Ways to make your football season more...thrifty

Alright friends it is that time of year again...football season. Now if you know me you should be aware of the fact that I positively cannot stand going to football games. For whatever reason I really have very little fun at them...but occasionally when I do go I try to allow myself to have as much fun as possible...if not for me, then for the people that I go with. I graduated from Clemson; yes I realize that not everyone on planet freakin' earth is a Clemson Football fan...however that is my only point of reference so if you hate Clemson...I really, really do not care. Not because I do not care about you, but because I do not think that you nor I should be defined by the football team we cheer for every year...despite what everyone else seems to think.

Thrifty football season you say...oh good sir. So there are many duh things that come to mind when I think of all the ways that you can be thrifty for football season.

-Carpooling: go in with someone on a tailgate spot...needless to say for whatever reason we are so against paying $40 for a nice meal...but during football season you hear "$40 for parking...dude pull in there!" It is indeed only a crappy slot of grass after all. So my recommendation would be to go in with a few friends and save some money. uh duh

- Make food...don't buy it. Obviously you have to buy something in order to make it however it is much easier to call Zaxbys and order 40 chicken fingers as opposed to going to the grocery store and purchasing a couple of random ingredients and making something to take with you. Here is a fun, easy and inexpensive dish to prepare for a tailgate, and regardless of the outside temperature this dish will remain yummy.
--Poor Mans Caviar--
2 Cans white corn
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 or 2 cans black eyed peas
1 bottle italian dressing
(mix it up, put it in the fridge over night, grab a bag of Tostitos) done. You can add different things to it to make it spicy etc.
This will cost you around $8-$10 as opposed to Zaxbys chicken which will run you around $40ish. No you will not be full as Thanksgiving dinner, but is that what you want? To be so full that you cannot move? Didn't think so.

-What to wear? Being able to identify as a fan of a specific team seems to be the main reason people stress out beyond belief about what to wear to a football game. I too have found myself asking that question....Oh my god I have nothing to wear!  This is important...because out of the 90,000 people that are attending the football game if you god forbid do not win the award for best dressed the world will actually stop spinning...I know. However instead of stimulating the economy by going out to a store and dropping a hot $100 on something you will wear one time why don't you go in your closet and figure out how to reinvent your clothes...August/September games: AKA hot as hell. Wear a dress. If you have an orange dress that you wore last year (no one remembers...seriously) wear it, get an old purple t-shirt cut it into a scarf, throw on rainbows/jack rogers and go. Cooler weather: Jeans, cute shirt/with or without a jacket/scarf...toms...whatever. Just make sure you are comfortable, matching and confident. People can judge what you wear all they want to, but until they bring themselves into your closet and pick something out for you...their opinion need not matter. Please wear comfortable shoes...there is nothing more entertaining to ME than that girl who is miserable in the 5' inch heel she decided to wear that morning...really? what makes you think that is a good idea? You are the only one that has to wear those shoes...but all of us suffer when you are complaining about your feet.

-Away games/crappy home games: for away games unless you absolutely have to go...stay home. And crappy home games are defined as follows: tickets are too expensive...the game is at noon and the other team sucks....or you flat out do not want to go...stay home. I can bet there are other people who would be willing to stay home too...maybe have people over and watch it together. After all we spend the majority of our time at the game with other people, but rarely find ourselves watching the game. Also if I have to watch football...a t-shirt, and comfy pants are much more up my alley than uncomfortable everything...

Despite my first comment about how I don't care who you cheer for...I am a Clemson fan. I wish them a wonderful season! And of course...GO TIGERS.

t-shirt...or so you thought

This post will not have pictures for many reasons...however all you really need is an idea to get rid of all of those t-shirts that have been shoved, crammed and otherwise used as rags for the better part of a decade. So grab those bad boys, a sharp pair of scissors and start cutting.but wait before you make paper dolls out of a tiedye tee let us take a trip into my world... I don't know if you have been paying attention to well, pinterest, the people around you etc; but apparently the newest trend at the moment is as I like to call it scarfage (and no I am not talking about you being on a diet until Thanksgiving). You can dress up almost anything with this simply accessory.

Me for example: ask anyone, I typically do not dress up, honestly I feel that in what I do bee-bopping up into work in a skirt, a nice top, heels and jewelry all over the place is not exactly the best outfit to get on the floor and play Legos or squat down to get on the eye level of a seven year old that has had a bad morning...however you can totally do that in cute jeans, a plain colored tee and a scarf you made out of your t-shirt from college or wherever...

Last weekend I met up with two of my "partners in crime" (friends/co-workers/mirrors/therapists/people) at Goodwill. Let me tell you first of all I have never, ever laughed that hard at the Goodwill in my life...but we had ourselves a pretty decent time to say the least. Of course I spent the most money (duh) and they decided that they would challenge themselves with the task of finding me an outfit (also known as Lauren in drag). We scooped up some jeans, a top, a cardigan (which turned out to be busted as all get out) some baking dishes, an awesome Jack Daniels cycling jersey...(ha!) and I got to thinking to myself...these two gals would not tell me A. that something looked good if it didn't and B. they wouldn't pick something out, watch me pay for it, tell me it will be cute and be full of it...so I ran with it. I got home, tried it on and well, everything fit a little funny. The pants were a little short (later to find out they are supposed to look like that), the t-shirt fit just fine and the cardigan was busted as hell (there was a reason that bad boy was at Goodwill. But I said all of that to say, I inadvertently took my own advice; with the assistance of the two lovely ladies that accompanied me on that journey, it is time to reinvent myself...again

Scarf: in SUMMER? Yes apparently that is how I have decided to reinvent myself. But in an effort to remain thrifty and Lauren I am making them at home, with stuff I already have (except hot glue because I need more of that). It is the simplest thing I have ever made. Get a t-shirt, scissors...cut the t-shirt under the armpits, cut the bottom seam off=BAMMMM. scarf. Or you can take that shirt and cut across (hot dog style) strips of the tshirt, stretch them out gatherem' up and wrap the seam part around the top...boom. done son. I have made around 6 in 2 days, totaling, 15 minutes total time spent on being fabulous. And I have gotten many compliments on this new look (well i've gotten like 4 so that's a win enough for me.)

The newest part I will try and accomplish is adding a little pizazz to the scarf...a flower made out of fabric, or maybe a different style...I haven't decided yet, however I like this new style...it is different, but normal in a sense...I mean I am not walking around with 12 new piercings so at least we have that squared away. And sadly despite my entire life of not believing it...if you can't beat them...join em.

Be nice to everyone you meet, because they are fighting a battle greater than yours...their own.

My Girlfriends Closet

Okay fancy people...here is something that you need to mark down on your calendars. Safe Harbor is having its annual event of My Girlfriends Closet coming up very soon...like next week! The show is part of the Upstate Women's Show (switcharoos for adults, hehe) and it starts next weekend Friday August 24th-26th at the TD Convention Center in Greenville. My Girlfriends Closet is a wonderful event that supports the efforts and the mission of Safe Harbor. But I want to tell you a few things about the event that may make you come check it out...not to say that you wouldn't because you totally, totally would.

Therapy: Okay, not your typical sit on the couch...retail therapy...the best kind. The Upstate Women's Show is the largest group therapy session in the upstate! There are hundreds of high end vendors at your finger tips, and you do not even have to drive around town...they come to you! The best part about it is that the proceeds raised at My Girlfriends Closet go directly toward the services Safe Harbor provides to victims of domestic violence and their children.

Have you ever wondered...where does the money I donate go? Like actually go...I actually thought this exact same thing this morning at a gas station. "Would you like to donate $.38 to our wounded veterans fund?" Yes, obviously I am not going to say no and look unamerican... But sometimes the lines are not so easy to see..sometimes the charitable cause is so out of sight out of mind people tend to hesitate to give...especially in this economy. However I can tell you just a few stories, facts, and other pieces of information you could find if you did some research...lucky for you I did the research for you.

What happens when you buy something that supports Safe Harbor?
A mother and her children are able to leave an abusive home and have somewhere safe to sleep tonight, tomorrow night and be together when they wake. You would never imagine the type of transformation a decent night of sleep will give someone who has been living in fear...peace comes in many forms; Safe Harbor tries to provide peace and safety to all victims big and small...sometimes being safe is the first step, staying safe is the next.
What do you mean have somewhere safe to sleep?
I mean literally safe. There is no threat anymore, no more fear, danger, fighting or abuse. Someone, yes someone with a name, a story, a child and a family is running for their very life tonight. Imagine what that life would be like without a place like Safe Harbor. Beyond sleeping Safe Harbor provides all the comforts of home, a safe home: food, laundry, counseling, programs, children's activities, domestic violence education...Safe Harbor meets these families where they are at...literally.
Is is more than just a safe place to sleep?
It is profoundly more than that. It is a safe place to start over, a place to make a change, a place to grow and it is a place where people breathe again. http://youtu.be/y0fEdWoqmBM
How can shopping at My Girlfriends Closet help?
My Girlfriends Closet along with the Resale Shop fund the programs that are essential to reaching those members of our communities who need help. By shopping not only at My Girlfriends Closet, but also at the Safe Harbor Resale Shop you, yes you are helping save someone, helping a child smile bigger, helping a mother heal...you're helping someone who needs you...I encourage you to experience this feeling.
What can I expect to find at My Girlfriends Closet?
You can find a number of items. Clothing (from fantastic boutiques that support Safe Harbor), jewelry, some children's clothes and you can also find personal joy from knowing that you helped someone. I think that above all else is the best find one can have.

So why should you check out the Upstate Women's Show and in particular My Girlfriends Closet? Because it is thrifty, local, fun and empowering. I mean who knew by shopping you can change someone's life...not just change your clothes?

There are many other events in the near future that you can become a part of to support the mission, the cause and the life of Safe Harbor. For a complete list of upcoming events please visit www.safeharborsc.org


"without change, there would be no butterflies."

Food...generally speaking

Food: believe it or not you actually need food to survive. I know the latest cover of your favorite magazine may make you question that concept...skeleton is the new thin...however it is not. So this post is to help you shop wiser...without even having to reach for your favorite scissors and coupon clipage...

Grocery stores operate on the concept that you are smart enough to not reach for the "brand name" food...however there are some things I would rather not try the store brand of...for example Dr. Pepper...no no Dr. Bob I will stay loyal. But other things are literally the exact same, but it depends on you to know what to buy. Below are some examples of this:
Cheese: sandwich cheese, shredded cheese, stringed cheese. Go store brand...usually they are made exactly the same and cost drastically less.
Bread: Honey Wheat is honey wheat regardless of the brand...just squeeze gently (not like you are juicing an orange) to see how soft it is.
Milk: that mess is expensive as whaaaa nowadays...go with the store brand...a cow is a cow, happy or not.
Tuna: regardless of the fancy label that mess can sit in your house for 3 years and still be good.
Granola Bars: Nature Valley is great...but the store brand is just the same HARDER THAN A ROCK.

There are other things that you can substitute for the brand name...but this post would be like three and a half days long...but I figured you got the concept.

When to shop: Okay this took me a few times to perfect, but now I think I have nailed it pretty good. Grocery stores with a bakery, butcher etc will bring things out throughout the day/week and leave them on the shelves...but oh my you say, won't that go bad? Yep it will...but when? Welcome to the concept of Close Dated. Close dated merchandise is my favorite thing in the world. If it is the day before or the day that a pack of meat (sorry veg heads I'm a carnivore) needs to be frozen not thrown away it is marked down because the store doesn't want to throw it out. These items will be marked down by $.50 increments...I purchased this big ollle pack of pork chops a while back that started out at like $11.50 and I bought that bad boy for $3.00. I took it home and froze it...read the label...freeze by date...not throw out date.

Secondly the store bakery (I'm talking about breads, rolls etc) will close date items that have been in the bakery a few days. And unless you have a bread maker...this is the closest thing to fresh bread as you will get (unless you know a baker, which I do but either way). These breads can be used for many things. If you are like me I would never buy a big Chicago loaf to take all the guts out to make a bread bowl at regular price...but if that Chicago loaf is $1.00 I will do it all day long...and you look fancy doing it. Also at my house we typically have "fancy sandwich night" which means yours truly was lazy and did not want to cook...but I scooped up some nice hoagie rolls, cheese, meat and stuckem' under the broiler...the husband loves it, it is easy and relatively healthy...

And because it is my purpose in life to screw mine up, blog about it to help you prevent that happening to you here is a concept to think about. I have been lazy the last few weeks, haven't wanted to cook, grocery shop, pack lunches etc...whereas before I would go to the grocery store and spend $150.00ish on groceries for 2 weeks where I cooked, packed lunches etc...I have not done that...instead I am lazy and spent instead around $100 on eating out ALONE...husband not included...and he loves Chick-Fil-A...not their political opinions which means he probably spent more than me...Had I gone to the grocery store, cooked or packed lunches we would have saved like $200...on top of the $150 I would have spent...think about it...I sure as hell am at this moment.

Special advice from the husband: Buy one get one free is not always a good deal...two boxes of Cheezits...buy one get one free....NO WAY yes way...but is it a deal if you buy the ONE for $4.49? NOOOOO....when are you going to eat two boxes of Cheezits...well maybe cheezits were a bad example...Perishable items: unless you are going to eat 50 cartons of yogurt...just because they are 20 for $8 doesn't mean it is a good deal...and no one needs that much active cultures in their bodies...lets be honest. Do some math, look at the ounces, whip out your iPhone and calculate that bad boy...you'd be surprised when all that math that "mom, I'm never gonna use this." Lies, yes you will.

Obvious Advice:
-Don't shop hungry...you'll come home with bags full of food you'd find in a potheads room.
-Make a list
-Shop a menu: don't pick up dinner every single night trying to justify it as not eating out because you're at a grocery store. False honey boo boo, $30 Monday-Friday...you shoulda gone out to eat and saved some money.
-Shop after 3pm!!!! That is when they mark down the food...holla!

And eat what you like, when you like it. Portions, portions, portions!!!!

Thrifty is a way of life

Okay, so as I sit day in and day out and contemplate what I am going to talk about on this blog I am constantly reminded daily of all the little things that I do to be more thrifty. I have said countless times to myself, "Self, you need to quit spending money." Well Self has not listened too well, but the amount of money that I do spend goes a lot further than the amount of money I could spend...

Poor Minded: Okay I operate off of a poor mind. For those of you who do not know what this means here are a few ways I like to describe it: There is too much month at the end of my paycheck, I am uncomfortable without at least $200 in the checking account (but then again this is where a wonderful husband comes in handy), sorry single gals, and finally can I do it myself? Okay being poor minded is a choice first of all. As my wonderful husband likes to remind me, Spendarella just because it's there doesn't mean you have to spend it. Obviously, but where is the fun in that? I enjoy crafting things...making something out of nothing, or just using what we have to make things work. I also enjoy giving gifts to people, typically things I make (not bake) because I like to invest in people and however I choose to invest in others depends greatly on my relationship with them.

I recently got married to my wonderful husband and we had a pretty large wedding, wedding party, reception...which auto-freakin-matically made it expensive up front. However it was strategic choices throughout the entire process that made it all together a lot less than what it could have been.

Wedding Party Gifts: We each had 10 attendants, a flower girl and a ring bearer...that is a grand total of 22 people. Shut the front door. I know right? But it was wonderful and everyone was fantastic and I loved it...but those 22 people invested their money, time and utter patience into being part of our wonderful day and I felt it to be very important that they receive a gift that was personal and a representation of my gratitude to them. But that is 22 people...ha! So here is what I did.

Girls: Tote Bag, favorite wine, pack of playing cards, nail file, champagne flute, travel pack of kleenex, pack of gum, Smart water...okay that sounds plain, and it was until I did a little magic on it...with a lot of help from my outstanding wedding planner. And everyone also had a personal note from me.
-Tote Bag: Monogrammed with their initials (Bought at Market in Atlanta, each on with monogram was $10)
-Favorite Wine: didn't do anything special to it. (Total Wine on Sunday, which made it cheaper)
-Playing cards: printed stickers with their initials on it and stuck it on the top of the box they came in; thus making it personal. (Michaels)
-Kleenex: I printed labels that said "Just in case"
Smart Water: Printed labels again with quote on it.
Gum: obvious reasons
Nail File: Giraffe style
Champagne Flute: Painted their first intial. Well I did not, my fabulous wedding planner did! (Ikea)

These gifts could have cost me a lot more money but they did not because instead of making it easy and just ordering things already made, I made them myself...

Boys: The husband and myself chose our wedding colors based off of the bow ties we got for the groomsmen...which were purchased one year before the wedding. This helped us save a cost by buying them early instead of leaving that to the last minute. So the boys were given their bow ties, their favorite six pack of beer, hand made cufflinks and the wedding favors.
The cufflinks were very special to me because they were personal to the guys and something that they can keep...if they want to wear them again that is fine, but if not then they were not that expensive to make! I ordered the cufflink backs off eBay I had 10 sets which cost $7.00 and no shipping, the legos were just picked randomly (the cheapest I could find them). I hot glued them to the cufflink back and put them in a teal box (Michaels) and inside was a label I printed that said, "thanks for being a connecting piece in our life together."

There were so many other elements to our wedding that were cost effective other than the wedding party gifts, but here is another thing that we did...it is on my good friends blog because she was so wonderful that she actually made these for me because I was on the verge of killing people if I had to make them myself...so go check it out and follow this blog as well! http://cpandb.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/give-em-the-bout/ 

I will explain other ways that my wedding was thrifty over time, but I thought I would leave you with this seeing as it is almost time to go back to school and maybe you wanted to give a teacher something nice, or maybe you are getting married...I don't know the details of your life; I only try to explain the details of mine!

Switcharoos!

Okay so going on right now in Greenville is the fall version of Switcharoos...Which has all the moms, aunts and grandmothers going GA-GA over wonderful items at a drastically low price. This is so not even close to thrift stores, this is beyond that honestly..this is a thrift store on CRACK! Switcharoos is a local show/event-apalooza that showcases individuals items that are consigned and put into the TD Center and it is free to the public. Switcharoos basically takes the sifting and searching out of thrift stores and slam dunks the deals into your face. There are two shows a year, one in August and one in February.

This event is interesting because it puts places like Second Time Around and Little Pampered People temporarily out of service because everyone knows that those places try and make money, whereas the clothes that end up at Switcharoos are literally only there trying to clean out their spaces...having said that you should know that the prices that are marked on the clothing are made up by the owner...not someone else. Win..Win..Winning. This is when you pray for an idiot. Who would sell a $90 dress for $10...ha wouldn't that be brilliant. But this show not only sells children's clothing it sells furniture, toys, baby gear...literally it sells everything except the baby...well maybe the really bad ones...

Switcharoos is overwhelming to say the least. I literally and figuratively was overwhelmed at the sheer volume of the stuff that was in this place. However it was organized very well...except maybe for the checkout lines that were lengthy...People are everywhere, so if crowds freak you out maybe scope it out before you go in. However there were a ton of people there, it wasn't like "excuse me, oh I'm sorry" there was plenty of room to move...

Items that I saw that were overpriced: Okay so here is the problem with the owner of the clothing creating the price...they think it is worth a ton of cash...when they are forgetting that it is second hand, and a jacked up price is only going to get discounted, looked over, or flat out not bought. A few items that I saw that were just simply too expensive: An 18 month Polo Ralph Lauren Onepiece okay this was cute, but faded, a nice brand but not kept up very well..I would have priced it at $4.00 at the MOST this person priced it at $12...that one will more than likely be there on Sunday and thus end up not being bought. Various other things were priced ridiculously...for example: an infant pair of shoes: dirty (not really sure how that happened unless this parent dragged their kids feet in the mud) they were priced at $15...I actually said out loud "really?" the woman next to me laughed...we both agreed this price was dumb.

Smock-a-freakin-palooza: Holy mother of sewing there were more smocked things then I have ever seen in one place ever...these were reasonably priced. Except a few that were not only too expensive but they were not even really that cute...But considering the original price was at least $80 per dress over 12 months any price at this point would be good...except this one I saw that was priced at $45...I thought, they're cheaper on eBay and you can do that on your couch...either way there were some really nice items there.

Point Proven: I found one of the exact smocked Jon-Jons I found and purchased at a thrift store where I paid $2.25 for and it was $12..yes I win. I was also surprised at the lack of baby gear that was actually there. Around 30 strollers, no car seats, 2 pack n plays, no cribs (at least none when I was there) lots of bath tubs...and some random TV's. It started to look like a yard sale when you got to the back end of it, which was highly entertaining to me of course...ha! I thought to myself, people are just trying to get rid of their shit...haha.

All in all, I was pretty impressed with this show/event. It was very organized but you could tell that it was not very regulated price wise..but it makes tons of money and then at the end items not sold (if specified) get donated to local non-profits that serve kids. Safe Harbor has actually received items from Switcharoos...therefore I am a fan.

Stuff Lauren Says

Where I work we depend on interns and volunteers to help us in the day to day operation of our entire organization. It is because of these fantastic, dedicated and selfless people that we get to do what we do each and every day. We make every effort to make them feel special, appreciated...what have you but sometimes it is important to really listen to what they have to say. Sooo...today was Hayley's last day as an intern...a sad day for me especially because I have grown very attached to her. She is spunky, funny, energetic, genuine and very true to herself. Qualities that I adore in people. We were talking this evening at work and she wanted me to do a blog on the stuff Lauren says. This is prompted by her asking me last week if I had any advice for her...OF COURSE I do!! So here it is, the stuff Lauren says.

-Read The Giving Tree: only one time per year. This book makes you appreciate sacrifice, it makes you appreciate the human condition and how it changes, and by reading it only one time per year you appreciate the message more that way.

-Watch TV or listen to the radio in another language: This will allow you to appreciate your ability to communicate with others and understand what someone who does not speak your language goes through every day just trying to understand what you are saying to them.

-Change your style: if you are like me wearing a dress is reserved for funerals, weddings, or only a few select times...wear a dress every once in a while...shock people...and if you are a bit more prissy...go without makeup, or wear a t-shirt...show people your ability to be different than your image...

-Do something that makes you uncomfortable: For me this would be calling a random person to ask them a random question. Believe it or not I am not too fond of talking to people I don't know...Challenge yourself..it is important.

-Look at old pictures: Not to make fun of the old clothes and hairstyles but to appreciate your journey. If you can look at pictures of yourself and remember a good time or even a bad one tell yourself you made it...because you did.

-Help a perfect stranger: help someone in need...like literally in your face, at that moment in need. Because you never know when you will find yourself in need of someone else to simply show you compassion.

-Write a hand written letter: write a letter to someone, anyone. Write a letter to yourself to open a year from then...write some goals for yourself, for others, make a plan and put it in an envelope..tuck it away and open it a year later. You will be surprised at how much is different...even your handwriting can change. You never know.

Be a good person: really? Yes really. Sometimes people need to be reminded that being a good person is important. Being a good person means you stand up for something. Being a good person means you love yourself and expect others not to love you, but respect you. Being respected means that you respect people.

-Give what you get: If something wonderful happens to you, make something wonderful happen to someone else. Share that feeling. Who wouldn't want to share their excitement with someone else?

-Quit Judging people: Only judge yourself because only you make your life what it is. Unless your judgement of someone drastically changes their situation and makes it better stick to the golden rule: Do unto others...

-Float: anywhere, somewhere. Be weightless. Feel your soul.

-Listen to music LOUD!: listen to your music loud, be lost in it. Music is powerful, listen to different kinds of music. Find the stories within the song...struggle, victory, love, hate, anger, sadness. All of these emotions are in music, help the music define your feeling.

-Love yourself: love who you are. You are what you are with no mistake. Embrace your life. Appreciate it. Because living is a privilege denied to many...appreciate it.

Hug a child: Make a kid feel special. You were a kid, someone made you feel special...give that feeling to someone else.

Lastly: Be a good example: you never know when someone is watching you. Be a good person all the time, not just when you are being watched. If you screw up...own it. If you rock it out..talk about it. Be proud of who you are. When you are proud of you, others know that it is okay to be proud of yourself.

There you have it. Be who you are. Love who you are. Love other people. But don't judge other people. Live your life big while you have it. And as always be a good example for someone else...and obviously keep reading this blog!

Closet, Kitchen and Beyond

Closet, Kitchen and Beyond...where is she going with this? Well since you asked I thought I would dive into the part of our lives we tend to be the most proud of and also put the most money into...our homes. You see our homes are our sanctuaries, our own spaces and a common place for entertaining. The common saying of, "Welcome to home ownership" often is referring to the fact that owning a home is work, it is money and it is an investment that unfortunately is not getting the bang for its buck like it used too. With the garbage economy in mind stop and think about how much money could be saved by avoiding going out by choosing to stay in. Similarly, think about how happy you would be with the thought of redecorating every single season without running slap out of money? What beautiful world that would be...your world can be beautiful too!

Home Decor: okay if any of you have been to Target in the last 6 months will notice that everything...everything in this store is cute and wonderful but it is also expensive. And for whatever reason Target claims up and down about how it is cheap and blah blah well guess what my definition of cheap and their definition of cheap are really really different. Here are a few ways to spruce up your house without emptying your wallet. The majority of what you are about to see in this post is done at my house. Because when we moved into this house we had just finished flipping it for 7 months..which means we were broke. I will start in the bedroom...(head out of the gutter please..thank you!)

Bed: Okay beds are EXPENSIVE...I mean have you seen how much beds cost? Headboards, footboards, frames, blah! All of that together is a pricy little get up that I am here to help you make it cheaper. If you have been to my house, which if you haven't its okay you're not missing much. But the husband and I inherited all of the furniture we have...we literally did not buy a single piece of furniture in this entire house. We also did not have a choice. So if you find yourself without a choice, here is an option. Plywood, old quilt, fabric and a staple gun. I know I know...huh? Instead of buying a fabric headboard make one. It literally is one of the easiest things I have ever done. In fact the head board I covered with fabric my freshman year of college is the same headboard that we have in our bedroom now. Indeed it has four layers of fabric, but it has yet to be replaced. And the best part about these headboards is the fact that when people do stop by to visit your house etc they will go absolutely nuts over these bad boys; and little do they know it can take you less than a half hour to make them.

Fabric Vs Sheets: Okay the pivotal question..which is better? Either or honestly. However there are some distinct differences between the two. Unless you are covering your headboard with a flannel christmas sheet you may run into the problem that they are thin and you can see through them. This can be problematic if you are covering that Mary Had A Little Lamb quilt from your childhood. However fabric tends to be thicker and more durable. If you use batting (which I do not recommend because it is expensive) you can cover a headboard with a white sheet at that point because batting is white. I would totally go for the use a quilt concept because you may already have one, but if you do not they are cheap at places like thrift stores...you see where this is going! Fabric can be bought at places like Tony's Fabric, Garden Ridge, Old Time Pottery..honestly the list is much longer than that but you get where I am going.

Now to the part you all will love the most..How do I get it cheap? Okay here is how. Remember a few posts ago about those people in your communities that have really nice stuff that they donate..well those same people also buy fabric but don't use all of it creating a remnant. Fabric comes on big rolls, and can cost anywhere from $5 a yard to $200 a yard...depending on how fancy it is. Remnants are usually in the back of the store on tables where you have to SIFT...you see how all of the previous information is coming into play at this point. Sometimes you will find 2.5 yards of this fabulous material but you need 4 yards..walk around, pick other fabrics up, dig for it...you will be surprised as to what you will find...either the other part of the remnant itself or something you like even more...Once it is determined to be a remnant it is marked down...major markdown. I covered both of my headboards in my guest room for $25, and that gave me almost 8 yards of fabric. The fabric that I used (pictured above) was originally $18 per yard...I need not do the math for you; it was a deal.

All in all if you want your house to be as perfect as you imagined you have to be creative. Do not reinvent the wheel, make the wheel work for it. Your money is hard earned and you deserve to have nice things, sometimes it takes you to make them nice instead on depending on someone else to do it for you. Make sure to look in the paper, pay attention to commercials...fabric stores will typically put the remnants on sale because they have too many. Once you open your eyes to the world around you there is nothing stopping you from making not only your closet fabulous, but your home as well. Every single part of my house has been a creative journey...literally every part. I will go into more detail in later posts but I thought I would give you something to think about. If you need more information about how to recover your headboards, or how to do it from scratch just post a comment, I will be happy to go into more detail.

I will leave you with this thought...In the words of a fantastic person, "Be kind to one another."

Let's talk about us, shall we?

I am well aware of the fact that we actually cannot make our entire wardrobe out of thrift stores. They just are not designed that way, and for better or worse sometimes we will find ourselves in stores, actual stores...with that in mind that is the theme of this post; Adult clothes, from the retailer. I realize I do speak about children's clothes often, and that is because typically those are the cheaper variety. The goal of this post will be to show you all of the ways you can get more bang for your buck and more contrast in your closet...without the conflict in your wallet.

Seasons: Ahhh, seasons. If you live in South Carolina you actually get to experience all of them. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall..However here in the dirty dirty we typically have a LONG summer...that turns into fummer. Our seasons remind me of painting with watercolors...they blend. Now let me be clear, if you are the type of person who would not be caught dead in last seasons clothes go ahead and read another blog. This one is for those folks who could literally and figuratively not give a damn. Having said that, let us dive into those retailers who despite their better efforts find themselves in January staring down the hem of a linen dress.

Dresses: If you know me at all you know that I do not sing the praises of the legless pieces of clothing, however I have many dresses that I keep for those special occasions. Occasions such as weddings, fundraisers, pictures, Clemson football games, funerals and meetings at work when it is better to look like you have some sense...Stores like JCPenney, Belk, Macy's and Dillards are usually the best place to get decent dresses for these types of occasions. They are modest (they also do carry a line of I want to look like a prostitute) if that is your style but all in all if you are looking for business casual or cocktail hour these stores are not what you think as older folk stores. Stores like JCPenney have awesome brands and really great styles that are very appropriate across the age spectrum. JCPenny, Belk, Dillards etc have dresses that range from $30 to $200 when they are in season, well those bad boys get marked..marked down come January and February. I have seen dresses in these stores start at like $175 and get marked down over and over again until someone walks out with it for $7. That is SEVEN DOLLARS. It is insane, honestly. 

Pants: Now to the style that I tend to be more partial to. Pants are wonderful because they are always on their A game if you need to pop that unexpected Indian style...But also because they can be dressy or casual. Places like Macy's, Dillards etc have really nice Chino style pants in many different colors, if you go around March-ish you will score big time. They will have Ralph Lauren Chino pants for $12 as opposed to $60. If that does not scream deal...you're not listening hard enough. They also have fantastic linen pants, which are a personal favorite of mine. A louder color on the bottom and a pattern shirt...cute..Don't argue. Reinventing your style season to season is fun, and if you are smart about it, can also be cheap.

Formal type get ups: Whether you are going to Prom, Formal, or that best friend that is having a 6 o'clock wedding; having a nice formal is something you need to keep on hand. And hey you never know, you may find yourself walking down the catwalk just because...rather be prepared. There are tons of formal dresses in these stores, they are relatively inexpensive too...if you catch them at the right time. However it never seems to fail, whenever you need your dress to be fancier than usual..nothing is on sale. So instead of putting the fate of your wallet to chance, why not swing by one of these stores at the end of each season, getting a formal type dress for that previous season. See look at ya, a prepared life is a happy life. This particular example dress struck me as LOUD and PROUD therefore I thought I would use it as my example. This may not be very appropriate for that 6 o'clock wedding at the Baptist church, however it would be completely appropriate for...just about everything else.

You see shopping at a thrift store will give you plenty of extra money for those ohhh so often trips to everywhere else...with your wallet less worn out you will have the ability to get things that you really wanted/needed and not have to think about eating Ramen noodles for an entire week to pay for your new dress. Just shop better, it really is that simple. If you walk in a store, go to the clearance area first, if you do not find anything there, then go to the non-marked down section. At least then you tried not to spend that much...give it the old college try.

How to get a good deal in general.

Thrift stores are not the only place to find deals. There are other ways or places to find deals, it just depends on how much you are willing to look for one. Here are just a few random examples of ways to get decent deals without spending time clipping coupons with your grandmother.

Target: I know. I too am not allowed to go here unsupervised..I tend to go a little...overboard. Lists are useless at Target, you do not stick to them. That is just the way it goes. At Target if the price is let's say, $4.44 on sale, it will not be marked down anymore. However if the price is $6.78 it will be marked down again. The key is to look for the price tag that ends in either a 4 or an 8...Simple. If it is something that you really want, go ahead and get it if it is on sale because who is to say the size you need will be there again...however, if you are like me and believe in chances..you've got a chance to get it lower than that...Just try it and see.

This post will be short. Said goodbye to my Bella girl today. Hard to think about thrift stores. Stay tuned I will be up and running soon. But until then, love your dogs, cats, pets in general. They are the greatest part of our lives, they are indeed our best friends. They chew up your shoes, pee in your house...but unlike people, pets love you more and more everyday. They welcome you with a wag, and leave you with a heavy heart. I love my babies, and I miss them when they leave; but I am better because they came along.

Just Do It...Everyone Else Is.

Just Do It. This slogan has been at the forefront of sports for decades here in the United States and Nike has a long lasting reputation for having quality products. From their shoes to their sports equipment; Nike is a lasting product.  My opinion only of course... t-shirts in general have transformed from something you only wear to the gym to that of some sort of a fashion movement. I know, some of you are like, "Of course Lauren would write a post about how we all need to wear t-shirts like she does." Actually no, there are very few people who can actually rock a t-shirt straight up, I am just really thankful to be one of those people. (I am kidding by the way). But if you have not noticed t-shirts, graphic tees can actually be dressed up instead of just being considered dressed down.

T-shirts are fun ways to express yourself, show your opinion, wear a sports bra...t-shirts are indeed part of fashion. A t-shirt alone may look like crap but what if you put a fun cardigan over it? Or maybe wore a blazer over it with a fun necklace? I am really, really never going to tell anyone how to dress but if you want to be what you want and that involves a t-shirt then the opinions of others need not matter, but if they do; dress it up if you need to. Ask anyone who knows me, t-shirts are a big part of my life. I like them because they are comfortable, fun, I can express myself with them...with or without everyone's approval. Sure there are those t-shirts you need to wear to bed, or only in the confides of your own home...the old SPRING BREAK 1999! You may want to leave that in your closet for painting. No matter which way you look at it, t-shirts can be a fun thing to find at thrift stores. The t-shirts you buy in a thrift store could be looked at as the ones that you liked when you saw it but would never pay full price for it to begin with...Serendipity...I think so!

I like Nike t-shirts because they are (made up word) statemented. By that they make a statement, duh. Here are a few examples of the Nike t-shirts I have found at Goodwill. The Just Do It tee to the right is still being sold online at Nike, for $30, I paid $2. A lot of people do not appreciate the material that Nike t-shirts are made out of. Their lack of appreciation makes me love them even more. PEOPLE SHRINK THEM! My favorite! My thoughts on this is that when the good lord made me he made me with the ability to fit into clothes other people shrink! I can wear a men's medium shrunk and a youth large not shrunk! I love the diversity. Yes, sorry to inform you that I can do that, but I am honest only because one of the t-shirts I found at Goodwill is very obvious to be a youth shirt you will see it in upper left. It says, "we came we saw we kicked butt." I have yet to wear this in public but I like the shirt, it entertains me.

You see t-shirts are not the only thing that you can find in thrift stores. Jogging pants, running shorts (also known as wear wherever you want shorts) and other various athletic clothing pieces can be found at thrift stores. If you are on a mission to reinvent yourself, turn over a new page, start a new habit..which are all ways of saying "I am going to start going to the gym." I would start your workout wardrobe at a thrift store. There is no sense in you going to Academy Sports and dropping a hot $150 on shorts, tees, compression shorts for your BIKE you do not own yet when you have not even decided that this is going to be an actual, long term life change. Baby steps people, baby steps. Smoking mirrors: if you want to fool people into thinking you are a marathon runner look around the thrift store...people donate the shirts they received at runs all the time...I have actually never purchased one, but there are tons of these in thrift stores. If you can't join them...look like you did. No one will ever know that you got your workout clothes at the Goodwill...after all do you really even care?

All in all if you want to only wear dress clothes every day that is good, I am sure when you walk into a room no one notices you...while when someone in a JUST DO IT shirt waltzes in people do tend to take a second glance. For whatever reason that last statement makes me sound like I only wear them for that reason. Let me clear that up, I wear them because I cannot stand other types of shirts, my body was not made for Old Navy Tees, mine was made for t-shirts. I just choose not to wear a plain colored one everyday...I like to throw in a KONY 2012 every once in a while, also found at the Goodwill.

There you have it, you should JUST DO IT...whether that is buy t-shirts, wear t-shirts, go to the gym...all are good choices. Just don't buy your sports bras there, yuck.

"it's nice to be important, but it is important to be nice!"

Why shop? Why Give?

Thrift stores are usually created because there is a unique need that a community, or the greater society needs to be filled. Places like Goodwill, The Salvation Army would be considered to be the more nationally recognized thrift stores, but here locally we have numerous stores that are here for the sole purpose of giving back directly in this community. While the Salvation Army and Goodwill do directly impact our community there are some other places that will be highlighted for being what they are and the difference their presence has made in the lives of people that are our neighbors here in the Upstate.

I will start with the one that I would have to be the most partial to. The Safe Harbor Resale Shop. Safe Harbor Inc serves victims of domestic violence and their children in four of the upstate counties (Anderson, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens). The Resale Shop is perfect for the population in which it serves because in the Safe Harbor shelters and other programs within the organization the majority of the time when a mother decides to leave with her children, clothing, shoes and other things we all think we "need" are left behind. As someone once said, "It is not what you take with you when you leave, it is who, things can be replaced or lived without; my children cannot be." Without the Resale Shop, without donations from the community places like Safe Harbor would not be able to make the difference that they make each and every day. Women's lives are literally saved because of perfect strangers. Children's lives are enriched, given purpose, changed and they are loved because of perfect strangers. I always think about it like this, who am I to think something like this, or something similar would never happen to me? Wouldn't I in my time of need want something like this to be there? Without donations nothing is sustained... Please donate. This store I would not say is a thrift store, it is a Resale Shop, where things that are donated are resold, not "thrifted". Some of the nicest things I have ever seen donated have come into this store, and people are willing to pay for them because they are nice and because the difference this place makes is obvious and the services it provides are necessary. I encourage you not only to donate your items to this wonderful place, but do some research on other ways you can help; go help, be something for someone you may never meet.

Miracle Hill Ministries: These bad boys are popping up everywhere. Miracle Hill Ministries helps local upstate families who are facing homelessness, addiction and other various ailments that challenge the human condition. Miracle Hill is a fantastic ministry that started from humble beginnings in downtown Greenville. As is true with many thrift stores or human service agency, your donation is more than a tax deduction, it is a direct investment in the lives of your neighbors, the people you share this community with. Miracle Hill has a children's home, housing children without families from birth until age 18, they assist in the Foster Care System, a boys shelter, addiction recovery programs, emergency shelter and many other services. Places like Miracle Hill believe in second chances, and all local organizations should be supported.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore: This is not about clothes. This store in particular sells home items...anything from bathtubs to boxes of nails the Habitat for Humanity ReStore sells it all. There are two locations in Greenville, one larger and one smaller but both full of good values. Habitat has been providing homes to families around the country for many many years, and by purchasing items from this store you are helping give someone a place to sleep at night.

Basically this post is important because I choose to shop at these stores because yes it is a bargain, why would I not go to where the bargain is? But isn't there something more to be learned from a place thats entire purpose is to better the lives of perfect strangers? In our world today we are losing that, we are losing the important things and they are being replaced with the things we can hold, touch and show off. Whether you are comfortable enough in your own skin to hand a person money on the street or send in a check to the United Way every year...thats giving. Or if you cannot seem to bring yourself to giving money, actual money to an organization that helps people you may never meet...could you at least donate something to somewhere? If handing over a bag of old jeans, t-shirts and jackets makes you sleep better than $15.00 then do it. Helping organizations accept everyone in need, who are they to turn away something donated that someone may need?..If you do not think writing a check every year is worthy that is understandable and you are not the only person to think that; then volunteer. If you do not have the time to volunteer; advocate. If you do not think you have the backbone to be an advocate; raise awareness. And if you cannot bring yourself to raise awareness; help someone in your lifetime, anyone. The purpose of life is living a life of purpose.

Check out this site to find out more information and how you can actually change the life of someone else. I promise, you will not leave the same person, you too will be changed. Never stop believing in the power of giving.

www.safeharborsc.org