Thrifting for Christmas presents this year

Christmas decor

I’ve resolved to thrift for Christmas gifts this year. After years of burning money on Black Friday impulse buys from online sales, I’ve decided that I want to pamper my loved ones with thoughtful, high-quality gifts this time around. I’m trying to make Thriftmas happen this December: No more flimsy polyurethane “leather” handbags and threadbare … Read more

Exploring thrift stores in Modesto, CA – a tour down McHenry Avenue

Priceless Treasures

I know I’ve become a small-town mouse because a trip to Modesto is a big city excursion for me. As much as I love shopping around the thrift stores near me, I also like to venture out of my tiny nook in the Central Valley to explore secondhand shops. I typically visit Mad Monk Vintage … Read more

Thrifting in San Jose and Livermore, CA

Recycle Bookstore interior

It’s been a minute since my last Bay Area thrifting trip — about a year, to be exact. Since I have fantastic thrift stores near me, I haven’t felt particularly inclined to make the drive up to the South Bay. Still, it’s always a fun time thrifting in the Bay Area since there are simply … Read more

How to clean and condition thrifted leather handbags

Cognac and red purse

In the early days of the pandemic, I found a knockoff Prada(?) faux leather bag at Goodwill for $4. After a few solid years of use (and many compliments, I might add), a handle ripped off, and I was forced to search for a new neutral-colored leather bag. Cute as it may be, my giant … Read more

Going on used book shopping adventures

Sign that reads Great Valley Bookfest Today

Hands down, one of my favorite things about living in the Central Valley is the Great Valley Bookfest. I came across it while coming back home from a date a few years ago, and I’ve been making an active effort to attend every year! (Is my blog becoming a case study of life in the … Read more

Curating a gallery wall with dog-inspired art

Yellow dog in front of dog gallery wall

Once I fall in love with something, I fall in love with it hard — attribute this tendency to my Venus in Libra, if you will. I absolutely went bonkers with all things dogs once I became a pup parent. If you sift through my belongings, you’ll find wallets, purses, totes, and miscellaneous tchotchkes with … Read more

Thrifting for vintage treasures: My recent thrift finds

Silk blouse on hanger

I’ve been an avid secondhand shopper since, well, forever. I grew up piggyback riding my dad at the West Wind Capitol Flea Market every weekend and later discovered the magic of thrift stores and consignment shops in college. On my first day of college, I wandered downtown Berkeley on a breezy June afternoon and discovered … Read more

Styling 6 thrifted spring and summer outfits

Goodwill dress and Ross puff sleeve shirt

As promised, here’s a lineup of some of my favorite thrifted spring and summer outfits that I’ve put together — I’m all about style on a budget, and I try to reuse key pieces from my wardrobe, although I can’t resist the occasional flea market or Goodwill haul. Everything is either from Goodwill or a … Read more