Antiques Roadshow Primer - Hardcover Book score!

If you're reading this blog, chances are you also enjoy the show on PBS called Antiques Roadshow. Well, I came across this handy book on my Thrift adventures this weekend! How appropriate a find, don't you think??

It's an Introductory Guide to Antiques and Collectibles focusing on 11 major areas--including Furniture, Painting, Silver, Jewelry, Porcelain, and Toys--the primer addresses the essential things buyers and collectors need to know, covering vital details for each category, such as shapes, styles, and patterns, provenance, periods, and motifs. A 32-page full-color section amplifies each chapter by illustrating numerous examples of styles and techniques, and individual items are fully identified, often with their appraised value. Above all, it helps even first-timers to answer the two key question every collector must face: Is it old? Is it valuable?

Picked it up for $1.99, can't beat that!

The 1970s - Possibly the Worst Decade in Taste

Yesterday I came across a Montgomery Ward and JC Penney Catalog from Spring / Summer 1972.  We can all probably remember flipping through these types of Catalogs and circling all of the things we wanted for holidays/birthdays. My Grandma and I used to squeeze into her chair side by side and go through her Sear's catalog together. Now I know that 1972 was only 9 years before I was born, and the 1980s weren't exactly full of great color combinations, but after flipping through this thing, I've come to the conclusion that the 1970s was one of the worst decades when it comes to colors and styles. And I'm NOT an authority on fashion by any means! Of course I thought I'd share some of the pages for entertainment purposes. The catalog is like 1500 pages, so this is just random sampling. If you come across one of these in your second hand shopping, grab it! They're full of nostalgia, furry toilets and horrible shades of orange, "avocado" and "mustard." Here's some food for thought: If the 1970s didn't happen, what would second hand shopping even be like??

I'm pretty sure everyone's Grandma still thinks these are "nice"

Damn you 1970s! I totally wore stuff almost just like this in middle school. As if the 90s needed any help with their fashion malfunctions!

Because fur makes everything better?

Don't all guys hang around dressed like this?

I'd totally wear a snuggie if it had fringe. And let's get one color turtle neck leotard body suits back into people's wardrobes!

Picture Frames are Expensive

Antique frame I found for only $1! (photo inside is from my Wedding)

But not for the Thrifter! I love browsing the art/picture/frames section of the local Thrift Store. 1. Because you never know when you might find a Rembrant, or at least something cool to hang up in your home. and 2. Because they usually sell them for around $1-$6 no matter what size.  Have something large you need to frame? Before you drop $30 or $40 for a brand new frame, hit up the Thrift Store. Even if the frame you find has an ugly portrait of its previous owner, undo the staples and insert something nice.  SO many stores are peddling items that "look" worn or antique...why? Because it gives them character, personality, uniqueness. Skip the middle man - save yourself some money while potentially finding some cool art by checking out some thrift store frames!

Just Over 2 Months'til Halloween!

My husband & dressed as Popeye & Olive Oyl.
Total cost of both costumes combined: around $10

Feel the air getting cooler?  Are the guys obsessing over fantasy football drafts?  Are your teacher friends complaining that "summer vacation" is almost over? Those are sure signs that FALL is right around the corner. And with Fall, brings the most entertaining and creative "holiday" of all - HALLOWEEN! It may seem early, but now is a great time to start thinking about your Halloween costume. Don't be "that person" at the Halloween party where people ask "sooo, what are you supposed to be?" And DO NOT be the sell out who heads to the seasonal, over priced, costume store and gets the corniest, most manufactured costume you can find.  They might look alright, but you probably won't stand out, and you will definitely over pay for something you could create yourself.  Ok and last one, do not use Halloween as an excuse to wear your lingerie and your daughter's bunny ears that she wore in the school play, no matter how hot you think you look in your self-taken mirror photo on myspace. No one wants to see that! Instead, do what you know I'm going to say...head to your local Thrift Store and browse through the clothing section. If you have absolutely NO clue what to be for Halloween, I guarantee you will think of something while flipping through the racks.  Better yet, you will pay fractions of what a costume shop will charge. You will also end up with actual clothing, instead of pieces of cheap fabric glued together. Most Thrift Stores have big sales coming up for back to school, and to clear out all the stuff people have unloaded in their spring/summer clean-outs.  On top of the already dirt cheap prices, some stores are having 50-70% off sales, which is insane! Putting together your own costumes is super fun and will definitely get your creative juices flowing.  Get crazy and try to think of a couple's or group theme, it's fun to shop together and it makes the party pictures much cooler if everyone goes together!

Ride 'em Cowboy!

I haven't shared a footwear find on here yet, so I thought I would share this! Check out these bad boys, genuine leather cowboy boots, size 8, Dexter brand. Circa the late 1970's (I'm guessing). In beautiful condition, showing *just* enough wear to give them that vintage broken in look.  They actually caught my eye because I've been wanting to get some cowboy boots for my front yard- I think they would look cool with some flowers in them! But they ended up being WAY too nice for that. Total price? $7! Oh and sorry- they've already been spoken for! Just another reason for you to get your butt out there to the Thrifty to find some awesome vintage fashions!

Book Odds & Ends

I recently picked up 6 books for a total of $8. Usually hard covers are $2, and paperbacks $1 where I shop. Don't get me wrong, I love the library, but you can't argue with books this cheap - they never have to be returned and you can loan them out or let them sit and look cool on a shelf and read them whenever you get around to it, for as long as you want (which, from experience, the library frowns upon). And speaking of loaning them out, you will notice that there are only 5 books in the picture, that is because I let my Mom borrow The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Books pictured are: Listening Is An Act of Love, From the StoryCorps Project, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Couldn't Keep it to Myself and I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb (picked those up because She's Come Undone by Mr Lamb is one of my all-time favs.), and The Mother's Encyclopedia - Expert Advice on Child Care and Family Living (for when the time comes!). Oh and I can't forget to mention the little wooden school desk I picked up for $5 a couple of years ago. It's a great little table for our entry way - it holds all of our miscellaneous mail, newspapers and other junk (not pictured) really nicely! The books alone new would retail for over $90. The desk? No idea, but it's worth a lot more than just $5 if you ask me!

20 Things You Should Never Buy Used...?

Check out the list & their explanations here [via USNews.com]

Never...ever...really? Come on! I don't agree with a lot on this list (surprise, surprise!).

It's safe to say that the American public is pretty experienced when it comes to making purchases.  Use your own judgement, look the item over, use your senses to examine it to see if it is worth purchasing. Do not completely write off all the categories on this list, you could be missing out. Personally, I find most of my "thrifty finds" at Thrift Stores where the prices are ridiculously cheap, AND they usually issue store credit if I get home and I'm totally unsatisfied with my item. Making purchases at second hand stores isn't that risky. You find any sort of electronic device second hand, and they will let you test it before you buy it. And like I said, you get home and it totally sucks, they're usually good about giving you store credit. Not to mention I've never seen a DVD player, stereo, microphone or camera for more than $10 at the Thrift Store. For $10, if you've got half a brain to know what brands are decent and managed to test it before you left, you're fine. Garage Sales and Craigslist may be a bit more of a risk, but if you do your research buying electronics second hand can definitely pay off.  Baby and child items? Be cautious, do some research, if it's furniture put a fresh coat of paint on it if you have to. Children grow out of things SO FAST! Just because it is in the Thrift Store, or a garage sale doesn't mean it's not functioning, or dangerous. Heck it may even be brand new! How many of you know someone who registered for items they never/hardly used?

Really the only three categories that I can agree with are software (most 2nd hand computer software is from 1995 anyway, it seems!), makeup and mattresses - and I can't even agree with bedding. There isn't much of anything - mold,mildew, germs, that can survive a couple of hot wash cycles.  Sheets, comforters, bed skirts, duvets, shams...etc, can get expensive! If you see something that catches your eye and it's used, but it can be washed, why not buy it? Vacuums is a tough one. On one hand, my opinion is that a vacuum isn't something most people would get rid of/donate unless it isn't working properly. But that's not to say that you can't get lucky and find one that just needs a good cleaning and a new belt.  People discard perfectly good items all the time! As for undergarments and swimsuits, I don't think you're necessarily going to "catch something," but I can't say I've ever bought either of those second hand. Although, if I did see a cute swimsuit, I might pick it up.  If you're in a position where you can only afford underwear second hand, if washed properly, it's definitely not going to kill you. Would I do it? I don't think so; I've got enough underwear to last me a while, and a husband who does laundry pretty often!

The categories I don't know enough about are tires, wet suits, helmets, photo lenses and lights, but I can't say that I would completely write those off either. It's all about using your own judgement and your senses (if it's smelly or stained that's a dead give away!), having a good eye, being willing to put some "elbow grease" into the item (cleaning it, painting it, tightening it, finding/replacing a part) and taking a chance! Buying second hand can be challenging, thrilling, satisfying and FUN if you open your mind to it!