Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

Making the Most of Your Wardrobe- Blush Long Cardigan

by Katie Haller

Happy New Year everyone!  I know I’m a week late, but it’s been a busy couple of weeks.  We were in Michigan over Christmas and then I went back to work on Tuesday.  My month is only going to get busier because we are moving into a new house at the end of January.  I’m so excited, but I have so much to do to prepare.  I apologize in advance for the lack of a blog post this month.  

As you can see, I’ve made a few changes to my blog for the new year.  One of my new year goals was to make some changes to improve my blog this year.  I still just enjoy blogging for fun, so I’m not ready to make any major changes yet, but I thought a new look might freshen it up for the new year.  This blog is always a work in progress.  I just want to thank everyone for your emails, pins likes and just for reading Thrifty Wife, Happy Life!  I felt like 2016 was a major year for my blog.  I gained so many new readers and followers, so thank you!  It means a lot to me!  I look forward to making 2017 an even better year! 
Today, I thought that I would share a post that I started working on before Christmas.  I bought this blush long cardigan sweater at Target (exact) while I was doing a bit of Christmas shopping.  My closet is full of neutral colors, so I thought it might be nice to have a blush cardigan to add a touch of color.  I love how versatile cardigans can be.  You can layer them over almost any top.  Here are four ways that I’ve styled my blush cardigan. 
For this first look, I layered the cardigan over a black LC Lauren Conrad top from Kohl’s (similar).  I like how the blouse dresses up a simple look with leggings. 
I feel like I’m always wearing stripes, so of course, I layered the cardigan with my stripe tunic from Old Navy (exact).  I like to cuff my long sleeve shirts when I layer them with a sweater.  I just like the look that it gives. 
For this look, I added a green statement necklace to add some more color to the look.  Pink and green are 2 of my favorite colors, so I always like to mix them together.
I always love a good scarf layered look.  I really love this simple silver scarf.  I found it at Five Below for $5 a few years back.  I always say that I will buy my clothes and accessories from any store, as long as it’s cute and a good deal.  Sometimes you never know what you will find at stores like Five Below or the Dollar Tree.  This simple scarf is one of my most worn scarves because it’s so basic and matches every outfit. 
That’s how I’m styling my long cardigan.  How do you style your cardigans?

Instagram Outfit Review- End of 2016

by Katie Haller

 It’s been a while since my last Instagram outfit review.  This is the last one for 2016!  I have posted a lot of outfits on Instagram since my last review, so here are some of my favorites. 

Top- Old Navy
Cardigan-Target
Jeggings- Old Navy
Shoes- Burlington Coat Factory 
Purse- Savers
Top- Old Navy
Sweater- Macy’s 
Leggings- Last Call Neiman Marcus
Ankle Boots- Burlington Coat Factory 
Purse- Last Call Neiman Marcus
Top- Kohl’s 
Cardigan- H&M
Jeans- Target
Necklace- Charming Charlie 
Top- H&M
Cardigan- H&M
Boots- Target 
Scarf- Kohl’s 
Top- Target
Cardigan- Target
Scarf- Target 

Top- Nordstrom Rack
Jacket- Meijer
Scarf- DSW

Scarf- Charming Charlie 

Blazer- Kohl’s

Necklace- Target
Purse- Last Call Neiman Marcus 

Top- Target
Scarf- Five Below
Shoes- Target

Jeans- Meijer 

Necklace- Burlington Coat Factory 

Cardigan- Target 

Boots- DSW

Top- Target
Necklace- Target 

Scarf- Nordstrom 

Coat- Old Navy- thrifted from Savers
I hope you liked my looks from this year!  As always, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @thriftywifehappylife.  Have a great New Year and look for more affordable outfit posts in 2017!!

My Closet- Holiday Looks

by Katie Haller

Every year around the holidays, I like to do a post for budget friendly holiday outfits.  This year, I have put together a few simple looks that I am planning on wearing over Christmas break.  I am flying home to spend Christmas in Michigan and my week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is completely booked with family gatherings.  I can’t wait to see everyone, but of course, I like to have an idea of what I’m wearing.  It’s always best to plan your outfits ahead of time so that you don’t have to worry about thinking about what to wear on the day of an event.  Here are some of the outfits that I have planned to wear for the holidays. 
 
 I’m planning on wearing this look for Christmas Eve.  I love wearing leggings and boots with a simple dress.  I accessorized it with some of my favorite Christmas accessories; my infinity scarf from DSW (similar) and my red boyfriend cardigan from Target (similar).
I recently bought this cranberry colored cowl neck sweater from Target (similar).  I love how it looks with leggings, boots and leg warmers.  I think this would be such a cozy Christmas Day look. 
I love my new grey plaid scarf from Banana Republic Factory (similar and similar).  I love the neutral colors, it can be paired with any outfit almost.  For this look, I wore it with a forest green shirt which gives it that Christmas look. 
I bought this cream top at Target (similar) last year and I love accessorizing it with this green necklace from Charming Charlie (similar).  I always like to accessorize with green and red around Christmas time and this necklace is perfect for that. 

Those are my Christmas looks.  What are you planning on wearing over the holidays?

Traveling with a Baby- What to Bring on the Airplane

by Katie Haller

I am looking forward to traveling to Michigan over the holidays to celebrate Jack’s first Christmas with all our family!  However, whenever the thought of traveling with a baby comes up, I tend to get very anxious.  There is just so much to think about and so much to pack!  I’ve been making lists in my head of all the baby essential I will need for the airplane, so I thought I would share some of the items that I will be bringing with me.  

The last time I flew with Jack was in July and he was only 4 months.  It was a little easier because we took a red-eye flight and Jack slept the entire way there.  This time, we have an early morning flight and Jack is an active 10-month-old.  I’m no professional jet setting parent, but each time I travel, I learn a little more about how to make it easier on myself.  So here are some of the baby essentials I have come up with for air travel.
1.) Large tote purse- I always bring a big purse on the airplane.  On most airlines, you are allowed to bring one personal item and one carry on bag, that’s why I always like to make sure that I have lots of space to pack in my personal item.  Plus, I have been using my purse as my diaper bag, so the more space the better! 
2.) Ergo Carrier- Last time I traveled with Jack, this was so handy.  I liked being able to wear him and have my hands free.  He also seemed more content being close to me in his carrier. 
3.) Stroller and Car Seat- Last time I traveled, I checked my stroller and car seat at the gate.  I kept Jack in his car seat connected to the stroller until we got to security.  Once we passed the security, I wore Jack and I used my travel system to put all my bags in.  This made it easier to maneuver my way through the airport. 
4.) Large tote bag- When we flew in July, I used my diaper bag as my carry on, but I ran out of space.  This time I am using a large tote bag as my carry on to be sure I have an extra room, especially if we need to bring home some Christmas presents. 

5.) Travel Size Wipes- Wipes are a must and the more the better.  I use wipes for everything with Jack.  My friend had sent me a care package from The Honest Company right after Jack was born, so I have lots of travel size wipes.  An awesome thing about the Honest company is that you can send away for a free trial kit with only having to pay for the shipping.  They will send you a bunch of samples, so you can load up on some travel size wipes and other fun travel size products for the next time you fly.

6.) Changing Mat- I hate using public restrooms for changing diapers, but it’s going to happen when you’re traveling with a baby, so it’s best to be prepared.  I use the changing mat that came with my diaper bag, but I would love a travel size mat like the one above to fit into my purse. 
7.) Diapers- That’s kind of a given.  Just make sure that you bring enough for the trip, you never know when your little one is going to have a surprise for you! 
8.) Travel size diaper cream and lotion- I use the California baby travel size diaper cream and lotion because I got them in a gift set at my shower.  It’s always good to have travel-size toiletries for your baby. 

9.) Light Weight Jacket- I like to dress in layers when traveling, so I dress my baby in layers too.  You never know if it will be cold or warm on the plane.  It’s just best to have a little jacket. 
10.) Comfortable 2 piece outfits with Extras!!!- It’s best to dress your baby in comfortable easy to change outfits while traveling.  I’d also be sure to pack extra clothes, at least 2 extra outfits in your carry on.  You never know what could happen. 
11.) Books- I’m going to try bringing books for Jack’s entertainment.  I figure that they are a quiet toy and he enjoys them.  I’m nervous about keeping him entertained during the flight, so any kind of toy will do. 
12.) Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets- We love these blankets!  They were one of my favorite shower gifts and they are perfect for traveling.  They are so lightweight and easy to pack.  They’re perfect for the plane!
13.) Pacifiers– My little guy is loving his pacifier right now, especially while he’s teething.  I’ve always heard that it’s a good idea to have a pacifier on hand while flying because of the pressure changes in a baby’s ears.  Jack’s favorite brand is Mam Pacifier, everything else he just chews on.  I like the glow in the dark pacifiers because they are easy to find in my large purse.

14.) Ready to Feed Formula- You are allowed to bring formula or breast milk through security, so this time I fly, I’m going to buy the ready to feed formula.  Last time we flew, I was breastfeeding still, so I wasn’t as concerned about running out of bottles.  This time, I need to make sure that I have enough formula and I’d rather not have to worry about mixing a bottle on the plane.
15.)Burp Clothes- My poor baby is a spit up machine.  He has been ever since he was born, that’s why lots of burp cloths are always a must for me.
16.) Baby food Pouch- Baby food in a pouch is perfect for traveling.  There is little cleanup and they can give your baby a quick healthy meal on the go.  
17.) Sippy Cup- I’ll be bringing a sippy cup of water to help make sure Jack stays hydrated and also give him some entertainment.  I’ve always liked the Playlex sippy cups, and Jack does too!
18.) Snack bowl-  Snacks are a must for the plane.  If he gets fussy, I’m hoping that the snacks will keep him quiet.  
If that seems like a lot of stuff….it is!  I didn’t even mention any of the things that I will be bringing on the plane.  Let me know if there is anything I need to add.  I’m sure I’ll forget something.  Good luck to anyone traveling this holiday season with their little ones!  It will all be worth it once you get to your destinations! 

Teacher Gifts Under $20!!

by Katie Haller

When it comes to buying Christmas gifts, I’m not one to go overboard and try to find the perfect gift for everyone I know.  I usually just stick to family members, however, there are certain people that I feel do deserve a Christmas gift and that is my child’s teacher.  After being a teacher myself, I know how much we appreciate the thought.  There is nothing cuter than seeing your students all proud to give you something that they picked out or helped wrap up.  This year is the first year that I get to go to teacher shopping for Jack’s daycare teachers.  I know they work so hard and take such good care of my little guy while I’m at work, I want to give them something so that they know that I appreciate them. 
I decided to put together a list of some of my favorite teacher gifts that I’ve come across this year. Best of all they are all under $20!

 One| Cable Knit Mittens $12.97
Winter outerwear always makes for a great teacher gift.  Preschool and elementary teachers do spend a decent amount of time outside on the playground, so mittens like these ones from Nordstrom Rack are the perfect gift with the perfect price!

Two| Plaid Blanket Wrap  $16.97
I love getting accessories as gifts.  Plaid is everywhere this season, so I love this Steve Madden Plaid scarf from Nordstrom Rack.  Us teachers love our scarves, especially if we have a chilly classroom.

Three| “I Teach there for I drink” Wine Glass $14.94
This teacher wine glass from Walmart makes a great gift!  Trust me, most people who spend all day working with children, like to come home and relax with a glass of wine.  If you want, I’d even throw in a bottle of wine to go with the glass, I’m just saying 😉

Four| Kate Spade thermal mug $18.00
Teachers always end up with tons of Christmas coffee mugs.  What about trading out the traditional snowman mug with this adorable Kate Spade thermal mug?  Teachers are on the go and it’s so much easier to fill your thermal mug on the way to work, rather than a regular coffee mug.

Five| Knee High Boot Socks $5
Socks always make a great gift, because if you’re like me, you don’t like to buy socks for yourself.  Any kind of cute socks will do.  Personally, I love these knee high socks from Target.  They are perfect to wear with your boots or just around the house.

Six| Antica Farmacista Pomegranate Candle $16.97
If you want to play it safe, you can never go wrong with a candle as a teacher gift.  I love these Antics Farmacista soy blend candles at Nordstrom Rack.  They smell great, and burn nicely.  Any teacher would appreciate a gift like this.

Seven| OPI Breakfast at Tiffany’s Nail Mini Set $14.50
I always love all the gift sets out there this time of the year!  Sometimes giving a teacher a little something to pamper herself at home can be just what they may need.  For me,  I personally love this OPI gift set at Macy’s!  It has a good mix of colors that anyone can appreciate.

Eight| Alex and Ani Apple of Abundance Bracelet $20
Sometimes you want to give something a little more sentimental.  Jewelry is always the perfect gift when you want to show that you really care and appreciate all the hard work your child’s teacher puts into their job.  This charm bracelet at Nordstrom says just that, without an expensive price tag. (The price has been fluctuating with sales over the past week, but its original price is $28.)

Those are my teacher gift ideas.  If your still at a loss for a teacher gift, I will say that you can never go wrong with a gift card.  My two favorite teacher gift cards are always Starbucks and Target.  What will you be giving your child’s teacher this year? 

Thrifty Looks- Favorite Thrift Store Dresses

by Katie Haller

The last couple of months have just been a blur for me.  Jack is so busy that my days are filled with chasing him around the house, feeding him, cleaning up after him and pretty much spending every moment thinking about him.  I’ve been wanting to get back into doing some more outfit post, however, it’s not as easy as it used to be in my pre-baby life.  Sometimes I feel like I’m lacking in my creativity.  I decided that I would do a “Thrifty Looks” series of posts to share some of my favorite thrift stores finds.  I always like to stay true to the theme of my blog and show off my affordable clothing.  I thought that by sharing my favorite thrift store finds and how simple it can be to incorporate them into my everyday wardrobe, would be the perfect way to do just that!

  Today, I thought that I would share some of my dresses that I’ve bought at either the Salvation Army or Savers in the past few years.  I was recently looking through my closet and I realized that probably about 50% of my dresses have been bought at thrift stores.  Dresses are just one of those items that are always a great find at a thrift store.  They are usually cheap, and unless its something too flashy, they usually won’t go out of style anytime soon.  I love to adopt dresses into my own closet and accessorize them up.

Here are 4 thrift store dresses, all under $5.  This is how I am accessorizing them for fall and winter this year.

 

This first dress is a simple brown dress that I bought a few years back at the Salvation Army.  Brown isn’t always my favorite color on me, but because of how comfortable and basic this dress is, I’ve kept it.  This fall, I’ve decided to style it with an infinity scarf and taupe ankle boots.  The purse is also a thrift store find from this past Memorial Day sale at Savers (post here).
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I bought this Forever 21 t-shirt dress at Savers last year at the Labor Day sale (post here).  I love how comfortable this dress is.  I recently styled it with my denim jacket, ankle boots, a silver scarf, and my thrifted brown purse again. 
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This dress is actually a hand me down from my mom, but it was purchased at a second-hand store.  I love how simple and classic this dress is on its own, but it also looks great layered up as well.  For this look here, I added my leopard scarf, denim jacket, black wedge shoes, and my brown purse again. 
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I bought this simple fitted black dress at the Salvation Army a few years ago.  I believe I only paid $2 for it.  I love black dresses because you can never go wrong with an LBD.  I feel that you can never have enough black dresses in your closet, especially when you’re buying them for only $2, right?  I styled up this dress with my grey blazer, turquoise pendant necklace, my blush crossbody purse, and black peep-toed shoes.  
Being a thrifty shopper will always help out your bank account and you can still have a great collection of clothes.  Just keep your eye out for those special pieces.  Do you have any great thrift store finds hanging in your closet?

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