First 2010 Friday Thrifting!

On Fridays I like to hit the Oak Bay United Church Thrift Shop - the sign on Foul Bay Road (and apparently their website as well) says it's open 10:30-2:30 but I think that's a plot by the hardcores to throw the meek off, it's actually open 10am-2pm.

I was a bit slow this morning so I didn't leave the house until 11:30am, and almost didn't with the rain and my renewed resolve to spend less this month. Then I logged onto Flickr, saw this photo posted by gottalittlespacetofill in the Pyrex Love Pool and then thought to myself, "What if the best treasure is there, waiting for me?" "I better go!" And so I went.

It is a really nice walk from our place on Fort Street down to Foul Bay so even though it was rainy and a bit blustery (albeit warm-ish) I was happy to be out waking. Happily, because of the rain, I made the 'excuse' to stop in at Good Things Consignment. There were a few things of interest there that I wish I asked to take photos of to share, but nothing that grabbed me until I looked up in the back corner - lamp shades!!!

I've had these green lamps for at least two years. I got them with my friend Bryony at a very grimmy, but extremely eclectic and interesting, garage sale in Esquimalt. I love their milk glass like colour and snapped them up for $10 or $15 I think. They've been in storage for a while and a month or two ago I brought them up because we were in desperate need of lighting in our living room - lit by one functioning lamp and one somewhat functional lamp. It is amazing how long you can put up with something inadequate - like nearly two years on this! Anyway, we had a Sears gift certificate from our wedding last summer and we went to Sears on Saturday thinking we would find something. Nothing - the selection was terrible and there were no staff in the housewares department to help us. This solidified my extreme dislike of dealing with large chain stores. We went to The Bay downtown, again with gift cards, hoping we'd be successful there. The Bay doesn't sell lamp shades alone and the staff recommended The Victoria Lampshade Shop - this solidified my partiality for local shops. My next plan was to go to this store on Burnside sometime in the near future, however, as I mentioned above I need to spend less this month, not more. Hence my attempt to use the $100's in gift cards we have lying about.

I had been looking at thrift shops without success for a pair of somewhat modern and matching shades but hadn't seen anything. I should not have given up my faith in the 'Thrifting Gods & Goddesses'. They were there, patiently waiting for me. Now our living room feels so much more cozy and bright; bright! The staff at Good Things were amazing and they even let me bring one shade home to try it out - I had to pay for it of course, but I could have brought it back to receive a complete refund. Instead I rushed out just after 5pm to pick up the other - I patiently waited for Bruce to get home to make sure he didn't hate the shade and then ran down the street to bring its pair home before they closed at 5:30. It feels great to have one 'search' crossed off my list!

I happily left Good Things to head down Oak Bay Avenue and I knew it wouldn't be a chore to hit up House of Savoy. The owner Anna is lovely and while these are not the thrift store prices I'm usually used to (and rightfully so) the items are usually great quality and are fairly priced - at least for the things I find to be my style.

I tried on a number of things that I really didn't need and had my eye out to look for a dress for my sister-in-law's upcoming wedding in September. I didn't find that (though I'll be back!) but I did find an amazing leather brief case/tote/lap top bag. It was in the sale bin for $28 & apparently retails for $285!!!

Now, I don't really need a briefcase, being a cycling, yoga pants & t-shirt wearing, stuff my lap-top in my water proof pannier student. However I hope I won't be that woman too much longer - I'm looking ahead to being a smart and stylish self employed consultant who is dreaming and planning to open an Okanagan apple cidery with her husband. In this future I envision carrying my lap top full of cidery documents and business plans in this amazing bag while wearing cute little black capri pants with these shoes, meeting with cider masters and credit union managers.

A girl's gotta have the right wardrobe to make her dreams come true right? These shoes were too cute to pass up and were $38 - they were apparently $148 retail two years ago!

Last night I decided some of my goals for the new year involve adding a bit more style and glamour to my life - these two items certainly meet the criteria!

And so, with the bag purchased and held until I doubled back past the store to walk home, and the shoes awaiting my final decision upon my return, I finally headed to wards the thrift shop around 1pm - phew!

It was quiet by 1pm - so quiet that I, probably the only person in the thrift shop under 50, heck maybe 80 years old, stood out like a sore thumb. A very interesting young man (the only one who volunteers there, which should be a clue) tried to pick me up with his amazing knowledge of number theory, his beginner Hebrew and a confession about his medicated state. It really made me wish I could handle those kinds of situations more gracefully. He really did seem nice, though not my type even if I wasn't married, and he seemed so embarrassed when I told him I was married. I really wish I could deal with those things better. Any suggestions?

Well here are my first Friday thrift shop finds for 2010 - more details over on Flickr:

Well this 'cycling, yoga pants & t-shirt wearing' student & 'planning to open an Okanagan apple cidery' dreamer is off to bed!

May the thrift gods & goddesses be on your side this weekend!