Notes From The City: An Abundant Life

When I first found St. Mary Advocates Thrift Store, it was a time in my life when I didn't have extra money to spend on anything. I was always afraid because I felt that I could barely pay my bills, and though God always provided, I was afraid to spend anything on something that wasn't a necessity. Even necessities I was afraid to spend money on, and I prayed and prayed before going to the supermarket to make sure I went to the right one where the right sales were. But one day when I was walking by, I saw that the Open sign was up at the Thrift Store. Back then it was called the Hoboken University Medical Center Auxiliary, or the Hoboken Auxiliary for short, but as they explain on their website, when the Medical Center was sold to a for profit group "the Auxiliary could no longer operate as a charitable organization affiliated with the hospital. It reincorporated itself as St. Mary Advocates, Inc., a non-profit charitable organization. It's new name reflected the original name of the organization, the St. Mary Women's Auxiliary, founded in 1966." Their mission is "to raise funds for health care and health education." The organization is completely volunteer run, and a nicer group of women I've never met. They've blessed me so many times with the amazing things on their racks. I've been to a lot of church and yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets, and New Jersey has some of the finest, but St. Mary Advocates holds a special place in my heart because at a time when I had nothing, they dressed me to the nines from head to toe in the finest fashion, all for a few dollars here and there. Their regular prices are fantastic and they have dollar sales, buy one get one free, and bag sales where they give you a gigantic paper bag for $10 and you can fill it with most things in the store. The things that aren't part of the bag and dollar sales are always discounted during those days, and I've found amazing housewares and art work and jewelry there. Men help out too, but the women are the mainstays. Their humor and kindness and graciousness have lightened many a day.

St. Mary Advocates Thrift Store

536 Garden Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

(201) 653-8191

Brand New Anthropologie Dress - $6

Sparkling Silver And Gold Sequins
For That Special Night Out $4

A Coyote Collar Coat
From A Two For $20 Sale

Albert Nippon Black Wool Skirt Suit - $12

Tahari Evening Gown - $4 At A Half Price Sale

Cole Hahn Mid Calf Boots - $8

Liz Claiborne Flex Alligator Mules - $2 At A Bag Sale

Buffalo Moccasins - $8

Maribou Mules - $4

Betsy Johnson Hat - $2

Hand Painted Embroidered Shawl - $3

Lace Gloves - $2

Pringle Cashmere Sweater - From A $10 Dollar Bag Sale

Tweeds Cashmere Sweater With Mother Of Pearl Leaf Detail
$10 Dollar Bag Sale

Vintage Shawl Clasp Used For A Necklace I Designed
Clasp From A Small Bag Of Fixings - $3
Necklace Made By Phil At Sedona Hand Gallery

Vintage Belt Clasps From The Same Small Bag Of Fixings
Paired With A Pin From 6th Street Antiques

And Here With A Vintage Circle Pin

Sequin Clutch - $2

Teal Suede For Seat Cover $5
Chair From Sixth Street Antiques

Woven Silk Cloth For Pillow Cover - $3
Paired With Silk Scarf From AaRaa Accessories

Elephant Runner - $3

Paired Here With Sari Cloth From AaRaa Hoboken

Two Silk Scarves - $3 Each

Hand Blown Multicolor Glasses - $4

Hand Made Vase From Bay Pottery - $2

Miniature J. Dillon Pottery Vessel - $2

Miniature White Ceramic Vases - $3

Hand Embroidered Lace Doily - $3 For A Bag Of Many

Dino Massaroni Print - $5

Japanese Raku Container - $1.50

And the list goes on . . .

More Women To Love

There's another group of women doing amazing things in Hoboken and elsewhere, the Hoboken Women In Business. Dawn Pascale is the Chairwoman, and you've never met anyone nicer, more fun or more gracious and lovely. Unless of course it's her sister, or another one of the wonderful women who is a part of this amazing group. I met Dawn in October at the Rummage and Ruffage sale I wrote about in my blog post An Abundant Life - The Best Of Both Worlds on September 27, but I'd tasted her amazing cookies long before that. Whenever Neeta King of AaRaa Accessories has one of her delectable in-store parties, Om Sweet Home cookies are a standby. Vegan and gluten free has never been more delicious - Dawn's cookies are superb and made with love. Dawn knows how to throw a party, and the Hoboken Women In Business events are enlightening, delightful and delicious.

Hoboken Women In Business Holiday Party

At Del Frisco's Grill

221 River Street

Hoboken, NJ 07030