I Brake for Yard Sales: And Flea Markets, Thrift Shops, Auctions, and the Occasional Dumpster

The pointers that Lara Spencer offered in this book are simplified rules for thrift...ing. I love all these shopping venues. As a senior citizen, I can ask for additional discounts.

I" Brake for Yard Sales "is not only inspirational, but shows how shopping at thrift stores,yard sales, and estate sales can transform our homes with class and style. I agree that the bookdoes not explain how to refinish wood or upholster a chair...there are books that teach us thoseskills. This is by far my favorite of this style book. It helps me look for just the right things whichin turn guided me to a $16.00 oil painting which turns out to be painted by a well known Paris streetpainter in the mid 1900s worth $2,000. I cleaned both frame and painting, and it's wonderful. Thank you Laura Spencer for your creating your two great books.

Best secrets to do great with yard sale buying.

Finally this book arrived!! I ordered it on Amazon over a week ago with my Prime 2 day delivery and I almost cancelled the order and drove to my nearest book store to search for it because after having watched the HGTV special, by the same name as the book, I was hooked. The book is wonderful. I'm a huge fan of Johnathan Adler (he's in the book too), so that might give you some insight into why I love this so much. Lara's interiors are so colorful and full of life. Patterns abound! The fact that she manages to do all this without breaking the bank is just proof that you don't need to have tons of money to make a beautiful home. I loved that she included the prices on items throughout the book and that at the back of the book there is a list by state of consignment, antique and flea markets to check out. This book is full of inspirational, beautiful pictures. And I love that it's in paperback, it makes it a lot easier to handle and curl up with.

I could hardly wait to get this book in my hands and once I did I couldn't put it down. I saw the last few minutes of her recent appearance on Rachel Ray where she talked about her design skills and this book. I absolutely love doing what she does in this book. it was great hearing her tips and ideas and suggestions about how to do it better. Most of what I do is for personal use but to do it for someone else would just be too fun. My degree in Interior Design is helpful in knowing furniture designs and designers. She points out why this is important. Another tip would be to find a good upholsterer in my area or to learn how to do some of it myself. I would love to go shopping her and use her budget. She also has some great websites in the book. If you love the thrill of the hunt and finding treasures that will feed your soul this would be a great book for you to read. Enjoy!

She is very creative in her own right and has made some astonishing creations from her finds.I remember seeing a GMA show where she showed furniture items she had done for people on GMA. I love her and her creativity.

I really enjoy Lara Spencer on Good Morning America. She is fresh, funny, and stylish. So when she was promoting this book over the summer, I knew I wanted it. I love me a good bargain or garage sale, and I was hoping for a good manual full of tips and tricks that I could apply to my own life.The book is full of nice photographs, and Lara's writing style is witty and fun. I enjoyed looking through it when I first received it. But honestly? I haven't picked it up off the shelf since that first read through. I found the layout to be pretty sporadic and just kind of....weird. Sort of like if a book had attention deficit disorder. Thoughts seem to jump around and it's just not very cohesive.I also found the tips, tricks, and ideas to be just a tad too far from my taste to be applicable to me. There are some ideas that I may use in the future, but overall the book is just okay. Beautiful to look at, but lacking in substance.

This book caught my eye because I love to go to thrift shops, estate sales, garage sales and have been known to pick something off from the curb that someone is throwing out. I have to admit I didn't like Lara Spencer (hated when they used to give a rundown of how much her outfit cost on The Insider) but I have really come to like her. I don't think I learned anything new, but it definitely inspired me. Just today I went to a Goodwill store and bought a 4 panel peacock lacquered picture, and as I was deciding whether or not to purchase it, I was thinking of Lara's words saying that if you really like something, just buy it. I bought it, and am going to hang it in my dining room (btw it cost $49). This book has sooo gotten my creative side flowing again...definitely worth buying!!!!

I enjoyed this - the author's pleasure saling is very evident and she does some great things with what she buys, so lots of great eye candy. Doesn't get 5 stars simply because she spends quite a bit getting professionals doing her things up so her style if quite hard to emulate, but it's a fun read.

Loved this book. Lara is super creative and the suggestions she makes are amazing. I but lots of this kind of book and I would say this is the best I have ever run across.

introductory levelNo deep knowledge provided

Lara sends you on a great journey. She also teaches you about what to look for a flea markets, estate sales, auctions, etc...I recommend this book to anyone who loves flea marketing.

Loved the commentary and pics were bright and beautiful.