The Best Thrift Shops in Tacoma, Washington

I've been shopping at thrift shops for decades. In a world of fast fashion and disposable trends, I love that there is a shift towards second hand. Not only is it great for the environment, it can also be a great way to save money too. Many of these shops are a fun treasure hunt for one-of-kind pieces while embracing sustainability and maybe getting a deal too! I love exploring the thrift shops in my area and thought this blog post from 2013 needed an update! We will also explore the differences between each of the different retail destinations from resale boutiques to consignment and vintage shops. I'll even share my local favorites. No gatekeeping here! Come along for the ride!

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Brands for Resale that Just Don't Sell

One of the most common questions people ask me is how I know what brands to buy to resell them. So to all you resellers purchasing clothing brands to try to resell, you may be shocked to find the ones that make this list! One of the best places to start is by figuring out what brands not to buy. This is why I put together this list of not only the brands to avoid but the reasons why I pass them up every time I see them. Here are six brands that have little to no resale value.

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Top 10 Reasons to Rent Clothing

My sisters were much older than I was, so imagine the fun I had in college when I joined a sorority and had access to all of my "sisters" clothing. One of our favorite clothing items we all seemed to share were these black flared pants we called our party pants. Those pants got worn by someone anytime we were going out! Several years ago, I traveled with one of the world's largest NGO's World Vision to Bangladesh where I got a glimpse into sweatshops and child labor. While I've always been into sustainable fashion {buying second-hand clothing has always been my favorite way to shop!}, I recently was introduced to clothing rental. We all know about Rent the Runway, but maybe you haven't heard about the clothing rental membership service Armoire that's minority woman-owned in Seattle and fits your everyday needs and style. I've got a few reasons why renting clothing and joining a personalized clothing rental service makes sense. Check it out!

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Three Little Things To Make with the Cricut Joy {Using Vinyl}

I was always the smallest in school. I had to stand in the front row for pictures and creep up on my tiptoes if I wanted to see anything in a crowd. I heard the phrase "small but mighty" quite often. It's the same phrase I've been using when I think about the new Cricut Joy. I'm no stranger to the cutting machine. I've had one for the past decade or so, but I'll be honest, I just don't have the room to store my machine. I keep my cutting machines in a box in the closet and have to lug them out when I'm ready to use them. While other machines are making bigger, I was excited to see that Cricut made a small machine called the Cricut Joy that can sit out on a counter and be ready for any project. The goal is to create personalized projects that can be created in just a few minutes because not everyone has a craft room to DIY and personalize things. I've got three small but mighty projects you can make with a Cricut Joy using vinyl and I promise you, you'll realize that practical everyday projects have never been easier to make! No craft room required!

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Fashion for Moms of Teen Daughters-We Might Need a Support Group

I just want to take a hot minute to talk about fashion for moms. Is that a thing? Can I even say those three words together? I know I spent the first decade of motherhood in comfy pants wearing shirts that could be hiked up easily for breastfeeding. When I really wanted to get fancy, I was looking at Rachel from Friends for all my fashion needs. So obviously, I'm about as fashion forward as I can get. Now that I have a teen daughter with a very vocal opinion things are getting interesting up in here.

If you've been reading along for a bit you will know that the majority of my clothes are from garage sales and thrift shops. It's pretty darn common that I will spend more on my cup of coffee from Starbucks than I will on the outfit that I'm wearing. So not that you have that visual on my wardrobe lets move on. Right now I'm struggling with the fashion that's out there. Downright struggling. I took my 15 year old daughter out to the mall and I was regretting every Goodwill clothing donation I had made the past two decades. Every single thing that I wore in high school is back and I'm not quite sure that's a good thing. My daughter specifically asked me to buy her mom jeans. And because of that, I'm going to stop right now and have a silent moment because I can't even.

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Third Time is a Charm: My 100% Honest Stitch Fix Review

See that tag line up there? It says, real people, real projects and real life. Earlier this week I had a real discussion on one of my social accounts. I'm not quite sure what it is, but some people get behind a computer screen and forget that there is a person there. The response I got when I told them to be kind was "I'm surprised you responded." Of course I did. I don't for a second take for granted that there is a face behind the number. I read every comment I get and do my best to respond to every single word that you write to me. I'm real. 
Which is why when I review a product or tell you I would totally buy or donate to something, I mean it. I wouldn't tell you about something that I didn't love. This time last year, I gave Stitch Fix a try. I wrote a 100% honest review. Heck, it was more than a review, it was a novella. I just went back and read it and was impressed at how thorough I was. Seriously, it's got everything in there from tips from my Stitch Fix obsessed friend to how the whole Stitch Fix process works. I'm not going to rehash it, so go read it. 

Last month I got an e-mail that was offering a chance to try Stitch Fix without paying the $20 styling fee. {Don't think I'm special, you can get the same deal with no styling fee too.} I really had nothing to lose so I thought I would give it a try. 
You see, after that first time I thought maybe I'd try it again. My feedback was certain to help guide my stylist in the proper direction right? Nope. I struck out again and decided I was done giving Stitch Fix a try. BUT, I love a good deal, and I could try Stitch Fix one last time without any strings attached, so I did. And I was pleasantly surprised. I even had some of you help me vote to decide what to keep. Why not see what I got and see what I decided to keep in what I'm calling my "third times a charm" Stitch Fix.

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Dresses With Pockets All Under $30!

Last month, I went to a blog conference in Orlando, Florida. It was so much fun and required me to dress up several days in a row. I'm so used to wearing my normal "uniform" of jeans and a sweatshirt, that breaking free of the usual outfit choices was kind of fun. Know what I found that I loved? Dresses with pockets. Growing up my dad always made the comment "well isn't that handier than a pocket in a shirt?" But now I think that the saying should be something like "handier than pockets in a dress," because, duh, they are amazing! I really think there should be a whole website committed to dresses with pockets {I'm claiming this idea and putting a copyright on it!} so until I launch that bad boy, try out some of my favorite finds from Amazon all of them are under $30!

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How to shop ThredUp like a pro and save thousands on a new wardrobe

How to Shop ThredUp like a Pro

I don't think most people would be able to tell, but I buy more than 90% of my clothes used. I love shopping and buying second hand and lately, if I'm searching for an item to add to my wardrobe {last week it was a military jacket}, I head to ThredUP first. If you don't know what ThredUP is, it's an on-line thrift store where you can buy nearly new clothing for next to nothing. There are thousands of items in stock and you are bound to find something that you love.
That is, if you can get past how overwhelming it all is to find what you are looking for. I've talked to a few friends about how much I love ThredUP and they say that they want to try it, but they get frustrated with how much selection there is. It's hard to narrow it all down and find what they really want. So, I created this post and am including a link code so that you can place your first $10 order and get $10 off making it FREE! I love free! 

Use this link to order and you can save $10 on your $10 purchase.

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Finding the best deals on second-hand clothing and household items

Garage sale season is nearly over and instead of scoring deals every weekend, you may be finding yourself wondering what you should be doing now to get the best deals on clothing, shoes and items for your home.   Our garage sale season usually runs from May-September, which leaves me longing for deals from October-April. I've got a list of the places I frequent to find the best deals on clothing, shoes and household items during those months when there isn't a garage sale in site.

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Graphic t-shirt using heat transfer vinyl

Graphic t-shirts are hot this summer!  You can find them everywhere, but why grab one at the store when you can make one? While I was at SNAP conference last month, I picked up some Expressions Vinyl. I have been digging these racer back t-shirts from Wal-Mart of all places {can't beat the $4.97 price tag!} and now I've been embellishing shirts til my hearts content. I love making custom t-shirts, and nothing is more custom than one you create on your own.  Heat transfer vinyl is so easy to use that you will be whipping shirts out like a pro in no time!

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Fill up your closet for next to nothing!

It's no secret that I love to save a buck!

I like to dress on trend but not break the bank.

I recently discovered a website called Sammy Dress.

I couldn't believe the prices!

Some of our local thrift shops are selling used clothes for more than the price of new fashion forward clothes on Sammy Dress.

Sammy Dress offered me my selection of one item and I must say, 

it was difficult to choose.

I finally settled on this abstract batwing cardigan

The price?

$13.36!

At first I was skeptical.

You get what you pay for right?

I thought it would be cheaply made.

I was shocked!

It looked great right out of the package!

O.k., so if I put it through the washer it will probably fall apart and fade.

Nope.

I actually washed the sweater and it still looks great.

Not a stray piece of yard unraveled!

I'm sold!

Seriously, go visit Sammydress.com right now and see what you can find.

There are even 266 {gorgeous} wedding dresses under $100.

I'm not kidding.

You need to go see for yourself!

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Garage Sale Finds Friday-a few things I've paid more for, but been happy I did Edition 49

Welcome to another week of garage sale finds Friday. Where I share a few of my favorite garage sale finds. This week, I want to share with you some of my name brand finds. Those finds that I paid more than garage sale prices, but WAY less than store prices. I haven't been able to suck up the cost of a North Face jacket yet, but it's sort of mandatory attire out here in the Pacific Northwest. So I was thrilled when I saw the same North Face jacket I had been eyeing at Nordstrom for only $15 at a garage sale. I wouldn't normally pay $15 for a jacket at a garage sale, but considering the price of the coat is  normally $130, and it was in perfect condition, I was happy with my purchase. Speaking of North Face, I also bought myself a new pair of North Face snow boots for $15. I wouldn't pay that much for my kids boots since their feet are still growing, but since mine are no longer growing, I sucked it up and paid it.  Again, getting a much better deal than retail, but a pricey garage sale buy. I do sometimes get deals on North Face at garage sales. I picked up a $75 kids jacket for $3 And a rain jacket for $1 I rarely see my most favorite brand of jeans {Hudson} at garage sales. When I do, they aren't in my size.   But this summer I scored. My favorite pair of jeans {retail price $198} were only $5 at a garage sale.   One of my lady friends who garage sale shops with me, picked up a pair of brand new in the box Hunter boots for $15.  I would have snatched them up, but they were the wrong size. The particular boot she picked up retails for $175! I just love garage sales! I think people think that you can't find good stuff at garage sales. This has definitely not been the case for me. What has been your favorite find?

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