Tag: style

Downtown Market Day

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Longview, txLeave a comment

Saturday was ETX Market Day. Hannah and I didn’t have anything going on so we decided to see what it was all about. The weather was perfect, breezy and cool. The market was crowded but not too crowded.

There were so many interesting booths selling everything from jerky to terrariums.

We each bought a necklace. Mine was a sun and moon with an obsidian stone.

I finally talked Hannah into letting me take a picture.

After we had walked through all of the tents we decided to just walk around downtown. We love our downtown area. There are so many cool new shops. We finally have a zero waste store.

One of our favorite places to take a little break.

There is a vintage store that we have always wanted to go to but it’s never been open when we’ve been downtown. Today it was.

The woman who owns it has been there for 36 years. She’s only open 4 hours a day which explains why we have never been able to shop there. She has some absolutely beautiful pieces, but here’s the weird thing, 98% of the items don’t have prices. She just told us that if we find something we like she’ll let us know how much it is. I would also like to note that the BIG difference between a thrift store and a vintage store is $$$$$. We did find several things that we liked. Hannah ended up with 2 chain belts and a hand crocheted shawl that is really pretty. I found a peasant skirt and a belt. I still like thrift stores better, but it was fun shopping here. I guess you pay for the experience.

I do love both pieces though.

Speaking of vintage, I wanted to wear a bracelet with my stones one. I had completely forgotten about my raw brass cuff. I got it on a Spanish class field trip to San Antonio when I was a junior in high school. I really like the way it works with the bracelet. I love shopping in my jewelry drawers. Saves a lot of money.

Summer Sandal Dilemma + Mini Thrift Haul

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Frugal LifeLeave a comment

I purchased a pair of the two strap dupe Birkenstocks 4 years ago from JC Penney. I think they were around $30. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the double strap sandals so that’s why I just picked these up on sale to give them a try. I ended up loving them and wearing them almost every day during the summer. Well, they were getting quite worn out. The sole had come out of the left one and they were cracking.

Obviously they weren’t genuine leather, but for being what they were they lasted a lot longer than I thought they would. It was time to replace them so I started looking online. I really like the White Mountain footbed sandals. I have a pair I got almost 3 years ago that are still going strong. The leather is thick and it took a while to break them in, but now they are so comfortable.

White Mountain does carry the double strap sandals, but since I was getting them to take on our trip and I was going to be walking quite a bit in them, I knew I probably wouldn’t have time to break them in. I did a little more scrolling and landed on the Birkenstocks. I had heard that they last 10+ years, so I bit the bullet and ordered them to be shipped to Journeys so I could just go pick them up.

They were cute. They were comfortable. They were, however, not genuine leather. I guess I just didn’t read the description as well as I should have when I was ordering them. Now, I’m not opposed to non leather shoes. It’s just when you pay $117 for sandals you expect them to be leather, not Birko Flor. (fancy way of saying vinyl) So I did a little research on the Birko Flor and this is what I found.

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So, I’m paying a whole lot more for these that are going to last the same amount of time as my cheapo ones from JCP. That didn’t sit well with me at all. I’m not a brand person and only chose the Birkenstocks because of how long they last, well, the leather ones anyway. I did a little more googling and saw that Kohl’s (one of my least favorite stores ever) had a pair that were leather and on sale. I drove to Kohl’s, tried them on and immediately said YES. So comfortable. Fit me better than the Birkenstocks. (I think they are narrower and just fit my food better)

No break in period and I was able to walk all around Galveston in them. I’ll say that’s a huge win. Plus, they were only $37! I love a good bargain. I was able to take the other ones back to Journeys to return them with no problem.

Yesterday Hannah was wanting to go to some thrift stores to find add some pieces to her wardrobe that would work for layering. While she found quite a bit, I only came home with 3 items.

I found this round mandala printed throw, table cloth, wall hanging, I guess it can be whatever you want it to be. I just have it here for now. I love it because my favorite colors are yellow and orange.

We needed another laundry basket because my second one cracked and it pinches me when I use it. I like using to because it just seems to get the laundry done faster. I wasn’t looking for one, but I saw this and since it was only $1.99 I grabbed it.

It looks brand new and feel sturdier than any I’ve seen at the store. I thought the label was different than any I’ve seen.

After a quick Google lens search, it turns out that it’s a vintage laundry basket that goes for a pretty penny on EBAY. Who knew.

Last, but not least, I found a orangey red top that I’m wearing today with my wide leg jeans. (yes, I washed it when I got home)

Comfort is the name of the game.

Swap Out

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn OrganizingLeave a comment

Today I swapped out my warm weather clothes for the colder ones. I hadn’t meant to do this task so early in the season, but Hannah needed a brown turtleneck which I thought I had (I donated it last season it turns out) and the weather has started cooling off quite a bit. It’s a chore I am not fond of doing because I share a very small closet with Donny. If you ever see a video of small NYC apartment closets you get the idea.

I decided to pare down my wardrobe quite a bit. I tried every single item on to make sure it fit well and I still liked it. I ended up with a trash bag full to donate. I’m always nosy about how people fit everything into a small space and what all goes into that said space. So here is my take on it.

These are my sweaters. I pared them down quite a bit.

I love jeans. I added some brown cords and my olive velvet pants. I think these will definitely get me through the winter months.

I love this denim jacket. I’m keeping my down coat in the storage bag until it gets a lot colder. There’s no need for it to take up precious space.

These are my cardigans and skirts. I love cardigans because they are the perfect layering item for our weird weather.

Purses and backpacks get hung on hooks I have installed around the closet.

These hang behind the clothes.

Keeping everything organized by color helps me find items quicker.

It took 3 hours, but I feel like I got a lot accomplished. I was sick of trying on clothes by the end but I really think that it helped me get rid of so much. I’m so happy that this is DONE.

Mr. Whiskers was not happy about having to move as I was backing up tonight. He has a wound on his hip that he has been coming to me so I can spray it with antimicrobial spray. I have tried to bring him into the house, but he will have nothing to do with that. He does love back scratches and head rubs though.