The Sally Ann

Thrift Shop Review #1

Salvation Army Thrift Shop, Scott Street Location

I have to say, this was a fun and sometimes exciting visit to the thrift shop.

Not only did I find a great Jacob shirt dress for $6.00, but we also found the entire trilogy for Lord of the Rings for $6 as well. (OK, maybe not a great deal if you do not like these movies but my husband was thrilled.)

I also noticed they are carrying a line of "green" paints called Boomerang. The colours are surprisingly really soft and nice. I talked with the guy at the check out and he said they are selling well and they have had lots of positive feedback so far. I was happy to see it in the stores and happier to see it at the Sally Ann.

Although I did go in for other items, I find that you have to be persistent and come often to find what you need but also the unexpected (the real reason I go). 

This thrift shop was clean and bright and the staff made it very pleasant to shop there. I even filled out a card to have them email me when deals are coming up. It was "Sweaters for a buck" when I was there.

I can hardly wait to go again! What will I find?

Natural Beauty List

I have been reading this book called The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to be Fabulously Green. At first I was not sure how to take it but once I started reading, I could not put it down. I love the way Starre Vartan (yes, that is her name) writes. It is real and it is funny. What caught my attention early is how to love our natural selves for what we are. Now, I have many insecurities just like the next gal but I am trying to stop fighting nature and accept and (eventually) love what I have. Let's face it, we are the ones who we have to love so why fight it? I admit I am sometimes kinder to the checkout lady at the grocery store than I am to myself.

Vartan says that "finding what is fabulous about yourself and really concentrating on those qualities will take you further in life than subjecting yourself to constant self-criticism". How true is that? If we treat ourselves right, we treat others around us better. That makes sense. She goes on to say that if you put all your energies into what is good about yourself, it will affect other areas of your life. 

I can see it affecting my self esteem, the way I carry myself, the way I treat those I love, those I don't know and even how I treat the environment. We put out what we put in. The positive attracting positive thing. 

What is on my list? 

I have long legs. I have a friendly smile that makes people smile back. I can remember strange pieces of information. I have naturally wirey hair. (Wait I can word that one better...) I love people. I am kind. I try hard at whatever I do. I love to listen to stories about anything. I have a pretty good sense of humor. I can draw with my feet.

What is on your list?

Black Balloon Ad

I was reading about a mother and son who decided to write a book about "going green with your children". 

A few years ago now, they watched part of the Live Earth concert and found that one sponsoring commercials really had an impact on them. I was curious to see the commercial so I looked it up on YouTube (who does not love YouTube?) and thought I would post it here on my blog. (I am a visual learner so I found it to be great. I know it is Australian but I think the facts are still true.)

Click below and let me know what you thought.

Black Balloons

Pillow Talk

In my search for a good frying pan (Which by the way has worked out wonderfully. We had pancakes one day and fried eggs the next.) I found a new pillow for my daughter. This is what happens when you leave the house and go into stores! 

She was due for a new pillow and since pillows are under the "buy new" umbrella, I bought it for her. It was on sale for $10. It is called "The little footprint pillow" by Hollander. 85% of the filling is from recycled bottles, the cover is made from 100% unbleached cotton and dye free. I love the bag it came it too.

My daughter said she felt good when she carried it out of the store without a plastic bag. She also felt good knowing that she will be sleeping on water bottles saved from the landfill. 

Thrift Shop Shopping

This weekend I visited a couple of area thrift shops. My husband was in need of a new coffee pot for work after his broke. After a few tries, we found the right one and for only $2.99.

I find Value Village on Ontario Street to be bright and shopper friendly where the Good Will's are darker and organized a bit messier. I do have a great time at both and end up finding things I like. If you are going for price, Value Village is pricier. I found a great fake leather jacket for spring from RW&Co. at VV. It was $14.99 so I am still debating. I don't really need it. I found a wonderful purple skirt at Good Will that could be used as a cape for my super hero costume I dream about each year. (If you need anything for a costume, these are the places to go.) I didn't buy it but the find was fun.

If you are dropping things off at a thrift store, I find VV is easier since you drop and go and no one is there watching per say but did you know they are corporately owned? That means that charities do not get anything when you bring it to VV directly. VV gives money to charities when the charities drop things off themselves. I prefer to have the Diabetes Association (a charity I support, there are others) come and pick it up at my house. The Diabetes Ass. then sells it to VV and that way the Diabetes Ass. makes money. I see VV is giving stamps for buying items in the store and when you fill your card, you get money off your next purchase. I found out yesterday you get a stamp for each bag or box you donate too. I think all the other Thrift Shops better get on board that idea. 

I want to try some of the other smaller Thrift Shops and consignment shops. I have some repurpose ideas I want to try and what better place to go than a thrift shop? I find craft supplies, fabric swatches, and interesting do-dads that can be used for many fun projects.

On Sunday, while on a walk, I ventured into a used book store downtown. I can't explain the excitement I feel when I go in a place like that. What is waiting for me? What will I find? Will there be a book I have been looking for? Sadly, I ran out of time and had to go. I need hours to really get into every nook of the place. I will be back. 

While I am taking some time and really getting to know the area Thrift Shops, I will review them here and show some examples of what I find. I am getting excited about garage sales this summer and plan to attend a few auctions. Again, not that I need anything, I want to see how much of what I want is already out there. 

Let us know your finds too. Everyone loves a good find!

Green Fry

Last year when I started learning about going green I read a great book called Echolic. I read this book specifically because it is a Canadian book with mostly Canadian resources in it. In it I learned a lot about things I was using that were not the best choices. There were many. Instead of taking on the whole book at once, I eliminated things in baby steps. One of the items was birth control pills (which I stopped taking right then and there) and the other was using my non-stick frying pan. I have gone all year using my regular frying pan. I hate that thing. It sticks, it smokes, it burns. I know I am probably not using it right and have been spoiled by non stick. I even avoid cooking something that requires a frying pan. I am getting good. 

I started using my cast iron frying pan. It sticks and smokes and burns. Long story short, I wanted a non stick frying pan again. For 2 nights now I have searched the city for a "green" version of a non stick frying pan. I finally decided on one from The Bay. I know what you might be thinking, I was not supposed to buy anything new. I have rules in place for just this situation. Somethings you have to buy new, for me one is underwear. The other is frying pans. I am pretty sure there are not "green" frying pans at Good Will yet. This is my reasoning anyway.

Here is what I bought: Eathchef

An 11" Skillet to be exact.

I had some reservations since it was made in China and I try not to buy things made in China as a rule. (I am a Capricorn and breaking rules never sit well with me even if they are my own rules.)

The plus was the price, if it sucks it was only $24.00 (it was on sale). You plant a tree in Canada through Tree Canada. It is guaranteed for life. It has no toxic chemicals, PFOA and PFTE free.

I will let you know how it works. I plan on finally making pancakes this weekend. My husband will argue and say french toast but we shall see.

Recycled Resolution

I decided to recycle my 2008 resolution for 2009. The resolution was to not buy anything that I did not need. There was an article in the St. Catharines Standard about it in January, maybe you saw it? (No "jonsing" jokes, please.)

This all started back in 2007 when I read an article abut a woman who decided to challenge herself by not buying clothing for 6 months. I was fascinated by this. Why would someone decide to do this, why? Around the same time, I was hosting a seminar through my business about going "green". I remembered the article and thought that if I was going to get up and talk about "going green" then I better have some experience with it. My talk was mainly about consumerism and reusing old things for new uses (more on that in other blogs). I decided that for the 3 months leading up to the seminar in March, that I would try and do the same but with everything not just clothes. After researching environmental issues I knew there was more to cutting back than just clothing.

It eventually became my resolution because after the seminar I stayed at it all year long (I fell off the wagon on several occasions, I am not a saint) and thought I could do better this year. I decided to blog about it since everyone comments how what a drastic thing it is. I think it is more about being aware and making conscious decisions with my money, what I put in my body, on my body, and into the environment. Maybe that is drastic to some (I never got the drastic 80's haircut in high school so I am due for drastic. Wait, there was that horrible Annie perm in grade 9 but that was more a big mistake than drastic...) but I saw it as something that was important for me to do. 

Join me on my year of searching for a good used clothing store, garage sailing (as my daughter calls it), and all my good finds along the way. I want to also share my latest finds in organic products I like and use along with how much money I save when I don't buy something I see that I want. That should add up quickly!

 I talk to so many people who want to know how to make changes in their lives too. I am a woman/mother who wants to find the good stuff and what works. If you have anything to add or share please leave a comment, I want to hear your opinions and feelings on this.