Sustainable Fashion: Soul-Flower

I've discovered an eco-friendly online boutique based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota that has some unique, funky-fun pieces. It's called Soul-Flower, and they offer eco-fashions for men, women and children.  If thrifting secondhand goods isn't quite your thing, but you still want to aide in the Earth's sustainability, organic and hemp clothing are the way to go -- they're very easy-going on the environment. If you're looking for some new clothes with bohemian flair, (minus the materialistic guilt), Soul-Flower is the online shop for you. 

Here are a few of my favorites (All photos below are via Soul-Flower):

 Closer Look

Without a number one hit on the radio or their hooters in a centerfold, owls have achieved a legendary level of fame. Impressively enough, they've won us with their wide-eyed wisdom alone, soaring over geekdom and straight onto popularity! If this adorable owl tank dress couldn't make me cool, nothing ever will. ;)

But the one I really dig is this Raine Tie Dye Hemp Dress. I practically live in dresses in the summertime because I like staying cool and hate having fabric cling to me -- I look at this dress and I immediately feel that cool, summer evening breeze.  I love the loose, flowy feel and, as we all know, I have a hard time passing by those soulful blues.

Take a Hike & Hunter S. T-shirts

Beyond having great looks for the ladies, Soul-Flower has a ton of really cool men's organic tees.

This Vibrate Buddha Tee is especially unique and eye-catching. The vibration effect is caused by closely paired double lines, a visual trick that is sure to be a conversation starter! Another plus side, beyond being awesomely fashionable, is that these organic T-shirts are incredibly soft and comfortable!

Hemp clothing, such as these stylish pants, is a smart, eco-friendly fabric choice. Hemp uses less resources such as land and water, and unlike many other plants, hemp actually revitalizes the soil as it grows.  It's also insanely durable, and is known to have three times the strength of cotton fibers!  And, did you know, hemp is UV and mold resistant? Yeah, it's a pretty versatile, benifical and amazing plant!  The environmental benefits of hemp go far beyond what I've listed above...if I get into it all now, this blog post would never end!

Which is why the products Soul-Flower has to offer are well worth our pretty pennies! So even if buying secondhand isn't quite your thing, there are other environmentally beneficial ways to shop and stay sensibly fashionable.

On that note, I leave you with one last piece of eye-candy:

 

This artsy Ski Girl Skirt is on sale! And these recycled wood earrings in teal (only $12.99) are absolutely stunning! They pair well together, which makes it all the more tempting, don't you think?

"Cool threads for kind heads" is Soul-Flower's signature tagline, which is perfectly suiting; if you want your fashion sense to match your sensibility I do believe this is the online shop for you.

I definitely dig it!

Secondhand Sheer Shirt

Few weeks ago I thrifted this sweet navy and cream sheer top by Charlotte Russo for $3.

Snapping pictures of yourself without a large mirror is tricky business! But, I'm just wearing this top with some dark blue jeans and dainty, plain flats.  I also paired this top with the bird necklace I thrifted awhile ago since the vine pattern fits the meadow-like feel perfectly.

 

And here is what the beautifully detailed back of it looks like:

It makes me think of summer fields...





And dandelion wishes I've sent on the wind.





Which are wonderful thoughts to have on a chilly, gloomy, supposed "Spring" day. ;)  Hope you all have a wonderfully fun weekend!

Related Posts:

Thrift Necklace Gone Poetic

How Often Do You Buy?

When trying to convince people that thrift can result in awesome finds that are "brand new" through a thrift blog, people tend to imagine that I go thrifting all time.  Which in a way is correct, I do tend to go once a week, sometimes more.  I do not, however, thrift something every time I go thrifting.  More often than not I just wander and take things in, check out prices for comparison, and look for anything that might interest my readers or me. I don't believe in over-consumption, which is exactly why I try to encourage the thrift lifestyle.

 Due to thrifting often, I've needed to teach myself to resist buying every deal I dig. When I do find myself being tempted by material things, I ask myself two questions:

1) Do I need this? Now, if a person is being completely honest with themselves a lot of the time the answer to this question is no. So, then ask...

2) Will I regret not getting this? Once again, very easy to lie to ourselves. My way of testing this is by putting the item back down (not in the cart; back on the shelf...) and wandering around some more. If I practically have to remind myself of its existence before leaving, I don't need it. I already almost forgot about it; it's not unforgettable, Nat King Cole isn't singing on the stage of my mind. I can walk away.

I know that my boyfriend, Johnathan, asks himself:
3) Is this a rare deal, a.k.a, a steal?  Once again, one needs to be honest with themselves.When thrifting there will be several steals, that doesn't mean they need to be yours.

When I am in retail stores I try to avoid going through these questions. Even if it's the cutest thing ever I try and tell myself I don't need it.  A few of my exceptions are: undergarments, swimsuits, hygiene products or if I've received a gift card. Most of my shoes are thrifted, but on occasion I will buy boots or tennies brand new for reasons of comfort, and I wear them for years.

Other than that, most of my belongings from decor to clothing are secondhand. 

I've learned that some people find this shabby, but I just find it smart.  For one, I'm cutting back on wasteful consumption,wasteful packaging, wasteful spending, and, most importantly, I'm not supporting shallow American ideals I don't believe in. At the end of the day I'm saving a lot.

If you don't thrift, you would not believe the amount of fashionable (usually brand name) clothing I can get for the same price as one mall outfit.

Especially when it comes to kid's clothing, I don't get why on earth people waste so much money on mall clothes when the kid is going to outgrow the outfit so quickly and dirty it along the way. Why not save the money and buy "new" clothes at the thrift store? (I have a post next week that shares an adorable thrifted Gymboree dress I found).


Not to say the mall doesn't tempt me on occasion! Couple weeks ago when I went to the Mall of America with Andrea, I did fall for an outfit. But I forced myself to quickly gush about it, fold it nicely, and put it back. I just didn't need it, and I couldn't justify buying it (only that I would have looked mighty damn good in it...Lol!).

I've been rewarded for this in the past. I once really liked a black Forever 21 dress, except it was marked at $40 and it was only a plain cotton dress. Once again, I couldn't justify that so I walked away. Two weeks later I was in a Saint Vinnies, when right before me was that very black dress, new tags still on, MY SIZE, for just $2.50! I bought that dress 4 years ago, and I still wear it today. Love it! If that isn't a wise shopper reward, I don't know what is!

What we consume truly makes a difference, and I don't think many Americans acknowledge that. Luckily, the numbers for ecological and consumerist concern seem to be growing. I'm not extreme in believing people should give up everything and stop buying, I just believe that whenever possible we should respect what we've been given by reusing and recycling. It's too easy not to...

Patina shot, taken by me

Much of what I have thrifted and share on Charmstruck has been purchased over the years, not in one week.  I try to share more recent finds, but overall, I'm seriously not buying a whole ton these days.  It's relieving, because I will have extra money to pay off my college loans and travel.  I'd much rather travel and see the beauty of the world than own twenty pairs of pretty shoes I'll rarely wear. 

When I'm tempted, I try to keep that larger picture in mind.

Now, if a person is a reseller they can thrift all they want. In the future I may try my hand at reselling but for now, I just don't have the space for the inventory, and I'm not quite ready to take that on. Perhaps a corner in an antique mall would suit me someday. Either way, I'll advertise secondhand any day, whether I have my own goods to peddle or not.

How often do you thrift? Do you struggle with temptation? Do you try and avoid retail?

 I'd really love to hear your consumerist tactics!

If you'd like to read an amusing story about a girl and her crazed gotta-have-it moments (cause admit it, we all have 'em!), check out: Hiding, Stalking, Thrifting

Thrift Attic to Basement: Japanese Tea Set

So not too long ago, I wrote a post about wanting to find an enamel teapot. I have not managed to find my thrifty enamel teapot, yet, but what I did not realize at the time of that post is that I do own a beautiful tea set...and more. I discovered it down in the basement.

This very box held my "new" Japanese tea set. It was buried under a pile of fake flowers and plants (which do not interest me). I would have assumed that's all the box had to offer, but my mom pulled it out, asking me if I was interested in keep my Grandma's set...

Was I!?!
 
What's hiding inside of that rolled newspaper is absolutely stunning! If I had seen these items in a thrift shop, I would have bolted at them like a feign! Instead, I got them for free!

Blue is my favorite color, so I couldn't ask for a more perfect set! I'm in vintage love! My Grandma Jones loved Japanese style, and most of her collectibles, like the Basement Lipstick Lady, were made in Japan.  I've come to understand that this tea set and the Japanese soup bowls to follow, were purchased by my Grandma from San Francisco's infamous Chinatown when she was younger.

Here are my "new" Japanese soup bowls that we're also bundled within that box:

There are five of the Japanese bowls, featuring a powerful, red dragon on one side, and a swirling rooster design on the other.  Each spoon (there are four, one must have broken), has the dragon symbol. What I like most about this soup bowl set, is the bright yellow cackle.  I can't wait to make some homemade Eggdrop Soup and slurp from those fancy spoons!

I never knew a soup bowl could express such sheer power, but these certainly do.

All of these basement items were in perfect condition, other than a small chip on the spout of my Grandma's teapot. I plan on using the cups and bowls, but I feel wary of using the teapot at all...we'll see. The teapot does have an infuser in it's spout, so it would be pretty nice to try it out, perhaps on a very special occasion.

Who would have guessed all that vintage beauty was inside that skimpy, hidden box?? I'm grateful my Grandma had such wonderful taste!

If you'd like to admire some more modern Japanese dish sets, Van, from Thrift Core recently shared her thrifted Japanese collection, as well. It's pretty cool, and features cute kitty art, so check it out: Thrifted Collections: Japanese Cups and Bowls.

My basement tea set just goes to show that sometimes we already have what we want...and it's quite the discovery.

Other Thrift Attic to Basement Posts:

Lipstick Lady

1931 Certificate

Actin' a Fool Monthly

I live foolishness month to month. For me, April 1 is the day on which I can celebrate my years many, many moments of actin' a fool.

In honor of April 1, 2011, I'll share with you the highlight Actin' a Fool moment of March:

So, as you know, last week my good friend, Andrea, came to visit me in Minneapolis.  She was supposed to have arrived at 2:30p.m., but instead showed at 5:30p.m. because she had missed her bus. Andrea had been late; the bus had left and consequently she had to buy a whole new bus ticket. Luckily, she was able to get onto another bus, and was still able to make it out by us. Happy enough ending. Lesson learned.

Or was it? DUN DUN DUN

Of course it wasn't. You have one doe-eyed, Andrea and one blondie (in dyed disguise), Jacqueline.

You see, Andrea was scheduled to go home at 5:00p.m. on Sunday. We spent our afternoon touring the amazing James Hill Mansion in St. Paul, then lollygagged on over to Sophie Joe's Emporium because I absolutely love that shop, and it was only 3:45p.m. As we wandered out of the shop, we decided we should grab a quick bite to eat, but when we couldn't find an agreed fast food restaurant it quickly became the longest awaited bite to eat of my life. We waisted so much time trying to eat somewhere, that we realized we no longer had time to eat. We needed to get Andrea to the station ASAP.

Perfectly on time, we pulled up to the Greyhound Station. Whenever I travel by bus I go through the Greyhound Station, and when Andrea arrived, she arrived at the Greyhound Station. One would only assume she'd LEAVE at the Greyhound Station. But, no.  That would be too simple for a doe and a blondie. That would have just made too much sense.

Instead, as I smiled at Andrea, ready to say our friendly and loving goodbyes... she began to un-crumple and question the address of the station on her reservation slip. At 4:50p.m., mind you.

"I was suppose to come on MegaBus, but when I had to get a new ticket, I bought Greyhound. My ticket home is MegaBus, so is this where I'm supposed to be?"

No. Nuh-uh.Of course not.

To top things off, there was no real address on this reservation/ticket slip; just two intersecting road names. There wasn't even a phone number! Later, after driving the busy downtown streets of Minneapolis for 10 min, we found the vacant parking-lot that the "address" belongs to. It was exactly 5:00p.m.The lot was empty. Her bus was gone.

At that very moment, a MegaBus reading Milwaukee drove past; that's her bus! Except it wasn't stopping, it either already had, or didn't see anyone and was on its way. So we did what any 20-something-year-olds would do:

We followed that bus.

Cause at times like this you need think, what would Bond do?

So, Johnathan starts talking like a city boy, yelling at other cars and pedestrians to get out of his way, as if they can hear, care, or even understand that we are on the chase; Andrea's on the phone talking with friends, having them look up phone numbers, help, possible ticket options-- if all else fails; while I just alternated between frustration, nagging safety concerns and laughter, before finally settling on snapping some pictures.

Andrea's phone calls determined that if we're following this bus, we're following it to Milwaukee. It would not be stopping. What kind of bus doesn't stop? It should stop in St. Paul, that's only normal. But, once again, why would things make sense? Besides, her MegaBus "help" line informed her, "Even if it did stop you'd have to purchase a new ticket. Why? She bought a ticket already for this very bus!

How to react? Frown and Laugh!

We contemplated throwing Andrea out the sunroof, luggage and all, with the hopes that she would land safely atop her bus, get on the bus, and then resolve the issue at hand, but it seemed a little risky...she's not very Bond-like.

Instead, we got tacos.

                          

 Bond probably wouldn't eat here, but his tactics failed us, so meh.

While dining, Andrea purchased a new Greyhound ticket that would leave at 9:15p.m. and arrive in Milwaukee at 3:30 a.m. (ick, but ok).

Yuh, in all, this crazy girl bought FOUR tickets! Two here and two back. Two pointless tickets.

When I travel I ubber plan ahead, and I'm normally 30 min early in case I have to deal with unexpected problems; Andrea didn't convince me to ever do otherwise, but she sure was entertaining. ;)

I'd just like to add, that if this chase had been in ANY movie, this girl would have gotten on that bus. Everyone would have been smiling, even the bus driver, and Johanathan would have been a hero and Andrea would have been home, safe and happy at a reasonable hour.

But this isn't a movie. This is just real-life Minneapolis... and two foolish girls with a Johnathan, not a James. ;)

 I wouldn't have it any other way!
Miss ya already, Andrea!
                &
Happy April Fools' Day, Everybody!



Andrea's Visiting!!

So excited to have my friend Andrea visiting Minneapolis this weekend! Guess she wanted a mini-getaway, and I couldn't be happier! She gets off the bus at 5:30 and I keep checking the clock, wishing it were just that time.

Last year, when she visited for too short a time <3

Some things we plan on doing while she's here:

Mall of America : Of course! People can't visit here without saying they went to thee mall. I go knowing I won't be buying a thing...other than a Coldstone "like it" (even tho I actually love it) cup of ice cream. I have weaknesses, ice cream is definitely one of them. Cheesecake is another. Coffee, a daily problem. Mall clothes and shoes do not make that list; thrift ones do. Oh, weaknesses...I like you.

King Tut Exhibit: EXTREMELY excited about checking this out. First time it's in MN, and I absolutely love Egyptian history! To me, this is a big deal!

James Hill Mansion: This is something Andrea brought to my attention, and I'm all for going. Who doesn't want to tour a Victorian mansion with extensive handcrafted woodwork? This home is breathtaking! (And I haven't even toured it, yet)

A Night Out Dancing at The Imperial Room: Cause me and my gals like to shake it.

Eat Too Much: Minneapolis has a wide variety of amazing restaurants -- makes me want to munga all the time!
I'll have to let you in on where we eat...

I also have to take her on a shop stroll through Uptown Minneapolis where I am located....I WANT TO SHOW HER EVERYTHING AND I ONLY HAVE THE WEEKEND!!! Lol

I'll try to take lots of pictures and share some of the fun filled weekend with you...till then,
Peace, Love and Pudding Pops ;)

Thrift Attic to Basement: 1931 Certificate

I'm an avid reader and lover of books. Given the right story, I can get lost for hours.  So when I was digging around in the basement and came across this certificate, I couldn't help but smile.

It is my Grandpa James Jones' First Grade Reading Certificate, dated for the 1931-1932 school year.

The photo doesn't show as clearly on blogger as I would like, but it reads:

Wisconsin Young People's Reading Circle

Primary Certificate

for the school year 1931-1932

This certifies that James Jones, a pupil in 1st. Grade, Bryant Graded School, Langlade County, Wisconsin, has satisfactorily read the following books, which are on the list of books of the Wisconsin Young People's Reading Circle for the school year above named, and is therefore entitled to this TESTIMONIAL of MERIT.

The ten books my Grandpa read are listed in his teachers cursive hand:

"Surprise Stories"                                            "In Toyland"

"Happy Children l"                                            "Boys & Girls at Work and Play"

"                       " ll"                                            Can't decipher...something "Boys"

"Wag and Puff"                                                "At the Farm"

"Book of Pets"                                                  "Toy Town"

Given at Antigo, Wisconsin, this 6th day of March, 1932.

It is then signed by his teacher Helen and principle Maud.

One of his listed books

Many of these books have really simplistic titles, so I'd have to do a bit of research to figure out the precise ones he read. I keep wishing they had listed author names, too, but that's getting a bit thorough for a first grader I suppose....although, this plaque is pretty serious! It's certainly the most formal 1st grade certificate I've ever seen.  I especially love the line, "for the school year above named" and the way "TESTIMONIAL of MERIT" is in all important caps. My young, first grade Grandpa must have felt prepared to go read aloud to a king after receiving a certificate like this!

It would be something to go back in time and tell little boy James, that in March 2011 someone will be writing a public blog on his March 1932 certificate, wouldn't it? That's the way you get a kid to read ten books weekly! If not for the future publicity, the poor thing would research for years trying to learn what a blog is....one of these books must know! Or, more likely, he'd just shrug--Mom's gonna frame this, I'm good for the month!

I liked learning that he went to school in Antigo. When I was growing up my Grandpa and Grandma had a beautiful home in the woods of Pickeral, WI and we used to go out to dinner and run errands in Antigo.  My Grandpa traveled around a lot, lived in Rio for awhile, brought my mom and her two brothers up in Milwaukee, WI. But, I like that the town he went to school in corresponds with the thoughts I've always had of "Grandpa's house." James Jones, Antigo, WI...like he was always right where all my memories are.

Framed Photo also found in Basement

My Grandpa is a bit older than 1st grade here, 5th perhaps?  He lived on a farm when he was young and often needed to get up at about 4 am to do his chores before walking the miles to school.  In this photo he has sleepy eyes, and I can just imagine what a struggle it was to focus in class each day.  He was extremely cute though, and was a handsome man his whole life.  I'm the only one who was lucky enough to get his bright blue eyes, the rest of my family has hazel or brown. 

I lost my Grandpa Jones to a car accident when I was in 4th grade.  My brother and I were very close to him, and learned a lot from him in that short time.  He had an unbeatable charisma about him, and a childlike heart.  I will miss him always...

It makes me smile to come across these things; he's still telling me stories.
I plan on hanging this plaque by my bookshelf.

Have you ever uncovered something of sentimental value in an attic or basement, something you hadn't known was there?

Hiding, Stalking, Thrifting

 ...all my friends are doing it?

The last two weeks I was home in WI spending needed time with family and friends. Life has been a cliche roller coaster ride, on which, I at least have my friends, throwing up their arms, screaming and inevitably laughing right alongside me.

I've learned that my therapy of choice is thrift-wandering with a friend and chatting over too many cups of coffee, which spurs more scavenger hunts than originally planned. Somehow I'm ok with this, it certainly makes for a quick recovery.

I've always preferred having a thrift partner.  Everyone has their own thrifting style, and it's interesting to watch how people tackle the same secondhand store: which section they bolt to first, whether they dig or not; do they scan quickly and want to leave or do they get "lost" in the back aisles; can they pass things by, or do they have to have it?

 I am friends with quite a few thrifters and no two are the same. I love thrifting with each of them for different reasons, but the most entertaining thrift gal I've got is the beautiful, the stylish, Ms. Julie Beierle.

She is going to school to become an Interior Decorator, and it shows; she definitely has a flair for finding not just beauty, but potential beauty.

Julie will hold up an over-sized shirt and turn it into the cutest dress ever by simply buckling a belt 'round it. She taught me that belts and leggings can transform just about anything into something stylish. Give her a parachute and she'll turn it into a Prada gown, I swear. She sees rundown furniture and figurines and sets off on a dramatic monologue of everything she could do with them, how she could recreate them,  move this over there, place this next to that....it's very inspiring and very dangerous to go thrift shopping with Ms. Julie Beierle.

If Julie wants something she means it.  She will even hide things so that she can come back and get them the next day.  She will tuck a must-have item behind ugly things, shove it on a low shelf, or an out-of-reach high shelf, bury it in a pile; she's possibly one thrift breakdown away from filling out post-it-notes that read: Julies, Back Off! Julies, It's Mine! Julies, Forget About It! Julies, I Will Pry This From Your Cold Dead............Ah yes, that's Julie's thrifting technique in a nutshell. ;)

She's a little overzealous, a little too creative, and she's one of my best friends.  She's crazy, in a good way, and that's exactly why I love her.  She makes thrifting, and life in general, so much fun. 

Thrifted Target Curtain

Last week when I was shopping with her, she came rushing up to me and exclaimed, "She's got it! She's walking around holding it! She better put it down!"
"What are you talking about?" I asked
"This material! It's gorgeous and she's walking around with it! I'm going to follow her. That bitch better put it down."
I laughed, "Please, Julie, don't stalk a woman. What are the chances she'll put it down?"
"I have to have it! It's the prettiest material I've ever seen!"
"I'm dissapointed in you, how'd you not get to it first?"
"I know! Dammit! I'm going to keep my eye on her."

And here I thought I was the Italian one. The day Julie was let out of her mother's shopping cart must have been one hell of a dangerous day, that's all I'm saying.

Lookin' all sweet n innocent ;)

 See, on paper, Julie sounds much crazier than she really is. I'll give her that.  I'll also give her props, because that lady did put that material back.  Maybe she felt Julie's hawk eyes, or maybe she heard Julie's frantic material talk from across the store, chances are this woman never wants to thrift again....it really doesn't matter. What does matter, is that in the end Ms. Julie Beierle was the lucky bitch buying that material for only $3.99.
                     ;)









Any of you have a crazy, thrifty friend? Or did I snag the best one?

Which Secondhand is the Right Hand?

I had a little question for the wiser

Is it second hand, second-hand or secondhand?  I've always written, "secondhand" when writing about used goods. Then I started reading a variety of books, articles and blogs on the topic of thrift and haven't noticed a true trend.  People are using all three as adjectives, adverbs and nouns, and as messed up as the English language can get, I know that can't be right. A few years ago I took a reporting class, and we were all required to purchase The Associated Press Stylebook.  This book is the rule bible for journalists (my professor said so). The book itself boasts that it's "An A to Z listing of guides to capitalization, abbreviation, spelling, numerals and usage." Well, that isn't quite boasting, it's more of a fact, and thus far Associated Press hasn't lied to me. But, yeah, when I get stuck in a tongue-tied version of typing, feeling lost and utterly confused, I dig out this book.

When I flip to page 220 of my trusty Stylebook, it tells me all I've been wanting to know, and in such a simple, second grade way -- I honestly have a hard time accepting that secondhand shopping momentarily had me stumped beyond, "Should I buy this?"

Mr. A.P. Style states:

second hand (n.)
secondhand (adj. and adv.)
Secondhand Rose had a watch with a second hand that she bought secondhand.

I'd like to add that, Rosie, despite having a secondhand addiction, is not a fan of secondhand smoke.
 

 Secondhand panda puppets and secondhand smoke are a dangerous combination...

An instance where you would use a hyphen is:
Rosie is a secondhand-store shopper.

No hyphen:
Rosie goes to all the secondhand stores in her area.

So according to any smartypants, moneymaking journalist "second-hand" does not apply at all to the world of thrift, or anything for that matter. Good to know.  I'm glad my hands were typing "secondhand" all along. That I didn't know I was right is beside the point. ;) For now I can blog on -- minus the smartypants paycheck, but with a new found confidence that I know what the hell I'm talking about...at least when it comes to typing secondhand...until the rules change tomorrow.

I'll secondhand shop no matter where the second hand is!

I'll make several other grammatical errors, but using "secondhand" in a second-rate way will not be one of them.  I'll continue to dig out my AP Stylebook just for you.


I know you'll sleep better at night, now that I know what you likely knew.

Thrift Sales: Colored Dots, Slashes and Such

Thrift store prices have been on the rise; many items are marked double what they used to be.  But, thrift stores have also started offering more deals, so it's still possible to make a steal worth bragging about. I'm going to share with you some thrift store sales that will benefit any budget:

1) Daily Colored Dot Sales:  Most thrift stores have colored dot sales, Saint Vincent DePaul, Arc's Value Village, and Savers immediately come to mind.  Everyday these stores feature a color (there will be signs scattered throughout the store, usually on the clothing racks, advertising the days color), and any tags that have that color are 50% off.  This is my favorite deal, because it is a guaranteed constant.  Nothing beats falling in love with an item, followed by the realization that it carries the colored dot of day -- it's my miniature Vegas moment.


 2) Coupons: This one is new to me.  Just last week, I found in Clipper Magazine four coupons to the local Slinger Saint Vinnies.  One coupon proclaimed: buy one book get the second book free, and being the bookworm that I am I was pretty excited. It's strange now that thrift stores suddenly have commercials and are featuring coupons; a few years ago it seemed like only a small handful of people were thrifters, and that has seemingly changed over night. Being able to clip coupons for secondhand goods is pretty nifty. I know I want to use them!

3) Student Discount Days: College friends of mine, did you know that one day a week you can get 40% off your thrifted total if you flash your school ID.  I know that at Savers in MN this day is Wednesday. Goodwill in WI also does the student discount on Saturdays.  This discount is ideal if the items you've found that day do not have a colored dot or grander sale.  If any items you are buying already have a higher percentage off, you cannot additionally use your ID; you've won a good enough deal already, champ!

4) 75% Off Storewide Sale: You cannot beat this sale.  You'll feel like you're stealing everything you find. These are the days I go thrift crazy. I'll come home with a bag full of clothes and a wallet (still) full of money.

5) Fill a Bag for $5:  I don't see this sale as much as I used to.  Filling a bag for five bucks now seems reserved for places going out of business.  The last fill a bag spree I went on was amazing, but it was quite a few years ago.  I remember coming home with several books that I couldn't wait to read.  The best part about this sale is that there is no standing around debating, "Should I get this?" You just like it and bag it!

6) Holiday Sales:  Holiday sales vary in greatness. Some are huge, while others aren't worth writing home about.  One thing holiday sales have the potential to bring about is pure, memorable fun.  In Hartford, WI a few weeks before Christmas, the town shops have Midnight Madness.  On this night, all the shops in town stay open till midnight and offer different deals and entertainment.  My favorite places to stop on this night are Perc Place, for an energizing mocha drink, and then I travel over a few steps "next door" to Saint Vincent DePaul and do some late-night, coffee enhanced thrifting with friends. Last year, Saint Vinnies was packed and offered a variety of worthwhile discounts.  Even if you don't find a got-to-have thrift item or gift, these holiday shopping nights are still wonderful. What thrifter doesn't dream of wandering a thrift shop till midnight? I dream of thrifting past the stroke of midnight...

7) Slashed Tag Sales:  This deal is common at Saint Vincent DePaul. The slashed red tag deals seem to be offered when the seasons are changing. So, right now, Vinnies is holding a slashed tag sale (at least here in WI they are). It's time to rid of the sweaters and bring out the shorts, and a lot of tags are getting slashed.  Currently at the Slinger Saint Vinnies, there is also a purple dot sale: anything with a purple dot is 50 cents, and there's a whole section of purple dots! Since they're organized in one spot, it's less of a scavenger hunt than usual. Like I said, slashed tag deals can always be had when the season starts to change, luckily we have four!

8) Thrift Store Card/ Membership:  At home in WI, the Saint Vincent DePaul now has a store card that will get you a 10% discount off your total purchase, any day, any time.  It is a key chain card, much like what grocery stores give out, and it is good for all the SVDPs in the area. So my WI card is good for the Slinger, Hartford and West Bend locations.  Goodwill also has a member card. Their card follows a point system where you receive a point for every dollar you spend, and then after so many points you receive a discount on your next purchase. The best part is, these membership cards are free; Saint Vinnies gives you your 10% discount right at registering, while Goodwill gives a 25% discount right at the get go.  The discounts may seem small, but for frequent thrifters the savings add up!

9) The Haggle: The skill of haggling is meant more for yard sales, but there are times when it's worth a shot inside secondhand shops.  If you find an item that you love but, there is a defect,  you can and should haggle, as long as the tag DOES NOT SAY, as is.  Many flaws are caught at pricing and will have the as is tagging, but there's a good handful of flaws that miss inspection.  When at the register simply point out the defect and offer what price you're willing to pay, the cashier will usually give a 20-40% off discount, depending on the damage. Crafters, artists and repurposers everywhere should develop this skill. Haggling is definitely worth shoving aside shyness; there's no reason to pay full price for something broken.

10) The Good Eye: The best deal can be found without dots or slashes or sales.  It takes a bit of digging, dedicated searching, and a small dose of knowing, but a steal can definitely be had without a sale. Knowing what things are worth at retail helps a ton, you'll better gadge if an item is really worth the green or not. Items can be overpriced, sometimes to the point of being pricier than retail. But, right behind that overpriced item could be a treasure for cheap.  A good thrift-eye will always find these no-sale-steals, they're the items of pride we thrifters can't help but brag about. 

If you want to get a better grip on the sales at your local thrift stores, simply ask the cashier. They are always more than happy to answer sales questions. One question I often ask cashiers is: When will a particular colored dot sale be happening?  Because on any given day, I might find several orange dot items and be in dire need of an orange dot sale.  The colored dot sales do follow a rotation, and the cashier can tell you the next date for each color by simply glancing at a chart near their register.  I've even called stores before dashing out the door to inquire if any sales were going on; then I can plan my stops accordingly (especially with gas prices going up).  It makes my thrifting thriftier; I've definitely gotten more bang for my buck by learning the various thrift store sales, and so will you!


Any other thrift sales you know of?

Thrift Attic to Basement: Lipstick Lady

One of my favorite places for discovery is the basement.  People hideaway some interesting stuff in their basements, and as life upstairs takes over they begin to forget it even exists.  What makes the boxes down in the basement so interesting to me is that these boxes are full of stuff people could not let go of; basements typically hideaway the treasures people currently have no use for, but can't bear to part with.

I say, let's pull those boxes out of the corner, brush off the cobwebs, and start unwrapping our forgotten memories. At least, that's what I did with my mom on Sunday.  My mom will be having a rummage sale in May, and she wanted to know if there was anything of my Grandma and Grandpa's that I wanted to keep.  There certainly was. So much so, in fact, that over the next few weeks I will be sharing an item here and there that once belonged to the basement, and now belongs to me. 

Ever thrift in your own attic or basement?  The prices are amazing! Thrifting in the basement is as exciting as perusing a store, because the mind fogs over and forgets what's been packed away.  What one couldn't put to use, but couldn't let go of a few years ago, could very well be the very thing they need to tie a room together today.

To me, my mom's basement is an eclectic antique shop. Imagine a shop only filled with your family's belongings; each loved one's personal style; their memories...that's what many basements are, and it is inspiring.

I'm going to start sharing today with a little charm.

This darling Lipstick Lady belonged to my Grandma Jones.  She's a vintage Chadwick figurine and was made in Japan, which makes sense, because while digging through the boxes in the basement I quickly learned that my Grandma collected a variety of Japanese items (wait till you see the "new" tea set I acquired!).  These Lipstick Ladies were made in the late 50's early 60's, and were a popular vanity item.  When I saw this figurines sweet face I quickly pulled her out of the box, but was at first puzzled by her purpose. I thought toothbrush holder, and just as quickly acknowledged that the loops were way too big for that, plus three toothbrushes would block her precious face.  I held her up to my mom and said, "I love her, but I have no clue what she's meant to hold." When she told me lipstick, I fell in love with the little 6'' inch figurine even more.

  I'll add a little vintage to your vanity, and sweetly hold your lipstick till you get back -- I'm not one for pink, but this charmer won me. She also reminds me of my Grandma's style, her must-have pink lipstick and her room full of fancy lady figurines.  This is one overly girly item I just need to keep.

I'm thinking for the next several Attic to Basement posts I might attempt to do a linsky.  It would be fun to see what treasures others have hiding in their homes. It's free thrifting, it's spring cleaning, and it's surprisingly way too much fun.

Hope you'll link up to the next Thrift Attic to Basement post --  just wait until you see what else I all found!