Thrift Store Heaven

I love thrift stores. There. I said it. It's the same reason that I love Freecycle. There's something about being able to find some hidden treasure, big or small, that someone has given up--before another someone does. It's about the hunt, the competition and, of course, the wonderful monetary deals! My all time favorite thrift store is Unique in Falls Church. It is the mother of all thrift stores--a model that all should aspire to. It is clean, organized, and HUGE! It's basically a warehouse lined with shelves of goodies one could only imagine. I mean, where else around here could you expect to find an Amish Coloring Book?? To add to Unique's greatness, there are about a dozen cashiers to make for a speedy check-out and today I finally gave in and signed up for their VIP Card which allows me, that's right folks, an extra 25% off already cheap stuff on Monday and Thursdays. What? 25 MORE cents off this fantastic plastic bowl with fake cherries on it?? DON'T TEASE ME. And today, my friends, I made out like a thrifty bandito.

It was 50% off all toys, books, and some other things that I couldn't understand them yelling over the loudspeaker every five minutes in bad accents (yes, a downside to this thrift store mecca) so I must say, Mishaela made out too! I bought her a whole bunch of toys in great condition ranging from $1-$2 (which really ended up being .50-$1) in hopes that they will keep her entertained enough for me to be able to stay home in peace with her without listening to her scream like a wild banshee (a big thanks to her peers for teaching her this new loud and completely obnoxious trick). All day long she alternates between frighteningly deep, rumbling growls and ear piercing shrieks. (And don't even think about getting her excited about something without a pair of ear plugs handy.) Anyway, I visited Unique an hour before work but since I didn't have time to go over every shelf with a fine toothed comb and investigate every nook and cranny, I had to come back for round two after work. I was only halted prematurely (once again) by the announcement that they would be closing at 8. 8?? 8PM??? How could you?? You're not open 24 hours?? Or at least until midnight?? There are so many more things to look at! But anywhoo I was not totally disheartened because I had already found THE find of the day---perhaps even THE find of the YEAR.

Drumroll please...........A DOLLHOUSE! But not just any dollhouse--a huge, wooden, unpainted, dreamhouse, in great condition, with flower boxes under the big bay windows, doors with tiny doorknobs that open out onto the balcony, and with LIGHTING! Someone took the time to install electricity in this joint! When I turned the corner and my eyes laid upon this delicate treasure, my mouth dropped to the floor. I could scarcely believe my luck in making such a find! I searched furiously for the price tag and nearly exploded with exhilaration when I read: $6.96. Do they know that dollhouses like this cost hundreds of dollars??? I went home (P.S. fitting that large, fragile, abode into the backseat of my corolla was quite tricky--since it takes up my entire back seat) and found one on Ebay, just like the one I got, for $500. Crazy! I can't wait to get started restoring it! Painting, tiny furniture, a petite garden, perhaps. I fear that I may be entering a world of some kind of dollhouse cult, which, dare I even suggest, may even surpass the insanity of guinea pig owners.

Always, ever since I was a little, little girl, have wanted a big, beautiful dollhouse of my very own. Due to limited space in our apartment and limited finances for funding a hobby project that could very well cost more than our monthly mortgage, I settled for a Little People's House (which, I am appalled to say, I came across a few years ago in an antique store. An antique store? Really? I'm an antique already??!).

I can't wait to start posting pictures of the dollhouse: pre-, during, and post-renovations. =D