Bangin' Bangle Friday 11/30

WHOO HOOOO!!!  It's the last day of November 2012!!

Seeing it's the Christmas season (and has been since July, lol), we are inundated by jewelry store commercials.  Pity the poor husband/boyfriend/fiance who screws up and buys his woman something practical for Christmas.  How will he live with the shame?

Pandora bracelets, in particular, are being shoved down our collective throats.  You can't turn on the t.v., listen to the radio, or even drive down the street without seeing an ad for Pandora, or their many imitators.  My husband even knew what a Pandora bracelet was several years ago.........proof those advertisers are getting their money's worth.

I can't remember when I started being interested in a Pandora bracelet.   They have such a huge variety of beads, so the bracelets you can make are endless.  Some beads are just plain ugly, but others are beautiful.  You have your choice of several kinds of bracelets on which to display your beads, too.  Yay for originality and not wearing your neighbor's choices!

Well, for me, the excitement stopped there.  Pandora beads start at $20.  With an average of 30 beads per bracelet, not to mention the bracelet itself, you're looking at a start up investment of (gulp) $600.  FOR THE BEADS.  Makes you look twice at that lady next to you at the BMV with the armful, doesn't it?

I had pretty much forgotten ever having a Pandora bracelet, until one day when I was window shopping in the craft department at Walmart.  Low and behold, they had their own brand of beads.  $5.99 for a set of 5, and they were in lots of colors.  I decided to get a few sets and see if I could make my own.  I had also found a bead supplier online in Singapore with pretty silver and gold beads for minimal shipping.  To be honest, I don't remember how much those beads were.......but they were cheap enough that I could order them and still buy toothpaste.

From the same supplier, I had ordered a sterling silver snake chain for the charms.  Only problem?  The clasp was a gigantic, royal, pain in the bum.  I can't begin to describe to you how I had to manuver to clasp it, and then I couldn't even do it myself............either Michael or Claire got enlisted to help.

Because the bracelet was inconvenient to wear, it sat for a couple years in my jewelry, unworn.  I fondled it every once in a while, heaved a sigh and put it back, wishing I could rescue it from the depths of the jewelry dungeon.

Then one day, I wondered if I could string the beads on the same synthetic cord I used for my other beaded bracelets.  Guess what?  It worked perfectly, and I now have another bracelet the right length to wear all year round.........even with my fleece at work during the winter.

I have to add: I don't wear the bracelet to make everyone think I'm a rich 'lady who lunches.'  I wear it because it's beautiful and it makes me happy.  That's the same criteria I use for everything I wear.  I wouldn't want someone to think I'm all about the label and prestige.  Besides, they don't have to look too far.........past my bracelet and onto my 10 year old Honda with the dog slobber on the windows........to realize I'm a pretty down to earth, low maintainence gal.

 

Although I bought my beads at Walmart, I have since found that Meijer and Hobby Lobby also have their own brand and selection.  I'm sure Michael's and JoAnn's must too, although I haven't checked to confirm this.

So, GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!!  You can have a pretty 'Pandora-esque' bracelet too..........for far less than those advertised stores.  Take back your holidays, ladies!  Here's to sparkly arm bling AND money left over for Christmas dinner :)

Living Beneath Your Means: Or, I Didn't Win the Powerball

All the talk yesterday was about that stupid lottery.  So much so, my husband and I did something we have never done in our marriage (and I've never done AT ALL)...........we bought Powerball tickets.

Guess who didn't win?  C'mon, just guess :X

A very large part of me thinks we deserved to lose.  What kind of person buys lottery tickets?  Yeah, I USED to be that judgmental.

Anyway, we had a good time talking about what we'd do with the money.  Christmas 2012 would blow the socks off everyone.  We'd pretty much never have a financial problem ever again, and neither would our children and our parents.

Today it's back to reality! We're still the same people we were yesterday, with the same finanicial constraints..........and a new noise in my brakes that is demanding my husband's attention.  Sigh.

There were a lot of stories online yesterday about people who had been previous lottery winners.  Some made the mistake of spending it all very fast, and ending up more broke than before.  Several were extremely wise........they paid off college loans, mortgages and invested the rest.  Good for them.  Unfortunately, human nature in all it's finest makes most people react like the former.

Like eating right and exercising, wise money management takes self discipline.  What does the average person do when presented with an overflowing buffet?  They eat themselves into a coma.  What do they do when presented with a ton of money?  Same thing, only a financial coma lasts a lot longer.

If we could just stop a second, we could take a deep breath and think through what we really need.  You're starving to death and you're at Golden Corral.  Instead of diving into several platefuls of bountiful carbs x infinity, stop and survey the food selection.  What are you really hungry for?  What will fill you up without making you hate yourself in 15 min?  I'm not saying don't top your meal off with the sumptuous carrot cake and vanilla ice cream.  What point is there to go out to eat if you're not going to have dessert?  Just don't make that 3/4ths of your meal. 

If you won the lottery, by all means, go to the mall and get that designer purse.  Enjoy a brand new car without brake issues.  Take that vacation you'd wanted to go on since 1986.  Pay off your child's college loans so they don't have to put THEIR dreams on hold.  Those 'splurges' will make you feel good and pay off for years (well, provided no one steals your purse!).  On the other hand, if you take ALL your winnings and spend every single day blowing it on material crap you'll regret soon after receiving..........you may never recover, and life is too doggone short to have regrets like that. 

For the rest of us poor blokes who didn't win the Powerball, put on your big kid pants and listen up: most of us WON'T win the lottery.  Most of us won't get a windfall beyond our wildest dreams.  We won't have Oprah swoop in and buy us a car.  Our kids won't become famous and buy us a house.  In Italy.

So, back to reality.  How do you deal with real life and the everyday stuff you have to buy?  Live within your means.  Or, live beneath them.  Save as much money as you can.  Don't make that much money, or live paycheck to paycheck? Well, guess what?  You're gonna have to slash something.   You may have to put to put the kabosh on eating out.  That satellite package may become basic cable, or no cable at all.  You may have to make more food from scratch, wear your clothing until it falls apart, and rely on free entertainment rather than vacations to distant shores.  It's called responsible financial planning, and it sure isn't fun, but it's what makes some people come out ahead, while others are still at the starting line, wondering what they're doing wrong while driving around in a circle.

I'm talking to myself as much as anyone else.  I have to rein it in constantly.  Believe it or not, I have to watch the amount of times I visit Goodwill.  If I'm not careful, there goes the grocery and the Christmas money.  You just can't let stuff slide.  Once in a while you can say, 'I've had a bad day, I need a Big Mac,' but not every day.

So, let's be adults out there, people.  Let's pay our bills on time and forgo Florida for Spring Break this year.  When YOUR brakes make funny noises, you'll be glad you did.

Adapting My Bling For The Winter

It happens.  Birds fly south for the winter.  Retirees also head south.   We winterize our cars and boats, and swap out warm weather wardrobes for fleecies and flannels.   I have the added step of winterizing my work jewelry.

One of the least attractive aspects of my work life is my work wardrobe.  Roush has a dress code of black shirts/sweatshirts for it's employees.  I look like an extra in 'The Walking Dead' when I wear black, so this presents certain fashion challenges.  I don't have to look runway ready for work, but I DO like to look presentable........and not scare small children.

To that end, when I started working here, I began collecting my scarf wardrobe, with colors that highlight my skin tone.  Draped next to my face, I look almost human :).  Add in a nice pair of earrings, rings, my watch and (of course) bracelets, and I've been mistaken for Mrs. Roush several times.  I like to balance out the testosterone in this joint!

When the cold weather hits,  my short sleeved t-shirts don't cut it anymore.  It gets pretty cold here in the shop, so I don my black fleece zip up jacket.  Looks great with my scarves..........but my bangles?  Not so much.  They get lost and bug me when they catch on my long sleeves.

WHAT??!!  NO BANGLES UNTIL SPRING??!!  What a horrible thought!  I gotta have some arm candy to spice this place up!  I have collected some especially nice bangles in the last year............I can wear them other places this winter, but not to work :(

 

Beaded bracelets to the rescue!  They happen to fall at the right place on my wrist, so they peek out just over my sleeve and don't have to wrestle it for attention.

This is my latest creation.  They have these marbled beads in just about every color at Meijer, so I may have quite the rainbow for my winter bracelet wardrobe soon!

And if you have to dig me out of a 7 foot snowdrift?   My skin may be blue, but my bracelets will always be appropriate :)

Frugal Fashionista Bookshelf: 'The One Hundred'

I have never watched 'Project Runway,' but I know it has it's devotees.  My reality television leans toward anything starring Drew and Jonathan Scott on HGTV.  I love watching them buy real estate and then tear it apart, but I know there are some of you who would rather watch aspiring clothing designers get torn apart :)

Nina Garcia is a judge on 'Project Runway,' and she was also the fashion director at Marie Claire.  She has written several fashion books, the most recent being 'The 100.'  If anyone is going to write on what 100 pieces most fashionable women should have in their wardrobes, I guess it would be someone with Ms. Garcia's credentials.

I borrowed this from the library, and I honestly wouldn't recommend buying it.  It's a fun book to have in the bathroom (AKA my reading room) and peruse at your leisure, but once you're done with it, unless you had some burning question that sent you back to the library to check it out again, a once through is probably enough for most of us.

Some things Nina lists, I wholehearted agree I must have.  Ballet flats? Yes, definitely.  Animal print?  In as many things as possible.  Pencil skirt and Spanx?  Yeah, and probably worn together!  It was nice to see that my burning desire for Frye Harness boots was validated (but alas, unless I find them resale, that over $200 price tag will sadly prevent me from ever owning them).  Also fabulous that my love of old concert tees are a fashion must.  I loved that she included 'Mad Money,' in an amount of $50, to be slipped in a discreet pocket of your handbag and used when you find that perfect vintage piece and the store doesn't take a debit or credit card.  Unfortunately, on Planet Erin (where reality crashes down with a bang regularly) that $50 would be gobbled up at the grocery store before you could say, 'what vintage find?'

I was particularly interested in what she had say regarding hoop earrings.  She went into detail about how the thinner versions looked more luxe and expensive.  That eliminated any more hoop earring purchases that didn't look quite 'right.'  It's possible to buy a $5 pair of hoop earrings at Walmart and have them look pricey, now that I've read Nina's advice.

I would say about half the items Nina lists are good to have on hand.  There are others which are a bit pretentious, but then, she IS on the forefront of cutting edge fashion.  I think I can still die happy if I never have a Pucci blouse, a caftan or good champagne.  At my age, I have lived a perfectly good life without fishnets.  Missoni knits?  Meh.  I WOULD like an investment bag, but as I've said before, unless that Louis Vuitton tote bag shows up at Goodwill, it, like the Frye boots, will remain a far away dream.

 

'The 100' is a good book to check out at the library.  Those of you who list a safari jacket and a valid passport as a must in life?  You might want to buy it :)

The Happy Medium

I'm not talking about people who can see the future.

All my life, or as long as I've been self aware, I've been striving for The Happy Medium.  I don't want to be rich, and I don't want to be poor.  I want to be content.  I want to have my needs taken care of.........that are truly NEEDS.  For the record, a Mercedes is not a need. 

This sounds harder than it is, at least sometimes.  I love to eat out, but most of the time, this isn't a reality in my family.  Eating out is truly a special occasion due to finances, but that's ok.  I had to really work on myself to realize eating out is NOT a need, no matter how much fun it is.  Feeding my body correctly and well is a need.

That being said, weigh in on this blog post today.  Given 3 choices, would you choose A, B, or C?

I'll tell you right now: C is the happy medium, the middle of the road.

Mr. A is a joy to be around.  He is fun, makes everyone happy just with his presence, and views life as one big event.   He tells great jokes, likes everyone and lives for social events.  He truly lives in the moment.  He's the one you want with you on a desert island.........or at least when the elevator breaks down.

Mr. A loves to shop.  He loves the best of everything.  Cologne, clothing, shoes, eating out.  He drives a really nice car.  He goes on fabulous vacations.  He gives excellent, expensive gifts, and if you should chide him, saying he spent too much, he will chide YOU and say, 'there is nothing better than spending on my loved ones.  Don't steal my joy!'  He doesn't give much thought to the future.  Which is a shame, because that's where he should be socking away some money for retirement, and paying off those credit card bills.  He talks a good game of financial planning though........in fact, he may even have a financial advisor.  God only knows how he must make that poor man wring his hands!

Mr. A's friends are wealthy people.  People who have saved for years and are now reaping the rewards.  Mr. A doesn't have any savings to speak of, but he wants to live like his wealthy friends, so he does.  They go abroad?  So does he.  They treat him to an expensive dinner out?  He does likewise.   The big difference, of course, is that Mr. A's wealthy friends have funds to cover these things.  Mr. A doesn't. 

In other words, Mr. A is a flaming meteor headed for the earth..........and he'll be partying the whole way.

On the other side of the coin?  Mr. B.  He is EXTREMELY frugal.  Mr. B isn't the first person you think of to invite to your party, because, well...........he's kind of a kill joy.  Mr. B rarely goes out to eat or buys anything for himself.  His true happiness comes from, you guessed it:  socking money away.  People view him as a scrooge or tightwad because he's not very flashy materially, and he may be socially challenged.  His bank ledger tells a different story, of course.  He has ample savings, no debt and has thoroughly thought out and taken care of his future.    Stuff that would make Mr. A's eyes glaze over..........like budgeting?  Well, that really excites Mr. B. 

Mr. B's door may very well be where Mr. A ends up, when that meteor crashes. 

Then there's me.  Good ol' Mr. (Ms.) C.  I like the finer things in life, but I also want to save money.  I like to have a good time, but I also don't go (and am not able to) on expensive vacations, buy at Saks and drive an expensive car.  Because I straddle the middle of the road (The Happy Medium) I'm not able to give my friends and family members really expensive presents, and I can't sock everything I make away in savings.

So, here's my question: what do YOU think is the best way to live?  I'd really love to hear your comments!

Bangin' Bangle Friday: 11/23

Hey there!  I'm posting this from the comfort of my home computer.  I'm in my jammies.  It's 3pm.  Yep, I'm a loaf but I'm lovin' it.  Hope all you hardcore 'Black Friday' folks found some fabulous deals!

Today's bangle comes courtesy of the Goodwill on the corner of Polaris and 23.  Just south of the Meijer, in the shopping center with the Halloween Store in the front corner.  Goodwill is just behind it.

 

This is the Goodwill to go to if you're in the market for great deals on designer purses and real gold.  They have numerous glass cases filled with goodies.  I've yet to find the Louis Vuitton of my dreams (I'm still looking!) but I did find this little number there in the jewelry case.

You know I love mixed metals.  I'm also a sucker for tri-colored gold.........yellow, white and rose.  This picture just doesn't do the bracelet justice.......it was so pretty it just about sprang out at me from the case!  When I asked to see it, I saw the tag that said '10K gold.'  Oh, my.  I'd not bought ANY real gold second hand at that time, so I had no idea what price point I was going to encounter.  The price?  $30.  Hardly a pittance in today's gold market, but a bit more than I like to spend on resale items.  At any rate, I bought it, and I've not regretted it one bit.  In fact, it's so pretty my mom didn't believe me when I told her I got it second hand!

Not every thrift store has the designer duds and genuine jewels.  This Goodwill gets all the goodies from donation stores all over Central Ohio.  If you're in the market for something truly special, check them out!!

In honor of Black Friday, this bracelet would have made an excellent gift too :)

Stefanie York: Gift Giver Extraordinaire

Last week, I posted a blog about being a good gift giver.  Today, I am giving you a living, breathing example.

My cousin David lives in Southern California, where I am from.  On September 11, 2011, he married the woman of his dreams, Salleye.   I have never met Salleye in person, but I am so grateful for Facebook, because now I can 'talk' to her, post birthday greetings on her wall, and view all her fabulous pictures of life with my cousin.  I love technology...........most of the time :)

Thanks to Stefanie York, a close friend of David and Salleye, the world got to enjoy beautiful wedding pictures.   Thanks to her posting them on FB, Stefanie and I started talking and became FB friends.  She is a warm, wonderful, beautiful lady, with a heart as big as California.  She will put a loved one's needs WAY before her own.  She is a fantastic gift giver, and she gets to know you and pays attention to what you like, so when she sees the perfect gift, she knows you'll love it.

Only a few months into our friendship, I received a beautiful sparkly silver shawl from Stefanie, 'just because.'  It's gorgeous and adorns Claire's curtains in her room.  At that early juncture in our friendship, Stefanie knew Claire and I appreciate sparkly bling!

Stefanie knows I love coffee!  She finds funny memes online and posts them to my FB page.  Yesterday I got a Starbucks gift card from her in the mail, and it made my day!  Starbucks is truly an indulgence for me, so getting to go there courtesy a good friend is a double win!

Claire also received a 'Stefanie package' yesterday.  Stefanie knows from Claire's pictures she loves fashion, so she sent Claire a beautiful infinity scarf (Claire has been wanting infinity scarves this year!) and two beautiful jeweled rings..........an owl and a turtle!  both are awesome!  Today Claire went off to school, all dressed up for her Thanksgiving lunch, in her scarf and owl ring.  I'm sure the compliments she'll receive will just reinforce that warm feeling that Stefanie thinks she's special enough to merit a 'just because' early Christmas gift.

Stefanie is the kind of friend I wish I lived next door to...........so I could run over and watch movies with her, in my jammies.  She always has a kind word and knows just what we need on our 'down' days.  She doesn't have a perfect life; she has her share of tough days, but she is a sparkling ray of sunshine in an awfully gloomy world, and I pray daily God richly blesses her for the love she shows to everyone around her.

 

                            That's the kind of gift giver I want to be.  We love you, Stefanie!!

Non-judgmental Me and Black Friday

You guys have no idea how I agonize behind this scenes of my little blog.  I get excited about my frugal finds and want to share, along with my ideas about things, but I worry ALL THE TIME that I might come across as smug and judgmental.  NOT MY INTENTION AT ALL!!

The internet has a way of making people sound more stern than they are, and so I obsess.

That's the way I am with the things I've said about Black Friday.  I'm not a hater, really!

I admire people who plunge headlong into Black Friday with all the gusto I reserve for my thrift shopping.  They collect their flyers, make their strategy, brew that coffee, bundle up and GOOOOO!!  They enjoy the thrill of the hunt!  I say, good for you!  The retailers are working overtime to make sure you get some fabulous finds for your (considerable) effort and lack of sleep.  I will be thrilled to read each and every one of your FB statuses detailing your purchases.  I'm just like that, ya know..........love to share in other's happy finds!

I know that there are those of you out there who can't begin to  fathom why I enjoy thrift shopping.  You might be diehard Black Friday fans, so you need to think of my thrifting thrills in the same vein.  We aren't all alike (thank God, what a boring world this would be!), but we do need to appreciate the differences in others.  I have always tried to raise my children this way.  Rather than looking down on or making fun of others, learn from them and enjoy things you might not otherwise!  This skill is especially important in marriage: your husband's mom's mayonnaise and pickle casserole might be an acquired taste (one you've not managed to attain after 1000+ tries) but you can at least enjoy the zest with which your dear hubby tucks into it at Thanksgiving.  When others appear to enjoy what you do, isn't that better than sitting there sucking up the last remnants with someone sneering in your direction?

So, this Friday, shop with happy abandon!  Have fun and stay warm!  Enjoy the fabulous sales and be sure to take pictures and tell of your finds!  I'll be cheering you on...........when I wake up around noon :).

Nothing But Thankfulness

It happens.

There are days when I don't WANT to talk about thrift stores or saving money.

Today is one of those days :)

Instead, with Thanksgiving less than a week away, I'd like to list some things I'm truly thankful for.

First of all, I am so thankful for my salvation.  If you've been my Facebook friend for any length of time, you probably know by now that I'm a Christian.   I am saved by Christ's death on the cross, and I accepted His free gift of salvation.  I couldn't earn it, so He bought it for me, with His life.  I can't repay Him, but I can live my life for His glory.

I am so thankful for my family.  For my husband Michael, my kids Amber, Brent, Brendan and Claire, for our parents and siblings (yes, all of them).  They were put in our lives to help us grow.  Some lighten the load and bless us with their presence.  They know who they are!

I'm thankful for my job.  I'm thankful that, after praying and searching, God opened up the perfect opportunity for me: a job with my husband as my boss.  I know I know........most people don't think that's a good idea.  Well, for us, it works.  I hadn't worked for 15 years, and I needed to be eased back into the work world.  I don't make a lot of money, and I don't have any benefits, but I DO have flexible hours that allow me to stay involved in outside activities, especially Claire's.  When she graduates, I'm probably going to have to explore other options.  I have no doubt the Lord that provided this perfect job will open something up.

I'm thankful for this house.  It's warm and cozy.  We have enough room for all of us and our 8 pets.  We don't have the best of everything in this house, but what we do have, Michael can keep humming.  Right now my 8 year old washer is having 'spin' issues, but that just means I adjust my load size and do the best I can.  Beats taking it down to the creek and beating the laundry by hand.

I'm grateful for the every day things that lend so much meaning to our lives.  For our church and our pastor.  For my Bible study and the sweet ladies in it.  For the stores that are near our house........not too long ago, we were truly 'rural' and had to take a drive for the things we might be tempted to take for granted now.   That all 4 of our kids have reached the point in their lives that they have figured a lot of the important things out.  For those 8 pets that require a lot of upkeep, but give an awful lot of love in return.

That our car and truck are reliable.  That Claire has access to the best our public education system can provide.  That when we're tired and want to stay home yet be entertained, we have good stuff to watch on t.v.  That even though Brendan would love another job, he still has one at Meijer, and it's only across the street.    That even though we can't play in a championship game, the Buckeyes are having a truly special season.  Thank you Urban.

I'm a simple girl.  I don't require a lot to make me happy.  Give me a free moment and a trip to Goodwill, and I'm ecstatic.  Give me HGTV and Claire and we can make an afternoon of it.  Give me a good movie at The Strand and Brendan and I'm content.  Give us a tank of gas and a day off, and Michael and I will enjoy it together.

Thanks for reading my blog.  You guys are the special people I'm thankful for.

Bangin' Bangle Friday!!

You KNEW Friday was a special day, right?  Now it's even MORE special!!

Sometimes I just crack myself up.  Sigh.

Everyone has their favorites when it comes to jewelry...........earrings, bracelets, rings..........I'm a bracelet gal myself.  Nothing can make or break an outfit for me like a bracelet.  The perfect one gives me a little 'oomph' and makes me feel better.  The wrong bracelet?  Well, I might as well spend a couple hours in traffic.

 

I have quite a few bracelets, and as I was looking at them last night, it hit me that almost every single one has a story to tell.  What a wild life my jewelry has had!  With that in mind, I thought I'd devote my Friday blog every week to one of my bracelets.

This beauty started life as a ready made bracelet at Meijer, and then I 'goosed' it a bit.  Meijer is just across the street from my house, so I am there at least once a week.   Brendan is a Meijer employee, so I get a nice discount.  No matter what I run in for, I always make time to stop in the clearance jewelry section.  Mejier has some of the nicest costume jewelry I've ever seen, and when they mark it down, it's a fabulous bargain.  If you're patient and you don't want to pay full price, you can 'stalk' a particular piece and follow it's descent to clearance nirvana.  9 times out of 10, you can wait and no one else will buy it.  If they do and you lose out....well, it haunts your dreams.  Sad face.

Anyway, I had 'visited' this bracelet for weeks.  It was originally silver and black, and you know I have to have a little bit of gold in there, so at first I was drawn to it, but realized I wouldn't wear it if there was no gold accent.  As I watched it go down in price, it hit me: why not buy it and remake it with some gold beads?  I make my own bracelets all the time........remaking old bracelets of my own or taking apart thrift store bracelets and configuring them with my own beads.  If this bracelet got marked down to $3, I would buy it and remake it.

The day it was marked $3, I skipped happily (ok, maybe not.......Brendan DOES work there!) over to the craft section and found a packet of pretty gold spacers for $3.99 (minus my 10% discount).  I took it home, cut the (hopelessly too tight) silicone string and restrung it with the gold spacers on my own, much looser string.  That's another pet peeve of mine: why are so many ready made bead bracelets so doggone TIGHT?  Even for me, with my freakishly small wrists?  I've lost count of how many bead bracelets I've bought, brought home and restrung.  It's another matter of VISION.  If something's in the store and you like the look but don't like that fit, REMAKE IT! 

Obviously, that rule won't work with underwear or bras :P

The result of my 10 minutes of work?  A beautiful bracelet I love to wear.  I am still amazed that it took me so long to realize I could 'tweak' it and make it perfect.  Hopefully today's posting will make you see YOUR jewelry in a completely different light!

The Frugal Bookshelf: The Brits Do It Better?

Long before Clinton and Stacy started secretly filming fashion offenders so they could publicly shame them, the trendsetters across the pond gave us Trinny and Susannah.  Yes, 'What Not To Wear' was originally a British TV show!

If you think C&S push the envelope when it comes to how rude one can be regarding fashion faux pas, they have nothing (NOTHING!) on T&S.  These chicks took no prisoners!  If you are familiar with Monty Python, then you know how droll and understated the British can be.  It's no different with WNTW flying under the Union Jack.

I recently found a 2002 copy of 'What Not To Wear' (the British edition) in book form at a thrift store.  Although it's 10 years old, it's lessons are timeless and straight forward.  Using themselves as print models, Trinny and Susannah illustrate 1.) what not to wear and 2.) what TO wear for any variety of body conundrums, including.......big boobs, small boobs,  big butt, no waist, etc.  Best and worst coats, pants, skirts, dresses for every body type.  The book is genius in it's simplicity.  ANYONE could make a quick read and become an expert in their own body type.

 

What's frugal about this book?  Besides the $1 price tag, knowing how to dress your body correctly is a valuable moneysaving skill.  Have you ever had a closet full of clothing you didn't wear?  Was it because each item looked terrible on your body?  Had you bought them on sale or clearance, thinking the price trumped whether or not the style or color flattered you personally?  Or did you buy something because it was in style at the time, but again did nothing for your frame?  Everyone's done it!  Each clothing mistake was money that could have been used elsewhere.  How much better to take a few moments, acquaint yourself with the pros and cons of your own body, and then dress it accordingly.  The end result is a fully functional wardrobe that can last for years.

Amazon has this book on sale for $6.  Or, you can borrow my copy if you like.

Goodwill Goodies 11/15

Those of you who are friends and have seen the fabulous finds that Claire and I wear from thrift shops know we find some GOOD STUFF.  Some things are ok, some things are good, and some things are SPECTACULAR.  The spectacular stuff are considered  'goodies' for sure!  Today I'd like to highlight one of our recent 'goodies.'

This is also a plug for visiting a thrift store more than once a week.  Luckily for us, our large Goodwill in Delaware is located on a very central roadway, where we visit a number of stores, so running in several times a week doesn't take us out of our way.  If it did, it just might negate any savings!

I had already visited our Goodwill earlier this week, and bought the nice bangle and ring for $3.  That was a quick, 5 min. trip, but I did manage to also visit the purses and shoes that visit.  Nothing stuck out except for the jewelry finds.

Last night, I had a little more time to shop, so I stopped back.  THIS time I found a pair of real leather boots in Claire's size for $4.99!!  Seeing as it's sometimes difficult to know exactly what she likes without her there, I took a couple quick cell phone pics and sent them to her, asking if I should buy them.  She sent back a resounding YES!

These boots are perfect for taking the beautiful spring and summer dresses in her wardrobe into 'year round' mode.  With her jeans or moto jacket, she will have fabulous outfits that are at once dressed up but also have an on trend edge that is very current right now.

I'm not quite sure why these boots weren't priced at $8.99, which is the usual price point for the nicer shoes and boots at Goodwill, but I wasn't about to quibble!

 

If I had taken the viewpoint 'I've already been in there once this week, and didn't find anything,' I would have missed out on true frugal fashion 'goodies!'  They have a gigantic turn around at this Goodwill, so the stock changes daily.  Walking out empty handed on a Monday, you MAY have a cartful come the following weekend!  It's certainly worth a shot!

Are You A Good Gift Giver?

Well, are you?

Is your point of view, 'I really don't have the money to buy nice gifts.'  So, you don't.  Or, you procrastinate until the last minute and throw money you don't have at the issue, stressing you out even more, and maybe missing the mark entirely?

It doesn't have to be this way.  As with everything else, you need VISION, and you need to plan ahead.  Oh yes, and you need to be a good listener.

Let's tackle the vision thing first.  You walk into a store and see a really good deal.  You think, how would this look in MY home?  In my mom's home?  How about Aunt Mabel's?  Can you vision it in any of the 3?  Then, get it!  It's a good price and you may not find it elsewhere for the same $$$.  And it may be gone if you wait to get it there.

Having vision allows you to see the object in it's intended destination, and then you'll know if it's a good deal or not.  Aunt Mabel may HATE the Swarvoski crystal candlesticks, but she'll be all over that Dale Earnhardt cookie jar.

That leads me to my next point: are you good a listener?  If you are, you'll remember that every time you get together, Aunt Mabel talks your ear off about how much she LUVS Dale Earnhardt.  So, when you see that cookie jar, you'll remember her devotion and know that buying it will be money well spent.  Plus, she'll brag about you to all her friends.

It doesn't take that much effort to really LISTEN to people, but lots don't, so that's why we have such huge miscommunication in our culture.  Why else do women who want jewelry get power tools for Christmas?  I love the Sears commercial out right now, where the husband is running frantically through the store, looking for 'Jack,' his toddler.........he was all set to get his woman that power drill, but Jack found the display of beautiful earrings.........way to go, Jack!  I forsee a long, happy gift buying life in his future :)

My husband Michael is THE PREMIER GIFT GIVER.  This isn't idle praise (just in time for the holidays).  Why is he so good?  Because he LISTENS!  He listens to every word that comes out of my mouth, and he doesn't even act like he's listening (guy would make a perfect spy.).  When we were first together, we would go to a store, and I would ramble on while looking at items and say, 'oh, I love that!' and 'isn't this great?'  Then I would promptly forget what I said, and Michael would hot foot it back to the store and get me exactly what I wanted.  Blew my mind!  Seems easy, doesn't it?  Then why do so many people have such an issue with it?

 

My mom is also a FABULOUS GIFT GIVER.  Every birthday and Christmas, she asks for a detailed list from each of us, and then she gets us EXACTLY what we want.  She doesn't have an  unlimited gift budget, so she wants to make sure she hits the mark.   She remembers that Brendan loves Nutella (he gets it in his stocking at her house!) and that Claire loves earrings.  She has no problem giving gift cards to exactly where the kids shop, because she knows that will be appreciated.  She wears silver jewelry, but knows I wear gold, so when she finds gold jewelry guess who benefits?  She gets 'freebies' from Coldwater Creek and just this week gave me a beautiful 'ruby' and gold bracelet she received when she attended a CC special event.  Isn't it purdy?

You don't have to spend a lot of money to please everyone on your list.  A gift card to a favorite store can be as small as $5, yet mean the world.  There is also NOTHING WRONG with buying a gift at a thrift or antique store!  I would be THRILLED if one of my family members got me a piece of jewelry from Goodwill or the antique mall downtown, because it would mean they LISTEN and know I shop there anyway.  You would also be amazed at how many brand new, IN THE PACKAGE items there are second hand.  I find more packs of stationery note cards for as little as .50 at Goodwill.  Those suckers can be $5 and up!

My last point?  Plan ahead.  Start to think a month or two before the event.  Making a list is an easy way to do it.  When Michael followed me through Walmart back in the Fall of '05, he noted that I said I liked the under cabinet kitchen stereo, and the Black Forest cuckoo clock.  He could have said, 'It's only October.  Why should I make note of this now?'  Or, he could have blown me off and not listened at all.  Instead, I got two really wonderful presents on Christmas morning that blew my mind, all because my husband planned ahead and cared enough to listen.  Believe me, I learned from his example!  When he made an idle comment a couple years ago about wanting a Dremel, I made a mental note, and that's what he got for Christmas last year.  Boy, was he thrilled!  I was ecstatic too, because instead of just grabbing something off the shelf that could miss the mark entirely, I got him exactly what he wanted........because I listened.

How does this all fit on a blog where I write about frugal finds?  Being a caring gift giver can be a frugal art.  Buying something that you have no idea will be appreciated is NOT frugal.  It isn't money well spent, no matter how great the sale was.  Grabbing an ugly piece of clearanced jewelry for $2 isn't frugal, since the receiver will probably throw up in their mouth when they unwrap it.  Nausea is never a good gift to give :P.

Nothing Else Feels Like..........Forever 21????

Those of you my age will remember the commercial, 'Nothing Else Feels Like Real Gold.'  That's where I got today's blog heading.  For the rest of you whipper snappers, you'll just have to take my word for it!

Let me start by admitting something.  I am jealous of you who can wear silver jewelry and look good!  I know, it's not fashionable, especially for someone my age, to admit I'm jealous.  At 48, I'm supposed to have come to grips with my shortcomings and be comfortable with them.  Well, meh.

Being the cheapo that I am, I am envious of those who can go right to the clearance rack, pick up a much marked down pair of earrings, etc. set in 'silver,' and know it will look fabulous.  Wearing mainly yellow gold (or gold mixed with silver), I can't do that very often.  Fake silver is SILVER, period.  Fake gold can be a variety of colors.........eye watering yellow, strange pink.......you know what I mean.

That's why I'm always thrilled to find something in brass, whether it's new or used.  With a brass piece, I know a good rubbing with my brass cleanser will render it, once again, a gorgeous REAL gold color.  You'd think more manufacturers of costume jewelry would catch on, and slowly they are, but you still run into strange variations of 'gold' all too often.

I especially have a bone to pick with 'gold over sterling silver.'  Ugh, it's atrocious.  I have yet to come across a really good piece of 'gold over sterling silver' that looks like the real thing.  I don't know what it is that makes it so different looking.  Lots of nice stores like Macy's, Penney's and online merchants like Palm Beach Jewelry have a TON of it, and I've sent back or returned too much.

In this day and age of beyond expensive real gold prices, I need to find a good facsimile.  Not only does it need to look real on day one, but it's also nice to not have the 'gold' rub off in a record amount of time.  That's another 'jealousy' issue I have with you who can wear cheap silver.  Unless you wear it in a chlorine pool numerous times, that 'silver' isn't going to rub off like cheap 'gold' will.  I've had to donate many nice pieces of fake gold jewelry because it turned a matte grey way too soon, and I take care to make sure I'm not swimming, showering or sleeping in it.

So, what's the answer?  Not only will I tell you, I will give you permission to GO TO THE MALL!!

Forever 21 is the best place to buy costume jewelry I know, and for OMG low prices.  I never would have known this, had I not taken Claire there several Christmas seasons ago to use her gift cards.  Why else would a 40 something mom take one step into a dub step throbbing, candy colored mecca aimed for much younger women?

Their 'gold' looks like GOLD.  Everyone who sees my F21 jewelry thinks I'm rocking the Real Deal.  The colors aren't garish, they look true to nature, and their white cubic zirconias look JUST LIKE DIAMONDS!!  And the prices?  Try $1.80 on up for earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces.  I spend on average $3.80 for a nice ring at F21.  My husband bought me a $100 gift card there last Christmas, and I made that sucker LAST!  Greater love hath no man for his wife, than he set foot into the most unmanly store in the mall............well, there IS Victoria's Secret ;)

Forever 21 also has a website, but I wouldn't recommend ordering from them online.  The shipping and handling easily negates any savings you receive, and they aren't the quickest in the shipping dept.  Plus, sizes may be far larger in person than in the picture online.........Michael ordered me what he believed to be a nice, small, solitare necklace, but when we received it, the solitare was the size of the Hope Diamond.    I could have swung that thing and taken out a giant, King David style!

If you are overstimulated by loud music and crowds (Claire almost had a panic attack in F21 once) visit them in the middle of the afternoon.  A much more laid back vibe, and the salesclerks were very helpful.  While you're there, check out the handbags!  They do an excellent job of simulating the latest designer bags, and they last too.

Since we are approaching the Christmas season, make your visit NOW, before Black Friday, or after the first of the year.  If you're thinking Christmas gifts, go to Kroger or Giant Eagle and get a gift card, so you don't have to brave the crowds.  It'll still spend, when you're battling the grey winter doldrums and need a pick me up from some newly acquired bling.

Here's one of my F21 rings from last year, along with the exotic skin bangle I bought at Goodwill last night for $1.  Only one picture taken in the light of my work office and it looks great.  Why do I even bother at home?

Five Minute Fashion: 11/11/12

 

Tonight I ran into Goodwill, on my way to pick up something at another store, and scored two incredibly cheap but fun and interesting jewelry finds:  a really neat art deco gold ring, and an exotic skin bangle.  Price for both?  $3 plus tax.  Totally worth my time and effort :)

I took about 50 pictures trying to get good enough lighting so you can see the detail on the ring and bracelet, but I'll just post another one at the shop tomorrow........the lighting in the office is much better!

A Tome For Our Times

Have you ever read 'The Complete Tightwad Gazette' by Amy Dacyczyn?

Back in '94, I picked up a copy of the first installment of 3 books, later made into what is known today as 'The Complete Tightwad Gazette.'  Seems Ms. Dacyczyn had had huge success living a frugal life, and started a newsletter to share the good news.  She got such a following that she was regularly featured in newspapers, magazines and on t.v., and soon publishers came knocking, asking if she'd put all her newsletters into book form.

Amy's dream was to have a large family and a pre-1900's New England farmhouse, on one income.  Crazy thing was, she made her dream come true.  In less than 7 years, on an annual income that never went above $30,000, she and her husband saved $49,000, made significant appliance, furniture and car purchases of $38,000, and were completely debt free.  She got her house, and an eventual 6 kids! 

I am not kidding.  This is not a fiction book.  In 959 pages, Amy spells out exactly how she made her dreams come true, and tells you that YOU can too.

It's not an easy life she outlines.  Amy and her family do without a lot of the things average Americans believe are necessary for a happy life.  They rarely go out to eat or buy new clothing, and they hang onto their vehicles until they run them into the ground.  They make a large majority of their birthday and Christmas gifts, and they also buy a great deal second hand.  They have a huge garden and grow a lot of their food, and do without convenience mixes.  When they need something, they do a lot of research, wait for the best price, and save their money until the time is right.

Amy doesn't sugar coat anything.  She's truthful to a fault, and she tells in her book about the outright nasty things people say to her.  She's been accused of child abuse numerous times for buying her kids second hand clothes and NOT buying them potato chips.   She recounts how one child insisted on store bought snacks for a while, and one daughter gave her a very hard time with her second hand wardrobe.  Many people view her as too extreme for 'normal' American life...........but then you go back to how much money she saved, on such a small income.

I've had this book for 18 years now, and I find new things every time I read it.  I just got it out again, and I'm going to read it cover to cover, because these are scary economic times.  We have to make a change, y'all.  With a staggering debt that we're leaving to our children, we can no longer fritter away money mindlessly.  I don't follow every single one of Amy's suggestions (I don't recycle dryer lint), but many appeal to me.

Amy was able to retire from the newsletter back in the late 90's.  Her husband had retired several years before, from the Navy.  They paid off their house and were able to send all of their children to college (if they wished).  Several developed a healthy love of spending, but all of them had instilled in them some of the best frugality lessons ever.

 

I'd recommend this book to anyone..........it can open your eyes and give you hope.

Recessionista: The Ballad of the Trash Picked Microwave

In order to thrive, and not just survive, you need creativity and vision.  You need to think outside of what is considered the norm.   You can't be tied down by other people's expectations.  If you see something you want, and you can't afford it, you find other ways to obtain it.  I don't mean stealing!

That's why I prefer to think of myself as a Recessionista, rather than a Fashionista.  Yes, I love fashion, but my ideas are adapted to the single premise of looking fabulous for LESS.  That means often waiting a long time for that perfect wardrobe item, purse or piece of jewelry to be marked waaaaaayy down.  Or be given to you.  Or be free.

In other words?  Sometimes ya just gotta trash pick a microwave.

Every morning, I drive to the nearby bank branch to deposit the shop's previous day's earnings.  We work in Worthington, which has some pretty nice, older homes.  I drive through just such a neighborhood to get to the bank.  Well tended lawns and clean, updated houses dot my drive.

This morning was trash day, and at one house there was a huge trash pile.  My take was that they must have been redoing the inside, and there at the curb was a very nice, stainless steel, microwave.  I drove past it, then thought, 'hmmmm.  I wonder if that works?'


I stopped and turned around.  I got out and grabbed that (surprisingly heavy) microwave, and put it in my back seat.  What did I have to lose?  It was free, and if it didn't work, it would go right back into the trash.

We had been using an ancient 80's microwave at work, that my husband actually trash picked probably over 20 years ago.  Nasty, but functional.  We were waiting for it to go out, due to it's age, but it remained good enough to heat our soups and frozen dinners for lunch.

Michael can usually fix anything, and if he CAN'T fix something, he robs parts to use for other things.   I knew that he would share my vision and see possibilites in my trash picked treasure :)

The result?  This microwave works just fine, and was amazingly clean.  We further scrubbed it up, plugged it in and threw away the old microwave.  Talk about recycling and saving the planet!

I do have my limits for this kind of thing.  I am NOT a dumpster diver.  You don't have to worry about running into me at the back of Kroger one day, feet straight up in the air.  I can count on one hand the number of times I have reclaimed a trash pile treasure.  Most of what I've found has been furniture, since some people lack vision (or the means to haul it away to Goodwill).

That being said, don't waste your time reading this and say, 'Ew, yucky.'  If you do, you reveal yourself to have a LACK of vision...........you silly :X

Vision can be applied in so many areas of life.  When you're just starting out and you want to buy your first place,  you COULD bankrupt yourself to buy the biggest, nicest home possible.  Then, your quality of life goes down as you struggle to make your mortgage payments, not to mention buy groceries!  Or, you could do as my first husband and I did, and buy a tiny little starter home that needed a gigantic amount of work just to move in, but when we sold it 4 years later, we made a nice profit on it and could apply that to a bigger house.  We had the VISION to look past the dirt, metallic wallpaper from the '70's on the ceiling, and high gloss pepto pink paint in the living room, and see a diamond in the rough.  We never regretted buying that house and putting the effort and money into it that we did.  People made snarky comments to us, but we were undaunted.  We were also rewarded in the end.

You want a nice car but lack the funds to buy a new one?  Buy the nicest used car you can, and keep it clean.  That makes a huge difference.  You want a beautiful wardrobe but can't shop at the upscale stores?  Look for those brands resale--they are THERE and more prevalent than you think.  It just takes VISION.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go heat up the delicious potato-ham soup my hubby made.......in our 'new' work microwave.

'Ewww' microwave

'New' microwave

Stacked

Those of you who are my age will remember Speidel I.D. bracelets.  They were sold at the jewelry counter in places like Kmart.   So many different styles and in both silver and gold!  I loved them and always wanted one, but never got one at the height of their popularity.

Well guess what?  ID bracelets are BACK, and not only that, they are being grouped with various other bangles, chains, etc. for the new 'stacked bracelet look.'   The more the merrier, so to speak.

I love an armful of bracelets, but I do have my limit.  I like to be able to move around freely, for one.  You run the risk of catching yourself on something when you have a large 'arm party' going on.

One bracelet with my watch, and maybe about 4 on the other arm, sounds good............and I mean literally SOUNDS.  You announce yourself like no one's business when you're wearing stacked bracelets!  As with anything fashion related though, you wear what YOU want!!  If you can rock an armful of blingy goodness and still function as a member of society, GO FOR IT!!

When Claire has her voice lessons, I'm finding I have about 20 good minutes of time to pop into one of the antique stores in downtown Delaware.  Yesterday I found an ACTUAL, BRAND NEW, Speidel ID bracelet.  For $15, I grabbed it up.  Today I am conducting a 'fashion trial run' and wearing it, by itself, on my right wrist.  So far, so good...........it's big but most bracelets on my teeny midget wrists are.

I had to dig for this, it wasn't just out on the counter, screaming my name.  Most of the goodies I find DO require digging...........but it's soooo worth it :)

First Lady Fashion

As unfair as things are in this world, nothing is more unfair that pitting ladies against each other, fashion wise.  Such is the case with Michele Obama  and Ann Romney.

I can't name one article criticizing Barack Obama or Mitt Romney's wardrobe.  They all focus on their politics and performance.  Nope, the media saves it's fashion sniping for the men's spouses.

These two ladies obviously have different tastes.  Neither one is going to appeal to ALL American ladies, fashion wise. 

Personally, I think both women are beautiful.  I think they do the best with what they have. 

If my husband were running for president, and he was making the economy his number one priority, I would be doing all my clothes shopping at resale and discount stores.........because I would want to be Example Number One for making sticking to a budget look GOOOOOOD.

Beauty Advice On A Budget

A magazine I have a subscription to (which shall remain anonymous) recently ran an article about body changes as you age, and solutions for those changes.  So far, so good, they had my attention.

Something I have noticed as I've gotten older is that food LOVES to stay between my teeth.  Check me out right after lunch or dinner and you'll know instantly what I just ate.  GROSS.  

Wonder of wonders, I'm not the only middle aged woman with this problem!  Do you think that sometimes too?  Anyway, they actually addressed this issue, and I was thrilled.........I was finally going to be able to do something about my icky, socially unacceptable 'food between the teeth' problem!

Their answer?   Get Invisilign Braces or veneers!  HUH?   With a base price of $5000, how are these even options for the average woman?

Not too mention, how are magazines allowed to publish 'fashions for less' issues when their idea of 'less' includes $300 blazers and $500 purses?

No wonder women get discouraged and give up.  'I can't dress nicely, I can't begin to afford it' or, 'I can't have nice looking nails, I can't afford salon manicures' (given as the only alternative, of course).

Ladies, it doesn't have to be this way.   God gave us common sense for a reason.  We don't have to long to be runway ready, but we ARE God's women, and we want to look like it!

With my teeth problem, I just started carrying toothpicks.  Good old fashioned TOOTHPICKS.  I can excuse myself for 2 minutes and do a thorough once over of my teeth and I'm good to go.  I can also pop a stick of gum in my mouth afterwards.  Fresh breath and clean teeth.   

I can also cut my own nails, clean up my own cuticles, apply vaseline to soften them and put on a nice, light coat of polish.  I can also put on a clear coat, or buff them to a shine.  This takes about an hour weekly.  It's amazing what that little amount of work does for my nails for a whole week.  I have to schedule it, though.   It DOES beat running to the nail salon and paying $45.

I'm not against nail salons...........I spent most of Claire's young life having acrylic and then gel nails.  There came a time, however, that spending that $45 on my nails wasn't an option anymore.  I had to find an alternative.  It's amazing how nicely hands can look with a little, inexpensive weekly pampering.  I don't snag my cuticles on the bedsheets either.

And oh yeah.........you can find beautiful clothing at thrift stores.

Scarf Tales

One of the first things I do in the morning, when I get to work, is take the previous day's deposit to the bank.  On Tuesdays, I have 3 deposits, so I'm prepared to wait awhile in the drive thru.  I could listen to the endless ELECTION DAY smack on the radio, or I could take a picture..........or two!!

Love this scarf.  Just got it and another at Goodwill the other day.  They are nice and big and look very similar to Hermes.  Price difference?  Oohhhh...........Hermes will set you back a few thousand.  Mine cost $1.49 a piece.  That's the standard price for ANY scarf at Goodwill.  Many of my favorites were bought resale, and I have quite a few!  Claire and I both rely heavily on our scarve collections to put a finishing touch on an outfit.  I also rely on mine to warm me up in an often cold lawnmower shop!

Lots to smile about today.........the sun is out and I voted by mail!  Woot Woot!! 

Much Ado About Crew

The fashion blogs I read incorporate thrift purchases into their wardrobes, but they also buy some high end stuff. Especially J. Crew. What IS the deal with J. Crew?

The stuff is nice, but I think it's EXPENSIVE, and I see cheaper options that are just as nice. You can buy beautiful cashmere at Penney's for much smaller coin, and Christmas sales are a'comin!!

Back in 1986, when J. Crew was a fairly new company, I bought a very pretty cable knit sweater there. I don't remember how much it was, but I know it was more than I'd ever spent for an item of clothing before. Alas, it didn't wash up very well, so I probably wore it 3 times. Hmph.

Isn't this a pretty bracelet? Yep, I'm drooling (MY PRECIOUS!!). Only $88 at J. Crew. Chic, sophisticated and very chunky.

Brass, copper-coated bead links.

Shiny gold plating

Yum, yum, yum.............I've got it 'favorited.'  It's bound to go on sale...........someday.

I'm not settling for doing without!  I got this special little number from behind the glass case at the Marion Goodwill last winter.  Claire was practicing for her role in 'Meet Me In St. Louis,' which left me tons of time to prowl what Marion has to offer in the way of retail offerings.   I hadn't found ANYTHING that night, until I stumbled upon this.  And blinked.  Pictures really don't do it justice.  Gold AND silver links, which are perfect for me, since I love to mix my metals!  I'm a gold girl, but sometimes all gold jewelry looks too 'sweet' for me, and throwing some hardcore silver into the mix makes it perfect!  The icing on the cake?  THIS bracelet was $3.  BOOM.

It's the perfect bracelet to wear with EVERYTHING, and I'm not kidding.  Dressed up or down, it's amazing.  I wear it with other bracelets or on it's own.

I bought it, I put it on, and then I went grocery shopping.  Because I had enough money to rock a fabulous bracelet AND feed the fam. <3 <3 <3

Whatcha Talkin' About, Willis?

 

Behold, the Coach 'Willis' bag........beautifully redesigned (ever so slightly) from it's '70's incarnation.  Gorgeous, supple leather and gold hardware.  All for $298. 

 

Now behold my latest thrift store score!  'Croc' imprinted faux leather.......gold hardware........$4.99 price.

This will definitely hold me over until I score that REAL Coach bag, waiting for me at another thrift store.  I know I'll find it eventually, because I have THIS Coach bag from Goodwill..........authentic and only $15.99.

 

Patience is a virtue, but never more so than when you're thrifting.

Watch This

Isn't this a beautiful watch? It's 'The Spur' by Nixon. A 'boyfriend' watch for women, it's totally on trend. I love the look of a man's watch on a woman's wrist. You can have this beauty for only $300.

 

 

 

Or, you can do as I did, and take advantage of a good sale at Kohl's.  This watch is regularly $30, but on sale and with a coupon, I bought it for $12.  When you buy a cheaper watch, especially in goldtone, you run the risk of the 'gold' wearing off after a while.  However, it was my happy discovery that this watch is brass, and I've already cleaned it twice with my brass cleaner.  Good as new!  I am wearing it with another of my brass resale bracelets........this one I bought for $2.

I know, I know...........my watch wasn't bought at a thrift store.  However, I DID get a stellar deal.  A nice watch like this COULD go $12 or higher at Goodwill.  And as far as 'new with tags' retail goes, you just can't beat Kohl's.  Their sales are outrageous, their return policy is second to none, you get gift cards in the mail if you shop with them regularly, and I would recommend their credit card in a heartbeat for the savings and perks you receive. 

Being the frugal shopper you are, you'd pay that credit card off monthly, correct?

Gold Satisfaction.........That Satisfies Your Budget

Recently, I bought an antique brass bracelet at Sandusky Street Antiques, a quaint shop in town.  It was badly tarnished, but at $10, the shop owner declared it a 'good find.'  I had to agree.......it was covered in folk art carvings that you find on furniture from the '30's.

One of my trustiest tools for reclaiming resale finds is my bottle of brass polish.  Nothing fancy about it, I believe it retailed at Meijer for around $3.

The result for about 5 minutes of polishing time?  A gorgeous bracelet that looks like real gold, is a fabulous conversation piece, and gives me endless satisfaction just by looking at it.  Which I do.  A lot.

Of course, I could have also ponied up for this real Italian gold bangle at Ross-Simon's.........for $395.  It's pretty, but OMG expensive, especially for someone making installment payments on her daughter's choir trip to Chicago in April.

I want to look nice, but I also want money left over.  With resale shopping, I have the best of both worlds.  And no one is the wiser, unless I blog about it. 

Which I do, because I want you to have money leftover too <3

A final word about upkeep.........brass does tarnish, but it takes me 3 minutes to polish my bracelets before wearing.  I usually lay my clothing and jewelry out the night before, so this is no biggie.  Shopping resale DOES require planning ahead, but it's still worth it to me..........regular polishing is still a better trade off than paying $395!!!

This Is Why We CAN Have Nice Things!

I fell in love with this Gucci purse.  The size and style are fabulous.  My only issue?  It's $2,950.

I found this purse at Goodwill.  It's size and shape are similar to the Gucci, plus it's my color.  Price?  $4.99.

This is a prime example of loving nice things, but not paying the mint to get them.  Besides, who will notice it's not a Gucci?    Anyone THAT picky I wouldn't be hanging out with anyway :P

Our Mission Statement: Not Judgin', Just Sayin' :)

By now, you must have gathered that Claire and I are quite excited about our thrift store treasures.   It's fabulous to find something second hand you really love, and double that to be able to share with others.  Having said that, we probably need to make a few things clear..........

Our purpose in publishing a daily blog of our finds is to help others see that HEY!  If THEY can do it, I can too!  I don't have to be a slave to the mall!!  I don't have to covet fashion goodies from afar if my finances don't allow me to purchase them from Von Maur!!

All things being what they are, and the internet being especially open to everyone's interpretations, I'm sure there are some out there who think, 'wow, what judgmental women.  Who do they think they are, judging me for buying brand new at the mall?  That's a horrible attitude for them to take!'  Believe us, this is NOT our attitude!!

We don't make a lot of money.  We DO love nice clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, etc.  Finding out we can buy these things for very little money at a thrift store was a revelation, and we want others to benefit from our experiences.  When prom dresses cost (on average) $100-$200, and you can't shell out that kind of cash and still buy groceries..........how awesome to find that, with a little planning and weekly scouting trips, you can find a truly beautiful gown for $10?  And no one else will know unless you tell them?  MIND BLOWING!!!

I grew up wearing hand me downs from a rich family in our church.  I had a new outfit every day because of those sweet friends.  No one looked down on us for taking the bags and bags and BAGS of goodies; those friends were thrilled to know their outgrown clothing was going to people they loved.  As I got older and we moved away, my mom found things for us at garage sales, and later more families contributed THEIR hand me downs.  Nothing ever matched the fabulous fashions we received from that first family, and there was a stigma to what I wore.  I never wanted my kiddos to go through the same thing...........thankfully, by the time I had Brendan and Claire, wonderful new things called resale and consignment shops were cropping up.  A store in Westerville called 'Once Upon A Child' was my first experience with consignment children's clothing.  Brendan was a baby at the time, and he had a wonderful wardrobe, courtesy OUAC.  In fact, a lady that took care of him in the church nursery told us one day he was the best dressed child she had!  What a revelation!   He was dressed head to toe in second hand clothing!

When Claire was a brand new baby (by this time, we lived in Las Vegas), my friend Karissa took us shopping at Children's Orchard, another fine resale shop.  Claire's church dedication outfit was a beautiful white velour one piece purchased there.  Karissa and I started shopping regularly at Saver's, a huge thrift store, and our finds were unbelievable.  Not just clothing, but household goods and toys too.  It wasn't unusual for us to pack up all 4 (at the time) of our kids and head out to various Saver's located in the Vegas valley.  We found so many good buys it was hilarious the times we overbought!  Several times Karissa and I staged a 'closet intervention' when she'd realize she had way too many black skirts, courtesy thrift stores!!

Thrifting is a fun experience, and a frugal one too, but it's also green and good for the enviroment.  You're greatly reducing your carbon footprint by reusing instead of calling upon more of earth's resources to make another shirt.  I realize there ARE times thrift doesn't make good sense...........I'm not a huge advocate of buying socks and underwear second hand.  Please don't make me go into the details.  Other clothing and shoes are easily thrown into the washer.......if you're only paying $5 for a pair of jeans, you can play 'laundry roulette' and do whatever needs to be done to reclaim them to their former glory.  I have washed every kind of shoes and bleached items that looked to be unsaveable, only to have them emerge more beautiful than I thought possible.  Once I actually had a Goodwill clerk try to talk me out of buying a white hoodie for $3.29 because it was badly stained.  I took it anyway, threw it into a hot bleach load, and you wouldn't believe the results.  I love that hoodie and wear it all the time, and it looks good as new.   I have bought badly tarnished brass bangles and given them a good once over with my trusty brass polish, and they look like real gold, absolutely gorgeous.  These bracelets go for $1-$2 and are the color of POOP when I buy them!  Being able to look past their current state has really paid off!!

On the rare occasion I bring something home, and it turns out I can't salvage it, what am I out, finanically?  Not much.  That's why it's so much less stressful when something I've bought second hand gets stained or ruined.  Not so much something I invest in from Macy's.  When the dog gets ahold of a Haiviana flip flop I got at Goodwill for $1.99 and destroys it, the pain is a lot less than if I'd bought the sandal for it's full retail price of $24!!

Aside from all of the above, we have more going on in our lives than fashion.  We enjoy it, but we don't live for it.  Our resources must be spread in other areas.  We can't pay $300 for a designer purse.  Our clothing is the backdrop to our lives, not our focus.  We don't want people to only see our material possessions; we want them to see US, as a whole.  When Claire wears the carefully bought skirt, blouse and heels as a member of Symphonic choir, she wants you to hear her sing, not concentrate on her clothes. We want our concern for others and our love for the Lord to take precedence over our outward appearance.

So, to recap: we share our thrifting experiences to let you know that you can do it too, and easily!

And now, a kitten picture to put things in perspective.........because I'd rather have a kitty as a neckwarmer over a Hermes scarf anyday :)

'I just don't have time to thrift shop.'

I hear this a lot.  People will admire what Claire and I wear from resale options, then sigh deeply and say, 'I would love to find goodies like you do, but I just don't have the time.' 

If you think that Claire and I have heaps and gobs of unlimited, luxurious hours that we while away in stores, stop right there.   We really don't!  We have to take advantage of 'little minutes' and pop in when we can.  I am including a picture of Claire's latest homecoming dress, because it proves my point.  I happened to stop in for FIVE MINUTES at Goodwill one day.........I believe I had dropped Claire off at youth group, so I took advantage of the time and made a big loop around Delaware to include a thrift store stop!  I always check 1.) the jewelry counter, 2.) the purses, 3.) the shoes and 4.) the dresses, in that order, because that's how they fall in the store.  Knowing the layout helps me get in and get out quicker!

On this particular day, I ran back to check the dresses, and found this lovely, vintage number.  It looked big to me, but Goodwill's policy states that they will accept exchanges (only) within 7 days with a receipt and the original tag still attached.  Since the dress was $10, I took a chance and snatched it up to see if Claire was interested.    Those of us with teenage daughters realize how hard it is to shop for them without them having them present, so knowing and adhering to this policy is a godsend when I find goodies and I'm alone.  Having a special place in my wallet for the receipts helps keep me organized!  Even though they don't offer refunds, we ALWAYS find things we want at Goodwill, so we don't mind the exchange policy!

Turns out Claire was delighted with the dress!  She loves 50's and 60's vintage and it was perfect.  The size, however, was not.  At first we thought my mom could alter the bodice, but it was boned and that was beyond her expertise in that area (hey, the woman paints and colors my hair!).  I made a phone call to Minarchek's Cleaners, our go to for making our thrift store formals look unbelievable, and asked who they could recommend as a seamstress.  They were happy to send us to Lucinda's in Delaware, and she did a perfect job for only $37.  Claire already had the shoes ($3.29), the pearl necklace, earrings and bracelets from me (free!) and she did her own hair, copied off a YouTube tutorial (also free!).  Her cute vintage clutch was $4.99.  We bought new fishnet stockings ($5) which she chose not to wear at the last minute, so the grand total we spent on her homecoming ensemble was $60!  Not bad when you consider a short formal (new with tags) can run on average $85-100........and that's for the dress alone.  Then you have to pony up for dinner, and after dance snacks.......!!

Although I was able to find this dress by myself, with 5 minutes of time, I prefer having Claire with me.  Not only to try things on (or veto things she doesn't like), but we have so much fun shopping together, and as an added bonus, this child has saved me $$$ by letting me know what I should NOT buy for MYSELF!!   She has my permission to be completely honest, even when it hurts!

 

Have we shot down the 'I just don't have time' argument?