Thrift Core

What I Didn't Buy at the Thrift Store: Damn You and Your Prices!

2012-01-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

After being been spoiled by flea market prices, thrift store is intense. Visiting the thrift store last week was torture. I was dying to fill my cart with treasures, but I came home with only three items. I'll show you what I got for $2.25 at the flea market on Monday, but 'til then, here are the pleas from my abandoned quarry:

Damn, I really wanted that red wagon for store displays. And those cups! And, hell, everything! But I'm glad I held out and spend less and got more at the flea market.

Oh, and about that Raggedy Ann doll. My mom bought me a life-sized one. I was so terrified of it that I begged her to banish it to the basement. I grew up watching horror films yet the soulless black eyes of that giant doll were scarier than any Jason or Freddy. I can never resist vintage Raggedy Ann goodies despite the childhood trauma. I classify them with clowns; fun kitschy horror!

What's your limit for spending on individual second-hand items? Do you think thrift store prices are getting out of hand lately?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Freelancer Life Update + What to do When You Hate Your Job

2012-01-26T09:45:00.001-05:00

Does your day job fill you with deep loathing? Is every moment you spend at the office sheer torture? If you hate your job, you need to quit!

Don't subject yourself to conditions you hate every day. I haven't looked back at the time I spent working in a cubicle as a writer. I love my flexible schedule and using my creative energy on my own projects- instead of my boss's.

Of course, there are challenges that come with being a Freelancer as well. You have to stay inspired and motivated to survive, and you can never stop innovating. Being accountable for yourself isn't easy and it's not for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge it's also very liberating. (See: How to know if you're ready to quit your day job.)

My new coworker is really funny and cute, too. I like working with her every day, she's silly...

I didn't just up and quit my job. I plotted for years: I saved, paid rent in full for a year, researched, practiced and established a revenue stream. If you long to leave your current job, start your own plans.

Life's too short to work at a job you hate. Let's spend every day doing what we love.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Which Vintage Owl Do You Like Better? Before or After?

2012-01-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

Selling antiques is unpredictable. Sometimes a piece you think will fly off the shelves will stagnant for months, waiting for its vintage-loving soul mate. I predicted this owl would be seized quickly, but failed. Luckily, a little creative reconfiguring will sometimes make the sale. I'll be spray painting several vintage pieces to see if that helps them sell this week.

Spray painting vintage items a solid color is a big trend right now. You definitely have to find the right piece to pull it off. Bold shapes work best.

Which owl do you like better? The original, or my white spray painted version?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Chalkboard Toolbox DIY: For Your Tools....or a Zombie Apocalypse

2012-01-24T08:38:00.000-05:00

Whether you're building a new bookshelf or defending yourself against hoards flesh-hungry zombies, it helps to know what's inside your toolbox at-a-glance. Besides being useful, these chalkboard toolboxes are delicious to behold.

The smooth black of the chalkboard surface brings out the texture of the chipping paint and chalk markings. This is a fun way to really make your vintage piece tell a story!

Supplies Needed: 1) Chalkboard paint 2) Painter's Tape 3) Vintage toolbox 3) Colorful chalk // Optional: White spray paint or acrylic paint, primer, and stencils.

I've heard bad reviews of the chalkboard spray paint, but can highly recommend the rust-oleum brush-on paint. It goes on smoothly and this small container will go a long way. Make sure you use a matte finish fast dry spray paint with your stencils, gloss finishes are too runny.

1) Clean your toolbox with a damp cloth and dry it completely. Tape off the area you want to paint. 2) It's recommended that you prime your surface first. But I'm an impatient crafter, I skipped this step! 3) Apply chalkboard paint in thin, even coats. Wait a few hours between each application. Do this 3-5 times. 4) Wait 24 hours before you write on the surface, curing it by rubbing it with chalk dust first.

Your toolbox will look and function just fine without painting extra letters on it. But I had a vision! I had to get nerdy and interactive with it.

I like how this design with the stenciled-in letters lets you give the tool box a theme. You can change it on a whim, Zombie Apocalypse Tool Kit, Transformer's Energon Tool Kit, G.I. Joe oh the geeky possibilities!

Have Fun making your tool boxes sexy. But beware, this may become addictive. You'll want to paint EVERYTHING with chalkboard paint!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Increase Traffic: Advertise on Thrift Core this February

2012-01-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

I still have Ad Space available for February! Thrift Core sponsors will be introduced on the blog for maximum exposure. You get hundreds of eyes on your site and of course, I respond quickly if you have any questions. :)

No Banner? No problem. I'll make the perfect one for you free of charge.

Free Marketing Tips and Advice: Thrift Core sponsors also receive a monthly web marketing tips newsletter and specific tips for improving your site and increasing traffic/sales.

[Embarrassing sampling of nerdy sites I've been making since I was 11...Oh my! I've made dozens!]

Remember: I've been doing this web-thing for 14 years. It's my job to increase blog traffic for my clients. I absolutely love doing it, too! I help make dreams come true!

I have a metric ton of blog ideas and unique developments in the pipeline. These are exciting times! I'd love to collaborate with you with advertising, giveaways, and more. Just drop me a line!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: The Creepy, The Cute, and the Sexy

2012-01-23T00:39:00.000-05:00

It's over...I survived! Next month I can set a higher thrifting budget and spare myself the torture of leaving many desirable items behind! This week I went to the thrift store once and came home with two items. The first one is a ridiculously cute vintage nursery scale.

Who could resist such cute illustrations? I'm kind of geeking out over the typography,t too. It's the perfect gift for a baby shower; a functional display piece for baby's nursery.

I haven't had luck selling vintage jars and canisters in the shop, so I've been leaving most of the ones I encountered behind. But I have faith in this sunny pair.

I meant to show this off last week, I won an amazing book giveaway from Vintage Goodness! They're full of vintage fun, practical information, and inspiration galore.

I adore all the vintage pin-up art and inspiration in Bad Girls Need Love Too and Dames, Dolls, & Delinquents but Creepy-Ass Dolls speaks to my horror-loving soul. Some of these dolls are true nightmare fuel. But none as as scary as my demon baby, with eyes that glow with the fires of hell! Kill it, drown it in holy water before it's too late!

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals Week Four: Getting Back to Basics

2012-01-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

Last Week's Goals: 1.) Draw and paint robot designs. (For a surprise project!) 2.) ~~Finish the two DIY ideas floating around in my head.~~ 3.) ~~Continue re-working the blog, getting ahead on my content ideas and e-mail catch-up.~~ 4.) ~~Continue to organize merchandise and art supplies.~~ 5.) ~~List 10 items on Craigslist.~~

Paint, pencils, drawing! I've missed you! I love having my creative energy back. Each week I'm inspired to work harder, get more organized, and take on more creative projects.

If you're not playing along yet, I really encourage you to stay doing Sunday Goal posts of your own or at least leave them in the comments here.

Goals January 23 to 29:

1. Draw and paint robot AND OTHER designs. (For my button/banner project.)
2. Start my hunt for the Perfect Apartment.
3. Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas
4. Price & organize all merch for my antique store booths (Yep, more than one now!)
5. List 10 items on Craigslist per day.

Back-Up: Continue to refine schedule and create better work/life balance.
Weekly Tasks: At least 1 DIY, continue to refine blog, e-mail clear-out, general organization

What are your Goals for the Week?

What are your goals for next week? Do a Sunday Goals post of your own or leave your goals in the comments.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Photography Tips: 5 Quick and Easy Steps to Improve Your Photos

2012-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Photos are paramount in blogging and online reselling. Creative photography gets eyes where you want them, and you don't even need an expensive SLR camera or equipment! When you have the foundations down, an inexpensive point and shoot camera or even a camera phone is sufficient.

Make the effort to improve your photos and your customer and reader response will be noticeable! Here are 5 Quick and Easy Tips for Taking Better Photos:

1.) Use Bright, Natural Light Whenever Possible.

Natural light is magical, especially for showing all the details of your product. Schedule photoshoots early and take advantage of the daylight.

2.) Use a Tripod. Always. Forever.

Camera movement is what makes your photos blurry. It's especially noticeable in low lighting situations; indoors and at night. Using a tripod keeps your camera stationary, producing bright, clear photos.

Tip: Use a wall, pal's shoulder, railing, or anything stationary as your tripod in a pinch.

3.) Be Mindful of Your Background.

It only takes a couple more minutes of prep to make a big difference in your photos. In the example below I used a vintage mirror and a lace cloth to make the product pop. Always seek to eliminate distracting details in your photos.

4.) Try a Different Angle. Go High, Go Low!

Change your perspective. Lie underneath your subject, stand on a chair above it, get in close for an extreme close-up. Take risks and try new angles to yield creative shots that can really put the viewer right there with you.

5.) Be an Unabashed Nutcase. It's Fun!

I get perplexed glances and random comments from my constant photo antics. I never let it stop me from having a blast taking my pictures. Don’t let shyness get in the way of getting the perfect shot. Ask strangers for permission to take their picture, jump fences to get to that perfect clandestine spot for taking photos. (Shh you didn't hear this from me.)

I've sold a lot of prints of this photo. It's from my Toys Behaving Badly series. Indecent! Hide yo kids, hide yo wife!

Experiment, Practice, and Experiment! Use a rubber band to affix colored saran wrap to your lens or walk around your neighborhood during twilight and snap photos. I encourage you to constantly take pictures and try new things.

Have Fun: I never leave the house without my bulky SLR. Innovate and have fun! Go forth, photo adventures await you!

Need a Camera? If you're looking to upgrade to an SLR I use an recommend a Canon Rebel, it's everything a beginner needs and it's less expensive than a more advanced DSLR. I use a Canon Rebel T1i and use my 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens most frequently.

Got any other Photography-Related Tips or Questions? Let's discuss in the comments.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty Decor: Supply Organization Lessons From Old Skool Junk Studios

2012-01-19T08:51:00.002-05:00

This year I want to write more about thrifty decor: inexpensive home decor ideas and how real people utilize vintage in their homes. This time we're taking a look at the art studio of the amazingly talented Old Skool Junk team.

If you're anything like me, in the midst of organizing tons of arts and craft supplies, you'll definitely take tons of ideas away from the crazy organized Old Skool Junk (first interview: here) duo.

1. Display Your Collections for Inspiration

Your workspace or art studio is the best place to display your quirky collections. (Especially if your housemate doesn't happen to appreciate your toys!)

2. Use Open Storage Solutions

Keep your supplies out in the open and you'll spend more time working and less time searching.

3. Invest in Storage Bins Aplenty

I noticed the Old Skool Junk team had tons of storage bins of various sizes that kept all their merchandise and supplies neatly organized. Must...emulate...

4. Have a Place for Everything

This duo has a place for everything, it's obvious when you look at the space and watch them work. They don't waste countless ~~days~~ hours looking for supplies like I do!

5. Find a Space to Carve Out Your Own Studio

The Old Skool Junk studio is carved out of their home's large entryway, and each inch is used extremely efficiently. Find spare space in your home to carve out a creative nook of your own.

And with that, I am going to continue to organize my art and craft supplies now....

I need all the help I can get! Do share, how do you keep your work, art, and craft supplies organized?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo Outakes + Getting Used to Self Portraits...

2012-01-18T09:19:00.000-05:00

I love photos.I love photographing food, nature, art, interiors, people, critters; pretty things of all kinds. I never leave home with my SLR. But I've never liked taking self portraits. Some people practice photography with themselves as a subject but I never did, so I feel very uncomfortable in front of the camera. And it shows.

Yet, I feel that self portraits are important for more than just blogging. It can help you improve your posture and evaluate how you present yourself to the world. And so I'm going to practice taking self portraits this year.

I discovered you should think of things that make you happy to get that light in your eyes that only comes with genuine mirth. I wanted a genuine smile for my new blog photo, so I listened to my favorite comedian John Witherspoon (check my my favorite Witherspoon skit, ever!) , played with toys, and took a few quick shots. Toys make everything better.

Any self portrait tips to share? Do you feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, too?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Why Thrift Core? My Thrift Story.

2012-01-17T09:18:00.000-05:00

I'm often asked why I started Thrift Core. I started Thrift Core because I was writing for the web full time and wanted a blog of my own to vent on. Choosing the subject came naturally. I have varied interests, but thrift is in my blood.

My grandparents moved from Mexico to California and bought a culture of thrift with them. They had fruit trees, chickens, rabbits, and a vegetable garden. Mom raised me and my brothers the way she was raised, thriftily.

My thrifting influences were environmental, too. I lived in Naples, Italy for four years. Families used heirlooms instead of new department store items, money was spent on good food rather than new Stuff, and food was fresh. If there was chicken for dinner you can guarantee the poor bastard was alive and thrashing for its life only a few hours beforehand.

No matter where we lived, I grew up crafting, making and selling piñatas, thrifting, planting seeds, and reading countless craft and science books. Thanks to a thrifty upbringing and some innate abilities I always had a talent for stretching a buck. I continued to thrift as a teen and young adult, but it wasn’t until I started blogging on Thrift Core that I began thrifting weekly and evolved into a reseller.

Thrift Core encourages me take frugality and creativity to the next level. In 2011 I Bought Nothing New, ate from the trash, and left my day job as a marketer to live my dream. Best of all, I get to encourage and educate hundreds of people to be as thrifty as possible while I’m at it. 2012 will be even better.

I used to flounder, wondering if I'd ever find my calling. I accomplished one dream by getting paid to write (see: writing career confession), but it didn't light me up inside. I'm continuing to evolve in the right direction. I love teaching and inspiring people to be thrifty, industrious, and creative. I'm sincerely glad you're here with me on the journey.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: Who Wants to Play Scrabble?

2012-01-16T08:52:00.000-05:00

This week I left a lot behind and came home with one special item, this vintage scrabble board. I was saving my funds for the flea market, but car troubles kept me from checking it out. I'm not fretting, vintage will be waiting for me next time. (And staying warm indoors and getting caught up on writing wasn't so bad, either!) Besides, this one find had enough charm and detail to tide me over until the next thrift visit.

Like my vintage Risk board this game board is fully of whimsy and would look beautiful hung on the wall in an parlor or game room. By my count there are 56 (!) beautiful color illustrations on the game board. Just goes to show you how Old Junk is just made better, can you pick something out of a department store right now with so many hand painted details these days?

The box has seen better days but the board itself is pristine, it's shiny and brand new like it's never been used. As much as I love this, I am selling it. Just drop me a line if you're interested!

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals: Week Three + Creative Mojo Returns

2012-01-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

Last Week's Goals: 1.) ~~Finish a DIY craft/blog tutorial to get in the habit of doing as many as possible from now on.~~ 2.) ~~Finish antique store "Thrift Core" sign.~~ (See it) 3.) ~~Completely clean out the car.~~ 4.) ~~Get to the next phase with organizing my merchandise. *Write it out if necessary~~ 5.) ~~Work on the blog: plot future posts, work on outdated pages, get caught-up on e-mails~~

I'm Back! I was in a slump for a couple of weeks. Uninspired and sluggish, working felt forced. But this Monday I woke up feeling like my normal hyper-creative self. It was likely the lingering cold haze bringing me down, but I bounced back more inspired than ever to hit my ambitious goals for 2012!

This week has been both invigorating and relaxing. I've enjoyed spending more time out with friends and tranquil late-night planning sessions with Yuko-Kitty. Add warm veggie soups and coffee to reach an ultimate recipe for creativity! I crafted and worked my ass off and can't wait to do it again this week!

Goals for The Week:

1. Draw and paint robot designs. (For a surprise project!)
2. Finish the two DIY ideas floating around in my head.
3. Continue re-working the blog, getting ahead on my content ideas and e-mail catch-up.
4. Continue to organize merchandise and art supplies.
5. List 10 items on Craigslist (effective way to resell vintage, by the way! Sold a table last week.)

What are your Goals for the Week?

What are your Goals for the week? Share them in the link share or in the comments. I promise, it really does help you hit your ambitious resolutions when you list them online!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

What I Didn't Buy at the Thrift Store: Robots, Toys, Oh My!

2012-01-14T00:46:00.000-05:00

Drew of Kitsch Café does a what I didn't buy feature where he shows items he decided to leave behind while thrifting. I can relate. So many thrift store treasures speak to me, but with a limited budget and space some get left behind. They say things like...

There is no guarantee that I will not return for these items as soon as my seven dollar thrift budget challenge is up. I can still hear them, calling to me. Their pull is hypnotic.Yes, I am insane. But I can confess my insanity to you, my Thrift Comrade. You understand.

What do you force yourself leave behind at the thrifts? (Even when they beg and plead. Or do you give in?)

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

No Retail For 1 Year: Start Your Buy Nothing New Challenge

2012-01-13T07:46:00.000-05:00

Last year I Bought Nothing New and learned so much along the way. For 2012 I challenge you (yes, YOU) to do the same! You won't merely save money, you'll exercise your creativity and learn to be The Batman of Resourcefulness! Don't worry, this is actually easier than it seems. My plan allows you to "cheat" while keeping things challenging. Here's how to get started:

1. Set Your Limits and Exceptions

Set your exceptions before you begin. I allowed myself to buy craft supplies as needed and a limited amount of small business purchases. Don't allow too many exceptions, you want this to be a challenge! (Naturally, you'll buy food, toilet paper, and other necessary supplies new. )

2. Stock up on Supplies

I'm not asking you to buy your underoos second hand! Go ahead and stock up on new things you need like socks, underwear, necessary clothing replacements and/or craft supplies you use often before you begin.

3. Minimize Retail Exposure

If you're a shopaholic with impulse issues, avoid retail temptation. Don't worry, once your challenge is up retail junk won't even interest you anymore.

4. Set a Date and Stick to it

Set the dates you'll begin and end your challenge and stick with it!

5. Pay Heed to these Retail-Free Life Survival Tips:

Ask friends, families, and neighbors for a needed supply before you buy it.
Stretch creativity and use what you have on hand for projects.
Use up duplicates (like those extra bottles of shampoo under the sink) before buying more.

On Exceptions... Necessary purchases for your business are exceptions to the Buy Nothing New rule. I also allowed myself to occasionally dine out (local joints), travel, and purchase souvenirs. Maybe a daily Starbucks frap is your necessary evil; every list of exceptions will be different. Adjust this challenge to suit your lifestyle.

Shout Out: For daily inspiration you must read Katy's entertaining blog The Non-Consumer Advocate, a whole site dedicated to living a resourceful retail-free life. Check out her personal buy nothing challenge.

Could you go one year without retail shopping? Are you already living a retail-free life?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty Antique Store Sign DIY: No Hardware Store Trips Necessary!

2012-01-12T08:32:00.000-05:00

I've been curious about something for a while: will adding a vibrant sign help me increase sales at the antique store? I can't wait to hang my newly constructed Thrift Core sign and find out! Don't think of this as a literal step-by-step DIY post. Instead, allow it to inspire you to use what you have on hand to create signs and props for your selling needs.Yep, I pulled all of these supplies out of my closet!

1) I spray painted the piece of wood and letters with my valspar gloss finish spray paint. It dried quick and bright, requiring only one coat. By the way, this sign is huge, at 27 inches wide and 23 inches tall.

2) I attached the vintage frame to the wood with nails. 3) Then I painted a one inch border and an exclamation point to add color contrast and depth. 4) I ended up having to saw off extra pieces of wood sticking out of the top and bottom of the frame.

5) Those wooden letters and toys are staying put thanks to my hot glue gun. This gives stronger hold than wood glue, but you won't be able to move your letters once you stick them down, so be careful! 6) Finishing touches were the painted border around each letter and the website URL at the bottom. 7) Bam, finished!

I'm glad I waited until inspiration struck to construct this sign, all the pieces fell together naturally and the end result defines the Thrift Core brand: colorful, animated, and playful. Completing this sign moves me one step closer to my Bigger, Badder Antique Store goals, too!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

New Years Organizing: Speed Cleaning Your Home (And Keeping it Clean!)

2012-01-11T10:49:00.000-05:00

As thrifters, resellers, and crafters life is a never-ending cycle of diabolical messes and frantic cleaning. Destroy. Clean. Destroy. Clean. Rinse, Repeat. After doing this for years I've mastered the art of speed cleaning. And I mean really cleaning- not just my half-assed toss the mess in the closet trick. But I do recommend designating one closet your "junk closet" for emergencies. It's handy!

In the middle of an overly ambitious book purge. Tea was needed. Lots of tea!

1. Tackle the counter clutter

Quickly toss anything littering your counters into a box. If you have time, sort these items into their proper places. If not, set the box aside to sort later.

2. Dusting and Polishing

Dust and polish your freshly cleared counters. Dust the items you've decided to keep on display. Here's where you'll wash any dishes and scrub toilets or tubs as needed, too.

3. Sweep, Vacuum, Mop

Shake out your rugs, sweep your hardwood or tile floors, and vacuum where necessary. Once all that's done, mop the whole house.

Now that you've speed cleaned your home, it's time to maintain:

4. Perfect Your Entryway or Mudroom

Keep a basket by the front door to deposit your shoes upon entering. Perhaps keep a little catch-all (like a pretty vintage plate) where you can drop keys and pocket change.

5. Get in the maintenance cleaning habit

Put things away as soon as you're done with them, clean messes as soon as you make them. Do this and there will never be a pile of dishes in the sink or craft messes all over the tables.

6. Clean between projects when you're home

Getting tired of tagging merchandise, editing a blog post, or checking e-mail? Take a break and organize one small section of the home, dust, or tackle the dishes.

What my pad ends up looking like in the middle of an ambitious purge. Aaaah! Kill it with fire!

7. Maybe you need less stuff...

Less stuff means less cleaning, so donate and sell away! See: Thrifter's Decluttering Guide: Sell Your Trash for Cash. Be careful with what you bring home at the thrifts after your home purge.

8. Schedule Your Cleaning

This year I'm going to mop and dust every Tuesday and Friday. Schedule deep cleaning every few months where you'll clean windows, dust ceiling fans, dust floor boards, and really scrub down the pad.

9. Never try to organize everything all at once

Take everything out of your drawers and closets at once and you'll burn out. Your home will stay messy for weeks on end. Instead, organize your house one box and section at a time.

These two boxes contain sewing and craft supplies I use frequently.

10. Keep frequently used items accessible.

My drawers and cabinets only contain the items I use daily. Less frequently used items are stored out of the way. I like to use vintage baskets and suitcases to store frequently used supplies, too.

Using these methods I can always thoroughly clean the house after a busy day of destroying it! So play some fast-paced music and give your house a quickie. You'll both be spent and satisfied. Oh yes.

Want more cleaning help and inspiration? Last year I wrote a detailed series on organizing:

What are your cleaning and organizing tips? Do share in the comments, let's continue to inspire each other! We won't be magical completely organized people overnight. Let's keep that "junk closet" available in the meantime...

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

FrugaliTEA Experiment: Tea From Japan vs. Tea From the US. Fight!

2012-01-10T09:02:00.000-05:00

It's another edition of FrugaliTEA! This time we're testing sen-cha tea I bought back from Japan with sen-cha I bought here in the US. It's a light-bodied, grassy green tea, and the US and Japanese version taste nearly identical. The costlier Japanese tea wins for being smoother than the US counterpart.

It's been one month since I got back from visiting Japan. One month later and I still haven't made time to sort through and organize the photos, I took over 1,000! I'll let you know when I have them up on Flickr, divided into categories. I'll also have some travel journal and scrapbooking tutorials up soon that involve vintage supplies. I've been dying to share more photos of the vintage shop we found in the mountains!

* First photo is a grocery store tea display. Ah, I miss all of that inspiring attention to detail...

What's your favorite cold weather drink? Clearly mine is tea, hands-down!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: The Seven Dollar January Thrifting Challenge

2012-01-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

I only have seven dollars left to thrift with for the month of January. Seven. Dollars. I'm not frothing at the mouth yet, but give it time my friend. With time I will implode. Pray for me. All joking aside, as a challenged myself with a strict budget for January, and after Thrift Store 50% off sale and one yard sale trip I'm down to $7.00 for the rest of the month. Here's what I found:

Yet another thick vintage Better Homes and Gardens tome, this time The "New Cook Book". Not only is it pure charm with its gingham print cover and colorful retro photos within, but it's filled to the brim with useful information and recipes.

It's not in the best shape, but I was thinking of selling some of the photos and illustrations inside as prints or completing some colorful decopage crafts with the pages.My favorite part of these Better Homes and Gardens book may be the kitschy retro illustrations within. They're abundant, and fun. If you'd like to take this book off my hands before I start to rip it apart, make me an offer.

This little mushroom pitcher beguiled me, I seemed to have purchased it beyond my control. I didn't realize that the handle looks like it's shaped of many small penises until I bought it home. Oh my!

Speaking of funny things, I bought this interior design book for a laugh and immediately regretted it. I need to stop buying things because they amuse me for a moment, bad habit! My tiny thrifting budget and keeping track of each thing I buy is helping me hold myself accountable for irresponsible thrift spending.

What makes me laugh is the inclusion of this photo. Why...why the hell was that necessary? I just can't comprehend why it's in this book. Ty's Tricks? More like Ty turns tricks, you dirty, dirty little book.

The item that ate up the biggest chunk of my budget is was this vintage car bike rack. It seemed to have all the pieces so I decided to take the risk for $7.99. More than I wanted to pay, but far cheaper than buying a brand new one from the store.

These two dresses were purchased at a yard sale. I felt immediate buyer's remorse (noticing a trend?) after purchasing them. I already own one like the vintage blue dress and the yellow one doesn't fit, too small in the bust. I love 'em, but I don't need them. Let me know if you're interested in buying one of the dresses, I'll give you a good deal!

My kitty Yuko likes to get in the way when I take photos. Hi, Yuko! Oh how she's grown.

Stretching this $7.00 for the rest of January is going to be quite a challenge. But if you've seen how far I stretch $1.00, you'll know I'm up to the task!

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goal Follow Up: Week Two + Giveaway Winner

2012-01-08T18:59:00.001-05:00

Well damn it all, this first week of the new year has been a bust. I've been practically bedridden with an evil viral infection, ouch! But I powered through and managed to complete some of my goals:

~~1. Start the arduous process of enrolling in school so I can take a photography class.~~
~~2. Set up 2012 spreadsheets.~~
3. Finish antique store "Thrift Core" sign
~~4. Make "sale" signs for the antique store~~ decided to switch out the merch instead
5. Finish a DIY craft/blog tutorial to get in the habit of doing as many as possible from now on.

The fun thing about these Sunday Goal Follow Ups? We can rotate them to the next week if we don't finish them. Sure, we want to finish them all that week, but sometimes life (and potential damn mononucleosis) get in the way!

So for next week my goals are:

1. Finish a DIY craft/blog tutorial to get in the habit of doing as many as possible from now on.
2. Finish antique store "Thrift Core" sign.
3. Completely clean out the car.
4. Get to the next phase with organizing my merchandise. *Write it out if necessary
5. Work on the blog: plot future posts, work on outdated pages, get caught-up on e-mails

Giveaway: I chose a winner, and it's #7, Earthkitch! I shall e-mail you to get your information to send a cute mini calendar, ma'am!

Please join in and share your goals for this week below:

By The Way: This weekly goal share has helped me already! This helps me stay accountable for my goals, I'd have used my ailment as an excuse to stay in bed otherwise. I didn't finish the list like I'd wanted, but I will next week!

What Goals Did You Accomplish This Week? What Are Your Goals for Next Week?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

12 Before 2012 Follow-Up: Starting 2012 with a Clean Slate

2012-01-06T10:10:00.000-05:00

In late December I vowed to complete 12 tasks before 2012. It was tougher than it looked, but I worked hard and powered through the list:

~~1.) Go through home with "trash" and "donate" bags. Clear out. Be brutal! Efficient! (Like Batman!)~~
~~2.) Host one more Big Bang yard sale. Put ads on Craigslist early, divide, conquer!~~

Oh, the home was CHAOS while I prepared for a yard sale and tried to donate as much as possible. In the end I donated about 5 boxes full of stuff. I could have tried to sell it at flea markets, but sometimes you just have to let it go and start fresh.

~~3.) Organize pantry.~~
~~4.) Go through books quickly, sell some I'll never read, separate and organize the rest.~~

I organized the messy pantry and sorted through the books, selling and donating about three boxes worth of books and setting aside a box of movies to sell. Now one of my seven bookshelves has two empty shelves! I clearly need to schedule more book selling and reading time...

~~5.) De-Junk kitchen: take out everything I don't use to sell or donate, organize remainder.~~
6.) Dust entire house: objects, walls, ceiling fans, everything!
7.) Sweep entire house: under furniture, everything!
~~8.) Mop entire house.~~

I didn't sweep, mop, and dust the entire pad until New Years Eve. So glad I fit it in, it was refreshing to start the New Year with a shiny, clean house. Look at the floor, shiny! Rather than covered with dust as usual. (I shall begin to mop weekly like a normal human.)

~~9.) ALL stuff to sell in boxes and out of the way.~~
10.) Quick closet run-through, toss all that's not worn.
11.) Finish blog revamp: new layout, update all subpages, clean-up social networks.
12.) Do something really fun for New Years!

Clean at last!

I "failed" at completing one task, the blog revamp. I worked on this and came up with many designs, but none that worked better than the current one before the deadline. I felt like it was better to take my time and do it right rather than force a new one just because I'd set a strict deadline.

PS: Love setting goals and making lists? Don't forget about my Sunday Goal Link-Up & Giveaway. I'll be back on Sunday with a new set of goals and to announce the contest winner.

How did you do on your 12 Before 2012 goals? I did a lot better when I stopped trying to do everything perfect and just got things done!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Cheap Eats: I Challenge You to a New-Year Pantry Purge

2012-01-05T06:43:00.000-05:00

I've been leaving a few important things out of each of my thrift hauls; veggies! I hunt nearly exclusively at flea markets, and since it's a weekly trip, I scoop up fresh veggies for the week while I hunt down vintage. It's cheaper than chain grocery stores for the same quality. Scooping up a small amount weekly means I can devour the vegetables before they go bad, which always happened when I bought veggies monthly at the grocery store.

I always bring home a big bag brimming with veggies for $6.00 to $8.00:

My Pantry Purge Challenge: In early October I realized my pantry and freezer had plenty of food I'd neglected to eat. I kept buying duplicates of bags of pasta and lentils or cans of tuna and they'd piled up. Not to a Hoarder's level- but enough to feed just me for a while! I was already successfully Buying Nothing New, so why not try a Buy No Food Challenge, too?

Here's what I did (well, what I'm still doing. I'm STILL working through my pantry and freezer bounty!)....

1. I shopped for fresh veggies at the flea and farmers markets: You still need fresh produce!

2. I shopped the grocery store for necessary supplies only: Like toilet paper, my kitty's supplies, and my favorite chewing gum. Gum's a necessary item, I tell you!

3. Prepared grub using staples from my fridge and pantry: I've been making vegetable stews from all the frozen veggies I'd neglected in the freezer, lentil soup, pasta, and a little over two months later I still have cans of tuna, a big bag of brown rice, and a big bag of white rice and more to feast on!

I'm still pretty busy so I make simple snacks and dinners. I'm mostly vegetarian.

I'd love to get back into growing as much of my own food as possible, but I don't mind supplementing my diet with inexpensive flea market produce and chomping through what I already have in my house in the meantime. I'm saving a ton of money this way, too. I set my January Grocery budget at $80.00 but I'll probably only spend $60.00.

So if you're like me with a freezer and pantry full of grub that needs eating, I challenge you to a pantry purge. Work through the overflow the fun way; eat it! And you'll have a fresh new pantry to stuff with food for the New Year.

Where do you buy your vegetables? Any tips for cheap eats to share? I'll be writing more about cheap eats and price comparing healthy eats this year. Hint: If you value organic produce more than anything, Whole Foods sells it for about $1.00 to $2.00 more on average.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Household Budgeting Techniqes: The Envelope Savings Method

2012-01-04T07:28:00.000-05:00

This year I've vowed to keep track of every cent I spend. I'm using Google Documents like I did last year for the ease and accessibility, but I'm taking it one step further with the envelope budgeting method.

The pedantic organizer buried somewhere deep within me was enchanted when I read about the envelope savings method on a favorite blog, Just Hungry. I wouldn't be able to read a kakeibo (detailed Japanese budget planner that I'd love to try), but cute envelopes for budgeting are simple enough to use!

I've always been good at budgeting and saving, so I had to take this a step further to make it challenging. All of my budgets are very low! Here's what I've set for the month of January:

Groceries: $80 (amount left, $55.80)
Car's Gas: $40 (amount left, $40.00)
Thrifting: $25 (amount left, $9.00)
Fun Stuff: $20 (amount left, $10.60)

This is going to force me to seek out the cheapest spots for thrifting. I went to a thrift store's 50% off sale but even so I spent $14, eating up a lot of my budget. Looks like I'm sticking to flea markets and yard sales from now on!

Do you want to join in an try to envelope savings method, too? Here's the rules:

1. Never over the amount in the envelope.
2. Never switch cash from one envelope to the other.Once money is out, it's out!
3. Make it a game, try to carry over as much cash as possible to the next month!

Setting strict budgets like this makes you think outside the box for solutions to spend as little as possible. For instance, you might start carpooling to work to save gas money or packing lunch instead of eating out. Using cash only makes the money you spend more tangible than using your cash or debit card all the time.

What tools are you using to budget for the New Year?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty DIY: Easy and Cheap Bulletin Board Tutorial

2012-01-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

During a late-night paperwork purge I realized my smallish cork board wasn't cutting it. I had more inspiring bits and important notes than the diminutive surface could support. You can find cork and bulletin boards for cheap second hand, but it's even thriftier (and perhaps quicker!) to craft one of your own with supplies you have around the house.

Supplies Needed: 1) A big, empty frame with the cardboard back still attached 2) Contact paper or fabric 3) Optional: glue stick, spray adhesive, or Elmer's glue and ribbon

1) Select a frame. Mine is 27 inches tall and 20.5 inches wide, It was in a yard sale's free box.
2) Move your curious critter out of the way if necessary. Silly Yuko likes to be wherever I am!
3) Cover the cardboard in fabric or paper. I used wood grain contact paper from Dollar Tree.
4) Add your desired details. I stuck green ribbon around the edges of mine by tucking it into the frame. The push pins go straight into the cardboard back. Easy!

Clean, uncluttered surfaces keep us sane! All of the bits messing up my work corner are now on my bulletin board and off my counter tops. If you want to cover your bulletin/message board in fabric instead of contact paper, check out this message board DIY I wrote a couple of years ago.

Go forth, create your bulletin board & vanquish the paper menace!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: The First Vintage Haul of the New Year

2012-01-02T08:59:00.001-05:00

Of course I hit the flea market on the first day of the new year, that's how you know you're starting the year off right! I arrived around 1PM which is a little late for hunting, but I'm glad I went because I found...

This large vintage serving plate. I'd been admiring one from a nearby antique store for a while, and I found my own in better condition for $1.00. In warm tones (my favorite) and a loose 50s illustrative style we see glimpses of Paris, Rome, London, Spain, Egypt and Japan. Can anyone ID this plate?

Speaking of warm tones, I love how yellow and orange is the theme for these three finds. I found the yellow and orange flower plate at Goodwill and the cook book at the flea market.

Forever a sucker for vintage children's book illustrations, I had to scoop up the 50s Black beard the Pirate book. The Alan Watts book from the same vendor looks like it will be an interesting read.

I love the illustrations in this pirate book! I want to make time to scan every single page from it.

Sandra, an old friend of the family had a booth at the flea market and kindly gave me these vintage Jacksonville Antique Bottle Show fliers. I intend to keep one, I love finding vintage pieces that tell the story of my city. Sandra tells me she has a wealth of vintage for me to dig through and buy, I can't wait to take a peek at wares!

I almost passed on this Wall E piece, most likely a lamp. But for 99 cents at Goodwill it was a good deal for a little pop culture goodie.

I'm not sure if it was a lamp before, but I went ahead and added a low watt bulb. Wall E is actually already sold! Pop culture items often go quick! Oh, Wall E lamp, kitty and I barely knew thee...

This cute vintage chalkware owl was a treat from Trilas' booth at Southern Crossing antique mall. At $5 I was wondering how the hell stayed in the shop for so long. I suspect he loves to singa like the owl from the beloved Merrie Melodies cartoon.

By the way: There have been requests for link share on Thrift Core. I've started a Sunday Goal Share + Giveaway where we can inspire each other to keep on top of goals, resolutions, and reselling progress. Would you like a Thrift Haul link share too?

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.