As a younger person, I didn’t collect anything and didn’t really see the point. It didn’t seem like a practical thing to do.
Now that I’ve settled into a family home, I like having more stuff around me and genuinely enjoy staring at my shelves and walls full of collected things.
I’m sure there’s science behind the benefits of just….staring in this overstimulating world.
Lately, I’ve been collecting home design books.
Owning this type of collection serves two purposes — it’s easy and fun to style shelves and surfaces with books, and I glean lots of inspo from the pages.
I love cracking one open on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee after a busy week.
I’ve also started collecting pins.
I thrifted this old Dooney & Bourke canvas purse from Goodwill years ago, and have given it new life by sticking vintage pins on it that I’ve found while thrifting.
I love the shape and size of this purse, but it has some imperfections (stains on the leather). Adding the pins has gussied this old girl up!
I recently purchased a Lands End canvas tote for beach and travel, so now I have even more real estate for pin collecting.
These vibes but make ’em thrifted.
Accessorizing bags, hats, and sweaters with pins is adorable! Why wasn’t I doing this before?!
Old collecty me is all about it.
Last week’s thrifted ‘fits:
Top from The Nearly New Shop West Palm BeachSandals from Goodwill West Palm BeachButton Up and Linen Pants from Goodwill West Palm BeachMom’s entire outfit is Goodwill West Palm Beach – Top, Skirt, Sandals, and BagTop and Bag from Goodwill West Palm BeachCardigan from my Swap Brunch Party, Pants passed down from a friend, Tote from Goodwill West Palm BeachCole Haan Pumps from Goodwill West Palm Beach
Valentine’s Day is for lovers plus everyone else in my house.
Vince and I celebrated the holiday with a little staycation in Ft. Lauderdale but came home on Saturday night to take our baby girl out for a date (the boys were away celebrating their mom’s birthday).
But first – mama needs a massage.
We took her to the mall to pick out a new Build-A-Bear stuffie (her first Build-A-Bear is a red monkey — when you squeeze its hand, Vince’s voice says, “Happy first Valentine’s Day Elaine, I love you!”).
Baby E chose a beautiful, sparkly fairy bear and dressed her in a Rapunzel dress and tiara.
While filling out the bear’s birth certificate, we asked Elaine what to name it and she quickly yelled, “SALIVA!”
…….
“What was that, sweetie?”
Elaine smiled up at us and cupped her hand to her lips.
“SAAAALIVAAAA,” she stage whispered.
Saliva it is and shall ever be.
We all know how hard updating government documents can be — if this bear knows what’s best, she should accept her fate and introduce herself as “Sally” to those who don’t know her.
Anyway, as I was saying… Valentine’s Day is for everyone in my house, including the grandmas.
So I pulled together a little V-Day lunch for the family and naturally filled the table with thrifted finds, which I’m happy to tell you all about:
The weather was perfect, so we sat on our back patio for a lunch made of Buccan sandwiches, chips, and salads — all mouthwatering and highly recommended.
Earlier in the week, Elaine and I decorated construction paper hearts, which we stuck into a fun floral photo holder thingy I thrifted from Goodwill, and that served as our centerpiece.
I went to a luncheon last week and they were giving the centerpieces away at the end, so I salvaged and deconstructed one for the table.
The painted leaves are so cool, right? I stuck the roses and greenery in a crystal vase that was thrifted and gifted from my mother-in-law. She also gifted the pink serving platter I used for the sandwiches and the white tablecloth.
The heart straws and gift bags are from the dollar store! I love shopping there for holiday themed items.
The V-Day Crew!yum yum yum
It was a busy, sweet weekend!
Last week’s thrifted ‘fits:
Anthropologie bag from Goodwill West Palm Beach, Earrings from Stone Button StudioTop and MANGO tote bag from Goodwill West Palm BeachSunnies from Goodwill West Palm BeachDate night purse from Goodwill West Palm BeachKaftan/Swim Cover from Goodwill West Palm BeachBaby’s sweet dress from Goodwill West Palm Beach
Things I left at Goodwill:
Picture a palm leaf sticking out of this — so coastal chic! This shell lamp base had a different shade on top, but I found this other hand painted one and thought they looked cool together. I’m currently lamp rich, though, so had to leave this behind!
I was able to put my Goodwill sweater finds to good use over the weekend we spent in Chicago.
Red cardigan and boots from Goodwill West Palm BeachBeaded belt and boots from Goodwill West Palm BeachCloser look at the beaded belt detail; the dress ins’t thrifted, it’s Anthropologie!Baby’s pants are thrifted from Goodwill West Palm Beach and her top is thrifted and gifted from a friendH&M Sweater, GAP jeans, and boots from Goodwill West Palm BeachSeeing snow for the first time! Baby’s coat is consigned from Kid to Kid in Palm Beach Gardens.Sweater from Goodwill West Palm Beach
I’ve found a pair or two of jeans in Goodwill over the years, but I don’t usually peruse the pants section, mostly because I don’t like trying things on in the store.
I thrifted these Madewell jeans last year…the only denim thrift purchase I’ve made in years!
At this point in my life, I can eyeball a piece of clothing and tell whether it will fit me well, so I can usually avoid a Goodwill dressing room.
Nobody cherishes going into a Goodwill dressing room.
People doo doo in there sometimes.
Pants are one of those items you have to try on, even if you know your body type and sizing super well, because fits vary dramatically depending on the brand and cut of the pant.
It has taken me years, but I’ve finally found the denim brand that works best for my body — Madewell.
My size is consistent in all their styles, so I can easily wait for a sale and order online — no try ons necessary.
I’ll be a high waist pant girlie til the day I die, and Madewell does it perfectly. Their high waist hits me just right, doesn’t cut off circulation to my cooch, and flattens my fupa quite nicely. Plus, all denim cuts I’ve experienced cradle my butt cheeks respectfully.
I haven’t found another jean as flattering! (but if you have a go-to brand, let me know – I’m always down to explore)
Sweater from Goodwill West Palm Beach; also wearing my new $50 Madewell jeans! Sweatshirt from Goodwill West Palm BeachDress from Goodwill West Palm BeachSweater from Goodwill West Palm BeachExpress shirt and vintage jacket from Goodwill West Palm BeachMom found a pair of chucks – a nostalgic purchase! When she got her first job at 14 she saved up to buy a pair.Mom in a gorgeous dress found at Goodwill West Palm Beach
Things I left at Goodwill:
This dress looked so pretty, but I’m cutting myself off on dresses for now. Amazing mirror!
I’m a big fan of the gallery wall, and have several in my home. I’ve always liked using them in a non-traditional way (traditional being matching frames hung in a perfectly symmetrical grouping).
A traditional gallery wall in our home featuring images from our favorite vacation.
I like thinking of my gallery moments as wall scrapbooks. I mix and match frame styles, include photos next to artwork, and hang objects like baskets and hats.
If someone writes me a cute note, or I leave a wedding with a polaroid keepsake, I’ll tuck these pieces into the edges of frames.
The gallery wall above my desk.
My gallery walls are constantly changing as I bring in new pieces from my thrift adventures, like puzzles that are never finished.
One of my favorite galleries is the one above my desk/office space in our primary bedroom.
It includes a floral painting found years ago at Stitches and Rust (the owner now operates a shop called Trashé Vintage), and a painting given to me by my mother.
The artist’s granddaughter was my mother’s neighbor in Missouri, and gave this piece, along with another large collection, to my mom for free, as long as she promised to keep them safe.
The post office gave us a copy of Elaine’s passport photo, so I tucked it in the floral painting’s frame, along with a tiny image of my boys that was leftover from some prints I made to go into a locket for my mother-in-law.
Now that my mom lives seasonally with us in Florida, we’re keeping all the art on our walls.
I’ve hung a hat from Stone Button Studio in Northwood Village, a little stained glass and shell mirror purchased at the Northwood Holiday Home Tours market in 2024, a basket I’ve just added to the collection this weekend (purchased at The Rust Market in Lake Park), and my favorite piece of all — framed hand written notes from my mother.
My mom wrote these notes to me when I was two years old. I had done a couple of cute/sweet things, so she jotted them down as memories and added little love notes in too.
A polaroid from Vince and Elaine’s first daddy daughter dance, and a tiny envelope with “Vanessa and Vince” written on it and a cute little butterfly
To this day, I can’t read the notes without crying. Even before becoming a mother myself, they brought tears to my eyes.
I love those notes so much that when my parents asked what I wanted for my college graduation gift, I just asked to have them matted and framed.
My mom couldn’t believe it — frame her slanted writing and spelling errors?!
Hell yeah! That’s what I love about it. The busy, working mom of a toddler taking a few minutes to jot down a moment she wanted to hold onto. A piece of life with her family she wanted to keep from fading. A quick little love story for later.
I love having moments like that on my walls.
Finally put up this rattan mirror I thrifted from Goodwill a few weeks ago.
Sweater thrifted and gifted from a friendButton up and striped H&M pants from Goodwill West Palm BeachHuarache sandals from Goodwill West Palm BeachAnthropologie skirt and MANGO tote from Goodwill West Palm BeachSunshine State cap from Goodwill West Palm BeachHandmade dress created from a thrifted, vintage tablecloth purchased from a designer who exclusively sells at The Rust Market in Lake ParkJ. McLaughlin sandals from Goodwill West Palm BeachMen’s striped button up from Goodwill Denver, CO
Palm Beach County’s thrift community is made up of the best, most generous and creative people.
As an avid thrift shopper, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know several local shop owners, and I’ve come to discover that folks who curate and collect have the warmest hearts. It’s just a tried and true combo.
I’ve known the owner of Trashé Vintage, Heidi, for many years. Our sons were elementary school friends, and when Heidi and I first met, her store was called Stitches and Rust.
Image Source: The Palm Beach Post
Her eye for curation is impeccable, and her prices have always been within reach for the average shopper. The style of her shop has evolved over the years, which I think is a reflection of her own evolution as a person — a very cool thing.
Heidi hosted a community-wide rummage sale in the parking lot of her shop over the weekend and it was fun to see that, much like her artfully collected shop, she’s curated a community of people who love shopping secondhand, eating tacos, and singing karaoke in the middle of the day.
The girliesThe Cozy Cottage table had items exclusively $5 and under Mom snagged a free pair of sandals from the clothing swap section.Baby chose her own outfit for the outing — head to toe black was an aggressive but respectable choice.
The rummage sale prices were insanely good. I spent $15 and came away with an awesome haul.
I also got to catch up with Denise, owner of The Cozy Cottage in Lake Worth Beach, who gave me a bag of clothes she’d collected that reminded her of me.
See what I mean about this awesome thrift community?!
Here’s my rummage sale haul:
Bag of goodies! Goodies included these wreath earrings (so tempted to wear these all year round) and a little vintage vase pendant. I’m picturing this on a long chain! Love unique finds like this. I also grabbed two pins – I’ve been adding pins to some of my purses, and have been accessorizing sweaters with them this winter.I snagged this awesome pouf for $5!
We ended the afternoon with a trip to Goodwill. Naturally, I left with a few bags.
Thrift haul coming soon to my insta profile!
Things I left at Goodwill:
I know someone was JAZZED to snag this side table. So good!!$10!!!Awesome coffee table‘Twas a day for coffee tables.
J.Crew sweater from Goodwill West Palm BeachNo tag sweater from Goodwill West Palm BeachNike windbreaker from Goodwill West Palm BeachSweater from Goodwill West Palm Beach, J.Jill linen button up from Goodwill Denver, Pin from Trashe Vintage’s Rummage SaleLinnette bag from Goodwill West Palm BeachClose up of this lil cutie pinTreasure and Bond Boots from Goodwill West Palm Beach
I’m still crashing back to reality after spending the past week in literal paradise.
We immediately started back to work, so my house is a disaster. Bags are unzipped and halfway unpacked, stuff spilling over the sides.
The laundry is a mile high, I have 31 unread text messages and a few voicemails, and I don’t have the courage to peek at my gmail inbox until I’ve cleaned up my work mail.
During weeks like this, I ask myself: how long is too long for a vacation?
I think the sweet spot is 5 nights. We left for 8 (Vince’s preference) and the effort to catch up has brought the tension back to my (now perfectly tanned) previously relaxed shoulders!
I have, however, found pleasure in unpacking our souvenir haul, which I’m happy to share with you now.
I was so tempted by the hand woven baskets for sale throughout the island, but didn’t have much room in my suitcase to bring one back.
Luckily, the resort greeted us with a little welcome basket full of goodies I can add to my basket collection.
My favorite items in the welcome gift where the patchouli oil and soap. I used the entire bottle of oil during our stay — not only does it smell great, it’s also a mosquito repellent!
The resort didn’t have more, but I plan to scour the internet in search of more of this elixir.
Of course, I searched for shells on every beach we visited. I didn’t have much luck, but did find a piece of brain coral and an old conch.
I purchased a necklace from a vendor stand at Champagne Reef during our second day trip.
On our first day trip, we visited a chocolate factory, where we learned about the entire process of chocolate being made, from fruit to bean to tasty, hand-packaged treats!
We bought a bag-full of different flavored chocolates to share with family and a book about the factory owner’s great grandmother who shed her life in London society to live a simpler life on Dominica.
I grabbed a belt with shells on the buckle from the resort gift shop, along with two children’s books for Elaine on island lore.
Naturally, we all got t-shirts and Elaine selected several hand-beaded items from the duty free shop at the airport on our way home. My fave is the parrot she’ll put on her backpack (she already has a little pegasus from last year’s visit).
The guide we hired for our day trips, Dave, was so wonderful. When we met his family, we learned that his brother is a chef and makes amazing cakes but is currently out of work and recuperating from a car accident at home.
When Dave picked us up for our ride to the airport, he brought two cakes his brother made for us, plus some coconut fudge (he heard us gushing over it after we bought some at a stand during one of our day trips).
Oversized button up and sunnies from Goodwill West Palm BeachStriped pima cotton button up from Goodwill West Palm BeachDress from Goodwill West Palm BeachCaftan from Goodwill West Palm BeachCaftan from Goodwill West Palm BeachScarf, Lucky Brand tank top, and Madwell jeans from Goodwill West Palm Beach
This week, I’m coming to you live from the island of Dominica.
In 2024, Vince and I discovered that our favorite way to vacation is visiting islands in the Caribbean.
It started because Hawaii is on my bucket list, but a plan we had to visit fell through, so Vince started researching islands closer to us that gave similar vibes.
We wanted hikes, waterfalls, beaches, and tropical rainforests.
After diving down several reddit threads, the French Antilles quickly surfaced as the ideal location — these tropical islands are only a 3 hour flight from Miami and offer what we wanted and more.
So far, we’ve explored Guadeloupe twice and are now on our second visit to Dominica.
(We’re taking advantage of having a pre-school aged child. Once kindergarten starts up for Elaine, we’ll only take long trips on school holiday breaks.)
Dominica, in my opinion, has the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen.
It’s technically not part of the French Antilles, but it’s sandwiched between the French islands Guadeloupe and Martinique.
I know, I live in Florida, and we have nice beaches, but these beaches are secluded, provide excellent shell hunting opportunity, and the water is crystal clear for snorkeling, an activity I only recently got brave enough to try.
There’s also something about traveling to a beach — on vacation I can’t be distracted by laundry and my never ending list of errands like at home. So, beach times just feel different here for that reason too.
There is no thrifting on the islands, of course. My collecting hobby translates into shell and souvenir hunting.
I’m not big into t-shirts and refrigerator magnets. I’m drawn to woven baskets (obvi) made of local materials, handmade accessories and caftans, and any children’s books written by islanders we might run across.
I love spontaneously stopping into a shop during a drive or discovering an outdoor market with locally made goods.
Should I share a souvenir haul at the end of this trip?
Here’s one of my highlights from this trip so far:
We hired a guide for the first time to take us on a jam packed island day:
-A visit to the Red Rocks -A tour of a chocolate factory -Lunch in Calibishie (we stayed in this tiny beach town on our last visit) -A quick beach dip -A waterfall hike
On the drive back to the resort, our guide mentioned we’d be driving by his mom’s house and asked if we’d like to stop by for some “coconut jelly” (coconut water).
We got to meet his mom, step-dad, and brother, and he grabbed coconuts from the backyard tree for the freshest most delicious water!
Our guide told us the only Caribbean island that holds a candle to Dominica’s beauty is St. Lucia, so it’s on our list.
For now, we’re holding off the January scaries just a tad longer and soaking up island life. No thrifted outfits this week, friends, just swimsuits, robes, and hiking shorts. 😉
Happy New Year! I’m grateful to have this creative outlet and friends who support it by reading and engaging with my ramblings.
So let’s waste no time and get right into my ramblings this week!
I ordered a hot glue gun from Amazon, and I fear it has made me too powerful.
She’s pink and she’s perfect.
I’ve never been an arts and crafts type of gal, though I admire artsy and crafty folks so very much.
But…has this hot glue gun made me artsy and crafty? Perhaps you can be the judge.
I initially ordered the hot glue gun for my mom, actually. She needs it for a project, but once I had it in my possession, I quickly realized that the possibilities are vast.
On literal Christmas day, I took this hot glue gun into my bathroom to renovate our struggling towel hooks, because the thought had been scratching the back of my mind ever since the Amazon package arrived and I could wait no longer.
Here’s how the towel hooks looked before:
Woof. Chipped and broken.
As you’ve learned by now, I’m really into shells and have a lot of them laying around my house, so I thought: why not hot glue some shells onto these broken towel hooks?!?
So, that’s what I did:
This experience was so intoxicating, that I took my hot glue gun and shells to a picture frame I thrifted during my Denver Goodwill trip in October:
Zara top from Goodwill West Palm BeachHouse of Harlow dress from Goodwill West Palm BeachGorgeous necklace made of thrifted fabric, charms, and shells by Sarah Bray Bermuda Dooney & Bourke bag from Goodwill West Palm BeachBaby girl’s Christmas eve dress from Goodwill West Palm BeachMy Christmas day sweater and linen slip dress from Goodwill West Palm BeachVintage, secondhand Lilly Pulitzer caftan purchased at a nonprofit event Baby girl’s Lilly Pulitzer romper from Goodwill West Palm BeachWoven bag thrifted and gifted from a friend!Sweater layered over a white sun dress – both from Goodwill West Palm Beach; Necklace made of thrifted materials by Sarah Bray Bermuda; Ring from A Timeless Treasure in Northwood VillageSam Edelman sandals from Goodwill West Palm BeachSunglasses from Goodwill West Palm Beach; Top from Nearly New Shop West Palm BeachCan you believe my mom found this bag brand new at Goodwill?! She gifted it to me for Christmas.
I hope the new year brings you many thrifting adventures, friends!
This year, our boys were out of town for Christmas, so Vince and I hosted a small Christmas dinner with just baby girl and our moms.
I’ve been collecting items for my Christmas tablescape for several months and am sharing here all the details of my completely thrifted, gifted and secondhand Christmas table:
-White Dinner Plates – Goodwill West Palm Beach -Green Cloth Napkins – The Nearly New Shop West Palm Beach -Napkin Rings – Thrifted and gifted from a friend -Silverware – Wedding Gifts -Milk Glass Goblets – Passed down from my mom -Candle with Glass Christmas Tree Charm – Goodwill West Palm Beach
-Taper Candles – Thrifted from Goodwill West Palm Beach or gifted -Crystal Candle Holders – Wedding Gifts -Table Runner – Goodwill West Palm Beach
The table runner originally had tassels on either end, but they fell off after I ran it through the washing machine, so I tied ornaments on either end to replace them! The vintage wreath ornaments were sourced from The Nearly New Shop West Palm Beach.
-Brass Candle Holders – Passed down from my mom -Small White & Green China Candleholders – Goodwill West Palm Beach -Glass Christmas Tree Votive Holder – Passed down from my mom -Christmas Holly Candle Holder – Goodwill West Palm Beach -Cake Stand – Garage sale find -Wooden Nativity People – The Cozy Cottage Lake Worth Beach
Now that all my Christmas gifts have gone out, I’ll also be sharing details on most of the items I thrifted for friends and family this year — stay tuned!
I hope you had a cozy Christmas full of warmth and love, friends.
Sweater and MANGO tote from Goodwill West Palm BeachRing from A Timeless Treasure West Palm BeachSweater from Goodwill West Palm Beach; Madewell Jeans from Goodwill Boutique in Boca Raton Hightop chucks from Goodwill West Palm Beach J. Peterman jumpsuit and leather belt from Goodwill West Palm BeachAnthropologie skirt from Goodwill West Palm Beach; Amazing necklace made of vintage fabric, charms, and shells sourced from thrift and estate sale trips made by Sarah Bray BermudaA closer look at my stunning Sarah Bray Bermuda necklace! Baby girl’s dress from Goodwill West Palm BeachMom bought me a pair of tassels from the Rust Market in Lake Park – they are on our end tables in our bedroom for now. This stunning handmade, one-of-a-kind dress made from a hand stitched vintage tablecloth is from a Rust Market vendor named Marcia. She doesn’t sell online/has no digital presence and more people need to know about her!! This dress is one example of many gorgeous designs. I highlighted her in my recent instagram reel – check it out! Vince and I brought a bottle of wine to dinner with friends and I popped on this vintage ornament sourced from a collection I found at Goodwill West Palm Beach.Elaine’s set from Goodwill West Palm Beach
This is my hobby. 