Secondhand Spotlight: Kansas City

Dear Reader,
I wanted to share with you a few highlights of a recent trip to my birth place, Kansas City. My family moved to Indiana before my second birthday, and growing up we made several trips back to our motherland each year. Over the years I have come to know and love a few of K.C.'s thrift stores and make it a point to visit my two favorites, The MAJ-R THRIFT and The DAV Thrift Store, every time I'm in the area. A small army of family members usually accompanies me.

It's a family tradition.

I will gladly serve under MAJ-R THRIFT.

One challenge here is that there is no public restroom. Just remember to think ahead, and don't drink a lot of fluids that day if you plan on staying awhile.

My favorite perk to shopping at the MAJ-R is that their clothing is organized by size, and within the size, by color! It's the most organized thrift store that I can recall.

This is my favorite item that I did not purchase at the MAJ-R.

Next up was the DAV. Onward, thrifting soldiers!

Thrifting for a cause!

One unique aspect of the DAV is that there are no dressing rooms. You just have to be creative like Bargain Betty here, trying on a sweater in the reflection of a car parked outside

And now it's time for show-and-tell in the parking lot. I found a planner, a scarf and sunglasses, and BB found two lovely old spoons, and a stainless steel toaster!

If you ever find yourself in Kansas City, don't forget about old MAJ-R THRIFT or the DAV. They won't let you down.

With love, Laura

Greeting(card)s from Countryside Antiques

Dear Reader,

Every time I go secondhand shopping with Bargain Betty, it's as though her very name precedes us and leaves bargains in it's wake. At Countryside Antiques in Larwill, IN, I found a bag of nearly forty unused vintage greeting cards for the incredibly low price of two dollars! That works out to around a nickel apeice! A few of them are already on their way to some very special recipients.

That's right, how about a line from you? ;)

With love, Laura

127 Countdown!

"I've been so lonely for rummage sales" -Bargain Betty

Countdown to 127:
190 days, 11 hours, 1 minute, 13 seconds

Bargain Betty and the Great Book Rescue

Dear Reader,
I recently had the chance to catch up with Bargain Betty over a cup of tea. As you may or may not know, Bargain Betty is a secondhand mentor and hero of mine, practically raising me in the art. And goodness, did she have story to tell! A friend who works at a local library had tipped her off that the library was about to throw thousands of books into the dumpster. BB has a great love in her heart for old books, and was able to organize a rescue. She called up a few friends who would be interested, including the owners of a fantastic used bookstore by the name of Pete and Freddy's Pages Aplenty. The books were stored in the library's dark basement, and the rescue party had to sort through the books with the help of flashlights after the sun went down. Together, they were able to save over forty boxes of books! I have a soft spot in my heart for library bound editions, and took a few snapshots of some of my favorites, as well as BB in the process of cleaning and treating the books.

For library editions, she first carefully removes any stickers or markings. Then, she uses Goo Gone to remove the adhesive residue. She then wipes down the book covers with a lint free cloth.

Thank you, Bargain Betty, for saving these lovelies from the dumpster.

With love, Laura

Secondhand gifting 101 with Bargain Betty

Dear Reader,
As Christmas quickly approaches (as well as the 127! Well, sort of...) we have been combing the thrift stores around town for gifts. We can't write about them just yet because we don't want to spoil any surprises, but thought it would be nice to dedicate our weekly countdown to 127 to the subject of secondhand gifts. Today I had the opportunity to speak over the phone with Bargain Betty, a seasoned secondhand veteran.

Secondhand Happenings: Bargain Betty, thank you for taking the time to speak with me during your holiday preparations.

Bargain Betty: You're quite welcome!

S.H. Do you think that there is a better selection at a thrift store or garage sale than at a department store?

B.B. Oh yes! and way cooler stuff.

S.H. What is your favorite secondhand gift you've given?

B.B. I don't now, I buy so many of them! Probably an out of print Edgar Guest book I found for my son. That's my favorite, when you find something you can't get anywhere else.

S.H. I hear that you know a family who only exchanges secondhand gifts.

B.B. Yes, they are happier than anyone. They find better quality items!

S.H. With December being so far removed from the garage sale season, where have you been shopping lately for gifts?

B.B. Well, you look all year. By December you should have most of your shopping done. But I always love the Goodwill!

S.H. What is one item that you would not give secondhand?

B.B. Underwear. That's about it.

S.H. Is there a difference between giving a secondhand gift and the practice of " regifting"?

B.B. I think the reason people regift is because people get so much stuff they don't need or even want. In this culture we are overrun with stuff in our own houses! I don't care if it's regifted or used, if someone really wants or needs it then give it! If you don't care about it, it's not much of a gift.

S.H. Bargain Betty, thank you for your words of wisdom.

Countdown to 127 (And shopping for Christmas 2010!)

224 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, 5 seconds