Chase Me Again: A Unique Thrift Shop for You {Three}

The fun things about this outfit:

Skirt - Thrifted, Sweater & Bracelets & Earrings - Chase Me Again, Shoes - Ross

I just want to make a disclaimer before you read on...

I edited these photos. 

So don't be hatin' on the photographer, she did her best in an indoor, no natural light
dressing room and sent me the photos to edit. Yep, Worlds Apart Photography still rocks...
in case you were worried.

Now to talk about Chase Me Again! But I will keep talking about their fitting room.

It's so adorable. They've taken old pattern paper and used it as wall paper. I love it!

It doesn't feel like a thrift store fitting room at all! It's clean and cute!

After I asked how the store started, I asked Sue, owner of Chase Me Again, 

where all the proceeds go if so many of the worker bee ladies are volunteers.

Check out what she said (you're about to love the store even more!):

My Father's House, the homeless family shelter, gets a check from us every month 

that is based on our sales. Plus the shelter also sends over their residents (up to 30

 families) to get to shop in our clothing store free of charge once a month. We even 

have a volunteer that will drive a van to bring them over if they don't have their 

own transportation. The residents are in the shelter's program for an average of 

3 months. Once they have jobs and housing they love to shop in our home store free 

of charge to help supply their new homes.

We also have helped the Warming Shelter for Human Solutions. The homeless 

families check into that shelter at 7 at night and then have to leave by 7 in the morning.

 They sleep on cots, and bedding can be provided if available. When the family 

finally finds housing they are allowed to take bedding with them. We went into 

their facility and donated 9 metal shelf units into a storage room and organized 

them with emergency clothing and bedding. We take them all of our bedding that 

is donated plus have provided some meals and toiletries. 

We have two volunteers that work for local hospice groups. We had a fashion show that benefited the two hospice groups. They received all of the money from the event and also all of our love and support for the families that are traveling through such an emotionally charged journey. When we receive bright and happy lap quilts we send them to one of the hospice groups that love to take them to the patients.

We have also given money to Meals-on-Wheels and a children's home in Thailand. 

The animal shelter gets our older towels.

After our three year anniversary we are proudly able to say that we have given away over $43,000 in profit. Plus the general public gets to shop at a really fun store.

I told you! Don't you just love Chase Me Again even more after reading that!
Don't forget to go visit them. Find more info on their SITE.

Chase Me Again {One}

Chase Me Again {Two}

Romans 5:20-21
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace 
abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign 
through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chase Me Again: A Unique Thrift Shop for You {Two}

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress - Chase Me Again, Belt - Thrifted, Shoes - Ross

Well as promised, I wanted to tell you all some more great things 

about one of my favorite Thrift Stores, Chase Me Again.

I asked Sue a few questions and today she's going to tell us how the store got started.

It's a pretty sweet story, so I wont make you wait any longer.

I had raised four kids and they had all left me behind as they ventured out into the world. I was bored so I needed to find a project.

I had volunteered for several years with the sweet people at My Father's House, a homeless family shelter, and knew of the great generosity of the public. There were more clothing donations coming in than the shelter could absorb. So I made a deal that I would take their extra donations, start a store, and give them money back. My intent was for the store to only be opened two days a week. I recruited a dear girl friend to help me get started. We all need a good girlfriend, don't we? What I did not expect was the beautiful people that would walk thru my humble doorway. The first few months there were some amazing women that said, "Hey! This looks like fun. Can I help?" Five of those women are still with us today (three years later). They range in age from 17 to 83 and they have taught me so many valuable life lessons.

Because so many people have wanted to be a part of our fun, we grew from 2 days a week to 3, then up to 5, and finally to 6. We started with 1200 sf that was in a basement of an old church with a spaghetti length back room where we tried to sort the donations that started rolling into the store from the excited public. Within the year I knew I was going to have to move the business into a bigger and more accommodating building. After 6 months of searching for something that would work with our budget and some place that would accept a "junk store" we found a beautiful home. It featured 2400 sf, big windows, a great landlord, good parking, and reasonable rent. The week we started moving in, the landlord took note of how many "treasures" we had and asked me if I also wanted the other 2400 sf of empty space next door as well. I told him only if it was free. Within 5 months we were bursting at the seams once again and the landlord made me an offer that would work. 

My business plan was to rent out half of the new space to vendors (thus pay the rent for me) and create a home store to compliment our clothing store. But as soon as I had the doorways cut thru to connect the two spaces the public got excited and started donating even more. So I only rented out 1/10th of the floor space and use the rest of the area for the ever changing donations that we are receiving daily.

Now we have just under 5000 sf, 25 volunteers, 3 staff, 

and the best customers in the city of Gresham!

I told you it was a sweet story! So donating or buying you should go check it out!

Chase Me Again {One}

Chase Me Again {Three}

Ephesians 3:14-19

 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in 

heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant 

you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ

may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 

may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length 

and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, 

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Chase Me Again: A Unique Thrift Shop for You {One}

The fun things about this outfit:

Jeans - Buckle, Pink Tank & Shoes - Target, Black shirt - Chase Me Again ($3)

As you all know, I'm a thrifter! I love a good thrift find, 

and I'm pretty loyal to the local thrift stores. 

Well, I thought I'd step it up a notch and give a shout out to one of my fave stores.

And I thought I'd make my shout out last ALL week. Each outfit will feature a thrift find.

It's called Chase Me Again. The lovely owners name is Sue! {pictured above}

Out of all my thrift shopping, probably 50% is done at Chase Me Again.

So why not give you all a little peek into their world?

I've asked Sue a few questions so that you could get to know her and her store.

So stay tuned all week to see some great finds in every outfit, 

that I purchased at Chase Me Again, 

and find out some fun deets on this fun thrifters paradise. 

To start off I asked Sue to let us get to know her.

I have always enjoyed looking for the treasure amongst the junk. 

As a kid I loved the times my Dad would take me with him when 

he went to the dump. Back then people were allowed to dig through the piles 

and take whatever they wanted. Dad always let me lug home a treasure.

My Mom taught me that no matter how unpleasant a person acted or 

looked there was always a treasure inside of them; we just had to find it. 

We had a joke about my Mom. When she first met someone she would 

learn their name, find out where they were born, and get them to share 

some deep secret they had never told anyone (all in the first visit).

Come back tomorrow to hear the amazing story of how Chase Me Again got started. 

Check out their website too!

Chase Me Again {Two}

Chase Me Again {Three}

Hebrews 6:10-12

For God is not unjust so as to overlookyour work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Word

The fun things about this outfit:

Shirt - Kohls, Dress - Maidenform, Necklace - HomeMade, Earrings - Old Navy ($2), Shoes - Old Navy

Ya know, there's those things that you can always turn to 

when you don't know what to wear...

Knotting a t-shirt is mine. I think you all know that by now! 

You know... Sometimes in life we need those things that we can turn to.

When life gets crazy or busy... or crazy busy,  I just to be able to have things that I

know for certain. In my closet maybe it's knotting a t-shirt. But let's get real.

Life isn't all about the clothes on our backs. 

It's not all about the quick fix or daily comforts.

When the ocean of life {yep, word picture time} gives me waves that I think will sink me,

I know for certain where I can turn. The Word of God is alive and gives life!

It restores and refreshes my soul. It really is a life preserver thrown out to grab onto,

when you think you're about to have no strength left. Talk about a source of amazingness.

It's a source of hope, of life, of peace, of truth, of strength. 

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. 

Sharper than any double-edged sword,it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, 

joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Run 4 Their Lives

Well folks, last Saturday I ran my very first race ever!

It was "only" a 5K but I pretty much felt like a stud for the entire 3.1 miles!

I'm so grateful to have a running buddy who pushes me hard! {first pic}

Even my parents came out and walked the 5K... studs I tell you! Studs!

It was for an amazing cause too! The proceeds go to fund the first mobile ultra sound unit in Portland. The organization behind the whole thing is the Guardian Project. And while I'd love to talk about my stats, or times in the race, the fact is that I'd rather you click on their link and see what they're all about.

So...What are you still doing here?

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Wordless Wednesday {Sailboat Dress}

The fun things about this outfit: 

Dress - Thrifted, Necklace - Thrifted, Shoes - Old Navy ($12), Earrings - Old Navy ($2)

Psalm 91: 1-2

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

Goof Off a Little!

The fun things about this outfit:

Shirt - Thrifted, Shades - Thrifted ($1), Earrings - Old Navy ($2), Jeans - Refasioned, Shoes - Old Navy

Sometimes you just have to be goofy right?

Well, for me that's pretty much on the daily!

Let's be honest, we can't be soooo serious about everything. I mean, be serious when you 

need to but ham it up sometimes people! I think this is one of the fun things about getting 

dressed in the morning! Sometimes the goofy just needs to manifest itself in the clothes I wear. 

So go out there...And goof off a little!

Romans 1:16

 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.