Who's Ready To Party?

This guy is clearly dressed for the occasion. 

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The year's end is almost upon us. And when your clock strikes twelve and you toast to the possibilities of a new year with friends and loved ones, remember how your past has forged your present when you look to the future. 

I have learned a lot this past year. I have learned of my own resilience and strength. I have learned of my ability to overcome the physical pain of my chronic illness to experience the accomplished sense of pain after a strenuous workout....losing nearly 50 pounds in the process. I have learned that I can successfully operate my own blog without technical help and even gain a loyal following thanks to my enthusiastic readers. I have learned that money does not make the writer, though it would certainly help pay the bills to be published more often. I have learned that I'm actually a pretty decent photographer and aim to be more visually conceptual.  I have learned that procrastination is the devil and it is all too easy to just take a long nap and just do it "later." And I learned that I still have a lot to learn...about myself. 

With that said, I have developed three main goals for 2012 and beyond:

1. Explore. Look for new possibilities for the blog,  in my freelance writing and aspiring photography career. Branch outward professionally and socially.  Meet new people. Travel new destinations. Document anything and everything that I find inspiring.  
2. Be Invigorated. I've already added a punching bag, the elliptical, resistance training and power walking to my regular routine. What other athletics can I condition my body to accomplish? Mixed Martial Arts? Zumba? Mud runs for non-profit awareness? With nearly 50 pounds less of me already, I plan to cross-train into a healthy, toned body I can be proud to call my own.
3. Stick to a Schedule. While not all things can fit into neat little time slots, much more can be accomplished with a game plan. Dedicate allotted time for exercise, reading, writing, photography, blogging and of course, thrifting...all miraculously revolving around the day job, of course. 

And there you have it, my list to live-by in the year 2012. Of course this will all start no later than January 2nd, as the actual holiday will be spent celebrating the mere arrival of this fresh, new start....with plenty of champagne.  So have fun. Stay safe. And make some goals of your own. 

The Great Christmas Wrap-Up

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Of course no Christmas tree would be complete without a garage sale sign ornament. I found this little wonder at the thrift store for 25 cents and couldn't help but chuckle at my extraordinary luck in discovering something secondhand, that features another secondhand activity that's just perfect for the tree. 

And after searching several thrifts for over a month I was able to find a bunch of useful thrifted gifts. Mostly cute and kitschy kitchenware, I amassed a pile of jars, serving dishes, plates, novelty spoons, salt 'n' pepper shakers and more. 

Naturally it didn't occur to me take photos of the goods to publish after the gifts were given until I had already wrapped them. Whoops. Well, she enjoyed them all the same. And  for the first time I ever I bought a gift certificate to our favorite thrift so that she can get a new couch. And given their hideous (yet strangely appealing) selection of furniture is so cheaply priced, I'm sure she'll have no problems finding that perfect 70's sofa. 

My Christmas? Well aside from gorging on the bounty of cookies, cakes and heavy holiday meals I must have been extra good this year. Seriously I could call this post the Great Christmas Un-Wrap, in thinking of the pile of presents waiting for me Sunday morning. Aside from the much-needed clothes and the lovely Marc Jacobs perfume, the gift cards and the always appreciated cash, I got something that I actually have to wait 'til the summer to enjoy..two tickets to see Roger Waters: The Wall ! ! ! 

Talk about Christmas in July! I can't wait to hear the seminal album from Pink Floyd...live. But, back to the hear and now....

As you all know, I am something of a weirdo. I mean, anyone with such a fascination with the photographs of total strangers and the impulse to collect oddities must be a little...eccentric, let's say. My sister certainly knows this to be true. And judging by her Christmas gift this year, she isn't exactly dissuading me from the dark side. 

This is Mr. Marbles.

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And yes, I named him after the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry's freaked out by the ventriloquist's dummy in Kramer's apartment. Though I may have to rename him, given the difficulty of navigating the letter M without moving the lips. But if I do, by some miraculous feat, master the art of ventriloquism I'm taking  my act to the stage and calling it Jackie's Creepytime Theatre. I'll have a gallery of photos and found oddities, a band, crazy costume changes and finally, my ventriloquism debut. 

Of course you loyal readers, my small fandom of freaky finds, will get an invitation to this grand event, should it ever come to pass. In the meantime, I guess I better practice those tricky M's.  

I dare you to tell me you can see my lips moving. 

What The Thrift!? An Army of Undead Dolls

Lately the 2nd Ave Value Store has been home to a veritable undead battalion of baby dolls. Planning to stage a coup at your child's next show and tell? You'll have no trouble recruiting a doll-at-arms here.

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What The Thrift!? is also linked to WTF? Tuesday at Sir Thrift A Lot. Check it out!

What the Thrift!? The As Seen on TV Edition

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Remember these?

Now with "smooth butt-lifting design," this mock denim, pajama bottom monstrosity can be all yours for the low, low price of $39.95  But wait, there's more! If you visit the 2nd Avenue thrift store today, you'll find your very own genuine pair of the "hot, new fashion sensation" for just $5.

Did someone miss out on the 60-day money back guarantee?

I'm no Joan Rivers, but I do believe wearing leggings as pants is a fashion faux pas. Add the cotton-spandex blend and the fact that they're actually called Pajama Jeans... 

Well, let's just say that I truly doubt this secondhand seen-on-TV creation really is a "designer jean fit."

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What the Thrift!? is also linked up with WTF? Tuesday! at Sir Thrift A Lot. Check it out! 

Memories That Are Not My Own

I always had this theory that shopping secondhand was a bit like time travel. Previously owned goods have a history. When was it originally made? What purpose did it serve at the time? Who owned it? Finding the answers to these questions can mean forging a connection between the past and the present. Of course not every hideous vintage sweater or dusty ol' knick-knack has a magical story behind it. 

But every once in a while I'll come across something that does have a story. Something personal perhaps. Something that once had meaning but now, for reasons unknown are given away to the the donation bins of Goodwill. 

This is the story of Bill and Marge. 

Two days ago I found their photo album documenting a road trip they journeyed back in November of 1988. They collected post cards, tourist pamphlets and took photographs of the roads and natural surroundings on their way.

Hello from the highway!

Post card of The Appalachian and Blue Ridge.

A lovely post card that was never sent to Frank. 

 The Eastern Screech Owls of Shenandoah National Park.

Photograph of The Appalachian.

 The Ohio River through Otter Creek Park in Kentucky.

Marge reflects on the journey. 

There are pages and pages of post cards and nature shots of Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania from Bill and Marge Echenhofer. I don't know them, nor will I ever likely meet them. I don't know how it came to be that their photo album made it to the shelves of Goodwill. I only know that I now own that album, a stock of memories that are not my own but somehow have come to make a connection across time, space and circumstance. 

What The Thrift!? The Knock-Off Doll Head Edition.

Welcome to the first installment of What The Thrift!? the Let's Go Thrifting full-coverage report on found oddities, knock-offs, strange sightings and all things thrift that just make you go, "huh?" 

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We lucky offspring of the 80's remember the fanaticism surrounding Cabbage Patch dolls. Those cute-as-a-button faces and manageable manes of yarn were all the craze. Be it the questionable inclusion of Preemies that were plucked from the Xavier Roberts' patch a tad too early, or the rambunctious older lot of the Cabbage Patch Kids, those dolls were "adopted" right off the shelves quicker than you can say Child Protective Services. 

Yeah, you know the Cabbage Patch. But have you met... the "Foster Children?"

Don't want a disembodied knock-off Cabbage head? Oh but I bet you would...if you were guilted by the reminder that this cellophane-wrapped soul is in fact a "Foster Child." Though I suppose the company could have done worse and simply called their wares Bastard in a Box.     

What the thrift!? 

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What the Thrift!? is also linking up with "WTF Tuesday" at Sir Thrift A Lot. Check it out! 

The Rainbow Brite Collection

Over these 27 years, I've amassed a rather large collection of dolls, plushes, figurines, books and other assorted goods featuring my most beloved childhood fictional hero, the cartooned 80's icon Rainbow Brite. And while some of the original, hard-to-come-by Rainbow Brite merchandise will be staying with me likely 'til the grave, it's time to let some go. And where better a place to turn loose my vintage goodies than The Let's Go Thrifting Etsy Shop!? 

Don't get me wrong, I love these little dolls. But I also value space and the good sense to part with things that I know will serve better belonging to someone who will use them.

So here's a sampling of cheery and colorful Rainbow Brite goods that will soon hopefully make their way to new ownership. 

These items and others will be available in the Let's Go Thrifting Etsy Shop. 

What beloved treasures of the past are you letting go? 

And Now For Something Completely Different...

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While photographing some items soon to hit my Etsy shop, I decided for an impromptu shoot of another kind. Some of you may remember my dear sister Ashley buying me my very own Blythe doll for my birthday back in May? Well after a bit of searching on Etsy and eBay, I found some lovely little props for her. And since I've been working with creepy dolls, I've decided that it's high time for something cute. 

So please welcome Blythe in her first professional photo shoot. 

This is Blythe. And she's terribly busy!

Don't you love that little outfit? The red sailor shirt and polka dot skirt were bought on consignment from the official Blythe website. And yes, those are teeny, tiny little gold Converse shoes!

The vintage Barbie telephones were found on Etsy and the lovely little sofa, lamp and coat rack were found on eBay. 

I wish my local thrifts would start sprouting up all the vintage Barbie clothes and props I could use for future Blythe shoots. But either no one is donating them or all these goodies just aren't making it to the sales floor. Because all I seem to find are naked, knotted hair Barbie dolls. 

I guess this just serves to say that while the random miscellany of the thrift offers a lot of mystery and some big payoffs, it's nice to know that anything you ever could want is online.

Until next time, happy thrifting...and online bargain hunting!

The Thrifted Life...and Death

"Have you seen my little knife?"

Halloween will soon be upon us. But fear not.  Let's Go Thrifting! is back from the dead. Well, actually I just like to think as our temporary departure a mere hiatus due to technical difficulty. After a long and painful illness, my laptop was finally put to rest. And in its place I received the best gift of all, a MacBook Pro. Hurrah! Yippie! 

While I am still in the process of transferring files and getting accustomed to all of these applelicious functions, I have decided at long last to resume Let's Go Thrifting! 

I have, however, made an editorial decision regarding the scheduling of posts. Always favoring quality over quantity in my published writing, I've decided to expand my efforts in other areas of my life. And rather than than make quick, subpar posts to fit the 3x week editorial schedule, I will commit to updating Let's Go Thrifting! on an as-thrifted basis. I'm not going to force material to make self-imposed deadlines. While I wish I had the time and money to put into thrifting, crafting and flea marketing more often to make for better, more frequent posts I must say that there are other commitments that demand my time.

While I will post with some regularity, I think you'll find Let's Go Thrifting to be seemingly random...much like our real life adventures in the thrift. But do keep reading. I still have a few tricks and treats up my sleeve...just in time for Halloween.

What delightfully undead finds have you thrifted lately? 

The Big One

"B is for bargain." And now one year later, B is for Birthday!

It all began with an idea. An idea and the letter B. The above  photo of “Bixil” the Alphabet Critter was featured in the very first published post on Let’s Go Thrifting!

That was one year ago to this very day. In this past year I’ve commented, blogged and corresponded with some lovely likeminded frugal shoppers, shared wild stories of wacky thrifted finds, held a few giveaways and spent the absolute minimum on some stuff I just love.

I’ve been fortunate to have met a few reselling goals, been afforded the opportunity to exercise my self-proclaimed thrift expertise in other media outlets and have worked and will continue to work on expanding the original idea into something new and exciting.

That’s right. More changes are on the way. So keep on reading and leaving comment love. And don’t forget to stop on by The Let’s Go Thrifting Facebook Fan Page for more exciting thrift chatter.

But now it’s time for cake, candles and thrifted gifts for the Birthday Blog. Oh and we can’t forget the hip party music….

Papa-Oom-Mow-Wow by LetsGoThrifting

Special Sunday Announcement: We Have a Winner!



Not the lucky winner but looking to get your own copy of the My Memories Suite? Visit their website and use the special code above during your checkout for a $10 discount.



Congratulations to Van of Thrift Core fame on winning the first Let’s Go Thrifting! officially sponsored giveaway promotion. Van will be receiving a code to download The My Memories Suite v2.0, (a $40 value) absolutely free! This promotion was made possible by My Memories.com and I thank them for the generous offer.

I have been having a lot of fun playing with all of the features of the My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software...downloading free virtual paper packs, adding and editing photos, customizing the page layouts and exporting my creations  to jpegs to share with all of you.

And I just know that if anyone will enjoy creating digital scrapbooks, greeting cards, posters and slideshows, it will be Van. Thanks for promoting the giveaway, Van! You’ll be contacted shortly with all of the information you need to claim your prize.

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I'd like to thank each and every one of you for reading Let's Go Thrifting! 

The Week in Review: Just Feel Like Dancing

Dancing like an ass. Party of one.

Real Live Lover by LetsGoThrifting
 

Ever have one of those weeks that finds you pleasantly surprised, elated, accomplished and just plain ol’ giddy? I think if it were possible to achieve such a combination of emotions, I have… in just these last seven days. In all honesty, I’m not sure how many of these feelings were evoked by thrifting alone. But I’ll tell ya something: Walking around with this kind of impossible mental lightness does throw out some positive thrift karma. At least this is what I like to think. 

Picture it, if you will. Me. Twirling and shaking hips all over the bedroom, happily plucking the clothes from my closet that are now simply too big to wear. Singing along to that sultry-sweet 60’s sound of one of my favorite garage rock compilation albums, stuffing a garbage bag with all of the clothes and unwanted items to take to Goodwill. 

 

And when that bag was filled… I danced around some more. 

This is just the kind of thing you do in the privacy of your own home and never, ever admit to anyone. Ah hell, except maybe the folks that read your blog. 

I say if you’re gonna feel good about something be it thrifted, earned, borrowed or bought you may as well do it right. 

What has you dancing these days?

Odds 'n' Ends Thursday: A Thrifty Oktoberfest

I found my own copy for .99 cents at Goodwill. "Zum Wohl!"

Whip out the wiener schnitzel and grab your favorite beer stein from the cupboard. It will soon be the first week of October. Hosting your own Oktoberfest gathering? Don't forget to put a record on, really set up some German ambiance.

The Thrifted Life: Fashion, Size and What NOT To Buy

I'm not entirely convinced this look works for her.

There are several reasons to go down the secondhand path when it comes to fashion.

1. There’s variety, and therefore a chance at finding something unique; something that hasn’t been slung on a hanger in its original retail state for perhaps decades.
2. The slim possibility of finding designer names. I’ve lucked into Betsey Johnson, Jones New York, Lucky Brand and Calvin Klein.
3. Thrifting allows for some experimentation with different looks you wouldn’t think to try. 
4. It’s hella cheap.

And recently I’ve learned the importance of being fashionably thrifty when it comes to the whole dieting interim. If you’re losing weight (or even gaining weight due to pregnancy, medical concerns, too many pastries, etc. etc.) and looking to temporarily expand your wardrobe to accommodate your shifting physique, thrifting is the way to go.

I’m currently hovering at the 40 pound loss, but still holding out to lose more. And for the first time in months I went out today…to the mall…and actually bought some key fashion pieces…new. I caved and bought a pair of dark wash jeans that do some fabulous things for my ass. There. I said it.

Now…I bought them on sale, with an additional coupon. I don’t have buyer’s remorse. But I must admit that while I was happily rewarding myself for the achievement of a smaller pant size, I had just an inkling of doubt. What happens when next month I look in the mirror and these pants are just as baggy as the ones I’ll soon be donating to Goodwill?

In the past, when I had the  opportunity to purchase something smaller and cheaper with the hopes of fitting into to it at a later time I would use clothing as a primary motivator. You know what I’m talking about, ladies. But there was little-to-no follow-through. 

Now that I’m in an epic battle with my wardrobe, facing the rivals of sagging behinds, baggy knee jeans and an overall dissatisfaction, I’m wondering if downsizing in the thrift is a smart choice.

Is it better to buy for right now? Or is it better to reserve something slightly smaller for the future when you spot something cute?

I do know one thing. Just because you can squeeze your body into it, doesn’t mean it fits. Much of the time, size is subjective to the time and place the garment was made…and perhaps more importantly, the body wearing it. I’ve seen some really tragic ensembles on various sized women and can only shake my head in confusion.

Price, size, style. These things are important. But if you’re busting through the seams, can’t breathe for fear of busting a stitch, can’t bend at risk of a projectile button…simply put it down and walk away. Let somebody else thrift it and keep your eyes peeled for a look that works.

What's your secondhand fashion strategy?

The Week in Review: On Tangibility

 

Don't you just love the smell of an old book?

 
Secondhand shopping means hunting down treasures of yesteryear, sniffing out bargains and unearthing cultural oddities.  But it also means saving an item from certain death at the local landfill.

And this got me thinking of aesthetics. What visual and physical features must an an item have to appeal to you as a buyer? What deciding factors qualify a must-buy purchase?

And when it comes to thrifting records, CDs, tapes, books, DVDs, videos and media that could otherwise be downloaded, how does tangibility affect your decision? Do you only own the item if you can physically prove your rights to possession tangibly?

Not so long ago, I half-considered buying a Nook for quick and easy downloads of all my leisurely reads. But I just can’t reconcile my love for books, actual books. The texture of the paper, the smell of a vintage read, the scintillating cover of a good pulp. I guess I’m for the tangible.



Welcome to the virtual exhibition.



But that doesn't mean I hold contempt for the available technology. After all, where would I be without this blog? I welcome the exploration of techy aids to creative aspirations.

Right now, for instance, I'm in love with virtually cataloging my collections of thrifted finds with The My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software. It’s nice to organize photos and other spiffy ideas with a little help from the technology. And I plan to experiment with digital scrapbooking even more in the future.

With any luck, I’ll find some sweet secondhand fashion to model, photograph and later scrapbook in this upcoming thrift-week. Oh the possibilities!

If you’re looking to balance your beloved tangible thrifted finds with your love for technology, enter  The Let's Go Thrifting! My Memories Suite Giveaway It’s much more than digital scrapbooking. It’s a way to preserve and share the past, even if it’s just a pile of dusty ol' vintage books.

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What's your take on the tangibility factor?

Odds 'n' Ends Thursday: It's the Time of The Season

You know what season I'm talking 'bout. It's that lovely time of year when the wind blows crisp and clean, and the leaves change color. It's perfect for layering all of your cute thrifted fashion pieces and cozying up to a hot cup of coffee for a horror movie marathon. God, I love this time of year.

And I love, love, love going through my closet and subsequently making a new fashion thrift wish list for the changing temperatures. This season I am dying to find a poncho that doesn't make me look like a sack of potatoes...or some sort of a cat lady. I would also like some saddle shoes, colorful tights (which are not likely to be thrifted, but hopefully bought on discount), a few fashionable tunics to layer over leggings and anything else that'll blend together for a comfortable look that works with the cooler weather.

And this is exactly the reason that the "Odds 'n' Ends Thursday" post will actually be published in the wee Friday morning hours. I spent a considerable amount of time today hunting the Salvation Army and the clearance racks of a few of my favorite stores for looks I love. I did find a lovely black and white print dress which I plan to layer over leggings and top with a cute cardigan. And I got some cute costume jewelry from Forever 21...including a... wait for it... robot necklace. Pictures will follow shortly.

Back to the "Odds 'n' Ends Thursday" topic...I find it a bit odd that no one has officially entered the Let's Go Thrifting! My Memories Suite Giveaway. I'd really like someone creative and thrifty to win this software. Did you miss the initial announcement? No worries.

There are six ways to gain entries:

1. Visit the My Memories website and pick out your favorite Digital Scrapbooking Kit.  (1 Entry)
2. Become a fan of My Memories on Facebook.  (1 Entry)
3. Follow the My Memories Blog through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)
4. Tweet @LetsGoThrifting and @MyMemoriesSuite about your passion for scrapbooking. (1 Entry)
5. Post about the My Memories Suite Giveaway on your blog. ( 1 Entry)
6. Follow Let's Go Thrifting! through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

Just follow these instructions and then comment on the original post letting me know which entries you've completed. Please use separate comments for each one so I can make sure all of your entries are counted toward the giveaway. Also be sure that your comments have your name and email so I can let you know if you're the lucky winner.

Be sure to read my rave review of the product and the official announcement of the My Memories Suite Giveaway for more details.

Best of luck, thrifters!

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What thrifted fall fashions are you looking for?

The Thrifted Life: Shenanigans

If the price is right and the gettin’ is good, get yourself to the thrift for some cheap, no frills shenanigans. If not for something functional, like clothes or furniture, go for something fun.

You know where I find the best bargains on nonsensical items? The toy section. Of course this also means I must brave the land of unsupervised, uncontrollable sugar-high children. But if it means finding something entertaining for practically nothing, I’ll squish through the crowds of screaming kiddies.

Especially if it means finding something that allows me to make this face. Oh just imagine walking into my kitchen and seeing something like this hanging on the fridge. That’ll make ya think twice about midnight snacking.

These faces were created with the magic of magnets! And with over 50 pieces, just think of the possibilities. The only downside is, the policy of 2nd Ave Thrift is to write the price impossibly large on the front and center of whatever you’re buying.

Still, it’s pretty kooky so I dig it. Plus, during half-off Customer Appreciation Day this ‘Magnetic Fun’ was 85 cents. I also found a few other strange wonders on this particular visit. But I have plans for those that I'm not quite ready to reveal... Hehehe

What thrifty shenanigans have you gotten into?

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Don't Forget To Enter The My Memories Giveaway!

Special Sunday Announcement: The My Memories Suite Giveaway!

    



Let’s Go Thrifting! is proud to announce its first sponsored giveaway. MyMemories.com the premier website provider of digital scrapbooking needs has offered its services…absolutely free for we privileged people of Let’s Go Thrifting!

I had the opportunity to download the My Memories Suite v2.0 software and take it for a test run. I was extremely impressed with the variety of features. Users can choose from designer templates themed for specific events and holidays, or create their own customized design. Beings that I try to hail myself as some kind of creative genius, I opted for the latter. Notice the tilt of the photos above, the sepia tone to that photo of my favorite camera and that little speech bubble I gave that asskickin' grandma? Those are all my personal touches in creating my own custom design.

While I enjoy the good ol’ fashioned cutting and pasting of the standard scrapbook, I’m all about convenience. And what’s more convenient than digitally creating something you can share with friends and family? Both Mac and PC compatible, My Memories Suite is rated #1 by Amazon and for good reason.

After downloading the My Memories Suite, I was pleasantly surprised with a clean interface that makes creating albums quite simple. Picking from the lovely digital inventory of paper backgrounds and photo layouts was tough, as there was a lot to choose from. You can even add neat little embellishments like ribbons, buttons and other assorted flare.

And you know what having a digital scrapbook means? You can add special features not available to the standard scrapbook, like video and multimedia. This is something I will definitely be having some fun with in the near future.

And of course you can add text, word art, various sized and spaced photos and everything else you need to create your perfect scrapbook album. You can even use the My Memories Suite to create your own templates for greeting cards, calendars, personalized photo albums, posters, tee shirt designs and more.

Once the My Memories Suite is downloaded and installed, you can even add additional paper backgrounds to your inventory. These digital paper packs come in a variety of designs and colors and are available to download right to your Suite, all priced to move and some even free!

MyMemories.com also has a whole team of designers crafting new and beautiful themed kits for download. These combo pack kits come with the background paper, design embellishments, monogram frames and more, all in perfectly complimentary high-resolution images. And if you're looking for some creative inspiration, or tips on how to best utilize all of the design features, the My Memories Blog is a valuable resource.

Heard enough awesome things about the My Memories Suite and want to win a copy of your own?

With a little bit of clicking around the web and commenting on here, you can have 6 entries to the giveaway.  

1. Visit the My Memories website and pick out your favorite Digital Scrapbooking Kit.  (1 Entry)
2. Become a fan of My Memories on Facebook.  (1 Entry)
3. Follow the My Memories Blog through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)
4. Tweet @LetsGoThrifting and @MyMemoriesSuite about your passion for scrapbooking. (1 Entry)
5. Post about the My Memories Suite Giveaway on your blog. ( 1 Entry)
6. Follow Let's Go Thrifting! through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

Please follows these steps and leave separate comments on this post for each entry, with links to your blog re-post, favorite digital scrapbooking kit pick, etc, etc. This way I can guarantee all of your individual comments count toward extra entries when it's time to draw the winner. Also, if you do not have your contact information on your Google profile, I need a way to contact you if you're the winner. So please leave your name and email on the comment entries as well.

I am really excited to give one lucky reader a code for a free copy of the My Memories Suite software, so please send in your entries and tell all of your crafty friends too!

The Let's Go Thrifting! My Memories Suite Giveaway will end Saturday October 1st and the winner will be announced and contacted Sunday October 2nd.

Good luck to all of my crafty thrifters out there!

Odds 'n' Ends Thursday: This Just In.



Extra, Extra. Read all about it.



Sometimes it's a slow news day when thrifting.  Nothing strange spotted and nothing awesome acquired. This was one of those days. I was hoping to prove the dreary weather wrong with an abundance of thrifted oddities. But the shelves of the thrifts were just as dreary. Two Goodwill stops and a trip to 2nd Ave proved a futile effort. And I was really hoping to score some fall fashion pieces too.

In other news, Let's Go Thrifting! has been featured in an exclusive interview with DeDe of Vintage and Flea. So if you're looking for a heartfelt story, a mysterious encounter, a few how-to thrift tips or just wondering how we got started, check out "Seven Questions We Ask Sites We Heart: Let's Go Thrifting"

Do you have any thrift news?



The Thrifted Life: Frugal Philly Has Arrived!

Well, dear thrifters, I am pleased to announce that the new 'Frugal Philly' section of my local Macaroni Kid newsletter has officially launched. At this time we are planning for at least two thrift-related posts per month. And for the first article in the series I decided to sketch a portrait of 'Why We Thrift,' and with socioeconomic ties and theories of rebellion this is a personal manifesto of sorts. Want a little snippet of quotes?

"They may choose the thrift store as a means to deny corporate control over their paychecks. They ignore the impulse to spend a predetermined amount money on what is advertised and instead spend a fraction of the cost on what is available at the thrift store. Maybe they won’t find what they’re looking for right away, but when they find the sought after item, there is a satisfaction that it was purchased on their terms."

You can read "Why We Thrift: The Cause, The Cost & The Cultural Resistance" from the 'Frugal Philly' section of Macaroni Kid right here.

Use this code for an instant $10 savings!

And since I am feeling especially frugal this rainy Tuesday afternoon, I would to share with all of you a special discount being offered by the folks of  My Memories. Especially for the friends and fans of Let's Go Thrifting! My Memories is offering an incredible $10 discount off the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software, My Memories Suite version 2.0

Perfect for crafters looking for a tech-savvy solution to the cutting and pasting, this digital scrapbook allows for organized creativity that you can share with your friends and loved ones forever.

To take advantage of this special offer visit the My Memories store and type in the special promotion code: STMMMS24809 at the checkout page. Feel free to share this special savings code with your friends and family so we can all be creative and frugal together, courtesy of Let's Go Thrifting!

What does being frugal mean to you? 

The Week in Review: Exciting Things on the Horizon

Well thrifters, this week has been rather pleasant for Let's Go Thrifting! As some of you may know, Thursday marked the official launch of The Trading Post, something which I hope will spark interest for some thrifty bartering.

And speaking of thrifty, it seems that my seemingly trivial expertise of secondhand shopping extends beyond the contents of this blog. I was recently offered yet another venue to explore the issue of thrifting from the kind folks of Macaroni Kid, a national print and online family-friendly newsletter. I have been asked to participate in a newly revamped 'Frugal Philly' section for the local Macaroni Kid edition, telling Philadelphians how and where to find the best stuff for cheap. My first article, a manifesto of sorts, is soon to be published (in two versions: one localized and one for a national readership). It pays to be an expert thrifter!

For the first time,  one of the items from the Let's Go Thrifting Etsy Shop has been featured in a treasury, a collection called The Green Colors of Nature.

I was also recently contacted by a representative from My Memories, a lovely site featuring products and software for digital scrapbooking. And I am pleased to announce that once I review the many features of the My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software, I will also be giving one of you lucky readers a free copy! More information and the official rules of the giveaway will be posted during next week's editorial schedule. Look for more enticing offers from the folks of MyMemories.com in the near future.

And stay tuned for even more excitement  on the horizon here at Let's Go Thrifting!