30x30x30: day 8 & 9 + tips of thrifting
i don’t know why i’m total slacker posting these pictures
these are seriously the easiest posts… ha!
but i have been doing it!!
{promise}
so here’s my 30x30 under $30 pictures for days 8 and 9
i also don’t know why i seem to frequently fail to take pictures that include my shoes…
or why these pictures seem really blurry when they are blown up but seemed perfectly fine before.
basically, i don’t know a lot of things.
i’m still getting used to doing these “fashion pictures” but i love being able to show
cheap, affordable outfits
in hopes that it will help a few people be able to dress nicely on a budget.
as you have seen in many of my posts so far, i get a lot of my clothes from thrift stores.
i was looking in my closet the other day and realized that at least half of my wardrobe if not more is from thrift stores. i can count a handful of items that i bought full-priced at a department store.
sometimes shopping at thrift stores is hit or miss.
if you are a thrifting newbie, it can be kind of overwhelming and frustrating trying to sift through all the items!
so here are a few tips i’ve discovered that will hopefully help on your thrifting adventures!
1. go with a purpose.
a lot of times, i will see a shirt or a skirt or pants that i like on someone else and then hit up the thrift store to see if i can find something similar.
the pink/red [they’re pinker in person] pants above are a perfect example of that!
my friend Kelsey and i decided to look for some colored pants that we could refashion into cute, colored skinny jeans that are all the rage now. i found these pants that fit perfectly but were just a little long. i had all these plans to refashion them but turned out i liked them the way there were and so now i have red bellbottom corduroys for a steal at $6
2. try to see the vision of the item.
it may be hard to see how a colorful 80’s style shirt [like this one here] could be cute, but once you take out the shoulder pads and maybe do some tailoring it will look amazing!
the shirt i wore on day 5 is another great example of this tip.
when i first found it, it had big, bulky shoulder pads and looked horrible when i tried it on. but i loved the colors and patterns so much that i knew it had potential.
and it did!
just a few rips of the shoulder pads later, a good wash, and it was good to go at a whopping $4!
3. go during the day at the beginning of the week.
my friend Jessica actually passed this genius of a tip on to me. her theory {and i’m pretty sure it’s true} is that people are cleaning out their houses and donating items on weekends so at the beginning of the week they are all stocked up again. this also guarantees that you can get the items before the weekend rush of shoppers.
plus, it can be full on crazy on Saturdays!
i have found many a glorious thing when i decide to mosey on down the D.I. some Tuesday afternoon.
although don’t be surprised if you don’t find anything right away.
which brings me to tip number….
4. have patience!!
because thrift stores {usually} sell lots of different one-of-a-kind items, it can be tough to get what you want even when you go with a purpose.
so be patient!!
take your time sorting through the clothes & keep in mind that you may need to take multiple trips.
but if you are determined enough, it is very possible to find what you want!
and finally
5. go with a friend.
i don’t know if this really mandatory to thrifting, but it sure makes it a lot more fun!
sure, i enjoy a good solo shopping experience every now and then, but it truly makes a huge difference when you have a friend there to give their input.
{not that you always have to follow it but it’s nice to know}
especially when you see an item that you may be on the fence about, sometimes you need another eye there to help you see the full vision of the item.
again, take those red pants for example, the ones that so many of you have commented on before.
i was actually really really unsure about them. but my friend Kelsey convinced me that they had potential and didn’t look as weird as i thought they did. so i bought them and eventually gained enough courage to wear them in public and
BOOM!
now they’re my favorite pants ever!
bringing a friend shopping with you can be extremely helpful in non-refundable situations.
maybe these are all tips you have heard before and maybe they’re not.
i hope at least one is new!
but i hope it’s helped show you that shopping at second-hand stores is really a great way to extend your shopping budget!
it is amazing what you can find sometimes!
i’m a total believer in the power of thrift
what are some of your thrifting tips?
what are some way you stretch your budget for clothes?
a little rouge and a little whimsy for your day + giveaway
you guys, i have some amazing sponsors this month!!
i have loved getting to know each one of them better this month and work with them.
i really do feel honored that they want to support my little blog,
it truly means the world to me!
one of my sponsors is Erika from Rouge & Whimsy.
Erika is one of the most kind, caring, patient, genuine, loving, encouraging… {i could go on!} person i have ever met!!
with everything that has happened these last few weeks of January, i have been absolutely horrible with keeping in contact with people and replying to emails.
but Erika has only been understanding and nice while i try to get my head back on my shoulders
{almost literally…}
i really appreciate her support and it has only made me more grateful that i get to work with her this month!
now it’s your turn to get to know Erika a little bit better!!
i got to ask Erika a few questions {some a little silly} so you can get to know the girl behind the blog & shop a little more
1. How would your friends describe you?
creative. loud. loving.
2. How long have you been married and what {honest} advice would you give to someone about to be married?
We've been married just over 2 1/2 years and I think the best advice I have for people is to always think the best of the other person. If they messed up somehow, don't think that they did it because they're out to get you-- they probably just made a mistake, just the way you make mistakes. So give and receive grace and move on. :)
3. How did you start your blog & shop and why?
I love to write, I love documenting pretty things and after reading blogs for awhile I decided I wanted to start my own. The shop came out of making some things for friends and seeing Etsy as a place to share those. It's kinda in flux right now. I have some big ideas for it, but so little time.
4. What inspires you?
My momma. She is living her dream job after raising three kids-- repurposing furniture, giving new life to houses and living a beautiful, creative life. I love it. You can read about what she does here.
5. What would your totem-pole animal spirit be? [like a great eagle or an otter :)]
hahah this is SO funny to me because I grew up in Washington state and we studied totem poles and Native American history and all that so much and even made totem poles. Gosh, I don't know. I think my totem pole animal would be a kitty (is that allowed?) because I love to sleep, stretch and bask in the sun.
6. What are some of your favorite items in your shop or blog posts [with links] and why?
favorite item in the shop is this orange sleep mask (I sleep with one every night):
*I love this post from my husband on our anniversary (so sweet)
*I love my outfit posts- and this one about finding my style
*I also love this semi-silly post about why I wear red lipstick
7. How do you define success?
Living a life that brings joy to God, others and yourself. :)
8. What advice would you give to new shop owners/bloggers? What did you wish you knew when you first started?
I wish I knew how important good photos were! Big, beautiful photos! This is important for shops AND blogs. Also, patience. It's rare that anyone is a success overnight. Better to build a strong community of followers who will care about you AND your blog. Oh, and blog for you not anyone else. If you like what you write, chances are other people will sense that and like it too.
{not having big pictures was totally one of my rookie mistakes! and i still struggle to remember it}
9. What is a talent you have that you wish you used more?
I don't listen enough. I am a good listener but sometimes I fill the listening in with talking.
10. Do you squeeze the top of the toothpaste tube or the bottom? Which one does your husband do? {This is a silly question from Stronger Marriage that we would ask couples just for fun}
So I squeeze from the bottom because I'm anal like that and thank goodness the husband does too (most of the time.) Sometimes I have to remind him, though. It's just better-- it doesn't waste as much! hah!
11. What are your goals for the future {long and short}? Do you have anything you want to change?
In the way-off future I would love to be supporting myself with a creative lifestyle of some sort. I want children in five-ish years, I want to finish our house's basement! Short-term goals: Continue to grow my blog, find joy in the everyday and learn to be in the moment.
i love Erika’s answers!
especially that she her animal spirit would be a kitty
who doesn’t like to sleep all day??
and because Erika is so nice, she is also giving away an awesome prize!
$15 credit to her shop + large ad space on her blog
you are free to use this credit on me!
i would gladly take this, this, this, or this please!!!
:)
mandatory entry:
1. follow Rouge & Whimsy here
additional entries:
2. follow Erika on Twitter here
3. follow Rouge & Whimsy on Facebook here
4. favorite {heart} Rouge & Whimsy on Etsy here
5. follow Rouge & Whimsy on Bloglovin’ here
6. follow my blog
[comment for each entry]
GOOD LUCK!
and seriously go show Erika some love
you won’t regret it!
:::p.s. you can read the interview Erika did on me over on her blog today too! and maybe enter another giveaway… wha???? :)
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