BIG BARN BONANZA BARGAINS

Rain or shine we'll be selling our bonanza of bargains from the barn at 2442 Otten Road in rural Millstadt. And we'll even have the heat on in the barn if we need to, so you can shop in comfort! Join us for this FABULOUS sale! For more details and photos see my prior post or check Facebook for the event "Big Barn Bonanza"! We think we've got some special treasures for you so join the hunt!

BIG BARN BONANZA Photos

You asked and here they are - photos of the BIG BARN BONANZA BOOTY! For details on the sale like times and address please check the prior post for details. There'll be at least one more posting of photos to follow! I hope you can make it out to the sale! If you have any questions about the sale please either post your comment here or email me at debbieahrenssells@yahoo.com.

Photos as promised/Big Barn Bonanza!

Here are some photos of the items that we are selling at our Big Barn Bonanza this weekend! Individual items are subject to prior sale (or a change of heart on actually selling them!)but come check out the sale, we are adding more items daily up to the day of the sale - which is Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. I just can't get up that early two days in a row! You'll find the sale at 2442 Otten Road in rural Millstadt, IL. Follow signs from Rt. 163 and Imbs Station Road. Cash Only.

FALL IS FOR . . . SHOPPING!

Maeystown Oktoberfest

I love this time of year!  Its prime for some outdoor shopping!  There's a crispness to the air, the leaves are turning and there's more festivals and markets than I can make it to, unfortunately.  I missed Festifall in Columbia this year and the Pumpkin Fest in Waterloo (there's always next year) but I did make it to the Maeystown Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 9th.  They had a beautiful day for it too, this year!  I'm not "needing" much right now, heck what I'm needing is to get rid of things (another shameless plug see posts on BIG BARN BONANZA) so I didn't purchase much but I will tell you about a few of my favorite vendors, some of which I have purchased from in the past.

First up is Sycamore Creek, I haven't purchased from them yet but the friend I was shopping with always buys something from them.  They deal in Vintage Postcard Art.  Their grandfather was seriously the biggest collector of postcards, I think in the world!  They have made prints of the postcards in his collection and sell them.  My friend collects Victorian Christmas ones and uses them in her decorating for the holidays.  You can choose from holiday cards, travel ones, sports, business and you name it!  For more information you can email them at supchuck84@yahoo.com or call Dawn at 636-332-6171 or Carol at 314-741-4167.

Double Trouble Collectibles had a wonderful assortment of vintage finds and upcycled items.  And they were selling the most beautiful pendants made out of buttons and other findings.  The pendants were reasonably priced at around $12 if memory serves me right.  For more information on where you'll find them next call Pam at 636-448-9249 or Denna at 314-920-1853.

My purchase from an artisan from O'Fallon, Missouri

Next up is Pairabelles out of St. Libory, IL.  You'll always find Mary Hummert and her gang at Maeystown events.  She upcycles all kind of interesting findings into necklaces, belt buckles and other accessories and carries a line of antiques and upcycled vintage decor.  You can see more of her work at www.pairabelles.com.  My friend and I both have bought an assortment of pendants from her over the years.

Last of all was a new vendor to Maeystown and to the business, but such a neat, neat purveyor of wood furniture, Burning Barn.  A nice young couple, with the husband crafting beautiful pieces and his wife selling them on this particular day.  You can check out their craftsmanship at www.burningbarnfurniture.com or call them for more info at 618-363-3766.

Don't miss the Freuhlingfest the first Sunday in June next year and mark your calendar for the 2012 Oktoberfest while you're at it!

Maeystown Oktoberfest

This past Sunday I took in the Wentzville Flea Market, held every Sunday.  For more info on the location and hours check out their website at www.wentzvillefleamarket.org.  They were voted the best flea market in the area by the Riverfront Times this year.  So of course I had to go check it out!  It was a wonderful mix of items - junk, antiques, junk, plants, collectibles, food products and more junk.  But I have to say even some of that junk was good junk!  I bought a concrete squirrel for $2, I couldn't believe it with the rally squirrel phenom going on right now!  I'm still deciding if I'm going to leave it as a plain brown squirrel or turn it into a rally squirrel!  I also purchased 2 decorative kale plants for $6 to decorate my porch at the cabin for the rest of the fall season.  My friend purchased beautiful large mum plants, I think they were 3 for $20.  And she got a wonderful antique green cut crystal bowl for $3.  I don't think this vendor even knew what he had, but we did!  I bought a few other items but I'm not sure yet which ones I'm going to keep and which ones I may sell at the barn sale, I just couldn't pass up the great deals I was seeing!  If you like flea markets and picking through some junk to find your treasure than this would be a sale to check out!  And I'm checking out . . . for now!  See you shopping!

OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL SHOP!

Exterior of Fabulous Finds

Wow, sorry, its been awhile since I posted.  I've just been so busy shopping and working on the Big Barn Bonanza (shameless plug for my own sale set for Sat. 10/29 and Sun. 10/30, see prior and upcoming posts for details) I haven't sat down long enough to write!  But I'll try to update you now with my adventures of the past couple weeks.

A couple weeks ago I FOUND FABULOUS FINDS.  Its the cutest little new shop in Columbia.  Mary Fitzgerald is the owner, she was also the original owner of the old Curtain Call in O'Fallon and worked some for Elements Off Main in the past.  Her new show Fabulous Finds is located at 315 North Main in Columbia.  The shops phone number is 281-1954.  She's peddling fashion, food, furniture and other "finds" including repurposed items, gently used items and seasonal merchandise.  She's carrying brands such as Wind & Willow, Country Home Creations, Copper Leaf and Rabbit Creek.  Her hours are Tues., Wed., and Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  I LOVED her selection of jewelry and accessories, and sooooo reasonably priced!

Inside Fabulous Finds

Speaking of shops, another great find was Consign and Design in O'Fallon IL.  The shop is located at 1727 West Highway 50 and they can be reached at 622-9443.  Its a wonderful home decor and furniture consignment shop.  They have just beautiful gently used furniture and decor to spruce up your home with.  Baubles for inside and outside your home.  And their prices were very reasonable.  I took home a sweet little rag rug for the cabin for just $5.  The friend I was shopping with bought a few Longaberger baskets with liners and protectors at great prices and a couple other pieces to decorate her new log home with.  The owner, Bernie, is super nice and great to chat with.  We had so much fun shopping that day!  I can't wait to have an excuse and the time to go back up there and shop.  The merchandise turns over frequently with such a great selection and super prices.

Check back in the next few days, I've got a post coming on the Maeystown Oktoberfest and the Wentzville Flea Market.  And of course more photos and info on the BIG BARN BONANZA!

BIG BARN BONANZA

I've been out at the barn unpacking treasures for our upcoming sale the end of the month.  That's the estate sale, moving sale, tag sale and occasional sale all combined into one freakin' unbelievably BIG sale!  I've just about got it all unpacked.  I'm hoping to start pricing individual items next week.  I took some photos while I was out there on Tuesday so I could tease and tempt you with our wares!

The sale is slated for Saturday, October 29th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, October 30th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  So make sure you get those dates on your calendar and plan on shop, shop, shopping!  You're sure to find at least one treasure you just can't live without!  But I'd prefer if you bought a truckload full!

CHEAPER THAN A RESALE SHOP!

Wow, I was out shopping this morning with my sister and we came across a great sales rack at JC Penney's at St. Clair Square.  They had $2.97 racks scattered throughout the women's clothing department.  We pilfered through the one in petites and each came up with a few scores.  I found 3 Liz Claiborne short sleeve tops in color ways that work well into fall.  Two of them will also look great going into winter with a brown or black sweater cardigan or jacket over them.  And the blue one will look great with a jean jacket this fall!  With these 80 degree fall days, short sleeve tops are all you need.  You can't pick up a second hand top at the Goodwill regular price for $2.97!  Take a look at my finds for yourself!

Buy, Buy!

Shop till you drop - tomorrow!  The Big 3 and Kohl's are all having fabulous sales tomorrow.  Dillard's is taking an additional 40% off the marked down price, the only way it gets better is when they do an additional 50% off, but that only happens once or twice a year.  You have to be a credit cardholder to get the additional discount tomorrow, for non credit cardholders the sale begins Thursday.  If you're a Penney's credit cardholder, you should have gotten a sale catalog in the mail this week with a surprise discount of 10, 20 or 30%.  I got a 30% discount in mine, so I'll be heading there too tomorrow.  Kohl's also has a similar discount offer to credit cardholders and I, again, received a 30% off discount there tomorrow through October 5th.  In addition you get $10 Kohl's cash for every $50 you spend.  While I don't have the details, I know Macy's is also having large sale tomorrow.  It's a great time to shop one last time the summer clearance and put your finds away till next spring and to shop the new fall looks and get them on a discount.  If I have any luck, I'll post my finds in the next couple days!  And if you don't have time to make it into the store in person, try shopping online.  The discounts are good on their websites as well as in person and some stores are also offering specials on shipping.  I know Kohl's is currently offering 99 cent shipping per item and Macy's offers free shipping on purchases that total $99 or more, otherwise, shipping still only costs a flat-fee $8 per order.  I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight, I'm going to have visions of bargains dancing in my head!  I'll be shopping in Fairview Heights tomorrow morning as soon as the stores open so look for me.  Where will you be shopping?  If you make it out and snag a great buy, remember to share with me here!

SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS BARN SALE BONANZA!

That'll be the motto for this Barn Sale Bonanza!  "We're the Best in Town (or in the country)!"  Save the date on Saturday and Sunday October 29th and 30th.  That's the dates of our inaugural Barn Sale!  My old real estate partner, (ok, past real estate partner, not really old ; ) Nancy and I are holding the mother of all Barn Sales at her barn in rural Millstadt.  I'll get you the exact address as the sale draws closer.  But you'll want to make sure to not miss this one!  Its a combination moving sale (her move), estate sale (my mother-in-laws), yard sale (all of us, including some of Bryce's things from when he moved home from Columbia, MO).

And last but certainly not least, an occasional sale of antiques and vintage items we have collected and merchandised into a "shop" in the corner of the barn.  Stay tuned here, to my blog, where I will post photos and lists of the many items that we will be selling.  I can tell you now that you will find furniture, home decor, collectibles, household items, garden items, Christmas decor, sewing, quilting and crafting supplies, kitchenware and much, much, MUCH more!

Digging through my mother-in-laws things I found the sweetest vintage greeting cards, still with their envelopes, I'll have some photos of them posted in the near future.  She's also the source of all the wonderful sewing, quilting and crafting items, large and small, that will be selling.  She was such a wonderful seamstress and talented quilter and crafter, but due to rheumatoid arthritis she no longer is able to continue sewing.  The sale will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

I'm headed out to some resale and 2nd hand shops in O'Fallon today, so I'm hoping to post some great finds and where I found them in a blog entry next week!  Stay posted! : )

Trot Over to this Sale!

Cornbread from radio station WIL92 is holding his "World's Largest Garage Sale" tomorrow (Saturday the 17th) at Fairmount Park Race Track in Collinsville.  The sale runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and admission is just $5 with children under age 12 free.  There will be booths both inside and out to shop at!  From what I hear all of the booth spaces have been sold.  The treasure hunt is ON!  I wish I was going to be able to attend, but other plans keep me from attending.  But please, if you go, and you buy, please let me know what treasures you found!  For more info on the sale or to look at individual "ads" for various booths find the info on WIL92's website at http://www.wil92.com.

She Wins Silver!

I deserve a medal (or is that metal?) for this score at a second hand store in Belleville.  I bought a beautiful, vintage sterling SILVER and abalone bracelet made in Mexico yesterday (I bought it yesterday, it wasn't made in Mexico yesterday).  Yea, as Mike from American Pickers would say, "I popped on that for $9!"  As I like to say "SCORE!"  I got the bracelet (along with a few other small items) at the same place I got the $30 saddle a couple weeks ago - The Hilltop Corner Emporium in Belleville.  The shop is located in the old train depot at 732 South Illinois.  If you want to check their hours before going up there or you have any questions for them, give them a call at 235-8481.  They carry both clothing and household items but I gravitate towards the household, including limited furniture.  Clothes, shoes, purses and some accessories were 1/2 off when I went today but I'm not sure how long that sale lasts.  Oh, and things that don't sell after an amount of time are reduced to 1/2 off.  I don't advise waiting though, if you love something, 'cause it'll be gone when you go back.

A Swimmingly Great Idea!

Isn't this the cutest door!  And look close at the wall pocket vase that those flowers are in!  Yes, that's right, look close - ITS A SWIM FIN!  Painted yellow with black polka dots.  I was driving down Main Street in my little town and did a double take when I saw this.  The homeowner always has the most fun, cute and creative seasonal displays in front of her house and on her door.  But this one was the most novel I've seen.  It just goes to show how far a little creativity can go. You've got to try a little out of the box thinking and see what you come up with.  And this one is definitely not an expensive endeavor into creativity.  How much, or should I say, how little, could you pick one of these up for at a yard sale!  Just had to share!

THE WOODEN LADDER

A new shop has opened in Fairview Heights.  It's The Wooden Ladder located at 58 Commerce Lane.  That's next to Hooter's (I'm not even going to make a comment) and across from Weekends Only.  What a great shop.  A little of this, a little of that.  And a lot of creativity.  They describe themselves as selling Crafts, Antiques and Gifts.

I'll elaborate on how I'd like to describe them.  The vibe is pretty crafty and geared towards primitives.  But its a 2011 crafty, not a 1990s crafty.  Sure, there's a few "old fashioned" crafty items from the "old days"(and there's still people out there that like those kind of things) but there's a lot of "fresh", new items, like you'll find in some boutiques and on etsy.  And I LOVE that!  Wonderful, useful and unique antiques to incorporate into your decor can be found.  And I found a lot of them to be unusual items that you don't see at every other antique mall.

I also like that its not set up as an antique mall but instead in vignettes and departments.  Crafted children's hats and other kids items are displayed together, wonderful purses and totes are shown together, fall decor was up front and sprinkled throughout the store and there was even a "Man Cave" area. They also carry gourmet items such as Wind & Willow mixes, Fireside Coffee, Chef Ivo's award-winning products (Galena Canning Company) and King's Cupboard products. And gift items such as an array of candles, tart warmers and more.  Oh, and the jewelry, I loved the jewelry.  I will go back for the jewelry (among other things, but jewelry always calls to me).  So whether you are looking for seasonal decorations, metal yard art, home decor, a gift or just a little something to brighten your day, you'll find it here.  And check back often because the selection is ever changing, another thing I like about this store!  Got questions?  Give them a call at 618.394.2060.  They're open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (but closed on Tuesdays) and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

I love this metal bread box! Oh the uses I could find for it!

I have a wash tub like this, I think its time I put a coat of paint on it!  Too cute!

ITS ELEMENTARY (SIDEWALK SALE ALERT!)

Erika from Elements Off Main in Columbia shared with me today that she is holding a Sidewalk Sale this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..  She's clearing out summer merchandise to make way for fantastic new fall arrivals.  There will also be discounts on jewelry and some gourmet foods.  You better show up early just to see what all she puts in the sale. Discounts will be up to 30 to 40% off!  And don't forget, even consignment items get marked down over time.  Consignment items that have been in the store for 30 days are 10% off and once they've been there 60 days they are 25% off.  But don't count on your favorite things sticking around that long.  If you see something you love, you better get it.  I have, more than once, waited, just to go back in and find my treasure is gone.  Sold out from under me!  And the consignment items are one of a kind finds!  So if you love it, then grab it!  And grab some great buys this weekend while you're at it!  Hey, and tell Erika I sent you!

Wonderful Hair Accessories I saw on my last visit!  These are not part of the sale.

Some jewelry will be on sale but not necessarily the shown pieces.

Art on the Bluffs Art Walk

Mark your calendars now!  Because one month from today is Columbia, Illinois' 3rd annual Art on the Bluffs Art Walk.  That's right, Saturday, October 1st from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. right on Main Street.  The length of the walk has been shortened and improved.  It now runs (or should I say walks) from the Ace Hardware parking lot to City Hall, about a third of the previous length.  Features of the walk include the Southern Illinois Artisans Guild with Alpacas, the Miliken Art Group, a Student Gallery, Kids' Walk, over 40 artists booths and music by Second Sojourn, Zydeco Crawdaddy's, the Rockhoppers and a jazz band.  A trolley will pick up guests and take them to visit the Schumaker School House and to a tour of the Miller-Fiege Home on Main Street.  For more information and to see a list of artists with examples of their works visit their website at www.artonthebluffs.com.  I'll post some of my finds at the art fair after the event!

That's a Load of Crock

Crock pot recipes that is.  I've sat at lunch with a friend and shared how I have meal planned my dinners for the week around some meat I've cooked in a crock pot on Sunday and she was amazed with the concept and how easy it was.  It was kind of a "why haven't I thought of that" moment.  So she thought it would be a good idea if I were to share some of my meal planning ideas with her and the rest of you.

Every once in a while (or maybe weekly, we'll see) I will share some of my meal plans and/or ideas for getting dinner on the table during the week.  I may include a recipe now and then and I will at least link you to some good recipe sites but these food blog entries are more about idea sharing, not a particular recipe.

I don't cook directly from recipes much.  I'll check out a few different recipes for the same dish online or in cookbooks and then come up with my own.  Or I may get ideas from cooking shows, magazines or menus, but I'll share more on those concepts another time.

So, back to crock pot cooking.  Here's a couple of my tried and true favorites.  The first is cooking pork in root beer.  Its pretty much as simple as that.  Get a pork roast (loin, tenderloin or whatever you like, I prefer a loin roast), put it in your crock pot and cover it in root beer.  That's it.  Well, turn your crock pot on of course, around 350 is where I cook it.  How long do you cook it?  I really don't know, I guess it depends on how large a roast you get.  I just check mine after a couple hours and when the meat starts pulling away from the roast easily, well, then its done.  You take it out and "pull" or shred it and then you eat on it for the rest of the week.  Oh sure, you can jazz it up a little more than that and put a spice rub on it before you sit it in the root beer but I don't know that its really necessary.  And if you are so rigid that you NEED a recipe to make it, well just google "pork" and "root beer" and many a recipe will come up, take your pick.

Now, how do I serve that wonderful tasting, melt in your mouth pork the rest of the week?  Here's some ideas:  Put some barbecue sauce on it, put it on a bun and top it with some cole slaw or french fried onions; or put some of that pork in a tortilla, top it with lettuce (or cabbage for a twist), maybe a little fresh cilantro and onion and some salsa and cheese and you have a killer taco; or wrap it with beans (and maybe some rice) in flour tortillas, put them in an oven-safe pan, top with cheese and canned red or green enchilada sauce and you have a great Mexican casserole; make a stew with it, American or Mexican again, by adding broth, veggies, rice or potatoes, maybe some green chilies if you're going the mexican route and serve with tortillas (again) or with biscuits or corn bread; stuff a baked potato with the barbecue pork; make a barbecue pork salad; make a barbecue pork pizza; make a cuban sandwich; make a oriental stir fry; or how about a thai pizza - the options are endless!

My other favorite is to cook chicken breasts (although I'm sure you can do whatever part of the chicken you prefer) in regular beer.  Same idea but instead of pork and root beer, its chicken and beer.  Go ahead and throw some poultry seasoning on the chicken if you want but again, its not needed.  And again, I cook it at 350 but for a shorter amount of time than the pork roast (breasts are smaller that a roast) and when it's to the point that when you try to lift it with a fork or tongs and it breaks apart, then its done.  All the dishes that I mentioned above with the pork can be done with the chicken too.  You can add to that list chicken and dumplings, chicken and noodles, chicken noodle soup, open-faced chicken sandwiches with gravy and mashed potatoes - and endless other options.

Just having that meat cooked on Sunday helps a lot to get a hot (or cold) tasty meal on the table on weeknights.  And having those meals planned and the ingredients on hand (and prepped if possible) will lessen the weeknight hassle as well.  Oh, and one more thing, if you kind of stay with a theme, like Mexican week, you can use a lot of the same ingredients over from night to night, just with a different spin, so it helps you use up ingredients and not have as much waste and it'll help cut those grocery bills.  Just think about it!  That's no load of crock!!

Julie Julie Julie (American Girl)

Anyone remember that song?  "Julie, Julie, Julie do you love me?" . . .  Oh well, enough of that.  What this post is really about is a doll named Julie.  That would be an American Girl doll.  I have a friend with a Julie Doll with book, new and still in the box, that she would like to sell.  If you click on the American Girl link I have provided, you will see that the doll (with book) retails for $100.  She would like to sell it for $80.  If you have any interest or know someone that may, please share this information with them.  If you'd like to make an offer, let me know.  You can comment in this post, send me a facebook message or email me.  If you'd like to make a different offer, I can present it to her, but no promises, she told me she'd like to get $80 for her.

And by the way, if you have anything, whether its selling something or a service you provide, that you'd like me to post, I would be glad to do so for you.  Just let me know.  And, feel free to leave comments, I would LOVE some comments!

SORRY FOLKS, THE DOLL HAS SOLD!

SADDLE UP FOR A STEAL

Had to share a quickie steal.  I stopped by the Resale Shop in the old Train Depot in Belleville on South Illinois, down by Friday's tavern yesterday.  And I came home with a saddle for a friend.  For $30!!! Can you believe it.  I am told it is a roping saddle, so I learned something to "boot"!  Its leather and the leather has been tooled.  It looks to be in pretty good condition but I don't know nothing about saddles so you be the judge of how good a deal I got!  Now get out there and shop!

SALE ALERT!

Dillard's is clearancing stock at rock bottom prices.  This weekend (starting today for non credit card holders) most every marked down item is an additional 40% off!  This is my favorite time to buy at Dillard's.  I got a gorgeous Cole Haan nude colored leather purse for right at $100!  Regular price was over $200, it was marked down to around $175 and then with the additional 40% off it came to right over $100 with tax.  I also bought an Antonio Melani (Dillard's store brand) black leather (faux reptile finish) purse for about $30, regular price was around $150 and it was 65% off of that at $55 and then the additional 40% off of that (and hey, don't check my math and complain that I'm off, I don't have my receipt in front of me so I'm going from memory and that may be slightly off)!  Fantastic buys nonetheless and two great purses to take in to the fall!  I scored!  If I get a chance I'll post photos of my purchases later!  Check back!