Frugal Ways To Add A Little “Spring” To Your Wardrobe...

With Spring fast approaching, the urge to overhaul your entire wardrobe will inevitably arrive too. Indulging in every new color or trend can leave your budget a little drained. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to trick your mind into thinking you have a whole new wardrobe!

Fun Accessories

Spring accessories such as a new pair of sunglasses, a colorful scarf, or a fun hair wrap are all great ways to spruce up your wardrobe. This time of year, stores will have a surplus of Spring like items in gorgeous colors and patterns. You can usually find these fairly cheap at your local department store or you can look online for a great deal. Sites like Groopdealz and Cents of Style always tend to have frugal pieces that are in season.

New Makeup

One of the easiest ways to transition from Winter to Spring is to brighten up your makeup routine. Go a shade brighter with your lipstick and blush or invest in a bronzer to create a sun-kissed glow. You can also get out of the neutral eyeshadow rut and purchase a fun pastel shade. If you're trying something new, don't feel that you have to spend a lot of money to get a great result. Many drugstore makeup and nail polish brands will give you a great long lasting result at a cheap price.

Transition Pieces

Many pieces in your wardrobe can transition into warmer weather with one or two small changes. Long sleeves and jeans can be rolled up, leggings and a cardigan can be added to summer dresses and button up shirts can double as a light jacket. Think out of the box to create new looks. Look for inspiration on Pinterest to see ways that you can reuse the clothes that are already in your closet. You could even go window shopping to see how you can recreate this season’s trends.

Break Even

There are always those items that we can't resist or truly do need. For those items, do your best to break even. You can break even by trading your old clothing, or selling your clothes to cover the cost of your new purchases. This is especially easy to do by utilizing online thrift stores such as Twice or thredUp. These sites will take your old clothing and give you store credit so you can purchase quality in season items. Another way to break even is to purchase items that you can use for many different seasons.

Purchase One or Two Season Appropriate Items

If your wardrobe is seriously lacking, you can purchase one or two items that are specifically tailored for warmer weather. This could be a pretty blouse in a bright shade or pretty print, a pair of capris, or some great sandals. When purchasing these items, try to find things that work with what you already have in your wardrobe.

What are some of your favorite Spring items to add to your wardrobe?

XO Cate

Fashion Basics Every Frugal Gal Should Own

Creating a frugal wardrobe starts with creating the perfect base. I am a big fan of the mix and match system, where you have a few basic pieces that you can pair with other items to create multiple outfits. When you create a solid base, you are less tempted to spend money on every cute pair of jeans or skirt that you come across. Having basics that are versatile allows your wardrobe and budget to be maximized! Perfect for the frugal gal watching her budget. Below are a few of my must-have pieces to make your wardrobe rock.

The Perfect Pair Of Jeans 

Blue jeans are a no-brainer. They can be dressed up or down. They go with virtually anything, so naturally they are a good basic piece! There are endless styles and colors, so you are sure to find something you like. I personally like to have one light pair and one dark pair in a classic style. When choosing jeans, make sure that your base pair is one that is durable and will withstand life and multiple washes.

A Good Dress

A good dress is a great staple to have in your closet. To me, the ideal dress is one that I can layer leggings and a cardigan with for cold seasons or wear plain in the warmer months. I think a dress that is that versatile stretches my budget even further! You'll want to choose a dress that fits your lifestyle. For my lifestyle, choosing a formal gown isn't practical or useful!

Shoes

Never underestimate the power of a good shoe! This can be flats, loafers or boots. Choose a shoe that will work with your style of dress and the items that you have in your closet. Just like with jeans, you'll want to choose a pair of shoes that are durable and will last you awhile. Shoes are an area that's easy to splurge on, so finding the perfect pair for your closet can be a lifesaver!

Plain Colored Shirts

Plain colored shirts are great because they can be layered with other items and worn with dressy or casual outfits. I like to have neutral tops and a few in a color that I know makes me look my best. Shirts are another area that can be tailored to fit your personal style and preference.

While these basic pieces might not sound interesting, they provide the perfect base for your wardrobe. When these things are paired with items that are trending, it keeps your look grounded and classy. Investing in these pieces doesn't have to be expensive. Since they are classics they can be found at many thrift stores and garage sales. Overall, having these pieces in your wardrobe will save you money because you have a timeless foundation!

XO Cate- Find me on my blog HERE:)

My Shoe Staples- “Cinderella...proof that a pair of shoes can change your life! ”

Hey again! It's Mel! Today I will be talking about the staple shoes that I think everyone should have in their wardrobe to be able to mix and match to create new looks.

1. Boots. I am a boot lover. It may be because fall is my favorite season and I cannot get enough of the colorful trees and the crisp air outside. Boots are essential living in New England because it is chilly for half of the year. In the fall of 2012 I was desperately looking for a pair of boots I searched high and low, but being a cheap shopper I couldn't surrender to those price tags. This was when I made my first trip to my local Goodwill. I found a pair of boots in my size that were practically brand new, they were a beautiful mix of leather and suede and oh man I could go on and on about them... $3.99 for those new boots. Let me just tell you that I wore those boots every single day of fall and winter and loved them for two years.

Here is a little New England scenery for you, this is the Cape Cod Canal walking trails and of course my favorite boots. Then fall 2014 rolled around and my favorite  boots were looking a little ragged. The bottom of the sole had started to come off and hubby joked that the boots were trying to talk to me...Haha I will say that hubby was a good sport. We went to eight shoe stores that day including Goodwill and Savers to find new boots. The only pair that I remotely liked/ fit nicely were from Bob’s. The price sticker was $49, but I had a coupon and got them for $39. I know that this is a lot of money for a pair of shoes, but like I said boot weather is half of the year here and I know because they are such good quality they will last many years to come. Boots are so versatile and can be worn with skirts, jeans, leggings, can you tell I love boots?

2. Nude/Black Flats. Oh how I love nude flats. They are so classic and can also be dressed up or dressed down, paired with skirts, tights, leggings, jeans...My nude flats are from Target and they were $13.99. They are the most comfortable flats that I have ever owned. Black flats are also a great staple item. Mine were free because they were a Christmas gift, but they are also from Target.

3. Sneakers. In regards to sneakers I mean athletic sneakers and casual sneakers. My athletic sneakers are Nikes and I also got them at Bob’s for $25 after a coupon and $10 store credit (I suggest if you have a store near you joining their rewards club you earn store credit and they send you a free $10 credit in your birthday month). My casual Ked-like sneakers are from JC Penney and they were free. Yes, free. I joined their rewards club so I get exclusive e-mail coupons! I had a $10 off $25 coupon so I bought a cute dress that I needed for an event for $15 and got the $10 sneakers for free (they retail more than $10 but they were on clearance, score!) My Keds are my go-to shoe in the early fall and late spring.

4. Cute Sandals. Sandals are a must in the hot summer sun. I like to have white/black/ and a somewhat neutral colored pair. I usually buy mine at Target when it is the end of the summer so I have a new pair every year. The neutral pair is from Payless and I paid about $20 for them because they are a great quality and will last a long time and go with anything.Here are my favorites:

Those are the shoes that I reach for first in my closet when I am getting dressed! Of course over time (I hate to throw things away so I have shoes that are 5+ years old) and holidays/birthdays/shopping clearance or sales, etc I have been able to gather quite a collection of shoes. Shoes do not have to be expensive. No one really cares if your boots are real Uggs or Tuggs (Target Uggs). Listen to your budget and buy what you can afford. Shop second hand first and then if you need to move to discounted retail stores and use your coupons and rewards cards.

Happy Shoe shopping!

XO Mel

How to Determine Your Own Personal Style...

We all have a personal style, whether we know it or not. Some of us are girly, others are edgy. Knowing your personal style can save you a lot of money in the long run because you have a vision for the items you want to purchase. Before I knew my personal style, I had a bad case of "thrifters itch" where I picked up anything and everything I deemed cute. This made my closet cluttered and my wallet empty! Not an ideal situation!

Figuring out what your personal style is doesn't have to be difficult. Here are a few of my tips for finding your personal style.

Think About Who Inspires You

Think about what ladies, celebrities, and public figures inspire you. Maybe you admire Princess Kate's simple, elegant style or maybe you are a fan of Taylor Swift's girly ensembles. Chances are what looks you are obsessed with is the type of style that should be in your closet.

fancy by danielle-wagasky featuring a statement necklace

Make A Vision Board

Making a vision board gives you a visual reminder of your style. It's something you can easily refer back to before shopping. My vision board is Pinterest. I browse through the "Women's Style" section and pin anything that catches my eye. If you aren't sure what to call your style, refer back to this board! I found that my style was more classic, judging by the pieces that I had pinned.

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

If you see a certain trend that catches your eye, go for it! It just might end up being a part of your personal style. A good way to ease yourself into a trend is to buy an accent piece in that style. A good example would be a certain pattern or color. If you get that pattern or color in a small dose, such as a scarf or nail polish, you can try out the trend without wasting money if it's not for you.

Lil Blue Dress by danielle-wagasky featuring a white gold bracelet

Customize It

Chances are, you fall into more than one style category. Don't be afraid to embrace boho-chic or edgy-girly if that is you! Another way to customize your look is to have something that is totally you. Make your look completely your own with a signature piece, such as an item of jewelry or a certain style of purse.

Most of all, have fun determining your personal style!

XO Cate - Find more from me on my blog!

VIDEO- How to Find Your Size at the Thrift Store

I'm on youtube today, answering a reader's question. Today we are chatting about how to find your size at the thrift store...especially if you are plus size. Head on over to my channel to see the whole video :)

Have a fabulous Monday!!

XO Danielle

P.S.

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway! You could win one of two $50 gift cards to Sassy Steals:)

How to Invest in Statement Jewelry..

Hello there! My name is Melissa and I am going to be giving advice on how to be fashionable without breaking the bank.My tip for this month is to invest in good statement pieces. A statement piece is something that makes a statement and takes your outfit to a whole other level of cute! Statement pieces can be necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, scarves, purses, etc. I am obsessed with statement pieces! Here is how I organize mine:

I know that it looks like a lot, but in reality I paid almost nothing for these items. The holders were also extremely affordable. I bought the bracelet rack off of Amazon with a gift card that I got last Christmas, the earring holder is from a mail order catalog a few years ago but it was under $10, and the necklace rack was on sale at Target last year. I like to keep them somewhat color coded so that I know where to find what I am looking for quickly. 

Let me explain to you my tips on making statement pieces affordable.

1. Ask for gift cards to your favorite stores for your birthday/Christmas etc. Once you have these gift cards combine store coupons and shop the sale and clearance racks to get the best bang for your buck. My favorite places to shop for jewelry are Burlington Coat Factory and Rue21. Just about every other month Rue21 does an amazing deal (get on the e-mail list to stay in the know and get bonus coupon codes). They will e-mail a code for 40% off of your order and every $40 that you spend you get a $20 gift card to the store.

2. Do a swap with family or friends. This is something that I have always wanted to do because I think it is such a neat idea and everyone can leave home with something new for free. Serve up some desserts and spend some time with those lovely ladies in your life! 

3. Buy jewelry from thrift stores. I have not had a whole lot of luck in my area with this but I have seen other bloggers that have. I did buy a few necklaces from Goodwill for a little over a dollar and they are holding up great! Keep checking back if you do not have luck the first time you look because those stores get new shipments in daily so there is always a chance you can find that piece you are looking for!

It is very important when you are buying statement pieces that they are versatile. Which means that they need to be able to fit into more than one outfit in your closet. Here are two examples from Polyvore:

orange by melissa-mcgovern featuring Frame Denim

gold by melissa-mcgovern featuring high rise jeans

As you can see the sets can be dressed up or dressed down and the pieces still work well together. This is an important factor to keep costs down and to not have to buy a ton of different pieces. I would recommend if you are just starting out buying statement pieces to have one good gold and silver and one bright colored piece and then grow your collection from there. Be adventurous in your fashion journey! Mix and match colors and patterns that you normally would not put together. Try new things and see what works for you. I know you will look fabulous!

XO Mel

Find me on Pinterest :)

Fashion Inspiration Thursday: Fall Inspired Pieces

Hi lovelies!Today I have been thinking a lot about Fall fashion. The temperatures have not dropped to sweater weather yet here, but you can definitely start layering a bit more now that it is not sweltering outside. Living in the desert does something to a fashionista Mama....it makes you not want to get dressed...let alone be fashionable. In the summer it gets over 110'. When it is that hot it is just plain stupid. Your makeup melts off like five minutes after you apply it...no matter what you wear you sweat.....and don't even get me started on the hair (frizzy hot mess from the sweat and heat). Because of all of this, I find that my fashion sense suffers in the summer. I feel like summer is a time to just sit in the pool and not look in the mirror to see the hot mess you have become (oh is it just me who does this?), but something happens come October in Las Vegas. It is like my version of spring. All of a sudden you aren't melting the moment you leave your house. You can take a shower and not sweat the moment you get out. It is amazing people! Absolutely magical! When October comes around I feel my fashionista start to wake up. No longer is she dormant, but ready to come out and get dolled up. I get to wear makeup, layer with cardigans, and of course wrap myself up in fun accessories like scarfs and statement necklaces. Fall is kind of my fashion jam lovelies!

With that being said, I knew I wanted to start getting some fashion inspiration together, so that while I thrift and sew this season I have some ideas of things I am wanting to make. This season I am in love with patterned cardigans, graphic tees, statement jewelry, peter pan collars, and fun patterns. I put a few looks together for you all.

Remember that this is just for inspiration. Having inspiration boards allows you to think outside of the box with your own wardrobe. No I am not running off to Modcloth to fill my cart (although wouldn't that be awesome?), but I am going to start looking in my own closet to see how I can recreate these looks. Remember that fashion should be fun and creative. It is a way to express yourself and be unique. Try out Polyvore and look at all the great inspiration that Modcloth has on there (This is not advertisement, I just happen to love this site!) Here are a few looks that I have put together this morning:)

Two Lil' Birds Outfit by danielle-wagasky featuring high rise skinny jeans

Long sleeve cardigan / Yellow tank top / High rise skinny jeans / Restricted ballet shoes / Long pendant necklace

Hoot Hoot Inspired Layer Set by danielle-wagasky featuring a knit cardigan

Emily and Fin sun dress / Dittos knit cardigan / Ballet flat / Crossbody handbag / Owl jewelry / Infinity scarve

Weekend Outfit by danielle-wagasky featuring a silver bracelet bangle

POL green v neck cardigan / Graphic t shirt / Lace trim tank top / Bell bottom jeans / Ballet shoes / Silver bracelet bangle

To be or Not to Be by danielle-wagasky featuring a beanie hat

Black cardigan / Short sleeve top / Blue jeans / Keds flat shoes / Chain necklace / Earrings / Wooden Ships beanie hat

Fun right!? You can see some more great cardigans from Modcloth HERE. I would also love to see what outfits you are putting together and let me know what your Fall Fashion wish list is consisting of. I love hearing about your ideas and inspiration. You are all amazing!!

You can find me on Polyvore HERE.

Have a great day lovelies!! Tomorrow is Halloween! Woot!Woot! We have an outing with Nana and Papa planned and some 50 cent corndogs in the evening (Sonic is celebrating Halloween with 50 cents corndogs). We love it when they do this!!

XO Danielle

Getting The Look For Less: Makeup Dupes

This is a guest post by Catlyn Hoepner

One of my biggest areas where I struggle to save money is makeup. I see so many commercials, ads, and reviews for the most amazing looking products..that also cost about a weeks worth of groceries. Thank goodness that drugstore products have evolved over the years to rival those more expensive beauty goodies. Here are some items that are pretty similar to their pricey counterparts. Try a few out at your local drugstore and see if you aren't sold!

NAKED2 Eyeshadow vs. Hard Candy NUDE Palette

This is the one beauty item I have almost spent too much money on. The shades are just so gorgeous! I found this Physicians Formula palette and completely forgot about NAKED2. The shades are comparable and this is sooo long-lasting. This NUDE palette will cost you about $10.

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara vs. L'oreal Lash Extension Mascara

The thing that makes L'Oreal a dupe to Benefit is the two step process for doing your lashes. L'Oreal offers a primer with this mascara that creates"tubes" on your lashes. Layering the colored mascara over the tubes is what gives you the same falsie look that Benefit does. I always get asked if I am wearing false lashes when I wear this. This mascara was $10 at my drugstore.

Makeup Forever HD Blush vs. E.L.F HD Blush

If your looking for a long lasting, strongly pigmented blush..this is it. Look at how close these shades are to each other! E.L.F's blush is only $3 to top it all off. A little goes a long ways, so that $3 is of a great value to you!

Beauty Blender vs. Real Techniques Sponge

The Beauty Blender is one of the most talked about makeup application tools in awhile. I recently purchased the Real Techniques sponge from Walgreens for $6 and I LOVE it. I see no difference in the two products,except that the cheaper option has more angles. Which in the end is better for me anyways.

Benefits Sun Beam Highlighter vs. E.L.F Facial Whip

I received a sample of Benefits Sun Beam Highlighter awhile ago, and ever since I've been trying to find a dupe. E.L.F $3 find to the rescue once again! This shimmer stick has the same glow as my high end favorite.

Urban Decay Eyeliner vs. Maybelline Eyeliner

Urban Decay's Eyeliner has been raved about for so long in the beauty eworld. Reviewers have said how long it stays on, how pretty the color is, etc. Urban Decay may have met its match in Maybelline. This eyeliner is the perfect combination of smudge and precision, has gorgeous pigmentation, and lasts all day. At just $7, it is a steal.

Smashbox Photo Primer vs. N.Y.C Primer

Whether makeup primer is a must have is still pretty debatable, but I personally find that it makes my makeup stay much longer. Perfect for those hot summer days. The primer from Smashbox is a popular product on the high end side. I use NYC's Smooth Skin primer and have found that it keeps my skin matte all day. At $3 it's worth experimenting with.

Urban Decay Potion Primer vs. Maybelline Color Tattoo

This primer from Urban Decay is especially for eye shadow. It helps it to go on smoothly and stay on. It has a light shimmery color that really adds to any eye look. This dupe is probably a little unheard of..but I use Maybelline's Color Tattoo eye shadow in "Barely Branded" as my primer. The color is a very light shimmery nude that will help your eye shadow to stay in place! This was about $5 at my drugstore.

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer vs. Hard Candy Glamoflauge

The Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer comes with some pretty big claims.. Obviously, if it says it can cover tattoos! This is another product I almost forgot my thriftiness for. Almost. Then, I saw this concealer from Hard Candy for $6 and had to get it. This has become one of my all time favorite concealers. You use the teeniest dab to cover ANYTHING.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure vs. Wet N'Wild 

Megalast Nail polish is an area where I want high quality with low prices. I honestly don't like paying more than $3 a bottle. I broke down and bought the Sally Hansen product on the left and loved it. But regretted the price tag. I tried the Wet N' Wild Polish on the right on a whim and was hooked. The brush is big, the colors are strong, and my nails are chip free. At just under $2 it's a total score.

These dupes can be found at any mass retailer (such as Wal-mart or Target) or drugstore. Prices vary from region to region, but the savings will still be worthwhile! See if you can't replace an expensive standby with one of these products!

 -Cate

I'm Cate! I am a Wife to Nathon and a new Mommy to Micaiah. I blog over at www.thefabulesswife.com, where you can find inspiration to live a fabulous life frugally! I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite inexpensive beauty dupes!

Have a great day!

--------------------------------------

Thank you so much Catlyn for your awesome tips! I know so many will be able to save more on their makeup now, knowing all the little tips and tricks you shared. Don't forget to check out Catlyn on her blog, here!

XO Danielle

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