Friday, May 1, 2009

Thrifting is a Dirty, Dirty Business!

Ok, I'm suffering from huge thrift store let down today. I was under the impression that my town had only the Salvation Army, but alas...I found 3 more thrift stores by searching online and in the yellow pages. I have been chomping a the bit to get over to that side of town and check these babies out. And therein lies my problem...I built it way up...I mean WAAAAAY up. I was so excited. So I packed up myself and the two littles who are recovering from severe bouts of diarrhea (I know TMI), and headed out. Every single one of these stores were so packed and jumbled and cluttered and DIRTY. I cannot even describe to you the conditions there. There was seriously NO WHERE to walk. No aisles. No paths. No rhyme or reason. Now, I'm sure underneath all the filth there were bound to be some treasures, but I took a pass. I already felt like a negligent mother for even bringing my already sick babies into the abyss of those stores. Truth be told, I felt like we all needed to be sanitized after our little outing this morning. Y.U.C.K.Y.

It wasn't all in vain, though. I did get a couple things that I think have potential. They happened to be on a table right by the front door...good thing since I couldn't get much further than that without a backhoe!
I LOVE this cutie pie vase with the dots...it reminds me of I Dream of Genie. And it was only $1

This tray will be made over with some spray paint. It actually looks much better in this picture than in real life. It is crusty and covered in rust spots. Also $1.

This is for my good pal Amanda at Serenity Now. She wanted to see what my desk looks like. This is the shiny clean version. And because I'm ALL about keepin it real, this is the REALITY.......


My cup from lunch...2 days ago, various dvd's kickin around without cases, etsy orders, old baggie of goldfish crackers, 3-D glasses, a laptop that has never been used other than to play Wheel of Fortune...



scrap paper, coupons, idea notebook, plastic alien toy, and some snotty tissues for my RAGING allergies. So that's it people. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Just keepin it real for ya. Hope y'all have a great weekend!
{HUGS}
~Amanda



30 comments:

kristal said...

i'm sorry your thrift store outing was such a letdown. that is the risk, huh?

target? never lets you down. they always have cute stuff. but....those prices can't compare to the thrift store. unless.....oh yes......clearance stickers!!! then you get amazing treasures at a steal of a deal and you don't have to bathe in purell afterwards:)

Kristina P. said...

It looks like you did score a couple of cute items though!

Melissa Miller said...

Me too! I have allergies so bad I have not gone to thrift stores for that very reason. I would walk out a sneezing mess.

Cute stuff you found!

Come and enter my sixth month RED giveaway! :)

Jess said...

Sorry your big day turned out to be a bummer. Cute vase though. I have one with the same dots from my mom that is more like a flower pot. Love it.
Thanks for keepin it real. Your desk looks very similar to mine! LOL

Unknown said...

So sorry You didn't have a CLEAN thrift store experience! You need to come up here and go shopping with me! Have a fabulous weekend.

Jeanette said...

love that vase. Would love to see pics of the tray post-spray paint! Jeanette

Allidink said...

LOL at least it wasn't all bad because you found those goodies. :)

All the best,
Allison

Tausha said...

We have 4 thrift stores in our area-I have only been to 2. I am not sure why I don't frequent the other two. Biased I guess. Maybe it was because one time I went to the "other" store and the lady that worked there had a big huge dog sitting there to greet you. It wasn't so bad, that there was a dog-it was bad that it smelled like a dog-a wet one at that.
NASTY!!!!! Love the desk pics. I wont show mine-way to embarrasing. Much much worse than yours.
Are you still coming here in June? Let me know the details-just shoot me a email.

Girly Stuff said...

I guess we all have our limits!

You were a brave woman today!

Unknown said...

I am loving that hobnail vase! It's soooo pretty! And if ya paint that tray.....it will look gorgeous I'm sure. I didn't get a lot on my afternoon trip, so I'm hoping my yard sale trip with my friends in the morning is better.

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Ok - that would be a HUGE bummer!! I am feeling it for you.So sorry they were so yucky!! Our Salvation Army is the same...and we do have a few that are nasty, but two that are great.

Start asking around and maybe you'll find a hidden gem, but now it's yard sale season, so you'll be sure to find better "junk."

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

I (heart) you!! Thanks for keepin' it real, chick. ;) Your workspace is awesome! What kind of boxes are those up on the shelves? Love your thrift store finds...we have several shops like that here in the 'Burg--you KNOW there's some good stuff, but you just can't get to it. To make you feel much better about yourself, here's what's on my "workspace" (ie. Kitchen table b/c the weather's not good enough for me to work on my new desk): sippy cup (not mine), circular from Tuesday Morning, purse I used yesterday, dying Gerber Daisies in a planter, folder with all my MOPS junk, a bib (again, not mine), new bottle of Flintstones vitamins (can you sense a theme here?), a piece of chocolate (okay, I can claim that), and a fairy princess wand.

And you thought YOURS was cluttered!! ;) ;)

Jenn said...

I'm sorry, but I'm stuck on the Chick-fil-a cup. It's been almost two years since I've had a Chick-fil-a hit (they don't have it here).

Now off to clean up my drool.....

Xazmin said...

I'm sorry that your thrifting was a bust! I love me some Chick-fil-a!

Also, that desk is WAY cleaner than any surfce in my home!

That Girl said...

Sounds just like my thrift stores. I am always so jealous reading others finds in blogland....it doesnt happen for me.

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

You need to come here and go to some Goodwills with me!! Hope you feel better...I feel like I'm coming down with the swine. (!!)

Jodee said...

How disappointing! I love the polkadot vase though!

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

Eww, I so know dirty thrift stores. There was a Sal Val in our town when I was growing up that was sooooo dirty. In a vent thing above the store were a bunch of pigeons. Pigeons! They gathered in this vent and cooked and fluttered around. Feathers would fall out of the vents screen. You could see them!! Sooooo dirty.

Unknown said...

It is the smell in some of the places rather than the clutter. Maybe I just have a weak stomach but I sometimes just have to leave. I love your "reality check". I am not brave enough to do that - at least not at this point.

Thanks for sharing.

Charla

Carry Grace said...

Ha ha! Yay for keeping it real. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but that vase looks like it was worth it.

Shannon said...

Check your surrounding towns too! Our local thrift stores are just as you described but 20 minutes away is one as big as TJMaxx and is always clean. Love what you found!

Ronnie said...

Your hobnail milk glass vase would sell for about $10 in an antique store. Good buy!

Jamie said...

That's such a dissappointment. It looks like you found a few fun things, though.

Em said...

If you came home with even one thing it was a good day ;) Love the vase!

American Homemaker said...

Sometimes the yuckiest thrift stores and yard sales have the most undiscovered treasures since no-one else wants to dig for them :) (Not that I would know or anything... LOL)

Mandi Shandi said...

I love the little white vase, but your thrift stores sound a lot like the ones here. I feel your disappointment, but am glad you got a couple of things.

Your desk is much like my own, and I am working on my craft room/office right now. If I ever get it all done I'll have to post some pics of it. By the way,I hope the kids are feeling better.

Made In The South said...

Yuck..What a let down.Hope the kids are feeling better. Don't be so hard on yourself, I am sure they enjoyed the ride. Love your desk, I wish I had a place to just keep my laptop set up. Missy

Nicole ~ said...

Hey Amanda, despite the yucky conditions you endured, you found two great things. I know how you feel about getting so excited and worked up about thrifting & then being let down. I always read about all of great stuff people find thrifting, and then when I go I rarely find anything.

The photos on your desk are precious!! By the way, my desk is always messy!!

Anonymous said...

I have a few of those kinds of places I hit 1-2x a year. I feel like I need to be sanitized and possibly flea dipped afterwards...but I always come away with some serious finds. :)

Michelle Custodio said...

I am sorry to hear that. Better luck next time though!


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