Collective Haul: Goodwill, Sav-Mor, Yard Sale

Hey guys,

This is a collective haul that I've amassed the past week or so. Pretty lazy today, so this post will be short ^^, enjoy!

*collective haul overview:

1) "The Daily Times" Newspaper dish

-$0.95 from Sav-Mor Thrift

Such a unique dish! I think it would be a perfect jewelry holder for earrings and rings.

2) brand new "Life" board game

-$1.91 from Sav-Mor thrift

My family loves playing board games and life is one board game we've wanted for a while now. It was less than $2 and all the game pieces are still in the plastic packaging! I can't wait to bring this back home for Thanksgiving and have a family game night. :)

    

3) Dooney and Bourke bag

-$14.99 from Goodwill

I have always wanted a vintage D&B bag and it's perfect size as a school bag! I can fit my iPad and my various notebooks and pencils/pens. Also the colors are great, easy to match with any outfits.

not individually pictured:

4) black sneaker wedges(brand new)

-$3 from Goodwill

I got this for my roommate who has been looking high and low for a pair of sneaker wedges.

5) polaroid camera

-$1 at a yard sale :( unfortunately, it doesn't work. Sigh, the search for a vintage polaroid camera continues.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post, ill be posting more soon enough, I promise!

Until then,

<3 Jess

Collective Haul- Sav-Mor Thrift and Assistance League of Santa Ana thrift shop

Hey guys,

After my mini haul at buffalo exchange, I definitely got bit by the shopping bug and I have just been itching to go thrifting! So when I finally had some down time, I hit up some of my favorite thrift stores in Santa Ana. :) first up, my finds from Sav-Mor thrift. You guys have heard me talk time and time again about this thrift store. Not only have I found some of my most unique items here but the prices are also unbeatable! The only downside is that the store is really dingy and dirty. :( I always bring hand sanitizer and wash my purchases with boiling hot water and wipe them down with anti-bacterial wipes. Also they use red permanent markers to write prices on items, which sometimes stains the items. They also staple price tags onto shoes and clothes which sometime leaves holes. Lastly, the location is a bit sketchy, but all in all, the amazing items I find keep bringing me back! So onto the goodies I found:

1) 80's vintage baroque graphic jacket-$2.92

I have been looking for a really graphically intriguing jacket and i hit jackpot when i found this jacket. I love the crazy design on it, with the outlandishly large Hermes Paris labels and the silly horseman. It's borderline tacky but that's what makes it fun! When I got home, I googled this jacket and found quite a few selling on etsy ranging from $65 all the way up to $300! They were apparently made in the 1980s-90s and I have to admit, this jacket definitely oozes that 80's vibe. As usual, I got this piece for only a few bucks! 

2) Isaac Mizrahi Blue Silk Blouse(New)-$2.92(30% off pink tag) =$2.05(final cost)

Can you believe I found a brand new designer silk shirt that still has the tags attached in a thrift store? What a find! This shirt retailed for $24.99 and came from Isaac Mizrahi's line for target. It's 100% silk and in pristine condition: no rips, tears, or stains. Literally brand new! And on top of that, the sale of the day was 30% off pink tags, so I got this for a whopping $2. Not a bad deal if you ask me ;).

Next, I hit up the Assistance league of Santa Ana thrift store right down the street. I have to say I love shopping at assistance league thrift shops. They are usually run by adorable grandmas who not only make the place clean and tidy, but also bring a warm and welcoming presence to the place. They really give individualized attention and that's the kind of costumer service that you don't get anywhere anymore.I have to say, the grandmas at the Santa Ana assistance league thrift store are some of the nicest! The day I went shopping here, the grandma there put all my items in this beautiful girly gift bag. When I commented on how cute the bag was, the grandma responded that "she wanted to do something special for me". My heart literally melted :). On top of that, she gave me a $5 off $25 coupon to use during their thanksgiving week sale. So sweet! I still can't believe how kind she was to me.

The pretty bag filled with goodies:

Take a peak inside ;) :

1) cropped red Hawaiian shirt-$3

I believe this was a shirt that was cut and cropped by the previous owner. However the cut fits my petite frame perfectly! This has come to be one of my favorite shirts and looks amazing with high waist jeans, bootie wedges, and my leather hat. This shirt has that urban outfitters feel to me :p without the rediculous price tag!

2) tribal print button up with brass buttons-$3

I actually bought this shirt to sell being that tribal is so in right now. I thought the brass buttons really gave it a nice detailed touch.

(* ended up selling this to a vintage resale shop in San Diego called "Home" in exchange for a brand new forever21 blouse and some leftover cash).

3) Vintage Saks 5th Avenue Gold Lion hardshell purse-$15

This is my most exciting find! The Santa Ana Assistance league has a section of the store dedicated to the higher end and more expensive items. I usually don't like checking out this section but being the thrift addict I am, I couldn't leave without checking it out. Thank god I did! In one of the display cases with the higher end vintage accessories and bags, I spotted this gem. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that the price tag was only $15!!! I looked on eBay and similar vintage hardshell purses and clutches go from $80-$300 depending on the label. I have yet to find one exactly like this, which makes this find extra special. I cannot believe someone would donate this beautiful purse and that AL would only price it for $15! I don't know how long this piece was displayed in stores for, but I am still in shock that someone didn't already snatch it up before me. Luckily, this piece came home with me hehe. I am thoroughly in love with this piece and this has got to one in my top 5 best thift store finds ever! :) I smile just thinking about it.

All in all, a great thrift haul with some great finds. I hope you guys enjoy this post and I look forward to sharing more amazing thrift finds with you all in the near future. Until then, tata!

Sincerely,

Jess

Buffalo Exchange Haul

Hey guys,

Since I finished all my midterms I finally have some down time and boy, have I done some catching up with shopping. ;) you guys have quite a few haul posts to look forward to in the near future. One of the first places i hit up was buffalo exchange. I still had some leftover store credit from my last trade with them and l wanted to use it up. I ended up not only using up my $12.75 in store credit but also handing over some cash to cover my full purchase. (Sigh) I swear, that's how they get you! Anyhoo, lets get onto the purchases:

1) Bow tube top:$9.50

This is definitely more of a spring/summer shirt but it's so girly and pretty, I just had to get it! Although the cameras not picking up the color well, it's actually a beautiful peachy pink color. The bow is a flowy chiffon material. This tube top looks adorable with a pair of high waist denim shorts and some cute wedge booties. ^^ very flower child.

2) Black Jedi Jacket-$13.00

Haha I didn't know what to call this jacket being that it doesn't have a brand or tag. If I'm not mistaken, this is probably a fashion student project. Although some people might be turned off by that I absolutely love that it's one of a kind! I really do feel that whoever made this put alot of effort into the details. I love how soft the material is and the way it looks on. I saw a few variations similar to this jacket in some high fashion magazines, but odviously I could never afford them, so I'm estatic about this find!

3)H&M Grey Booties-$12.50

Last item I picked up were a pair of grey booties. I have been looking for a nice pair of wedge booties that are comfortable and easy to pair up with outfits. To be honest, I must've picked these up, tried them on, and then put them back down at least a dozen times before finally manning up and buying them. Haha I'm so indecisive! Shopping always turns into a internal battle between myself and I as I decide what to buy. I swear I don't even find that many items I like when I shop but I'll take hours deciding which ones to take home with me. Ah, the problems of being a money frugal shopper.

The whole purchase came out to $37.80, but I used my store credit of $12.75, and ended up only shelling out $25.05 for three awesome items. Although this haul was a little on the expensive side(compared to my other thrifty finds) I feel pretty happy with my purchases. And that sums up my buffalo exchange hauls. Stay tuned for more thrift hauls coming your way, :) ill be updating those real soon! 

Much love<3

Jess

Epic Garage Sale Haul- 8 items for $11

Hey guys,
I had the most amazing luck this week garage sale shopping! I hit up 3 separate neighborhood garage sales, which is probably the reason to my success. I have become addicted to garage sale shopping. I might even love it more than thrifting! I have found that garage sale prices are often 50%-75% cheaper than thrift stores. This is because thrift stores sell to make money. They often have overhead and employees that they have to pay, and still need to make a profit on top of that. In comparison, people have garage sales to get rid of their stuff. Often, they just want people to take these items off their hands. Also, when you go thrift store shopping, you don't know where these items come from. The way I see it is that garage sale shopping is just like thrifting, except you get to meet the owner whose used these items. :) And now, onto the haul:

*overview of haul:

1) Beige Hanging Shoe Organizer- $2

I have been looking for one of these for the longest time! Although this is made for storing shoes, it can be used to store other items as well. I am currently using it to store my thrift store finds. These retail for around $20 at target and walmart, but I got this for only $2! This one was in great condition, it seemed barely used. There were a few tiny stains, but I was able to easily wipe it down and clean it for use. 

2) Vintage Codello Zodiac Sign Scarf- $2

I have been looking high and low for a vintage silk scarf. I bought this from an old lady who had all sorts of vintage goodies. My friend managed to buy a Georgio Armani scarf for only $1 from her. This scarf is stunning! It has all the different zodiac signs trimming the border, with suns, stars, and moons adorning middle. I am in love, this is so unique and beautiful, I just cannot believe I got it for only $2! One of the most special finds I have ever found.

3) Jamaica Bay Hawaiian Crop Shirt- $2

I love that this Hawaiian shirt is a crop shirt- I have never seen that before. The beauty is in the details, such as the print, which reminds me of vacation postcards, and the buttons, which are wooden. This shirt goes great with my high waist denim shorts!

4) Blue Shop Hi-Low Lace and Chiffon Dress- $1

So pretty and feminine, and only for $1? Hello, can we say steal! 'Nuff said.

5) Spandex Pants with Chinese Artwork- $0.50

I actually just got back from studying abroad in China and I have to say, I have a new found love for anything oriental. These pants are super comfy, the artwork and chinese characters are beautiful, and they make my butt look good. On top of that, they only cost me 2 quarters! :) I am beyond happy with this purchase. 

6) Parasite Pals Bento Box- $0.50

This was actually brand new, with the plastic wrapping still intact! I asked the guy how much and he said "$0.50". I just remember the look on his wife's face; she definitely felt like he practically gave it away for nothing, but hey, yippee for me! I have been looking for a cute bento box to help me eat healthier and learn how to portion. I love how that this one has different layers and sections. I googled parasite pals and found that its little comic characters geared towards children, designed to teach children about parasites such as bed bugs, head lice, and stomach bug. Kind of awkward in my opinion, but they definitely teach a good lesson. 

7) H&M Blazer- $1

I am always looking for professional looking clothing, being that (*sigh) those high school days of short shorts and tiny tees are long over. If I want to give a good impression at job interviews, I need to dress for the job I want, not the job I have. These blazers usually range from $20-$30 at H&M(which is usually more expensive than F21). This blazer looked almost brand new, if not barely worn, so I was more than happy to shell out $1 to get it. It's like what people say, you don't have to pay a million bucks to look like a million bucks :)

8) X-Files Movie Poster- $2

I grew up watching x-files with my dad and I started rewatching all the season my freshman year of college so...yes I love x-files. Just the creepy title song brings back childhood memories for me. Ahhh, I remember being frightened to death by the different aliens and monsters...hmmm, this show could be the root to alot of my personal problems...haha Just kidding! But doesn't it look great on my wall? :p

Lastly, I did not buy this, but my friend Stacey's mom got this for me from Peru. Isn't it gorgeous? So beautiful, and I love the different color array of green stones. :) So thoughtful and sweet, I can't thank her enough!

Alright guys, that is my epic haul. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Until next time,

<3 Jess

Goodwill Outlet Haul

Hey guys,

I'm officially done with summer school, and that means two well-deserved weeks to spend with my family in Indiana before school starts. My mom and I share a love of bargains and being that I just started this love affair with thrifting, I decided to introduce my mom to thrift shopping. It began with us shopping the local Goodwills, until my mom and I discovered the holy grail of thrifting: Goodwill outlets! The town we live in is extremely close to a Goodwill outlet. Goodwill outlets are different than regular Goodwills in that 1) they sell items by the pound 2) they are supplied by items that didn't sell at the other local Goodwills, and 3) everything is placed in big bins, not on racks or shelves. At this particular Goodwill, the prices were: glass and ceramics at $0.49/pound, clothing, household items, and others at $0.79/pound, and shoes at $1.29/pound. With the constant influx of donations, most Goodwill stores are overloaded with merchandise to sell. To prevent clutter and keep new merchandise circulating throughout the store, Goodwill has a policy that items can only stay in stores for 3 weeks. After three weeks, Goodwill ship these items off to the outlets, so that they can be sold at a discount price. These items are then marginally sorted into bins. At the Goodwill outlet I went to, items were divided into clothing, shoe, book, and household item. The household item bins ranged from toys to furniture to all sorts of knick knack. My mom and I read up on tips and made sure to bring water, gloves, and my phone to google item values. I have to say, this store is not for the faint of heart. It's dirty, the other customers can be rude and pushy, you have to dig through junk, and there's no guarantee you will find anything. But that's part of the experience, and trust me, is was quite an experience! Luckily, I had beginners luck and found some amazing items. Enough chit chat, onto the haul!

*overview of haul:

1) Plato Dialogue on Love and Friendship (Easton Press) Leather Bound Collector's Edition

Can you believe I found this just lying in one of the bins? This is a beautiful leather bound collectors edition of some of Plato's works. I googled it and saw that it was selling on ebay for $30-$75. Unfortunately there are a few stains and knicks due to rough treatment during shipment to the outlet and well, the other shoppers aren't exactly gentle with the merchandise. I can't wait to have time to actually read it- Plato has some amazing philosophical ideology. At the time being it just sits in my room looking beautiful, a great addition to my decor!

2) Vintage Aden Clear Safety Glasses

-(top 2)

Vintage Prescription Sunglasses

While I was digging through the bins I found a bunch of glasses in the bottom and I was just estatic when I found these clear glasses! Unfortunately the lens are a bit scratched from being tossed around but overall, still in good condition. I googled the brand Aden and found that Aden is a vintage brand that made safety glasses for labs and other hazardous occupations. I found a few on ebay which were around $17. The sunglasses are so cool in shape and look extra boho funky but when I got home I discovered they had a prescription :( so I can't wear them because they make my eyes blurry. Oh well, not much money was wasted :) it probably cost less than $0.50.

3) Terrorist Poker Cards

-(brand new with case)

I saw these cards and I just started cracking up! These cards have pictures of Saddam Huissen, Bin Laden, and all other Al Qaeda members. The backs of the cards are camouflage design. Definitely a fun quirky novelty item and it will be great for playing drinking games with!

4) Heritage USA 1983 Ornament

This is the first vintage ornament I have found and I have to say this is beautiful! A perfect piece to add to my decor ;) who says Christmas decor can only be up in December? Unfortunately when I brought it home, my dog thought it was a toy and started playing with it and dropping it on the floor. :( it definitely added a few cracks to it but it's not too noticeable. Speaking of my dog Lily, everytime my mom and I come back with our goodies from Goodwill outlet, she always has to sniff each and every item. Guess she's a fan of thrifting too! My mom always jokes that we should take her thrifting ^^ she can sniff out all the good stuff haha.

5) Vintage Express Cartigan

This cartigan is so soft. It looks just like one of those grandpa sweaters old people wear. I've been looking for a sweater just like this and this is literally the epitamy of perfection! 

 

6) Alfred Dunner Patterned Sweater

Such a raggedy ripped up sweater but that's what makes it look just like a vintage sweater I'd find in back of an 80's moms closet. It is a bit short so it looks almost cropped but it looks just lovely with a pair of high waist shorts. 

7) Dirty Girl On the Go mini kit

This was brand new in the packaging; it even had the plastic wrap intact! I'm pretty certain you can find these at Barnes and noble. I believe it retails for $9-$13. For what you get I think it's such a ripoff -_____-. It comes with a little notebook that you can write addresses, phone numbers, and random little notes/reminders. It also comes with two baggage tags(which are made of laminated card stark!), wipe towelette, and a Chapstick. Being that I probably only spent a quarter or less on this, I don't mind but I would never buy this for retail price. Also I travel alot back and forth from California to Indiana so the tags and booklet will come in handy.

8) Pokemon 23k plated Card

-(poliwhirl!)

This was apparently a promotional item from Burger King. It will be a perfect paperweight. Pokemon was my childhood; I would wake up every Saturday morning to watch the cartoons. I love finding things from my childhood. I have this silly idea that ill collect these novel items and show my kids someday: "Hey kids, in my day we collected cards that had creatures called pokemons on them and would battle them, using our imagination. Not like you guys with your implanted tv and computer in your eyes." Yes, in my imagined future, kids have electronics implanted in haha.

9) Gazz-it! Modeling Compound

I believe this is a knockoff of flooz? I forgot the name but that stuff was my crack when I was a kid! I love playing with this stuff. This one was brand new; when I brought this home, my brother was so excited! He remembers this from our childhood as well. This stuff definitely initiated some brother sister bonding time.

10) Vintage Cat Cry Toy

This stuff is suppose to make a noise that sounds like a cat. Unfortunately it got a bit dinged up in the bins so it's not working fully. One of the busts of my haul.

11) HP memory ram sticks

At first I thought it was a new unused crucial memory kit, which retails for $79.99! But unfortunately, it turns out to be old memory sticks someone switched out from their laptop. They seem to be unused/ in good condition, so still useable :) and lucky for me I own an hp laptop so perfect match!

12) Vintage Leather Travel Bag For Suits & Dresses

*my brother playing model haha

This travel bag is in perfect condition, and the quality is great: the label says it's made in Korea. I love finding pieces like this. I know usually items like this are rediculously marked up on etsy and ebay, so it's amazing I found this and spend close to nothing to get it. Like I said, I travel alot, so this will come in handy when I need to keep nice pieces wrinkle free. 

And that is my wonderous first haul from goodwill outlets. I hope you guys enjoyed my haul :) til next time!

<3 jess