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?

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.

____________________________________

What's your take on the tangibility factor?

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!

The Week in Review: Getting Away

Well thrifters, the time has come to leave my home in search of a new adventure in exotic and faraway lands. Sure, the adventure will be limited to five days...in the exotic faraway lands of  New Jersey. But I couldn't be more excited. I've packed my bags, made a music playlist for the road and am ready for some much deserved time off. Drinks, good food, the beach, a bit of gambling with the family. Who knows?  Maybe I'll win the big one and be able to fund my future Let's Go Thrifting! ideas and other projects on the horizon.

Of course this time away also means time away from all of you. So take a gander through our inventory of archived posts, throw some suggestions and comment love at me to read when I return. And don't forget to go out and thrift yourselves something nice!

The Week in Review: A Preview of Things To Come

It's true. I am always working on the blog regardless of the day or time. I'm brainstorming, taking photos, observing interactions in the thrift and documenting all of my little secondhand adventures.

But come the end of the week wrap-up, Sunday is a reality check. This is when I come to realize that yet another week has come and gone. I am very pleased to say that Let's Go Thrifting! is beginning to look the format I've had envisioned for some time. We are also near 14,000 views, very exciting! And though I was unable to thrift anything useful, wacky or tacky, I've devoted some serious time to the blog this week. I've also been working toward other goals and opportunities.

I've been vigorously exercising every single day, no excuses. I've been to a few social engagements with friends, been trying to put myself out there....meet new people. I have a new writing project in the works and am planning fun photo shoots.

But I digress.

I know this is a blog about thrifting, about celebrating the weird and wonderful secondhand lifestyle. But sometimes I find it difficult to separate my personal life from my torrid love affair with the thrift. Maybe it's because, dear thrifters,I value your time and your input as readers. I love sharing my vintage finds, crazy clothes, oddball vinyl compilation albums and the many, many clown sightings. But I also love sharing about my life in general. But I'll try to keep it thrifty, I promise.

Speaking of keeping it thrifty. I'd like my readers to have the first look at the business end of Let's Go Thrifting! as we wouldn't have a business without you. So here is just a little preview of a few items that will soon be filling the virtual shelves of The Let's Go Thrifting Etsy Shop.

Vintage Multi-Colored Owl Candle



Rainbow Brite Snow Globe

  

Snuggle Bear Coin Purse Clip



Stay tuned for more thriftacular antics, and maybe just maybe a bit of the ol' personal life all wrapped up in one glorious package.

The Week in Review: On the Hunt

When grazing the aisles of your favorite thrift store, your senses sharp, your palms sweating as you stalk your prey, you are suddenly hyper aware of your surroundings. Senior citizens scatter about the bric-a-brac section. Young mothers are toting toddlers around the housewares. Hipsters claim the electronics section, swarming around the stacks of vinyl. Take a deep breath. You are now deep in the heart of the jungle…the land of competitive thrift shopping where only the fittest survive.

Seem exaggerated? You haven’t had the misfortune of hitting the thrift at peek hours, with the aisles clogged with overflowing carts and people bustling around the building like wild animals.

Sure, it helps to know the layout of the store and which colored-tag sale is the day’s special. But it also helps to get a feel for the clientele. Know your thrifty competitors. And yes, it is a competition.

Aside from the frugality of secondhand shopping, there’s something of a sport involved, a friendly competition of who can score the most swag for the smallest amount of money. This reasoning, coupled with the appeal to collectors, junkers and crafters will yield a wildly varied customer demographic. But generally speaking, there are certain group--species if you will--to which people fall in the spectrum of secondhand shoppers. Knowing who they are and what they’re about could give you the competitive edge to get what you want before they get it first.

The Matriarch.

 

"What!? A sale on ceramic animals at Goodwill? I'll be there in a jiffy!"

Mother, Grandmother. Doting Aunt. These women are the providers and caregivers for all things domestic. They have a keen eye to spot anything potentially useful for the home’s of any member of their family, their friend or their neighbor. You wouldn’t be shocked to overhear one of these women picking up a piece of kitchen decor and saying “Oh Edith, look at this ceramic rooster. You know who could use one of these? Your third cousin, Julie. She collects roosters. I think I’ll get it for her.” The matriarch can be typically seen in pastel pants, a sensible blouse and an animal embellished sweater, regardless of the season or temperature…for those “drafty” areas of the thrift.

Mr. Fix-It.



"Yes, Honey. I'm going to thrift that couch today for the basement....after I eat lunch."

Mr. Fix-It is the average guy’s guy looking to build, paint, caulk, mold, screw or smash anything deemed useful for what ever “big project” is next on his busy agenda. Be wary of overly tanned, mustached 40-somethings with worn denim and flannel. This guy means business and is likely heading straight to the furniture section with measuring tape hanging from his utility belt. These men are especially prevalent in the electronics section, sorting through buckets of miscellaneous plugs and wires. If you’re looking to thrift for home repair, this illusive creature will pose a threat to your domain. 

The Hipster.



"We're too cutting edge to pose for pictures."

Ah, the hipster. In fashion choice, in lifestyle, the hipster poses a serious problem for avid thrifters. They’re buying up all the vinyl, they’re calling dibs on all the cool vintage clothes and they have a sixth sense when it comes to kitsch. Beware the skinny jeans and the intentionally mussed hair. And don’t let the thick lenses of the cat eye frames fool you, they have impeccable thrift vision and will be stalking the same territory. They are also known to travel in packs to spread throughout many sections of the store. This means trouble.

The Eccentric.

"Don't ya know that's a first edition ya have there? I have three. Want to hear a funny story?"


This is the wild card of thrift shoppers. It can come in many shapes and sizes and has no definitive age, race or gender. This person is in it for the oddities and in many ways be your most worthy adversary. A lot of the times this person, man or woman, holds some knowledge or familiarity with whatever found object they’ve acquired and will share said information with shoppers nearby. They are good for a brief history lesson. But limit your conversation, lest they spot all the coveted crazy items before you do. If you find someone who can tell you the inventor, make, model and purpose for every kitsch item in your basket…run, don’t walk toward the section you’d most like to scavenge.

____________________________



Truth be told, there are many types of regular thrifters. These are not mere shoppers or casual purveyors of the secondhand. These are devotees to the thrift lifestyle. And in some cases they can put a damper on your overall thrift experience.

On the whole, I’ve had a very positive social experience while thrifting. Smiling, friendly banter at the checkout, the occasional shared laugh over some outcast item on the shelf. There are times, however, when thrift shopping is not so pleasant…when the competition gets a little ugly.

I have seen shoppers nearly come to blows over an item, arguing over “who saw it first.” I’ve seen aisles deliberately blocked with carts with a refusal to budge. I’ve seen people nearly knock others to the ground in their eager pursuit of something they spotted from across the store.

It ain’t pretty.

"That Pyrex is mine. Back off or I'll bite."

My advice is to be on the constant defense. Be polite. But also be aware that others are not always so cordial. A case in point example: If you are going to the thrift and know you’ll be rifling though the clothing racks and may need to try something on, do that first. Because, sad to say it’s not unheard of to come out to your unattended cart full of treasures to find a few of them missing to the buzzards who swooped in and snatched them while you were in the fitting room. Now, that’s bad thrift karma.

I had my own run-in with a fellow thrifter just the other day. After visiting the Montgomeryville Impact, I decided on the way home I’d follow a slightly scenic route so I can stop into the Hatboro Impact as well. And wouldn’t you know one of the shoppers from Montgomeryville must’ve had the same idea! I saw him immediately and was about to say hello…until I saw his reaction to recognizing me. He quickened his pace from the fiction to the vintage book section and holed himself in there for a solid 15 minutes. I guess he sized me up as a bookish girl and wanted to get to the good ones before I did. Touché, sir. Touché.

What wild thrifters have you spotted while on the hunt?

The Week in Review: We're Hitting the Road

In the housebound boredom of being on temporary sick leave, I had the time to evaluate what I own and what I am willing to part with through donations and sales at my Etsy shop. I still have a bit of organizing and de-cluttering to do, though most of the trouble lies in my closet, not my collections. And since I have the rare ability to say that I'm done work at a decent hour tomorrow night, I plan to do two things:

1. Sort through unworn and ill-fitting clothes for potential Goodwill donations and organize what's left into a sensible grouping of pants, shirts, skirts, gym clothes, casual,  professional and party wear.
2. Map out an itinerary of my favorite suburban thrift stores.

On Tuesday, following my physical therapy appointment and a quick stop at the local library, I plan to properly celebrate my newly found freedom from temporary immobility by partaking in a solo Thrift Road Trip. I need to gain some fresh blog inspiration. And of course I hope to find some quirky vintage oddities, maybe stock up on some items for my shop. And....drum roll, please... I am also in search for an assemblage of items for my next Blog Follower Giveaway!

And don't think I've forgotten about The Trading Post idea. That is still very much in the works. So bloggers, readers and friends, prepare your wares for the trading. And prepare your minds for the blowing, by way of future thrift fails, weird and wonderful finds and a miscellany of misadventures!

The Week in Review: My Epic Return to the Thrift

Since late May I’ve been fitted with an orthopedic boot for what was thought to be a stress fracture. While the diagnosis is still a bit fuzzy, the time has come to kick-off the boot and begin physical therapy.

And not a moment too soon, given my reliance upon friends and family to drive me around to run my errands. And since thrifting is not quite a necessary errand (at least not one to friends and family) I was having a severe secondhand shortage.

Today marks my triumphant solo return to the thrift. And while I only made a single purchase, I knew instantly what I had been missing.

Cigar box and contents, $1 from Second Ave Value Store.

Take this cigar box, for example. Square, sturdy, with the sweet image of a biker's sillhoutte. A nice box of Nicaraguan cigars imported by the Acid company. Sounds smooth, doesn't it? But what's in the box, you ask.

Lighters? A deck of cards? Grandpa's corncob pipe collection?

Wrong.

Which one of you kids wants a stogie?

Gather 'round, children. It's time for papa to light up one of his Acid cigars and regale you with stories of cross-country bike trips. Oh wait, we're fresh out of cigars. Here, play with these ABC blocks instead.

...And that's exactly what I've been missing from the thrift.

___________________________________

Be sure to visit the Let's Go Thrifting Facebook Page for our Facebook exclusive Thrift Fail of the Week! 



The Week in Review: What We Wear

Since starting a new venture in fashion writing, I’ve come to nurture a heightened awareness of textiles, garments, ensembles, accessories and the overall look of passersby. I mentally note what works and what doesn’t. When reading fashion magazines I clip clothes, shoes and accessories I find interesting for my own Look Book—pages of which I will scan and share with you at a later time. I then use my Look Book to search for thrifty alternatives to high end designers.

While thrifted fashion finds were minimal this week, I’m still hopeful. Planning to fully utilize secondhand means to expand my wardrobe is especially important given the current size situation. I’m still losing weight, slowly but surely. But it’s not the most ideal time to commit to an entirely new wardrobe. I’m cautiously looking for clothes that fit…for now. But I am really searching for a few pieces that will fit even better… a few weeks from now.
In the meantime, I have been hitting the books for fashion inspiration.

I found this nostalgic book in New Hope, PA. While it wasn’t thrifted, I did buy it from an independent book store…on sale.





I enjoy the color and pattern of some of the fabrics, but will be the first to say that 70’s fashion isn’t cut for every body type. Some of the ensembles highlighted are ill-fitting, and judging by some of the hesitant body language in the models’ posing, they weren’t entirely comfortable either.

The women are amateurs at best, likely friends of the author and not models by trade. But that’s okay. Actually I think the real-woman look in outfits that border on costumes lends a little charm to the idea. And while I’m not limiting my fashion focus to just bell bottoms and polyester, there is a guilty pleasure in admiring the craze of past eras.

After all, fashion is a continuum of ideas and past inspiration. Take the shirt dress. We have the 60’s to thank for this current trend. Of course the modern take on the trend means a shorter hem and a skinny belt at the waist, but I love the look all the same.

Now if only I can thrift one in my size.

What thrifted fashion have you found?

The Week in Review: Thrift Deprivation vs. Housebound Productivity

Greetings, thrifters. Another week has gone by and I haven't been to a single thrift store. Well, that's not entirely true. On Monday my sister drove me to Goodwill to donate a few bags of leftover toys and games. So to clarify, I have not been at the thrift shopping this week. Oh, woe is me!

But I have been brainstorming fun new ideas for the blog, some of which I have previously mentioned. I am hoping that these plans come into fruition in the very near future. But a lot of the ideas require a bit of spending money for gas and thrifted goods, or at the very least the ability to drive freely. Being a passenger at the mercy of others' kindness and quite possibly being a regular pain in the ass in the process has been nerve wracking. I see the doctor on Thursday for an exam and new set of xrays to see when I can kick off this wretched boot.

'Til then, here I am on the couch with my laptop and a cup of coffee. And on a brighter note, not all of the ideas rely upon dollars or driving. Take The Trading Post idea, for example. I think we can all have some real fun with this.

But I am asking for a little help in the form of some honest opinions. I'm debating on having The Trading Post segment of Let's Go Thrifting on a particular day. Should I attempt to incorporate this thought into the editorial schedule? Or should posts be sporadic, whenever the mood strikes and the goods must go? I am aiming for editorial consistency, but I don't want to take on so much where the site values quantity over quality of posts. What are your thoughts?

Also, I was thinking of having The Trading Post as a seperate tab or "page" as its known on Blogger. Though I'm not sure if this would help or hurt the process.

Hmm...still some things to consider with this project. But no matter the frequency or position on the blog, I'm hoping everyone who participates will have some fun finding "New (to you)" goods in all of your trades.

While I still have some decisions to make, here are the basics on the trading procedure.
Feel free to shoot off some questions or ideas. Your thrifty insight is very much appreciated!

Wanna trade? Let's have a virtual shake on it!

_______________________

Welcome to The Trading Post!



This is a venue where bloggers and blog readers can share pictures and descriptions of wares they wish to be rid of, in exchange for goods they just got to have. Items will vary in size, style and value. But we’re hoping for some variety.

So take a look around, maybe initiate a trade.

How To Participate

Do you have an item you are looking to unload? If you’re a blogger, make your own Trading Post entry on your site, complete with photos and a description of the item. Then add your entry through our InLinkz list.

No blog? No problem! Just send an email with the info on your item to LetsGoThriftingBlog@gmail.com and we’ll post it for you.
What you will trade is entirely your decision, but remember that the parties involved in the trade are responsible for their own items and shipping policies.
Be honest. Have fun. And happy trading!

The Rules

• Please be respectful of other bloggers and their items. If an item interests you pursue the possibility of a trade. If you’re not interested in the offer, politely turn it down.

• Don’t forget to mention the issue of shipping costs when negotiating a trade. Each trader is responsible for their own trades, including shipping. Let’s Go Thrifting will provide the venue for discussion, but the trades are entirely up to you.

• Please respond to trade inquiries promptly and ship out items in a timely fashion.

• Are you hunting down a specific item? Maybe you should include a Thrift Wish List with each Trading Post. Who knows? Maybe someone will have just what you are looking for.

• Be honest. Honesty is the best policy with photos, item descriptions and shipping terms. Don’t offer or agree on a trade if you don’t plan on following-through on the deal.

• Have an open mind and have fun. Don’t think someone will want to trade their Pyrex bowl for your Pog collection? You’ll never know until you ask.

___________________________

The Week in Review: The Great Garage Sale Wrap-Up

After all of the cleaning, sorting and organizing the unwanted items to sell, the big day finally came and went. We set up at 7am sharp, hoping to catch the early Saturday shoppers.

In the beginning I was especially worried. We live on Greenacres. And while it may be known as “the place to be,” it’s not the easiest place to have a successful garage sale. Our street is a small residential area all of one block—one block that doesn’t have a lot of drive-thru traffic. I worked as much online promoting through Craig’s List, Gsalr.com, Facebook and here on the blog before it bordered on spam. Locally we hung signs and fliers and just hoped for the best.

While I was initially worried that a lot of our bigger ticket items: the bikes, the fake fire place, the guitar, etc, wouldn’t sell, I was relieved to find we just had a slow start. Serious buyers didn’t start stopping by until after 11.

Sadly, I didn’t sell as many toys as I was hoping. Then again…look at them all.



I'm trying to keep my beloved Rainbow Brite collection to a minimum.



Board games, Lord of the Rings, a Chucky doll. The wares were pretty eclectic.


We had even more in storage bins that people could dig through. But a lot of shoppers stopping by didn’t bring kids with them. And as many garage sale/flea market vendors know, kids are sometimes the best customers. They come up to their parents with arms full of dolls and stuffed animals. And the parents, being it’s so cheap to satisfy children with secondhand means, usually oblige. But not today.

I am happy to say that my sister and I made a little over $200 combined and my best friend, Liz, was able to raise over $70 in cupcake sales and donations to support her nonprofit employer in a team race for the Dragon Boat Festival this fall.

In the end it was worth it, especially given my money shortage from being on temporary sick leave. I only wish I could say that the work is over. Since a lot of the stuffed animals and games didn’t sell and the goal is minimize the clutter, I have to get someone to take me to Goodwill to make a hefty toy donation.

Some of those toys I will be trying to sell in other venues. You can expect a few of those Rainbow Brite dolls in my Etsy shop sometime next week, should there be any interested collectors out there.

Speaking of collectors, I was missing out on a big market yesterday. Where are all of the hipsters? In downtown Philly you can’t spit without hitting your average hipster on his secondhand sweater. I guess the Far Northeast isn’t exactly hipster territory, as no one even asked a price on my typewriter and turntable.

So I still have a bit of work to do when it comes to orgnanizing and re-selling. But all-in-all, the garage sale was a success. I just hope Goodwill will have the space for all of the donated toys and games coming their way!

How was your week of thrifting?

The Week in Review: My New Left Shoe

Admittedly, there was not a lot of thrift productivity this week. This is for a couple of reasons:

1. My right foot is still booted from the stress fracture.
2. Due to the inconvenient boot and the inability to drive, I’m at the mercy of others when it comes to getting out of the house.
3. I’m kind of broke and still awaiting my temporary disability payment. (Isn’t it just a little sad when you’re too broke to go thrift shopping)?

Earlier in the week, I had a run-in with a mob of angry clowns. But Saturday night, I paid a visit to 2nd Avenue and bought only the essentials:



60 cents and worth every penny.

 An adorable framed vintage tile piece with a little 70’s girl holding flowers. She's a bit dusty, but otherwise too cute to pass-up.

I also found a gorgeously kitsch framed 70’s yarn art for my best friend. (Photo will be posted a bit later). Truth be told, I love this piece and want it for my own. I just have no available wall space. Plus she has a similar 70’s floral decor theme and this would make a nice addition. It should also be noted that she’s been rescuing me from constant couch vegetation and literally pushed me around the mall last week in a rented wheelchair. Now that’s friendship.



Brand new, never worn Converse for $5.

And irony of ironies, I also scored a pair of brand new Converse One Star canvas flats. Of course I would thrift a pair of perfect-fit, size 11 shoes while I have a busted foot. But it’s not like I could just ask them to sell me just the left one for a discounted price, right?

This upcoming week will be bustling with frantic secondhand organizing as I prepare for a garage sale next Saturday. It’s just time to let go of a few things, maybe make some money, make some room. Then I will have a cleaner, better organized space for other new-to-me thrift acquisitions. Out with the old and in with the…old, I guess.

How was your thrifting week?