heads up: mighty swell’s holiday kick-off is tomorrow

Posted on November 25, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

Rae and I spent all day decking the halls at Mighty Swell, in preparation for our sale tomorrow. Our electricity bill is going to be through the roof this next month–so. many. twinkle. lights! If you’re in town, stop by between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. tomorrow and enjoy 20 percent savings on everything in store in honor of Small Business Saturday. We’ll have coupons from our neighbors Chris and Rob’s (spend $20 and get a free Chicago dog or hamburger!) and our friends Tim and Thom, owners of the super cute boutique You and Me, who have generously offered all our customers a coupon for one free basic alteration. Both are such fabulous deals, I can’t get over it. All right, now that I’ve got my shameless plug in, I’m off to hop in the shower, nuke some Thanksgiving leftovers and head down to First Avenue to see my honey sing at The Replacements tribute show. Since he’s retired from rocking full-time, I never take for granted any chance to see him perform.

xo,

Meghan

heads up: second debut’s fur sale

Posted on November 18, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

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Just as winter’s icy chill starts to set, Goodwill offshoot Second Début is busting out their impressive collection of fur for a special sales event. According to general manager Kathy Cahlander, the 50+ pieces range in era from the ’50s to the ’90s, and every single one has been inspected and vetted by an expert from Rebnick’s Furs. “The quality control is excellent,” Cahlander promises. “Every piece is pretty fabulous.” Highlighted items include vintage shearling jackets, full-length furs, mink wraps, mink-trimmed swing coats, fur headbands and fox-fur cropped jackets. Prices range from $20 all the way on up to $400. Cahlander advises that shoppers get to the store early, as folks “come from all over” to shop this sale. You can find store hours and location info here.

Happy shopping!

xo,

Meghan

heads up: veteran’s day sales

Posted on November 10, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

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Here’s a quick round-up of thrift-store sales happening around town this weekend!

Savers
Tomorrow only, take 50 percent off all used merchandise. Stores will be open bright and early at 7 a.m. all the way until 9 p.m.

Unique and Valu Thrift
VIP card-holders will get 50 percent off their entire purchases tomorrow. Stores will be open extra-long, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hidden Treasures Thrift Store
Save 30 percent on anything in the store tomorrow (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Goodwill
In celebration of their new stores in Blaine and Rogers, shoppers at either of those two locations will save 50 percent on all blue, green and yellow tagged items. (I’ve had readers tell me they’ve found some sweet vintage at the Rogers location, FYI!)

Since I have to be to work at 9 a.m., I think I’ll most likely be hitting up a single Savers and then maybe a Unique over my lunch break.

Happy shopping y’all!

xoxo,

Meghan

heads up: choose to reuse coupon book

Posted on October 18, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

Junk mail doesn’t usually make me squeal with delight, but last week, I got a direct mail piece I am pumped about—Hennepin County’s annual “Choose to Reuse” coupon book. This baby is packed with really, really, really good coupons for all my favorite thrifts, including Salvation Army, Hidden Treasures, East Side Community Thrift, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer, St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, the PROP Shop and many more. But that’s not all! (Goodness, I sound like an informercial!) The booklet also has discount offers at some of the best vintage shops in town, including Corner Store Vintage, B Squad Vintage, Rewind and record shops, like the Electric Fetus and Hymie’s. (A list of all the 80+ participating retailers can be found here.)

If you didn’t spot one in your mailbox last week (or if you’re like me and have already used up all thrift-store coupons!), download the entire thing here or pick up a copy at Hennepin County Service Centers, Hennepin County libraries and all Three Rivers Park District locations. And get on it soon—coupons are only good through the end of November.

Cheers to saving, y’all!

xo,

Meghan

heads up: Waite Park & Audubon Park Neighborhood Garage Sales

Posted on September 15, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

The sun is quickly setting on this garage sale season, a fact that, quite honestly, makes me very sad. Fortunately, the lovely residents of the Waite Park and Audubon Park neighborhoods in Northeast Minneapolis are squeezing in one more community-wide sale this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Heading up the organizing committee for this event is my friend Rose, a fellow garage sale-ing addict and vintage lover, who was kind enough to share some insider info about the sale.

Me: Rosie! Tell me why folks should get up early on Saturday and come to these sales?
Rose: With more than 40 households participating, there will definitely be fun bargains for everyone. It’s also the last hurrah for garage sale season! Get out and enjoy the crisp weather and start feathering your nests for winter.

Me: What can people expect to find at this year’s sale?
Rose: Vintage clothing, objet d’art (a.k.a. bric-a-brac), housewares, computer stuff, records, mix tapes, art, house plants, perennials, collectibles, clothing for the whole family, horn of plenty, gadgets, widgets, what-nots and why-nots, fact, fiction, tall tales and short stories, tools, treasures to a two-year old and more. Covet-able items of particular interest include a Formica dining table, vintage clothing for men and women, Heywood Wakefield furniture, antique school desks, an espresso coffee maker, perennials, Mission-style entertainment center.

Me: Sounds awesome! Where can I get a sale directory?
Rose: Directories will be available on Johnson Street at Hazel’s and The Coffeeshop NE, as well as at the Northeast Library, the Eastside Food Co-op and Holy Land. You can also print one from the comfort of your own home. Here’s the link.

Me: Coffee and food make garage sale adventures more fun. Where can I go to get good coffee or brunch?
Rose: If you are heading down Johnson Street, Coffee Shop Northeast is the perfect place to pick up some to-go coffee. Pair it with some donuts from Sarah Jane’s Bakery across the street for the perfect fuel for your early morning shopping. Post-shopping, sit down to a tasty brunch at Hazel’s—I recommend the brisket hash or Ben’s black bean cakes. If you are starting on Central Ave., get your caffeine fix at Diamonds Coffee Shoppe or the Eastside Food Co-op. Enjoy some of the best Thai food in the city at Sen Yai Sen Lek or have an amazing brunch at Chimborazo, an Ecuadorian restaurant. I highly recommend the llapingachos—loveable cheese-filled potato pancakes.

So, there you have it. The perfect Saturday morning agenda. See you there, sweet readers!

xo,

Meghan

P.S. After hitting up the sales, and find yourself still in the mood to thrift, the East Side Thrift Store, the Salvation Army on Central, the Unique on 37th and Hidden Treasures are all nearby. Just in case you were wondering…

heads up: there’s a new savers in town

Posted on September 1, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

Exciting news friends!

There’s a brand new Savers store opening in Woodbury next week! And as someone who’s made some pretty big scores at Savers over the years, this news clearly makes my heart pit pat just a little bit faster. Another thing that’s got me jazzed about this store opening in particular? Savers has asked me to style up a little fashion show at their preview shopping party! (Such an honor, right? Especially considering I don’t and never will consider myself a stylist!) I’ve enlisted the help of my no. 1 business partner in crime and together, we’ll be dressing a dozen or so of their employees and a handful of kids that benefit from the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (this particular Savers nonprofit partner) in some fun, affordable looks for fall. And boy, are we excited.

I’m also delighted to be able to extend the invitation to the preview event out to all of you, dear hearts! The fun is happening on Tuesday, September 6th, from 6-8 p.m., at the metro area’s newest Savers, located at 8401 Tamarack Road in Woodbury. I would love to see all your beautiful faces there! You have to admit the opportunity to shop a thrift two days before it opens to the public is pretty cool. Plus, if you bring a gently used clothing item, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card they’re giving away that night. (Sidenote: If the sound of winning a Savers gift card sounds good to you, I advise to keep an eye on Mighty Swell’s Facebook page over the next day or two…they might have given me some extra somethin’ somethins’ to pass along to one of our lucky followers. I’m just sayin’!)

I’ll be back tomorrow with a round up of Labor Day weekend sales—there are so many good deals to be had it’s nuts!
I hope you all have wonderful evenings…

xo,

Meghan

heads up: 4th of july weekend sales

Posted on June 30, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

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Ah, the 4th of July weekend is nearly upon us. Time to dig out the sunscreen, stock up on sparklers, figure out where to watch the fireworks…and…if you’re at all like me, think about what thrift-store sales you’re going to hit up! To make your lives a little bit easier, I’m giving you a list of the best sales this weekend has to offer (and a round-up of shops that’ll be closed on Monday). Enjoy!

SATURDAY, JULY 2

♥ Savers is offering 50% off all clothing, shoes, accessories and bed and bath items. Stores will open extended hours, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

♥ Check out Hidden Treasures’ sale—everything’s 40% off—from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

♥ Both of Hope Chest for Breast Cancer’s Retail Stores are hooking customers up with 30% off any one item, including furniture, home decor, you name it all weekend long.

MONDAY, JULY 4

♥ Stock up on clothing at Salvation Army Family Stores—it’ll all be 50% off on Monday, including fancy new Target swag in the basement of the downtown Minneapolis store. The well-curated Oakdale Boutique is offering half-off everything in their shop, including clothing, housewares, vinyl, books, art and furniture.

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

♥ Unique/Valu Thrifts are offering shoppers half-off from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Since Unique’s prices are on the high end to start with, Monday will be a great day to pick up items you’ve been eying.

Thrifts that will be closed on Monday: ARC Value Village, Bethesda Thrift Shop, Animal Ark Thrift Store, East Side Thrift Store, The Lost & Found, Assistance League Thrift Shop, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Retail Stores, Family Pathways Thrift Stores and Bibles for Missions (closed Saturday, Sunday AND Monday).

I’ll be back tomorrow with some pro tips for surviving the super busy sale days. I got great advice from some boss thrifters…I can’t wait to share with y’all!

xo,

Meghan

heads up: 1/2 off at St. Paul’s Unique Thrift

Posted on April 13, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

Morning dears!

Feel like doing a little mid-week thrifting? What about paying half-price for your entire purchase? Well today, when you flash your “I M Unique” card at the Unique Thrift on Rice Street in St. Paul, you’ll save 50% on your entire purchase! Sweet! The store’s open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (find a map and driving directions here) and don’t forget, this offer’s good only at the Rice Street Unique. (Check out my take on this thrift right here.)

xo,

Meghan

heads up: thrift-store sales & rummages to hit

Posted on April 8, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

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Boy oh boy, do I love Fridays. (I’m guessing you knew that already, right?) My schedule is crazy-packed this weekend, but I’m hoping to get out and do a little bargain hunting before Monday rolls around. Here’s what’s on my list for thrift-store sales and rummage-y events happening this weekend…

♥ The “Blast from the Past” vintage sale at the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer shop in Orono is back this weekend by popular demand. New additions and price reductions are promised…Learn more about what to expect at the sale here.

♥ ARC’s Value Village kicks off its Spring Accessories sale event today. Stock up on handbags, jewelry, shoes, scarves, belts and other accessories at discounted prices through April 23rd at all four of their metro locations.

♥ Rummage sale season is back! My top pick for this weekend is Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church‘s annual rummage sale which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at 4101 37th Avenue South in Minneapolis. (Bag sale starts at noon.) I’ve gone to this sale religiously for the past few years and have consistently gone home with great stuff.

♥ And last but not least, this estate sale looks INSANE.

Well, I’m off to Elsie’s for our company’s annual bowl-a-thon followed by an appointment with my wonderful, heaven-sent accountant. I’m patting myself on the back for filing my taxes ahead of the deadline this year! Whatta concept!

xo,

Meghan

heads up: 50% off at Unique and Valu Thrift Stores

Posted on March 16, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

Anyone else get this excited about getting a really, really good deal?

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Yep. I knew I wasn’t the only one.

Speaking of sweet deals, here’s a little tip: Flash your “I M Unique” card today at any Unique or Valu Thrift Store and save 50% off your entire freakin’ purchase. HALF-OFF whatever the heck you want to buy. (Find the location nearest you right here.)

xo,

Meghan