It is a well-known fact around these parts that Ken does not share my love of thrifting. To him, it is a particular form of torture that he would avoid at all costs if it were not for his lovely wife.
So Ken, when feeling particularly magnanimous and brave, will only on very special occasions suggest going to a thrift store.
I have come to terms with this fact about Ken, and I love him anyway. I usually try to spare him from my thrift store adventures because I’d like our marriage to last. It’s a sacrifice I willingly (yet sorrowfully) make.
Last week, I roped my mom and sisters into thrifting with me. They’re much better at Ken at enabling and therefore are much better thrift store companions.
Which is why, on our latest trip, I picked up this great piece of fake artwork. My mother and sisters were very supportive in spite of Ken’s text message indifference. The price? $6. The size? Rather large (scientifically). The frame? Simply amazing.
On the same trip, I also grabbed this piece for $5. The colors are a little “meh” (okay, a lot “meh”) but again, my mom and sisters sensed my deep desire to adopt this and gave me the go-ahead. I have big plans for this piece.
However, poor Ken could not escape my foibles entirely. Whilst out on a jaunt through our ghetto neighborhood, we had the good fortune to come across a veritable treasure trove of dumpster goodies.
Let me just pause to explain Ken’s inner turmoil.
The man does not like thrift stores. Which means that dumpster finds are COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY out of the question.
Luckily, the man loves me and I convinced him to drive the getaway car so we could snag these finds and usher them into their new home in our garage.
Can’t you just SEE the potential oozing out of these free beauties? This one was particularly intriguing to me, as it has a great brass strip around the base and very interesting curvy legs. Methinks Emily Henderson would approve. It is missing a drawer, but I’m willing to overlook it. Ken was quite disgusted and wholeheartedly NOT willing to overlook it.
But then. THEN.
The best thing happened.
It was the day before the Bar Exam. I had to work, but Ken was going to fit in some last minute studying.
On my way out of our apartment complex, I spotted it. Sunlight burst through the clouds and angels sang a majestic chorus.
But, dressed in my business casual maxi skirt, cardigan, and strappy sandals (and running perpetually late), I had little choice but to throw myself at the mercy of the Free Stuff Hater. I would have to ask Kenny for help.
How could I not? Check out those curves.
My husband, in his hopefully limitless love for me, carted this laminate beauty all the way from the dumpster to our garage on the day before the biggest test of his life.
The moral of the story: ladies, marry a great guy who loves you very much. It has worked out well for me.
Planting Sequoias 
August 5, 2013 at 8:15 am
Don’t worry, they come around eventually. My husband was also a thrift store and free dumpster/curbside hater, but now we have a pleasant time together thrifting. He will gladly drive me around to those Curb ALerts from Craigslist. Partially because he still loves me as much today (if not more) as he did 17 years ago, and also because he has seen that I can truly transform “junk” into a masterpiece.
August 5, 2013 at 8:38 am
It is great to hear from someone who has been there. Your testimony has greatly encouraged me! 😉
August 5, 2013 at 9:04 am
I, too, have such a wonderful husband that he is willing to lug anything I deem ‘potential’ at the slightest bat of my eyelashes. He will come around, especially when he sees how much money you are saving. I look forward to seeing your transformed treasures.
August 5, 2013 at 9:20 am
What a guy! The batting of the eyelashes help, I’m sure. 🙂
August 5, 2013 at 2:19 pm
What awesome finds! My father isn’t a huge fan of my mother and I’s thrifting habits, but he lets us do it because it’s so much cheaper. You’re so lucky to have a hubby who’s willing to put up with despite the fact that he’s not a fan, you totally got a keeper!
August 5, 2013 at 2:51 pm
WAAAAYYYY cheaper than buying things new!
August 5, 2013 at 4:37 pm
I have promised myself that I will never share too much about…ahem…”romantic marital physical activities” in my writing. But this is one of those times I feel the need to say something.
You can cover a wealth of dumpster diving by enough “romantic marital physical activities.” Like, A LOT of them. This also covers burned dinners, no dinners, messy houses, and fighting with his mother.
Thank the Lord above for the romantic marital physical activities that have been saving my marriage for more than fourteen years.
August 5, 2013 at 5:43 pm
😉
August 7, 2013 at 6:46 pm
My husband became A Believer when I paid our children’s private school tuition by selling “our” dumpster finds. Last week? He even brought something home for me that he saw on the curb. Yessss. There is hope out there for EVERYONE.
August 7, 2013 at 9:13 pm
What. That is so awesome!!!!!
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