Blog I Love: Shop Vintage Portland

As a complete narcissist, I am a big fan of anyone who is just like me and likes all of the same things that I like. When I found the blog Shop Vintage Portland, I felt instantly at home with the reviews of thrift shops and colorful photos of stuff I would love to buy.... Like pastel colored ceramic goodies and Hawaiian printed bathing suits. It must be love!

Visit Shop Vintage Portland: www.shopvintageportland.com

A Lovely Trip to Artifacts

When thinking about Iowa City, one might first think of the University of Iowa or drinking downtown, but what I think of most is the wonderful little shops we are so blessed to have! At the top of my list would be Artifacts because it is always jam packed with kitchy, cool, fabulous finds from eras past. And besides that, you gotta love whoever is behind the desk! Almost everyone who steps foot into the store for an afternoon or browsing and treasure hunting is sure to get into a lively conversation with either Todd, the owner, or Heather, the fantastic lady behind all of those great handmade signs throughout the store. Her handwriting and doodles are simply adorable!

Artifacts is located on the corner of Gilbert Street, right across from John's Grocery, the Bluebird Diner, and the Foxhead, the local watering hole favored mostly by hip grad students.

You can always find Todd behind the desk waiting to help you out.

Some of Heather's handiwork on the side of the cash register.

I have always adored Artifacts for the insane density of visual stimuli they have waiting for you at every corner. The store is packed wall to wall, floor to ceiling with interesting things waiting to be discovered.

Oh my gosh!!!! This sign is sooo cute, I just wanted to eat it up and absorb some of it's cuteness!

Goodwill Finds!

Ahhhh, Goodwill! Gotta love searching for bargains on a lovely day off. Today, I spent under $10 bucks and came away with a new dress, an embroidered peasant top, brand new slip-on style Crocs for the summer, and a few knick-knacks. Yippy!

Here we have what I am assuming is a "No dogs" sign in French or something. 38 cents.

I frickin' love my very vintage and hand embroidered peasant top. This thing fits perfectly and is in perfect condition. $3.38

The dress is mid-90's and very much reminiscent of something Brenda would wear on Beverly Hills, 90210. $5.38 The insane necklace was actually picked up at Goodwill a few weeks earlier for $1.38. Boo ya!

Thrift shopping always gives me such a thrill and a smug sense of satisfaction:)

My Ikea Expedit Bookshelf

I like my new Ikea Expedit bookshelf so much that I decided to blog about it! Seriously though, this thing has been my savior, as it holds pretty much everything I own and keeps it organized and thoughtfully displayed. I am all about it! This bookshelf takes up half of the wall and is taller than me. Strangely enough, it has very few books on it but we won't worry about that.

Thrifting for Gaudy Goods

I will just start by saying that I have an unnatural, but loving obsession with all things cute. Therefore, I am creating a new blog to harbor these OCD tendancies towards the cute, gaudy, retro, and strange things that I love the most.

What could feed my obsession more than a rousing day of thrift shopping? After witnessing so many great finds, my head was spinning and I had to run home and make this blog for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!!!!