Thrifting Adventures!

I hadn't been out thrifting in a few weeks, so I hit up a couple of stores over the weekend.

Let's start with what I didn't buy.

I absolutely loved this love seat. It was pretty dirty, and total the wrong color, but I love it. I've thought about it several times and may very well go back this weekend to look at it... maybe it could work in my future sewing room?

On sale... maybe still there next week??

I also saw this really nice wing back chair, however it was the wrong color, and there was only one. I'm really trying to find a matching pair for my living room.

What I DID buy:

This awesome knit striped pencil skirt. It fits perfectly and I am really loving skirts right now in this summer heat!

$2.99!!

This awesome nine west purse. It's in brand new condition! It looks more red in the photos, but it's really a deep coral.

And then, something that is really impractical right now but I really needed this past winter, a "real" winter coat!

This past winter was pretty cold (for florida) and all I had to wear was hoodies! This coat is adorable and fit great. Now I just have to wait like 6 months to wear it.... but I'm prepared! 

Thrifting Saturdays!

I spent the better part of this Saturday out thrifting with my mom. I wasn't really looking for anything specific, but I still managed to find some good deals. Here's my haul:

I got this awesome, summery dress:

And this really cool beaded sheer shirt.

I made a boo-boo with this one though. I thought that I should just hand wash it, but the label said it was ok, so I threw it in the washing machine, and this happened:

:( sad face

I may try to resew on the lost beads, because it's only that one small section that came off. I don't know if I really have the patience for that, but I really really liked it and I can't really wear it as is.

I also scored this sweet Jessica Simpson wristlet, practically in new condition:

The tag was marked "2 pieces $12.99" but I looked and looked and could not find the other piece. When I asked, the manage said someone had stolen the matching bag. I didn't really care, I just wanted the wristlet. So he said $1.99!!! AND it was 50% off day, so I paid a whopping $1 for it!


I also saw this vase, which I'm labeling "Angry Owl". He did NOT come home with me.

Why so angry?

But this awesome blingy chandelier did!

I paid $20 for all it's brass and crystal glory, and I absolutely love it! This baby is getting spray painted and hung in my entry, as soon as I finish the 5,000 other projects I need to do.

So sparkly!

I also really was attracted to this light as well, but I just couldn't picture it anywhere in my house, so he'll have to get adopted another day.

Sorry, awesome wood chandy!

And lastly, I got these awesome brand new pillows for $2.99 each.

I've been wanting to pull some green into the living room, and these do it perfectly. They also perfectly match my home goods ottoman! I bought him just a few weeks ago.

I'd been wanting one of these for a long time, but I just couldn't justify the $400-$600 price I had been seeing.... I was super excited when I saw the $179 price tag on this one, and I snatched it right up!

I'll take some better photos of it once I get the living room better put together. So far, the only furniture we have in there is this ottoman and the Tv and stand. But hopefully for not much longer!!

Orange Dress to Shirt Refashion

Happy New Year everyone! I wish health & happiness to everyone in 2014! I rang the new year in with friends and family, and I did it wearing my first clothing refashion! Read on for the details!

I was searching through the dress rack at my local goodwill, when I came across this orange nightmare. It was a 50% off day, so I paid $3.00! It is extremely long, and the slit on the side is longer than my entire leg! I think it must have really been some sort of beach cover up, because I can't imagine someone actually wearing it as a dress with that slit.

Feel free to mock my expression and my excessive collection of empty shopping bags.

BUT I really like the silky, breezy fabric, it has no stains or tears, and although I'm not typically a fan of orange, I've been trying to branch out with my wardrobe choices lately.

The slit is higher than my waistband!

The pattern and color are very overwhelming for a dress. So I found a shirt of a similar material and that fits me well, and put it on top for comparison.

Next came the big (SCARY) chop!

No turning back now!

I then tried on the shirt, and decided I wanted to take in the sides just a tad. I needed to sew up that awful slit anyway.

I ran the hems through my machine, and then tried it on for size! I was happy with the fit, so I then pinned the bottom and hemmed the shirt.

Tada!

Voila! I was so pleased with my refashion I wore it out the same day, to my sister's New Year's Eve party! It was a bit chilly(for Florida), so I paired it with a white denim jacket (thrifted), a royal blue necklace (Target), and my favorite jeans.

On a more self depreciating note, here is what happens when your husband takes a photo right when you sneeze:

"Blue Steel"

I LOVE how this shirt turned out, and I can't wait until it warms up and so I can wear it without the jacket. It is a very light and breezy fabric and it'll be very comfortable in hot weather. I also have some plans for the scrap piece I chopped off, and keep an eye out for that!

Happy New Year!!

Coral Dresser/TV Stand

I've finally got my TV console finished! I'm still waiting for the paint to fully cure(I used latex which can take 30 days to completely harden), which is why there is no TV on the TV console.

Sorry about the shadows... I need to invest in a "real" camera!

Goodwill dresser as a TV stand!

For a while now, our spare bedroom has been basically like a storage unit. Barely any furniture, and odds and ends starting piling up. I'm finally getting around to getting it organized, and my first step was finding something for the TV.

I knew I wanted something like a dresser or large console table, because I like the unique look and I really could use some(hidden!) storage!

I tried for a few weeks to find what I was looking for on Craigslist, but sometimes it's really hard to find what you want, at the price you want, and even just getting people to respond can be a pain! Imagine my delight when I walked into Goodwill and saw this baby:

Shout out to my hubby for dragging this in the house by himself!

ANOTHER upcycled jewelry box!

What is it with me and vintage jewelry boxes? I just can't stay away! I found this one hiding in the back of the thrift store, begging to be saved. Aside from being badly outdated, it was in really good shape, and it has a lot of storage! Here's the before:

Thrift Store Mirrored Tray Redo

It never ceases to amaze me the things I find in thrift stores that other people have overlooked! I found this awesome mirrored brass tray cast aside on a corner shelf... and it spoke to me!

 

Yes I like garlic sauce with my pizza!

I was so excited to get started, I started taping off the glass without taking a "before" photo!

Happy Fourth of July!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday! Today goodwill had a 50% off sale, so I managed to score an awesome dresser for my bedroom for only $40!

This thing was solid wood and majorly heavy... we had to take the drawers out!

There and Back Again...

This past weekend my baby brother got married in Ohio!

Congrats to the happy couple, Jonathon and Laura!

While I was in Ohio, I had time to visit family, and I even checked out a few thrift stores along the way! In particular my favorite was a thrift store in Streetsboro, Ohio, called "Fabulous Finds". This store was HUUGEE in thrift store terms and had so many interesting things!

Thrifty Fashion!

I buy a lot of my clothes and accessories from thrift stores, and I always receive compliments, and then amazed looks when I tell them where I got it. There are treasures out there for the taking, people! I never pay full price for anything. You can find gently used(sometimes brand new!) designer and quality clothing and accessories at thrift stores! Even those on a limited budget can still enjoy shopping and looking their best, and for me, I just revel in the fact that I am paying MUCH less than what the item originally sold for. Take a look at today's find from Goodwill, this awesome "croc" Jessica Simpson brand purse.

Look at that adorable ruffling!

I know Jessica Simpson's line isn't designer per say, but I do know that her purses range from $100-$200, at least the ones I have seen. I paid $6. Six dollars!!!! This purse is practically brand new. There isn't a single speck or crumb inside or out. I love finding great deal! What have you found lately?

I went to thrift shops before Macklemore made it cool....

'cause I'm cheap, yo! Happy Friday! I hit up a couple thrift stores after work today, and thought I'd share what I found! If you haven't been thrifting before, what are you waiting for? There are treasures out there waiting to be discovered!

I want to share something with you. I have a problem. I obsessively hoard milk glass/white ceramics. I don't know exactly what about them I love, they just speak to me. One day I'll post my entire collection, but here is what I found today:

These awesome pieces:

The tall vase is now one of my largest pieces! I also really love the simplicity of the small tea cup.