Holiday Thrifting: It's A Secondhand Winter Wonderland

"Now bring us some figgy pudding."

There are seven days left until Christmas. And like many frantic holiday shoppers, I've hit malls, outlets, supermarkets and yes, wine and spirits shops. And I've hit them hard. There was just one place I hadn't been able to hit in anticipation of the big ho-ho-holiday bonanza. 

That's right. I'm hanging my head in shame that, I, the sole force behind Let's Go Thrifting, had yet to visit the thrift store for some holiday inspiration. And so, with a week to spare, I reached out to the kind folks of Impact Thrift, to ask if I could take a few holiday themed photos for this very blog post. And of course, they welcomed me back to take a gander at what festive wares they had in store. 

I was not disappointed. And this got me thinking. Could a well-stocked thrift store be a one-stop holiday shop for gift-givers, party goers, social hosts, and Christmas revelers alike? Well, let's see...

There are lovely dinner platters to bring that you wouldn't mind leaving for your host to keep. Of course, you might want to keep them too...especially that one on the left. But, hey! This is the season of giving! 

There is a bounty of holiday tins. And they'll make a perfect presentation for all of the candy and baked goods you'll be giving to friends and family, or as storage for delicate tree ornaments. 

Talk about some elegant serving options. If you'd like to host a holiday dinner party, why not keep it classy? You can bring your guests some figgy pudding---whatever that is---and  do so with a lovely silver serving bowl. 

And don't forget the decorative touches...

Oh. My. God. How cute are these ornate candle holder gift boxes? 

And carolers-- you can never have enough carolers, even if they demand figgy pudding. 

So, if you're looking for holiday decor, elegant dining inspiration, last minute gifts, or something festively appropriate to wear, thrift shopping can help you be merry, bright, and on budget. 

What holiday goods have you purchased secondhand? 

Season's Greetings and many thanks to the folks at the Feasterville Impact Thrift Store! 

Adorable, Vintage And Only 99 Cents. But What Is It?

I almost forgot about this little buried treasure. I salvaged it from a dig at one of Impact Thrift's unsorted bric-a-brac sales some time ago. I found it inside a plastic tote otherwise filled with dusty dinnerware pieces and placed it my basket to examine before purchase.

It's brown, plastic and made in Hong Kong. The thermometer is purely decorative.  The day and month can be changed manually by rolling the dial and pushing the little arrow, respectively. That precious little globe spins and the piece stands 11" high. That's what I know.

Now here's what I'm left wondering.... what is it, exactly? I took to the powers of Google for further information and found a single eBay listing which called this an "Unusual Vintage Thermometer Globe Month Day Clock Tower." That's just as descriptive, yet inconclusive as my guess would have been.

But whatever it is...it's siting on my bookshelf, where I occasionally pass by and give that little globe a spin. It's got character. And identifying it won't change my opinion one way or another. But still, I'd love to know a little more about it. 

So what do you make of my little Vintage Thermometer Globe Month Day Clock Tower? 

Bagels & Bargains: The In-Store Thrift Event

A lovely curated collection 

On Saturday, April 6th I was invited as a special guest to the Impact Thrift Store in Feasterville, PA.

Of course, I never need an invitation to feel welcome at Impact, as I'm recognized on the regular basis as "the thrift blogger" by a number of the employees.  Since interviewing the staff prior to the Impact grand opening almost a year ago , I thought I'd eventually be just another eager shopper scavenging for secondhand deals.  So, imagine my delight and surprise to be a blogger invited to another Impact in-store event.

I arrived at Impact at 8 am, when the 20 or so bloggers, crafters and invited guests walked through the doors an hour before the store opened. Given first dibs on the merchandise and fun prizes, we were all wide awake despite the early hours. In a partnership with Denise Sabia of The Painted Home crafting and design website, the Bagels and Bargains event featured curated items fresh from the Impact donation warehouse, 25% off coupons, craft supply goody bags and much more. And all of this swag was provided to promote the Impact ECOfest Home Show on April 27th, another event which I also plan on attending.  

But I couldn't afford to be distracted by all of the glitz and the glamour. I was in a thrift store, prior to opening. It was go time. 

I decided to skip the complimentary breakfast, for the time being. Instead I managed to politely socialize with other bloggers, photograph the things I loved and prowled the store for savings. And all the while I was fascinated by the fact that I hadn't seen it so desolate since my behind-the-scenes Impact tour. 

After stuffing a few small finds into my cart, we gathered around Denise for a game of The Thrifted Price Is Right.

Jackie Jardine, come on down!!! 

The rules were simple: The first person to shout out the correct price for some of her curated thrift finds was the winner.

And when the time came to price that lovely framed  photograph from 1902...you better believe I stepped up my game.

"$20!" 

I shouted and hit the price right on the nose, winning myself a $25 gift certificate. Man, let me tell you. It was almost like I won a car from Drew Carey...almost.

After a few more rounds of pricing and some raffle prizes, we were encouraged to roam around. The small crowd immediately swelled, gravitating to the selection of curated lovelies that Denise had handpicked. But I pushed forward as all of the stools and suitcases were grabbed, and got my fingers around what I knew I was meant to buy from the beginning...that very antique framed photograph that I had correctly priced.

It's the perfect addition to my collection of vintage photographs. 

I made several trips around the store, carefully searching each aisle for a hidden treasure. And it didn't seem like long before the doors were opened to the public, and our little private shopping event came to an end. But I was by no means, disappointed. I received a goody bag of paints and supplies that will soon come in handy for some repurposing projects in the works. I got a 25% off my total order coupon and won a $25 gift certificate. 

Of course, I grabbed a bagel for the road.

After thanking the hostess for her hospitality and saying my goodbyes to the staff, I drove back home with thrift scores in tow. 

It really was a great day, one that I needed. I met other bloggers with a similar passion for thrifting, won some prizes, got some much-needed repurposing advice from an expert in design, was again recognized as the girl behind Let's Go Thrifting. And on top of all that, I scored some sweet thrifted loot.

FREE! FREE! FREE! 

A little wicker and wood curio cabinet, a wooden owl pin, a vintage white doily, Sex In History book and the antique 1902 framed graduation portrait. And with the combined savings of the 25% coupon and the $25 gift certificate...not only was this all free...but I have $4 to spare in certificate spending. I went to the Bagels and Bargains event and actually earned thrift money!

Do I love being a thrift blogger, or what? 

Thrift Style: How I Became A Vintage Doll

About a month ago, when browsing the racks of Impact Thrift, I found a vintage floral and lace skirt, and I had a brilliant idea. I was going to be a vintage doll for Halloween this year.

It didn't take long to achieve the look. After adding a pair of pink tights, a pink sparkly sweater, a frilly white shirt and a pair flats, I was ready to be a vintage doll.

All I needed was the baby doll wig, some makeup and a spot of tea.

And of course I had to document my doll adventure...

So, thrifters, I bet you're wondering how much this costume cost. Let's tally it up.

Vintage Skirt   $3.00 Impact Thrift

Sweater  never-worn with tags $4.00 2nd Ave

Frilly shirt  already owned $0.00

Brown flats already owed $0.00

Vintage tea cup 50 cents, Impact Thrift

Baby Doll Wig $25.00, Masquerade.

Tights $15.00, Lane Bryant.

Total cost: $47.50

Buuuuttttt....Since I will be wearing the sweater and tights again in the future...(just maybe not together) I'll deduct those off the cost of the costume. Heck, I can even deduct the 50 cent teacup, beings I can use it at home. This makes the final cost for what was solely used for the costume just $28.00!!! So for just under $30 I got to be a thrifty vintage doll this Halloween.  

So what do you think? Do I make a good doll?


Let's Go Thrifting recommends... 

It's Katniss in doll form!

The Let's Go Thrifting Guide to Thrift-Gifting

A lovely vintage jewelry box. 

As a diehard thrifter who enjoys secondhand shopping both solo and with friends, I have no qualms with finding one-of-a-kind thrifted wonders as gifts for others. I snagged this gorgeous jewelry box for my sister just last week. Her birthday was quickly approaching and I didn't want to just hand her a gift card for the mall.  I wanted to find something I knew she would love. Seeing that my sister has an arsenal of costume jewelry and a love for cameo pendants, I knew she'd flip over this find. The fact that this didn't have a price tag and the Impact bric-a-brac department priced it on the spot for me was also quite serendipitous. 

Pretty!

Funnily enough, a week before I found this treasure, I ordered Ashley this vintage wooden bead necklace from Etsy. Little did I know I would find a nice little vintage box to store it in!  Needless to say, she loves both gifts. And of course, since she's a total fashionista I still got her a gift card to New York And Co. 

While this jewelry box sure was a lucky thrifted-gift find for my little sis, I bet some of you may be wondering if there  is an etiquette to thrift-gifting. And while I'm not sure there's an exhaustive set of guidelines on the subject, I tend to abide by the the following:

• A gift from one thrifter to another is almost always welcome, provided the item is in clean, sanitized, operable condition. 
• A gift for a non-thrifter should be used with discretion to the individual. If you are convinced the item is rare, a fine addition to the recipient's collection or  has a special personal significance, then thrift away!
• Given time and patience, thrift-gifting in theme is usually a welcomed gesture. Last Christmas, a close friend of mine had just moved into a new apartment. From October until December 23rd I was on the hunt for kitschy fun finds for her kitchen, since she's one hell of a baker and her boyfriend is a chef. From 70's style salt 'n' pepper shakers to placemats, to oven mitts. I found a bunch of never and barely-used one-of-a-kind kitchenware.
• If you have a friend or family member that is eco-conscious and lives to thrift but can't find them anything they love, have you considered a gift certificate to their favorite secondhand store? I gave a thrift gift card to a friend for $25. She bought herself a funky 1970s couch, with some money to spare! 
• Thrift-gifting demands a sharp eye and a solid knowledge of what the recipient's interests are. Does she collect unicorns? Is she a b-horror fanatic? Does he have an unhealthy obsession with Pogs? Keep this in mind when thrifting.
• Unless your friends or family have complete contempt for secondhand wares, ere on the side of throwing your usual caution to the wind. If the price is right and the item is just too perfect to pass up, I say buy it. He or she could be so impressed by your amazing find, you might just find yourself the hero of the holiday. Heck, maybe you'll make a thrift shopper out of 'em yet! 

Thrift-Gifting: Frugal fun with a personal touch.

• As a general rule (that could be broken at any time) I tend to avoid thrift-gifting clothing...Unless there's a vintage wonder never to be seen again or a designer piece that I know without a shadow of doubt will be nothing short of adored by the recipient. Typically, fit tends to be the main issue. But if you thrift-gift some amazing ensembles for someone else..don't forget to get 'em professionally dry cleaned. 
• Bric-a-brac is a veritable treasure trove for secondhand gift thrifters! Take a look around. You never know what will turn up. 

Thrift-Gifting: Would give someone a present from a previous owner's past? 

_____________________

Let's Go Thrifting recommends...

I wouldn't mind getting one of these either...

True Tales of Thrifted Terror

"Hi there! Wanna play?"

I've always loved horror moves. Don't ask me why crazed killers, mysteries of the macabre or demonically possessed playthings are appealing. I guess that, in most cases, the horror genre is such an elaborate demonstration of fiction. And maybe it's this totally false imagery and information that I'm attracted to...in seeing just how far the imagination can reach to scare the living crap out us. 

So it's no surprise that I've begun a little collection fit for just this occasion. Welcome to the True Tales of Thrifted Terror. 

And with this thrifted doll, the imagination doesn't have to reach very far at all. Just look at it. 

Oddly reminiscent of Hannibal. Am I right? 

Evil baby doll says, "I don't do tea parties." 

This porcelain doll was salvaged from the Montgomeryville Impact for $1.50

I don't know much about it except for it's off-set blue eyes, painted lashes and brows, creepy grin and...oh yeah...missing scalp!?!? Maybe it was attacked during some sort of zombie-doll apocalypse? 

Sweet dreams, thrifters. 

Until next time...keep those creepy dolls locked in the basement where they belong. Or just don't buy them in the first place. Leave that to the professionals. Now if you will excuse me, I have to install a new deadbolt on the bedroom door. 

________________

Let's Go Thrifting recommends...

Grace Kelly in Barbie form! Classy. 

Two Buck Thrift Finds vs. 2000 Calories

Oh, hell no...

Will it be dollar whoppers or whopping savings?

Well, for the price of two value menu hamburgers I found three lovely thrifted wares. Good thing for me I opted for the latter. I don't even want to consider how many Weight Watchers points two hamburgers packs in there. Ah, it's just as well. I'd rather be thrifting! 

Spectacled Owl plaque. 95 cents.

Vintage travel memoir by Paul Theroux. 35 cents.

Funky single bud vase. $1.25 

Whoa there. Wait a minute. Hold the phone. I said all this was two bucks, didn't I? Well if you check my math, the total from the Spectacled Owl to that funky green vase is $2.55. But did I mention that all this was bought from the Impact Thrift in Feasterville? With a grand opening surprise discount, I plucked a piece of paper out of the mystery savings bucket and was awarded 30% off my total. Woo woo! That means my total was was a whopping $1.79. That's even cheaper than two of those dollar burgers. And with all the thrift hunting, I likely even burned off some Weight Watchers points. Have it your way, indeed.

What have you thrifted for a $2 total?

Jackie Jardine: Thrift Store Academic

Book learnin' from a thrift shoppin' blogger.

Last week I was surprised to check my email and find a rather interesting request from a former professor of mine. Professor Atkins, a man I respect as both a mentor and a published writer, wanted me to be a guest speaker for his Editorial Writing class at Arcadia University. Since following Let's Go Thrifting through my Linkedin account, Professor Atkins was intrigued by my work and wanted his students to hear my experience and advice as a blogger. 

While at first I was flattered at being considered an expert in blogging, flattery was soon replaced with anxiety. What if these students have no interest in what I have to say? What if I'm bombarded with technical questions to which I have no answers? What if I stutter or fall flat on my face or forget to zip the fly on my pants? 

I soon put all that that aside and decided to share some of my experiences in blogging...and thrifting.  After making the journey to Glenside, PA and stepping into Boyer Hall, I took my place behind the podium and gave my first guest lecture as a professional blogger. I discussed the initial idea for Let's Go Thrifting, some of the problems I've encountered along the way and my plans for the future. I also shared some tips of the trade and discussed the need for a knowledge of social media as aspiring journalists. And to my surprise, I was greeted by students who were not just eager to learn about the blogging process as a journalistic tool, but eager to learn about my particular expertise...in thrifting! 

While I did obviously go into my specialized interest of thrift shopping as the topic of my blog, I tried to keep the lecture as something of a broader-based info session on blogging in general. And this was for two reasons:

1. I didn't want to bore what I thought would be a disinterested student body who couldn't care less about my penchant for finding the peculiar at the thrift store.
2. I was invited as a guest speaker on blogging for journalism students, not as a speaker on thrifting for potential shoppers.

But there were questions on blogging and thrifting alike. How often do you go thrifting? You were at the new Impact Thrift Store!? How does the thrift pricing policy work?


I was so excited at the opportunity to discuss thrifting with the students, before I knew it, class was over. And after the lecture, I was met with a warm applause, I was asked for specific help on some of the students' blogs and I even handed out a few business cards. I guess that makes me something of an expert. Who knew that documenting creepy clowns and strange vintage books could accredit me as a guest lecturer at Arcadia University and as a correspondent for the Impact Thrift Store opening in just these last few weeks? Exciting things are on the horizon for Let's Go Thrifting! And I'm so glad all of you can be a part of it. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing in my firsthand observations on wacky secondhand finds. 

Blog on and stay thrifty! 

~ Jackie J. 

Let's Go Thrifting: Live From The Runway

Lights. Camera. Thrifting!

Fashion doesn’t have to mean excessive spending. As avid thrift shoppers, we know the  the power of the almighty dollar and just how far we can stretch that dollar when it comes to what we’re wearing. 

Impact Thrift Stores recognize the need for fun, fresh and trendy fashion pieces at affordable prices. And what better way to show off their selection of secondhand clothing, but with a thrifted runway show? 

To conclude the grand opening celebrations of the new Impact Thrift in Feasterville, PA on Saturday April 21st, the staff, family, friends and special guests presented the crowd with a showcase of ensembles for every occasion. The show featured sharp and classy menswear, trendy looks for women and cute-as-a-button kids'  collections. And the looks were only outdone by the low cost on the price tags. 

Hosting the special event was honored guest and longtime Impact Thrift supporter, Sheila Fortson-Williams, who is otherwise known as “The Glam Thrifter” for her expertise in finding lux looks for less. 

The runway show was a runaway success, with some thrift shoppers interested in buying some of the clothing and accessories right off the models’ backs. 

And once you see these ensembles, you won’t wonder why the catwalk meant a catrun right to the register for these fashion-frenzied thrifters. 

So without further delay, I present to you...

The Impact Thrift Store Runway Fashion Show

Model/Assistant Manager Ben is looking suave in a Jack Victor suit,  Eddie Bauer shirt and a Nubio tie.
Total cost: $25. 

The Glam Thrifter presents her glam sister, Whitney, who is wearing a floral wrap dress and mules from Talbots.

Total cost: $11.  

Erinn is looking trendy in a black and beige dress by Eliza J, accessories and sandals. 

Total cost: $11.

Kate is sporting a fresh teen look. Entro floral top, skinny jeans and espadrille wedges

Total cost: $11.50 

Eric is looking good in a charcoal suit by Nautica, lavender shirt by Paul Frederick,  Geoffrey Beane purple tie and black shoes by Allen Edmonds. 

Total cost: $25

Whitney is on the go in her charcoal suit from United Colors of Benetton and  Forenza lilac blouse. 

Total cost: $15.

Suzy is looking lovely in an exotic cocktail dress by Cache, sandals by Nine West and  layered necklace .

Total cost: $42.

Charlotte in her floral print dress and Dan in his khaki pants and plaid green shirt make a too-cute pair.

Total cost per outfit: $6

Fiona is wearing a print dress from The Children's Place while James is in a Lands End tie-dye tee and shorts. 

Fiona's Total Cost: $7. James' Total Cost: $5.50

Sheila is the Mother-of-the-Bride in an Ann Taylor dress. Escorting her is Ben in a groom's tux by Sporting Life.

Total cost for Sheila: $15. Total cost for Ben: $45.

Francie is wearing a flower girl dress by US Angels. Charlotte is wearing a flower girl dress by Sophia Rose.

Total cost for Francie: $9. Total cost for Charlotte: $7

Kate is the beautiful bride on the catwalk in a never worn dress by David's Bridal.

Total cost: $200. 

Have you ever seen a thrifted runway show?