Where Were We? I suppose this post has been a long time coming. But if you're still here, I'm still making firsthand observations on secondhand shopping. I'm still living with my significant other, our goofball dog-son and curmudgeonly turtle-daughter in the exotic lands of New Jersey. I'm an aunt to a pair of adorable nephew nuggets, and I am incredibly lucky to have my family so close by.  In the time of lockdowns and social distancing, our notion of proximity has become drastically altered. Where we are now, where we have been, where we are going--these philosophical considerations ..read more

I thrifted this little wooden set of drawers at Goodwill a while back. And while I didn't need it at the time, I found a perfectly good use for it once the lid broke off my old jewelry box. In a strange sort of secondhand serendipity, I purchased this pair to replace the box I didn't know would break.  And while I love, love, love the gold & white crackle paint and the rosette drawer pulls, the box itself needed a little sprucing up.  One of the outside corners was even inexplicably let unpainted. But I didn't let that minor flaw deter me from seeing its full potentia ..read more

In an effort to expand my reading interests, I chose a book that was partly biography, partly history of medicine. Psychology has always been a subject of interest for me, so when I heard about The Inkblots, I was intrigued. I knew very little of Hermann Rorschach prior to reading this, and found his knowledge of the field and dedication to a better understanding on how humans "see" themselves and the world around them through his seemingly subjective  test. Containing both advocates and adversaries, the great shame of the situation was Rorschach's untimely death, and him ultimately not ..read more

It's that time of year again...when everyone starts with the best of intentions on the road to self-improvement. Resolutions, personal goals, a "new me." Whatever you choose to call this January endeavor, there's one thing for certain: It can get pretty pricey.  After the financial crush of the holiday season, even a $20 monthly gym membership can feel like a burden if you're on a strict budget. And with that in mind, I've taken 4 popular choices for New Year resolutions and given them a secondhand spin. Resolution #1: Get More Exercise The resolution to end all resolutio ..read more

Take it from this lady and her chihuahua: The past is a collection of lessons learned. I cannot speak for everyone. But for me personally, the majority of 2017 was one big ol' dumpster fire. Medical mysteries, a prolonged sick leave from work, pain and subsequent depression. Bad news, self-pity, poor finances. It was a real mess. BUT. It wasn't a total loss. 2017 also brought some beautiful and amazing things, and people. Like the day that my little sister got married to a good man whom she loves and who loves her. Or when my dad, the hardest working man I know ..read more

I was recently contacted by a representative from the Grafix company about an opportunity to experiment with some new products in the plastic film line. As some of you may recall, Grafix was kind enough to sponsor a previous craft project and product giveaway in which I made a lovely vintage inspired charm bracelet. So as you might imagine, I was pretty excited to give these shrink films a test run. For those who may not recall the magic of shrink film from their youth, or never had the pleasure of playing with little bits of plastic, let me give you a quick refresher. These sheets of plast ..read more

This holiday season, I had a very particular problem--how was I going to keep our beloved rescue Beagle, Bernie, from snatching ornaments from our Christmas tree?  All of November, I wracked my brain for ideas on how to Bernie-proof the tree. I needed something functional and sturdy, without being an eyesore. And while I was thrift shopping the weekend after Thanksgiving, I found just what I needed. I didn't expect a secondhand solution to come my way. But fortunately for me, a trip to Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, PA yielded this beautiful vintage fire screen. It guards the tr ..read more

This piece of holiday decor just has...a little TOO MUCH Christmas going on.  A few weeks ago I hit up a few thrift stores in hopes of finding some fun fashion, and maybe a few pieces of thriftspiration for the upcoming holiday season. And for under $20 total, I came home with a few bags of decor and more. A few of those finds are saved for upcoming posts. but this particular piece is something I can feature in all of its merry detail.  Overall I like the shape, or what I can see of it under the heavy-handed application of faux poinsettias. The candles though...a little da ..read more

Nikko, Japan. 2007.  The biggest trees I've ever seen!  I love being green. I love the color green. I love being frugal and saving some green in my wallet. And perhaps above all else, I love making strides to creating a greener earth. Recycling to reduce waste, up-cycling to increase creativity--that's just how I roll. So when I heard that eco-conscious furniture company, Arhaus, had struck a partnership with the American Forest Foundation, I was excited to say the least. Arhaus features skilled artisans that utilize recycled copper, reclaimed wood, and an ethical means to ..read more

Dara B!  Congratulations, Dara. You will be receiving one bottle of Tea Tree Oil Special Formula Shampoo from Maple Holistics. I will be contacting you shortly about how to claim your prize.  And a special thank you to our sponsor, Maple Holistics, for the partnership with Let's Go Thrifting and providing the products for this review & giveaway!  ..read more