Day trips!

I was in Pasadena this past weekend for a friend's baby shower taking place at a restaurant on Colorado Blvd.  I decided to walk around a bit after the shower since Colorado Blvd. is so pedestrian friendly. 

One of my highlights was running into some ladies from the Walter Hoving Home, and chatting a bit about their awesome organization.  They asked me for my name so they could pray for me!

The other highlights were taking in pretty sights, and discovering a (new to me) museum: The Pasadena Museum of California Art.

I also came up with a fun day trip itinerary (I've heard other people say this, and I agree--I think So Cal is most enjoyed by taking in a small part of a neighborhood at a time).

So, if I could take a day trip to Pasadena (more specifically Colorado Blvd.), it would include:
1. A fresh and healthy meal at Tender Greens (thanks to my sister-in-law who got me hooked).
2. Browsing at Vroman's (an independent bookstore--love this place!).
3. Admiring the fancy rugs that I will never be able to afford at the fancy rug store.
4. Exploring the Pasadena Museum of CA Art and the Pacific Asia Museum (you can get 1/2 off admission on one if you show proof you visited the other).
5. And if I had the time and energy left, stopping by Target.  That is one posh Target on Colorado Blvd . . . even on a Saturday afternoon it felt leisurely and calm, and no one was breathing down my neck as I was picking out deodorant.

Lastly, I felt triumphant as I dodged crazy LA gridlock (there were both USC and UCLA home games happening that day) by getting off the freeway early and taking side streets to get home in about 30 minutes.  Something like this is a nice sign that I'm finding my place in this sprawling city.

Antiques and Old Towne Orange

Did any of you grow up watching PBS' Antiques Roadshow?  I remember catching it here and there on PBS with my brothers when we were little.  We enjoyed watching the reactions of people finding out what their treasures were worth . . . or not worth, at which point we would laugh at the TV like we would laugh at one another if we had accidentally tripped over a rock while walking to school.  We weren't very nice.

Fortunately, when I watch the show now I'm a bit more sympathetic to people's reactions.  There was one episode where a man started choking up when he found out how much his antique mug was worth.  It was almost as if he was in a tough situation and needed the money.  This made me tear up. 
And speaking of emotional reactions on this show, there's a stark difference between the American version and the British one.  The people on the British version of the Roadshow are far more restrained and controlled in their reactions whereas you've got Americans hugging the appraisers once they find out that great-grandma's old painting is worth thousands.  It's very entertaining.

I enjoy the history and uniqueness of antiques but find that thrifting and flea markets fit my budget a bit better than hardcore antique shopping.  It's just exciting for me to look through piles of junk to find unique treasures and objects that I can give a second life to.  I seriously get an adrenaline rush hunting for those hidden gems.  There are all these junk shops and thrift stores in my new neighborhood so I can't wait to explore soon.

I found these pictures that I took over the summer during my visit to the Orange Circle Antique Mall in Old Towne Orange.  I took a trip with some of the college students I used to work with.  I love this area of Orange County because it feels like a quaint, small town.  They hold an International Street fair each summer so I took pictures of some of the banners lining the different blocks.

Are you an antiquing/thrift store fan?  What treasures have you found recently?