Tip of the Day: Books, Books, Books

That's right:  Books, Books, Books.  No, I'm not starting a book club on the side (though I've toyed with writing reviews . . . ah.  Perhaps another day.)

I'm actually going to tell you how to rip them up.  Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Buy an old bookshelf from the thrift store (it can be uglier than sin).
2. Use paint you have (or if you must, buy a new can).
3. Rip up three of your favorite novels (no, really--make sure the edges are good and ragged).
4. Mod-podge the pages to whatever surface of your bookshelf you choose (I chose just the sides).
5. Paint something quirky over the pages (see my example below).
6. Give it one more going-over with some kind of sealant or mod-podge.
7. Voila!  Transform ugly, thrift store shelf into a delectable, darling, daring reading shelf!

PS You can fill the same shelf with books from the thrift store.  I bought the entire collection of Berenstain Bear books at the thrift store.  You'd be surprised.

Tip of the Day: Half Off Cautions

I've posted this before, but I needed to remind myself and everyone out there about HALF OFF DAY AT THE THRIFT STORE!!!!  Just when you thought thrifting couldn't get cheaper, right?

Some cautions:

• Get there early--the carts will be gone if you don't.
• Expect mayhem.  Don't bother with dressing rooms.  Grab and "git." 
• Don't buy stuff just 'cause it's extra cheap.  Unless you like it, you'll regret it, even if it's only a dollar.
• Got with a list.  I didn't and wished I had, because there were things I could have found had I been looking in that department.
• If at all possible, DON'T bring kids.  I know this is probably not possible.

Google your local stores for those half-off day sales, and have some fun spending even less than usual.

Tip of the Day: Party Planning

So you're asked to help throw a baby shower.

You peek into your one dish cupboard and realize what you knew before looking:  you don't have serving dishes.  Never did.  Maybe it's because you never threw a fancy party before, but it's probably mostly because you can't afford the $50 options at local stores.

Never fear, Thriftseeker is here!  For cheaper than buying paper serving dishes, you can actually get beautiful pieces at the thrift store.  I've posted a pic below of what you can create from thrift store dishes.  Take a gander.

You're welcome.

Tip of the Day: Ode to the Purse

Ode to the Purse,
It's used yet still works.


Okay, yeah, don't worry.  I'm not going to finish that.  I may have gone through three purses in the last 12 months (maybe more), and the beauty of it is that each purchase put me out $4.  There are a few tricks, though:

1. Make sure to find a thrift store in a more affluent area.  For some reason, women go through purses faster when they have more to spend.

2. Don't be terribly picky about color.  Sure, you want to make sure it works for you, but I've had green, red, black, and now ivory colored purses, and they've all been fun.

3. Don't freak out if the straps start to wear (happens to new purses at the same rate--I've actually tested this).  Just means it's time to go purse shopping!

Ode to the purse . . .

Photo Shoot

I can't think of anything more rewarding (okay, that's not even true, but let's go with it) than having professional photos taken while modeling (term used loosely) THRIFT CLOTHES!  Take a gander below and tell me I'm wrong (please don't actually do that).

Photo shoot, 2011.