My Favorite Find of 2010, and The Magic of Thrifting!

It was fun looking back at my thrifted finds throughout the year the past couple days! I've had a bunch of lucky ones, including Ray Bans, a couple designer purses, and some awesome vintage treasures.

But my hands-down favorite? Well, it was something that I thought I'd never get back- the bear that Josh got me when we were 13 and 14 years old. The original bear got lost when a hurricane hit my parent's home in 2004, so when I found this identical one at Goodwill Outlet this year, I couldn't believe it!


Ty Teddy Bear, Goodwill Outlet

This bear reminded me that there's something almost like magic about thrifting. To one person, this little teddy bear was just a stuffed animal, but to me it represents so much more.

And that is why I love to thrift. While it's true that you never know what you might find, I never imagined I'd spot a piece of my history sitting in a Goodwill bin. Here's to hoping that next year will bring finds just as special as my bear to us all :)

Always,
Amanda

My Favorite Finds of 2010: #2

Today's favorite find is my floral rayon shirt :) It's the perfect lightweight, breezy summer top! It's easy fit, comfortable material, and cute print make it my favorite.


Floral Shirt, Goodwill; Necklace, Busch Gardens gift shop; Jeans, Target Clearance; Sandals, Goodwill Outlet; Bag, Goodwill Outlet; Sunglasses, Good Samaritan

This was also probably my favorite outfit photo of the year. I love when the hubby captures funny moments, like me about to fall off a huge mountain of mulch! I had to watch my feet as I balanced precariously on it...

Tomorrow is the last countdown post, and you might be surprised of my favorite find of the year! (Then again, if you've been reading very long/ know me pretty well, you might not be :) Care to guess?)

Always,
Amanda

My Favorite Finds of 2010: #3

Number three on my favorite finds of '10 countdown is my turquoise typewriter I dug out of an estate sale basement for ten bucks!



Black Typewriter: gift from Grammy :); Turquoise Typewriter: Estate Sale

 It's so pretty next to my Grammy's typewriter, and it works like a charm! As a journalism graduate, I especially appreciate these beauties :)

My dream find would be an old pink typewriter!

Always,
Amanda

PS: I forgot to mention it here, but Monday was our 2 year wedding anniversary :) Thanks for a great two years, Josh :)

My Favorite Finds of 2010: #4

For the last four days of the year, I'll be counting down my favorite finds of 2010 :) It was a great year for thrifting, so it's extra-tough to narrow it down to just four finds, but here we go!

Number four on the countdown is this very high-quality leather purse I found amongst the fake LV bags at Love of Jesus. I had been looking for a backpack-style purse that would be sturdy enough to last, and this beauty fit the bill perfectly:

Black Leather Backpack, Love of Jesus

My favorite feature of the bag is the exposed zipper, which seems to add a bit of toughness to an otherwise innocent staple. Of all the bags I've thrifted this year, this one is my favorite, and I know it'll be around for years to come :)

Stay tuned for my other favorite finds of the year, and let me know if you had a favorite!!

Always,
Amanda

A Wolf Hat, A Polaroid, and Snow!

I got one of the new Polaroid 300 cameras for Christmas from my parents, and it's awesome! I went a little Polaroid crazy on Christmas Eve and Christmas :)

Here's one of my favorite presents- a wolf hat/ scarf from my hubby!

Wolf Hat, Gift from Hubby; Vintage Coat, eBay

I love the wallet-size pictures that the new Polaroid takes! And with our new wireless scanner/printer from my in-laws, I can have the best of both worlds: a physical Polaroid and a digital copy :)

I especially like the effect of this shot, taken outside on Christmas day while it snowed. Is anyone else a big Polaroid fan?

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifted Holiday Outfit: Christmas Eve Sunshine

It's so weird to look at this outfit photo from just two days ago, because it was so sunny then! Now, it's snowing outside and looking a lot more like the holidays :)

Here's what I wore for a day of gingerbread house making (and accidentally destroying-woops!), Christmas lights looking, A Christmas Story watching, board game playing and late-night church service attending- a pretty cool Christmas Eve:

Shirt, Goodwill; Jeans, Goodwill; Vintage Camel Coat, eBay; Shoes, AJ Wright; Purse, TJMaxx; Vintage Gucci Sunglasses, eBay ($12!)

Oh yeah, and to almost top the awesome vintage coat eBay find, I scored these vintage Gucci sunglasses for twelve bucks! Just when I was about to give up on eBay, two great finds in a row have convinced me that it's still pretty great :)

I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and holiday :)

Always,
Amanda

Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to pop in to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! Here's mine and the hubby's Christmas card to you :) Thanks for reading!

I took this picture last night while out looking at Christmas lights :) Neat huh? I'll have my Christmas Eve outfit up tomorrow :)

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: Christmas Stripes and Leopard Spots

I am going to begin this post with a warning: this outfit is pretty far out of my comfort zone! While in blog land a large vintage men's shirt with leggings and leopard print shoes is fairly normal, you know how much of a jeans-and-tee girl I am :)

So here's my attempt at wearing a vintage men's shirt as a dress...

Vintage Camel Hair Coat, eBay ($10!); Necklace, Goodwill Outlet; Vintage Men's Shirt, Estate Sale; Leggins, Target; Leopard Flats, Love of Jesus; Green Suede Purse, Goodwill Outlet

Even though I'm a bit so-so about the outfit, I had to show you guys my new vintage coat! I scored it off eBay for cheap, and it's soooo warm!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas Eve and Christmas :) I'm headed off to the in-laws until tomorrow evening, but I'll be back Sunday with Christmas pictures!

Always,
Amanda

Connectivity

Ahhh, computers and internet issues! Our internet connection wasn't working last night or this morning, so today's post is going out a little later than usual!

Here's the last thing I thrifted on Saturday, a perfectly holiday-esque beaded purse:

Beaded Purse, Goodwill Outlet ($0.50)

The best part about this fancy little bag? The lady only charged me the wallet price since it's small! I can't wait to sport this with my Christmas Eve attire tomorrow :)

Have a great Christmas Eve Eve everyone!!!
Always,
Amanda

Ornamental

There has been a plethora of vintage Christmas goods in the Goodwill Outlet bins recently! I think that old Christmas things have more charm and appeal than their newer counterparts, so I couldn't resist these two ornaments especially:


Ornaments, Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

I didn't realize it until just now, but it looks like poor Santa's being attacked by the tiger in this picture! But don't worry- no Santas or tigers were harmed in the making of this blog post :) Both of these little guys are safe on my little silver Christmas tree.

Speaking of Christmas, we're supposed to get snow on Christmas day here in Richmond. I guess it would be nice to have a white Christmas, but this Florida girl isn't built for snow :)

Always,
Amanda

PS: Do you use vintage Christmas decorations too?

My Thrifting Outfit: Animal Print Times Three

Sunday was my only full day off this past week, and boy did I take advantage of it! I slept in a little bit, cleaned out my car, ran to Goodwill, and came home to watch some Freaks and Geeks! I got the series on DVD, and I am just loving it :) (Does anyone else think that Ellen Page looks/acts just like Linda Cardellini circa 1999??)

Anyway. This is what I wore on Sunday:


Zebra Print Scarf, Goodwill; Necklace, Goodwill Outlet; Zebra Print Shirt, Goodwill; Jeans, Goodwill; Leopard Print Shoes, Love of Jesus; Green Suede Bag, Goodwill Outlet; Big Mustard, Good Samaritan; Belt, Goodwill Outlet (100% Thrifted!)

So, um, this is how you wear three animal prints at once, (hopefully) without looking totally crazy... 
I have a sort of 'throw things on until it works' attitude toward outfits, and for some reason this didn't look right to me until I added that last bit of animal print with the leopard flats! But hey, any day that I can wear Big Mustard with conflicting prints is a good day in my book :)

Happy Tuesday! Y'all ready for Christmas yet?

Always,
Amanda

Kaleidoscope Heart

 I found a neat kid's kaleidoscope in the Goodwill Outlet bins on Saturday :) Whenever I find one, I love to take pictures through the looking hole and get all sorts of pretty images!

This time, the photos seem to more closely resemble x-rays than a kid's toy... like a look inside a particularly colorful person's heart.


Kaleidoscope, Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

Weird, huh? But there's nothing like some hippy, trippy-esque kaleidoscope pictures to brighten up a Monday!

And there's only 5 days until Christmas :) Come to think of it, maybe these pictures are a little bit holiday-like too :)

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: Plaid + Snow :)

There's still quite a bit of snow on the ground from Thursday's storm, but thankfully the roads are pretty clear :) If nothing else, snow makes a pretty, wintery background for outfit shots!

Plaid Shirt, Target Clearance; Sweater Vest, Goodwill Outlet; Jeans, Goodwill; Socks, F21; Studded Bow Flats, AJ Wright; Purse, TJMaxx; Scarf, gift from my Secret Santa!; Flower Hair Pin, Salvation Army

I was at Target the other night, and I found this super-comfy shirt for 75% off!! Four dollar shirts are lovely :)

Also, I got my gifts from my secret santa at work on Friday, and she did so good! I love everything she got me, especially this scarf! Thanks, G. :)

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: The Calm Before the Storm

Wednesday was a pretty good day. I got off work early, the weather was beautiful, if a bit on the chilly side, and I got to go to Goodwill Outlet :)
It's hard to believe that a mere 24 hours later, it was snowing like crazy and cars were spinning out on the icy roads!

Sequined 80s Shirt, Family Thrift; Jacket, F21; Jeans, Goodwill; Justin Roper Boots, Goodwill Outlet; Purse, TJMaxx; Headband, Target via Goodwill

It was pretty darn sunny Wednesday! Of course, I forgot to wear my sunglasses for this impromptu outfit shot, hence the grimace-like squint of my eyes...

The tiny bits of snow on the ground were the leftovers from Monday's surprise snow. Now that's the kind of snow I like- a little bit :)

Well, I'm off to work this morning, and then I'll be heading to the thrifts with the hubby! I'd love to find a couple more neat sweaters. Wish me luck, and have a great weekend!!!

Always,
Amanda

A Horse, of Course

Did anyone else grow up watching reruns of Mr. Ed? I grew up scared of horses, but I still liked that show :)

Speaking of horses, I have my last find of the weekend to show you guys today. I had to wait to post about it because it's a Secret Santa gift for a co-worker/friend, and she's getting it today :)

Meet the most perfect vintage oilcloth horse ever:


Vintage Stuffed Horse, Midlothian Antiques

I went searching this past weekend for something perfect for my Secret Santa. When I found this little guy, I knew he was just right! My S.S. rides horses and really loves them, so I know he'll be going to a good home :)

The vintage horse scarf has been hanging around my apartment for months, and I knew it would be the perfect addition to 'ol Mr. Ed :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Always,
Amanda

PS: No Guy Finds Friday today due to the snow. It took my poor hubby much longer than usual to make it home from work last night, so he was too tired to write anything. A stick-shift Mustang + snow does not equal easy driving conditions!

To Me, You are the World :)

I had a half-day off work yesterday since I work this weekend! You know what that means... it was Goodwill Outlet time :)

I picked a couple cool things there, including a pretty awesome baja hoodie, and this globe lamp!

Globe Lamp, Goodwill Outlet (~$1)

Unfortunately, I can't get it to light up! It still looks pretty awesome though :) Perhaps my handy hubby can fix it soon!

((While we're on the subject of globes, I want to take the time to thank you for reading this blog. It really means the world to me to have readers that appreciate Another's Treasure, so thank you!!!))

You might have noticed that this week's thrifted items photos have been indoors. That's the product of super-cold temps and snow here in Richmond! We got a little snow on Monday, but I think we're in for quite a bit today!!!

Always,
Amanda

Oh, For the Love of Puppies

I've always been a dog person, but lately I've been extremely puppy-obsessed! (It has a lot to do with my parent's new puppy Jake, who is soooo adorable!)

So obviously when I saw this spaniel puppy candle at Good Samaritan for 50 cents, it had to be mine :) It came home with me and landed right on my bedside table:

Puppy Candle, Good Samaritan ($0.50)

This candle very much resembles my first childhood dog, non-aptly named 'Lucky'. Poor thing had cateracs and seizures, but he was a sweet dog.

Although I know most of the blogosphere seems to be cat-obsessed, I'm a bit scared of them myself. But give me a nice little puppy dog, and I am in heaven :) Have a great Wednesday!

Always,
Amanda

Zeppelin + Needlepoint

Before you get too excited, this post isn't about a needlepoint vintage Led Zeppelin poster. (Although that would be pretty awesome!!!)

But it is about an awesome postage-stamp shaped needlepoint featuring the Graf Zeppelin, a German airship that flew from the 1920s and 30s. The actual stamp that the wall-hanging is based off of was a U.S. air mail stamp from 1930. Not Led Zeppelin cool, but still pretty neat!


Wall Hanging, Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

Possibly the best thing about this find was the price- it barely weighed anything, so it was less than a dollar at Goodwill Outlet!

The hubby isn't the hugest needlepoint fan as a rule, but he loves this :) Anything to do with aviation, and he's in. Don't you just love when you can find something that you and your hubby (or roommate, family, etc.) can appreciate? Awesome.

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifted Outfit: The Christmas Cookie Maker!

If you know me fairly well, you know I am not a chef by any means. I have burned numerous dinners and everything I try to bake turns out very badly. (I once made brownies that could break a window, they were so hard. Not that I broke a window with them!)

But with my mother- and sister-in-laws' help, it was fun baking tons of cookies yesterday :) Here's my comfy Christmas cookie making outfit:

Sunglasses and Bag, TJMaxx; Shirt, Goodwill; Vest, Goodwill Outlet; Jeans, Goodwill; Shoes, Goodwill Outlet; Jacket, F21; Fringe Necklace, DIY

I really want a fringe necklace, but I've had a hard time finding a non-metal one for a decent price! So naturally I made a quick one yesterday morning with some scrap leather strands and hair ties.

Well, that's about all I have for today! I didn't get photos of Saturday's finds yet, but I'll have them ready for the rest of the week :)

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: Red is the New Black

I used to wear red all the time, but for some reason I only have a couple really red pieces in my closet. This vintage Thalhimer's sweater is one of them, and I love it :)
I was perfectly cozy in my Mr. Rogers-esque outfit yesterday:

Vintage Thalhimer's Sweater, Goodwill; Flannel Shirt, Target Clearance; Cords, Goodwill; Oxfords, F21; Dooney & Bourke Bag, Goodwill; Ray Bans, Goodwill in Pensacola; Necklace, Goodwill Outlet

Speaking of red, Christmas is just around the corner now! This sweater makes me feel festive for the holiday, although I'd rather be sporting an awesome lion or dog sweater :) Someday, I'll find that just-right, perfectly ugly-cute sweater!

Have a great Sunday :)

Always,
Amanda

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas :)

I've been putting off decorating for Christmas in our apartment, mostly because it doesn't seem like it should be December already! This year has just flown by!

In the past couple days, though, I finally gave in :) Here's our little apartment's seasonal decor:

TOP: Garland from Dollar Tree; Handmade Stockings by my mom; MIDDLE: Blue wreath and silver necklaces from the dollar section of Target; BOTTOM: Mini silver Christmas tree and sparkly penguin topper from Borders; Ornaments from the Dollar Tree; Vintage wrapping paper on gifts from Goodwill Outlet; Vintage Christmas lights from thrift store

Really simply decor and it was quick and easy to make it feel like Christmas in here! (Well, other than the fact that it's downright freezing now in Richmond!)

I hope everyone has a great weekend :)
Always,
Amanda

Guy Finds Friday: Bye Bye Miss American Pie...

Hi everyone, and welcome to another Guy Finds Friday with Josh!

This week I have a cool thing to show you guys that Amanda picked up at an estate sale this past weekend: a Rye decantor!

When she showed it to me, my first thought was that it was awesome. My second: the Don McLean song American Pie. You've gotta love those lyrics: 'Them good 'ol boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singing this'll be the day that I die.'


Rye Decantor, Estate Sale ($1)

Although I probably won't be filling this with rye any time soon, it will look great next to my whiskey decantor!

Is that manly enough for you? Happy guy finds Friday!

Until next week,
Josh

Estate Sale Treasure: Book Edition

This past Sunday, I went to a pretty great estate sale that was overflowing with vintage books! (As well as a cool guy find that you'll see tomorrow!)

I looked through probably a hundred old books before deciding on these two primarily for the cover art:

Vintage Books, Estate Sale ($1 each)

Aren't they great? One of my favorite things about old books is the neat designs on the covers :) The Shakespeare book is made for children, too, so it's more of an easy read!

Although I love the idea of digital books and e-readers and the like, there will always be something special about an old book in one's hands.

Have a great Thursday, everyone :)

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: Leopard Print in Black and White

When I went to take my outfit photos on Sunday, I didn't realize my camera was set to black and white mode! Whoops! I guess I would have noticed if our neighbor hadn't started walking right toward me when I was taking this picture. Oh well :) There wasn't much color in my outfit anyway, so it worked out okay :)

Scarf and Moto Jacket, F21; Leopard Print Sweater, Goodwill Outlet; Jeans, Goodwill; Purse, etsy; Suede Slippers, Target

Let me just say how much I'm digging this circle scarf! It was on sale for $3 or so from Forever 21, but it's so easy and warm :)

And I found this sweater in the bins at Goodwill Outlet on Saturday! Not quite an animal sweater, but animal print is the next best thing in my book. (Still totally searching for an animal sweater though!)

Have a great Wednesday! We're halfway throught the week :)

Always,
Amanda

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

Life's a Zoo...or Maybe Just the Goodwill Bins!

I know I've said it a billion times, but you never know what you'll find in the Goodwill Outlet bins! Some of the things I've seen in there...I would tell you about them, but this is a family blog :)

This past Saturday, I found a little group of Wade animals sitting together on top of a box of adult diapers (unopened, thankfully!).

Wade Animals, Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

I'd seen these little guys in antique shops, but I didn't know much about them other than they were worth getting for less than a buck. After a little bit of Googling, I found out that they were made primarily from the 1950s to the 80s and some are quite collectible.

Of course these little guys have been through the war of the Goodwill Outlet bins and wouldn't be worth much anyway, but they're pretty cute!

I hope everyone has a great Monday :)

Always,
Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: Maroon and Double Dots!

Whew! I had a full day yesterday :) It was really fun, though!

I started the day by making a quick trip to Goodwill Outlet, where I found some neat little things. Then, I made my way to Norfolk to have a blogger meet up with two of my favorite bloggers (and all-around nice gals) Rebecca of The Clothes Horse and Emily of The Daily Fashionista! I ended the day having dinner in Norfolk with my awesome Aunt Shelley before heading back to Richmond :)

Here's what I wore for my fun-filled day:


Vintage Vera Scarf, Antique Shop; Polka Dot Shirt, Goodwill; Sweater, Etsy; Jeans, Goodwill; Oxfords, F21; Purse, Etsy; Pins, Good Samaritan

It was really great talking with Emily and Rebecca and watching The African Queen. It was my first 'blogger meet-up', and it was just lovely all around :)

As for my outfit, I am loving these newly thrifted jeans! They are so soft and comfy! And this is my version of cold weather polka dots- a dotted shirt with a dotted vintage scarf to keep my neck warm :) Ah, short hair in winter.

Well, I better go clean my apartment and do laundry and all that fun stuff! I hope you all have a great, relaxing Sunday :)

Always,
Amanda

What I'm Wanting: An Animal Sweater!

I've really been wanting and searching for an animal sweater for ages! And I still haven't found one, so it's still on the top of my thrift list :)

Here's a pretty amazing one on etsy right now:

Vintage Leopard Sweater, Charlievintage on etsy

Hmmm. If it was only a couple dollars, that baby would be mine! Here's to hoping I find one just as good while I'm thrifting this morning :)
Always,
Amanda

Jake the Puppy!

Instead of finding tons of thrifty things while I was in Florida, I spent most of the time hanging out with my parent's new puppy!

His name is Jake, and he's a mini Australian Shepherd ball of cuteness.

This was one of the few pictures I have of him where he's not a blur of fuzz :) I have to say, nothing lifts the spirits better than an adorable little pup!

Have a great Friday, everyone!!!

Always,
Amanda

Thrifty Blogger of the Month: Hannah of Heart City Vintage!

I'm so excited to introduce the lovely Hannah of Heart City Vintage as December's Thrifty Blogger of the Month!

I love Hannah's blog and her equally charming vintage etsy shop, and I bet that you will too :) She can pull together thrifted vintage outfits like nobody's business, and her thrift shop reviews are fun and honest.

Everyone, meet Hannah:


Hannah's outfit is completely thrifted except for the tights! (Photo courtesy of Heart City Vintage)

Another's Treasure: When did you first start thrift shopping, and why did you begin?
Heart City Vintage: I think I started visiting thrift stores in high school looking for weird clothes to dress up in with friends, but I got more into it in college when I didn't have much money to spare on new clothes. I started to find gems and got totally hooked!

AT: What do you consider your best thrifted find ever?
HCV: A clam shell lamp that changes colors. (See below!)

Hannah's Clam Shell Lamp (Photo Courtesy of Heart City Vintage)

AT: What would be the ultimate coolest thing to see for a dollar at a thrift store?
HCV: A light up world globe (clearly i'm stuck on lighting at the moment).

AT: Do you have any tips on finding great things while thrifting?
HCV: Go in with an open mind but also with some sort of a list of things you're looking for, don't buy things you won't actually wear or use, and bringing hand sanitizer never hurts!

________________________________________________________

Thanks, Hannah, for the interview :)

Be sure to check out Hannah's blog, Heart City Vintage, and her etsy shop too!

 

Always,

Amanda

My Thrifting Outfit: The Desert Limo

I had such a great time in Florida! It was so relaxing to just take a break from everything and chill out with awesome family and great friends :) While the thrifting in Brandon isn't the best (I only spent 50 cents on a bag of wooden beads!), I had fun hitting the thrifts with my mom, brother, hubby, and Grammy.

Here's my thrifting outfit from Black Friday:


Vintage Ray Bans, eBay; Sweater, Goodwill; Tee Shirt, Goodwill; Jeans, Goodwill; Socks, F21; Oxfords, F21; Vintage D & B Purse, gift from Grammy (Thank you!); Handmade Necklace from Mexico, gift from Mom and Dad (Thank you!); Bakelite Bangles, Antique Shop

I love my new necklace and purse! My parents got the non-metal necklace in Mexico when they went there a couple months ago, and my Grammy thrifted this awesome Dooney & Bourke purse for me too! I love my family!

Although I don't have much else to show you thrifting-wise from Florida, I do want to show you a photo of my parent's adorable new puppy Jake this week :) Tomorrow will be the Thrifty Blogger of the Month feature!

Always,
Amanda

PS: My camel tee has 'desert limousine' on it :) Awesome!