GOODWILL FINDS — JANUARY

I blame it on post-election blues. Or the vacuum left by the sudden dearth of holiday activities. Or the emotional aftermath of Snowmaggedon (which left us housebound for days on end).

Either way, I’ve already been four times to the Goodwill Outlet Bins this month — and once to a regular Goodwill store.

And because I’ve heard from you that you too dig that kind of thing, I’m giving you a peek at some of the things I’ve uncovered in the past few weeks (and the bargain prices I’ve nabbed them).

I don’t why I’ve become obsessed with the old-style refrigerator magnet letters of late, but I’ve bought probably five hundred in the past year (and they don’t even work on my refrigerator!).

At most I just find a handful of letters on a bin trip, but this past week I found this huge stash, all located improbably at the bottom of a big bin of clothes.

In the bin next to it I found this enormous hinged glass jar (which will make it to my pantry one of these days).

So for now these magnets sit in my sewing/craft room waiting  for a craft project or my next big party (I sometimes spell out words or menus on magnetic boards).

This letter stash came from a particularly successful bin trip with my girlfriend Elona.

I ended up spending twelve dollars total and I also bought a blanket, some clothes, and a number of other fun things.

In the bottom left corner you can see a couple of the enamelware pieces I found, and I was pretty excited to see the oversized orange plate.

I also found that great knit beret (looks like 90’s Missoni), a tiny vintage Santa,  a Crate and Barrel mercury-glass like vase and a wonderful cashmere scarf in perfect condition.

It’s so sherbert-pretty — and I can’t believe I paid about a quarter for it.

Other hits awaited me this month.

I’ve been looking for a while for a good storage solution to our overflowing gloves situation — and this huge basket has stepped in nicely in the role (and I’ve now recycled the old wood box they were in).

Also, look at this beautiful wrap.

It looks like something that sells during the holidays for a couple dollars a pop, and the six sheets were in perfect condition.

Best of all, all the items in that basket photo set me back $3.07 — including the gingham blanket (seen underneath the basket) that’s currently being used as a seat cover for Bailey in the car.

That Pom Pom decorations is pretty rocking, right?

Last up, I popped into the Goodwill Superstore on Grand this week just to see if something caught my eye.

Three dollars brought three new things into my home.

First up, a little glam.

It didn’t look opened and it still had the Target clearance sale price on it. I love the blue gray color and priced at under a buck, it was priced 1/8th of the price of a new Essie polish.

Also found were these twelve cards — again with Target tag still on it and pristine in their box.

And my last 99 cent purchase wasn’t new, but it hails from Japan and while not super old, I love it nonetheless.

The handle is a great blue (somewhere between cornflower and blue-gray) and it has one of those parts in the scoop that helps to release the batter.

I never make cookies or muffins these days without one of these — so another scoop in rotation is always welcomed.

So thanks, Goodwill, for the distraction and the deals (including this vintage cake pan below I seem to use for everything now).

And as the month comes to an end, one very special shout out to my friend, Toast.

I can’t imagine where I’d be this month without your continual support.