July, 2018 | Goodwill Industries Suncoast

Rainy Days & Mondays

My GOODNESS it’s been raining a lot lately! I’ve killed a lot of rainy hours this month inside Goodwill. Whenever that happens, I end up looking at all the goodies I would normally breeze past. New home goods! Ooo a cat toy. And you just know you’ll find something good in the art bin. Something like, a needlepoint monk, perhaps?

(And no, you can’t have it. One friend has already requested that I go back and purchase it for her.)

I also found this nifty shelf-mirror which I sent to my husband as a hint but he was either too slow to respond or very smart. I suspect the latter.

On a recent rainy Sunday, I visited the new Goodwill at 2550 34th St. N. in St. Pete. My cousin Sarah came with me (a fellow GW Enthusiast!) and we listened to it pour while we wandered. I didn’t leave with much, but I did find these (brand new?!) Nike sneakers! $6.96! Woohoo! Sarah left with a cart full of various home decor and made me promise to keep my eyes peeled for dining room chairs. I’m on it!

I also brought home a new casual T-shirt from American Eagle that I paid less than $3 after Goodwill’s Color of the Week discount! I have already worn it while eating and dropped food on it. I am a mess.

In all reality, I’ve been doing the 9-5 grind a lot lately with an event thrown in here or there. I recently figured out a way to pair two items from Goodwill I’ve worn separately a million times and I got SO MANY COMPLIMENTS on my “cute little set.” News flash: not a set. And not a name brand. (Except those Aldo pumps I’ve featured before.) But let’s not let them know that.

Looking forward to sharing some more of my new pairings with you! Happy Hunting!

Goodwill-Suncoast2018-07-30T19:00:06-04:00July 30th, 2018|

Goodwill Seeks Volunteers for Junior Achievement Storefront

Mentors needed for Junior Achievement Finance Park

Goodwill-Suncoast is looking for enthusiastic people to be the face of Goodwill in its Junior Achievement Finance Park “storefront” in Tampa. Volunteers will assist 8^th grade students with basic family budgeting practices and inspire them with Goodwill’s mission. Goodwill is not only an affordable shopping option, it’s also a job creator!

Finance Park is Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay’s brand new real-life simulation program. After a series of lessons in the classroom, middle school students visit Finance Park, located at 13707 N. 22^nd St. in Tampa. The students assume randomly assigned family and income scenarios, and visit businesses – such as Goodwill — to gather information for their personal financial decision-making. The immersive simulation enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment.

What to expect:

1). Volunteers will be giving one-on-one assistance to guide students as they balance their budgets. Goodwill or Junior Achievement staff will always be available to answer your questions.

2). Goodwill staff will provide volunteers with orientation before your volunteer day. Volunteers will be familiar with the roles and responsibilities of volunteers and students.

3). There is a minimal time commitment of approximately six hours of volunteering on the day(s) of your choice.

For more information, contact Addison Acker at Addison.acker@goodwill-suncoast.com or 727- 243-8009.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training and job placement for people with disabilities, a children’s literacy program, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

Goodwill-Suncoast2019-07-24T11:48:14-04:00July 18th, 2018|

Shoes & Stripes Forever

Guys, I haven’t felt very lucky lately in my favorite department: shoes! Is it because you guys are out there snatching up all the good ones!? I hope so!

I did find one new pair recently that I’m just in love with. They were a half size larger than I normally wear, but you know the rule: try them on! These Nine West slingbacks with a hidden buckle were only $6.96 and are nearly brand new. I got loads of compliments AND saved about 90%!

I recently brought these last shoes out of retirement with a little help from Handy Hubby. I’m pretty rough on my heels (thankfully I don’t pay that much for them!) and the heel cap had worn off. You could hear me coming a mile away with my click-thump click-thump gait. It wasn’t cute.

Luckily, I keep a stash of heel caps in my jewelry box. Doesn’t everyone?

New heel caps installed and another leg of life for these cute yellow Aldo peeptoes! A great summer shoe seeing a third life for $7.96! I paired them with a stretchy tropical print skirt from a brand I’ve never heard of along with a super comfy black tee. Another $20 outfit where the shoes alone would have cost nearly $100. Feeling good!

Buying versatile things is one of the *keys* to a great closet! Here is the same shirt as above paired with a different skirt. You guys know I love prints. And you know I love black and white. That being said, I try to buy every black shirt I can that fits me and can be worn with a variety of things. I wear them out!

This Worthington skirt was brand new with tags still on when I bought it for $4.98 a few months ago. I was so excited! I washed it and my dreams of grandeur came tumbling down. All the white stripes had been dyed PINK. I asked Handy Hubby if he could tell it wasn’t originally pink and he said no…but I knew and that was enough. It took some pretty serious stain remover and multiple trips through the washing machine, but in the end I was successful. I wasn’t giving up on this deal!

The jewelry is hand-me-down and one of my favorite pieces. The shoes are BCBG and are one of my very first thrifting finds from nearly ten years ago when I still lived in Gainesville! They used to have an ankle strap that I cut off about five years into our relationship. Things have been better ever since! Don’t be afraid to alter something to how you want it to be, especially if you’ve gotten a great deal!

Do you ever wonder what’s in those cups in my elevator selfie?! I think I would be curious if I were in your shoes. That is my morning breakfast shake filled with delicious nutritious…kale. Yum. Let me know if you want my recipe ;)

Goodwill-Suncoast2018-07-03T17:00:43-04:00July 3rd, 2018|