Spring thrifting, beginner gardening, & 70s vintage decor score

[@emilyretro]

Please leave your gardening advice below, I need all the help I can get! 🌱 And what was your favorite thrift store find?! 😊

[@cindyburns2519]

Hello Emily! Love all your videos! The picture on the photo album looks like Heidelberg Germany. I lived there for fourteen years and it is a beautiful city. Thank you for sharing your thrifting trips. Love from College Station Texas❤

[@poodlegirl55]

My advice is to start slow. Zinnias and Marigolds are super easy to grow by seed and in any ground and you only have to buy seeds once. In the fall you save seeds from the plants in a paper sack. If you want to see flowers from your window I would plant a row of spring flowering plants in the front, summer flowering plants in the middle and some fall flowers in the back. That way as your flowers die off the ones behind it are blooming. If you plant mums and marigolds in the back when the front rows of flowers die off you can add pumpkins and decor in the front. I would plant the tomato in it's own pot and herbs in their own. You don't have as much room as you think you have. One good sized marigold plant can take up a foot of space.

[@emilyretro]

Thank you so much for the amazing advice!!! 🥳🥳🥳

[@bettyduff2699]

I have been missing you. I just looked at an old flea market Christmas magazine and there you were! Lots of pages of your old house. So bright and cheery.

[@emilyretro]

Aw yeah it was fun being featured ☺️❤️

[@tracypatterson4320]

A boyfriend?! Yippee, we're all dying to get to know him better! For flowers, go with bulbs!! They are the easiest and every year I get Easter Lillies in white and maroon and I don't do a thing, they just pop up every year and you can cut the to use in a vase and more will grow back. I loved the ironing board the most!

[@emilyretro]

I had no idea you could put bulbs in raised beds! Thanks for sharing 🥳

[@bardowlvintage]

@@emilyretro Please keep in mind your local feral kitties Blossom and Beau. Some plants are incredibly toxic (deadly) to cats, including Easter Lillies, poinsettias, etc. Zinnias appear to be a-okay, though! 😺 You may want to research before planting. 👍

[@kathygriffin8775]

Oh my goodness! So happy you got those photo albums -- I thought for sure the price was $25 each and you would have to pass them up! 25 cents, are they kidding? What a find! Good for you! Happy to see a new video from you, too. Thanks!

[@emilyretro]

I know!!! Nothing is a quarter anymore! 🤣

[@courtneydor2vintage632]

So fun! Always so happy to see you! 😃💗

[@jessiewestphal2643]

My cat would destroy those tassels hahaha!!!

[@bsblove9]

I didn't realize vintage Orange Bird stuff was so cute. Now I want to start searching for it.

[@lauraforrest4261]

Great to see you thrifting again but like that you are only buying what sparks joy ❣️ Glad you mentioned your BF as I wondered if that was still going on and making you happy 🎉I wore that sweater from 77-81 at UM 😉 The ironing board is so you. Do whatever you want with the bulletin board as it is yours❣️

[@emilyretro]

Omgggg so cool you had that same sweater 😄 and yes my bf is making me very happy ☺️❤️

[@suebrockschmidt8044]

So happy to find your post again. Watching your videos just make me smile. I grew up in the 70s, so we have a common bond. Love your thrifting trips. Can you share where the church thrift store is. Just the town/city would be great. There is another church one in Marne MI. Just so you know. 😊

[@claudiaehmann9338]

I love to see how excited you are about your thrifting finds!❤ My favorite is thironing board. So cute, how you told the imagined story about the busy grannie😂 Isn't it great to find things, that already have their own story?! To the photo album with the picture I can tell you, it is the beautiful old city Heidelberg in Germany, not far away from me. You see the bridge over the river Neckar and the amazing and famous castle Heidelberger Schloss. Greetings from Claudia in Germany ❤❤❤

[@emilyretro]

OH MY GOSH thank you for telling me exactly what that album cover is! I’m dying to go to Germany, that’s where my Opa is from and I’d love to see it! 🥲❤️

[@claudiaehmann9338]

@@emilyretro I think Germany has beautiful regions to discover! I like to live here...in a small vine valley near Stuttgart. Where does your Opa come from?

[@melissae.9842]

So good to see you happy again and having fun with your boyfriend! I like the idea for the bulletin board! Just cover it up with recipe cards or maybe vintage post cards which you could change out for the seasons. Good luck with your garden bed. You will do fine.

[@emilyretro]

Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️

[@robinsanchez5960]

So many fun thrifting items. I have the floral album in blue that I bought in the 70's that holds my Jr high pictures. Yes Im that old. Im with you thrifting way less I dont have space.

[@amethystflint634]

I LOVE those photo albums! The castle bridge one is Heidelberg Germany.

[@emilyretro]

Thank you for letting me know ☺️

[@chelseachristensen4876]

Yes on selling your stuff!

[@CharmMakerChronicles]

You got some great Flower Power stuff!!!!

[@debranielsen2002]

I so agree with the whole rooster bulletin board. I would do the same thing! 😂😂😂

[@sturgeramona5799]

You look and sound so happy ! Love all your items

[@emilyretro]

Thanks, friend ❤️

[@dianajemison105]

Congratulations on the boyfriend! I hope we get to meet him. I'm not much of a gardener, but make sure nothing is hurtful to animals. You found some fun stuff. I really like the photo albums. I totally remember those.🌼

[@emilyretro]

I love animals so nothing will be hurtful in there! I’m debating growing cat grass for all the stray kitties 🤣

[@dianajemison105]

@@emilyretro Great idea!🐱

[@617883]

Emily, I love the maroon suit. It's nice to see you are back 😊

[@emilyretro]

Thanks a bunch ❤️

[@beckycanterbury4514]

Love your outfit. Bulbs are the best and easiest. Daffodils and tulips come up every year and can be moved. They will also naturalize 🌷

[@emilyretro]

Thanks for the advice ☺️

[@lyndenschmidt4027]

When I started gardening 30 years ago, I thought I was the only one who made mistakes. There is a British gardening show called "Gardeners" World. All the people are award winning gardeners; they make mistakes, things die, and they admit it! It certainly made me feel better. Every year I have successes, I have failures, and I have surprises. Some are good, some aren't. Sometimes I do the same thing in the same way I've been doing it for years and it doesn't work. Seriously, it won't all be perfect, just have fun and learn from mistakes. I read for years that I should do a soil test, but I never did it. A good way to see what kind you have is just to look at what grows well on your lot and then find out what type of soil conditions those plants need. Just enjoy!

[@emilyretro]

Oh my gosh when I visited England I watched a gardening show in my hotel room and I loved it, I wonder if that’s the same show! I’ll have to try it out. Thank you for the advice 😄

[@jerilyntuten2485]

A quick google image search says it’s Heidelberg castle in Germany! Hope you get to go there someday! Europe is very beautiful!

[@emilyretro]

AHHHHHH OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@kmom452]

Good to see a new video and see how happy you are. I love all the things you bought especially the floral chicken peg board. My grandparents had a smaller peg board they kept hung close to the telephone. It didn't have the chicken but had orange florals with the gingham. Similar enough that it was nostalgic. They kept their telephone on a dresser that they had covered in a groovy orange and yellow floral pattern. 😊 Good times. Anyway peg board is my favorite.

[@sharonmakowsky172]

Hi, Emily! Great to see you and the new video! Boy, all that you found brought back memories of when I was living in the 60’s and 70’s. I got married in the early 70’s and had a lot of flower power things back then. What a great era! It touches my heart to see people like you saving them from the landfill. I hope the new generations will take note of it. Love you much! Hugs 🐈‍⬛💜👍 Happy Easter!🐰🐣🐇

[@emilyretro]

Awwwww how cute you had lots of flower power things when you first got married 🥹🥹🥹

[@CaroleofOakview]

It is so good to see you and to see you so happy! First, may advice for your flower bed is to make sure what you plant is deer resistant. I know marigolds are. I love your thrift haul and I LOVE your ironing board! I love to iron, and I wish I could find an ironing board cover that is something besides gray and white lines and squares. That ironing board was just waiting for you! It would be great if we could see your kitchen and see if you have made any changes to it. I love your house, it reminds me of my first place.

[@emilyretro]

If you click the link in my description by the ironing board cover, I saw the exact ironing board cover that I have in its original package for sale on eBay 😄 I haven’t made many updates to the kitchen yet 😂

[@CaroleofOakview]

@@emilyretro Thank you! I will do that!

[@shannon_w.]

EMILYYYYY!!!!! I have missed you!!!! I cannot believe I didn't get a notification for this! Sooooo 2 new men (boyfriend and Papa cat) in your life huh? Congrats Doll you deserve alllll the happiness 😊❤

[@solarbear7229]

Gardening is awesome! Good luck on your planting journey! Squash is a really easy plant to grow by the way!

[@emilyretro]

Thanks for the tip 😘

[@gypsyskyy9451]

Nice to see you again Emily. I love your thrift finds. I am a lot older than you and have lived through the 60s, and my mother had some wall paper that was very flowery of that time. And where did you find your boyfriend! LOL You know we are going to ask about that since you just slipped it in there! 🤗

[@emilyretro]

Awwww that wallpaper sounds so cute!! And I found my boyfriend on Bumble 😅😂❤️

[@gypsyskyy9451]

@@emilyretro Ahhhhh! Thats great! I need to try that one! 🥰❤💜💛

[@juliechrisler8280]

I could shop for you! I definitely knew you would buy the 70’s photo albums and that ironing board for sure!! That ironing board cover is sooooo awesome! I decorate in mostly orange and yellow either red thrown in. It’s a good thing I don’t live in MI (visited a year ago for the tulip festival) because we would be in competition with each other! If we shopped together, it might get ugly!! 🤣🤣🤣 ❤️❤️❤️

[@emilyretro]

HAHAHAHA!!! Yes I only thrift with people who have opposite taste as me. My mom collects primitives so we’re a good pair 🤣

[@gj6834]

It’s always such a pleasant surprise when you post a new video! Definitely start with easier flowers like marigolds or vincas. These will help you gain the confidence to try other types of flowers in the future. Good luck! 🌸 🌺 Your kitties are probably going to love those pillow tassels! 🐱 🐱

[@emilyretro]

I’ll have to look up vincas. And thankfully the kitties have left the tassels alone so far, I’m cautiously optimistic 🤣

[@BusAMove6694]

I love everything you found especially the Florida bird. I'm on the hunt for that and I'm in Florida. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@emilyretro]

Oh my gosh as a Floridian you need to find one!!!

[@tcoladonato]

I’ve said this before, thank you for being compassionate to the ferals. Shows me your 💛 Great haul, love the ironing board!

[@emilyretro]

Aw I feel lucky to have their company 🥲❤️

[@markiecrossmandixon7343]

Hi Emily, I love your channel- we are kindred spirits lol. Do you have a PO Box?

[@Cindyscrossstitch]

All of those flower power items were for you. Great deals. I have 6 raised garden beds. Do basil, cucumbers, and peppers and flowers. A tomatoe plant will take up half the bed they grow big. Gardening is a big experiment. 🌻🐰🐇😊

[@emilyretro]

Thank you for the tips ❤️❤️❤️

[@kristenwalmsley5177]

Emily last year I grew Strawflowers. They took a while to grow but they were magnificent. They are incredible for drying. You pick them when the middle is just opening up and then hang them upside down to dry completely. Then you can work them into your decor. I am thrilled with mine and they give me pleasure all year round now. Our decorating styles are simular and they really add so much brightness. I know you will be enchanted by them just like I am.

[@emilyretro]

Oh my word Kristen I’ve never heard of them and those are the cutest flowers EVER. And I never thought of growing flowers for the purposes for drying them!! Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@debbiedew1]

First of all Im so happy you're back!! I'm drawn to the same colors and 70s style too but that ironing board wow. I would have grabbed the photo albums too. I love to cook so probably cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs from the garden would be my choice. Nothing too big for that adorable raised garden bed. Can't wait for another video 🥰

[@emilyretro]

Thanks a bunch for the gardening advice! ☺️

[@pamelarothgaber8466]

Hi Emily! I have lots of raised beds. I try and stick with peppers and tomatoes since they are pretty easy to grow and you get a lot from them. Carrots and some other veggies are just so cheap in the summer so I don't do many of the cheaper things that will take up a bunch of room in the garden. I do grow zuchini tough :) For flowers...zinnias grow good and I also got some summer bulbs that did well. Home Depot has tons for summer. I love being out in my garden. Always pop a few sunflowers in the corners :) I have an ornamental tower in the middle of mine and grow morning glories on it :) So good to see you smile again :)

[@emilyretro]

Oh my gosh that’s so cute you our morning glories in there! I didn’t know you can plant bulbs in a raised bed. Thanks for sharing 😄

[@dianalytle2816]

The rooster is cute!! I enjoyed seeing you thrift shopping 😊

[@emilyretro]

Thanks for watching ☺️

[@bonesareheavy]

I have the same fear of gardening! I have no advice but plan on reading through the comments for some help too. I have cut back over the last few years on my thrifting as well. I like to go now for the "adventure" of it! What weird thing or interesting eavesdropping conversation will I encounter?🤣And Yay! We have a name! 😍Josh😍

[@emilyretro]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one with gardening issues. There’s lots of nuggets of wisdom in the comments I hope they help you 😄

[@tlkcrafts3872]

Hi Emily ! So happy to see a video from you ! You did great at the thrift stores! I love the photo albums and the ironing board and especially the bulletin board!!! Please don’t cover the rooster!! It’s gorgeous and matches the ambiance of your home!! ANYTHING you need to know about gardening you can learn from GARDEN ANSWER on KZbin !!! Laura and her family are adorable and incredibly knowledgeable about flowers , trees, fruit and vegetables!!! There are tons of videos and you will learn so much!! Have fun with the garden you create!! Thankyou for loving the kitties!! So nice to see you bubbly and happy!! We would love if you sold some of your vintage items!!!Can’t wait for the spring decorating video!!!!!Take care!!!😊🌼

[@emilyretro]

Thanks so much for sharing about that KZbin channel I’ll have to check it out 🥳🥳🥳

[@nancysattictreasures2778]

Hi Emily, I met you at your garage sale. You were so nice and I bought several bags of great vintage items. Just a suggestion for a beginner gardener. Start with plants rather than seeds. As you get more experienced at gardening you can start with seeds. The more you read about gardening the better you'll get at it. You can do it!!

[@emilyretro]

Aw Nancy it was great meeting you at the yard sale! And thanks for the tips on gardening I really appreciate it ❤️

[@leslielangenegger5142]

If you decide to do veggies, put marigolds near them. Critters don't like the smell and will leave your plants alone. I have that same Partridge Family game from my childhood. Fun fact: when the youngest Partridge grew up, his dad taught computer science at the college I went to and I saw him on campus once.

[@emilyretro]

Oh my gosh that’s so cool you saw him!!! Thanks for sharing 😄

[@christineeziebarth9819]

Everything. Completely. Amazing. The photo albums, I gasped when I saw the price tags. So happy to see a video from you today!

[@emilyretro]

Thanks a bunch for being here, Christine! ❤️

[@bethstauff587]

I love zinnias ... easy to grow from seed, but they are late summer/early fall bloomers. Don't forget to use annuals for pops of color ... pots, borders ... reasonably priced!

[@emilyretro]

Thank you for your words or wisdom! ☺️

[@NewbyCrafter-bd5vz]

I'm right there with you about gardening: that family gene (on both sides) bypassed me. Maybe try daisies for a retro addition to the flowerbed? I don't know how easy they are to grow, but they seemed to multiple like crazy every year. It was one of the flowers my mom always had in the flower bed while I was growing up. Ferns may be another low-care option that adds green to the garden. My fav item you thrifted is the yellow lidded jello mold ... looks like it could be Tupperware ... since my grandmother had one. And selling some of your personal items on Etsy seems like a great way to give your belongings a new life with a new owner to love them as much you do. :) All the best!

[@emilyretro]

Thank you for sharing and I’ll look into growing daisies since they’re my favorite flower. Great suggestion ❤️

[@brendanawesomeness]

Omg the photo albums! I also would’ve taken them all. I have a similar vintage phone book. Sadly it’s useless to me lol

[@emilyretro]

Hahahaha it sounds adorable though 🥹🤣

[@kellyrashedi2303]

I’m not a gardener, but I did plant zinnia seeds lasts year, and they were beautiful! So easy! Loved everything you thrifted.

[@emilyretro]

Yay I’m glad they’re easy, I’m gonna give them a try 😄

[@cherylswinkunas2613]

Please name the thrift stores you visit. I recognized one of them but, I don't know the others. Great finds! I love the ironing board!

[@jodisampson4508]

Great video, my favorite thing is the rooster bulletin board. I love putting roosters on top of my kitchen cupboard. I also live the ironing board! You will love gardening, its very addicting! I cant wait to get outside soon and start gardening. I too have raised beds.

[@emilyretro]

Well I hope I get addicted to gardening!!! 😂😄

[@TeresaLuna-xx4ed]

I too get overwhelmed on thinking about a garden! But I want to so bad! Love your thrift finds!!🏵🌼🌸🌻

[@emilyretro]

Thank you for validating my feelings ❤️

[@sandir945]

Oh my goodness, your joy is infectious! I want to run (not walk) to the nearest thrift store! Gosh, I love all your finds, but I have to say the ironing board is my favorite, because I remember when my mom would iron sheets and I remember using the ironing board when I sewed clothes in high school. I still have the ironing board that I have owned for as long as I can remember, but the cover is not as cool as yours!

[@emilyretro]

That’s amazing you still have the same ironing board that you’ve made all your memories with 🥹

[@6boysareus]

So fun. So glad I found you. I would’ve bought all of those photo albums. They’re cool!!!

[@emilyretro]

Yes I feel very lucky to score them 🥳

[@samwright8599]

Those photo albums are lovely, i thought, ooooo.. i could put dolly clothes in those. Xx

[@emilyretro]

Aw that’s such a cute idea!

[@emily_gross1990]

OMG, NO WAY, I cannot believe you found that framed orange rooster thing. I have one exactly like it.

[@emilyretro]

WHAT?! THATS AWESOME 🤩🤩🤩

[@THEJIG-IS-UP]

Here supporting your channel! Professor🚀Retro

[@AS-hs8yb]

The picture shown is from Heidelberg, Germany. Love all your new stuff and love watching your videos! Greetings from germany!

[@emilyretro]

THANK YOU! Germany is my bucket list destination and someday I’ll fill up that album with photos 🥹

[@robynmoffatt7968]

That church thrift store is amazing. This video was a great little adventure to the thrift that I needed while home with a newborn! No comment on gardening as this is my first year with a garden as well 😅

[@emilyretro]

THIS WILL BE OUR GARDENING YEAR, ROBYN! 👏🤣

[@lauracowman6335]

Long time gardener. I’d visit a local nursery and buy native plants to your area. I love a mix perinnials and annuals. I personally skip seeds and buy the plants. Have fun!

[@emilyretro]

I LOOOOOVE native plants and that’s a big deal to me, thanks for the encouragement ❤️

[@dianewilliams9729]

Emily!!👏🏻. Long time, no see. Always a pleasure watching and loved that church and those windows! I’ve had great success growing flowers in other locations but this house has too many deer and rabbits that make my efforts useless. I have stuck artificial flowers in pots and the deer pull them out too. I would have grabbed that ironing board…great price.

[@emilyretro]

HAHAHAHA those naughty deer even attacking fake flowers 🤣🤣🤣

[@cherylwalsh5396]

Cute stuff! Wish I had some thrift stores like yours in my area. The marigolds and zinnias sound like a good idea.

[@emilyretro]

Thanks ❤️❤️❤️

[@leanndoolin4284]

Amazing finds! Thanks for sharing. ❤

[@emilyretro]

Thanks for watching ☺️❤️

[@NilaRegenstein]

Oh yes! Etsey shop. Please so happy for you. Try cherry tomatoes 🍅 first they’ll produce first.

[@emilyretro]

Thanks for your input 😄

[@joancreekmore5754]

So glad to see you - you got some great things! That ironing board is so "you"! I would have grabbed that glass flower frog on the bowl....but I know that's not your style. Good luck with your garden!

[@emilyretro]

I was SO CLOSE to buying that and actually using it with flowers. But I felt like I wouldn’t have used it enough so I left it for someone else who will love it more. But it was beautiful!

[@ksherb100]

Love all your new stuff! You should def sell some of your old collections!!

[@emilyretro]

I really should, it would be nice to have my pieces go to loving homes 🥹

[@gardenbee22]

Love watching your videos. Gardening is so much fun . You should maybe try cherry tomatoes, zucchini and some green beans all are pretty easy to grow . Happy thifting

[@emilyretro]

Oohhhh yes zucchini I’ll look into that!! 😄

[@amandashell2633]

The albums! My MIL had the 2 floral ones, and hubby was going through her photos after she passed, took them out of the albums, and threw the albums away. 😢

[@emilyretro]

Aw how sad 😭😭😭 at least he kept the photos!

[@pamela2176]

I would love the names of the thrift store if you would share. I live in West Michigan and always looking for new spots to shop. The curler bag reminds me of my mom. She had those black prickly curlers in there with her Bobby pins. 💞

[@emilyretro]

Mission Thrift in Fennville ☺️

[@marjorierie1217]

Most definitely feel the same way about gardening as you do! And where is the church thrift store located? I'm in Michigan and would love to check it out if I'm close to it!

[@emilyretro]

Its Mission Thrift Store in Fennville ☺️

[@lajazz1]

I definitely did NOT get the green thumb. I finally had to admit it when I killed the easiest plants to grow. Yes, I even killed my succulents.

[@emilyretro]

I also kill my succulents 🤣

[@lyndenschmidt4027]

My BFF and I are doing a Michigan road trip later this year; definitely doing Holland. Can you say where the thrift store in the church is located?

[@emilyretro]

It’s Mission Thrift in Fennville which is south of Holland. Here’s my blog post on the best thrift shops in Holland/west Michigan. We have tons of great ones 😄 www.emilyretro.com/blog/best-thrift-shops-in-west-michigan

[@bethbebinger3365]

XOXO ❤

[@TraumaLlama91]

Did the third one remodel? (West Michigander here) it definitely looks less cluttered 😮

[@emilyretro]

If you mean Rustic Market in Kentwood, yes! 😄

[@christyallen4219]

Please tell a local about a new thrift store

[@emilyretro]

Mission Thrift in Fennville, MI