My Best of 2013: Thrifted Outfit Recaps!

MY BEST OF 2013:
Thrifted Outfit Recaps!

Click through the slideshow below to see all 12 of them and please tune in with me on New Year's Day
for a very special and inspirational blog posting!  Cheers!

 

8 Last Minute Thrift Gifts plus SPECIAL printable tags!

For the fashionista: a vintage clutch and matching gloves won't miss. 
Add a current copy of Vogue, rolled and tied with a fancy velvet bow!

LAST MINUTE THRIFT GIFTS

AHHHHH!  There is only one more shopping day until Christmas. 
Are you in a pinch and out of ideas...or possibly, money?

Try these thrift gift ideas for a unique combo! Don't be afraid or embarrassed to tell the recipient of your gift about your statement in giving upcycled, vintage and thrifted gifts; not only is it eco-conscious, but it's also fun. Previously owned items have history and personality. Use that to your advantage and learn a little bit, if possible, about the item's history, or even more fun...make one up!

BONUS: I've included some gift tag printables for you below to make your gift even MORE special as a vintage or secondhand item! See this link and image below and click the pdf to print tags you can add to your packaging for that extra special touch. 

1. Give a sweater (or two). They are abundant at thrift stores everywhere, like this nice collection hanging at Lakeshore Rescue Mission thrift in Holland, MI on Riley street! Notice that several of the sweaters still have department store tags on them? If you like to mix and match new and old, pair a sweater with a coordinating necklace and earring set to complete your gift. If a PRETTY sweater isn't your thing, what about a HIDEOUS one? Everyone loves a good "ugly" sweater party...give your friend or family member a leg up on their ridiculous getup for a holiday soiree and gift them something goofy!

2. Give a nutcracker. I love vintage nutcrackers and pondering over their history; who owned them, where they were displayed, etc. It's especially fun when they are out of the ordinary, like this little golfing fellow above. Why not give a collection? At a dollar or two a piece (like these ones spotted at the Chicago drive location for LRMT), you can afford to toss a few extra into the box. Combine with some fresh holiday nut mix and it's a wrap!

3. Give some vintage glasses (and booze!) Find some interesting, one of a kind tumblers or any other kind of glass and pair with your gift recipient's favorite drink! 

4. Give holiday decor! I think anyone appreciates holiday decor as a gift but for those who are notorious displayers and decorators during the Christmas season, you really can't miss with secondhand additions to Christmas villages, interesting Santa Claus sculptures and vintage snow globes!

5. Give sentimentally! It's fun to take a trip down memory lane and try to find a secondhand gift associated with a loved one. For example: this Holly Hobbie plate reminds me so much of my grandmother. =) A dozen cookies on top with a note about a precious childhood reflection would have made this gift sweeter than any holiday treat! I regret not buying it while I was there...

6. Give a collection! I mentioned these pretty china dolls in my last blog about being proud to give thrifted gifts (see the article that Grand Haven Tribune posted about it here). Why not give a collection of vintage dolls for the price of one? If you have a friend who collects something special, such as red Avon glassware, it can be an exciting challenge to "hunt" for items to fit right in. Perhaps you even know a friend, or child, well enough to give them a head start on a collection they didn't even KNOW they wanted! (My son loves animals of all kinds, and I began to find him miniature vintage ceramic cats, which he was delighted with!)

7. Give goofy! I honestly think the "cheesy" ceramic above is an ashtray, and I'm not a smoker, but I'm drawn to this goofy item and I just love a bright bit of retro kitsch. "White elephant" items can really lighten someone's day, particularly if they double as something that is actually useful, despite its oddball appearance. If there is a back-story on an item and it becomes a conversation piece, that is even better!

8. Give it in a vintage suitcase! Make your treasure extra snazzy by packing it into a vintage suitcase! I've done this several times before and it is always a hit. If your intended giftee isn't the type for retro luggage, consider packing the gift in a special tin or a more contemporary purse, backpack or container that is also thrifted! (Yes, the collection above is my own, and I will be the first to admit that I'm a vintage suitcase hoarder!)

This last picture is just for fun... It would actually be a Christmas dream come true for me. This gorgeous antique stove was located at the Chicago Drive Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift. Besides the double ovens, the top left hand burner is actually a DOUBLE BOILER! So awesome. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. ;)

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THRIFT GIFT TAGS!

I've created these one of a kind gift tags so that you can proudly label your vintage, secondhand and thrifted gifts with pride. Please feel free to share and print...click on the PDF below for a sheet of 9!

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PAGE (9 Tags) COLOR PDF

Tis the Season To Repurpose! 1 Minute Centerpiece DIY

TIS THE SEASON TO REPURPOSE!
(Fa la la la....well, you get the picture.)

Thrifted, gifted or free...that's what I always say!

This retro plastic topiary was given to me in a bag of other things from "Christmas Past" and I decided to re-purpose it a little and turn it into a lovely little center piece! These little vintage snow owls were just waiting to be a Christmas focal point along with gold pinecone candles.

Truly, the only step in this DIY would be: spraybomb.

I love the look of white, cream or almond when it comes to holiday items, so the idea for me was to just cover the whole thing...and that's precisely what I did. To be honest, because I love the vintage kitsch, the original somewhat appealed to me! However, a little coat of paint really freshened and modernized the piece, and I'm very happy with the way it turned out! 

I'm still decorating! I love adding things here or there!

These wonderfully "tassel-y" ornaments and extra silver bulbs were orphans, so I strung them on ribbon over the doorways. 

What can you re-purpose for the holidays? Is your shopping done yet? I'll see you soon for a last minute thrifted gift blog!

Thrift a Gift: 3 Reasons to be proud of secondhand presents

I spotted this adorable vintage snow globe at the Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift on Chicago Drive in Holland!

THRIFT A GIFT:
3 Reasons to Be Proud of Secondhand Presents 

1) You can be proud that your "present" is in the "presentation".

Are you afraid to give a secondhand gift for fear that the recipient of your gift will be offended at receiving something used?  I hear this often from people, and I can completely understand the concern. Will the person I am giving to dislike this gift because it is "used"? Let us consider the term "used". Do we think "used UP"?  What happens when you replace the term "used" with the word "vintage",  or "up-cycled"?

I believe that the way we present the item and how we describe it is of utmost importance!

Package and wrap your secondhand gift with care--present it with pride! Because we are talking packaging and wrapping, it can't be forgotten that PLENTY of wrapping papers, gift bags, and unusual boxes and fabrics are at the thrift store! I find it fascinating and unique to package gifts in vintage magazine ads, unusual vintage fabrics, and retro papers. But even if "vintage" isn't your bag, there's no reason not to utilize the inexpensive leftovers from Christmas past. It's not just about being thrifty; it's about reducing your carbon footprint and using what is ALREADY available. Save a tree or two and go secondhand! 

Being truly green means utilizing the resources that are already before you, instead of wasting energy and resources on new items just for the sake of "being new". Stop this cycle! Start today!

This selection was available at Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift on  Riley Street in Holland!

2) You've put some "cause" in "Claus".

Imagine, for a moment, that instead of wandering  amongst the herds in the toasty, crowd-laden mall, searching for something unique and meaningful to give your loved ones that you were, instead, searching for shelter; hoping for a nook or cranny to fit into. It isn't the most pleasant holiday reverie, but for the homeless, transient and under-served population in your community, it is NOT A DREAM. It is a real life nightmare. It happens to all types of people who deserve your attention. That's where Holland Rescue Mission comes in, with programs like their Emergency Shelter. This is only the tip of the iceberg--from employment rehabilitation to Stepping Stones Daycare, the mission is involved in providing for the under-served community around us in many ways.

Precious little students from Stepping Stones Daycare

When you thrift from a store that offers services to the community such as the rescue mission, you can feel PROUD letting your gift recipients know that ALL of the proceeds from thrift sales go directly to funding the rescue mission. Pamphlets, rack cards and business cards can be found on almost every counter at Lakeshore Rescue Mission thrift stores.

Proudly display reading information about your non-profit support within your packaging, so your recipient understands the motivation behind your generous gift!

Do you feel proud about where your money goes when you shop at Kohl's, Target, or any other super store corporation? NO. (Let's not even bring Walmart into the picture....)

3) You added "bang" to your "buck".

China Dolls from Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift on Chicago Drive in Holland!

Do you have a special little girl who loves dolls on your Christmas list this year? For the same price as one Barbie play box, (that's right, an EMPTY BOX decorated as the "Dream House" that you put your Barbies in) you could purchase an ENTIRE COLLECTION of beautiful china dolls! The dolls shown above averaged $5 each, and they were quite lovely. Hurry down to the store on Chicago Drive and I'm sure some of them can still be yours!

Collections of items or play sets are a great place to start with thrifted gifts. For the cocktail aficionado, vintage martini shakers and fun tumblers would never go unappreciated. Pair with a secondhand book on fancy drinks and you have an amazing "ThriftGift" that is much more unique than something brand new, and five times more meaningful if you consider the purpose behind it's sale.

It really pays to thrift a gift...in more ways than one. I estimate that 40% of the gifts under my tree this year are SECONDHAND--and I love that!

P.S., do you have a tree yet?


Artificial tree selections from Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift on Chicago Drive in Holland!

Check back with me this week for a gift giving blog PACKED with super ideas on how you can put together fabulous thrifted and secondhand gifts for family and friends this year!

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LAKESHORE RESCUE MISSION THRIFT INFORMATION:

Click here for locations!

Three dollar necklace and a two second trick!

$3 DOLLAR NECKLACE 
and a {2} SECOND TRICK!

I was so pleased to find this pretty little turquoise and gold statement necklace at Family Dollar for three bucks! They seem to always have fun, bold jewelry for under five dollars, and I couldn't resist this twisted bead piece when I saw it. (It came with matching earrings, too!) I honestly could have picked up the white version with minimal guilt at that price, but I decided to let it stay on the shelf. They also had purple and black! The rest of the outfit is one hundred percent thrifted. I've really been digging all black lately!

HERE'S MY 2 SECOND TRICK:

I tie my dress shirts!

I love wearing high waisted, long skirts. Often, I pair them with collared shirts so that I can also rock bold bib necklaces and scarves. For me, letting the shirt tails hang out looks sloppy and adds a lot of loose girth--not something I love to do. If I belt them to accentuate my waist, I can sometimes end up with a bit of a peplum look, and depending on the shirt, I might like it. I'm still not always thrilled at the way it shapes my body. For that reason, I often tie a knot in the shirt instead! I leave the last button undone and tie it right at my waist. It's a little bit of a feminine, vintage look, and I feel that when you do it with more of a formal piece like a high waisted skirt, it looks quite polished too! Make sure to tie it at the smallest point of your natural waist line...and watch the curves appear. ;)

Holiday Zebras: Shorts with tights and heels

HOLIDAY ZEBRAS: Shorts with tights and heels

How do you feel about shorts with tights and heels?

I LOVE them. It might sound funny to some (or miserable with the hot and humid Michigan summers) but I've never cared for shorts with bare legs in the summer. I don't love the way they look with flats or sandals, and they always rode up my body in unflattering and uncomfortable ways, being that I have a thicker bottom and thighs. Also, they just don't look polished to me unless they are paired with heels or boots.

That all changes for me when they are paired with tights. In fact, my FAVORITE time to wear (thrifted) shorts is in the off season; fall and winter! Paired with tights or leggings, a blazer or sweater and some slammin' booty heels, I feel that shorts can be totally cold-weather appropriate!

This was my Thanksgiving outfit this year, and I think it would be a great style to wear to an upcoming holiday party or even New Year's eve! (Just be careful walking in ice on heels, hah! I brought along boots to change into for outdoor passage, trust me.)

The coup de grace for this outfit is DEFINITELY this fantastic zebra clasping, briefcase style shoulder bag!

I was thrilled to find this unique purse at Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift in Grand Haven, Michigan--it is the perfect addition to my brown and black ensemble shown here with one of my favorite 99 cent thrift finds ever--a fantastic faux snakeskin Michael Kors belt! I've styled it many ways over the last few years! Here's an old throwback from 2011--a red plaid and purple outfit  using the same belt.

Also shown are some yellow vintage clip ons I thrifted years ago for 99 cents as well as a secondhand double faux gold chain and bracelets.

 

 

Would you try SHORTS IN THE WINTER?
How about BROWN AND BLACK?

Whatever you do--aim to reduce your carbon footprint while increasing your creative thumbprint by going secondhand!

Serving Up the Holidays on a Dime: Candle Giveaway!

SERVING UP THE HOLIDAYS ON A DIME

Part one of a holiday series featuring Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift!

Would you believe that the place setting above is entirely secondhand and thrifted for about 11 dollars? Well, it is! The table, also for sale at the thrift store, is one of many pieces of discounted new furniture that you can purchase at Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift in Grand Haven. I put together this spread in moments with items I collected around the store, and you can do it, too! I honestly can not justify ONE reason to buy new holiday decor when you have so many wonderful, inexpensive options at your fingertips secondhand!

If you look closely in the picture, you'll notice a gold pillar candle that is part of the free giveaway in this blog! Details below!

As you can see, I was inspired by golds, cranberries and browns for my Thanksgiving place settings. However, there are so many great color schemes and ideas to be inspired by! You can recreate any look you like using thrifted items. Check out the Pinterest board I've created for more ideas:

Table Settings Ideas to Thrift on Pinterest by Thrift Trick

These fun decorations were hanging out on the shelves, as well! :)

Virtually any glassware you could hope to find or use for a center piece or serving can be found on the shelves at Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift.

Will you be baking some home made bread for the holidays? Make it super easy with one of the many bread machines you can find in great shape!

What about non-traditional meal ideas? Have you considered doing something different for your holiday meal? How about:

Asian Cuisine: I found these items on the shelves at Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift on the cheap!

Check out these ideas for Asian cuisine for your Thanksgiving meal:

AsianThanksgiving Recipes

15 Asian-American Thanksgiving Dishes

Fondue: Also on the shelves was this adorable Fondue set!

Check out these ideas for a fondue Thanksgiving!

Yummy Fondue Ideas from the Modcloth blog
Cheddar and Hard Cider Fondue Dip Recipe

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Why support Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift?

The answer is EASY.

Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift store is a non-profit funding source for Holland Rescue Misson. Holland Rescue Mission offers many services to homeless men, women and children of the Lakeshore area in Michigan, such as housing, food, daycare needs and more. Instead of wasting money on new items this year, give second-hand a try, and support the Holland Rescue Mission all while saving yourself money! Make sure to take note of the white board that lists all of the daily specials and discounts in store, and ask for a "punch" card that can earn you free items! LRMT also regularly publishes coupons in your local papers with inserts, so keep an eye out for those as well!

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AND NOW...FOR THE FUN AND EASY GIVEAWAY!!

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This blog is part of a sponsored series through Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift!
Check back with me over the next month for more holiday coverage, ideas and giveaways!

 Lakeshore Rescue Mission Thrift
1015 Beacon, Grand Haven, MI 49417
  (616) 604-0267
On Facebook

Why I can't thrift boots: How ill-fitting footwear helped me to love myself

Why I can’t thrift boots: 

How ill-fitting footwear helped me to love myself 

It’s a waiting game. At the end of August, autumnal-worshipping fashionistas are already chomping at the bit for weather cool enough to buy or wear the ideal boot with their fall outfit. Rack after rack of riding boots, calf boots and lace up booties begin to surface at every department store, and large shoeboxes arrive on many doorsteps as the women inside cross their fingers in anticipation… 

Will the shoe fit? 

Like everyone else, I'm excited about outfits with boots. Pants with boots. Skirts with boots. Everything with boots! All the way through winter! Though I enjoy “brand spanking new” items as much as anyone else, part of my personal credo and mission as a conservationist and a thrift blogger is to ask myself: Can I find this item second-hand before I buy it new? The answer, almost undoubtedly, is yes. EXCEPT…and this is a painful exception…when it comes to boots. 

Why can’t I buy most boots second-hand? The answer isn't because of orthotics, worn leather, or fear of some type of “shoe cootie” (though I hear this stops many people from buying footwear second-hand  and I can assure you, I've never had an issue). No, the answer isn't about anything aesthetic or personal in the least. 

I simply can’t fit my calves into them. 

Let us now take a journey… to a place called Lithuania. 

 Welcome! Long before its independence as a nation in 1918 (and before erecting a tributary sculpture to FRANK ZAPPA in 1995, which is entirely awesome), Lithuania has been turning out strong, sturdy Baltic men and women. As a primarily middle class or poverty stricken nation, it should be noted that Lithuanians are a WORKING culture; a laboring people. Hard physical effort, tending to one’s own land and athletic capabilities including dancing are considered to be common traits amongst the people who hail from this land. (I can attest to that, because my Lithuanian great grandparents and grandfather were avid gardeners and also loved to polka.) Their union and immigration to the United States (specifically, Grand Rapids, Michigan) made possible my own family lineage that includes many short, stocky and muscular relatives, whose hearty statures and longevity have served them well. 

 Grandpa Don Verbis in the yard, where he spent many hours drinking beers and growing his amazing tomatoes. 

 Yet, I haven’t always been so proud of my natural born Lithuanian calves. 

For many years, I envied the slender-legged girls. Oh, the tan, slender-legged girls of summer who boasted never-ending gams of perfection in their baby doll sun dresses! Oh, the slender-legged running women of the road who seemed to glide along the pavement like gazelles in their North Face micro-shorts without a trace of cellulite or thigh dimpling. Oh, the slender-legged women of Shoe Carnival who slid their willowy calves into fashionable boots with ease, their legs slipping inside like a greased pill down a wide throat. 

How I desperately wanted A. Yet, I felt like B. 

(Okay, B with a side of jiggle and cellulite.) 

 I wish that the comparisons with my plus size body and what I deemed as perfection had ended at my calves, but alas, I spent my entire adolescence, teen years and twenties casting my whole body into the depths of “Not Good Enough Land”, where hoodie sweatshirts covered love handles and baggy jeans masked my stumpy stems and thick thighs. Though I had always loved dresses and fashion in general, it was easy to hide behind the casual gear at that time in my life. I was a musician; a rowdy guitarist for a heavy indie band. My punk rock attitude only made it easier to hide my figure behind clothes that camouflaged the pain of dis-satisfaction. I hated my body, and because I hated it, I treated it poorly. I didn't always eat well, and I didn't exercise often, let alone take time for self-care rituals. Just as one would expect, my issues with weight only increased further, and I had fully convinced myself that my problems were only external. 

What diet could I try to fix the problem? What magic piece of gym equipment could restore my self-worth? Shocking, I know…but there wasn't one. And there isn't  And there never, ever, will be. If you are reading this article right now, hoping for such a thing…stop dreaming right now, and instead wake up. Take a terrifying leap as I did, into the cavern of your soul, and feel around in the dark for a “jagged rock”—a problem--like the one I had. 

My “jagged rock” was a roadblock to self-acceptance. I couldn't properly quantify the worth--the purpose, the advantages--of my physical body. It took me thirty years, but I finally jackhammered that rock and blasted it into a thousand pieces. Inside the rock, a thousand golden nuggets spilled out, filling me with the understanding that, not only was my body worthy of my praise, attention and—yes—even celebration, it was also full of purpose. 

Suddenly I realized that the muscular, Lithuanian calves I had cursed for years had carried me through much rough terrain throughout my lifetime. They allowed me to climb from the depths of despair to the heights of happiness, supported my footsteps on every journey of my life’s transformation, upheld my pregnant belly with ease and, later, the weight of my son upon my shoulders. They even endured mile after mile as I ran down the road with strength and exhilaration. 

 The mental metamorphosis was swift and enlightening. 

I gave up on having someone else’s legs, and opted, instead, to have a big, fat slice of fall fashion pie, buying myself some properly fitting, wide calf boots. While I was relishing in the sheer joy of self-love and acceptance (and riding boots, yay!), I decided to call myself an athlete because of my love of running and my training efforts (a title formerly forbidden, in my mind, to a slender-legged gazelle). I even realized a dream of mine and created a fashion blog where I photographed my own, plus size body (gasp!) in clothes I had styled, because it was a body that I loved; one that was mine, and full of purpose. Now that I revered and praised this body for its service, I could begin to honor it with only the best nourishment, exercise, and self-care routines. And then something even MORE magical happened: when I saw the purpose and beauty in myself, I began to notice it all around me. I just couldn't keep quiet about it. YES, that included ALL body types, because despite my comedic tone about slender-legged women, we can all be beautiful. Bodies are different, and beautiful, and purposeful. 

As you can probably predict, the more I valued my body, the happier and healthier I felt, and the more weight I lost. I quit referring to myself as a “work in progress” and tried to focus on being present. Though I'm sure I’ll always dream of a tighter tummy and skinnier slacks, I'm not wasting one more day of my life waiting to live. Ever. Again. 

The cherry on top of my own journey to self-discovery would be to pass this knowledge on…even if it is just to one frustrated woman who is out shopping this afternoon, measuring her self-worth in the dressing room of a department store. 

 Don't waste another minute.

Today is the day to love yourself and recognize how your physical body has served you.

Today is the day to treat your body well, to feed your body well, to dress your body well, in items that fit you. 

Forget about the goal pants and the thrifted boots. 

Today is the day to buy new boots.

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P.S. Are you looking for a wide calf boot? I gotchu, girl!

Target: Kimberly Riding boots (available in store) 

Woman Within Wide Calf Boots (I'm wearing a pair in the first picture!)

Wide Calf Boots at Lane Bryant