thrifting....

As you know if you have been following the blog, I am BIG on thrifting. I have enjoyed it since I was a little girl. My mom and I used to hit the yard sales early Saturday mornings, and it was such a treat! I used to go with my Grandma West as well. I have such fond memories of spending my little wad of one dollar bills on those adventures!

Later, when I moved out on my own, thrifting for furniture (as well as 'dumpster diving) was how I furnished all of my apartments. Lamps, sofas, tables, desks - you name it - and it came from a dumpster or a thrift store - ha!

More recently I mostly thrift housewares and clothes, not so much furniture, however, all the big pieces of furniture I have now, came either from Craigslist, yard sales, or were bought (or gifted) from friends when they moved on to better furniture.

I do feel like I get pretty lucky in my thrifting adventures. I am going to share a few tips for my personal thrifting victories....

1. Go during the week if possible. If I ever meet a friend out for lunch, more than half the time, I pick a place that is convenient to a thrift store. That way on my way back to work, I can swing by at least one thrift store and see what they have. I have found that weekdays are better than weekends, because they are constantly putting stuff out throughout the week and there are less people looking!

2. Always carry a little bit of cash in your car. I try to keep $20 in my car at all times just in case I see a yard sale or get wind of an estate sale while I am out running errands for work. I try to always stop and have found that sometimes the ones that look like they wouldn't have anything for you at first glance, might actually have a prized deal!

3. If I do go on the weekend, which some weeks, I have no other options, I get there right at opening time. I get up super early, eat breakfast, drink my coffee, and put on super comfy clothes for my morning of hunting.....

4. If I am planning a road trip ANYWHERE, I always leave early enough so that I can stop along the way at thrift shops. I have found some of my very best things on little road trip adventures. In my experience, West Virginia has ALWAYS been good to me when thrifting!!

Because of my lifelong love of thrifting, I had to find a way to fund my 'therapy' a few years ago that also freed up space to continue it - I was beginning to look like a hoarder! That is when I started my little Etsy vintage shop. I have shut down for a few months while I do a little organizing, but will be back up and running within the next month or so. I will be posting here when things are up and running.

I know some people find their 'therapy' in fitness - I used to be one of them, but as I sit here typing at 4:53 am before I hit up the gym, I can honestly tell ya, I hate working out. There have been a few things here and there that I have really enjoyed as far as workouts go, but for the most part, I don't like any of it..... and as I get older, the goal is less and less about looking good in clothes, but more about keeping my heart healthy.

I have a few things I want to get accomplished today outside of the day job, so for me, the best way to make that happen is blogging early, hitting the gym, and then somehow my brain kicks into 'go' mode for the day a whole lot easier. 

One of the things on my 'to-do' list today has to do with sewing and one thing I am excited about is working with a dress form. I haven't used one in years, but I just happen to have my old dress form in the car!!   It ended up at my friend Amanda's house probably around ten years ago, and through several moves for us both, but I recently got it back a few days ago....and nope, haven't gotten it out of my car yet, so that is one of the goals today! I also want to get my sewing room in order for some new projects - I have been feeling really inspired lately, and I need to tap into that! 

What is it that you love to do? What is the one thing that no matter what kind of day you are having, kind of resets the tone for you? Well, Happy Wednesday! We have almost made it to the halfway point!! 

xoxo

-s