home decor – Page 2 – This is my hobby.

Basket my life, baby.

Living with a lot of people means you’re also living with clutter. It just builds up — even if you’re not a maximalist like me. 😉

My solution?

BASKETS

I might have a bit of a basket problem, tbh.

I’ve embraced that at this stage in my life, toys are part of the home aesthetic. I know that one day, I’ll look around and wish there were toys on the floor, so I accept it with my whole heart. Toy Basket Source: Stone Button Studio West Palm Beach, Mini Rattan Chair Source: SoFlo Finds Delray Beach

It started with my daughter’s toys. The two baskets I got for the living room quickly overflowed, though, which actually made things look more cluttered, imo (my solution for that further down).

Baby Girl’s Shoe Basket Source: Stone Button Studio West Palm Beach

This kid has a lot of toys but it isn’t entirely her mom and dad’s fault.

When you have a baby (especially one as cute as mine 😏) people start bringing toys every time they see you or visit, it just happens!

Anyway, back to baskets.

Magazine Holder Source: The Cozy Cottage Lake Worth Beach, Basket Source: Nearly New Thrift Shop West Palm Beach

I’m married to a recovering clutter bug.

You can track his movements throughout the house based on the trail of items left on counters and floors.

Until a few weeks ago his bedside table was…atrocious.

Upon it sat a mountain of the miscellaneous: remote controls, books, snacks, cups, glasses, etc. etc. etc.

My solution was this cute lil basket! Now, instead of me worrying about putting the items back constantly, they’re thrown in here so I don’t have to look at them!

It has honestly done wonders for my peace in our room.

I basket up toys, stuffies, piles of books the toddler pulls from at will, blankets…

I found this perfect toy chest at Goodwill to better store my toddler’s plethora of toys.

Love that I can just toss things in there willy nilly and close the lid. It’s also an extra seating option, and has wheels for easy moving!

Kinda wish I could put my LIFE in a basket, ugh, sounds so cozy.

This week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:

Top, Max Studio London, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach

Dress, Ileen Girl, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach

Shirt, Unknown, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach, Bag Source: Thrifted & gifted from a friend

Baby girl in an adorable matching set from Goodwill West Palm Beach

Janie & Jack Top Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach

This lamp!!! Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach

Here it is in its new home. I love it so much.

Woven Grass Table Mats, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach

Had to do some rearranging to welcome in the new lamp. I think this vintage tulip lamp is better suited here anyway, it was getting lost in the plants in the old spot. Here, it will get the attention it deserves! Source: Jupiter Medical Thrift – the lamp still had the original shade, which was in rough shape, so I found this gorgeous alternative in the store same-day!

Woven mat under the lamp is from The Nearly New Thrift Shop West Palm Beach

A Modem Emergency

There’s a corner of my living room that has never been cute, right between the couch and the wall where the subwoofer sits.

In addition to hosting a big black box, the corner has collected a cat scratching post (Gloria the cat is too chunky and chill to actually use it) and a tangle of charging wires.

Prefers scratching couch in a horizontal position

I’ve had in the back of my mind that I want to do something to that space, but it became an emergency last weekend when my husband decided he needed to purchase a $600 ghastly modem for our home and it could only reside in that corner.

I am not being dramatic when I say ghastly. Look at this thing!

It’s giving alien spider.

So, you see, the sirens were wailing and something had to be done.

Thank goodness for my trusty OfferUp app – in the span of 15 minutes I’d found a gorgeous wooden screen that had grown dusty and unappreciated in some dude’s house (it was his great aunt’s, he said).

For $100, I now have a beautiful backdrop to what was once a plain wall and cluttered corner, and a screen to hide our new alien spider from the world.

Another thrifting triumph!

Last week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:

An old favorite dress – Anthony Richards, Source: Goodwill

T-shirt – Ralph Lauren, Source: Goodwill

Wrinkly as always, Shirt – FLAX, Source: Goodwill, Glass Bead Earrings – Thrifted and gifted from my mom, Source: Stone Button Studio

Another old fave dress – C & C California, Source: Goodwill

Interrupting the usual flow to note that I celebrated my bestie’s birthday this weekend and she loves to thrift too, so after a b-day brunch, we hit the shops (match made in heaven, us two). ✨

This fab dress is not thrifted but a gift from my husband, he picked it up at a boutique in Cannes, France on a work trip. The guy knows what he’s doin.

I’ve been watching a new consignment shop come up on Dixie Hwy. on my daily drives, so I was dying to go in.

The owners are a sweet couple who grew out of their spot in Boynton Beach — welcome to the neighborhood, The Coastal Consignment Boutique!

I ended up with only one piece, but it’s a goodie!

Oversized Ralph Lauren short sleeved button up for $20. I’m picturing this with a pair of white wide-leg pants.

Of course we headed over to Goodwill next, and your girl never walks out of this store empty handed.

Pair of stone candle holders 🤌🏽 I love to have candles on the table all the time, it makes week night dinners feel cozy and fancy.

I always snag the vintage pyrex — this one is giving fall vibes!

Was drawn to this sporty number — I prefer carrying small bags. PETA + JAIN

Btw, the earrings I wore for this b-day outing are thrifted from The Church Mouse on Palm Beach Island.

Love these reversible table mats, perfect for placing hot dishes or our cast iron skillets down when serving brunch and dinner.

Eclectic Charm

The best compliment I’ve received about my decor lately is that I don’t decorate to be “on trend,” I just fill my home with things I love — whether they “go together” or not (thanks, Becky!).

Macrame Garland gifted from my mom, Source: WPB Green Market

It’s not that I don’t care about trends, I’m not that cool. I do care and pay attention to what’s current.

I’m influenced by trends all the time, but I also know I won’t ever have a consistently themed home (like cottage, bohemian, modern farmhouse, mid-century modern, etc.).

Examples of my decorating flair are the garland, mobiles, and charms I hang everywhere.

I love to adorn our plants and hang them from the ceilings and in our windows.

Indian Bird Charm, Source: Jupiter Medical Thrift

I collect my charms and garlands while thrifting and traveling, so there’s usually a story or memory attached to them.

Handmade Shell & Glass Bead Charm, Source: Stone Button Studio

Ignore the dusty leaves – this lady doesn’t like to dust!

Vintage papier-mâché Vegetable Garland, Source: The Nearly New Shop, Shell & Woven Palm Leaves Mobile gifted from my mom, Source: Mom & Co. Curaçao

Handmade Agate Charm, Source: Stone Button Studio (the very first charm I hung in the house!)

Woven Palm Leaves Bird & Fish Mobile, Source: A little cafe in Guadeloupe

Shell Charm, Source: Trinkets & Treasures Lake Worth Beach

Tassel Charms, Source: Stone Button Studio, Wooden Bird Mobile, Source: Roadside shop in Guadeloupe

Bohemian might come closest to my style – what do you think?

This week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:

Shirt – Bella Tu, thrifted & gifted from a friend ❤️, Wooden Parrot Necklace, Source: WPB Antiques Festival (Pants aren’t thrifted but are from a vendor at the WPB Green Market!)

Vintage Glass Fruit Earrings, Source: WPB Antiques Festival

Sterling Silver Shell Earrings, Source: Stone Button Studio

Swimsuit – Tommy Bahama (reversible!), Source: Goodwill

Hand Painted Italian Serving Dish, Source: Goodwill

My PRIZE at $3 from Goodwill – gorgeous shell wreath

Terra cotta pots and boxes of taper candles, Source: Goodwill

Vintage Ice Bucket (has little “m” on top!), Source: Goodwill

Dining Details

We’ve upgraded our dining area with a bargain box store deal and thrifted find, and it’s lookin’ pretty cute 💅🏽.

We moved into our new build, cookie cutter house in 2020, and all I wanted was to thrift my lil heart out and fill each space with vintage and eclectic character.

Couldn’t do that in 2020. But we still managed to find an awesome dining table on Wayfair — the distressed wood is perfect for having kids and pets, the marks and scratches just blend in.

Our original chairs were also from Wayfair and we liked them, but they were falling apart from, well, kids and pets.

We found eight chairs that I’m pretty sure are like…event chairs?…on OfferUp for $120 and snagged them for our dining area.

I’m sure you’ve sat in a chair like this at a wedding at some point.

Six around the table + two extra for when we have guests = ideal.

The brown wood vibes with the table and our new rug, which has its own story.

My mom was exploring the Wellington Mall a few weeks back and found a huge jute rug for $99 at City Furniture.

This steal was nestled in a section where they sell marked down show room pieces.

It blends perfectly with my style – I love it!

My husband hates jute, which is rude, but I appreciate how natural and forgiving it is.

The backdrop of our dining area is a plant project/idea of my husband’s. He installed the wooden lattice and hung two pothos to create a low-maintenance living wall.

It has taken a while for the vines to grow out, but now that they have, it almost feels like an art installation.

This week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:

Office outfit! Shirt – Red Haute, Source: Goodwill, Pants – J. Crew, Source: Thrifted and gifted from a friend ❤️

Belt and Bag – Unknown, Source: Goodwill, Shoes – Bernardo (retail $348!!!), Source: Goodwill, Earrings – handmade/upcycled, Source: Stone Button Studio

Dress/Swim Coverup – Unknown, Source: Thrifted and gifted from a friend ❤️

Baskets from Goodwill (tall one thrifted and gifted from a friend ❤️)

Adorable hat added to baby girl’s room, Source: Goodwill

My built-in thrift buddy 🤙🏽

Crazy Shell Lady

My decorating style is not coastal. I don’t really know what it is, but beachy isn’t the vibe.

I do, however, love collecting shells, whether out in the wild or sourcing from thrift shops.

I style shells all over my house, so I need you to know that if you love shells like me, but don’t want a “beachy” aesthetic, you can still display your treasures!

I’ll probably share my shells in many posts, but let’s start with the entryway of my home.

Found this beauty at Goodwill! The plant pedestal is from Stone Button Studio.

Our entry table has…a lot goin’ on. But I’m not hating it, which might be a sign of aging. The older I get, the more hoard-y I get.

Please call me “maximalista” rather than hoarder, okay? Let me live in this fantasy.

Nothing compares to the endorphin rush that comes when finding a big, juicy shell in the wild, and I love displaying my big ones, but I also get really excited about the tiny, perfect babies I find, too.

I like to tuck those lil cuties in picture frames to display them; a corner morsel for the eye to land on.

Some of my shells are gifts from friends and family who find them on the beach or buy them at thrift shops for me, which is so sweet. I can remember where almost every shell is from – crazy shell lady for real.

You’ll also note an eclectic collection of books, reflective of the individuals who live in my home.

On my shelves and tables, I layer books, shells, and collected items from thrifting and travel. The little olive branch is from Greece!

My entry table has two glass top shelves, which I decorate in a “scrapbook style” (I made that up idk if that’s really a thing, but that’s the vibe). I apply the scrapbook vibes to lots of areas in my house, will share more in later posts! That heart box is from my childhood – I recently dug it out and shined it up.

This is a paint-by-numbers I did with my bestie, proudly displayed with beach treasures.

I recently learned that shells have always had value, and throughout history have been used as currency across the world.

Literal treasures, and I’ll always be obsessed.

This week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up (featuring baby girl!):

Shirt – J. Crew, Skirt – Universal Thread, Bag – Coach (brand new! $30) *Source: Goodwill*

Adorable sweater jacket – Kielo Dyson NY, *Source: Goodwill*

A close-up of the detail – knitted stars and wooden beads. Love this piece. Super comfy, too.

Shirt – Cynthia Rowley, *Source: Goodwill*

Adorable doll cradle, *Source: Goodwill*

Brand-new kilim pillow, *Source: Quantum House Thrift*

Two previously found pillows also thrifted from Quantum House Thrift & Trashe Vintage

Signed artwork “Goldberg”, *Source: Goodwill*

Angel baby making her thrifted fashion debut. Shorts from Goodwill.

Tee and skirt – hand-me-downs. (Message inaccurate – can confirm child is A LOT a bit sassy)

Thrifted Childhood Whimsy

When my boys were younger, I put so much effort into making their room special and cute. It had a foosball table, reading nook, glowy string lighting, bunk beds…a dream.

Now they are 16 and 18 and their room looks like trash. It also smells like trash. Well, booty, really. Teenage boys smell bad.

Thankfully, I had another kid, which gave me another chance to make a magical room.

My daughter’s room is my favorite space in the house. There’s no theme, just an eclectic collection of things I’ve picked up at my favorite thrift shops and items from my own childhood bedroom.

I love a kid’s room without a matchy-matchy, trendy aesthetic. I think when you pick items that you truly love and let your creativity flow, everything finds a way to fit in.

The birds are my favorite pieces in the room. *Source: Stone Button Studio*

Vintage baby doll buggy and pillows also from *Stone Button Studio.* This poor plant recently got a haircut and isn’t looking her best, but she’s on the mend!

My sons’ room now looks like a prison cell, but at least I have old photos to remind me of what once was, and a second chance at cute kid decor. And lots of febreeze.

This week’s thrifted treasures:

This 1880-1900 English chair that I found at Goodwill for $15!

$5 for this sweet shell box, *Source: Nearly New Thrift Shop*

Movie night outfit! T-shirt: Unknown, handmade *Source: Quantum House Thrift,* Bag: UNIQLO, *Source: Goodwill*

Dirty Wall Upgrade

We bought our house while it was being built and weren’t familiar with the term “builder grade,” which means your house has been finished with the cheapest appliances, fixtures, and paint possible.

We kept the builder grade white paint because we like white walls and didn’t realize it was literal powder.

We have three kids and a cat and the walls definitely tell that story.

The scrapes and toddler artwork start at the front door. 🙃

Since the paint is so cheap, we can’t clean off the scuffs, paw prints, crayon marks, and general mayhem. A wet rag will literally wipe the paint right off.

My walls are ugly, y’all.

Painting an entire house after everything is hung and furnished is a big project, so we’re starting with wall paper in small areas.

Area #1 — the kitchen island, where the teenage boys sit to do homework, eat, and kick the crap out of the wall.

The entire area was nearly black from their feet, so we covered it with this wallpaper, Vintage Herons from Spoonflower.

We had a Task Rabbit do this and realized afterward that he didn’t match the pattern up with each panel…I’m trying to decide if this bothers me.

Since we’re in the kitchen, I have a design question:

Do we style the top of the cabinets or no? Is that old fashioned?

If I were to style it, here’s the inspo:

Too cluttered? Unnecessary? Lmk what you think.

Thrifted outfits of the week:

New fave comfy dress for running errands – brand unknown, think it might be Costco honestly. *Source: Goodwill*

Character Flaw: I never iron. Dress – J.Jill, Purse – Dooney & Bourke, Shoes – Sam Edelman. *Source: Goodwill*

Comfy Cotton Gauze Dress – Unknown, *Source: Jupiter Medical Thrift* (photo taken in the Goodwill parking lot – lol)

Throwback! Scarf – unknown, Shirt – Express, Jeans – Levi’s. *Source: Goodwill*

Swift with the Arm Swipe

I live three miles away from the best Goodwill in town, and they know me there. Which really comes in handy when your toddler seeks to destroy.

You know how people in movies and TV shows get really upset and just take their arm and rake it across a table full of items?

And everything just crashes. I bet that feels so good. I, of course, feel the urge to do this (or flip a table Teresa Giudice-style) at least once a month, but I couldn’t do that because then I’d have to pick all that stuff on the floor up.

My mom and I happily preparing to enter our favorite store.

My toddler, though, who is me, but tiny and privileged in myriads of ways, goes for the arm swipe (or the hammer-throw most often) a lot.

And we’re at that stage where I’m like…should I do something about this that’s spicier than a time-out?

Anyway, the arm swipe and hammer-throw tendencies make Goodwill shopping a little dicey at times, so we mostly avoid the glassware shelves.

But a few weeks ago, I had given her a cookie immediately upon sitting her in the cart and figured that bought me at least 30 min of browsing the glassware shelves.

TODDLER ARMS ARE SWIFT.

How did she even snag that snow globe with a fist full of cookie?!

She gets the coordination and dexterity from her mama (I’m deft at snatching a bargain from a shelf or a hanger, guys!).

Luckily, they know me at Goodwill, so all was forgiven quickly and I even got a discount on a plant pot.

Here are some of my thrift finds from the past few weeks: