Someting Old, Something New

I know I've been MIA lately but that was because I have been busy preparing for today's post. Do you see that tab up top that says Own It? Well it now has a purpose. The Foxy Thrifter has an Etsy shop! You can now purchase items that I have thrifted! 

The Own It page shows you what is available and the Etsy shop is where you will go to make your purchase. All prices are a flat rate with shipping within the United States included!

 

The first items waiting for you to give them a new, loving home are vintage and novelty t-shirts. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

{Yes, that is Chuck Norris!}

 

I will be adding various items as such as home décor, accessories, shoes, and other clothing items as time goes on. Be sure to check the Own It page and the Etsy shop often to see what's new!

Why Yes, We Are Models!

Happy President's Day! I spent my last federal holiday off until May (*tear*) at Goodwill... where else would I have spent it? Certainly not at work! I had plans to meet the BFF, Tiff, and our friend, Cole, for some retail therapy. And since Goodwill was having a 50% off store wide sale there really was no other place we needed to be.

Tiff arrived to the first location shortly before 9am and told me via text that there was already a line at the door. Being the good friend she is, she snapped this picture of the madness.

{Strangers impatiently waiting for the doors to open.}

 

We ended up going to two locations and looked through just about every section in both stores. Enjoy these photos of some of the gems we discovered.

{Wide Load.} 

 

{Yes! I have been searching for a new Nokia phone case since 1998.}

 

{Angel or Anger? *shrugs* Who knows?}

 

{A buggy full 'o goodies. How sweet is that lime green basket Tiff scored?}

 

{Our modeling debut of the day. And how great are these mirrors?!}

 

Check out the great deals I got today:

{Poisonous ceramic planter: $2.37}

 

{Wire candle holders: $1 each}

 

{Milk glass pieces: 50¢ each}

 

{Ed Cota framed print: $2.87}

 

{Lighting fixture- to be painted: $3.62}

 

{3 pack of canvases: 50¢  Notebook: 37¢  2 pairs of socks: 62¢ 

Pack of napkins: 37¢  Belt: 50¢}

 

{Banana Republic sweater: $2.62}

 

{Ralph Lauren button up: $2.12}

 

{Silver plated wire baskets (like the one I bought from Value Village 2 weeks ago): $1.12 each}

 

 {Selfie}

Total spent at both Goodwill locations today including rounding up the change: $22

Slim Pickin'

Meh...

That's about all I've got today. There hasn't been too much going on around the homestead the past few days. I had been keeping my distance from Goodwill for almost 2 weeks because as most of you thrifters know, it still costs money to thrift even though it's all cheap! And my wallet needed a major break from shopping. So today's mini haul really doesn't deserve to be called a haul. Maybe Slim Pickin' is more appropriate?

 

A few days ago I stopped by Wal-Mart to pick up some candles. Now, I just can't justify spending ridiculous amounts of money on something you're just going to burn away anyways, so Wal-Mart candles are A-OK in my book. Sadly, they are discontinuing my favorite scent which is Lime Cilantro. It smells soooooo good and it breaks my heart that they will no longer sell them. So it goes without saying that it was a bittersweet moment to have bought two 3 wick pillar candles for $5 each.

 

I really needed a set of candle plates to go with the candles, so obviously I went to Goodwill to find them. Lucky for me I found a pair.

{$1.50 for the set.}

 

 

 

I also found a few other items as I browsed around.

 

{Handmade pottery mug: 75¢}
 

{Necklaces: $3.75 each}

 

 

Hopefully you have had something more exciting going on your way. I'd love to hear all about it! Please, share your stories, jokes, messages, thrifty ways, etc. down below in the comments.

 



Sophisticated Stripes

I have been introduced to #StyleMeFeb on Instagram thanks to my pal, @SteffWatts. She tagged this photo of me from yesterday since my dress met the day 5 challenge: A Darling Dress.

 

Basically it's both a photo challenge and a style challenge all wrapped up into one. Everyday has a set theme and from there you build your outfit. Here's the challenge for the February 2014.

 

Let me go ahead and put this out there now: I am not committing to daily participation, but I will try my best to complete as many as possible!



 

Here is my take on the challenge for Day 6: Sophisticated Stripes

 

Orange Merona cardigan: $4.75

Sheer striped shirt: $4.75

Black pants: $2.12

Heels: $5.75

Earrings: $1

Watch: gifted

Ring: already owned

 

Outfit total: $18.37

 

Have any of you ever participated in an Instagram challenge before? How did you do? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

Do You Believe In Magic?

Welcome, class! Today's post is all about the Art of Illusion: How to use what you've got to look as slim and fabulous as possible.
Let's begin.

Take this outfit for instance. Not a terrible outfit. In fact, I have worn it just like this on an occasion or two.

 

But there's so much more we can do with it. Let's try adding a belt. See how this instantly draws the waist in creating a more flattering silhouette?

 

 

But we can take it a step further. Let's remove the belt and throw on a cardigan instead. This is still a very flattering look thanks to the cardigan being open.

 

Seriously, there's more opportunity to look our best! After all, we aren't amateurs. So why don't we keep the cardigan and add that belt back?

 

 

 

Voilà! Slimming and fabulous all at once!

 

 

Don't be afraid to experiment. Fashion is all about taking chances -but really it's about finding out what works best for you and your body type, in my opinion. As a plus size gal, I have struggled with body image my whole life. But there came a point where I had enough! About a year ago I decided to embrace my curves and stop hiding them under oversized, ill-fitting clothes. And to tell you the truth, I have never been happier with myself.

 

So I hope this post helps someone, anyone. Rather it be with loving your curves, or just learning that it's alright to through a pink cardigan over a brown-red-tan-cream-gold-gray colored dress.

 

 

Anne Taylor Loft cardigan: $5.25

Multi-Colored dress: $6.75

Belt: free (with pants I bought a long time ago)

Earrings: $1

Boots: already owned

 

Outfit total: $13

The Circle of Life

As you may have noticed by now, I have a deep love obsession with bargain shopping, thrifting in particular. And as much as I enjoy plundering through everything to find the treasures I'll end up taking home, I am fully aware that they don't just magically show up. The thrifting business is one that takes lots of organization and discipline.

 

Let's use this dress for an example.

 

There are many people involved behind the scenes to help this dress make it's way to the sales floor. First up is the person donating it. After the donation is received by the thrift store, it probably goes through the hands of at least three different employees- one who inspects it/prices it, one who slaps a hanger on it, and one who brings it out- all before I sort through the dresses to find this gem. If you've been keeping score at home, that is now FIVE people that have had a hand in my purchase.

 

Have you ever really thought about it before? It's quite amazing how well this system works. I am interested in having a better understanding of the ins and outs of the thrift industry. I happen to know three of my local Goodwill store managers pretty well so I am hoping they will agree to an interview later this month.

I'll keep you posted.

 

In the meantime, remember that the giving is as important as the getting. Make sure that you are giving any gently used items a chance to find a new happy home in someone else's closet/house/life. Your donations are typically tax deductible too :)

 

 

 

{These are on their way to Goodwill!}

Music and Lyrics

For some strange reason the song 'Afternoon Delight' is stuck in my head. But instead of the cheesy, yet oh so lovely lyrics by The Starland Vocal Band, I have changed them to my own:

♪ ♪ Gonna find my bargains, gonna hold them tight

gonna grab some thrift store delight ♪ ♪

I'm not really sure why. And it really has nothing to do with this particular post.
On another note, for those of you who have pets... Do your pets ever give you the stink eye when they are laying on you but you need to move because you are uncomfortable yet your moving clearly is a bother to them and their comfort level? Yeah. That just happened to me as I am writing this post.
Anywho.

Here are the great items I found on my recent Goodwill trip Friday evening.
 I hope you enjoy!

 {Fairly new black satin peep toe pumps: $5.75}

 {Small Express purse: $4.25}

{Yellow bead necklace: $2.25}

 {Silver earrings: 75¢}

 {Watch- in need of a new battery: $6.25}

{Owl ring; $2.25}

 {Cute polka dot button up: $4.25}

{Various shirts for myself and others: $1 each}

The Three Musketeers

Me and the BFF met up at Goodwill yesterday for a little shopping. She's quite the thrifty gal herself. She recently found a huge gorgeous, numbered art print for $25. I can't wait to see it displayed in her new home.

Here's a little bit of our adventure together.

 {The BFF digging through the art section.}

 {She picked up this great lighting fixture for $10 that she will transform with her magic.}

 



{Even though we loved this "Ms. Frizzle" inspired dress, it was too small so we passed on it.}

 

I did end up buying a few things for myself:

{Exhilaration skirt- $4.25}

 

{Exhilaration dress [the close-up is the true color]- $6.25}

 

{Jessica Simpson flats- $5.75}

 

 

Next, we rolled down to Big Lots where The Mister met us (The BFF + The Mister = lovebirds). Everything in the store was 20% off with their rewards card. We only bought a couple of small items but mostly just browsed around the store laughing and raising a ruckus.

 {We're the 3 best friends that anyone could have!}

 

{These cute, miniature pots and pans were only $1. Might be cute for decorating with?}

{Fun mugs.}

 {I really loved these light pink glasses. A set of six for $9. Also available in purple and blue.}

 



 {Pretty votives.}

 



 {Cute plastic outdoor lanterns for summertime.}

 

 {Knock-off Girl Scout cookies. They were only $1.40. I bought a box and they are legit! And I don't even feel bad about it. #SorryNotSorry}

Did you happen to go out thrifting this weekend? I would love to hear all about it! Comment below and let me know.