Raise your hand if you love yard sales?
Oh, good.
Come sit by me.
My two favorite times of the year? When Santa comes down the chimney and multi-family neon-colored yard sale signs show up on the street corner.
When they came to film a tour of the house here a couple of weeks ago, it made me look at the house through yard sale eyes. I kind of forget all the things I’ve discovered over the years until I start telling the stories.
I thought it might be fun to go all Casey Kasem and rank them in order.
You know.
Starting with number 10 (which I love) all the way to number one.
And just like Flock of Seagull bangs?
Yard sale finds never disappoint.
Here’s what I found (and even better) what I did with them.
Let’s GO.
10. This rolling metal cart
This was one of the first finds I bought at a yard sale when we moved back to Texas.
The house was under construction and life was overwhelming.
But I saw this and knew it had to come home with me.
When I took these pictures this was the only thing in the family room.
I still love it just as much today.
9. This seed packet dispenser
I found this under a stack of Tupperware at a yard sale.
The metal edge was sticking out and I didn’t know what it was.
But I knew it was perfect no matter what it was.
I brought it home and used it to organize my gift wrap tags.
Read its story and more gift wrap organizing tips here.
8. This flower basket trio
Sometimes when you go shopping you don’t find anything.
Truth? Sometimes it’s lame.
Sometimes all those hand-lettered poster board signs lead to nowhere.
Shhhh.
Don’t focus on that.
But sometimes on a Saturday when the sun is shining and you discover a treasure trove of giant $1 baskets and stacks of vintage books and the cutest herb planters and something so amazing and incredible that it makes you want to pull out dance moves from a Go-go’s song.
Something like this.
7. This flower farm sign
I can’t even remember where I got this, it’s been so long.
I found it all those years ago in Kentucky (which has AMAZING yard sales) and I’ve never seen a sign like it since.
Some long-ago flower farm made a sign for strawberry and flower pickers and I’m so thankful that they did.
Now it hangs on the wall near the entrance to the laundry room.
6. This vintage dresser
This is a beautiful dresser.
But that’s not why it made the top 10 list.
It’s not how it looks now, but where it started.
And what I found when I bought it—which just proves that behind every yard sale find is a really good story.
5. This vintage crate
This yard sale crate made the top 10 list for two reasons.
I’ve never found a coffee crate this size ever again.
But more importantly?
I love what we turned it into all those years ago.
You can see the entire coffee crate project here.
4. this farmhouse table
This vintage table made the yard sale all-time best list because of the story behind it.
I’ve told this story to more people than I can count.
It still makes me laugh when I think about it.
Here’s the tale of the perfect negotiation.
3. this yard sale hutch
This used to be my favorite yard sale find of all time.
Yep.
Number one.
But that was five years ago, and like all good top ten songs, it got replaced.
Here’s the story behind the hutch and all the colors it’s been painted.
2. This yard sale find
Sometimes when I go yard sale shopping, something shows up that I never expected. If I had made a zillion lists on a zillion pieces of paper, I would never have written this item down.
Something so wonderful and amazing that it makes me toss all those lists out the window.
Something like this.
Can you guess what it is?
If you guessed this—you’d be right.
1. What I discovered inside this dresser
This dresser looks like number one.
It could be.
It’s an amazing pine dresser I found at a yard sale for only $25. When I found it, I was so excited and I handed over my money and we were about to load it into the car when I opened the top drawer.
Wait a minute.
That sounded a little lame.
It wasn’t dramatic enough.
Let me recreate it for you.
Here’s the drawer.
Picture me slowly opening it to lift it into the car.
And then?
Inside?
THE NUMBER ONE FAVORITE YARD SALE FIND OF ALL TIME HERE.
Proving once and for all.
There’s no find like a yard sale find.
Happy shopping. 🙂
I never find things like this at a yard sale. I find old Tupperware and I've got way too much of that already! LOVE the table!
What is a flock of seagull bangs??? Your commentary is such a fun part of your blog and I'm sure that it's just the way you talk!
Flock of Seagulls is a rock/alternative group from the 80s. Google them and you'll see the bangs. Hahaha!!!
New wave band, not alternative.
I just love your yard sale stories! Way back when I read the first one, I knew you had to be amazing if you went yard sailing! Wouldn’t it be so fun to go to the world’s longest yard sale?! Bucket list for sure!!!!
What fun finds! Sometimes all it takes is being able to see the potential in something that may appear useless, even too far gone to salvage, and realize "wait a minute, this is a real treasure!" Maybe we need to look at each other through 'garage sale' eyes sometimes. :)
I love all you found and enjoyed seeing it all. I love yard sales it's such an adventure because you never know what you will find.
Your yard sales remind me of the tag sales in Massachusetts. Such great finds! Thanks for sharing :)
My husband says we have enough junk!!! Lol
I have always loved your balloon mold but the dresser in number 6 is a close second! I want to find both of those things soon!!!
Your finds are amazing! I have been yard sailing my entire life! I learned from my mother who was pro at finding unusual treasures and a pro at negotiating. While on several trips, I’ve been able to find fabulous things in France, but sadly realized I couldn’t pack them in a suitcase and carry them in a plane (although you’d be surprised at some if the items I DID bring!) Btw, you look amazing and beautiful! Can you tell how much weight you’ve lost or is it a secret? Keep it up!
I love all your treasures. I'd like to share a link to this post on Sunday's Dirt road Adventures. Have the best weekend.
[…] Top Ten Yard Sale Finds of All Time […]
Such beautiful finds! And oh my goodness that wall mount piece is my favorite!!!
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