Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

A Week at the Beach with a Toddler

by Katie Haller

In my opinion, there is no better vacation than a beach vacation.  I just love being near the water.  Last week we headed to Oceanside, CA to meet up with my husband’s side of the family to celebrate his parent’s 40th wedding anniversary.  We stayed in a beautiful beach house right on the Pacific Ocean.  We couldn’t ask for a better beach setting.  I was a little nervous about the trip because this was the first time we took Jack on a long vacation, besides our Michigan visits.  Although it wasn’t as relaxing as a trip for me, it was still a lot of fun.

When I look at other people’s vacation pictures on Instagram, it always looks like they are having so much fun with their little ones.  After our trip, I’m wondering how many of those photos are real or are those stressed-out parents trying to have fun?  During our week trip, Jack had his good days and bad days.  He was extra clinging with me and wanted nothing to do with everyone else unless I wasn’t around of course.  He had a good amount of toddler tantrums over nothing.  Only a couple days after getting to the ocean, Jack got congested really bad and ended up with a bad cough, which made for a couple long nights.  I had imagined that I would be spending my days building sandcastles with Jack and taking walks along the beach collecting seashells with him, but I quickly learned that wasn’t going to happen.  Jack was terrified by the loud sounds of the waves and he hated the feeling of the sand.  I spent most of my days in a kiddy pool on the deck watching the rest of the family boogie board in the ocean.

I was extremely grateful for everyone who helped watch Jack a little so I could get a break here and there.  Kevin and I were able to go on an adult-only wine tasting trip one of the days and all the adults got to go out for dinner one night while the grandparents watched the grandkids.  That was really nice.

Overall it was a really fun family trip.  Seeing my niece and nephew enjoying themselves and remembering how my sister-in-law used to be the one with little kids staying back while everyone was having fun made me realize that it’s now my turn.  I’m the one with the little kid, so family vacations might be a little more stressful for me now, but that’s okay.  One thing that I decided to do when traveling with a toddler is to just lower my expectations of what fun is.  I know that my vacations will not be like the relaxing ones of the past, but there is a new kind of fun for me.  I enjoyed watching my little guy look out at the ocean and listening to him learn new words like “ocean animals”, “sea nettle” and “succulents”.  I loved watching his face when we got on a boat for the first time to look for dolphins.  I know one day when he’s independent and off doing his own thing, I will miss the days of when all he wanted was to be with mommy.

Here are some pictures from our trip.  Just remember these are the pictures that I am choosing to share.  I’m not sharing the pictures of Jack crying because of the sand or the 100 selfies we took together while everyone else was off doing their own thing.  But those are just the realities of vacations with a toddler.

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

 My Bathing suit (EXACT) || Jack’s Bathing suit (EXACT) || My Hat (SIMILAR)

 Shirt and Pants (EXACT)

My view from the kiddy pool!


 Hat (SIMILAR) || Sunglasses (SIMILAR)

My little family

A Love for Stripes

by Katie Haller

I know that I’m not alone when I say that I LOVE STRIPES!  It’s no secret.  For whatever reason, the black and white pattern catches my eye every time.  But each pattern of stripes that I buy is a little different than the rest.  When I go shopping, I am so practical.  I look for clothes that I’m going to get good use out of and that can be worn over and over again.  For me, stripes are always the answer.  
I went on a fast from shopping last month.  After Memorial Day, I told myself that I wasn’t allowed to buy any new clothes for the month of June.  I made it through June, and since I’m going on vacation this weekend, I wanted to get a new dress.  I fell in love with this white dress with black stripes (SIMILAR) from TJMaxx.  I felt that the black on white stripes gave it a nautical feel that would be perfect for a beach vacation. 
 The best color to accessorize stripes with in my opinion is a cognac or camel brown.  It always makes the stripes pop.  I’ve been so light on my jewelry this summer because it’s so hot.  Unless I plan on spending the entire day in air conditioning, I usually just wear statement earrings of some sort.  I love these little teardrop earrings I found at Walmart for $2 (SIMILAR).  My necklaces tend to tarnish when I sweat behind my neck in the heat (#cheapjewelryproblems), so instead, I’ve been using my sunglasses (SIMILAR) as my neck accessory and wearing them in my shirt when they are not over my eyes.  This dress is perfect on its own, but I layered it with my thrifted denim vest (SIMILAR) for this look.  A denim vest makes for a great alternative to a denim jacket in the summer.  It gives the same look, but the sleeveless vest helps when it’s so hot out.  For shoes, I went with my favorite slip-on wedges (SIMILAR).  These shoes are so comfy, I can wear them for a full day and my feet don’t hurt.

For more stripe dresses and similar affordable options, shop the look below!

Surviving Summer with PinkBlush

by Katie Haller

This is my third summer living in Las Vegas.  I’d like to think that I’m getting used to the hot summers, but there is always some point in the summer, usually right around mid-July, that I get so sick of the heat.  I can handle the dry hot days of 105 degrees no problem, but when we get our first blast of humidity at the beginning of the monsoon season, that’s when I want to get in my car and drive to the coolest destination I can find.  Luckily next week I’ll be escaping to the beaches of California for a week, but I know that the hot humid days will be waiting for me when I get back. 

When I talk about a humid day in the desert, I’m talking about only 20% humidity, which is really nothing compared to a Midwest summer day, but it’s the heat that makes it so much worse.  I find it nearly impossible to get dressed with it hot and humid.  The easiest way for me to dress in the heat is in comfortable flowy dresses.  Anything that is loose-fitting is perfect.  
This post is part of a collaboration with PinkBlush.  As always my opinions are 100% my own. 
This navy blue ruffled bottom dress from PinkBlush is the perfect solution to dressing comfortably in the heat.  I love how flowy and lose it fits.  The back has a very cute lace-up crisscross tie on it, which I think gives it the perfect amount of detail.  I wore this dress last weekend while we hung out with my brother and sister-in-law, exploring some spots here in Las Vegas.  It was super hot, humid and cloudy that day.  Jack was acting up because he was tired, out of sorts and probably hot.  I think I would have been in a horrible mood if I wasn’t wearing this dress, but I ended up having a nice time with my family because I felt comfortable and cute in my outfit.     

PinkBlush 

To shop my dress and more comfortable summer dresses, check out PinkBlush!

Summer Vacation Recap

by Katie Haller

Every year, the first week of July, I get a week off work.  It’s always well deserved.  We usually head back to Michigan for the week, but this year we have a big vacation planned with my husband’s side of the family this month, so we decided to postpone our Michigan trip until later in the year.  We still were looking for something fun that we could do close by that wouldn’t cost a lot of money.  We decided to spend a couple days in Mesquite, NV at the Casablanca resort.  They have a really nice pool, and that’s pretty much all we were looking for was a nice pool to relax by.  We also haven’t explored many places in Nevada outside of the Las Vegas valley, so we thought it would be fun.

This was the first time that we took a trip with Jack to an actual hotel room.  In the past we have stayed at our families houses, which makes traveling with a baby a little more comfortable.  This little trip was much harder than our trips of the past.  Jack is so used to his schedule and routine, that he was so thrown off by our trip.  It wasn’t the relaxing trip we had hoped for.  We had to take breaks by the pool because for one it was 110 degrees and if we weren’t in the pool, I worried about Jack over heating.  And also we had to get Jack down for naps mid day or we would have a nightmare on our hands by dinner time.  When Jack is not at school, the only way I can get him to take a nap is by putting him in his car seat and going for a drive, so that’s what we did.

My husband kept comparing Jack to a dog that needs lots of space to run around and play and that was the prefect comparison.  Jack brought out all of his toddler 2 year old behaviors.  He tried running away from us through a busy casino, threw stuff at us and screamed when we were eating in restaurants and he tried running off into the pool on his own.  He basically did everything he could to give his parents a heart attack.  He acted like we have never taken him out in public before.  My husband kept saying how nice it would be if we left Jack at home with someone.  Yes, it would of been nice to spend one on one time with Kevin, but we are at this stage in our lives and we just need to embrace it.  Does having a 2 year old make it hard to relax and enjoy yourself when you go out?  YES!  Do I wish it was just the 2 of us still?  NO!

Even though things are harder with a toddler, he’s adorable and funny and we love him so much.  He always makes us smile no matter what.  I know that we will one day look back on our little mini family vacation and have happy memories.  We will laugh at his two year old behavior and think it was cute (not yet, but one day).  We will miss his little words that he tries to say and the way he acts out his videos that he watches on YouTube kids.  
All I have to say is that if you are a parent, don’t let the fact that outings and trips are harder hold you back.  Yes life was easier before kids, but you do what you have to do.  Your toddler may not remember the trips you went on, but you will and it’s so worth it in the end.  Now I’m only hoping that our California trip goes a little smoother.

Photo Shoot in the Art’s District

by Katie Haller

Hey guys! I’m so excited about today’s blog post!  A couple of weeks ago, I met up with a local Las Vegas photographer, Elissa Rangel for an outfit photoshoot.  When she contacted me to collaborate with her I was super excited.  For one, I take my own blog pictures and I thought it would be fun to work with someone who actually knows what they are doing.  And for two, I had seen Elissa’s photos on her Instagram page and I could see she had a lot of talent.  

Elissa is from California and has lived in Las Vegas for about 3 years, just like me.  She has a daughter who she often uses as a model in her photographs.  On her blog, Elissa shares some great photography tips like What to Wear to Your Photo Session and 5 Tips to Help You Take Better Pictures of Your Child (tips I desperately need!!).  Elissa also has a YouTube channel where she shares her editing techniques and photography inspiration and tips.  
I met with Elissa on a hot Saturday morning in the Art’s District in Downtown Las Vegas.  If you have never been to the Art’s District, I suggest you go.  It’s a different side of Las Vegas that most tourists never see.  No casinos, but it’s filled with vintage antique stores, pawnshops, thrift stores, brewery’s, yummy restaurants and trendy coffee shops.  Just like in many cities in America, downtown Las Vegas is being revitalized by its hipsters and artist community.  It’s really the perfect spot to take blog pictures. 
Elissa was great to work with.  She was very nice and professional.  I warned her that I was not a model.  I’m still not very comfortable with getting my picture taken, even though I share pictures of myself and my outfits all the time on my blog and social media.  Elissa made me feel very comfortable in front of the camera.  She made some suggestions and had a few visions on what kind of shots she wanted to get.  She was also opened to the ideas that I had.  
We shot 3 different outfits, which for me was very hard to narrow down.  Typically, I get an idea in my head for an outfit and I put it on when I have time and take a few quick pictures.  This photoshoot took some planning for me.  I have been trying to be resourceful with my wardrobe lately, so I told myself that I wasn’t allowed to go shopping for anything new for this posts.  I had to find pieces in my closet that I could re-wear in new ways.  I feel like the outfits were a good choice and show off my style well. 
*This post contains affiliate links, which means by clicking on and/or making a purchase through a link, I will earn a commission for this blog.  Thank you for your support!
Top– Shein (exact) || Shorts- Charlotte Russe (exact) || Sandals- Burlington Coat Factory (similar) Earrings- Target (similar) || Purse- Ross (similar) || Sunglasses-Glassesshop (similar) 
Top- Old Navy (similar) || Kimono- PinkBlush (exact) || Shorts- Charlotte Russe (similar) || Shoes- ThredUP (similar) || Purse- Last Call Neiman Marcus (similar) || Necklace- Nordstrom Rack (similar)

Dress- Express (similar) || Necklace- Nordstrom Rack (similar) || Purse- Last Call Neiman Marcus (similar)  || Shoes- Target (similar) || Earrings- Walmart (similar) Sunglasses- Glassesshop (similar)

I’m thrilled with the way these photos turned out.  I really love the urban feel of the setting.  I want to say a big thank you to Elissa for letting me be her model for the day and sharing these beautiful photos with me.  To learn more about Elissa and find out her rates, head over to her website elissarangel.com or check out her Instagram @elissarangelphotography.

Adding a Pop of Color to Your Wardrobe

by Katie Haller

I love color, but when it comes to my wardrobe, I often stick to neutral and dark colors.  I’m always drawn to black, white, browns and nudes.  That’s why I am always looking for ways to add some color to my wardrobe.  I often add in my color with accessories.  It’s the easiest way for me to add some color without overdoing it.  I love using a colorful purse to just add the pop of color I’m looking for.

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

I often get a lot of complements of my coral satchel purse.  It was a gift from my aunt before I moved to Las Vegas.  She said that she thought it would look perfect in the desert and she was right.  I’ve been carrying it off and on ever since I moved out to Vegas.  I love that it’s bright and it just adds that pop of color my outfits need.  I also love the classic style of this purse.  I like to find purses that have a timeless style to them.  A trendy purse can go out of style so quickly. 
Today I wanted to share some of my looks while using this purse and often some similar shopping options for you.  
 

 

So where can you find a colorful purse like mine??  Well, just like most of my wardrobe, you can’t find my exact item in stores anymore.  But you can find some similar classic colorful purses like mine.  For me, I always have good luck at stores like TJMaxx, Marshalls and Burlington Coat Factory.  Usually, you can find some decent brands with good quality for under $40.  I do love classic brands like Coach and Kate Spade and I’m a big fan of outlet shopping, so if you want to make a splurge, I recommended checking out the outlet stores.  The other two places I always find really cute purses for a decent price are Target and Charming Charlie.  Charming Charlie probably has the best selection of colors.  Below I have some colorful purses that I found for under $80. 

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