Disney Haul: Thrift Store Edition

I have purchased plenty of Disney products in my life, and have done a slew of Disney Hauls this past year. This haul is different from my previous shopping experiences though, and it might be my favorite. The story behind this begins probably close to three years ago now. My mom, looking for something for a project she was working on, went into a thrift shop in town. I curmudgeonly waited in the car, not feeling up to joining her. When she came back out though, she had something truly magical for me in her hands; a perfect condition Disneyland tea cup. 

Knowing what a big Disney fan I am, especially of more classic and retro designs, the image on the cup was absolute perfection to me. Together, we also have quite a few tea cups and saucers, so this was an amazing addition to our little collection. I thought it was such an amazing find (at only $1.50!) that I am still shocked about to this day. It has become my “special” cup that I am very protective of. Whenever I need a little bit of joy or long to go to Disneyland, I use it as a way to feel a bit of that Disney pixie dust. When I see other Disney mugs or cups, I now always tell my mom “it can’t beat that teacup you found!”.

I couldn’t really manage to ever find when this cup was originally sold, but I would be very interested to find out. It certainly has a vintage look to it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is terribly old. The fact that it was made in Japan may signal that it is on the older side, since that isn’t as commonly found on teacups anymore. I have other old teacups that I was given or bought from a charity shop in town, and quite a few were made in Japan as well. When I see cups in the stores today, they are usually made in China. The logo on the bottom also looks much more dated than the current Disney Parks designs.

The graphic on the teacup is a pretty design of the Sleeping Beauty Castle that can be found at Disneyland. There is gold trim along the rim of the cup and down the handle as well as on the saucer. “Disneyland” is also nicely printed in gold, and most of all, the gold has held up well and isn’t disappearing or slowly rubbing off. This means it was very underused, or, hopefully, pretty good quality. The shape of the cup is also nice, and holds a small serving of tea.

Since the discovery of this cup, I have had it in my mind to go looking for Disney items, but just haven’t managed to get myself to do it. It made me think that old Disney Parks merchandise or other old Disney treasures could easily be out there, especially given how so many people visit the parks in their lifetime and buy Disney items for their children. Finally, I took the time on a recent weekend to track down any finds, and it ended up being a very successful shopping trip!

This collection of items came from going to only two thrift stores, which I think was a pretty big score considering there could have very easily been nothing of interest that day.

The first item I found was this set of drinking glasses. I found them on a low shelf, and couldn’t believe it at first that I had found something very Disney. I bent down to pick one up, and knew they were an exciting find. I quickly saw that they looked to be from McDonalds and that they were in great condition. As I looked at the next glass, I saw that they represented the four Disney World parks. After I brought them home, I looked them up it appears that they came from 2002 during a “100 Years of Magic” promotion. There were only four designs available, so it was pretty awesome to find the complete set. The glasses are very sturdy and I really like the different color combos that they each have. They are also filled with a variety of characters and various facts about Disney characters or attractions in the park that the glass corresponds to (some being a bit outdated, but that just makes them vintage now:) ) Each mug was priced at $1.99.

Hollywood Studios (which would have been MGM Studios when this was released) featuring the now extinct Sorcerer's Hat. 

Animal Kingdom, with the Tree of Life at the center.

Epcot, with the symbolic Spaceship Earth.

…and finally Magic Kingdom with the towering Cinderella Castle!

My second find at that same shop was a Disney jug. I thought it looked quite cool alongside the drinking glasses, and again, was in great condition. It only features Mickey, Minnie, and Donald (Poor Goofy and Daisy!), but I like how simple the graphics are. I often wish that Disney sold more basic things like this, that weren’t full of lame text or sometimes odd takes on classic characters. There isn’t any information on the jug about where it came from, except for a standard copyright symbol alongside the Disney name. I always keep a glass jug filled with water in the fridge, so I think I will eventually be using this for that. This was priced at $3.99.

At my second thrift shop I first found this Bambi Little Golden Book for $1. I have seen this book currently in the stores, but it looked to be in close to perfect condition, so I figured for a dollar, it was a good deal. The drawings are beautiful and you can’t go wrong with a classic story like Bambi (as sad as it is at times).

Finally, and maybe the biggest shock of all, was finding this Max and Goofy toy! Now, this may look pretty lame to some, but this was beyond perfect for me. Max and Goofy are a duo that meant so much to me as a kid. A Goofy Movie was also my favorite movie for so many years (and is still in my top favorites). The silly thing is, I know I had this toy as a child, and I possibly do still in my old toy box that is packed away, but I couldn’t pass up getting it. It originally comes from Burger King during a Kid’s Club toy collection featuring “Goofy and Max’s Adventures.” Considering it is from the early 90s, it is in very good condition. It always thought it was a bath toy, because it is quite squishy and also has a hole in Goofy’s hat where water can squirt out. I was so excited to find this, and I think it was strangely meant for me. The toy was just sitting on a ledge of the small toy section of the thrift shop, with no price tag. I brought it up to purchase, and the worker told me it probably came out of a Zip Lock bag of toys. She gave it to me for 99 cents, but I thought it was so odd how it was just waiting there for me to find it.

After everything got a good wash in the sink, I was pretty thrilled with what I came away with. I would like to continually see if I can come upon other treasures like this and am hoping to start a plan of cycling through the different thrift stores in town. You never know what you can find, and when that perfect item will be dropped off from someone and waiting to find a new home.

Snack Taste Test: The Return of Oreo O’s

My favorite store-bought snacks as a kid were Dunkaroos and Oreo O’s. A couple years ago I came across a small row of Dunkaroos in the cookie and cracker aisle at Walmart. Shocked, I had to buy a box. I had heard that Canada still had the product, but I don’t know how or why they randomly ended up at the store I was in. I was so excited to have a box in my possession. When I peeled up the plastic to access the treat, the smell hit me. It was just as yummy as I remembered, with the cinnamon graham cookies, and the best part, the vanilla frosting with rainbow sprinkles. The flavor combo is such a distinct memory of my childhood. I have never spotted Dunkaroos anywhere since that day though. 

So, while I have had Dunkaroos in my life somewhat recently (and, albeit, very briefly), it has been over a decade since I have had the delicious taste of my other favorite childhood snack food item, Oreos O’s. True Oreo O’s fans know that the cereal has been available in South Korea for many years (and super fans may have even managed to get their hands on a box), but the majority of us haven’t had the cereal since it went off the American grocery shelves in 2007.

1998 Oreo O’s box and a box of Dunkaroos

I was pretty devastated at the time when I realized their departure from grocery shelves, because they were reliably my favorite. Not only are Oreo O’s a delicious snack as a cereal with milk, but they are also quite tasty just simply out of the box. I wasn’t really allowed, or super interested, in most of the really “sugary” cereals back then, but my mom would let me get Oreo O’s every so often because she knew how much I loved them and that I would actually eat it all.

When Oreo O’s were announced to return, I was truly both shocked and completely thrilled. It seemed like a long time coming (and the box even states “the highly anticipated return”). I couldn’t wait to see if they were still as good as the kid-version of me thought they were, and also prayed they wouldn’t be a let down.

The cereal is only available a Walmart for the first three months, so it should be in other stores sometime in September. I made a trip to Walmart, hoping they would be in store, and was greeted with a huge display outside of the cereal aisle. I power walked over to get my hands on one!

For those unfamiliar, the cereal is “Oreo cookie bits and a crème coating” combined to create a crunchy and chocolaty bite. 

Price: $3.98

Box: Firstly, the box is huge, which is a plus if you are a fan who has waited a long time for it. If you just want to try it though and aren’t sure if you will like it, the large box size might be a deterrent. Once the cereal is available in more stores though, it will probably come in a smaller size. Between my mom and I though, we have already made it through an entire box. The design on the box is a bit different than the original, and focuses on the “return” as well as Oreo fun facts, but it still contains the spirit of the original.

Smell: The smell is just what I remember. For me it is very distinct memory of the chocolatey sweetness, with a hint of cream. They don’t smell quite the same as opening a box of Oreo cookies, but do create a very distinct cookies and cream waft. 

Look/shape: The “O” shape of the cereal is a bumpy circle with little white specks throughout. They have a dusty charcoal color straight out of the box, but once milk is poured on them they turn more of dark black like the wafer cookie of an Oreo. 

Taste: The taste is chocolatey, but not the type of chocolate you would find in other cereals like Cocoa Pebbles or Cocoa Puffs. Your milk will not turn into chocolate milk with this, (just filled with sweet little bits of cookies and cream!). It is perfectly crunchy (not too hard and not too crumbly), and the little specks of cream bring the flavor together with a touch of extra sweetness. It doesn’t get super soggy right away when milk is added, which is also a plus. It tastes like a crunchy Oreo cookie, without being too dense. I always prefer the cookie of an Oreo to the cream, and this cereal has more of the taste of the cookie than loads of cream. Altogether, the taste is delicious and memorable! Even my mom, who doesn’t remember ever having tried the cereal, really enjoyed these. 

Overall, the return of Oreo O’s is exactly what I was wishing for, and tasted just like I remembered. Before I finished up my first box, I grabbed another while they were still readily available. When I got my second box at Walmart, the large display of them was gone and there were only three boxes remaining on a shelf in the normal cereal aisle. I hope this is a sign that they are successful. I am keeping my second box safe and unopened for a while just in case they become hard to find. I hope these continue to stick around for a while, so I don’t have to start a stockpile of these and wait another 10 years for them to return. Now, where are the Dunkaroos?

A Look Around: My Makeup Bag

A few months ago I shared a look at my bulletin board. My bulletin board is one of my favorite things in my room, and something I enjoy looking at it whenever I need a moment of inspiration. It is present around me every day, and is a great way to show off what I like and display favorite moments or memories. Another thing that shows off personality and that I use every day is my makeup. While I keep it quite simple, I wanted to share what I keep inside it. During the past year or so, I have come upon some favorite items that I have repurchased and kept in my daily routine. Let’s take a look inside!

Beginning with the bag itself, what I store my makeup in is actually one of my favorite bags I own because of the Mulan design. I found this bag about two years ago in a clearance section at Walgreens. I couldn’t believe that they had my favorite Disney princess, since she can be pretty hard to find. Along with Mulan, they also had Pocahontas and Ariel. The collection was called “Dare to Dream,” and not only did I love the princesses they featured, I loved the watercolor images on the products. They had a selection of small and larger bags from the brand SOHO, as well as nail polish, lip balm, and makeup palettes. Because they were all on clearance, at 50% off or higher, I ended up getting the large Mulan clutch bag and two small rounded bags featuring Ariel and Pocahontas (they are perfect for holding little accessories or taking on trips!). I then went back and got the final small bag with Mulan for a friend who also loves Mulan (her dog unfortunately got a hold of that bag this winter though, and now it is gone. RIP small Mulan bag). Inside each bag also features a nice pattern with the silhouette of the princess, with the Mulan bag also containing a pocket. This bag have stayed in great condition so far, and I hope to keep it for many more years. 

Inside my bag, I keep a basic set of makeup brushes and tools. I found the set I am currently using at Hot Topic. While it isn’t fancy or super high-quality, it achieves what it is supposed to do. I personally don’t need too many tools to work with, and I have been able to keep this set clean and in good shape.

After taking out my bag, I always start my routine by using the Trader Joe’s “Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion” on my face. I have been using this lotion for quite a few years now, and like it because it is light, fragrance free, and affordable. Just a small squeeze is enough to use all over my face, and helps keep my skin soft and more fresh. 

I then like to apply some lip balm, with EOS being my favorite. I have tried many of the scents available, and always manage to use up all of the balm. The current scent I have is called “Fresh Grapefruit with SPF 30,” which just might be my favorite. Before this one, my favorite was the “Sweet Mint,” but there is something extra moisturizing and fresh about this one. The SPF is also a plus. The “egg” style isn’t always my favorite to carry along with me though, so it works perfectly by being in my makeup bag. I am getting low on this, and plan to repurchase soon. 

After moisturizing my face and lips, I then go to my eyes. I start by putting on a small dot of eyeshadow primer. I have tried probably three brands, and my favorite is definitely the NYX “Proof It!”. I like that it is so light, and almost refreshing, on the eyelids. Plus, it is very easy to swipe on with the applicator and so silky to rub into the skin. I currently also have this product from Wet n Wild, which isn’t quite as good as the NYX one, but does the job. Since there is no applicator, you have to squeeze out a bit instead of directly being able to apply it onto your eyelid. The consistency is more thick and not as light either. Once on the lids though, I don’t notice it, which is important since you don’t want it to feel heavy on your skin. 

Next up is my eyeliner, which I usually choose in a brown color. Eyeliner is something I always use, but never feel confident in my application. I try to just draw a soft line along the bottom of my lid, and slightly smudge it. I have purchased this Essence “Long Lasting Eye Pencil” in hot chocolate many times in the past few years, because it is affordable, soft, and does the job well.

Now it is on to the main product, eyeshadow. My biggest purchase ever on a makeup item was for the Too Faced “Chocolate Bar.” I am not into the trend of these never-ending expensive eyeshadow palettes, but I bought this for $30, instead of the usual $50 (and it also came with two lip products!). I felt that it was a great deal to try a product I was interested in. The “chocolate” aspect definitely intrigued me, and the colors seemed pretty practical. Since I mostly stick with nudes, browns, and golds (anything else I never seem to make work), this palette had a lot of potential. I have had it for a year now, and so far I have gotten a lot of use out of it. The formula has held up well, and is comfortable on the eyelids. The cocoa scent is also a plus! I have definitely stuck to the lower left corner colors though (with “Hazelnut,” “Creme Brûlée,” and “Semi-Sweet” being my most-used colors), and don’t think I will manage to use much of the remaining colors once I run out of those. I am not very good at successfully blending, so I tend to stick with one color on the eyelid, and maybe a swipe of something else above it. I do enjoy this product, but I don’t think I would necessarily repurchase, as I would want to try something different.

Along with my larger eyeshadow palette, I also have a smaller one from Maybelline called “TruNaked Nudes.” I initially purchased this with a coupon intending to use it just for traveling. Since I don’t travel too much though, I moved it to my main makeup bag so I could get more use out of it before it gets too old. The formula is more powdery than I would prefer, but I am very fond of a few of the center colors, and have been using them more than my Chocolate Bar as of late. 

To finish up my eyes, I use the Covergirl “Clump Crusher” mascara in black. I find that most mascaras don’t stay super nice for too long, but this one has worked quite well for what I am looking for. For the first few weeks the clumping is very minimal and the brush applicator works well to add the right amount of mascara easily. I like that it is easy to separate the lashes and keep them not overly thick and full of gloopy mascara. While eventually the clumping control isn’t as great, this is one of the more successful mascaras I have used. This is my third tube of this product, and I will most likely buy it again.

Next up, I use my favorite BB cream, Covergirl “Clean Matte” in fair. This has been my go-to ever since I first tried it a year ago. I’m not normally very fond of matte products because they tend to be more noticeable and uncomfortable on my skin, but this product is light and not cakey. It blends well and I don’t need much for it to cover effectively. Since it is a BB cream, it doesn’t necessarily conceal any blemishes super well, but I like the simplicity of it and it adds just enough coverage for me. 

To finish up my makeup routine, I add some blush to my cheeks. I have been using the Physicians Formula “Mineral Glow Pearls Blush” in rose pearl for a while now, and have really liked it. It was my first Physicians Formula product, and I would buy a blush from them again. Not surprisingly, my lid has cracked off at the hinge, but other than that it has stayed in nice condition. This product does come with a flat brush in a bottom compartment, but I use my regular brush instead. I like the pearl aspect a lot, because it brings just a tinge of sparkle to the cheeks. For me, the blush really pulls the finished makeup look together, and it is my favorite part to add on to my face.

I also have a few highlighters, that I honestly just use as a bit of a bronze glow occasionally, since I have no skills in the highlighting department. Both are maybe a bit too dark for my very light skin, but it is nice to have another option apart from the blush. This ColourPop and Wet n Wild highlighter both work quite well as an eyeshadow!

While my makeup bag isn’t packed full of items, I like having a pretty compact collection of makeup. Essentially, I try to go for a natural look that freshens up a few spots, making me feel more put-together and ready to take on the day. I like lip products the most, so after finishing up my roughly 5 minute routine, I then choose a lip stick or gloss to take with me for the day. As I have slowly found some favorite items, I can keep the reliable basics, while being able to switch up items like blush, eye shadow, and lip color.