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Finding great thrift finds doesn’t take luck. It takes patience, timing, and hard work. Thrifting is like hunting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s a treasure you are trying to uncover each time you head into a Goodwill Keystone Area store.

My most important tip for finding good deals is to have an open mind. You can’t go in always expecting to find items off of your wish list. You might have to be flexible if you’re looking for a particular style of shoe or a specific picture frame.

Being flexible when shopping is critical, as is frequently visiting your local Goodwill stores. Inventory changes constantly, so you never know when something special will be placed on a rack.

Shopping at different times of the day can also be beneficial. Or you can take a friend – having an extra set of eyes when shopping for clothing can be helpful! They may pick something out to would have never thought to try on. Don’t forget to check the return racks in the dressing rooms – what didn’t work for someone else, might be perfect for you.

Some days you may leave empty-handed, and that’s ok. And don’t forget to return the favor – make sure you bring unworn clothing and unused housewares to donate. Complete the cycle of thrifting, and maybe your donations can be someone else’s treasure.

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

When it comes to thrifting, I wear my heart on my sleeve. I have nothing to hide when it comes to my wardrobe – it’s almost completely thrifted from Goodwill Keystone Area. And I’m proud of that fact.

According to the Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries, here are five benefits of thrift shopping:

• Reduce waste. Shopping at a local thrift store is a simple and easy way to go green!
• Curate a one-of-a-kind wardrobe
• Score high-quality goods at low prices
• Find your next DIY project
• Support the community

What’s not to love about any of these things, especially around Valentine’s Day? I easily and quickly found three looks for the holiday – each less than $6.

The vintage heart sweater may be made of a slightly itchy acrylic, but it’s fun to wear for a few hours on the holiday. The floral Loft blouse adds a soft romantic feel to either jeans, a skirt, or pants. And the Lucky Brand cotton heart t-shirt is comfortable and casual. Goodwill offered up three completely different looks depending on how you feel like dressing.

Check out the red and pink sections of your local Goodwill Keystone Area store for something sweet. You’ve got to LOVE thrifting at Goodwill!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

According to our local meteorologist, January has been cloudy and dreary for 13 of the 17 days of the month so far (as of the time this blog was written). It would be easy to curl up at home on the sofa and hibernate, but I plan to interject some sunshine into my wardrobe with bright hues.

I spotted this tangerine Loft blouse from across the store when shopping at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store. The pure citrus color was refreshing and made me smile. It was a bit oversized, but that made it perfect to pair with the Lou & Grey leggings (with pockets!)

According to an article on shondaland.com, wearing colorful clothes can recharge your spirit. And “Color can lift your mood,” says Jane Boddy, a color expert based in the U.K.

I certainly believe this. Just seeing this color makes me smile. Pairing it with neutral tones makes it seem even more vivid. I added a new-with-tags Old Navy tech vest, classic black Nine West riding boots, and a Rachel Rachel Roy tasseled messenger bag. Layered Stella & Dot necklaces are from shopgoodwill.com.

All of these pieces work well with existing items in my closet. And the comfortable leggings are perfect since I don’t have to change out of them for my yoga class. Exercise is another proven mood lifter!

Head to the colorful section of your nearest Goodwill Keystone Area store and pick up some sunny yellows, radiant reds, or verdant greens to brighten your day!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Goodwill: $31.94
Retail: $360+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

Are you a Goodwill Keystone Area rewards member? If not, you should be! It’s easy and free to sign up for even deeper discounts on thrifted goods at every store.

After signing up to be a Goodwill Keystone Area rewards member, every time you shop at a store, check what color is on sale, and you will receive 50% off those tagged items. Wednesday through Monday, a different tag color (clothing and housewares!) will be on sale at 50% OFF, AND every Tuesday, Color of the Week Tag items are ONLY $2! (NOTE: See in-store signage for the weekly sale tag color.)

While shopping for a few new fall pieces (and what ended up being my Halloween costume as Mabel from Only Murders in the Building), I found a complete outfit of Color of the Week sale-tagged items. These pieces included J. Crew and Athleta! I got what was already a great deal at even better prices.

This mustard chenille sweater, Athleta burgundy skater skirt, and J. Crew denim vest are versatile pieces I can mix and match with my existing wardrobe. The colors are perfect for autumn and transitioning into winter.

Sign up today and reap the benefits of being a Goodwill Keystone Area reward member. You can proudly flash your card at check out and save!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

About a month ago, my sister and I combed through the bins at a Goodwill Keystone Area Outlet. As we were sifting through the donated items in search of buried treasure, we came upon a vintage handcrafted ornament. Then another, another, and another. We went through as many bins as possible and scattered across the store; we found about 30 baubles of various sizes and colors.

These Christmas ornaments would have been lovingly created from styrofoam balls, ribbons, sequins, and beads in the 1960s or 70s. Everyone was different and unique. They would have taken quite a bit of time to craft. I vividly remember similar ones on my grandmother’s tree. I thought of how they sparkled against her classic silver aluminum tree. Maybe that’s why I was determined to find as many as I could.

Since I had so many of them, I decided to incorporate them in different ways into my holiday decor and crafts. Besides adding them directly to my Christmas tree for their intended purpose, I used a grouping of them in glass vases as a tabletop decoration. Adding some battery-powered fairy lights would make them even more lovely.

I took one of the smallest ones and made it into a festive, one-of-a-kind necklace. The pale pink and white popped against a dark green plaid Old Navy shirt dress (thrifted, of course).

Lastly, I made gifts for friends who value vintage Christmas decor. I added a handful of the ornaments to a pre-existing bell wall hanging. The gold in the ornaments coordinated perfectly with the gold bells.

Maybe I felt sentimental about Christmases gone by, but seeing them repurposed in different ways made me smile. You never know what you’ll find at Goodwill Keystone Area stores. Sometimes it is better than buried treasure – It’s happy memories decorated in ribbon and beads.

Happy Holidays,
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

This is my eighth year writing about ugly Christmas sweaters for Goodwill! What started as a quirky trend has now become entirely mainstream and available at almost any store. I once found unique vintage 80s sweaters when they weren’t popular, but now they are a rare commodity and lucky find when I see them in Goodwill Keystone Area stores.

This year I found four modern sweaters at Goodwill – two in my size and two in my niece’s. I paired them up for our photo shoot – cats and dogs (Snoopy) and Stranger Things and the Real Thing (Coca-Cola).

According to CNN.com, “Christmas-themed pullovers (sweaters) started making an appearance in the 1950s, a nod perhaps to the holiday’s growing commercialization. Initially referred to as “Jingle Bell Sweaters,” they weren’t as garish as today’s iterations, and found little popularity in the market, although some TV personalities — notably crooners Val Doonican and Andy Williams — really embraced the ugly side of the festive topper.”

Modern sweaters feature popular culture including Snoopy, Stranger Things, and Coca Cola or whimsical designs, such as the Santa riding a cat in space on my niece’s sweater. The four sweaters I purchased ranged from $4.99 – $6.99. Retail on these would have been between $30 – $50. These sweaters are all acrylic, whereas vintage ones were made of wool, rayon, and cotton.

No matter if you call them ugly or festive, or just enjoy them for what they are – a whimsical addition to your holiday wardrobe! Check the racks at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store. Most stores have racks dedicated to holiday clothing.

Happy thrifty holidays,
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

What’s better than thrifting at Goodwill Keystone Area? Thrifting with friends at Goodwill! While I enjoy solo shopping, having a friend or family member along makes the experience much more fun and effective.

Not only do you have two sets of eyes, but you also have two opinions to help you make decisions on whether something is worthwhile. Very often, when I’m shopping alone, I find myself much more impulsive. When someone else is thrifting with you, you can be more selective and considerate with your purchases. You also slow down and enjoy the experience of uncovering secondhand treasures.

Goodwill Keystone Area stores use your donated goods to help sustainability so that individuals and families can thrive and flourish. That’s a huge reward when deciding where to spend your dollars. As the holidays start approaching, any extra time spent with people you care about is a gift, even if that time is spent roaming the aisles at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store.

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

It’s never too late to pull together a Halloween costume from Goodwill Keystone Area stores. My niece loves the series Stranger Things and especially the character Edward “Eddie” Munson. Eddie is an anti-hero but comes through for his friends when they need him the most. He also has an amazing Metallica guitar solo!

Being set in the 80s makes it easy to find thrifted pieces to recreate any of the teenage characters from Stranger Things. Jeans, graphic tees, and track jackets all work. But Eddie’s signature piece was his denim vest. My sister picked up the perfect vest and distressed jeans at her local Goodwill. She ordered a custom tee, but any graphic tee would work, or if you were crafty, you could create your own.

Sneakers and a major mullet wig finished off the costume, and they added accessories, including an electric guitar and a trash can lid as a shield. My niece will be the coolest trick-or-treater on her street, all thanks to Goodwill! And after Halloween she can add these pieces to her closet!

Goodwill Keystone Area stores are still filled with plenty of costume ideas and Halloween decor. Stop by today and get creative – use a favorite tv show or movie as an inspiration!

Happy haunting!
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

Hang on to your whites, beiges, and creams – Coastal Grandmother style is heading into fall. I first heard of this trend last spring and watched as it spread from grandmothers to granddaughters and all ages in between.

Picture any Diane Keaton movie (especially when she is at the beach), and make sure you’re wearing comfortable clothes made of flowing natural fibers and exclusively in pale colors. The idea is to look effortlessly chic and simultaneously carefree. As if your whole closet is full of these pieces, and you just randomly threw on a few to create the perfect outfit to work in your garden, take a walk on the beach or write your novel (or, in my case, blog) No skinny jeans dark hues or stress in sight.

I thought this trend would end with the summer, but it’s easily transitioning into autumn. It’s tailor-made for warm days and cool nights with layers, sweaters, and scarves.

Since Goodwill Keystone Area clothing racks are arranged by color, it’s easy to shop the sections you need to find the right look. These linen pants from Old Navy, a split-sleeve Rag blouse, a Vero Moda cable-knit sweater, and Sperry suede boots cost way less than a beach vacation in the Hamptons.

If you follow this blog or Instagram, you know I’m a huge fan of color, textures, and patterns, so this style is a complete change for me. But it was liberating since I didn’t have to worry about matching pieces – I just chose light colors to create this trend. And each of these pieces will work well with items I already own.

Will you ignore the antiquated “no white after Labor Day” rule and let your inner coastal grandmother out? Pick up what you need at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store!

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

Occasionally you may come across a new seasonal item of clothing or an accessory in an advertisement you love but would never pay the full retail price for it. I try never to pay full price for anything, but there are trends I’d love to copy by finding a decent facsimile at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Dr. Martens highlighting a shoe – the Adrian Snaffle Loafer in Plum. They are beautiful, tasseled loafers made in England with the class Dr. Marten yellow stitching and sturdy lug sole. The color is a striking deep purple – perfect for fall. And the price – $160 – was way beyond my budget for fall, especially with two kids in college. I’m always thrifty, but I’m especially aware of ensuring my budget stays on track.

Fast forward a few weeks, and while cruising the shoe aisle in my local Goodwill, I came across a pair of stunning suede purple loafers in my size. I always check all the shoe rows – not just the black or neutral selections. You never know when you will find footwear in a unique color.

Picking these up, I knew the suede was high quality, and seeing the label, and I knew I had a winner – Cole Haan. From their website, “Cole Haan loafers, driving shoes, and slip-ons are crafted for a perfect fit, exceptional comfort, and incredible versatility – and to get on or off in a flash. Whether you’re on the search for the perfect women’s driving loafers, suede loafers, or leather loafers, Cole Haan’s selection is the ultimate in efficiency, always ready for you to slip into and go–right up until the point where someone compliments you on your excellent taste.”

This pair has little to no wear and a price of $9.99. These lovely loafers are a fantastic dupe for the Dr. Martens version, and I knew they would join my wardrobe. And to top it off, their original price was the same – $160!

Keep your eyes open for current trends. You never know when you’ll ever be able to find a similar style when thrifting at Goodwill Keystone Area.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.