I have a confession to make. Although I love collecting kitchen gadgets at thrift stores, I hate cooking. The mess and the measuring completely exhaust me.  Luckily, my husband-to-be loves the process, so I don’t starve! But, to be fair, I’m trying to spend more time in the kitchen. To keep my stress level low, I thought a little Spring Cleaning kitchen organization was in order.

I knew that using second-hand jars would convert our cabinets and make them instantly feel more organized. So I headed to my local Goodwill. Happily, there were plenty of jars there in all shapes and sizes! Plus, by shopping at Goodwill, I am able to help build a stronger and more vibrant community. Once everything in our cabinets was transferred to its own jar, it was easier to find my way around the kitchen. I still wasn’t inspired to spend time there, though, so I started experimenting with color and labels, too.

For the jars that live on our countertops, I wanted a fun and fancy look.  If you often try new things, chalkboard paint is the perfect option for labeling since it can be updated easily.  To make these, draw a shape on thick paper and cut out the inside of it so it’s just a frame. Tape this to the front of your jar and paint inside the shape with chalkboard paint. I used two coats of paint. Make sure the label is fully dried before writing on it!

We tend to keep the same things in stock, so many of our labels can be more permanent. I’ve seen people use stickers before to label jars, but there are a couple of problems with that – one, the paper part of the sticker will come off when it’s washed. Two, if you ever want to remove the label entirely, the adhesive that remains on the jar after the paper part is gone will frustrate you beyond comprehension. I know this because some of the jars we got had stickers on them from a previous owner and it took me days to soak and scrape off all of that gunk! Packing tape, I’ve found, safeguards paper labels, comes off easily when you want it to, and doesn’t leave behind as much residue. For these labels I cut up magazine pages, labeled them, and stuck packing tape over to keep them on.

By this point the cabinets were organized and labeled, making it easy for me to find my way around, but I wanted more color to keep me inspired! If I’m going to be stuck in the kitchen, I at least need something nice to look at.  This is where my trusty thrifted fabric stash comes to the rescue once again!  I traced the lids of my mason jars on fabric, cut one and a half inches outside the circle, and fit the fabric over the flat lid, but under the screw top. Voila! Finally my kitchen is ready for me. Now the question is, how else can I put off cooking dinner?

xx, Julia

This Sunday marks the annual praising-of-the-moms day. If you’re anything like me, you’ve waited until the last minute. But here’s a quick rundown ideas if you’re still unsure of what to do — ones that won’t break the budget.

When I was on my thrifty trip last month through 18 states of the East Coast for my All Thrifty States project, I ran into countless moms. In Burlington, Vermont, I met Kimberlee and her daughter Cali, who were shopping together– and have been every Saturday for the last eight years.

When you think about it, thrift stores are a pretty perfect place for bonding with mom. You can find stuff for each other, you get great bargains, you can go your separate ways for awhile and then meet back up to compare treasures– plus with all the money you save you can hit a great restaurant afterwards or pack a picnic and hit the park.

If you don’t think your mom’s up for treasure hunting, you’re in luck too.  Thrift stores are FULL of vases and gifts. Why spend all kinds of money getting flowers delivered when you can make an amazing DIY bouquet with a great (and cheap!) repurposed thrift store vase, a bouquet of flowers (from your own garden for MAXIMUM thrift value!) and maybe a cute whirly-gig or something cute you can find at most any thrift store as well to liven up her garden.

Last of all, you can clean your mom’s place. That’s right — all moms love a fresh look at their own space, especially when they don’t have to raise a finger to make that happen. So go over and grab a bag and start filling it with stuff she doesn’t need anymore. You’ll probably want to make sure she agrees, however, before donating these items to the nearest Goodwill.

Voila!

Instant Mother’s Day happiness– and goodness!  Not only will your mom have some room to spread out and put her feet up for a day, but all her unnecessary knick knacks will go to help people in the community as well.

So make your Mother’s Day a thrifty one.

And don’t forget — hugs are always free!

Every time I happily enter a Goodwill store, I think, “I should be blogging for Goodwill® so that I can show people how many fabulous home furnishings they can create from all of these goodies!”  I guess I hounded them long enough, because now I get to do just that!

I’m Shelly Leer, author of modhomeec.com.  I run a DIY teaching studio with the same name, and I write DIY projects for HOUZZ.com, as well as penning a weekly DIY column for my local newspaper, The Indianapolis Star. Through the years, Goodwill has been my main source for supplies of all kinds. Not only have I saved money, but the entire creative process of imagining what I can create out of what’s available holds great appeal for me.  My basement is a literal stockpile of key finds that eventually become a part of some future design.

Having owned my own upholstery business for close to twenty years, and now teaching upholstery and DIY classes, I continue to make regular stops at select Goodwill stores in my area. Sometimes I’m looking for specific items, other times, I’m scouting for raw materials that will inspire me to create one-of-a-kind show stoppers. Since we’re all thinking about Mother’s Day, I thought I’d show you a piece of rescued furniture that most people would pass up.

One woman I helped, Annette, saw the above chair as a diamond in the rough, and bought it for a meager $19.99 at her local Goodwill store. She then transformed it into a custom upholstered, diamond-tufted beauty for her living room.  Of all things, the previous owners had apparently tried to spray paint the fabric!  When you find items like this, you need a keen eye to look beyond what’s in front of you to what the possibilities are.

Not only did Annette end up with a practical, newly upholstered piece, she learned a valuable skill and had a jolly good time in the process.

If you’re feeling crafty this month, swing by your local Goodwill store and look for a piece you might be able to rework in time for Mother’s Day. Even if you don’t want to take on a big project, stores are filled with one-of-a-kind small pieces that can be up-cycled into jazzy little accessories in a few hours. Have a crafty mom? Give her the complete package — a piece of furniture she can get creative on, along with the tools, supplies and a class to learn how to do it.

And remember that a gift from Goodwill is one that keeps on giving — 82 percent of the revenue from your purchase helps women and other individuals build stronger families and vibrant communities.

Stay tuned for future posts, where I’ll be showing you how to imagine, design and create projects you’ll be proud to show off as Goodwill-sourced furnishings.

Hi guys!

I’m Marisa Lynch and I’m the blogger behind newdressaday.com and author of New Dress A Day: The Ultimate DIY Guide to Creating Fashion Dos from Thrift-Store Don’ts where I turn lots of not-so-hot thrifted and garage sale-d garments into fashion beauties.  I’m thrilled to be a part of Goodwill’s blogging community and bring fab fashion finds your way all through the magic of Goodwill and its mission. I owe many thanks to Goodwill for allowing me a place to sift and sort through racks of color-coordinated goodies as well as for being my go-to spot to donate things that I’m just not using anymore.

It’s Earth Month and nothing is more important than reducing, reusing and recycling. (This doesn’t just go for those Dr. Pepper cans either!) Goodwill is an environmental pioneer on this front as they help preserve the planet by accepting donations and then making them available to others to incorporate into their lives.  Recycle and reusing at its finest!

How many times do you wear a dress or shirt one way, over and over again, get tired of it, and end up donating it because you’ve looked at it from the same perspective for years?  Lots, right?  So, today we’re getting out of that routine, woo! Today it’s all about hanging onto that one piece and giving it three separate and fresh looks that will keep it in your closet longer than planned.

Today’s dress is one that I found at the Goodwill Outlet in downtown Los Angeles.  It’s Tahari, in excellent condition, and only cost a few bucks.  (I love getting designer garb on the cheap!)  It’s also white eyelet, making it just the piece to transition from spring to summer.

Here’s the dress:

LOOK #1 – Office Prepster

For the first look, I took a skinny tan belt, a thrifted Dooney & Bourke purse, along with a pair of Calvin Klein heels to round out this work appropriate ensemble.  It feels a bit like Blair Waldorf (RIP Gossip Girl) and has a classic look that will work at the office or at the racetrack!

LOOK #2 – Golden Glam

For a transitional look from day to night, I added a pair of gold Charles David heeled sandals, a thrifted gold vest, and some vintage gold necklaces.  This gives a pop of sparkle to the dress making it dance floor ready.   Do I hear Beyoncé?

LOOK #3 – Beach & Brunch

To enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk or some lemon ricotta pancakes at the beachfront café with friends, this look just screams Sunday Funday! I paired the dress with a denim jacket, straw hat, some faux pink Wayfarers, platform wedges, and a bold printed Trina Turk beach bag to channel the day-off-from-work vibe.  This casual look has summer written all over it.

The beauty of this dress is that everything matches it – you can have fun layering with blazers and cardigans or just adding bright accessories to change up the look.  Say hello to the perfect spring/summer piece!

So, you thrifted a piece of furniture that you love, but it needs a serious facelift. If the size, design, and functionality are perfect for your needs, but the unfinished or outdated surface could use a little work, here’s an idea for you: add fabric instead of paint! This is such a fun way to fix up wooden furniture and is easier than stenciling, but can be just as intricate. Further on down the road if you think it needs another update, the fabric should be easier to remove than paint!

First, if you need to remove old paint layers, start by looking at Evette’s post regarding stripping old paint. Once you’re down to the piece’s bare bones, it’s time to start adding your own bit of personality. (Of course, you could add this on top of paint, but you would be able to see the paint through light fabrics and it may not be as easy to adhere.) Grab the following supplies, and roll up those sleeves; it’s time to get started!

The first step is to measure the size of the surface(s) that you will be covering with fabric. Grab your fabric, iron it to remove wrinkles, and mark the sizing on the back of it. Cut outside of your markings so you have a little extra fabric to work with (you’ll trim it to the right size later).

With your fabric handy, start “painting” Mod Podge generously onto the surface you will be covering. It dries clear, so don’t be shy! Before it dries, lay the fabric over the sticky surface and press down with your hands. If you’re covering a lot of space you may want to do this in parts so the glue doesn’t dry before your fabric is ready to be put down.

When your fabric is applied and pressed into the right places, take something flat like a credit card (I just used a packaging scrap from our recycling bin) and use it to smooth out any wrinkles or glue gobs in the fabric.  After this first application of Mod Podge has dried, add another coat to the top to finish the surface.

When this second coat has dried, use an exacto knife to carefully trim the edges of the fabric, et voila! Your beautiful thrifted piece of furniture is ready for its new home!

This project was so much fun that I’ve found myself eyeing the rest of our furniture and my thrifted fabric stash, imagining what different combinations would yield. We would love to see how your projects turn out if you decide to give this method a try! Supplies can be found at your local Goodwill where you can join this community-centered organization to give back to your own neighbors. Don’t forget to check out our DIY Pinboard for more Mod Podge and fabric inspiration!

xx, Julia

The first things I tackled were figuring out a theme and a location– in my case they went hand in hand. I am a member of this terrific arts club called the Salmagundi Club, and their parlor floor is just gorgeous so I immediately thought that doing a retro theme for the shindig made the most sense.

And since the newest import from the UK that I have recently become obsessed with is the fascinator, I thought that we should make the party’s theme: “Sunday Best and Facinators Only.” The invites were pulled from a graphic designer we found on Etsy and tweaked a little by her to customize it.

I knew that we wanted to do this shindig on a budget so my first step was to get with my friend and co-planner Tiffany and hit the local Goodwill. I scheduled the event for a Saturday afternoon and high tea made so much sense, a little classy day for all our lady friends to come together! To get pretty tea cups I scoured shop goodwill.com to find beautiful mismatched tea cups from all over the country!

We created one large centerpiece for the buffet and drink table, a vintage baby scale from Goodwill decorated with vintage kids books, flowers and other finds.

We painted blocks to match the color scheme of the centerpieces and we scanned in printed vintage letters from a children’s book.

For the gift table we found an amazing vintage suitcase which was the perfect place for gift cards and gifts.

For each individual centerpiece for each table. Goodwill sourced Mason jars, were filled in with scanned images from a children’s alphabet book. Each table had a different letter!

We wore vintage coats and dresses and waited outside for the proud Mom and Dad to be to arrive.

Games

During the shower we also played a bunch of games.

Change the Baby

This one was super fun. We found a baby doll, then timed each other taking off a diaper, wiping,  powdering her down and putting on a new diaper. The fastest time, believe it or not, was under 10 seconds!

Guess the Bump

Olivia, one of Robyn’s dear friends brought a spool of pink ribbon, we each cut it to the length we thought was the circumference of Robyn’s belly and the closest to the real measurement won!

Baby Bingo

And to make opening baby gifts fun we made bingo boards for each guest!

Favors

Tea Cup Candles

To give guests the incentive to win I wanted to create really great favors! I picked some of the most beautiful tea cups and turned them into candles; you can check out a full tutorial on my website. You can even decorate a little box of matches to go with them! I made seven of them.

A tea-rrific and (ladylike) time was had by all!

For more party, home and décor idea visit my website.

I am a messy person. For a few years I’ve been trying to find ways to intercept messes before they take root, and one thing that has really helped is having an exposed closet. When I dress, I need to see all of my options before me. In the past, my closet led to piles on the floor and the disappearance of my bed beneath clothing, but once I built an exposed closet it was much easier for me to manage the would-be mess because suddenly I didn’t have to pull everything out in order to see it.

Goodwill helped helped me to curate this newly exposed closet space into something inspiring instead of unruly. With nice wooden hangers to organize my clothing, some labeled for each day of the week for when I have the foresight to plan, the first thing I see in the morning – my closet – feels tidy and fancy, and gets me off to a great start.

When I first began collecting thrifted wooden hangers, I wondered why people stopped using them in the first place, but then it struck me: a lot of fabrics slip right off without the notches or grippers that come on plastic hangers. I still preferred wood to plastic, so I came up with a couple of ideas to help my clothes stay on.

For sleeveless tops and dresses, I added one sewing pin on each side of the hanger to prevent straps from slipping. To do this simply measure where you want your pins to stick out, and draw a tiny dot. Then, use a thumbtack to poke a hole in the wood in that spot (It’s easier to push a tack in as a pin may bend or break under pressure). My pins were pretty long, so I decided to trim them a bit so they wouldn’t stand as high. To do this I stuck each pin only slightly into a pincushion (otherwise the tiny end may go flying!) and used wire cutters to snip it in half. Dab the newly trimmed pin in an adhesive that works for both wood and metal, and insert it into your tack hole. Allow to dry before using!

As for sleeved tops that may slide off, I added a little traction to the hangers just by wrapping then ends with some baker’s twine. Use glue or tape along the bottom edge of the hanger to hold it in place and you’re golden! Felt or wool scraps adhered with hot glue would work quite nicely, too. There is plenty more wooden hanger inspiration on our DIY Pinboard, too – check it out!

Are you planning a closet re-organization for your spring cleaning? Hop on over to Goodwill to see what they’ve got to help you along. When you support Goodwill you are directly supporting your community because part of the organization’s mission is to empower the youth in your area with the confidence and courage to make positive choices within your community.

Happy thrifting!

xx, Julia

A recent tidal wave of pop-up thrift shops across the country in recent months (including one last week at SXSW), an uptick in thrift-inspired Twitter and Instagram posts with hashtags like #goodwill #goodwillfinds #poppintags and #thriftshop, and even Shakespearean references to thrifting on Twitter, it’s obvious people are flying their thrifty flags high these days and flooding social media outlets with some second hand pride.

Need I even mention the name Macklemore? If you haven’t heard the super catchy tune Thrift Shop yet, then welcome back to Earth, my friend.  Just try to watch the video without breaking out into a funk-tastic dance number, I double dare you. The song is everywhere now– including in the flood of posted links to the song that seem to constantly appear on my personal Facebook page. Over the past few months, friends of mine have begun discovering it, sending me a link just in case I haven’t seen it with excitement worthy of Christmas morning. And each and every time I see a new link to it appear, I can’t help but click it and crank it up as though it’s my first time hearing it, too.

Part of the video for it was filmed in the Seattle Goodwill Outlet, one of the many amazing stops on day 10 of the epic All Thrifty States tour! It’s no surprise here that such a cool song came from a Seattle native since I saw first hand that those folks know how to live thrifty in serious style– just like Beautiful!

So in honor of this awesome spotlight that thrift is enjoying right now, raise your thrift flag high with us!   Show us your hashtagged thrifty goods!  Shake your backside to some thrifty beats! And definitely spread the word that it’s not just fun and economical, it’s the best way to give the Earth a little hug with each dollar you spend.

Now go pop some tags!

March is the perfect example of an ‘in-between seasons’ month that can’t really decide whether it wants to be winter or spring. If you’re living in the Northeast like me, you’re probably fully ready for spring despite the weather’s overwhelming aversion to it.

Regardless of whether the groundhog predicted an early spring or six more weeks of winter, there’s plenty you can do to reflect your anticipation for spring fashion now. Here is some advice for invigorating your wardrobe during the tricky month of March.

1) Winterize your florals. In this example, I’ve taken a traditional spring or summer pattern (florals) and winterized it by adding boots, a blazer and a black lace slip. While this thrifted vintage dress would’ve looked great for spring with colored pumps and little else, the dark contrasting details in the blazer, boots, belt and slip completely transform it.

2) Play with pastels. Just because the skies are still gray does not mean you can’t start playing up some of spring’s prettiest pastel hues. The key to pulling it off in a seasonally appropriate way is by sticking to garment in a heavier fabrication. In this example, I’m wearing thrifted pastel corduroy pants with a lilac blouse, thrifted boyfriend blazer, vintage butterfly brooch and ribbed hat.

3) Look for eccentric accessories. Statement jewelry is such a big trend right now, and one of the easiest ways to give new life to tired wardrobe pieces. I’ve found a lot of great costume jewelry at thrift stores in the past, and they never cease to inspire. This leaf necklace was actually an old brooch that I repurposed into a necklace, all by simply stringing it through a chain.

Don’t let the lingering cold keep your style in a slump; go check out the selection at your local Goodwill store today. Goodwill operates 165 community-based agencies in the U.S. and Canada that provide job training for people in career fields such as financial services, computer programming, manufacturing, technology  and health care. More than 4.2 million people in North America received this employment and training assistance in 2011 alone;  funded largely by your thrift store purchases!

A few winters ago, I learned how to knit. I went through a phase where my knitting needles were like my 11th and 12th fingers, but after that season, my enthusiasm mostly died out. I was stuck with a drawer full of thrifted yarn and no inclination to knit. As time passes, though, I have found myself reaching in that drawer with some pretty projects in mind. There’s a lot that can be done with this versatile material, even if you don’t knit. Here are some ideas.

This project is fun and customizable. To begin, trace your letters, numbers, or whatever you want to wrap in yarn, on cardboard twice, then cut everything out. Cut a long strip, one inch wide (depending on the size and number of your letters, you may need a different length), to use as the sides of each letter. For my set I traced two Rs, two ampersands, and two Js plus several long strips of cardboard that were each one inch wide. Next, I laid one R flat on the table and taped the long strip perpendicularly all the way around the edge with masking tape, bending the strip at each corner. Lastly, I laid the second R right on top of that “wall” I had made from the strip, and taped it in place to make a complete 3-D letter. Then I wrapped it in yarn, hot gluing as I went!

I recently shared a tutorial on how to make pom-poms from yarn, but why stop there when you can turn those poofs into a garland? This pom-pom garland originally served as a Christmas card display, but I grew so attached that I didn’t want to tuck it away until next year. To make your own garland, have some friends over for conversation while you put together as many pom-poms as you can. Then use an embroidery needle to string them all together with yarn straight from the skein!

An easy way to update your home without spending money is to change up the way you display things. Every so often I move items around; this wheatgrass plant has been in one place long enough so I followed this tutorial to make a plant hanger from my yarn stash.

On my last trip to Goodwill I found these handmade potholders that almost got me back in the knitting spirit…almost. I couldn’t pass them up knowing that my dollar spent at Goodwill would help promote independence and dignity for people who need support to provide for themselves and their families.  For more ideas on how to use thrifted yarn, check out our DIY board on Pinterest. Maybe you will find some inspiration there for projects to help pass the time before warmer weather arrives. Happy crafting!

xx, Julia

Some of us showed our love this week with chocolates, some with mushy cards and fancy dinners.  But ever since I started dating my husband–who so rarely shops for himself– I’ve shown him love all year long by turning him into my personal Ken doll.

That’s right.  I lovingly forced my thrifting ways upon him by providing him a with an awesomely fashionable twice-loved wardrobe.

I’m sure he’d be the first to tell you he was skeptical at first. When I first started bringing things home for him to wear, I was definitely met with jokes and raised eyebrows. He wasn’t a thrifter– or a shopper at all, really. Still isn’t.  But once I’d gotten wind of his strange pants size and saw the pitiful sight that was his closet, I took on the challenge with a vengeance. I couldn’t help myself from making it my mission to convert him to my ways. And so began my epic mission to turn him into a thrifter as well.

Piece by piece, bit by bit, I turned Ed-the-Skeptic into Ed-the-Believer. Texts I sent to him to tell him I was headed to a thrift store were once met with a reply of “Y?” or “Don’t stay long!” Now they’re met with cheerful replies like, “Need black dress pants!” or “Look for cool art!”

On the 2011 RV trip for All Thrifty States, Ed tagged along for 17 days. Watching him maneuver excitedly through the aisles ahead of me as we traveled from state to state was like watching a flower starting to bloom!  Even though it was an intense way to do it, he definitely got into it– and even managed to find the best treasure of the trip!

Knowing that I’ve converted my once nay-saying husband into an equal proponent of second-hand living is like a box of chocolates for my thrifty little heart. He’s learned the lesson I learned long ago– secondhand is good for the soul.

Here are two really great gifts you can make from Goodwill® finds. The candy dish is a sweet and easy project that can be assembled in a few minutes. The book gift is a little more involved, but is a nice, romantic surprise for a special sweetheart. Either way, that special someone will love these thoughtful Valentine’s presents, and your purchases will help Goodwill create jobs for people in your local community — a doubly sweet deal!

Book with Secret Compartment

Materials

Hardcover book
White glue, decoupage glue, or acrylic gel medium
Water
Plastic wrap
Masking tape (or any low tack tape)
Utility knife
Ribbon

Goodwill always has tons of used books, so you’re bound to find the perfect one for this project. Maybe you’ll find one that has your sweetheart’s name in the title, or something with a romantic or personally relevant title. I chose my book because it was red without a title on the front cover. It also was a lonely volume from an encyclopedia set—somehow it had been separated from all the other volumes in the set. Plus, the letter of the volume is the initial of the person I wanted to give it to.

I have to admit, choosing a book for this project was tough for me. I have always been taught to respect books, so the idea of cutting one up was a little painful. However, because it came from a set that was missing, I felt this was the perfect book to repurpose since it had sort of lost its usefulness. Plus, it had some water damage, and dirt that needed to be cleaned off, so it was no longer in pristine condition.

To make the compartment in the book really secret, start the hollowing out process a few pages in. Choose the page you want to be on top of the hollowed out section, and turn it, so it’s bunched with the other pages that won’t be cut. Wrap those first few pages in plastic wrap and secure with some low tack tape like masking tape.

Mix some white glue with water (about 70% glue, 30% percent water), so it has a runny consistency. This will help the glue seep into the pages, so they stick together. Paint the inside back cover with the glue-water mixture. Close the book. Paint the exposed page edges with the glue-water mixture. Don’t worry if the glue drips; it dries clear. Place something heavy on the book and let the glue dry.

Mark the stack of pages that will be cut at least an inch inside the edge. Cut the pages with a utility knife. To make really straight cuts, it helps to use a straight edge for the first cut. Also, make sure the blade is really sharp. Cut the pages a few at a time, and change the blade throughout the process when cutting becomes more difficult.

Once the desired depth is reached, paint the inside edge with the glue-water solution. Re-coat the outside edge, and seal up any openings that may have been made during the cutting process. Then paint the top edge of the opening. Remove the plastic wrap. Carefully place the reserved top page onto the glue. Shut the book and let dry about an hour.

Neatly cut the top page to expose the opening. Cut a nice ribbon for a bookmark, and place a Valentine’s gift inside.

Candy Dish

Materials

Bowl, mug or goblet
Candy
Lollypop
Clear cellophane
Twist tie
Gift tag
Ribbon

This is a great project to do while you’re waiting for the glue to dry on your hollow book. I was lucky enough to find a Valentine-themed bowl at my local Goodwill. However, don’t despair if you can’t find one with hearts or Cupid. Look for something red or pink, or just use a plain white bowl and dress up with a red ribbon. If you can’t find the right bowl, use a mug, goblet, or glass for the same effect. The one thing I love about Goodwill is you never know what you will find, and that helps to get the imaginative juices flowing.

Fill the bowl with your sweetheart’s favorite candy and chocolates. Wrap with cellophane and secure with a twist tie. If needed, trim the excess cellophane.

Push the lollypop stem into the cellophane, add a gift tag, and cover the twist tie with a ribbon tied into a bow.

Goodwill is the perfect place to shop for Valentine’s Day. You’ll always find something you can’t find anywhere else, and Goodwill’s employment programs promote independence and dignity for people who need support to provide for themselves and their families.

Vintage clothing can be an excellent way to express your creativity and individuality — even within the confines of your 9-to-5 job. Goodwill® is and always will be an excellent source to get these items inexpensively, due in part to their entrepreneurial business model of collecting and selling donated goods in its more than 2,800 stores and its auction site, shopgoodwill.com.

To add a little vintage spice to your workplace wardrobe, consider these tips:

Don’t completely adapt your outfit to a certain period. In wearing vintage clothing, there’s a steadfast rule that doubly applies for the workplace: if it could be worn as a Halloween costume, then it should not be worn in real life. Head-to-toe era ensembles have no place in the business world, so save your Audrey Hepburn and Rosie the Riveter outfits for October 31.

Compliment with contemporary accessories. A great way to bring your vintage garment into the 21^st century is by accessorizing it with contemporary jewelry, shoes and other items. A vintage blouse or dress can be instantly transformed by the addition of modern accessories like a simple cardigan or stylish jacket.

Stick to one stand-out piece. If vintage is your preferred aesthetic, it’s best to highlight just one piece at a time. You want people’s focus to move directly to your vintage piece, and all other elements of your ensemble should support that. Too many focal points can look outrageous; you don’t want to become a workplace distraction. As far as vintage prints go, keep them mostly monochromatic.  Shoulder pads can also be removed from vintage blazers and blouses to give them a softer, more modern appeal.

Choose one pop of color. Offices have adapted varying degrees of business professional and business casual. When a person first starts a position, it is often difficult to discern the type of dress that will be appropriate. While there are still a few existing professions where color or patterns may not be okay, color is usually a safe option in most working environments. With that being said, however, don’t go buck wild with the brights. You’re an employee, not a neon sign, so support your pop of color with some complementary neutrals.

Choose vintage accessories instead. If all of this advice about vintage clothing in the workplace has left your head spinning, then maybe you’re better suited wearing vintage accessories to the office instead. I highly recommend the vintage brooch, which can be added to a conservative blazer or simple cardigan sweater to amp up the style factor and reflect your clothing taste. Vintage necklaces and earrings are also a beautiful way to upgrade your work wardrobe without going overboard.

Patterned vintage scarves are a classic and sophisticated accessory that can be easily added to a suit, and don’t feel over the top or costume-y. Shoe clips, often found at estate sales, vintage shops, or thrift stores, can be added to contemporary black pumps to make them more unique and versatile. Finally, a long vintage dress coat is elegant and appropriate for your comings and goings to and from the office, and Goodwill stores are a great resource in finding these inexpensive wardrobe toppers.

When wearing vintage in the office; a little bit can go a long way. Competent personal style and a unique flair can make you stand out in a good light, helping people to remember you, or serving as a conversation starter if you work face-to-face in sales or see business clients on the regular.

As sad as I am to acknowledge the obsolescence of records (they’re still something treasured  in our house), there are tons of things one can do with record albums besides play them. Goodwill®, a leading social service enterprise and one of the nation’s most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands, has a huge selection of vinyl for you to choose from.

I would always recommend listening to each album you buy before you decide to repurpose it because you never really know what hidden gems you might stumble across. In fact, one of my favorite records came in a random batch my fiance, Ryan, and I were given and, although the cover looks pretty bland, it plays some of the most fantastic 1930s tunes we’ve ever stumbled across. If we were judging solely by the cover, we probably would have gotten rid of this one long ago, but thankfully we give each album a chance before we even think of repurposing. There are a lot of really cheesy ballads out there, though, so in some cases the following projects might feel like a bit of an upgrade.

Ryan is a musician and his instrument collection has now grown so large that pretty soon it will need its own room. I’ve thought about his future music studio, and can’t wait to help him settle into it. A side table like this would fit so nicely with a musical theme, and would be a fun way to incorporate the music of a previous generation which is a huge inspiration to both of us.

This is by far the easiest way I can think of to display records, and it adds movement and texture to an otherwise ordinary wall. To try it, lay out your records on the floor in the arrangement you like (the more, the merrier!), measure this arrangement and your wall space to make sure it will fit where you’d like it to, then take a photo in case you forget in the transition how you’d like them arranged. Finally, hang each one up on the wall!

When we bought our first record player it came with a bunch of albums that we didn’t really care for, and one of them was actually cracked. So, making a bookend from it seemed like a pretty swell idea. And it wasn’t very difficult at all! If this sounds like something you want to try, here’s one way:

If your record isn’t already broken, you can also fill your sink with boiling water, dip the record into it, then just press down hard until it has bent properly. Pull it out and let it cool on a flat surface before using! Have fun getting creative, and don’t forget to check out our DIY Pinboard for more record repurposing ideas!

xx, Julia

How about considering Goodwill® in your New Year’s resolutions? Goodwill generates opportunities for people to achieve economic stability and build strong families and vibrant communities by offering job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others who face challenges to finding employment. In 2011, more than 189,000 people in the United States and Canada obtained meaningful employment as a result of Goodwill career services programs.

Donate

Simply by donating unwanted items to a local Goodwill, you will be helping your neighbors and your community.

Get rid of old furniture. Many of us have one or two pieces of furniture stashed away in the attic, basement, or garage that we will never use again. Don’t just throw that old couch on the street or bring it to the dump. Give it to Goodwill.

Through its entrepreneurial business model of collecting and selling donated goods in its more than 2,700 stores and its auction site, shopgoodwill.com, the first and only nonprofit Internet auction site, Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items in environmentally sound ways, and prevents items from piling up in local landfills.

Go through the coat closet. There must be one or two coats that someone else could use that haven’t been worn in a season or two. Donate those coats which will give someone something warm and affordable to wear, and will help contribute to your local Goodwill. Eighty-two percent of collective revenues raised through the sale of donated goods go directly toward supporting and growing Goodwill’s critical community-based programs and services.

Search the depths of the kitchen cabinets. Find those things that never get used, but take up a lot of valuable space. You won’t miss it, and you’ll be helping the community. Goodwill gives people more than job training; they give them a full set of tools they need to support themselves and their families, today and in the future.

Shop

Shopping at Goodwill is another easy way to show your support. Buying used goods saves money and helps recycle something that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. What’s fun about shopping at Goodwill is the surprises you will find. You never know what someone might donate, so you never know what you’re going to find. It can be inspiring because you may end up using something in a new way that you hadn’t thought of before you walked through the door.

Update the bathroom. You can almost always find vintage decanters and glass containers at Goodwill. Fill them with mouthwash, soaps and swabs. You’ll get that expensive catalog look for less than you can buy one of these pieces new.

Art and mirrors. Decorate your walls with art or mirrors you can’t find in any gallery or store. Sometimes you can find a beautiful handmade object that someone spent hours making, but might have seemed outdated to the person who donated it. A treasure for just a few dollars.

Vintage mirrors always look good in just about any room—even if they have some blemishes. Mirrors add depth and light, so they are the perfect design accent. To buy vintage-style mirrors new can cost a fortune, but find them at Goodwill and pay a fraction of the cost.

Create a library. You can find just about any kind of book at Goodwill. I have a real affection for vintage cookbooks, and have created a whole library of them that I use all the time. I think it’s more fun to flip through a book than to search the internet for a recipe. The colorful photos, and the descriptions are the history of our culture. Find children’s books, reference books and novels to create your own library.

No matter what you buy, you will be helping someone in need. Goodwill provides support services — including child care, financial education, transportation, youth mentoring and other services for youth and families — that enable people from all backgrounds to obtain and maintain economic independence and an increased quality of life.

Add donating and shopping at Goodwill to your list of resolutions. It’s so easy to help, and this is a resolution you’ll definitely keep.

It’s hard to live in DC right now without constantly noticing all of the inaugural preparations going on.  The city is buzzing with an influx of political tourists, the streets are lined with port-a-potties patriotically decorated store windows, and of course tons of temporary stores and booths are popping up to sell us all kitschy political souvenirs.

Now I don’t like to mix pleasure and politics, but since my city is DC and my pleasure is thrift stores, I couldn’t help myself. Seeing all of these t-shirts and bobbleheads being plucked up brought back a flood of memories of all the political swag that I saw in thrift stores across the country during the great RV trip in 2011.

Because of all the donated donkey and elephant swag I saw dotting America’s thrift stores, I can’t help but wonder how much of what was sold over the course of the campaign — and what is being sold here in the next few days — will soon be looking for a second home at Goodwill®.

Since thrift stores are a cultural collection point, eventually swag from both winners and losers — on all levels of government — will end up there.  I remember being especially bummed that I was only a few months short of the Iowa caucuses in 2011, shortly after which I’m sure there would’ve been a torrent of swag and slogans flooding the donation bins.

It all boils down to making impulse purchases and buying stuff we don’t really need because of the hype that surrounds us and sweeps us up. I guarantee no one ever said, “My life would be complete if I only had an (enter politician name here) bobblehead.” And if they did, it certainly didn’t ring true.

Now if I could only convince a few Inaugural Ball-goers to sport some repurposed gowns!

One my absolute favorite things to buy at the thrift store is winter coats. Growing up, I always hated how I had exactly two choices in winter coats, and I would have to cover up my different outfits with the same thing every day. My parents would buy me a ski jacket for outdoor activities, and a dress coat that I would wear for church and school. While it was a logical and financially responsible decision for a parent to make, I simply hated the lack of variety that winter would bring.

As I started getting older I realized that the two-coat method didn’t have to be my way of life, but quickly recognized the cost involved with investing in numerous coats. I was a high school student, and not made of money. It was also around this time that I started to notice how the fashion trend cycle worked, and that coats were one of the slowest items to go in and out of fashion. A simple concept to me now, but at the time I was just beginning to catch on.

When I started thrifting, I was immediately drawn to the coats. The Goodwill® store that I frequented had a massive coat display, with everything from fur to leather to wool. What I found there was the best possible solution, in my opinion, to the two-coat method. The modern coats being sold in department stores really had lacked in quality, at least the ones I could afford, but here the coats were actually warm, made with real wool (not some synthetic fiber), and had all the style and originality — maybe even a little more elevated! — than what I was finding elsewhere.

Basically for the cost of one coat at a regular retail store, I was able to stock up on a whole menagerie of vintage coats, each serving a particular type of outfit need. No longer was I a prisoner of my solitary winter coat, but I could mix and match them for each day like a treasured part of my look. I started getting compliments from strangers on my coats as well, “Where did you get your coat? I love it!” No longer was I covering up my carefully chosen outfit, but rather highlighting it with a beautiful topper.

Another reason I’m a complete advocate for winter coat thrift shopping is because of the environmental aspect. By giving these coats a second life, you’re helping reduce the adverse environmental impact that conspicuous consumption can have on our planet. Goodwill is an entrepreneurial leader, environmental pioneer and social innovator of the “reduce, reuse, repurpose” practice. Through its entrepreneurial business model of collecting and selling donated in its more than 2,700 stores and its auction site, shopgoodwill.com, the first and only nonproft internet auction site, Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items in environmentally sound ways.

Check out women’s, men’s and children’s coats online now at shopgoodwill.com.

For a few years now, I’ve been working on my vintage Melmac collection. Thanks to Goodwill’s fabulous prices, excellent variety, and social responsibility I feel great about the collection I’ve thrifted. Goodwill is comprised of 165 independent, community-based agencies in the U.S. and Canada, which collectively provided employment and training assistance to 4.2 million people in North America just in 2011. So with every teacup I buy from them, I’m confident that I’m helping my community.

My Melmac plates and bowls get plenty of use, but I have stacks of adorable teacups that we constantly pass up in favor of sturdy mugs. It’s about time to start thinking creatively about how to put them to work, but my imagination wasn’t jump-started until I went over to my friend’s house and saw a holiday project she had been working on – turning teacups into candles!

Didn’t she do a wonderful job? The process is simple on this one, and the effect is darling. It’s also a great way to use up mostly-burned candles. Using two nesting pots on the stove, simmer water in the bottom one, and add your used candles to the top pot. When the wax is melted, use tongs to remove old wicks. Dip a new wick into the wax to prime it. Let it dry, then drape it into your clean teacup, stabilizing the top between two wooden skewers or chopsticks that are taped together at the ends and laid on the rim of the cup.

Pour a few drops of hot wax into the center of the teacup, stick the bottom end of the wick into it and wait for it to harden. This will ensure that your wick stays centered once the rest of the wax is poured in. Pour in the rest of your wax and wait for it to cool before removing the skewers and trimming down the wick!

Here’s the easiest one – a no-effort soap dish. My fiance and I prefer bar soap because we can get really great scents that are made locally, but we have never been able to find a real soap dish that we like! A teacup will be easy to clean, and is perfect for a shabby-chic or cottage style home.

For plastic teacups like my Melmac, an indoor garden is a must. By simply drilling a hole in the bottom for drainage, a teacup on its saucer can make a lovely little herb garden and help to keep your spirits up even on the dreariest winter days. In ours, we’re growing wheat grass for the cats!

For even more ideas on how to repurpose teacups, check out our Pinboard! With the holiday season nearly behind us, I for one am looking forward to some great crafting time with a hot cup of tea in the dead of winter. What DIY projects have you accomplished that you are particularly proud of? We’d love to hear!

Happy New Year!

xx, Julia

But as you’ve probably learned by this time of the month, Christmas can get pricey – and quick. I’d be lying if I said I got everything under my tree this year at thrift stores, but I definitely tried hard to get as much as I could there. And while it’s easy to rush to the biggest box store and mindlessly fill a cart with stuff shipped here from thousands of miles away, thrifting for loved ones involves a little more patience, a little more time – but definitely not as much money or waste.

With our recent move, my husband and I finally have enough room to have a tree – the first time we have had one for five years! And to top it off, I’m hosting Christmas dinner for family. So not only were gifts on my Christmas thrift list this year, but decorations were as well.

Luckily this year, there was a three-day-long Goodwill pop-up shop in downtown DC to help me get the job done. I may or may not have gone all three days, but really –who’s counting? The festive Peace and Goodwill theme included lots of cool holiday decor and clothes fit for even the fanciest work parties.

I also did a little shopping at the DC Goodwill on my newly minted shopping holiday! Not only did I find a cool BAH HUMBUG tumbler perfect for Ed’s egg nog, and a big red bow for the door – but also some cute ceramic vases to decorate my holiday table and some cool gifts for friends!

You still have a few more days, folks. When you buy a perfect something for someone special at a Goodwill, you’re really doing a world of good. Soon we’ll all watch loved ones unwrap their treasures. And when they hold it up and gush about how much they love it, tell them proudly where you got it!

If there is one type of garment that thrift stores like Goodwill® have an abundance of, it would have to be the sweater. Chunky knit sweaters are a playful way to keep warm in the winter, and thrift stores have everything from designer versions to handmade looks from grandma’s knitting needle. Re-fashioning a thrifted knit sweater takes a little creativity, but the result can be a unique look with a nod to the whimsy.

When searching for a great knit sweater at your local thrift store, don’t limit yourself to only your gender. The sweater shown here was actually a men’s sweater that just need a little accessorizing to become more feminine. The best way to look is with your eyes as well as your hands. First, search for colors or patterns that resonate with your personality. Then, feel the sweater to make sure it is in good condition. Stay away from itchy fabrics and fibers like acetate or acrylic, unless it’s light enough to layer a long sleeve cotton t-shirt underneath.

When putting together your sweater outfit, pull ideas for accessorizing from the sweater’s color or pattern. The grey sweater seen here gave off a modern ‘tribal’ vibe, hence the funky necklace and colorful oxford. Thrifting chunky knits are an excellent alternative to a standard hoodie, and can even double as a major conversational piece at your next gathering or event. In fact, the prevalence of these funky sweaters at your local Goodwill thrift store have even inspired a new type of seasonal tradition – the festive holiday sweater party.

A festive holiday sweater party can be a fun alternative to a regular seasonal party, and one that can benefit your community as well. In the 1980s and 1990s, novelty sweaters were a big part of the retail scene, boasting everything from fringe to bells to full nativity scenes. The trend was widespread, but eventually these sweaters ended up cast aside and donated to local thrift stores like Goodwill. This time of year, it becomes almost a sport to find the most outlandish novelty holiday sweater and wear it proudly at one of these parties.

Thrifting for your holiday sweater benefits your community because 84 percent of collective revenues raised through the sale of donated goods go directly toward supporting and growing Goodwill’s critical community-based programs and services. When you’re surrounded by family and friends donning their outrageous sweaters this season, you can feel good about the fact that the dollars used to purchase them are doing a greater good for your community.

Will you be attending a holiday sweater party this year? Be sure to share your photos on the Goodwill Industries International Facebook page, or tweet your photos to @GoodwillIntl.

It’s the time of the year when holiday sweaters start coming out! Goodwill® is the best place to find these fabulous personalities, whether you’re going to a sweater party or you’re just brave enough to don a highly decorated pullover as everyday wear. But here’s something else you could do with a holiday sweater – make yourself a stocking!

Step 1: Turn your sweater inside out, then fold up the ribbed bottom edge and freehand or trace your stocking shape onto the sweater. Pin both layers of the sweater together.

Step 2: Cut about a half an inch outside of the marked area. Feel free to measure this seam allowance before you cut. If you have a very loosely knit sweater you may want to make the seam allowance bigger, as knits do unravel when cut. You can trim it down after sewing.

Step 3: Take the pins out of the top of the stocking and tuck the ribbed edge inside, then re-pin.

Step 4: Sew along the stocking outline you drew, with a regular stitch. Trim your seam allowance if necessary, then zig-zag stitch the edges for security. Turn right-side out!

Now that you’ve got your basic stocking finished, it’s all about embellishment. Using an embroidery needle and yarn you could easily stitch in a name or add a design, but why not go a bit further than that by making your own pom-poms and deco-tape? Let’s start with the pom-poms.

Step 1: Wind your yarn around all of the fork prongs. I wrapped mine 60 times. The more wraps you do, the fluffier your pom-poms will be!

Step 2: Cut a separate length of yarn and weave it through the middle prong of the fork. Tie it in a tight double-knot around all of the wound yarn.

Step 3: Snip all of the yarn loops except for the knot you just tied.

Step 4: Roll the pom-pom around in your hand to fluff it up, then trim the long pieces that stick out all willy-nilly.

Next up, the super easy handmade washi (or deco) tape. Grab some double sided hem tape and ribbon or fabric strips and tape your ribbon to the stocking! Voila!

Who knew you could make your own knit stocking so easily and give new life to an old sweater at the same time? Not only did I get this sweater at Goodwill, but that’s also where I got my ribbon and yarn. I like to think of Goodwill as a supply store where I can find the materials to make my wildest DIY dreams come true. I also love this organization because they create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue that contributes directly to the health of local economies across the U.S. and Canada. It always feels good to help others, especially at this time of the year!

xx, Julia

Been there. Done that. Next.

Here’s a little holiday shopping word to the wise: it’s all just stuff. And LOTS of places have stuff. Including Goodwill!

And because we have already created buzz around Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, why not fill in the only day after Thanksgiving that’s been sadly overlooked in the moniker department?  That’s why right here, today, before all of my blogosphere witnesses, I propose Second Chance Sunday–when everyone goes to Goodwill and finds the most awesome gifts ever!

Not only is it a great place to find awesome gifts for just about anyone on your list, there’s also festive dishware for your holiday table, trees to brighten your front window, ornaments to give it some sparkle and even lighted yard decorations to annoy delight your neighbors.  I’ve seen some pretty fantastic holiday fare on my thrifty travels, like the Buffalo Bills fan snowman wreath I spotted in the St. Joseph store just last weekend. Or the Christmas Cactus I spotted at a Goodwill in Albuquerque.

My point is this–the holidays are about giving, not spending. Give your time to family instead of spending hours waiting in the early morning darkness for a dirt-cheap tech toy that will be obsolete in two months anyway.

The bonus here is that when you give the gift of secondhand from Goodwill, you’re also giving someone in your community a chance to start fresh in the New Year. And that’s the best gift any of us could ask for.

So put the ice on those Black Friday bruises and join me at Goodwill on Sunday.  It’s the ‘All Thrifty’ way to have a great holiday!

Just as there are numerous fashion looks each season that can be thoroughly replicated with vintage pieces, there are also styles that can be recreated with a few simple DIY steps. Check any women’s section of a fast fashion retail store right now and I guarantee you’ll find more than one version of the high-low asymmetrical skirt. These skirts and dresses can run you anywhere from $30 to $150, depending on where you shop, but can be recreated for much, much, less. And as I always like to add, a little creativity and originality can go a long way in bringing an outfit together.

The following DIY can be done with a thrifted skirt or dress, whichever you prefer. Choose colors and fabrics that stand out to you. Keep in mind that synthetic fabrics are much harder to cut, and knits are generally easier to work with than woven fabrics.

Here’s what you’ll need to create your skirt:

Thrifted Skirt or Dress (At least mid-calf length)

Sewing Scissors

Sewing Machine

Thread

Pins

Iron

Tape Measure

Instructions

1.)    Try on the skirt to determine how short you’d like the front to be. Using your tape measure, measure from the bottom hem up. Be sure to leave it about 2 inches longer than your desired length to allow for the hem.

2.)    Lay the skirt flat, folded in half on its side. You want the front to be facing to the right and the back of the skirt facing to the left. This will ensure that when the skirt is cut, both sides are even.

3.)    Place the tape measure next to where the shortest part of the skirt will be. (Now right side, front of skirt.) Cut a triangle chunk out of the skirt, slanting downward in a curved line. You want the slope to be gradual. Finish cutting when you reach ¾ of the way to the left side.

4.)    Now that you’ve cut the piece out, try the skirt back on to make sure it is the desired length and cut evenly on both sides. Use your scissors to correct any slight errors.

5.)    When you’re happy with the way the skirt is cut, turn it inside out and fold the raw (cut) edge backward all the way around. Iron this down.

6.)    Fold the edge of the fabric backward again and pin down to hide the raw edges inside the hem. Iron again if needed.

7.)    Finally, sew the hem down to complete the skirt.

There you have it! Remember that by DIYing the latest fashion trends, you’re not only helping your own wallet, but also the environment. Buying clothes at thrift stores is environmentally sustainable, saving tons of space in landfills each year. In addition, revenues from Goodwill’s thrift stores help fund programs that enable people from all backgrounds to obtain and maintain economic independence and an increased quality of life. This is achieved through career training with a focus in emerging fields, such as health care and technology. Therefore, your thrift and DIY savvy ways can help threefold: yourself, the environment, and your community.

I’ve been staring at this Ritz container my entire life. On sick days, my mom would reach into this tin and pull out a sleeve of crackers to keep me and my ginger ale company on the couch while we watched Little House on the Prairie. This year, while doing spring cleaning, she asked me if I wanted the old Ritz tin, and I couldn’t help but say yes. That got me thinking about how useful, versatile and gosh darn cute tins can be. So I set out in search of others (obviously I went to Goodwill® first!).

I made out incredibly well. Better than I could have imagined, in fact! I’m now the proud owner of more tins than I really need, so I’ve had to come up with a few good ways to use them. My BFF and I sat down together over coffee after bringing in our first haul and came up with the following ideas:

Seeing as the infamous Ritz tin was always in my parents’ kitchen, I wanted to find it a place in my own. We never really have crackers in our house, but we do have a lot of wooden spoons! For kitchens with limited space, why not free up some of your drawers and put those beautiful utensils on display?

If you stink at gift wrapping, here’s an alternative for you. The holidays are approaching and it couldn’t get easier than packaging your presents up in a cute tin box. Fluff up the inside with reused tissue paper, add a ribbon on the outside and you’ve got yourself some great eco-friendly (and easy) gift wrapping.

It’s easy for little things to make big messes – thumb tacks, paper clips, pens, rubber bands. It seems like every home has a junk drawer (mine included), but what is the point of keeping these things if you never go in there… or worse, when you go in looking for something that you thought was there, but can’t find it. Perhaps it would be easier on everyone in the house if the ambiguous “junk” was separated by function into smaller tins, then labelled.

Get ready to feel accomplished. I’ve never had a lunchbox that I really like, but still, my lunch needs to go somewhere! With a little elbow grease, a thrifted tin and belt, and a couple of tools, I took matters into my own hands and ended up with this beauty! Here’s how you can make a lunch box in a matter of minutes:

Do you have any tins in your house? What do you use yours for? If you got them at Goodwill, then your dollars helped to train people for careers in fields such as financial services, computer programming, and manufacturing as well as emerging industries such as technology and health care. Thanks for helping your community get back to work!

Have a wonderful day!

xx, Julia

Last month I had a chance to swing through some thrift stores in my home state of Missouri, where I found that FABULOUS whoopee cushion costume. Now that it seems Halloween will mostly consist of holding on for dear life, thanks to Hurricane Sandy. I guess I’ll just have to wear it around the house during Frankenstorm anyway, perhaps eating my own trick-or-treat candy out of pure necessity.

But I digress.

On that same trip I also had a chance to take a tour behind the scenes at the new St. Louis Goodwill® outlet, probably one of my favorites in the country.

The light alone in this place is amazing, unlike a lot of outlets I’ve seen — or thrift stores in general.  The exposed brick and giant windows make it feel like shopping in a gorgeous loft that happens to have the most random things you could ever love. My first trip here in 2011 with my best friend netted me one of my favorite scores of all time– a 1936 edition of Gone With The Wind, the first year it was published.

Kirk Smith with MERS Goodwill invites me on a tour of the back room where balers are hard at work compacting plastic and clothing to be recycled. Stacks of colorful bales line the giant room, dwarfing even the heavy equipment used to move them around.

Bins of old cash registers sit in a large box, awaiting their fate, rolls of receipt tape dangling from them like streamers at a long-ago party. I can’t help but see this as a sign of the ever more digital world we’re living in.

Back out on the floor, I meet a woman named Raquel, who is proudly admiring the perfect Halloween costume she’s just found in the sea of blue outlet bins.

Around the corner I start rummaging through some bins myself next to a man who has just found a Korean bible.  He thumbs through it curiously as other customers walking past us admire his find.  He ends up meeting a woman shopping who can read Korean. She excitedly accepts his offer to take it, thanking him before putting it in her cart with a giant smile.

I also meet Tahnh and his friend Michael who have never been to the outlet before. Their excitement for the place is infectious, even for a seasoned veteran like me.   Michael shows off his finds — two film cameras — and tells me about all the cool stuff he’s seen so far. The smiles on their faces tell me they’ve probably already visited this place more than once.

I love my home state just for these reasons — everyone here is so friendly and the selection of stuff is so much more varied than anyone outside the Midwest would imagine.

I also love being reminded by the steady stream of recycling that’s going on here. Even when donated things don’t find new owners, Goodwill is still finding a way to use them to make a difference for our planet and our communities.

Thrift on, St. Louis.  I’ll definitely be back.

I love to shop at Goodwill®. I never know what I’m going to find, I get to reuse something that might have otherwise been thrown away and the prices can’t be beat. Recently, I went on a little shopping spree in order to create the perfect Halloween candy table. I can’t believe the treasures I found: vintage lamps, a red and black tablecloth, candle sticks, glass cylinders and jar, a gothic mirror and frames. I even found a jack-o-lantern candy bucket, a plastic skull and four decorative crows!

Once I did the shopping, I put this table together in an afternoon, so it doesn’t take a lot of time (or money) to have a Happy Halloween.

I found these inexpensive lenticular photos with friendly looking people at one angle, and creepy looking monsters at another. They came in plastic frames that I didn’t care for, so I cut those off. I used the frames I found at Goodwill to give them a more formal look. I thought they might look like family photos at one glance, and give people a fright at another.

My vintage lamp needed a little touch of Halloween, so I decided to decoupage the lampshade with napkins. Tack the napkin on with a little glue on the shade, and then paint over with more glue. Hot glue a ribbon to finish off the edges. I like the subtlety of the design on the napkin: it’s Halloween themed, but not so much that I couldn’t display my lamp year-round. Of course, I could always use a different shade, and bring this one out for the holiday.

For my next project, roll some plain, white paper into the glass cylinders and trim off the excess. Then, draw spooky creatures like ghosts using a permanent marker (put a piece of newspaper under the paper, so the marker doesn’t bleed through onto the table). Use a battery operated candle inside to light up the drawings.

Fill a Mason jar (or any glass container) with fake eyeballs. These eyeballs happen to be bouncy balls, so I can hand them out with the candy.

My favorite project is not for the timid. Use a plastic container such as this jack-o-lantern, or a plastic cauldron, and an old glove. Using a utility knife, cut a hole large enough for a hand to fit through the bottom of the container.

When you’re handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, have your hand buried in candy in the jack-o-lantern. Reach out and scare the unsuspecting visitors while they’re reaching for their favorite treats. If you want to take a more passive approach, stuff the glove using bamboo skewers to get the stuffing into the fingers, and have the glove sticking out from the candy in the bucket.

Use the other Goodwill finds to fill-out the table for the perfect trick-or-treat experience—and don’t forget the candy!

Check out Goodwill for great costumes in addition to Halloween decorating ideas. You can feel good about shopping at Goodwill because its employment programs promote independence and dignity for people who need support to provide for themselves and their families.

Shopping for a Halloween costume doesn’t have to be frightening for your bank account. Goodwill® stores carry everything you need to make your Halloween fantastic, without breaking your budget.

New Halloween costumes can start at about $30, but when you add in all the pieces and accessories, they can add up to more than $150. Spending that much for one night is completely unnecessary, especially when most store-bought costumes are mass produced, making it almost impossible to enjoy your night without running into another person or even multiple people wearing the same exact costume as you.

If you want to stand out for being smart and creative, than Goodwill is your best option. Goodwill stores across the country have organized Halloween sections that include costumes as well as decorations. Prices vary, but it’s completely possible to get a head-to-toe costume for less than $20. Just follow these simple steps.

Keep an open mind.

Just like when you’re making any trip to the thrift store, you have to realize that you may not find exactly what you were looking for. However, if you keep an open mind you just might find something even better.

If you’d rather keep it really simple, then start with something super basic. A simple black dress can go a variety of different ways, and so can an old graduation gown. A white graduation gown can be worn as either an angel or a ghost, while a black one can be used for a vampire cape.

Going as a zombie is an excellent idea if you want something simple and don’t want to spend a lot. You can buy any piece of clothing from Goodwill and then just poke some holes and add some fake blood and dirt stains. Old wedding dresses are perfect for zombie brides or Brides of Frankenstein; just tatter them up.

Find a starter piece.

Start with whatever jumps out to you the most and then construct a Halloween costume around that piece. You may find your starter piece in the Halloween costume section, but be sure to circulate the entire store to find the rest of the outfit. You can even make a day of it and hit up more than one Goodwill store for more variety.

Even if you have to go to a regular Halloween retail store for one or two pieces, it’s still better than buying the entire costume at full price. Maybe try getting the outfit at Goodwill, and then buying the perfect mask somewhere else. You’re still saving money and diversifying your version of the look.

Think characters.

How many TV shows or movies have you loved over the decades? Characters are some of the easiest costumes to make from thrift store pieces, because you can find old clothes that match the fashion of that era.

Some favorite ideas of mine that would be possible to make from thrifted clothing items include: Little Red Riding Hood, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, The Golden Girls, Cruella Deville, the Wicked Witch from Snow White, Carrie, Stepford Wives, Sandy from Grease, Dick Tracy, and Miranda Priestly from Devil Wears Prada.

Don’t forget the kids.

Thrifting a Halloween costume is even smarter for the little ones, because what are the chances they’ll fit into that costume next year, or will even want to go as the same thing again? Parents often donate children’s costumes to Goodwill at the end of the season, so you might even find the exact costume your child wanted, and chances are it’s only been worn once. Don’t forget, old dance costumes are perfect for girls wanting to go as fairies or princesses!

Shopping at Goodwill for Halloween can help not only you and your family, but your community as well. Goodwill trains people for careers in fields such as financial services, computer programming, and manufacturing, as well as in emerging industries such as technology and health care.

So don’t hesitate; Halloween is one of the busiest times! Make it a point to check out your local Goodwill store for costumes and decorations as soon as possible.

For more tips on finding a great Halloween costume at Goodwill, check out this video.

I’ve never been a fan of one-time-use items. In my house, everything – even decor – has to be multifunctional. As Halloween approaches, I’m thinking about how to make this holiday a little less disposable. I have fun pulling together costumes and decorations every year, but hate to think of how many pieces are purchased brand-new from Halloween or costume stores only to be worn once and then thrown away.

Buying from and donating to Goodwill® will definitely help holiday purchases have a longer lifespan since this organization helps communities extend the life of usable items in environmentally sound ways and prevents them from piling up in local landfills. So how about looking for elements of your family’s costumes at Goodwill that are already being reused and can be serve other purposes in your home even after the trick-or-treating is over?

The candy-carrier has bugged me for a long time. I love how cute those plastic pumpkins look, but to think that they’re only used once a year then stashed in a closet taking up space for the other 364 days (or ditched entirely!) really bums me out. Here are some ideas for things that can be found at Goodwill and used to tote around candy while trick-or-treating (or instead of a purse for grown-up costume parties) and then still have a place after that in the home!

When I was a kid this was the cool thing to do. I don’t know if it was just in the backwoods of New Hampshire that carrying a pillowcase around was considered cool, but it’s an idea none-the-less to be considered. It’s ready to go, everyone has some, and it has an obvious use throughout the rest of the year.

Dressing up as Little Red Riding Hood, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, the Easter Bunny, or a picnic-goer? All of these costumes would look smashing with a basket accessory. Chances are you have one already in your home, but if not, Goodwill has plenty!

How cute would a little boy look dressed up as a fisherman? Pretty cute, I’d say! There’s got to be one of these babies hanging out in your garage and with a quick clean it’ll be candy ready.

A future gardener costume, perhaps? A nosy neighbor? The watering can, if you don’t already have one, will be easy to track down and is a definite staple in every home.

A bicyclist, Harley-Davidson dude, or a horseback rider costume will definitely need a helmet! Why not use it as a candy-catching device? It’s the right shape, it pertains to the costume, and the strap makes a perfect handle.

Get creative with your costuming this Halloween, and don’t let your creativity stop when the clothes and makeup are finished. Try to imagine something you could use to carry your stuff that will go with the look you want, while also having a purpose on November 1st. And when in doubt, scope out your local Goodwill for a little inspiration!

Happy haunting!

xx, Julia

It’s that time of year again — you know what I’m talking about. As Halloween creeps closer by the day, thrift stores like Goodwill® slowly start flooding with wide-eyed newbies, wandering the aisles in packs searching for that perfect costume. It’s like clockwork each year, but understandably so. There’s no better place to go when you’ve got a unique idea (or a really good borrowed one) and you want to make a splash on the cheap.

Because the selection of clothing and accessories is so vast, it’s easy to find what you need. So whether you’re going as Tan Mom, Honey Boo Boo, Clint Eastwood’s chair or Snooki and her baby (lots of dolls available at Goodwill stores, folks!) you’re sure to find what you need.

On my recent trip back to my home state of Missouri, I made a point to check out what the Hannibal Goodwill had to offer up for this year’s crop of ghouls and goblins. It didn’t take long to strike some epic Halloween gold.

It was pink, felty goodness with a $6 price tag and it screamed out to me from afar — a Whoopie Cushion costume!

My husband and I also found an assortment of Star Wars costumes to pick from for my 5-year-old nephew, whose recently discovered love for the trilogy is sure to make this Halloween a very memorable one for him. And though my husband probably won’t admit it, I think he wishes he’d bought one for himself, too.

And last but not least, the pets in our lives need a little decoration for the holiday. Fortunately, there was even a decent assortment of things to pick from for the pooches, including witches, flowers and capes. I found the perfect banana costume for Quincy, but alas, our baggage was not large enough to accommodate this amazing find. Then again, it’s always easy to just put a second hand tie (American flag tie, anyone?) around their neck and say they’re going as your favorite presidential candidate.

The best part about this busy time of the year for thrift stores is that while people sometimes come to simply discover what great costumes they can put together, it’s also a foot in the door that exposes them to all the other great stuff they can find year round and to how much they can save from the landfills (and in their wallets!). I hope this year’s run on costumes sparks more enthusiasm for buying secondhand, because when you really think about it, we wear “costumes” every day, not just when we beg for candy one night a year!

To get everything you need for the perfect costume, be sure to visit your local Goodwill or shop online at shopgoodwill.com.

I found this not-so-broken chair at my local Goodwill® store. I love finding things like this at Goodwill because it gives the item a new life without sending it to the landfill. Plus, every purchase has the potential to help someone find a job, strengthen a community, and preserve the planet.

Even though it looked like someone had used it as a step stool and broke the caning, the chair’s frame was sturdy. It just needed a new seat. Since I don’t know the first thing about caning, I figured I needed another method and removed it.

I thought this chair would look good on the front porch. It’s always good to have an extra chair for guests, and if I put it next to the door, it would be a great place to remove muddy shoes. However, the brown stain didn’t really work with the decor, so I decided to paint it. Because I’ve gone through the trouble of stripping painted wood, I hate to paint anything that isn’t already painted, so I made a compromise: I would keep the natural wood on the seat, but paint the rest of the chair to match the rocking chairs and trim.

To freshen up the wood on the seat, mix equal parts denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner in a metal bucket or glass jar. Dip a rag into this mixture and rub on the wood (I would recommend using chemical-resistant gloves). This gets rid of the dulness, and really brings out the wood grain.

When using solvents like these, it’s best to work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area because this stuff is toxic to breathe. However, if working outside, it’s best to be under cover in case you get one of those summer showers.

Add a coat of primer and two coats of paint—I like to use glossy paint on furniture. Varnish the exposed wood. Before you paint and varnish, or once the paint is dry, make a template of the seat opening by tracing it onto a piece of paper. I was going to install the new seat by attaching it at the corners and the centers of each side, so make sure to mark those too.

I’m using fabric from an unused curtain panel. this curtain is reversible, and is kind of like two separate panels sewn together, so I had two types of fabric to choose from. Goodwill stores often have a large selection of vintage and modern fabrics—from tablecloths to bed linens. You may find the perfect pattern.

To make the template for the new seat, take the tracing from the chair and make another line an inch larger than the seat opening. Then, make another line about a half inch larger than that to account for the seam. Cut the template out on the outside, seam line

Pin the template to the fabric (you can cut both sides of the seat cushion at once) and cut. Sew the seat panels together inside out leaving an opening at the back of the new seat large enough to fit your hand through.

Turn the fabric around to the right side. I like to use a bone folder or a chop stick to push the corners out. Add the first 3/16″ wide grommet by laying the paper template on top of the seat fabric and pushing the grommet hard enough into the paper, so it leaves an impression on the fabric.

Cut a small slit in both sides of the seat to push the grommet through. Then, fasten the grommet by pounding the grommet tool with a hammer. I used a scrap piece of wood to pound the grommet on, so I didn’t make a mark in my table. The scrap wood I used was kind of dirty, so I covered it with a dish towel. Repeat this process until all the grommets are attached—except the back, middle grommet where the opening in the fabric is.

Sew a seam an inch inside the outer edge of the seat on the sides and front. Leave the back open. Stuff the seat with poly-fill and sew the back seam an inch from the edge. Carefully hand stitch the opening on the back edge of the seat.

Optional: make a tuft in the seat by making a couple stitches in the center using embroidery thread. Tie the thread on the back and trim.

Loosely attach the seat to the chair with screws without attaching the nuts. Find the hole in the center of the back of the seat where the last grommet will go. Press the grommet into the fabric and hole to make a depression. Remove the seat and attach the last grommet.

Because the fabric and grommets alone probably won’t hold a regular-sized adult, reinforce the seat by stringing twine through the holes. Make sure the twine isn’t strung into the holes that will attach the seat by placing screws into them as markers.

Insert screws into grommets and fasten on the bottom side with nuts. To find the right size screw, I brought a grommet with me to the hardware store to make sure it would fit. Measure the width of the seat and add a quarter inch to find the correct length.

This chair looks brand new, and looks great on the porch. Stop by your local Goodwill to inspire you to make something old into something new. Not only will you find something unique and special, but you can feel good about your purchase since eighty-two percent of collective revenues raised through the sale of donated goods go directly toward supporting and growing Goodwill’s critical community-based programs and services.