MY THRIFTED OUTFIT garden edition

Now this is going to come as a huge surprise...but I am NOT a photogenic person. As a photographer by trade, I definitely belong on the opposite side of the camera. But that's a given. This months MY THRIFTED OUTFIT was inspired by a day of thrifting of course! And as always, everything seen was thrifted (even the table in the picture-but that's a different story)! 

 What I'm Wearing:

Top: Ambiance originally $15- I paid $3 at Discovery Shop Auburn

Jacket: Old Navy originally $45 -I paid $6 at Goodwill Roseville

Skirt: Fang originally $32-I paid $4 at Goodwill Roseville

Shoes: Miss Me originally $60-I paid $7 at Discovery Shop Auburn

Purse: (fake) Coach originally $40-I paid $.50 at a garage sale

Necklace: No name originally $10-I paid $2 at garage sale

Earrings: No name-I paid $1 at garage sale
Originally worth $202+, I paid $23.50!!!

Yes, you read that correctly-the Coach is fake and I only paid $.50! I get compliments everywhere on it, its big and spacious and a unique color! I find that sometimes its worth paying more for something if I find it worth it. Such as if its really comfortable, I've been looking for it for a long time, or I need it immediately etc. For example, the skirt and jacket were purchased for a photoshoot I was doing that day, turns out after the fact (and the failed photoshoot) I really liked the items and they stayed in my closet! The necklace you can't see, but its advertised as a bronze vintage jeweled owl necklace.

Remember to check out my thrifty clothes cleaning post to find out how to get your items in new condition again!

I take no credit for these glamorous photos! Taken by my mother, whom I'm currently teaching photography to! Cropped and edited by yours truly, and unfortunately that 15 year old looking kid is me (although I'm 24 not 15)!
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INSPIRATION [wild in white]

I'm a huge fan of white, especially in high gloss. A quick coat or two of high gloss white adds instant glam and sophistication to anything. Since animal figurines at always popular and easy to collect I decided to do a wild in white theme for this weeks Inspiration post!

WHEN PIGS FLY: Such a cute, whimsical touch to any room without being overbearing or juvenile. The white adds an adult spin to the fun nature of the statue! Depending on the size you choose, you could grab a ceramic piggy bank, or go smaller with a plastic figurine from your local craft store. Add wings from any craft section (feather, wood, metal or even try jewelry pieces)! Use super glue to attach, grab a dowel rod and wood block to finish it off. If you are using heavier pieces, drilling holes to attach the pig to the dowel to the wood will be necessary! The finishing touch is white paint to bring it all together!

BUNNY LOVE: Another cute touch to a room, subtle but a great accessory to complete it! Grab a couple bunnies in different sizes or stances and glue together in a loving position. If you use plastic figurines, a tacky glue or even superglue and hot glue will work. If you go with ceramic figurines, make sure you use an epoxy made for that! Finish it off with high gloss white spray paint!

ANIMAL NAPKIN RINGS: These are so cute for your next party, or for every day use! Grab a cardboard toilet paper roll (or paper towel) and wrap sculpey clay around it, be creative to create shapes that resemble animals like owls and snails! Abstract is fun, stay basic with your shapes to keep it easy! Slide the clay off the rolls to bake (follow the instructions on the package!)-when its cool, paint it-but be careful, use food-safe paint since your napkin (which touches your mouth!!) will be touching it!

RABBIT CANDLESTICK: There are a lot of ways to create something fun like this, if you want to use heavy duty pieces (ceramic and porcelain) then grab a drill and use a metal rod to create the structure. If you want something a little lighter, grab a heavy base animal figurine (to weigh it down), and use plastic kids tea cups to build up the candle stick. If you are not using a rod to create the structure I suggest piling straight up, rather than creating the fun shape shown here. To top it off, cut off the top of a candle stick holder (a cheap one from the thrift store) and spray paint. You can get fire-safe paint, for this project I would suggest it! Have fun with your piling, be creative and get some fun shapes!

Have you tried one of these projects or techniques? I'd love to see it! Send me a link or picture so I can feature it on my blog!

To find out information about the products used, please click the image to head to Polyvore!
•This may be posted to any of the link parties•

Wearable Runway | Fall 2012

Ever look at the seasons newest fashion trends and wonder what people are thinking? This Fall is no exception for me (and apparently others I have discussed it with)! But I see the positive side of it, and see how we can turn something Runway into something wearable (OFF) of it! Here are the Fall 2012 trends that stuck out to me:

Marc Jacobs introduced over-sized accessories, paired with large (fun??) hats and brought knitting back into the trend world.
Proenza Schouler made leather shiny.
Giambattista Valli gave the 'ok' to raid our Grandmothers closets for old-school floral's.
And Ralph Lauren brought texture back into wardrobes.
The overwhelming trend for this season appears to be burgundy, or as it has been deemed 'oxblood'. Jewel tones such as hunter green, and navy blue have also made a huge entrance this season.

The big question is, how do you make these trends wearable? Here are my suggestions:

Grandma's floral's: not quite ready to jump into her flower dress? Try easing into the trend with floral shoes or accessories! Boots are perfect because they can be carried into the Winter months!

Jewel Tones: Jewel tones are the perfect basics to build any outfit off of! Try a simple dress style or solid toned coat and build your wardrobe over it!
Textures: Grab a tweed pea coat, its the perfect way to compliment those jewel tone basics and bring texture into your wardrobe, plus its great for a day at the office, or a night on the town!
Hats: The trend this season is hats, big, bold and in your face. I can't believe this style will catch on, but smaller hats that compliment face shapes and outfits are always a classy accessory! Try a knitted beret to bring in both the handmade knitted style and the classy hats! 
Shiny Leather: If the shiny leather is pulling your fancy, but you're not brave enough to dive into the full head-to-toe outfits and coats, then try something smaller; belts and a classy clutch is a great way bring the look into your wardrobe!
Oversize Accessories: Big is in; over-sized coats, in-your-face pins, and scarves that swallow your head. Personally I'm not into the swallowed look, but you can get the same bold look by using extra-wide belts, thick scarves, and keeping your accessories minimal but bold!

So what's on your wishlist this season? Any trends that speak to you? What other trends did I not mention that you are going to jump on?
Here's my wishlist, make sure you share yours!

•This may be shared on any of the link parties page•
To learn more about the items pictured, click on any of the images to be brought to the Polyvore pages!

Blog Planner Topic List | FREE Printable

I could be alone, but when it comes to writing a blog-I have no shortage of topics. In fact my only shortage is time! If I had the time I would easily post 1-2 a day, 7 days a week. Maybe someday, and I'm certainly trying to get caught up to posting 3-4 days a week, so if anyone has some extra time they could give me, donations are always welcome! ;)

Anyway, since I always seem to be jotting down ideas and sketching out potential topics, I needed a way to keep those organized. So I created this simple Topic List Organizer to not only allow me to keep my topic ideas organized, but begin the brainstorming for it as well! 

First off, I write down the general idea (the topic), usually its a couple keywords that will inspire me later to do the brainstorming for it. In this example I used Blog Organizer. Under that I label the potential post title, sometimes changing it to the final title once the post has been published so that I can keep track of it. I also write down potential publish dates, followed by changes to the final publish date because I keep these topic lists forever, to refer back to what I may have already covered and when. In the description section I brainstorm exactly what I envision the post including, for example printables, in 3 different versions.

Ready to get your blog organized? Click the image to download your favorite topic list! And leave a comment with your favorite version! If you haven't already, make sure you download a blog calendar planner!

 Rules for the download: please, please, PLEASE make sure you subscribe to the blog by GFC, RSS, or bloglovin and share on Facebook or Pinterest to send your friends-Dear Wallet Printables are for followers only! Do not reproduce, or claim as your own, all rights belong to Dear Wallet and Ariana Neala. Thanks so much, see you next time!

 Paisley Pink

 

 Green Daisy

 Gray Monotone

**Backgrounds are freebies from Design House Digital**
•This may be shared on any of the link parties page•

INSPIRATION [shiny]

I may be alone in this, but I love all things shiny. Mirrors add instant glam to any room, and show off a saucy personality!

 
MIRROR: The great part about this project is not only how customizable it is to your personality, but how cheap it can be to create as well! Find something sturdy for your backing, this will depend entirely on what size your mirror is. You can find them in any size (and shape) at your local thrift store, and even some home improvement stores. A small circle can be found in your local dollar store as well. For a small one you can use foam board, stiff cardboard, and a larger heavier one use wood. Make sure your backing is bigger than the mirror (how big is up to you) find rhinestones, or mirrored pieces at your local craft store, and apply to the backing, around the mirror using tacky glue, or glass epoxy!

CANDLEHOLDER: This candle holder is so cute, so classy, and so cheap to make! Head to your dollar store, find a small circle mirror, and pick up a bag of rhinestones while you're there! Use your hot glue gun to attach around the mirror and add instant pizzaz!

JEWELRY BOX: Find a wooden box, and use the Look Glass Mirror-Like spray paint to create the look. Adorn the top with rhinestones using hot glue-and whola!

FRAME: A cheap boring frame can be instant glam-a-fied by using varying sizes and shapes of rhinestones. Use larger ones to create a unique shape in the corner, and use smaller ones to grow out away from it, filling up the rest of the frame space. If your pieces are large and are over 50% off the frame surface, use a piece of cardboard to make it sturdy from the back. I suggest using modpodge to apply the pieces into place!

Have you tried one of these projects or techniques? I'd love to see it! Send me a link or picture so I can feature it on my blog!

To find out information about the products used, please click the image to head to Polyvore!
•This may be posted to any of the link parties•

Shopping and Cleaning Guide for Thrifty Pet Toys

For those without kids, pets are the next best thing. My dog is certainly no exception, and when I head out thrifting (or G-saleing), looking for goodies for him comes as a no-brainer. 

So how does one go about finding these goodies? Creativity, and knowing what you're looking for. All pets are unique, so take their personality into consideration when shopping! 

Important factors to consider: 

Size (are they a big dog or a small kitten?)

Type (Pomeranian's are smaller and timider than a Pitbull!)

Temperature (Do they prefer hot or cold? Chihuahua's get cold easily!)

Playing Habits (Are they a Frisbee catching dog, or ball of yarn type of cat?)

For example: My dog is a chihuahua/terrier mix, which means he's 20 lbs of playing machine, with a fragile body that gets cold easily. He loves tug-of-war over any other game, loves clothes (especially sweaters-no I'm not joking!), and has a collection of collars because he is very proud of his necklaces! ;)

 I carry a paper in my wallet with his measurements, along with a tape measure in case I come across any cute clothes or collars in his size! 

Shopping List: Sweaters, collars, blankets, toys-especially ones with lots of limbs or ropes to hold onto for tug-of-war!

Things to keep in mind when shopping: Stay away from plastic buttons and eyes as they can be swallowed, same with bean filling, anything with a zipper, metal piece or battery operated can be dangerous! Stay away from items with cat nip (it may have been filled or mixed with something else, or used to give meds)-always buy cat nip fresh!

What to look for: Pet toys are the obvious answer, but keep in mind kids have small toys-especially the fast food toys- that are the perfect size and safety rules for pets! Rubber toys, things like rubber ducks and tires on toys are great for dogs with bigger jaws. Ropes and string can be turned into cheap and fun toys as well for both dogs and cats! Just keep your pets personality in mind when shopping to ensure you don't waste money on items they will ignore!

So now you've found the perfect toys (at the perfect price!)-now what?

Pet Toy Cleaning Guide

This is a general cleaning guide, good for most toys in fabric, rubber, or plastic. Adjust to what you have on hand, or your comfort level around bleach! Note: Bleach will eat material, some more than others-rubber toys especially so either wash quickly or skip. But it does kill everything so its great for cleaning!

Tools:

-Bleach (color safe)

-Dawn Dishsoap
-Baking Soda

-Tub/bath tub

-Something to stir with (I used a plastic hanger)

1. Fill a tub with scalding hot water (make sure the area is clean before you start)! Put a spoonful or more of baking soda into the water, stirring to mix. Drop in the toys to let them soak for 2-5 minutes. The baking soda is a deodorizer, if there are no evident smells, or you don't want to do this step then skip it!

2. Depending on how dirty the items are you can empty the tub and start fresh, or move onto this step. This time pour in a cap or so of Dawn dishsoap, using your fancy hanger to mix it up (I may or may not have created bubble hair do's on Betty Boop...;)) I usually leave the toys in the water until the water is about luke warm, anywhere from 5-10 minutes. It gives them a nice long soak to get clean as the soap is antibacterial, plus its great smelling! 

 3. If you aren't comfortable around bleach you can skip this, but it is a great safety precaution. I pour in a drop or two of bleach, mixing it up, making sure the toys are getting a good soak. If you're concerned with colors, you can use color safe as well. Personally I don't mind because its just a pet toy, it will be destroyed soon enough anyway! I wait another 2-5 minutes before emptying the tub. 

4. I squish the water out and rinse for a few minutes. You could certainly stop there, but if you are concerned about left over bleach, you could refill the tub, mix with a tiny amount of dishsoap again, and rewash+re-rinse the toys a last time. Squish the water out, and let dry!

I set the toys outside on a railing in the sun to dry, and my dog impatiently pranced around below the railing keeping guard until he could attack the toys! You have to love getting 5 new pet toys for less than a $1 total! Enjoy! Do you do thrifty pet shopping?
 •This may or may not be linked up to any of the link parties!•

TREASURE HUNT [the art of life]

Ah Treasure Hunting (also known as thrifting). Not only do the goodies you collect have a story behind their beautiful exterior-but the stories you create as you find them! My thrifting partner in crime is none other than my mother, who taught me all I know, and some of these goodies belong to her!

First up is this adorable beverage table. I'm totally in love with this find! I saw it at a yard sale and drooled extensively. But didn't get it because I had no cash on hand. Luckily my mom headed back up to the yard sale the next day to get the next item on this list, and was able to pick up this little baby for me! I've learned its from the 60s and 'pecan' style-anyone know anything else about it, or where to learn anything?

 

As promised is this little gem is next, a cute set of nesting tables also found at the same yard sale. One of the legs is broken, though an easy fix. Great sturdy set of tables with amazing potential! 

 

My next beauty is a candelabra, actually purchased a while ago and I kept promising photos, well I finally thought of it, so here it is. I had big plans for it upon purchase, but I'm not going to lie-I love it as is! There is a minor chip in the gunmetal paint, and one crystal missing, but I haven't been able to find a replacement, or new crystals I like better. Purchased for $7 at Goodwill in Auburn.

This great little candlestick features three monkeys doing "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" -another great find from the yard sale I spoke of earlier (I haven't even photographed half the loot we got there)! This was only $3.

This cute little bag was one of my recent finds, a cute Ikat makeup bag by Estee Lauder for only $1 at Goodwill in Auburn. I love me some Ikat and this I could not pass up (especially at the price). Don't worry, it gets well used!

Next up on our little treasure hunt is the cutest little burlap vanity seat. I love this little thing, unfortunately my mom snatched it up before I could. Found at Renew Boutique in Roseville, lucky for us they were in process of moving to a new location and were eager to sell everything, including the display items! Only $15, it was in perfect condition before my mothers cat got to it! ;)

Last up on our Treasure Hunt is this adorable asian style lantern made of cast iron (it is heavy)! This beauty came from the Discovery Shop in Auburn for only $4! 

This has made me realize that I haven't gone thrifting in much too long! Guess I'll have to remedy that this weekend! ;) So what's your favorite? Have you gone thrifting lately? Post links to your thrift hauls!

..and make sure you read up on how to clean your thrift goodies before you use them!

•Treasure Hunt may or may not be linked up to any of the link parties and THRIFT HAUL !•