Fun Junk

If you google “Mother-in-Law,” the first result is a website called “Mother-in-Law Stories and Mother-In-Law Jokes.” Other first-page results are a 15-step WikiHow on “How to Deal with a Difficult Mother In Law” and a 2008 Time article called “Mother-in-Law Problems: They’re Worse for Women.” MILs (acronyms are very important in blogging, I hear) get a pretty bad rap. I guess sometimes it’s deserved- my paternal grandmother was a pretty notorious mother-in-law herself, not allowing my mom to enter the house or come to Thanksgiving, even once my parents were engaged.

But it seems I’ve lucked out, because Nick’s mom is a really wonderful lady. Honestly, half the reason I’ve stuck with Nick’s sorry a** is because I like his mom so much.

The real reason behind this post, though, is to extol the virtues of Fun Junk, the vintage wonderland and licorice boutique owned by my future mother-in-law and located in Olympia, WA. It’s always one of my favorite stops when we visit Nick’s family, since it’s a hoarder’s playground- and I mean that in the best possible way. Fun Junk is full to the brim with all the weird, quirky little knicknacks you find yourself desperately needing, all displayed in the most beautifully curated little vignettes you could imagine. You just want to take it all home.

It is seriously the perfect place to shop for wedding things, since you’re pretty much guaranteed to find one-of-a-kind stuff. Teeny-weeny bottles, metal letters of all sizes, a box full of wishbones, test tubes filled with glitter- you name it, it’s there. An afternoon searching through the store will definitely net you favors WAY more interesting than a tulle bag filled with Jordan almonds. What about giving your guests a tiny globe? Or a pocketwatch filled with moss and antique velvet leaves? A rolled-out penny charm hand stamped with their initials?

You can find a selection of products on http://funjunkonline.com/, but the store is a must-see. Funk Junk also takes the show on the road and can be found at Seattle’s Fremont Market, the Alameda Point Antique and Collectibles Faire, and various other events.

But if you make it out to the store, make sure to take a picture in the egg chair. Check it out on instagram: #funjunkeggchair