How to Thrift

   

Thrift advice from an expert

       I love to thrift. Mostly clothes, but I've been known to find a mean home decor item. I started thrifting because as a little girl I didn't feel confident in clothes from Justice or Hollister (where everybody else in elementary and middle school shopped). Jeans and shirts from Goodwill (my local thrift spot) were more comfortable for me. So I've shopped there ever since! 

       I would say that 80% of my closet is thrifted. I love searching for my next cute piece. My friends wonder how I find the pieces I do (humble brag). So, here I am! I am sharing some tips on how to thrift like an expert.

5 Tips for the Best Thrift

1. Have some ideas on what you want
• I find that going in with a few ideas helps me to not get overwhelmed. Sometimes, I'll be looking for Levi's or a black graphic tee. Having a general idea is good.
2. Don't expect to find replicas from Pinterest
• That being said, expecting a very specific item in mind will lead to disappointment. I have found myself going into Goodwill expecting Urban Outfitters. To avoid being discouraged, I recommend not having a SUPER specific piece in mind. Just observe what's already there.
3. Be ready to SEARCH
• People assume that I have a super power that makes me find good pieces. The truth is that I just spend a lot of time searching the store. You have to put some effort into looking through the racks and evaluating pieces in order to find clothes you love. It's part of the fun! It's like a treasure hunt!
4. Drift from section to section
• If you are in the shirt section and you just aren't feeling it, go unto the jeans. Or vice versa. I've found that traversing through the sections is more fun AND you find more. Don't pressure yourself into finding something specific (back to Tip #2).
5. Don't be discouraged
• Some days, you just don't find anything. I've been to several Goodwill's within a day and not find anything. It's just like that sometimes. But don't give up! I honestly think that thrifting is a bit of skill so you may need practice before you can score big. Or maybe it's just luck, and I'm being dramatic. Either way, you shouldn't give up!

Okay! I hope that some or all of these tips helped you in some way to achieve your best thrift. You got this!

-Addi

Biannual Book Review

Hey guys! It has been a hot minute. I don't know about y'all but 2020 has been pretty difficult for me. One thing that has helped me is to read! It's so nice to take a break from this world or gain a different perspective. I have read quite a bit so I am going to lump these into three categories: Comfort, Interesting, and Not My Fav. (Since there are a lot, I won't comment on each book.)

Let's get started!

Comfort

• Murder on Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• My first Agatha Christie book. Woohoo!
• A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
• Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
• The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
• Holy Crap! Sanderson can build these ultra-realistic fantasy worlds and wrap you in. This series is THICK so be prepared (like 1,000 + pages). But I really recommend them. 
• Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
• Yep, I reread Harry Potter. This was actually my first reread of the series! Of course I loved it. I particularly enjoyed books 4-7 this time.  
• Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
• Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling 
• Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
• Order of Phoenix J.K. Rowling
• Half Blood Prince J.K. Rowling
• Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly
• Honestly, this isn't the most fancy literature, but I really enjoyed it. 
• Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
• I LOVE this series so much!!! This was my 3rd time reading Truly Devious, 2nd time reading the Vanishing Stair, and 1st time on The Hand on the Wall. I own the physical copies of this series. That's how much I love them
• The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
• The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson
• The Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
• I sped through the Charlotte Holmes series so quickly! I loved the character development. It isn't often that we see a toxic, codependent YA romance evolve into a healthy, one. This was a great Sherlock spin off .
• The Girl Who Reads on the Metro by Christine Feret-Fleury
• I have NO idea how I found this little book, but it was amazing. Juliette inspired me to take the reins on my life and be brave. To heck with all the maybes!
• The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro
• The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavarallo
• A Question of Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro
• Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
• Oh man, the Percy Jackson series. One of the hallmarks of my childhood. I needed an easy, reliable series, and this went above and beyond. I had forgotten how hilarious and relatable Percy is. Such a great series.
• Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
• Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
• Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
• The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
• The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
• I love this scripture so much. I think this was my 5 or 6 reread. It brings me so much peace. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I am proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
• Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
• Wild Card by Marie Lu
• This book is cheesy and heavily inspired by Ready Player One. AND I still loved it. I wasn't a huge fan of Emika, but I'm a sucker for all things Japan.
• City of Ghosts by V.E. Schwab
• I figured out a couple chapters in that this was a middle school book, but it was an enjoyable read. I want to visit Edinburgh now.

Interesting

• Fences by August Wilson
• I read this play for English, and it was so good. I think it's important to read pieces from other people's perspectives to help you understand their struggles. Through this play, I understand the African American community more.
• Scythe by Neal Shusterman
• WHOA! This book was a trip. I felt very similar while reading Fahrenheit 451. It was interesting to be in this book's world for a while.
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Man, this book was wild. Bradbury was pretty spot on for how we would become dependent on electronics. Really made me evaluate how much time I spend on my phone. This was the first Classic I read on my own!
• How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
• Okay, call me a nerd, but I enjoyed reading this book for English. It shifted my view of reading Classic books COMPLETELY. I understand a lot more now, and Foster does an excellent job of entertaining while teaching.
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• This was another book I had to read for English. It brought a lot of questions and considerations to my mind on human nature.
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
• Another trippy book. I read this right before we started quarantine. It FREAKED me out. It was crazy to be reading about a global pandemic while it was happening in real life. The writing is beautiful, and I really recommend it. Though you may want to wait till after quarantine ends lol.
• Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
• Even though this was a book about aging and dying, I liked reading it and I am grateful to be more knowledgeable about it.
• How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
• And yet, another book that changed my perspective. This was a collection of stories and advice on how to be more mindful of your time, energy, and environment. It wasn't a traditional self-help book, but I loved it. I think I will purchase it.

Not My Fav

• Othello by Shakespeare
• I'm glad I read this, but I probably won't read it again. Othello annoyed me. If he would have just TALKED to Desdemona, things would have been different.
• The Naturals by Jennier Lynn Barnes
• The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
• I wasn't able to get too far into this books because of the language. Just didn't connect to the plot or characters either.
• The League of Delphi by Chris Everheart
• War Cross by Marie Lu 

Alright! I will update y'all in December with the second half of this year's reading. Don't worry. You'll hear more from me before then.

Stay Tuned!

Addi <3