Ducks!
I love the idea of Upcycling things. I found this awesome blog post and felt it was so awesome I just had to share with my own readers. I’m a big believer in “trash to treasure” in furniture– and life in general. You never know when you’ll find that diamond in the rough, right? Cheers everyone and keep me posted if you have any good Upcycling stories! –Jody
My tagline says “reuse, refresh, rethink, repeat.” Upcycling, I believe, is a great example of reusing, refreshing and rethinking. Today’s Vancouver Sun has an article titled “Upcycling hits the home show”, all about a number of designers who were challenged to find an item at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and upcycle it to something else. The challenge also raises funds for Habitat for Humanity, which makes it even cooler.
Some of the projects are quite unique – like Tazim Damji’s clever use of an old police stretcher, which she turned into a carry all with pockets for magazines, pencils and pens, etc. that leans against a wall. I don’t like the way it looks but it’s an awesome example of creative thinking.
I also did NOT like what Maria Killam did to a gorgeous, hardwood end table that looked like it was in great shape. She painted it…
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Sunday grocery shopping at the 99 cents store??
Usually I do my grocery shopping at the local Ralph’s or Vons or Trader Joe’s… you know, what we think of as the “normal” grocery stores, right? I had no idea how great my neighborhood 99 cents store could be! I was out and about running errands early Sunday morning and decided to check out this 99 cents store and see if it really was more than cheap cleaning supplies and paper towels.
As you can see, I found a huge bottle of soy sauce for 99 cents– or you can get the name brand version in a smaller container. Same price 99 cents.
Two heads of lettuce, you guessed it 99 cents. I was surprised to find the produce section was clean, well stocked and good quality stuff. And, can you ever really get tired of the easy pricing???
And, my favorites– the cleaning supplies. Lots of them!
Bread, bagels, hamburger buns– all 99 cents. I checked all expiration dates and looking good. No outdated food here.
I needed a few extra Halloween goodies for my niece. Guess what? I found some cute glow in the dark necklaces to wear trick-or-treating priced 2/99 cents. Awesome!
Moral of the story…. you can score big for under $10 grocery shopping at the 99 cents store! Cheers!
Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday! I love granola with my yogurt and decided it was time to make my own simple version at home. Here’s the recipe I used:
Peanut Butter Granola
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with olive oil. Combine peanut butter and honey in a bowl and microwave 20 seconds until peanut butter melts. Stir. Mix cinnamon and vanilla into peanut butter and honey mixture. Add oats and stir until coated. Spread on cookie sheet and bake 7 to 8 minutes. Let cool until granola is crunchy.
I’m thinking this homemade granola could be sparked up a bit next time with some flax seeds, peanuts, raisins or other dried fruit. (Whatever is on sale works for me!)
The good news- this was not a total failure. My granola experiment turned out great! And it even tasted good– better than the store-bought version and in this case I know exactly what ingredients were used. I’ve been making a big effort to watch my sodium and sugar intake– not to mention those other weird “ingredients” that are scary big words I can’t pronounce.
Speaking of ingredients…. I spent a whopping $0.28 on the oats and $3.99 buying a new jar of honey. The rest of the stuff is basically pantry items normally on hand. My estimation is that I spent approximately $1.50 on this batch of Peanut Butter Granola. Paired with my store brand yogurt for $0.50 this makes for quite a thrifty breakfast.
Cheers!
Happy Flip Flop Friday everyone! I had no idea there was such a thing as a flip-flop brand of wine. I found this wine earlier in the week at the grocery store. Really cute label and a fun way to celebrate Friday!
Better yet, a portion of the proceeds from sales of flip-flop wines benefits Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity dedicated to providing footwear to those in need.
Cheers and Happy Flip Flop Friday! Remember to celebrate responsibly.
Once again, I found myself rummaging thru stacks and racks of stuff at the Thrift Trader in Ocean Beach. This all happened the same afternoon sipping my Vanilla Latte.
You can’t go wrong at this place with things priced 4/$20. They have a great selection of men’s clothing and I totally messed up and didn’t take any photos of menswear.
More hats, more long skirts. All easy items to mix and match for Fall season. Sometimes you need a little retail fix and getting a low cost treasure in a thrift store is awesome. Just remember, it isn’t a good deal if you don’t use it and it sits in your closet!!
And I found these really fabulous black heels. Halloween costume-worthy maybe?
And, a big shout out because there’s even a section for the Curvy gals. With cute stuff too!
Cheers everyone!
Hello Everyone! Just wanted to pass along some great photos I took over the weekend in Ocean Beach. Of course, I stopped by the Humble Hippie on Newport Avenue.
While sipping my Vanilla Latte I couldn’t resist doing a little more than window shopping. So much for my vow to “keep wallet in handbag”. (I failed….)
I really loved the cute hats and cozy knit scarves. Being the thrifty shopper, I was thrilled with the prices– $19 for scarves- heaven!
Especially now with the cooler Fall weather a scarf is great to throw on with a jean jacket or light sweater. This is the rational I used– you guessed it– I got a new scarf. If you want to see what it looks like, check out my blog post from earlier this week. (I paired it with a jacket I got for $31 at Marshall’s)
If you’re in the market for flirty dresses, there are plenty of these too. Maybe I’m too much into accessories these days because all I can think about is which scarf and which hat I would wear with that bright dress pictured on the right, above.
The Humble Hippie was as charming as ever! I had a nice chat with the owner (Wes) this weekend too. He sent me a couple of really cool photos that I will have to attach to this post a little later. I’m having a slight snafu with my email tonite. So I guess you all will have to settle for my lovely iphone-photography for the time being.
Cheers and have a good week everyone. Happy Shopping and keep me posted if any of you out there have made any recent purchases at The Humble Hippie.
Hello Everyone! I had a great weekend and now just getting ready for the new week ahead. Right now I’m relaxing on the couch watching “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” reunion show– and mentally planning out what I’m going to wear to work next week. The weather is starting to cool off a little bit here in southern California so I’m hoping I can break out some pretty scarves and possibly a jacket or two?
I was in serious need of a new jacket– and as much as I love the thrift stores I just couldn’t find anything that either fit properly or looked decent. On a whim, I checked out our local Marshall’s and found this great Calvin Klein jacket for a mere $31. It was originally priced at $99! Cha-ching! Problem solved.
Pictured below you can see my new jacket paired with a great scarf I found this afternoon at the Humble Hippie in Ocean Beach. I love this place! This was my second visit and of course I couldn’t stop myself from getting something. (here’s the link to my first visit… Humble Hippie) The good news is I’ll be able to wear this scarf with not only my new $31 jacket from Marshall’s but also my leather jacket. Can you tell… I’m a little too ready to break out the Fall clothes… However, as much as I want to break out the Fall clothes now, I’ll likely be complaining about “being too cold” in a few weeks. As much as one can complain about “too cold” in southern California anyway.
Cheers everyone! Here’s wishing you all a great week ahead– and happy shopping!
Ever wonder why every time you go thrifting, you end up with a big pile of novelty items and some mom jeans? Check out my secret tips on finding your next major thrifting score.
1. Context: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the hideousness that engulfs the racks- you know, like the muumuus, Christmas sweaters and stretched out bicycle shorts. In a hurry to sift through it all, you might accidentally skip over your new favorite piece so try to make a day for thrifting when no one is waiting for you and you can take your time. That crazy ’80s sweater could look hip with an edgy haircut and designer ankle boots.
2. Consider Alterations: Don’t abandon the perfect vintage cocktail dress only because it’s a size too big. Maybe you love the color and cut of that blouse, but the sleeves are overwhelmingly puffy? For the $3 you’re probably spending, it could be worth it to visit a tailor.
3. Shop Off-Season: Think ahead and shop for summer items in winter. You’ll find the best deals and have a better selection. Winter coats are plentiful and purchased for pennies in August. The same would go for vintage sun dresses during January.
4. Find Your Local Thrift Outlet: Most well-established thrift store “chains” like Goodwill and Salvation Army will have outlets. This is the magical land where all clothes are $1-$3. The ladies at the Goodwill Outlet told me their clothes only get one week at full-price store racks before they get bundled up and shipped to the outlet. My favorites include Thrift Trader and $2 Thrill— you know where I’m going with this….
5. Wear Your “Thrifting Uniform”: Be prepared for long fitting room lines (or possibly no fitting rooms) by wearing something that is comfy and easy to try things on over. I like leggings and slip-on flats. Throw a flexible sewing tape in your bag for taking measurements if you are so inclined.
6. Don’t Confine Yourself to only the Women’s Clothing Section: For petites, check out the kids section for a shrunken blazer look or possibly a dress you can wear as a top. Maybe head over to the men’s section where you can find oversized cardigans or a colorful necktie. Make a necktie headband.
7. Gravitate Toward Thrift Shops That Are Off the Beaten Path: Look for thrift stores near ritzy retirement communities and small suburban towns. This is your best chance to find a hidden gem.
8. Get a Rapport Going With Your Cashier: Most thrift stores don’t have a set-in-stone pricing structure. Striking up a conversation with the cashier can’t hurt, especially if you visit on a regular basis. If the employees get to know you, they may be willing to set aside that elusive Kate Spade tote you’ve been on the hunt for.
9. Go Thrifting Off-Hours: If you don’t thrift on a regularly, you’re just asking to miss out on stuff. Thrift stores get new stock daily, so be vigilant. Better yet, find out which days the “new” merchandise gets put out. Arrive early and be ready for the hunt.
Cheers Everyone & Happy Thrifting! Let me know how you all are doing. -jody-
Thrift Shopping Buzz 