Author: yourg724

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.

August is when back-to-school supplies and cooler weather clothing are on the top of your shopping lists. However, it’s an excellent time for your summer style to meet your new fall fashions.

Summer: I had picked up the ruffled floral dress on a whim. I didn’t try it on, and I didn’t see a tag, but I loved the print and took it home. Luckily, it fit perfectly; I found the brand tag, and the best part – it has pockets!!! The brand is Sundry, and according to their webpage, they are a fusion of the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean with a casual coastal, French chic vibe. I felt great in this dress, so whatever they are doing, I love it! Retail on this dress was $199, but my Goodwill Keystone Area price was only $3.50 since it was a color tag sale of the week!

Fall: These Minnetonka suede fringe boots were picked up from the Goodwill Halloween section. Halloween and swimsuits are side by side in the stores I’m visiting right now. They were brand new, and I knew they’d be a fun addition to my wardrobe (and not just for a Halloween costume). This exact style is still available on their website and has been around for five decades! That’s iconic! The laces and fringe add a fun, whimsical feel to the floral dress. (Retail: $107; Goodwill: $19.99).

I added an older Marc by Marc Jacobs bag (previous purchase from Goodwill) and a purple statement necklace to wrap up this mash-up, cross-seasonal look.

Don’t overlook the seasonal sections when shopping at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store. Now is a great time to pick up a cardigan to layer over a lightweight summer blouse, or add some sturdy boots under your cropped capris. Mix up your seasons for a brand new look!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $3.50
Boots: $19.99
Bag: 4.99:
Total: $28.48
Retail: $406

From my kitchen 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.

The height of summer is always a beautiful time in my gardens. The flowers are in full bloom and haven’t gotten hit by the heatwaves of late summer. I enjoy adding decorative ornaments to my garden, and recently I decided to make some for my flower beds.

Many of my craft, fashion, and food inspirations come from Pinterest, and this one was no different. I knew what I wanted to do but needed a little guidance. I started by searching “glass garden totems” and “glass garden mushrooms.”

It led me to different variations of building sparkling glass towers to accent my gardens. I chose my signature garden color – cobalt blue and then went shopping.

Almost any Goodwill Keystone Area store you visit will have a fantastic selection of glassware. I chose a variety of clear and blue pieces for my project. Sometimes I carefully played with the elements in the store to see how they’d fit together; other times, I took a chance and just bought pieces I liked.

Most of the instructions I read specified E600 glue. It dries clear, is waterproof, and is easily found at home improvement stores. After dry fitting the pieces (sometimes I took photos to remind myself how they went together), I washed them to remove all dirt and oils and let them air dry completely.

I recommend using the glue in a well-ventilated area and leaving the pieces to dry for at least 24 hours before placing them in your garden.

This was not an expensive project. Most glass pieces were between $0.99 and $3.99. The glue was under $5. Visit your local Goodwill Keystone Area store, choose your favorite colors and get creative!

From my garden 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.

Although it’s hot, sunny, and in the middle of July, Christmas is less than six months away! Back-to-school may be what you are shopping for and possibly a last-minute bathing suit, but keeping your eye out for Christmas and holiday decor is always an excellent thrift tip!

I’ve been to several Goodwill Keystone Area stores lately, and almost all have a shelf or two of holiday home decor and sometimes a rack of festive clothing. I always look because you never know what treasures you’ll discover for yourself or gifts.

There are several Christmas items I always look for when thrifting. First are festive or “ugly” Christmas sweaters. Whatever you want to call it, I enjoy adding a new one each season to my wardrobe to get into the spirit at work or when out with friends or family. This year I found one featuring a cute little gnome (a current trend), so I snapped it up for $4.99.

I also look for Spode Christmas Tree china and its coordinating items. So far this year, I found a small teddy bear dish, a candy bowl, and a pack of paper napkins (both were new-with tags). It’s great to add to one of my special holiday collections for just a few dollars.

Rounding out my recent purchases are a Mikasa crystal star ornament and a modern glass tree. I like to change up my decor every year. Be sure to donate if you decide to clean out your holiday stash – those items are helpful now. Please don’t wait until December to drop them off at your neighborhood Goodwill.

Start shopping now for the upcoming holidays – including Halloween and Thanksgiving – you can avoid the rush and maybe find some extraordinary presents.

Happy Christmas in July,
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.

Whenever I only have a few minutes to hit up my local Goodwill Keystone Area store – I head for my favorite sections – the shoes and the dresses. A lightweight dress and comfy sandals are my summer uniform. They are two easy pieces that can adapt to different temperatures and situations in warm summer months. Adding a cardigan or jean jacket nips cool office air conditioning or a chilly evening in the bud.

A recent visit turned up these two dresses (which both had pockets = big bonus!) and sandals. The olive green dress from Lush (A brand found at Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom; Goodwill: $6.99; Retail $59) is light, floaty, and great for work or date night. The cotton plaid Marc by Marc Jacobs rainbow sundress (Goodwill: $6.99; Retail $200) gives me serious 80s vibes. However, it has a more casual feel and would be perfect for brunch with friends. I could layer it over a crisp white fitted t-shirt to change up the look.

I purchased the leopard-print Loft sandals (shown with the olive dress). (Goodwill: $3.99; Retail $69). Sadly, the Toms black leather sandals were not the right size, so I left them behind.

Maybe you’re shopping over a lunch break; maybe you have your kids in tow. When you only have a short amount of time but are on the lookout for Goodwill thrift finds head to your favorite sections. Maybe it’s purses; maybe it’s home goods – whatever it is, make it a fun and quick treasure hunt.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dresses: $6.99 each
Sandals: $3.99
Goodwill: $17.97
Retail: $328

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.

My friends always seem to appreciate getting a thrifted gift from me. And on some occasions, my close friends, who know my taste and style, give me a thrifted gift! And that makes those items even more special.

My friend Kristan picked up this treasure for me at a local Goodwill Keystone Area store. This dusty pink vinyl geometric bag, a replica of a Bao Bao Issey Miyake style (retail $350), is a great little summer bag. It has a herringbone lining and zippered pockets inside. It was the inspiration for this outfit.

I added a floral split-neck Loft dress (Goodwill: $6.99; Retail: $79) which features summery shades of pink, orange and blue. I can wear it as is or layer it on a cooler day with a cardigan or jacket.

I shared a DIY version a few weeks ago but found a new with-tags Denizen from Levi’s black cropped denim jacket on a recent outing. (Goodwill: $12.99; Retail: $49) It’s made of a lightweight stretch denim and has a fun silhouette for warmer days.

My flip-flops are more substantial than dollar store versions, which are much better for your feet. These white leather ones from B.O.C. Born Concept have a nice padded foot bed and a slightly stacked heel. Similar styles sell for $55, but these were only $7.47 at Goodwill.

The old saying that “It’s the thought that counts” definitely applies when giving or getting a thrifted gift from Goodwill Keystone Area Stores!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $6.99
Jacket: $12.99
Shoes: $7.47
Bag: gifted
Total: $27.45
Retail: $200+

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.

I’ve been a Goodwill gal for a long time, but this is the first time I got to shop for a gala outfit in a while. I work for a non-profit special education school, and our first large gala in a few years is happening soon. It’s a major fundraiser for us, so it is an actual gala with beautiful decor, delicious food, fantastic auction items, and a musical performance by our students and adult participants.

Of course, I headed to Goodwill Keystone Area for my outfit. Since I am working the event, I needed something comfortable, stylish, and maybe a little sparkly. An obvious choice was an “lbd” (little black dress). In this case, it is a lace overlay shift-style from Ann Taylor. (Goodwill: $6.99; Retail: $79). The only thing that would have made this dress more perfect work have been pockets!

The next important item was footwear. I needed shoes that were comfortable but wanted something fun. The rose-gold wedges from New York Transit were a great find. The sturdy wedge will help me run around all evening assisting guests, and the neutral color elongates the leg, making this petite girl appear a bit taller! (Goodwill: $7.47; Retail: $69)

Accessories included a rose-gold beaded necklace from the Goodwill Keystone Area Boutique in the Phoenixville Store ($4.99) and a striped Loft clutch, found new-with-tags for $6.97. (Retail: $49).

Goodwill should be your first choice when looking for formalwear. For something you only wear for one or maybe two events, thrifting fancy duds is a great way to save money and help your community and environment. Goodwill Keystone Area offers so many different options for your wardrobe – from extremely casual to black tie, and it should be your go-to for whatever your closet needs!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $6.99
Shoes: $7.47
Necklace: $4.99
Clutch: $6.97
Total: $26.42
Retail: $230+

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.