Goodwill, Badwill, Questionable-will — Putting The Chug in Chugga-Chugga-Choo-Choo

by Katy on April 28, 2014 · 21 comments

I was feeling a bit housebound yesterday, so I headed over to my local Goodwill “to look for weird stuff to photograph.” Oddly, none of my beloved family members took up the offer to accompany me.

Oh well, their loss . . .

Although I didn’t come across any spectacularly bizarre items, I was taken aback by this train/shot glass holder. Although, now that I’m looking it the photo a bit closer, I think the smoke stack may be the spout to liquor storage.

So . . . multi-purpose?

Is the goal of this item to bring little boys away from their Thomas The Tank obsession and into a life of alcoholic binge drinking?

Chugga chugga choo choo

I think that this questionable-will item puts the “chug” in chugga-chugga-choo-choo!

Shot glasses

Of course, no Goodwill trip would be complete without the obligatory florist-marbles-glued-onto-crap item. Please people, this is ugly and needs to stop.

Please.

Glass monstrosity

I was drawn to this Tom Selleck Walk-of-Fame commemorative plate. I never was a Magnum P.I. fan, but I’m starting to appreciate the 1980’s memorabilia.

“Say hello to my little mustache!”

Selleck plate

My sister has accused me of having a lamp hoarding problem, to which I say, “So what?!” Look how adorable this sweet basket holding maiden is! And priced at $5, she’s a bargain. Sure, she’s in need of some rewiring services, but I always pick up free ugly lamps simply for their wiring guts.

maiden lamp

“Why did you not buy me Katy? Is it because your sister has lamp-shamed you?’

detail shot

I was grossed out by this Margarita Oasis Unitasker. Such a huge behemoth of a ridiculous appliance. Taking up sooo much room, yet hopefully hardly ever used. (If you’re drinking daily margaritas, then kitchen counter space is far from your biggest problem.)

And check out the price:

$59.99!

Puh-leez! Why manufacture something that can only serve a single purpose?

Margarita oasis

It’s a rare treat for me to buy a coffee, but I did pick one up while grocery shopping after my thrifting adventures. And since I paid for it using an empty Starbucks coffee beans bag given to me by a reader, the only cost was a 50¢ tip.

Katy like free. And better than a choo-choo train shot of tequila any day of the week.

Coffee

Have you come across any odd or wonderful thrift shop items lately? Please share in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

Jennifer N April 28, 2014 at 11:37 am

I saw something at GW a couple weeks ago that I would have taken a picture of to share on the fb group had I been in possession of my phone. It was really creepy looking (similar to the thing you posted a few weeks ago) and not something I could imagine ANYONE having a place for in their home. But now that I think about it, I don’t think it was still there the last time I was over there so someone must have. And yes, I totally agree that the florist marbles thing has to stop (though it may have already and people just keep digging the stuff up out the depths of their basements/attics/closets.)

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Karen April 28, 2014 at 2:55 pm

My last trip to GW served up a pair of George and Barbara Bush slippers, as in president Bush and his wife. I wish I had taken a pic of them, but alas. But picture them in your mind: big fluffy slippers, the top of each one made to resemble a twin bed. Tucked in bed on the left slipper was George; tucked in bed on the right slipper was Barbara. To say these were the strangest slippers I’ve ever beheld is an understatement. Even their expressions were…disturbing! I couldn’t figure out who exactly would appreciate them–surely not either supporters or detractors.

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Michelle April 28, 2014 at 6:50 pm

I totally would have got them. Please go back and buy them for me. I would gladly pay you for them. My mum is so anti the Bushes I would give them to her as a Christmas present. Every time I find something with George on it, I send it to her.

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Karen April 29, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Funny! I had no idea people collected Bush things, but I shouldn’t be surprised.

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Carla April 28, 2014 at 6:31 pm

Wait, how did you get free Starbucks?

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Katy April 28, 2014 at 6:54 pm

The bags from grocery store Starbucks beans can be brought into any Starbucks location for a free drip coffee.

Katy

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Maggie April 29, 2014 at 9:58 am

Seriously? I’ve been throwing mine out like a chump!

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Denise Ellen Pedroza April 28, 2014 at 9:41 pm

And no one wanted to walk to GW with you, shocking!!

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NMPatricia April 29, 2014 at 9:48 am

So, I give up. How is the Margarita maker different from a blender? Just wondering.

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Maggie April 29, 2014 at 9:59 am

It comes in fun colors and is labeled as a margarita maker. I think that’s it. My uncle had one and got really mad at me for using it for smoothies while I was there- I could not tell the difference.

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Maggie April 29, 2014 at 9:57 am

I found three GoodMama diapers at our local thrift store, thrown in with the kid’s undies. GoodMamas are EXPENSIVE and these were in pretty good condition. I paid 50 cents each, and I can resell them for about $18 each.
I also bought Hubby a pair of pants that he has worn every. single. day. since I brought them home. He bugs me to wash the dang things every night. They were $3, but considering he’s now worn them for two weeks straight, I would say they were worth it.
I also found a pair of Stride Rite shoes for my son that are two sizes too big, but are EXTRA WIDE!!!! Secondhand shoes are a no-no for my little bigfoot, because they’re all too narrow, but SR has the extra wide option that fits well. I may have shrieked a little in the aisle as I grabbed the shoes. I’m not even mad that I have to store them for a few months!

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Karen April 29, 2014 at 3:39 pm

Katy, can I ask which Goodwill you were at? I have a friend with a huge crush on Tom Selleck and I would love to buy this plate for her. I live in Portland. Thanks!

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Katy April 29, 2014 at 5:53 pm

It was at the main Goodwill on S.E. Grand.

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Katie May 13, 2014 at 6:58 pm

Sweet! I’m so glad Tom is headed to a loving home.

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Practical Parsimony April 29, 2014 at 5:21 pm

I walked into a friend’s antique store and stepped into the back room, almost fainting as I saw what I knew was Waterford Crystal. My hands shook and I could barely breathe as I tried not to hurry. Yes, there was the inscription and a price tag of $11. The next week, I was having a yard sale with two professor friends in Birmingham. There was a Waterford Crystal box, no guessing here, that had never been opened, marked $9. (The prices may have been swapped in my mind since then.)

Later, I sold them for $75 to an attorney friend who was going to give them to his daughters for Christmas gifts. (One day, I saw him stop on the interstate to pick up a bucket…lol.) At any rate, lots of people were happy, especially me.

I knew I was going to the yard sale in B’ham and could sell quirky things. I stopped about 5:30 on a Friday afternoon and found a pale green 1950s men’s urinal with the factory sticker on it and paid a quarter. At the yard sale, I sold it for $8.

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Practical Parsimony April 29, 2014 at 5:24 pm

Oh, meant to say, the prof got the Waterford from the university for some sort of recognition and does not like Waterford.

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Karen April 29, 2014 at 7:54 pm

Super, thanks!

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Barb @ 1SentenceDiary April 30, 2014 at 6:44 am

Every time I stop at the thrift store, I now see the themed savings banks. I never used to notice them until you pointed them out, and now I can’t stop seeing them at every thrift store. Why are there so many of them?

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Katie April 30, 2014 at 10:37 am

Finally, a train toy I can get for my young son that will grow with him into his college years.

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Katy April 30, 2014 at 12:26 pm

Love it!

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Katy (France) May 17, 2014 at 12:56 pm

Just wanted to say that what you consider to be shot glasses in the USA would be digestif glasses over here in France, whereby you serve a small amount of liqueur at the end of a meal for your guests before they leave/go to bed, to finish off the meal and give everyone sweet dreams! That train would go down a treat over here..although I personally don’t need ANY more clutter!! 😀

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