b l o g o r e l l i

Super Secret Thrift Store Saturday!

Now, The Prof is basically the best boyfriend any quirky girl could ever hope for...he brings flowers, helps clean up after dinner, and pretends to like the BKP. However, when he told me that he had an ALL DAY surprise planned for a Saturday a few weeks ago, I didn't know what to expect. Eight hours of buying unisex novelty t-shirts? Him feeding me Del's until I brain froze into unconsciousness? No one could predict where we were headed upon leaving the house at 10:11 am.

But I never expected, natch dreamed, of...SUPER SECRET THRIFT STORE SATURDAY!!!

Now, there are 10 Salvation Army Thrift Stores in the small but pleasant state of Rhode Island. Upon getting into the car, The Prof informed me that my surprise day would include visiting ALL of them (time permitting.) He had the addresses and mapped out a route (directions included) from one to the next in a geographically advantageous order.

<Scream of delirious happiness> AHHHHHHHH!!!!

Before 6 pm, we managed to visit six stores. The seventh, in Newport, I had been to before and the place held little allure to merit a return trip. In fact, Half Pint and Mr. Car accompanied me on the original mission, and within one minute of entering the store, the clerk started hacking uncontrollably. "I'm sorry," Mr. Car said, "but I must exit because I think I just got tuberculosis." And that pretty much summed up how we all felt at that moment.

But our Saturday went splendidly, and we ended it in at the Wickeden Street Pub, drinking cold beers and watching the Red Sox/Yankees game. Yes, this was a "reward" for The Prof after he was such a patient good sport ALL DAY.

Just because you didn't ask, here's my analysis of our SSTSS...store by store:

Store #1 -- 30 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI
PROS: possibly the largest thrift store that I've ever shopped in (5 floors!), big furniture selection, ok housewares
CONS: clothes a little pricey
BUYS: one 1970s sad-eyed puppy statue, set of glazed dishes made in Japan, vintage postcards, hilarious card for A Classic Girl's baby shower
BONUS: I liked the feel of the town's past as an industrialized factory center. If the time had been later, I might have insisted we find a diner for lunch. Also, Frankie Nacho's girlfriend lives in "the Woon."

Store #2 -- 558 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, RI
PROS: nice little store with the possibility of that golden "A HA!" find, some interesting furniture and housewares (framed art, etc)
CONS: clothes a little pricey but lots of good brands
BUYS: red designer cotton summer skirt, vintage thermos for collection

Store #3 -- 6835 Post Road, North Kingston, RI
PROS: lots of housewares and unworn brand name shoes
CONS: a little pricey overall
BUYS: pair of navy blue Dr. Scholls Original Women's Wood Exercise Sandal (unworn)
BONUS: Right next to the cutest (though monied) little RI seaside town of East Greenwich, possibly explaining all the great unworn castaways= fickle rich ladies

Store #4 -- 1121 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI
PROS: some unexpectedly good artwork and furniture but you'd have to really hit the timing right and dig for a serious find
CONS: not very clean or organized
BUYS: vintage thermos for collection (I know, big day for the thermos collection)
NOTE: I was pretty tired by this point so my analysis could be skewed by hunger and the mustiness making my contacts dry. After this store, we ate lunch at Fresh City  and I put on my glasses so I was in a much better mood for store #5.

Store #5 -- 1895 Smith Street, North Providence, RI
PROS: not a lot as we got there only 15 minutes before closing and I didn't get a chance to really look around, although ok shoe finds and vintage books are a possibilty since I saw some of both that interested me
CONS: bitchy salespeople ordering me out of sections even though it wasn't closing time yet, not that clean, in a slightly sketch neighborhood
BUYS: nada

Store #6 -- 201 Pitman Street, Providence, RI
PROS: large (although on one floor), large selection of furniture and electronics, possibly good clothing but haven't full investigated
CONS: could be picked over by the RISD crowd
BUYS: none
NOTE: I've been to this store with The Prof before, and the place reminds me of one of my favorite Salvation Army Thrift Stores in Norwood, OH, that sold almost exclusively furniture, housewares, and electronics; I could spend hours there. So I think this store has unexplored potential for the serious time investor.

As noted, we did not visit the store at 76 Broadway, Newport, RI and we still have three more stores before I can say I've visited every Salvation Army Thrift in the state of RI -- I'm so excited for SSTSS2! To keep The Prof occupied, we started a car game to count all the Dunkin' Donuts we saw during our travels.

Sickeningly (to me,) the final count ended up as:
30 DD stores
1 DD Center (Providence)
6 Del's (I started counting these because I got tired of looking for DDs)

Dear Mom, Camp's Good...Send Soap

Rarely do I come across someone who requests that people help her amass a collection of more useless objects than I have in my trunk right now...but Philadelphia artist Jill Greenberg has one-upped me. "She and 20 others nationwide are participating in the Accumulation Project...The brainchild of a Brooklyn collective called Other Leading Brand, the project has each artist choosing to collect a particular something (plastic bags, opinions, gum, yellow things) for one year and then using the raw materials in an exhibition slated for New York in the fall."

(Uh, am I subconsciously taking part in this project as well? That could explain a lot.)

Anyway, Greenberg has been collecting used soap slivers from people around the country and arranging intricate mosaics from the pieces. Her reasoning? Each sliver is uniquely imprinted (physically) with the user's hand size/motion and the peculiarities of use each of us has during our daily showering ritual. Plus, she wants to know: how do people decide when a bar becomes useless? If only I'd kept that bar of Ivory my brother left behind after his most recent visit...Freud case study, anyone?

Plus, she documents her sudsy search (heh) on the Accumulation Project's blog.

Although I do have a bar of rose scented Two Girls' soap that could eventually find its way to Greenberg (Jill Greenberg, 1440 E. Baltimore St., Apt. A3, Baltimore, Md. 21231,) my contribution would be nothing compared to what Half Pint's stepdad already passed on:

"And Sheldon, of Bar Harbor, Maine, sent an 11-pound box of half-used bars of Irish Spring, found among his mother's possessions when she died in 1996. Since '96, the Goldthwaits had presented the soap collection to each new bride in the family for good luck, and the collection remained essentially intact..."

My favorite line, though, is the last in the article: "She previously worked in dandelion fluff."

Priceless.

(below: a soap mosaic, made by placing the slivers on a piece of velvet -- they're not attached and as such, the work really cannot be moved. photo from Philadelphia Enquirer article cited above.)

Five Finger Discount

Don't get too excited, the title doesn't refer to a recent arrest, but rather a new technique that I'm attempting to apply as I clean out my wardrobe for spring: Shopping in My Closet . This term is originally from...ah, who knows?...but I read it in an InStyle magazine article a few months ago. Basically (and this fits with my new "Live Italian in Somerville" mindset,) the process is to thoroughly clean out the closet and pare down to the most versatile and stylish items. Then proceed to put together outfits and maybe take some Polaroids for memory's sake. Simple.

...but how does a normal, non-total-fashionista tackle this project?

When I was at the laundromat this weekend, Vogue had a story about Rachel Zoe , "stylist to the stars." She's responsible (good or bad, ahem) for looks we've seen on Nicole Ritchie, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson. She has full-on "methods" for assessing a client's closet and knowing immediately what items can be mixed, what should go, and what needs to be purchased. She also charges $6,000/hr(!) The article went on to state that stylists have replaced assistants as the "It" helpers for NYC socialites. In fact, I don't know how I could dare to leave my apartment this morning after styling (HA!) myself...why, my underpants could be on my head right now and I wouldn't know any better.

Since we all know how stylish  that I think Bostonians aren't, I decided to look for some local talent to guide me in my nouveau-riche-inspired closet revamp. Stop #1: Santorelli-Moore , a duo who worked at LouisBoston and supposedly could dress me in "ensembles for a weeklong wedding itinerary in India as easily as they can muster up stain-friendly attire for a new mom."

Despite the positive publicity, they don't have a website (that I could find.) However, what I now call "the Polaroid option" was mentioned: "They’ll create a photo scrapbook and guide to help you navigate the murky waters of skirt suits and slip dresses."

Stop #2 was more fruitful: Emily Neill of Closet Smarts actually emailed me back AND she has ads on the T (?) According to her website, she is currently prego, so perhaps she would be a better consultant for Cho, but her reply gave me more of an idea what to expect for the $300 fee. Most of the 4-6 hours involves her going through my closet and me trying everything so that eventually we can style 'the best possible version of me." I thought this person was only achievable through bourbon, but apparently Emily has faith that the power of fashion can top sloppy drunkedness in making me chic and witty (looking.)

After the weeding (and I hope, God forbid, at least one cocktail,) she takes digipics [aha! the Polaroid thing, AGAIN] and helps the client make a shopping list. She'll go shopping with you, but the time costs extra. Note to all of my female friends: I am not paying you to go shopping with me -- no matter how painful the process -- so don't get any ideas..

But naturally, being on the Budget and carrying extra monthly expenses because of Wundercabinet's storage space, I can't have anyone make my closet smarter except me. But following this guide to Shopping In Your Closet, I am going to attempt the project myself in the next few nights.

And if nothing else, then the used copy of The Lucky Shopping Manual that I picked up at the thrift store a few weeks ago looks like a great reference. Also, these three books seem like excellent weapons for my new "mission":

- In Style: Secrets of Style : The Complete Guide to Dressing Your Best Every Day
- The Pocket Stylist : Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look
- Ready To Wear : An Expert's Guide to Choosing and Using Your Wardrobe

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(Below, most-hated trends, probably started by a stylist: big clowny sunglasses a.k.a. "the Mary-Kates", oversized hobo bags, boots tucked into jeans, or "ass bouquet" as Bobby Crocker nicknamed the trend, Vera Bradley...ok, I just f-ing hate these purses and even if a stylist isn't responsible, someone is and she should be tortured for this epidemic on fashion. One I thought of after making this collage: tiny dogs as accessories. Harumph.)

A Little Room To Breathe

My dearest,

Ever since realizing that I was *truly and wholeheartedly* devoted to you and that we could be a reality, you and I, we have been spending a lot of time together. In the mornings when I pad into the living room to get my morning protein shake in the kitchen, you're already there. Fresh, scrubbed up, waiting to greet me and make the start of my day cheerful. Sometimes we get tangled up in each other and I'm a little late leaving for work. No matter, just having you around is worth the stubbed toes and looks from my boss when I'm a little tardy getting to my desk in the a.m.

At night, whatever time I decide to come home, you are faithfully there. Silent, strong, very attractive. You never judge me if I'm a little late. We eat dinner together. Sometimes, I take photos of you and occasionally even share the best ones with my friends. You didn't know that, did you? Perhaps some affectionate secrets are better kept private. I say to them, "Look at the profile from this side – so irresistable!" and "It was a cheap thrill, but - oh! electric nonetheless!" I'm not usually a braggart, but I c-a-n-n-o-t help myself. You make me as giddy as a schoolgirl.

Even the BKP doesn't seem immune to your charms. She nudges you with her head, falls asleep next to you. You keep each other company during the long days. Your patience with her only deepens my attraction to your fine stylings.

Yes, you and I, we have spent a great three weeks together. But now I need something else. Space. No! No, it's not you, it's ME. I have uncontrollable urges. I'm stir crazy. I need cheap new things to keep my attention. Please don't look at me that way...this is the best for us both.

SO, while you unsuspectingly basked in the sun this past Saturday, I took control. I drove somewhere and got help. And then I came home...for you. I took you there and left. It was hard because you are actually pretty heavy, even with your many sleek contours. Oh, and of course because it made my heart heavy, whatever, you know, to say goodbye. But you'll be happy there, I promise. And I'll visit, too. No more loud late night drunken writing sing-alongs to disturb you. No more cat fur. I'll never "accidentally" kick you again.

We had a good run, but I gotta say: this space is the best thing I've done for my single self in years. Everyone has baggage. Now mine is just contained off-site.

Almost...there

Happy MLK Jr. Day

I'm off from the regular stint today, working fervently on the "second" job. Also, panel voting to pick the finalists for the Bloggies is this week. I'll be doing some updating on the "About" page...so, if you haven't already (or have new hair, new pet, new computer, or whatever) go and make a mini portrait icon and send it to me at: blogorelli@gmail.com for the "Who Reads" part of that page!

Experiment Nest + Bird = Success

So apparently, this "photo-sharing community" thing isn't going away anytime soon. Although I stubbornly resisted exploring the possibilities of using the technology for sharing my digipics, the time has come for acceptance. As such, I thought Flickr the perfect vehicle to show off my now one-year-old apartment in its now fully-realized glory (except the bathroom, which I just painted and is always a work-in-progress.)

Since I had to shed at least 45% of my total belongings to fit into the cozy nook I call "home", I understand the sacrifices one must make to thrive in Limited Spaces and think that anyone (even those with large floor plans+basement storage, you bastards) can take some inspiration from us who live the small life large (link via Half Pint.)

Without further delay, here's my tiny-yet-perfect nest. Click on the white outlined boxes to see special notes I've added — isn't technology just so handy?

i'm a pepper, you're a pepper...

everyone who knows me
knows that i love to collect old things.
some call it trash picking, some call it a sad illness, but i prefer to delude myself into beliveving that i'm anthropologically preserving our popular culture history while sprucing up my surroundings with interesting vestiges of the past. true, i've brought home some real dogs from the curbside (and the club -- hello!), but occasionally i feel a moment of gleeful triumph when something justifies one of my "collections."

such was my morale yesterday when i opened the oct issue of MSL (martha stewart living) and saw *2* members of my thermos collection featured in an article about campside dining!

after all, it's always trash night somewhere...

ps: a grateful "thank you" to the Typepad.com Help Desk (Brenna), who wrote me back swiftly and answered all my questions...including how to put up pictures in my posts!