will travel to hunt

I love traveling. I have been lucky enough to travel quite a bit in the 26 years I have been around. Also being able to study abroad for a semester in London. While there, my very good friend and roommate decided to make the most of our European adventure by taking every weekend possible and travelling around. England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, France, Netherlands and Ireland have all been checked off my travel list. And needless to say, we lived in the heart of London and I was able to frequent the vintage shops, street flea markets and thrift shops on a weekly basis. Oh it was dreamy to say the least.

 I love immersing myself in a new culture and getting lost a little too. I don't like to have an itinerary when I travel (this is both good and bad) and I lean more towards not spending money to go on tours and try and stay out of the touristy areas. I am so interested in how other people live their normal daily lives, so sitting at a cafe and people watching is highly liked. I would study (some may say stalk) people at the train stations, the grocery stores and on the streets. Imagining and wondering about what they do on a day-to-day basis and how they spend their free time. It's very interesting to me. New and unknown is so exciting and I am missing that these days! Sadly (very very sad), I haven't had the chance to go many places in the last couple of years, so there's been a lot of wanderlusting going on in these parts.

My huz and I have decided that our next adventure together will be a backpacking trip around Europe. Yes, I have been there but not everywhere! And he really wants to experience Europe since he's never been and has heard all about my experiences. Our main focus for this next trip will be 2 things: breweries (pubs too, of course) and flea markets. What could possibly be better than those two things?! So I am currently researching breweries to tour, pubs to visit and flea markets and thrift shops to hunt at. 

Here are a few flea markets that are on our list:

Marche aux Puces de Clingnancourt>>>Paris, France

via

Las Ramblas>>>Barcelona, Spain

via

Marche aux Puces Place du Jeu de Balle>>>Brussels, Belgium 

via

Place St. Pierre and Rue du Cygne>>>Tournai, Belgium

via

Braderie de Lille>>>Lille, France

via

                                                                     

Happy hunting!

packaging

So I have discovered another love/hobby/past time/creative outlet. Packaging. It may (dare I admit it) be right up there with "hunting". I have always had a creative side, or I think my huz might call it a "craft hoarding" problem. So what if I have a couple trunks of random supplies? A glitter tube here, a few glue sticks there and at least a few hundred buttons and snaps. Ever since opening my shop, I have been digging out these random supplies and finally put them to good use and let them live a little! I cannot wait to get a few customized shop stamps and an  embosser. Let's just say that I have had many dreams about embossing and stamping. I don't even want to ask if this is a bit on the crazy side, I already know the answer to that.

I just wanted to share some of my most treasured treasures that I have been packaged and sent off to their new found owners.

 

xx.

Erin

saying the dream out loud

I have been debating if I should speak my dream out loud to the universe and finally I just have the urge to speak. This little dream of mine, one that I have been cultivating in my head for months (scratch that--->at least a year and some months now) is to open up a mobile vintage goods shop. And it just so happens that lately I have been seeing them popping up in so many cities!! Which gives me hope and encouragement that this could really work. I want a platform to sell my goods and actually see my customers! Ever since I was young, owning my own business and opening up a shop has been a major dream and determination for me. I love the idea that I would be able to take it anywhere and I wouldn't be bogged down in one spot like a brick-and-mortar store would do.

 So there you have it, this dream takes up most of my daydreaming mind and I truly believe that I need to make this happen.

Some mobile shops that I love....

Oh So Lovely Vintage


Haberdash Vintage


The Vintagemobile


Lodekka



xx.
Erin

secret stash

I will be the first to admit that I have a problem. A shopping and more specifically a thrifting problem. So this so called "problem" has led me to a collection of fine treasures that only an empty house on my parents farm could hold. Over Christmas my mom brought a few boxes of goods that were collecting dust and just like that, I had 25 purses! I really couldn't believe it, that I had scoured thrift stores and sales and gathered these gems years ago. I am pretty sure that most of them came from my local thrift shop and probably a few from some shops in Fargo too. All of them are worthy of being put up in my shop, so keep an eye out for them in the next few weeks.

I will be going back to my parents farm next weekend and am so excited to scour the sheds, houses and all the corners to find some forgotten treasures. Since there are two empty houses on our farmstead, there will be plenty of hunting going on!!

xx,
Erin

treasure hunting: dallas, tx

I was in Dallas this past weekend for work and I was able to sneak away and do a little hunting. I felt so lucky that 2 amazing antique warehouses were within walking distance of my hotel! What are the odds?! And these aren't just your run of the mill antique malls, they are ginormous, ceiling to floor, stuffed to the gills with some of the best antique goods one could imagine!

The first stop was to White Elephant Antiques. When I was doing a little thrift store research for this trip I never stumbled across this but I am so glad I came across it on foot! This was by far the best antique/vintage warehouse I have ever been to. It was unbelievable how big this place was and the great variety they had throughout the entire warehouse! I was in sensory overload, but in the best way possible. I found most of my goods at this stop.

 

Lulu B's  was the next stop. This was the shop that I actually found while researching for places to hunt. It was a little smaller but still packed with great finds. If I lived in the Dallas area, this would for sure be the place I would go to buy furniture. Seriously cool retro but modern chairs for under $200! Crazy talk!! 

 And last but certainly not least, my sweet little treasures gathered on this hunt. Sadly, there were more finds I wanted to buy but my carry-on wouldn't allow it!

happy hunting!
xx.
Erin

love for Newtown, CT

It has been indescribable what happened last Friday. There are simply no words that can be said to make it better about the horrific tragedy that took place. To those sweet and innocent lives taken far too soon from this earth and the heroic teachers, we will never forget you.

Newtown, CT shop

So I just wanted to send all my love and support to the families, friends, neighbors, classmates, teachers and everyone else who was affected. Love will get us through.


xx.
Erin

Favorite Find

I am going to start a little series on some of my most favorite finds so far in my hunting adventures. I am going to start off with probably my favorite of my most favorites, makes sense no? It may be small, but oh man, it is one of the most sentimental things that I own and wear everyday. I mean like a 24/7 all the time kind of thing.

So this gold initial necklace holds a lock and key to my treasure hunter heart because my dear husbands name happens to be Brian. I found this about 6 years ago in my hometown thrift shop. Shout out to Thrifty Horizons, you've done me good. Keep up the good work. Like I said before, this is a special piece and I don't think I have taken this off for about 3 years!! NO LIE. Ok, I maybe have a few times (picture time above was one of them) but this sweet guy stays near and dear to my heart. I do believe that it will be something that I will pass down and will stay in our family for a very long time.

It's these sorts of finds that make me wonder if there really is a Thrift Shop God. The shop heavens opened up and this necklace was shining bright for me to find. I can't help but wonder!

I have many more favorites to share with you so stay tuned for more!

xx.
Erin