Unique Gifts – 4851 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, CA

Oh wow– what a treat when I stopped by at 4851 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach recently. The shop is called Unique Gifts. Of course, like me you will likely want to keep everything in sight for yourself! When I visited, the store was just in process of getting set up. It looks like the idea is for small shops of independent merchants selling their wares.

I found unique items ranging from jewelry to jackets to small plants. This shop was a true pleasure to browse.

  • Unique Gifts – over 50 different vendors
  • 4851 Newport Avenue
  • Ocean Beach, CA 92107
  • Phone: (858) 222-0223

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Marc Jacobs bag at “My Sister’s Closet” in San Diego… 2nd Time is a Charm!

What could be better than scoring a dream handbag at a bargain price? (World peace, maybe. But the handbag is pretty awesome too)

My friend LD was at the right place at the right time- My Sister’s Closet in San Diego’s UTC neighborhood– when she scored this luscious Marc by Marc Jacobs designer handbag at the fabulous price of $295.  For sure, the second time is a charm!  Here’s the story… LD was strolling through My Sister’s Closet, near closing time and in search of a pair of jeans. Like any smart shopper, she cruised by the handbags to check out the scene.  She spotted the lovely Marc by Marc Jacobs dream handbag at the counter not even out on the floor yet. (right place, right time– bravo!)  Being the smart shopper, LD knew a good deal when she saw it– and in turn scored a fabulous bag!

  • My Sister’s Closet
  • 8610 Genesee Avenue #200
  • San Diego, CA 92122
  • Phone: (858) 455-0045
  • Web: www.mysisterscloset.com

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This goes to show that by consistently “shopping” consignment shops and thrift stores you can score amazing deals.  This same handbag retails for about $428 at the local Mall.  (Wouldn’t you rather have an extra $133 in your pocket??)

Happy Friday! I just had to share these lovely cupcakes. Considering I baked chocolate chip cookie brownies already tonite… Looks like I need a sugar fix. Oh well, cupcakes and brownies will give me more energy for thrift shopping Saturday. Cheers!

cobo0521's avatarOh, Courtney

I’ve been watching way too much Cupcake Wars lately and have had the cupcake itch for days! What cupcakes to bake?! Was the question. I figured, my favorite cake (vanilla), favorite frosting (cream cheese) and favorite fruit (strawberries) would do the trick to kick all my cupcake cravings!
Even more yum on the inside
I started off with the strawberry filling, you will need:

• 2 cups of fresh diced strawberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons of corn starch

Over medium heat, toss in your diced strawberries into a saucepan. Stirring constantly, you’ll notice the strawberries getting softer and forming their own little sauce at the bottom of the pan. Then add the sugar and corn starch, this will immediately cause the sauce to thicken. Stir until everything is blended completely, remove from heat and place strawberry sauce into a heat safe bowl. Set aside to cool.
Strawberry filling

On to the vanilla cupcakes! You…

View original post 261 more words

Like New… previously loved and new clothes

Earlier this week after a quick round of errands I stopped by my fave consignment shop on Genesee Avenue in San Diego. I’m seriously in search of spring and summer dresses and figured I’d see if it was my lucky day.

  • Like New – a tres chic consignment boutique
  • 4425 Genesee Avenue
  • San Diego, CA 92117
  • Phone: (858) 278-1960
  • Web: www.LikeNewSanDiego.com

The racks were overflowing with cute dresses in a variety of sizes and colors. I found a flirty Jason Wu for Target dress $14.95 that I really liked– unfortunately it was a shade too small. There’s always next time, right? I also found some super amazing high heel sandals Size 8 that would be perfect with jeans $22.95. The shoes were a size too big for me. (I’m sounding like the Three Bears of Shopping– this one’s too small, this one’s too big….) Sometimes it’s the thrill of the hunt and just shopping and trying things on is one step closer to finding what I want.

I always stop by Like New when I’m in the area. The stock rotates frequently and there’s always a rack or two of sale items out front.

Right now– all I can think about is those black heels in Size 8. (I’m probably the only woman alive who wishes she wore a larger shoe size!)

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Wordless Wednesday – April 25th

Sedona Arizona

Who Doesn’t Love Helping Animals? And Shopping?

I just love the concept of this particular thrift shop– support the animals!

www.APRL.org

Tonite I stopped by the Animal Protection & Rescue League Thrift Store on Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had moved into a much larger store in the same shopping center. It is much easier to “shop” now and lots more room to move around and find things. The inventory has blossomed to include expanded children’s section, Plus sizes (a very impressive selection of Plus clothing I might add), nice home decor and they even have furniture now! I found a handmade Japanese tea cabinet for $250– it was a beautiful item and if I didn’t live in a small studio apartment I would have snatched it up for myself.

  • Animal Protection & Rescue League Thrift Store
  • 5583 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
  • San Diego, CA 92117
  • Phone: (858)541-0240

Not only have I shopped here but I’ve donated my “spring cleaning”/purge items here too. Like I said, I live in a small apartment and I feel it’s always good karma to donate things to support a good cause.

My big purchase tonite was a gray t-shirt that said “Friend Not Food” on the front with a picture of a pink pig– now I will have a cute new shirt to wear on our next casual Friday at the office. Cheers & Happy Shopping! Always nice to shop & support a cause.

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Hello… Sunshine! Woohoo…

I’ve been nominated for the Sunshine Award!

Sunshine Award rules:

  • Include the award’s logo in a post on your blog.
  • Answer 10 questions about yourself.
  • nominate 10 other bloggers.
  • Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.
  • Share the love and link the person who nominated you.

It’s a fantastic list so stay with me…

First,  I would like to thank the inspirational blogger who nominated me… http://astimegoesbuy.wordpress.com/ what a nice surprise on a Monday! I love reading her blog and hope someday with lots of practice mine can look this good. Bravo! I feel honored to be nominated for this award especially since I’m a relatively new blogger. Many thanks!

Answers to the 10 questions about myself:

  1. My favourite colour: Blue  (so why do I wear so much black?!)
  2. My favourite animal:  Cat– my first pet was an orange Tabby cat named “Peaches”.
  3. My favourite number: 7– lucky 7, what can I say?
  4. My favourite drink: Tanqueray & Tonic, Tall with extra ice and 2 limes
  5. Facebook or Twitter: Twitter– short and to the point
  6. My passion: I’m still trying to figure this out….
  7. Prefer giving or getting presents: Prefer getting presents but always fun to give gifts too (am I indecisive or what?!)
  8. My favourite pattern: Plaid
  9. My favourite day of the week:  Sunday…I try to make it my Quiet Time (try is the key word here…)
  10. My favourite flower: Roses

And for bringing sunshine to my laptop & life every day, here are my Nominations for the Sunshine Award:

Reading these blogs is always a pleasure which is why you should check them out too. Happy reading and have a fabulous week. Cheers!

What $33 Gets You at Old Navy

I’m supposed to be on a “shopping fast” right now. Yeah… about that… didn’t really go so well this weekend. Friday was the day of the flip-flops and yesterday was the day of $33 at Old Navy. Yes, you read that correctly– I spent approximately $33 at Old Navy and got 4 super cute items– a flirty summer dress, 2 basic t-shirts and a fabulous yellow recycling bag. And because I used my store credit card I saved 30% on my purchases which made the t-shirts ring up at the ridiculous price of $4 roughly. Of course, I went online right away and paid off the balance (wow, that took discipline!).

  • Old Navy
  • Fashion Valley Mall – San Diego
  • Phone: (619) 299-4329
  • Web: www.oldnavygap.com

I hadn’t been in an Old Navy store in a long time so just happened to browse thru for nothing more than a quick peek. I gravitated to the dresses where I was lucky enough to nab the last one in the particular style in my photo below– and it fit better yet! And, who doesn’t need a few cheap summer t-shirts?? In fact, I might go back for a few more. That chipper yellow recycling bag was just a wonderful “gift” and something I can use this summer. So much for the “shopping fast”– I’m hopeful this will be a better week… Cheers!

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Look at my new flip flops!!

Today I spent the afternoon with co-workers volunteering & picking up trash on the beach. Getting a head start on celebrating Earth Day I guess. We were at La Jolla Shores– fortunately it is now one of the cleaner beaches. After the beach cleaning I was in the mood for some retail therapy so me and KC (a fellow beach cleaner) strolled over to a few shops by the beach in search of inexpensive and fashionable flip flops.


We scored! I found some cute and cushiony– and highly colorful Reef flip flops for the bargain price of $24. My shopping cohort came in at just $26 for her cushiony dark brown flip flops. Who needs shoes when you can just wear flip flops all summer?? ( maybe if I hide at my desk all day I can wear them to the office???)

Cheers & Happy (early) Earth Day! A beach clean up and new flip flops make a great start to a fabulous weekend!

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Worlds Largest Eco-Friendly Department Store

The United States is one of the highest “consumer” countries. Yes, we use a lot of “stuff.” Which makes the task of recycling even more important. Tonite I visited EcoMart— a department store of sorts dedicated to helping all of us reduce, re-use and recycle. They call themselves an “eco-friendly department store.” More like a fancy term for a thrift store that stocks everything perhaps?

This place was fantastic! It’s a huge space filled with everything from mountain bikes, surf boards, small refrigerators, furniture to designer handbags and shoes. I spotted a $70 mountain bike, a bathroom sink for $50 and a Coach bag for $35. By the way, the prices were more than fair. Dresses came in at $7 and a pair of designer heels $15. I found a vintage fur wrap for $100 in perfect condition.

All items were in really good condition too. The store is packed with stuff. I got there towards the end of the day and a few things were out-of-order but overall shopping was a pleasure. They even had newer flat screen computer monitors and flat screen TVs.

  • EcoMart – “Be Eco Friendly”
  • 8199 Clairemont Mesa Blvd #A1
  • San Diego, CA 92111
  • Phone: (858) 292-2326
  • Web: www.eco-mart.us

Eco Mart will take a look at the stuff you bring in anytime and give quotes. They are accepting secondhand clothes, vintage items, furniture, appliances, musical instruments, sporting goods, toys… I could go on and on. Of course, the better condition your items are in the better price you will get. Be sure to also have warranties, paperwork and supporting documents depending on the item.

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