Thrifting in the Bay Area

[top to bottom: 1) Spice Stack spice rack, retail $24.99/bought for $7.99 | 2) yarn bowls $2.50 each | 3) studio pottery $2.50 | 4) plethora of kid's clothes, size 18 months+, ranging from $1-3 each | 5) plethora of kid's toys & books from $1-6 each) | 6) sewing patterns, $0.99 each | 7) fantasy/sci fi books $2 each]

While up in the Bay Area for Chinese New Year, I did a spot of thrifting. And by "a spot" I mean I found two really great thrift stores (this Goodwill and this Savers and spent over $100 on ALL THE THINGS. And not all the things I bought are pictured here, because time has already moved them into use (cardigan! t-shirts! A basket!) and also I can't be bothered. Despite the amount I spent, I'm pretty happy with the outcome - I stocked up on clothes and future toys for my rapidly growing giant baby, and found a few bits and pieces for myself along the way. Storage space ain't cheap, but it's a lot cheaper than buying things retail, that's for sure.

Chinese New Year 2013

Not many actual Chinese New Year visuals there - it was a pretty busy trip and I tried to get the most out of it. And funnily enough, driving that kind of distance with a 6 month old in a stuffed to the gills car is a really really bad idea. I don't recommend it. It's far easier to fly or wait until their older.

2013.01.12 Santee Swap Meet Scores

[Clockwise: 2 ridiculously heavy brass (?) swan head book ends $20 | toy emergency vehicles $1 each | baby alpaca cardigan (with bonus weird smell before I washed it) $0.50, Gymboree overalls $1, Winnie the Pooh sleepers $1 each | Big Trouble in Little China DVD $1, power cable for NES $1 ]

Total spent: $27.50, not including egg rolls at the food truck.

More info about the Santee Swap Meet here.

Thrift Haul 12/21/2012

[Top image: "Circus McGurkus 123!" - Dr Seuss | "You're Only Old Once!" - Dr Seuss | Cheer Up Little Duck! - Ronnie Randall/Caroline Church | Mr Jeremy Fisher bath book - Beatrix Potter | "Wally Whale and his friends" by Pam Adams/Annie Kubler]

[Bottom image: one large world map | one medium sized K12 world tectonic plates map | "Atlas of American History" - Rand McNally/Houghton Mifflin | 1972 copy of Spinnerin knitting booklet]

Total: $6.91!

On A Zoo Membership

One of the best decisions of 2012 has been getting a yearly membership to our local zoo. We pitch up with the kid in the stroller (in time for his nap), get some breakfast, see some animals and get some sorely needed exercise/fresh air. Sure, the zoo food is a little bit overpriced and sometimes there are far too many people with their strollers, but just look at the view. What a deal.