Garage Sale Find of the Year! Matching bicycles!

My hubby and I have been on the hunt for new bikes for quite some time now. I was able to locate the bike I had when I was younger - but the  tires needed replaced, etc, etc and we did find a cheap mens bike with nice tires but with missing back brakes at a garage sale last year. But each bike ride was a tad stressful - especially since we would have to spend a good 20 minute airing up my tires first and there was the constant fear of a flat or some mishap resulting from the lack of brakes on his bike.

Well, we found an excellent set of matching bikes at a garage sale this weekend for $20 each (a set of new tires would be at least $30 alone for my bike) - great tires, great condition, both are matching maroon in a vintage style, both have a back bike rack on the back and each came with a little bag - one bag even has a little repair kit inside. They even came with a bike lock and chain! They sit up straighter so less strain on your back - great for both Matt and I and they are more built for just cruising around on the street - exactly our style!

We also purchased, for an additional $10, a car bike rack so we can take them with us on any trips - imagine just parking the car and then biking around to garage sales, or biking around Brown County - where-ever!

As soon as we got home we aired up the tires, packed our phones, keys, wallet, snacks and a drink (and a library book we had to take back) and headed off! An hour or so later and we already have 5 miles under our belt! We meandered around our community and even found out that we can easily bike to the nearest Dairy Queen! :) It is so fun and relaxing to peddle through town on a bike - you see things from such a different perspective than if you're in a car and you can obviously go farther, faster on a bike than just walking.

I have so many great childhood memories of peaceful evening bike rides with my family - exploring country roads, stopping and playing in creeks, watching the bats fly overhead - so much fun! I can't wait to share those kinds of memories with our soon-to-be expanding family!

So of course I have spent the evening (now that the sun finally went down and I was forced to come inside) browsing fun bicycle accessories - here's a few fun ones!

One of the things about bike rides that makes me feel bad is that we really can't take the dogs. Both pups get so exciting seeing us put on our shoes - thinking that we are going for a walk - that it breaks my heart leave them home while we go out. I am a little leery of this Walky Dog Bike Leash - I can just see Showbiz jerking and the bike going down. But this model is supposed to put the bike rider more in control - would fun to at least try it out! ($37.95) Takes paypal!

The Buddy Basket would work to tote around our smaller dog - Lola - and would work to carry books and things for days I don't bring her. It even has fun little side pockets and a little place to carry a water bottle! ($49.95 on Amazon)

This metal basket might work best. I can add a liner and even secure Lola's leash through the wire so she can't jump down and it would work for other things well - books, drink, snacks, etc. And at $20 - it is easier price to justify! From Chubby's Cruisers

A rearview mirror is almost a must when biking around busy streets. $7.99 from Chubby's Cruisers

Handle bar mounted water bottle cage. This would be nice! $5.25 from Chubby's Cruisers

As if, with my basket, I would really want to carry more! These grocery panniers would be awesome! $17.95 on amazon

Latest Garage Sale Find! A Vintage China Cabinet!

Need to get a better picture of this with natural lighting maybe tomorrow - but check out this amazing find Matt and I stumbled across at a garage sale today! A gorgeous dark solid wood china cabinet for $40!!

We've been looking for one for quite some time now - we have two sets of gorgeous china - one from my Great Grandma Pearl on my Dad's side and a beautiful gold rimmed set from Cindy! Also been collecting lots of glass and ceramic odds and ends along the way - the trifle bowl from Pampered Chef, the 3-tired glass stand and lots of apothecary jars in various sizes I use to serve punch at parties and for storage as well. The white Crate & Barrel casserole dish Matt got for me for Christmas.

I was able to fit both sets with room to spare for our crystal glasses, stemware and tumblers and even have a drawer left over for miscellaneous party supplies (plastic party cups, plastic forks and knives, etc!) ...might even bring my table linens downstairs and see if I can get them to fit in!

Many, many thanks to the marvelous Queen of Free for loaning out her other half, a truck and one of her pretty princesses to come help us get this great deal home! And thank you to our wonderful friends and neighbors, the Prescotts, in coming in with more manpower to get this puppy out of the truck and into our house! Yay, for great friends - you rock!! :)

Garage Sale Season Is Here!

The husband and I had originally planned a long weekend of yard work for this last weekend of March. We want to put two more trees in the front yard, plant 4 bushes and get my new garden box moved out of the garage into the backyard.

But, as many of you fellow Hoosiers can attest, our spring weather decided to go on a vacation for a bit. We even have snow in the forecast for Sunday. Bleck!

So today was a rather lazy Saturday for us. We browsed a garage sale, ate at Panera (potato soup - yum!), poked around at Barnes and Nobles and then went back to the garage for this lovely wine rack!



We need to scoot our "Q" sign over a bit - but doesn't it look great?? And for $35 - not too bad of a deal!