Hidden Treasure

The Salvos now have an online op-shop which I haven’t visited, in an effort to save money… multiple, hard to resist op-shop purchases can really add up! Instead, I’ve been having my own at home ‘op-shopping experience’ (without the spending money part). All you need to do is leave stuff forgotten in somewhere like the shed then rediscover it years later. Even better if that discovery originally came from a second-hand shop, like these cards I found in a box inside a box in the shed. I bought them years ago from a vintage shop on Chapel Street in Melbourne. They seemed at once adorable and whimsical both back then and the second time around as a forgotten-in-the-shed hidden treasure.   

Sustainability in Bali

I recently went on a holiday to Bali and was impressed by the lack of plastic straws (usually bamboo, metal or paper instead), as well as these two places in particular:

Paperboy, Kuta

Paperboy's lush greenery and breezy vibe were a welcome relief from walking in the beating midday sun but what really sold me was the excellent food, sustainability aspect and the customer service. George, our Hawaiian shirt clad waiter, seemed delighted to accommodate us and excitedly used the word 'cheers' once he found out we were from Australia. He complimented my use of glass water bottle as a more sustainable choice, and our Coke was served in a glass bottle sans straw. Had we have wanted one, there were bamboo straws available. The rosemary potatoes and sweet potato chips with guacamole were perfection!

Sun Island Hotel and Spa, Kuta

This hotel uses some excellent sustainable touches such as newspaper lined rubbish bins in the rooms, water refill stations rather than single use plastic bottles, reusable shopping bags for guests and glass water bottles for sale (the very one I was complimented for in Paperboy!).

Flowers in Jam Jars (and Other Plastic-free Ideas)

The best type of flowers come without plastic - I bought these packaged in a glass jar from Brighton Road Food Market, Scarborough.

It feels good to use even a little a little less plastic (admittedly, particularly if you get a bouquet of flowers out of it), so here are a few other simple ways to reduce plastic waste:

• As well as reusable shopping bags, also use fabric bags for fruit and veggies. You can buy these online, from some grocery stores and shops that stock eco products. If you're feeling a bit Sound of Music-esque, maybe you could even make your own from old lace curtains!
• Take a stand against the absurdity of selling things like glad-wrapped bananas and bags of carrots...
• Say no to straws*. There are better alternatives to plastic straws, like metal or paper. Sometimes these are handy but when did we become so reliant on straws anyway?! You would think opening a choc milk or iced coffee to drink from the carton is fairly basic, yet there are actually YouTube videos on this 'lost art'. I predict drinking from the carton sans straw could be the next big hipster trend...
• Buy pantry items in bulk from places like The Wasteless Pantry. You can take your own containers or they have paper bags and old jars available for free use.  
• Before you are guilted into over-spending at a Tupperware party, think if repurposed jars could be used instead. If you need something bigger you could consider purchasing glass or ceramic containers. Lots of op-shops also sell reusable secondhand containers in excellent condition.     
• Use reusable cotton wipes instead of single-use cotton wool (to reduce plastic waste from packaging as well as a whole lot of other waste). I bought some of these in cute prints from The Wasteless Pantry.

I hope those ideas have have inspired you to try a new way of reducing plastic waste. If nothing else, you could look out for flowers in jam jars!

*For a truly inspiring argument on this visit Molly Steer's 'Straw No More' TED talk. Molly gave this talk in 2017 aged nine.

The Wonderful World of Children's Books

I often leave op shops armed with stacks of children's books, all at about $1 or so each, to add to my classroom library at school. Sometimes, though, I'll find a retro or vintage book I have to keep for myself...the type full of nostalgic illustrations, shades of colour you forgot even existed and quaint writing. Here are two such treasures - The Great Big Book of Knowledge from Vinnies Wembley for $2 and Disney Presents The Wonderful World of Knowledge: Space for $2.25 from Salvos Midland. The Disney book has that incredibly joyful, optimistic and over the top vintage cartoon vibe throughout, and The Great Big Book of Knowledge gives you that forgotten world kind of feeling.

Sunnies Serendipity

I found these novelty sunnies unexpectedly while browsing the Salvos op shop in Fremantle - $6 and perfect for the upcoming Elton John concert I am attending!

The backdrop is a pair of Peter Alexander sequin pyjamas that I got on sale (the original price was ridiculous). They would probably give you the most uncomfortable sleep imaginable but might just be perfect to wear, with the swan sunnies of course, at Elton John.

PS - Should I ever actually want to wear the sunnies for sun protection they are UV400...

Always Stop for a Garage Sale

So, it turns out my first blog post is not actually about op shopping. It is, though, about something that felt as magical as finding a 1950s Dior dress in an op shop (something I haven't yet encountered but dream of).

I happened upon a garage sale a few Sundays ago, being held in the front yard of an old house. For $20 I bought a wooden coffee table which trumps any white lacquered IKEA version just waiting to bow under the weight of a few books. The real magic began, though, when the new owners of the house said I could have a look inside as everything was for sale. Walking through the house felt like being inside an issue of Frankie magazine. I'm not sure exactly what era the decor would be but it is gorgeously, unashamedly, from a whole other time. So much pattern, colour, texture, liveliness, character and joy. Here are some photos the new owners kindly let me take*:

The first thing you encounter upon entering the house, this photographic wallpaper covers the entire wall in the front entrance.

I want this wallpaper.

Saloon style doors, hours of fun, I imagine.

Another wall of photographic wallpaper (plus a quirky gnome clock).  This doesn't look as surreal in real life as it does in the photo.

Blue bathroom tiles...

...and blue bathroom curtain. The bath and vanity are also blue...

Golden

Ornate lighting

Simply stunning Art Deco doors.

This massive old TV was bought by two hipsters for $30 .

Quite the lounge room!

This album cover sums up the vibe of the whole house.

However unrealistic this is, wandering through that house made me imagine spending the hefty sum of a house deposit on a similar 'time warp' place. I see myself renovating, yet saving some elements to restore as quirky, interesting features. I would like to at least be greeted each day by the magic of sublime Art Deco doors...I know this might fit into the 'Dior dress in an op-shop' category of dreams but it is still a lovely idea to hold onto!

*When I spent an extensive amount of time with my tripod and SLR camera taking photos, they gave me looks of friendly bewilderment you might give someone who appears harmless yet slightly unhinged.