A Holiday Note from “The Diva” By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I become reflective with the turning of the leaves and the fast approach of the holidays. During this time I am reminded of the days and things and people that colored my 2011 canvas. It was an amazing, pigheaded and magical year. As this last month continues to wane, I look back on the year with a bit of reflection, much gratitude and the hope for a bright future. Reflection. I reflect on what I have learned. Ah…so much. Yet, I still wonder why the lessons are so bumpy. Not that my awareness is limited... Read More

Christmas Decorating with the Thrift Talk Diva By Barb Tobias, NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I know, I know. It\’s just November…I mean the Thanksgiving stuff isn\’t out and my holiday meal isn\’t even organized. Yet, here I am planning my Christmas decorations. My rationalization is this … it takes me a month or two to orchestrate the festive bedecking of my home in the spirit of frugal yet chic décor. I enjoy this creative holiday endeavor, and dive into producing grand arrangements with gusto. After all, I am a collector of orphans … the savior of parts … creatively... Read More

Clutter Magnets … And, their thrifty solutions! By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert Think of your home as a walk in the forest. Do you walk through an orderly, sun dappled landscape covered with fern and fauna, gazing up at towering trees with playful wildlife scampering past? Or, is your walk a study in navigation … through debris, fallen trees, broken branches and tangled undergrowth? We all want that serene, organized home that is a pleasure to walk through. However, if you are anything like me, you\’re probably suffering from an abundant collection of junk that insists... Read More

Living Life on the Cheap … A Green Case for Shopping Thrift By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert Years ago, after I got over myself, and realized that where I shopped didn’t define me, I actually allowed myself to love the art of thrifting. I’ve always been a blissful shopper and I took great thrill in discovering the vast array of treasures hidden beneath the rubble of someone else’s discards. The hunt became my game. Another motivation was the simple fact that during that frugal discovery period … I was broke. Therefore, the realization that I could buy fabulous things for... Read More

Just a Little Love Affair with Thrift By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert I am the queen of the unwanted; a collector of “orphans.” The truth is … I simply love to thrift! Over the years I\’ve embraced the flawed, snatched up rejects others snootily passed over, delighted in the blemished and greedily coveted any object that is defined or distinctive. Like metal to magnets, garage sales, consignment shops and thrift stores continue to lure me into their murky depths. And, on any given day I can be found contentedly combing through the shelves and musty boxes within... Read More

Come on … Celebrities Holding Garage Sales? By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert What do Barb Tobias (The “Thrift Talk” Diva), Tori Spelling and Carol Burnett have in common? We all have yard sales! Yes, it is true. Six degrees of separation be damned! I\’m in good stead. I was stunned to learn, after reading numerous reports on People.com, Omg.com, and Thefrisky.com, that real celebrities were raising serious money through holding all types of sales; garage sales, tag sales, yard sales, porch sales, divorce sales, downsizing sales, moving sales…and are now moving... Read More

Tips & Tricks to Shopping Thrift By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert Ahhh, the “thrifting season” is in full swing! What a glorious time of year for the ardent thrift shopper. Now is the time for those serious about treasure hunting to pull up their bootstraps, hone their tracking skills and beseech the garage sale fairies for a bit-o-luck. It took me quite a few years, and many mistakes, to become an astute thrifter; spotting the treasures beneath the tarnish and figuring out how to bargain with a gentle hand. When I started hitting garage sales, some thirty odd... Read More

77 Year Old Woman Makes a Difference by Holding Garage Sales By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert Rochester Hills, Mich: Neighborhood gives back for 19th year Here’s a tip: When visiting Joanne Marcil’s home, watch your stuff. Just ask her husband, Ray, who left a jacket lying around. Joanne grabbed it and sold it at her community’s Make A Difference Day flea market. When Ray later asked her about it, she just smiled. The project began in 1992 as a garage sale, raising $150 to buy high chairs for a soup kitchen. Marcil, 77, had such a good time she enlisted family and friends... Read More

Thrift Shopping Your Way to Wealth By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert People often question why I continue to thrift shop … after all, I have more than everything I need. I guess it boils down to my love of the hunt.   I love to scour the thrift shops and garage sales for items that can be made into something else. I enjoy creating new things out of old or used items. After all, I am a Diva and I love to change my environment … often. I’m past worrying about whether I’ve made a purchasing mistake because I hold a Diva Sale at least once a year where I sell my “mistakes”... Read More

Thrift Has Come Of Age By Barb Tobias NABBW’s Thrifting Expert Times are changing. Back-alley thrifting is making its move onto Main Street, determined to stand front and center. Thrift shopping, utilizing secondhand products and conscious waste management are now in vogue. The early apologetic days are over. Thrifting has become a smart and environmentally responsible way of life. Whether the swing was due to the downward spiral of the economy or to a nation answering the call to live consciously, Americans have begun to see the wisdom in buying recycled goods. Thrift shops are booming,... Read More