Friday, March 8, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thrift Store Shopping (BCBG Maxazria find! and youtube video link)
Hey everyone! Today I wanted to blog with you about the awesomeness of thrift shopping! When I was younger I used to be embarrassed to go into the thrift store for fear that my peers would see me and think "poor thing". Well, I started to grow up, developed a new taste for clothing, and realized I didn't really care what people thought of me! When I moved to Florida for a bit I started to work for my aunt and every time we would leave work she would shop at the thrift store for treasures! Then...turn around and sell them on amazon if she didn't want to keep them. Could you believe she makes $30,000 a year on just that alone? Yeah I couldn't either until I seen it with my own eyes! Anyway, I started to fall in love with thrift stores and accumulated lots of things along the way. I want to share with you some tips on shopping at a thrift store and how to score some unbelievable deals! Check out my YouTube video and see a bunch of my thrift store finds too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DemEvXixocg
Tips:
1. Stay away from undergarments (bras, underwear, etc.) unless it still has its original price tag on it. This rule can be modified but you really never know what can be lurking on undergarments so I tend to leave these at the shop and opt for new ones at the mall.
2. As soon as you bring your beautiful items home throw them in the wash. I have never had any problems with bringing clothing home from the thrift store but you can never be too careful. Throwing them in the wash can ensure that you can wear the clothing with confidence!
3. Don't put an item back down because of something petty that can be easily fixed. I usually find amazing blazers but they have HUGE shoulder pads on them. No prob! Once I take them home I cut the padding out (free!) and sometimes even add buttons (cheap!).
4. If you find a dress or skirt too long don't worry! Love that gorgeous pink silk skirt but think the length makes you look like a grandma?! No problem! For the price you're getting it for you can afford to take it to the tailor and get it re-hemmed! It will STILL be cheaper than buying it at its retail value.
5. Ask the cashier what kind of deals they have going on that day. Usually clothing will have colored tags on them and each color goes on sale at different times of the week. Try shopping based only on tags and see how much you save! Its amazing. I guarantee you will find clothing for $1. I did! :-)
6. Score some brand name deals! Some thrift stores may even separate high end picks from the average. Ask them where they placed them! You'll be amazed at what people bring there! I once found a pink and grey, silk, BCBG Maxazria dress from their runway collection...Ahem (I spent $20) can someone say SCORE? ;-)
7. Don't just stick to the clothing aisles! Look at different vases, picture frames, curtains, paintings, and even chandeliers they carry! I once heard this story of a man buying a beautiful art piece from the thrift store only to find that it was worth thousands! I've bought rugs, old doors and made them into headboards or dining room tables, and even electronics!
8. Speaking of electronics, don't be afraid to look in that section! I cannot tell you how many new keurigs my aunt has found that she later turned around and sold them on amazon for close to full price. Before buying an appliance ask if there is any way you could plug it in and test it out. They will most likely say yes. If it works then get it! Electronics are expensive why not pay a third (or less!) of the price if they work?
9. Be careful when buying shoes. Not to sound gross but you don't know whose toes (or fungus) has been in them! Always wipe the inside of the shoes down with an antibacterial wipe or spray! It never hurts to be safe first :-) I've found some great shoes at the thrift store so give it a try!
10. Have fun with it!!! Don't be afraid to try something new! AND, never be afraid of what others may think of you just because of where you bought your clothes. The most compliments I have received was on garments that I bought there! How come you may ask? Because they are always so different, so new, and so personal! I buy clothes from there and add touches to make them my own! You should too!
Below are some of my favorites I've acquired!
Red, My Michele brand office dress
Bright pink, 100% silk dress, tan belt
Vintage earrings and baby pink top
White blouse with navy detail, Skirt from a shop in europe
.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DemEvXixocg
Tips:
1. Stay away from undergarments (bras, underwear, etc.) unless it still has its original price tag on it. This rule can be modified but you really never know what can be lurking on undergarments so I tend to leave these at the shop and opt for new ones at the mall.
2. As soon as you bring your beautiful items home throw them in the wash. I have never had any problems with bringing clothing home from the thrift store but you can never be too careful. Throwing them in the wash can ensure that you can wear the clothing with confidence!
3. Don't put an item back down because of something petty that can be easily fixed. I usually find amazing blazers but they have HUGE shoulder pads on them. No prob! Once I take them home I cut the padding out (free!) and sometimes even add buttons (cheap!).
4. If you find a dress or skirt too long don't worry! Love that gorgeous pink silk skirt but think the length makes you look like a grandma?! No problem! For the price you're getting it for you can afford to take it to the tailor and get it re-hemmed! It will STILL be cheaper than buying it at its retail value.
5. Ask the cashier what kind of deals they have going on that day. Usually clothing will have colored tags on them and each color goes on sale at different times of the week. Try shopping based only on tags and see how much you save! Its amazing. I guarantee you will find clothing for $1. I did! :-)
6. Score some brand name deals! Some thrift stores may even separate high end picks from the average. Ask them where they placed them! You'll be amazed at what people bring there! I once found a pink and grey, silk, BCBG Maxazria dress from their runway collection...Ahem (I spent $20) can someone say SCORE? ;-)
7. Don't just stick to the clothing aisles! Look at different vases, picture frames, curtains, paintings, and even chandeliers they carry! I once heard this story of a man buying a beautiful art piece from the thrift store only to find that it was worth thousands! I've bought rugs, old doors and made them into headboards or dining room tables, and even electronics!
8. Speaking of electronics, don't be afraid to look in that section! I cannot tell you how many new keurigs my aunt has found that she later turned around and sold them on amazon for close to full price. Before buying an appliance ask if there is any way you could plug it in and test it out. They will most likely say yes. If it works then get it! Electronics are expensive why not pay a third (or less!) of the price if they work?
9. Be careful when buying shoes. Not to sound gross but you don't know whose toes (or fungus) has been in them! Always wipe the inside of the shoes down with an antibacterial wipe or spray! It never hurts to be safe first :-) I've found some great shoes at the thrift store so give it a try!
10. Have fun with it!!! Don't be afraid to try something new! AND, never be afraid of what others may think of you just because of where you bought your clothes. The most compliments I have received was on garments that I bought there! How come you may ask? Because they are always so different, so new, and so personal! I buy clothes from there and add touches to make them my own! You should too!
Below are some of my favorites I've acquired!
Red, My Michele brand office dress
Bright pink, 100% silk dress, tan belt
Vintage earrings and baby pink top
White blouse with navy detail, Skirt from a shop in europe
.jpg)
The dress above is a BCBG Maxazria runway collection dress, I got it for $20!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tomato Soup!
One of my absolute favorite soups is definitely the tomato soup! Tomatoes are so nutritious. They pack tons of vitamins, lycopene and so much more... its no wonder they taste so delicious! But not all soups are created equal! On a trip to the supermarket one day I decided to grab a can of tomato soup only to find that once I made it, it tasted more like hot ketchup than a solid meal. Naturally I came up with my own delicious and quick version of the homemade tomato soup!
Ingredients:
2 tsp olive oil
1 chopped onion
1 chopped celery
1 chopped carrot
3 small-med tomatoes (roasted in oven and peeled)
1 can of hunts diced tomatoes (oregano,basil,garlic flavor)
2 cups vegetable/chicken broth
1/2 cup of heavy cream
fresh basil (dried can be a substitute)
salt
pepper
croutons for garnish
shredded cheddar cheese for garnish
First and foremost cut the fresh tomatoes in half and place in a toaster oven (or convectional) at 450 for 20 minutes. In a medium pot add the onion, celery, carrot, and olive oil over medium to high heat. Saute for about a minute or until the onion starts to look transparent. Next, add in the can of tomatoes as well as your freshly roasted tomatoes. Stir ingredients together and wait until the mixture simmers. Once it is nice and bubbly add in 2 cups of vegetable or chicken broth plus 1/2 cup of heavy cream, salt, pepper, and basil. Bring to a rolling boil (this should be about 10 minutes). Once it is boiling place the soup into a blender and blend until you have reached a smooth consistency. Garnish with croutons, cheddar cheese, and basil. Enjoy!
P.S I also made a video of this I will be uploading it soon! Just follow along and cook with me! <3
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