Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've just returned from a weeklong trip visiting my parents in snowy upstate New York. It was absolutely great spending time with them, it's just too bad the weather was so bleh. Hours upon hours of airport delays...yuck. But still, a good time was had by all. Next time they're coming to Los Angeles, though! Man, I missed the sunshine.
The town my parents live in is actually a village—only 1,400 people live there. There is no movie theater (the next town over has one), grades six through twelve are all in one school (that was terrifying as a little kid!) and I'm pretty sure there's only one stoplight. I was a restless teen and didn't much care for smalltown life, but now that I'm thirtysomething I do fantasize about enjoying a Stars Hollow-like existence...especially when our upstairs neighbors (we're in a fourplex) are dropping bowling balls and hosting Beatles sing-a-long nights. But, the fact is I'm not ready to give up the many conveniences big city life has to offer! Country air is great and all, but I'd just miss ordering out for Indian food too dang much.
But holy heck do I miss the thrifting opportunities to be had in my old homestead! Thrift shopping isn't much fun for me these days since the stores here are largely picked-over and/or overpriced (though we do have the awesomest ever flea markets known to man). I'm lucky that my Dad is just as into thrifting and such as I am (he sells on eBay, restores antique furniture, and collects various kooky items), and we spent some time looking around for some of my favorite goodies, such as vintage Pyrex and colorful floral bedsheets. I totally scored on both fronts!
The pic above shows what I scored my first day there. The leftmost two dishes are Pyrex, I especially adore the train-themed bowl, I've never seen that design before! The small blue bowl at right is by Fire King, and I don't know who made the yellow daisy bowl but it's so dang cute I couldn't resist. Best of all, the grand total for the dishes was less than $4! So great. The vintage bedsheet these are displayed on was another fun find, I nabbed a flat and fitted sheet set for only $3. I'll be using these as totebag linings and such in the future. So sweet.
We also drove about an hour and a half away to visit the Regional Market in Syracuse. The snow had turned to rain at that point, but we trudged ahead and I found a really fantastic booth run by the folks from The Spice Rack (No website, but their store is at 6195 Route 31, Cicero, NY 13039, ph: 315-699-8206). They were selling all kinds of bulk herbs and spices, dip/dressing mixes, and had an entire section devoted to cupcake sprinkles—you could buy multicolored mixes, or choose individual colors. Swoon! Here's a pic of the sprinkles and sugars I picked up (oh and some heavenly lavender buds too). I also picked up some plump, sticky vanilla beans and a few vegetable dip mixes, which Johnny and I have already been enjoying. Definitely check these folks out if you're in the area. Oh and my mom was nice enough to buy me an Ateco cake decorating kit, so a day or two later I thanked her by using it to make vanilla cupcakes with chocolate-mint frosting.
Speaking of cupcakes (and when am I not?), I'm feeling very inspired by the Cupcake Round-Up recently announced by the food blogs Cupcake Bakeshop and Vanilla Garlic. I have a couple of ideas swirling about, I definitely want to do filled cupcakes of some kind and shopped for ingredients yesterday. I have a pound of guava paste which may end up in some kind of cream filling for an almond or coconut-flavored cupcake, and I'm also thinking of doing a deep, dark chocolate cupcake with a bourbon cream filling and chocolate ganache glaze on top. Not sure yet if I'm actually up to the challenge, but stay tuned to find out if I pull it off!
