She Hunts Op Shops

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She Hunts Op Shops

Howdy! I live in Ōtepoti - Dunedin, New Zealand, with my husband Sean and our pixie girl Francesca. Niche? It’s a wild, stinky, satisfying ride.

Im Anna ✨
from Ōtepoti ❤️
Aotearoa / New Zealand
here you’ll find things like
op shop love
treasure hunting 🕺
mental health 🌙
photography 🔹
nature & forests 🌴
mum life 💕
flowers🌻
& other interesting things✨
like owning a poo business 🙈
welcome 🧡 I’m Anna — and I LOVE to op shop 🌻

Photography is stitched into my soul — I’ve run my own creative, boho-style business Pixie Rouge Photography for over

a decade now. Together, we roam the countryside in search of joy — staying in forest cabins, exploring dusty curio shops, and unearthing vintage treasures — while I document the magic and share it all with you. Totally. 🌴

I create Treasure Hunting & Forest Escape Guides — part travel journal, part op shop oracle — and they’re pretty unique (and very cool). You can find them at www.shehuntsopshops.com

Oh, and we also run Awamoa Portaloos 💩
Yep — portaloos, showers, septic tank cleaning, grease traps, and more. We service the lower South Island of NZ with rubber gloves, a good playlist, and questionable snacks.

09/07/2025

Hey fellow mums & dads..
Help a sockless sister out 🧦😂

Gone are the days
when I could dress Frankie like this 💛
We loved our wool - until we didn't,
I love her style now she's getting older!
She's so cool and chooses her own clothes, always kinda has 🙂🕺
but we are looking for sensory clothing advice and would love some suggestions.

Anyone else have a child
who is super fussy about clothing textures?
Our beautiful daughter
is often sensitive to fabric.
Itchy textures? Hard no.
Seams in socks? Pure evil.
Scratchy tags? Instant meltdown.
Writing on the toes of socks?
Apparently a personal attack 😂

When we lived in Melbourne, secondhand clothes were everywhere in the ops, high quality, soft, sensory-friendly treasures in every op shop. I used to find the most beautiful pieces for her, and honestly, I miss it so much I could cry.

But since moving to the
bottom of the world
(hi from the deep south of NZ 👋)
it’s been a mission.
I still hunt secondhand first, but finding sensory-friendly clothes for Frankie in the ops down south - has been HARD.

So I’m reaching out — does anyone know of any sustainable, sensory-friendly kids’ clothing brands in Aotearoa?
Especially for socks,
un**es & leggings?! 🧦🙏
We’ve tried all the usual department stores and none of them feel right for her.

Honestly, someone please invent
spray-on socks ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Until then… hit me up with your sensory-friendly brand recs, mum hacks, or local leads. We’re all ears (and bare feet) 💛🕺✨

Please tag places in the comments 👇🙋🏼‍♀️
if you know of any brands or products so others can also find solace 🥲
I know Im not alone in this one 🕺🕺🕺

And would you LOOK at this photo
of her and her little mate Jax
having some sweet love in the forest! 🌳
I’ll treasure it forever and ever and ever!

07/07/2025

✨TREASURE ALERT ✨

I stumbled across this
wildly eclectic treasure trove
yesterday and had to pull over!
The Boat Shed Antiques 🕺
housed in an old actual church ♥️
is an absolute rabbit hole of memories, madness, and magic 🧺⚱️🧸

Owned by John (a self-confessed lifelong hoarder and sporting memorabilia wizard), this place is packed with everything from vintage toys and tins to rugby gear, Olympic replicas, cricket figurines, cowboy hats, and framed photos galore.

It’s part treasure store, part museum, part fever dream – and somehow, it all works.

Honestly, it felt like stepping into a time capsule curated by a man who’s lived nine lives and collected something fabulous from each one 🤠

✨ Whitehaven Street, Lawrence
⏰ Open Wed–Sun
(but check first, it’s gloriously unpredictable, like all good vintage emporiums) 🙂

Highly recommend a wander
if you’re passing through this
quirky gold rush town
but clear your schedule,
you’ll be in there a while

05/07/2025

Tāhuna / Queenstown,
you wild alpine beauty ⛰️❄️💙
We came for a break…
and fell headfirst into wonder.
Snowy mountains, op-shopped ski gear, overflowing septic phone calls
taken mid-gondola ride 😂
Frankie discovered ice skating ⛸️
(and squishies).
Sean and I remembered
what exhaling feels like.
And I...
Well, I dipped in a lake
surrounded by snow.
Because of course I did 🕺✨

Each photo has its own little tale…
So instead of squeezing it all in here
scroll on through,
Feel the love, the cold, the magic,
And the chaos we call a family holiday 🥰

💫💨
She’s wild.
She’s magic.
She’s freezing.
And we love her.

Wellspace
Driftaway Queenstown
Queenstown NZ

Queenstown Lakes District Council

04/07/2025

It’s never easy getting a photo
of all three of us! 🙈

As a photographer mum,
whipping out the camera is usually met
with groans, eye rolls…
and dramatic sighs 😂
Plus, I’ve kind of stepped back
from photography these past few years,
even family selfies have been rare.

But today, walking around
the breathtaking Moke Lake
in Queenstown, I had my tripod,
found a little spot,
set up the phone… and LOOK ♥️

This is the shot I got.
And when I popped it onto my computer
and saw it properly — I cried 🥲

I love my family so much.
You two mean everything to me.
I love you both with my whole heart.

Love,
Mama 💛

* I cant wait to share all the photos from our Queenstown trip, we've had the most wild adventures so far!
Sean and I even swam in the 3deg lake under the snow capped Remarkables yesterday evening in the blistering wind and rain!
We are - absolutely nuts! 💥🙋🏼‍♀️🙈
❄️🏔️⛄️
More to follow....

02/07/2025

Behold!
An ode to the unsung heroes
of the op shop aisle…
Not the frocks. Not the fancy teacups.
No, no — I’m talking about the real stars.

🌟 The jar of nails for two freaking dollars
(That would cost you your dignity and a small mortgage at Bunnings)
🌟 The interior paint brushes that still have their bristles intact!
And not a crusty fleck in sight.
For a crisp fiver.

This… this is the hardware section
that sings - gold!!
Not hums. Not whispers.
SINGS.

🎶 A chorus of forgotten screws,
curtain hooks, bolts in jars
All whispering, “We’re useful, dammit!” 🎶

So next time you wander the aisles,
Don’t just chase vintage denim
or novelty mugs ✨
Bow down to the DIY gods in aisle four.
And remember: $2 for a jar of nails?!
That’s basically spiritual.

02/07/2025

Currently soaking up a much-needed holiday in Queenstown 🥲🦚
And for the first time in years,
Sean and I actually slept
through the night…
No fear dreams. Just rest. ⭐️

We haven’t completely switched off 🙈
(I took a booking for an overflowing septic tank while riding a gondola up a mountain 😂🙋🏼‍♀️)
But still… we’re relaxing ☺️

Frankie is thriving with our little
colouring project 🥲
And check out those Jasan art pencils
🕺72 of them!
Brand new for $10 from a church fair.

Winning. 💫🎨🖍️

We are staying at Driftaway,
wicked cool!
Wow 🕺🦚🌸
They even printed our colouring
project for us! Yay 🙌

Driftaway Queenstown

* see comments for a snippet bit of footage of the view from our room!!!! ⭐️🙂😀
It’s Remarkable 🏔️

30/06/2025

✨ I turned some of our favourite photos into colouring pages for Frankie and I to do together while we’re on holiday in Queenstown 💕🖍️

Because why just take the memories with you… when you can colour them in too 🎨
ChatGPT magic + a bit of whimsy
makes the cutest little holiday project ever.

How cute are these!? 😭🧡
Can’t wait to see how Frankie
brings them to life 💫

Its totally free ⭐️
Just ask ChatGPT ✨
Im addicted and will print hundreds 🕺

A friend of mine sent me one of these and inspired me to do the same ♥️
Thanks Kate!!! ✨
I love you 🥲

29/06/2025

Lots of questions and messages
about my elderberry syrup
and fermented garlic potions 🌸
so here’s a little magic 101 for you
✨🧄🫙💜

⸻

💜 ELDERBERRY SYRUP

I brew this beauty with elderberries, mānuka honey, ginger, cloves and rosemary.
It’s our go-to during cold + flu season (or when we’ve had too many late nights and not enough veggies 🫠).
Antiviral, antioxidant, immune-boosting goodness in every spoonful.

⸻

💜 ELDERBERRY
Packed with antioxidants, elderberry can help fight colds, soothe inflammation, and support the immune system. It’s especially rich in vitamin C and iron.

🍯 MĀNUKA HONEY
A natural antibacterial superstar. It soothes sore throats, supports gut health, and gives your immune system a little extra love.

🌿 CLOVES
Great for respiratory support, cloves are warming, anti-inflammatory, and full of antioxidants.

🫚 GINGER
Soothes upset tummies, helps with inflammation, and supports immunity. Also gives a lovely warming zing!

🌿 ROSEMARY
Known for boosting memory and easing congestion. It’s also naturally antimicrobial and smells amazing.

⸻

🌟 TOGETHER?
This syrup becomes a:
✨ Cold + flu remedy
✨ Immune booster
✨ Respiratory soother
✨ Gut tonic
✨ Warm, nourishing winter potion (with a hint of forest witch)

⸻

WHERE DO I GET THE ELDERBERRIES?
It depends on where you live — but here are a few options:

💊 Health Stores or Pharmacopoeias: Some stock dried elderberries in the herbal or tea section. Just ask!

🌿 Foraging: If you’re lucky enough to have elder trees nearby (and you know what you’re doing), you can forage them when in season — just make sure you’re harvesting safely and ethically.

📦 Online: Many herbal suppliers sell them dried and food-grade. Just search for “dried elderberries NZ” and check for good reviews.

⸻

🧄 FERMENTED GARLIC IN HONEY

Raw garlic slowly ferments in honey over time, mellowing into sweet, tangy, gut-loving gold.
We eat it straight, drizzle it on toast or mix it into dressings.
It’s great for immunity, digestion, and terrifying vampires 🧛‍♂️

⸻

🧄 GARLIC
Raw garlic is a natural antibiotic, full of compounds like allicin that help fight infections and support the immune system.

🍯 RAW HONEY
Antibacterial, antiviral, and soothing for sore throats. It’s also a prebiotic — great for gut health.

🧪 FERMENTATION MAGIC
When you mix raw garlic with raw honey and let it sit, it slowly ferments. This mellows the garlic, boosts its benefits, and creates a sweet, tangy, immune-loving syrup.

⸻

🌟 WHY WE LOVE IT
✨ Fights off bugs (the cold kind, not the garden kind)
✨ Supports digestion and gut health
✨ Helps with sore throats and inflammation
✨ Tastes way better than it sounds — promise

⸻

🌿 These are not cure-alls.
But they are ancient, evidence-backed
little helpers that make us feel nourished, connected to the seasons,
and just a little bit witchy ⭐️

Links to each recipe 👇🕺

* see previous post for a reel
on how I make them too ⭐️

ELDERBERRY SYRUP ✨

https://www.shehuntsopshops.com/elderberry-syrup-recipe

FERMENTED GARLIC ✨

https://www.shehuntsopshops.com/fermented-garlic

27/06/2025

✨ A Matariki gift for my love ✨

I found this Lindauer piece
on Facebook Marketplace
and knew it was meant for Sean 🌼
He’s always been drawn to Māori art
Spent hours immersed in the
Lindauer exhibition in Tāmaki Makaurau,
feeling everything 🥲

Lately, his souls been heavy.
So for the first ever indigenous
public holiday - Matariki
celebrated in the world 🕺♥️✨
Frankie and I gifted him this art.

To remind him
That we’re here.
That Ōtepoti is our home now.
That he belongs.
That we do, too. ⭐️

We love you so much Sean ✨

(Also how good is that yellow velvet curtain backdrop?! She’s vibing.)

ps…

Thanks to these kind folk of Ōamaru…

Jacquie – thank you for picking him up on the side of the road the other day and offering him a ride 🥲
He often walks back alone after dropping off the trucks, and I’m not always there to scoop him up — I can’t thank you enough for stopping. Truly. 🥲🥲🥲

Vince – thank you for your generous offering yesterday, to give us a moment to breathe and relax next week ⭐️

Shane – thank you for your kind words of acknowledgement to Sean ⭐️
It meant more than you know.

When Sean told me about these three gestures yesterday,
I was a full-blown, blubbering mess.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. 🙂

pps…

These three probably won’t see this love I’ve proclaimed for them 🥲
but you have.
And that’s the way it works, folks.
✨ Put love out there. 🌸

27/06/2025

Did op shops…
accidentally create a vibe?! 🙋🏼‍♀️🙈🕺

Now, these two glorious creatures
you see here
some of you may recognise them.
Others? May not be familiar.

These… are what some might call:
✨ hipsters. ✨

But listen,
I don’t believe we woke up one day
and chose this look.
No no no.
We didn’t walk into a shop
with a Pinterest board and say:
“Yes, today I’ll be ironically nostalgic.” 🙈

He’s wearing that shirt
because he found it at the op shop.
* well I found it for him 😅
Those boots?
They were meant for him.
And by some wild op-shop alignment…
he stumbled across them.

And that coat I’m wearing?
I didn’t go to the mall searching for it.
It found me — at Savers. 💃🏼

That’s the power of secondhand:
It’s not fast.
It’s not curated.
It’s earned.

You don’t just shop.
You hunt.

And when you find that piece?
Ohhhhhh, it becomes sacred.
You’ll stop a stranger in the street
just to say:

“Thanks! It was $3. I found it in Waimate.”

✨ And for what it’s worth,
I only ever own two pairs of shoes.
Not as a statement,
just because… that’s all I need.
I buy quality, I wear them hard,
I mend them till I can't,
then, and only then, I buy another pair.
On average?
One new pair every three years.
That’s slow, intentional fashion.
That’s love 🧡

25/06/2025

💛 NICU 💛
Volunteering & Why I Gave Back

When I was 15, I had cancer. And ever since, I carried a quiet hope to one day give back, especially to children and families walking through hard seasons.

When I was pregnant with Frankie. I spent five weeks on hospital bed rest due to a rare condition called Vasa Previa. Then, when she was born five weeks early, she spent two more weeks in the NICU.

Vasa previa is a super rare pregnancy complication (about 1 in 2,500 pregnancies in Australia) where fetal blood vessels run across or near the cervix, unprotected. If labour begins naturally, those vessels can rupture and if you’re not within 5mins of an operating room, its fatal
putting baby and mama at serious risk.
✨ That’s why most vasa previa babies are delivered around 5 weeks early by planned c-section, before labour can start.

The love and care we received during that time in NICU after frankie was born absolutely blew us away. Sean and I were held so tenderly by the nurses in the NICU ward, and I knew right then:
this is where I wanted to give back.

I had already worked for years in maternity wards as a lifestyle newborn photographer and I had several hundred lifestyle newborn sessions under my belt with my own photography business Pixie Rouge — so I knew my way around babies, hospitals, and those sacred early moments. But it still took 10 months of emails, proposals, and very gentle pestering to the hospital to get the green light 😗

And then… one evening, I got the call:
“We love your idea — it’s all going ahead!”

So every third Wednesday,
I’d cruise around the Melbourne Royal Women’s Hospital NICU ward,
gently chatting to families and offering them something simple but powerful:
free photography 🙂
Most people couldn’t believe it when I gently announced myself as I knocked on their door, they thought I was a contractor and that they would have to pay ✨

After Id explained, its all free and Ill email you the photos in a few weeks,
mama woukd cry, I would cry 😆
babies would cry, and Id capture it all ♥️

Because I know what it’s like.
When your baby’s in NICU,
the last thing on your mind,
emotionally, physically, financially
is organising photos.
But the few images we have
of Frankie during those first days?
They’re everything to us now.

During my time volunteering in NICU,
I was invited into some of the most intimate, sacred moments in a family’s life, from tiny milestones and first cuddles
to final goodbyes ♥️
Some families gently welcomed me back into their room after I’d first photographed their baby ⭐️ this time, to quietly capture the moment their little one left the earth.
It was tender, surreal,
and something I’ll never forget.
Those moments have changed me.
They’re why I believe every baby’s story
no matter how short 🌸
deserves to be seen, remembered,
and held with love.

That’s why I did it.
To give families something lasting.
To honour those raw, real,
beautiful first moments.
To offer love and presence
when it’s needed most.

Yay to volunteering.
Yay to NICU.
And yay to love,
always. 💛

ps - This was part of the work I did in Australia, before Covid, resharing the love and the stories that shaped me ⭐️🌸

The Royal Women's Hospital ✨

24/06/2025

A gentle loving reminder
to look after your bodies health ♥️

I know I talk a lot about mental health 🌸
But here’s the truth — while I was busy keeping my head above water these last 5 years, my actual physical health took a back seat.

For five years,
I ignored the smear test reminders.
I was too busy crying in my car ✨
Too busy helping Sean
through the darkest chapter of our lives.
Too exhausted from keeping my own mental health just barely stitched together.

I didn’t get a breast exam for five years, even though I knew I needed one 🫠
I just didn’t have the energy to add
“check your boobs” to a calendar already jammed with therapy, meds, running a business that was a nightmare when we first started, the harassment 😔 years of it, looking after our darling girl and trying to keep my soul from cracking in half 🕺

I neglected my health.
Because survival mode leaves no room
for routine checkups.

But here’s something
you might not know about me:
When I was 15, I had thyroid cancer.
They removed my whole thyroid and I had radioactive iodine treatment.

I felt invisible at the time!
And honestly, I kind of was.
The doctor told me I wasn’t going to die, so I brushed it off — had the operation,
and we never really spoke about it again.
That was just the way back then 🫣
Feelings and emotions - never discussed.
But that trauma?
It lodged itself in my bones.
It haunted me.
Because no one
gave me space to feel scared.
Because I was Anna ✨
the positive fearless one.

I left school after I recovered from my operation. My principal pulled me
into her office one day and said…
‘Anna, Id understand if you wanted to take time off school, and if you didn’t turn up sometimes, thats ok’

I took her advice - probably a bit far 😆
I left school, and home and started living my own way - I was 16 years old 🥲

Fast forward to now…
a few months ago I was having heavy, painful periods for months on end.

(* I had endometriosis 12 years back,
had it removed surgically.
Took years to ‘prove’ that).

I finally went to the doctor.
And just like that, I was thrown into a whirlwind of scans, tests, biopsies,
and that word…
Cancer 🫣

The word that still makes my stomach flip.
The word I’ve avoided for decades.

In the last two months,
it’s been said to me more times
than I ever wanted to hear it again.
And the scariest part?
They told me at 5pm on a Wednesday over the phone that they were checking again.
I was alone, Sean was in Ōamaru.
That moment broke me ✨

PTSD. Anxiety. Panic.
On top of all the other stuff I’m already carrying?
LOL. (But not really.)

I swear I have a thing for playing the odds.

Thyroid cancer at 15? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Sure, why not.
Vasa previa — 1 in 2,500? Yep, nailed it.
The odds of being run out of town
by an angry mob?
Apparently… not impossible! 😅
So this new development….
what were the odds 🕺

After weeks of waiting,
and brutal biopsies…
I don’t have cancer.
🙏 YAY. Relief. Gratitude. Breath.

So this is me, gently, saying:

✨Please go have that breast exam.
✨Please book your smear test.
✨Please check your prostate,
✨your skin, your bits, your bloods.
✨Please love your body
✨enough to check in on it.

I know you’re procrastinating! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Waiting for answers is hell.
And I don’t want you to go through that.
I was terrified 🌸

I love you.
Please look after yourself. 💛

Address

Dunedin

Website

http://www.pixierouge.com/, http://www.awamoa.co.nz/, http://www.shehuntsopshops.com/

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