first impression: cool clear water

Posted on September 23, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

There’s a new secondhand store on the scene and I. Am. So. Smitten. It’s called Cool Clear Water, and though the business went without noticeable signage for months, the storefront full of cowboy-boots caught my eye immediately. (There’s two neon signs now, too, so you can’t miss it!)

Stopping back a few weeks later, I was beyond impressed with the selection of vintage Western wear, jewelry and boots. Oh my, the boots. Shelf, after shelf, after shelf, after shelf, lined with gloriously preserved vintage cowboys boots for men, women and children.

Owner Glenn, a 20-year resident of the neighborhood and lifelong cowboy-culture buff who named his store after this song (captured on the sly two pics below), estimates he has 300-plus pairs for sale, making Cool Clear Water the preeminent destination if you’re in the market for a new pair of shitkickers.

The store’s stock of snap-front button-downs for men is downright impressive, and includes American-made heritage labels like Ely, Wrangler, Rockmount, Pendleton, Corral West and many more brands unfamiliar to me. The selection is thick and the racks packed tight, so much so that I found myself waiting for my boyfriend to finish browsing, something that in all our years of thrifting together has never ONCE happened before.

Also notable: a decently sized assortment of vintage suits, women’s clothes (circle skirts, snap-fronts, blazers), leather motorcycle jackets, cool ’80s and ’90s tees and affordable sterling jewelry and belt buckles, most all of it vintage. Prices aren’t bargain-basement/dirt cheap, but given the standard of quality and high level of curation, I found them to be 100-percent fair. (My hon and I paid $60 for three shirts, one definitely suitable for a dressy occasion, plus a handmade vintage silver and abalone ring for me.)

But don’t just take my word for it, take a look around!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Coming soon to the space? Guitar lessons upstairs and super-sales on the sidewalk and in the garage (weather dependent). Next time you’re up that way, stop in and take a look!

Where: 1900 Johnson St. Northeast, Minneapolis, MN 55418 (just up from the Quarry!)

Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 to 7:00
Friday, 11:00 to 6:00
Saturday, 11:00 to 5:00
Sunday, Noon to 4:00
Monday, by appointment (call Glenn at 612.250.6661)

Contact: 612.788.4299; coolclearwatermn.com

xo,

Meghan

weekend sale circuit: sept. 19-21

Posted on September 19, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

Another weekend is upon us and there’s lots of sweet thrift-store sales to take advantage of. Best get it in and shop now before stores are overrun with Halloween-costume shoppers!

♥ Hidden Treasures September Sale: Spruce up your space, and enjoy 40% savings at this St. Anthony thrift store today and tomorrow, on everything from furniture to books, clothing to kitchen goods. Since prices at this shop are already reasonable, you could wind up finding serious bargains.

♥ ReSale 101’s Birthday Sale: In honor of their birthday, ReSale 101 is offering 25% off housewares and vintage today and 25% women’s clothing tomorrow.

♥ Assistance League Thrift Store Open Sunday: As part of Penn Avenue’s Penn Fest, the Assistance League Thrift Store in Richfield will be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, a day they’re typically closed. Show this 30%-off coupon and save big bucks on any one regularly priced item.

♥ Rank & File x Hello Vintage Pop-up Shop: You’ve got one more shot at catching these lovelies before they pack up and head back to the Mall of St. Paul. Catch them at Bull Run tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. And tune in here tomorrow to what I found at their sale last weekend. It’s pretty major!

Wishing you happy, relaxing weekends.

xo,

Meghan

Photo by: John Humble c/o Mayan Handball Court.

the beauty thrifter is in!

Posted on September 18, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

In celebration of the glorious stretch of days we’ve been having, I whipped up a DIVINE-smelling body spray that encompasses everything I love about these fleeting Indian summer afternoons, including floral sweetness, mind-clearing eucalyptus, perky citrus and soothing, cooling aloe.

You can find the entire SUPER EASY how-to over on Beauty Bets today, just in time for the weekend!

xoxo,

Meghan

Photos c/o: LB Jeffries Photography.

weekend sale circuit: sept. 13-14

Posted on September 12, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

For days I’ve been thinking up ways to best break my blogging hiatus, and then last night it hit me. Why don’t I tell you about a couple super-sweet secondhand shopping events, happening this very weekend? Sounds good, right? Right!

♥ Rank & File x Hello Vintage Pop-up Shop: Aw man, where to start? I guess with Libby and Katie, the talented women behind these businesses and this can’t-miss event. These girls are picking pros, each with their own strain of impeccable taste, keen eye for design and a selective inventory that runs deeps. Usually one has to trek to the Mall of St. Paul in order to peruse their collective stash of fairly priced ’60s-’80s-era housewares, artwork, handmade goods and textiles, but this weekend, they’ve hauled it all to Minneapolis so they can pop up next to Bull Run’s original location. How convenient is that? Catch them there tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. And tune into their Instas—@rankandfile and @hellovintagemn—for sneak peeks of what’s up for grabs. (So much good stuff, I can already hear my wallet weeping.)

♥ The Most Glorious Garage Sale: My friend and business partner Rae and I have lots in common, including a shared tendency to hoard inordinate amounts of vintage in our basements. Fortunately for all of us, she’ll be setting tons of it out to sell at her rummage sale tomorrow, starting at 8 a.m., including loads of clothes, shoes, small furniture, tasteful modern and vintage home decor, accessories, housewares, linens, crafts supplies and other bargain-priced miscellany you’ll definitely want to buy. Go early and bring cash!

Wishing you wonderful, thrifting-filled weekends dearies!

xo,

Meghan

recently thrifted

Posted on July 15, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

I’ve never seen myself as a jeans and T-shirt type of girl, but I have to say, there are definitely times when nothing else feels as right. The tee below I bought from a grizzled guy with a bunch of old stuff laid out on a tarp behind the “village” bar up north near my cabin. Hanging up alongside his pop-up tent was a long string of soaked Harley tees from St. Paul and Sturgis, 3 for $10.

I shared a peek of one on Instagram already, but this is the one I’ve been wearing most often.

Except for the eagle, it’s pretty plain, but it’s also hella soft, and I find myself putting it on after work before I head out to do my weeding, watering or walking of the dog. All lame activities compared to the two-wheeled adventures its former owner probably had whilst wearing it, but hey…at least it’s not in the dump, right?

xoxo,

Meghan

Photos c/o: LB Jeffries.

moonlighting with meaning

Posted on July 11, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

I started a new moonlighting gig this week. It’s nothing fancy, just a regular ol’ retail job. But I’m so happy about it, I had to tell ya! I’m working as a part-time stylist at the Free People store in, where else, the MALL of AMERICA. After breaking up with my main freelance client, and a dream of a new kitchen thisclose to reality, I knew I had to pick up some extra cash somehow, and it had to be earned in a way that didn’t involve sitting in front of a screen. It’s pure serendipity I met the woman who hired me the same day I read this article on beating on-the-job burnout. Sometimes life works out nicely that way.

The store itself is full of beautiful clothes and thoughtful details, two things that totally soothe my soul. My first official day was yesterday, and I forgot how exhausting it is to be the new girl with not a clue what’s going on. Fortunately, the staff seems to be comprised of 100-percent sweethearts. If you’re in the area, come pay us a visit and let me hook you up with cute stuff! And be sure to give the store a follow on Instagram. (It’s an extra-pretty account.)

xoxo,

Meghan

the beauty thrifter is in + a giveaway alert!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

This week over on Beauty Bets, I had the privilege of working with Sally Beauty Supply to do a quick how-to featuring Ion products and tools. In it I share a new super-fast way to get “I just had my hair in braids all day waves” as well as some awesomely affordable Ion product picks. If that’s not enticement enough, there’s also a pretty rad BEACH VACATION giveaway going on in conjunction to the post. If I wasn’t disqualified from entering, believe me I’d be ALL OVER IT. My girl Bets has all the details…please do go check it out, enter and WIN.

xoxo,

Meghan

Photo by: Sara Montour.

recently thrifted

Posted on July 7, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

I’ve been in a bit of bling-buying mood recently, which usually spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e for my bank account. Instead of picking up the first sparkly thing that caught my eye at the thrifts (or 10 of them), I vowed to seek out well-made pieces that would fill a need in my collection and/or complement what I already have. Here are three of my favorite finds…

♥ I’m planning on finding a longer, thinner chain for this silver and enamel eagle pendant ($15), but in the meantime, I’m wearing it as is. Like all the time. And I can’t even explain how delicate these shell earrings are ($10). Both were purchased from the lovely Holly at yesterdays’ Double Peace Studio’s pop-up.

♥ It’s a rare day that I leave the house without a bracelet on. And on silver days, I’m most definitely wearing one of my beloved cuffs. When I spotted this beauty with abalone inlay ($12) at Second Début‘s St. Louis Park location, I had not choice but to snap it up.

P.S. Did you know that Second Début location has a vintage section? It does, and holy crap is it amazing! Not at all cheap, but definitely home to some top-quality stuff.

xoxo,

Meghan

heads up: 4th of july thrift-store sales

Posted on July 3, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

Hot damn, how is it possibly July 4th tomorrow? As per usual, summer is flying by, and I, for one, am not at all excited about that. This weekend, however, holds loads to be excited about, including a trip to the ball park, barbecues with friends, watermelon-rum slushies on the deck, hours of uninterrupted project time and duh, shopping mad thrift-store sales tomorrow! If you too, want to celebrate our nation’s b-day by saving some green, here’s a quick rundown of stores offering deals tomorrow.

♥ Stock up on clothing at Salvation Army Family Stores because it’ll all be 50% off Friday, including fancy new Target swag in the basement of the downtown Minneapolis store. (Clothing at the by-the-pound store is not included in this sale.) Stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and every location will be running their own in-store sales.

♥ ARC’s Value Village is offering Village Rewards members 20 points for every $1 spent, and all locations are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

♥ Shoppers who visit Second Début tomorrow will save 25% on their purchases, including clothing, shoes and jewelry. Stores will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

♥ Go crazy at Goodwill, where from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., almost everything in store is 50% off, including furniture. (A list of metro-area locations is here.)

Be safe and have fun this weekend, OK?

xoxo,

Meghan

Photo c/o: Seattle Municipal Archive.

midweek melodies: independence day ditties

Posted on July 3, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

On the eve of Independence Day, I thought it’d be good to share a little mix featuring a few of my favorite patriotic, old-country jams. Despite my disappointment by (and disillusionment with) the decision made by our highest court this week, it’s impossible to not feel a wave of national pride swell when I hear these songs. From Loretta Lynn’s “God Bless America Again” to Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag,” I picked the best of the best (available on Spotify, that is) to share with you today. I hope you enjoy!

xo,

Meghan

P.S. If ushering in America’s birthday on the dance floor sounds like a good time, my favorite local honky-tonk band is the star of a Pre-Independence Day Texas Roadhouse party tonight. Fun starts at 7 p.m. and goes ’til 11 and entry is only $6!