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holiday shopping

Holidays

Vintage Inspired Christmas Decor

Can you believe the holidays are already upon us? It seems to come faster every year. I know it’s a little early, but I’m already thinking about my holiday decor. I usually try to keep some kind of theme or color scheme throughout my decorations so I don’t get tired of the same things year after year. Plus, I enjoy creatively putting together a new arrangement.

This year, I’m going for all things “Grandma’s House.” If I can imagine it being present at my grandmother’s house, it’s in. I’m looking back at midcentrury family Christmas photos and drawing inspiration from them. My biggest triumph this year has been slowly collecting boxes of Shiny Brite ornaments throughout the year at estate sales. You know the ones: the simple colorful ball ornaments. And of course, lots and lots of icicle tinsel.

I gathered up some holiday decorations that give of the Grandma’s House vibe, in case you want that vintage look this year too, without the time commitment of searching high and low for authentic vintage pieces.

Icicle Tinsel – I think this is the biggest impact for that classic look!

Window Candles – I bought a set several years ago and have been so happy with them. The house looks so cozy every time we drive up in the evening. They are on a timer too, which is so nice!

String Light – I remember my Great Grandmother’s tree having the giant C9 bulb lights, and it would be so well lit, the whole tree was radiating heat. These are LED so you won’t have to worry about the fire hazard like the days of old, but there’s something so sentimental to me about the big old string lights.

Popcorn Garland – I strung my own popcorn string, and you can totally do that too, but if you have dogs or children prone to eating edible things off the tree, they make artificial popcorn garland! Consider my mind blown.

Santa Sweatshirt – I had to include this because it’s just so cute!

Ceramic Tabletop Tree – You know your Grandma had one of these!

Classic Ornaments – These are the closest I could find to that old style classic bulb ornament. They come in lots of colors, so with a good mix of colors, you might be able to trick the eye into thinking they’re older.

Nutcracker Serving Platter – Is it even Grandma’s House without a kitschy serving platter? So cute for cookies!

Mini Tinsel Tree – This would be so fun on a tabletop or in an office!

Snowman Blow Mold – I have seen old blow molds at flea markets and antique stores plenty of times, but I had no idea Home Depot still made them!

Christmas Tree Train – Last year, we went on a Christmas home tour, and one of the houses had a train around the tree. My son, who was three at the time was absolutely mesmerized. It’s so joyful for kids and adults, I think!

Needlepoint Stockings – and of course, it wouldn’t be a vintage style Christmas without needlepoint stockings! Now, if you don’t have the antiquated skill of needlepoint (me!), you can buy them! These come in a bunch of different patterns and you can have your family member’s name embroidered on it!

I hope you have fun decorating this year, and however you choose to decorate, it brings you that warm and sentimental feeling of Christmases gone by. That’s all for today, have a fabulous day!

Thrifting

The Case for Secondhand Holiday Shopping: Ideas for everyone on your list!

The holiday season is nearly upon us, and unless you’ve been living under a rock, this year retailers and news outlets are urging us to shop early because of supply chain issues. This should absolutely be a factor when considering your shopping, but what if there was another way we could shop without having to worry about the supply chain issue at all?

Thrifting has been a big part of my life since high school, and of course there are lots of benefits including budget and the opportunity to find rare or one of kind items. It hasn’t been until recently that I’ve realized the environmental impact of shopping secondhand. When we buy something secondhand, not only are you saving something from a landfill, you’re also not contributing to the carbon emissions that are created by the manufacturing and shipping of items that can be bought in big box stores.

I know it might feel weird or cheap to purchase something secondhand as a gift, but I think it’s actually a very environmentally conscious thing to do. As we are all focusing our efforts more and more onto the effects of climate change, I think we will see this as an option that grows more and more popular in the years to come. And when done thoughtfully, no one will even question it!

So, without further ado, here are some ideas of things to keep an eye out for when you’re thrifting for everyone on your list!

For The Kids:

  • Books, books, books.
  • Classic Toys (think wooden blocks, Lincoln Logs, anything that can be/is clean and in good condition. Look past the packaging, you can always give it in a fresh basket or box)
  • Halloween costumes or character specific clothing for dress up play
  • Puzzles (this is easier with younger age puzzles that are easy to tell if the pieces are all present, otherwise I would only buy unopened boxes)
  • Trinket boxes (I don’t know about you, but my kid is thrilled with the idea of a special place to store his “treasures” of rocks and shells)
  • Play Tea Sets

For a Female Friend/Sister/Spouse:

  • Also books! Hardcover coffee table books are easy to find in many varieties of interests.
  • Jewelry: This may not be for everyone, but vintage costume jewelry can be fun, affordable, and super stylish for the right person
  • Home Decor items: baskets, unused candles and candlesticks, clocks, vases, pretty serveware, etc. This may require you to know the taste of the recipient pretty well, but can be an incredibly thoughtful gift.
  • Purses + Bags: vintage bags are usually much more well made, and remain in style much longer. You can get something like this professionally dry cleaned, and it’s as good as new!
  • Clothing: again, this might not be for everyone, but for the right person can be a real winner. A good place to start is with sweaters.
  • Anything specific to that person’s interests (for example, if someone gifted me a blue and white vase, I’d be over the moon!)

For a Male Friend/Brother/Spouse:

  • Also books! Noticing a trend here?
  • Wallets
  • Records: this doesn’t apply just to men, but could be for any music lover, really!
  • Vintage flasks/Thermoses
  • Knives: this applies to a very specific recipient, and might have different laws surrounding the purchase of in different states, but some vintage pocket knives are very cool
  • Watches: you can always have them cleaned and/or repaired at a local jeweler
  • Golfing equipment: this would require some knowledge (that I do not posess), but I have never seen a thrift store without golf clubs. If you’re looking for something specific, you could always try eBay.

Inlaws/Parents/Grandparents:

  • Books. You know I had to.
  • Picture frames: if you have kids, framed family photos of the grandkids are always sweet.
  • Tea set or decorative dishes
  • Ties
  • Belts
  • Sweaters
  • Scarves

Neighbors/Teachers/Service People:

  • Coffee Mugs: add a Starbucks gift card and you’re golden
  • Vintage Cookie Cutters: gift with a dry mix for cookies
  • Unique Plates and Platters: gift these with cookies or other baked goods, and you won’t have to purchase a cheap throwaway container
  • Pots: gift with tulip bulbs or herb seeds for someone to grow on their own

I hope that gave you lots of ideas for things you can be looking for! If you don’t have time to hunt in person, there are always sites like Thrift Books, Chairish, Etsy, eBay, even Goodwill sells online! Don’t forget to look for cute giftwrap, giftbags, ribbon, and baskets to gift your items in while you’re shopping. Let’s reduce our carbon footprint a little bit together this holiday season, and give something more meaningful. That’s all for today, have a fabulous day!