Sunday Soda Sip – Weekly Wrap-up

Hello friends! Welcome to my weekly wrap-up called the Sunday Soda Sip – where I share random thoughts, along with tips, tricks, and inspiration from around the web. This is the shopping, decorating, and flood edition. So grab your drink and let’s chat and sip.

Trader Joe’s is finally here

After waiting two decades, I finally have a Trader Joe’s in my town! I swear, this is literally thee most exciting local news since the Michigan State Spartans won a national title.

In 2003, when we moved back to Michigan from California, I was really missing my TJ’s. I began regularly visiting their website, where they had a feature “where should we go next?” and asking for a Trader Joe’s in East Lansing. People were probably so annoying begging for one in their town too, that they’ve since removed that feature from their website!

To be clear, they had stores in Michigan already, so this wasn’t a huge ask. Just not near me. I had to drive like an hour to get there, but I did to stock up occasionally. If you have not shopped at a Trader Joe’s, you do not know what you’re missing! It is the best. Like I literally HATE grocery shopping, so my hubby does most of it. But now that I have a TJ, I’m taking back that chore! Woo hoo.

So I finally went this week (they opened a few weeks ago). Traffic and parking were ridiculous, so I had waited. But it looked like things were dying down, so in I trotted! What a pleasure to first be greeted by their flower section. A large bunch of sunflowers for $5.99 to start, yes please and thank you!

Trader Joe’s items for the win

I think we all have our favorites from TJ’s and I was able to skim the store and buy a few of mine. I am dreaming of TJ food lists and meals I can make through the week and actually get organized with my menu plan! I feel more food blog posts coming in my future.

This week I got: a single ciabatta bread loaf, whole grain sourdough bread, Kalamata olives, hash brown patties, ready-made tomato soup, potstickers and Gyoza sauce, some yummy cheeses like Havarti with dill, and much more!

What I made so far

First off, after walking in the house, the sourdough loaf was looking delicious and it was snack time. So I clipped some fresh Rosemary from the garden (although you could buy a plant there too), mixed up some herb butter with the yummy Irish butter, and made a piece of toast.

Later, lunch ended up being the tomato soup, my hubby’s fave. Topped with fresh basil from my second trip to the garden. If you like to use herbs, I shared a few tips in this post.

The next day I cut the ciabatta bread in half, for hubby and I to share for lunch, and made a delicious sandwich. I grilled red pepper and tomato, then added fresh Mozzarella, pesto, turkey, and Muenster cheese. I toasted it all up on the flat top and the ciabatta got all soft and yummy! That was a good sandwich.

Vintage shopping

Whenever I can get out, I do a little vintage shopping. I sell vintage at Williamston Antique Market, one of the best antique malls in Michigan. The owner is a real stickler for everything being legit vintage and antique, and the mall is clean and styled, with no crafts in sight.

I work there once a month (my day being last week) and each time I am there I keep my eyes peeled for frames. Last year, while visiting a friend in the Chicago area, I bought this amazing oil painting that I love. It came with a frame that wasn’t original and did not fit it, so I have been on the search.

The frame gods finally smiled upon me last week!

What I bought

I found this gorgeous, and very heavy, gilded frame for my picture. It is the perfect size, has great patina, and was the style I was looking for. It was only $40, and for a frame like that, it was a BAR-GAIN! I cannot wait to get it put together and hung up. Only took me a year to finally find the right frame.

I also found this other frame, that I bought for $35 just because. It was so unique, and due to the colors, I thought it might look great with Christmas artwork in it. When I see cool stuff, I don’t like to pass it up.

The fabric pear art it came with had the buttons all sewn on (not glued), so I am thinking I might just make it into a pillow. We’ll see what I end up doing with it, but I am known for hoarding a bit of stuff until I find the right spot for it.

A painted dresser

A few weeks ago, I painted this little dresser. I had been saving it in my warehouse, and was thinking of selling it. I then realized that I needed something just like this in the guest room at the cottage, so up north it went.

I had written a blog post about updating your guest rooms (and what they need) and it got me thinking of my own spaces.

I had bought this off Facebook Marketplace for $20 and it is solid wood. I painted it the color Flower Frog from my Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint line. It goes perfectly with the drapes in the room, that I made from vintage fabric I found once. I never pass up good vintage fabric when I find it.

Area flooding – reality check

This has been the rainiest summer that I can remember here in recent history. I do love a good Michigan thunderstorm, they are actually my favorite.

The other day, I was in the neighboring town, headed home after meeting with a design client. I was talking to a friend who lives not far from me, and she mentioned how hard it was raining. I was like, “it’s not even raining here.” A few minutes later, drop, drop, drop, and downpour!

By the time I got home (just a few miles away), the streets were flooding fast. I entered the neighborhood to this:

Then a few hours later, pictures started popping up in our neighborhood Facebook group. Streets were flooded, and I knew, many had water in their basements.

Luckily we are up on a bit of a high ground, so we were lucky to only get what looked like someone spilled a cup of water in the unfinished furnace room. Some of my neighbors were not so lucky.

Keep it high and dry

This is my public service announcement to remind you that if you have precious “things” like photos or memorabilia, and you have a basement, store these items on the highest shelves. Even if you don’t have a basement, think of where your treasures might be vulnerable from unplanned disasters.

A little treat

Let me preface by saying, I am aware that soda pop is not good for you. Like many, I still drink it. In my defense, I have never been a smoker or a drinker, so this is my only vice. Better for you than drugs, I imagine. That being said, if you haven’t tried this, you might want to check it out, very yummy. It’s a new fave.

Inspiration from the web

This week as I was reading some of my favorite sites, I saw some amazing things you might want to check out.

If you love vintage and gardens, check out these 34 charming vintage garden decor ideas

If you like to try out old-fashioned dessert recipes, consider Granny’s pineapple chess pie.

If you like to see cool designer portfolios, this modern farmhouse has me drooling!

If you’ve dreamed of going to France to see Monet’s gardens, live vicariously while reading this post. I went a few years ago, and these pictures are just how I remembered.

Flea markets and vintage markets are in full swing. I have always wanted to visit this one she is sharing.

What will this new week bring to you?

Okay friends, I hope that you have an amazing week. I’d love to hear, if you are a Trader Joe’s fan too, what is your favorite item? Tell me in the comments. I will be going back soon and can’t wait to try new stuff.

If you have something you have been waiting to paint, now is a great time! It took me less than an hour to prep and paint that dresser.

While you are napping in a hammock this week, if you haven’t yet, make a plan for an emergency. What would you grab if you needed to? Are all your valuables safe from water damage?

Have a great week friends! Thanks for joining me today for Sunday Soda Sip. I’d love to have you join me more often, follow along on these platforms.

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