A knowledgeable November 2025 to you, my fellow gifted thrifters and thrifty gifters! Third and last month of Fall, Cheshvan and Kislev of 5786, Native/Indigenous and Trans(gender) Month. Month of All Saints and All Souls Days, Daylight Saving Time, Election Day, Veterans Day, Trans Week, Trans Day Of Remembrance (TDOR), Native Day Of Mourning, and Thanksgiving.
I try to visit at least one local Goodwill when I travel, and I’ve been visiting family in Minnesota for the last few years. So I wanted to tell you about my first visit to a Goodwill in the Minneapolis area – Apple Valley, to be exact.
I went with my family member Donell – here we are after shopping until we dropped, as I awkwardly try to include some of the pretty pink flowering plants in the parking lot.
Donell collects maneki neko, Japanese beckoning or “lucky” cats – and we found TWO white ceramic ones in the tchotchke department! The big ones in the middle and on the left in the photo. They can both hold incense, flowers, and more. We also found this mouse play tree for one of her cats – who likes it best when the mice are sprayed with catnip.
My favorite finds for myself were a seashore-themed t-shirt, a mermaid-scale-print comforter, and a sign that says “I BELIEVE IN MERMAIDS”. Here are some of the seashore items I was tempted by but didn’t buy – seashells, starfish, the beach, an anchor, and mermaids.
One of the great things about Goodwill in Minnesota is that Target is headquartered in Minneapolis, and donates lots of NIP (new in package) merchandise. Including a selection of candy, with some of my family’s favorites. I’ve made a few more visits to the AV location, and will be writing about those here soon. In the meantime, join me here next month for my TENTH annual Mycroft’s Menorah Mishigas, as we celebrate Hanukkah, Hanumas and Chrismukkah.
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