the great cactus debate

if you follow me on Instagram (@southsocialandhome), then you know that a lot of my photos document my thrifting adventures.  fun fact: your iPhone will auto-correct the term "thrifting" to "thrusting".  this made for a lot of hilarious texts early on, but my smart phone earned that moniker by learning the word "thrifting" after a month or two of texting that word multiple times per day.  

yesterday I hit a Goodwill deep in Simi Valley, while I was on my way back from picking out 14' trees at a nursery (loving my job these days, you guys).  I'd been to that same Goodwill a few weeks prior, but one of the biggest tips I can give readers who ask "what are the best thrift stores?" is to just go to ALL of them and to go back as much as you can.  sure, I saw a lot of the same ole shizz sittin' on the shelves during my second visit to this Goodwill, but I also happened upon some new treasures.

...treasures LIKE THIS CACTUS LAMP.

I stared at it for a while, thinking "...have I lost it?  am I crazy for being reeeeally into this lamp??"  so naturally I posted it on Instagram, to get some feedback from my design-minded followers.  what ensued may not rival Lena Dunham's comments or Harry Styles' likes, but I loved how quickly I began hearing from friends and strangers...

"so into it" 

"please don't"

"(insert thumbs down emoticon)"

"definitely into it"

...and so on.  

the lamp is nearly as tall as I am, it's plaster, and it's got a vaguely mint-green tinge to it.  I instantly envisioned it with a coat of matte white paint, styled in a mostly white room.  the cord told me that it had a good amount of age to it- I was guessing 70s?  I caaaaarefully leaned it over (that thing is HEAVY) and saw that an Alsy sticker was still attached.  

some quick Googling (all while standing protectively close to the lamp, lest anyone else with weirdo taste get any ideas) pulled up a long-past auction for this dude:

mine even has the exact same finial!  

so yes, I BOUGHT IT.  duh.  it was only $20 and I had grown very attached to it, whilst protecting it from tweaky Valley shoppers.  since I'm not strong enough to lug it out of my backseat, it's now my funny little passenger.  drivin' miss cactus.  

who knows what I'll end up doing with it.  painting it, YES, but will I sell it when I go back to Chicago?  will this Southwestern icon find a new home in the Midwest?  whoooo knoooows! 

so.  please chime in.  do you love it?  orrrr do you hate it?  

tusk

hey, Chicago.  did you know you're getting a rad new vintage shop in Logan Square?  cause you are.  it's called Tusk and it's gonna be reeeeeal good.  my friends Mary Eleanor and David are putting it together and it'll be opening in the next few days.  ME has an incredible eye, so the shop will be stocked with amazing clothes, shoes, accessories, and more. 

like Tusk on Facebook for updates and gorgeous photos by David...

I want those black and white shoes!  but since I'm still in LA, you'll have first dibs.  go get 'em, tiger.  

ghosts of thriftness past

last night I dreamt (dreamed?) about thrifting.  it's a very common dream for me and I'm always in the most amazing thrift stores...most often I'm flipping through racks of clothes and I always find THE BEST STUFF.  for example, last night I filled my cart with maxi dresses and super cute vintage baby sweaters.  needless to say, I'm always super bummed whenever I wake up. 

I'm currently doing a little research to find out which Southwestern cities are full of rad furniture, so that I can go buy it all.  it's a fun excuse to troll Craigslist, looking at what people are sellin' and keeping a list of all the things that I would happily snap up in a heartbeat, if I had a UHaul and a week off.   and then, while I was combing through the Sante Fe listings...I saw it.  the headboard that got away:

you might remember this gem from a few months ago, when I was sharing what I'd been finding along my thrifting adventures.  I spotted this exact headboard in the window of my favorite Chicago thrift shop and I still kick myself for not haggling harder with the owners to sell it to me separately from the set (considering they sold it separately to someone else the next day)...

the guy in Sante Fe is selling the headboard for TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  I don't recall how much the headboard that I found was, but I doubt it was anywhere close to that.  this is killing me. KILLING MEEEEEEEE.

update: there is also one being sold outta New Jersey via 1st Dibs for $1,300.  this is where I start banging my head on the keyboard.  sldmnvsl;dvnlnkSDVdfl;lkjndfdf

head to the hills

since I'm still in LA and since I love to troll real estate listings, I thought I'd share a total dream of a home.  do not blame me if you injure your jaw when it hits your keyboard.

this 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom mid-century stunner is located in the super-charming Franklin Hills on a cul-de-sac (always a bonus).  in addition to the charming wood-clad exterior, it has tiered outdoor patios, an outdoor shower, and access to a community vegetable garden.  DREAM.

those windows, that natural light!  the private patio off the master bedroom!  the teak soaking tub!  that stove!  the wrapped fireplace with the slate edge!  the hammock!  the shade and the cactus and the succulents and and and...

swoon/sigh.  maybe someday.  

I love lamp

don't judge, I'm preeeeeetttty sure that most of us nerdy shelter-bloggers have at least one post with this title.  in fact, this is probably my second post, because I have a terrible memory.  but who cares, I love lamp(s) and I'm not afraid to admit it.  

SO.  allow me to introduce you to my newest lovah...the Lamp Store. 

 I mean, just look at this tiny sampling of their selection!  the Lamp Store pretty much has it all, so no matter the vibe of your space (or your clients'), I'm betting you can find something unique that'll fit the bill.  classic, contemporary, quirky, cute, ceramic, reclaimed, regency, mid-century, feminine, masculine,...need I go on?  the best part is that the stock changes constantly, so you can peek every week to see what's new.  

also, let it be known that this is not a sponsored post.  I'm just sharin' a little somethin' somethin' with you because I love you.  and...I love lamp.  

diamond dancer

I was scoutin' fabrics for a client and came across this minty diamond pattern...it feels so perfect for this time of year, right?  super springy, about to get a jump on summer...it's like Hollywood Regency meets Miami cool meets baseball diamond.  or whatever.

it'd be such a rad headboard.  or a valance.  it would definitely be perfect as a pair of pillows.  paired with brass accents?  duh, you knew that was coming.  I could go on.....how would you use it??  

giveaway: Shabby Apple

with summer right around the corner, I can't help but dream of a little warm-weather getaway abroad.  after our last two trips to Paris, I've been bitten hard by the I-want-to-move-to-Europe bug.  I think about it probably more than I should, though I'd happily settle for a few trips a year (we are still talking about day-dreams, right?).

I've only hopped across the pond during the fall (which is lovely and so romantic), but I can imagine that it's an entirely different experience during warmer months.  since one of my favorite parts of going on a trip is planning what I'm going to wear (and also packing, I loooove packing), here are some super cute dresses with a vintage vibe that would be perfect for a warm-weather date in Europe.

clockwise from the top left, the Red Queen dress would be perfect for a bike ride and park picnic in Berlin, the black and white striped Whistlestop sheath would be ideal to hop a train to Amsterdam, I can picture that Yellow Days number sharing gelato in Rome, I'd sip sangria in Barcelona while wearing the color-blocked Dressing Gong frock, and the Guinea A Minute makes me want to walk the gardens of Versailles.  

while I can't hop a plane to another country, I can make someone's day-dream come true.  Shabby Apple is giving away a $75 gift card to one of my very lucky readers!  all you have to do is like Shabby Apple on Facebook and then leave me a comment, telling me where you'd wear your favorite Shabby Apple dress.  I'll randomly pick a winner on Thursday evening and announce the winner on Friday.  bonne chance!

UPDATE:  and the winner is....Carla!  congrats, Carla, I hope you enjoy wearing your Shabby Apple dress to your bridal shower!