high on thrifting {part 3 – in the kitchen}

Posted on | October 5, 2010 | 37 Comments

my recent goodwill trips have been awesome. i mean, the stuff i’ve found is awesome, i don’t think mouthbreathing and disinfecting myself, my child and everything i buy with in an inch of it’s life can be called “awesome”. but the treasures i have found? awesome. almost everything i’ve purchased recently have been for the kitchen (as my husband gives me how-many-milkglass-vases/creamers/plates/etc-do-we-NEED look), so i thought i’d share them with you guys along with my tips for thrifting.

3 of my new milk glass pieces. love the petal top of the one vase, the polka dot pattern of the other one, and adore all the flowers on the dish and lid of the canister. oh and yes, i have a problem.

i mean, hello, it has strawberries and it was 99 cents. it would have been an actual crime not to buy it.

Scot was with me when i found this one and i think he was genuinely scared at how excited i got. i gasped audibly, snatched it off the shelf and said, too loudly, “i HAVE to have this!”. again, with the problems. p.s. it was $3.99. i mean, come on.

the following are plates i’ve been collecting to make a kick ace plate collage on a big wall in our dining area (which is in the kitchen). i still want to get many more in different sizes, but this is a good start and i simply love them! you can go here to see some examples. i just love this concept and can’t wait to get mine set up.

so i’ve seen some tweets to me and comments on my thrifting posts from some of you who have no luck when you try and go find stuff amongst the junk at your local thrift stores. i thought i’d throw some tips in here that work for me when i go hunting.

take your time. this isn’t really a trip you should make when you’re pressed for time. if you go when you’re rushed, you’re less likely to find the good stuff. if you’re taking a kiddo with you, don’t do it right before nap (trust me on that one) and bring disinfecting wipes and maybe some snacks. if you’re going alone, bring disinfecting wipes and maybe some snacks.

think outside the box. it’s not like the shelves of my local goodwill are just filled with perfection. not even close. i have to look at things with a different eye sometimes. think of what something COULD be rather than what it is. you may have to use a coat or two of paint, new hardware or a good old fashion hardcore cleaning sesh to make something awesome. but the best part is, it will be unique and the price? cannot be beat. use your imagination.

scour the shelves. this brings in that whole ‘take your time’ thing. the first time you go, you may enter an aisle and see a sea of crap. but i promise you, if you look at every piece on those shelves carefully, you will find a little piece of awesome. they are usually hidden behind that ceramic pickle dressed like a cowboy and next to the 15th “number 1 dad” mug, but i assure you, they are there. i’ve yet to go to any thrift store that didn’t have a single awesome find. you just have to look.

go often. if you can, hit up your store once a week or try going to a different one that might be a little further away. people are donating stuff daily, so the store can look completely different in days. it’s constantly changing which means more opportunity for awesome.

mouth breathe. just do it.

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