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This weekend I was fortunate enough to be spoiled rotten for my Birthday. (p.s. THANK-YOU for your kind words on my last post! You are too kind and you all totally made my weekend. You are all so sweet.) I'm lucky because my birthday usually lands on the MLK holiday weekend, so we usually end up going somewhere and my in-laws keep the boys. Very, very lucky. (Thanks Nana & Papa!) This year was no different. We usually end up going to Asheville, NC, or Savannah, GA. We love both places and they are only a few hours drive. But I really wanted to go somewhere new!
The problem is: There's just really not a lot of really cool places near Atlanta. We considered Nashville, TN (which is a VERY cool place, we'll save that for my next birthday maybe) and driving to the beach always seems like, well, just going to the beach. I like to save that for the summer. I love going places where I can shop.
Enter Tampa, Florida. I have never, ever considered Tampa as a place I'd want to visit. It always seemed like it would be too far away to drive! But whatya know! It's only about a 7 hour drive. Totally doable for a weekend trip! And what makes it even better? Ethan's awesome Aunt Ginger and her boyfriend Juan live there. We love them. Ethan visited there by himself a few months ago and really loved it and knew I would, too.
I told Ethan my dream trip would be to hit every flea market and antique mall on the drive down there, and we did! He's a keeper. He would sit in the car and read his Kindle.
I was totally blown away by how much VINTAGE is to be seen in Tampa! Ybor City, sort of the equivalent to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA, was really cool. Some great food and also great vintage! We went to a cool shop called La France there. I didn't get any pics but it is an a-ma-zing source of vintage clothing and accessories.
The first shop we visited though was YesterDaze and it really set the bar high, let me tell you.
Sherry, the owner, was nice enough to let me take photos of her place! She's a gem! You should run, not walk to YesterDaze if you're ever in the Tampa area.
I was eying that German dollhouse up there. She took it down for me and let me see all of the meticulously handpainted furniture and dolls inside. I decided to pass but it is a treasure. I ended up leaving with only one small group of items that I'll photograph soon.
You can tell Sherry has an incredible eye for vintage from many decades and has curated such a fabulous collection. And I of course love that she doesn't leave out the kitsch!
And the good news? If you don't live near Tampa, she has an online Etsy shop! I even noticed blogger Casey at Elegant Musings is modeling in some of the clothing listings. It's a small bloggy world. ; )
Be sure to follow YesterDaze on Facebook, Twitter and of course their Etsy shop.
I'll be back with more pics from another incredible store filled with more Mid-Century Modern furniture than I've ever seen in one place located in the very cool Saint Petersburg, right near Tampa.
Sounds like you had a great birthday! I have those same angel candle holders but in green and I love them! I put them out every Christmas.
Posted by: ana | January 17, 2012 at 04:02 PM
Wow! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday, how fun :] I want to get to that store!!
Posted by: Allison | January 17, 2012 at 04:18 PM
Oh my, what fun!! Gosh what I would do for the rainbow pitcher and glasses. Chloe is having a rainbow themed birthday this year. Great pics, Danielle!
Posted by: ArtsyMama | January 17, 2012 at 04:55 PM
I've gotten so many cute things at Yesterdaze. It's an awesome shop! Great pictures!
Posted by: Mina | January 17, 2012 at 05:13 PM
Wow, I'm so glad you did this post! We live only about 4 hours from Tampa, and my husband goes there on business every so often. Next time, I think I'll tag along!!
Posted by: corey moortgat | January 17, 2012 at 05:24 PM
wow! i would have scooped up SO many of those hats! i love antique stores so much. looks like this one was exceptionally good :)
Posted by: Abby | January 17, 2012 at 07:52 PM
Love these finds, especially the owls as well as the lufthansa gear!
Posted by: Alyssa | January 17, 2012 at 08:04 PM
awesome! we're driving from nashville to sanford florida for a wedding and i was looking for places to stop. looks like tampa will be perfect!
Posted by: rae | January 18, 2012 at 03:34 AM
What a super fun shop! Holy cow I would spend all day in there.
Posted by: Thrifty Vintage Kitten | January 18, 2012 at 07:06 AM
oh that dollhouse would have called to me as well :) i've been dying to get one (or build one) to furnish and decorate. alas, my tiny apartment means..... no dollhouse. for now.
thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!
Posted by: Karen | January 18, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Wow, heaven! Wishing you a belated Happy Birthday :)
Posted by: AngieK | January 18, 2012 at 06:26 PM
too.many.great.things! my head is going to explode! gah!
Posted by: robbie | January 19, 2012 at 04:26 PM
I'm so glad you got to visit Yesterdaze and blog about it. I lived in Tampa for two short but significant years and I loved going to that store, and it was an excuse to go up to a part of town that I liked. Happy birthday and happy shopping!
Posted by: Beth Freniere | January 23, 2012 at 10:49 PM