Goodwill Gold

I scored a big win today at Goodwill in OC. Two, actually

First, I’ve been looking for some kind of multi-slot organizer for receipts and mail and such to keep by the front door. Of the five retailers I’ve visited in the last week, only one had what I wanted, for about $17 … which ain’t happenin. The other solution was 2-3 magazine files … $3 each for ugly plastic or $6 apiece for heavy-duty cardboard, or $10+ for leather, bamboo, fabric, etc. Yeah, right!

Three-Fourths of the Quartet - $5 for the set at Goodwill!

Off to Goodwill instead. I had to dig about, but there it was … a sturdy, wooden, three-section mail sorter … at least 12″x8″, with cutouts for three photos in the front too! Best part, only 5 bucks. Yahoo! It’s gonna take some cleaning, and I want to paint it, but more on that for another post.

Anyway, here’s the real winner. After unearthing the mail sorter, I wandered a bit more to see if there was anything else I “needed” … I’m a bargain hunter, what can I say? A quartet of ceramic figures caught my eye from an endcap, and I grabbed them for a closer look. Four chubby, mustached little chefs, just like those on my kitchen clock and towels and pot holders! I knew I had to have them, but I also knew my dear hubby would scold me about the $9.99 price tag. Nonetheless, I carried them around as I meandered a bit more, unwilling to part with my find just yet.

The head chef, perhaps?

Finally, I approached the checkout and mentally prepared myself to hand the chefs over with the words, “I’ve decided not to get these,” when I saw the half-price sticker of the day. I’d hardly dared to hope that my little quartet would be the right one, but there it was! The colors matched! For just $5 instead of $10, I had to get these guys, and ask forgiveness from the hubby later

BTW, as enamored as I am by new kitchen inhabitants, I must admit I’m not sure of their intended purpose. Their hats are actually little corks, so obviously they’re meant to store something, but what?