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Monday, May 27, 2013

WHITE JEANS--It's Memorial Day!


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WHITE JEANS--It's Memorial Day!
A happy day to all and thanks to all that have served. ;)

Here it is as promised from my "White Jeans--How to Wear?" post--my white jeans outfit!

 This is a 100% thrifted ensemble from the chambray shirt to the Micheal Kors heels.  I love the neat vintage black and white enamel bracelet I bought at Salvation Army in Grand Rapids, Michigan for $3 this weekend.  The white jeans were a $2.99 purchase at Lakeshore Rescue Mission thrift last week.

They aren't skinny jeans, but I decided to roll them and "cuff them" with those fun little rhinestone pins that I've blogged about before (in my Blinged Out Mock Cufflinks post and others). I think this came together really well. After I took these pictures I threw my hair into a sock bun and put on some tan loafers.  That was a cute way to dress things down; the chambray and white lend themselves perfectly to tan and brown as accents, as well!

Are you doing white now that it's Memorial Day? Or have you been wearing it all year? Vote on my poll!



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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Thrifted Red Floral and Cat Eyes

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Thrifted Red Floral and Cat Eyes

I picked this cute little floral dress up at Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift this Friday for $2.99. It's so romantic. I love it! The Kate Spade wicker bag was also thrifted for $2 (blogged about here), and the belt and cardigan are as well. Boots were a new purchase 2-3 years ago at Dots for $19. They got pretty dirty in the gravel. ;)


Have a wonderful Memorial Day! I'll be posting a white jeans outfit before this holiday weekend is over to complete my own challenge to myself. Did you have a to-do list this weekend? Or did you just relax?


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Red Floral

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Thrifted and Vintage: Dark Floral

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THRIFTED & VINTAGE: Dark Floral

This dress was thrifted for $1.49, along with the watch, bracelet and Dooney & Bourke handbag! The tights and shoes were a new purchase a few years ago.  It's surprising to me how many outfits I've enjoyed pairing these mauvish/brown tights with. This blush color might seem a little "off" at first, but I find that I really love it with a lot of unexpected color combos.

The day in Michigan is shaping up now, but when I first started snapping pics, it was raining. Ugh. You can see how unimpressed I was below.  See you this weekend for another outfit post!


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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

White jeans: how to wear?

White denim + white envelope clutch A fresh way to wear your white jeans post Labor Day.
How to Wear White Jeans 2011-06-16 13:35:51poncho & boots & boots &....white jeans and leopard. We have a few leopard clutches left!! Www.trendswelove.com

I’LL ADMIT IT; I’m scared to wear white.

Why? Well...there seem to be so many rules! Let's review:

1) (Debunked) NO WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY. We've all heard that this archaic fashion rule has been overturned, but is there anyone out there who just feels downright strange wearing all white or white jeans post-summer? I'll admit it--I really do! I see it being done and being done well, but that old stigma is still alive in me, and I suppose it will take time to exterminate.

2) Flesh colored underwear, not white, under white garments. Yes--this is a do. Make sure you've gotten the memo about flesh colored bras and underwear under white wear, particularly items that are thinner.

3) It adds weight to you. RIGHT? Well...this isn't necessarily a fair statement. It isn't always true, and if there's one thing we DON'T need, it's another reason to feel self-conscious about our bodies in this hypercritical day and age. Still..there are times when I can honestly admit that wearing white has made me feel like a gigantic powdered donut. I talked a little bit about it in this blog post: Taking My Chances With White.

Still, despite the "risks" involved (which include getting it DIRTY--ugh), there are so many fashionable outfits to be crafted, and aesthetic benefits, which include:

  • Looking fresh. There is nothing more crisp, airy and welcoming of spring and summer than a brilliant, white wardrobe.
  • It goes with everything. It really compliments with just about everything you pair it with. My favorite is white paired with nude, grey, blue and yellow. And stripes!
  • It reflects light and keeps you cool. THANK YOU, Mr. Wizard, for teaching me this invaluable lesson about the refraction of light and its heating and cooling powers in the 1990's.

LET'S GET TO THE POINT. I recently thrifted a pair of white jeans. In perfect condition! And every time I put them on and try to construct what I believe will be the "best white jean look ever!"...I'm sorely disappointed. And feel oddly out of place and chunky.

Can I overcome this fear? Well, I've challenged myself to do a white jean outfit post this coming weekend, so I certainly hope so! In the mean time, I've went crazy pinning white jean looks on my pinterest board, so make sure to head over for some:

 White Jean Inspiration! On the Thrift Trick Pinterest Board!

P.S, The images at the top of the blog post are all extracted from Pinterest images and are found, with their proper sources, on the Pinterest board linked above.

WISH ME LUCK! See you this weekend for a white jean outfit post!!!
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TAKE THE POLL AT THE FACEBOOK PAGE: Are you afraid to wear white?

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Anne Klein Silk Polka Dot Blouse

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ANNE KLEIN SILK POLKA DOT BLOUSE

I love this delicate cream and black polka dot blouse by Anne Klein. I thrifted it for $3.00 from the Love Inc. thrift store in Grand Haven Michigan on Monday and paired it with a long black skirt, thrifted red leather satchel from Hope's Outlet in Grand Haven ($2), red flats (a new item purchased several years ago) and a multi strand gold chain  also purchased at Hope's Outlet in Muskegon for $1. The glasses were also thrifted for $1 at Hope's. Statement ring is a new trinket--bought a "lot" of cheap ones on Ebay for less than $1 each. :)


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Friday, May 3, 2013

Thrift and Vintage Decor: Apartment Life!

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Everything you see in the above photo is thrifted. EVERYTHING. With one exception. The two peacock feathers. I bought them at the pet food store for 50 cents each. The dried branches came from my yard.

Thrift and Vintage Decor: Apartment Life!


This last fall, I moved into a great apartment in Grand Haven, Michigan. I enjoy living here so much! It's a wonderfully clean and safe community, and I love thrifting here as well! When I decorated my apartment, I used almost EXCLUSIVELY vintage and thrifted items. You'll notice that vintage screen print Marushkas and owls are a theme in nearly every room of the house!

It would be much easier for me to point out things that AREN'T thrifted...and I'll try to do just that as I take you on this epic picture journey that is...my apartment. :)

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Thrifted, gifted, used and vintage. All of it.



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Any time you see owls at my house...you know the scoop.



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I love weirdo kitsch stuff. And vintage receivers. <3 Tube power kind of turns me on.

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Only one new item in this picture: the tv stand. I bought it for ten dollars.

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I refuse to pay any more than 5-6 dollars for a used Marushka. I never have paid more. I've passed up many overpriced specimens.

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A single new thing in this picture: plug in candle melt warmer. Purchased new for $6.00. (Don't think I didn't LOOK for one thrifted, first!)


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Plant containers and tins as well as table were all thrifted. Plants were grown from babies and cuttings (but not by seed).


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Thrifted & Gifted (though the rest of the pineapple was, at one point, purchased and eaten.)



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Shelf and all items vintage and thrifted--with perhaps the exception of maybe 3-4 records that I've purchased new? The extra shelves of records you can see in the photo below are also thrifted, along with the organ.

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Vintage hat box and lamp were thrifted and estate sale purchases totaling $1.75                    (yes--I remember!)

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The charm in vintage and used items is the story they have to tell. I wonder about who drank that bottle of Grolsch beer. And I adore daydreaming of the jukebox that used to house the stack of Astrud Gilberto 45s. But amongst all of the snazzy jazzy, there must be a balance. Enter the Bunny Skulls record. 

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Nothing NEW to see here, folks...move along...

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I'm always running low on closet storage space. So I like to both utilize AND display my vintage luggage; the smaller teal and green suitcase is packed with slips, and the larger one behind it is full of belts! 

Do I need to tell you that all of the clothes pictured are thrifted?


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These "shoe racks" are actually salvaged Media (CD and DVD) stands turned on their side and stacked vertically as well (not pictured). The shoes are thrifted, of course, and the purses (also secondhand) below are strung along a garment rack. Before being looped through the garment rack, I grouped like palettes/styles together with shower curtain rings.


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Thrifted, gifted, and re-purposed. All of it.


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The final stop on our thrifted journey! Only four items in this picture were new: sheets, black and white pillowcases and pillows shown behind throw pillows (which WERE thrifted), the white quilted blanket underneath the zebra throw and the small brown mirror you see to the left of the ginormous beach Marushka.  I honestly don't mind all of the crazy print/color mixing going on here; variety is the spice of life, am I right? It makes me feel good to know that, before I buy an item new, I search high and low for a used version of it. I do this because I love vintage and re-purposed items with a story but also because it reduces my carbon footprint and conserves our earth's resources, time, energy and...money, of course!


What can you thrift today?


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Orange Mint Julips--low calorie style!

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ORANGE MINT JULIPS (low cal version!)


It was, hands down, the most gorgeous day of the new year in Michigan today! (Well, at least for us here in Grand Haven, Michigan). It was the kind of weather that carries you to the beach, on bike rides, and out to the front stoop with a tasty cocktail. It was 80 degrees with not a cloud in the sky!

I grilled some tasty turkey burgers for dinner and decided to whip up this yummy drink to compliment; an alternative to higher calorie versions I've seen in the past! If you're not into stevia, you could try agave syrup in its place, or honey, cane sugar, or any other sweetener you prefer!

P.S.--easily omit the alcohol for a fresh alcohol-free version!

Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS (Serves one):

1 tsp orange zest
1/2 orange, sliced (save one slice for garnish)
5-6 small mint leaves or 2-3 large ones. (My mint came from my herb garden that I shared with readers last week!) Save one leaf for garnish if you like. 
1 shot or fluid oz of whatever clear liquor you prefer--I used vodka, but gin or rum would work as well!
3 stevia packets (or about 1 1/2 tsp of stevia powder according to this serving chart which also helps for sugar substitution should you prefer!), or you could use agave syrup, honey, cane sugar or any other sweetener if you wish!
4-5 ozs boiling water (the heat helps to extract flavor from the orange and mint)
Lots of ice, a bowl, and a strainer 


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DIRECTIONS: I first took the orange zest from my orange before slicing. I added this to a glass mixing bowl along with 3-4 slices of orange, the stevia and my mint leaves. I heated boiling water in a tea kettle and added this to the bowl, using a pestle to grind and smash the essence out of the mint and orange. (This simple syrup could also be cooked down and reduced in larger batches to save time. The reduced syrup would be more powerful and could be added to water, but I was really only in the market for a drink or two, so I was simply making on demand!!)  I then strained the mixture.

At that point, I added the syrup to my vodka on ice...and tossed in extra ice as well, to compensate for the heat.

Garnished with a mint leaf and a slice of orange. Voila! Sweet, cool. Enjoy!

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