Personalized Wedding Gift Ideas

This post is brought to you by Target, but all opinions and content are my own. Follow along with #TargetWedding. Creating a personalized wedding gift celebrates the unique qualities of the individuals and speaks to their inevitable differences and distinct personalities. It also celebrates the cou…

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Add a Touch of Thrift

As my closet is 90% thrift, the first item I choose from my closet is normally thrift but when Christmas (and my birthday) roll around I receive fresh new gifted threads which I have no problem with! I do still add a touch of thrift. I don't remember the last time I wore an outfit that didn…

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{Thrift Haul} Coach at Savers, Prada at Goodwill

I had a very good designer purse thrift haul last week. You know how I like the grimy thrift store but sometimes I do venture into clean, well lit Savers and Goodwill thrift stores.  Savers had a 50% off sale which made the prices more to my liking. I found 2 Coach purses during my visit. Later in…

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10 Thrift Fashion Favorites of 2013

The weather outside is frightful. Seriously. There's no sun. It's rain. It's snow. It's freeze rain. This weekend was all jeans and ugly boots so here are some of my favorite thrift fashion finds of the year. 1. Sequins are my signature! They make me happy. I started the year havin…

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DIY Holiday Hairstyle with Pantene

Tada!! This is my holiday hairstyle inspired by a slew of Pinterest pins and the generous products from Pantene . Before starting my updo, I washed and conditioned my hair with Pantene Pro-V Clarifying Shampoo and Deep Conditioner.

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3 Reason to Shop the Grimy Thrift Store

No one pelt me with mothballs for my outfit but I am once again wearing a  sequin top . I found it at my favorite grimy thrift store, Village Discount Outlet in Roscoe Village. They wanted $8 originally but it was marked down to $6 on the day I went. The sleeves made my heart go pitter patter so it …

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Pantene Holiday Hair + Giveaway

This is the season for food, drinks and parties. This is also the season for my beloved sequins! Sequins are perfect for the holiday but they do tend to get snagged and tangled in my hair. Also, a loc or two always ends up in my sips and dips! That's why my most coveted holiday hair are chic …

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Extra Small Extra Loud

Thanks to Collective Bias® and Carbon Audio for this extra small, extra loud  pocket speaker  sponsored post allowing me to have a dance party with my favorite girl this holiday season. Since becoming parents, E and I have worked on creating holiday traditions for our little family. Last year we boug…

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Sequin Tops Cure Winter Blues

Sequins make me happy. Snow and cold, not so much. Winter is not my season. I was feeling kinda iffy with this cold snap and decided to pull out the sequin tunic top that has been chilling in my closet for a couple of months now. I bought it at an estate sale with intent to sale so I never wore it…

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So I Asked the Horse

Why such a long face? A little fact about me. That is my favorite  joke. I laughed so hard the first time I heard it and I still chuckle over it to this day. Get it? Horse? Long face? Anyway, the horse most certainly was not sad about these pants and neither am I.

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SAHM Style in a $5 Sweatshirt

Just so you know, life's not always sequins and animal print around these parts. Not even close. Most of the time I'm in my SAHM simple basics like a $5 sweatshirt from Walgreens. It's rainy and overcast today so naturally I would have preferred the whole day in pajama jams (stealing V…

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Darby Smart Studded Clutch DIY

All the time I spend on social media does amount to something! Last month, I received the Darby Smart Studded Clutch DIY via a Klout perk. It's the perfect solution for a lazy crafter such as myself. The heart is willing but the body not so much. I usually start off totally geeked about starti…

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10 Questions for a Thriftanista - 14th Street Vintage

How excited am I to present my Thriftanista Social Club friend and vintage seller extraordinaire Bettie! She is the etsypreneur behind 14th Street Vintage. She's also listed on Krrb / Apartment Therapy's Top 100 vintage sellers in the Chicagoland area.  After meeting her, I knew that I wan…

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playCHIC in a Leopard Print Pencil Skirt

Last week, I attended the Chicago Toy and Game Fair's playCHIC fashion show. I wanted to wear something fun and trendy to match the playful fashion mood of the event. Obviously, I decided on a leopard print. My thrift buddy  Priya and I were having an unsuccessful thrift adventure and she sugge…

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Holiday Gift from the Kitchen {Kenyan Chai Tea}

Thanks to  Mariano's  and Collective Bias for this sponsored post allowing me to prepare a delicious gift from my kitchen in time for the holidays. Last year, I started making holiday gifts and I will be continuing that tradition this year by making gifts from my kitchen. One of my most popular g…

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A Trip Back in Time to the 1893 World's Fair

Have you ever wanted to go back in time? I admit it. I do. Every time I visit an estate sale, I'm curious about the many treasures that each house holds and how the owner came to curate some a great collection of odds and ends. Since Chicago is such a melting pot there are always unique pieces…

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Size Labels and the Thrift Store

Size labels are not created equal. That's why ignoring size labels is one of my top thrifting rules . Experimentation is important to the whole experience. Labels can vary from brand to brand and decade to decade. Also, depending on the time of the month, my brain tells me everything is too sma…

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DIY Trends {Leather Elbow Patches}

Thanks to Collective Bias and Sears for this sponsored post that allows me to DIY elbow patches to my recent fashion find and allowing me to achieve the look for less! Elbow Patches Trend I'm a big fan of elbow patches and glad to see them pop up in fall fashion 2013 trends. They're not ju…

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Skip the Dress, Wear a Tunic

It's been a while since I've worn a tunic. It used to be my favorite kind of top. It's perfect for the SAHM casual closet. It's a great alternative to wearing a dress. I love wearing dresses because they are super easy being one piece and all but when the temps dip, they're not…

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Thrift + Style: the Grandpa Sweater

I feel hardcore out here without a coat but I'm pretty comfy and cozy in my grandpa sweater and long scarf. It's the perfect attire for a leisurely brunch on a sunny (but cold) day with the family. As usual, I like to add my own little touches of flare. I wore the Jill Stuart clogs that I&…

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How to Stay On Budget While Thrift Shopping

It's easy to go hog wild in a thrift store and lose track of your budget. Been there. Done that over and over again. Since I frequent thrift stores a lot more looking for additions to The Thriftanista Closet , I find myself picking up random crap  treasures for myself too. That sort of defeats t…

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SAHM Style: Cheetah Leggings

Warning! I'm in cheetah leggings. Once you look, it cannot be unlooked. I have gone back and forth over the wearing of leggings as pants. Admittedly, they are super comfy and so easy to throw on with the elastic waist I love so much. It's perfect SAHM attire. However, with the absence of p…

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Transitional + Trendy in Military Jacket and Skater Skirt

Even though I've unpacked my cold weather wardrobe, I'm still in a transitional phase. I cleaned my closet and donated at least half of my clothes especially the winter garments. I did hold onto a couple of my favorites -- the thrifted  military jacket and the neon skater skirt . Who knew th…

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Brocade Pants Blessing from the Thrift Gods

Thank you thrift gods for the awesome brocade pants. I've lusted over them since the J. Crew Spring / Summer 2013 collection. No they aren't J. Crew but they will do. I paid $2.50. Oh yes, they will do.

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Thrift + Style: Vintage Cape

I read Buzzfeed's  19 Signs You're Addicted to Thrift Shopping . One of the signs was having different ideas than most about what's still cool. Well, that's me. That's me in my vintage microsuede cape. I found it at Goodwill last week along with the reversible clutch . It was stee…

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10 Questions for a Thriftanista - Venita

It's that time again! This month's Thriftanista is my long time friend (seriously high school) Venita of the blog, Girl...get a life ! She's a thrifter, an eBay queen, a writer, a news junkie, football fan, gorgeous shoe collector , and she cooks! Whew. She should probably add interior d…

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$20 Thrift Haul: This or That?

Like a lot of Thriftanistas, I have my thrift store maximum. It's rare for me to actually stick to my thrift store budget of $20. Besides, times have changed. $20 isn't what it used to be out in the thrift streets. There are still good deals but sometimes you have to make decisions. Should…

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Thrift + Style: The PussyBow

I like pussybow blouses and not just because of the ridiculous name. It's a blouse and a necklace all in one! It increases blog traffic too for all the wrong reasons so if you arrived here looking for p and no bow...sorry it's just me and my thrift store threads. I found this new deadstock…

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NickMom, Wine, and Me

Thanks to Collective Bias® and NickMom  for this sponsored post and allowing me to express my #MotherFunny. I'm not a perfect mom. I'm a real mom. When I was a non-parent, I thought my future kid would never watch tv, listen to crappy songs on the radio, or eat candy. My real kid does all of…

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Thrift + Style: Pink Chiffon Skirt

I found this hot pink chiffon skirt at an estate sale . The owner had several of the same skirt in all colors (she had several duplicate items and most with the tag still on). While I understand wanting a great fitting garment in different colors, I wondered why she needed so many of this somewhat …

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Bucking Trends and Fashion Rules

I wore a crop top at almost 40 and white pants after Labor Day and lived to tell the tale. Continuing my theme of bucking trends and fashion rules, I played around with some of my favorites - sequins, menswear, and animal print all at the same time.

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Thrift + Style: J. Crew Denim Shirt

Oh. My. God. Becky. Look at that denim shirt. She wore it last week. She wore it the week before and she's wearing it again! Yes Ladies, I am remixing the J. Crew perfect shirt once again! It just went so well with the denim pencil skirt and everything else I wore it with. I'm not usually …

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Thrift Haul: DvF, Ferragamo, Weitzman shoes and more

This thrift haul is all shoes! They are not from one trip but most are from the last month. Some are from thrift stores and some are from estate sales. Most were under $10. ballet flats (Mossimo, Old Navy, Gap) from a thrift store I wasn't always a fan of thrift store shoes . I thought it was kind…

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Where I Profess My Love of Cinch Belts

As if this button up shirt didn't have enough going on with rhinestone buttons, velvety corduroy shoulders, and an abstract animal print. Nope simply not enough. You know what this top needs? A bead and sequin cinch belt!

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Thrift + Style: Plaid Dress

I'm not a super fan of plaid but I just adored the cut of this 80s dress with poof sleeves, nipped waist, and a faux wrap front. Since plaid is on trend for fall, I feel very fortunate to have found such a great piece! I wore it to my first trip to Rooftop at the Wit. It's an amazing hotel…

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10 Questions for a Thriftanista - Cessily

Today I'm introducing a new series for the blog that will feature the thrift stories of fashionable thrifters aka Thriftanistas and also some of the best thrift stores around town. My first Thriftanista is the good homie and Violet's favorite auntie, Cessily. She is a vintage queen! I'…

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SAHM Fall Essentials

Stay at home mom style ain't all sequins and high heels. The lugging, pulling, and shuffling about of a regular day requires a nice sturdy outfit with flair, of course. My everyday look is a lot more casual . I do like to look like I tried so having a formula outfit in my head helps when I'…

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Thrift + Style: Sequin Skirt

Uhm...yeah I'm in the denim shirt from Gimme Five Friday. It's not called the perfect shirt for nothing. I wear it with everything even a sequin skirt. Yes, again. I'm here for sequins all day everyday. I found this sequin skirt at the recently renovated Salvation Army Clybourn locatio…

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Gimme Five Friday

Somebody had a late night and an early morning. I went for a  mom's night out including some sweaty dance floor action! About 30 minutes worth before my feet started to burn and I got anxious about getting enough sleep. Naturally, V wakes up earlier than usual because I went to bed later than u…

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Vintage 80s Sweater Dress

Are sweater dresses on trend? Who cares? I don't. As you know, I buy what pleases my eye and the peach and blue 80s dress did that for me. It has that midi  length I adore. It's a simple dress with a bit of wow in the navy blue stripes around the bateau neckline and sleeve bands. Plus the b…

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Thrift + Style: A Trench Coat

Trench coat weather has arrived in the city. Luckily I have 9 thrifted versions in my closet right now. I am a vintage trench coat fiend. The purple trench is my favorite but I'm still keeping my eye out for the traditional tan color. If I find a Burberry, you will hear me holler from your com…

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Sequin Dress to Sequin Skirt Tutorial

I found a fabulous blue green sequin bodycon dress before my trip to Las Vegas . When I tried it on at the thrift store mirror, my fellow thrift sisters said "it looks great. Noooo, it's not too short at all".

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Stay at Home Moms Wear Crop Tops Too

I'm wearing a sheer back crop top on what I believe to be the last hotter than hot day in Chicago for a while. It really sasses up the typical stay at home mom style du jour. Leopard print just wasn't enough. I held the siren back with a thrift store classic -- elastic waist midi skirt and…

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Thrift + Style: Vintage 70s Dress

This is a dress that made me squeal with delight! It's half 70s with the kimono sleeves and front tie neckline and part 40s era with the floral motif. I found it during last week's obscene Labor Day thrift haul. Seriously, so many goodies. Anyway snagged this dress for $1.50.  It had very …

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5 Thrift Fashion Favorites

There are 5 trends that are near and dear to my thrifting heart. While not totally mainstream, they are my favorites in the the world of thrift store fashion.

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