Hi, I'm Christi and I'm a thrifting geek. Not just any thrifting, mind you. I prefer the dirty, you have to dig to find the good stuff and be careful not to loose a finger, kind of thrifting. Somehow the pretty stores with their treasures all lined up and dusted off just aren't doing it for me these days. Don't misunderstand me, you can still find lots of amazing things at the pretty places but I need to feel like I earned it. Besides, I believe these things are on a sort of death row for junk and that every piece I buy is saving a lovely from the landfill, which makes me extra happy. 
One of my favorite hangouts lately is the Goodwill Outlet Center, also known around town as "The Bins". That's right, they sell the things that didn't make the cut at the regular Goodwill. (Frightened yet?) Honestly you can find some pretty amazing things here but you have to be willing to dig for them and deal with some seriously aggressive shoppers. And guess what? Everything in the store is $1.39 a pound. Nice, huh? You fill your shopping cart up, roll it onto a large scale, and that's that. If you're looking for the Goodwill Outlet near you I suggest checking out this site. (That's what I did prior to the last family road trip! More about that later.) Also, I have a few hints and tips to keep in mind. First and foremost, be careful! These bins are loaded with stuff and there is no organization whatsoever. You could be reaching for an embroidered linen tablecloth and not see the broken glass sitting just underneath it. Broken glass, knives, and sharp objects of all kinds are all over the place so be on the lookout. Some people wear gloves to protect themselves but I find that they just make me clumsy and that I'm safer without them. You'll have to decide what works best for you and go for it.
You should also be prepared for some serious funk. Yes, pack the hand sanitizer but don't fool yourself, it's likely you'll run into a few things that your handy dandy cleaning gel isn't going to be able to help you with. I have come across live bugs, rotten food, dirty diapers, and even a dead rat. Just when you think you've seen it all you will find yourself surprised, that I can assure you. If you're still interested then I suggest you make your way to a Goodwill Outlet immediately. And when you do, please drop me a line and let me know how it went. I just can't wait to hear all about it!
