It’s time to start planning your Halloween costume and Goodwill Industries of New Mexico has everything you need to get started. At Goodwill’s thrift stores, you can find a variety of items to help your creative juices flow and come up with a unique costume for all of your Halloween festivities.  You will also find items to decorate your house or front yard to attract more trick-or-treating zombies, ghost, and goblins. Whatever your Halloween needs are, you’ll be sure to find something to spice up your spooky holiday.

Grab your kids and head to local Goodwill store to find accessories and clothing to dress up them up as their favorite cartoon character or hero. Find clothing or material at Goodwill to easily transform into a cape, or add a striking piece of costume jewelry to your child’s princess attire. Give your kid’s the costume they desire without breaking the bank.

Transform into the most talked about couple at the Halloween party this fall, whether it be Barbie and Ken, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, or Peter Pan and Wendy. Goodwill has your flowing dresses for Wendy, a little red dress for Little Red Riding Hood and even a blonde wig to complete your Barbie costume. Don’t forget about your costume partner in crime! Goodwill has sports jackets for Ken, green pants for Peter, and fur coats for the Big Bad Wolf.

Plan a group costume and get the whole family involved!  Whether you want to dress up as Cruella de Vil and her Dalmatians, Gru and his Minions, or a menagerie of your favorite animals, Goodwill has lots of items to choose from to make your costume one to remember.
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And last but certainly not least! Check out Goodwill’s “Goodwill Halloween” Pinterest board for makeup tips, DIY accessories and costume ideas using items all found at Goodwill.  Transform into your own secret identity for the scariest night of the year! Visit a Goodwill near you today!

Pin it! 73 million Pinterest lovers are finding great ideas every day, and Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is doing their part to show you fun and affordable ways to beautify your surroundings. When you follow Goodwill Industries of New Mexico at pinterest.com/goodwillit, you’ll get the latest pins in fashion, music, home décor, and DIY ideas.  With multiple boards and thousands of options, you’ll find unique and fresh thrift store projects to spruce up your home.

On the Local Goodwill Finds board, find trendy pieces from top designers such as BCBG, Jou Jou, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Puma—and more! Keep these items in mind while you check out the Thrifted Fashion board which has all the latest trends in DIY fashion projects.  Here’s one idea: turn a men’s button-down shirt into a ladies’ blouse. Another: Repurpose a thrifted frame into fancy towel bar. Or simply even transform dated knick-knacks and figurines with a fresh coat of neon spray paint to bring into the modern era.

Soon-to-be-brides love Pinterest! Check out the DIY Wedding with Goodwill Finds board and find lots of fun ideas to decorate for your special day.  Making table runners is a breeze when you use thrifted doilies! Thrifted mason jars can also make a trendy centerpiece decorated with dozens of items you’ll find at Goodwill’s stores.

Whether you like a good fixer-upper or need some fashion inspiration, Goodwill has something for you.  Our Pinterest boards are full of inspiration to help get you started and point you in the best creative direction. 
                                                                                                                                                              
About the Author
Christina Chavez is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a degree in Communication.  She works as a blog writer in Albuquerque, New Mexico and enjoys writing for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico as she takes an interest in and job development and community service.

When the mercury in the thermometers starts jumping and New Mexico's monsoon season arrives (umbrellas, anyone?) it means that summer is in full swing. Yet, in typical fashion, everyone's favorite season will be gone before we know it. Enjoy the outdoors, stay cool, and look the part on the cheap by thrifting and upcycling unique pieces that will maintain their value long after the hot, lazy days are gone! Ready to take full advantage of this charming season?  Local thrift stores like Goodwill Industries of New Mexico offer one-stop shopping for all the supplies you need to buy, upcycle, and enjoy the perfect summer gear. Below, check out my top suggestions for maximum summer enjoyment.

There's one summer essential that no New Mexican can do without and that's access to a swimming pool. Whether you're hitting up  fantastic public spots or diving into your own private one, those poolside days add up, and so does the wear and tear on your suit. Keeping a few bathing suits in your wardrobe is a great idea so you’ll never have to skip a day in the water. Chlorine damages the thin material of swimsuits quickly and every year there's a new suit style to try out, so don't why spend an arm and a leg? Goodwill racks  supply a plenty of brand new suits in a variety of colors and cuts that keep you cool and your wallet full.

Have a little extra time on your hands this summer? Upcycling patio furniture allows you to match the style of your home easily and flex some creative muscles. There's a wealth of possibilities when it comes to refurbishing and repurposing the array of furniture found at thrift stores. A simple coat of outdoor paint to an old school wicker chair can instantly add life to the piece, while reupholstering furniture pieces can upgrade them from faded to fancy in no time. The best part? You can find fabrics and other crafting supplies on the cheap at Goodwill just as easily as you can find the right piece of outdoor furniture, so you save a few bucks on gas as well!

More of an indoor person during the heat of summer? Wait it out with board games, movies, books, and puzzles. Whatever you're in the market for this summer- chances are you can find it in the aisles of your neighborhood thrift store, so why spend more? If you're using those extra hours of daylight for productivity, Goodwill even offers a wealth of programs and trainings to develop job skills and more.

Questions? Get in touch! 

About The Author
Maggie Grimason is a blog writer living in Albuquerque, NM. She grew up in a family of social servants and teachers in northern Indiana and finds that blogging for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico satisfies creative energies as well as her commitment to ethical living and community service.

The savvy shopper can find a multitude of useful items at local thrift stores, and if you know what you're doing you can easily upcycle commonplace items found at Goodwill locations around New Mexico into unique and trendy home décor. Goodwill not only provides an awesome, inexpensive shopping environment, but they also turn revenue from thrift stores sales directly into services for the community.  So, when it’s time to do a little redecorating around the house, I recommend you shop at Goodwill to save money and give back! Here I've compiled a few easy DIY projects for you to upcycle easy to find items from Goodwill into stylish decorations that are on point for this spring season.

Vintage Scarves
When it comes to vintage scarves, Goodwill has them by the bucketful! These decorative silk accessories look good when paired with an understated outfit, but they can quickly and easily be transformed into a number of decorative household items, as well. With the array of colors and patterns you can find on vintage scarves, you can find styles that suit your tastes and repurpose them into unique curtains or covers for old pillows. Bright and beautiful vintage scarves  can even be transformed into kitschy pieces of art simply by arranging them in a frame.

Frames
Speaking of picture frames- they're another easy afternoon upcycling project. Gallery walls are very fashionable right now, and Goodwill makes it easy to create your own with their selection of uniquely shaped picture frames of all sizes. Don't like the color? Repainting a unique frame from Goodwill makes it new again! And don't worry if you don't have a lot of art or photos that you want to frame- you can easily mount frames over corkboard, mirrors, or paint a flat surface with chalkboard paint to create a classy writing surface to display your 'to-do' lists.

Maps
Just like roadmaps, globes and world maps become outdated and are frequently being cycled through Goodwill locations. Old maps are not only fascinating to look at, but are great for home décor upgrades! Using old maps for decoupage projects offers lots of creative possibilities. You can use old maps to update lamps, clocks, furniture, and more. Add rustic, old-world charm to your home by altering some of the furnishings you already have with some fascinating maps or other art work!

When you're feeling creative, make Goodwill your first stop for supplies. You'll find tons of material to work with, all at unbeatable prices! 

About the Author
Maggie Grimason is a blog writer living in Albuquerque, NM. She grew up in a family of social servants and teachers in northern Indiana and finds that blogging for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico satisfies creative energies as well as her commitment to ethical living and community service.