Thrifty Fashion- Camouflaged Deal

I am a broke girl and not ashamed to admit that I will be the first to make a bee line to the back of a store and hit the clearance racks. I will also be the first to admit that I will shop for clothes at a 2nd hand store in a heart beat. I look for new or almost new items that can be easily washed and dried. For the record, I will NOT buy shoes or undies at a 2nd hand store. 

(I may have told this story before) 

A few months back, Nick and I decided to go look around our local Goodwill thrift store. I was ready to leave when I looked across the store and saw him holding up a pair of camo pants. I laughed and shook my head "no". I am not much of a camo wearing girl. He motioned for me to come closer. 

The pants had never been worn and still had the price tag on them! I had to take a 2nd look at that price tag.

That's when I decided, "ok, I can be a girl that rocks the camouflage". 

These pants were two sizes too big but I could not turn down a deal like this. I purchased them for only $3.99! After I washed them in warm water to makes sure of any shrinkage, I took them to my mom and she altered them to fit me. 

These pants are cropped with zippers on the ankles to give them a style that can be worn different ways. The material is thick, yet cool so they can be worn in any season with at tank top or sweater. 

They are sold with the distressed look and the more they are washed the better. I also love the cargo pockets so when I have to make a quick trip to the store or salon, I can just toss my phone and some change in my pockets and go.

Now I'm thinking every girl should own at least one pair of camouflage pants. What do you think? 

Style brands:

Cargo Camouflage Pants: Current/Elliott

1/4 Sleeve Onesie: Gap

Tan Wedges:  New York & Co.

Crochet Earrings: LiLiDi on Etsy

Hat: GPD

Thrift Store Find

I like to shop around thrift stores sometimes on my spare time. I love finding things other people toss out. For the record, I am not a junk collector. Ha. I only buy things I know I will use and if I don’t use it (or sell it) I will give it away. I do not like clutter.

The other day while shopping at the Goodwill, I found a set of adorable little tea towels. I call them all tea towels. I don’t know. I think there is a difference in tea towels, pastry towels and just kitchen towels. I’m a sucker for vintage linens and my husband will often have to pull me away. though these are not vintage but I love them as if. 

Any way....

I had no intentions of buy more towels! I was actually looking for a used potato peeler for my daughter. These little towels were just hanging on the linen rack of the store, waving at me and yelling....”yooo hooo, we have never been used and we have cupcakes!” 

Douughhhh! I had to have them. They are made of cotton and have the cutest little cupcake designs. These towels even have a cute little loop on the top so I can hang them if I wish. 

I tossed them in the washing machine ( I always wash anything I bring home for a second hand store not matter if it has the tags on it or not, you never know if a person is really clean, has pets, or smoke). They washed up wonderfully. 

You might wonder what I do with towels I find. I fold them and place them in my towel drawer of course! 

I also use them under a hot dish I might take to a dinner or cookout. 

Line a box to take goodies on the road or a picnic basket.

Wipe up messes

Dry dishes

Wrap ice packs

I’ve even use them for place mats when we eat on the patio.

But my favorite way to use them is place them on my coffee bar area to keep it clean where we lay our stirrers and spoons and other coffee messes. 

Oh wait, here is another view of that coffee scoop! Isn’t it adorable too? My daughter got it for me and I love love love it.

Coffee scoop by Mud Pie

Speaking of ways to use kitchen towels....Who remembers when bread was put in a bread basket then wrapped in a towel ? My mom and grandma used to do it and so do I.

Dollar Store Finds

Spring is still among us but Summer will be here before you know it. Summertime brings lots of fruity and flowery things. If you notice, the stores this year are loaded with fruit print clothing. My daughter even purchased a bathing suit in bananana print. I told her shes gone bananas [enter laugh here].

There are mens blazers in pineapple print at Kohl's department store. I heard these are a big deal on cruises this year. Do you have any fruity print clothing?

The other day while looking around the dollar store for some safety pins, I came across these adorable plates and napkins. 

Wouldn't these be adorable at your next picnic? I can picture these on the table with a bouque of daisies. Just adorable. I didn't purchase them but I wish I would have. I may sneak back up there a get them this week. I think they will be great for the beach or patio. 

I found the safety pins I was looking for and headed toward the register. As I was walking to the check out line, I passed by these precious tea towels. If you know me, then you know I am a sucker for tea towels. Preferably vintage ones but any will do. I have to many towels on hand right now but I did not leave the store with out this cutie.

I plan to give this towel to my daughter as it will look great in her kitchen and I can imagine her saying these words. 

I love visiting the dollar store as everything cost only a dollar. I never leave empty handed. 

Destroyed Jeans

I’m on a jean frenzy again or should I say “jean fingy”

Summer is coming so I really do not need a pair of jeans but yet I want a pair. Everywhere I go, all I see are the distressed, torn and ripped jeans. It's the style.

I get it. But I can not bring myself to buying a pair of jeans that look like someone wore them for ten years and decided to return them to the racks. 

Seriously, I really do like the style and are perfect for warm weather, but why are they so darn expensive? Here is a pair I found online since I didn't have my camera out in the store.

(Source)

They typically range in price from $39.99 to $99.99 depending on which store you shop or how bad they are torn up. I think the more holey they are, the more they cost. 

So, I said the heck with that and dug an old pair of Old Navy jeans out of the closet and destroyed a pair myself.
For free! 

I just made a $20.00 pair of jeans look like an $80.00 pair of jeans by using grandma's old grater and a pair scissors.  

I like them better now and it’s all I needed to satisfy my fashion nerve until....well....until next week. 

I need new summer shoes! 

Ive linked up to these fun parties:

Style Link up at livingoncloudanddreanine

Snow Really?

Here in North Carolina the weather has been unseaonably warm. Its been as high as the 80's already and its still Winter.

After dinner Friday night, my husband asked if I wanted to go walking or go shoe shopping? Well, there was no question there, so off to the mall we went. I wanted some new tennis shoes and flip flops for summer. I had Spring fever and we are planning a trip to the beach real soon. 

We walk through Belks department store and low and behold, they have free wine tasting and free cupcakes! Needless to say, I never got any shoes. We went back out on Satuday and tried it again. I got some new shoes, new jeans and a new shirt. I went old school on the shoes and bought some white leather Adidas just like they wore in the 80's. I couldnt afford them then but can now. Ha. 

We went to a family dinner Saturday night and I want even mention that double layer German Chocolate cake that my Mom made! 

Ooohhh it was soo good, it would make your tongue slap you forhead.

When we got back home, it was late, we took our showers, turned our clocks up and went to bed. 

I got up this morning and looked out the window. I said, "oh no! Snow! It was snowing like crazy! It had powdered the ground and was coming down like a pillow fight from heaven. I jumped back into bed , whining and complianing. Im so ready for Spring. 

Here was my view this morning.

 

If you slept late you probably missed it because by noon the temps were back up in the 40's and there was not even a sign of snow. 

The news station pretty much summed up the day with this meme.

 

What I love (and hate) about Christmas

Its that time of year we Celebrate the birth of Jesus. I love Christmas time. I will not say its my favorite holiday because actually my favorite is Easter. I'm a spring time person.

There is things I love about Christmas time:

I love that's its all about Christ. His name is spoken of every time someone wishes me a merry Christmas.
I love the smell of Christmas trees and pine.
The excitement I see in children everywhere I go.
Shopping for others. I love buying gifts if I know its something they really want or need.
The smell of Christmas candles.
Special church services.
Time with Family.
Christmas Cards.
Downtown.
Baking delicious goodies
and Christmas songs.

On the other hand. There are things I hate about Christmas time:

I hate when someone puts an "x" in front of "mas" as a short cut. I don't care what it could also mean in Greek or that's its just easier. It does not need to be there.
Black Friday and the stories about it.( I stay out of this whole ordeal).
I hurt when I see or read about needy people (especially kids).
I hate Green and Red! and the two together is just tacky!
Tinsel
and Glitter!

Now its time for me to get with it and start my baking. I'm a little behind on the decorations too. I still have to decorate my bathroom for Christmas! And I just actually thought of that. eeesh!

I also cant wait to share some new recipes I've dug up! Just trying to find the time to get to them.

What are some things you love (or hate) about Christmas time? Go ahead, just spill it out here.

Crochet Frenzie

I have just been on this little crochet frenzy lately. Really, I do it every night! I'm not complaining though. I'm having a good time with it and I amaze myself once I get something completed. I hold it in the air, give it a turn, smile a little, look over at my husband and with a little giggle I say, "look what I did".

It all started last year when I made little baby booties and sold them on EBay. Then I was introduced to Etsy where you make and sale homemade items. I have been a member on Etsy for a while but just recently opened my own Etsy shop. I just took a wild shot in the dark that anyone would want to buy any of my items. But I have had a couple sales and this tickles me. I named my shop "LiLiDi's". Why? Well, LiLi is what my siblings called me when they were little before they could say my name and then my father-in- law started calling me that because it is also one of my screen names. And Di is the first two letters of my middle and last name. I thought it all went together nicely and its easy for me to remember. You can find my shop HERE.

Recently one of my crochet baby hats was noticed by a local photographer in town called Encaptured & Co.. that wanted to buy it for a photo prop and since then, shes kept me pretty busy asking me to make items to use in photo shoots of little babies and even animals. She gives me some ideas and I go with it. You can see some of her work HERE. I am also making some items for my friends.

Here are a couple photo shots from Encapatured and Co. using my crochet creations. You can see these and a few more in my "crochet photo page". If your local, you should definitely look them up. They do great shots and have great prices. Encaptured and Co. will let you choose your interest and they make it memories.

Here are a few other items I made for Photo props along the way.

I have another crochet prop that I made and hope to post later, but for now, I choose not to show it and keep it a surprise until the photographer uses it. I'm hoping it will work out.

UPDATE: It worked perfectly!

 

 

Ive shared this on:

blog-stalking-thursday at thecraftyblogstalker

friday-link-party at craftionary

 



Shopping Trip

What girl can resist a chance to go shopping on an all day shopping spree with her best friend? Surely not me. So when I had the opportunity this past weekend, I took it. My friend Robin and I headed up to Gaffney South Carolina for some retail therapy .

The fun began when we were so excited about going together that she missed the exit to take us there and we ended up about 10 miles out of the way into Shelby.  We could have went another 74 miles and ended up in Asheville but we had no use for that destination. So we pulled over at a car lot along the way to find out where to get on the interstate. I mean, really, where do people get on the interstate in Shelby? A sales lady at the car lot asked us if we needed any help and her instructions were precise but meanwhile Robin used the navigation on her "smart phone" and she got us there.

We arrived at the Gaffney outlet Mall in no time. This was my first time here. It was huge! There were so many stores to shop in. It took us nearly all day to get through them all. We had more fun than just shopping. We could not resist the temptation of acting like kids.

 

I found my chance at modeling



And Robin found Snookie



 

It was a fun day. We didn't buy to much stuff . The winter clothes did not appeal to us because we are all about summer clothes and cant wait until spring. 

But spending some time with my friend, getting out of town, and belly laughs that would make a six pack was way worth the trip.