Quirky

DD#1 is home until Thursday morning.  While she will be with extended family most of the time home, I got her for an hour to myself this morning.  We went out for a late breakfast at a little downtown cafe, complete with home fries and the bottomless cups of coffee that taste so much better served by a waitress straight out of the Alice sitcom. Of course said coffee meant this almost 50 year old had to make two stops to the ladies room.  The cafe is in a storefront building well over 150 years old, and has been redone dozens of times in it's history.  Originally, the restaurant that was there was fine dining in a small town with limited options. The bathroom, tucked in the back uses lavish amounts of paint to hide blemished, and sheet covered walls, but sprinkled among this decor are little spots of posh.  On the vanity is a single retro ladies pump shoe.  A wall shelf holds  a 1950's case type handbag, and the paper towel holder is adorned with a porcelain knob.  It is a cute and creative way to make what could be a dive looking bathroom shabby chic, and a nod to the buildings heritage.

I like quirky things in unexpected places. Whether it is in clothing or a room decor.  I don't like gimmicky, but I don't mind cheesy.   These pictures were taken by me in a similar type cafe in St Paul.  This cafe is known for serving up lots of good wholesome home cooking and has it's roots deep in hockey heritage. I love how the signed photo is in a beautiful frame in the women's bathroom.  In any other type restaurant, it would just be odd, but here it works. Three points if anyone reading this can guess what restaurant this is. 

I like the quirky randomness of these bathroom objects. 

I am not a fan of "kooky" though know there is a fine line between quirky and kooky.  My definition of quirky is a play on realism, where kooky is using something that doesn't fit for the sole purpose of trying to stand out. Quirky is part of a person, a building, or a homes personality.  Kooky is a call for attention, and "look at me;  aren't I creative." I don't have a good flair for the quirky, in spite of my many quirks, but I like it when it works, and feel almost uncomfortable when it doesn't. Because I am so vanilla in my decorating and my personal style, this is awfully shallow of me, I admit. I've been guests of people with lifestyles so utterly different from mine, but because it suited them so well, I felt perfectly at ease.  On the other hand, I've been entertained by people who so clearly were trying to portray their home and life as something it wasn't, it almost felt unwelcoming. What are your thoughts in the art of quirky? What quirks do you show to the world?

My Favorite Blog Postings of the Week

It is Wednesday night and I have late volleyball, and the session won't even start until 8:30. The late games are hard, as no one wants to stop afterwards for a beer, and we learned the hard way, not a good idea to stop before.   My mind is a bit cluttered with all that is going on at the office, and having to finish a report later tonight, so I can hit send and enjoy a vacation day tomorrow with my daughters.  It is school break in Minnesota.  I'll be back to work on Friday, but a mid week Thursday day off should feel good-if I get that task done. For my post then, I've decided to do a quick sharing of  some of my favorite postings of the week.  I truly appreciate the blogging community I've found, and if you've found me, but haven't met one of these gifted writers and story sharers, I hope you'll check them out. 

Ilona at Life after Money, shares why she keeps her decision making nice and simple. Too many choices make a complicated life

Over at the Second Hand Years, I'm pleased Curtise's cat has returned, and I am oh so envious of her continual style and grace, and dang, those boots are gorgeous!  lost and Found

Not one, but two delicious crockpot rice pudding recipes at The Reason I Save Budget update and Rice Pudding    and the Frugal Queen  Sticky Toffee and Apple Rice Pudding.  I'm always interested in a good book suggestion ad will add The Phantom of Fifth Avenue to my winter reading list after a review also by The Reason I Save  Book review

To help add some calm and grace to your week, Simply Frugal shared some insight on tea. Nice Cup of Tea   I'm a coffee drinker first and foremost, but there is something more subtle and refined in enjoying a soothing brew, sipped from a tea cup as opposed to a hearty mug.

Last, check out and visit Becky and Joel at The Bacon and Ice Cream Blog, as Becky shares her passion for Redsox baseball, but more so the true meaning of friendship, love, and having a support system that never lets you down.Let's Go Red Sox

Many of the blogs I follow are on my side bar.  I am starting to get quite drawn in by some, and feel almost anxious when nothing is posted for a while. I may have a problem.  How about you?  What were some of your favorites this week and why?  I can always use another dozen on my list.