Huge Rockaway Sale!

Over the last two weeks, there's a been a sale going on at Rockaway at Springwood where they had 30% off everything!  I kid you not!  So, last Thursday was the day I thought to get myself into gear and shuffle my butt over to the place and see what was left for me to pick over.  Okay, so I left it until the second-last day to go, but I found some great bargains!  There were still some bags on sale lining the walls, t-shirts, plenty of vinyls, key-chains and other things - all things - were all on sale for me nab!

I search for - and found - a Joni Mitchell album 'The World of Joni Mitchell' which was $25.00 and had been brought down to $15.00.  Then, there was a New Zealand pressing of The Beatles 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band' that was $45.00 (but I put it back) and went looking for some Queen instead and didn't find anything that I could afford.  So, I grabbed a bag off the wall of The Beatles 'Abbey Road' for $39.99 and took it and the Joni Mitchell vinyl to the counter.  Scott - the owner of the store surprised me with the total - and I went and nabbed The Beatles album after all!  What should have been $99.99 came down to $69.99!  How cool was that???  I walked away a happy customer and vowing to never leave one of their sales to the last minute ever again!  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

Tested:  The afternoon I bought the bag, I tested it out and found it worked a lot better when the strap was pulled up short as the bag itself rested comfortably against my hip, no matter what was inside it.  And seeing it has a zip-up section and two front open sections, it's nice and easy to put your purse or wallet into a deeper pocket and your ipod into the shallower pocket and still know it's safe; as the whole front section flaps over it all and seals down with velcroe.  All in all, a nice bag to carry.  I'll use it again soon.

Retro Beauty

I love it when I find a handbag that oozes a personality of its own with an attitude to match... and this one was one I just had to have the moment I clapped my eyes on it.  The lime green is very much the Asian influence along with the bright pinks and lots of metal that clash; and yet, it all mixes in well!  I loved it and yet hated it too, and that's what makes me buy a complete original handbag just like this one here.

Then the next day - Thursday - I had my big chance to test it out!  I took Mum out to lunch.  We spent most of the day out and about around Brisbane.  First at the doctors, then at Garden City where it was was the best little handbag to carry all my cards and purse and everything I needed; and it clipped up well with its versatile little - yet strong - clip.  My mobile was safely stored in its own little pouch, there was plenty of room for everything.  However, I did find it rather squishy if I was in a hurry to find something; and that was its downfall.  

This gorgeous little number is a great little bag to take out, but not for whole days out as it really did become frustrating to dig around in its dark recesses every time I needed something.  So, a great, artsy bag for an art opening perhaps or a dinner out somewhere interestingly chick, but not for a day out somewhere; as it's just not built for rummaging around in.

Thrift Store Bargains

I love going into thrift stores.  You know the ones that are run by the churches and smaller charities; yeah, they sell just about anything and everything.  Well, there's one down the road from me that sells everything from books to televisions, small, portable organs, to clothes, old handbag and shoes upon shoes to kitchenware to beer bongs (yeah, I saw that walk out the door today - a glass one!).  

Today, I thought to take a walk from the post office down to the thrift store to see if it was open; and it was, so I walked inside and took a look around.  The first place I normally go to is the bookcases.  I noticed they had added on another two bookcases - more people are getting rid of their books and opting for Kindles; well, that's okay, more real books for me to read! I knew I was wrong in looking at the cases, but I just had to find out what people were throwing out so I knew what I had to read.  And I found myself three books:  'Liza of Lambeth' and 'On A Chinese Screen' which were two books in one by W. Somerset Maughem; and author I've never heard of.  Then there was 'Hugh Lunn's Head Over Heels' and 'Under the Tuscan Sun' by Frances Mayes.  

On the way out the door - and before I found anymore books I thought looked nice - I almost past a great little bag that was very originally-made.  It was something I thought about toying with but never made a move on because I didn't know how to go about it: a bag made from a pair of shorts or old jeans.  I loved it and found it looked pretty good!  So, once I found the zip worked well and the pockets were deep enough, I knew it was something I wanted to have and added that to my things of purchase.  All up, I spent $3.50... a good bargain!  

On the way home, I stopped outside a place and chatted to a couple of ladies who were sitting outside an old shopfront.  And soon the doors of it opened and it ended up being a food co-op!  What a find!  I went in and asked how it worked - as I've never been to one before - and they explained the whole thing to me.  I ended up buying some Grainwave Chips for $1.50 and coming home.  So, do tell us what bargains you've come across lately?  Did you know the stores or markets were there, or did you stumble upon them like I did with the food co-op?  Leave a comment and let us know about your finds.  Until my next post, happy shopping!