Changing Clothes Like Seasons...

I have been so busy, with work, JDRF volunteer efforts, my kids, husband, diabetes, life...that I have totally neglected my blogs!

This blog is definitely a release for me, and a way to focus on simple yet joyful things, so let's start October with a post, shall we!?

I love fall! I love accessories, scarves, hats, sweaters, and I am obsessed with coats for sure! Stay tuned for that post soon...

So here is a outfit saying bye to summer, and welcoming fall. It is not trench coat weather, just yet but these cool 70s allow for jeans, as opposed to shorts, so let's start with a small transition, ok?

Summer love:

* I had some help with buying some of these items, so this outfit is more than my usual $20 total cost.

Biggie shirt: Buffalo Xchange $6

Jessica Simpson shorts: mommy group $2

Gold Aldo slip ons: Buffalo Xchange $15 (thanks to my sis for those!)

Gold & turquoise spiked necklace: Buffalo Xchange $11 (thanks mom!!)

Gold vintage purse : no clue, I stole from my moms closet.

Total outfit cost: $34

Fall breeze:

Skull shirt: Buffalo Xchange $11

Denim inc jeans: Christian Charity Thrift Shop $4 retails at $75!

Jessica Simpson wedges : Buffalo Xchange: swap $0

Total outfit cost $15

What's your favorite season and why?

Feeling like a million bucks, in much less.

Sometimes putting on a great fitting dress, a pair of heels and some make up can make you feel like you don't have a care in the world.

Of course, I do. 

But it's always nice to escape. To pretend I'm carefree, and everything is perfect.

With only a few bucks in my pocket today, I found a dress that did just that.

Definitely one of my favorite Christian Charity Thrift finds, and for $3? WINNING! 

A Family That Thrifts Together...

Ok so maybe thrifting and shopping consignment, started when we were broke & couldn't afford even $20 on something new.

But it stuck with us.

We still live check to check, and I quite frankly cannot afford nor want to spend $100 on an outfit for myself or for my kid.

Shopping with my boys is always a blast, and I love not worrying about breaking the bank. While the clothes are not new, but new to us, my boys look amazing, and are learning how to stretch a buck.

I think that's a win.

We found some great places for the boys such as Goodwill & Savers, so we stuck with those for school clothes as well.

Here's a breakdown of an outfit that each of my boys picked out and one of mommy, just cause.

Left:

Muppets hat: Goodwill $3

Spider-Man shirt (recognize it?) Goodwill $1

Red Nike sweats (not shown): Savers $4

Nike sneakers Black/Silver Savers (men's size) $16

TOTAL: $25

Right: 

Fedora hat: Goodwill $2

DC tee: Savers $2

Jeans: Savers $3

Uptowns aka Air Force ones White: Savers $7

TOTAL: $14

Vintage blouse/dress: Buffalo Exchange $10

Black leggings: Ross (new) $3

Slice clutch: Buffalo Exchange $3

Shoes (not shown) gifted 

TOTAL: $16

Fashion doesn't have to break the bank, just break fashion barriers.

What will we buy next?

Fashion Forward Friday Foolin'

I'm broke. I am, I live check to check, and have more important and necessary things to spend my money on. BUT I love fashion. I do. Sue me. I've been a fashion lover since I was 7, and had all the runway models in couture taped to my walls. Haute couture, vintage, Patricia Field's outrageous outfits, I loved it all. My mom exposed me to such things at a young age, and I carried it with me through my life.

Then I got lost. I conformed. I started wearing what I thought I should wear, what other girls my age were wearing, and what was deemed popular. 

It wasn't until my mid twenties that I found myself again. My love for funky prints, vintage tees and tacky broaches. 

I don't care if anyone likes it, as long as I feel fabulous in it. (Ok husband gets a say, but that's it).

So back to me being broke. How do I wear these funky threads when I only have $5 in my pocket to spend on my frivolous want? 

Goodwill. Yesssss sir.

This outfit below is one of my favorites, and one of my most daring, not approved by all, slammed by many, and snickered at by some.

I spent $2 on this funky find, but I felt like a million bucks in it. My husbands co worker, actually stopped me and was like "damn girl!  You're working that outfit!!", she's my new favorite server, of course ;).

The highwaisted shorts were actually mom jeans, I cut, bleached and frayed, myself and the shirt was a vintage button down, I tied up into a crop top.

A high bun, lotus flower pink lip gloss, and I was ready for date night.

So whatcha think?

Location: Goodwill

Shorts: purchased as jeans, and cut $1

Shirt: $1

Shoes: brand new wedge sneakers, birthday gift so no clue on price, sorry!

Monochromatic GoodWill Chic

Sometimes I found something at Goodwill, or one of my other favorite thrift shops & I am not sure what I will do with it at the moment but I know I need it.

And as much as I am a sucker for crazy patterns, and funky colors, I really do love black and white. 

A black and white outfit with a smoky eye & some red lipstick is simple, yet edgy and a great way to try out different accessories as well.

I bought this little checkered dress cause I thought it was cute, unsure about the fit and length but the price was oh so right as you'll see below.

Anniversary with my hubby, and he liked this little number so it was a winner.

Earrings: local jewelry store outlet $1 

Black Mossimo Lycra tee:  Goodwill $3

Jumper checkered dress: Goodwill $1

Standard black leggings: Ross (new) $5

And of course my go to combat boots you saw before: Christian Charity $7.50

Total outfit cost: $17.50

(Leggings,tee, and boots are parts of many, many outfits I wear so definitely a double whammy). 

Bonus pic: 

Your Friendly Neighborhood Lexi

Friday night, heading out with the family, I picked comfort tonight over my usual. I'm actually wearing sneakers, I know someone call the press!

I'm also kind of loving my relaxed superhero look. Cute, comfy & low cost.

Whatcha think?

Hat - Rainbow shops $6 new

Shirt - $1 Goodwill (it's actually my sons!)

Shorts - $1 spiderweb shorts Goodwill

Sneakers $9 at Savers

Total outfit cost: $17 booyah

Thrifty Tuesdays Obligatory Post

This is a rush post, I won't lie. My mom comes in tomorrow, yay! Which means lots to do, and also means lots of shopping with her!

Anyhoooo, every Tuesday I will post an outfit, along with breakdown of price and where I got it.

Any questions, or things you'd like me to add to the post, just let me know.

In honor of my mom, here's a look from my trip back home in March.

Kangol hat: Loehmans 75% off my mom paid $10

Sweater coat : Catholic Thrift $3

Rolling Stones Tee: FB group, swap

$0

Leggins were new for about $5 from Ross.

combat boots $7.50 Catholic Thrift 

Total outfit cost: $25.50 with hat which isn't actually mine.

Actual cost without hat: $15.50

Happy Thrifting 

Location. Location. Location.

Ok so today I want to talk briefly about some of my go to spots for cheap vintage, designer, non designer, fresh threads.

I am in Las Vegas but I am suremany of these stores are in your area. 

There are more than these of course, but these are my personal favorites, due to catalog, location, price and service.

Feel free to comment and share some of your favs as well!

Ok so Goodwill. I have one on the corner of my block. Seriously. I use them mostly for work clothes. I work in a professional environment & must cover my knees, shoulders & majority of my tattoos. I wouldn't wear such conservative clothes on a normal basis, so I rather not spend much on them. Every day this location has a different sale. Mondays is 99 cent Monday. They pick two color tags, and everything with those colors are just $1. YES! I have found skirts, slacks, blazers, trench coats & even mom jeans (I will explain in post at some point what I do with those).

See above. They have sales here and there, and I use them mostly for work clothes or shoes. Sometimes you'll ins some good vintage items that are funky and unique. Like Goodwill it's a store you need to really go through with patience and a fine tooth comb.

So I am new to Savers since we don't have one in NY. This is like your ultimate thrift shop. Everything from furniture, books, shoes to kids clothes. It's huge and has some great stuff! Prices are a bit more than say a Goodwill but the quality is great, as is the variety. They also have a member card which entitles you to discounts on given days, and if you donate a certain amount of clothes you can get a 25% off discount card. I have found some great items here as well.

This is my ultimate favorite store. For so many reasons. 1. They know me by name and I always feel like I'm shopping in a friends closet. Everyone is so inviting and upbeat. Variety. Wow. They have everything from no name one of a kind pieces to Louboutins. Of course you pay a bit more than Goodwill but the quality and condition is amazing. 2. Swap!! I bring clothes I no longer want or can wear and they pick what they like & give me a credit to be used towards their clothes. I have walked in with $2, and some old stuff I had and walked out with amazing shoes, accessories & a dress. Just like that. Definitely my #1 for reason #2.

Same idea as Buffalo, but hit or miss. A lot of Forever 21, Bebe, kind of clothes. Buffalo has way more vintage and unique pieces. Trend does have a great selection of shoes & sneakers, and aren't as picky as Buffalo for their consignment swap.

Mustang. Same as above. Very very small. But I have found some amazing stuff. It's hit or miss for sure, you never know what they'll have. Wonderful accessory display & reasonable prices. Also not too picky on swap. It's not a place I spend more than 20 minutes in since its so small. But worth checking out.

My last favorite that I didn't have a pic of is Christian Charity Thrift Shop. They have great sales and finds! I got hubby 5 pairs of black slacks for $5, and I got a Fossil blazer brand new for $2. Definitely worth checking out!

And one more of my secrets... Facebook mom groups! There are a ton in each city and state, for swapping and buying used clothes, kids and adults. Definitely one f my favs. And can do from my bed on my cell lol.

What are some of your favorite thrift or consignment places? Post below with city and state as well.

Happy shopping! 

Top: Goodwill NY 10th ave - $4

Jeans: Facebook mom swap group $2

Shoes: Buffalo Exchange: $1 + swap

Total outfit cost: $7

First Post, An Intro of Sorts.

Hi all!

Wow this is exciting, writing about something that gives me so much joy, very little stress and most of us can relate on....FASHION!!

For those new to my writings, and not familiar with me, please click over to my intro and check out my main blog.

 This blog is going to be fashion focused. That means clothes, shoes, accessories, and even do it yourself shirts, pants, shorts, hair bands, etc.

99% of my closet is thrift store or consignment finds, the rest? SALE SALE SALE. I never pay full piece, except maybe at Goodwill, haha!

Remember I'm just a mom and wife, who works, and lives check to check like most of you. I like to look good doing it, all while spending little to no money! 

So welcome to my new blog, and thank you for reading! Stay around its going to get fun, I promise.