Every fall, like many New Englanders, my family and I make a day trip to Salem, Massachusetts. With its haunting history and one-of-a-kind characters roaming the streets (hey, Laurie Cabot!), Salem is a place like no other. So when it came time for me to plan a bewitching tablescape for an upcoming Halloween party, I thought about those cobbled streets and crumbling tombstones and channeled that mood into a dining table display.
Category: Shop
DIY Sanderson Sisters-Inspired Witch’s Broom
2018 marks the 25th anniversary of my favorite seasonal movie of all time: Hocus Pocus! Once I came to this realization, I was desperate to craft something witchy for my Halloween costume this year. Since anyone who has seen the magical movie knows it’s easy to lose track of a broomstick, I figured I’d do a little DIY breakdown of how the Sanderson sisters could have whipped up a few replacement brooms with the help of their local Goodwill. I mean, since they could conjure a potion of eternal youth and lure in all the children of Salem with just a song, I’m pretty sure they could tackle a simple craft project like this! Here’s how…
Thrifty Halloween Door Decor
To set the mood for Halloween in your home, one of the easiest things you can do is to update your front door decor with a spooky little facelift. Since it’s the first thing you see when you arrive home, a display on your doorstep instantly creates whatever tone you want for the season. And, it’s easy to have a lot of fun with doorway decoration because, in such a small space, a little bit can go a long way. Today I want to share the spooky secrets that added spirit to my stoop with a DIY customized door mat and a bat frenzy Halloween “wreath.”
Goodwill® Finds for Foodies
Most of the foodies I know think of brand new cookware and kitchen gadgets when they need to update their collection, but there are so many reasons to shop thrift stores for cookery (yes, even for serious chefs!). The first that comes to mind for me is price—new pots and pans can be unreasonably expensive. After that there’s the surprise of finding culinary favorites that aren’t available straight from a catalog anymore.
Goodwill®: The Place to Go for Disney Delights
I know a lot of families whose lives seem to revolve around Disney. They’re always counting down to their next Magic Kingdom trip or sharing photos from their last. On weekends, days blend one into the next through a stream of themed movies, board games and dolls. It seems like one family member or another is always repping the magical brand on their clothing and you’re not surprised at all when they trick-or-treat as characters from Frozen. For some people, Disney is a way of life. Today we’ll be sharing some of the thriftiest Disney adventures we can find!
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Whimsical Woodland Decor
One decor trend that will probably always have a place in my heart is that of a whimsical woodland. It’s (of course) adorable in nurseries, but this charming style can also be surprisingly sophisticated in other areas of the home. The best part? With a little creativity and some thrifting luck you can cash in on the trend for a fraction of the price that’s being asked in fancy home decor stores.
Goodwill® in Full Color
Life is colorful! One thing that really bums me out about shopping at the mall or in big-box stores is that everything is so seasonal that it can sometimes be hard for me to find the colors I want. I usually have to wait until spring to shop for pastels and I bet earth-tone lovers are most likely to find their favorite-colored clothing in the fall. Over the years, I’ve noticed that shopping at Goodwill is one way to enjoy every hue imaginable no matter the time of year. It’s fun and practical to dress seasonally, of course, but sometimes the dreariest of days can only be brightened by out-of-season shades. So today I’m going to celebrate some fun rainbow thrift store finds that can cheer up their owners’ closets no matter the season!
Back to School Cool
Okay, pals—we’re in the homestretch now for the back-to-school season. As far as shopping for the necessary supplies and styles, it’s now or never! Don’t let yourself get dragged into stores with long lines and high prices.
Become a Happy Camper with These Summertime Savings
Many of my favorite summertime memories happened when I was a kid at sleepover camp. When children are little, they don’t often get the freedom that sleeping under the stars (far from their parents!) provides. Even on summer vacations, kids have school project assignments and are often shuffled to and from daycare if their parents have to work. But, in the magical land of summer camp, the drudgery of the everyday melts away. Instead, kids spend their time learning to ride horses, perfecting the back stroke, and forging new friendships. I know my parents had to pinch pennies so I could enjoy the privilege of summer camp and I’m so thankful that they were able to. Here are a few ways you can save money if summer camp is on your kid’s wishlist! Even if you’re not planning on a chorus of kumbayas, you still might want to read on because we’ve got plenty of suggestions for any person who plans on heading outside this summer, no matter the destination.
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Button-Ups: Anything But Boring
Even though there’s probably at least one in the closet of every person you know, somehow button-up shirts often get labeled as “boring.” I know that in the past I’ve skipped right over entire sections of Goodwill® racks because I’m looking for something special to jump out and I assume that a basic button-up won’t be it. But after noticing the amazing versatility of this very classic garment, I now know that my thinking back then was flawed. After all, when it comes to fashion, it’s not really about what you wear, but how you wear it! Here are three totally not-boring ways to button up…
3 Thrift Store Challenges to Spice up Your Weekend
Okay, if you’ve got a boring weekend ahead I know how you can shake things up: take a thrift store challenge! With super low prices and community benefits like how Goodwill® organizations address the unique needs of families by providing financial education and planning as well as coaching and counseling tools to develop and meet financial and asset-building goals, shopping at Goodwill is a wonderful way to spend the weekend. With so many unique finds, I also feel like Goodwill stores have a really playful atmosphere which is perfect for these three thrift store challenges…
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Go Bananas for These Goodwill® Finds
At this point, you’ve undoubtedly seen the banana leaf pattern adorning everything from wallpaper to wardrobe pieces. The trendy and tropical look has caught my eye many times but, as you know, I have a really hard time paying full price for something brand new when I know that by shopping at Goodwill I can save money, lower my environmental impact, and help Goodwill organizations aid in the success of people who are striving to earn paychecks and support their families.
