5 Tips On Buying Old Records

So recently my record collection has been expanding. This may sound strange that I collect records when I don't have a record player, but I'm saving up money, and browsing around antique shops looking for the perfect one. I do however have a record player at my house, but it isnt't mine, so I can still listen to records, just not on my own record player. 

Anyways, a couple days ago I picked up some records and thought I would make a mini post about them, because I rarely post. So Todays post is 5 tips on buying old records.

Tip #1: How do I know the record has been protected all these years?

The most important thing is that it has a sleeve on. Why is this important? If a record doesnt have a sleeve/cover it is more likely to get scratched and damadged. Unless you have already tried out the record before buying it, I dont think it's worth taking a chance on. Besides, most of the time the covers can be really cute. Also ask the seller where the records have been stored, and make sure to smell the records for mold or any other fowl smells.

Tip #2: Where do you buy records?

The number one place I see record at is garage sales. Usually garage sales sell them cheeper than record shops, and a lot of times sell boxes of records at a time. Another place you can buy them is second hand shops, or places like salvation army or good will, they sell them pretty cheap too. But I would not reconmend buying them online-too risky.

Tip #3: How much should you spend?

In all honesty, it depends on the record, and the seller. If your buying from an antique shop or a record store, they may charge you a lot more than a garage sale or second hand shop will charge you. When I buy from garage sales or second hand shops I pay anywhere from 10 cents to five dollars. At Antique stores or record stores I pay anywhere from $5-$30, depending on the store and record. Anything above $15-$20 for an old used record is too much in my opinion, but if you want it, I'm not stopping you.

Tip #4: How do I know when the record is from?

If your like me you may like to get records for a certain time period- my favorites 40s,50s, and early 60's. So if you wanted to know when the record was from you could ask the seller, but often times they may no know/remember. You could look for the copywrite date- this is usually what I do to get a for certain answer. Or lastly you could google it, although google usually has the answer to everything, it may not know information about lesser known records.

Tip #5: How do you know if the record is in good condition or not?

The number one thing to look for when inspecting a record is scratches. Minor scratches might not be a big deal, but very deep scratches that are visable to the naked eye could be a problem. Also look for discoloration, and if the record is warped or bent at all.

That's all my tips for now. Hopefully I can make more posts like this where I give tips on buying different antique items. I hope you enjoyed.

Love,

T

Vintage Train Case

Is it just me, or is anyone else in love with vintage suitcases? Its problibly just me, but if you are obsessed too, then your gonna love this post. Ok so my latest vintage find is this beautiful grey/blue train case.

But sadly, this beautiful piece of luggage did not come in the condition you see here. When I first got my hands on it, it looked a little something like this.

It pained me to see my newest find abused like this, so I got to work. First off, I started to clean off the outside . I was very conflicted about how to clean it though. I didn't want to ruin it, so I played it safe. I took some water with a few squirts of dish soap, and carefully used that to scrub the outside of the case with a paint sponge. (I was too worried an actual sponge might scratch it.)

And I'm so happy with how the outside turned out!

I wasn't done yet though. So your problibly wondering, what about the inside? Well the answer to that was the inside was in beautiful perfect condition.

(ps those are just scrap peices of fabric)

Well almost perfect condition. The only thing wrong with the inside was that it had that old gross smell to it. But I was determined to restore this peice completely, so getting rid of the smell was a must. 

First I looked on Pinterest for some home remedies for the stench. The first option I found was cat liter. So I poured it into a bowl, placed it in the case, and let it sit for 2 days. It didn't work. So then I was on to solution #2, baking soda. So I did the same with the baking soda, and it worked! There is still barely a scent, but most of it is gone. 

Once I got the smell out, I wanted to make it smell good, so I placed some t bags in it, and let it air out. 

Now my train case is all fixed up and ready to be taken on adventures!

Until next time, stay beautiful!

Love, 

Theresa

I'm Sew In Love!!

I know, I know, the title is cheesy, but that's me, I'm cheesy, deal with it!

Hello vintage lovers, today I thought I would share with you all one of my latest cool antique finds; a vintage sewing machine. I am sew in love with it! (get it? hehe) 

I was actually quite surprised to have fallen in love with this item because it is from the seventies, and I'm more of a forties/fifties girl, but it's honestly so adorable I don't know how anyone could not fall in love with it!

It is a Signature jr, so it was designed to be used by children, but whatever, I'm still a child at heart! <3  Anyways it came in great condition. I plugged it into the wall and that was it! My only problem is I need to get a new needle for it, because it requires a very very tiny one, but other than that nothing else. 

It came in this adorable case too. :)

And it still had the manual with it. 

I'm sew excited to start using it! Who knows, maybe some diys using it in the future!

Love,

Theresa

Read All About It!!! Vintage books!!!

What's up vintage lovers?
Recently I have inherited my own little collection of vintage books!  All are in almost perfect condition, and are from the 1940s-1950s.  The genre of most of the books are Mystery, and contain titles such as Nancy Drew, Connie Blair, Cherry Ames, and Judy Bolton.

Aren't those just the coolest looking pieces of literature you have ever seen?

So far I have read most of them, and have completely fallen in love. Ever since I was really little I have always loved Nancy Drew, and mystery books in general, so when I found these books you has no idea how excited I was.

And that's not all! My sister Also inherited a large sum of vintage books!

(i'll insert a picture when I get the chance)

I was so blessed to be given these books, and I will be sure to look for more while thrifting, because I am so in love with vintage books!

Keep on reading my friends!

Love, 

Theresa

The best $1 I ever spent

This past summer I went to a TON of garage sales. Like an absurd amount of garage sales.  Of all the cool things I found and bought, one item really stuck out, a cute yellow 1950s step-stool chair from Costco.

 It just looked so cute, I had to buy it (even though I had no room for it.) After playing around with it I realized how cool it was and wanted to know the history behind my new beautiful lemon-yellow chair. So I began to search the internet to learn more about my chair. The first thing I found was this ad.

Although it is not the same chair as in the add it is very similar. In the ad, that chair's step stool pulls out.  With mine, you lift up the seat of the chair, and boom, step stool.

 After doing more research I found that these chairs were a very popular item to have in your kitchen in the 50's, and came in many different styles and TONS of colors. Since the chair was made to belong in the kitchen, and I don't have a kitchen of my own, I use it in the little reading nook in the corner of my room. One day when I get my own kitchen, My beautiful little $1 lemon-yellow treasure will have a proper home.

That's all for now, but stay tuned for more stories about my cool vintage finds!
Love,
Theresa

Merry Christmas !!

Merry Christmas,
I hope you all are having a merry Christmas, or are enjoying whatever you are doing this holiday season.  My holiday was definately on I will always remeber.

It started a little something like this...
Yesterday (Christmas eve) I was awoken by my lovely little sister vomiting. Nothing says merry Christmas like getting sick, right?  So the whole morning by poor sister was sick and throwing up.

Every Christmas eve my family goes to mass, and this year would be no exception. As the whole fam got ready, we all came to the conclusion that my sister probably shouldn't go to church, considering her ailment, so one of my sisters stayed home with her, then we were off to church.

 Shortly upon our arrival, we all remembered that my younger sister was supposed to read part off the homily with two other children her age.  To avoid causing a commotion, my mom offered me up to read her part, something I have never seen in front of about like 300+ people with the help of two 8 year olds. let me tell you it was embarrassing. I screwed up like a lot (partially because i had to look of of the kid next to me's paper).  Then on top of that I had to read the first reading, play my flute in the band, and ring hand-bells.

when we got home we were greeted by a miraculously healed no longer puking little sister. Then we sat down to eat a Full Christmas feast (that i helped prepare). Of coarse the highlight if the meal was the napkins that I folded into cute little Christmas trees.  After 8 bellies were completely stuffed, we all opened presents and had a great rest of our night.

The next morning my family woke up to 6 piles of presents in our living room.  by the end of opening presents, a huge beaming smile was on each of the 6 chidren's faces.
I got:
- Tons of socks :)
- 3 new sweaters
- new headphones
- a Nicole Curtis/rehab addict shirt
- a starbucks gift card
and a duffel bag.

even though my Christmas had a rocky start, it turned out to be wonderful, and full of love and family bonding.

Merry Christmas, and god bless,
Theresa

(pictures will be posted to go along with this post when i find my camera charger )

First Post

Greetings and Salutations!

Hey y'all, my name is Theresa and I am new to this world of blogging. So here is a little list I have compiled of some basic facts about myself:

- I LOVE writing. (I just had my first piece  published!)

- I am obsessed with anything and all things vintage

- I love taking pictures (although i do not like being in them)

- I wish I was currently living in the 1950s, the fifties are the best

- Hunting for vintage clothing and little nifty vintage trinkets is my kind of sport

So that is just a generic list but it goes on and on. I started this blog because first and foremost i am absolutely obsessed with reading vintage life-style blogs, and second I felt I could make a  blog that can relate to a different kind of audience, a young adult/teen audience.  Although I may seem older I am actually quite young. But anyways the main reason I made this blog was to show people to not be afraid to do what they love and do it proudly. Weather that means living and dressing like your from the 1950s or just not being afraid to be yourself. I believe everyone should have the confidence to do what they what to do and own it, without caring what people say or think.  I believe can help others achieve that kind of confidence by showing you how happy, confident, and comfortable i am living in my vintage lifestyle.

Anyways, I don't know if any of that made sense, hopefully it did. So on this blog i will hope to be posting about:

- Neat finds i pick up while hunting for vintage pieces 

- OOTD's (outfit of the day) in my fabulous vintage clothing

- antique furniture finds

- DIYs and projects I work on (restoring vintage furniture, sewing projects, etc)

- Life updates and fun stories

When, or if my blog becomes something more than i think it will, my topics will expand.  I am not sure the success that will come out of this blog, but I have been wanting to start a blog for a really long time, and I don't see a reason why It can't become everything I dreamed it to be. Stay tuned for some awesome (hopefully) posts.

All for now,

Theresa