Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

Instagram Roundup- Spring 2017

by Katie Haller

Spring 2017
Hey everyone!  It’s hard to believe that summer is almost here!  June is just around the corner.  I thought that now would be the perfect time to do an Instagram roundup of some of my favorite Instagram posts that didn’t make it to the blog. 

You may have noticed that I’ve been making a few changes around here.  I’ve kept this little blog of mine a secret for a long time and this year, one of my goals is to grow my following and share my blog with others.  I’m pretty shy and I’m not always comfortable putting myself out there,  but I do put a lot of time and effort into my blog, so I figured why not share my hard work?
 The one place I’ve been putting a lot of time into growing my following and promoting my blog is on Instagram.  I love Instagram, but it’s hard work trying to get followers, especially when I really don’t have the tons of extra time for social media.  Motherhood and my job take up the majority of my time, but since I enjoy blogging so much, I try to make the time for it.
 So today I want to go back and recap my spring through my Instagram (@thriftywifehappylife)
*This post contains affiliate links which means by clicking on and/or making a purchase through a link, I will receive a small commission.  Thank you for your support.
I love trying out new beauty products.  This spring I tried out a few new products and stuck with a few of my favorites.  I’m really loving anything pink right now!

The dress is thrifted similar here
Our Easter was nice and quiet.  I had a week off work, which was amazing!!  We spent the first part of my break in Denver visiting my sister in law, then we came home and finished off the week just relaxing and enjoying the weather.  I even got a cute picture on Easter with my cute little guy. 
Similar Bathing Suit || Similar Hat || Similar Sunglasses
Pool season has officially arrived and I finally got the chance to wear this cute polka dot bikini that I bought at the end of the summer last year at Walmart for only $2! 

Tank top || Cardigan || Similar Jeans || Purse 
I made a few trips to Old Navy this spring to stock up on some super cheap tank tops.  I’ve been loving my $2 tanks that I bought at the end of April.  They are perfect for wearing under my cardigans with jeans. 

Similar Hat || Similar bathing suite Top and Bottoms
I’ve been learning what it’s like to take a busy toddler to the pool and let’s just say that my summers at the pool aren’t as relaxing as they used to be, but that’s okay.  That’s mom’s life for you.  I’m loving my new pool hat.  I found this one in the dollar section at Target for $5.  It’s the perfect pool accessory. 

My go to outfits this spring have been dresses with my denim jacket.  It’s such a comfy and also safe look, especially when I feel stumped on what to wear.  

I’ve rediscovered my love for the color pink this spring.  I just love this bright pink tank top.  I especially love it with turquoise accessories. 

My poor baby had an ear infection over Mother’s Day weekend, so he was very cranky.  We had a hard time getting a good picture, but that’s okay, because he’s still cute, fussy or not. 
 Purse || Similar Shorts || Similar Shoes
Now that it’s pretty much summer, I have to break out the shorts.  I don’t really like wearing shorts, but it’s really hard to wear long jeans when it’s over 100 degrees, so it looks like I’m going to have to embrace my shorts.

So that’s my life through Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me for the latest posts!

Beauty on a Budget- What’s in My Makeup Bag?

by Katie Haller

I love makeup and I love trying out different products.  As I’m sure you already know, I’m a huge fan of affordable makeup.  I buy mostly drug store makeup products, with the exception of the occasional splurge or gift of higher-end makeup.  Right now, my make up bag is full of mostly Maybelline makeup.  I don’t get a chance to get over to my favorite makeup store, Ulta as much as I use to, because it’s hard to make a special trip with a baby.  That’s why most of my current makeup supply comes from the grocery store.  Today I thought that I’d go through and share the affordable makeup products that are currently in my makeup bag.

1.) Ulta Mineral Powder Foundation- I used to use Bare Mineral Foundation all the time when I was in college and I loved it, but it got too expensive for me to continue buying after college when I had lots of student loan bills to pay, that’s why I started experimenting with other foundations.  My skin has been very dry and sensitive right now, so a few weeks ago I switched over to my Ulta brand mineral makeup and ever since then, my skin seems to be improving.  I really love mineral makeup, because it’s so light and gentle on your skin.  If you’re looking for a good brand that is very comparable, but less expensive than Bare Minerals, I’d recommend Ulta’s line.

 2.) Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer- This is by far my favorite concealer!  I’ve been testing out a lot of different drug store brands and this is the best one I’ve found.  As a new mom, I don’t get the beauty rest that I used to, so this concealer is perfect for making me look fresh in the morning.  It hides the dark circles under my eyes and brightens up my face. 

3.) Maybelline FaceStudio Master Contour- I just started using this kit and I love it!  I really like the bronzer and blush colors.  I just love how it’s all in one set, I don’t need to pull out a separate blush, bronzer or highlighter.   

4.) Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette- There is not a color in this palette that I don’t like, however, the thing I always hate about big eyeshadow palettes like this is that you always run out of the colors you use the most.  That’s why I like to buy a separate eyeshadow of the color champagne fizz.  It’s the color I use the most of every day. 

5.) Maybelline Define-A-Line Eyeliner- This has been my favorite eyeliner for a while now.  I always buy the eyeliner that rolls out, instead of the kind that you have to sharpen.  I’m also afraid of liquid eyeliner because I never have any luck with it, so this is always my go-to eyeliner for any look.

6.) L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara- I always come back to this mascara, because it’s the best one that I’ve tried.  I always get sucked into trying a new mascara, and I never like it as much as this brand.  I just love the full lash look that it gives you. 

7.) L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipcolour- Carmel Latte- I’m not big on lipstick, but I had a coupon for this lipstick and I ended up picking out the perfect color for me.  I love the Carmel latte color, it’s the perfect color for winter.  It just gives my lips the perfect tint of color and it also doesn’t dry out my lips. 

8.) e.l.f Eyebrow kit- I am not big on the whole eyebrow craze.  Personally, I don’t like my eyebrows, so I just use the eyebrow kit to help fill in my brows and make them look semi-normal.  I really love this eyebrow kit for that, because it’s cheap and it gets the job done.
So that’s what’s in my makeup bag at the moment.  What’s in yours?

Bloggers Brunch at Neiman Marcus

by Katie Haller

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a bloggers brunch hosted by Christie Moeller at Neiman Marcus here in Las Vegas.  It was such a treat for me to attend an event surrounded by so many talented and creative women.  I have to say that one of the major high lights for me was sampling some of the latest beauty launches for fall at Neiman Marcus.  We sampled luxury brands such as Jo Malone, Clive Christian, Fresh, Tom Ford, and Kevyn Aucoin.  I may be the Thrifty Wife, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have a soft spot for the finer things.  I even won a $100 gift card to Neiman Marcus!!

Here are just a couple pictures that I took from the morning.

These are just a few of the fabulous table displays.
Me and my friend and co-worker, Lori. Her Instagram page @stylewithlori is a great place to find great style inspiration.
The goodie bag I came home with.  I can’t wait to try out all my new samples!

For me, one of the best parts of the brunch was having the opportunity to mingle with the other bloggers from Las Vegas.  It was such a privilege for me to meet so many other talented bloggers.  One thing that I love about blogging is that there is this awesome blogging community that is out there.  It was nice to have an event where the small community of bloggers who exist here in Las Vegas can meet and support each other.

I started this little blog over 3 years ago and I’ve never thought of it as more than just a hobby.  It’s just a place for me to share my interests and passions with others.  As you get older in life, your friendships change.  With careers, husbands, and babies it gets harder to keep in touch with the people you have the most in common with.  I love that I have this space to communicate with my friends and family.  Even more, it’s exciting that I get to share my interests and ideas with new readers who come across my blog.  I just love having this creative outlet to share with all of you.

  Honestly, I’m honored that anyone actually reads my blog.  Every time I get a repin on Pinterest or a new follower on Instagram or a like on Facebook, I’m so flattered.  I learn a little more about blogging each day.  Even though life gets busy with work and my family, I know that I always have my blog to turn to as my own space.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me and read my posts over the years.  I love hearing from you and I’m so grateful for everything!  I hope that you continue to stay with me and keep following me to find out what I’m up to next.

Fall Nail Polish

by Katie Haller

I love nail polish and you will rarely find me without color on my nails.  I like to pick polish colors to match the season.  Right now, I’m all about fall colors.  For fall, I like to switch from my bright pinks and pastilles of the spring and summer months and go a bit darker with a mix of jewel tones, neutrals, and metallic colors.  I have 3 favorite brands of nail polish and they are  Sinful Colors.   NYC In a New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish. and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri.  I like these 3 brands because the nail polish always goes on nice and smooth, they dry quickly, the polish lasts and best of all they are all under $5!

Here are some of the colors that I’m feeling this fall. 

One// Chinatown
I bought this color last year.  I love that it’s dark, but it’s not quite black.  I wore it a lot in October around Halloween. 
This fuchsia color is fun for fall.  Instead of the bright pinks, I lean towards the darker pinks like this.  They transition perfectly to the winter season as well.

I found this brown bronzy color while I was searching for new fall colors and I can’t wait to try it.  I like a nice brown at times to match the autumn season.

 Four// Mauve It
 If I go with a light pink during the fall, I will often keep it more neutral pink.  This color is a nice soft pink for the fall.

Five// In a Flash

I’m a big fan of this pearly beige color.  It’s a very neutral color that goes well with all my fall outfits.

I love the name of this color because it describes it perfectly.  I love to have a grey metallic color and this one almost has a hint of purple in it.
Seven// Aubergine
I love a dark burgundy on my nails in the fall.  It reminds me of the color of red wine, which I also love to have in the fall months.

Eight// Dream On
Purple is another fun color for when the weather cools down.  I like to mix it up with a dark amethyst color.

I’ve yet to take a risk with the blue polish, but I came across this blue and I love it for fall.  I’m born in September and this color reminds me of my birthstone, the sapphire.  I will have to pick this color up next time I’m out and take the risk. 

Those are some of the colors that I’m feeling this fall from my favorite brands.  What are your favorite nail colors for fall?

Favorite Budget Beauty Products

by Katie Haller

It’s time for me to take a break from talking about pregnancy and maternity outfits, to turn my attention to another one of my favorite things besides my clothes…my makeup.  
I love makeup and I love looking for new inexpensive products to try.  Lately, I’ve been wanting to share some of my favorite beauty products that I’m currently using. 
Here they are…

My latest beauty product purchase has been Garnier BB Cream Renew Miracle Skin Perfector.  So far, I’m very happy with my purchase.  I’ve been wanting to try a new BB cream to switch up my daily foundation routine.  I love that the cream gives you full coverage, along with a moisturizer and SPF protection.  Most stores sell this BB cream for around $12.99.  It’s a little more than I wanted to spend on a BB cream, but since it comes in a 2 oz tube instead of a 1 oz, I figured it will last much longer than the other BB creams.  So far I like the feeling of this BB cream.  It’s natural and light weight on my face, plus it helps a lot with shine control, which is good, because of my oily skin. 

Currently, my favorite everyday mascara is L’Oreal Voluminous Volume Mascara.  I’ve been using this brand for a couple years now and it’s my favorite brand by far.  It gives my lashes a full look, while still looking soft. 

I’ve been using Maybelline The Nudes palette for a few months now and it’s been great!  At $9.99, it’s the perfect price for someone looking for great neutral colors at a low price.  For Christmas, I got the Urban Decay Naked2 Basics palette.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my Urban Decay eye shadow and how smooth it goes on, but I still like the colors in my Maybelline palette better, so I switch it up daily between the 2.  

Essence Silky Touch Blush was definitely a surprise find for me.  For $2.99, I wasn’t expecting anything great, but after trying it, I love it.  It’s become my everyday blush and I’m in love with the price.  It goes on so nicely and never looks caked on.  Just like in the title, it has a silky touch to it.  It’s for sure worth a try! 

Those are 4 products that I use almost every day.  All of these beauty products can be found at Ulta.  I find Ulta to be the best store to buy makeup at.  Not only do they have great prices, but they always have great coupons and I love their rewards program.  (No one paid me to say that, I just really love Ulta.) 
Next on my makeup list is to buy a new bronzer.  If anyone has any suggestions on a good bronzer under $10 leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear. 

10 Summer Essentials for Under $10

by Katie Haller

Summer is here!  It’s what we’ve all been waiting for.  Long sunny days, the smell of suntan lotion, relaxing by the water…. these are just a few of my favorite things about summer.  In honor of it being the first official month of summer, I thought that I’d share some of my must-haves for summer.  The best thing about these items is that you can find them all for $10 or less!

1.) Sun Hat
I’m not really a hat person, but ever since I moved to Nevada, I’ve realized how important it is to keep my head covered.  Your head is always exposed to the sun, so if your planning to spend a decent amount of time outside, be sure to bring a sun hat.  I ended up finding a cute straw fedora, similar to the one above, in the dollar section at Target for $3.  It’s cute and perfect for the pool.

2.) Moisturizer with SPF
The sun can damage your skin so easily and cause wrinkles, sunspots or skin cancer.  Since your face is always exposed to the sun, you have to always be sure that you always have at least an SPF 15 on your face.  I use the Target up & up brand of daily moisturizer sunscreen lotion.  It’s compared to Cetaphil.  (I’m never afraid of the knock off store brand, especially when it’s cheaper than the name brand.)

3.) ChapStick
Just like your head and face, your lips need to be protected in the summer sun too.  My favorite brand of chapstick is Burts Bees.  I’ve been using this brand for years and I can’t find a better chapstick in that price range.  Something I’ve learned from living in a sunny place is that you don’t want to wear lip gloss in the sun.  According to an article on doctoroz.com, wearing lip gloss is the equivalent of sunbathing after putting on baby oil.  Using baby oil only concentrates the rays of the sun, making it much more likely to get burned skin.  It’s best to stick with a chapstick with SPF in it.

4.) SunGlasses
I feel like this one is kind of obvious, but I cannot survive without my sunglasses.  I literally start to sneeze the second I walk into the brightness of the sun if I don’t have my sunglasses.  I refuse to buy expensive sunglasses.  I have a $5 max on these for three major reasons…. I break them, lose them and scratch them up in my purse.  I have found great sunglasses at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Five Below and most recently I was loving The Dollar Tree’s selection.

5.) Flip Flops
My mom used to call these thongs when I was a kid, that was until the “Thong Song” came out, now we just refer to them as flip flops.  I’m sure most of you have more than one pair of these.  Every summer I wait for the Old Navy flip flop sale and stock up, because what would summer be without flip flops at the pool or beach? 

6.) Bright pink nail polish
I always have polish on my nails.  In the summer I love bright pink colors. As you may or may not know, I’m a big fan of Sinful Colors nail polish. They have a great selection of colors and only coast around $2.  My favorite color right now is called Bikini.

7.) Beach Bag
You have to have a beach bag in the summer.  Something to tote around when you’re at the beach, pool, lake, park… where ever your summer takes you.  A beach bag doesn’t have to be fancy.  Target’s dollar section has some cute ones and so does the Dollar Tree.  You can also use a reusable shopping bag.  Stores like TJ Maxx sell some really cute reusable shopping bags that are much cheaper than buying an actual beach bag.

8.) Reusable drink cup
I love my reusable cups!  I use mine for water, ice tea, ice coffee, smoothies, even beer.  What is summer without an ice cold beverage.  You can find some cute cups in the dollar section at Target right now.

9.) Make up remover wipes
I use make up remover wipes all year round, but they are a must in the summer.  They will quickly remove your eye makeup if your planning on swimming.  I also will use them for a quick touch up by wiping them under my eyes if my make up starts to run in the heat.  To get more use out of them, I cut them in half.  That way I don’t run out as fast. Some of my favorite brands are Target up & up or Kroger brand.  They have the best prices!

10.) Oil free sunscreen lotion
You have to use sunscreen in the summer, but sunscreen is expensive.  You go through it so fast, that it seems silly to spend a lot of money on it.  I always buy the store brand of sunscreen in at least a SPF of 30.  I still get a nice tan with 30.  It has to be an oil free sunscreen though.  I have pretty oily skin, so I can’t handle the greasy feel on my skin.

Those are my 10 summer essentials for under $10.  What are your must have items for the summer months?

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