Shopping Out Loud!

Did I mention the NE Alberta Sidewalk sale? I have been remiss if I have not. Because I will be there my pretty.

I was at the Frock Boutique last week and took some cool photos. I’m taking my 15 year old niece there to shop this week. She lives in La Grande (hates it, you know 15!!!) so I thought that a little bday retail therapy would cheer her up for her belated birthday gift!

Check out some of the cool accessories, kids clothes and funky jewelry and assorted merchandise you can’t find just anywhere in P-town!

And don’t miss the sidewalk sale on all of NE Alberta on July 11-12!

SHOP ON my friends!

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Frock on NE Alberta is one of those tiny boutiques where you could spend three hours and still not see everything. OK maybe two hours. Which I did the other day. The store, owned by Angie Coffin and Ali Wythuis, is a hoot… ah as are the owners. The other day when I was there Ali was carrying baby around strapped to her front and happily waiting on customers, chatting with people on the phone, telling me she loved my bag because she has the same one…

It’s a fun, upbeat place that makes you happy just seeing the displays. Although I’ve been there before, I noticed a poster I hadn’t seen before. It’s probably been up there for years. Well, not years they haven’t been there for years. But it’s the two of them with the hair salon owner next door, outfitted in sixties regalia, sporting hairdryers pointed right atcha!

If you’re looking for accessories they have the up-to-the-minute funky jewelry, sunglasses, clothes for you and baby, belt buckles, hats … the list is too long for me to remember at my age. hehe

They used to be much further up on Alberta but moved to the new location about a year ago? Anyhoo stop in and say hi, grab a funky new hat, earrings, sunglasses and brighten up your day. They’re at 1439 NE Alberta.

Shop on!

Urgent! This just in – Kate Spade sample sale is over today! Can’t help myself … may have to sit down until it passes. Crying out loud! Check out the site and here are some of the bags etc:

Fabulous tri-fold calendar

Yes, I'm into the green and this is roomy!

I had to order this one ... so cute and summery!

Still all about the red!

When did I start putting exclamation points at the end of every sentence. I hate that! I caution everyone of my clients against that sort of thing. Back to basics. Of course the next pair of boots are basics for the garden and mucking out the garage. No exclamation point here:

So cute for mucking.

Did I mention HALF PRICE???? That’s another thing I tell people are no no’s — CAPITAL LETTERS. I guess it’s OK though unless you say CAPITOL LETTERS. It’s a journalist type joke.

Shop on! I’m off to tea and scones! So bad and SO GOOD!!!

I’m looking for the perfect dress for summer weddings one of which I have in late June. You know – the dresses that make you look like a size 4 …. Okay okay a size 10. Hehe

Nordstrom’s has a Your Best Dress – fit tips by body type on their site. They’re recommending dresses for you depending on your shape.

Here’s their list:

STRAIGHT- Little definition between bust, waist and hip measurements.

Embroidered Crepe Sheath Dress - Ralph Lauren

PEAR-Fuller at the hips and bottom and smaller on top.

Suzi Chin Dupioni Party Dress

Donna Ricco Open Back Dress

HOURGLASS- Curvaceous, with fiull biust, defined waist and full hips.

Muse Ruched Dress

Adrianna Papell Shutter Pleat

APPLE- Weight is carried around the middle, without a well-defined waist.

FULL BUST-Bust measurement is fuller than hips and bottom.

I was looking for I’VE BEEN WORKING FROM HOME VERY, VERY LARGE body type. It wasn’t there. But I’m full of determination I tell you. I have to lose 40 lbs by June 27 and I’ll be the best dressed, hot grandmother at the party!

Shop on!

So many things to do so little time.

Went to the Women and the Trades Conference last weekend and was blown away by the numbers of women there and the amount of information available on the trades ie construction, electrical, plumbing, masonry etc. etc. It’s amazing how many apprenticeships are available to women. Did you know Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. existed? No, me either.

I was welding!!! Seriously. I welded a nameplate with stars! I also made a frame, tiled a mosaic, saudered a pipe and got tons of information about available careers for women in the trades. My dad was a carpenter so I had a lot of exposure to building stuff and such when I was growing up, but I never thought a about actually training for a career in the trades myself. And I’m not totally sold on it but I’m going to definitely look into more information on the subject.

They had exhibitors, workshops and volunteers at the fair as well as companies like Bonneville Power Administration, Hamilton Construction Co., and PacifiCorp/Pacific Power. Based on the data collected they said 23 percent of participants were minorities and 93 percent had graduated high school or pursued further studies in college. Amazing! Imagine becoming a cabinetmaker, electrical lineworker, glazier or glass installer, painter, plasterer, millwright or a mason and making $17 to $35 an hour as a journeyman. Or journeywoman. And you actually make a salary when you’re in an apprenticeship program.

The fair is over for this year but the Oregon Tradeswomen is located at 1714 NE Alberta St. and the number is 503.335.8200. Click on their name above to go to the web site. They offer classes and there are several videos available online to get you started. Go girlfriend!

Must have new toaster. Must have high design toaster … or very, very cute toaster.

The first one I found is a Bodum Bistro toaster. Very high design and it comes in many colors. It defrosts, toasts to the desired level (unless someone else changes it) and has a warming rack above the adjustable toast slots. Very nice.

The next is one by Kalorik Aztec. It’s redeeming social value is that it will warm your buns AND it has “extra side and deep self centering slots to accommodate event the thickest slices of brioche or bagel.” It will also sound the alert when the warming and toasting have ended.

I’m afraid I’ve fallen in love with the next Deco toaster in apple green, two slice toaster by Prestige. It also has deep wide toasting slots, reheat, defrost and bagel settings. The love affair comes from the vintage design, the soft apple green color and the cute little buttons on the side. That’s what they should call it … Cute as a Button.

I have to say the design on this Dualit Vario two-slicer is also simplicity in motion and very sophisticated. It’s hand assembled in England and built to last.

My husband would love it. He still uses one circa 1892. However this one is infinitely better looking than his. It has an insulated stainless steel body, variable controls and automatic turn off. It’s design is even patented. It comes in lemon yellow.

Last, certainly not least, is the two-slice Art Deco Toaster in fuscia red. It’s very sleek, rounded body is an easy-to-clean design.

There’s a mid-cycle cancel if need be instead of pushing the off button as hard as you can to get the toast to pop up and onto the floor and a removable crumb tray. Love that. It also has extra wide slots, reheat, defrost and bagel functions.

Oh my. These decisions are always the difficult ones. Just think how many years you have to look at a toaster sitting on the kitchen countertop. Because in my house? This is an investment. Ok that’s the hub’s sick values. I’m an every five years person. Sooner depending on the cute factor. So I’m thinking of going with the apple green Prestige toaster with the cute buttons. There’s several more toasters, as well as many other appliances  to choose from, at the Appliance Blog!

Shop online at Egg Press and get letterpress printed cards for 50% off!

Here’s a sample of the sample sale: heheh

Calendars are also 50% off!

Here’s the dirt on the who they are straight from the …ah printer’s mouth.

… About Egg Press Just in time for Easter

Who they are: Egg Press has been designing and handcrafting letterpress greeting cards on their antique presses since 1999. Their history of pioneering the resurgence of letterpress printing as an art form has afforded them an incredible fan base whom we adore and couldn’t live without. aahhh

Egg Press studio: The Egg Press studio is located in an old warehouse building known as “the Plant” in southeast Portland, Oregon.

Egg Press products: Primarily known for their hand-made letterpress greeting card line, egg press also creates a daringly bold offset collection and many loveable screenprinted baby tees. See their online store for an ever-changing sampling. In addition, they design and print memorable custom wedding announcements, birth announcements and coordinating stationery.

Ever time I drive downtown I pass by Kitchen Kaboodle and inevitably lately it’s been on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Of course on those days I always think of stopping – not so much on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. You’ve heard, I’m sure, that the store is only open now on Thursday – Sunday, in part to save money which will allow them to bring down prices for their customers.

Yesterday I was driving by and saw a woman try to open the door and then walk away shaking her head as if she couldn’t figure out why the store was closed in the middle of the day during the week. Sweetie, you must look up once in a while and read a newspaper … or a web page. Ooops I just hinted at my age. C’est vraiment du gâchis!

Here’s KK’s appliance of the month? Deal of the day? I can’t remember anything … I think it’s the shock of all this recession talk. I must have one of these. When they go back to 7 days a week I’ll consider the R (recession I want to be in denial) over with.

What? Oh oh oh it’s a Ojex Citrus Juicer and it’s $20 off the regular price darling. It’s won awards for Pete’s sake.

We were able to get just 30 Ojex juicers in Red and 8 in Orange, so don’t delay!

It effortlessly presses out every drop of sweet juice from oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes, without bitter rind oils, pulp or seeds. The Ojex made of enameled cast-iron with a stainless-steel juicing cone and a comfortable, rubberized handle. It’s geared to easily juice half a citrus fruit with just one pull. With the Ojex, fresh citrus juice is fast, easy and delicious.

Stay tuned! I’ll be blogging about SHOP 09 … our DIY Media ,,, Social Media Class … New BOOKS … speaking of which:

I have the manuscript for Dead Rita’s Wisdom. I LOVE♥ Vicky Trabosh. You do too if you’ve heard her speak. Her new book is called Dead Rita’s Wisdom.

Yes it’s a bit jarring the first time you hear it but that’s her sense of humor … first you gasp, then you laugh your buttkus off. It’s about her dear departed mother Rita. I’m almost halfway through it. If there are any publishers out there … or agents for that matter … grab this one before it gets away. Love you Vicky. Trabosh btw is an executive coach.

Trabosh founded the Itifari Foundation in 2005. “Together we have created a non-profit organization to assist the survivors of the genocide in Rwanda. This is being done in many ways, including donations to organizations and individuals in Rwanda and by inspiring the women and children to have hope and to realize their empowerment to rebuild better lives.”

Check out her web pages!

Mabel & Zora, who btw have a fabulous new website, are instigating a golden opportunity to take on their sales and celebrate their three year anniversary at the Alberta site. The Pearl district site just celebrated it’s one year anniversary.

Need I tell you more? Of course I do. They carry lines like French Connection, Veronica M, Mixie, Kersh, Tulle, Hazel, Sweet Pea, Trina Turk, Joes’ Jeans and Catherine Manuell Designs.

This week they have new artwork from Woolie Originals! Love their felted hats – adorable.

And Jenna’s new wool collage … who knew?

Last Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. enjoy some wine, great artwork and good fun.

Maybe Tiffini will have little Tulip the beautiful bulldog there!