The Downtown Xchange: Not Your Grandma's Thrift Store **GIVEAWAY**

Some of you are probably thrift store obsessed, as am I.  The majority of you though, probably cringe at the idea of going to a second hand store.  I had my own issues with it in the past.  

I had a family member who used to haul us in and out of flea markets and thrift junk stores all day long.  The smell of moth balls, body odor, and mold would seep into my nostrils and cling for dear life.

I would cringe when her truck would stop because I knew that she would undoubtedly purchase a garish sequinned shirt that was only missing a few SEVERAL of the sequins and I would be expected to wear it for the remainder of the day - thrift store stench and all.

It would be an exhausting day, and I would soon learn that good deals weren't all what they're cracked up to be - or at least that's the case when ones view of a good deal is significantly skewed.

With the birth of my first child I quickly realized how expensive it can be to keep up with trends, and when my budget left absolutely no room for wiggle seeking good deals became not only a chore but an adventure and a thrill.

Now that I have four sets of feet thumping through my house, I've learned some of the intricacies of good deal shopping, and I love it when I can pass those nuggets of hard earned knowledge on to you.

Recently I was introduced to a lovely lady who was in the process of opening a second hand store just a hop, skip, and a jump from my house.  She is passionate about what she does, and she only selects the best of the best to display and sell in her store.

As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even refer to her store as a thrift store.  If you walked in off the street without realizing that it showcased used items, it would probably take you a while to figure it out.

Her store has the appeal of an upscale boutique with the prices of a bargain basement, and GREAT NEWS:  It smells as great as it looks.  *GRIN*

In the initial photos of this blog you can see the brands and the prices on the original sales tags.  I showed up at her store unannounced and selected these outfits from the shelves.  There was no change of price to show off on my blog.  These are her true to life prices.

Doop is wearing a Harley Davidson shirt and Gymboree jeans.  The total cost for his look was $11.

Squiddy is wearing a GAP tank top and a Gymboree jean skirt.  The total cost for her look was $9.
Brand hounds?  I've even seen Coach purses on her racks!
Small business lovers:  This is owned and operated by a mom, and she even showcases handmade goods.
Anti-thrifters: I promise nobody will EVER know that you purchased second hand clothes because they're practically brand new.

Now is your chance to shop when you win one of three gift cards valued at $5 each.  This giveaway ends on  Thursday April 12, 2012.  Come back to this blog to see if you are one of the lucky winners!
The Downtown Xchange is located at 7 Broadway in Milton, PA.
You can reach them at 570-742-3232 or on their Facebook Page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All of the beautiful photos in this blog were provided by Mandy Hartman Photography.  Be sure to check out her Facebook Fan Page to see more shots of these clothes, upcoming giveaways, and more of Mandy's fabulous and affordable work.