Thrifting 101

Who is thrifting?  

  Thrifting is enjoying a moment in the sun.  Students, Hipsters, DIYers, people on fixed incomes… you will find all kinds of people at the thrift store; which is awesomesauce.  Don’t feel weird or uncomfortable… just jump on in... The thrifting water is fine! {Just to be clear, I in no way condone drinking thrifted water.  Unless you are very, very thirsty.}

Who should I bring?

I love my kids, but generally it’s a good idea to leave them home.  They get bored and start to whine and distract me.  So leave the kiddos, but bring your parents or grandparents!  Many stores give senior discounts.  Plus, it’s just nice to spend some time with your grandma.

I found these matching wastebasket and tissue holder from Horchow for $2.50 and $3.50.  They retailed for $275.00 and $175.00.  Checking labels is a good idea.

What should you wear?  

Something that won’t get in the way of trying on clothes.  I try to wear a long skirt and tank top.  Shirts and jackets can go right over the tank and I can try pants on under the skirt.  Most stores have a few dressing rooms, but I just take over a mirror for a few minutes and leave the dressing rooms to the other shoppers.  {Whatever you do, please try on the clothes!  Don’t end up at home with something that doesn’t fit. Remember, too... wash before you wear!}

What should you expect to find?

If you’ve never been to a thrift store you are in for a treat.  A bit of a musty smelling treat.  You will see a little bit of everything.  Name brand clothing.  A ton of housewares, bowling ball bags, puzzles, books, frames, prosthetic limbs… pretty much anything you can think of.

What should you bring?

You may need snacks and some water.  {See above regarding thrifted water.}  In addition, I always have a smart phone and cash.  I can Google brands I don’t recognize right there in the store.  That way I don't pass up on those $175.00 Italian booties.  (True Story)

On my phone I also have my Pinterest “I wear” board up and running so I can remember what I am looking for. 

I bring cash for a couple reasons.  Some stores don’t take credit, and cash will keep you from going over budget.  I usually budget $10-20 dollars per store.  If I go over that, it better be for a really good reason.  Please don’t buy something you don’t need just because it’s cheap.  (Unless you plan on reselling it on Etsy or Ebay.)

Where should you go?  

Everywhere.  Popular stores like Goodwill and Savers are, of course, wonderful.  But don’t forget the smaller charity stores.  My favorite place for clothes benefits a private school in our area. 

         Do a Google search for thrift stores in your town.  That’s how I stumbled on a wonderful place where I found these trunks!

The candles sticks, sign, trunks, desk and frame all were found thrifting!

When should you go thrifting?    

The simple answer is OFTEN.  This is my hobby, so I go at least once a week to my two favorite shops just to see what is new.  Ask when the sale dates are or if they put coupons in the paper.  Different stores will have different sale dates.  ASK when the best time to shop is… the volunteers will know!

When should you inspect your items?

Obviously you will look at what you are buying, but please inspect things fully while you are in the store.  And I mean top to bottom, inside and out.  Do the zippers work?  Are all the parts there?  Any chips, or stains?  Are you really in love with it?  Don’t bring home clutter or things that you won’t be able to repair. 

I am always on the lookout for white tableware.  

If it’s Pottery Barn?  Even better.

Why thrift?

With the inventory constantly changing, thrifting is always an adventure.  Even if you leave the store empty handed (and sometimes I do!), chances are you will see something that will make you giggle or at least spark a fond memory.  You will find AHHMAZING deals and have things to wear and display that are unique and have a story!

If you are looking to set up your own Ebay or Etsy store thrifting is a wonderful way to add vintage items for you to make a nice little profit on.

Here I am thrifted head to toe and loving it!

Let’s see… something that is fun, good for the planet and good for your pocketbook?  Sounds like a winning combination!

Most important?  Have fun.  It’s thrifting. Like life, it will totally be what YOU make it. 
xoxo Jules  

Using PicMonkey To Make Labels

I just did a MAJOR closet clean-out and found myself in need of some labels.

OK, I found myself in need of A LOT of labels.

But printing things out on my computer sucks ink.

And ink costs $$$.

PicMonkey and Walgreens Photo to the rescue!

 The first thing I did was design some labels on PicMonkey. 

SO EASY.

1.  Upload a background print.

2.  Click to type some text.

3.  Save as a jpg

4.  Upload to print.

The hardest part?  Picking a font!  PicMonkey has so many neat fonts to choose from.  After I had saved my "labels" I uploaded them to the Walgreens site.  1 hour later I was able to pick them up... and I only paid 19 cents each!

 I may or may not have gotten carried away making labels.

I just did the standard 3 x 5 picture, but square would be so neat.

 I also uploaded a black chevron background and used PicMonkey to add a cute little teal circle and some sweet critters.  These are perfect to tie on our towel basket or affix to our drink containers out by the pool.

I'm not much of a designer when it comes to this kind of thing, but it was so easy and turned out so bright and fun that I kinda impressed myself.

Did I mention that ...

Everything I used from PicMonkey was absolutely free?

I would love to see what you make on PicMonkey; even though I will be totally jealous when it kicks butt all over my stuff.

xoxo jules

Mother's Day Gift

I went back in the bles-id archives to repost this Mother's Day craft from 2011. Enjoy!
It is amazing how creative God has made people.  I celebrate the fact that so many talented gals blog so the rest of us can get inspired, copy or just plain drool.  When I saw some Mother's Day Text Art at Keep it Simple, Sister I KNEW I had to do this for my mother-in-law.  

And maybe even for myself!  

Just look at this gorgeous thing from K.I.S.S.  Wowza!  See why I was inspired?  Check out the other Momma's Day stuff she has going on. 

Poke around her blog for some great inspiration!

Here is what I was inspired to do:

 'Cause I have mad love for paint samples, I modeled mine after one of those.  (It looks blue-ish, but Cameron's card is actually a light green.)

To make the name cards in Pages, I made a 5 X 7 rectangle and filled it in with a shade of green.  Then I added the name and birthday using the font Silom and repeated. {Not that Silom is an amazing font, just thought you'd like to know!}  

Off I went to Office Max and had them printed on heavy paper.  All that was fairly simple.  The hard part was finding a frame that had four 5 X 7 openings.  

Very bad planning on my part.  

{FIVE STORES AND A QUARTER TANK OF GAS LATER}

 I ended up at Michaels and found a frame that had four 3 X 5 openings.

 I  ripped the matting apart to make them bigger.   

I know one grandma who is going to love this!

I'm dropping by Kelley Moore to pick up a paint chip for a card.  Wouldn't that just be sooooooo cute?  Thanks to Keep it Simple, Sister for the fab idea!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you hot mama's out there.  You inspire me and make me a better mom! XOXO jules

The Scoop

Thrifted Week 31

 These are my babies on Easter in their thrifted finest!

Don't they look like little angels?

Don't be fooled...

This is what they like to do to me when I'm taking my "Thrifted Week" posts.

This week I wore:

Lucky Brand white denim capris $1.99

Studio Y dark brown shirt $1.75

----------------------------

xoxo

Jules

Sydney's Room Renovation

 When my friends Keith and Christe told me they wanted to give their daughter Sydney a room renovation for graduation I sorta took the project and ran with it.  
I'm bossy that way.  Sorry guys!
We had a super small budget to work with. 
 I pitched in $40.00 and they matched it for paint.

 This was our inspiration picture. 

I love the colors and the maps.  
I think it's totally beachy and totally perfect for a teenage girl!  
Here is where we started:

Here is how it turned out!

 For furniture, I did all white.  Bed was made by Christe's mom, and Christe painted out the buffet they had in their garage to act like a dresser.  I had planned to use the butlers table it in my living room, but it was just too big.  
It works perfectly here as a nightstand.

 Wall Color:  Kelly Moore Seaside Accents.
I covered the headboard with a thrifted tablecloth.
Marshalls had the quatrofoil pillow; I made the other one.
I love how the vintage jar matches the bedding and the pop of color the 99 Cent Store flowers provide.

 I love this dresser!  Sydney has plenty of space to hang her momentos on the memo boards.  I brought a bit of our teal color in with the books and donated frames were painted orange to match the headboard.

 For artwork above the bed, I modpodged some maps on some donated artwork.  Thrifted mirrors attached with Magic Nails glue complete the look.

 This beachy basket was 49 cents.  I added in three 99 cent books and a 39 cent coconut for a sweet thrifted dresser display.

 Sydney's awesome aunt found the chair in an alley; it was missing a seat.  I just added some wood for the seat and wrapped it in our sweet orangey floral fabric.

The cost breakdown:

 I had quite a bit of stuff stashed away that I knew would be PERFECT for this makeover.  The rest?  I visited a few thrift stores and I called on my friends to help with donations. (Boy, did they come through!)

Twin Duvet Cover made from queen. *my stash

Quilt and Two Euro Pillows *donated by Heather

Art work *donated by Heather and modpodged with maps I had.

3 Square Wooden Mirrors $2.99 Each *thrifted

Quatrafoil Pillow from Marshalls $15.00 (My only splurge)

*Thrifted Orangey Fabric Tablecloth $1.99 to cover headboard.

White Chair Free, *found in alley by Corinne

Fabric for Chair and pillow 1/2 yard for $2.50

Butler's Table painted and weathered *my stash

2 orange flowers from 99 Cent Store

Lamp *my stash

*Thrifted Books $.99 each x 3

Basket 50 Cents *thrifted

Little coconut shell 39 cents *thrifted

Frames *donated by Erin

Headboard $5.00 Queen cut down to twin *garage sale

White Vase $1.99 *thrifted

White Frame *my stash

$40.40

THANK YOU to Heather, Corinne and Erin!  Without you ladies this wouldn't have been possible.  And Sydney... enjoy hanging out with your friends in your awesome new room.  Happy Graduation!
xoxo jules

Linking to The Bright Green Door too! 

Thrifted Week 30

 This week's thrifty outfit is a pretty plain one...

My little black wrap dress.

The previous owner cut the name out of the tag; but I think it is GAP.  Regardless, it was a Goodwill $2.00 steal.

Necklace is from Marshalls, btw.

Here is my pal Bianca to show off her thrifty goodness.

Look at this beauty.

She is a thifting queen.

My Eat Thrift Love partner in crime.

Thrifty crime, that is.

So proud to call her friend!

Bianca has S.T.Y.L.E.

Here is what she is wearing:  

Dress is vintage 70's "Creation Lima" from the store 

Mars on Telegraph in Berkeley $18.00 

Shoes "Charlotte Russe"  From Priceless Treasures $4.99

Cardigan Old Navy HMD from friend Erin 

Leather purse from garage sale $2.00

Necklace wood "pearls" from Goodwill $1.99

I'm totally going to have to borrow those shoes!

Thanks Bianca, for showing off your style! 

You can see more of her over at Just Bonkers.

xoxo jules

Laundry Closet

Over the years I've done thousands of loads of laundry.

I'm sure you can relate!

I've had laundry rooms with sinks.

I've had laundry rooms with lots of space.

I've done laundry in the garage.

 Currently I have a laundry closet.

It's not my ideal situation, but I'm making the best of it.

During our little renovation, we added a barnwood backsplash, cupboards for storage and map wallpaper.  We also were smart enough to put in a light!  Amazing what a little light can do to a space.

{Here is the before}  

When we moved in it was fine.  Boring, but fine. 

After we bought our new washer/dryer we realized that the oh so clever builder made the closet for a regular unit, not the front loader variety.  We had to remove the doors to make things fit.  Removing the doors also revealed the fact that this area was a big fat mess.

Adding plain 'ole stock cabinets from Home Depot really boosted my storage space.  We spray painted them with regular spray paint.  Having the extra storage meant I could ditch the washer and dryer bases. I wasn't fond of them. 

I watered down some glue and stuck up the maps like I was hanging wallpaper.  It was messy, but I love the results!

I printed off a Graphics Fairy print that diagrams vintage irons to add a little art.

Since then, I've taken it down and put up my map wreath.

It looks super cute.

I wish it inspired me to do more laundry.

Big baskets with tags help the kids sort their clothes.

They do it perfectly every single time.

HA!

xoxo Jules