. I loved it. I wanted to spray paint it gold. I passed it up for $40 and totally regret not getting it. 

My girlfriend Alex scored with some finds. She bought two pairs of antlers for $30 and the purple headboard for $16. Did you find anything awesome this weekend? Score a deal on an antique? Leave your comments below!

things i'm loving

Skull bracelet found here

In love with this lucite tray. Actually, I just love everything lucite.

Thinking about upholstering my next chair in coordinating fabrics like this

Butterfly chairs are back! Love it with the sheepskin.

Eames chairs are everywhere I look!

and the answer is...

Did you figure out which chair is the real deal and which is the fake? If you said the first pair was fake, you are correct! Those babies cost $179 for the set on overstock.com . Seriously! Such a good find. And they look like authentic Herman Miller Eames chairs.

The second pair retails for $499 each. Notice I said each, not for the set. You would have to shell out $1,000 for the set. That is more than an 80% difference!!

I'm still banking that I'm going to walk into Goodwill one day and see a set of 6 Eames chairs for $50. A girl can dream, right?


The cheaper version from overstock.com

The real deal cost $499 each from the official Herman Miller store

do you buy real or fake?

Ever since I started following the popular blog Apartment Therapy I have been obsessed with finding an authentic Herman Miller Eames style chair. If you don't know already know, these chairs cost a pretty penny. We are talking like a month's worth of rent. Depending on the style, they run $400 - $600 on Craigslist. But everyday I stalk Craigslist, hoping someone doesn't know they have a Herman Miller chair and lists it for $25.

Yesterday I was doing the same ol' search when I came across this ad for an Authentic, Vintage Eames Fiberglass Chair. I opened the link and scrolled down to the pic. As I scrolled, my eyes darted to a $75 price tag. I almost had a heart attack. I immediately ran to get my phone to call this weirdo that had listed an Eames chair for $75. As I was reading the details, however, I saw the real price tag of $460. The $75 was for a fake Eames chairs. Boo.

So what's your opinion? Do you shell out the big bucks to get the real thing? Or settle for a repro that looks just the same. Can you tell which chair below is the authentic that retails for $499 and which one is the fake that retails for $89? Check back tomorrow for the answer!