What NOT to WEAR Thrift- Toe Overhang

Yesterday at work could be characterized by WHAT NOT TO WEAR moments. Some ladies in my town have inspired this post. 

Ladies, make sure your shoes FIT. Please prevent toe overhang in your sandals. Your toes spreading all out puts undo pressure on your feet and knees, causing future pain and problems. Buy shoes that fit. 

Thrift Store Shopping Tip of the Day: Only purchase shoes second-hand if they are in new condition. Your feet are too valuable to wear someone else's worn out or infected shoes. I cannot stress this enough when it comes to athletic shoes. Most shoes, and especially RUNNING shoes are one thing you should never buy thrift. 

Here is an article about the dangers of wearing your shoes incorrectly, by Eileen Curtis:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/HEALTH/806040322

Photo courtesy of handbagsandcupcakes.blogspot.com 

Here is a famous picture of Julianne Moore and her shrimp toe faux pas. Ew.

Photo: TheDailyBeast.com

My 3 Week Review of Paula's Choice RESIST Skin Care Line

This is my diary of my first run with skin care in my 40's. I love the sun and I'm not giving it up. I understand that I've chosen to allow my skin to age a bit faster because of it, but it's worth being outside. That being said, after researching for months, I finally chose Paula's Choice Resist line for my skin improvement system. 

July 7, 2013 

July 29, 2013

I am shocked at how much smoother my skin is. If you look really closely, you can even see that some of the dark freckles are completely gone. My bumps have completely disappeared. The deep frown line is a bit more plump.

Here is a close-up of my eyes before:

Here is the after picture:

So what do you think? Think Paula would pay me for this?

Disclaimer! This was my own experiment. I have nothing to do with this skin care line, except for being a customer. I wanted to see if it would make any difference and it has so far. I mainly chose RESIST, because it's not tested on animals, and it's one of the only skin care lines that will give you all the ingredients and testing documents for every product.

Here is the website with all the brand reviews:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/brands/

Sunday Flea Market Shopping Finds ~ Home Decor

It was a misty, 54-degree, July Sunday here in Colorado. That makes for a perfect cozy sweater and flea market trip visit after church. 

Look what I found on my treasure hunt!

Glorious white and violet glass vase ~ 28" tall        $16

This is an odd purchase for me, since I tend to only stick to vintage and industrial country-type items. I did lots of scrolling to find something similar. I did find this 12" tall vase: 

http://market27.com/accessories/19-tall-speckled-white--burgundy-italian-glass-vase.html

I say this is a good buy. 

6 Indiana Glass King's Crown Ruby thumbprint glasses (1954-1960)  ~ $10.00
Here is a blurb I found on the internet:
http://indianaglass.carnivalheaven.com/id275.htm

Peplum: To Wear or Not to Wear? Come Vote in My Poll

Peplum 

What is it? It is a skirt, pleat, or gathering of fabric attached to the bottom of a shirt, tunic, jacket, etc. We saw peplum in the 40's, the 80's, and now it's here again.

Peplum Debate

I invite you to vote on the side column of the blog.

Yes, women look beautiful in a pepulm piece        
No, we should not wear peplum.

Before we vote, let's consider a few things:

southmoltonstyle.com

It looks like Peplum is here to stay!

missmalini.com

What about the different body types of all women? Can most ladies pull it off?

Hourglass

lipstiq.com

Fuller Figure

Pear

Jibri.com

Slim

ClothingApparelStores.com

Do you think that the skirting draws your eye up to the waist, making it appear slimmer? Or do you think the skirt widens the hips, drawing attention to hip or back end? 

There is quite a bit of peplum on the shelves right now. I am interested in your take. 

Lineberry Factory Cart Coffee Table

 Lineberry Factory Carts

I first felt my heart palpitations for such an unprecedented piece of furniture years ago (2008 perhaps?) in the Restoration Hardware showroom. The factory cart used as a coffee table was an ingenious idea. It was the first R.H. piece in their collection toward the trend of industrial antique, but still classic enough for my more conservative decor. At the old R.H. price of $1,295 I knew I would set my thrift eye on the hunt. 

Here is an article I found from Jule Hubbard, 6/27/12, on the history and resurrection of factory cart upcycling:

http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/article_599dfc46-c07c-11e1-a9f3-0019bb30f31a.html

Many of the factory carts have come from closing American factories. Furniture restoration junkies buy them up for $25 or $75 a piece and flip them for fantastic profit.

My Living Room

Here is my factory cart coffee table. I bought it from a restorer on eBay in 2010. He purchased the raw remnant for $25 in North Carolina. I was able to request my finishing color and gloss. My cart plus shipping totaled $425.00, surely a far better deal than Restoration Hardware retail.

There are still dealers on eBay and through private searches who sell the factory carts in their original antique state. I had thought of driving to Michigan or North Carolina for a road trip to pick up a few of them and do some furniture flipping myself!

Watercolor & Turquoise Thrift

Watercolor & Turquoise Thrift

I had a very challenging day at work yesterday. At least I will feel fantastic for CASUAL FRIDAY in these flowing layers. Here in Colorado, we never know what our weather will do to us. It is in the 50's right now but could be scorching later on. I choose 2-3 layers a day when I work.

I am madly in love with this grouping today:

Ann Tayor- delicate rayon sweater $3.99

Ana watercolor gathered tank - $1.99

Kohl's cotton tank - $0.79

Kohl's necklace - $7.99

Nine West shoes - $4.99

Target micro pinstripe capri -$3.99

 Total= $23.65

This ana tank has little beads sewn into the fringe hems. 

Sweet sweater is softer than a cloud. My children keep hugging me to put their cheeks on it.

Grace Kelly: To Catch a Thrift

Grace Kelly: To Catch A Thief  1955

(Photo: BlogPicnic.com)

Antique Hollywood makes me smile. Taking a road trip to California this summer with the whole family, included my wide-eyes visiting some of the fantastic, overpriced old Hollywood tourist shops. (Children of course were eating some kind of atrocity with dad as they waited for my wandering to come to an end).

Why do I love Grace Kelly? Simplicity. Princess Grace was the first actress of the day to be photographed without makeup or set hair. This concept of natural beauty certainly departed from the traditions of that time.

Thrift Store Find: Draping Silk Sabrina Neckline tank ~ $1.99

Thrift Store Find: American Eagle Denim crop jacket. Stitching includes clear, sparkling beads across pockets. ~$4.99

Necklace: Lia Sophia (Hostess gift from my friend, Kendra. Hi, Kennie!)

My daughter having fun with camera settings~

Luxurious Rose Gold @ Goodwill

My beautiful mommy, Annie, knows all too well how much I adore jewelry because I got that shopping bug from her. The tongue I dragged about upon the floor at sparkly stores began when I was 17.

In jewelry, I like to walk apart from the crowd. When yellow gold was popular, I bolted and headed toward white. When white became popular, I had to get out of there and move to rose. I have parked myself on rose gold for a time now and fall more in love each day with art deco, early century antique shapes. 

Today I want to share that Goodwill is not just for clothes. If you search carefully, you never know what you may find. Although rare, many beautiful jewelry pieces can be found crammed in a case behind plastic, smoke-stained beads. 

Here is the amazing wedding set my husband blessed me with (next to its cute leather box). It is 14K rose gold. Taking a picture next to cloudy window light, really shows the peach color. 

(10K rose gold is very pink. 14K has a peach hue. 18K has a warm yellow/pink hue). 

In the case at Goodwill, my eye immediately zoomed to a ring that I know to be rose gold. The tag was marked, $9.99.  I said to the employee, "This is real." She replied, "No it's not or it would be marked." I started laughing and checked out as fast as I could. Here is the thrifted, real,18K rose gold band next to my wedding band. One day maybe I'll have some stones put into it. $10 at Goodwill. You never know what you'll find! Go on a treasure hunt today. 

Every Woman is Worth It

Years ago, I thought 40 was old. Now that I am in my 40's I am amazed at the transformation of body, mind, and spirit I've experienced.

(This outfit is all from eBay). (This little cutie is a gift from God). 

My health, my education, wisdom, and my body are better than they ever were when I was 25. It is pure joy to show my children that beauty comes from love, strength, faith, and perseverance. 

Today I offer a Mentor Shopping Tip of the Day for the young girls I have come to know, to the young mothers beginning their families, and to my peers who reflect and reevaluate current goals.

I am blessed beyond all understanding. My cup overflows with precious abundance. I have the ability to walk in classic pumps through our downtown boutiques. I have the means to carry the coveted shopping bags of status, filled with fragrant tissue paper which drips with American excess. I choose not to. 

Sit with a journal. Close your beautiful eyes. Try to list the times you have stopped to purposefully look into the eyes of someone with pain or sadness in their eyes. Have you said, "Hello" to someone in a checkout line lately? Will you? I do. It is in that unparalleled moment where you learn that your smile and your choice to slow down and acknowledge another human being saved someone that day. Every one of us is worth it. Everyone is special. Everyone is someone who can be loved. 

I believe that my blessings flow because I never take my eye off of the One to whom it belongs. If today were your last, how did YOU choose to treat every human you passed; the ones who did not look like you, the ones who did not smell like you? Have you ever bought an extra cute shirt on sale and then just surprised someone sitting on the streets with it? Watch her eyes! You may learn that she has a name and it's Brenda, that she never should have tried meth, and her children have been taken from her. The shirt you gave her for no reason gave her the hope to keep going another day. This is the inspiration for why Thrift Store Blog exists. Now...

Mentor Shopping Tip of the Day:

*Is that item you are about to buy, a need (winter coat) or is a want? Do you have the CASH to pay for that item at this exact moment? If you find yourself pulling out a credit card because you need food or rent with the physical money that you currently have, then take a deep breath and walk away. Find your discipline to wait. If that item is meant to be, you'll find it later--and probably for less money!

Office Monday Purple Sheath Thrift ~ $6.99 'a la Jason Wu

It is Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus sale time. It is so deliciously tempting to add a few pieces to my online cart. Yet, the overwhelming amazingness of thrift shopping trumps the momentary surge of SALE adrenaline. 

Here you see a rayon, lined sheath dress. $6.99 Thrift Find.

I did pair it with my REAL pearls. This dress would be perfect for layers of long strands, but the perfect simplicity lures me more. 

 Now take a look: Oh Jason, how perfect are your dresses for me. I saved a few dollars waiting and searching, however.

Jason Wu

Fitted Racerback Sheath Dress, Violet

$1850.00

(Photo: Nieman Marcus)

Have a great Monday, everyone. 

PS: How do you like my new choppy, short, blond hair cut? 

Vintage Antique Stained Glass Windows

Good Morning,

   It is delightfully cool and fresh this Colorado A.M. This morning is my long distance run morning so I will make this quick. I have to get out to the trail.

Three years ago, our family of five found ourselves homeless for a short time, after a strange real estate endeavor fell through. We moved into a 120 year-old Victorian downtown. That is when I became captivated by the beauty and intrigue of the windows of years past. Our creaky old house had the most wonderful stained glass throughout. 

After we moved out, I set my eye on the search for windows a la Victorian house to use in my future decor. The search has been difficult over these years because antique dealers are looking for a profit. I had not been successful in my search for less than $100 until recently. As of this week, I finally accomplished my task! This window (on top) came from a local lady on Craigslist for $45.00. There are no cracks in the lead at all! The one on the bottom I found at Goodwill months ago for $15.00. There is one small crack which I adore. The peeling paint adds such adorable shabby chic vibe to the look.

I have placed them on either side of the center archway in my foyer (which I would show you, but my children's pictures are in there).

Hope you enjoyed my antique windows!

Casual Friday Thrift for $8.97

If I have no meetings then... Business Casual.

I was playing around with PicMonkey effects to add the "Polaroid Camera" feature to my shot. This darling cotton blouse reminds me of the 80's with the secretary bow-hence the Polaroid camera. Under my picture are this season's Anthropologie Level 99 Bermudas on sale right now (Photo from Anthro catalog). With the turquoise bow blouse in the Anthro catalog, I think I pulled off the exact same look for $80 less. 

Forever 21 Blouse- $1.99

Black Bead Bracelet- $2.00

Black Bermuda Short- $0.99 (Yes, that's less than the Dollar Store! )

Sam & Libby Ballet Flats (w/ the original tags still attached in the box)- $3.99

Shopping tip of the day for my Colorado friends: The Parker Main Street Goodwill on 83 has a website. Register your email with them and receive notifications about sales such as, "$0.99 Days" or "$1.00 Jeans Day," etc... This is a steal if you need back-to-school items for the kids! Contact all of your local consignment shops or thrift stores to see if you can get a notification of specials. 

.Now take a look below!

                          

I've worn them around now, but these Sam & Libby's were brand new, in the box, when I found them! 

I will be pulling this out when the weather cools but just had to show you today. 

Here is the blouse with a Cynthia Rowley periwinkle blue sweater I found as well. Anne Klein shoes to go with.

CYNTHIA ROWLEY RUFFLE SWEATER: $3.99

ANNE KLEIN PUMPS: $4.99

What NOT to Wear- Pant Pucker!

I had two outfits selected that I wanted to wear on the show tomorrow. I realized the angle of the camera is right at knee level. Game-Changer! Black slacks it is. No girl can go wrong with black. Before landing on the Vera Wang pant, however, I did try on a few others in the closet.

Take a look at these pants I had from Old Navy:

Ladies! This is pant pucker. The spandex blend in low quality clothes pulls on its own seam when you sit or bed. High quality pants would be smooth along the entire seam on my leg. So no. No Old Navy pants on TV.

PS: Platform Alert- Companies such as Old Navy and affiliates (Banana Republic, GAP, etc.), Walmart, Gymboree, Abercrombie are well-know sweat shop companies with unfair labor and/or child labor practices.  Another reason to shop thrift, is that these clothes were already made and purchased. It meshes better with my conscience to buy them as the 2nd or 5th owner because it keeps the clothes in circulation, reducing further spending in those establishments.