Thrifty Thursday: My Best Investment Ever

See this vest?

Don't worry - those 2 spots are just water because I was too impatient to wait for them to dry before I took my pictures. 

I bought it when I was a junior in high school eleventy trillion years ago.

Okay, more like 20 something years ago but whatever.

When I bought this vest I was living in northern California.

One of my closest friends, who was also my most fashionable friend, invited me to join her for some local thrift shopping.

It was the first time I'd ever been inside a thrift store.
(How was I to know then that it would become a lifelong addiction?)

I remember wondering if there would be someone at the door to decide if we were allowed to shop there, kind of like a bouncer at a nightclub but to decide if we looked poor enough to be worthy of entry because I was basically a very sheltered idiot who thought thrift stores offered exclusive shopping rights to only the most indigent people.

And college students.
Which are pretty much one in the same as I found out a couple years later.

I also remember that the thrift store smelled funny...sort of like old people who were slightly mildewed and covered in moth balls.

But it was still pretty awesome.

My friend, who was a frequent thrift store shopper, left with several items that I couldn't quite fathom how she would put them together to make outfits an actual human person would wear but, of course, she ended up looking amazing in every single piece, and I left with my one vest which was probably already a vintage item when I bought it at that time for less than $5.

I wore that vest a LOT!

I wore it to school and to parties.

I'm sorry my braces encrusted smile is overshadowing the small glimpse of my vest covered shoulders. My friend has been cropped out of this picture to protect the innocent.

I loaned it to my best high school friend and she also wore it to a party.

Then my first college room mate wore that vest to a party after she saw me wear that vest to a previous party.

(There was a lot of partying going on during that time!)

Big hair. Cheap beer. Cool vest. Very 90s-esque.

And then my daughter wore it to school in 4th grade.

Which is the last time it's seen daylight.

I've thought about getting rid of it but then I try it on and I just can't part with it.

Not in that whole 'I have so many great memories in this vest and I'm going to save it and eventually become a hoarder because this is how that starts' sort of way.

But in the 'holy crap this vest is timeless and awesome and will always look good!' sort of way.

I guess you could say it's been my best wardrobe inVESTment to date!

I'll see myself out.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

Thrifty Thursday: Vintage Formal Gown

I am really excited about today's Thrifty Thursday post and I really have no idea why it's taken me so long to get around to writing this particular one because it's been 'brewing' in my head for 43 weeks!

I know it was 43 weeks because that what it says on the Instagram post.

Anyway, late last summer I made my daughters go to one of my favorite local thrift stores with me and we spent a significant amount of time there looking through all the things.

I was rummaging through their mile long rack of dresses when I came across something so fantastically wonderful that I gasped very loudly and upset my 16 year old because she startles easily.

But I really couldn't help it because look!

Details

It was a vintage formal gown in perfect condition in my daughter's size and it was only $14.51 and no I didn't mistype the decimal!

Model face

Trying it on the day we bought it.

Knowing she would need at least one formal dress for her upcoming Senior year activities and events, my daughter was equally excited that we had already found something so amazing by complete accident.

We had to make a couple of small, easy alterations for a truly perfect fit but it looked gorgeous on her!

(And we never had to worry about someone else having an identical dress, of course.)

At her Senior night event.

She also ended up wearing it for some of her Senior portraits

 (which were taken by my wonderfully talented cousin.)

Doesn't everyone wear a formal gown on a swampy bridge?

Every time I see this dress I am still in shock that we were able to find such a great timeless piece for less than $20!

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

Thirfty Thursday: Swapdom

So, have you heard of Swapdom yet?

It's basically the most bestest thing since sliced bread or Tom Cruise's assault on Oprah Winfrey's sofa!

Okay, it's actually better than both of those things.

I heard about it through one of the blogs I read.

Here's how it works:

1) You declutter your stuff (clothing, shoes, accessories, baby & kid stuff, and home goods) and you list the items you no longer love, but that are still awesome, on Swapdom for FREE with photos and a description.

2) Then you browse Swapdom and request stuff you want, and you offer up your stuff in return and the Swapdom team goes to work to find a swap for you.
(I think they have tiny gnomes do this part.)

3) Once a swap is found you pay the shipping cost, which includes a small fee that gets paid to Swapdom for their hard work, for the item you are receiving.

Don't worry - you'll know the cost before you request an item so there are no surprises.

(This isn't one of those fancy restaurants with no prices on the menus like you went to for your first Prom that was super awkward because you inadvertently ordered the most expensive thing on the menu but that's a story for a different day.)

4) After everyone has paid, you print a prepaid label from your home printer and ship your item to the winning Swapper.

5) Then you wait (rather impatiently) for your item to arrive in the mail so you can behold it in all its glory and cry little tears of pure joy and then wear it when you go on a date with your husband and again to your son's choir concert the following week and then again on the second to last day of school (today) for no reason at all because you love it so very much!

Be warned though...

Swapdom is highly addictive and you may find yourself considering the idea of purchasing items that you will never use or wear for the sole purpose of listing items that would be perfect for swapping which is actually the complete opposite of what the whole premise of Swapdom is so you really shouldn't do that.

Also, it's a good idea to read the Tips & Tricks page on the Swapdom blog for some really helpful information before you start swapping your life away!

I'm already a lost cause.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

Thrifty Thursday: Pet Toy Basket

As awesome as my dog is, I have given up on training her to pick up her toys.

Instead, I decided that a small basket would be ideal for us humans to toss them into when she is done playing so they aren't scattered all over every room.

My first attempt at providing a toy basket resulted in some intense destruction of a basket I actually really liked.

Now that she's a bit older and less 'chewy' I thought I would try again.

With a cheaper basket.

From the thrift store.

For $1.50.

Problem solved!

And I got to show you a bunch of pictures of my wiener dog.

You're welcome.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

Thrifty Thursday (on Friday): $2 Ottoman Slipcover

Once upon a long time ago my mom bought this ottoman.

She decided she didn't have a place for it so she brought it to me.

Although I like the vintage floral fabric and mid century style, it didn't quite fit with the style of the rest of my home so it sat in my bedroom for almost a year while I tried to decide what the heck I wanted to do with it.

Then, last weekend, I was at a local thrift store and happened upon a folded piece of dark denim fabric.

I unfolded it and there must have been at least 3 yards and it was only $2.00!

I knew immediately that it would be perfect for making a simple slipcover for the ottoman.

There's not really a tutorial because all I did was measure the sides and the top, sewed it together and gave it a nice hem then slipped it over the top.

It's pretty plain and simple and I might end up adding some embellishments across the bottom such as rick rack or ball fringe in a bright color.

Since it sits against these non-functioning doors in my bedroom, I also like the idea of topping it with a throw pillow and making it like a tiny sofa.

Gidget likes this idea, too.

You know what else?

I still have plenty of denim fabric leftover to cover a couple of small lumbar pillows I bought a while back.

Hmmm...maybe another Thrifty Thursday post about those soon.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

Thrifty Thursday: $10 DIY Embellished Jean Shorts

While my oldest daughter was at Drill Team camp and my son was at basketball camp yesterday, 

Bee (my younger daughter) and I set out on an adventure!

Us on an adventure

And, yes, I can touch my toungue to my nose which I didn't even know I could do until yesterday.

I may have to take that bit of freak show on the road!

Our first stop was a local thrift store where she picked up some pairs of jeans for only a few dollars each.

Sooo sexy, right?

Then we chopped them and made them into shorts!

 

After that, Bee laid on the sofa watching Pretty Little Liars episodes she had recorded while I worked on making those cropped jeans cutesified.

Typical.

We found some ruffle trim at Hobby Lobby for $2.50 per yard (but had a coupon for 40% off) so 2 yards cost a little over $3.

Bee also found a colorful heart patch at Hobby Lobby for $3.00.

Again, we used a 40% off coupon so it was less than $2 for the patch.

I ironed it on and we had our finished project!

Once we wash these they'll have a small amount of fray on the edges and be even cuter!

So, for less than $10, total Bee has a new pair of summer shorts!

We've got plans for more craptastic jean short makeovers so stay tuned...

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

 

 

Thrifty Thursday: Wicker Lamps

A quick visit to a local Junior League resale/thrift shop yesterday amidst a week of fun and fabulous chaosity

(I might have made up that word)

 yielded a pair of these lovely wicker lamps for the mere price of one Jackson.

Just in case you also have 3 children who suck money out of you like a Hoover in a dirt factory so that you can never keep it long enough to even remember whose head is on which bill, 

a Jackson is $20.

I looked it up.

In my daughter's wallet.

For quite some time I have been waiting for the right pair of lamps for my living room 

(i.e. attractive, yet affordable.)

Here is what was there previously:

I painted them.

And the shades.

Meh.

But when I saw these wicker gals I was immediately drawn to the warm color and texture.

Once I saw the $10 price tag I  knew they both wanted to come home with me so that we could be best friends forever!

The most bestest part, though, is that I can use them in several other rooms or at one of the lake houses if I decide to change things up.

Which is likely.

Because I never keep any decor in my house the same for too long.

 

But here's where they are for the time being.

And, yes, Buster is still alive and doing what he loves best which amounts to sleeping in his dog bed and growling at anyone who doesn't approach bearing treats.

He also smells like Fritos.

Gross.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

 

 

 

Thrifty Thursday: Free Activity That Could Make Your Butt and Other Body Parts Really Itchy

Previously my Thrifty Thursday posts have been more decorating related but today I wanted to share a super cool idea for a family activity that is completely FREE!

It's called Geo Caching.

You can get details at this website but here's the basic premise...

People hide small containers in places all over the world 

(we visited 8 that were within walking distance of our house) 

and you go in search of them using your phone's GPS system and an app you download.

When you find it you open it, sign the tiny paper log and maybe take a trinket/treasure someone else has left previously and leave one in its place for the next person to retrieve.

It's sort of like treasure hunting only you don't really get anything valuable except the glory of finding the secret and, often, very hidden/camouflaged location.

Also you get the glory of spending 6 hours with your sweet son who thinks you're his awesome treasure hunting partner but who will someday think you are the lamest person on the planet and will no longer want to spend any time with you.

Until then, you can go Geo Caching together and he'll think you're the best mom ever!

Our very first cache find!

Unless you both wake up covered in chigger bites all over your butt and other un-mentionable places as well as some that ARE mentionable like your feet, even though you wore socks and tennis shoes the entire day.

I spared you the horror of seeing a picture of my butt and shared this one of my foot instead

 

It was totally worth it.

But next time we will definitely remember to use insect repellent!

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

 

 

 

Thrifty Thursday: $20 DIY Rag Rug

Several weeks ago, before work became so busy that my brain started melting, I was still reading all of my favorite blogs and came upon this bit of loveliness from designer Emily Henderson:

I pinned a different photo of this same room because I fell completely in love with that rag rug.  

It's from Land of Nod.

About a week or so after storing this image in the back of my brain, I began hunting and gathering items for the new lakehouse.

One of the items I needed was a large-ish rug for the living to add some color and a little softness to the tiled floor.

I found several inexpensive options at Gardenridge 

(do they have those all over the country or just in some regions????) 

and at Ikea, of course.

But none were exactly what I wanted and the ones I did really want were all $100 and up.

Now, $100 is certainly not expensive for a rug but since I also had to purchase a LOT of other items like beds, mattresses, etc. another $100 was more than I really wanted to spend on something that could possibly be ruined by the first person who lets their dog or kid pee on or track mud onto it.

So, while on yet another trip to Gardenridge, which is like a mecca of cheap stuff for your house in case you don't have those where you live and were wondering, I happened across small rag rugs for only $5.99.

And then I said to myself, 

"Self...you should sew these together to make one big rag rug."

So that's what I did:

This is a really HUGE needle

Make sure to pull your thick rope-y thread really tight when stitching

And here it is in the lake house living room, ready to be mudded and peed on!

You can check out more lake house posts here and here.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

Thrifty Thursday: Rosemary, the Multi-Tasker

It dawned on me after last week's Thrifty Thursday post that it's probably really annoying to read about my great Thrift Store finds because it really only benefits me.

So, today my Thrifty Thursday post is one that you can use, share and enjoy for the rest of your life!

It's all about Rosemary and why love it almost as much as my own 3 children.

1) It grows.

 I know that sounds silly but I am notorious for killing off just about everything I plant. 

Rosemary is the exception and it grows faster than Jack's beanstalk in my backyard! 

I planted this one last summer from a tiny little sprout:

 

2) It smells nice.

Rosemary has a nice woodsy smell.

And when my dogs roam around in it and it gets on their fur I can go a little longer without giving them a bath.

Sort of like doggie deodorant.

Hard to imagine something so cute could smell so bad.

You could probably rub it under your armpits, too, if you were out of deodorant.

3) You can smoke it.

via

Not rolled up like a crazy hippie, but in your smoker or on the grill.

With some pork, or beef or chicken.

It's very fragrant while cooking and gives a nice flavor to your meat.

via

4) It's pretty.

I like the dark green leaves and the general shape of Rosemary stalks and in the spring it produces little flower blooms.

via

One of my favorite ways to use it is clipping several stalks of it and putting it in a vase since I'm way too cheap to buy fresh flowers regularly.

I don't even add water to the vase.

Because I'm lazy.

But I can jusitfy it by telling myself that when the rosemary dries up I can make my own jarred herbs if I have a fancy mortar and pestle.

via

5) It's bug repellent.

I haven't confirmed this yet but plan to this summer when the man-eating prehistoric bird size mosquitoes overtake the state of Texas.

If it's true I may launch my own clothing line that is woven entirely from rosemary plants.

Something along these lines would be lovely, don't you think?

via

6) It's drought tolerant.

And also lack-of-attention tolerant.

Because I tend to forget that I have plants that need to be watered when it's 110 degrees outside.

Rosemary doesn't mind.  

She just keeps on living and deodorizing my dogs despite me ignoring her.

And, most importantly...

It's CHEAP! 

(Hence the reason it's featured in this Thrifty Thursday post)

You can buy a small sprout of it (or just clip some off a neighbor's plant while they are at work), plant it, and it will grow into a beast of a shrub.

Like this:

It's a lot cheaper than buying actual shrubs.

And most other shrubs can't be eaten, smoked, used as doggie deodorant or made into dresses.

You're welcome for yet another life changing post.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney

 

 

 

Thrifty Thursday: Ebay vs. the Thrift Shop

I've been looking for a brass floor lamp for my son's room.

I found this one on Ebay:

It's almost identical to this one I bought him last week at a Thrift Shop

with one major difference...

The one on Ebay carries a price tag of $442.  

(No, I did not forget to put in a decimal.)

The one I bought from the Thrift Shop only set me back $9.99!

 That's a lot of money leftover to find even more Thrift Shop treasures.

À la vie et à l'amour

-Cortney