If you’ve followed our blog over the past year, you already know the recipe: Goodwill + Katie B + me (with John behind the camera) = pure silliness. This time we decided to go full supermarket-sweep: racing through the store and tossing anything that looked fun into the cart. We captured the chaos in a single, unedited take—no cuts, no do-overs. John hit record and we just talked, laughed, and riffed until we ran out of breath. It was so long we had to split the footage across both of our blogs. Think of us less as two grown-up moms and more as two over-excited teens who get giddy over thrift-store finds.
We put the video up for anyone who wants the full walkthrough and commentary. A few quick notes before you watch:
- People walked by while we filmed and the store intercom even went off, but no one asked us to stop—nice, laid-back staff made it comfortable for us to film.
- For the record: I’m noticeably shorter than Katie. Yes, short-girl problems are real.
- I convinced Katie to buy two books, so expect a short book review from me around the 2:30 mark of the video.
- There are some unintentionally hilarious pronunciations and slips of the tongue—those little moments are what make the video fun and authentic.
- We apologize in advance for any historical ignorance or gaffes; we were having too much fun to be scholars that day.
- Katie gave a surprisingly earnest tip about dusting jewelry boxes, which was a charmingly random moment.
- We confirmed the urn we found was empty.
- I misidentified colors at one point, calling brown details blue—no idea why, sometimes your brain just does that.
- For more of our antics and the second half of the video, be sure to check the other blog where we continued the mayhem and coined a few catchy phrases like “put a basket on it.”
For those who can’t watch the video, here are some of the things we found and ideas for how to use them around the home. First up was a ceramic urn or vase that we staged in a tiny vignette on a dresser. We paired it with a colorful stack of books—Katie removed the shiny dust jackets to reveal softer, beach-glass-colored bindings—added a few rice bowls and a white ceramic owl, and suddenly the shelf looked curated instead of random.
Because the back of the shelf wasn’t pretty, we held up a fabric piece (originally a dress) to act as a backdrop. That little trick instantly makes a display look styled and intentional.
Another inexpensive find was a dress priced under a dollar that could easily be turned into a decorative pillow with minimal sewing. Clothing like that can be a great source for fabric in DIY projects.
Katie also discovered a giant coffee table book for just a few dollars—perfect to leave open on a table to showcase a striking photograph. In the sporting goods aisle we found an old racket and colorful croquet mallets that would make fun wall decor in a playroom or den when displayed with frames and other objects.
We dug up a small ceramic Napoleon piece that only needed a little cleaning—one easy trick is using hydrogen peroxide on an old toothbrush to brighten white ceramics. An ornate jewelry box with nautical details was another score; if the motif doesn’t match your style, the glass pane on the top can be removed and replaced with fabric or decorative paper for a fresh look.
A giant polka-dot queen sheet could be transformed into placemats, a table runner, or pillows. A shallow wooden dish would be perfect for holding nuts, small craft supplies, or daily odds-and-ends like keys and change. I’m also obsessed with collecting little vintage Easter figurines and spray-painting them in bright modern colors for an updated, playful display.
Small practical finds included a yellow basket ideal for silverware at a picnic or hand towels in a bathroom, and a bright green serving dish that works great for snacks or soaps. We also spotted a toothbrush holder shaped like a bone that could double as a bud vase—the holes in the top act like a floral frog to hold stems steady. A preppy ceramic cup with a repeating dog pattern would be cute as a desk utensil holder.
One of my purchases was a large metal bowl—perfect for spray-painting a bold color and using for storage of ribbons, wrapping supplies, or anything that needs corralling. Lightweight woven trays can be used as simple, affordable wall art either in their natural finish or painted a soft metallic or pastel hue.
We also found a big Crate & Barrel popcorn bowl that would make a fun themed gift when filled with popcorn, a soda, and a movie card. I picked up some handmade pottery pieces with touches of blue inside—creamer jars make sweet single-flower vases and sugar containers are handy to keep tea bags or other small items near the counter.
A couple of vintage suitcases could be used for storage—tuck one under a side table or use a colorful one in a child’s room for toys and art supplies. Finally, we couldn’t resist one delightfully cheesy item that made us laugh and ultimately became a gift for a family member with school spirit.
Here’s a quick list of what I took home from that trip:
- The lime green cheese tray
- A giant Lipton Sun Tea glass jar
- A large metal bowl I plan to spray a bright color
- A wooden truck for storing crayons (DIY project coming soon)
- Handmade creamer and sugar containers with a pop of interior blue
So what about you? What treasures have you found at Goodwill or other thrift stores? Favorite categories include dishes, bowls, kid-friendly items that can be repurposed, or unique decor pieces. It’s a Thursday morning—let’s share our best thrift-store finds and DIY ideas.
Psst: if you enjoy our silly videos and thrift-hunting antics, we have plenty more of these goofy collaborations and styling adventures on the blog.