Surprise Shopping

Just yesterday I discovered this awesome frame that Ikea sells (the Ung Drill) and decided that I needed to have one. It's a gorgeous plastic replication of a cast iron decorational frame. I have absolutely zero room for it in my apartment, but I still needed it. There are some things you just cannot miss getting. While there I ventured into the as is room and picked up two 11 3/4 X 15 3/4 white Ribba frames for $8 each. I have no idea why they were in the as is room for as is prices, but they seemed fine as far as I could tell.

Then today I ventured out to my favourite thrift store in Scarborough with the intention of placing a bid on four gorgeous brass framed pictures that will be in their live auction on the 26th and possibly getting a pair of pants or two for work.

Then I got there and noticed that all skirts were half off.

Now I already have at least 50 skirts, but I bought another ten today. I just can't help myself! Anyway, for $55 I got the following:

10 skirts
4 tops
2 jackets

My skirts ranged in price from $1.50 to $4! Steals, all of them! I'd take pictures but my legs are not in skirt shape today. ;) I will get pictures at some point, though. Some of them are just gorgeous!

I also bought some more tops and two dresses when I was there earlier in the week. I seriously need more storage space for my clothing, it's getting a little ridiculous. I think I need to do an apartment make over.

Anyway, I also need to figure out what to do with my Ung frame. The only thing I know for sure is that I don't want to leave it black. Or if I did, I'd need to spray paint it so it doesn't look like shiny plastic. I'm thinking of painting it white or bright red. I'm just not sure which.

And then what do I do with the inside? I don't really have any artwork that would fit in there. I could possibly have a mat made and then frame some other artwork I have, but then I could also paint it with the rest of my chalkboard paint I have left over.

So many options, but still nowhere to hang it.

And to end off my happy post - my boys just demolished Hannover today, 7-0! I do feel bad for Hannover, but wtfever, I'm not letting my pity over take my pride! They needed this ahead of their Champion's League semi-final with Lyon on Wednesday. I am so proud to be a Bayern fan. :)

The best birthday present I ever ruined.

So since some time last spring I have been coveting this fabulous oil painting at TEG. But that was when I had just lost my job, so I couldn't really afford to spend $125 on a painting. It dropped to $75 over the summer, but still on my limited budget I could not afford it.

Though it's fantastic and unique and kind of creepy, to my shock and awe no one bought it. Seriously, I don't quite know what's wrong with people, that no one snatched this picture up. For months it sat there, looking for a home. But no one took it. I take that as a sign that this guy was waiting for me. Maybe other people looked at it, but he made angry faces and chased them away, saving himself for me. That's how I like to think of it, at least.

So with my second paycheque (he was supposed to be bought with the first, but that got spent on other things) I went down to TEG and finally took him home with me. Turns out, though, that Kris had actually planned to buy it for my birthday (which is at the end of the month). He was going to buy it and then take me to the store and watch as I cried over the fact that someone had stolen my painting from me. But unfortunately I beat him to it!

That's a shame, because it would have been the best birthday present ever. Now the poor boy has to figure something else out. ;)

It kind of makes me think of two people standing together, watching the end of the world. It has a very apocalyptic feel to it. The world has taken on a putrid yellow tinge, and the peach sun is setting for the last time, and the trees have all withered and lost their leaves. The couple knows this is the end, and they watch on in fascination. At least the world is going out with style.

Enough melodrama! Let's move on to happier topics, like birds! Friday was a gorgeous day, and it being a holiday and all, the only thing I really wanted to do was take Kris out for lunch somewhere on a patio. The weather was amazing (it was more summer than spring) and after some shopping we settled down to eat at my favourite Japanese restaurant, Tokyo Sushi. After a fantastic meal (I had the yummiest teriyaki beef sushi roll in the world) we walked a few steps to TEG and as soon as I walked in the door what greeted me but these boys!

For $25 for the pair of them, how could I say no? Kris doesn't like them - finds them creepy. We argued amicably about them and the lady working the register laughed at us, especially when Kris said "Fine, you get them, but they're staying on your side!" and I replied "He doesn't yet realize that every side is my side!"Good times. :)


They need names, but I haven't decided on any yet. And I wish I could tae better pictures, but my camera was having a bad day. I totally need a new one. :(

Now earlier in the day that Friday I took advantage of an 11am meeting Kris had with Alfons, a friend/mentor of his who publishes Inside Soccer magazine, and I drove myself down the road from his meeting spot to Pacific Mall, one of the few shopping centres open on Good Friday. The place doesn't open until 11, so it was good to get there early before the mad crowds arrived.

I love Chinese fashion. They have the funkiest clothes there! I bought myself two new shirts ($25 each, a bit steep for my liking, but they're worth it), a cute cardigan, and some hair accessories (headbands and hair clips). Here are some pictures!


I love this shade of blue! And the girl and her pet are felt outlines, and look, it sparkles! It's a lovely piece, I think.


My new favourite tank top! It even has pockets! I love this shade of yellow, as I've mentioned before with a cardigan. It really suits my skin tone, I think. I definitely need more Col. Mustard yellow. :)


And at $10, who could say no to a cute little pink lace-trimmed zip-up sweater? It's adorable! I am trying to expand my colour palette and do have a few pink cardigans already, but the lace on this one just made me unable to pass it up.

And now for good measure, have a few shots of the bird!

Thrift Finds: Vol 3

So after leaving work on Friday, I decided to wander on down to Gerard Street to peruse my other favourite store in Toronto, Eclectisaurus. I haven't been in months, because I knew going there without any money to buy anything would really depress me.

So I walked in and started up a little chat with Leslie, the store owner. I told her about my new job, she congratulated me, and we talked for a while about enjoying your work and all the fantastic little things she has.

As soon as I walked in, my attention was caught up by this fabulous little piggy bank. He was unlike any other piggy bank I'd ever seen, more detailed and quite the snappy dresser! At only $20, how could I possibly say no? Look at that face!


Waechtersbach Piggy Bank - $20

There were many other things I wanted, but I am trying not to blow all my money right off the bat. So I left with only my bank, and promised Leslie I'd be back to buy more of her things! There's a gorgeous little bracelet that I had my eyes on the last time I was there, and it's still there (and only $35) so I think I may possibly buy it the next time I'm in, unless something else catches my eye.

Before that I'd stopped in at a random thrift store in the basement of a house across the street. To be honest, I was really just looking for a pair of flats to replace the heeled boots I was wearing that were murdering my feet. While I did find a pair, I also found two awesome dresses!


French Connection - $5
I love French Connection's clothing, but sadly it tends to be out of my price range. So to find a dress from there for $5? I was sold the second I saw the fabric!



Rosa Rose Ribbon Dress with heart chain belt - $10
This was originally $15, and while I liked the dress, I didn't like it for that price. I asked if I could just buy the belt, but the lady said no - she worried the dress wouldn't sell without the belt. She asked if I'd take it for $12, I said I'd do it for $10, and I got it! It is cute, but I look at it as getting the dress free with the belt, and not the other way around.

Then we move on to today! It was off to the post office to pick up my new journal, and I decided to celebrate the occasion by breaking in my bright pink ruffled French trench! (It's pinker than it appears in the pictures; I need to get a picture in natural lighting instead of the flash.)


Bright pink ruffled girl's coat - produced by French label Lilli - $5
Yes, it's intended to be for a girl (a 12 year old, so it says on the label) but I don't care! This coat makes me super happy (even just to stare at). It fits me, so I'm wearing it. Since it was a bit chilly today I slapped on some black arm warmers and it looks adorable!

So I pick up my journal and head back home to open it. Erin (the seller) did a fabulous job of wrapping it, it was really well packaged. She included a free pin covered in a gorgeous fabric that will look lovely on a jacket, and a piece of chalk to draw on the cover with.


Chalkboard Journal in Grassy Greens - Erinzam - $48USD
I am all ready to get started on filling it in. I've been waiting a few weeks to get this thing, so you'd think I'd be all prepared, right? No! I love this thing so much that I really need to figure out exactly what I'm going to do with it, and what I want to include where.

I'm excited and will post my progress later. :)

My First Paycheck.

So I got paid today. I actually thought I was only getting paid for the first two days I worked, but it turns out it was my pay for the first two weeks! Needless to say, that was about an extra $1000.

So, in order to celebrate, while I was out at lunch picking up stamps to send out other people's cheques, I happened to notice some super cute boots on sale.

So I bought them.

Pictures later. It just feels good to have money again. :D

Budget Wardrobe: Week 1

One of the things I want to do with this blog is document how fantastic the world of second hand shopping can be! Honestly, I buy about 90% of my clothes now second hand, and I don't ever want to go back to buying everything new. It's just so much more cost affordable this way!

My favourite place to shop is actually the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Not only do they actually have really nice stuff, but they have bi-weekly sales! This post reflects my haul from this past Friday's sale, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day (any green clothing, or clothing with a green tag, was half off).

Button up brown sweater - $2.50
Violent Femmes T-shirt - $1.00
Olive Green Skirt - $2.50

Pink Skirt - $2.50

Green Cherries Shirt - $2.00
Green Circle Skirt - $2.50
Catching my bird mid-flight: Priceless!

Green Tube Top - $1.50
Black Vest - $20 (new at H&M)
Cameo Brooch - included on a shirt I bought at Pacific Mall
Denim Skirt - $1.50

Orange Sweater Vest - $1.50

Brown & White Striped Sweater - $3.00

Orange Daisy Button Sweater - $3.00

Green Jacket - $3.50
Light Blue Tube Top - $2.00
Jeans - $2.50

Turquoise Jacket - $3.50

Grand Total: $35.00
Okay so I lied, half of those actually came from the previous week's haul. ;) I just liked them so much I had to include them! Regardless - take any two of those items and that's your brand new price (hell, half the items would be even more expensive than that). Everything was good quality, no stains or rips or anything. Of course not everything is perfect quality, but the vast majority is honestly pretty gently used. More than good enough for me!

I also wanted to mention one of my favourite necklaces! I bought this little bear at an antique store for $1! Isn't he fabulous? I wear him at least a few days a week. He's a nice weight and size.

Anyway that's all for the clothes in this post! I want to try and do one of these posts every time I buy new things. It's a great way to expand the wardrobe without breaking the bank! It's especially useful with my new job. The old job I just wore jeans and t-shirts to work, thus I had junked a good portion of my office wardrobe. This makes building it back up way easier on me! And to be honest - I think it's way more fun too.

Winter Wardrobe

Since I did a summer wardrobe, I figured I might as well do a winter one! This is typical of what you'd find me wearing since October onwards. Skirt, tights/knee high socks, top, and cardigan. Along with skirts I have also grown my cardigan collection substantially. I am especially fond of that mustard coloured one. I like to call it my "Colonel Mustard Cardigan".

I am a huge fan of the Clue board game. That cardigan makes me want to play Clue.

First!

Yes I know, the picture says summer '09, and I'm posting this during the winter of '10! But I started this whole thing back in the spring of '09, and since I'm changing everything over to a new blog, I thought I'd start at the beginning. Well maybe not the exact beginning, but the beginning of my documentation of this whole change.

What change? Many changes, but mostly wardrobe change. Before last summer I pretty much wore the staple of capri jeans and tank top. That was it, for the most part. A skirt here and there, maybe a dress once or twice a season. In the winter it was jeans and a hoodie. Nothing exciting, nothing girly. But then I discovered the joys of shopping for clothes second hand, and my life kind of changed. I've started dressing like a girl again, and from the period of May 2009 until probably October, I could count the number of times I wore pants/capris on one hand. It was all skirts/dresses, all the time!

I have since incorporated jeans and pants back into my wardrobe (mostly due to the cold weather of a Canadian winter, though it was not as bad a winter as seasons past, hooray global warming) and am starting to wear makeup and collect purses. I have also discovered that I have an affinity for jewelry. I am now a proper lady. Who would have thought?

So to sum things up, in this blog I have decided that I will document my purchases from thrift stores. I'll probably write about other things as well (like my writing, my crafts, my bird, and my summers spent supporting Toronto FC) but I don't want to make too many promises.

I tried to do this last year and failed, so this year I am keeping it simple.

And so, with this bottle of wine I am currently in the midst of consuming, I hereby christen this blog! May it be exactly what I need it to be.