Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

Mom-Friendly Bathing Suits

by Katie Haller

It’s the one thing about summer that we all dread…. bathing suit shopping.  I’ve always loved bathing suits, but I never enjoyed shopping for them.  You just never know how it’s going to fit and how you will feel while wearing a bathing suit.  I don’t really think it matters what your size is, you never know how you’re going to feel while wearing a bathing suit. 

*This post is part of a collaboration with PinkBlush.  I was gifted this bathing suit, but as always all opinions are 100% my own. 

When I became a mom, I knew that my bathing suit style was going to change.  I’ve worn bikini’s since I was 13, but after having a baby, a two-piece just doesn’t feel the same anymore.  After having a baby and also having a c-section, I just feel more comfortable when my belly is covered.  That’s why lately I’ve been shopping for one-piece bathing suits.  One-pieces aren’t just nice for having extra coverage, they are also more practical for swimming in.  If you are a mom of young children like me, you know that your pool and beach days are not as relaxing as the days of your 20’s.  Last summer, Jack had no fear of the water, so my pool days were spent holding him, making sure he didn’t jump in the water without me.  This summer he’s just as busy.  I need a suit that I can play in and swim in without worrying about being exposed to.  But I also don’t want to look like a granny, if you know what I mean.  I still want to feel youthful.

When I first learned that PinkBlush carried swimwear, I knew they would have the perfect mom suit for me.  I ended up picking out this red woven knot back one-piece bathing suit.  I’m always super nervous when I order a suit online, but just like everything else from PinkBlush, this suit did not disappoint.  It fits very true to size (I’m wearing a small).  I absolutely love the cut on this suit.  The front is low cut and shows just the right amount of skin.  It’s perfect for all you nursing mamas out there looking for a good nursing friendly suit.  The back of this bathing suit has a really cute woven knot.  I love that I don’t have to worry about ties with this suit because they are always coming undone for me.  I also love this color.  I wasn’t sure at first how I felt about the red, but I went for it anyway and I’m so glad I did.  I love the red!  It’s so classic and fun.  I know it will be perfect for the 4th of July.  With the quality of this suit, I know it will last me a lot of summers to come.  This suit is only $36 and it also comes in blue.  Plus PinkBlush currently has 25% off and they always have free shipping.  You really can’t beat that!

PinkBlush

To make sure that this bathing suit passed the test of mom-friendly, we went to one of the resort pools here in Vegas for the afternoon and I wore my new red suit.  It definitely passed the test.  I didn’t have any problems with it sliding down or coming off.  Even when Jack used me to crawl up because he was too afraid to touch the floor, my bathing suit stayed in place.  I felt comfortable and confident while wearing this suit and I think that’s very important for us moms to feel that way.  By the way, excuse my cranky toddler’s face in these photos.  He doesn’t always enjoy stopping what he’s doing to take pictures with his mama.  

PinkBlush

Making the Most of your Wardrobe- 4 Ways to Wear a Stripe Skirt

by Katie Haller

This summer I’m all about skirts.  They are so light and easy to throw on during the summer.  I’ve been wearing my skirts to work a lot because they are a great alternative to pants.  Last month I found this Ann Taylor striped skirt from ThredUP.  As soon as I tried it on, I knew I wanted to do a post on it to show how versatile a striped skirt can be.  I wear stripes all the time because they go with everything.  This skirt does just that.  It has an elastic waist, which makes it nice and comfy and also allows me to wear it in more casual ways than a skirt with a button or zipper.  Today I wanted to share 4 different ways to wear this classic striped skirt.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means by clicking and/or making a purchase through a link, I will earn a commission.  Thank you for your support!

 Look #1
This has to be my favorite look.  I added a bright pink tank top and wore my strappy heel sandals.
Shop Similar Options
Top/Skirt/Shoes/Purse/Necklace

 Look #2
I wear a denim jacket with almost anything.  It’s my favorite way to layer.  With this look, I kept the colors simple and neutral.
Shop similar options
Top/Jacket/Skirt/Shoes/Purse

 Look #3
Chambray is always a win.  Here I wore my chambray shirt with some flat sandals.  To add some color, I wore my coral purse.
Shop similar options
Top/Skirt/Shoes/ Purse

Look #4
If I’m going to mix patterns, it’s usually stripes and leopard.  I just love this combo.  This leopard clutch has become one of my favorite closet staples. I often opt for wedges over heals, because they tend to be a little more comfortable, especially when chasing toddlers.
Shop similar options
Top/Skirt/Purse/Wedges

So there you have it.  Those are 4 easy ways that you can wear a striped skirt.  For more outfit ideas and to see other ways I’ve worn this skirt you can follow me on Instagram @thriftywifehappylife.  

Simple Summer Sundress

by Katie Haller

Since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, I guess you can say that summer is here.  That means I’m trying to buy clothes that can get me through the heat of a desert summer.  One style for me that always gets me through the summer is a simple sundress.  My wardrobe is filled with simple casual dresses. 

This dress that I’m sharing today is from ThredUP, of course!  It’s an H&M dress that was only $7.99.  The dress was brand new with the tags on it still!  I love the pattern on this dress.  I’m trying to force myself to try out different patterns, besides stripes when I have the chance.  A dress like this is easy to style.  All you need to do is throw on some jewelry and some sandals and you are ready to go!  I wore my new Madden Girl sandals that I found at Burlington Coat Factory for only $9.99!  They are my everyday go-to sandals for this summer. 

Shop Similar Styles

The Truth About Marriage

by Katie Haller

This weekend my husband and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary.  In some ways, I feel like we just got married yesterday. In other ways, I feel like we’ve been together forever.  It’s hard to remember my life before we got together.  I don’t typically like to get too personal with my blog posts, but since May is our anniversary month, I wanted to share a post on marriage.  I’m not an expert on this topic, so it makes me a little nervous to talk about, but I’m not really an expert on anything I post on this blog, so I figured I’d go ahead and post it anyway.  Besides, it’s a perfect excuse to share some of my favorite wedding pictures.  

When I met my husband, we were 21 and in college.  He was in a fraternity and I was in a sorority.  Back then I wasn’t thinking about marriage.  I knew I wanted to get married one day, but at that point in my life, I was more concerned with having fun with my friends and marriage seemed so far in the future.  We hung around in the same crowd for most of college, but it wasn’t until after Kevin graduated college that I had any interest in dating him.  He had gotten a job at the university as a flight instructor, and I started to see him out and about more and more.  One thing led to another and before I knew it we were seriously dating.  Things just seemed to fall into place with us.  It wasn’t like my other college relationships where I was wondering what was going on with us or waiting around for a phone call.  Things just seemed so natural with us.  It didn’t take us long to decide we wanted to get married.  After 2 years of dating, Kevin purposed to me.  A year later we married.  

Now it’s been 10 years of being together and I couldn’t imagine my life without him.  He is such a huge part of my life.  He’s my best friend.  I think of all the things we have done together and the goals we have accomplished.  It makes me so proud.  We’ve both grown a lot in the last 10 years.  Now after 7 years of being married, I feel like I have a better understanding of marriage.  I’m still learning, but I’m a little older and wiser.  So here is the truth about marriage from what I’ve learned so far. 
Marriage is a life long commitment
That’s kind of a given, but I really don’t think that this hits you until after you say I do.  At least for me, I knew the commitment that I was making, but I didn’t really think about this that deeply.  Forever is a long time and things might change, but you learn to grow together.  My husband and I have changed a lot in 10 years.  Our relationship together started out in a frat house at a party, now we are parents together and one day we will be retired and hopefully be grandparents.  I look forward to all those things and I look forward to doing them with him.  I know that I can only have that if we work together to make the future happened.  

No one has the perfect marriage
It’s never good to compare your marriage to other’s, because we are all different.  No one has the perfect marriage, even if they look like they do on social media, they don’t.  Sadly I think a lot of marriages fail because they think “the grass is always greener on the other side”.  I always say that contentment is the key to happiness.  It’s a hard thing to accomplish, but if you are content with your marriage you will be happy.   
It’s okay to fight
They say opposites attract and in my case that is so true.  My husband and I are so different from each other.  He is a logical thinker and see’s everything in black and white.  I’m emotional and see everything in grey.  Sometimes we disagree and it’s not always pretty, but that’s okay.  It wouldn’t seem right if we agreed on everything.  Sometimes you need to fight and get things out.  No matter how different we are, we always have one thing in common and that is our love for each other.

You can’t be selfish
I’ll admit it, I’m a selfish person at times.  I like to do what I want, but when you’re married you can’t be that way.  You have to make compromises.  It’s not always easy, but sometimes you learn that things turn out for the best when you find a common ground.

Have a plan/ set goals together
I married a planner.  He plans everything and he’s never disappointed me.  It’s important to sit down and talk about your future together.  You need to talk about your financial goals, your family goals and your career goals.  The best thing in our relationship has been the open and honest communication about our future together.  They say life is what happens when you’re making plans, but that’s why the plans are always changing to keep up with your life.  

Like I said before, I’m not an expert on marriage.  My marriage is a work in progress.  It’s not perfect, but it is beautiful.  I wouldn’t want to go through this life with anyone else.

Simple and Classic Outfit- White Blouse and Jeans

by Katie Haller

Lately, I’ve been working on stocking my closet with a lot of basic wardrobe pieces.  I would say that I am pretty well stocked up, but there is always room for more.  This outfit above is the perfect example of how I used 4 simple wardrobe pieces to build a fun and stylish look. Read on to learn more about each piece. 

*This post contains affiliate links, which means by clicking on and/or making a purchase through a link, I will make a small commission for this blog.  Thank you for your support!
White Blouse Thrifted from ThredUP (Target) || Similar options HERE, HERE and HERE
I didn’t know how much I was in need of a white blouse until I found this one.  It’s so simple, but it goes with everything.  I used to hate wearing white shirts because I was always worried that my bra would show through, but I recently bought some bralettes at TJMaxx (similar HERE) and they have been a real game-changer for me.  I can finally wear white tops without worrying about my bra showing through.  I’m wearing my nude-colored bralette with this top. 

Dark Skinny Jeans Thrifted from Savers (Old Navy) || Similar options HERE and HERE
I love a good pair of dark skinny jeans.  They are the best jeans to dress up.  You can easily throw on some heels or a blazer and it makes it a work look or a great look for an evening out.  The jeans I’m wearing in this post are Old Navy Rockstar jeans, but I bought them at Savers for only $2.25!!!   

Strappy Heeled Sandals thrifted from ThredUP || Similar options HERE and HERE
I’ve been wanting shoes like this for the longest time.  They remind me of Barbie’s shoes because I feel like they mold your foot into the way a Barbie doll’s foot is.  I found these shoes at ThredUP.  I’ve said this over and over again, but if you’re going to buy used shoes, ThredUP is the best place to buy them.  These shoes are in almost perfect condition. 

Black Satchel Purse Last Call Neiman Marcus || Similar options HERE and HERE
I have had this satchel purse now for over a year now and I never get sick of it.  It’s such a classic look.  They no longer have this purse at Last Call Neiman Marcus, but you can find it on Amazon HERE for under 40!! 

Before I end this post, I just have to share this last picture, because while I was taking pictures in this outfit, my favorite little guy wanted to do some modeling in his outfit too.  It was just too cute, I had to share one of the pictures.  He’s the reason why it’s been taking me weeks to write this blog post.  Every time I get out the computer to write, he pulls me away to go play.  It’s okay though.  How can I resist that face!  I hope you have a great week!!

Spring Fashion with ThredUp

by Katie Haller

I’ve always enjoyed thrift shopping, but it wasn’t until the last couple of years that I became addicted to it.  For me, I love the thrill that thrift shopping gives me.  There is nothing better than walking out of a thrift store with a bag full of new clothes that you spent under $20 for.  When I became a mom, it really changed the way I shopped for myself.  I started to feel guilty spending too much money on myself when I knew I could be using that money towards my family.  That’s why thrifting has become my favorite way to shop.  Not to mention, I really love the idea of recycling your fashion.  It can be so wasteful to go shopping all the time, and then only wear your clothes for a couple of months.  Why not buy second-hand clothes and donate your old clothes?

I know that thrifting is not for everyone, and I feel like the number one excuse that I hear from people is that “I never find anything good.”  I hear ya!  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a Goodwill or Savers and left empty-handed.  It’s hard to pick through and find the buried treasures.  Plus so many of the clothes can be very worn or outdated.  This is why I love shopping at ThredUP.
 
*This post is part of a collaboration with ThredUP.  It also contains affiliate links, which means by making a purchase through a link, I will make a small commission for this blog.  All opinions are 100% my own.  Thank you for your support! 
If you’re not familiar with ThredUP, it’s an online thrift store that sells name brand and designer clothes and accessories at up to 90% off of the retailed price.  ThredUP is the perfect thrift store for the people who say they can “never find anything good” when thrift shopping.  Their filter system makes it so easy to find what you’re looking for.  You can filter by size, style, prices, brands and more. Thrift shopping can be time-consuming, that’s why I love how convenient it is to sit on the couch and search through the clothes.  When I like something, I add it to my favorites.  If you want to hold something you like, you can put it into your cart for 24 hours.  The best thing about ThredUP for me is that every item that I have received from them has come to me in perfect condition.  You would never believe that it was used.  Unlike other thrift stores that take all the donations and sell them in the store, ThredUP only sells gently worn items.  Many of their clothes still have the tag on them.  
For this post, I’m sharing 3 outfits that I picked out on ThredUP.  I found 2 dresses, 1 top, 1 skirt and one pair of sandals all under $50!!  
 One-shoulder spring wedding guest dress
I loved this one-shoulder ruffle dress.  It came with the tags on it and was $7.99.  I don’t have anything like it in my closet.  It has very light material, so I know that it will be perfect this summer in the heat.  It’s the perfect dress for a bridal/baby shower or even a casual summer wedding.
I love the fit of an empire waist wrap dress, so when I saw this dress I knew I had to get it.  It was only $9.99.  I think that this style of dress is flattering on all body types.  It’s also a great style for nursing moms or early pregnancy.  I also found these cream-colored sandals for $6.99.  My sandal collection has been in need of an update lately.  I’m always nervous about buying second-hand shoes because you never know what kind of condition they will be in.  Every time I’ve ordered a pair of shoes from ThredUP, they have come to me in perfect condition.  You can’t even tell anyone had ever worn them.  
Obviously, I can’t ever resist black and white stripes.  It’s such a classic look, so when I came across this Ann Taylor striped skirt for only $7.99,  I couldn’t help myself.  It has a stretchy waist, so it’s comfortable to wear casually.  I also found this white blouse from Target for $7.99, which I’m currently loving.  I never knew how great a white blouse can be.  You can wear it with almost anything.  I wore my sandals with this look.  I felt like this would be a great look for work, if your a teacher or want something a little more casual for the office this summer.  It’s also a great look for church.
I want to say a big thanks to ThredUP for sponsoring this post and letting me have a shopping spree!  This is not the last post you will see with my ThredUP summer clothes.  I’ve just had 3 more polka dot boxes come my way, so I can’t wait to share.  I highly recommend checking out ThredUP if you’re looking to update your summer wardrobe.  Happy Shopping to all of you!!!

Follow

@thriftywifehappylife