Twinkies and L.L. Bean

Successful thrift shoppers keep an open mind while sweeping the racks. Thrift shopping isn't like going to the mall. You won't be able to pop in and grab that one thing you need. It doesn't work that way. Looking for a specific item will only bring disappointment.

Even though you can't get too particular, you can still keep a running wish list of things you hope to find. Keeping some focus to the flexibility makes for thrifting victories. Here are some items that are currently on my list:

1. Leather bomber jacket (wishful thinking)

2. Fitted denim jacket that I can cut the arms off and make a vest

3. The Dude's sweater (vintage Pendleton Cowichan Cardigan)

4. Red plaid thermos

5. 1950s Pyrex, especially a blue snowflake print

6. High-quality champagne bowls

7. Egg cups

8. Vintage rotary phone, preferably in robin egg blue

9. Cashmere sweaters (even slightly ugly ones are fine-I like them to bum around in)

10. Vintage children's books about sloths

11. Retro L.L. Bean apparel (men or women's)

So...this list is a little weird. If our items reflect something about ourselves, our inner psyche, I think my items show that I am...weird. Big surprise. 

Well, this weekend, I found something on my wishlist: A vintage (I think) L.L. Bean goose down vest. 

I'm going to pair this with skinny jeans or a skirt.

I always keep an eye out for L.L. Bean things because (1) I like the timeless preppy aesthetic and (2) their stuff really holds its own in quality. Some brands are like yogurt-not a long shelf life. Other makes are like Twinkies (R.I.P. Hostess); they keep forever. 

I want to go hang out in Freeport (in July).

L.L. Bean is like a Twinkie in that you can trust that it will be just as good 15 years down the line. I don't know if the friendly folks at the Bean would appreciate the Twinkie analogy. They would probably prefer something more crunchy granola, but granola gets funky after a couple months and I can't think of any politically correct food that works with this comparison. Besides, the L.L. Bean people and their golden retrievers are all the way up in Maine and are probably too busy snowshoeing through the forest and cozying up in mountain lodges with big plaid blankets right now to concern themselves. I'm not too worried about retribution. 

Hopefully, my luck will transfer to any of you readers who likes to hit up the local Salvation Army (go on Wednesdays for the 50% off apparel deal) and you will find something on your own wishlist. Happy hunting. 

A Very Thrifty Christmas

Ohhhh, Ahhhhh

This is my first Christmas in my own place. Of course, my family lives just up the road so it isn't too different. We get a tree every year (not too fat, flat back to put against the wall) and set it up in the parlor. It's become a tradition for the three sisters to decorate the tree together (I will not do the garland...nor the lights-I am only in it for the glory of the ornaments). I will be back one evening this December to grab the boxes from the attic, fight with my sisters, and hang my favorite ornaments.

But this year, I am not home every night to sit in the parlor by the tree. My sister has a little tinsel one she offered to me for my apartment, but I decided against it. In a rush of post-Pinterest adrenaline this weekend, I decided that I wanted my own, real Christmas tree.

My requirements for a tree were that it had to be small (my apartment is teeny-tiny) and inexpensive. *Shakes fist at Sallie Mae*

Like any adult in her very own place, I did the independent thing I drove right back home and had my dad help me with this project. We live in the country and have some fields and forests in our graaaand domain. I figured we could pick out a pine in the woods.

 Let me tell you, we were very well equipped for this adventure. A lot of blogs have DIY projects with the message that "anyone can do it!" Well, you can't get a tree the exact same way I did without the following items:

1. A golf cart (because tramping in the woods is sooo last year)
2. A crazy cool chain saw thing that looks like a big set of scissors
3. A cordless Honda generator to run said set of jacked up scissors
4. Powertools
5. Rubber washers, a long screw, a tuna can, and a piece of plywood about 10" x 10"
6. A dad to do all the work

We set off and found a good little hemlock tree (don't drink the sap, Socrates), cut it down with aforementioned awesome scissors, trimmed it up, and brought it back to my dad's shop in the golf cart. He took a tuna can and drilled a hole in it. Then, he put a washer on either side of the drilled hole, placed a piece of plywood below, and the tree above. One zip with the power drill up through the plywood, past the tin can, and into the tree trunk and a big screw held the whole thing together. Voila!

I tossed the tree in the car, gave my dad a hug, and head down to a local thrift store where I scored some old glass ornaments, retro big-bulb Christmas lights, a piece of fabric to cover the base, and 2 stockings to hang with care (I also found a Christmas apron, a chunky red scarf, some unused bows for gifts, and the kitchen sink)-all for $17. For the crowning glory, I cut out two star shapes from a cereal box, painted them with Mod Podge glue, sprinkled glitter, and adhered them to either side of a clothes pin with a hot glue gun.

Like a Martha Stewart project...done by 3rd graders

 I also painted two temporary hooks with glue and glitter for the stockings.

One for me, one for me

All in all, this Christmas tree and assorted sundries cost me $17. But I had the advantage of a handy dad, a personal tree lot, and a really awesome thrift store. You might be able to emulate this somewhat by shopping at a thrift store for your decorations. However, I would not suggest poaching a tree if you don't have some country space of your own. Also, you can't have my dad and his cool power tools.

Oh my goodness, it's adorable.

I am so excited about my first Christmas tree. No matter how you come by it-whether you pick it out in a lot, cut it down yourself, or dig it out of the ground a la Clark Griswold- finding and decorating a tree is such a special way to herald in the season.

Where do you find your Christmas tree?

Where to Thrift

Oh, hello pink Theory chunky pumps. Yes, I will buy you for $4.

After my first blog post about thrifting, I received a question about good thrifting locations. Of course, I am very well-acquainted with the thrift stores in my area and I know their sale days (50% clothes on Wednesdays at the Salvation Army) and which store is best for home-goods, books, clothing, accessories, etc.

How I love bright vintage sheets. My grandmother had some just like this!

Very Wes Anderson wall decoration.

However, my very specific recommendations wouldn't be of much use to those living even 60 miles from my locale. Therefore, I have constructed a list of where to generally look for good thrifting opportunities. I have lived in many different areas in the past 7 or so years, so I have had experience with good and bad thrifting and I have noticed some themes:

1. Urban areas aren't always best. 

You would think that thrifting would be amazing in cities like New York, right? Wrong-o. I would love for someone to correct me on this (give me a store name, street address, and nearby subway stop!), but I have found thrifting in NYC  (Manhattan)  to be horrible. My biggest gripe? The price. Way, way too expensive.

I think I know the reason for this. Hipsters. Do not thrift where cool people thrift. They grab all the good stuff and drive up the prices. I like to thrift in areas where customers are predominantly moms looking for a good deal on kid's clothes and older men and women checking out books and baskets. I saw a hipster at my local, most frequented thrift store-once. I sighed when I spotted him and prayed that he wasn't indicative of a coming influx of straight-leg-jean-wearing-artfully-ruffled-hair-sporting-The XX-listening cool people. Shudder. It was a disaster. He swiped a robin egg blue vintage suitcase that I had my eye on ($2.00!). I was planning on using it for under the sofa quirky storage. He was probably planning on bringing it back from whence he came (probably NYC...probably Brooklyn) and poking people on the subway with its slightly cumbersome angles. I hope I never see him again. I like to be the only person looking out for somewhat wacko vintage finds and I don't want to compete with anyone cooler than me (it is terribly hard not to be cooler than me).

2. Sometimes urban is okay.

Hey, I know I just dissed NYC for thrifting and implied that urban areas are a no-go. However, I want to officially explain an exception. The culture of some cities does not foster hipsters and focuses on the new and the flashy. These cities are more materialistic with an emphasis on of-this-season fashion and style. If you see more than one billboard advertising plastic surgery in a one square mile area (bonus points for if the board shows before and after pics with lots of skin), it is very likely that you are in one of these cities.

Miami, I am looking at you!

I briefly lived in Miami a couple of years ago. I cannot say that I much cared for this city. While I was happy to leave it behind, I get a lump in my throat when I recall the thrifting.

Hipsters don't seem to exist in Miami. I think they might melt in intense sunlight. Therefore, there is not too much competition. Also, there is a large elderly population in South Florida in general, so that adds beautifully to the vintage stock. People in this type of urban setting seem to get rid of a lot of really nice, new, and high-end apparel items. Additionally, you have groups of people not originally from outside the United States that donate even cooler gear (my favorite thrift store in Miami-Dade County broadcast their announcements in Spanish, Creole, and English). I don't know if LA is like this (I often associate Miami with LA, but maybe that is just a side effect of the Kardashians), but if you come across a flashy urban area and you don't notice anyone wearing old-school Ray Bans, throwback kicks, and fabulously worn t-shirts, go look for a thrift store.

Honduran leather boots that I must guard with my life from my sister.

Classy sassy.

3. Rural is meh. 

I like in a relatively rural area. If you go one direction from my house, you reach a small city. If you go another, you get to the deep rural Amish country. I'm talking hitching posts at the grocery store here. I absolutely love the charms of the rural life. It's beautiful, there are neat farms (even one Amish farm that raises camels for infant milk research at a big hospital!), and great produce. However, thrifting in these really rural areas is a real bust.

I think people who work off the land and raise animals tend to keep their clothes until they wear out and do not donate much. When you were a kid, school clothes would become play clothes after you wore them out. I think for people who do more physical activities like animal raising and crop farming, the same process applies: they just turn their nice clothes into work clothes and then wear them until they are ready for the rag bag. This economical and practical policy may benefit the original clothes owner, but it does not make for happy thrifting.

If you want cool shopping when you are in a rural area, go check out farm stands and Amish markets instead. You can get fabulous produce, meats, cheeses, breads, desserts, and soap. Now that's what I call shopping locally!

4. Your best bet are small or mid-size cities. 

For the best thrifting, go check out mid-size or small cities. Large towns can even work, especially if there is a really high-end college or hospital in the area. These places have more supply than rural and less demand than urban. I like to look for the places that are the dumping grounds for "ladies who lunch." You can usually get some lovely conservative items here. I see a lot of Talbots and nice leather shoes. You can also search for the stores that get the most donations from older people to find vintage and retro pieces.

Pretty and on-trend.

Classic.

I love kids' books!

I always keep an eye out for Pendelton wool. 

Oh my god, Cher! This dress makes me feel quite "clueless."

Whew! That was a long post. Of course, I am joking about my disdain for hipsters. I own throwback Ray Bans, TOMS, and a couple 50/50 Hanes t-shirts, so I cannot cast stones. I just like being the big fish.

When it comes down to it, successful thrifting really depends on consistency. You have to go often and accept the hit or miss nature of the hunt. Thrifting isn't like walking into the Gap. It takes time and patience. You won't always find something that works and it can be really frustrating. But, oh, when you do get that awesome, unique item for a steal, the thrill is totally worth it.

This Is Why I Love Thrifting

Source

When Holly Golightly gets the "mad reds" she pops over to Tiffany's for some retail therapy. I don't have this kind of budget (although, neither did she) and there are no glam stores like that where I live, so I go thrifting. While I'm not quite ready to totally break up with the mall, I am very dedicated to thrifting. I hope to be doing many more posts on thrift store shopping on this blog-I truly love it! 

Here are my latest thrifting thrills:

For my momma

I don't just thrift for myself. Both my mom and my sister hate hate hate shopping, so I always keep an eye out for them. This is really fun because we all have different styles and body shapes. I feel like Stacy and Clinton when I snag items and outfits for my other family members: I have to remember their coloring, lifestyle, and best fit. It is challenging and very rewarding. Here is a fall/winter outfit I picked out for my mom. I would love to see it with heels or boots and a fun, colorful necklace. The nubby trim adds a lively touch. The skirt is from Old Navy ($1), the silky tank is from Talbots ($4), and the jacket is also from Talbots ($5).

for my sister

My younger sister has a narrow waist and long legs, so this A-line skirt style looks awesome on her. It also is really flattering in the *ahem* tushkin area. The shirt has a higher neckline and little ruffle details in the front. This kind of thing wouldn't work on me-adds way too much bulk to an area that has enough. On her, however, it is lovely. These items are really pretty, but not in my size or a style that looks great on me. I was glad to find them the right person. I would love to see her wear this with a cardigan and flats or even a fitted denim jacket and boots. The shirt is from the Gap ($1) and the skirt is a brand I don't recognize ($1). 

But let's not forget me (I'm no thrifting saint, after all)...

Remember that Target Missoni line? Yeah, the one that everyone freaked out about? I remember it-ruefully. I hesitated for 30 seconds and the entire stock sold out. I didn't really want to spend $40 on a cardigan (I'm cheap, remember?), but I did regret missing out on the fabulous Italian look. Well, I don't have to regret it anymore. It is mine for the sweet tune of $4. Victory!

Mine! Mine! Mine! Muahaha!

And as if I wasn't lucky enough, I found this clock:

Tick Tock

It is so cute and retro-fabulous (my sister forbid me from using this word, but I defy her with glee) and only $1.50. 

So yes, thrifting is wonderful. I find special treasures for a dime and truly relish the process. Just remember: don't keep all the awesomeness to yourself! Share the glory and the finds. 

Food Files: Slow Cooker

It was suggested to me by a smart lady that I should try a slow cooker. I have heard that this is basically the laziest cooking option available-you literally throw junk in a pot and ignore it all day. As one who gets grumbly in the kitchen, this is a fabulous option for me. I need food waiting when I get home from work. Some people can go a long stretch without eating or chow down on a cup of soup or bowl of cereal and call it a meal. I am not one of those people. I go from okay, to a little hungry, to a screaming, crying, shaking, absolute mess in about fifteen minutes. My special dude (this moniker is the closest male alternative that I could get to "special lady friend," which is what he calls me [Big Lebowski reference here]) knows to tread softly when I start complaining of hunger. On more than one occasion, he has asked me to please eat something dammit before daring to come over. I know I come by this honestly. My mom used to carry snacks around for my dad and my sister basically faints if she has less than three meals a day. Therefore-flourish of trumpets-solution:

Inadvertent outfit post: Sweater (Marc Jacobs-thrifted), Tank (J. Crew-outlet), Shorts (thrifted and hacked by moi), Shoes (Toms). You can't see it here, but I am wearing a gold pretzel necklace. Aren't you jealous?

Porch Makeover (Don't Worry, It Wasn't Too Extreme)

Whooo couldn't love these guys? Made in 1970.

I love kitsch. I'm not afraid to admit it. I love zig-zag, polka dot, and floral prints, animal figurines, a full spectrum of color, and anything that is slightly 50s-70s or Danish Modern. Though my tastes sometimes make others shudder (Dad, I'm lookin' at you here), I will not give up my tacky fun. Kitsch is great. It's what I love now. Luckily, it is so easily and affordably accessible, that should I change my decorating tastes in a couple years, I won't feel bad donating my collection to the Goodwill (from whence it came).

Obviously, I was thrilled when I saw the bright green AstroTurf of my new porch. Some might cringe, but I decided to embrace it and turn ugly into quirk. The flooring reminds me of my Grandma; I can just imagine her sitting out there back when she was younger, smoking a cigarette and drinking a Tom Collins (sweet, honey, make mine sweet).

To embrace the last of summer and Polynesian influences, I went with a kind of tiki tropical theme, inspired by this post from Oh So Lovely Vintage.  The porch was boring to start:

Blah Blah

old tavern chairs from grandma

Priscilla the plant stands slouches alone.

So! I added some paper lanterns, a big globe light (Ikea), a string of multicolor lights (my sister), a tropical tablecloth (swiped from home), a great rug from Target ($20!), and other silly little details.

Fuzzy pic-sorry.

The spectral image is my Ikea light. Darn, I am bad at taking photos!

Priscilla has such bad posture.

Priscilla only drinks fancy water.

Who needs Bose? I got my own speaker system (this really works).

Ugly Target table from college gets new life!

Oh yes, those are Tiki napkins (50% off at Big Lots). My favorite libation, Fresca.

Omg. I love this Florida tourist bowl (Salvation Army).

Festive! Pretty!

But what would a fun outdoor space be without good friends to share it with?

This was entirely posed. These people are not my friends. They are paid union actors.

Stop taking pictures, Maggie.

This is my ukulele. You should hear me play Lady Gaga on it.  

A fun project! Only took me about an hour and a half to make the whole transition. I have been hanging out there-playing music, reading, drinking Fresca-ever since.

This fall, I am going to transition it to a place to hang with a little space heater, nubby blankets, and pretty autumnal decorations.

Kitschy Chic Living Room

The inspiration for my living room came from Wes Anderson films (I love those overhead shots), Swedish/Danish design (a la Ikea), and vintage-centric blogs like A Beautiful Mess and Oh So Lovely Vintage. The ceilings for this room are low so I wanted to make things feel cozy. The walls are white, as is my Poang chair from Ikea.

This chair is a hand-me-down from an aunt's friend's fiance's roommate.
My sister painted the ugly black wood white and we bought a new cushion. 

Beside my trusty Poang chair is an old side table that belonged to my grandmother. I also have some little plates I found at thrift stores, an impulse buy rabbit (I have a weakness for rabbits-I even had one living in my dorm in college), and some pretty books. The lamp actually has a pink shade, it just looks orange here.

Flattering light

With all the white, I wanted to add more color and I made the bold decision to buy the Lusy Blom rug from Ikea (yes, I have spent a lot of time in Ikea-their meatballs are excellent). I loved the way the rug looks in the space. There is low pile green carpeting throughout the apartment, but this is softer and delineates the space of my living room. In the words of The Dude, it really pulls the room together.

I have been told that this looks like a playroom rug. I disagree!

My Karlstad sofa from Ikea was originally white, and stayed pristine until used by my sister. She had horrible, messy roommates. Thus, a cover was required. She chose a dark nubby fabric (I think it was going out of stock so she got a deal). My sister claims the couch cover is black. I really think it is dark blue. Regardless, it looks fresh with some new throw pillows.

The blanket on the ottoman in the bottom left corner I found at a thrift store.
It is really soft and has so many colors. I love that someone took the time to crochet this. 

My TV and DVD player are on an old school desk that has been around my house since I was a child. I love this here!

Check out ma pedi!

This is a little ottoman I found for $4 at a thrift store. I put a tray on it and it currently serves as a movable, makeshift coffee table. I have one I plan on rehabbing at home, although I am totally in love with this new one from Ikea.

The tray is from HomeGoods and the DVD box is from the Target Missoni line.

The box is a temporary hiding place for my wireless router. I put in an old record and music book for a bit of visual interest. I eventually plan on framing around 5 records for wall art. I have been looking for inexpensive record frames, but the best I have found are $10 ones at Target.

I need a prettier box here.

I need to figure out how to hide all these unsightly cords from my TV, DVD player, router, and lamp. Any ideas?

The bookshelf was given to me by my aunt. I can never have too many bookcases. I currently have little piles of books scattered around the apartment and two under-the-bed boxes full of them. Oh, English majors who grew up without cable!

Books! Books! Books!

I like to keep my bookshelves visually interesting by having both horizontal and vertical piles, organizing sometimes by size or color, and including extras like blue mason jars.

I like to keep my reading list eclectic. 

I love, love Jane Austen (with the exception of Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey). 

The display on top of the bookshelf is a work in progress. I will be fiddling with it over the next few weeks. The large piece is a collage I made from instagram pictures. The piece in the back left is from a very close friend. She bought it for my down in New Orleans. I also have some family photos, cute little Ikea tins, and a tiny clock.

The thermostat really pulls the whole look together, dontcha think?

I'm excited about how things came together. It is a really nice little living room with cheerful colors and lovely things. I can't wait to continue to add and rearrange over time.

**Post Note: There seem to be a lot of feet in this post. This was not an intentional lure to certain types of followers of the Quentin Tarantino variety.