Showing posts with label saving money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saving money. Show all posts

pj party

19.1.13

•• these are not my photos 

I have the flu, and all I can think about is crawling back into bed, every waking minute. But, with two sick teens, and a puppy that we're puppy sitting....pjs and bed are last thing (literally) that I get to do each day. Here are some bargain pjs for kids from Hanna Andersson for $38. The price may not seem like a bargain, but the price per wear, and the hand me down factor from sibling to sibling make them worth every cent. Buy them big and wear, wear, wear!

Then from Uniqlo, a lounge wear set....can't all it sleep wear, but at a super reasonable price of $14.90, this genderless cozy is worth the money! More Uniqlo loungewear pictured too. 

Go buy something comfy, while I slide back under the covers...........adieu!





ahoy matey....my first guest blogger post

16.1.13

Swagger on over to ThredUp to view my first guest blogger post, a little style for a steal!
http://blog.thredup.com


an out take from the shoot that inspired the post


Sx2....or sandals and socks

9.1.13

•• these are not my images

I love quirky, and I just put together a guest blog post for ThredUp, which will be out next week. But, the post got me thinking about spring. I love when people buck tradition, or uphold old tradition. Way back when, kids would wear sandals and socks. I know it looks questionable on grown ups, except on JCrew models! 

I stumbled across this image, and it made me think of Salt Water Sandals and some bright little socks. 

a little anklet sandal combo

a little salt water love

Salt Water Sandals are a BARGAIN, considering they can survive through one child after the next, can get wet, and still look great, come in a Skittles packet of colors, and come in adult sizes! But more to follow on that theme. 

Then think about socks! Well I love a site called We Love Colors. They also have just about every color one could imagine for tights, socks, you name it, and they are all so reasonable priced!


a little fuschia love for $31.95 at www.mysaltwatersandals.com


bright anklet socks $3 at www.welovecolors.com



red light special....digging deep in the trench

8.1.13

•• these are not my images

Look what I found! #1 a collage-a-trench....couldn't have done it better myself.



#2 Classic and less than a meal of a california roll and a green tea, plus tax!


www.target.com classic blue trench by french toast for a whopping $15.99


back in black....and when is a legging a pant?

19.12.12

•• these are not my images

OK, ok a legging is a legging on a girl, unless you're a baby, and a legging is considered "stretchy pants." I was pondering, the whole where does one find super cool, actually just super simple black stretchy pants, onesies, or simple t-shirts for the itty bitty set. Here you go!



fancy feet....a little DIY

18.12.12

Easiest DIY ever! My girls wanted tennis shoes that looked like brogues and saddle shoes. So, off we went to Payless for some plain white tennis, super simple. Stop number two, was the fabric/ craft store for 3 fabric markers; light grey, medium grey, and black. Use a pencil to sketch out the design, and voila some nifty, thrifty shoes!


load up a pair of brogues from the internet, to help you with your design.


super cute and super thrifty!!!


give back....it feels good

17.12.12

With the holidays either upon us, or getting ready to hit (sounds like a storm watch....which it kind of is), take a few minutes to up-cycle, and weed through your children's toys and clothes. Donation sites and centers vary from city to city, but you can google your city and find a place that will take your gently used items and put them to good use. Start with those who need things most, and can't afford bargain prices....shelters. There are women's and children's shelters around the country, and they need kids clothes and toys. Try your local church/ temple or place of worship. Turn uniform pieces back into your child's school uniform recycling program. After the purge, be mindful about what you replace your items with.

Spread a little love, warmth, and joy.


sisters emily and hannah....always lend a hand when you can.



fab find friday....numero uni!

14.12.12

•• these are not my images

Japanese clothes are awesome, since they embody form and function, they are utilitarian chic. Finally an amazing Japanese retailer for all came stateside, but only on the east coast side (or San Fran). The rest of us, are left to online shopping. I'm talking about numero uni, as in Uniqlo. Their children's clothes are just that....children's clothes. Not necessarily boy or girls, but boys and girls. They have an amazing pair of pants that would be spiffy on both genders, for a whopping $14.90! You could pair it with a Uniqlo girls sweater vest, meow for $14.90, with your own plain long sleeve T, or a gender neutral cozy flannel shirt for $14.90. Check out Uniqlo for yourself too....you'll be happy you did!


oh to be a child again, and rock the kitty cat sweater vest! all pieces $14.90 at www.uniqlo.com/us

11.12.12

With a collection of basics and neutrals, at arms reach, it’s easy to add pops of color for an outfit that is classic, but modern, and totally international. For tweens, you may find that other kids begin asking where your kids shop, and where they’ve gotten certain items. Originality, in a classic way, can cause quite the stir in middle school. And kids want to look a little more sophisticated than they are. The majority of the girls in schools will go for classic, european, over cheap and trashy any day. Even in 6th grade, a lot kids are following some fashion someone on Tumblr, reading Teen Vogue, or blogging. Stand back and watch the creative sparks fly!


so this was a first day of school photo of one of my girls, notice the detached look in my daughter's eyes! I was completely annoying her. she took some major chances with her pattern play in 8th grade, and the look totally works. the shirt was from a local thrift store, the skirt was jcp, the flats payless.

is this real life?....thrifting virtually

10.12.12

•• these are not my images, but are my collages

My local Salvation Army is pretty incredible, actually it's beyond awesome. But, not everyone lives near a grade "A" second hand place. So, I did a little leg/ finger work and found a few great resources online. One that I stumbled across, Thred Up, had such a great selection of very gently used pieces. You can sort by gender, size, color, brand, you name it! I put together a holiday look for boys and girls, add some undies and socks and you're good to go. Each ensemble, including shoes was right around $50. I hope I see some 6 year old fashion blogger out there wearing the jumper/ fuzzy coat/ pink clog look, and maybe some hipster dude will be looking awesome in his monochromatic/ fire flame tennis shoe ensemble.



all pieces were rounded up to the nearest dollar, and clothing, minus shoes are size 6 kids. take a look at www.thredup.com!

fab find friday

7.12.12

So this little number below is one super duper, multi-tasker. Not only is it an awesome color, and super classic, it has a funky side too. It's easy on the eyes and the wallet. I found this little beauty for a whopping $2.75 at the local thrift store. I loved the color, the moment I saw it, and I was inspired, because with just the right pieces, it would't look like a uniform at all.


So, I dressed my little friend J-Rae in it, and she looks so hip and way too cool for school. What do you think?




j. rae in her own striped/ sparkly shirt and her own funky jeggings with the school sweater. she also has her own silver converse on too.



thrifting....101


Thrift shopping is the basis for my styling with kids. Most kids items in thrift stores max out at $2.98, and half of the time, it’s buy one, get one free. So, buying second hand is economical, and I think, really fun! Some people think, that the only people who shop in the Salvation Army, have to shop there. But, I can assure you that there are stylists, prop stylists, vintage resale shops, and total fashionistas there as well. It's like digging for buried treasure!

Second hand stores can have enormously long rows of racks, and it can get a dizzying. I’ve found that the "good" items, really do stand out from the crowd. High quality fabrics tend to draw my eye, as do more neutral colors. My girls handed down all the trendy, sparkly, very pink items, and that’s the majority of what I see in the second hand shops. But, high quality sweaters, cashmere, wool, and cotton seem to be begging to go home with someone. Also, grey’s, blacks, and pale beautiful pastels almost have arrows pointing down from the ceiling at them. Many times, I see a great pale pink shirt, and pick it up to find a very expensive European label. I’ve also found plain, never worn, basic Petite Bateau shirts in grey, navy, and white on the racks. Not to mention, occasionally, I score a one of a kind, hand sewn by some incredible seamstress article, and inside my head all I hear is "OMG did I really just find that here"!




zoe showing off her skills in a thrifted tunic and shorts from salvation army , and huarache sandals from olvera st. in downtown los angeles. the hula hoop and white duct tape cost more than the enitre outfit.

uniform policy....just not like everyone else

5.12.12

•• these are not my off figure images, but collages are mine.

So, here are a few little ensembles that start with a pretty basic uniform piece. I love a bargain, and a classic (I'm sure that you couldn't tell), but these outfits rock! Prep school-school of rock, it's all the same!



and it all started with a basic white peter pan collar uniform shirt.


don't want to spend major $$ on a basic grey crew neck sweatshirt? buy one from a school uniform supplier.


this outfits uses a varsity sweater as it's base, and some awesome school shoes, and of course kitty cat ears, meow. my youngest wore her cat ears for years, and they do add a little somethin, somethin to an outfit.

awesome uniform shops online: www.flynnohara.com, schooluniforms.com

p.s. uniforms are made to fit high schoolers, which means that they fit you too!







uniforms....101


Uniform supply stores and websites are an underutilized resource for most parents. It’s also amazing at how many uniform pieces are recycled back into thrift stores. Whether you're private or public, school that is, there is something for everyone.

Shirts that don’t wrinkle, with sturdy collars are a great foundation for any outfit. There is a uniform supplier on the east coast that offers a varsity sweater cardigan, with two stripes on the arm, with the addition of a few patches, it looks just like a RL sweater. Also, I’ve found gym tunics and peter pan collar dresses for girls, as well as grey shorts and classic pants for boys.

Uniforms are made to endure daily use and washings, and are such a good buy!


pretty and basic....white peter pan collared shirt, grey pleated skirt and a men's tie as a belt.


vintage....101

4.12.12


Vintage finds at thrift stores and flea markets are a great way to enhance a child’s wardrobe. Vintage now includes the 60’s and 70’s when some kids clothes were indestructible, and the cuts were more true to size. The shorts and pants are not low rise, but they have a great classic fit without loads of pleating. I’ve found vintage dresses that look like Missoni and Gucci from the 60’s. I’ve also been able discover really basic navy wool capes (which you see frequently in my personal work), and gorgeous wool jackets, that look very much Burberry kids line. 

Many designers buy vintage pieces as their inspiration for the lines now. But, it is great fun when you pay $5 for something that would retail for 20 times that! You do want to make sure that the vintage pieces work with the edit in your closet, and they’re just not an impulse buy for the “aaah” factor. If the item is the right fit, and your child will wear it, and the colors work, and it’s in good condition, buy it! 


a sweet little thing, in a few sweet little things. vintage 70's buckle shoes (my ex. wore these on his parents wedding day and his mom kept them), vintage wool cape from a local kids resale shop, www.kidstockla.com/, it was a steal....no one wanted it!

In the beginning....the last part, whew!

29.11.12


This is my guide of what to look for and where, what to edit, and what to wear. Feel good about what you buy, whether sticking to a budget is a crucial, or your just want to be be mindful of not wasting what is already out there, and already produced. You’ll be able to be your child’s own personal stylist, or you'll be providing them with a quiver of clothes where they can style themselves in awesome fashion! Now, let's get cracking!


a thrift ensemble, minus the shoes and laces from Payless. toddler dress worn as a tunic, toddler leggings, super cute jacket, all paired with some awesome new kicks.