Monthly Archives: August 2009
Meet Lulu (or: a gratuitous pug photo)
All three of us overdid it a little last night, so rather than craft a discourse on secondhand shopping, here’s a gratuitous photo of my puppy. I know, I know … you’re welcome. I’ve been sorting through and jettisoning lots … Continue reading
What’s a good price?: population and the pain-in-the-ass factor
Over the years I’ve begun to develop an almost unconscious sense of what a “good price” is when it comes to secondhand shopping. I’m not talking value or worth here, because those are more nebulous concepts I can’t quite pin … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Thrift Obsessions: Vintage recipe pamphlets
No surprise: I’m an enormous Mad Men fan. One of the most compelling elements of the show is the portrayal of how the advertising industry commodified family life in order to sell products. Recipe pamphlets from the ’50′s, ’60′s, and … Continue reading
Filed under Emily, Thrift Obsessions
Thrift Mystery (solved): Tupperware Butter Huggers
One of the thrift stores we hit in Artesia, N.M., was holding a three-dollar bag day for all the goods in their “dollar room.” The “bag” part of bag day turned out to be a tall kitchen trash bag, not … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
A secondhand nursery
With my first daughter, I bought everything new. I spent $500 on nursery furniture. I spent $400 on nursery bedding with coordinating decor. (Not to mention all the extras they tell you that you’ll need!) Every baby place I went … Continue reading
Filed under Kali
Junking (and a history lesson) in Palominas, Arizona
My fiance’s family moved to the Sierra Vista, Ariz., area when he was twelve years old, and every time we go back he’s full of notes about what’s changed: the roads that have been paved, the wide open spaces that … Continue reading
Filed under Emily, Shopping Trips
The thrifting news roundup, August 13 2009
Lately I’ve been seeking out news about thrift shops, garage sales, and secondhand shopping culture. These stories are rare: junk stores don’t send out press releases, and the pages of local business sections mostly highlight the larger local players alongside … Continue reading
Filed under Emily, Thrifting News
‘Champions don’t give junk’
We picked up this flyer at the AGH Auxiliary Thrift Store in Artesia, N.M. I saved it because I loved the little lecture (“Don’t ask the volunteers to do your dirty work”), but disposing of unsaleable crap is a major … Continue reading
Filed under Emily, Thrift Stores
Garage sale signs: their greatest hits
Running across interesting signage is one of my favorite parts of garage-sale shopping. No matter what this crankypants thinks, I love the color they add to the urban landscape every summer weekend. Thad made the above sign for his garage … Continue reading
Filed under Emily
Friend Fridays: Chandra’s summer dresses
Our friend Chandra has one of the best-developed personal styles of almost anyone I know. She’s been impressing me with her thrift-shopping capabilities ever since we first met five years ago, and (even better) almost all of the thrifted dresses … Continue reading
Filed under Emily, Friend Fridays
