Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Thrift Store Look

January 24, 2018 by Katie Haller

I feel like ever since I moved to Las Vegas 3 years ago, my closet has been overtaken by thrifted clothes. I’ve always loved to thrift shop, but now I have such a great selection of thrift stores in my area. It’s so hard to go back to shopping at normal stores after you have just finished a shopping spree at a thrift store.

On my most recent thrifting trip, I went to my local Goodwill store. I’m a VIP member there and they always have great sales every day. On Sunday’s they do a fill-a-bag sale, where they give you a bag and they pick a color tag that you can fill as much into your bag of that colored tag that will fit for $12.99. I’ve never actually done a fill-a-bag sale, but on this particular day I ended up finding some really cute things. I came home with 2 blouses, 3 dresses, 3 striped tops and a pair of jeans. I probably would have stuffed more in my bag, but it was getting close to nap time and Jack was getting pretty restless. Everything I bought rang up to $50 which is a pretty good deal for 8 different clothing items, but I only paid $12.99 which is even better. It’s so addicting when you get sales like this. I should also mention that you don’t pay tax at the Goodwill, which also helps keep your sale price even lower!

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

Here is one of the outfits that I bought. The top is Tart brand, which you can find that brand a lot at Nordstrom Rack. I believe the jeans are from H&M, but the tag was cut out. The jeans were super comfortable, but a little worn out, so I decided that I would distress them myself, the same way I have done it to my other jeans. (Read about how to distress your own jeans HERE.) I accessorized my look with some of my fun designer jewelry from my Rocksbox. (Be sure to try out a free month of Rocksbox. Click HERE and use my code thriftywifehappylifexoxo)

Shop my Closet Styles

Are you a thrifter? If not, I highly suggest checking out a few thrift stores in your area. Find out what the sales are and I promise, you will have a hard time going back to the mall.

Gift’s for Second Time Around Mom

January 20, 2018 by Katie Haller

Thrifty Wife, Happy Life || Gifts for a Second Time Mom

I feel like there are so many baby’s due in 2018. It just another year of babies. Everyone that I know who is having a baby in 2018 is having their second, third or even fourth or fifth baby. Expecting baby number one is so exciting. Making your registry can be such fun. Usually, you want to stock up on all the basics that you will need for your first baby. But what do you buy for an experienced mom?

Personally, as someone shopping for others, I think baby number 2 is a little more fun to shop for. You don’t have to worry about the basics as much and you can get creative with your gifts. It’s the perfect opportunity to look into some fun baby/mommy gifts that your second-time mom may not already have.

I’ve put together a list of great baby products that I think would be appropriate for most second-time moms.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that by clicking and/or making a purchase through a link will result in a small commission for this blog. I am being compensated for this post. As always my opinions are 100% my own.

One || BirdRock Baby Moccasins
I always think that baby’s look so adorable in little leather moccasins. At only $25 a pair, BirdRock Baby Moccasins are the perfect mix of quality and price for leather moccasins. They also have cute cozy fleece booties that are perfect for keeping your little one’s tootsies nice and warm in the winter. If you know someone expecting a little girl, they also have the cutest selection of leather hair bows.

Two|| DockATot
I think that DockATot is a great gift for a second-time mom. It’s perfect if you plan to co-sleep with your baby. It’s also a great safe place to put your baby down to lounge around the house away from the big kids.

Three || Newlie Tote Diaper Bag
Who wouldn’t want a new diaper bag? I know that I stuck with a more traditional diaper bag with Jack. To be honest, I rarely used it. I think that a second-time mom would definitely appreciate a new stylish diaper bag. Something nice and big, because you will need the room once you have 2 or more little ones to pack for. I love the diaper bags at Newlie co. They are so stylish and perfect for a second time mom.

Four || CoCo + Kiwi Clutch + Changing Kit

I think any mom would appreciate a cute changing kit clutch like this one from CoCo + Kiwi (HERE). I like how convenient it is to just throw a little changing kit in my purse or diaper bag.

Five || Cardimom from Multiwear
I’ve heard that nursing the second time around is not as easy as you would think it would be as an experienced mom. The Cardimom can help make nursing a little easier on you. You can wear it as part of your outfit and when it’s time to feed your baby you just use it as your cover-up. It’s perfect for nursing in public or if you don’t want to expose yourself to all your family members.

Six || Clothes
Yes, who doesn’t love to pick out cute baby clothes? It’s so fun shopping for babies. Clothes are always a good gift for any new parents. My advice if you’re baby clothes shopping for someone else is to keep in mind the seasons and climate of where they live. I had a lot of winter clothes for Jack in newborn and 3-month size, but he never got to wear some of them, because it was 80 degrees when he came home from the hospital. Also, buy clothes in all sizes. It’s always nice to have a variety of clothes because you will need them.

Seven || Honest Company – Baby Arrival Gift Set
If all else fails, you can always help the second time mom restock on all the baby essentials. My friend sent me a care package from the Honest Company right after Jack was born and it was so nice to have. The baby arrival gift set is perfect, because it comes with diapers, wipes, diaper creams and other useful baby products. Without a shower, a second time mom might be lacking in some of the basics, so this is a great gift!

Hopefully this is helpful guide for everyone needing to buy for a second time mom. And if your expecting this year, congratulation!

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!

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