shopping |

topanga vintage market | woodland hills, ca

By annmarielovespaper on May 7, 2013

There’s really nothing in this world that I love more than a good treasure hunting excursion (obviously). I mean, what could possibly be more fun than digging through others’ discarded junk and giving it new life?! (Uh, just about EVERYTHING is more fun than that, my mom would say – ha!) Thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales – bring it on! So on the fourth Sunday of every month, I love to attend the Topanga Vintage Market in the San Fernando Valley. This market hosts a wide variety of vendors + vintage products in all different price ranges. Of course I’m always on the lookout for unique glass + tableware, but even if I don’t buy anything, it’s worth it for the visual inspiration alone! Here are a few of the awesome items I spotted the last time I attended:

One of these days, I want to purchase a giant sign like this and work it into a lush outdoor landscape. I love when urban + natural aesthetics collide, a la my beloved Grow.

The wooden crate! The orange tackle box! The yellow lawn chair! Everything about this photo makes me want to dig in.

If I had a few kids + a few hundred spare dollars, I would definitely snatch these chairs up and put them in a playroom or on a patio for outdoor dining. You could even use one as a place to stack books or blankets! Aren’t the colors just perfection?

These handcrafted glass beaded necklaces are amazing. Not only would they be great for wearing, but they would also look fantastic if they were tied into a loose knot and displayed on a dresser or coffee table. So many possibilities in so many beautiful colors!

P.S. If you make it to the market, be sure to stop by booth F-20 and say hello to my lovely future in-laws! (:

What are your favorite things to look for when you go treasure hunting?

6 Comments

good reads.

By annmarielovespaper on May 6, 2013

It pains me to think that bookstores are a dying breed, so whenever I’m near a B+N (RIP Borders), I absolutely have to visit.

It goes a little something like this…First stop: Magazines! Second stop: Coffee! Third stop: Design / Crafts / Home Decor section where I grab a fat stack of inspiring books! Fourth stop: Find one of those step-stools and park it for an hour or more! HEAVEN, I tell you.

Here are two of my recent finds that I am in love with:

STYLE ME PRETTY WEDDINGS | Obvious choice, much? YES. But I don’t care. This book will stay with me long after I say “I do” since it’s chock-full of beautiful photos, plenty of party inspiration, and a ton of DIY’s that can apply to so many things other than weddings! It’s funny because I always associate the Style Me Pretty blog with high-end, super extravagant weddings that quite honestly, never really appeal to me. So to pick this book up and be genuinely inspired by all the real-life (read: potentially low budget) ideas was such a wonderful surprise! I can’t recommend it enough!

(Both books pass the very important well-designed spine test.)

100 WAYS TO HAPPY CHIC YOUR LIFE | This book is part design inspiration / part self-help and I LOVE IT. My favorite little nugget of wisdom from the book is the one you see above, but really, all of Jonathan Adler’s ideas are sheer genius (obviously). However, the best part of all is the little fold-out pages that feature DIY projects to make for your home. Crafts? Home Design? Life tips? Yeah, I’m in.

What books are you loving these days?

P.S. Remember how I was telling you about being a contributor to Everyday Storyteller Vol. 2? It’s now available for purchase! Get your copy here! (:

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everyday storyteller vol. 2 blog hop.

By annmarielovespaper on April 30, 2013

Welcome to the Everyday Storyteller Vol. 2 blog hop! I can’t believe we are just a few short days away from the big reveal – so exciting! I’m still feeling incredibly honored to have my projects featured alongside such a talented and diverse group of women! In case you’re just getting up to speed, Everyday Storyteller Vol. 2 is a brand new idea book offering more than 100 tips, tricks and techniques for scrapbooking. Go behind the scenes with 33 of your favorite memory keepers to see how they capture moments, tell stories and document their best memories. Sign up for the VIP list right here to be the first to know when the book is released and receive an exclusive discount!

Each book contributor participating in the blog hop is giving away an eBook copy of Everyday Storyteller Vol. 2. Use this entry link to complete your entry form. You must enter by 11:59pm PDT on April 30, 2013 to be eligible. You may enter from each stop. Winners will be contacted directly as well as posted at everydaystoryteller.com on May 1, 2013. Good luck!

5 Comments

taking inventory.

By annmarielovespaper on April 20, 2013

The thing about thrifting several times a week and then immediately banishing my treasures to boxes in the garage is that I have no freaking clue what I own. So the other day, something possessed me to break out all those boxes and open each and every carefully-wrapped item so I could take inventory. I knew the minute I started, I would immediately regret this hare-brained scheme, but, like most stupid decisions, I was in too deep to quit. Before I knew it, glassware covered every square inch of the dining room table.

Seeing everything all laid out together made me so happy-slash-confirmed my suspicions that I am a hoarder. The best (worst?) part of all is that in the middle of this inventory-taking madness, I went to the gym and stopped by – where else? – the Goodwill on my way back home. I AM ADDICTED. But I promise I have a master plan! Once this whole wedding extravaganza wraps up, I have grand plans of starting a rentals biz so I can share the glassware love with others. Ahem…and have an excuse to keep hoarding.

7 Comments

gold thrift finds.

By annmarielovespaper on March 10, 2013

Last weekend on an impromptu thrifting trip, I struck gold. LITERALLY. Gold goblets, gold vases, gold bowls…gold gold city! I’ve been on the hunt for these kinds of pieces for months, so to find it all in one place for less than three bucks a pop was pretty much the highlight of my Goodwill-ing career. (In fact, I should probably retire now.)

I have big plans for these babies and none of which involves polishing them up (the more tarnished, the better!). I am already dreaming up the way they will look when filled with beautiful, overflowing flower arrangements and plenty of candlelight on the tables at our wedding. Excuse me while I get back to pinning…

xoxo

5 Comments

favorite design books.

By annmarielovespaper on February 7, 2013

In my twenty-six years, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to make myself happy each and everyday.

For starters, I need plenty of sleep, a good workout, and a large cup of coffee. From there, I like to sprinkle in a hearty dose of laughter, a good chunk of alone time, and most importantly, the opportunity to get inspired. I’ve noticed that a little burst of inspiration is enough to power me through even the most tedious of tasks, simply because it gets me EXCITED ABOUT LIFE. And what could possibly be better than that?! Not much, my friends. Not much.

So when Pinterest + Instagram (my drugs of choice) just aren’t cutting it, I like to refer to my growing stack of design-related books. Here are some of my faves:

What books are you loving these days?

xoxo

3 Comments

set the table.

By annmarielovespaper on February 5, 2013

Because my storage unit is only at 99% capacity and my closet doors can still (just barely) close, I decided it was time to start yet another collection: tableware! Glasses, dishes, chargers, bowls…if it goes on a table, I ~~want~~ need it. On Saturday night, I dragged John out to all the local thrift stores with me and came home with two boxes jam-packed with awesome secondhand finds. I did the same thing on Sunday with my mom and had an equal amount of success. OMG. SO. MUCH. FUN.

So this morning I decided to unwrap all my treasures and see how they well they play together on a tablescape. I’m pleased to tell you, they coexist quite nicely! I even grabbed a few flowers and plants from around the yard to create mock-up arrangements for the party next weekend…happiness! I’m already dreaming of all the dinner parties I want to throw in our next place.

I could do this all day, everyday. And I just might.

xoxo

8 Comments

workspace wednesday: lists.

By annmarielovespaper on January 24, 2013

I was going to tell you all about the hot mess that currently is my workspace, but then I saw this list by Amy and knew I had to follow suit.

Digging: my new “Top Knot 18” print by Elizabeth Mayville (shown above). Her shop is amazing.
Drinking: a bottle of Topo Chico.
Eating: cuties by the dozen.
Listening: to the latest episode of Joy the Baker and dying over it. As usual.
Wearing: my new sweater with sequined elbow pads + my Target cords.
Reading: “The Fire Starter Sessions” by Danielle LaPorte.
Feeling: a mix of overwhelmed + underwhelmed. Freelancing is a mixed bag of tricks, yo.
Weather: rainy + cozy.
Wanting: this book by the Novogratz family. A wedding venue. And maybe a vanilla latte?
Needing: to start my days earlier. And go to yoga more often.
Wishing: my friends who live out of state would move back home.
Thinking: about crafting up a storm these next few weeks for our upcoming engagement party!
Enjoying: the productivity that happens after 10pm.
Loving: how Wally finally mastered the art of “shake.” I’m so proud of that pupkins, my heart just might burst.

xoxo

5 Comments

wedding thrifting.

By annmarielovespaper on January 23, 2013

The best part about being engaged (well, aside from the fiance, of course) is that for once in my life, I have a LEGITIMATE reason to shop! Every single day! For better or worse, I have become obsessed with tracking down + purchasing awesome pieces that can be used for decor or wedding-related craft projects. When I’m not trolling the interwebs for great deals + free shipping, you can bet I’m raiding Target, Michaels, or the Goodwill like the crazy person that I was born to be!

Here are a few of the thrifted items John + I scored last weekend:

glassware for food and flowers | coffee mug for attempting this project

wooden cassette tape holder for placecards | chalkboard globe for funky signage

Given that our budget is low, I’m looking for any and all ways to pull together our creative resources and DIY / thrift / repurpose as much as possible. (We’re both still paying off our fancy design educations, so we might as well get our money’s worth, right? Ha!) So far, so good. Now I just need to find a place to store all this wonderful – and inexpensive! – stuff before someone turns me in to Hoarders…

xoxo

9 Comments

shop update: new stamps!

By annmarielovespaper on January 18, 2013

Brand new stamps + discounted holiday stamps just added to the shop! Check them out here!

xoxo

2 Comments

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