What a week......

It's been a big week for me.  And, by that, I don't mean back to back episodes of the Real Housewives of New York.  I mean I purchased a new minivan, went to La Maison Rustique, got to meet some blogging pals and spent the day with family and friends celebrating my best friend's birthday.....

First this.......

I am so excited.  Yes......I know.....my life is boring.   But, beyond that fact, I am so ecstatic over this piece of 8 seat wheeled machinery that takes me back and forth to Carlos' school and the grocery store.   Ever since we rented one last June, I was hooked on the minivan.  The space, the smooth ride, the easy to open doors.....Although it took me awhile to convince myself that we should get a new vehicle given that we had just purchased our 4runner 3 years ago, my husband was all for it.  Once I made the decision I was all business....I did the research, put together my 3 layer strategic negotiation plan which included pitting dealership against dealership, told my husband to stay home (he's a salesman's dream.  He will say "let's take it" before we even pull into the parking lot.  Keeping him home was the 2nd layer of the strategic plan.) and I was ready to roll.   Thursday I went into the 1st dealership with my costco plan in hand and super secret strategy in my head ready to do business.  Unfortunately, it all fell apart when I took the second test ride and was seduced by the doors that open automatically and 8th seat.  Instead of saying I'm looking at all my options and heading over to the other dealership entering into phase 3 of my super secret strategic plan, I was asking "where do I sign."  I folded like cheap suit.  But I was a very happy cheap suit that drove off with her shiny new minivan ready to take on anything that life threw at her and carry 7 additional passengers while doing it........

So armed with a new fun multi-passenger ride, I was ready to do a road trip.  And what better way to do it than to head up to Temecula and go to the La Maison Rustique Antique Sale.  I heard about it through Joy over at the Vintage Rabbit.  We "met" through the ZNE website site and discovered we were both from San Diego.  She is super nice and friendly....not to mention talented.  It just so happened that the event was this weekend.  So my mom, aunt and the boys piled in to do a road trip.   

Here is the front of the barn.  You can walk all the way through to the back were you will find this........

And this......

And this.....

And this......

Carlos pondering his vintage choices.......and wondering how he got himself into this "supposedly fun" road trip......

Joy from Vintage Rabbit and  Sherry from Prairie Home...........

from l-r....Joy, Sherry, the gals from Pink Funny Farm and Linda from La Maison Rustique....... Linda, who was so warm and inviting from the moment we stepped on the grounds, has the whole place just decked out with vintage wares and art pieces.  It is simply beautiful.   It was so much fun wandering around the barn looking at all the eye candy while vintage surprises were around every corner. 

Carlos being a good sport holding some of my items so I could keep shopping.  The smile on his face is due to the fact that he just found out we were going to eat at "Islands" for lunch.....just a little incentive to keep him going......

A new found blogging friend.....Denise at Hope Tree Studio......  Check out her blog....She does these super cute burlap tote bags with monagrams.....Love them!

So after lunch at Islands we headed over to Old Town Temecula where someone found a little train store.  OMGosh.....I could totally write an entire post about the guy that runs this shop!  What a character.....

Heaven is a train store for some people........

Going over important details in train book........

Bored beyond belief outside "Serendipity" wondering how he got himself into this whole "road trip" mess.

While little brother is still studying train book, Carlos ponders life and how long it will take him to walk back home......

Meeting new friends along the way.  Sheriff doesn't have a blog yet..... but is working on one as we speak......

Ahhhhh.... FINALLY!!!!! Now THIS is what you call a road trip.......The Candy store......Oh boy mom....you were really fooling us with that vintage stuff.....

Two happy boys with their gummy worms and m&m's......life is back on track..... 

Gift for my best friend's birthday.......Talk to you soon!  Karin

Comments

[Denise Elizabeth]

So nice to meet you at La Maison Rustique. Hope to see you next month! Blessings Denise

[MonicaA]

Congrats on the new wheels! loved your story :)
Looks like a fun road trip to me and you lucky dog getting to go to the BARN!!!!

[Mrs. Kwitty]

OMGosh--that barn is a dreamland! I want to go there soooo bad--but it'a a pretty long drive from Minnesota! (say, do you think I could borrow your van?) LOL

Smiles, Karen

I just got the biggest chuckles out of your boys and the little funnies to go with the pics!

[Alison Gibbs]

Karin what a funfilled post.
Your husband sounds like mine - a salesmans dream!! Love the car.
What a great roadtrip. Something for everyone.Oh the barn looks such fun
Alison

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Wow! That's my kind of roadtrip! I wonder how far Temecula is from me?! Hmmm Have fun with your mini-van. I had one for years and loved that I could take everyone everywhere. Now I have a car and I love that I don't have to take anyone anywhere. You'll see. LOL

[Lisa Johnson]

I can't believe I missed out on meeting you at the sale. I was there on Friday. You must have gone on Saturday? I guess I should have gone back, but I had other fish to fry. Anyway, I'm glad you had a good time and found some neat vintage treasures.

Lisa

[Nerissa]

What a great post! Congrats on the new car. Wow, 8 seater. Sounds like heaven for a family car. All we can ever fit in our cars is just our family.
I LOVED all the pics of La Maison Rustique. What a beautiful place. Looks like all of you had fun.
I know what you mean about bribing the kids. Josh knows when we go to Target he gets a trip to the snack bar :)
Take care
Nerissa

[Jillian]

Congrats on the new minivan, Karin! Sounds wonderful. That little shop that y'all met at looks like a dream. Nothing like that around the sticks of NC where I am. Looks like the little guys had a blast too.

ps...finally got around to getting some vintage flocked wallpaper samples from Donna @ Under the Red Roof. Thx for pointing me her way.

[Heather]

My BIL is a salesman's worst nightmare. Everyone should take him car shopping to ensure the best deal :)
Anyway, so you went all these fab vintagey places and what did you buy???? Hello??

So cute to see pix of Joy (I did her cards, etc) and Denise (love her shop). I'm jealous.. thanks for sharing!

[Lori]

oh...i am SO jealous that you got to go to that antique sale!!! i just know it was fabulous...hope you had lots of fun!!! congrats on the new car...and i always like to see your cute boys:)

[Debbie Kay]

Hi there "barn shopper",

Sorry I missed meeting you this time but I will be back over there in May. Love those gals at La Maison Rustique.

Debbie Kay

[Alisa]

You SoCal girls are so lucky!
Alisa

ps. candy can entice me to go anywhere too! :)

[beth]

so darn jealous -!!! i can't wait to get out there and do the barn sometime !!!! looks like a blast !! xo,
beth

[Tracy]

Oh I'm so jealous! I have yet to venture to the barn (it seems I always visit on the wrong weekends!) But I was just telling Debbie that I'm actually moving to Temecula in June! Yippee! Your pictures are making me very antsy!

[Beverly]

What an incredible day you had. It all looks just fabulous. I'm so glad you shared your day with us.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

[Denise Elizabeth]

Hi girlie I sent you a couple of emails and one came back to me. Just checking to see if you got them. Love the pics! Denise

[Kelly/The Vintage Butterfly Boutique]

I've got to get down south! I'm in Nor-Cal, by Sacramento. I really want to get to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and now I want to get to the barn! :D
I completely understand your van love, when my kids were younger we had a Plymouth Voyager that I a-d-o-r-e-d. I still think of her fondly... :D.

[Cindy]

Well, I'm sure Carlos would disagree, but it looks like it was a heavenly day to me! : )

c

[donnalayton]

You know you're insane so I don't have to tell you. You went with a minivan??? Hmmm. It's time for me to get a new vehicle (I would drive the same car for a lifetime if it were possible), but I'm thinking I might be too cool for a minivan. I've grown to love the hugeness of my suburban not sure where I could go from there. Is a school bus cool? Maybe if I painted it, collaged some of the windows and put swarovski crystals on the wheels:)