June 26, 2016
Reuse: Greeting Card Boxes
June 17, 2016
It Happened In Monterey
I'm beginning to notice a trend in these places I've traveled lately. That is, they've all had a song sung about them by Frank Sinatra. Perhaps the next destination will be New York, hmm?
Yes! Just a few days ago I returned home-home with my parents and the doggies after spending four days in lovely Monterey Bay, California. Scott and I decided to spend the weekend there after finals were done to celebrate the end of the school year, two-years together, and the three upcoming months of his study abroad in Europe! And what better place than the quiet little town of Monterey?
We spent our time there in the beautiful Monterey Hotel, a historic hotel from 1904 located right by Fisherman's Wharf and only a short walk to the aquarium.
On the first day we rode bikes on the 17 mile drive. I rented a bike there and we rode from the rental place to the start of the drive, about 22 miles round-trip. It would have been quite a bit better if the seat wasn't so uncomfortable (my bum is still sore after nearly five days!) but nonetheless it was a wonderful ride, full of gorgeous wildlife and beaches. Unfortunately, the only photos we have from our trip are from the first day.
The second day we ventured the Monterey Bay Aquarium. There we saw all sorts of aquatic creatures, including jellyfish, sharks, and sting rays. We made sure to see the otters - they're my favorite ocean animal. If you go during feeding time, you'll see them do several tricks too! We completed that evening with dinner from the local Tuesday evening farmer's market, right outside our hotel door.
On the third day we rented kayaks and explored the ocean waters, encountering birds, seals, and lots of kelp! Just as we were about to return the kayaks in the afternoon with sore arms and soaked clothes, Scott insisted we travel a bit farther west past the rental beach and circle back. And sure enough, only another few hundred feet farther, we saw at least 10 otters floating in the kelp, napping together. A few pairs were even holding hands! It was just wonderful, by far my favorite part of the trip. I even bought a pair of socks with little otters stitched on them to remember it.
Yes! Just a few days ago I returned home-home with my parents and the doggies after spending four days in lovely Monterey Bay, California. Scott and I decided to spend the weekend there after finals were done to celebrate the end of the school year, two-years together, and the three upcoming months of his study abroad in Europe! And what better place than the quiet little town of Monterey?
We spent our time there in the beautiful Monterey Hotel, a historic hotel from 1904 located right by Fisherman's Wharf and only a short walk to the aquarium.
On the first day we rode bikes on the 17 mile drive. I rented a bike there and we rode from the rental place to the start of the drive, about 22 miles round-trip. It would have been quite a bit better if the seat wasn't so uncomfortable (my bum is still sore after nearly five days!) but nonetheless it was a wonderful ride, full of gorgeous wildlife and beaches. Unfortunately, the only photos we have from our trip are from the first day.
The second day we ventured the Monterey Bay Aquarium. There we saw all sorts of aquatic creatures, including jellyfish, sharks, and sting rays. We made sure to see the otters - they're my favorite ocean animal. If you go during feeding time, you'll see them do several tricks too! We completed that evening with dinner from the local Tuesday evening farmer's market, right outside our hotel door.
On the third day we rented kayaks and explored the ocean waters, encountering birds, seals, and lots of kelp! Just as we were about to return the kayaks in the afternoon with sore arms and soaked clothes, Scott insisted we travel a bit farther west past the rental beach and circle back. And sure enough, only another few hundred feet farther, we saw at least 10 otters floating in the kelp, napping together. A few pairs were even holding hands! It was just wonderful, by far my favorite part of the trip. I even bought a pair of socks with little otters stitched on them to remember it.
June 10, 2016
3 Unexpected Places to Find Vintage Clothing for Less
It's no secret that vintage clothing can be pricey. The few times I've ordered from etsy or similar vintage apps, I'll spend nearly $100 on a dress to find that once it arrives in the mail, it doesn't fit.
But fear not! Down below I'll share three places I find vintage clothing and accessories for only a few dollars each. So the next time your wardrobe can use an update or your bank budget is running low, try one of these places to find new goodies!
Believe it or not, thrift stores are the most common place I find vintage clothing aside from vintage stores. Even places as common as Goodwill have hidden treasures. The key here is to look in towns with a largely elderly population. Oftentimes, when people remain in the same house for a long period of time, they collect stuff without realizing it. There's never a need for them to go through it or get rid of it so they'll hang onto things decades old -- perfect for vintage collectors. Once seniors are placed in a nursing home or pass away, these items are donated to local thrift stores.
I've found beautiful items from my local thrift stores, including two mint-condition Evan Picone skirt suits from the early 1950s, numerous knee-length skirts, and a one-of-a-kind handmade 1960s shift-dress.
Garage / Estate Sales
Everything said above about thrift stores applies to garage and estate sales. Some people don't want a hassle and choose to donate everything, but others try to sell what they can before donating. Once again, the best finds will be in towns with a largely elderly population.
A plus to these sales is in addition to clothes, you can often find vintage furniture and household goods as well, like sewing notions, pyrex cookware, and more.
Your Grandparents' Closet
This is probably your best option for vintage clothing because it's free! Older people know how much stuff they have and often want to get rid of it, but its not easy to let go of memories. In this case, they likely haven't worn the clothes for years and will be overjoyed to see it in use by someone they care so much about.
Unfortunately, both my mom's and dad's parents moved a long ways (one in the mid 1960s, again as recently as 10 years ago, and the other in the early 1980s) so their collections are more recent than my taste, but I've come across a beautiful poodle skirt and petticoat from my Nana's closet. Crazy the things that people hang onto.
If you're in the same boat as me, you can also look into the wardrobes of your grandparents' friends. This may also help if you and your grandma are a different size.
---
I hope these three places have inspired you to shop a bit more!*
*I don't often promote consumption (very unsustainable) but in the case of used goods, the material extraction and manufacturing has already happened. Depending how old it is, it could have been made in the United States with fair labor laws (rather than today's method of exploited overseas labor).
But fear not! Down below I'll share three places I find vintage clothing and accessories for only a few dollars each. So the next time your wardrobe can use an update or your bank budget is running low, try one of these places to find new goodies!
Image from blog.tuppencehapenny.co.uk
Thrift StoresBelieve it or not, thrift stores are the most common place I find vintage clothing aside from vintage stores. Even places as common as Goodwill have hidden treasures. The key here is to look in towns with a largely elderly population. Oftentimes, when people remain in the same house for a long period of time, they collect stuff without realizing it. There's never a need for them to go through it or get rid of it so they'll hang onto things decades old -- perfect for vintage collectors. Once seniors are placed in a nursing home or pass away, these items are donated to local thrift stores.
I've found beautiful items from my local thrift stores, including two mint-condition Evan Picone skirt suits from the early 1950s, numerous knee-length skirts, and a one-of-a-kind handmade 1960s shift-dress.
Garage / Estate Sales
Everything said above about thrift stores applies to garage and estate sales. Some people don't want a hassle and choose to donate everything, but others try to sell what they can before donating. Once again, the best finds will be in towns with a largely elderly population.
A plus to these sales is in addition to clothes, you can often find vintage furniture and household goods as well, like sewing notions, pyrex cookware, and more.
Your Grandparents' Closet
This is probably your best option for vintage clothing because it's free! Older people know how much stuff they have and often want to get rid of it, but its not easy to let go of memories. In this case, they likely haven't worn the clothes for years and will be overjoyed to see it in use by someone they care so much about.
Unfortunately, both my mom's and dad's parents moved a long ways (one in the mid 1960s, again as recently as 10 years ago, and the other in the early 1980s) so their collections are more recent than my taste, but I've come across a beautiful poodle skirt and petticoat from my Nana's closet. Crazy the things that people hang onto.
If you're in the same boat as me, you can also look into the wardrobes of your grandparents' friends. This may also help if you and your grandma are a different size.
---
I hope these three places have inspired you to shop a bit more!*
*I don't often promote consumption (very unsustainable) but in the case of used goods, the material extraction and manufacturing has already happened. Depending how old it is, it could have been made in the United States with fair labor laws (rather than today's method of exploited overseas labor).
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