Quick Flip: Sperry's Boat Shoes

On the weekends I have a habit of periodically checking the free section of craigslist. I live in an area near many wealthy neighborhoods and it is unbelievable the type of items people give away for free. My favorite posts consist of leftovers from garage sales and estate sales. Often, they still have amazing, high quality items that people did not buy because A) it was priced too high or B) it's a kitschy item with a specific niche market. I often think of these opportunities as treasure troves full of potential gold at no cost. This Sunday I was lucky enough to stumble upon a garage sale leftover post that was 10 minutes away. When I arrived, a lady had already picked through the items but I was still able to grab some great items before others came. One of the items I picked up was a pair of leather Sperry boat shoes(size 9 1/2). 

Boat shoes are hot right now, even crocs have their own version. However, The brand that started the trend was sperrys. These shoes usually retail for $80-$140, depending on the style. They are made of genuine leather, and it seems that right now almost every guy has at least one pair. Needless to say, I felt these would be an easy sell. After picking these up, I cleaned up the leather using leather CPR and scrubbed the bottoms using Ajax bleach powder, all while watching some netflix hehe. After a good scrubbing, the shoes looked almost brand new! I quickly posted pictures and these babies were sold within 3 days for $25. After having to move from my old apartment, I realized that the key to success is quick turnover. 

Hope you guys enjoyed this lil post. More posts to come! Tata for now :)

Much love,

Jess

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