The Benefits of Holiday Thrifting :)

Saturday was New Year's Day, but that didn't stop me (and about 15 other people) from heading to Goodwill Outlet when it opened at noon!

The biggest benefit to thrifting on a holiday? There's actually pretty good stuff left! Case in point- a vintage leather Coach backpack purse that was just waiting for me to grab it :)

Vintage Coach Backpack Purse, Goodwill Outlet ($2)

It was pretty cool to find this, since a couple months ago I spent hours searching for an affordable one on etsy! Of course, none of them were cheap enough for my thrifty taste :) I just couldn't justify spending $30 or $40 on something I might find for $2. Sometimes, being a cheapskate pays off!

The drawback to going thrifting on the holiday was that none of my other favorite thrifts were open. Oh well! At least I have this coming weekend :)

Always,
Amanda

PS: Have any of you had a great find lately?? I'd love to hear about it!

Let's Call a Spade a Spade

I don't know about you, but I've seen so many poor quality Kate Spade knock-off bags at thrift stores! It seems like there's at least one every time I go to Goodwill Outlet. Maybe that's why this week, when there was a genuine Kate Spade tote in the bins, it was still left for me to get! Don't you just love when that happens?!

It's just the right size for a day purse when I'm feeling the need to add a bit of pink to an outfit :)

Vintage Beads; Kate Spade Bag; Goodwill Outlet

And I also found another vintage beaded necklace in the bins on Saturday! (Is this because I'm the only one who likes them, maybe?) I love the shade of green- it'll be perfect for the Christmas festivities!

Speaking of which, are you all doing anything fun for the holidays? We're staying here in Richmond for a low-key Christmas with the hubby's folks :) Maybe it'll even snow! It's certainly gotten cold enough these last few days!

Have a great Tuesday :)

Always,
Amanda

File This Under: It's About Time!

It's been a while- so long that I can't remember- since I thrifted a designer bag at Goodwill Outlet. This is due to a couple things. #1: GO has gotten extremely popular and busy; #2: Ladies will fight over the best bags.

And boy, do I mean fight! There's this one lady in particular who will bump her way to the front of the crowd as they put out new purses and shoes, and run over anyone in her way. You do not get in between this lady and that fake LV bag or those New Balance shoes, because you will get pushed aside!

It's quite comical to watch from the outside, but let's just say that I haven't been the triumphant one at Goodwill Outlet in a long while :) That is, until Saturday!

Dooney & Bourke Wristlet, Goodwill Outlet ($2)

For some reason, I ended up looking through the one cart that had a real designer item in the bottom! I picked it up and tossed it in my basket, and then I promptly got as far away from the purses and shoes as I could!

This little bag is the perfect size for holding my necklaces and hair clips when I travel, which is perfect since we're leaving on Thursday for Florida :) And I managed to get out of GO in one piece with it! I'd call that success :)

Always,
Amanda

Black Leather + Exposed Zippers

While I came home mostly empty-handed from the thrifts on Saturday, the one find I had was pretty major!

Apparently, a stylish lady had just donated her purse collection to Love of Jesus Thrift right before I got there! There were some vintage Coach purses,  a Matt & Nat purse, and some Vera Bradley, but this beauty stood out:


Leather Backpack, Love of Jesus ($5)

It's such a well-made bag, with thick, quality leather and a tough vibe. The best part is that it's just the right size to carry as an everyday bag- not huge, but large enough to fit pretty much anything you might need.

I can't seem to find a brand anywhere on it though! Have you seen one similar?

Always,
Amanda

Pretty Finds and Something Exciting!

First off, the exciting news! I have been thinking about it for quite awhile, and last night I finally went ahead and set it up. What, you ask? A companion blog called 'Things We Thrifted'! It's a place where all of you can contribute your thrifted finds and tell the story behind them :) Click on the link for the details!

Okay, back to regular programming.

The beautiful leather Liz Claiborne bag and the awesome 80s Sam and Libby sandals I found Saturday are both a wonderful shade of milk chocolate brown. Such a lovely color!

Liz Claiborne Leather Bag, Goodwill ($4); 80s Sam and Libby Sandals, Goodwill Outlet ($2.50)

These sandals are super comfy (always a plus!) and breezy enough for this oven-hot summer we're having here in Richmond :) I couldn't wait to put them on and try them out!

I don't have much more to say today, actually. Not going to all my favorite thrifts Saturday threw me off a bit, and I only came home with a couple of things. (Although the hubby made it out with some treasures that he'll be sure to share on Friday!)

Be sure to check out Things We Thrifted and shoot me an email to contribute! I'd love to see your finds!
Always,
Amanda

Chucks, Birks, and a Purse

I've always been a Converse girl. Well, at least since 9th grade, when my good pal Lindsay got some and I thought they were the coolest thing ever!

Imagine my excitement when they brought out new bins of shoes at Goodwill Outlet Saturday, and there sat brand new Chucks- in my size!

Naturally, I grabbed them and hi-tailed it away from the crazies throwing shoes everywhere as they dug. I'm not about to get yelled at by one of the extreme thrifters again :)

Love of Jesus also had a pair of shoes I've been wanting: good ol' comfy Birkenstocks in a cute variation of the originals.

I've sadly worn my thrifted fringed sandals down to nothing, so the Birks will be a great replacement for these last couple scorcher months :)

Lastly, I found this Chanel-like purse at Goodwill Outlet. I have always thought the copy-cat ones were kind of silly, but this one is more special feeling.

The faux-alligator top and black quilted bottom together make it a bit nicer than the usual peeling-vinyl plain ones. It's probably just the black/brown purse combo rubbing off on me from my mom :)

Have any of you found anything fun lately? I know some of you are participating in the remix challenge going around the blogosphere, but I bet you'll have epic thrifting luck after a 30 day absence!

I hope you have a great Tuesday :)
Always, Amanda

Black, Brown and Corn on the Cob

When I see a black and brown pretty leather purse, I think of my mom. She's sported black/brown purses since I can remember because they go with everything! So when I saw this one at Goodwill Outlet, I thought I'd give the black and brown a try :)

Leather Purse, Goodwill Outlet ($2); Made in Japan Vintage Corn Holders, Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

I couldn't believe it when I spotted these corn cob holders in a bin at Goodwill Outlet! They are so neat, and the hubby and I love corn on the cob :) Definitely one of my more random finds to date, though.

How is your week going so far? I always love to hear from you- especially any of your recently thrifted goodies!

Always,

Amanda

As Smooth as Caramel

I seem to be hitting my local Goodwill at the perfect times lately. I went Monday night with the hubby, and they had a bunch of awesome vintage new old stock leather bags!

Of course, it was the day before my payday, so I only let myself get one. It was between a slightly in-your-face navy and gold one and this beauty:

Vintage Leather Bag, Goodwill ($4)

I honestly couldn't decide, so I asked my dear husband to make the decision for me. He must know my style pretty well, 'cause his answer was, "I think the other one is too...flashy. The tan one will go with anything! You should get that one."

Yup. He's right. I am much, much more likely to use a bag that is a neutral but beautiful color than I am a navy and gold one. Isn't she a beaut? :)

I hope everyone's week is going well!

Always,
Amanda

PS: Ever since seeing The Runaways, I've had "Cherry Bomb" stuck in my head! Um, not the most appropriate song to be humming to yourself at work! Woops!

Estate Sale DIY: Chambray Bag

While I didn't find a perfect chambray shirt this weekend, I did find a chambray Capezio bag from the 1980s! Sunday I went back to the two-weekend estate sale from last weekend, and they had opened up all of the outbuildings :) I felt all American Pickers (my new fave show) digging through all the old dusty things!

When I unearthed a Capezio bag that most likely had been in this outbuilding since the 80s, I had to have it! Needless to say, it wasn't in great shape. After some OxyClean, TLC, and a round in the washer, it's nearly back to it's original goodness!

Before and After of Chambray Capezio Bag, Estate Sale (<$1)

I'll show you some of the other treasures I found this weekend throughout the week- I just couldn't wait to show you all the difference in my bag :) I hope you all have a great week, and happy Monday!

Always,

Amanda

PS: Have you guys ever restored a thrifted treasure? I'd love to hear about it and feature your before and afters on the blog! Let me know :)

Buckle Up

For quite a while now, I've seen brown bags with two buckles on some of my favorite blogs. I'd never seen one when I was out thrifting, though- until Saturday! The only good bag left in the purse bins at Goodwill Outlet was obviously waiting for me :)

Vegan Leather Bag, Goodwill Outlet ($2)

You can see that I am calling it 'vegan leather', as in, not the real thing. I just think that 'vegan leather' sounds so much nicer in every way than 'pleather'!

If I was still in college, I'd use this as a backpack daily. However, the post-grad-me is kind of dying to throw my magazines in it and have a day at the Florida beaches I grew up near. I guess I'll just have to wait until my Florida vacation in June!

Always,

Amanda

The New Four Dollar Love of My Life

After work yesterday, I decided to pop into the local Goodwill to see if I would have any luck. (It's pretty hit-or-miss.) I didn't see anything I wanted at first, but when I was glancing at the purse wall, I saw a pretty purple strap near the back.

When I grabbed it, it was the most perfect, buttery leather purse of all time! Even nicer than my thrifted Dooney and Bourke bags! For a whole $4, I got this beauty:

When I got home, I googled the brand, B. Makowsky, and it turns out that these bags cost up to $340 dollars! Oh, my! (Can you tell I am absolutely in love with this bag?)

Anyway...happy Friday everyone! I can't wait to go thrifting tomorrow :) Who knows what treasures are in store.

Always,
Amanda

PS: If you ever have any questions for me or are looking for something that you think I can find for you, let me know! I love getting emails from readers- it really makes my day :) Email me at: isanotherstreasure@hotmail.com

Saying Goodbye to D&B

Since I found a perfect vintage Dooney & Bourke bag yesterday, I decided it was time to let my other Dooney go. Since it's not vintage, I've listed it on eBay here if you're interested!

Have a great evening! Giveaway info tomorrow!

Always,
Amanda

A Coach Bag For Me :)

As you all have seen from my posts, I have been really lucky finding vintage Coach bags at Goodwill Outlet. However, most of them have proven too small for the amount of stuff I like to carry around.

But Saturday, this changed! Along with a bunch of other treasures at G.O., I found this Coach bag:

It's actually big enough to carry my junk around in! And I love the front compartment- it's the perfect size to hold the paper I edited this weekend for a friend. Just for fun, another find this weekend, from Love of Jesus:

Lol. I'm pretty sure I'm going to put this on my keyring, if only for a good chuckle every time I reach for my keys.

I found some other great stuff- I'll post my necklaces and crazy shoes tomorrow; my really cute new coat Wednesday :)

Always,
Amanda

Tuckered Out!

Wow, what a day! I went to so many thrift stores, I lost count. And the funny thing is that I got most of my best stuff at my first stop: Goodwill Outlet!

I got: Sperry Top-Siders, lace-up flats, a leather briefcase, a Vera Bradley ID case, 2 Louis Vuitton (not real, I'm sure, but cute!) clutches, 2 evening bags, a JCrew belt, an 80s belt, some typewriter paper ('cause it looked cool), and The Outsiders book.

And that was just at G.O. :) My total: $15.oo.

This is what I wore to thrift today, since it was chilly outside:

Brown Sweater, Goodwill Outlet (<$1); Leopard Print Vest, Family Thrift ($7); Bird Pin, Good Samaritan ($0.50); Boyfriend Jeans, Goodwill ($4); Boots, Goodwill ($2)

Some (yes, only some) of the bags I got today:

From top left, clockwise: Beaded Bag, Love of Jesus ($0.50); LV Bags, Goodwill Outlet ($1 each); Mesh Bag, Goodwill Outlet ($0.50); Leather Evening Bag, Goodwill Outlet ($1)

Whew! I'm tired just thinking about today :) I'll def have pictures and a better recap of the day for the next couple days... for now, some blog reading and dinner with the hubby are in my future!

Always,

Amanda

What I'm Wanting: Vintage Evening Bags, JCrew Shoes, Etc.

Like I was saying a couple days ago, vintage evening bags are one of my new obsessions. I was looking around on Etsy and found this one:

Photo via the Etsy listing linked above.

I totally want something like this to add to my collection! It is so bright and fun and adorable.

What I'm also looking for as I thrift this weekend: more cool sunnies, the perfect leather jacket, vintage pins, and... some JCrew flats! (I know this is kind of pushing my luck, but hey, you never know! Still pining for those ones that got away...)

Some more eBay JCrew flats, for around $20 with shipping. I know I can find them cheaper!

Have a great weekend everyone, and wish me luck today :)

Amanda

New Obsessions

It all started with this past Saturday's finds. Well, no, back up.

It all started with one of my most favorite people in the world: my Grammy.

She has had this tradition for her children and grandchildren for some time: we can all "put our name" on something of hers that we are especially fond of. And when she's gone, it is ours. I don't want to think about a time when my Grammy will be gone- ever.

Thankfully, over the years, I've inherited a couple things early. One of these things is Grammy's mom's vintage gold evening bag. Although I've only carried it a couple times, I've always kept it close to me.

My "New" Vintage Evening Bag, Family Thrift ($0.99); My Great-Grandma's Purse

Now, fast-forward to this past Saturday. I found a vintage beaded evening bag at Family Thrift for a mere 99 cents! And, really, how could I pass that up?

I can picture my future vintage evening bag collection- hanging on the wall all pretty and fancy.

And the vintage pins and cool sunnies I found Saturday have also begun a mild obsession with both items. I mean, what modern girl can't use some neat accessories to amp up her wardrobe?

My current vintage sunnies collection: More to come, I'm sure!

Always,
Amanda

Picnik's a Picnic!

So ever since starting this little blog (oh, about a week ago...) I have been trying to find cheap (free!) photo-editing software that I didn't need to download. (I have one of those netbooks that has NO storage, but is soooo cute :))

Anyway, I found a good site that's going to make my posts a whole lot cuter/easier on the eyes: Picnik.com.

It is super-easy to use and has all sorts of fun tools to play around with. Def not as advanced as Photoshop, but a whole heck of a lot cheaper!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!



I leave you with a photo of my beautiful Foley + Corinna Jet Setter Jr. bag (eBay, $60) with vintage men's tie around it, edited on Picnik.

Pretty, huh?

Always,
Amanda

Goodwill Shopping...Online?

Just recently, I discovered that Goodwill has an online auction site.

Um, how did I never know this?

Apparently, Goodwills from all over the U.S. list their fanciest things on the shopgoodwill.com auction site and bidders have at it. It's sort of like a thrifting eBay...for too lazy/tired/not-willing-to-deal-with-others people!

I looked through the clothing options and found this really cute vintage purse (why purses are under clothing, I have no idea) that I would love to have. If only the layout of the site made it as user-friendly as my beloved eBay.

Photo via Shopgoodwill.com

Anyway, if you can figure out how to use it, you should check out the site! And if not, it's still kind of fulfilling just to look through all the random stuff. :)

Always,

Amanda