Sometimes watching DIY shows can lead to a lightbulb moment. A SOLAR one, that is! One of the designers stuck solar lights into antique lobster buoys and placed them on a deck. And that got me thinking. For years I have stuck small amber colored glass votive holders into the wrought iron sconces I hang […]
Shop Til I Drop – Right Here At Home In Our Garage!
Under normal circumstances I LOVE to shop at thrift stores. But we are definitely not operating under normal circumstances these days. You might be shocked at the number of brand new cooking gadgets I’ve scored in those beloved thrift stores. I think many folks get cooking items as wedding gifts and they have absolutely no […]
Stringtown Grocery – Kalona, Iowa – An Amish Convenience Store
Before we left Iowa for our winter snowbird nest, I made one last trip to Stringtown Grocery, a popular Amish store near Kalona, Iowa. I went to Stringtown to buy two totally unrelated items. Gruyere cheese…and popcorn! I love to browse the aisles in that unusual store. You’ll find everything from canning jars to pots […]
The Crowded Closet – A Thrift Store With A Mission
I’m a thrift store fanatic, and The Crowded Closet in Iowa City is near and dear to my heart. Not only is that store stuffed with bargains, but it’s super neat and clean. This Mennonite sponsored thrift store is staffed by volunteers with mile-wide smiles and “Iowa Nice” personalities. Do you want proof? Come along […]
Zaza’s Pasta Shop and Italian Market – Iowa City, Iowa
While driving through a residential neighborhood on the East side of Iowa City, I passed by a shop I’ve been meaning to check out. Zaza’s is located in a cute little bungalow on Bowery Street that has been home to many businesses through the years, and I was surprised and happy to see it has […]