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