Fabulous Finds and Freebies (in which I horrify my husband by taking in other people’s cast-offs)

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.

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Thrift Shop Challenge (in which my soul apparently longeth after secondhand mammals)

When J-Boom and $herdog of Young House Love challenged the internet to a thrift store challenge, I immediately (basically) began combing the G-Rap thrift stores for some sweet finds to share. And they did not disappoint.

Before I dive in and share my spoils, however, allow me to explain (or, you could just read their post on the challenge here).

The challenge was issued because of a little song that’s become popular lately…Thrift Shop by Macklemore. It’s a really catchy song, which is somewhat unfortunate since it is pretty salty (don’t worry; I linked to the clean version).

Anyway, I had “$20 dolla in my pocket,” I dressed in traditional thrifting garb, and I headed out on a mission with cameraman Ken.

Apparently traditional thrifting garb includes an eskimo coat and shades.

Here is spoil #1. Mercury glass? Only $2? With the original $19.99 pricetag still on the bottom? You had better believe I ran shrieking and flailing to the cash register (much to Ken’s chagrin at my antics).

And then, at the next thrift store, I adopted a whole herd of these young fawns. You can already tell that one of them has been pretty mischievous, given the placement of his pricetag. The cost for these guys? Well, $.99 for the one in the back, obviously; her fraternal twin brother was also $.99 and that larger one was a $2.99 splurge. I’m going to let Kenny name them since he put up with all of my recent antics.

I peeled off the stickery-goodness and gave them a place near some realistic-looking flora…I figured they’d be at home there since they’re fauna…or “fawna”…

The more mature one got a spraypaint makeover with some glossy Krylon and has taken up residence near our TV.

Oh, and let’s not forget the other part of the challenge…to find something referenced in the “Thrift Shop” song:

Yeah. Fringe. “I look in-cred-a-buuul…”

Ken was so embarrassed to be the designated photographer at this point, but since he took the picture anyway, I think he really loves me. And sadly, the fringe-y poncho stayed at the thrift store for some other lucky shopper to find. Ken would probably never have spoken to me again if that thing had come home with us.

Bonus points to whoever name the very vaguely referenced song in this post title. And no, I never should have paired these two songs. I realize that, but I did it anyway.