celebrating halloween with value village

halloween is just around the corner;

it seemingly sneaks up on me each year.

costume planning (and shopping) is one 

of my favorite fall traditions. 

i may or may not want to admit how 

much time i recently spent browsing 'costume ideas' 

on pinterest during the month of october 

(my halloween board can be found here). 

blogs provide a great deal of inspiration, too.

 between pre-packaged and DIY costumes, 

a girl has a lot of options. 

disclosure: value village graciously provided me with a gift card

to purchase my costume. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

as september came to an end (and the weather

changed (or drastically cooled off)), pumpkins,

apple cider, and halloween costumes

were on my mind. i began asking friends and coworkers

for costume suggestions, but struggled to come

up with something original. i dressed as wendy darling

from the disney movie, peter pan, 

last year. my costume was entirely thrifted!

this year, i was eager to visit my local 

value village for a bit of halloween prep.

i had a few costume ideas in mind, 

but i find it helpful to begin your halloween thrifting

adventure with an open mind. after all, you 

never know what your local thrift store will have

in stock. additionally, i take a cursory

glance at my closet: do i have accessories

or a specific item i can style as part of a costume?

ears, a new makeup tutorial, or wig

are potential examples.

i tend to avoid the ready-made,

packaged costumes, as they lack originality. 

the costume 'section' can be helpful when thrift 

shopping, but can appear picked over. 

my strategy? walk the store. 

look at everything. consult pinterest as 

you find clothing, shoes, or accessories that 

can be used to create a costume. and

 most of all, have fun!

halloween is an wonderful holiday. 

celebrating all things spooky + costumes and 

candy galore?! that requires fun, laughter, and creativity.

can you guess my costume? sandy from

'grease' meets 1950s pinup girl. a bandana, 

high-waisted bottoms, and a glass bottle of coke

were essential. i had so much fun putting

this look together!

when browsing the racks at value village,

i was hoping to find high-waisted 

shorts and a gingham or polka dot shirt. 

unfortunately, i was unable to find shorts

but fell in love with this polka dot top. i also

stumbled upon this gem of a jacket on

my way to the shoe section. i purchased it

to wear IRL (in real life), but it seemingly goes

well with my costume, too! 

the finishing touches were a sleek pair of

heels, a bracelet, bandana, and loose curls.

photos by karya schanilec photography

t-shirt, bracelet, heels, and faux fur jacket: c/o value village.

leggings: american apparel, bandana: fred meyer

you can see previous halloween posts on my

blog here and here. i absolutely love celebrating

halloween (any excuse to dress up and eat chocolate, 

right?). do you have any fun plans this year?

what is your costume? if you haven't begun

planning, make sure to visit your neighborhood 

value village for costume ideas and essentials!

xoxo.

coffee dates & leather jackets

not sure what to wear? need an additional layer?

is your outfit feeling a bit drab? grab your nearest leather 

(or faux leather) jacket! i was inspired by fellow blogger and friend, 

julia's post (from style and cheek) discussing the importance, or perhaps

necessity, of owning a leather jacket. it seemingly goes with 

everything in your closet, from jeans and a t-shirt, 

to a floral print dress or skirt; a leather jacket 

will make a statement and instantly pull together your look.

i picked up my faux leather jacket last summer, 

and while it was too warm (and then too cold) to wear it,

i've worn it repeatedly over the last several weeks - with dresses to work,

 a blouse and black denim for brunch, and of course, 

paired with a graphic t-shirt and ripped jeans for leisurely weekend 

activities. i think my favorite look, however, is wearing my jacket with more

feminine pieces, such as this long-sleeved, floral dress.

my jacket is very light weight, so i can wear it over sweaters 

and not feel uncomfortable. the studs and zipper detail are fun 'pops' as well.

life (and fashion) is a balancing act, don't you think?

while a leather jacket, particularly a genuine leather jacket, 

is an investment, you can wear it with more budget-friendly items.

my dress, purse and ankle boots were thrifted, 

so i don't feel quite as guilty about paying more for my jacket.

a leather jacket won't go out of style either, like other more trendy,

seasonal pieces. although, i must admit, i seldom experience 

buyers remorse; please tell me this isn't just me?

photos by bailey makaimoku photography

jacket: nordstrom (similar here and here), 

dress: astr (thrifted via buffalo exchange), rings: forever 21,

boots: thrifted (via buffalo exchange), purse: thrifted (via seattle goodwill)

and sometimes, when you're taking photos and mentally

planning blog content, you need to enjoy a delicious iced coffee.

i am slightly embarrassed to admit that i have a new coffee obsession. 

the starbucks cinnamon almond milk macchiato is beyond

delicious! it's refreshing and instantly satisfies my sweet tooth

(and caffeine addition). have you tried it?

xoxo.

give a sh!rt with value village

happy national thrift shop day, everyone!
if you read this blog regularly, you know i am an avid thrift shopper
(you can see a few of my favorite thrifted outfits here, here and here).
i love to visit local thrift and consignment shops throughout the
seattle area. i thought it only appropriate to celebrate today with a thrifted t-shirt.

summer has seemingly flown by, and 'back to school' season is upon us!
while i'm no longer in school (unfortunately, i don't know if working

in a preschool counts), i sure don't mind taking this opportunity to clean 

out and update my closet for fall. i have a few items

on my wish list (including brown ankle booties and a faux leather jacket)

and plan to donate the clothing and accessories i no longer wear. 

each year, people consume over 80 billion pieces of clothing, 

which causes the clothing industry to be one of the world's biggest polluters!

source

photos by jenna lynn photography

t-shirt: thrifted (value village), sunglasses: h&m, jeans: american eagle

while i love shopping the big department stores, as well as 

the more affordable retailers (such as target or fred meyer), 

thrifting remains one of my favorite weekend activities.

i love the thrill of finding a beautiful handbag, dress or pair of shoes

that are well-within my budget!

a few 'back to school' shopping statistics for you:

the average t-shirt from value village will cost $2.49, while

low-tier retailers (such as target or walmart) will charge $6.50.

high end retailers (such as macy's or nordstrom) will charge an average of $32.49.

and those ankle boots i desperately want? $6.99 from value village;

$20.88 from a low-tier retailer; $64.95 from a high end retailer.

these cost differences are substantial, especially when you consider other

'back to school' essentials - a warm coat, classroom supplies, textbooks, etc.

a shirt is a terrible thing to waste!

north americans send more than 10.5 million tons of 

clothing to landfills every year, 95% of which could be recycled.

source

this year, i challenge you to both shop and donate to your local value village

for 'back to school' clothing items! this not only 

saves your budget, but also benefits our local community and makes a

positive environmental difference.
happy thrifting!
xoxo.

a very simple DIY creation

^^^ for the not-so-savvy DIY'ers (like myself!) ^^^

a few weeks ago, i had the pleasure of attending 'house of style' - 

a thrifting and DIY fashion event, hosted by sydney mintle of gossip & glamour 

and seattle goodwill (and in case you missed it, 

i shared a recap of the event on my blog here). it was an event that included 

some of my favorite things! fellow bloggers, thrifting, crafting, 

and of course, enjoying delicious treats. 

goodwill graciously provided each guest with a gift card to purchase

an item (or in my case, items!) to decorate later in the evening. 

i bought a hooded grey sweatshirt and chambray button-up blouse.

i may or may not have also purchased two striped tops. you can never

own too many striped clothing options, right?

i should probably admit that i am not a very crafty girl.

i cannot sew. i cannot paint. i rarely DIY. instead, i lust after pinterest tutorials

and utter (dishearteningly) under my breath, 'i must learn how to do that!' 

when i bought the sweatshirt and chambray top, i had no idea

how to repurpose or DIY either item. after digging through the craft supplies, 

however, i decided to focus on the chambray top. i found several vintage

buttons and earrings that i liked. i added them to the collar of my top.

the adorable (and very kind!) katrina, from the demure muse, 

helped me sew a bit of lace ribbon above the left pocket. 

the black star button, located on the left center pocket, is simply glued on.

the gold, black and pearl piece is a vintage clip-on earring that 

i secured to the right pocket (covering the original button). 

though simple, and quite easy for those 'aspiringly crafty' ladies, like myself, 

these touches add spunk and excitement to an otherwise plain chambray top. 

i love the lighter, worn-out looking wash of this particular 

chambray. originally from nordstrom, i simply couldn't pass it up.

and for $6, my wallet and goodwill gift card were thrilled, too!

the lighter wash of this top makes it incredibly versatile;

pair it with your dark denim, white shorts, or over almost any

color dress! i wore a basic blue, sleeveless dress, my favorite black flats

and added a red cross-body bag for a pop of color. 

photos, makeup and hair by elizabeth kathryn photography

chambray top: thrifted (c/o goodwill), dress: american eagle, 

purse: target (exact here), flats: thrifted, bracelet: urban outfitters, ring: old navy (old)

are you a DIY'er? i still need to repurpose my hooded grey sweatshirt,

so if you have any tips or recommendations, please let 

this craft-challenged girl know.

and a very special thank you to my local goodwill for inviting 

me to the 'house of style' event and providing the gift card and craft supplies 

used to create this look!

xoxo.

give one pound this earth day!

mark your calendars, everyone! earth day is next friday, april 22nd.

it's time to spring clean your heart out (specifically sorting through clothing, shoes

and home goods) and take unwanted items to your local goodwill. 

#give1pound

not sure where to donate? check out the goodwill store locator here.

the average american throws away 70 pounds of clothing each year.

70 pounds (!!!) in the garbage! that number is devastating. 

donating your unwanted clothing helps our environment

by limiting the pollution textiles create. additionally, your donations 

 benefit local community members who receive education and 

job training from goodwill. in 2014, goodwill served more than 13,000 individuals

in the greater seattle area. your donation has a direct impact on our community!

source

 'just drop off your items and go, megan.' 

the mantra i silently tell myself each time i visit my goodwill donation site.

however, it never seems to work out this way. i have to go in. just to peek.

and i seldom walk out empty handed. 

dress: thrifted (via goodwill), hat: target (similar here), sunglasses: h&m,
bracelets: h&m and nordstrom, ring: nordstrom,

on this particular day, goodwill had a 40% off sale on all dresses.

i brought home the above 'lush' geo-print dress for $5! 

it is in near perfect condition, and i love the collar, vibrant print and button detail.

photos by jenna lynn photography

^^^ dropping off my #give1pound at the goodwill on capitol hill ^^^

thrifting is one of my favorite forms of shopping. 

the majority of my thrifted items come from goodwill (the capitol hill 

and south lake union stores are my favorite!). while thrift and consignment

shopping isn't for everyone, it allows me to shop for brand name and designer

items for a fraction of the cost. i love the thrill of finding unique and vintage pieces! 

you can see a few of my favorite thrifted finds here, here, and here.

i challenge you to clean out your closet and locate your nearest

goodwill donation site. happy earth day, everyone!

xoxo. 

totally thrifted

^^^ this outfit is 100% thrifted! ^^^

thrifting is one of my favorite forms of shopping! 

it allows me to find unique pieces, stick to my budget, and find like-new or 

gently used items, many of which are designer or brand name, 

for a fraction of the price. what more could a girl want?!

^^^ these leather, wedge booties are from one of my favorite

local vintage shops, indie frock ^^^

photos by michelle dorman photography

another rainy seattle day which proves problematic for fashion bloggers - 

not with this chic umbrella, however (!!!). 

i remained fully covered and dry throughout this shoot, 

aside from a few raindrops and puddles splashing my boots. i'll call that a win! 

and now, let's talk about this outfit!

what i'm wearing, and where i thrifted the different pieces:

sweater: o-pin (via crossroads trading co.), blouse: zara (via crossroads trading co.),

jeans: madewell (via buffalo exchange), wedge booties: vintage (via indie frock),

purse: dooney & bourke (via goodwill), statement ring: old navy (the only

non-thrifted item, i apologize!) 

i cannot say enough how much i enjoy thrift shopping - whether 

goodwill, value village, crossroads trading co. 

or all the consignment shops in between, i love to see what's in store

 (you're probably tired of hearing me say those words)! 

i know it isn't for everyone. some people are astounded that i purchase 

and wear thrifted shoes. i wipe them out with a bit of bleach + water, 

and they're ready for wear! others complain about the smell of

thrift and consignment shops. for whatever reason, it doesn't bother me. 

i wash clothing items after i purchase them, and with a bit of scented fabric 

softener, they smell as though they've belonged to me all along. 

the unique pieces and affordable prices i find, make the adventure 

all the more fun and completely worth it. 

are you a thrift shopper?

what thrifted goodies have you found recently?

let me know in the comments below!

xoxo. 

a closet purge

sweater: target (exact here), jeans: citizens for humanity (via tj maxx), 

flats: betsey johnson, lipstick: nars heat wave, bag: c/o goodwill

happy sunday, everyone!

i spent this weekend cleaning, organizing, and doing a fun,

but somewhat tedious, closet purge. 

out with the old, and in with the new, right?

or perhaps just out with the old. our studio apartment is at capacity

when it comes to storage, especially storage for clothing. 

i wanted to get things cleaned up a bit, so i decided to sort through my clothes.

when cleaning out my closet, i make three piles:

sell, donate and share.

i typically try to sell a few things at my local crossroads trading company, 

donate to goodwill, and share goodies with friends!

i visited crossroads trading company, located on capital hill,

to sell jeans, sweaters and dresses that i no longer wear.

crossroads is quite particular and generally they only take gently used

(or like new) items that are in season.

it can be very hit or miss - sometimes they seemingly take

the majority of my items, and other times, they may only 

take one or two pieces. 

crossroads offers cash for the used items they take, 

or gives you a trade in value for clothing, shoes and 

accessories that are available in the store! 

^^^ i'm terrible and almost never walk out empty handed;

i brought home the above blouse for $8! ^^^

if there isn't a crossroads trading company near you, they now have

a mail-in consignment program! you can read more about it here.

after selling a few things, i took the remaining items, 

as well as my donation pile, to my local goodwill. 

of course, i couldn't leave there empty handed either

and purchased a beautiful fur stole. it will be perfect 

for upcoming holiday parties!

have you recently cleaned out your closet?

do you have any tips for staying organized? if so, i am all ears!

xoxo.

'i walked with you once upon a dream'

^^^ my DIY sleeping beauty costume! ^^^

dress and crown: thrifted (c/o value village), necklace: aldo, 

lipstick: kat von d everlasting liquid lipstick in 'bachelorette'

halloween is just under a week away, 

and can i tell you how excited i am? perhaps it is the preschool 

teacher with me, but i love dressing up!

as a little girl, i enjoyed all of the disney princess movies.

the little mermaid was my favorite, but sleeping beauty

and cinderella were close seconds.

^^^ this dress was made for twirling! ^^^

when i began brainstorming costume ideas for this year,

i immediately thought 'a princess!'

i went shopping at my local seattle value village and was fortunate to have 

found the perfect princess dress, pictured above. 

i added a crown, a statement necklace from my own collection, 

and a few dainty rings. to finish the look, 

i loosely curled my hair and applied my favorite

pink lipstick; voila, princess! 

while i feel incredibly lucky to have found this dress,

as i believe it completed my costume (!!!), 

i think the princess theme can easily be replicated -

tulle, lace, fluffy skirts, right?

when looking for a costume, be open minded; clothing and other pieces 

can easily be repurposed or altered in a way that

aligns with your vision. i hoped to find a feminine, 

floor-length dress when out shopping. 

i knew i would also need a crown and any other princess-like accessories. 

the best part about this costume? it didn't come in a bag,

but was put together using pieces i currently own (such as the 

earrings, necklace, and lipstick) with thrifted items

i purchased at value village. i love how everything came together! 

i have another halloween look to share with you later this week -

it was also put together using thrifted items. 

hint: it is a couples costume from a hilarious movie 

(the movie came out in 2004).

have you checked out your local value village for costume inspiration?

what are you planning to dress up as? let me know in the comments!

xoxo.

**value village was kind enough to provide me with a 

gift certificate to purchase my costumes. i had a wonderful time

creating this look and am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate

with them.