I’ve been meaning to share a few thrift-store finds—four main purchases, though technically there are nine items because I bought six of one kind—so here’s a quick roundup.
I picked up a gilded pineapple vase at Goodwill for $4. What I love most is the hexagonal pattern on the body; it reads more “bees” than pineapple to me, which is fitting since we’ve been fond of bee motifs lately. The antique gold finish is subtle and timeworn rather than bright and shiny, giving it an authentic vintage feel.
A friend sent over three glass jars that pair perfectly with the vase—the lids are the same antique-gold tone and each lid even has a little bee motif. The criss-cross glass texture is a lovely complement, too. They sit on the desk to the right of my computer so I can glance over and smile while I work.
My second find is a speaker dock we ordered from West Elm. It lives on our desk and has become part of the little office setup we enjoy looking at. It was back-ordered for a while, but when it arrived we were pleased—good sound for the price, and the white ceramic animal accent gives it personality. We named him Humphrey. He adds a playful touch and makes it fun to listen to music while we type away.
PS: We were listening to a She & Him track while testing it out—Zooey Deschanel’s quirky charm is a favorite. Also, if you haven’t watched New Girl, you should.
Third, I bought six matching mugs from Marshall’s at $2.99 each (marked down from $8). I’ve never owned a full set of matching mugs before—we’ve always had an eclectic, mismatched collection—so having six identical cups feels oddly grown-up. I like the idea of serving coffee or tea to guests from the same set, while still keeping the mismatched mugs for nostalgic mornings.
It’s a small thing, but these are the first pieces of “china” I own with a maker’s stamp on the bottom. When we registered for our wedding we only had basic white plates from Linens N Things, so this feels like a small step toward a more formed collection of everyday dishes. I’m excited to display them on open shelves in the kitchen and to see them sitting on the breakfast peninsula. Has anyone else made a purchase lately that made them feel “so grown up”—new sheets or plush towels, perhaps?
The fourth find was a small thrift-store rocking horse from Goodwill that I snagged for $1. It arrived covered in a country-style painted finish and a glued-on raffia wreath around the neck. I didn’t take a before photo, but it looked much like many of the painted wooden horses you see in folk-style catalogs.
I named him Bosley. I removed the raffia and used an X-Acto knife to scrape away the glue blobs until the surface was reasonably smooth. Since the horse was raw wood in places, I used spray primer to prevent bleed-through and then applied a few thin coats of gray spray paint I had on hand. The result is a deep charcoal finish that feels modern and understated—though I admit bright colors would be fun and Bosley may yet become hot pink one day.
Bosley is currently on the living room desk, but I can imagine him moving around the house—perhaps on a shelf in Clara’s room or atop a dresser in the playroom. He’s Barbie-sized, so I secretly hope Clara will one day put a doll on him and ride him around. So far she hasn’t shown interest, but I’m holding out hope.
That’s the update—four small, thrifty pleasures that have added character to our home: a gilded vase and jar trio, a charming speaker dock named Humphrey, six matching mugs that feel a little grown-up, and a refurbished rocking horse called Bosley. Happy weekend—any thrift-store finds or little grown-up purchases you’re loving lately?