Category Archives: Store Reviews

store review: stone soup thrift shop

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If you’re looking to shop a squeaky clean, well-organized thrift store, Stone Soup isn’t for you. Hidden away in the quaint riverside town of St. Paul Park, this thrift can be summarized with just one word: dingy. However, their prices are low-low-low. So while picking your way through the labyrinth of questionably organized, somewhat stinky rooms may take a bit of time, you might find yourself a gem or two!

WHAT’S GOOD

♥ Glassware: If I was looking to stock up on ’70s-style glassware—think amber-colored dishes, green textured bowls, yellow votives—for a centerpiece or event, I would for sure come here first.

♥ Free table: In the front room of the shop sits a table full of stuff that’s free. Definitely always worth a once over.

WHAT’S MEH

♥ Clothes: Smallish selection of frumpy junk from brands like Sag Harbor, White Stag, etc. If you do happen to find some things that catch your eye, the a la carte price list for clothes is up by the register, but for just $8, you can fill a grocery bag full any day of the week.

♥ Shoes: Again, the selection is small and most pairs are in super shoddy shape.

♥ Furniture: Every single time I’ve visited this store the furniture room stinks like paint, leading me to the conclusion that purchasing furniture from this shop would be a really bad idea.

Where does the money raised here go? To the Basic Needs Action Team, a nonprofit that serves the disadvantaged and low-income community. In 2011, $147,294 worth of Stone Soup’s merchandise was given away for free to families in need—a whopping 57 percent of the store’s entire inventory!

And now here’s where I share a few of my favorite finds from this shop.

On my last visit, I found two hand-tooled leather handbags for $3-4 a piece. I polished them up with some leather cleaner when I got home and they are looking sharp.
As of last year, I’ve instituted a strict buying freeze on afghans, but for some reason, I couldn’t pass this one up. I love how the petals on the flowers fold over—so cute!How cheery is this dimpled planter? I’m thinking of popping some succulents into it and giving it to a friend.
Selection/Variety: ♥

Quality: ♥

Pricing: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Organization: ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥

Do they take credit cards? Yep!

Where it is: 950 Third Street, Suite 101, St. Paul Park

Hours: Monday through Friday : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact: 651.458.9786, stonesoupthriftshop.org

xxxo,

Meghan

first impression: ReSale 101 in Plymouth

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Yesterday, over my lunch break, I took a drive out to visit one of the newest thrift stores on the scene, ReSale 101. The shop, which opened on September 21, is a fund-raising arm of the Plymouth nonprofit, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP). Located  just off of County Road 101 in a brand-new building that also serves as IOCP headquarters, housing a food shelf and employment, housing, community and childcare resources, this shop is definite must visit.


At noon, the place was bustling. Friendly, chatty volunteers were busy putting out new merchandise and accepting donations (a staff of 100 volunteers run the place) and a handful of shoppers were perusing the racks. The overall feel is definitely more upscale than your average Salvation Army or Goodwill; more akin to a consignment shop than a thrift. Clothing was separated intelligently with special sections devoted to men, plus-sizes, teens and to my great delight…vintage.

Now before you start saddling your ponies for Plymouth, let me finish. The selection of clothing was sparse (less than eight pieces all together) and the majority of it I’d classify as too dated to be wearable. (Think high-collared maxi dresses and quilted housecoats.) That said, the overall assortment of antique-y otherthings including house wares, books, prints, knick knacks, et al was respectable. Items seemed to be in really excellent condition and prices ranged from good to reasonable to off-base. It should be said that if you’re into super vintage children’s clothing, there was a lot of it there. All of it in pretty great shape.

The prices overall are reflective of the edited, quality selection. Meaning, they’re definitely on the high side. The vintage clothing started at $10 and ranged on up to $18. Housewares were more sensibly priced as were the modern clothes and accessories. Deals are still to be had, though! Here are a few things I just couldn’t pass up.

A full set of vintage Libbey hostess glassware, in a fetching “Swiss Flowers” pattern.


Another crazy patterned caftan to add to my collection.

A fairly large crewel piece. How adorable is that flock of little puffy sheep?

Not pictured: A ridiculously awesome ’60s cocktail dress that photographs terribly on the hanger. Take my word though…it’s freakin’ sweet. Also, a cute little linked gold belt and a set of four boho-y metal chargers from India.

If you’re interested in checking out this thrift, here’s what you need to know. (Please note their hours are quite funky!)

ReSale 101

Address: 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth
Hours: Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 763.489.7500
You can also follow IOCP on zee Twitter.

xo,

Meghan

P.S. Photos in this post were taken on my phone and edited with Best Camera.

store review: the salvation army in frogtown

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Salvation Army Thrift Store, Frogtown, St. Paul

I’m not going to lie: the Boss inspired me to stop at this Sal Val on Monday. Ever since I read about a fellow thrifter’s insane Bruce Springsteen concert T-shirt find there, I’ve been more than a little motivated to check it out again. And my goodness, am I glad I did! It turns out, a few days prior to my visit, a vintage shop that had recently closed had donated boxes upon boxes of merchandise to the store. We’re talking super primo designer vintage, most of it from the ’50s and ’60s. Anyway, as you can imagine….a major bonanza ensued, as evidenced by my overflowing cart.

After I stuffed my cart with vintage, I spent the better part of the next hour going through the rest of the shop.

WHAT’S GOOD

♥ The store is large and well laid-out, two things I really appreciate.

♥  While they don’t have as big of a selection as the downtown Minneapolis Salvation Army, they have a more than decent amount of nice furniture and lamps. I saw a well-crafted coffee table for $10! Also spotted? A couple cute vintage lawn chairs and a pair of hanging bird cages I’m totally kicking myself for not buying.

♥ The shop has an above average collection of framed artwork, including (at the time of my visit) some larger scale mid-century pieces, some cool Native American powwow photos and some small kitschy pieces from the ’70s.

♥  The prices are really reasonable. Over the past year, prices at nearly every Salvation Army have gone up substantially, but this store is an exception. For example, I didn’t pay more than $3 a piece for any of the vintage I snagged, and some of it was discounted by 75% thanks to the tag sale they had running.

♥ The service was exceptionally sweet and patient. While I was waiting in line, I saw the manager and cashier address two fairly difficult, argumentative customers with poise and kindness.

♥ And last but not least, they have a dedicated vintage section. Which makes this girl’s life a whole heck of a lot easier!

WHAT’S NOT GOOD

♥ The couple times I’ve visited, I’ve noticed that the housewares section has really slim pickin’s. If you’re looking for Pyrex, dishes, knick knacks or bake ware, you might not have the best of luck here.

♥ It’s not super clean, a fact I can overlook in every thrift if the prices are rock bottom, as they are here.


The vintage goodies (numbering in the dozens), need laundering and steaming before they make their Internet debut, but here are a few other things I found on Monday that got me excited.

A complete, 16-volume set of Family Circle’s DIY Encylopedia from 1973 ($8). (Incomplete sets retail for around $50 on Etsy.)

I cannot wait to dig into these babies, you have no idea! Here are a few of my favorite covers…

I also picked up a couple random pieces of framed art. We’ve had a couple customers at Mighty Swell request more big-eyed boy/girl ’70s art, so I picked this up (even though it sort of creeps me out).

This photo of the Dump Sweet Dump (50 cents) mirror is too funny not to share! Yes I am wearing a wool sweater in June…it’s Minnesota!

After purchasing this cap-sleeved ditty (75 cents), the number of red and white gingham shirt I own is now up to three! Yikes!

Go here to find: Clothing (modern and vintage), art work, furniture, photo frames, books.

Selection/Variety: ♥ ♥ ♥

Quality: ♥ ♥ ♥

Pricing: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Organization: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥

Stroller-friendly? Yes!

Do they take credit cards? Yes!

While you’re there: There’s a ton to do over in this ‘hood! I love Ethiopian food and Fasika down on Snelling is one of the best spots in town. Go with a friend and split the veggie sampler. It’s nourishing, healthy and a total bargain at $14. If you’re in the mood for more thrifting, try digging for treasures at the Goodwill outlet at 2505 University Avenue or visit the plain old regular Goodwill store over at 553 Fairview. I also love finding stuff I never knew I needed at Ax-Man Surplus on University. That store is so fun!

Where it is: 572 University Avenue West

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Contact: 651.789.0099, Facebook

xo!

Meghan

store review: The PROP Shop in Eden Prarie

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The PROP Shop of Eden Prairie

Fact: There isn’t an abundance of thrift stores in Eden Prairie. In fact, there’s basically just one,  The PROP Shop. I visited the store a couple times last winter, didn’t have much luck and since I’m rarely out that way, I hadn’t made it a priority to return. But when I paged through the Best Of issue of Southwest Metro magazine at work last week, I saw The PROP Shop was included in their Best Of feature as the “best thrift store” (read entire article here). So, I figured I should mosey on over and pay it another visit.

Again, I left empty-handed, which is very rare for me. I attribute my lack of luck to a couple of things.

1. The store is pretty small…about six or so medium-sized rooms and some hallways filled with art. Bigger stores = more finds. Smaller stores = diminished odds you’ll find what you’re looking for. But as diminutive it is in size, it’s always packed full of stuff.

2. The volunteer staff is super selective and picky about what they’ll accept to re-sell. Unlike Savers and Sal Val, stores that’ll pretty much accept practically anything, The PROP shop aims way higher. This means the shop’s overall level of quality is high, but it’s not good news for a vintage-lover like myself. During both visits, I didn’t see anything that qualifies as vintage or retro, except during their fur sale, when they had quite a handful of beautiful old furs. The clothing is mostly modern and suburban-y, and the furniture and home goods are as well. Everything’s clean and in good condition.

3. The prices, to me, are pretty high. Dresses start at $7 and range between that and $17. Skirts run $5-15. Shoes range from $5-15. Large pieces of furniture start at $70, which is about what you’d pay at an estate sale. The shop’s always running sales though. When I visited last weekend, all picture frames were 1/2 off and hardcover books were a steal at $1. Clothes tagged the color of the week (or month?) were 1/2 off.

With all that said, there’s no doubt that this thrift is filling an important niche in their community. Since opening in April 2007, The PROP shop has provided free clothing, furniture and housewares to more than 1,000 families in need and have donated $48,000 to local charities. That’s impressive stuff, especially considering that the number of folks living below the poverty level in EP is on the rise. You can read more about The PROP Shop’s impact on the community here.

Go here to find: Quality used furniture, newer used clothes, shoes and books.

Selection/Variety: ♥ ♥

Quality: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pricing: ♥

Organization: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Do they take credit cards? Yes!

While you’re there: Drive 15 minutes over to Minnetonka and visit the (much larger) Bethesda Thrift Shop.

Where it is: 15195 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (in an industrial park)

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 12-4 p.m.; closed on Monday

Contact: 952.934.2323, www.propshopep.org, Facebook

Have you ever shopped at The PROP Shop? Did you find anything great?

xo,

Meghan

quick look: u of m’s reuse center

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Hi all!

Last week, my co-worker Drew and I visited the University of Minnesota’s Reuse Center…the place where cast-offs from campus go to die. Or be re-sold to thrifty shoppers like Drew and me. The week prior, Drew had found a large vintage Steelcase desk for $25 (similar ones sell on eBay for nearly a grand!!) and an Art Deco-y filing cabinet, also by Steelcase, for $40 ($10 per drawer) for his home office. I tagged along with him to see what I could find for the shop. It was hard to get many decent photos because it’s really dark and warehouse-y but hopefully you’ll get the gist.

What we saw…desks, office chairs (take your pick for $9), adding machines, overhead projectors, a fridge, free shelves stocked with filing folders and binders, lockers, a mailbox, white boards, chalk boards, a hospital dolly, books and records, filing cabinets, rolling tables, a spotlight they found in the rafters of Nortrop Auditorium, wire shelving, paper filing systems, conference tables, a chest freezer and tons of other very miscellaneous stuff, including patriotic coolers and this board game I totally played at sleepovers in the ’90s. Everything was priced really reasonably.

What I bought…a barely used boom box with double cassette player (mixed tape anyone?), two large steel-framed mirrors for the store ($20 a piece), an old milk bottle to use as a vase ($2) and a circa 1981 Iowa license plate to give to Rae ($1).

The University of Minnesota’s Reuse Center is open to the public on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can keep up with what’s arrived recently here and become a fan on Facebook here. If you go, be sure to bring cash or checks…they don’t accept credit cards.

Hope you all have wonderful Tuesdays!

xo,

Meghan

 

first impression: salvation army boutique in oakdale

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I visited the new Salvation Army “boutique” in Oakdale this week. It’s a nice little spot unlike any of the other Salvation Armies in the cities. Layout-wise, it’s akin to a consignment shop, full of antiques, vintage goodies, nice furniture, quality books and vinyl, and fancier clothes. And, as you’ve probably already guessed, the price points are substantially higher than at the other Sal Vals around town. Here are some peeks from the shop.

Even though the prices on the high side, I still found some deals as everything with a tan tag was 50% off the day of my visit. I came home with a haul that included a ton of awesome jewelry, a never-worn pair of Etienne Aigner peep-toe pumps, some rad coffee table books, a gorgeous prom dress from the ’50s and a hand-knit throw. Among other things, to be blogged about later.

Anyway, if you’re over that way, I’d recommend checking it out!

Salvation Army Boutique
Address: 6060 50th Street North, Oakdale
Phone: 651.773.1365
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., closed on Sundays
FYI: Credit cards are accepted, personal checks are not.

xo,

Meghan

 

store review: hidden treasures thrift store

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Hidden Treasures Thrift Store

Overall, this strip mall shop falls into the category of stores I’ll visit if I’m in the area and have a minute, but rarely do I make a trip solely there to thrift. It’s a decent place, don’t get me wrong, but I’m usually looking for clothes, and after many a visit to Hidden Treasures, I’ve yet to buy anything for my closet or my feet. I have, however, seen super deals on furniture ($3 for a solid wooden coffee table! A huge, huge mid-century desk for $9!) and think they have a stand-up collection of dishes and housewares. They frequently have sales (this week, for example, you can save 50 percent on all winter coats, hats, mittens and boots) and every week, they have a special silent auction that frequently features antiques and valuable electronics. The money raised here goes to support a handful of good causes including Masterworks of Minnesota,  Care of Creation and The Garden of Hope.

Here are a couple goodies I’ve found at Hidden Treasures…

Top to bottom: An sweet brass deer ($2), Catalougue, A Book of Cat Names (50 cents) and the prettiest butterfly potholder I ever did see ($1).

Go here to find: Vintage dishes, books, serviceable kitchen utensils, crazy affordable furniture

Selection/Variety: ♥ ♥

Quality: ♥ ♥ ♥

Pricing: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Organization: ♥ ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥

Do they take credit cards? Yep!

Other helpful hints: Sign up for their e-newsletter and be the first to know about sales and special events.

While you’re there: Admire the strip mall! It was, after all, the first one built in Minnesota, owned and financed by the famed Batista family. Yes, the Cuban Basitstas. Like the folks who ran Cuba before Castro took over. Once you’re done, eat at Dairy Queen, return some books to the library, pick up some chai at Tea Source or fancy olive oil at Annona Gourmet.

Where it is: St. Anthony Village Shopping Center, 2915 Pentagon Drive, St. Anthony

Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact: 612.706.3223, http://www.hiddentreasuresonline.org

Happy shopping!

xo,

Meghan

a quick peek at antiques minnesota

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I’m smitten with this place.

It’s called Antiques Minnesota and inside, there are soooo many pretty things…fluffy ’50s prom dresses, vintage perfume bottles, hats from Dayton’s, a pint-sized spinning wheel, sparkly costume jewelry, vinyl galore…I could have happily wandered for hours there, no joke.

Antiques Minnesota / 191 River Ridge Circle, Burnsville
Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, 12-6 p.m.

I’m off to wrap some presents, do some dishes and get into bed!

Nighty night,

Meghan

 


 

store review: unique thrift store in st. paul

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Unique Thrift Store, St. Paul

WHAT’S GOOD

♥ Purses: Most every Unique, this one included, have heaps and heaps of purses and bags. You can almost always  find an old worn-in Coach satchel or bag there, too, priced, on average, between $15-20.

♥ Vintage clothes: Vintage clothes are separated out from the rest of the clothing and given their own section in both the men’s and women’s areas. I’ve found some really cute pieces at this Unique—skirts, cardigans, shoes, coats. It’ll also be worth your while to peruse the non-vintage clothing, as many times I stumble upon a darling piece from the ’60s that just wasn’t ID’d as vintage.

♥ Jewelry: Like the Unique in North Minneapolis, this one, too has a big selection of jewelry. I always find something I want to take home here—a couple weeks ago I got a turquoise and silver feather ring for $14.

♥ Vintage vinyl: Up front near the check-out is a box of vintage records. I know nothing about record collecting, but there looked to be some nice quality albums in there, starting at $3.

WHAT’S NOT GOOD

♥ House wares: For such a big store, I hardly ever find housewares or Pyrex to come home with me. They do have a  lot of utilitarian stuff—pots, pans, bags of silverware—if you need kitchen basics for cheap.

♥ Furniture: Slim pickins. Enough said!

Here are a couple of my favorite finds from past trips to this Unique…

Brand new Minnetonka moccasins, size 8.5…


Impeccable white and gray Jordache faux fur coat…

Aforementioned sterling silver and turquoise ring…


IN SUM

Selection/Variety: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Quality: ♥ ♥ ♥

Pricing: ♥ ♥

Organization: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥

Do they take credit cards? Yep! They do not, however, accept checks.

Will they accept returns or exchanges? No. Trust me, I tried once. Not a fun experience.

Other helpful hints: You NEED one of these.

This handy little card will net you 25 percent off every single Friday. Sweet, right? You’ll also receive coupons ($10 off sometimes!) and alerts regarding sales, via email. Sign up (it’s free!) at the front of the store.

Where it is: 1657 Rice Street, Saint Paul (corner of Rice and Larpenteur)

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact: 651.489.5083

I hope you all have had lovely Wednesdays! I’m off to do a walk-through of a potential venue for the December Mighty Swell sale, and then check out the newly remodeled Stastiu’s, now known as Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room, with the very lovely Angie.

xxoo,

Meghan

store review: savers on lake street

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Savers Thrift Store, Lake Street, Minneapolis

I have a love-hate relationship with Savers thrift stores. I love that they have high standards for quality, and that the stores are clean and open on Sundays. But it drives me up the wall that their prices are ridiculously high. This Savers, the only one in Minneapolis proper, has been a go-to thrifting spot for me for years, so I figured I’d tell you all a little about it, and some tricks for saving even more money there.

WHAT’S GOOD

♥ Vintage clothes: Unlike some of the other Savers, this one has a whole section devoted to vintage in the middle of the store, with men’s and women’s wear mixed in together. I’ve found some really bitchin’ dresses from the ’70s-’90, 1960s wool skirts and men’s button-downs. Prices are fair, with dresses running anywhere in between $4-12, skirt for $6-8 and blouses for $5 here.

♥ Books: Taking up a good portion of the store is an assortment of well-sorted and in-good-condition books. I’ve spotted some really nice art/coffee table-type tomes, too.

♥ House wares: This Savers is in many ways my Target alternative, when it comes to household necessities. It’s easy to pop in here to see if they have a casserole dish in the size I need, or a baking pan—usually there’s something here that will work. I’ve also found really nice decorative plates here, and little vases to add to my collection.

WHAT’S NOT GOOD

♥ New clothes: A lot of the store’s clothing is newer, cheap clothes (Target brands, Old Navy), marked stupidly high, especially considering they’re used.

♥ Picked over-ness: Since this Savers is close to a light rail stop and right in the middle of town, it can be crazily picked over, especially if you stop in later in the afternoon or evening or during sale days.

Where does the money raised here go? Into some rich folks’ pockets! Savers is a for-profit thrift store, and it is privately owned and operated. They do work with local nonprofits, however, which can lead to some confusion, with shoppers thinking what they spend at Savers is going solely to support philanthropic efforts. It works like this: The selected nonprofits will solicit donations from folks like you and me, and then turn over those donations to Savers, who in turn, pays them per bag or box of merchandise. Donations are then sorted by Savers staff. What’s not deemed acceptable for sale in their stores is then resold (and sometimes donated) to retailers in developing countries. So, Savers not only makes money from what they sell in their retail stores, but also by selling unwanted merchandise they got for free to other retailers.

According to their website, since 1954, Savers has paid more than $1 billion to fund nonprofits’ programs and services. And that is nothing to sniff at. You can learn more about the company here.

Here are some of my favorite finds from this shop:

I love this dress! The super faded floral print is sweet, and it has pockets, a flattering cut and lady-like length. It has this soft sheen, too, which I love. I believe it was $3.99 and it came with a matching belt.

This plate makes me so happy. Now, where to hang it?

I can’t take these leather kitten-heeled, wooden-soled beauties off! Check out the bows! They cost $4 (originally priced $8, but bought on a half-off day).

Go here to find: Vintage clothes, good quality housewares, nice used books

Selection/Variety: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Quality: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pricing: ♥ ♥

Organization: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Do they take credit cards? Yep!

Will they accept returns or exchanges? Yes, you can exchange items within seven days of purchase but only with a receipt and the tags still attached.

Other helpful hints: Click here to sign up for Savers’ e-newsletter. You’ll get advance notice of special sales and coupons. Sweet right? If you’re a  college student, or still have your ID, flash it on Wednesdays and take 50 percent off your entire purchase. Also keep an eye out for a calendar (usually found by the register) that lists the sales happening that month and any other special promo days (senior citizen discount days, for example).

While you’re there: On Tuesdays, from 3-7 p.m., and on Saturdays, from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.,  hop across the street to the Midtown Farmers’ Market. If I’m famished after thrifting on a Tuesday after work, I stop and pick some yummy takeout from one of the food vendors or some veggies. Or, if you’re like my boyfriend, you can drop $5 and get a piping hot pizza at Little Caesars, which is in the same strip mall at Savers. Aldi, Wells Fargo, Family Dollar,  a barber shop and a liquor store all have a spot there, too.

Where it is: 2124 East Lake St, Minneapolis

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Contact: 612.729.9271, www.savers.org

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m so stoked for another long weekend. Two in a row! How lucky can one girl be??

xxoo,

Meghan