Mushrooms Galore

A couple weekends ago I found some really cool stuff. My mom, sister, and I were heading out to the local thrift stores, and we had my precious pup, Eve with us. My boyfriend Adam had worked over night, so I brought Eve home with me to spend the night. We were bringing her back to his house, when I realized I didn't have my key. So since we had to wait about half an hour for Adam to get home, we decided to stop by a "yard sale", which was actually taking place in a parking lot. My eye immediately went to a group of beautiful blue bottles. One even had all the signs of the Zodiac embossed on it. I asked how much for the two blue bottles, and the lady selling them said, "50 cents each, and if you want the green ones too I'll throw them in for free." WOW! I also noticed an unopened package of coasters, circa 1970s, that said "Made in UK", and have pictures of a Tudor house on them. Anyone who knows me also knows that Tudor is my FAVORITE type of house...ever. So I got those for a dollar.

After Adam came and got Eve, we headed to the "Habitat for Humanity Restore" which similar to a thrift shop, but usually with higher-end items. I got a cool sugar dish with mushrooms on the front. After that, we went around the corner to the Thrift Shop. There I really hit the jackpot. Aside from the really nice sweaters I found, as I was looking through some clothes bins, I came across a yellow sheet with butterflies (another favorite of mine) and flowers. It looks old, but it was in brand-new condition. I also found an awesome vintage headboard for my bed for when we move into the new house - $10.00.

The mushroom salt and pepper shakers and sugar dish were a find that I must give credit to my mom for. She found one shaker and the sugar dish at a different thrift shop a few weeks prior. She did a little research and found a matching shaker on ebay, which she got for me as well.
All in all a great weekend for vintage finds.

Re-Vamp, Re-Use, Re-cycle

This is a re-awakening of Blue Jello. From now on, I will use this space to share what I love doing most: re-living the past. Ok, not completely stepping into a time machine, but this will now be my online journal for posting all my wonderful vintage finds. Ever since I was a tiny little girl I have felt (and my entire family has felt) that I was born in the wrong generation. When my friends were listening to New Kids on the Block and TLC, I was listening to Steve Miller and CCR. When everyone was watching Full House and Blossom, I was watching reruns of the Brady Bunch and Three's Company. As long as I can remember I have loved mushrooms. Not the psychadelics or the kind you eat, but cute, cartoon mushrooms, like you would see on the Smurfs or in much of the decor of the 70's. Everytime I am watching TV and a movie or show from the 70's comes on, I am inclined to watch it. Not because I like the cheesy humor, but just to absorb the culture and the ambiance. I don't even mind Avacado Green appliances and orange countertops (an ode to my grandma's house growing up).

I also happen to be cheap. Rarely do I buy clothes in a mall or department store. I always find really unique stuff in discount stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls. But my most favorite place to shop is the Thrift Shop (and when the weather is nice, yard sales). I come by it honestly; my grandmother is the Thrift Shop Queen, and she has been taking me "thrifting" for as long as I can remember. My mom is also a big thrifter. I love getting a bargain, but more than that I just love finding old stuff.

My boyfriend and I are in the final stage of purchasing our first house. It is a cape cod built in 1985, and it doesn't look like it's had an update--ever. But that is ok with me! I love the "vintage" feel of the place, and now we can put our own touches on everything.
For now I will leave you with a few examples of my quirky collections I have amassed over my 26 years. Any time I find something cool, I'll blog that too. Enjoy...I know I will!

My desk at home. I've had the fairies and mushrooms as long as I can remember. The flowers in the back left are a swatch of wallpaper taken from my aunt and uncle's groovy 1970's house when they remodeled.

A ceramic planter I got from a yard sale when I was 10 or 11. My love of mushrooms goes way back!