Recent Deal Finds

For those of you new to thrifting, now is a great time to start up.  Right after the New Year until about April is when you will find the best stuff.  People donated at the end of the year to get that tax refund in and then keep cleaning out their closet for the New Year.  

Here's my recent thrifting haul:

I found this leather wallet (no brand) for 99 cents.  It is brand new and great quality.  I have been looking for a little wallet for a while and I love all the nooks and crannies in this guy.  

I love a good cardigan and both of these were $1 each.  The thinner one is Old Navy and it is perfect for the spring when it is a little warmer.  The thicker one is a Walmart brand.  They are great quality and feel brand new.  

I love finding books and I was really excited to find Kristin Hannah.  She is one of my absolute favorite authors and I have been wanting to read this one.  Don't judge the cover, I know it looks like a Grandma book.  She is a really great author (go check out The Nightingale).  

My last find was one of my favorites.  I found this brand new condition North Face jacket for $10.  Now I don't usually pay that much at the thrift store but this was such a great item, I felt like it was worth the splurge.  I have one of the old fleece black jackets but have always really liked the soft furry ones. 

What have you found recently while thrifting?  

Outfit Styling with Amazon Dresses

Amazon is one of my favorite places to shop, I love how easy it is to place an order, have it in two days and not have to go to the store.  Until recently I had neglected the clothing shopping options.  Just like the rest of Amazon they have pretty much anything and everything you could want.  

I have been looking for more tunic/dress tops to throw on over leggings and use as a simple layering base.  I found these two options for less than $10 and have been really happy with them.  

My absolute favorite is this olive green tunic.  It is so soft and drapes really nice.  I ended up knotting mine for a different look and to make it a little more casual.  I loved this look with my Target denim vest and favorite floral booties.

I also picked up this long sleeve tunic dress (with pockets!) in black.  I paired it with a belt and my favorite boots for a chic look for church.

Size reference: I got a small which is my typical size.  It was a little long but I'm pretty short.  

I have been loving these two pieces, they are perfect basics.  Check them out here and use my code BCU2TQZC for 10% off! 

Rue21 Haul

When I was in high school Rue21 was my jam.  The prices were good and the clothing was cute.  I haven't been in a Rue21 in quite sometime but I happened to be in the mall and just decided to stop in.  

One of my favorite things about Rue21 is their clearance, they are not afraid to mark things down.  So I don't ever pay full price there! 

I found a handful of things marked at $1.  They also had shoes clearanced out at 50% off, and other items marked at $3 and $5.  

I picked up the cutest pair of sunglasses.  I always love a tortoise style and the pink detail on the bottom is a cute pop.  These were originally $5.99.

They had a whole wall of  clearance jewelry, I found a pretty mauvey pink beaded bracelet set (originally $5.99).  I also found a sueded crystal wrap bracelet.  This is probably my favorite find, I love a pretty wrap bracelet.  This one was originally $6.99.

I have been on the lookout for more of the no show socks.  These are really nice, they even have the little silicone no slip part in the back.  They were originally $4.99.

I also got sucked into the sale they had going online.  Somehow I ended up on their email list and you know I love a sale.  I have been looking for a pair of over the knee sueded boots for a while.  These looked really pretty online, had a low heel and were a good price.

Five Things Friday

Double Hooded Sweatshirt: I have been a fan of the Simple Addiction leggings for a while now (seriously softest leggings around).  I was really excited to try out their new double hooded sweatshirt.  First of all the color is perfect, blush is one of my favorite colors this year and for spring it's perfect!  I love the unexpected double hood detail and the material is really nice, thick but still light.  It is perfect for throwing on for a casual Saturday.    

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Crazy for Coffee: I am slowly overcoming my darker lipstick fear.  This color has been one I have been reaching for when I want a color.  I love the shade, it's a brown but not overly so, there's enough purple red in it to make a pretty color.  It is perfect for winter and warming up your look.

United Tees Travel, Explore, Embrace Tee:  I am all about casual comfy clothes.  If you catch me at home I am almost always sporting leggings and an oversize t-shirt.  This tee is one of my new favorites.  It is soft and comfy, I love the green color and the back detail is my favorite.  It has a map of the United States in pretty muted colors and it says Travel, Explore, Embrace.  It has become one of my favorite T-shirts to throw on.  Check out United Tees for more shirts, use code richardson_15 for 15% off!

Walmart Bralettes: I have two of these and am obsessed with them.  They are my favorite bralettes and they were from Walmart of all places and less than $10!  You really can't beat that.  They have a wide lace band, super soft material and plenty of stretch.  Oh and they are padded, which is pretty much awesome.  They are on sale online right now so go pick some up!

Aldi Fit and Active 100 Calorie Snack Pack Chocolate Cookies: With the new year and all the healthy beginnings I picked up these snack cookies at Aldi, oh my goodness they are my new favorite.  They taste like the cookie part of an oreo.  They have a great rich chocolate taste that feels like way more than 100 calories.

What have you been loving lately?  

What I Read in January

First month of the year done and I read four books, I'd say we are off to a great start.

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines: Along with the rest of the world I have fallen in love with the Gaines' family.  This book was really interesting to learn the story behind Fixer Upper.  You learn how Chip and Joanna met, their early years of marriage and how Fixer Upper came to be.  They are cute as can be and I want to be best friends with them.  

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks: I have read pretty much every Nicholas Sparks book ever written.  Lately I have been disappointed by the books.  This one was a little disappointment as well.  The story was ok.  Husband and wife have issues, husband ends up raising daughter as single parent for the most part.  As per usual Nicholas Sparks tragedy happens and romance sparks.  There were a number of things in this book that I was really disappointed in and honestly a little irritated about.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: I have been wanting to read this book for a long time since I heard it mentioned on a few Youtube reviews.  It had a very Hunger Games/Divergent esque feel.  The Royals  (Silvers) are in charge, they have all the power as they have special abilities.  The regular people (Reds) don't have any abilities and are poor and unhappy.  By chance Mare Barrow, a red, discovers that she has a special ability as well.  She is taken in by the Royal family and is forced to prevent the Reds from starting a revolution.  With a member of the royal family she works with the revolution itself, an organization called The Scarlet Guard.  The story is really interesting, fast paced and I just wanted to keep reading it.    

The Heir by Kierra Cass: This is the followup to The Selection series.  The Selection had the prince hosting a selection to find his wife, very Bachelor.  The Heir is the story of the daughter of the selection.  She is now first in line for the throne and has a lot to learn.  She ends up having to have a selection herself (surprise).  It was interesting to see the selection from a girls point of view.  Yes it is a cheesy young teen romance but it's a quick read and I enjoyed it.

What have you been reading lately?   

Dirt Cheap Haul

Those of you who have been following for a while know that I love Dirt Cheap.  I actually hadn't been there for about a month and decided it had been too long.  

I didn't find much but what I did I was really excited about.  The first item was a Target brand graphic top.  I love a good graphic top and this was so cute.  Since I had the chance to go to California last year I felt it was appropriate to own a Cali shirt.  They had this marked down to 80% off so I ended up paying $1.19.  

They had huge boxes of books in the back marked at 50% off.  Seriously these boxes were big enough to swim in.  I skimmed over the top and found The Heir.  This is a book I have been wanting to read and was so excited to see it in there!  For those of you unfamiliar with the book it is the fourth in The Selection series.  I paid $2.94 for it.    

I love a good deal find and am pretty excited about this mini haul.  Do you have a Dirt Cheap?  What deal finds have you found lately?  

Yetis vs Ozark Trail

This may be old news to some of you but for those of you who don't I just might save you some money.  Yeti cups have been trendy in the south for a while.  If you are unfamiliar with this brand they are travel cups that keep your drink hot or cold all day.  They run $30 and up, which is a little pricey.   

Well Walmart released a couple of Yeti look-a-likes and they are less than $10.  That's right less than $10!!  I watched a couple of reviews on the cup and they work just like the Yeti (maybe a little better).  Kyle has both sizes and they keep his water with ice cold all day, there is still ice at the end of the day.  

These cups are pretty much exactly the same thing, one just happens to be cheaper.

Have you tried either of these cups?  Which do you prefer? 

That time I was on the Duggars!!?!?!?!?!?

If you have followed me for a while you know that I am a fan of the Duggar family.  This is a post a long time coming but last year Kyle and I went to Birmingham to the Southern Women's Show where Jessa Duggar Sewald was speaking.  I was really excited to get to see her in person and get her to sign my book.  

With their new season starting up Jill and Jessa Counting On, they were filming parts at the show.   

Since I was in the midst of the crowds...I ended up appearing in the first season!  

Yep that red head in the back is me and the plaid is Kyle.

 And that's definitley my red head watching a very pregnant Jessa talk to the crowd.  

Seriously how cool is it to spot your own head (and husband) on TLC??