Someone who loves shopping usually also loves finding a good deal.  I have learned that in order to appreciate a good deal, you truly have to love the hunt that leads you to the deal.  Most of my hunting occurs at my local Goodwill store.  Once a skeptic and non-believer, I’m now a fairly recognizable shopper at my local establishment.  I’m still not sure if I should feel proud or uncomfortable about this fact, but all of the employees I chat with at my store are super friendly and helpful.  If they are rolling their eyes at me each time I walk through the doors (typically two to three times a week), they’re at least giving me the courtesy of doing so behind my back.

In the midst of the holiday craziness of the month of December, I still managed to pop into the Goodwill about twice a week.  I will tell you, shopping for deals at the Goodwill requires two things (and they are absolutely mandatory): patience and time (even just a few spare minutes).  I will usually stop into my local store during my lunch hour during the week, just to get a feel for anything new on the shelves.  I always try to know what’s new or old and that helps a lot.  On a random Tuesday visit, all of the Christmas décor was 50% off so I spent a couple extra minutes really scouring that section, just in case, and it paid off.  I found an adorable, mini boxwood wreath for $4.50.  Now, this may seem like a simple little wreath, but the backstory is that I’d been looking for one to hang in my house above my kitchen window ever since I saw a photo of one on Pinterest a couple months ago, and that’s what makes this score so special.  The unexpected twist is that I received a beautiful, custom wreath hanger from a dear friend for Christmas, and since the wreath hanger was so nice I couldn’t imagine hanging it outside.  I have the perfect spot in the interior of my house for a mini boxwood wreath and hanger: a narrow closet door in my living room.