ANOTHER FABULOUS FRIDAY (I HOPE)

You haven't heard much from me this week.  I haven't done much shopping this week and when I have, I haven't had much luck.  I must of used it all up with my buys last weekend!  Well, I hope that luck comes back for tomorrow.  I'm headed with my antiquing friend back up to the O'Fallon, Illinois area to shop the shops there and then head over to Mascoutah to check out Popsy's Trading Post for the first time.  We went to The Painted Horse a couple weeks ago, but it was just before they opened their carriage house for the spring, so we're headed back to check it out!  I'm hoping we find a yard sale or two along the way too!  Oooh, or maybe a rummage sale!  I've got to get on craigslist and do some checking.  I also have an app for my phone, Garage Sale Rover, you should check out.  The Belleville News Democrat also has an app for garage sales.  I'm like a girl scout, prepared!

Front Window of The Painted Horse a couple weeks ago

I did make it to ZUMBA three times this week!  And that's two weeks in a row that I've made it to three classes, but who's keeping track (I am actually).  I LOVE getting my dance on!  I spent a lot of time in dance spots in my early 20's, maybe some of you from the area remember Mr. A's and The Elevator in Belleville.  Anyway, what fun getting my exercise and reliving my disco days, both at the same time!  And actually, I think my zumba deal is quite the bargain!  I go to Curves for Zumba class, but I am not a member.  They have this great deal where non-members can purchase a punch card for $20 and take 6 classes with it.  I like this pay-as-you-go option.  My life is anything but routine where I know I can go to a class at a specific time week after week or that I will even make it to class every week.  And I hate when I'm paying for something that I'm not using.  Ugh, the guilt.  So I think its a great buy that I only pay when I go, and if I don't go, I don't pay.


For instance, I usually go on Monday and Friday mornings at 9 a.m. (and on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m.) but I can't go tomorrow morning (hellooo, I'm shopping!) so I went at noon today instead.  So, off shopping I go tomorrow with no guilt, I got my 3 days in baby!  Classes are held at a variety of times with a variety of instructors.  I was worried about catching on to the songs and dance moves and yet, also afraid of getting bored by the repetition of songs and steps.  But they do a great job of repeating enough of the steps and songs as for it not to be hard to learn but they mix it up and change the tunes often enough that you don't become bored either.  Hey, I've found out that "I'm Sexy and I Know It" (the song, not me, really)  It's been a LONG time since I've done any exercise on this regular of a basis.  Get this, I actually look forward to it!  Ok, not quite as much as I look forward to shopping but its a close second!

RUMMAGE FOR RUMMAGE!

Do you have stuff collecting dust and taking up space around your house?  I know I do!  I've been clearing things out around here, lightening my load.  And it feels really good!  The less "stuff" in your house the less "stuff" you have to clean and take care of, which gives you more time to go out . . . and look for new "stuff"?  (Is there something wrong with my thought process there?  Nah!)


So with all that in mind, if you need a easy way to dispose of all that "stuff," that also benefits a great local cause, think about donating it to the Columbia High School After Prom Committee Rummage Sale slated for Saturday, April 14th!  They will accept donations Friday, April 13th from 3 to 9 p.m. at the high school.  If you can't get it there then or you have other questions please give Kim a call at (618)281-6328 or email her at kstumpf@htc.net.


And don't worry, once you have all that cleaning out done, I'll give you a heads up to shop the sale a couple days beforehand!  You wouldn't want to miss it!

RUMMAGE RUMBA!

We had a busy weekend but I'm never too busy for a good rummage sale.  And I found one Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Columbia, IL.  I got there just over an hour after it started but I still made some good finds.  And I only spent $6.85!!!

Box of beakers and pharmacy bottles as found for $5!!!

My box of booty organized on the counter!  Just $5! Yes, I'm pumped about this find!

KITSCH ALERT!!!  Got this for a future white elephant gift exchange.  Yes, that's right - 10 cents!

That's a Fostoria Americana creamer and sugar bowl (25 cents each), whiskey glass (50 cents),  a retro ice cream dish (25 cents) and 2 bird cage feeders (25 cents for the two and I needed one for my birdcage).

Double Oil Lamp Bracket for just 50 cents!  I may use it for candles or plants inside or outside, not sure yet!

Close up detail of the lamp bracket.  So cute!!!

Up next?  This Friday there's an estate sale at 2141 Lebanon Avenue in Belleville (headed towards Shiloh).  The sale is being held by Keil's Estate Sales, find out more about the sale at http://www.keilsestatesales.com/.  They have great photos of most of the items in the sale.  I'm eyeing some concrete deer!  My husband won't be happy 'bout this!

SHOPPING IN WATERLOO

A Retirement Celebration Sale is currently going on through August 1^st at Back on the Rack in Waterloo.  Christine is retiring and thanking her customers with a 50% off sale.

A World of Difference, A Healthy Food Store, in Waterloo has new summer hours.  They are currently open Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 to 6:00 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Take advantage of this great barbecuing weather and head to Schneider’s Quality Meats in Waterloo to pick up some of their award-winning Brats for the grill.  They make a large selection of specialty brats, the best brats you’ll ever eat!

Immanuel Lutheran Church is hosting a Rummage Sale this Saturday, August 1^st from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  All proceeds go to Immanuel’s School.  Currently, the school has openings in the 4 year-old preschool class for the 2009-2010 school year.  Immanuel also plans to begin a Christian kindergarten in the fall of 2010.  Please contact Immanuel’s church office at 939-6480 for more information about the Rummage Sale or the School.

GET OUT

The weekend is almost here and what's going on.  I'll be celebrating my son's 20th birthday this weekend.  I can't believe it, no more teenager!  Sounds like the weather's going to be pretty great so get out there and enjoy it.

Rev up your engine and head to the Waterloo VFW’s Sixth Annual Car Show this Sunday, April 26^th at 406 Veteran’s Drive in Waterloo.  Registration is 8:00 a.m. to noon with judging to begin at noon.  Trophies will be handed out at 4:00 p.m.  Food and drinks will be available at the show.  Call 973-0153 for more information.

Columbia’s Celebration 2009 Committee is proud to announce “Celebrate Columbia,” a special performance by the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday, April 26^th from 3:00 until 4:30 p.m. at the Columbia Middle School.  “We are delighted to help Columbia celebrate its 150^th birthday,” stated Robert Charles Howard, conductor and music director of the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale.   The orchestra will be performing in Columbia in order to reach out, share the group’s talents and introduce the orchestra to citizens in the Monroe County area who may not have had the opportunity previously to see it perform.  A selection of music celebrating “Our Country”, a “Salute to Our Germanic Roots” as well as a “Salute to the Movies” will be performed.   Jackie Hausmann, the Event Coordinator for the City of Columbia, noted “this concert is free to the public and a great opportunity to hear some very talented musicians perform right here in Columbia.”  For more information call 281-7144 ext. 106 or visit their website at www.columbiaillinois.com.

Bethany United Methodist Church in Columbia is planning their Annual Rummage Sale with a twist this year.  Pastor Allynn Walker has been delivering sermons on “radical” hospitality and “extravagant” generosity, so the church has decided to offer free clothing as well as some household goods.  Other “rummage” items will be for sale.  The sale is this Saturday, April 25^th from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Proceeds will go to the church’s youth programs.  The church is located at the corner of Hillcastle and Hilltop Road off Route 3.

Also holding a rummage sale on Saturday is Christ Community Lutheran Church in Columbia, next to Oerter Soccer Park off of Route 3.  Their “Share Our Treasures” indoor rummage and bake sale will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The St. Patrick’s Friends and Family Relay for Life Team is holding a Yard Sale Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25^th from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. both days at 1327 Summerfield in the Vandebrook subdivision on the south end of Waterloo. 

Bookworms head to the Morrison-Talbott Library Book Sale this weekend to stock up on your reading materials.  Preview Night is Thursday, April 23^rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and cost is $2.00 per person, a small price to pay to get a look at the cream of the crop.  The sale continues Friday, April 24^th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 25^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The Saturday special is “Buck a Bag,” all you can fit into a plastic grocery bag for $1.00.  For more information contact the library at 939-6232.

I'm planning on trying to hit the book sale and a couple of rummage sales and yard sales.  I'll let you know if I find anything.

GET OUT

The rummaging season has begun! St. Paul Lutheran is holding a rummage sale this Sat. 3/21 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Asselmeier and May is holding an Antique Estate Auction on Sat. 3/21 at 9:30 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Millstadt located right on Rt. 158.

Sunday there is a combined school music concert at the High School from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The free concert is sponsored by the city's Celebration 2009 committee.

JFire's Bistro in Waterloo is celebrating their grand opening on Saturday 3/21. For more info see the review I wrote in a previous section.

HEAD'S UP

We've experienced some spring-like weather and now its back into the deep freeze. But that taste of spring got me thinking of the upcoming shopping season. The season of flea markets, festivals, rummage and yard sales. So I thought I'd provide with a list of a few that I know are coming up.

Kicking off the season is St. Paul Lutheran's annual rummage sale in Columbia on Sat. 3/21. The sale usually gets under way around 7 a.m. Sometimes they have an "early bird" entry at 6:00 a.m. for a $5 charge. I've contacted a friend of mine that goes there for details but I haven't heard back from her yet. Maybe this will be her reminder since she's a reader too. I'll try to remember to make a mention of it next week too (and have more details by then).

In May, Bloomington, IL starts their monthly flea markets back up for the season and they run through November. They are held the 3rd Sunday of the month. Parking is free but admission is $5.00 and while I don't usually like admission charges to go buy things from people this is one place where I say "go ahead and pay", it's well worth the price of admission. The sale runs from 8:00 to 4:00. I believe they have an early bird but its like $20 or $25 and I have never felt it was worth that amount of money. Some vendors are still trying to get set up at the regular start time.

Also in May is Maeystown's annual Fruhlingfest. It is the 1st Sunday of the month. It's a garden and antique festival and one of my favorite "close to home" shows to attend. Great food, great shopping in a great setting.

At the end of the May is one of the greater St. Louis area markets, The Gypsy Caravan. It is held on Memorial Day. I'm not sure of this year's location but I'll be getting back to you with that and other details. Its moved around over the years and the last time we went it was on the campus of UMSL.

The last one I have on my radar for spring/early summer is The Lafayette House Tour and Antique Fair to be held Sat. 6/6 and Sun. 6/7. This makes a great outing for the day to the Lafayette Square area in St. Louis. I have been numerous times. For $15 to $20 a person you can take in the house (and garden) tour of about 8 homes. You can catch brunch, lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants in the neighborhood. Then stroll around the park and check out the antique offerings. There's also sometimes carriage rides and an old time baseball game to watch in the park. Again, I'll have more details closer to the date.

Let me know if you know of any happenings, festivals and shopping events coming up this spring and summer and I'll pass them along.

Mark your calendars and start planning your outings.