The Goodwill Gal

A Rustic and Cozy Christmas

December 4, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal Leave a Comment

I planned ahead to create a rustic and cozy home for Christmas, so I thought I’d share with you some of the items I put in my shopping cart.

I wanted to add a bit of nostalgia with the pieces I have collected over the years but this year I hoped to add some new items to the mix, like plaid and more fur.

Some of the decor items I’ve picked are items I have thrifted and are still available in retail stores! Classic pieces like sleds and apparently the reindeer themed napkins, which I purchased at Goodwill, never go out of style.

My decorating is well under way and while I purchased some items from retail stores, I thrifted some mini trees, ornaments and more. I’ll be sharing more pics this week!

Do you pick a theme for your decor?

Click the photos to see where the item can be purchased!

A Rustic and Cozy Wishlist for Christmas Decor

Fall House Tour

November 9, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 2 Comments

Hi Friends,

I shared my Milk Glass collections decorated for the Fall season, now here’s a bit a fall decor from around my home.

I’ve included some links of the locations where I’ve purchased my items. I’ve picked up quite of few decor pieces from Goodwill,

so I found something similar just in case you’re interested.

Silver Champagne Chiller, Goodwill (Similar), Mercury Glass Pumpkin, HomeGoods (Similar),

Faux Antler

Squirrel (Goodwill) similar, Mercury Glass Lamp,

Turquoise Buffet (Goodwill) similar

Couch with nailhead trim (Z Gallerie) Similar, Coffee Table (Pottery Barn) Similar,

Mercury Glass pedestal bowl (Goodwill) Similar, Striped Box (Dillards) Similar,

Magnifying Glass, (Thrifted) Similar

Fiesta Pitcher (Goodwill)Similar, Scalloped Bowl (Pier One), White bowls, Silver Gravy Boat,

Silver Champagne Chiller (Goodwill), Glass Beer Mugs,

Moscow Mule Mugs, Tiered Wood Stand,

White mugs, (Pottery Barn) Similar

Fur Rug, Beverage Caddy (Goodwill), Vintage Green Seltzer Bottle

Linen Napkins, World Market (Similar)

Metal and Wood Lanterns

Large Wooden Bowl (Goodwill)

Gray Fur Pillow (Home Goods), Blue Plaid Pillow (Target), White Fur Pillow

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my home for Fall and it gives you a bit of inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

P.S. That’s Stevie, our Golden.

My Milk Glass Fall Decor

November 3, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 2 Comments

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like the transition from Summer to Fall.

Living in Arizona you have to make your own transition because we don’t see the

temperature dip under 90 degrees until November!

It’s actually quite depressing when October rolls around and it’s still 100 degrees!

What is not depressing is my Milk Glass collection.

It keeps me happy at all temperatures!

Decorating around Milk Glass is the easiest thing ever.

It’s so pretty, all I have to do is add of bit of greenery here and there.

This year I added some wood slices that my brother Ike saved for me from Colorado.

I would also like to say that he gave me those pheasant feathers but unfortunately he did not.

I’m pretty sure he’s keeping all of his to himself.

I made the flannel pumpkins with some shirts I bought at Goodwill for $1. I simply cut a circle and stitched a purse stitch all the way around the edge, added some pinto beans, then pulled the threads tight to create a pouch. Next, I glued on a pumpkin stem. The grocery store lets me pick the stems out of the bottom of the pumpkin bin for FREE. They’re the ones that have fallen off in transit.

Cotton stems are the best. I use them all-year-round but for whatever reason,

they just make a statement with the fall decor.

I just keep adding more Milk Glass by picking it up when I see it add Goodwill. There’s still space in these cabinets but at the rate I collect it, pretty soon it’s going to get crowded. Then what? I really don’t want the answer to that question.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

P.S. In addition to my Milk Glass is another of my “must haves” is my Boos Chopping Block. Not a day goes by that someone in the family doesn’t use it. It’s solid and durable and if you treat it right, it can last for many many years. You can find one like mine here: Boos Chopping Block.

October Instagram

October 26, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal Leave a Comment

Here’s a few photos I shared on my Instagram account, just in case you missed them.

A large tree died in our yard, I was so bummed so see it go, but before the landscaper hauled it away, he left me with some tree stumps and slices. I plan on removing the bark from the stump to bring it inside to use as an end table. I just hope I can complete the project within a year! It’s been a bit busy around here.

For Fall Break, our kids get 2 weeks vacation. It’s a beautiful time of year around other parts of the country, in Arizona, it’s still in the high 90’s, so this year we went to San Francisco to escape the heat. We toured Alcatraz, ate our way through the city, Fisherman’s Wharf and Napa and it was fabulous! The weather was awesome!

In my previous blog post, I showed this photo with a bundle of cotton in this huge wooden bowl, which also goes by the title, My Favorite Goodwill Find. I have this on bowl on display all-year-round. I can’t bear the thought of putting it away in a closet. It’s perfect for any season! Hand carved and unique for only $14.99!

My kitchen table decor goes through tabletop changes depending on my mood. Some weeks it changes two or more times, other times it will stay in a holding pattern for a couple of weeks. This tablescape hasn’t changed for a few weeks, either I’ve been too busy to change it or I actually enjoy the fall hues. Without over thinking it, it’s the hues of fall that makes it stay. The little velvet acorns came from Safeway and I adore them.

This last photo I shared was from my closet. I bought this chair from Goodwill for $7.99 many years ago. The wood was dark brown and the fabric was a light gold. I finally decided to give it a bright new update. I painted the wood with white chalk paint and for the fabric I went with gray chalk paint. It was a very simple project to complete and with a light sanding on the fabric, after the paint dried, the results were a soft velvet. It now sits in my closet and I must say I log a good amount of time sitting in the chair sifting through Pinterest and other social media!

Here’s some more fall decor in my home. It’s going to be 99 degrees tomorrow so when you live in Arizona you have to bring the fall outdoors in, the outdoors being from other parts of the country. Everything is faux but it’s the reality I live in!

P.S. Yes, that’s a price sticker on that vintage book from Goodwill. Just in case you are wondering!

Thanks for stopping by to see some photos from Instagram. If you have an account, I’d love for you to join me, The Goodwill Gal.

Until next time,

Lisa

You can also find me here:

Oregon Lifestyle Home Magazine

October 22, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal Leave a Comment

Hi friends,

I’ve been very busy on the home front lately and have taken a bit of a blogging break.

I’m happy to say that while I haven’t had the time to give my blog attention, there are others out there who are stopping in

to look at my projects and thrifty decor.

One of those who recently stopped in was the on-line magazine,

Oregon Lifestyle Home Magazine.

They shared my favorite Goodwill find of all-time (so far), my hand carved, mega huge wooden bowl,

and shared it with their readers.

Wooden Bowl with White Pumpkins

You can see their visually amazing magazine and my awesome bowl at their website,

Oregon Lifestyle Home Magazine.

Take a look and see all the beauty the Oregon lifestyle has to offer. I must go there!

This is how I’m using my beloved bowl today.

Filled with cotton stems, nice and simple.

Thanks for stopping by,

until next time, The Goodwill Gal.

Summer in Colorado

August 2, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 1 Comment

For the month of July you could find my family and I in the high country of Colorado.

Camping and Waterskiing in New Mexico with over 40 family members!

Hiking in beautiful Creede, Colorado

A day picnic in the mountains is not complete without a solid cooking griddle and a dutch oven over an open fire.

My brother has mastered the cooking!

Our dog, Stevie, enjoyed every single minute playing in Grandma’s yard. She almost reached “Country Dog” status!

Fishing never gets old for my kids!

Me?

I spent my entire vacation trying to find which niece or nephew clipped the locks off of my beloved

Farrah Fawcett doll!

My family and I are back in Arizona where school’s in session and the heat is obnoxious.

I hope you are having the best summer!

Spring is in the Air

March 25, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 5 Comments

I always say there’s only two season in Phoenix, Spring and Summer.

I grew up in Colorado with the snow and freezing temperatures so when we have “winter”

here in Phoenix, it’s not what I define as winter, it’s more like spring to me. Also, summer

in Colorado is definetly like spring in Phoenix. You still need sweatshirts on a summer night

where I grew up and it’s fabulous, just like Arizona in spring.

Anyway, that pretty much sums up what spring is like for me so to go with that long

description, ha ha, here’s some spring decor in my House of Goodwill.

The fireplace in the family got an update with some flowers and greenery. All winter long I

keep some long white antlers on the mantel and love the look. Changing the decor for

spring and summer makes me look forward to putting the antlers back up there when ‘fall’

comes around.

This week I stopped in to Home Goods with my mom and spotted this turquoise covered

cake stand. I debated for like two seconds when to buy it and just had to have it for the

kitchen island. My kitchen island is very large so I need substantial pieces to place on it.

This is very large and the color is the perfect accent for the white cabinetry.

I placed a vintage glass rabbit, from Goodwill, along with some moss and eggs, inside the

dome. I’m looking forward to putting cakes, sweets and decor on display!

Finally, here’s the kitchen table decor…for now.

I’ve had this set for years and noticed, when I pulled them out of the cabinet, one bowl was

missing! Of course, no one has said a word.

I love changing out the kitchen table centerpiece on a regular basis.

It requires minimal effort and keeps things fresh.

Let’s face it, I need decor to change or I get extremely bored!

Here’s to your Spring day wherever you are!

Milk Glass for Spring

March 8, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 6 Comments

Today I’ve added 2 new pieces to my Milk Glass collection.

They are candlesticks and were $3.99 each at Goodwill.

I managed to fit them in to my Milk Glass hutch which is decorated with lemons, limes and some greenery for a fresh Spring look.

Here’s what the rest of the little beauties look like.

I tucked some faux grass into some pieces.

So simple and clean.

I’m obsessed, I know!

Do you collect Milk Glass?

Thrift Haul – Family Thrift Store

February 18, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 3 Comments

Hi everyone,

Do you remember when I caught up with Too Cheap Blondes in Glendale, Arizona and found my little

rolling cart for $2? The shopping so much fun and the available thrift finds were pretty spectacular.

In my newest video, I’m sharing a few items I picked up on this shopping visit.

Here’s all of my little goodies, including my Golden Retriever’s hind end in the background.

Jen and Pippa with Too Cheap Blondes scour the racks for the good stuff.

These gals know how to shop!

Racks and racks of designer clothes waiting to be found.

Still regretting this not picking up this basket for $2!!!

Too Cheap Blondes and a Brunette, I can get used to that!

If you missed my $2 rolling cart, you can see it here!

My Game Day Essentials

February 4, 2016 By TheGoodwillGal 4 Comments

My favorite team, the Denver Broncos, will be in the Super Bowl this year, (YAY!)

so you know I’ll be having a big bash to cheer them on!

In my newest YouTube I share my Game Day Essentials.

I love to search my cabinets, closets and shelves for items to serve food

and use for decor for all my parties.

I don’t like to buy themed serving pieces I’m going to use just one or two times, it just seems

like a waste of money if I don’t get my cost per use out of everything I own!

I just can’t help it.

I’ll be using glass vases, hurricanes, small buckets and small paper bags

and more to serve food.

I saw this little project on Pinterest, which really takes no time at all.

Keep those aluminum cans and repurpose them to hold plastic or real serving ware.

So easy and thrifty!

I’ve already search my son’s room for trophies,

football and wall hangings to use for my centerpiece.

I’ll just place the trophies under books to give them different heights.

First, I’ll have to clean some major dust off of them!

People might think it’s odd that I consider Persil laundry detergent as a Game Day Essential,

but let’s be honest, when your team scores,

you jump up to cheer and dance and spill red wine or

wings or your whole plate down the front of your shirt,

you are going to need something to get that out!

No worries, you’ve got a backup plan for that wine,

wing sauce, salsa, cheese or what ever messy sauce you’ve got on your plate!

And…that is why I’ve got a laundry detergent like Persil on my list!

It gets all of that yummy food stuff out of clothes!

Now, you can use a cloth table cloth and really put the laundry detergent to the test,

but I like to do less laundry if possible.

I’ll also be using craft paper to create a table runner.

You might have seen me do this before, like a million times,

but it works great for cleanup and is very inexpensive, so it’s a winner every time.

I just take a marker and write out foods I’m serving or saying’s like “Dip for Bacon Lovers”.

I’ll also let the kids draw out pretty much whatever they want.

When the party is over, you can toss it in the recycle bin and call it day!

Works like a charm every time.

Watch my video and get some motivation to re-think those items

you have in your cabinets and closets and don’t forget to cheer for those BRONCOS!

And also visit Persil’s Facebook page for a special sweepstakes

as well as fun laundry tips and games:http://on.fb.me/1SkmQ0R

To learn more about Persil, click on this link here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/persil-tops-tide-in-laundry-detergent-tests/index.htm

Sponsored by Persil. Opinions are completely based on my experience.