Thrifty Wife Happy Life

What I Wore- Living Out of a Suitcase

February 1, 2015 by Katie Haller

I’m going on week three of living out of my suitcase. It’s not an ideal situation, but I’m doing my best with wearing what I packed. I’ve never been great at packing. I would call myself an over-packer. I tend to want to bring my entire closet with me when I travel, but we all know that’s not possible. It wasn’t an easy task packing a month’s worth of clothes into 2 suitcases. Both needing to meet the airline’s weight policy for checked bags, which is 40 pounds apiece. Luckily, I just made the cut.

I’ve been trying to repeat my clothes as much as possible to keep my laundry load down. I have a few favorite key pieces that I’ve been getting a lot of use out of. Some are new, while others I’ve had in my closet for a while.

Here are a few of my favorites from this week…

My Navy Blazer from Target (similar)- I found this blazer at Target online back in the fall. It was $29.99, which is at the top of my price range, but it was something I had been wanting for a long time, plus I had a gift card. Since it’s been a bit chilly in Nevada, this blazer has been the perfect jacket to style up my casual outfits.
My Coral Necklace from Charming Charlie (similar)- I found this necklace a week ago at Charming Charlie on clearance for $7.99. I just love a statement necklace! It can really dress up any outfit. As you will see, I’m kind of obsessed with this necklace.
My coral leather Coach purse (similar)- I’m in love with my new purse! My aunt surprised me with a beautiful new coral Coach leather purse for Christmas this year. She knows how I have a love for Coach purses, and she also knows I won’t go buy one for myself, so she wanted to get me one. It’s the perfect size for traveling and the color goes great in the desert.
My beige top from Kohl’s (Similar)- I found this top at Kohl’s in the clearance section for $6. It’s lightweight and perfect for the weather right now in Las Vegas. It’s light enough to layer under a blazer or just wear it on its own.
My nude ballet flats (similar)- I found these on clearance at Target for $8.99. I’ve been looking for a new pair of flats for a while and these were the perfect price.

So here are a few of my looks from the week..

Beige top- Kohl’s

Coral necklace- Charming Charlie

Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad

Flats- Target

Purse- Coach

(Please ignore the hideous carpet of the hotel room)

Beige top- Kohl’s

Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad

Navy Blazer- Target

Coral Necklace– Charming Charlie

Shoes- Toms

Purse- Coach

Black blazer- LC Lauren Conrad

Jeans- Target

Tank top- Old Navy

Shoes-Target

Necklace- Charming Charlie

Navy Blazer- Target

Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad

Shoes- Target

Grey T-shirt- Target

Green Beaded Necklace- Target

Necklace- Charming Charlie

Black Sweater- Target

Striped black and grey shirt- Target

Jeans- Jessica Simpson

Boots- Target

Life Update- A New Life in Las Vegas

January 31, 2015 by Katie Haller

I feel like all I’ve been doing for the past couple of months is talking about moving and thinking about moving. Well, now it’s all actually happening. Monday afternoon I left Michigan with my 70 pounds of luggage and headed out to Las Vegas to finally meet up with my husband and see where I will be living.

Somewhere over the southwest

Once I landed in Vegas, I was very disappointed to see that the January clouds of the Midwest had followed me. I had been looking forward to seeing the sunshine when I arrived, instead, I had rain and clouds. At least I know that this is not the norm for Las Vegas.

A cloudy Las Vegas

I have to admit that living out of a hotel is extremely weird for me. Hotels are places I usually stay in when I’m on vacation, so it’s very odd for me to be living this way. At least I’m with a hotel expert. My husband is a master at surviving in a hotel. He amazed me last night with his skills of making plates out of a pizza box and then turning the rest of the box into a small storage container for the leftovers. (This is not a DIY project I’ll be pinning on Pinterest anytime soon, but still, I have to hand it to him, he knows how to be creative.) He’s been teaching me all his tricks, but I’m still eager to have a home of our own and reunite with all our belongings.

Some pictures from our night out on the Las Vegas strip.

We’ve spent some time exploring the town. The one great thing about Las Vegas is that there is always something to do. There are so many things to see! We have had the opportunity to enjoy one of the perks of my husband’s new job… free tickets to Vegas shows! We got to see Rod Stewart at Caesars Palace this week. It was a fun way to get out and be entertained for the night, and hey… you can’t beat free! Now I can only hope he can get free tickets to see Britney Spears 😉

It’s definitely going to take some time before we are settled in here, but until then, I’ll continue to enjoy my time and look forward to all the new experiences!

The Joys of Moving

January 18, 2015 by Katie Haller

I apologize for the lack of post lately. I’ve been extremely busy finishing up my last couple of weeks at work. Besides working, the majority of my time has been spent getting ready for our big cross country move!

I have to tell you… I love the thought of new beginnings, but I absolutely despise moving. I don’t care if it’s moving across town or moving across the country…I hate moving! The thing that I dislike the most about moving is packing up everything that I own and then being in limbo. The last time we moved it was only across town, but there was a month in-between selling our condo and our lease starting at our new apartment. We had to pack up everything and store it all in my in-law’s garage, while we stayed with them for a month. This time is not much different, the only BIG difference is that we’re moving across the country to Nevada. Since my husband has to go straight from training to work, we will be in a transitional state until at least the end of February. Which means… our stuff will be packed up and stored until we find a place to live. This is the part I hate the most…parting with all my positions for a questionable amount of time. I know it sounds silly, but I miss my stuff, especially my wardrobe.

All packed and ready to go! I’m amazed that all of our stuff fit into such a small space.

The good news is that everything is coming together. Kevin is all done with his training and I have only 1 more week of work left. I’ll be flying out to Las Vegas before I know it! I’m extremely excited and nervous all at the same time. I can’t wait for a fresh start, but I have to admit I will miss our life here in Michigan. At least I know it’s only a plane ride away. I will try to keep all of you updated on our adventure!

Oh yeah… one more thing. I might be slacking in outfit post due to the fact that I just locked up the majority of my closet in our pod 🙁

Katie’s Closet~What I Wore this Week

January 2, 2015 by Katie Haller

While most of you were enjoying your long holiday breaks from work these past 2 weeks, I’ve been working. (If you can’t tell, I’m just a little bitter about this. But don’t feel too bad for me. I did get a few days off.) The one good thing about working over Christmas break is that I get a chance to play around with my wardrobe a little more than usual.

I’ve been doing a little bit of shopping here and there, so I had the chance to wear some of my new clothes this week. I also played around with my old clothes, creating some new looks for the workweek.

Monday
On Monday I got creative and tried out a layering look. I layered a denim button-down, under a striped long sleeve shirt, with a blazer on top. Being in the classrooms so much at work, this is not a look I would attempt on a normal day, but for the office this week, it worked out great.

A layered look with denim button down, over striped shirt with a navy blazer

Navy Blazer- Target

Green Pants- Old Navy

Navy Striped Shirt- Old Navy

Denim Button Down- Target

Brown Boots- Target

Necklace (New)- Meijer ($7, I’m really loving this new accessory!)

Tuesday
I really love this polka-dot blouse. I can already tell that I’m going to get a lot of use out of it.

LC Lauren Conrad Collection Polka-dot blouse

Black Blazer- LC Lauren Conrad

Polka-dot Blouse- LC Lauren Conrad

Black Jeggings- Jessica Simpson

Flats- Audrey Brooke

Necklace- Charming Charlie

Wednesday
This black skirt is a hand-me-down from my mom. I loved that I had the chance to wear it this week. It’s such a classic skirt. It’s the perfect staple to have in my closet.

Black skirt, accessorized with a leopard print scarf

Black Tank Top- Old Navy
Sweater- Old Navy
Black Skirt- Ann Taylor
Scarf- Charming Charlie
Boots- DSW
Leg Warmers- Five Below

Thursday
It was nice having a day off in the middle of the week. I get excited any time I can wear jeans!

Black shirt accessorized with pearls and rhinestone necklace

Black Shirt (new)- This is another Meijer find. I’m always surprised by the bargains I find while grocery shopping. This top was $5.
Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad
Brown Boots- DSW
Necklace- Meijer

Friday
This little sweater dress is nice and comfortable. It’s perfect for my job.

Sweater Dress (New)- TJ Maxx ($10 clearance find)

Scarf- Five Below

Leg Warmers- Five Below

Brown Boots- DSW

So that sums up my outfits for the week. I hope everyone had a Happy New Year!

5 Ways to Avoid Buyers Remorse

December 26, 2014 by Katie Haller

I know that we have all experienced a case of buyers’ remorse from time to time. How many times have you bought something at the store and said “this is cute, I’ll wear it one day”, then that one day never comes? We’ve all made those impulse purchases before.

When you’re living on a budget, it’s extremely important to avoid buyers’ remorse at all coast! No one wants to have regrets, especially when it comes to spending money. This time of the year can be difficult, with all the after Christmas sales out there, it’s important not to get lured in by the price tags. You want to be sure that you always are making smart purchases on things you will actually use.

Here are a few quick tips on how I have learned to avoid making impulse purchases.

1.) Just because it’s on sale, does not mean you have to buy it!

I’ve made this mistake before. I see a great deal on a piece and decide to buy it. Then when I get it home, I realize that it’s the wrong color and I have nowhere to wear it. Be smart when shopping. Ask yourself “Do I need this?” “Can I wear this?” “Is it practical?” If you answered no to any of these questions, put it back!

2.) Try on clothes at the store

If your questioning a purchase, be sure to try it on at the store. There is no better way to talk yourself out of buying something, than trying it on under those horrible lights in the store fitting rooms. (This is most likely the reason I have not bought a new bathing suit in 2 years.) If you still love the piece, despite the lighting and your static electric hair sticking up, then it’s worth buying. If it’s still a maybe, put it back!

3.) Carry your future purchase around the store with you

I find when I build a collection of clothes on my arm, I’m more likely to put it all back before I leave the store. It gives me time to really think about what I’m about to buy. I like to spend time weighing the pros and cons of the purchase.

4.) Bring a shopping buddy along

Having a friend with you can be a good thing. They can be the voice of reason you are looking for while shopping. For some reason, I make most of my impulse buys when I’m shopping on my own. Just make sure you bring a friend who also shares the same views as you on shopping.

5.) Make a list before you shop

I keep an ongoing list of clothes that I really want to add to my closet right on my notes on my phone. This way I can always refer to it when I’m out shopping. Once I find what I’m looking for (at the right price), I take it off the list and add more. This is the best way for me to avoid those impulse purchases on an item I’ll regret later.

Hopefully, you can use these tips while your out shopping all the after Christmas sales this weekend! Have fun shopping with no regrets!

Celebrity looks~ Lauren Conrad

December 21, 2014 by Katie Haller

*This post contains affiliate links.
Post updated 8/7/2019
During my sophomore year of college, a show came out on MTV about a bunch of drama prone high school students growing up in Laguna Beach, CA. This show was of course called Laguna Beach. Even though I was a college student at the time, I wasn’t far from my high school years. My friends and I could definitely relate to the stories. But it was never the drama on the show that kept me watching. I loved watching the show mostly to see what the girls were wearing. There was one girl, in particular, that was my favorite. Her friends called her LC. I remember being obsessed with her chunky white purse, oversized sunglasses, and layered tank tops. I did my best to recreate her California teenage beach style looks. After Laguna Beach was over, I continued watching LC as she matured, moved to LA and became a fashion intern for Teen Vogue on The Hills.

Lauren Conrad continues to be a fashion inspiration for me as an adult. Her looks are so classic, practical and chic. I have to say, I might have to put her ahead of Kate Middleton on my fashion crush list. I recently read her book Style. After reading this book, and following her lifestyle blog, I’ve learned that there is not much that I disagree with this girl when it comes to fashion. I just love her basic fashion advice!

These are a few classic Lauren Conrad looks

With the LC Lauren Conrad line at Kohls, it makes it easy to recreate Lauren Conrad’s looks at an affordable price. I absolutely love this line! I’ve found some really great deals on blazers, jeans, tops, and even jewelry. Being the bargain shopper that I am, I, of course, look through the clearance racks at Kohl’s to find these clothes at a great price. Her line can be a bit pricy for me at times, so Kohl’s coupons are also another great way to save money on her clothes.

This look is completely from LC Lauren Conrad at Kohls, minus the shoes. The blazer (Exact) I found a year ago. (You can read about this shopping find HERE.) I used coupons, and I ended up spending around $12 for an originally $70 blazer. The jeans (Similar, Similar) were a clearance find for under $10, and the top (Exact) is new. It’s my favorite top right now! I found it online at Kohl’s on Cyber Monday. It was on sale for $19.99, but I used a 20% off coupon and got it for $15.99. I wouldn’t say that it’s one of my best steals, but it was definitely a great deal, especially because I just saw it on sale today for $24.99.

In Lauren Conrad’s book Style, she talks about the importance of the LBD (Little Black Dress). I could not agree more about this. Black is my go-to color. I love it! When it comes time to picking out a dress, I always gravitate towards a black dress. You can’t go wrong with black. You can dress it up or dress it down, add color or sparkle. Having a little black dress is a must-have in your closet, especially if you’re trying to be a thrifty shopper.

A little black dress is perfect for any occation

This is one of my favorite little black dresses (similar). I bought it at T.J. Maxx for my rehearsal dinner almost 4 years ago. I needed a dress, but couldn’t find a typical rehearsal dinner dress, so I went with a dress that I knew best and felt the most comfortable in. Since then I’ve worn this dress to a handful of weddings and other occasions. I just accessorize it differently each time I wear it.

I love Lauren Conrad’s casual looks. She does a great job of looking youthful, but also mature.

Here is my attempt at recreating her casual style. My shirt (Similar) is an LC Lauren Conrad clearance find. I tucked it into a dark pair of Jessica Simpson skinny jeans (Similar). Then I accessorized it with a skinny brown belt, leopard flats, and some fun bracelets.

What’s your favorite Lauren Conrad look?

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