A Case of the Mondays...

Duck Umbrella: Goodwill Outlet (~$1)

Wow. I totally forgot to do a blog post this morning! It has certainly already been a typical 'Monday'. Ugh.

Anyway, I have a few minutes left on my lunch break, and I thought I'd do a quick post!

This duck umbrella actually fits in well with my Monday. It is broken! But it is so darn cute that I had to take a chance on it at Goodwill Outlet. Unfortunately, it won't stay open.

At least it is cute to look at, right? :) Sometimes you've just got to look on the bright side!

Always,
Amanda

Outfitted In: Ruffles + Green

Shirt, Pants, Bag, Pin: All Thrifted; Sandals: Rugged Wearhouse

This was yesterday's comfy thrifting outfit. I found these grass-green pants at Goodwill the other day, and they are definitely a new favorite! Colored pants have been on my thrift list for months, and these are the first really fun ones I've found. :)

The bag is a recent thrift find for our Florida trip. I'd been looking for a compact, beachy purse to bring, and this one is absolutely perfect! Plus, it was only two bucks- a steal compared to the ones I had been contemplating at TJMaxx.

I hope everyone's weekends are going well! I'm off to a pre-wedding...

Always,
Amanda

Detail Shot Saturday: Cat Eyes and Golden Braids

Sunnies: Dollar Tree ($1); Sandals: Rugged Wearhouse ($2)

I am full-on in summer mode now, even though it keeps going back and forth between hot and sunny and cool and rainy here in Richmond.

(I think it is just me counting down until my Florida vacation in a couple weeks!!!!)

Two of the things I'm loving right now are these cheap, surprisingly non-thrifted finds: Dollar Tree cat eyes and Rugged Wearhouse braided sandals! Gold is definitely a favorite in the warmer months, and these sandals are pretty comfy for being only two bucks. :)

Well, I am off to the thrifts! I can't wait to see what I'll find!!

Always,
Amanda

A Heart Basket...and a Winner!

Heart Basket: Goodwill Outlet

I used this thrifted heart basket to put the giveaway entries in. :) It is super-cute and heart-covered, aka: totally my cup of tea!

Anyway, after putting the names in the heart basket and having my helpful hubby draw a winner, the winner is...................................

Entry #6: Sarah of Five Camels!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats, Sarah!! Email me at already-loved@hotmail.com with your info, and I'll send you the awesome Coach bag and some extra goodies!

Have a great weekend, everyone. :)

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted Vintage: Flowers, Deer...and a Tub

Flower Needlepoint, Deer Trivet, Dollhouse Bathtub: Goodwill Outlet (~$1 for all)

I feel like I say this a lot, but I've had great luck finding vintage goodies in the Goodwill bins. :) (Probably because I'm the only one there who likes them!)

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm a fan of needlepoint wall art of all kinds! This cute floral 70s one is pretty cute on our wall. :)

The trivet might be meant for the holidays (is it a deer or a reindeer?), but it is perfect on our table! We just found a vintage lace tablecloth, and this is adorable and protective.

The little dollhouse tub is certainly...random. But I have my favorite nail polishes in it on our bathroom counter, and I love it! I can't resist cute little things. :)

Always,
Amanda

On the Thrift Store Shelves: Village People and Black Cats

This collection from the thrift store shelves is pretty random! (I guess they all are, though!)

But these are the kinds of things that catch my eye at the thrifts. :) I may not think they're worth buying, but I like looking at them all the same!

The Village People record from the Goodwill bins would've come home with me if the record had been in it. It was sadly empty, but I just had to take a photo of the hilarious cover. :)

The polaroid camera was pretty neat, and I loved the flash, but I can find them much cheaper than five bucks. (And I already have a pretty sweet collection of them. :))

The black cats actually did end up coming home with me! I love the way they look. They remind me of these cat lamps that my Grammy had when I was younger, where the eyes lit up red or green. (Grammy's were obviously much more awesome than these plain figurines!)

Finally, the Austin Powers toy... What can I say? I'm a kid of the 90s, and things like this appeal to me! I probably would've gotten it if it were cheaper!

Always,
Amanda

PS: Remember to enter the Coach bag giveaway! I'll be putting a couple surprises with it for the winner. :)

A Coach Bag Giveaway!!!!!

I was super lucky this past Saturday, and I thrifted this new authentic Coach bag at Goodwill Outlet! I was super excited to see it in the bins, just waiting to be found. :)

Whenever I have such a great find, I love to give it away to one of my awesome readers, so now it's your lucky find!

To be entered in the giveaway to win this awesome, medium-sized Coach bag, simply do the following:

1. Comment on this post with your first name and last initial, and an email to contact you at.
2. Be a follower of Already Loved via Google, Twitter, or Facebook 

That's it! Good luck. :) This is open internationally, so enter away!

The winner will be announced this Friday, April 27th!

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted Vintage: A Charming Floral Jewelry Box

Vintage Jewelry Box: Goodwill Outlet (~$1)

I fell in love with this adorable little jewelry box when I spotted it in the Goodwill bins! It is hand-painted, with cute drawers and a music box in the back.

This is the perfect place for all of my vintage pins and brooches to live. :)

The floral patterns remind me of an old paint-by-number. Seriously, could this be any more charming?

Always,
Amanda

Outfitted In: White + Brown + Cat-eyes

Shirt, Shorts, Tote, Necklace: All Thrifted; Sandals: Rugged Wearhouse; Sunnies: Dollar Tree

Man, was it hot yesterday! It was the perfect weather for test-driving some of my recent bargain buys for our Florida trip. :)

I thrifted both the shorts and the breezy shirt at my local Goodwill the other day, for $6 total! The sandals were a mere $4 at Rugged Wearhouse, a nearby bargain store. And the sunnies? A complete steal for a buck at Dollar Tree! I don't think I've ever gotten such great (and cute!) sunglasses there. :)

That's about all I have for today- I'm getting over a sinus infection (the pollen is awful here), and I've been trying to get lots of rest!

Always,
Amanda

PS: Sarah, you're right- the Boat & Tote is awesome!

Detail Shot Saturday: Slime Green + Leather

Espadrilles: Goodwill Outlet/ DIY

I have been obsessed with bright colors lately! They seem to be everywhere for spring/summer.  (And by 'everywhere' I mean Target. :))

Something about bright colors mixed with leather scream summertime to me, and with these 80-something days we've had in Richmond, it seems to be nearly here!

If you're looking for a super-easy and cheap way to brighten your thrifted shoes, neonize-ing them is the way to go. We're talking three coats of bright acrylic paint, a sponge brush, and a steady painting arm, and you've got a brand-new look!

Always,
Amanda

Thrift Finds: Sea Shells, Butterflies, and Beads!

Shell Pin, Butterfly Clip, Beaded Clip: Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

Ah, more cute little Goodwill Outlet finds! It seemed like there was a near-endless supply of adorable things hiding in the bottom of the bins this past Saturday. :)

I'm thinking that the shell pin will be great for our Florida vacation, the butterfly clip is tiny and fun, and the beaded clip is so colorful! I love the colors of the beads- the yellow, blue and white remind me of summertime. :)

Happy Friday, everyone! I work tomorrow morning, but then I'll be headed to the thrift stores for sure!!!!

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted Vintage: Pretty Pretty Paper

Vintage Letter Sets: Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

I love finding vintage paper, especially at Goodwill Outlet! They price most things by the pound, so neat old letter sets like these cost just pennies. :)

I used the yellow flowers for my new blog header, but I really love all of these designs. Maybe I'll write a couple letters and send them out to some of the awesome people in my life. :) I should really get on that!

Always,
Amanda

Outfitted In: Belated Easter

Shirt, Pants, Flats, Bag, Pin: All Thrifted; Sweater: JCrew Warehouse Sale

Somehow, I totally forgot to post my Easter outfit! Better late than never, though, right? :)

I'm not one for an Easter dress, or any dress, really. But my thrifted grandma shirt had just the right touch of Easter-ness when paired with my thrifted purple pants! And the outfit just wasn't complete without my decorated-egg-like bag. :)

This was the perfect outfit to transition from church to a yummy lunch to egg hunting! So much easier than a fussy dress, I'd say. :)

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted Vintage: Tiny, Quirky Little Things!

Little Vintage Goodies: Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

I am a sucker for little vintage things. Really, the quirkier the better! The dog and cat above definitely fit the bill. :)

I'm pretty sure the tiny blue dog is very old, and made of celluloid. There are little ear holes- I guess they once held puppy earrings?

The teeny doll's rain bonnet purse held the two vintage Barbie heels. I wonder if they'll fit my Blythe doll? I'll have to check!

Are you drawn to teeny old things? I'd love to hear what you've found!!

Always,
Amanda

My Birthday Wish List!

1. Lime Crime lipstick in Cosmopop. $16.00 on Amazon. I love this color of lipstick, and I've always wanted to try the Lime Crime brand! This is definitely one of the tamer colors. :)

2. Norah Jones Little Broken Hearts on Vinyl. $18.98 on Amazon. I am a huge fan of Norah Jones, and of records. I think Little Broken Hearts, her new album (it comes out on May 1st) will sound amazing on vinyl!

3. Polaroid 300 film. $10.95 on Amazon. I love my Polaroid 300 camera that my parents got me for Christmas a couple years ago! I've been keeping an album of them each year, filled with special moments and memories. :)

4. Nebula tote bag. $25.00 on etsy. Something about stars and star prints makes me drawn to them- almost as much as hearts! This amazing nebula print tote would be the perfect size for thrifting adventures, and the great colors would go with anything. :) I love it!

5. Sprout women's watch. $45.15 on Amazon. Oh my gosh, I cannot even explain how excited I was to find this watch in my online non-metal watch search! It is super nice, with teeny diamonds, fish scales, and mother-of-pearl! And it has no metal that would touch my skin!

6. Deborah Lippmann nail polish in Happy Birthday. $18.00 on Amazon. This nail polish is something that's been on my wish list for years. There's something about getting myself $18 nail polish named 'Happy Birthday' that I just can't bring myself to do. But...asking for it for one's birthday is okay, right? Right?

7. Instax Wide film. $17.35 on Amazon. This is the film for my awesome thrifted Instax 200! I am really loving the pictures it takes- I can't wait to see how pictures at the beach turn out. :) Also, this is for a 2-pack, so the film is a little cheaper than my Polaroid 300.

8. Bacon Sea Salt Caramels. $13.50 on etsy. I found these when browsing etsy for Christmas presents last year. And I still want some...they look super, super, super good!!!

9. Red Fox Brooch Pin. $5.00 on etsy.  This happy little fox makes me smile. :) I love brooches, and a fox one would be such a fun addition to my little collection!

I can't wait to celebrate my birthday next month (May 15th!) with my family in Florida. :)

Always,
Amanda

Outfitted In: Florals and a Pop of Color

Shirt: Target; Jeans: Burlington; Bag: Thrifted; Shoes: Thrifted DIY

Yesterday's weather was sunny and beautiful- perfect for a day of laid-back thrifting. :) I couldn't wait to throw on my DIY'd thrifted flats with their pop of slime green, and my new floral shirt!

This bag is also newly thrifted, and it's a Cole Haan! It is super-nice, and it's huge. :) The perfect work-week bag, and roomy enough for any adventures that may come my way.

I found a bunch of neat little vintage things in the Goodwill bins that I can't wait to share with you!

Always,
Amanda

Detail Shot Saturday: My Grandma Shirt :)

Vintage Shirt: Goodwill ($3)

Let's just start out by saying: I like some strange things. When something might seem weird or old-timey or flat-out-ugly to some people, I'll probably love it. :)

This grandma shirt is no exception. Not only can I not picture any of my grandmas wearing it (it is too old-fashioned for them!), it just isn't a normal 20-something girl shirt! But I just love it. The color, the pearl buttons, the embroidery...everything!

I think pairing it with my mustard cardigan brought it somewhat into 'normal outfit' territory...what do you think?

:) Happy weekend!!!!!!!!

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted DIY: Neonize It!

 

 It's official: I got bitten by the neon bug. It is sort of like my heart obsession- when I see something ordinary, I want to make it better by making it neon! 

These shoes were thrifted at Goodwill Outlet this past Saturday, and they served as a neonize-ing guinea pig. I simply painted on layers of bright orange acrylic paint with a sponge brush, and it worked out well...until I stubbed my toe and a chunk of paint came off! 

Lesson learned: make sure to seal the paint after it dries. Also: if you wear traffic-cone-orange-tipped shoes to work, people will notice.

Happy Friday!!

Always,

Amanda

Retail/Thrifted: A Boat and Tote!

L.L. Bean Boat and Tote: Goodwill Outlet ($1)

We're going to Florida for a week next month for Josh's sister's wedding and my birthday! While I'm not a huge 'beach person', the wedding is on the beach, and we'll be there for most of the trip. So what could be a better thing to bring along than a sturdy L.L. Bean Boat and Tote? :)

One of these has been on my thrift list for a long time, and I couldn't believe when I found one for nearly nothing in the Goodwill bins! And I just love the peach color!

Retail Price: $19.95 on llbean.com

Thrifted Price: $1 at Goodwill Outlet

Amount Saved: $18.95!
I hope your week is going well. :) I'm definitely counting down until the weekend, myself!

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted Vintage: Kitties and Sunnies, and a Camera!

Christian Dior Sunnies: Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

Vintage Kitty Pepper Shakers: Goodwill Outlet (<$1)

Vintage Camera: Good Samaritan ($2)

I had such great thrift luck this past Saturday! The thrifts weren't nearly as crowded as usual, and I snatched up some great vintage finds. :)

The Christian Dior sunnies might not be vintage, but they sure have that old-school grandma feel to them! Love it!

For some reason, there were a bounty of old pepper shakers in the Goodwill Outlet bins...and no salt ones! Weird, but I'll take two cute kitties any day. :) Plus, the shorter one's eyes blink!

The vintage camera was in a case at Good Samaritan, but it was only two bucks. :) The square front pops out, and the whole thing just looks really cool. I absolutely love the look of old cameras!

I hope your week is going fabulously. :)

Always,
Amanda

On the Thrift Store Shelves: Acid Green and Ducklings

Here are some of the fun things I saw at the thrifts on Saturday!

First, the acid green loafers could've come out of my dreams! I was totally smitten, until I saw they were size 7.5. I swear every awesome pair of shoes I find at Love of Jesus are this size! Totally disappointing for me, but if you're in Richmond and wear a seven and a half shoe, check out LOJ for sure. :)

The strange little domed skeleton was in the toy section. There was something about the weird way that it was bent that intrigued me enough to snap a photo. :) Skeletons can be neat!

I always seem to spot vintage stuffed animals at Goodwill Outlet, like the duckling above. I'm sure he was dirty and gross, but I had to take a picture of this Easter-appropriate guy!

Finally, the little vintage plaque was on the shelf at Good Samaritan. I thought it was cute, and the saying on it is sweet. :)

Check back tomorrow for some of the things I didn't leave on the shelves. :)

Always,
Amanda

Thrift Find: My New Favorite Bag!!

The Sak Purse: Family Thrift ($5)

So, I have a well-documented and teenager-like obsession with hearts. What can I say? I honestly think most things are better with a heart on it!

Enter a purse woven with tons of hearts...I swear my heart skipped a beat. :) I want to use this purse forever, no matter how age-inappropriate it may get. (Okay, maybe whenever in the future that I have a daughter, she can have it. Maybe.)

Anyway. I hope my strange little heart rant brightened your Monday a tad. :) That's what I go for on a daily basis with this blog. I hope you leave here a little smiley-er, or at the very least, laughing about my sometimes strange taste in things!

Always,
Amanda

Outfitted In: My Springtime Favorites :)

Shirt, Jeans, Bag, Flats: All Thrifted; Cardigan: F21

Friends, meet my Grandma shirt! Actually, it's too old-fashioned for either of my grandmas, but for me it's perfect. :)

I thrifted these leather flats and this very spring-y bag yesterday, and I loved them so much I put them right on! The pink and white with the mustard worked surprisingly well, I thought. :)

Happy Easter!

Always,
Amanda

Detail Shot Saturday: Orange you Glad :)

Necklace: Thrifted/DIY

When I found these beads in the Goodwill Outlet bin a couple weeks ago, I couldn't resist them! Something about the color is super appealing... Maybe they remind me of Florida orange juice?

Anyway, I grabbed some thrifted leather cord and immediately made a necklace with them. :) Definitely my new fave!

Always,
Amanda

Thrifted Vintage: Jewelry Holders

Necklace/Ring Holder; Jewelry Box: Goodwill Outlet (~$1)

Quite possibly the only things I like more than vintage costume jewelry pieces are fun places to organize them! The necklace and ring organizer at top is especially useful. I have quite a few necklaces, and this way you can see all your options at once. :)

The jewelry box is the perfect size to organize my hair ties, bobby pins, and makeup. It is so nice when everything has a place!

Have a great Friday! I can't wait for the weekend!!!

Always,
Amanda