Thrifted Gifting

Our daughter is besties with the little girl who lives across the street, and any time our families get together, the kids run around and scream and the parents drink wine.

So, inevitably, wine glasses break. When my neighbor had a birthday recently, I decided to go in search of a nice set of wine glasses — fellow thrifters will know that it’s hard to find 6 or 8 matching glasses, much less quality ones.

Last week’s girly thrift haul.

I don’t want this to jinx me or anything, but I truly feel that the thrifterverse has my back. I found six gorgeous Italian wine glasses and (bonus!) two fish-shaped stone serving dishes, glazed in a pretty blue color (wish I had taken photos).

I shined everything up, packed them in tissue paper, and gifted them.

This was the first time I’d thrifted a gift for someone who isn’t family (me, my mom, and mother-in-law all love thrifting and have a shared understanding that secondhand gifts are more than welcome).

So, I felt the need of course to disclose that I’d thrifted the items and say, “…I hope that’s not weird?”

Girly girl with her thrifted suitcase and heels. 💅🏽✨

This led me to wonder how people in general would feel about receiving a second-hand item as a gift.

I think because most people who know me understand that thrifting is *gulp* (whisper) my life, they probably wouldn’t be surprised or offended to receive a thrifted item.

It would be curated by a careful and practiced eye, of course, and cleaned prior to gifting.

Baby girl in a beautiful top found at Goodwill West Palm Beach

The more I’ve been in the shops — which has been weekly lately (coping mechanism? these times we’re in are trying) — the more I’ve thought about how important and ideal shopping secondhand is.

First of all, the stuff is FANTASTIC. I live in a place where people give away pristine, quality, high-end pieces. But also, shopping secondhand offers a way to scratch that pesky consumerist itch without breaking the bank and harming the environment.

A short list of the benefits of thrifting:

It’s affordable (still screaming over my $60 chair/ottoman set…will be riding that high for the foreseeable future).

It’s sustainable: Thrifting keeps usable items out of landfills and reduces demand for new manufacturing, making it one of the easiest ways to live more sustainably.

It’s fun: I can’t fully describe the high I experience when I find a high-end item for a steal. If I could bottle it, I’d give it to you for free.

It supports your community: I frequent charity shops that donate a percentage or all of their proceeds to a cause.

It keeps things interesting: Thrifted finds spark creativity and give you a reason to switch things up in your wardrobe and rearrange things around your house.

I’m considering practicing mostly thrifted gifting for the holidays this year. What do you think? Would you be skeeved to receive a thrifted gift?

Last week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:

I took my kids to Resource Depot in West Palm Beach and, let me tell you, we had a time.

We did not buy this hat, but it felt right to wear it while we sifted through shelves and bins.

We got a nice collection of things for only $22 and explored the super cool art exhibit.

Most of last week’s haul, sourced from Resource Depot and The Nearly New Thrift Shop West Palm Beach. Can you tell which items baby girl picked? 🤪
Purple dance costume, Source: Resource Depot West Palm Beach
Loved the “M,” not sure what I’ll do with it yet. Source: The Nearly New Shop West Palm Beach
Heart shaped pillow, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
Top, Jennifer & Grace, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
Seagrass wall basket, Source: The Nearly New Shop West Palm Beach
Seagrass mat, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach

More Dining Room Upgrades

Since I found that amazing chair + ottoman set at Goodwill last week, I had to rearrange several chairs throughout the house, leading to more changes to the dining room.

That’s one of the fun things about thrifting — when you find new treasures, you have to make room for them, so you’re constantly reconfiguring your spaces and expressing creativity.

A chair that was up in our loft (found a few months ago at Goodwill, naturally), and a chair that I thrifted for our wedding in 2015, were relocated to the dining table to become host chairs (chairs at either end that are different in style from the rest).

Chair found at Goodwill a few months back. Pottery Barn pillow found at Furry Friends Thrift in Jupiter.
Chair thrifted in 2015 for my wedding (maybe Faith Farm?), Pillow thrifted from a vendor at the West Palm Beach Green Market several years ago.

I often see home designers set up matching host chairs, but I think this mismatched look jives with the rest of my eclectic style.

A dear childhood friend helped me source thrifted furniture then reupholster and paint them for cocktail hour vignettes at my wedding.

Last week at Goodwill, I found these wooden wall sconces (which I’ve been manifesting!!), and they’re now flanking the lattice backdrop in our dining room.

The taper candles are also from Goodwill.

I can’t wait to light these up and add more romantic lighting to our everyday dinners.

My final dining upgrade of the week are these clip-on rattan chandelier shades! This was an impulse purchase from Amazon that I’m obsessed with. It’s a subtle change that elevates the room and integrates with surrounding decor.

I chose a shape that matches our kitchen island pendant lights.

Evolving a space with thrifted treasures brings me so much joy and creates a home that feels collected and personal. You should drop into a thrift store this week to see what inspires you!

This milk glass vase is another wedding artifact that now sits on our kitchen bar! Given to me by my mom.

Last week’s thrifted ‘fits & treasures round-up:

Office Outfit! Shirt, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach, Pants, J.Crew, Source: thrifted and gifted from a friend, Necklace, handmade from repurposed items, Source: Stone Button Studio Northwood Village
The shirt detail and necklace deserve a close-up.
Gym Outfit. Choose Kindness Tee, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
Tank Top, Source: Secondhand from a friend, Skirt, UNIQLO, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
Tunic, J.Crew, Linen Pants, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach
Vintage stoneware. Five dessert plates, one dinner plate, one serving plate, Source: Goodwill West Palm Beach