Katie Haller, Author at Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Katie’s Closet~What I Wore this Week

December 13, 2014 by Katie Haller

I definitely find it a challenge each week to come up with something stylish to wear to work every day. I have my weeks where I struggle, especially during these long, dark days. This week I decided that I needed a challenge. I did some digging in my closet. Here’s what I came up with Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (I wasn’t a fan of my Wednesday look, so sorry I won’t be sharing that one).

Monday

Black dress- Target

Sweater- (New) Old Navy

Scarf- Old Navy

Boots- DSW

Leg warmers- Five Below

Tuesday

Grey Blazer- LC Lauren Conrad

Top- Target

Black Jeggings- Jessica Simpson

Boots- Target

Necklace- Charming Charlie

Thursday

Denim button-down- Target

Black Jeggings- Jessica Simpson

Black Sweater- Macy’s

Shoes- Audrey Brooke- DSW

Necklace- Kohls

Friday

Stripe Dress- Target

Leggings- Target

Scarf- Charming Charlie

Shoes- Audrey Brooke- DSW

Weekend Wardrobe~Shopping Finds

December 7, 2014 by Katie Haller

Yesterday, I did a little bit of shopping. While I was out, looking at all the cute Christmas gifts, I realized just how much money people spend this time of the year. Stores do a great job of marketing their products and making you want to buy them. Shoppers are not only looking for gifts, but they are also looking for themselves. Who can resist all the bargains that are in the stores this time of the year? I too ended up buying myself something. I was proud of myself for not getting lured into buying any of the beautifully displayed winter items. Instead, I found some steals in the clearance section.

I found this lightweight grey striped tee-shirt and tan sweater at Old Navy in their clearance section. Each one coast $2.49. It was hard to resist the price, especially when I know I will get a ton of use out of these. The stores are packed with all the latest winter apparel, but if you really want to find good deals, you have to look at the out of season clothes. In my opinion, there are some clothes that can never be out of season, so that tends to be what I fill my closet with.

Here are a couple ways that I used my new “out of season” clothes and turned them into “in season” winter outfits.

Sunday morning church look

Sweater (New)- Old Navy

Tank top- Old Navy

Shirt- Ann Taylor

Boots- DSW

Tights- Target

Sunday afternoon, errand running look

Shirt (New)- Old Navy

Leggings- Express

Scarf- Five Below

Jean Jacket- Jessica Simpson

Leg warmers- Five Below

Boots- DSW

Dressing for the Holidays on a Budget

December 1, 2014 by Katie Haller

It’s officially December… time to bring on the Holidays! Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner. This time of the year is full of celebrations. It seems like the entire month is booked with parties and get-togethers to celebrate the season. Whether it’s an office party, family gathering or a reunion with old friends, having a cute and festive look is essential. The problem with the month of December is that it can be an expensive month for most people. You’re spending money on gifts, baking, traveling…and anything other expenses that might come your way. It’s not really the time of the year to be spending money on your wardrobe (even though I know we all do). Instead of buying a whole new Christmas outfit every year, I have a few inexpensive favorite items that help me bring some Christmas flair to my everyday looks.

Here are a few ideas of how to add the perfect amount of Christmas style to your wardrobe, without going overboard and blowing your December budget.

With all the lights and tinsel this time of year, I just love anything that sparkles! What better way to sparkle, than adding some sequins and rhinestones to your outfit. I love this look with my sequin top from Charlotte Russe (Similar/ Similar) and my sparkly rhinestone necklace from Target. (Similar) It’s the perfect look for a casual night out with friends.

Add a touch of Christmas to your everyday looks

Adding a pop of green and red can really take a normal outfit and make it festive. My green pants and red bead necklace help make the perfect work outfit around the Holidays. My green pants are from Old Navy (Similar), but I found them at the Salvation Army for $5. I bought my red bead necklace from Aldo (Similar) years ago.

This gold shimmery scarf is the perfect way to add some glitter to your look. I got this one a few years ago as a Christmas gift (Similar/Similar). I always get a lot of use out of it this time of the year.

Red is the perfect color for the Holidays. My red sweater from Target (Exact) and my sequin white tank top from Old Navy (Similar) make for the perfect outfit for a casual family gathering.

To top off all my Holiday looks, I like to have nails to go with the season. I recently picked up this color Sugar Sugar from Sinful Colors at Meijer for $1.99. It has the perfect amount of shimmer in the dark red color, which makes it my favorite Christmas nail polish this year!

I hope you can all add an inexpensive touch of Christmas to your wardrobe this season!
Happy Holidays!

Katie’s Closet~Winter Wardobe

November 29, 2014 by Katie Haller

I really thought that we would be moving out of Michigan just as the cold winter weather started to hit this year. Well, I thought wrong. If there is one thing that I’ve learned from being married to a pilot, it’s that nothing is ever for sure. Nothing is ever laid out perfectly with a clear timeline. We are still moving to Las Vegas, but it looks like I will get the chance to experience one more Michigan winter.

Unfortunately, I prematurely got rid of my Ugg boots. I know, Ugg boots do not snow boots. Someone who has grown up in Michigan should know this, but they were my only warm pair of boots that I owned. I’m not looking to spend any more money on winter clothes, so I’ve been slowly going through my closet looking for warm clothes. It turns out that I don’t like winter, so I don’t have a whole lot of winter clothes. I pretty much just do a lot of layering during the winter.

Here are a couple outfits I put together this week.

My Friday work outfit

Shirt Similar/ Skirt Similar/ Jacket Similar/ Boots Similar/ Necklace Similar

I actually wore this outfit to the grocery store, with the boots from above, not the heels. I just thought the heels would be cute for a dinner out. This is one of the only sweaters that I own and it’s not even a real sweater, but I like the slouchy sweater look.

Sweater Exact/ Jeans Similar/ Shoes Exact

I will have to do some more searching in my closet for my warm clothes. I’m sure I’ll be able to find some more winter looks to share in the next couple of months. Until then, stay warm!

Flawless Face on a Budget

November 15, 2014 by Katie Haller

I am always searching for new makeup products for my face. I love testing out different products and seeing what works best with my skin. I used to be a huge fan of BareMinerals. It was my favorite foundation for a long time. But when I started to cut down on my spending habits, I just couldn’t justify spending $27 on one single makeup product anymore. That’s when I started searching for another foundation. My skin tends to be on the oilier side, so it’s hard to find a good foundation that will keep my face from shining up after an hour.

About a year ago, I started watching a lot of makeup tutorials on YouTube. I love learning different ways to apply my makeup. After watching some tutorials on foundation, I decided I wanted to try some liquid foundation. I’ve always been a little hesitant to try a liquid foundation, because of my oily skin. I started doing some research on the best drugstore foundation brands. I tried out a few that I liked, but it wasn’t until recently that I found my favorite liquid foundation so far. At Ulta, I stumbled upon a foundation called Ready, Set, Gorgeous, by Covergirl. Usually, it cost around $7.99, but on this particular day, it was on sale for $5.99. I just had to try it.

One thing I’ve learned about makeup is that you can’t just use foundation and be done. Here is my daily face routine, using my Ready, Set, Gorgeous Foundation.

First I like to start with a good primer. I haven’t always used a primer, but now that I do, I feel like it’s an important step that I don’t like to skip. It helps even out my face and most importantly, it helps my foundation last through my long workdays. I’ve been using Rimmel’s Stay Matte Primer. It’s the perfect primer for oily skin. Best of all, the price is right! It was only $6.99 at Ulta.
Next step, I move on to my Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous foundation. I like that this foundation has a light to medium coverage. I hate makeup that feels heavy on my face. It’s perfect for oily skin.
To apply my foundation, I always use my Elf Studio Powered Brush. I like the flat top on the brush. It helps apply my foundation evenly and gives it an airbrush finish. I try to stay away from using my figures to apply my foundation because my fingers have oils in them. I always feel like I’m just putting oils back into my face when I use my fingers.
After my foundation is applied, I use a concealer to high light under my eyes, my forehead and down the center of my face. I’ve been using an NYC concealer. I’ve always liked NYC products for the price. This concealer was $3.99.
To apply my concealer, I’ve been using my knock off Target beauty blender. I’ve heard great things about the original Beauty Blender. Apparently, it’s a magical sponge that blends your foundation perfectly. Well, I may never use a real Beauty Blender, because I don’t think I will ever be able to spend $20 on a sponge. For now, $4.99 for a knock off beauty blender, sounds like a much better price. I’m not crazy about using this blender for my foundation, but it works perfectly with my concealer. The shape is perfect for getting under my eyes and around my nose. For the price, this sponge is worth trying.

Once I have my foundation on, I move on to my eyes, then complete my face with some blush, bronzer and a little finishing powder.

Hopefully, you’ve learned something new, or you might be thinking about trying out a new product. It’s important to have fun with your makeup and never stop looking for what works best for you!

How to Travel in Style

November 9, 2014 by Katie Haller

Back in the “Golden Ages of Flying”, flying was a luxury. People dressed up to fly. Women wore their best dress, heels, and pearls, while men wore suits. People treated flying as a treat and they dressed the part.

A suitcase adds from the 1950s.

Nowadays, with travel websites and low-cost airlines, flying has become more affordable for the average person. People don’t treat flying as a luxury anymore and this is clear in the way they dress.

When I travel, it’s on Kevin’s work benefits, which means there is a dress code to follow. Dress code or no dress code, I still feel that it’s always important to look presentable and put together while traveling. It’s important to be stylish, while at the same time staying comfortable when traveling.

Here are a few clothing items you should consider when traveling…

Dark Skinny Jeans- Jeans can still be considered business casual if you wear them in the right way. I’ve always felt that dark jeans look dressier than light jeans. I always like to wear a pair of jeans with a stretch for them to keep me comfortable on the flight.

Blazer- A blazer is a perfect way to dress up your look when traveling. It’s simple and stylish!

Scarf- I don’t like to wear a lot of jewelry when traveling, so a scarf is a perfect accessory to dress up my travel outfits.

Crossbody Purse- I love a crossbody purse when traveling. It helps keep my hands free and I don’t have to worry about anything slipping off my shoulder.

Boots- Boots are the last thing that you will want to pack in your suitcase, especially if you only have a carry-on size. This is why boots are perfect to wear on your travel days.

Flats- I love my Audrey Brooke flats when traveling. They are super comfortable, easy to take on and off, plus they’re stylish!

Maxi Skirts- Maxi Skirts are perfect when traveling in the summer or to a warm vacation destination.

Here is my NO NO’s for traveling…

Sweat Pants or Yoga Pants- Sorry ladies, I know that they are comfortable, but save them for the comfort of your own home. The flight crew will judge you for wearing these, especially if they have wording on the butt.

Tennis Shoes- Tennis Shoes are made for the gym. Besides that, untying your shoes at security is only going to hold you and other passengers up.

High Heels- Most airports are big and require a lot of walking. You will not be able to make your connection if you have to run across the airport in heals. Pack them in your suitcase instead.

T-Shirts and Sweat Shirts- This goes along with the sweat pants look, save it for the comfort of your own home, not the airport. T-Shirts and sweat shirts are just too casual for traveling.

So with that said, here are some travel looks I’ve put together…

Blazer/Dark Skinny Jeans/Leopard Scarf/Black Tank Top/Crossbody Purse

This look is one of my favorite travel looks. It’s stylish and smart, all while being comfortable.

Grey Blazer/Black Tank Top/Necklace/Dark Skinny Jeans/Flats

This is another great look for traveling. I wore this outfit a few months ago when I went on one of Kevin’s flights. It’s a great spring travel outfit.

Black Leggings/Black Tank Top/Black Long Sweater/Brown Boots/Turquoises Scarf

This look is perfect for a long flight or an early morning flight. I wore this outfit on my way home from visiting my brother in Germany. Sometimes you can get away with wearing leggings, as long as you can dress them up in the right way.