Thursday, January 21, 2010

Thrifting with a Purpose

I'm a thrifty girl, it's in my blood.  As the youngest of four children, with a stay at home mom and a government employed dad, I learned early on about budgets, hand me downs, and making things last.  I would love to know how my mother made a pound of hamburger stretch to feed six people for 2 meals!  We weren't poor by any means, and I had a wonderful childhood that wasn't wanting, but I was taught the value of a dollar and how to save up for a rainy day from a young age. 

My husband is also from a fiscally conservative family and our upbringings are very similar so he is 100% behind me and my thrifty ways!  He and I play a guessing game whenever I find something when I'm out on one of my shopping adventures.  I'll proudly display whatever it is I have purchased, and then ask while beaming ear to ear..."how much do you think I paid for this?" and he will try and guess.  I think he has learned in the 23 years that we've been married to "high ball" the price, knowing it will make me feel even more satisfied when I can announce that I got if for less...smart man!

So yesterday, after feeling a bit under the weather the past few days, I ran out to mail some packages and catch up on errands.  I also wanted to stop by a thrift store I've been trying to get to for months now.  It wasn't on the way to anything else on my list, but my 17 year old son agreed to go along for the ride (5 stores, the post office, and one pharmacy later he would re-think his decision...XO Bugs!) so off we went with the thrift store being the first stop of many.



The Spot Thrift Shop is located in St. Leonard, Maryland and was opened to help support Southern Maryland Spay & Neuter, Inc., a non profit organization dedicated to helping control the pet population here in southern Maryland.


The shop offers something for almost everyone.  The main level has housewares, books, videos, jewelry, and even small appliances.  Go down a few steps and you'll find small furniture items and artwork.  The basement was chock full of clothing, shoes, and accessories.



But the best part, besides the great prices of course, is that the proceeds go toward the important task of spaying and neutering local animals, which benefits area animals and people.

With so much great "stuff" to choose from, it was no surprise that I walked out with a "find" of my own.  I've been wanting a nice big pottery mixing bowl, but have balked at the high price tag on most of the "real" antique yellow ware ones I've come across recently, so I was delighted when I found a cream colored one with a pretty blue stripe on it for just $10.00!!!  It's not old, but I love the size and the color...it's just what I've been looking for.  And because it's not an antique I think I'll be more likely to use it for baking cookies or filling it with strawberries, come summertime.

Here she is taking a bubble bath in our farm sink.  I think she's even smiling a little because she's happy to be back in someone's kitchen!




After her bath, she decided to lounge in the sun a little and dry off.


And here she is, feeling all pretty and fresh and ready for duty!  I know she will love the fresh fruit from our blueberry bushes when July rolls around! 






It's time for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm head on over for wonderful thrifty finds!

 http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/


and



I'm linking up for Thrifty Thursday over at Tales from Bloggeritaville!

21 comments:

  1. What a find! That's a wonderful bowl.

    I like thrift shops a lot, too.

    Best,
    Kathleen

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  2. I love thrift shops too! But I have yet to find such a lovely big bowl as yours. Lucky you!

    Here's to the hunt,

    Marjorie in Carmel

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  3. Great post! I love your new bowl, and can't wait to see it with blueberries!

    Thanks for stopping by. I don't know what came over me on that comment. I guess I figured, no point in not telling my truth since the questions were there! LOL
    ~Amy

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  4. LOL Amy, it was perfect and I said the same thing, but you put it so much better!

    Thank you Kathleen! Happy hunting Marjorie and let me know if you find something!

    Kat :)

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  5. Great find! Do you get a lot of blueberries from your bushes? And how do you keep animals from getting to them before you do?? We just got some blueberry bushes for the first time and recently planted them, so are hoping we'll have some also. I'm worried that all the birds and squirrels (and occasional other wild animal) will pick them clean before we can though :)

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  6. Hi Traci! My father fancied himself a gentlemen farmer when he retired from the government and began planting not one, but 50 blueberry bushes!

    There are about 25 remaining, some he got rid of and others died, but the ones that are still there are huge! As in 12-15 feet tall! We have to use a ladder to pick the upper most berries. With that many bushes, we have more than enough to go around so we don't even try to prevent the birds, the deer or the yellow jackets from getting their fair share.

    We have tons, but only for about 6 weeks or so, we freeze some and then just gorge ourselves on them each day! Ours are organic and so yummy!

    You can put bird netting over them to discourage animals if you think it will be a problem.

    Kat :)

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  7. What a beautiful bowl! I love good thrift stores as well. I rubber-neck at every one I see.

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  8. Great find Kat! I love thrifting too. Love that shot of your farmhouse sink too...Nice! --Lili

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  9. Is there such a thing as bowl envy? Because I think I might have a case!

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  10. Love the name of your blog!!! The pictures are lovely, so glad I came!

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  11. Gorgeous bowl..., and the blue stripes make it oh so nautical!

    Happy weekend!!

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  12. Love that mixing bowl...great find, lucky you!

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  13. She's GORGEOUS! Congratulations on your find!
    Thanks for linking up to Tales from Bloggeritaville.

    Leigh
    Tales from Bloggeritaville
    www.lbratina.blogspot.com

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  14. What a wonderful find!! A few months ago I found a colbalt blue pottery bowl about the same size........someday I will post it on my blog!!

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  15. That mixing bowl if gorgeous! $10 you said?

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  16. Oh the bread you could mix & let rise in that baby! She's beautiful & I love her curvy lines. :D Nice save on that one. :D

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  17. I love that bowl! Great find!
    Mary Lou

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  18. Love it and I just saw a picture of your kitchen on the sidebar and I can tell that I LOVE it!

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  19. Kat,
    I love the bowl...you got a steal with this one! Thanks for coming to my first NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAYS PARTY...I was hoping you would come:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  20. A multi-level thrift store???? Oh my, I would be in heaven! Love the bowl...she looks so pretty all washed up!

    Hugs ~ Angie

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  21. How fun... three floors to hunt over. How much excitement can a girl handle!! Love the bowl you came home with!

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