By Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant and author of the Resplendent Repurposing series
I found a black leather unisex blazer from the Gap: $20.00 at Goodwill in Van Nuys. Someone recently told me he owns the identical blazer. He paid $300.00 for it. by Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant
About maryvillano
Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano doesn’t know how to describe herself and her spotty employment record. She’s been a radio DJ and talk show host, a magazine editor and a TV comedy writer. Her credits include the first three seasons of MAD TV (the funny years!) sixteen episodes of a cartoon called Aaah! Real Monsters!, the second season of Culture Clash’s sketch comedy show, and her first big break, the fifth, final (and unfortunately Wayans-free) season of In Living Color. She was also a co-writer of Denis Leary’s Merry Freakin’ Christmas special, in addition to dozens of other clay animation films she wrote or co-wrote with Spencer Green for Corky Quakenbush’s Space Bass Films. (You can catch her dark, perverse sense of humor on YouTube: Watch Davey and Son of Goliath or Raging Rudolph from her MAD TV days.) Mary can be found at the thrift store at least once a week, mumbling to herself and scoring amazing finds, not only in shoes and clothing but in stuff for the home -- finds that she’ll be sharing with LuxEcoLiving’s readers. Other, nerdier interests include scanning police and fire frequencies, amateur radio (call sign KI6OMJ) and trying to find spy numbers stations on shortwave. She also makes beaded jewelry. Mary shares a happy home in the charming little Dutch community of Van Nuys (that’s Lake Balboa to you!) with Mike, her hubby of thirteen years, four cats and numerous collections: Costume jewelry, purses, compacts, tiaras, floaty pens, vintage metal signs, tin-litho noisemakers, glassware, Kennedyana, bad taste/kitsch/politically incorrect items, vintage Christmas stuff and other odd bits of detritus too numerous to mention. Oh, and cat hair. Lots of it. Her goals in life include trying desperately to crank out novels and screenplays (like everyone else in L.A.!), not gaining weight and staying off A and E’s Hoarders.
Website:
maryvillano has written 8 articles so far, you can find them below.
Comedy
My Top Ten Thrift Store Finds
Global Citizenry
Helping People, One Donation at a Time
By Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant and author of the Resplendent Repurposing series
Even wonder what really goes on behind the scenes at your local thrift store? About how your donations are used — are they really helping people? How the charity decides what to charge? What happens to the stuff that doesn’t sell? And just how Green an operation is it, anyhow?
I got an inside peek into the operation of what is perhaps the best-stocked, best-run chain of thrift stores in the greater Los Angeles area when I spoke with executives of the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles at the Fairfax Avenue headquarters.
Celebrations
For Valentine’s Day, Make Green the New Red
by Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant
Approximately one billion Valentine cards are sent worldwide each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. One billion. How many trees does that represent? Perhaps you ought to reconsider. By LuxEco Editorial Assistant Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano
Global Citizenry
Meth Labs’ Long-Lasting Toxic Legacy
by Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant and author of the Resplendent Repurposing series
As if those of us who are concerned about toxic chemicals in our environment didn’t have enough things to worry about, we must now add methamphetamine lab sites, either currently operating or long closed down, to the list. The inconvenient truth is that you could be living in one right now. Or parked next to one. — Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEcoLiving Editorial Assistant
Fashion
The Top Ten Common Misconceptions about Thrift Stores, Debunked
“Even though I’m kinda broke right now, my closet’s full of leather, cashmere and silk — all thanks to my favorite thrift stores.” By Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant
Family
Mary’s 8 Holiday Tips for Green-Gifting the Senior on Your List
By: Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant for Resplendent Repurposing series
If you have seniors on your gift list, you may be struggling with what to buy them. The best, and greenest answer may be: Nothing, as in no-thing.
It’s the old story: What to get the person who has everything? Most older people have more junk than they’ll ever need – and are trying to get rid of it. Very often they’re downscaling, going from a multi-bedroom house to a smaller one, an apartment or into assisted living. The last thing they want is one more dust-catcher. So don’t buy them any, unless they’ve specifically requested it. (Ever wonder what percentage of landfill contents are made up of unwanted gifts? I’ll bet the number is staggering.)
Comedy
O, Come All Ye Thrifters!: LuxEco Thrift Gifting for a Green Holiday
by Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Living Editorial Assistant
A future gift, recycled in a thrift store, made from recycled materials. Now that’s a LuxEco Resplendent Repurposing triple header! by Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEcoLiving Editorial Assistant
Fashion
Save Money, Save the Earth, Live Like a Princess
By Mary Elizabeth Williams-Villano, LuxEco Editorial Assistant
“And unlike the mindless, wasteful consumerism that our culture celebrates, it’s a conscious, conscientious, sustainable lifestyle that is eco-responsible. If you’ve been looking for a way to live your values, here’s a rebellious, joyous way to do just that.”
