Ahhh, Coachella!

There is nothing I love more than music and road trips! Ok, so crafts would be up there too. But if I need to get the creative energy flowing, nothing sparks my brain like a good concert. And Coachella is the best concert/3 day experience in Southern California. By now, I'm sure that all of you have seen the amazing line-up- its going to be crazy!! If I could afford all three days, I would jump on it for sure. Yes, they do have a layaway plan now, which is what I used last year and it was definitely worth it. I just can't spare the extra dough this year- sad. So now I'm here debating on which day to go. I really want to go on Friday to see: Them Crooked Vultures (they rock your face off live), Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, She & Him (who doesn't want to see Zooey Deschanel?), Grace Jones, The Avett Brothers, Ra Ra Riot, Dj Lance Rock and so many more! On the other hand Sunday boasts The Gorillaz (how are they going to show a cartoon band? I'm sure huge screens will be involved.), De La Soul, Phoenix, Sly and the Family Stone (how random is that?), and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Actually, Saturday looks awesome too, haha. What to do?

Are any of you going? Did you see that they are going to have a farmer's market on site this year- actually a really good idea. Now if only they would have a handmade section- then I could seriously live there for all three days!!

A Thrifting We Will Go...

Happy New Year one and all! Yea, I know it's already mid-January (how the hell did that happen?). But I'm telling you, the holidays plus a crazy cold that wanted to stay forever had me down for a minute. I'm slowly but surely getting back up to speed, which for the HBOC girls, is busy, busy! Since the holidays left my inventory of vintage bags depleted (always a good thing), I had an excuse to go thrifting and flea market hunting- my favorite! I thought I'd share some of my favorite spots to search and some bargain hunting tips.


An example of a great day of thrifting for me.

My Top 5 Thrift Stores in Orange County:

- Family Thrift in Orange
No joke, this place never disappoints. I have seriously never left this place empty handed and its cheap, which is unheard of in southern California.

- Savers in La Mirada
Ok, so technically this place is in LA county, but barely. It's usually worth the drive. Plus its super organized into sections and easy to navigate.

- Rewear in Anaheim
It's all about 30% off Saturdays! They have an upstairs section that is all vintage and just below furniture galore!

- Rags to Riches in Costa Mesa
I love this place! Its a large space and it's always crammed with good things. Random good things.

- Luthern High Thrift Shop in Orange
Its all about proximity for me! This one is super close to my house. You can find some great things for great prices here. Make sure to bring cash though as they don't take card.

My top flea markets:

- Pasadena Rosebowl
Yea, it costs $8 to get in and yes, its a drive from Orange County. But I promise it's worth it. Full of great finds and you could seriously be there all day and not see everything. Just a warning though, you will find a large range of prices, some super high and some awesome steals. Its a flea market, thats the way it goes. 2nd Sunday of the Mo.

- Long Beach Flea Market
Cheaper than Pasadena at $5 entry fee with more junk to sift through. Meaning, you may have to dig a bit at this flea market, but its usually worth it. I've come away with super great finds and cheap prices. 3rd Sunday of the Mo.

- Irvine Flea Market
Way smaller than the Rosebowl and Long Beach flea markets, but it's local and there are still some great things to be found there! Plus its free! 1st Sunday of the Mo.

Bargain Hunting Tips from me to you!

- When thrifting, for some reason Wednesdays and Saturdays seem to be my best days. If you are going on a Saturday, the earlier the better. It's no joke that southern California vintage is a hot commodity, so you have to be the early bird to get the best wares!

- That being said, I have found that although I get first crack on the best stuff early in the day at flea markets, I get the best deals later in the afternoon. Its kind of a crap shoot. I usually like to come at 11am or so, that way most vendors are willing to talk prices down because they'd rather that than not make a sale and at that time they still have good stuff left.

- Don't be afraid to bargain when at the flea market. Most sellers mark up their prices just for that reason. I usually ask the price and then counter with what I think is fair. Bear in the mind though, I know what things should go for. It's all about practice. And if something is super cheap and you want it, don't negotiate further, just buy it. Don't be a sucker! haha


Not to worry, I'll have more places to share with you guys next month!