ML Interest Tag: thrift-store

This “Up” Birthday Photo Shoot Is Everything

by Erica Loop

Photographer Rachel Perman’s oh-so-imaginative Up-themed pics of her son Elijah are awesomely adorable—and the story behind them is even sweeter.

When looking for inspiration for the birthday photo sessions, Perman went with what her kiddos love.

The mom of the three, twins Emilee and Elijah and their older sib Mikayla, said, “Elijah is very particular, he is borderline addicted to Up and has been for several years. Its the only thing he draws and colors (the house with balloons) and the only books he wants to get at the library, and the only toy he wanted when we were in Disney World last year (the only thing we found that he wanted and came home with was a coffee mug.”

While Elijah was all about Up, his twin sis Emilee picked a unicorn shoot for herself. Even though the photos are magical just to look at, Perman’s stpry is even more meaningful. The photographer explained, “Five years ago I was diagnosed with cancer right after my twins were born and had fears if I would even get to see their fifth birthday.”

Perman continued, “My oldest (Mikayla) was five at the time and I hated not knowing if I would get the same time with them that I got with her. So for their fifth birthday I wanted to celebrate the things they love with photos! Its a celebration for me and them!”

If you’re wondering who the sweet seniors in the pics are, they’re Elijah’s IRL great-grandparents. Perman said, “My grandparents are Richard and Caroline Bain and are both 90 this year. They were thrilled to participate and loved that I asked them.” She also added, “Grandpa even went to the thrift store to get the jacket and hose. He said “I noticed in a photo Carl had a hose over his shoulder”. They have never seen the movie!”

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of Rachel Perman Photography

 

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Marie Kondo Is the Greatest Thing to Happen to Thrift Shopping Right Now

by Erica Loop

So when exactly is the best time to go thrift shopping? Apparently, right now! With the popularity of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix, an influx of donations have flooded thrift stores around the country. And that means—in the words of Macklemore—it’s time to “pop some tags.”

The “Marie Kondo effect” has made a legit mark on thrift store shopping. As people across the country have joined in on the craze to pare down only to what sparks joy, the number of donation items is dramatically increasing. Kondo’s “KonMari” method of minimalism makes pruning your hoarder-esque stash easy.

Instead of weighing the benefits that keeping the bag of toddler clothes your now-teenager will never need again, hold the items in your hands. Do they “spark joy?” If so, keep ’em.

But if the spark just doesn’t happen, they’re gone.

And where do all those non-joy-sparking items go? According to Amy Lyons, a spokesperson for Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, they’re going to the thrift store. Lyons told TODAY, “Out of our eight stores that we do have, our nine donations centers, all but two of them currently have seen quite an increase from last year around this time, year to date.” Lyons isn’t completely sure that Kondo and her Netflix show have caused this upswing, but it’s a very real possibility.

While heading to the thrift shop to cash in on others’ purged possessions might seem to fly in the face of the KonMari method, there’s something to be said for scoring big deals on gently-used kids’ items and more.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Marie Kondo via Instagram

 

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10 Skiing Tricks to Memorize Before Hitting the Slopes

by Kate Loweth

The kids are itching to hit the ski slopes but you are overwhelmed by the logistics of it all—we get it! Whether it’s their first time or if you’ve got a future Lindsey Vonn on your hands, read through this list of skiing hacks and tips before you head to the resort. After all, the more prepped you are, the more awesome the experience for the whole family. Keep reading to see them all.

photo: Smuggler’s Notch

1. Make your own “bunny hill” first. Ski gear is bulky and unfamiliar. Get it ready in advance, and let the kids try it out in your living room first. If you are staying at a ski resort or house with a small snow hill outside, use that for some practice “runs” before you spend the big bucks on the lift tickets. 

2. Get the right gear (& where to get it). Sizing for kids’ ski gear can be tricky. Consider renting your boots and skis before you leave home (which is often a cheaper option), borrow from a friend or hit up the thrift store when you arrive at your destination. Mittens are easier for kids to use than gloves, and make sure you get the ones that can clip on their jacket as nothing can stop a ski day faster than a lost mitten!

photo: Squaw Valley

3. Pick the right resort. The biggest and most popular resort might not be the best for your beginning skier. A beginner slope with a tow rope or “magic carpet” lift is great for kids as they don’t have to learn how to negotiate the chairlift. Many resorts offer other non-skiing amenities like tubing, hot tubs and campfire s’mores that bump up the fun level for your ski vacation.

4. Don’t plan a full first day. A good rule of thumb for kids is that most can tolerate one hour of skiing per year of their age (so three hours max for your three-year-old). If you keep this rule in mind, you won’t exhaust them and turn them off skiing for the rest of your trip. 

5. Ditch the poles. Kids learning to ski need to develop basic skills like creating a wedge to stop and learning how to turn. Poles are often more of a distraction for kids so ditch ’em for the newbies. If you’re going to teach your kids to ski there are tethers you can use that attach to the tips of the skis to help your kids keep the pizza pie shape as they ski down the hill. 

photo: Jeff Curtes/Squaw Valley

6. Splurge on private lessons or ski school. You know how your kids behave better for a stranger than they do when they are with you? The same is often true when learning to ski. Splurging on ski school or private ski lessons can take the pressure off you and make the lesson more fun for your new skier. Plus, many ski lessons include the price of the lift tickets or offer free skiing for younger kids. 

7. Fill your pockets (& backpack) with all the essential gear.

  • Chapstick. Not only does it keep chapped lips at bay, it is great when treating mountain-side windburn or even preventing friction on a spot that’s prone to blisters. If your jacket’s zipper gets jammed, lubricate both sides with Chapstick and get it moving again.
  • Carabiners and zip ties. These are great for attaching mittens, ski passes, goggles and more so that they don’t get left behind on the mountain.
  • Sunscreen. Bring a pocket-sized tube or squirt some into a contact lens case before you go. The sun on the mountain can get super intense and you don’t want anyone to burn!
  • Ziploc bags. Mountainside injury? No problem! Fill your Ziploc with some packed snow while you wait for ski patrol to come to your aid.
  • Hot cocoa packs and tea bags. Warm up at the lodge and just pay for hot water!
  • Your lunch. Bring snacks and pack in food to avoid expensive purchases. 
  • Sweet Treats Sugary motivation is sometimes the only way you can get a tired kid down the mountain so be prepared.

photo: Jeff Engerbretson/Squaw Valley

8. Prep for day two. When you’re done for the day, immediately put hats, gloves, boots, etc. near the heater so they can warm up overnight. Tuck dryer sheets into your boots to absorb any offending odors. When you get up to make your coffee in the morning, pop hand warmers in your boots so that you can have toasty toes when you gear up.

9. Safety first. It might not be how we grew up skiing, but helmets are a must in this day and age, for kids and parents alike. Make sure your crew has their noggins covered in well-fitting helmets so that a bump on the head doesn’t mean an end to your ski day.

10. If all else fails, outsource. Don’t let the packing overwhelm you. Companies like Kit Lender and Ski Butlers are ready to ship whatever gear you need, right to your ski destination.

 

—Kate Loweth

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Why I Won’t Buy School Pictures This Year

By Kate Hamernik

Photo: Highlights Along the Way

Every year since preschool I have purchased school pictures of all three kiddos. Crappy backgrounds, forced poses, and terrible lighting seems to be the formula. Every year I complained about the expense of something I didn’t want. Last year I finally liberated myself from school pictures. It took me a while to get over the weird guilt, but I am here to tell you it is OK to not buy school pictures.

Picture day is fun, I have always let the kids wear whatever they want. For my oldest this means a polyester flower girl dress that I drug home from a thrift store along with some of her Aunt Jewel’s fancy hand me down accessories. My son often wears an obnoxious saying shirt, even though I have told him nobody will be able to read it the way the photo is cropped. My littlest? It doesn’t matter, she isn’t gonna sit for a stranger anyway. The big ones bring home their little slip with four mediocre pictures, we talk about how beautiful and big they are. We put them in a drawer never to look at them again. Do I buy these pictures? Not anymore. They are terrible. I don’t buy things I don’t want anymore.

For a few years I bought pictures begrudgingly because I thought it did some greater good. I operated under the false understanding that the pictures were a fundraiser for the school. I asked at one point what the percentage of the donation was. Well the world came crashing down when I heard there was no fundraiser and never had been. I have no idea where I got this idea, but now the only thread that kept me buying sub par pictures was snapped.

Now hear me when I say I don’t mind paying photographers. What I do have a problem with is paying for stuff I don’t like, or like, stuff that is redundant. I pay for great photography about once a year.  We have these beautiful photos taken in natural light at the best time of day for photos. The setting and our wardrobe flow effortlessly with our home decor.

It is almost criminal to hang up the collection of these beautiful photos and then slap a conventional school picture next to it. My photographer gives me a disc with images so I can make wallets for Grandma and Grandpa and anyone else of the fantastic portraits … so why would I give them this wallet picture that is just kinda ‘meh’? Any local Facebook group will show you a photographer in your area that has a mini session for somewhere around $100 – $200. School pictures set me back about $100 if I buy the least expensive package for each kid. I pass on the school pictures and don’t feel bad about booking with a natural light photographer.

So the drill was the same each year. The last two years it was three sets of pictures! Stiff poses – check. Forced smiles – check. Bad lighting – check. Cheesy background you’ve been rolling down for the last  twenty years – check. Do your kids have glasses? Yes. Great, we will order some inexcusable glare on those photos. We have lots of package choices, which would you like? You know there is one that includes a keychain right? Pass on the plexiglass keychain? Alright cheapskate, your three bargain level packages add up to just under $100. Fantastic.

This is a fish in a barrel situation for the photographer. Most schools have hundreds of kids. Teachers line them all up for efficiency. Many photographers work for all the schools in the school district. With digital photography being as easy to produce I cannot understand why they aren’t working a little bit harder to improve the quality of the photos. Their craft is easier to produce and they are still charging a similar amount to what my parents were charged 25 years ago. Don’t even get me started on the photo packages, when we live in a world where we can print from a disc. Really though, why are we rewarding this behavior? I have heard people say “I wish they had a better photographer,” and “I wish we had other options, but this is their only school picture.” Nowadays there are lots of better options; this is just a tradition.

Back in the day I remember a couple friend’s parents didn’t even own a camera. School pictures were not much worse than a trip to Olan Mills, which many people could not afford. While my parents did have a camera, film was expensive and you didn’t see the pictures until you had developed them. For many, school pictures were the one consistent half way decent picture to document a child over the years. My point is, photography and access to it has evolved significantly but school pictures are pretty much the same as they have always been. Tradition? I mean, maybe. But I don’t like this tradition, bad pictures is a tradition that dies with me.

Now nearly everyone has a cell phone with a camera on it. Not everyone, but it is very common. On any day of the week you can get a photo package at Picture People for $11. At Picture People (or any mall photo studio) you are at least going to have the option of different poses and backgrounds and a little more time spent with your child. I’m not really trying to sell you on mall photography either; I’m just saying it is often better quality and almost always a better deal. I’ve honestly seen advertisements for mini sessions with natural light photographers in our area advertised for less than what our three packages add up to.

Pinterest can lead you to hundreds of articles on how to improve your photography even with an iPhone or point and shoot camera. Many people have a home printer that prints photo quality and many photographers will now give you a disc with photos on it to print to your heart’s content. So again, with all these options at my fingertips WHY am I gonna pay $30 for two 5X7 and a sheet of wallets of a stiff picture of my kid?

“But Kate, your kid will not have a class picture with all their friends!” Call me crazy, I do not care about having a picture of other people’s kids. After the first five minutes of ownership of a class picture my kids don’t care either. They look at it and never ever ask to see it ever again. Also I have dozens of pictures of my kids with their friends.  Parents snap pictures every time they volunteer, the teacher sends us pictures she has snapped. I would much rather collect photos of them having fun with one another than a ultra glossy line up. No problem there either.

I’m done with school pictures and it feels great. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know it’s OK to not buy school pictures. I promise.

Kate Hamernik writes about family fun at Highlights Along The Way. Kate lives in San Diego California with her husband, three kids, and their dog Mabel. She writes about travel, adoption, Disney everything, living richly on less, and watching her kids grown into big people.

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They Grow So Fast: What To Do With Baby’s Outgrown Clothing

by Sarah Blight

One minute she’s wearing 3-6 months and the next, she’s already outgrown 9-12 months. Keeping up with your babies’ seemingly never-ending growth spurts in an organized way, figuring out what to do with all of babies’ outgrown clothes, can feel overwhelming. Here, we’ve compiled some ideas on how you can effectively and easily deal with all those clothes while positively impacting those around you.

Photo: Andres Rodriguez via Flickr

Hand Them Down

The first thing that comes to mind is giving your clothes to another sibling or family member. Recipients of hand-me-downs are usually super excited and grateful to be given such an amazing gift. It saves lots of money and it’s also fun to see favorite outfits on your other kids or nieces and nephews.

A couple tips for hand-me-downs:

1. Save only the clothes that are in great condition. Check out each piece and figure out if it’s worth saving. Is it stained beyond repair? Does it have holes in it? If so, then put them in a separate pile to recycle (which we’ll cover next).

2. Wash everything you decide to keep. You want to make sure any odor or stains don’t attract bugs or other creepy crawlies while they’re being stored.

3. Stay organized with your storage. Whether you choose plastic bins, or the oversize ziplock bags that you can suck the air out of, keep like items and same sizes together and then label them.

4. Keep your clothes smelling fresh. Before you pack the clothes away, stick a few dryer sheets in to keep all those sweet baby outfits smelling fresh and clean.

Photo: Wastebusters via Flickr

Recycle

It can be tempting to just throw clothes away that no longer have a usable life. But experts estimate that the average American throws away 65 pounds of clothing per year, most of which end up in landfills. So what can be done with all those clothes? Recycle them!

There are many for profit and non-profit clothes recycling companies in existence. One of the easiest options is to simply stop by your local H&M clothing store (usually found in malls) and drop off your used, any condition, any style or brand clothing to their “No Garment Goes to Waste Collection.”  Those items will find new life as cleaning cloths, insulation or textile fibers.

Photo: Mark Pilgrim via Flickr

Donate Them

It can be downright exhausting to manage all the clothing that our littles outgrow so quickly, and if you don’t have the time, or desire to sort, wash and store all of them, donating is another great option with several different avenues you can explore.

Freecycle: Similar to recycling, freecycling involves finding people who would really love what you have to give away. The website freecycle.org matches people in your area with free stuff. A great option when you have baby clothes that you’d like to pass on to others for free and don’t mind a little bit of work to connect to others who would directly benefit from your items.

Schoola: You can now donate your gently used items while raising money for your favorite school! It’s called Schoola. All you have to do is log on to their website, request a pre-paid bag, fill it up with your clothes, drop it in the mail and start raising cash for the school of your choice.

Local Thrift Store: If you’re into donating clothes, your local thrift stores are also a great option. Most of them have easy drop off locations where you can leave your items and even get a tax write-off in return, if you so desire.

Photo: Jonathan Rolande via Flickr

Sell Them

We all have our favorite outfits that are just plain hard to give away or donate. It’s nice to make money on all those clothes that we swooned over when we first had our baby. If this is your predicament, and you don’t mind a little extra work to make back your hard-earned money, then selling them is right down your alley and you have a few options.

Resale: Stores like Once Upon a Child are resale stores which means you bring in all your stuff (washed) and they pick out the items they’d like to buy from you. The nice part about resale is that they give you cash on the spot. The downside is that they can be quite picky about what they’ll accept. To find a resale shop near you, simply Google “children’s resale store.”

Consignment: This idea is similar to resale, except the store doesn’t pay you until they sell the item. There are children’s consignment stores all over the place in brick and mortar locations as well as online consignment stores like threadup.com. It pays to have your items in pristine condition as well as keep track of when they expire at the store so you can go and pick them up. It takes a bit of extra work, but it could pay off!

Tag sale. The good ole tag sale is the final way you can sell your baby’s outgrown clothes. Washing the items and organizing them is necessary and pricing them to sell (or being negotiable) will help you get rid of them all, while making some cash. It’s also a great time to throw in other baby items you no longer use. A helpful tip is to post your garage sale on craigslist.com with a picture of some of the items you will be selling. This is sure to whet the appetite of shoppers who are specifically looking for baby items.

Now that you have lots of ideas to get you started, what will you decide to do with your baby’s outgrown clothes? Please share your ideas below.

-Sarah Blight

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No Pool, No Problem! 8 DIY Water Tables

by Lauren Hill

During the sweltering days of summer, entertain your little fishes with an aquatic play space that’s all their own. The perfect way to beat the heat, these ingenious tables were put together by some very resourceful moms and dads. Featuring everything from built-in fountains to added sensory stations, check out the custom water tables below and prepare to splash!

Fun in the Sun

A Lovely Lark transformed this thrift store find into a fabulous water table for her girls. Customized with water toys and painted a summery lemon hue, take a closer look and create your own with this how-to.

photo: A Lovely Lark

 

Share your favorite table with us in the comments below. 

Editor’s Note: While we love all these awesome ideas, please be sure to supervise kids at all times while in or near the water.

— Lauren Hill

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12 Simple Gifts for Mom You Can Make at Home

by Gabby Cullen

She’s a short-order chef of the finest design, a boo-boo kisser and a singing, dancing source of entertainment. She’s the go-to in an emergency—M.I.A. Barbie shoes and Thomas trains are most definitely an emergency, BTW—and she’s got enough love to spread to everyone at home. Yup, it’s Mom….or, supermom to you. This year for Mother’s Day, let the kids assemble DIY gifts that are easy for little fingers. Scroll down to find a project worthy of your favorite gal.

Mint Mojito Bath Salts
Give her a bucket o’ bath salts in a crisp, refreshing scent. The mint Mojito recipe from Hello Natural is a 2-step mix—no apothecary experience needed! We suggest also handing Mom a freshly muddled mint refresher of the drinkable type for sipping while getting sudsy in the bath. Get everything you need by checking in with Hello Natural.

 Photo: Stephanie Gerber via Hello Natural

Washi Tape Bottles
What’s Mother’s Day without a bouquet of the finest blooms? Kids can feel as if they had a hand in the design by including one of these creative Washi tape bottles. Have your little designer pick out colorful rolls of tape—washi comes in so many cool patterns—salvage a few glass bottles and get sticking! For more on this perfect addition to the standard bunch of flowers, find your way over to Studio Sjoesjoe.

Photo: Anneik Gelissen 

Garden Gift Basket
Green thumbs will love this collection of thoughtful garden gifts as much as kids and Dads will love the easy assembling. Biggest challenge here is finding a big enough basket to hold all the new treasures—we are totally diggin’ the planter box Manda of The Merry Thought decided on using, instead. For a complete list of items or ideas on what to include, scoot on over to The Merry Thought.

Photo: Manda via The Merry Thought

Kitchen Tablet Holder
Has your foodie mama been coveting the tablet holder she saw at the fancy culinary shop recently? Well consider taking an afternoon to make a look-alike. Grab an old cutting board, other wood items we know you have somewhere in the house (or can procure very easily!) and include a dash of glue. Not only could this guarantee killer family meals for ages but it also looks so, so cool. Jane, a self-proclaimed junk-collecter and DIYer, can show you how it’s done. Pop on over to Mamie Jane’s for the tutorial.

Photo: Jane Edwards via Mamie Jane’s

Mommy Survival Kit
Mallory and Savannah of Classy Clutter know what mamas need. Headache reducer, check. Sugar rush, check. Energy booster, check! This adorable Mommy Survival Kit covers all the bases when it comes to to the last-minute, I-just-need-a-quick-fix, moments. The mason jar presentation is fantastically charming and we love the printable label provided for easy decor. From more ideas on what to stash, find your way to Classy Clutter.

Photo: Mallory&Savannah via Classy Clutter

Lemon Soap
She’ll love the scent of this citrusy-sweet lemon soap concocted by Crystal over at A Pumpkin and a Princess. Your little project managers will dig the fact that it’s almost too simple not to make a bar, or ten. To get the low-down on zesting tips and where to get the ingredients, hop on over to A Pumpkin and a Princess.

Photo: Crystal Owens via A Pumpkin and a Princess

Popsicle Stick Frames
Pictures of her favorite little folk are par for the course on Mother’s Day. Make it even better with easy-to-master popsicle stick frames. The ladies of Eighteen 25 offer up a super simple afternoon project, with (again!) washi tape and lots of love. Want to know how to round out those sticky corners or why adding magnets is a must? Click over to Eighteen 25 for the how-to.

Photo: Jen Sedillo via Eighteen 25

Clay Charm Bracelet
A charming way to say “I Love You,” kids can make their mark on a clay bracelet that’s just enough trendy and tons of sweet. Be sure to pick the lucky recipient’s favorite color for the wrap bracelet, you already know which initials are her fave. Find out what other materials you’ll need to gather before beginning over at Hello Natural.

Photo: Stephanie Gerber via Hello Natural

Tea Bag Tags
Get proper for Mother’s day with easy-to-make tea bags. Even if your gal is a coffee drinker, she won’t say no to a cuppa tea if it comes packaged with love. The charm is in the tags, designed by Lia Griffith, who knows all things adorable. She’s offered up a free printable and instructions on how to make this sweet gift. All of the fancy of a high tea mixed with all of the charm of being DIY; head over to Lia Griffith for the tutorial.

photo: Lia Griffith via Lia Griffith 

No-Sew Rice Heating Pad
Even Supermom gets aches and pains, sometimes. Which is why giving her this totally creative, made-at-home, no-sew, rice heating pad is just awesome. Using stuff you probably have sitting in the thrift store donation box, along with a few other essential items, the kids can show mom it’s okay to sit back and relax (until it’s time to start dinner or look for the missing puzzle piece, of course!). Find out what you’ll need for this quickie gift over at Unsophisticated Cook.

Photo: Tara Kuczykowski via Unsophisticated Cook

Infused Olive Oils
When her friends beg her to tell them where she got these infused olive oils, how cool is it that she can say “Oh these? My kids made them for Mother’s Day!” They look amazing and taste even better. With flavors like rosemary, garlic, and lemon, we bet she’ll want to get in the kitchen and try out her new ingredients. Amazing gift for Mom and awesome family dinners— that’s a win-win for everyone at home. Find out just how easy it is to complete this project and grab the recipe by heading over to Just Putzing.

Photo: via Just Putzing

Knit Produce Bags
Making this gift does require basic sewing, (better make a call to nana!) but we know the rest of this DIY is worth the effort. Not only do you have the material in your closet but think of the gift you’ll give Mom by sending her off alone to the farmer’s market with her new bag in hand. Creative genius Delia offers up the tutorial over at Delia Creates.

Photo: Delia Randall via Delia Creates

 What will you be making for Mother’s Day this year? Share with us in the Comments!

—Gabby Cullen

 

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7 Great Stores with Play Areas

by rtbrynwied

Back-to-school shopping doesn’t always have to involve strapping the kids in the cart and pushing it through the aisles of Target hoping to get out with school supplies in hand (and kids in one piece). What if we told you there’s an easy way to find adorable clothes at great prices, and your little ones can actually play in the store while you shop? Talk about a back-to-school deal of the century! Click through the slideshow to see our picks for getting the little ones looking cool for school.

Petite Street Children’s Boutique

Trying to shop with very active children? Located in Pacific Beach, Petite Street Children's Boutique offers a huge, fun play space for kiddos. The entire family can enjoy some tee ball action and games while shopping for gently used back to school clothing. The boutique offers a great selection of clothing and shoes for all school ages, from preschool to pre-teen. They offer both used and new clothing, supplies, as well as more unique finds like reusable lunch bags and eco-friendly clothing.

747 Turquoise St #100
San Diego, Ca 92109
858-539-0052

Photo Credit: Petite Street Children's Boutique via Yelp

Where are your favorite spots for back to school shopping? Tell us where we should check out next!

— Bryn Wied

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Blast from the Past: 14 Places to Seek out Cool Antiques

by Allison Rasmussen

The motto these days seems to be out with the new and in with the old, and no, we didn’t get that backwards. Antiques, collectables, relics, rarities, artifacts, whatever you want to call them, seem to be all the rage these days. Perhaps it’s the allure of outfitting your humble abode with something no one else has, sporting a cool jacket not off the rack, or introducing your kids to toys from your era. No matter what your reasons behind the love of all things retro, we’ve put together a list of our fave spots to help you get your antique on.

 photo: Uzair.saeed via Flickr

Antiques 4U
If you’re in the market for antique furniture, china, art, and other decor, you must stop by this award-winning shop in Renton. Their clean, organized store is easy to navigate, making it easy for you to score that perfect piece. Bonus: If you don’t want to make a trip to their store, you can shop online. You’re literally seconds away from finding that “great find.”

924 S. 3rd St.
Renton, Wa 98057
Hours: Sun., 12 p.m.-5 p.m.; Tues., 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; Wed.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri., 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Closed Mon.

photo: Holly C. via Yelp

Persnickety’s Awesomeness Emporium
If you’re in the mood for a drive and want to check out a place that has vintage furniture, home decor, and other whimsical items, keep this Sumner shop on your radar. If you find an item in need of a makeover, this shop specializes in custom painting. And they even offer classes and workshops to teach you all the painting skills you will ever need. Now, you can finally tackle that project that’s been gathering dust in your garage for months (er, years) since baby arrived.

1117 Main St.
Sumner, Wa 98390
Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 12 p.m.-4 p.m.; closed Mon.

photo: Michael Coghlan via Flickr

Wild Hare Vintage
This Snoqualmie store specializes in vintage and unusual items. The shop owners are knowledgeable and friendly and will make your shopping experience a good one. The store is easy to spot, just look for the little red building with a giant bunny painted on it.

9055 Railroad Ave. S.E.
Snoqualmie, Wa 98065
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; daily

photo: Joey M. via Yelp

Trinkets and Treasures
As soon as you enter this funky shop, stop by the front counter for a free treat, say hi to the owners, then take your time perusing the ever-changing inventory. If you see an item online that strikes your fancy, call the shop and they’ll hold it for you for one day. They also offer consignments and once the item sells will pay out 50% of the sales price.

4206 336th Pl. S.E.
Fall City, Wa 98024
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

photo: Kelly K. via Yelp

Antique Garden
If you’re looking for a gift for someone or looking to treat yourself, this Bothell shop is the place to do it. This clean, well organized store offers quaint items with a country shabby chic feel. We’re sure you won’t have any trouble finding something. The only trouble you may have is finding too much, but in our book, that’s not really a problem!

817 238th St. S.E.
Bothell, Wa 98021
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

photo: Taylor L. via Yelp

Attic Treasures
If you’re in the market for fishing equipment, glassware, pottery, outdoor items, vintage toys, or furniture then you must make a trip to this shop in Everett. Be sure to check out their 50% sale, you’re sure to find an awesome piece at an unbeatable price. Not only do they offer amazing items for sale, they also do estate sales and will help you sell your items. They’ve really taken the guesswork out of downsizing, moving, or just liquidating your personal items.

2114 Hewitt Ave.
Everett, Wa 98201
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sun.

photo: Attic Treasures via Yelp

Broadway’s Best Antiques
Located in the heart of downtown Tacoma on historic antique row, Broadway’s Best Antiques specializes in unique and eccentric pieces. Here, you’ll find old candy and soda machines, jukeboxes, antique furniture, vintage clothing, and so much more. With new items coming in daily, you’re guaranteed to have a different shopping experience every time you visit.

742 Broadway
Tacoma, Wa 98402
Hours: Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mon. & Tues.

photo: Broadway’s Best Antiques via Yelp

The Curious Nest
This magical shop located in Ravenna is definitely worth a look-see. The organized store offers handmade jewelry, locally made art, and rare Victorian pieces. They even have an online shop making it easy to purchase those items you didn’t even know you needed.

2916 N.E. 55th St.
Seattle, Wa 98105
Hours: Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12 p.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mon.-Wed.

photo: The Curious Nest via Yelp

Seattle Antiques Market
Next time you find yourself strolling along the waterfront and have a few minutes (or hours) to spare, head into Seattle Antiques Market. If you want to lose yourself in antique goodness, this 6,000 square foot store is the place to do it. They offer just about anything you could imagine. Vintage suitcases your parents used? Check. Old phone booths? Check. Nostalgic toys? Check. Old school lunch boxes? Check. There’s no end to what you can find here.

1400 Alaskan Way
Seattle, Wa 98101
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., daily

photo: Always B. via Yelp

Antique Mall of West Seattle
Located on the popular California Ave. of West Seattle, this is an awesome place to score some sweet vintage finds. The store is jam-packed (but in a good way) with wonderful goodies. With three stories to peruse, you’ll definitely be able to walk away with the rare item you’ve been searching for.

4516 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle, Wa 98116
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

photo: Stephanie P. via Yelp

Antique Mall and Auction House
If antiques are what you crave, then antiques you shall have when you shop at this filled-to-the-brim shop in the Industrial District. Perhaps you’ve noticed it as you’ve driven by and thought to yourself that you really need to stop in. Once you do, you won’t be disappointed. This place is so big they had to give the aisles street names to make it easier to navigate. With items such as jewelry, furniture, home decor, books, toys, knick knacks, and dishes, you won’t leave empty-handed.

241 S. Lander St.
Seattle, Wa 98134
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., daily

photo: Pacific Galleries P. via Yelp

Antique Liquidators
Located in South Lake Union, this three story treasure trove is packed with antique goodness. Have a specific item in mind? The super knowledgeable and friendly staff will steer you in the right direction. New items come in daily so you can return again and again for an entirely different adventure each time.

503 Westlake Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98109
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sun., 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

photo: Brycelaine P. via Yelp

Fremont Vintage Mall
If you want to see where parts of Macklemore’s Thrift Store video was filmed, check out the Fremont Vintage Mall. You might not think you are embarking on anything too great when you see the outside, but once you descend the steps, you’ll see that this place is huge and full of treasures. If you’ve been searching for something different, odds are you’ll find it here. Go ahead and “pop some tags.”

3419 Fremont Pl. N.
Seattle, Wa 98103
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

photo: Anastasia F. via Yelp

Mr. Johnson’s Antiques
This magical Montlake shop has a curious array of rare items at good prices. Looking for some vintage furniture? Is a spot in your home in need of decor? Do you have a wall begging for some interesting art? Stop on in and let Matt, the shop’s owner, help you find what you’re looking for.

2315 24th Ave. E.
Seattle, Wa 98112
Hours: Wed.-Thurs., 12 p.m.-7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 12 p.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 12 p.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mon. & Tues.

photo: Elvert Barnes via Flickr

Do you love to shop for antiques? Where do you like to score vintage finds? Tell us in a comment below.

— Allison Rasmussen

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