Conquering Canton.

Can we just talk about how much I love the Canton First Monday flea market for just one second. Nevermind the blister that I still have on my left toe or the soreness that I still feel four days later. It was all worth it.

What is Canton First Monday? Well, it's only the oldest, largest continually operating outdoor flea market in the United States.   It takes place the weekend before the first Monday of the month. If you love vintage, antiques, dirt, a little rust and a whole lot of history, then Canton is the place for you. The first time I went I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know where to go, what to think or what to buy. I've been quite a few times now and each time I go, I learn a little more. I can still get lost in a heart beat. I depend on my mom mainly to keep me straight but also my trusty map.

This past weekend my mom and I went one more time just for the day and had a great day! The weather was absolutely beautiful! It was about 75 degrees that afternoon. I had a list in my hand, my mother by my side and new tennis shoes on my feet which proved to be a poor decision in the end.

I go to Canton mostly to go prop shopping for my photography business. I have found tricycles, wagons, child's rocking chairs, vintage ABC blocks, hand sewn quilts, lace bonnets for my newborn shoots, vintage handkerchiefs...and the list goes on and on. Sure you can find all of these things on ebay or etsy but will you be able to bargain the price or meet the people who own the shops? Probably not. And in Canton you don't have to pay for shipping! I have found some pretty amazing deals by simply asking. It never hurts to be nice, too. :) 

Before you load up and head to one the largest flea markets in the US, there are a few things that I think you should know:

1. Have a plan in mind. Even just a rough idea is nice. For instance, this past Saturday I knew I was looking for props and a few decor items for our bedroom. I had about three places I knew I wanted to go to and we marked them on our map. The rest of the afternoon we spent wandering around the open air area hunting for props. 

2. Wear comfortable shoes. I thought I was doing that this time but the shoes I put on I had really only worked out in a few times. They were still fairly new. Even though they were tennis shoes, they were not broken in. And my dogs were barking by 3pm. It is not important to look cute at Canton. It is not a fashion show, people. Wear the most comfortable shoes you own and NOT NEW ONES. 

3. Bring cash. Some of the boutiques in the pavilion will have a credit card machine but the internet connection is unreliable so sometimes they cannot run CCs. Have plenty of cash and lower bills. Not just $100 bills. And just to be nice, please don't offer someone a $100 bill at 8am when they first open and ask for change. Chances are they won't be happy with you. :)

4. Rent or buy a cart. They have little carts, or buggies as some people call them, for rent or for sale for pretty cheap. I think they are $10 for the day or $40 to purchase. Obviously if you plan on coming more than once, you should just go ahead and by one. Oh, and get one with the swiveling wheels. You can thank me later. They are pretty hard to navigate otherwise. 

5. Go ahead and leave your kids and dogs at home. I see people at Canton trying to make the most of the weekend or the day, however long they are there for, with their children and failing miserably. It's hot. It's crowded. Your kid probably thrives on a schedule. He's cranky because it's time for bottle and you can't get to it in time because it's underneath everything in your cart or there's nowhere even halfway private to breastfeed. I don't have children so I get that I might be making some moms mad and I'm sorry, but wouldn't you enjoy yourself more if you didn't have to worry about when to feed, when to wipe and dear Lord, what in the world do you do if you kid just has a full on melt down. I mean, you came all that way, and what do you do, turn around and go home? Just get a sitter or your mom or husband to watch them. You'll enjoy yourself more, I promise. Oh and the dog thing. Just don't. I mean, I'm obsessed with my dogs but I don't bring them shopping. Would Lady look cute sitting in a wagon being pulled around Canton all day. Of course! But it's just not practical. And where are you going to put all of your purchases, if your buggy has a big dog bed in it? So fight the urge, if just for one day. (Of course this is just a suggestion based on my personal observation. If you're feeling brave then by all means, ignore me.)

6. Bring a map. Print one off the internet and bring it with you. You'll need it. Oh and pay attention to where you park, you'll want to get back to your car eventually. 

7. The buddy system. If you go on a girls weekend and bring several friends with you, don't expect to all shop together. It's difficult to all stick together in this place. So pair off based on what part of Canton you want to conquer. Believe me, it'll be way easier than playing the 'shop and wait' game. You don't want to stand around and wait on 6 of your friends while they look at stuff you're not in the least bit interested in. 

8. Have a meeting point.  If you are with several people and are not shopping together, then have a meeting point and time to meet. Usually whoever I'm with, we'll plan to meet for lunch. We'll regroup, talk about how the morning went, any great purchases we found, then we'll go load up our car. With our buggies freshly unloaded, our stomach full and energy levels back up, we'll go back out for Round #2. We'll settle on a departure time and plan on meeting at a certain place (usually it's the car). We'll load up again, then go eat dinner. 

That's a good start at least to conquering Canton. There is no way to possibly conquer all of Canton in one day but you can surely try!

 Conner & Scooter enjoying my vintage lawn furniture I picked up this past weekend in Canton. 

Weekend in Canton

This weekend one of my best friends and I headed to Canton, Texas for the largest flea market in the United States (according to their website). This was Alicia's first time to go to the Canton Trade Days and my fourth time. I also look forward to going especially around this time of year when it's not too hot.

Trade Days in Canton takes place on the first Monday of every month and the weekend leading up to it. The hardcore shoppers will park their RV's on Wednesday night and wake up bright and early Thursday morning to get the good deals. I think the gates open Thursday at 8am. We usually shop on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. This year Alicia and I left Friday afternoon, shopped all day Saturday and half of Sunday and drove home Sunday afternoon. That was the perfect amount of time because we were pretty exhausted at the end of it all. We ran into the former Mayor of Canton and chatted for a few minutes about the history of Canton Trade Days. It was interesting. He said that weekend their would be about 1 MILLION PEOPLE shopping over the course of the 5 days. Isn't that insane!?

Hotels fill up fast in Canton every month but that was actually to our benefit because I had to look outside of Canton to find this gem. Saline Creek Farms Bed & Breakfast is owned by this sweet couple who live about 10 or 15 miles outside of Canton. It made the perfect spot for our weekend.

We booked the garden cottage and stayed Friday and Saturday night. It was such an adorable place! So much better than a commercialized hotel. The owners served a wonderful breakfast the next morning before we headed out to shop all day.  

 My mom and a friend of my mom's drove over from Louisiana to meet us. The four of us had so much fun shopping for Christmas decor and gifts for people, eating funnel cakes & corn dogs (well, not me) but the most fun was definitely spending time together!

My mom has an excellent sense of direction so I usually just follow her around when I go with her to Canton. At times, it was just Alicia and I wandering around 2 square miles of booth after booth of shops and I quickly remembered that I was NOT blessed with a sense of direction. It is SO easy to get turned around in the Canton flea markets. 

We cannot wait to go back! The weather was perfect! We LOVE where we stayed! The trees were perfect. All in all, it was a great weekend. Couldn't ask for anything more. :)

Traveling South

What a busy last few days! I had an amazing weekend in Canton, TX and in my hometown Minden, LA. Wednesday evening I left Arkansas with my Kelly Moore bag, our winnings from Vegas and and antique shopping on the brain. Upon arriving in my hometown I was pleasantly surprised that the Subway there serves gluten free sandwiches. Yay! I ate at Subway three times in the course of 5 days! That's how excited I was about those sandwiches. In high school and college I probably ate there at least 3 times a week until I found out about my Celiac Disease. Apparently Subway has put gluten free options in several test markets and the Shreveport/Minden area just happens to be one of the test markets. It's too bad that Little Rock is not one of those test markets.

Thursday morning my alarm went off at 5:15am. Wow! I don't remember that last time I woke up that early! It was all in the name of CANTON, though. I went to Canton, TX for the first time last fall with my mom and I had a BLAST! I actually promised to blog about my trip to Canton and never did. So please forgive me! Maybe this post will make up for it. :)

We met up with some of mom's life long friends. :)

We arrived in Canton right at 9am when all the booths were opening. I had my list all made out from our fall trip. I still had several items I was looking for so I hit up some of favorite spots I remembered from last time, including Simplicity. They have the most wonderful smelling candles as well as home decor. To find most of the items that were on my list, we went to the flea market area where people basically bring "old junk" to sell. This is where I find all the good stuff - like 2 handmade quilts for $50 when they normally sell for several hundred dollars a piece.

Probably one of my favorite booths was this one where they made homemade Happy Meals for Doggies! :) How cute are these!? Of course, I picked up a meal for both Scooter and Conner!

Overall, it was a great trip! We literally were there when the shops opened and stayed til they closed. Thursday is a great day to go because the crowds aren't as bad as they are on on weekend! It was perfect! Also, I found several things on my list including a couple photo props, some home decor, some treats for the dogs and even some treats for me! I am definitely already looking forward to our next trip to Canton!

Camera Bag for Sale

Recently Buie bought me an awesome hiking bag for all of my camera gear. I was pumped. Only one problem - he ordered TWO instead of one. The company apparently has a one week return policy that we weren't aware of until it was too late so this amazing bag could be YOURS, my friends! It is a Tamrac brand camera bag and the price is $139.95. It has never been used and is an amazing looking bag!

It has enough room for your lenses and has plenty of padding to feel secure on a hike or while camping in the great outdoors! It can even hold your lap top, (up to a 17") too!

Please email me if you are interested!

Kelly Moore Bag

I used some birthday money from my in-laws to buy myself a little present. So, Mrs. Carole, if you're reading this, this is what you bought me. :) I am checking the mail everyday until it arrives on my doorstep. I think it was on backorder but it should be here very soon!

Visit Kelly Moore Bag to buy one (or two) for yourself! :)

Shoe Dazzle!

Have you ever heard of Shoe Dazzle? I was introduced to it by my lovely girl friends who are slightly obsessed with shoes. I, on the other hand, shop anywhere I can buy a pair for $20 or less and they don't kill my feet. And, I don't do heels. period. It is physically impossible for me to walk in them. I'm not sure if I failed that course in womanhood or maybe it's because I'm off balanced because I'm top heavy... (or bottom heavy would be a better way of saying it.) :) Anywho, I had a revelation. Yes, a full blown revelation- that is was high time for me to grow up. My closet screams college and my shoes scream homeless person! No, seriously, I am currently wearing shoes that have paint on them. (I'm allowed one homeless pair.)

And that is exactly how and why I found Shoe Dazzle. Listen to how genius this is, people. Someone out there in cyber space goes shopping for shoes just for you, emails them to you. If you don't like them, they will shop for five more pair and email them to you again. You pick your pair and walah! They show up on your front door step in your size and all for $39.95. That's right ANY pair of shoe for $39.95. Now, we're not talking Payless brand, people. Designer shoes for $40 bucks. And don't worry if you would rather spend that $40 that month on say, dinner with your hubby. You have from the 1st of the month until the 5th of the month to decline your shoe offer. Simple as that. You don't want them, you don't have to have them. Just wait til next month or the month after that.

My first selection: is Charlotte and I do love Charlotte. These shoes are a espadrille wedge heal slingback that are so comfy. I got them just in time for this warm weather!

I can't wait til May 1st to see my next selection! And if you haven't tried Shoe Dazzle you should! http://www.shoedazzle.com/

Wist List: Ballard Designs!

Anyone else out there obsessed with Ballard Designs like I am? Just in case you were looking to buy me anything, here are some ideas? ;)

Wish List: UPDATED!

*Updated*
It's that time! Get out your catalogs and sharpie markers and start circling because it's time for your Christmas Wish List! This is mainly for my parents, brothers, in-laws, and husband who keep on asking, "what do you want for Christmas?" If only EVERYONE did this then there would be a lot less exchanging and returning on December 26th.

Chirp Clock

The Kelly Moore Bag
-a photographer's bag


Paper Towel Holder
from Ballard Designs - This would look great in our kitchen and come in handy!

Jewelry Box:

I've had my eye on this jewelry box for a while. I actually purchased it over the phone about a year ago, gave them my credit card number and waited... it never came. So naturally I called Pottery Barn and the jewelry box was SOLD OUT so they never charged my card and just forgot to call me. I was so excited to see that they brought it back this Christmas season. I just hope I get one before they sell out again.

Kitchen Aid Mixer:

This one has been on my list for a while. We registered for it for Christmas and received many fabulous gifts...but not a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I'm unsure as to the color I want although this color would look great in our kitchen.

Blog Feature: Fresh Entity

Fresh Entity - a fresh new design in 2010 calendars, window decals and stationery!

This 2010 calendar printed on watercolor paper can be used as a desk calendar or a wall calendar. It comes with a silver clip and bow for a cute but simple hanging over a nail. Or it also fits any 5x7 frame for those of you who would enjoy it in your workspace. Each calendar has a unique design and encouragement from Scripture. It would be a great gift to share…especially with coworkers, your child’s teacher, or let’s be honest…anyone! Your calendar will come packaged with clip and bow. Each calendar is $15.00.Please visit www.freshentity.com for other special order items available for those in the area.

I just placed 4 calendar orders and I really really want this window decal, too! :)

Any of these items would make great gifts for Christmas, birthday or a "Just Because" gift. Head on over to www.freshentity.com and order yours today!

Stella Success!

Last night was the Stella & Dot jewelry party that I hosted. My longtime friend and basically my second mom, Julie, came into town to show her fabulous display of jewelry! Here are a few of my favorite pieces: Check out the celebrities wearing Stella & Dot!
Paris Hilton Debra Messing
S&D jewelry has been featured in so many fasion mags like this one in INSTYLE just last month. Where else have they been featured? Just take a look!
My good friend Christen made this wonderful cake for everyone who attended the party last night. Everyone RAVES about her cakes! So if you need one contact Christen! She can pretty much do anything! :)
We had such a good time visiting and trying on jewelry, I seriously don't know how I'm going to pick which pieces I want! They are so vintage and so classic. Stella & Dot has so much variety- they have a little something for everyone's taste. Go check out their jewelry here. If you plan on buying something this coming week, please click on Hostess Connection and type my name (Cara Beth Buie) in and the credit will go towards my party. Thanks so much! Enjoy your fabulous jewelry!
Don't forget about people on your Christmas List!