Through its entrepreneurial business model of collecting and selling donated goods, Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items—like clothing, bedding, and handbags—in environmentally sound ways and prevents items from piling up in local landfills. It’s wonderful to use second-hand goods for their original purpose, but with a little imagination there are countless ways they can be repurposed, too!
Category: Shop
Easy DIY Gifts for your Workplace Cohorts
The holidays are hard enough when you have a large network of family and friends to buy for, but adding colleagues or your kids’ teachers into the mix can be downright distressing! Never fear—we’re here to help! Here are some gift ideas for the bosses, officemates, and teachers in your life.
The Festival of Lights at Goodwill®
The first year that I was invited over to my brother’s house to celebrate Hanukkah with his family, I was humbled. Like many Americans, I grew up in a home that celebrated only Christmas, but as an adult I was suddenly able to peek into another holiday tradition and I appreciate that honor. Watching my niece and nephew explore their Jewish heritage was a joy. They giggled as they spun their dreidel and I admired their little faces in the glow of the light from the menorah. Now that Hanukkah is just over two weeks away, Jewish families are gearing up to celebrate once again.
Va-Va-Voom! Why Shopping at Goodwill® is a Plus-Size Win
If you thrive on thrifting then you probably already know this, but it still feels worth noting: second hand stores are where every person’s wildest dreams can come true (especially sartorial ones)! Shopping for your body type can be super challenging, especially if you tend to love the styles that a certain brand provides, but their sizing is too limited. If you’re plus-size, though, don’t feel bound to that boring strip mall store. Your curves are begging you for a trip to Goodwill!
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3 Tips to Spread Holiday Cheer
When it comes to holiday cheer, the people around us will vary from one end of the spectrum (i.e. Buddy the elf) to the other (the Grinch before he discovers the real meaning of Christmas). As we go about our lives at home, at work, and anywhere else our routine takes us between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, we ourselves may even drift between delight from the tinkling of sleigh bells and misery when that one. annoying. song. comes on the radio yet again. So today I wanted to mention three quick tips that will help you get the most out of the upcoming season by enjoying its generous spirit and spreading holiday cheer.
Industrial Interior Design at Goodwill®
I love the utilitarian look of industrial interior design. It seems like peppering my home with sturdy, durable pieces somehow grounds the space so I love to add pipes, cement, and wood accents when I can. For that worn look that adds authenticity to industrial pieces, buying or creating your own décor in this style from second-hand goods is really the best way to go. Don’t you think that one of the best aspects of industrial décor is that everything seems to have a story? Why not start with items that have already lived before you bought them then do some updates to make them your own?
Curating a Capsule Wardrobe Closet
Have you heard about capsule wardrobes yet? I hadn’t until recently, but I think I’ve just identified my big year-end goal: to create a minimalist closet that works for my style, my lifestyle, and in which every single item feels like a perfect 10. If I plan it well, nearly every piece of clothing will complement the others saving me tons of time getting ready in the morning. Since I’ll be working with a structured number of pieces, my closet will finally have a little breathing room instead of feeling messy and cramped! Interested in joining me? Here’s a little more about the process.
Design Classics Await at Goodwill®
Some things never change—and for good reason! When a design is neutral enough to compliment a wide array of lifestyles and personality types, but unique enough to not just blend in, that perfect element won’t soon go out of style. Today, let’s celebrate some of the greatest designs of all time the same way we celebrate everything else… by thrifting, of course!
Thrifty Life Hacks 101
Sometimes life can be hard. If we’re lucky, we get to fill our days with family and friends in a home we’ve thoughtfully decorated (with unique thrifted finds, of course!). If we work hard, we can take pride in a job well-done. But between all of the commuting, cleaning, cleaning, etc., a breath of relief is very welcome. That’s where saving time and energy with a few life hacks can really help! Here are some of our favorite tricks for making life work for you
Leave Your Mark (Part 2): Ideas for Updating Thrifted Items with a Sharpie
Last winter we had tons of fun exploring the different delights you can doodle on with Sharpies, everything from dishware to baby onesies, but – to my surprise – the more I browse the internet, the more brilliant permanent marker DIY ideas I find! So I thought it was about time that we revisit this remarkable tool and all of the customization possibilities it offers to thrifty Goodwill® shoppers!
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DIY Ghostbusters Proton Pack
When you’re in need of an awesome Halloween costume idea, who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS! Super inspired by Evette Rios’s awesome Ghostbusters costumes (#squadgoals), I decided to make my own proton pack. I mean, when one of my favorite childhood movies is rebooted with several of my favorite actresses, what else am I to do? Dress up as a Ghostbuster for Halloween, of course! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered, too – here’s my secret to creating a DIY proton pack so you can take Halloween by storm this year.
DIY Family Costume: Become Your Own Circus
Sometimes life feels like a circus. We’re constantly trying to keep all of our balls in the area, maybe wrangle wild animals (aka children), and still smile through it all. This Halloween, my family decided to embrace that theme and, quite literally, be our own circus. So, naturally, I somersaulted into Goodwill for costume supplies!