By Walking into a thrift store for me is like that first big moment on a rollercoaster when you’re climbing up to the top and your mind is trying to make sense of, get a grasp of, what is going to happen. You can’t see over the threshold, but you pull at strings of ideas anyway. It’s a fearful moment and an exciting one. The thrift store has all of the excitement and none of the fear.
I take that back. Sometimes I’m terrified that I’ll fall in love with too many things and walk out either a pauper or a disappointed single-bagger. Walking out with a single bag after a thrift store visit is uneventful indeed. That, for me, rarely happens. And that is why I have made it a point to limit my visits. My chemistry with the thrift store is too strong and threatens logical behavior. That’s why driving home from work some days can prove difficult. When I’ve had a rough one; when small things becoming big things; when there’s drama and excessive noise (I work in a middle school); I want to reset and refresh, feel creative and open-minded again at the end of the day. The thrift store is a perfect place to do that.
The wonderful news is that I pass a great one on my route home from work. The terrible news is that I pass one on my route home from work. It is so tempting on those particularly trying days to not pull into that parking lot, purse in hand, ready to throw around $20 like it’s going out of style.
Remember that roller coaster? Yes, well, my body gets energized for the hunt. I start thinking up possibilities, imagining this is the day I find the treasure of my life, the object that will sit next to my reading lamp when I’m 85, or the badass jacket that will make every outfit I wear instantly cool. This has happened before. Once I found this sequins jacket that took my breath away. It’s probably the most I ever spent on any one article of clothing at a thrift store, but I’ll never regret it. I don’t keep it in my closet. No, this baby hangs on a hook right where I can see her every morning. I’m not ashamed. She makes me happy.
I also like to pick up ugly old furniture and make it brand new and cool. I like to forage through the knickknacks section for pretty things, like this pink lamp (yes!) and this old Kodak camera (yes!). There’s so much more that I could show you as my home is filled with the beautiful treasures I’ve discovered over the years. Maybe I’ll be self-indulgent and write another post like this one?
Let’s hear about the treasures you’ve found. And if you aren’t a thrift shopper yet, don’t do it. I’m a greedy scoundrel and I want everything for myself. I’m kidding….. (I’m being forced to say this in order to be socially acceptable. Damn society).
Happy foraging.
The sequin jacket deserves to be seen 😉 Those pieces of furniture do not even look like they have been fished out of a thrift shop. I can take ’em off your hands when you grow weary of them 😀
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One of the pieces I planned to sell, but I loved it so much I kept it. If I ever grow tired of it (never!) I’ll hand it to you darling. 🙂 Thanks for sending my jacket love.
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Tee hee. It was worth a shot *bambi eyes
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Yeah well you keep those Bambi eyes pointing that way. —-> Lol
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😀
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Books. Many is the time I’ve emptied my purse after just popping in for a quick look
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That quick look will get you every time! And my goodness, don’t get me started on my books. There’s a used bookstore that I go to which has a $2 sale like once a month. It’s always a morning long trip. I’ve been know to carry boxes out…
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I descend from two quite thrifty, frugal, resourceful families. I/we very much appreciate a clever designer-producer equally as well as a patient sensible visionary. That sequin jacket is pure wow-ness and minimum three Z-snaps-fabulous with those HAWT seude(?) boots! Oh my, very well done Madame. 😉
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Hey hey, thank you kindly 🙂 I almost fell over when I saw that jacket. I pulled it off the rack in disbelief and then hugged it. You noticed the (yes, suede) boots. Look at you noticing the finer details. I like to play off different textures when I’m dressed in predominantly one color.
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I would’ve fallen over too! “Hugged it” Hahahaha! Like like a long lost sister, huh? Yes, I think those seude boots are SMOKIN’ woman! You do the dress-up very nicely! Well done! 😉
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Girrrrl, when you started talking about how driving home without stopping at the thrift store after a tough day is hard to do, I was like, “This sounds like me.” Then you said you were a teacher, and it all made since! So am I!!!! I write about my thrift finds too. Check me out: https://www.sutherntwang.com/category/thriftin/
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I’ll definitely check it! When you started your comment with girrrrl, I automatically smiled and knew I was going to like what you had to say 🙂
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Lol. It’s like that sometimes, right?!
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sense. Lol
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Hahaha, seriously, I’ve been haunted by typos in comments I’ve posted. Like, why can’t I snatch this back off the internet??
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I know. There should be an edit button like on Facebook!
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Obviosly, somepeople don’t mind iving sloppy lives rthat button would be created by no… crazy world we’re living in lol 🙂
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