Bargain Shoe Shopping - My Version...

 I've been wanting some new 'fun' shoes. (When don't I want some new shoes?)  

I had a certain style tan sneaker in mind.  But I couldn't find them...

not online (and not paying $70) and not at any shopping malls.

So - enter 'the next best thing'... Or 'I may have to compromise here'...

I happened to swing past a certain 'discount big box store' and my car turned in...

Oh my - they had some cute and super cheap shoes...

 

And the quality was just fine for what I wanted them for.

And look - tan casuals... and still some left in my size!

 Not sneakers - but they'll work - I'll take a pair of those... 

And... for just $6.97 they had these sneakers with the cutest lace detailing...
(I'm thinking with maxi skirts!)

I miss having red sneakers... so why not?

And at that price - may as well get a gray pair - I can use them too. 

So three pair  - plus a bar of dark chocolate (a kitchen staple)

for less than $30...  And all of them new and not thrifted... 

Woo Hoo!

I'm wearing my new tan casuals as I type.

Yep - it's gonna be a good summer!

 

Do your shopping trips ever go anything like this?  ~Joyce

My First Dumpster Dive...

I've done my share of scavenging at free piles and roadside finds...

 and have even pulled a goodie or 2 right out of a stranger's trash can.   

But hadn't ever taken all these antics to the 'dumpster diving' level.

  Can't say that anymore...

While taking a walk in my summer cottage neighborhood - 

I discovered a house that is newly 'for sale' (at least there are

 homemade signs at the windows) and being emptied...

On the far side of the cottage is sitting this innocent looking dumpster.  

 Of course I wandered over to take a peek...

 We've had lots of rain - so there is standing water in the bottom

 and piles of yuck and rust. See anything?
(there are several things - but I try to be sensitive to My Love's garage space...)

This is not quite how I spied it originally - but my interest was the blue can.  

It had been laying on its side with the lid slightly askew and I could see

 a bit of the contents.  It was those contents that intrigued me.  

So nervous as all get-out -  I drove back with my little step ladder

 and a long stick and climbed in...

Turns out the contents included some old feedsack fabric.   

It will need washing and I see some storage and age marks.

 Don't know if it was worth it or not - 

but I made the rescue and we'll see how they clean up.

I have a feeling that dumpster will be sitting there for a while.  

And I just may be revisiting.

Definitely my thrill for the day!

Have you ever actually 'dumpster dived' (dove)?  ~Joyce