tales from the flea: holiday shopping i'm thankful for.

who needs black friday when you have the third sunday? 

the long beach antique market is simply magical. i opted to do some of my holiday shopping there this year, and while i didn't find all that i wanted, i did come home feeling satisfied with my purchases. from $1 nostalgia-inducing stocking stuffers, to a legit gas mask for a video game-loving nephew (i'm feeling pretty confident that he doesn't read my blog), i'd say it was a success.

the belle of this ball was a sweet and sparkly top that was introduced to me at the darling brandee tucker's booth, harlem ragshop 1934. 

it was pretty inexpensive too, which even though i just consigned a small portion of my closet, was a necessary element in my purchase since i'm prepping for the holidays and the trip back to florida. i'm thinking this is going to be the signature piece in my christmas outfit.

i also picked up a romantic, flowing frock that is perfect for my new gypsy lifestyle, even if the wandering is only around los angeles, and the blooming seasons are over for a while. the silhouette and somewhat sheer fabric is enchanting...it's practically made to wear with a floral crown. i'll post photos as soon as i can get a good pic.

but it's not all about the feminine fashion. i actually spent most of my day browsing the men's racks and grabbed this cool coat for my guy...

here are some of the other fun finds that caught my attention today:

there were some celeb sightings too, but you'll have to come next time to see for yourself. meet me at the #lbflea dec. 15.

a flea worth catching: long beach antique market

today i went to the mother of all flea markets: the long beach antique market. if you are impulsive and have money to spend (or even think you do), this is not the place for you. as a recovering shopping addict myself, i had to use some major self control.

it takes place on the third sunday each month at the long beach veterans stadium.the guy and i went for a little sunday treasure hunting, but there wasn't much hunting needed. it seems to be never-ending and you don't know where to look first. the place is packed with antique dealers, jewelry craftsmen, vintage clothing sellers and more offering anything i could want in my home...closet.  

even if you're not hoping to add re-purposed furniture, eclectic old signage, antique cameras, old storage crates, a 70s fur jacket, turquoise jewelry or a choice of 100 flannel shirts to your collection, it's a great date spot just to look at all the weird and sometimes creepy items. also perfect for funny gifts.

i'm not sure where to start here...

i was going to call the former photo creepy and this one weird...
but maybe i had it backwards. i mean, is this long beach or margaritaville?

prices are all over the place. some are high, some are low. we personally came home with an antique military trunk and wooden storage box for $32 and $15, respectively, to be the two newest pieces in our living room once we clean them up.

we made so much noise rolling out that dang trunk that it was mildly embarassing...or maybe more than that seeing that i walked in front of him to pretend i wasn't with him. 

i also wanted to add some old high school lockers to our entertainment center, and "a" wanted to bring home dr. martens and a vintage chevy bumper to hang on the wall, but we had no idea how to pack them in our little car. 

maybe next time. because i know where i'll be nov. 17.