This is Part Tres in my How-to-Shop-Cheap series. If you missed my first Thrifting Tip, you can check it out here. For the second, click here.
So you've rooted around the racks, tried on everything that caught your eye, and now you're trying to decide what to exchange for your hard-earned cash. The appeal of thrifting is exactly what makes it so dangerous - there are lots of treasures to be found, but you can also get caught-up by a lot of junk.
Consignment and thrift items are cheap (at least, they SHOULD be - more on that later), but that doesn't mean you should buy crappy things. It's tempting to say, "But it's only 99 cents!", and get something silly that you won't really use. But I beg of you, don't do it - your money can be put to better use.
My general rule is: if I wouldn't pay full price for it, I shouldn't thrift it. There's some room for error in terms of missing buttons, stray threads, etc., but there's no excuse for items with real damage. Generally, be wary of cotton shirts - 99% of the cotton I find is pilled beyond belief, and really looks its age. Yeah, there are fabric shavers, and you can even use a razor to remove the fuzz, but most of the time, pilled items just aren't worth the hassle. Remember that when you remove the fuzzies, you're also making the garment thinner - thus reducing its lifespan. A lot of people like to browse the t-shirts at Goodwill, but I avoid them; I'm past ironic sloganwear, and it's tough to find good quality cotton at Salvation Army.
This is also where I'll encourage you not to buy "joke" items. Sure, everyone needs a few ridiculous props for Halloween and the like, but once you're out of college, opportunities to wear crazy joke clothing are few and far between. If you wouldn't wear it unironically, then maybe you shouldn't get it. I find lots of insane, amazing things when I'm thrift-shopping, but I rarely buy any of them. If I purchased even half the stuff I try on, I'd be completely broke. What would you rather spend your money on: joke clothes that work one day a year, or things you can cycle into your everyday wardrobe?
Remember when I went to Clothing Warehouse a couple months ago and spent too much money? Well I was breaking this rule. In the end, my purchases averaged $20 a dress - and that's just too much money for preworn clothes. I might authorize you to spend that much money on something in PERFECT condition, but two of those dresses were damaged - what was I thinking?? Don't get sucked-in by the lure of "vintage," and don't sacrifice quality for kitsch.
Official Galen Thrifting Tip: Be Selective.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Wordy Wednesday: Meeting Mark
In July of 2010, I was doing summer stock theatre in Illinois. It was great - wonderful, really. I worked with an amazing company of people for three straight months, rehearsing and performing and studying my craft all day, every day. But I was also very blue. I had just graduated college, and was greatly missing my friends and Very Excellent Boyfriend. Sometimes, while everyone else want to the bar, I stayed in my room and just plain moped - for hours.
One afternoon, I stumbled across a post on Tumblr about a guy who read the entire Twilight series, and wrote a post for each chapter as he went. I clicked over and laughed until I cried. His hatred for the books was so palpable, so like my own. He identified himself only as "Mark," but I felt I knew him very well.
A few days later, I realized that he had another project in the works - he was reading Harry Potter for the first time, and blogging chapter by chapter as he went. At the time, he was midway through Azkaban, but like any good reader, I started with the beginning - chapter one of Sorcerer's Stone.
Guys, Mark tried so hard to dislike Harry Potter. He was bitter, sarcastic, and dismissive for the first seven or eight chapters. After suffering through all four Twilight books, he was prepared to despise his next assignment. But by the time we hit Diagon Alley, he was hooked. I sped through his posts - all 50 of them - in about three days. When I wasn't reading them, I was thinking about them. I fell into a "Mark Reads" mental coma.
I never emerged.
Reading his blog was like reading Harry Potter again for the first time. It was magical. My daily routine centered around reading his posts. The rest of my summer stock days were a breeze. It's so silly, but I felt much less alone when I discovered the Mark Reads community. Hundreds of other people were as dedicated to his daily updates as I was. The moment the posts went live, I devoured them. Until he finished Deathly Hallows, my world was largely Markcentric. On Halloween, when he finished the series, I felt sad and empty. Just like I did when I finished the seventh book.
Luckily, that wasn't his last project. Not at all.
He came to Atlanta last week (for the first time!) and hosted a small gathering at Manuel's Tavern. Excellent Boyfriend came along, as did my Little Red Wife and Wife's Boyfriend. Mark read terrible (awful, wretched) fanfic for us, and enlisted our help to act-out the best passages. At the end of the night, I asked him to sign my copy of Sorcerer's Stone.
Mark is a wonderful writer. He's hilarious and thoughtful and pours all of himself into these projects. He's also the person who introduced me to the Hunger Games, so I owe him quite a lot.
On March 21st, he starts blogging The West Wing. The next day, he starts Friday Night Lights. Guess I'm falling into another recap coma.
(Oh darn.)
One afternoon, I stumbled across a post on Tumblr about a guy who read the entire Twilight series, and wrote a post for each chapter as he went. I clicked over and laughed until I cried. His hatred for the books was so palpable, so like my own. He identified himself only as "Mark," but I felt I knew him very well.
A few days later, I realized that he had another project in the works - he was reading Harry Potter for the first time, and blogging chapter by chapter as he went. At the time, he was midway through Azkaban, but like any good reader, I started with the beginning - chapter one of Sorcerer's Stone.
Guys, Mark tried so hard to dislike Harry Potter. He was bitter, sarcastic, and dismissive for the first seven or eight chapters. After suffering through all four Twilight books, he was prepared to despise his next assignment. But by the time we hit Diagon Alley, he was hooked. I sped through his posts - all 50 of them - in about three days. When I wasn't reading them, I was thinking about them. I fell into a "Mark Reads" mental coma.
I never emerged.
Reading his blog was like reading Harry Potter again for the first time. It was magical. My daily routine centered around reading his posts. The rest of my summer stock days were a breeze. It's so silly, but I felt much less alone when I discovered the Mark Reads community. Hundreds of other people were as dedicated to his daily updates as I was. The moment the posts went live, I devoured them. Until he finished Deathly Hallows, my world was largely Markcentric. On Halloween, when he finished the series, I felt sad and empty. Just like I did when I finished the seventh book.
Luckily, that wasn't his last project. Not at all.
He came to Atlanta last week (for the first time!) and hosted a small gathering at Manuel's Tavern. Excellent Boyfriend came along, as did my Little Red Wife and Wife's Boyfriend. Mark read terrible (awful, wretched) fanfic for us, and enlisted our help to act-out the best passages. At the end of the night, I asked him to sign my copy of Sorcerer's Stone.
Mark is a wonderful writer. He's hilarious and thoughtful and pours all of himself into these projects. He's also the person who introduced me to the Hunger Games, so I owe him quite a lot.
On March 21st, he starts blogging The West Wing. The next day, he starts Friday Night Lights. Guess I'm falling into another recap coma.
(Oh darn.)
Tasty Tuesday: smitten kitchen Book Signing
Last Thursday, Deb Perelman came to Atlanta. If you don't know who that is, then clearly you haven't been paying attention, and we will have words after this class is over, young lady.
Deb is the incredible cook (and woman) behind smitten kitchen. Hers is not merely a food blog - it's a blog about perfect food. Deb's recipes are painstakingly tested, and then tested again and again by her family, and then posted on the internet so we can all be amazing home chefs. Whenever I need a fail-safe recipe - something that I know will be a hit - I head to smitten kitchen.
I bought myself a copy of her cookbook for Christmas - it's beautiful, just like the online version, and when you open it up, the pages stay open. It's a miracle of cookbook engineering.
Deb hosted a Q&A and book signing at Manuel's Tavern last Thursday. We were there early, but not early enough.
You see, we weren't the only fans there.
Not by a longshot.
I was thrilled to see the Atlanta support! I'm rarely ever happy that I have to stand for an event, but I was for this.
After a fight with Buckhead traffic, Deb arrived and answered our queries for a while.
She was just as charming and silly in real life as she is on the internet.
Delightfully, I ran into a couple people I knew - including an old high school friend, Lucy!
She has her own corner of the interwebs - Flowers are Lovely. Stop by sometime and tell her I said hey.
When Deb signed my book, I told her that her recipe for kale chips has thoroughly changed my life. She dropped some knowledge in the form of a verbal recipe for brussel sprout chips. GUYS, you KNOW how much I love brussel sprouts! I could have died! Instead, I asked for a picture while my heart fluttered.
We finished the evening with dinner in the next room - I got black bean nachos, Very Excellent got a French dip sandwich, and we switched meals halfway through. It was a very tasty night.
Tomorrow, I'll recount my second blogging meetup from last week. Magical!
Deb is the incredible cook (and woman) behind smitten kitchen. Hers is not merely a food blog - it's a blog about perfect food. Deb's recipes are painstakingly tested, and then tested again and again by her family, and then posted on the internet so we can all be amazing home chefs. Whenever I need a fail-safe recipe - something that I know will be a hit - I head to smitten kitchen.
I bought myself a copy of her cookbook for Christmas - it's beautiful, just like the online version, and when you open it up, the pages stay open. It's a miracle of cookbook engineering.
Deb hosted a Q&A and book signing at Manuel's Tavern last Thursday. We were there early, but not early enough.
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| Very Excellent and I got Blue Moons while we waited. |
 |
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| Standing-room only! |
After a fight with Buckhead traffic, Deb arrived and answered our queries for a while.
 |
| Horrible, grainy, close-up cell phone pic! |
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| Rapt. |
Delightfully, I ran into a couple people I knew - including an old high school friend, Lucy!
 |
| Lucy and I |
She has her own corner of the interwebs - Flowers are Lovely. Stop by sometime and tell her I said hey.
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| Deb and I |
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| Crazy-eyed with the cookbook |
Tomorrow, I'll recount my second blogging meetup from last week. Magical!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Make-it-Monday: Hemming (No Hawing)
Hello, my lovelies! Did everyone have a good week? I missed you all, but I can see that Mandi kept you entertained while I was away - thanks, Roomie!
Sometimes, you just need a vacation. Mine was only mental (have to hold down the fort; can't go running off to the beach or anything) but it was very nice.
Since my last post, two of my favorite bloggers came through Atlanta and hosted events at Manuel's Tavern. I got to meet Deb from smitten kitchen, and Mark from Mark Reads and Watches. More on that in the days to come.
Today, we're hemming dresses. I have two purple numbers from The Clothing Warehouse that needed a little love. First up, the prairie dress.
I cut off the bottom ruffle when I wore this for opening night, but I've yet to sew a new seam. Luckily, with my machine, it took no time at all. I just wound a bobbin full of purple thread, stuck that sucker in place, and went to town.
My prairie dress is now fully wearable, with no threat of unraveling!
The other dress required a little more creativity. It's a very stretchy material (some sort of polyester blend?) so I needed a stitch that can stretch. Well wouldn't you know it, but my sewing machine comes programmed with 27 stitches - and a few of them are stretchable! I decided to take about four inches off the length, so I cut off three.
Then I folded the bottom up a half-inch, and sewed a straight seam across the bottom.
But I wasn't done. See, this darling purple garment is full of holes - big and small. I'm pretty sure some moths had dinner on this dress. I hate the look of visible patches (especially on such a busy fabric) so that was out. What saved the day was a little product called Stitch Witchery.
It's a thin, fabricy material that comes in a spool, like ribbon. When you heat it up between two pieces of fabric, it melts and creates a permanent bond. I imagine this stuff is killer for hemming. But I also hypothesized that it could also work to fill in the gaps left in some of the larger holes. And it did.
Instructions:
This method worked really well. I hit a few snags - the washcloths needed to be rewetted a LOT, and occasionally the iron would take some of the sheen off of the fabric (boo). But overall, it was a success, and repaired all the big holes. I won't say it was quick (overall, I spent about three hours on the project), but it was effective.
Sometimes, you just need a vacation. Mine was only mental (have to hold down the fort; can't go running off to the beach or anything) but it was very nice.
Since my last post, two of my favorite bloggers came through Atlanta and hosted events at Manuel's Tavern. I got to meet Deb from smitten kitchen, and Mark from Mark Reads and Watches. More on that in the days to come.
Today, we're hemming dresses. I have two purple numbers from The Clothing Warehouse that needed a little love. First up, the prairie dress.
I cut off the bottom ruffle when I wore this for opening night, but I've yet to sew a new seam. Luckily, with my machine, it took no time at all. I just wound a bobbin full of purple thread, stuck that sucker in place, and went to town.
My prairie dress is now fully wearable, with no threat of unraveling!
The other dress required a little more creativity. It's a very stretchy material (some sort of polyester blend?) so I needed a stitch that can stretch. Well wouldn't you know it, but my sewing machine comes programmed with 27 stitches - and a few of them are stretchable! I decided to take about four inches off the length, so I cut off three.
Then I folded the bottom up a half-inch, and sewed a straight seam across the bottom.
But I wasn't done. See, this darling purple garment is full of holes - big and small. I'm pretty sure some moths had dinner on this dress. I hate the look of visible patches (especially on such a busy fabric) so that was out. What saved the day was a little product called Stitch Witchery.
It's a thin, fabricy material that comes in a spool, like ribbon. When you heat it up between two pieces of fabric, it melts and creates a permanent bond. I imagine this stuff is killer for hemming. But I also hypothesized that it could also work to fill in the gaps left in some of the larger holes. And it did.
Instructions:
- Get two pieces of cloth wet. Place one of them in your ironing board.
- Lay your fabric down on top of the wet cloth. Make sure the hole is on top of the wet cloth, and that the iron won't touch ANY part of the fabric that isn't wet.
- Place a piece of Stitch Witchery over the hole.
- Lay a same-sized piece of matching fabric on top of the Stitch Witchery. Make sure to line them up well.
- Place the other wet cloth on top of the patch.
- Press an iron (set to wool) atop the patch for about 10 seconds. Since this dress is rayon, I found I needed a little less time - like 6 seconds.
- Flip the garment over, and press the other side.
This method worked really well. I hit a few snags - the washcloths needed to be rewetted a LOT, and occasionally the iron would take some of the sheen off of the fabric (boo). But overall, it was a success, and repaired all the big holes. I won't say it was quick (overall, I spent about three hours on the project), but it was effective.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Fashionable Friday: Kyoto Red
I'm blogging for Galen again today, but your trusty guide will be back doing her thing on Monday.
The first time I got to wear red lipstick was when I was in baby ballet. My mom let me play with her make up sometimes, but didn't let me wear it outside of the house (Unlike Morgan's mom, who let her kindergardener wear full make up at age 5). An exception was made for Ballet Recitals, when all of the little ballerinas wore our hair in tight buns slicked back with handfuls of Dep, sparkling tutus, and Kyoto Red lipstick. They were bizarrely specific about the shade...
Many years later, I still have an infatuation with red lipstick.
I don't wear it every day, but the Snow White look is my go to for simple glamour. I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect red lipstick.
Next up is my latest purchase, the Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Tarnish in Busted. (Traditionally, the Buxom colors have saucy girl names that end in "I", and as a stripper spelled Mandi, I prefer this, but "Busted" is a funny word, so I'll let it slide) This is categorized under a stain, but it goes on like a lipstick, which I fully appreciate. I love the creaminess, and it does last a long time, which is one of my criteria. I also like that it looks more like a lipstick on my face than a stain. I always look like I just won a Kool-Aid chugging contest in stains. It is also more light weight than my other more traditional red lipsticks, so its very daytime friendly. My biggest problem with it is the crayon packaging. It comes with a sharpener in the cap, with which I immediately crushed the tip of the lipstick upon opening. Also, the cap tends to fall off in my purse, and then the tip breaks off, so I have to re-sharpen every time I want to put some on. However, the color is great, like a Russian Red, and it has a little mint in it, which makes me feel extra kissable.
I've saved the best (IMHO) for last. This is bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor in Strength. It goes on like a thick gloss, and has the best applicator for a lip product I've ever used. It looks like your average lip gloss sponge, but handles like a paint brush. I blot once or twice after painting my lips, and then I will have BRIGHT (perhaps Kyoto) red lips for hours and hours. It doesn't dry out my lips like a stick does, and if I have to re-apply after eating and drinking, it doesn't self implode like second coats of stains are apt to do. It is definitely a bold look, but I'm a bold gal, and this stuff makes me feel like the Film Noir Femme Fatale I desperately want to be.
The first time I got to wear red lipstick was when I was in baby ballet. My mom let me play with her make up sometimes, but didn't let me wear it outside of the house (Unlike Morgan's mom, who let her kindergardener wear full make up at age 5). An exception was made for Ballet Recitals, when all of the little ballerinas wore our hair in tight buns slicked back with handfuls of Dep, sparkling tutus, and Kyoto Red lipstick. They were bizarrely specific about the shade...
 |
| Working that pose H to T |
Many years later, I still have an infatuation with red lipstick.
I don't wear it every day, but the Snow White look is my go to for simple glamour. I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect red lipstick.
No one has yet created one that will truly last all night without crumbling or smearing (Which is how I define perfect), but I do have a few that are favorites. The three red lipsticks that I use the most all happen to be by Bare Escentuals , and I thought I would share them with you.
This first one is from the Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish line, in Bella. It is the perfect mix of sheer and bright color. It changes the color of my lips, but in a much more subtle way than a regular lipstick. Plus, being a part of the Buxom line, it has lip plumper in it too! It has a refreshing tingle but doesn't feel like your face is going to burn off, which I have experienced with other plumpers. Unfortunately it was a part of a special edition kit, so you can't get this shade any more, but if you are looking for a light weight pop of red, try this product in Candi.
 |
| This picture is artistic. |
This first one is from the Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish line, in Bella. It is the perfect mix of sheer and bright color. It changes the color of my lips, but in a much more subtle way than a regular lipstick. Plus, being a part of the Buxom line, it has lip plumper in it too! It has a refreshing tingle but doesn't feel like your face is going to burn off, which I have experienced with other plumpers. Unfortunately it was a part of a special edition kit, so you can't get this shade any more, but if you are looking for a light weight pop of red, try this product in Candi.
 |
| B.E. should hire me as an art designer. |
Next up is my latest purchase, the Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Tarnish in Busted. (Traditionally, the Buxom colors have saucy girl names that end in "I", and as a stripper spelled Mandi, I prefer this, but "Busted" is a funny word, so I'll let it slide) This is categorized under a stain, but it goes on like a lipstick, which I fully appreciate. I love the creaminess, and it does last a long time, which is one of my criteria. I also like that it looks more like a lipstick on my face than a stain. I always look like I just won a Kool-Aid chugging contest in stains. It is also more light weight than my other more traditional red lipsticks, so its very daytime friendly. My biggest problem with it is the crayon packaging. It comes with a sharpener in the cap, with which I immediately crushed the tip of the lipstick upon opening. Also, the cap tends to fall off in my purse, and then the tip breaks off, so I have to re-sharpen every time I want to put some on. However, the color is great, like a Russian Red, and it has a little mint in it, which makes me feel extra kissable.
 |
| This picture is also sexy. |
I've saved the best (IMHO) for last. This is bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor in Strength. It goes on like a thick gloss, and has the best applicator for a lip product I've ever used. It looks like your average lip gloss sponge, but handles like a paint brush. I blot once or twice after painting my lips, and then I will have BRIGHT (perhaps Kyoto) red lips for hours and hours. It doesn't dry out my lips like a stick does, and if I have to re-apply after eating and drinking, it doesn't self implode like second coats of stains are apt to do. It is definitely a bold look, but I'm a bold gal, and this stuff makes me feel like the Film Noir Femme Fatale I desperately want to be.
 |
| Obviously |
Well that's all I have to say about that, so I shall leave you now. Enjoy your weekend, and tell Galen your favorite red lipstick, and she will pass on the good news to me!
XOXO,
Roomie
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Thrifty Thursday: Shoehorned In
Hi Blogland!
A woman of her word, Galen is not blogging the rest of the week. She has quit the rest of February, and is lost in a delightful time warp where Hugh Jackman still hosts the Oscars and her hand doesn't look like the end of The Departed. While she's away, as her loyal Roomie and Mama Mandi, I have offered to fill her big (And yet, IRL, incredibly small) shoes and blog for a day or two.
Today is Thrifty Thursday, and so I thought I would talk a bit about a second hand taboo: Shoes. I won't go bowling because I'm scared of wearing someone's old sweaty shoes, but that fear goes away when I see a great pair of heels at a thrift shop. I can't explain this other than the fact that I have an unquenchable thirst for shoes, but live on the meager salary of an actor. Behold, a stunning pair of red patent leather pumps that I acquired while on an educational tour in South Georgia at the Thomasville Goodwill.
They have a slight marble effect to them, and are gorgeous with an LBD and pearls.
They have both a zipper and stretchy material around the boot, so they have the benefit of a lace up without the time and effort it takes to put them on.
I bought these as show shoes as well, and they worked perfect for the role. (Not to mention the fact that they look like a Donna Summers song in shoe form) Alas, they are not real vintage, but who cares? I am obsessed with the colorful straps and the floral print on the heel and insole.
The final thing I want to share today is not a pair of shoes that I thrifted, but a pair that you, lovely reader, might find in your friendly neighborhood second hand store soon.
A woman of her word, Galen is not blogging the rest of the week. She has quit the rest of February, and is lost in a delightful time warp where Hugh Jackman still hosts the Oscars and her hand doesn't look like the end of The Departed. While she's away, as her loyal Roomie and Mama Mandi, I have offered to fill her big (And yet, IRL, incredibly small) shoes and blog for a day or two.
Today is Thrifty Thursday, and so I thought I would talk a bit about a second hand taboo: Shoes. I won't go bowling because I'm scared of wearing someone's old sweaty shoes, but that fear goes away when I see a great pair of heels at a thrift shop. I can't explain this other than the fact that I have an unquenchable thirst for shoes, but live on the meager salary of an actor. Behold, a stunning pair of red patent leather pumps that I acquired while on an educational tour in South Georgia at the Thomasville Goodwill.
 |
| If you click your heels three times in these you end up in Carrie Bradshaw's closet. |
As much as I love a great pair of used footwear, I'm not the marathon deal hunter that Galen is. I'd rather sing along to Mackelmore while sitting on my couch, surfing the internet pantsless. And so, I have found another great way to get second hand shoes in Ebay. I've gotten into some epic bidding wars over a great pair of used designer heels. Here are two of my favorite Ebay shoe success stories.
The first is a pair of faux lace up boots that I bought to be a costume piece, but they ended up having too high a heel for the show, so I kept them for personal use.
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| NSFW |
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| I Love the 70s: Volume Shoe (Don't hate me) |
I bought these as show shoes as well, and they worked perfect for the role. (Not to mention the fact that they look like a Donna Summers song in shoe form) Alas, they are not real vintage, but who cares? I am obsessed with the colorful straps and the floral print on the heel and insole.
The final thing I want to share today is not a pair of shoes that I thrifted, but a pair that you, lovely reader, might find in your friendly neighborhood second hand store soon.
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| And lately, I've been wondering. Who will be there to take my place? |
I bought these shoes new (On sale at Marshalls) a few months ago, to match a previously unmatchable dress that I've had for years. I wore the ensemble to an opening night gala.
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| Boyfriend, boyfriend, I have a boyfriend |
I was really pleased with how the outfit looked, but the shoes are really too small for me. They are a small size 7, and I have the same shoe size as the incomparable Dolly Parton- "I wear a size 6, but a 7 feels so good I buy an 8". I suffered through them for a night, but when my plans to cut off part of my foot a la the ugly stepsisters in an effort to wear them again was deemed "extreme", I had to come up with another plan for them. The next time I make a donation to the Salvation Army, these suede beauties will leave my closet forever. If one of you finds them someday, know that they come from Roomie with Love.
Whiny Wednesday: Breaking it Off
I am officially breaking-up with this week. Sorry to be so blunt about it (announcing it on the Internet isn't very classy, I know) but I can't pretend anymore, and I won't live a lie. I'm going to mentally hibernate until Sunday, at which point I will rejoin the human race. Sayonara, friends - it's Netflix and naps for this chica. See you on Monday!
Oh, and here's today's word:
Oh, and here's today's word:
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