I know I’m always rambling on about Bridgeport… Bridgeport this, Bridgeport that… But I have yet to really fully explain to you one my favorite things to do in this area.

I never thought I would actually be involved with antiques… in any way … they smell, they are dusty, they are 90% of the time extremely creepy… and… oh yeah- they are totally USED!? … BUT…. BUT— My weird feelings about antiques have seemed to dissipated as of late, and taken a strange twist in the opposite direction. One might call it an obsession. Perhaps it’s because I have discovered some really amazing pieces for my home at the local antique spots. In my area there are a handful of amazing antique stores, and let me just tell you– everything is priced amazingly- as in you cannot believe your eyes when you grab the price tag and lightly whisper to yourself the number in front of your face, hoping that there isn’t some aggressive antiquer lurking behind you about to steel whatever random trinket you just discovered and feel like you must own.

Most times I go to Stratford Antique (5 mins away), but just to look– museum style–. (you see, I have pretty much overdone it here, so I told myself that I need to cool it for a while). So, sometimes I allow myself an occasional visit just to be inspired. But on that occasional inspiration field trip, I always accidentally bring cash (which allows a 10% discount on items over $10) and I the last three times I was there I accidentally bought a variety of cow milking pails. Please. Reserve your comments.

I guess what I’m saying is that I love it there and if you are even slightly into antiques– I think you will too. But maybe after I’m writing this I’m thinking that I should have kept it my little secret. Let’s do this… If you go, do NOT buy the cow milking pails. Those are mine. I buy one every time I go. Give yourself a few hours (they close at 5, promptly), and look around for whatever your little heart desires. While you’re there you should also pop a few quarters in the soda machine and enjoy some Coca-Cola, which comes in a cute, little vintage bottle. I repeat, do not go near the milking pails.

OH! ps, Stratford Antique is where I got THIS!