Some things are just meant to be. On the day I arrived in Houston, I received a lovely email from a woman named Elisa, welcoming me and offering help and friendship. Elisa and her husband are retired long-term Houstonians who immigrated years ago. Last week, I finally took Elisa up on her offer and the kids and I headed out for a blind-friend-date for lunch and thrifting, and returned home feeling enriched, intrigued and inspired! AND like I finally found a friend here!
Elisa, as it turns out, has been reading The Spirited Thrifter for a while and found me through Adina of Blue Collar Red Lipstick! So now my dream is that Adina visits and we all go thrifting together and have a grand time!
We had a great lunch at a Houston institution (I now know), The Buffalo Grille which had offerings for breakfast, lunch, seafood, gluten-free diets, picky eaters and everything in between! Elisa and her hubby were so kind and patient with my kids, had little gifts for them and are living what I consider to be an inspiring life! They are both scientists who had second careers late in life (a little slice of humble pie for yours truly and my “woe is me I can’t be an OT here“ sitch). Elisa went to law school at night in her fifties and went on to have a long and successful career as an attorney! Just wow. In her retirement, she befriends bloggers (!), paints stunning art, upcycles her clothing and does DIY projects around their home, makes jewelry, grows orchids and I bet a whole lot more but that’s just what we managed to chat about during our (first) visit.
She also gifted me with a beautiful pair of earrings that I can’t wait to wear and another pair of pearl danglies that my daughter adores!
I truly love meeting and getting to know people like Elisa because that is how I aspire to be – welcoming, outgoing, interesting and interested. I cannot wait to spend more time with her and her hubby who was equally as charming and lovely, though he declined the opportunity to go thrifting with us following lunch!
We headed to a nearby little thrift store, the Christian Community Service Center’s Sunshine Resale Shop. As is common for little charity thrift shops, Sunshine runs primarily on dedicated volunteers and serves to benefit their various services and ministries in the community.
There was a significant amount of furniture, antiques and housewares with fair to low prices…
The prices generally seemed a bit high for little thrift, however, given the benefits of spending your money here as opposed to a regular retail store or for-profit thrift store, they may be worth it.
There was a little of everything from toys, to books, records and clothing…
And there were plenty of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories! Again, some seemed priced high but they were still cheaper than regular retail and of course, by buying secondhand you avoid the fast fashion cycle.
Like I said, there were some high prices for higher end brands but the base price for pieces was reasonable – e.g., $10 for dresses – and there were some nice pieces…
Though I only took home a couple of items, I will plan to return to CCSC’s Sunshine Resale Store, particularly to keep an eye on furniture and decor for my giant Texas house. I would have never known it about it if not for Elisa and I am so grateful (again!).
Thank you Elisa for everything! I cannot wait to get together again!
xoxo
Nicole
8 Comments
Enjoy reading your thrifting stories. I have found some good buys since I have been reading your column and doing what you do. My neighbor likes thrifting as well so we sometimes go together.
That is wonderful!! Once you start, you get hooked! It’s a fun, relaxing and inexpensive hobby!
Fantastic! Next time you’re in that area, check out the Bellaire St. Vincent’s thrift that’s nearby on Cedar street. Hoping for a thrift date!
Good to know!! And YES as soon as the kids start school next week, we are ON! I can’t wait to go back to Family Thrift, uninterrupted!!
Thank you Nicole for your kind words. My husband and I had a great time with you and your children, and feel honored that you now count us among your friends. I look forward to our next thrifting adventure! And nuestra casa es tu casa…
My pleasure!! xoxox
In case nobody else has identified that thing, it’s a pachinko machine – kind of a Japanese cross between pinball and a slot machine. Fun, in a weird sort of way.
(Long time reader, first time commenter … I think!)
Well thanks for clarifying that AND for reading AND for commenting!! Always makes my day!