A Few Things for a Dollar

I have to confess that I have never been in a dollar store before. It’s sad, I know, but I could never think of a reason to go in other than “let’s see what I can get for a dollar.” That reason alone wasn’t enough to compel me to visit a dollar store. If I needed something for a craft, I would usually purchase it from eBay, way cheaper than a dollar.

Some of my friends and relatives get great things from dollar stores –toys for kids and dogs, vases, plates, bamboo plants (yes, plants). These are people who also have the patience to scour racks of clothes or shoes to find a good deal. I am more of a quick shopper because some stores make me claustrophobic (ever been to Macy’s Herald Square during the December holidays?) and I prefer to shop online (with coupon codes, of course) to save time and get exactly what I want. Now that I have slowed down my career to pursue my writing dreams, I have time to actually drive to a store.

A couple of weeks ago, when I needed a plush toy and large plastic toy car for a baby shower basket I was making, I decided to go to Marshall’s in the Holiday Park Shopping Center on Hicksville Rd. When I got out of my car, I saw the Dollar Tree and decided to take a look there first out of curiosity.  

It was a fairly large store with many glass vases (I bought one), cheap toys for kids and dogs (I bought a Rubik’s cube and bag of squishy baseballs), lots of plates and cups, and even groceries. I found packs of blue rattles, blocks and baby carriages and spools of ribbon that I used to decorate a diaper cake I was making.

Here’s a picture of my creations: a diaper cake, a car filled with books and toys and a Yankees plush toy basket. I created them using supplies from the Dollar Tree, Marshalls, Costco, Party City and Babies R Us.