Thursday, July 23, 2009

Goodwill Hunting... and Hopping

Happy Hopping! I hope you all are having fun!
If we haven't met before, I'm Hillary. You can find out all about my by clicking "About" up there {but I'm guessing you knew that} or scroll to the bottom of the About page to find out why in the world I would be "The Other Mama".

For twitter lovers, here's a 140 character bio:
Wife, Mommy, Child of a King, blogger, juggler of many errands, stain and drool advisor who volunteers too much. And I love to tell a story- with my hands usually.

OK, so twitter probably cut me off on that last one, but since I do love a good story, I have a fun one for you!

A good friend told me a while back that our local Goodwill carries some of the leftover clothes from a local Target Distribution Center: things that get returned and don't sell. Well, I've never gotten around to going there until this week!

It was amazing! Like a bargain hunter's paradise {with a little bit of a smell, but I got over it}.
The VAST majority of the clothes were from Tar-jhay WITH tags. For you eBay peeps, that's NWT. I could not believe my eyes! And the other shoppers were like me! We were all comparing our goods with jaws dropped open.

Here is what I racked up:
* 2 running shirts for me
* 3 dress/ weekday shirts for me {that's 3 total: 2 dressy, one plain t-shirt}
* 1 pair of running shorts for me
Are you noticing a pattern here? *ahem* Guess I should shop for others, too...
* 1 Tonka ambulance for the kiddos
* 1 foam sword for swashbuckling pirates
* 2 t-shirts for the big guy
* 1 Thomas swim shirt for the little guy {already worn to swim party last night}
* 2 character ice packs {already used Lightening McQueen for boo boo tonight}

I think that's all. I'm sure I forgot something, though.
Even it I didn't, that would be 13 items, ALL BRAND NEW WITH TAGS, for a grand total of.... {drum roll to yourself, you can do it}

$20.50!!!
What? I know! Super excited!! I did a happy dance on the way out to the car and I'm sure someone saw me, but I was so happy that I just chose to think they were envious.

I have already worn some of my Goodwill running clothes {and I ran just fine}. I figured I was going to get stinky in the pretty quickly so I didn't have to wash them first.

And the boys are already fighting over the ambulance {a good sign??} and O-man loves the sword. He is currently sleeping with it. Again, should I be concerned?So, if you happen to be in the Huntsville, Ala area, this is the Goodwill on Whitesburg Drive {I know that's incredibly detailed, but had to throw it out there for my yokel locals}.

Here is the "kicker" {fine... pun intended} of the day. I also went to the mall to get Henry some new church/ something other than the crocs-that-are-glued-to-his-feet sandals since he has outgrown the ones from the beginning of the summer. I found these Stride Rite gems at Dillard's for 40% off, but they were still $20 after tax {yes- same price as ALL 13 items above}.
Notice anything funny about them? They are BOTH left feet!! So the Goodwill items were fine and dandy and the irregulars are from the mall!


Thankfully, the correct shoe was returned and exchanged today and he will be back to dancing order soon- no more 2 left feet.

Enjoy your hopping! And let me know your latest bargain in the comment section. Any other cheap skates, um... I mean... bargain hunters out there? Come out of the consignment closet; you'll feel great to air your used laundry!

29 comments:

BASSakward Tales said...

i love thrift stores...we have one here called elijah's barrell...all the kids clothes in there are .99...when jacob was small i would buy all his play clothes there because he grew so quickly and was so rough on clothes...thrifting is awesome

Muthering Heights said...

Wow, those were some great finds!

Linda said...

Yup, my Goodwill has brand new Target clothes too. I live outside of Seattle, WA. Such great deals!

Brandi said...

Wow! You did really good. I shopped at Kohl's for the first time earlier in the week and I got some great baby clothes... jumpers/rompers and such for $6. I was pretty pleased with that. :)

TexasBobbi said...

I love thrift stores, I found you through blog hop can't wait to here your stores.

Tania @ Larger Family Life said...

I do love a bargain too! Good finds there.

Unknown said...

Kindred thrifty shopper here! Your post sounds like the "Not Me Monday" meme where you confess mommy-isms... And I LOVED your twitter bio - cracked me up girl! Can't wait to see more of you! (OH and it was nice to meet you "at the Hop'!)

Farmgirl Paints said...

Wow girl you got some great deals! I always do a little more shopping for myself too. Well...we know what we like right??

Have a great weekend.

Amy said...

This is SO me. I love me some thrift stores/consignment shops. This makes me want to drive to Huntsville, but then that would defeat the purpose:)

Jones - Keeping Up With Mom said...

Hey Hillary, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! I am in love with your header! So cute! I should get a button for my blog someday huh? Well anyway, hope you're enjoying the blog hop! I am. K bye :)

momstheword said...

Nice to meet you! Yup, I love a good bargain. I can't remember any of the prices right now, though I once got my son a brand new pair of converse (tag still on 'em) for a fraction of the price.

Now you got me wanting to go to Goodwill, thanks Hillary....as if I don't already have enough to do, lol!

Susannah said...

I need to go to Goodwill here! I wonder if they do that in Montgomery? Almost all of Anderson's clothes (smocked and applique) comes from consignment sales and ebay. I just can't pay those prices! :)

jenni said...

Nice to "meet" you, Hillary! you have a lovely blog, and those are some sweet deals!

I also tell stories with my hands, well, more like my whole body, but I know what you mean!

Jamie said...

Hopped in via Blog Hop. Love your blog. Added you to my reader.

BTW, our local Salvation Army gets all of Target's cast offs. It actually makes me giddy. My husband, though, isn't as amused. Or giddy.

Amanda @ Mommy's Idea Book said...

Hi Hillary, I love your blog! I need to check out that Goodwill. I'm not far away. My husband actually works in Madison and we live between Birmingham and Huntsville, so I'm an Alabama girl too. It's really nice to meet you. By the way, I'm subscribing!

Lori said...

You are such a lucky duck - I wish I could go shopping with you!

Btw - I have a giveaway going, so stop by this weekend. :) Happy hopping!

Lane Gunter said...

I love a good bargain! Wish the Goodwills in TLH had Target stuff! That would be awesome!
It seems like all Goodwills have the same smell....haha!

Anonymous said...

Hi Hillary! I'm so happy I found your blog through Blog Hop '09. From the little bit I've read, I wish you lived next door to me (I'm just up the road in Nashville!) so we could hang out, borrow cups of sugar and share that "something stiffer than a juice box" after soccer practice. :)

On your about page you say, "My kitchen sink is usually full, my baseboards are filthy, my kids watch too much TV and you have to step around the laundry piles to get to my guest bathroom (I’ll hide them in the dryer, though, if you come over). But our home is full of laughter and God. And you don’t have to clean those up." I think we're twins separated at birth! Can't wait to get to know you better. If you're ever in the Nashville area, give me a holler!

Malia

Jennifer Newman said...

Stopping over from the BlogHop! I will definitely be reading more! Love the "Other Mama" story!

Rebekah said...

Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro (my hometown) was where I shopped when Nathaniel was little. Just before he went into Kindy I got him a brand new, tags still on it, 2 layer reversable jacket for $12. It was big on him and still fits him!
ktscarlett1982@hotmail.com

Niki Jolene said...

Hi there! Niki from NJ here. Nice to "meet you"! I enjoyed checking out your blog.

The Goodwill by me rocks with NWT stuff too!

:)

Kara @ His, Hers and Ours said...

If something was to ever happen to my hands, I'd never be able to talk again!

I'm over this way from BlogHop, and another Southerner as well...Florida, actually (GO GATORS!) Sorry...I saw SEC and had to do it!

I digress.

What great finds! I wonder if our local Goodwill does the same. I will have to check it out, for sure!

I love your head shot photos! Gorgeous!

It was nice meeting you, and I hope I didn't scare you off with the whole 'Gators' thing. ;)

nicole said...

Oh I'm so jealous. I could do some serious damage in a store like that. I love Target.

Unknown said...

Oh I love a bargain. Your story sound slike me, though I haven't been to a goodwill but the mall part is usually where I fall - into the misfit section, lol!

Happy Blog Hop!

Stacie said...

Sounds like you got some awesome bargains. Stopping by from the blog hop to say hello and have a great weekend.

Jenny86753oh9 said...

Our Goodwill used to be everything for 99cents but that only lasted it's first year. I LOVED it then!

Ashleigh said...

Great finds!! I wish our thrift stores were better here. Although I have had some pretty good luck finding name brand childrens clothes at yard sales.

MrsAshley said...

I am hop-ing over to you from BlogHop'09, I am #311. I was busy this weekend so I'm a little behind. It is so nice to meet you! Great blog! I'm like you, I always love a great Goodwill find!

Be sure to Hop on over to my place to check out the latest freebies, coupons and good deals...you can also check out my 30+ giveaways (with a new one added daily) and to spread the BlogHop'09 Love!

Ashley
Beauty4Moms
http://Beauty4Moms.blogspot.com

Emily said...

i've really been wanting to visit our goodwill, too. i just LOVE a bargain! great score on all the goodies, hill!

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Hillary

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