The trials and tribulations of cleaning a thrifted sweater: How to clean a secondhand wool sweater

Golden dog in red sweater

Throughout my thrifty adventures over the years, there’s been one sweater material that I’ve actively avoided: wool. It’s scratchy, it’s hot, and it’s notoriously difficult to take care of. But I also hate how stretched out and odor-trapping acrylic sweaters get, so my go-to layers for sweater weather have always been cotton knits and crewnecks.  … Read more

Great Valley Bookfest recap! 

Bookfest

Hi friends – here’s a quickie blog since I’ve been feeling a little achy and groggy this past week.  Last weekend, I stopped by the Great Valley Bookfest for about an hour and lugged home a bunch of goodies. I thought I’d share this little adventure since it fits right in with my blog’s thrifty … Read more

Top vintage houseware brands: What to know when you thrift for home decor

Pink Fenton vase

When I first started avidly thrifting in college, I mostly paid attention to clothes. This singular focus continued throughout my mid-20s. Clothes, I figured, I could resell or donate again, but thrifting home decor like sentimental trinkets and kitchenware felt more permanent, like I was settling into place.  For the first few years that I … Read more

How to clean wool hats from the thrift store 

Hat

While I’ve never really identified as a hat person, I’ve taken to hats this year, incorporating them into outfits beyond my backyard gardening getups. Throughout this past summer, I alternated between a navy Cal cap and a bow-embellished straw hat to keep cool beneath the oppressive San Joaquin Valley summer sun.  With time, I grew … Read more