Okay, ladies and gentlemen, after sharing my favorite places to shop in my last week’s article, I was given a tip on sharing all of the great consignment and antique shops in our area. These days are tough for a lot of us and even if they’re not for you, and you’re rich, paying more than you need to for anything should be a sin. So, I’m going to share a few suggested places where you can really save and shop til you drop.
    Consignment shops are all the rage these days, with vintage clothing and great buys. I love to hit all the consignment shops no matter where I go, even when I’m on vacation. One year I was invited to go with a friend to Las Vegas. When we arrived I was surprised to find that she had rented a car so we could yard sale and find all the consignment shops. She bought so much stuff, she needed another suitcase ... and found one at a yard sale for $5. Two years ago on a trip to Sanibel Island, Fla., my friend Paige and I hit every consignment shop and antique shop on that island and all surrounding islands. We found so much great stuff we had to use my Fedex account to ship the boxes home. Another friend planned a trip to New York and we hit all the shops in SoHo that are high-end consignment shops. We came back looking like a million bucks.
    Right here in our area are some great places to find treasures.

TIP #1 – ELIZABETH’S TREASURES, South Gate, Ocean Pines
    She is the friend I went to Vegas with. Yard saling has been in her blood for a long time. So to own and operate her own place wasn’t just a dream. We talked about doing this for years, and four years ago she opened up her own shop. They specialize in very high-end used furniture, art work and decorations for your home. She has one-of-a-kind paintings and old furniture that has been transformed into pieces of artwork by many of her talented local artists and friends.

TIP #2 – ATLANTIC GENERAL THRIFT SHOP, Berlin
    When you first walk into this shop, you just know you’re going to find a treasure. Reasonably priced clothing, shoes and household items, some with the tags still on them, can always be found.

TIP #3 – MAIN STREET BERLIN ANTIQUE SHOPS
    This can be a whole day excursion. You’ll find one-of-a-kind collectibles and vintage clothing that at one time had to be a treasured keepsake for someone, and now can be yours. Finish up with lunch at The Atlantic Hotel or The Globe and you’ve had an awesome day.

TIP #4 – GOODWILL, Salisbury
    This store is chock-full of clothes for all ages and all sizes, men, women and children, some popular name brands with the tags still on them. On this visit I found a really cute light-weight summer jacket for $10 and a brand new pair of 9 West sandals for $7. This store is huge and even has a wedding section. They had wedding gowns for $20! It is filled with furniture, household items and Christmas decorations.
    If you’re in Ocean City on vacation, there is a lot to do if you really put your mind to it. Plan ahead. Don’t let a rainy day ruin your vacation. A girls’ shopping trip to all the consignment shops, antique stores and several Thrift Shops at our local churches, such as Atlantic United Methodist Church on 4th St., would be a great way to relax and unwind. You never know what you might find. You could even include your husband and turn it into a scavenger hunt and meet at the end for drinks and dinner. Sounds great, right? Well, maybe not ... anyway ... have fun, enjoy your vacation, and USE THE CROSSWALKS ... PLEASE!