August 2019 - Bring Your Wonder

Thrift Store Traveler

Susan | Bring Your Wonder

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is find and peruse the local thrift shops and flea markets. The stuff’s just different everywhere you go, even if it’s only as far as a town an hour away, or sometimes, even a different area of your own city.

It’s such an interesting way to look at a place/culture, and in my experience, I’ve found that the very best souvenirs are thrifted.

rainbow bottle mantle bringyourwonder.com

Every time I look at the mismatched “pair” of hand crafted pottery sheep I found on two separate trips to Scotland, I’m treated to a memory collage of the many sheep I saw there, the ever-damp air, finding the first figurine in a charity shop off a little cobblestone alley and knowing instantly that I was going to buy it and what memories it would conjure, and then the next trip finding the second one in a different charity shop in a different city, and having a little deja-vu moment to add to the collage. Isn’t that what we want from a souvenir?

VintageInteriorxx of Yellow Coffee Pot‘s great finds and gorgeous photos are enough to make you want to book a flight to Finland for the sole purpose of thrifting. This kitchen of hers is incredible!

Finnish blogger @kirppur takes us along she thrifts all over, too! I see several things here that would come home with me in my suitcase.

PRO TIPS: 1) The less you pack going, the more room you’ll have in your suitcase for goodies when you return. 2) I have, on numerous occasions, packed only carry-on for both domestic & overseas flights, then bought a thrifted suitcase to check on the way back, filled with thrifted treasures.

So what about you? Are you a thrift store traveler? What’s your favorite away-from-home find?

Self Care Sunday

Susan | Bring Your Wonder

For so many women I know, Sunday is the day for self care. It’s the day most of us are getting ready for the week ahead, and a great time to pause for breath before Monday.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to make every Sunday “Self Care Sunday” here at Bring Your Wonder. We’ve got tons of ideas, tips, DIYs, and more to share, so check back every week!

This week I want to share a simple + amazing 3-ingredient DIY recipe from Camp Wander for “Dirty Feet Scrub” that you can make in about 3 minutes with things you already have at home, and use every day.

We use it daily around here, and if it can keep my almost-always-bare feet looking and feeling clean and soft, I’m pretty sure it’ll work for just about anyone. (When I was a kid, my mom kept a bar of Lava soap in the tub just for my feet!)

You can play around with the recipe; I’ve used hand soap instead of dish soap, and eucalyptus + peppermint essential oils instead of lemon (divine!!). For the filthiest feet, I recommend regular old Dawn.

Dawn dish detergent 2-pack — **(affiliate link)**

Remember: self care is a daily practice.

So that’s it! Now go do something nice for your Self. 🙂

farewell summer: seasonal changes at home

Susan | Bring Your Wonder

I’m thinking about fall. Isn’t everyone? It’s coming. I’ve been seeing goldenrod blooming for a month already, about two weeks earlier than usual. In England, they call goldenrod farewell summer.

The cicadas are loud enough that I hear them over the constant hum of my ac & fan. They’ve completely drowned out the crickets for now, but after they’ve gone, the crickets will still be here.

I like this transitional season, in large part because it’s the transition from my least favorite season to my very favorite one. Besides, transitions can be nice in their own right – you get to be in two places (seasons, jobs, houses, hair styles…) at once. It’s a chance to wrap up loose ends, and complete preparations for what’s ahead.

entryway with mirror and rosehips — source

eclectic hallway with thrifted furnishings and decor — source

I’m obsessing over this room; doesn’t it feel like it’s mid-change to you?

bedroom with blue bedding, pink walls, matchstick blinds — source

And this one, plus the brilliant camping cot + tray coffee table:

daybed with industrial wooden shelves above — source

camping cot with tray, used as coffee table — source

These free printables seem just right for this season-between-seasons. If you don’t have access to a color printer at home or work, you can go to staples.com & order prints on cardstock for less than a dollar each, then pick them up in the store nearest you. (Not an affiliate link, I just want to give you options!)