Tag Archives: thrifting

thrifting mission: find some new yoga clothes

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I’ve recently become addicted to grown awfully fond of practicing hot yoga at a wonderfully friendly studio in Uptown called Moksha Yoga. While I absolutely LOVE what it’s been doing for my heinie and my insomnia, washing my gross, sweaty gear every other day was a time-consuming drag. I looked online for new clothes for about a minute-and-a-half, but when I saw $48 shorts and $108 hoodies, I almost fell out of my chair. So, I did what I always do. Went to the thrift store!

Since the idea of sweating my tatas off in clothes that have already been worn by some other broad skeeves me slightly, I hopped over to the underground Target (aka the Target Basement) at the downtown Salvation Army Family Store, which is, if you’re not familiar, filled with brand spankin’ new merchandise. As expected, I found exactly what I was looking for. From roll-over top yoga pants to super light running shorts to tops to T’s to sports bras to plus-sized gear, this place has got it all. And everything’s super sensibly priced!

Here’s what $45 (three dollars less than the aforementioned shorts!) bought me…

Two towels (so totally necessary for hot yoga), a neon pink sports bra (the only neon color I can tolerate), THREE pairs of shorts, a raspberry colored cropped sweatshirt and an extra-long baby blue hoodie (because I freeze on my way home from class if I forget a sweatshirt). The bonus part is that five of the eight items I came home with are PINK. Yesssss.

I’m set for a while, I think, right? Thrifting mission: complete.

Namaste y’all!

xoxo,

Meghan

P.S. There’s one more day to enter the Girls Got Rhythm Fest ticket giveaway. I’m picking the lucky winner tomorrow after 5 p.m.!

heads up: empty the nest’s biggest sale ever

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One of the questions I’m most often asked by blog readers, twitter followers and friends is “which thrift store has the best selection of furniture?” And most often, my recommendation is to hit up estate or garage sales. Except for this weekend….this weekend, my advice for those of you on the hunt for furniture, would be to head to Empty the Nest’s weekend-long blow-out, “the biggest sale we’ve ever had,” according to Co-owner Kris Youn. “We have the most inventory of any sale we’ve done…furniture is stacked on top of furniture up to the ceiling!” This over-abundance of stock has forced the Empty the Nest-ers to slash prices to crazy low levels. Like how low? $200 for high-end, mint condition leather couches, vintage steamer trunks for $50, end tables and stools for $20 or less. This sale has a special emphasis on seasonal items, too, so if you’re looking for vintage lawn furniture, wicker porch sets, planters, plant stands, lawn and garden accessories, etc, you’re in luck. The ephemera collector in me is super excited too about their collection of photos, paper, postcards and posters—all vintage. There truly is something for everyone at their events.

But don’t take my word for it…see for yourself!

Where: Empty The Nest ReHome Center, 1163 East Cliff Road, Burnsville
When: Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Do they take credit cards: Yes!
Pro tip: Get there early! And sign up for their mailing list, so you’re in the know about next month’s sale!

Happy hunting!

xo,

Meghan

P.S. The winner of this week’s giveaway is…..Ashley Boman!! Congrats little lady! I’ll be in touch today to grab your contact info. And of course, thank you to everyone who entered. I loved hearing about your fun summer plans. Stay tuned for another rad giveaway coming up in the next couple of weeks…

store review: family pathways’ north branch used book store

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Is there anything more fulfilling than a good, old-fashioned bookstore shopping spree?  I don’t mean the “fill up the Amazon shopping cart” kind (fulfilling in an altogether different way), but the “holy shit I’ve been at this bookstore two hours, where has the time gone?” kind. I’m hard-pressed to think of anything more fun. But then I discovered Family Pathway’s Used Book Store up in North Branch. A magical place where bibliophiles like me can enjoy hours-long shopping extravaganza and barely dent their checking accounts.

WHAT’S GOOD

♥ The prices: Pricing at this store is as straight-forward as it gets: $4 for hardcovers, $3 for paperbacks, $1 for clearance corner books, 99 cents for children’s books. When I visited, a sale on all gardening, craft and cookbooks was running, knocking 20 percent off books in those genres.

♥ The organization: When I first walked into this thrift, I honestly felt like I was at a cozy, small-town library. The shelves are clutter-free and every section is clearly identified, making it incredibly easy to zero-in on the sections you’re interested in.

♥ The collectible books section: Taking up a good portion of the back of the store is a categorized assortment of vintage and antique books. I found some serious gems back there, including some home-making and cook books, which were both discounted 20 percent.

♥ The clearance corner: Tucked in the back left corner is the ample-sized clearance corner, featuring a wide variety of books, all just $1.

Where does the money raised here go? To support Family Pathways’ many varied community services, including non-medical senior services like advocacy, respite care and companionship; food pantry access for individuals and families; and support for youth and teens like mentoring programs and after-school activities at their teen centers. Family Pathways serves communities in seven counties throughout Central Minnesota and Western Wisconsin and continues to add new services based on the needs of the community.

On my last visit, I spent a total of $42 and came home with all of these books.

I’m stoked on them all…here are close-ups of a few.

Forty-three dollars people, for 14 books, about half of them vintage.

Go here to find: Books!

Selection/Variety: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Quality: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pricing: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Organization:♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Customer service: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Do they take credit cards? Yep!

One more money-saving tip: For every 10 pounds of books you donate, you’ll receive a book buck (that looks like a bookmark!) worth $1, for use that same day or on a future visit. They also give out one book buck for every $10 you spend!

While you’re there: Why not hit Recycled Wardrobes, the thrift store just a block down on Main Street? If you’re in the mood for coffee, every cup I’ve had from North Country Coffee has been super yum. (To learn more about Family Pathways’ other thrift stores, check out this post.)

Where it is: On North Branch’s main drag: 6381 Main Street, North Branch

Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact: 651.277.0098

xxoo,

Meghan

peach things

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Been into collecting pretty peach things lately, or so it seems.

Even if a thrift’s a total dud, I can practically always find a scarf I like enough to bring home. This one was 50 cents at Salvation Army and it’s 100-percent silk.

The softly scalloped placket sold me on this drape-y silk blouse, another Salvation Army find.

Exquisite peach ranunculus, courtesy of Bastian + Skoog’s ridiculously charming PEANUTCART. (Such brains those ladies have, my goodness.)

I hope your hump day is, well, peachy!

xo,

Meghan

she get it from her mama

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I didn’t get an Easter basket this year. Instead, on Easter Sunday, my mom gifted me this beautiful dress. She found it at our favorite up north thrift that’s right across the street from our favorite up north pie shop. (Blueberry pie is kind of a big deal up there.)

It cost a whopping $1.50.

How a dress from fancy pants Neiman Marcus wound up in little ole Iron River (population 1,059) is a bit beyond me. A little digging led me to discover that CB II by Castleberry was an ’80s trademark owned by Leslie Fay Inc., a label you’ll see often at thrifts. Unlike Neiman Marcus.

What I love about this dress…the way the pattern switches from horizontal to vertical and then back to horizontal (is there a fashion-y word to describe this? If so, I don’t know what that word is!), the cinched 3/4-length sleeves and the sash-y belt at the waist. It’s always a bonus when you score a cute dress with the original matching belt. It’s like a mound of Cool Whip on top of a blueberry pie á la mode. Pie + ice cream = great, but pie + ice cream + Cool Whip = even greater. Same with vintage dresses and their matching belts.

Thank you for this sweet dress mama! I’ll take thrifted finds from you over a basket full of chocolate any day. (Iron River blueberry pie on the other hand…)

xoox,

Meghan

P.S. If you like this dress, I found a similar one, also by CB II, on Etsy.

ice cream for dinner

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I glanced through my nearly empty fridge after work and made the very adult-like decision to have an ice cream sundae for dinner. And, if I’m honest, I needed an excuse to put one of my new rose bowls to use. I scooped up this set of four at the Goodwill in Virginia (Minnesota) for just 25 cents a pop. (I noticed them immediately because they match my favorite glasses!) Four bowls for $1…I’m going to miss those small town thrift-store prices.

I hope your Friday night is off to an equally decadent start!

xo,

Meghan

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

TGIF

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Friday sweet Friday, you’re finally here.

I spent much of this gloriously sunny day in the southern part of Minnesota, researching a story I’m doing for work. I met some wonderful people, learned a ton about SPAM, ate some delicious BBQ and picked up some Eddie Cochran trivia in my new favorite small town. I stopped at some thrifts along the way when I could, including the Austin Salvation Army where the above photo was snapped.  I found some gems, many of which are getting freshened in my dryer as I type. I’m getting over a stubborn sinus infection so I’m anticipating that using three dryer sheets is going to be the craziest it gets around here tonight.

I hope your weekends are off to much more exciting starts. ;-)

xo,

Meghan

recently thrifted, up north edition

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Hey lovelies, just popping in quickly to share some iPhone snaps of a few up north thrift-store finds.

Top row: Dear Bess, letters from Harry Truman to his wife, Bess // nameplate necklace for Tammy Cracker’s godmother
Middle row: cutest ever fabric remnant // avocado green aluminum fondue set
Bottom row: souvenir program from a 1968 Roger Miller & Andy Williams concert // circle-framed floral etching

Sorry they’re just camera pics…I got home not too long ago and have been stuck at the computer catching up on work emails like crazy. Being away is wonderful and all, but coming home to 150+ emails is not! I have a feeling this week is going to be insanely busy. I’m stepping away from my desk now though to get ready for dinner. We’re capping off our weekend away with Thai food and a country show!

xoxo,

Meghan

P.S. Photos were taken with my favorite Hipstamatic app.

how to: plan a thriftcation

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I’m heading out on a weekend-long road trip with my beau tomorrow and I’ve got to be honest—instead of thinking about the fancy condo waitin’ for us (there’s a fireplace!) or all the fun things we’ll do and see, I’ve been busy daydreaming about the thrifts we’ll be hitting on the way! It’s a cheap, addictive thrill, exploring out-of-town thrift stores. But in order to maximize your time and not miss any gems, there’s a fair amount of preparation to do before you hit the road. Since this topic’s fresh on my mind, tonight I thought I’d quickly share a few do’s and don’ts for thriftcation planning.

DO

♥ Ask around. Before I embark on any significant thrifting trip, I ask friends and acquaintances familiar with my destination for their suggestions. Don’t know anyone where you’re headed? That’s what Twitter is for! Another trick: Once you’re shopping around a small town thrift, ask an employee if there are any other stores in the area. More often than not, they’ll have great suggestions for you.

♥ Do map out your route. Look to see what towns are on the way, and then look up to see what stores are easy to access from the highway. I have three must-stop-spots  between Minneapolis and my hometown that are within a painless five minutes of I-94. It just seems silly not to pop in when they’re right there!

♥ Do update your apps. My most recent happy app discovery is the FREE Craigslist app. You can find details about the other iPhone apps I rely on when I’m out thrifting here.

♥ Do keep your eyes open. Tons of estate sales, flea markets, garage sales and thrift store listings never find their way to the great world wide web. Gas-station signs, church bulletin boards, fliers on a telephone pole, ads in a community newspaper, sandwich board signs—look out for them all!

DON’T

♥ Don’t blow your budget just because you’re out of town. It’s easy to lose your head when you’re on the road, trust me, I know. Avoid buyer’s remorse by staying true to your normal high standards for quality.

♥ Don’t ignore who you’re thrifting with. My boyfriend has a saintly level of patience when it comes to my thrifting addiction, but even the most heaven-sent companions have their limits. Don’t wear your partner in crime out or you might not have a buddy for your next trip!

♥ Don’t forget to eat. Stopping for breakfast at a greasy spoon diner or breaking for a milkshake along the way make thrifting road trips way more fun, not to mention more memorable. (Have I mentioned I just like to eat?)

I hope these dos and don’ts come in handy the next time you set out to plan a road trip. As for me, I’d better sign off so I can finish packing…our 5 a.m. departure time is going to roll around before I know it. I hope y’all have beautiful weekends!

xoxo,

Meghan

P.S. The photo above was taken last May at the Am Vets thrift store in Memphis, Tennessee, conveniently located just down the street from Graceland. :-)