Thriftanista in the City

I made my annual Black Friday pilgrimage to the land of thrift. I ended up spending a little more than I anticipated but I am very pleased with the haul. I spent $113 but the total retail value is over $1,000. My first stop was  Uptown Cheapskate where they had 30% off the entire store followed by Park Ave Thrift armed with a 50% off coupon. My first stop was to Uptown Cheapskate. I stopped in because of convenience. It was only a ten minute drive. The prices are higher than charity stores and they cater to a younger demographic. I ended up spending $78 largely because of the Cole Haan Boots I splurged on.

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf®. #HolidayHairCare #sponsored It's holiday party season once again and I am not planning to run right out and buy new things for my closet. It's much more economical and fun to work with what I currently have and tweak what I have on hand. My everyday style is casual and comfortable but I like to keep my closet interesting. Here's what I did to change things up and added in some glam for the holidays.

I'm a sucker for a good vintage print. I was dazzled by the brightly colored psychedelic skirt even though the waistband was made to fit Barbie's waist. I knew it was coming home with me whether it fit or not. Of course, it didn't fit. It was pretty easy to upsize though.

Like a lot of thrifters, I accumulate a lot of stuff. When I gather up the energy to prune the closet, I always find great items that I can sell so I bundle those pieces all together in another area of the closet to be photographed and listed on Poshmark . I was doing eBay back in the day but I liked how similar Poshmark was to the social media tools I already use. It's a lot of work though and frankly the millennial process is a bit confusing to my Gen X brain which is why I popped into a Poshnation event when it came to Atlanta. photo credit: Poshmark

I love to switch it up often with my wardrobe but I tend to fall into a comfortable rhythm during hectic schedules. Looking my best is something I do for me. Getting dressed is a part of my me time. Sometimes it's a long and well planned activity. Most days, I need to keep it short. Having a mom 'fit that I fall back on makes things a lot easier. I've been wearing the heck out of chunky sweaters, jeans and block heels. It's simple and comfortable. I feel pulled together without having to put a lot of thought into it.

I lost my camera in a hookah lounge and now I take extra care when it comes to keeping my Nikon safe, secure, and cloaked in thrift style. I have a camera bag but it's basic black and pretty utilitarian. For a bit of fun, I carry my camera in a large purse instead. Thrift stores are a wonderful source for stylish handbags at a fraction of the original cost. Oilily bags will set you back $75 - $100 retail but I found this brand new one for $10. I I thought it would make a great camera bag and two years later that's what it is.

I was about ten pounds heavier when I last wore these vintage flared pants. I bought them during my weight loss transition. They were sorta big then and now they're real droopy in the crotch and instead of donating, I decided to take in the waist.

Special thanks to eShakti for adding some brightness to my fall with a yellow maxi dress. I think of yellow being a spring kind of color meant for ample sunshine and warm breezes. It's not a color I normally gravitate to in fall but I should. It's a happy color and this dress is definitely giving me positive vibes.

This is a sponsored post. Opinions are mine and Violet who graciously allowed me to take pictures of her showing off her FabKids  style. #BootsHerWay Violet is growing up so fast. When you become a mom other mom's will tell you how quickly they grow up and that is so true. Time seems to go by much quicker with children. One day you're picking out super cute animal onesies to dress them in and the next day they're laying out their own clothes for school. 

I have received information and materials from ©Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2017. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post. #ForBetterTomorrows #BetterTomorrows #FallBack #CollectiveBias Two things that will absolutely jack up my sleep is being cold or being in pain. Put them together and it's going to be a rough night and a pretty cranky next day. Luckily, I've found the solution to my sleep problems with  TYLENOL® PM  and cozy socks made from sweaters. If I don't get enough sleep, I know I will spend the next day clutching a coffee mug and unable to focus on anything other than crawling back in the bed.  Sleepless nights are brutal when you need to chase a puppy around, help with second grade homework, cook dinner and do all the things that go into mom life. (click pic to purchase)