Cooking Up Something Good(will)

 

I know this is usually a fashion blog, but Goodwill Keystone Area stores sell so much more than just clothing and accessories! I have recently been on the hunt for new additions to my kitchen, so today, this is more of a food blog.

My sister is also a Goodwill thrifter and has found some fantastic things. A few years ago, she gifted me three Le Creuset pans (she was lucky enough to find a whole set at a Goodwill outlet!). She gave me two small turquoise skillets and a yellow grill pan. They are high-quality, sturdy cookware that will last a lifetime.

Recently I came across two sets of the bright red Le Creuset ramekins and snapped them up, knowing one set would be for me and one for her. Since it is almost Valentine’s Day, I decided to whip up a batch of chocolate lava cakes to give them a test run. The ceramic ramekins cooked evenly and quickly. I can’t wait to give a set to her. I know she’ll make something delicious in them! The set of 8 was $4.99, and the set of 4 was $2.99 – a fantastic bargain knowing they retail for much more.

I’ve included my recipe for the Chocolate Lava Cakes below if you want to give it a try. The secret is to undertake them just a bit, so your interior stays molten and delicious.

Goodwill Keystone Area stores help you spice up your wardrobe and your kitchen! Don’t forget to check out the houseware aisles when you visit! Every item you buy at Goodwill benefits your community and the environment.

Chocolate Lava Cakes

Ingredients

  • 4 oz chocolate (milk, bittersweet or semi-sweet – use your favorite and you can even use chocolate chips)
  • 4 oz butter (1 stick)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon Instant coffee or espresso powder (optional, but makes it extra rich!)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter and dust 6 (4 oz) ramekins with cocoa powder or sugar; set aside.
  • In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter in 30-second increments.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy. Fold in the melted chocolate along with the flour, vanilla, and instant coffee if desired. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
  • Divide batter into ramekins and place them on a baking sheet. Bake 12 minutes or until the edges begin to pull away from the ramekins but the center is still jiggly.
  • Remove from oven and serve immediately with ice cream, whipped cream or berries.

From my kitchen to yours,
Kirsten

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Blue Suede Boots

 

Recently, and quite unexpectedly, I came across one of my holy grail/wish list items – a pair of navy boots. Not only were they navy, but they were also suede cowboy boots that were already broken in! This is a big deal if you are familiar with cowboy boots.

I had a few moments to myself and dashed into the Morgantown Goodwill Keystone Area store. Limited on time, I chose just two departments to focus on – home goods and shoes. I might have found something in the home goods aisles, but I honestly don’t remember since the delight of finding the boots was overwhelming.

Since my purchase, I have found that despite their specific shade, they are surprisingly versatile. The boots go well with dark wash jeans, browns, and gray.

For this look, I styled them with a fantastic print blouse from Matthew Williamson for Macy’s from 2011. (Goodwill: $6.99; Retail: $69) This was a capsule collection he created exclusively for the retailer. An article at the time stated: “Each piece perfectly captures the bold, easy glamour and haute hippie aesthetic that Williamson is known for. Floaty Spring scarves, ruffled blouses, and drool-worthy dresses are punctuated by ’70s-inspired prints and bold pops of color.” I do enjoy this blouse for its uniqueness, and would love to find some other pieces from the original collection.

To tone down the blouse, simple skinny gray cords from Democracy were a perfect choice. (Goodwill: $6.99; Retail: $78). This style “Ab”solution® Corduroy Straight Leg Pant is still available on their website in a variety of colors.

Finally, the boots! A little research on my blue suede boots turned up that they are Vittori Ricci, a luxury brand that was founded in 1975. Their original boutique opened up across from Bloomingdale’s flagship store in NYC. Their billion-dollar brand has been featured in runway shows, publications, and on many well-heeled New Yorkers! Boots on their website sold for up to $1,200. My Goodwill price was $11.47. Not a bad find!

Always keep your eyes open with shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores. Even a quick trip can uncover a beloved treasure. These boots will be a wonderful addition to my wardrobe for years to come!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Pants: $6.99
Sweater: $6.99
Boots: $11.47
Total: $25.45
Retail: $750

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Make Your Own Sunshine

 

Just because some of these cold winter days can be gray, there is no reason for your wardrobe to be. I thoroughly believe in making my sunshine, and as you can tell, colors and patterns make me happy. I spent too many years trying to fit in, so now I use my clothes to stand out. Working at a school is the perfect place to showcase fun patterns and bright hues.

I recently bought these Loft palazzo pants (Goodwill: $6.99; Retail: $79.00), and instead of saving them for warmer months, I decided to break them out on one of the coldest days we’ve had lately! There are so many colors in the floral, that I easily paired it with a chunky heathered peach sweater, also from Loft (Goodwill: $7.75; Retail: $69.50). Warm socks and neutral boots from Steve Madden (Goodwill: $7.47; Retail: $99.00) rounded out the look.

This cozy sweater is also perfect with skinny dark wash jeans (for contrast) and tall boots. The pants can be a year-round wardrobe addition. The pants work well with blouses, or even a t-shirt and denim vest to make the look more casual. Layer on necklaces and have fun with this outfit.

Visit your local Goodwill Keystone Area store and peruse the aisles for some bright floral prints. Make your own sunshine and wear what makes you happy! Shopping at Goodwill also makes me happy since it benefits your local communities and the environment.

P.S. Don’t forget to BYOB (bring your own bag) or purchase a reusable one when checking out!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Pants: $6.99
Sweater: $7.75
Boots: $7.47

Total: $22.21
Retail: $247.50

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Christmas Gifts, Decor and More!

 

Where can you go to purchase holiday décor, presents, and maybe even a surfing Santa Hawaiian shirt? Well, Goodwill Keystone Area, of course! Goodwill is a one-stop-shop when it comes to most of your shopping needs. They even sell snacks at some of the ones I frequent! You almost don’t need to go anywhere else.

I always do a lot of my holiday shopping at Goodwill. I begin looking at the Christmas wares and apparel as soon as they hit the shelves.

The very festive surfing Santa Hawaiian shirt is a fun piece for me to model, but would also make a great gift for a dad, grandfather, or another man in your life. It certainly is a conversation starter, and for $4.99, it is a great novelty gift.

Accessories are always good presents, and I picked this scarf and hat combo at the Goodwill outlet. Scarves are great pieces to liven up a simple outfit, especially when they are a bold color or a festive pattern.

My daughters often go thrifting with me, and on Black Friday we visited a Goodwill store. They picked out a few things for me to tuck away for Christmas. My oldest daughter chose the framed butterfly (Goodwill $1.99; Retail $30), and my youngest chose a stack of books.

As for décor, the shelves have been full of colorful baubles, housewares, and decorations for several months now. I always look for something to catch my eye, and on my latest trip, I found the outdoor Snoopy flag and something I was very excited about finding – a Margaret Furlong porcelain ornament. I have collected these seashell-themed ornaments for years. They regularly sell for $30 – $60, but my Goodwill find was just $2.99!

Put Goodwill Keystone Area at the top of your list when shopping this holiday season. Besides providing economical items for yourself and your loved ones, your purchases benefit your local community and the environment.

Happy holidays from my family to yours,
Kirsten

Santa Hawaiian shirt: $4.99
Hat & scarf: $1.99
Snoopy flag: $1.99
Angel ornament: $2.99
Framed Butterfly: $1.99
Books: $1.99 each

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Christmas on a Dollar

 

The holiday season has begun! Lights, decorations, shopping! My gift list includes my husband, my girls, close family, and friends, and I’ve already found a few gifts for each of them at my local Goodwill Keystone Area stores. But, I also like to pick up a few festive additions to my wardrobe. Since the holiday season is so short, I don’t like to pay a lot for clothing that might only be worn for a month.

Goodwill already has great prices on Christmas sweaters, pajamas, and the like. But, a visit to the Goodwill Keystone Area outlet in Reading provided me with several holiday sweaters, a scarf, and a dress suitable for New Year’s Eve for under $5! (This haul also included a Gap jean jacket and tie-dye hoodie I save for later posts).

Holiday sweaters are easy to spot in the bins of clothing. Two bright red Talbots sweaters and a fluffy chenille scarf were quickly snagged up and placed into my cart. Sorting through bins of asserting clothing may not be for the novice thrifter, but I enjoy the thrill of the hunt! The Nine West sparkly dress was also an easy find. It was missing its belt, but those are easy to replace and customize.

After a wash and dry, my sweaters made their debut at two of our annual family outings. The first was our trip to a Christmas tree farm. We always get our tree early since my oldest daughter had to go back to college, and I wore the snowflake sweater along with a coordinating scarf.

The next event was an “Evening of Joy” at a local greenhouse. The Fair Isle-inspired sweater had accents of black and white and a delicate beaded accent.

Wearing bright red at the holidays is an easy way to get in the spirit. I got several compliments on each sweater, and people are always impressed when I proudly tell them they came from Goodwill.

Whether you venture to the outlets or stick to the regular stores, don’t forget to pick up a few festive additions to your holiday wardrobe. You’re helping your community and the environment, and that’s a great feeling this time of year!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Sweaters: less than $1
Scarf: $0.50
Retail: Sweaters $90 each

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Mad for Fall Plaid

 

Every autumn this type of outfit shows up on my feed in slightly different variations – dark windowpane plaid pants (in whatever the popular style happens to be) and a solid top featuring one of the colors in the plaid.

Earlier this season, I saw this exact outfit at a mall store. I knew it would be easy to replicate with pieces from Goodwill Keystone Area, and I had honestly been hunting for this type of pants for several years now.

This outfit came together as mine usually do when I am searching the aisles at Goodwill: I start with the pants or skirts, find a pattern I like and then head to the tops to find a coordinating piece. (Or sometimes I start with the patterned top). Either way, I know I will have something that works and not take home an orphan piece of clothing that will never get worn.

I love these pants because they are cozy and flattering. Covid has made me realize I want to be comfortable in my clothing, and items that pinch, bind, or otherwise make me feel bad have no room in my closet.

Stretch fabrics are forgiving, and pairing these classic pants from Attyre (Goodwill: $5.29; Retail: $50) with a well-cut, structured sweatshirt from Aerie (Goodwill: $4.99; Retail: $50) make it even more perfect of an outfit. And navy and burgundy are always a perfect fall color combo.

As for accessories, I pulled a few classic pieces from my closet purchased years ago from Goodwill, but regularly reused and loved: Kate Spade patent leather wedges, a Banana Republic bag, and a vintage gold necklace.

All of these pieces together make this the perfect autumn outfit. The fact that it is from Goodwill Keystone Area is even better. Every day, your purchases at Goodwill help your local community and keep items out of landfills. It’s a win-win!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Pants: $5.29
Shirt: $4.99
Shoes: $19.99
Bag: $6.97
Necklace: $3.97
Total: $41.21
Retail: $450
KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

October = Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of styling two models for the Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County fashion show in completely thrifted outfits from Goodwill Keystone Area.

Featured models in the fashion show were all breast cancer survivors. Each of them had amazing stories of how their cancer was discovered, their treatment, and their recovery. They glowed as they walked the runway cheered on by family and friends. One of my models, Tracey, graciously offered to pose and be featured on this blog. Tracey was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer at age 42 in 2018. She is now cancer-free and living life to the fullest. She’s grateful for the support she received from her friends and family, her mother, Marge (also a survivor) and her husband, Matt

Tracey’s casual date-night or weekend brunch look is 100% thrifted from Goodwill Keystone Area. The sheer floral blouse is from Forever 21. We layered it over an orange tank top for an extra dose of color. Chico’s Perfect Stretch pants are a great staple for her wardrobe. To add more autumnal hues, we added an olive jacket from Michael Kors, and a Universal Thread bag in a beautiful pumpkin shade. Purple loafers from Vionic completed the look. Tracey’s complete look was only $37 but retailed for over $400.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women, and about 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. I had my own brush with a potential breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year, but diligent doctors and regular mammograms revealed all was well. I am grateful for the dedicated medical professionals who advocate for women’s health. Breast cancer awareness isn’t just wearing pink – it’s something we all should be aware of, if not for us, for the women in our lives. I’m grateful to Goodwill Keystone Area for supporting my models and helping them look great for less!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Perennial Fall Classics

 

Fall will be here any moment now. School is back in session, days are getting shorter and cooler, and my thoughts are turning to autumnal fashion.

I can still remember from my junior high days the thrill of going to the mall to look at the latest offerings from Gap (a gold standard in my teen years in the 80s), Esprit, and Bennetton. The popped collars, the pegged jeans (little did we know then that this trend would take on a life of its own as skinny jeans), and v-neck cable sweaters could all be seen in the hallways of my school. Bold colors, plaid patterns, and textured fabrics, including corduroy, are still among my favorite styles.

Luckily, Goodwill Keystone Area stores offer all these items and so much more. I decided to recreate a look from my teen years, but give it a modern spin, when I found these yellow suede, tasseled loafers from Coach. 15-year-old Kirsten would have loved these as much as 48-year-old Kirsten does. They were a splurge at $19.99 (retail: $195), but they are timeless and will be a unique addition to my closet.

Since the shoes are a very specific color, I looked around for a sweater or blouse to coordinate with them. When I found the yellow plaid blouse, with front ruffled detail from Gap, I knew I had a winner. This piece would have also been an 80s-approved look. My cost was $4.99, retail was $69.

Instead of skinny jeans, I wanted a different silhouette so the Heartbreaker High Rise Bootcut jeans from Hudson were perfect. They have a unique cut hem that will look even better with heeled booties. Hudson is another premium denim brand I love finding at Goodwill. My cost was $7.25, but you can still buy this style for $185.

To finish off the outfit, I added a hunter green bag from Relic. Relic is a brand owned by Fossil (who made watches and accessories starting in 1984), so this was the perfect finishing touch for my 80s homage look. (Goodwill: $9.99; Retail: $50).

What goes around, comes around, and updating styles from your younger days adds a layer of fun and nostalgia to your wardrobe. Goodwill Keystone Area makes it easy and affordable to channel whatever look you are going for.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Loafers: $19.99
Blouse: $4.99
Jeans: $7.25
Bag: $9.99

Total: $42.22
Retail: $500

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Trickle-Down Effect

 

A back-to-school staple for any active girl (or mom-on-the-go) is athletic leggings. But not just any leggings anymore – the kind with pockets are game-changers. Thrown them on to wear to school with a sweatshirt and sneakers, or for most sports practices, yoga classes, a simple jog in the park, or like me – a walk around the neighborhood with my pup, Penny.

As with any trend – good, bad, or with practical features like leggings with pockets – it eventually makes its way to Goodwill Keystone Area stores, and recently I easily snapped up three pairs of these fabulously utilitarian and comfortable wardrobe staples.

No more sticking a key in your shoe for a run, or looking for a fanny pack to tuck your phone into. These pockets hold all that and more.

Ask any woman what her wardrobe needs, and the answer may be pockets. I’ve seen wedding dresses with pockets, and it always feels like a win when you find a casual dress with them. They make life a whole lot more convenient.

The pair featured in the photos is from Calia from Carrie Underwood. They retailed for about $60, but my Goodwill cost was $4.95. I wasn’t real familiar with Calia, but their website states “ We believe it’s the smallest details that make the biggest impact in your everyday. Like stay-put waistbands, clothes that are easy to care for, and styles that fit seamlessly into whatever you’re doing, in and out of the gym. It’s fitness apparel designed for your life, so you never have to sacrifice fashion for function or your lifestyle for your workout.”

The other leggings with pockets pictured include the black and gray color block ones from Reebok (Goodwill: $4.95; retail: $55) and the green camouflage from All In Motion (a Target brand – Goodwill: $4.95; retail: $35).

The pandemic has made athleisure pieces such as these leggings a necessity. With Zoom meetings, you could be wearing a blouse or blazer for the camera, but be super comfortable with leggings underneath. Or, if you’re back to work in an office and dressing up, you may reach for these and a t-shirt as soon as you get home.

No matter what trend you are looking for, it eventually makes its way to your local Goodwill Keystone Area store. Keep thrifting and today’s fashions are tomorrow’s treasures at Goodwill.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Leggings: $4.95 each

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.

Back-To-School, Apartment Edition

 

August is all about back-to-school! Clothing, new shoes, school supplies, and much more! I may not have small children buying a new box of crayons and lunch bags, but I do have older children that still need school supplies and eventually, some new clothes. And Goodwill Keystone Area is always our favorite place to search for whatever they might need.

My oldest, a college junior, is moving into an apartment with three other friends. They wisely created a spreadsheet to decide who was bringing what. Among the things she was tasked with supplying, was a set of dishes and a few miscellaneous kitchen supplies.

She could have easily gone to a big box store and quickly picked up a standard set of dishes and probably not spent that much. However, she likes a more vintage aesthetic and is already a fan of thrift shopping and other sustainable activities.

We hit up the largest store in our area – the Shillington Goodwill store. There are aisles of home goods – all sorted by color – like most stores are. It was easy to check the aisles of the colors she liked. We passed over the pink and purple sections and concentrated on the white, yellow, and orange sections.

After some deliberation and comparing how some pieces would look together, she decided on this Hearthside Garden Festival Prarie Flower pattern set for $9.99. The set included a platter, seven large plates, seven small plates, two bowls, eight saucers, and another bowl. There was also a covered dish, being sold separately, that matched the set she selected for $3.99. If you are keeping track, that’s 26 pieces for $13 or .50 cents per piece.

Not only is she helping her local community by supporting Goodwill with her purchases, but she is also keeping items out of a landfill, and she got a much higher quality product than she could have on her budget.

Most college students have a mug collection, so she knew her friends would bring their own. After combing the aisles a few more times, she also chose this Frida Kahlo mug for $1.99 and another vintage piece – a funky chicken trivet for .99 cents.

Goodwill Keystone Area should always be your first choice for homewares. I love that my daughters embrace and choose thrift shopping for items at Goodwill versus going to the mall or large department stores. Now we have to start shopping for their new wardrobes. I’m sure that’s going to take a lot longer than just half an hour!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dishes: $9.99
Covered Dish: $2.99
Mug: $1.99
Trivet: .99

KirstenBlogHeadShot

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.