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
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
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
I’ve always loved the idea of a bench at the foot of our bed, and keep my eyes peeled for one at all times while perusing the shops.
They are hard to find! I guess people tend to hang on to their benches.
Granted, I haven’t been overly serious about finding one and am only willing to pay Goodwill prices, so that narrows down my possibility of snagging the perfect bench, I guess.
Would scream if I found something like this in the shops.Or this.
During my latest Goodwill trip, my eyes fell upon two seagrass poufs. I almost passed them up, because I truly have enough furniture in my living room and loft, and couldn’t immediately think of a place for them.
I stood thinking over it for a while before moving on, though, because I knew those things were expensive and I could snag them for $20 each — a steal.
Then, I realized — I could put these at the foot of my bed in lieu of a bench! I hadn’t really seen this before, but a quick Google search confirmed that it’s a thing:
I’m pretty sure these are the poufs. I was right about the original price!
The floral pillows are from Goodwill too!
The thrifterverse provides yet again. I’m so pleased with this purchase.
Do you think the poufs work here? Or would they be better suited in a different setting?
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With the weather cooling down in FL, I drove past several garage sales while out running errands over the weekend. Here’s what I found:
A basket as big as my baby and the sunglasses she’s wearing (she picked them out) — the basket was only $10!My first pair of crocs 🤪
Things I left at Goodwill:
This rattan napkin holder. Would be good for parties, but I already have several little basket caddies that I use for napkins and party flatware, so I left this for a fellow thrifter to find. Look at the prices on these Tory Burch espadrilles! I didn’t leave these by choice – they were both too small for me. 🥲These lime green sunglasses that Elaine looked FAB in.
I also attended a holiday home tour event in an historic district of West Palm Beach over the weekend, which was a blast and also inspiring.
I loved seeing how people have cared for and upgraded their old homes — my community has such great taste!
Me, my mom, and our friend Jill at the holiday home tours event.
My favorite shop keeper, Inge, from the absolute best vintage and handmade shop, Stone Button Studio, was part of the event’s holiday market, so I grabbed a few of her treasures — I can never resist!
I love collecting Inge’s hand painted stones and tucking them on shelves and desks, the same way I place my shells.I have several of her hanging charms in windows and on plants throughout my house. This table runner is so gorgeous, I can’t wait to style a tablescape with it.
I hope you’re having as much fun as I am this holiday season, friends.
Holiday party green dress from Goodwill West Palm Beach, Vintage glass candy earrings from the West Palm Beach Antiques FestivalTop from City Girl Consignment Baby girl’s bumblebee dress from Goodwill West Palm Beach
I grew up with framed portraits of my sister and me hanging in the upstairs hallway of my childhood home.
They were in a spot I couldn’t avoid seeing every time I walked from my bedroom to the bathroom.
I hated the way I looked in my portrait. She didn’t look like me at all and, in fact, looked homely compared to my sister’s portrait, which was gorgeous.
Naturally, this would be the case, right? One sister jealous of the other sister’s portrait — a tale as old as time.
But I ain’t lying. Mine looked like a boy to my 12-year-old eye.
Also — my ears were not that big. So rude.
My mom eventually gave me the portrait when she sold her home and I’ve tucked it away in various spots in the couple of houses I’ve lived in with my family.
I decided recently to hang it on the wall again, right in the entryway of my home.
I still don’t think that little girl looks like me (or how I used to), but now when I look at it, I think about my childhood, my sister, and my mom’s love for her kids.
As a mom now too, I totally get wanting portraits of your kids — it feels elegant and more meaningful than a photo in some ways.
I also understand wanting to capture your children at a moment in time so you can cherish it forever. This portrait is now a reminder of that.
Dress – Lands End, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach; I think it needs a belt, noting this for the next time I wear it!Vintage blown glass candy earrings from The West Palm Beach Antiques FestivalLove that they are two different shapes. Shoes – J. Mchlaughlin (brand new!), Source: Goodwill West Palm BeachBaby girl’s Beauty and the Beast needlepoint onesie (so sweet!) thrifted and gifted from a friend.Kimono and belt from Goodwill West Palm BeachClose up of the details!Shirt – LOFT, Source: Goodwill West Palm BeachDress – Old Navy, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach, Leather & Silver Belt Source: Community Thrift Store West Palm BeachItalian leather sandals, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
Like most people, I love natural light. It’s important for my home to have lots of windows and the blinds raised at all times of day.
I don’t like having indoor lights on when the sun is out.
I’m always going behind my housemates and flipping the lights off.
We have lots of plants in our house that benefit from all the windows and natural light, but as my husband propagates and collects more, he’s needing to hang and shelve them in darker areas; we’re running out of prime window real estate.
His solution is to install grow lights — special lighting that work just like the sun for plants.
The hanging grow light in our primary bedroom.
I know that my ideal design aesthetic can never be achieved whilst sharing space with an adult man, two teenage boys and a toddler. I know this.
But, the introduction of the grow lights was simply something I could not have foretold.
To me, they’re giving: science experiment. Nail tech lighting. Clinical.
I want soft sunlight that casts a gentle shadow as the day progresses.
A vintage lamp found at The Cozy Cottage in Lake Worth Beach transformed into a grow light set up.
The light these grow lights cast are literally disturbing to my eye. Am I being dramatic?
The lights are making a big difference for the plants they’re nourishing. One pothos in particular is growing orangey looking leaves now — I’m told this is called variegation.
This one kills me.Variegation.
This is extremely exciting for my husband, prompting him to want to install more grow lights throughout the house.
Much to my consternation.
Last week’s thrifted ‘fits:
Baby girl and I scored clothes, stationery, and several items for my thrifted Christmas baskets at Goodwill last week:
Dress – Max Studio, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Earrings from Community Thrift Store West Palm BeachDress – O.p.t., Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Dress – Universal Thread , Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Top – Milk Designs (handmade by local designer – formerly a vintage tablecloth!), Source: The Rust Market Lake Park Rapunzel costume found at Goodwill West Palm BeachLittle Mermaid costume found at Goodwill West Palm Beach, Ruby slippers too!Top – Max Studio London, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach, Earrings Source: The Church Mouse Palm Beach
A special thing about my home and decor is that I have a lot of items that friends have gifted to me.
One of those items is a gorgeous pine cabinet that sits in our dining area. For years, it has held my boys’ library books and…cat toys.
Yes, all those drawers had cat stuff in them. Why? Because until recently, our cat Gloria was the most spoiled girl in the house.
One of my husband Vince’s love languages is gift giving, and all the girlies in his life benefit from it, the cat being no exception.
It’s unclear whether Gloria thinks Vince is her boyfriend or father, but either way, he belongs to her and up until my daughter was born, she was in charge.
Gloria lurking at the top of the stairs
Now that our (very bossy and commanding) little girl is here, Gloria has settled into her rightful place in the pecking order, but the cabinets have remained full of toys that she’s honestly too chunky to play with. The girl gets winded after 2 minutes with a squeaky mouse, God bless her.
So, it was time to repurpose the cabinet and fill the drawers with items more appropriate for the dining area.
I’m now proud to share that I’ve organized our napkins, place mats, table cloths, napkin rings, and taper candles in the cabinet – such easy access and so satisfying!
These are actually the only drawers in my house that are organized.
I’m doing great.
Last week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:
Plant pot, leather western-style belt, shell wall decor, Source: Community Thrift Store West Palm Beach Ralph Lauren Button-up, Source: The Coastal Consignment Boutique Purse – Dooney & Bourke, Source: GoodwillTop – Eileen Fisher, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach, Pants – gifted from a friendTory Burch Pumps, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Dress – Printfresh, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Dress – Universal Thread, Source: Goodwill, West Palm Beach Dress source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Minnie Mouse purse and Ty unicorn backpack, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Doll highchair in the background also from Goodwill West Palm Beach We bought these fairy wings at Community Thrift Store West Palm Beach, and realized when we got home that there were no straps for Elaine to wear them so now they are wall decor.I found a basket just like this at a different Goodwill in West Palm Beach years ago! Vince uses it under his desk as a trashcan. Cool to find another one.Another basket from Goodwill West Palm Palm Beach Pretty bowl for holding shells, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Fall napkins for an upcoming party and cute taper candles, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Pretty dish that we’ll use as a plant tray, Source: The Community Thrift Store West Palm BeachFloral stone dinner plates, set of 8 (!!), Source: The Community Thrift Store West Palm Beach Picturing this on a beachy vacation, Source: Goodwill West Palm BeachTunic – BCBG Maxazria, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Picnic basket, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Earrings (each pair less than $3!), Source: Community Thrift Store West Palm Beach Top – , Skirt – UNIQLO, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach 
Our daughter is besties with the little girl who lives across the street, and any time our families get together, the kids run around and scream and the parents drink wine.
So, inevitably, wine glasses break. When my neighbor had a birthday recently, I decided to go in search of a nice set of wine glasses — fellow thrifters will know that it’s hard to find 6 or 8 matching glasses, much less quality ones.
Last week’s girly thrift haul.
I don’t want this to jinx me or anything, but I truly feel that the thrifterverse has my back. I found six gorgeous Italian wine glasses and (bonus!) two fish-shaped stone serving dishes, glazed in a pretty blue color (wish I had taken photos).
I shined everything up, packed them in tissue paper, and gifted them.
This was the first time I’d thrifted a gift for someone who isn’t family (me, my mom, and mother-in-law all love thrifting and have a shared understanding that secondhand gifts are more than welcome).
So, I felt the need of course to disclose that I’d thrifted the items and say, “…I hope that’s not weird?”
Girly girl with her thrifted suitcase and heels. 💅🏽✨
This led me to wonder how people in general would feel about receiving a second-hand item as a gift.
I think because most people who know me understand that thrifting is *gulp* (whisper) my life, they probably wouldn’t be surprised or offended to receive a thrifted item.
It would be curated by a careful and practiced eye, of course, and cleaned prior to gifting.
Baby girl in a beautiful top found at Goodwill West Palm Beach
The more I’ve been in the shops — which has been weekly lately (coping mechanism? these times we’re in are trying) — the more I’ve thought about how important and ideal shopping secondhand is.
First of all, the stuff is FANTASTIC. I live in a place where people give away pristine, quality, high-end pieces. But also, shopping secondhand offers a way to scratch that pesky consumerist itch without breaking the bank and harming the environment.
A short list of the benefits of thrifting:
–It’s affordable (still screaming over my $60 chair/ottoman set…will be riding that high for the foreseeable future).
–It’s sustainable: Thrifting keeps usable items out of landfills and reduces demand for new manufacturing, making it one of the easiest ways to live more sustainably.
–It’s fun: I can’t fully describe the high I experience when I find a high-end item for a steal. If I could bottle it, I’d give it to you for free.
–It supports your community: I frequent charity shops that donate a percentage or all of their proceeds to a cause.
–It keeps things interesting: Thrifted finds spark creativity and give you a reason to switch things up in your wardrobe and rearrange things around your house.
I’m considering practicing mostly thrifted gifting for the holidays this year. What do you think? Would you be skeeved to receive a thrifted gift?
Last week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:
I took my kids to Resource Depot in West Palm Beach and, let me tell you, we had a time.
We did not buy this hat, but it felt right to wear it while we sifted through shelves and bins.
We got a nice collection of things for only $22 and explored the super cool art exhibit.
Most of last week’s haul, sourced from Resource Depot and The Nearly New Thrift Shop West Palm Beach. Can you tell which items baby girl picked? 🤪Purple dance costume, Source: Resource Depot West Palm BeachLoved the “M,” not sure what I’ll do with it yet. Source: The Nearly New Shop West Palm Beach Heart shaped pillow, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach Top, Jennifer & Grace, Source: Goodwill West Palm BeachSeagrass wall basket, Source: The Nearly New Shop West Palm Beach Seagrass mat, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
This is my hobby. 