Thriftanista in the City

I have a weird case of the Mondays today. Little bitty things are making me feel all weepy and frustrated. That's why I'm dressed this way. I'm knocking out the crank with a skirt and some purple. My jacket, blouse, and shoes are thrifted. The skirt was sewn by me pre-Violet. Shoulders are in neck! I must be stressed. How do you de-funk?

Thrift Adventure Greetings! I don't have an adventure today. I have not been thrifting in over a week. Le sigh. However, I have created a facebook page called the Thriftanista Social Club . It's sort of an adventure, since I don't know what the outcome is going to be. My vision is a community of thrifters participating in monthly adventures, sharing thrift hauls and fabulous finds. If that sounds like a fit for you you, please join us. If you're local, there's an event coming in March with COCKTAILS (or mocktails)! Hey!! If you're not on fb, I will periodically send updates via the blog or twitter. What I'm Wearing I've had this trench in my closet for a few months now. I love vintage trench coats but they never seem to fit me right. I own 2 others. It may have something to do with the classic long straight boxy shape. I think I'm too short for long coats. I was super excited about finding this one. It has a drawstring that cinches the waist an...

This is one of my favorites. Nice illustrations. Some laughs. Poignant moments. Thought provoking. Makes you smile. Lots of twists and turns! Wow, I totally didn't expect that to happen! Have you read this one?

Hey there! I'm mingling today. Join me! Monday Mingle with Momtrends , BonBonRoseGirls , and Glamamom This is what I wore today minus the boots. I put on my rain boots when I went out but I think the leather wedges look better. I had planned on getting around today with a long sleeve shirt, tights, and leggings. I checked the weather and knew that would not be enough so I added the denim shirt and a thrifted old school Gap corduroy skirt. I added a purple belt to complete the look. Much better than my normal lounge/errand running attire. Monday Mingle with Eighty MPM Mom 1. The phrase “It seemed like a good idea at the time”…what has been your worst idea? Getting a BA in psychology and an MS in Human resources. Both require a great deal of people interaction and I am not a people person. They are my most costly good ideas turned bad. 2. What was your worst subject in school? In hs it was a toss up between gym and geometry. In college it was statistics and...

Thrift Adventure I went on a thrift shopping date with OnlyLaila and House Full of Nicholes  this week. I bought 2 vintage wool skirts and a color blocked jersey dress for $8 and some change. First time in a long time I was under thrift budget. I rarely make it out without spending at least $20. However, I am still thinking about the purple and black blazers I left behind. I could really use them in my closet. They were both under $4 and both fit perfectly. I actually think I left the purple one by accident. I was weeding my pile and only meant to put one back. It was V's nap time and I wanted to get out before total meltdown so I wasn't really paying attention. Argh. What I Wore Last night I attended the launch party of Artizone Chicago and this is what I wore. The sweater dress is H&M thrifted in Ohio for $2.50. I put this dress on and I look like I've lost 10 pounds. Naturally, I love it. It's washable and nursing friendly. I topped V up before I wa...

Four out. Four on the way!

The thrifting segment I taped a couple of weeks ago aired today. I had a million criticisms of myself and I did my best to quiet my brain and focus on the positives. It's so necessary to be your own biggest fan and cheerleader. If you don't love and appreciate your greatness, no one else will. Do you and embrace your fabulousness! Now I will stop with the "guru-esque" quotes. Here's what I most enjoyed about the experience: I did a brand new thing that I was afraid to do.  My blog got a numbers boost. I like the way my voice sounds. I shared the awesomeness that is THRIFTING! I showcased some of my thrifty finds. My nails looked great. I met some new thrifters. I saw Bob Sirott in the studio. I'm a long time fan. Are you overly critical of yourself? How do you quiet that voice in your head? Link to video The video freezes a lot but if you can get it to work...Enjoy! You are welcome to stop by and look at on ...

The last time I visited an optometrist was right after I was laid off. I wanted to take advantage of the insurance I had for a couple more days. I thought I would buy new eyeglasses too. However, I had total sticker shock while perusing the cases. My insurance at the time would not cover any of the frames I liked. I went online to look for coupons and was pleased to find GlassesUSA.com. At the time, I had no idea you could purchase glasses online . When I went to their site, I found a huge selection of affordable frames in a variety of styles. You can even upload a picture of yourself and "try on" frames before purchasing. It's just like buying eyeglasses in store with the added bonus of convenience, affordability and larger selection. I have  GlassesUSA.com  bookmarked (SN: am I the only one still using bookmarks?) and when I start generating income ( see 2012 vision board themes ), I will be making a purchase through them. Besides high quality frames...

I am on a quest for better picture quality. I have a nice camera but I don't know how to use it. I thought I would try taking a picture outside to see if it makes a difference in clarity. Meh and the background is kind of tragic. The weather was sunny and mild though. What I Wore Blouse, sweater, and jeans are thrifted. I expressed my love of these Akira jeans in a previous post. Now they've faded a bit and don't look as nice *sad face*. The p*ssy bow (must google the origin of name, why is it called a p*ssy bow?) is from the 90s just looking at the crazy pattern. I love the ruching at the waist. It cinches at the waist almost like a belt. The cable knit sweater is Lauren by Ralph Lauren bought because of the deep purple color and it will make a good layering piece now that "the hawk" has arrived. Like a lot of tops, it doesn't cover the length of my long waist. Oh wells. I had planned on snapping another pic and posting on something different. Somet...

...it's more fun that way. link to video

It's been a long time since I did a confessional post. I was inspired by Trop50 True Resolutions campaign . I'm telling some juicy truths that went into the making of my vision board themes. Theme 1: Living in a house in a warm climate I want to sell this condo because my upstairs neighbor is extra noisy and has two barking, unruly, and vicious dogs. They have to be muzzled. One of them even bit a child in the building. I would love to put some distance between us and them this year. Theme 2: Generating income on my terms I like having money that I've earned.  I want to make money in order to buy and to save. Theme 3: Eating smart and getting fit I want to increase my workouts and decrease my eating in order to lose weight. Yes, for health and energy but I do want to shed about 20 pounds out of vanity. Theme 4: Spending quality time with family and friends I want to have parties in order to expand my network. I have business ideas and I want a ...

This is what I wore to my television "debut". I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to appear on MY50 Chicago's Perspectives . I'll be discussing thrift shopping with my BFF girlgetalife. I probably wouldn't have done it otherwise. Public speaking IS my number one worst fear.  There's no audience but it will be seen by lots of people I don't know. I also cringe at the sound of my own voice. Issues much? I did it though. I'm starting 2012 off by stepping outside of my comfort zone. Time to shine! "Playing small does not serve the world." SN: I love the full  Marianne Williamson quote . Of course,  I'll be linking to the video when it airs on the 15th. Now on to what I wore: I bought the turquoise leather pencil skirt during a 50% sale at Village Discount Outlet. I have never owned a leather skirt and never wanted one but I could not pass this one up. I love the color. Isn't it pretty? I paid $3.50 for it. My plaid shirt is ...

Animal sounds are cool but.... I prefer to freestyle. :)