What I look out for at the thrift store for fall looks:

• Sweaters
  • These
    are bountiful in all colors, thickness, patterns – plaid is
    my favorite. The brown/black sweaterish jacket I have on in the photos is super unique and a great brand for $8. 
  • Not
    only wear alone but also think about layering options (turtlenecks and blazers is
    a stunning work look)
  • Hartley’s adorable Gap sweater was also a thrift find at $3 and it matches everything!
• Boots
  • Over the knee, lace-up/military, and ankle bootsare this years fashion craze, and good luck for you they are available at steep discounts if you are willing to hunt. I know not everyone is keen on the used shoe idea, but I will say at least with boots you can wear socks 🙂
  • Recently I found grey wedge ankle Franco Sarto boots for $9! They are super comfy and look great under bootcut jeans or with the leggingsand sweater dress I paired it with below.
• Printed pants
  • I
    get so bored of my dress pants and jeans so finding fall prints like the
    leopard ones I’m wearing below to incorporate into my day or night selection makes
    me so happy! These leopard Anne Taylor Loft pants were only $7!
• Jackets
• If you step into a thrift store right now you will be OVERWHELMED with all the options you have.
• Fur, leather, velvet and suede are HUGE trends right now, so rock it by finding an affordable option.

• Special Occasion Dresses
  • Start looking for holiday looks now or get a special dress for any fall weddings you may have. This little black dress I have on above was $11…and yes, I questioned the price as my normal maximum at the thrift store is $10, but it is a fantastic wardrobe staple that will be perfect for any occasion. I wore this to an October wedding and paired it with a faux fur coat, which are about $15 from the thrift store. *remember your store clearance days and for higher priced items like designer labeled dresses or jackets, you can get for an even bigger steal*

Getting this evening to spend with Willie, Hartley and some fabulous friends along the waterfront was wonderful. A great pick-me-up to all the fall gatherings, demanding work schedules, and election frenzy. I hope you ROCK your fall looks, because sadly our season is flying by!

This summer is flying by, but that’s ok with me because I am
so over this extreme heat and ready to enjoy being outside again. I have BIG plans for our new backyard once it cools down a little and if you know be any…I’m
not patience…if only mother nature knew my A-type personality.  However, I have been better at pacing renovations
at the new house. I’m doing reasonable things and trying to not give
my husband a heart attack by asking for new things every week, so maybe I am
relaxing a little…maybe??!? Or maybe it’s the little toddler running around
that doesn’t let me get anything done and has high interest in every tool which she either steals, hides, throws, or runs with?  

As I slowly make progress on the house, I needed
a closet pick-me-up. The cool girls of Instagram finally convinced me to try the
casual ripped jeanslook. Since I was a teenager, I’ve always wanted huge knee ripped
jeans but the astounded horrified look from my grandmother and mother as they
questioned “why are you going to spend money on jeans with holes and rips in them” still
festered in my mind. So as my memories faded with laughter and complete understanding
as a mother now…I stumbled upon a $3 pair of jeans at the thrift store and
thought “what the heck…let’s take a scissor to them and see what happens”.

So
that is exactly what I did. I put them on and right at the knee I made an X with a
pen. That gave me a good outline of where I wanted the hole to be. I took them off and laid them on the floor, sperated the front and back fabric and cut right at the X by pinching the front fabric together. Then I just cut a large square shape where the knee is. After I finished cutting it did
look like someone just took scissorsto them and not really the designer celebrity
look I was going for, so I just used my nails and scraped and tugged on the hem
until the fabric started fraying.

I paired it with a classic white tank, flannel shirt tied
around the hips (all the cool kids are doing it haha) and these fabulous clearance heels I got from Marshals. What do you think? Worth the $3
and a pair of scissors?

So happy Thrift Thursday 4th of July special! I wanted to do some bleaching/painting techniques I saw on Pinterest but my shopping trips to the thrift store failed and honestly I just couldn’t muster the strength after work this week to tackle a DIY project (instead my weeknights were filled with unpacking, home good shopping, chasing a toddler around her new yard, and trying to paint my daughter’s bathroom). The new house is coming along…yes we moved! Can’t wait to share more details soon!

My look was inspired more of the nautical look with hints of July 4th. The brand NEW Talbots red pants (these are cute too) were $6.50 from the thrift store and I paired that with my favorite Mossimo navy/white striped basic tee from Target (similar) that was on sale + a Cartwheel coupon about $4 (Cartwheel is the greatest, I think I saved about $40 that shopping trip by going into the app and making my list off sale items + my REDcard discount). Oh how I love stacking coupons! The american flag bandana headbandwas just one I have had for years that I styled like my favorite adorable country singer Jessie James Decker.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! I am hoping to come back refreshed and rejuvenated to tackle all the DIY projects I have planned for the new house! Get excited 🙂