UsedEverywhere.com

Just Like Woodstock?

Okay, probably not just like Woodstock, BUT summer is fast approaching and there are many fun and outdoor music festivals approaching right along with it (I must mention that Coachella has already taken place!). I’m particularly enthusiastic about these summer events because I recently scored a ticket to Sasquatch. Because I’m excited and because I know you’re excited, I’ve made my Top 10 list of things pulled from the site to make your music festivals full of music, peace and love.

1. Sunglasses Protect those peepers and look cool at the same time? It’s pretty much a no-brainer. Aviators and classic Wayfarers are always in style.

2. Gladiator Sandals The perfect sandals: flat, comfortable, colourful, on-trend and summery.

3. Cross-Body Bag Tote around the essentials (water bottle, suncreen, wallet, suncreen, cellphone, baby wipes for all-purpose cleaning… sunscreen) while keeping your hands free!

4. Bolo Ties Gentlemen, don’t leave all the music fest style to the ladies. Maybe show off with some fancy accessories, perhaps some vintage western bolo ties will take your look to the next level?

5. Cowichan Sweater West Coast trendy meets practical. Use it as a cushion when you’re taking in shows, put it on when the sun goes down.

6. Camping Chair Just in case you don’t want to sit in the grass… or it starts to rain and you don’t want to sit in the mud.

7. Sleeping Bag If you’re camping out, you will need one for those chilly summer nights.

8. iPod I know, I know, you’re going to a music festival so why would you need an iPod? It’ll come in handy on the trek to and from the event, trust me.

9. Bathing Suit Because you never know what kind of hot-weather fun you’ll be getting into.

10. Beach Umbrella Sunburns are never in style.

Have fun! And remember: sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!

Winnipeg Wolves Bottle Drive Fundraiser

The Winnipeg Wolves Basketball Team is having a Bottle Drive Fundraiser to raise some money! All proceeds go to the team for things like tournament fees, gym rentals, and training equipment. Do you have any beer bottles or beer cans waiting to take back to the store? Why not save yourself a trip and help out the Winnipeg Wolves by leaving your empties out for the Wolves to pick up in Sunday June 5, 2011. Look for this flyer in your mailbox!

In Spirit Project and a DIY Fail

Brian and Jordan are a happy couple in Ottawa looking to have a wedding… for free. They have engaged not only to each other, but in a social experiment. They summarize the project on their blog:

The goal: to get Brian and Jordan married in the next year, as free-of-charge as possible. The method: the happy couple will borrow, trade, and accept donations of elements (stuff, services, etc) for the wedding. Everyone who contributes to the occasion gets a shout-out, and any businesses or artisans who contribute get big shout-outs. Contribute, or follow along just for fun to see how things are going.

Can a community chip in and create a priceless wedding for an awesome couple? Let’s find out…

You can see more about their project here, or look out for their interview in Wedding Essentials Magazine coming out this June! They also have a couple of side-projects, one of which is the In Spirit project. What is the In Spirit Project? They write,

On the table, we’re hoping we can enlist the help of people from coast to coast: we are inviting well-wishers from anywhere in the world to send us a small item from the land… Basically, send us a little something that says, “Hi!” from wherever you are in the world. If you can, please include your name, your location, and something about the item (ie. type of tree the twig came from). We will then display all these treasures on the ‘In Spirit’ table [which will be set up at the Wedding].

So, we decided to send them something from Victoria, British Columbia, where our head office is. It is a DIY in pictures! Behold:

Our "In Spirit" Gift.

Isn’t it thoughtful? I carved their initials into it to make it really personalized and special. Feel free to send them a little something, too!

But the real DIY starts here! I tried to follow this DIY Cereal Box to Gift Box to make a box for the drift wood to be sent in. If you want to give it a go, their instructions are much better than mine. Though not good enough to prevent me from screwing it up.

Step 1: Gather your materials - a cereal box, scissors, and glue.

Step 2: Cut the box down the middle.

Step 3-5: Fold the box in half length-wise and cut the pieces off of the bottom corners. Also fold the top half in half so that it resembles this.

Step 6: Cut the corners and fold in places so that it looks like this. I used the top tab as a guide, but it was still confusing.

Step 7: Flip it over and start folding the flaps in so that it resembles a box.

Step 8: Marvel at the box you just made and briefly share your disappointment in its asymmetry and size with your cat.

Step 9: Use this other box you kept in case you needed to return your iron instead.

Fake It 'Til You Make It?

If you browse the site regularly in search of amazing additions to your wardrobe, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that there are a lot of items (usually accessories) that are labelled as replica, imitation, not real or straight up fake.

I don’t have to tell you that Anna Wintour would disapprove, but how do you tell the authentics from the knockoffs? Does it even matter or should you even care? Well, the choice is yours but here’s a little background info to help with your buying decisions.

If you drool over the labels in magazines but your bank account isn’t sympathetic, a fake can be very attractive. What you might not know is that there are actually some legal issues with knockoffs. In France and Italy, it is illegal to buy fake bags as well as sell them – you could be fined or even arrested if you’re caught! Places you’re likely to run into problems are at border crossings and with the always friendly customs staff – especially since you’re not allowed to bring fakes into Canada or the US (copyright and intellectual property laws, people!).

creative commons image courtesy of Friar's Balsam

So how do you tell if a bag is fake? The price tag will be the first indicator, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The hardware (zippers, studs, any detailing) is the second giveaway; a cheap looking zipper or a zipper that doesn’t match the rest of the bag is a strong hint. Most studs and zippers will be stamped with the brand’s logo or initials (for example on a Louis Vuitton there will be an “LV” on the zipper), and they should not fall off or fall apart. Other details such as stitching, logo placement and linings are tell-tale signs of fakes. These fashion houses take the tiniest aspects of their bags extremely seriously, so don’t ever assume it’s a mistake by the house. The stitching should be practically perfect, the logos and patterns should be straight, the lining immaculate, and definitely no spelling mistakes!

If there’s one bag in particular that you’re after, do some research so that you know what the details are supposed to look like. For example, is the lining a specific colour or pattern? If you’ve got a really keen eye, check the colouring of the external monograms or patterns as well because on fakes they will be slightly off.

It’s important to note that not all fakes are created equal, but even the “good” fakes are not the real deal. The nicer fakes will often be made with higher quality leather for example, but don’t be fooled! I’m going to use a bag that I have as an example: I was given a Chloe Paddington Bag as a gift a few years back. The leather is very soft, but the zippers are a mess and don’t fit the aesthetic of the bag. The lock fell apart (to be glued back together) and the key just fell right off. The inside of the bag is stamped “Made in Italy” but the bag was purchased (and made) in Beijing. Whoops!

So there you have it, fashionable people! Hopefully this helps prevent you from being duped into buying a fake when you’re really after an authentic and provided a little extra info resulting in an informed purchase!

Taking a chance with games

There is a special place in my heart for vintage board games. Not only are they often a charming reminder of my youth, but there is something special about old game pieces and board game design that tends to catch my eye too.

There is an inherent risk however, in buying someone else’s old board game. Odds are good that pieces might be missing, which is always disappointing. It is for this reason that I haven’t been brave enough to buy puzzles. Just thinking about sorting and painstakingly placing 999 pieces only to find one has been AWOL the whole time is torture for me. Leaving a sad hole in a near-completed masterpiece would leave a hole in my heart as well. (Which leads me to my shopping philosophy: Shopping is supposed to be fun, not disappointing or annoying.)

The best game I’ve ever bought was a 1980s edition of Rebound. Finding this game was a particular thrill because it was one I had always wanted when I was a kid, but never received.

I finally found my Rebound at Value Village.

It is a pretty simple game. It’s kind of like shuffleboard. You roll a special game piece in such a way that it rebounds off a pair of elastics at the top of the board and ends up on the high-value area at the other site at the end of the board. Push too hard and it will wind up in the gutter, too softly and you don’t get any points at all.

It is a lot of fun, although I wouldn’t quite agree with the marketing department execs who deemed it to be a “sizzling action game.”

This was a risky purchase. The box was taped shut, and I am not the kind of person who tears open the packaging to investigate the contents within. In a very unscientific fashion, I gave the box a good shake instead, to try to determine whether it sounded like there were eight pieces inside. It was hard to tell. The fellow at the cash was unable to tell me if ValVill checks to see if the games are complete before putting them out on the shelf. Dare I? As it turned out, it was a $4.99 chance I was willing to take.

We took it home, where I tore it open (carefully) and to my relief discovered that all the pieces were there! Woot!

But this time it was already past the girls’ bedtime but we were all itching to play a game. My husband however, deflated my excitement by complaining about the lack of slidyness of the game pieces. He fussed and spritzed it all with Fantastic and gave it a good clean while we waited patiently. (Lesson learned! It actually worked better after a layer of grime was cleaned off the board.)

It’s probably the best secondhand game we’ve ever bought.

We’ve had fun playing with it ever since. Every once in awhile we pull it out for a Rebound tournament on Family Game Night. I’m so glad I took that chance in the store that day.

What's up, Easter?

Earth Bunny Just Chillin' with a Mannequin

Oh hey guys, how was your Easter weekend? For some of you lucky few today is still a holiday, but for the vast majority we’re back to work! At UsedEverywhere we had lots of fun on Friday with Earth Bunny and our Easter Game (which you should check out if you haven’t yet, limited time only people). I celebrated Easter very traditionally on Sunday night by eating lots of chocolate and watching my favourite Easter-themed movie, Critters 2.

That got me thinking. Why the Easter Bunny? Why not an Easter Critter? Or an Easter Bat? Or an Easter Snarf? Does anyone know the answer to this?

For all of you who have to work today like me, I bring to you your pump up, Easter-themed song of the day:

Happy Easter Y’all!

Happy Earth Day!

What are you doing to celebrate Mother Earth?

Happy Earth Day from UsedEverywhere.com!

Search “Easter” on any UsedEverywhere.com site for a super fun surprise!

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Passover Hunter

Welcome to the third day of Passover! Your Seder might be over, but in honor of one of my most favourite holidays, and to the dod Hebrewing the Haggadah in hyperspeed, I present you our Top 10 Best Places to Hide the Afikoman, courtesy of your posts across Canada! So put on your kipa and buckle down for…. Passover Hunter!

1. The first one is easy just to help you whip your mind into shape. But from a different angle, this isn’t a bad hiding place at all: The Bathtub.

2. Inside the Plant Pot.

3. All up in your Grill.

4. Under the Iron. Everyone will think it is just shirts (a.k.a. genius)!

5. Under the Puppy. This is a strategy of diversion.

6. In the Toilet. Actually don’t do that. We all have to eat this thing eventually, don’t we? Nevermind.

7. Inside the Russian Nesting Dolls. If you happen to have them in Giant Size.

8. Amongst your Jason Bourne Collection.

9. In your mom’s Chaps.

10. In the Skink Cage. Who would look there?

Chag Pesach Sameach!

The Thrill of the Hunt

For our blog series Used Around Town, Katie and I have been scoping out some of the coolest thrift stores in Victoria. An unexpected byproduct of these adventures has been my new-found love of vintage shopping. Roll your eyes if you wish, but there’s a reason that celebrities and style mavens alike have been at it forever. Katie and I have been scoping out tons of amazing shops, thus putting me on a pretty steep learning curve. As I get better, I’ve been applying this knowledge to UsedVictoria.com as well! Here are my tips thus far…

creative commons image courtesy of SoWa Sundays

Ignore sizes. When you’re dealing with used clothing, sizes can be pretty inconsistent, especially if the pieces span decades. Use the size as a ballpark measuring tool, but if you want to get a better idea of how something will fit make sure you know your own measurements.

Layer! I apply this to virtually all forms of shopping: if possible, wear an outfit with a tank top and legging underneath (for example, a tank top, cardigan and boots with leggings). It makes it a lot easier to try things on if there are limited dressing rooms or if it’s during peak shopping times. Same goes if you’re using the site – way easier to just pop a jacket or whatever over top of what you have on that having to hole up in a stranger’s bathroom.

Clean. A big draw to used and vintage clothing is that it has a uniqueness and history to it. Some people are not totally comfortable with this, which is why God invented dry cleaners. It’s best to wash anything before you wear it anyway, whether that be at home in your washing machine or having it professionally pressed. Having said that, be wary of stains – not everything is going to come out in the wash!

Go big. As someone who is petite, I’m used to having to take things to the tailor. When it comes to vintage, you’re better off going with something that’s too big and having it altered to fit you perfectly. If it’s slightly too small but you love it, a tailor might be able to let it out for you as well (keep it mind, it’s easier to make it smaller than add to it).

Holey soles. When it comes to shoes and boots, soles can generally be replaced pretty easily but holes in leather or fabric will not always be repairable. Make friends with your cobbler (as well as your tailor and dry cleaner).

Basic instinct. Sometimes it’s all about your gut feeling. There is a degree of urgency when you’re shopping vintage; if you decide to ‘think on it’ and come back later, it will probably be gone – that’s just the way the universe seems to work. A lot of these pieces will be one of a kind, so impulse buying is more acceptable here. Worst case scenario, you can sell it back or put it on your local Used site.

Bring cash. Depending on where you’re shopping, they might not have debit or credit set up and there might not be an ATM close by. Make sure you have bills on hand, because you never know what you’ll find.

Invest time. When you’re searching for hidden treasure, leave no corner un-inspected. You probably won’t find something awesome every single time, but try to find out when your favourite shops get new stuff (in the site’s case, you already know it’s on a minute to minute basis!).

Use your imagination. A little creativity never hurt; if you’re not totally sure but you think it might have potential, visit your new best friend (one of them, rather) the tailor. Check out style blogs and your favourite celebrities for some vintage inspiration.

Favourite things to look for: vintage t-shirts are always popular, as are cowboy boots, sunglasses and wood or turquoise jewelry. Leather bags are always a good purchase, such as the vintage Coach cross-body bag I picked up on UsedVictoria.com recently (hint: for way less than at a vintage shop, and especially sweet since Coach is releasing a “vintage” line for Net-a-Porter at full price). Trendy items are also great vintage finds; this season look for rompers and jumpsuits, bell-bottoms, wedges and anything colour-blocked.

Happy hunting!

My latest UsedVictoria.com purchase; vintage leather cross-body bag from Coach!

Victories in thrift

For the next few weeks I’m going to be writing about the joy of secondhand goods and some of the best thrifty finds I’ve made, online and offline.

For me, thrift shopping takes on a treasure-hunt kind of feeling. You never know what you’re going to find. That’s why you have to (a) know your thrift store and (b) leave no corner unsearched.

This takes work, which is why I suggest you wear comfortable shoes.

There’s a Salvation Army storefront that’s close to where we live. This is almost always the place I make charitable donations of our gently worn clothing. After I’ve thrown the garbage bag o’ stuff in the bin (which always makes me feel 10 lbs lighter after I do it for some reason) I usually take a turn around the store to see what’s new.

As long as we’ve been going there, there has always been a glass display case at the front of the store where “special” items are kept. I usually limit my time here to a sidelong glance. The stuff is usually pretty junky and before this particular day I had never seen anything I liked on that “special” shelf. But one day I must have had time to kill, so I lingered. There was a hum in the air (or was it in my head?) and it spurred me on. I saw a red box. A.Red.Box. I knew there was going to be something great in that box. My heart skipped a beat and I held my breath. And there they were.

I have a thing for vintage toys. These finger puppets were expensive by thirft store standards… a hefty six bucks. A stamp on the bottom informed me of their heritage: made in Czechoslovakia. Those Czechs, they’re so good at this stuff. Look!

If there’s one thing I have learned about thrift store shopping is that you need to follow your heart. If you don’t, you’ll regret that special item you left behind and you’ll probably never see it again.

I’d love to feature some of your special thrifty finds in future posts here at the Used blog. Care to send me a photo and a description? Email it to me at andreaATquietfishDOTcom.