Besides it being the most glorious weather ever in San Francisco (blue skies! sunny! no wind!), today started off especially bright with an estate-sale-ing trip with Rebecca. I've done a fair share of thrifting and antiquing over the past few years (including amazing hauls at the World's Longest Yardsale) but I've just been itching to try some estate sales.

Rebecca is a pro and has it down to a science, including what kind of bags to bring, what hard-core estate salers to avoid and how to quickly scout out an entire house for the best stuff. She'd researched our three stops for the morning. The first two were 'meh'--we each left with a few things but nothing to write home about.

Stop three was on Lawton and we found a winner. The best part of an estate sale is that you get to walk around someone's home and get to know them a little; the things you surround yourself with and keep really do tell a story about your life. In this case, it was an Irish couple named Tom and Margaret O'Malley who loved fur, gambling and were obviously in love with each other.

I always make it a point to stop by the cards section no matter where I am--I love the handwritten notes, the old postage stamps and the vintage art and have collected quite a few that I use to decorate or just enjoy. At this home, I had the added benefit of reading their love story as captured on lovely cards from the 1950s. 'Magee' wrote sweet notes to her Tom for just about every occasion: thank yous, birthdays, 'have a swell trip' (really? I didn't know they made vacation cards but I totally snapped this one up since it had cats on it (Tom Call favorite!) and was about wishing a 'purr-fect' trip), and last but not least a St. Patrick's Day card. The best part about the St. Patrick's card was that she referenced giving him a an Irish St. Paddy's tie. Guess who also happened to score an amazing green tie with the tag on it from the UK?! I'd like to think I scored the entire St. Patrick's Day gift from Magee. (Thanks to Rebecca for finding that card and surrendering it to me). Also noteworthy is the gambling card--Rebecca also noticed one of those giant vanity checks that Tom had apparently won in a gambling tournament so the theme on that card above seems quite fitting. See? Stories in your stuff.

Reading all the letters increased my resolve to both write more notes to loved ones, as well as keep all those I receive. And to live a good story full of love.

I also did find one other amazing treasure that just conveniently happened to be labeled 'To Tom. Best Wishes. From Vanna White.' Happy early birthday, to my Tom. ;)