Fabulous Finds

So a new job means money. Yes! But it also means a need for new clothes, because I need to dress semi-professionally at least. That means no more shopping in the juniors department and no more looking like I shopped in the juniors department. So what do I do? I head to Marshall's with my mom and we end up laying down a good $200 on stuff we just can't not get. Here's some of our favorite Marshall's finds as of late. (Have I mentioned yet that I love Marshall's?)

I got these great Kenar super dark sparkly demin (though not jeans just a really fine denim type of fabric)  pants for  $24.99 and the same fabric in a lovely Kenar pencil skirt for only $19.99. Serious about my new job: yes I am.

I also grabbed this great periwinkle blue viscose tank by Kenar for only $12.99! The wrapping across the waist is so flattering. The funniest part: my sister actually bought this top 2 weeks ago, now I got it too!

Yet another Kenar item. This I found on clearance for only $10! It's really fun. I love the ruffles and I can wear it to work.

Shoes! And this time they're sensible. I found these leather eyelet flats on the clearance wall for only $22! I love them. The bottoms are so squishy and soft, and the eyelet helps my foot breathe in the summer. Perfect work shoes, especially since the light brown can even work with black.

Those two thing: a dog collar for my kitten Lars, it was on clearance for $2. It's plastic so it won't start to fray like his current fabric collar. Then I bought a chocolate brown one piece with rouching across the belly. This will work great to get me more confident at the pool and work slowly to bikinis, plus I can wear it all summer long for swimming to workout after work. Only $19.99 and so flattering.

Those last three are my mom's finds. A great black Kenar top for only $12 on sale, perfect-for-summer pinstripe white, wide-leg Lauren by Ralph Lauren pants for only $39.99, and finally a fun, flowy snakeskin print Kenneth Cole blouse for $20 (originally $74!).

And last, but never least, my mom's shoe finds. The Sam Edelman snakeskin sandals were only $34.99 and look great. Casual, but with fabulous shine. Then, she needed higher shoes to go with the white, wide-leg pants, so she invested in some black leather Michael by Michael Kors cork platforms. They look perfect with the pants, and are the perfect height for women 40+.

I hope your hunts at Marshall's go as great as mine do. Search the racks for some Kenar items- they have amazing details that make them look way more expensive than they are. Also perfect for this summer: nautical strips, and the striped Ralph Lauren tees are perfect. Add to a skirt or shorts with white sneakers like Keds, and you're good to go.

Stay tuned, soon to be added: a guide to shopping at off-price retailers like Marshall's, T.J. Maxx, Home Goods and Loehmans. For you yet to be converted, trust me: when there is a will to find great deals, there is definitely a way.

(BTW: sitting here right now as my mom goes through her closet, and taking anything good she throws my way haha)

Fabulous Finds: Garage/Yard Sale

I went yard sale-ing with my mom again this weekend. Boy was it successful.

At the first place we found a wooden frame that was the perfect size for the Lowenbrau mirror that I had gotten a while back for about $2. The frame: $1. A nice piece of wall art for $3 isn't so bad.

I also found these lizard towel racks. I'm not sure what to do with them but for $2 they're not bad. I'm thinking my sister might like them, so maybe they will end up in her apartment. Then finally, we ended up at the mothership. This was seriously the best garage sale I've been at so far. We got so much stuff! A rocking chair for $20, adorable brown clay bowls for dips and tapas for 10 cents each, a fun margarita-like glass for salsa and guac for like 25 cents, and a whole huge set of china for only $10! I also got a pattern and some fabric to start doing embroidery. It was a cosmopolitan pattern hahaha. I went to Michaels for thread and a needles and have been doing it nightly so far. I actually really like it! Maybe this is a new hobby of mine?

Also in case you were wondering, the new job is going great. I really like the small, casual office environment and getting to know people. I am definitely a fan of that compared to a huge corporate place. And with new money comes new clothes...uhoh :)

Garage Sale Finds:

 

 little clay bowls for 10 cents

a gorgeous blue glass candle holder

we got this great old rocking chair for $20...just need to find a pillow for it now.

So, have you found anything great at a yard sale lately. If you're young and furnishing a new place, this is a great way to go, just be careful with anything fabric: stay away from pillows, blankets and upholstered furniture. Happy hunting.

Fabulous Finds: Garage/Yard Sale

It's that time of the year again: spring/summer. You know what that means...well besides beach, sun and margaritas...yard sales! I went out recently with my mom and found some great items- for under $10 total!

First we went to a yard sale where we got a framed Bud Light mirror, an unframed Lowenbraeu mirror and a small framed Seagrams black mirror. Total cost: $5. The Bud Light one was in great shape so we hung it in my brother's room with the Seagrams one, of which my mom painted the brown frame black and then painted the raised parts gold. It looks great. I still have to find a frame for the Lowenbrau mirror, but I will probably just get a simple black one at Kohl's...or a wooden one and paint it gold.

Another garage sale yielded us this adorable silver tiered cake plate. Though it's a little flimsy, it's looks great after it was cleaned, and it perfect for afternoon tea or any other time you want to serve cupcakes or mini pastries. Cost: $3.

Lastly, we found this cute gold star candle holder, which totally matches our other two star candle holders and will be perfect come Christmas time. Cost: $1

So there you have it: shop garage sales. Other fun items we found and didn't get included old pirate-treasure-like trunks, colorful espresso cups and saucers, and for some odd reason lots of cute Halloween stuff...but it's summer. Find anything cool let me know!!!

Check your local papers to see what yard sales are happening near you. They usually run Sat & Sun or Fri-Sun from about 8am to 2 or 3 pm. Happy Hunting!

Fabulous Finds

Everything is cheaper at Marshall's. Usually, it is also better.

I have been MIA for a little over a month now due to stress with the job search. But guess what?! I started my new job today! As a sales assistant at a local sales company that sells toys from manufacturers to stores. Yay!

So of course you all know what this means: I went shopping.

Below I'm going to show you my latest Marshall's finds, not only are they cheap but they are awesome for summer!

Let's start with my practical choice: a new khaki pencil skirt (only $19.99) from Kenar for my new job. Maybe I will wear it tomorrow? I have all black ones, but I like the khaki for summer, and it looks great with white or bright blues and pinks.

Next, my favorite: dresses. The first I found was this flower print bubble dress with a big bow on the bust. It looks great when paired with a rugged (or even studded) black leather belt and was only $19.99. The next one, at the same price, is a white, strapless dress that looks amazing with a colorful blue or green waist belt and platforms. Then we have a 70s-ish quarter-sleeved polka-dot-lace dress. It's great, and so slimming even though it's white, and the trapezoid-like cut of the collar is amazing. The only thing I need to fix: I have to shorten those elbow ties, they are WAY too long, but at $24.99 I'm fine with that. Throw this on with silver or gold sandals and you're all set.

Additionally I found these two pieces that are very beachy/hippie. The coral piece is probably a shirt, but it's long enough to be a dress on me, so I'm wearing it as that. At $12.99 it was one cheap "dress," I just have to watch when I bend over. The turquoise dress has amazing colorful stitched edges, and is great with flip flops to the beach or cork/wood wedges with fun jewelry for a night out. Another steal at $16.99.

Finally, we move on to the tops. This white, flowy jersey tank from Kenar is amazing. The beading makes it look much more expensive than the $19.99 I spent on it. The blue top is also great and cinches in at the waist to slim you down. It looks amazing with white and works great with a cardigan for work: only $14.99. Finally, the DKNY white cotton blouse was a great find. It's smocked at the bottom hem allowing it to billow out, perfect for a bloated day. And at only $24.99, it reminds me why I love Marshall's so much for all it's designer options.

My last find was not at Marshall's, but I found an awesome pair of white skinny jeans at New York & Company for about $24 on sale. They reach your ankle, so they look great rolled up or with ankle-strap heels for a night out.

I didn't do this shopping all at once of course, I have merely been to busy to update. Hopefully this summer I can share lots of great finds with you all. Let's hope summer comes soon!