Thrift Score Thursday: Recent Finds for Mara

I've had good luck with girl's clothes and shoes lately. Aren't those blue mocs adorable? They are actually 4 sizes too big for Mara. But she's growing so fast, she'll probably be wearing them next year already. Also, I've been picking up vintage embroideries for the new bedroom Mara will hopefully have by the end of summer. (More on that later.)

Thrift Score Thursday: Billy the Kid

I picked up these denim beauties on two separate thrifting excursions. 'Billy the Kid' is apparently an old Macy's label. The jacket has great white stitching, and the shirt has silver studs and an indian embroidery on the back. So adorable. Makai has just grown into them and will be wearing them a lot.

Thrifty Christmas

Here are just a few of the home-made and altered thrift store gifts the kids are getting this weekend. We spent very little this year, which was necessary due to our Brazil trip.

We actually made these blocks for a friend but we had extras so we decided to give some to Solomon. If you have access to a saw, all you need is a square-end dowel and some non-toxic paint to make your own.

Makai is going to love his appliqued t-shirts! He's really into having animals and dinosaurs on his clothes. If I wasn't so pressed for time I would have taken it a step further inspired by my friend's awesome work.

That Mini Boden shirt was only $1. The stripes match the Zhu Zhu pet outfit she got from her grandma recently. I already had the sailor patch to pop on the pocket. She's going to think it's so cute to match her little buddy!

Also, we bent the no-toy rule just a bit and got Elijah some "new" Sega games (he love it old-school) and Mara is getting a doll along with some of my scrap fabric and my old sewing machine. I'm really looking forward to designing and making doll clothes with her!

Thrift Score Thursday: Christmas Kitch

I'm not a big Christmas decoration lady. Ever since being a teenager, when it's time to "deck the halls" I usually feel like rolling my eyes at all that tacky hoopla. But as I get older, I've been feeling more nostalgic about it. Suddenly all that kitch is starting to feel like a sacred tradition I never before understood.

Also, I didn't used to like the idea of buying a dying tree and hauling it into my house just to throw it away in a month. For years we've used a house plant (this weird cactus) as our Christmas tree. Last year the older kids protested, I gave in and we got a real tree. I admit, it's pretty nice.

Last year we didn't have a star on top. This upset Mara and she made a point to look for one when we were at the thrift store last week. Lo and behold, she found one that looks just like the one my parents used to put on our tree when I was a kid!

Our other decorations and ornaments were all home-made or handed down from family.

We put the tree up after Sol was in bed, so it took him by surprise when he came down in the morning. He kept crawling around it pointing and saying "Oh wow....ow, wow! wazzat?"

Thrift Score Thursday - Sol's Room

I realized yesterday that everything on Solomon's walls were thrifted. The awesome sail boat hanging has a story behind it here. I should do a full room tour soon.

Thrift Score Thursday

Mara is hands-down the best dresser in the family. She hasn't let me dress her since she was three years old. All I do is provide the wardrobe, she handles the rest. Won't even take suggestions from me. She doesn't need me, her creative sensibilities keep her looking smart. (See this post from two years ago.)

Red crochetted top she used to wear as a dress when she was smaller.

Her favorite stripy dress, and a cabbage patch doll I got from a rummage sale. Vintage coat I've been holding onto for a few years waiting for her to grow into it.

thrift score thursday

Favorite fall items found at the thrift store. Home-made faux fur hoodie and Minnetonka moccasins.

thrift score thursday

I found this hand-made baby quilt a few months ago. I like that it's crooked and wonky and some of the seams are coming undone. The backing is pretty heavy so it does a good job of keeping Sol cozy at night. My favorite square is the one with the little stone house.

thrift score thursday

Vintage sweater and wagon, old hightop chucks.

apple truck

Because we basically only shop at the thrift store, we end up with a lot of cute vintage clothes and toys. There's no color theme I love more for kids than the primary reds, blues, yellows you find on those old Fischer Price toys and little appliqued sweater vests.

The kids grow so fast. I think I'll start posting pics of these special little outfits and toys on the blog weekly to document the adorableness before they're outgrown. What should I call it? Thrift Score Thursday?