Katie Haller, Author at Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Pink Bell Sleeve Top

January 16, 2018 by Katie Haller

Shopping has been difficult for me lately. I have a hard time setting aside the time to just stop in a store and browse like I used to. It can be really time-consuming when you’re shopping on a budget. I’m always looking for the best deals, so it’s hard to find the right amount of time to dedicate to spending time at a store.

There’s always online shopping, but there are 2 things that I don’t like about online shopping; waiting for my purchase to arrive and paying for shipping. I only buy online when the shipping is free.

Back in December, I had $10 of Kohl’s cash that I wasn’t going to let expire. I just didn’t know how I was going to fit in a shopping trip to Kohl’s and have the time I needed to stretch my $10 out the best I could. I decided to try online. I remembered that at Kohl’s you can buy online and pick up at the store the same day. It was perfect because I was able to spend as much time as I wanted on my phone searching while Jack played with his puzzles. The next morning I had an email saying my order was ready, so I made a quick stop at Kohl’s to pick up my order. It worked out perfectly for me.

*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!

I ended up buying this blush bell sleeve top for $7.99. I’ve been wanting to try out bell sleeves, but I don’t like to spend a lot of money on trendy clothes. I thought this simple cotton top was the perfect way for me to try out a new trend and also save my money if it goes out of style in a month.

In case your wondering, I also bought a beauty blender for my makeup and I ended up only spending $1.50 of my own money. I’m sure I’ll be trying this style of online shopping again. It’s perfect if you’re not willing to wait for a package, but don’t feel like dragging a toddler around a store for an hour or more.

Have you ever tried in-store pick up?

Thrift Wife, Happy Life || Blush bell sleeve top

Top- Kohl’s (exact) || Jeans- Meijer (similar) || Shoes- Target (similar) || Purse– Ross (similar) || Necklace- Nordstrom Rack (similar) || Watch- Nordstrom Rack (similar) || Bracelet- Kohl’s (similar)

Saranghae 5 Step Anti-Aging Skincare Routine

January 12, 2018 by Katie Haller

*This post is part of a collaboration with Saranghae. As always all opinions are 100% my own.

I have never had perfect skin. It’s always been oily and prone to acne. My biggest concern when it comes to skincare has always been keeping a clear face. I never really gave much thought to using anti-aging products until after I turned 30. I’ve always heard that it’s never too early to start using anti-aging skincare products. That’s why I’ve had more interest in trying out different skincare products in recent years.

When Saranghae contacted me to collaborate with them on a post, I knew very little about what they were all about, but I was very interested in learning more about them. Saranghae is an award-winning Korean 5 step anti-aging skincare system. I had heard of Korean skin care products through social media and other bloggers, but this was my first time trying it out for myself.

I was very impressed by Saranghae at first sight. Everything came beautifully packaged, which I’m a huge fan of presentation. I felt like they really nailed it on this one. All the products have a nice clean smell to them without being too strong. The 5 step routine includes…

Nourishing + Moisturizing Cleanser
Deep Radiance Essence + Serum
Firm & Lift Cellular Regeneration Cream
Focus Renewal Eye Cream
Elemental Essence Mask

The first 4 products are used daily and the Elemental Essence Mask is recommended to be used weekly. I’ve been doing the 5 step system once a day for almost a month now (for best results it is recommended to use the system twice a day). So far, I’ve been really happy with my results. I get a little nervous when I try new skincare products, because I’m always worried that it will leave my face feeling greasy, but that was not the case at all with Saranghae. I absolutely loved the cleanser, because I had never tried anything like it. It goes on dry as an oil, then it foams up as you slowly wash it away with water. I also really love the regeneration cream. It’s like a mini facelift in a jar. All the products were very absorbent and left my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. I usually dread washing my face at the end of the night, but lately, it’s been my favorite part of my bedtime routine.

In Korean, Saranghae means “I love you”. I completely understand why they chose that name for this product. I am truly enjoying using Saranghae and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new skincare product.

For more information on Saranghae, click HERE!

Making the Most of Your Wardrobe- Leopard Pocket Cardigan

January 9, 2018 by Katie Haller

One of my favorite clothing items in my closet for winter are long cardigans. I love them and I could wear them everyday. That’s why I have to get creative with how I wear my cardigans. My latest favorite cardi is from PinkBlush. I love it because it’s different than all my other cardigans. It’s made out of a soft velour material, which is super warm and cozy. Another unique thing about this cardigan is the leopard pockets. I thought that was a fun touch. As much as I love this cardigan, it’s a little more trendy than my other cardi’s in my closet. A trendy cardi like this can get old fast if you don’t find new ways to wear it. Luckily it goes with almost anything. I’ve put together 3 casual looks for today’s post wearing this PinkBlush cardigan.

*This post is part of a collaboration with PinkBlush. Although I was gifted this item, all my opinions are 100% my own.

Look #1
I wore a simple neutral-colored shirt under the cardigan with jeans and flats. It’s very simple and easy to wear.

Look #2
I wore all black underneath for this look. I always love to wear leggings and boots in the winter. A long cardigan like this is the perfect way to complete a legging look like this.

Look #3
Of course, I had to style this cardigan with a striped top. Whenever I want to mix up my patterns, I always go with a stripe leopard combination. I wore distress jeans and booties to complete the look.

Starting a Fresh New Year

January 3, 2018 by Katie Haller

Thrifty Wife, Happy Life- Starting a fresh year with PinkBlush

*This post is part of a collaboration with PinkBlush. All opinions are 100% my own.
I love starting a new year. It’s so fun to make new goals and have a fresh slate. I feel motivated and excited about all the possibilities for the year ahead.

This Christmas break was just what I needed. A long break off from work at home. Ever since I moved to Las Vegas, I have spent almost every one of my long breaks off work traveling to see family. This year we decided that we didn’t want to deal with the stress of traveling. I’m so glad that we stayed home because it was the perfect way to refuel myself.

To be honest, by the end of the break, I was ready to head back to work. I’m often overwhelmed and stressed by all my responsibilities, but to be honest, I like it. I like staying busy and always having some kind of project to work on. I’m very comforted by my daily routine. By staying home, it made me appreciate my job and my weekly routine.

I also realized that it’s not that easy staying home with a toddler all day. It always makes me sad that I didn’t get to be home with Jack those first 12 months because I feel like things would have been different. But now that he’s older, it takes a lot to keep him entertained. He definitely keeps me on my toes. And don’t even get me started on trying to get him down for a nap. I had to put him in the car every day and drive him around the block. It makes me happy to know that when I’m not with him during the week, he’s socializing and learning while he’s at school. That is his weekly routine and it’s comforting for him. With Jack being our first, it really is important to me that he has that time around other children. He’s so attached to me, so it makes me happy to know that he loves seeing all his teachers at his school too.

I’m not going to lie, I did enjoy lounging around the house in my pajamas all morning. I wore these PinkBlush pajamas (here) at every chance I had. Nothing against your traditional Christmas pajamas, but these pajama pants are perfect to wear year-round. I love having something to get ready for every morning, but sometimes it’s just nice to stay in my cozy jammies, drink an extra cup of coffee and watch some morning TV.

Thrifty Wife, Happy Life- PinkBlush pajama pants

Now that I’m nice and refreshed, I’m hoping to start off my year on a clean slate. I went back to work this week, but luckily we don’t have kids until next week. I’m going to take this time to clean my classroom and prepare it for the rest of the school year. I have high hopes for 2018!

I hope all of you can start off your 2018 feeling refreshed and ready to tackle all your goals for the new year!

2017 New Year Review- Plus Goals for 2018!

December 31, 2017 by Katie Haller

Thrifty Wife, Happy Life- NYE outfit inspiration with metallic skirt

Happy New Year everyone! Every year I like to reflect on the prior year and make goals for the new year ahead. I often like to share them on my blog, because it’s always a good reminder for me to look back on. I like to make goals, not resolutions because I feel like resolutions just get broken. I like to set goals for myself and evaluate what things I still need to work on and accomplish in the new year. I don’t want to make any major changes, I just want to make improvements.

Let’s start off with a reflection on 2017. Last January, my goals were to improve my blog. I wanted to make a few changes to take my blog from just being a personal journal, to make it feel a little more professional. Early in the year, I changed my template, bought a domain name, joined social media groups and started to socialize with other bloggers. I’ve had a lot of fun and met some really great people. I’ve even had the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing brands this year, which was something I never even thought of back when I started writing this blog.

Here is a look at some of my favorite outfits that I posted from 2017.

Thrifty Wife, Happy Life 2017 outfit review

In my personal life, I have kept very busy with work and my family this year. In January we moved into our first house together. Jack turned one in February and it’s been so fun watching him grow this year. We did a little traveling to visit our families in Michigan, Colorado, and California this year. The end of the year has been consumed with family visits and getting my husband through his training for work. He recently switched the type of airplane he flies, which if you know any pilots, you know that it’s not a simple process to change airplanes. This last week has been really nice because I’ve done nothing but relax. We tried to have a stress free Christmas break without traveling or visitors. It’s been quiet, but it’s been nice at the same time.

Thrifty Wife, Happy Life- 2017 New Year Review

Here are my goals for 2018!

1.) Get off my phone- I am going to confess that I think I spent the majority of 2017 on my phone. I’m on social media, taking pictures or editing pictures all the time. My husband has been giving me a hard time about it lately and he’s right. I need to sit down and be with my family, not on my phone constantly. For 2018 I plan on limiting my time with my phone. I think it’s a healthy goal to have for the new year.

2.) Organize my time- I love blogging, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that blogging stresses me out sometimes. I feel a constant need to keep up with everyone else on social media because I’m afraid if I don’t I will lose my followers. I sometimes feel like I’m stressed over it all because I’m not sure how to manage my time between my job, blog, and family. I need to find a way to use my time more efficiently. There is a lot to keep up within the grown-up world and I just need to find a way to organize it all a little better for 2018.

3.) Continue to grow and better my blog- I have thought long and hard about blogging the past few weeks. I’ve debated if I want to take a little break, and my answer is no. I love blogging! I feel like I’d feel like something was missing if I didn’t have my blog. That’s why I’m going to keep it up. I did a lot of growing with it this past year, so my goal for 2018 is just to keep it coming.

4.) Save money on grocery shopping- I pretty much have my clothes budget under control, but in the past 2 years, my grocery budget has gotten out of control. I feel like I spend so much at the store, then I throw away so much food at the end of the week. It’s time to get back to the way I did things when my husband and I had a $400/month grocery budget. I was so good about not overspending. I want to be resourceful when it comes to food and mindful when I shop.

5.) Be a better person- This is my goal every year. I always want to improve on my all around self. I want to be a better mom, wife, teacher, daughter and so on. I just want to look back on 2018 and feel proud of my accomplishments and the person that I am. I think that’s a goal that we should all have for the new year. Don’t change yourself, better yourself.

That’s it for me, what are some of your 2018 New Year Goals?

Christmas Look with Red Houndstooth Skirt.

December 20, 2017 by Katie Haller

Today I’m sharing my last outfit posts for this year. Blogging has been hard lately for me to keep up with. I’m surprised that I get out as many posts as I do sometimes. I think that sometimes I put too much pressure on myself to get blog posts out and keep up with it all. It sometimes overwhelms me too much and I don’t like that feeling. I blog because I love it, but I do have other things in life that I need to tend to, and that sometimes comes first, especially when it comes to my family.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means by clicking on and/or making a purchase through a link will result in a small commission for this blog. Thank you for your support!

Before I take a little break, I wanted to share a Christmas look with this red houndstooth skirt that I’ve been dying to share. This skirt is from Express, but it was a thrift find by my mom who passed it down to me. I love it! It’s the perfect winter skirt. I just love how this skirt looks with all back. To complete this look I added some sparkly accessories to make it perfect for Christmas. I love this black satin clutch with the rhinestone buckle. My statement necklace is from Rockbox. If you’ve been following along with me on Instagram, you know all about how much I’ve been loving my Rockbox subscription. That’s why I want to make sure and share my code for a free month of a Rockbox subscription. Go to Rocksbox.com and use my code thriftywifehappylifexoxo. I’m actually getting ready to send back this box and get a new set of jewelry for January! I can’t wait to see what new designer jewelry I will get next!

Christmas outfit with Red houndstooth skirt

Skirt- Express (similar, similar, similar, similar ) || Top- Forever 21 (similar) || Booties- Kohl’s (similar) || Clutch- Jessica McClintock (similar) || Necklace- Rocksbox || Sunglasses- Glassesshop.com (exact)

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