1000 page views!!!

Freeow!!  This ThriftyParka blog has just passed a thousand page views!!  I'm seriously chuffed that there are so many visits from all of my fans (you guys are awesome!).  Thanks for dropping by.

Well, the weather here is making dressing nicely  a challenge.  I have a quarter mile hike from where I park, to where I work, so flimsy clothing is out of the question.  I wear layers, good thick footwear, and a hat and gloves.  Once I dig up my warm tights and knee socks, I can start wearing my wool, maxi skirts.

Here is my outfit de jour.  Yes, I am in a bathroom...this blog is all about CLASS people  :)

I'm wearing a Banana Republic tunic with a medallion print ($6), thick navy designer jeans ($2), mustard necklace (Bianca Nygard clearance $5), teal cardi ($6).  

With the exception of the necklace, this outfit was thrifted.  Everything came to less than $20.

I'm also wearing my puffy, green anorak (sale $90), and my fab Pendleton purse (thrifted $15) 

I like how black, navy and teal look together.  I even got a compliment from one of the gents in my office.

Interesting note about dressing for cold weather.  I can't wear skinny trousers every day.  It's just too darn cold for that, I would get chilled.   The jeans I'm wearing (they look like dress trousers) are high-waisted and a size too large.  They still look good, but they are roomy in the thigh and hip. This is the kind of trouser you want if you are walking in the cold.  The extra room traps a bit of warm air, and it acts as insulation as you walk through the icy, blasts of winter air.

Some nights after work, I may head to my boyfriend's house, I may head to the gym, or I may go thrift shopping. A few nights ago I decided to thrift.  I deliberately went with a small budget in mind ($5) as I had been spendy as of late.  

Here is what I found for $3.  A gorgeous, vintage beaded bag in MINT condition!!  This came home with me.

I was tempted by this deadstock, vintage clutch.  It was made of vinyl and cordouroy material.

Isn't this full-length suede and faur-fur lined coat gorgeous? A bit expensive at $50, but well worth it if you have to spend time outside in the cold.  They don't make them like this anymore, it's a vintage item that was made in Canada.

I love vintage Johnson Brothers pottery.  Sadly this platter had a crack with discoloration (see the edge).

Oooh, what's this I spy?  It's a plastic tote full of sewing goodies. It was tempting, but I passed it up.  

Thrift stores are great places to find sewing supplies and fabric.  Ya just gotta keep your eyes peeled!!

10 for all of this!!!!

I love needlepoint.  I wish I could find a needlepoint, granny purse. 

Love this purse!!!

Hee, hee, hee...this stuff is kinda funny.

I really liked these boots, but they were seriously overpriced at $50!!!!

Loved this studded purse!!  I kinda regret not getting it, but it wasn't in the budget.  I hope it finds a good home.

Look, the purse it talking to me!!  :)

Deliberately tacky purse with drinking aviary.

Holy Toledo!!  Giant cutlery!!  I seriously regretted leaving this behind.  Check out the giant spoon and soup ladle in the background.

Thanks for dropping by.

happy thrifting.

New do, free groceries and 2 mocassins

Winter has arrived in all of it's icy cold glory.  The temperature where I live has already dipped down to -20 degrees Celcius....Brrrr!!  The icy, north winds have left me jonesing for cuddly cashmere sweaters, flannel shirts, cosy wooly socks and moccasins.

An hour ago, I popped into a thrift store.  Most thrifty blogs will encourage you to thrift during the week as that's when most of the merchandise is put on the floor.  Well, I happened to find a cart of merchandise that was just being put out.  It was a cart of shoes, where I found 2 pairs of moccasins.  They are almost NEW!  I only see a bit of dirt smudges on the soles.  Do I buy second hand footwear in this condition?  YES PLEASE!!

Footwear goodness!!

The grey pair are made of synthetic material.  The brown moccasins were made from buckskin with some beading.  They may be handmade as I don't see a label.

They were THREE DOLLARS A PAIR!!!!!

Here is a picture of me wearing the Nordic sweater I found in "when bad thrift stores go good".  I styled this sweater with turquoise jeggings and my brown, puffy coat.  

Oh, and I just got my hair cut. I have a fabulous hairstylist. To save money I only see him 3 or 4 times a year.  He's very good, his cuts are easy to style, and they stay looking good as my hair grows out.

Last but not least, I popped into Shoppers Drug Mart to see if they had anything I needed on sale.  Normally I don't shop at Shoppers as they are expensive.  But occasionally they have killers sales and promotions.  Today I lucked out, and I stocked up on sale items.  Plus I got everything for $30 since I redeemed 50,000 Optimum points, and took advantage of a $20 extra worth of free merchandise. At the end of the day, I got $150 dollars worth of merchandise for $30 (most of which was taxes).  No it's not Extreme Couponing, but it's pretty darn good.

What sale items did I stock up on?  Bottled water (it's good to have if the power goes out), frozen food (perfect after I've worked 12 hours and I'm only feeding myself), Qtips (great for applying makeup), fem hygiene, home wax kits (wayyy cheaper than going to the esthetician), chocolate and road salt to melt the stubborn snow left after I shovel my driveway.

I'm off to watch an episode of Lost (5 episodes left!), then quick snack, unload car, walk dog and shovel.  Cheerio!!

happy thrifting.

Wooden bed, why patience is a virtue.

I spied this wooden bed in the donation pile at the Salv.  It has just been donated, and it was waiting for the workers to bring it to the back for pricing.

I found the manager, gave her my name and number and mentioned I was interested in buying it.

She called a few days later, and told me I was welcome to come by and purchase the bed.  She was very gracious and let me have first dibs.  Sadly, the price they were asking ($80), was much too high, so I declined, and this beauty went onto the sales floor.

I waited a week.  The price went down by 25%.

I waited another week.  The price went down another 25%.  And so I snapped it up for $40.

I'm thinking I'll sand it down and paint it white, or a pastel color.  I think it will become a daybed.

Cheerio.

happy thrifting.

summer travel, winter getaway, office professional, vintage rope and kissing doves

Have you ever watched an episode of a TV show that is largely comprised of past footage?  Well, as a blogger, I figured waste not, want not and I scraped up some pics that were left over on my camera from this summer.  Impressed much?  :)

Behold my summer thrift store haul.

I took this picture the day before I left for Labour Day in Minneapolis.  I really wanted something new for my trip, but I wasn't going to pay retail for new clothing.  Enter the Sally Ann!!

GAP cami, RW sweater, Jones New York cardi

I like to categorize my clothes, it helps me keep tabs on what I have, what I need, and what I don't need.  The pretty GAP cami had a grey floral print..perfect for layering under tanks.  That is what I call summer travel.  The RW sweater was lightweight, with 3/4 length sleeves and a pretty neckline...perfect for long car rides.  Another summer travel.  The Jones cardi was a thick cotton knit, perfect for office professional.  I bought all three items for about $6 each.

4 pairs of capris, Reitmans, Nygard, Jacob and American Eagle

Wow, I love finding brand names for pennies!!!  I bought all 4 of these capris.  Because Salv was having a BOGO offer on capris, I saved mucho dinero (yes, I speak pigeon Spanish...is that CLASS or WHAT???).  These lovlies rang in at about $3 each.  I reckon they would have retailed for about $25 each.  My hypothetical savings were $84 plus taxes.  I took the black Reitmans pair, and the American Eagle pair for the road trip.  The American Eagle capris were a baggy, cargo style.  The material was ultra-lightweight.  Perfect for the hot, hot weather we experienced at the Minnesota State Fair.  The white capris were made from a gorgeous, floral eyelet material...perfect for the office, or a night out.  The beige Jacob pair are what I call office professional.

Pink long T, wool cardi, 2 sleeveless tops

The pink, long-sleeved t-shirt was really nice quality.  It jumped out at me when I was perusing the racks.  Some clever clogs had snipped out the label, which told me that this item may have come from an outlet.  However on closer inspection I found an embroidered manufacturer's mark..Esprit!!  One of my favs!!  Summer travel.

The flowered cardi was gorgeous..I love yellow, grey, black and white.  It was made of lightweight wool, by J Crew...SCORE office professional!!

The first sleeveless top was a Sears label I think.  I forget whether I purchased it.  The second sleeveless top was a gorgeous, silk J Crew item.  Sadly it was too small, it got left behind.

Vintage rope, daisies and geometric prints

"What did Cinderalla say at the photomat?", "Someday my prints will come!", yuk, yuk, yuk.  Thanks for the laughs ladies and gents, try the veal.

These print tops range from rope, to daisies to geometric prints.

Seriously, this vintage rope print blouse is. The. Best. Thing. Ever.  Circa 1980s, it was manufactured by some hoighty-toighty label.  The colors are orange, oxblod and gold.  I lurrrrve the rope print!!!

I had seen this blouse on an earlier foray into Salv, and I couldn't stop thinking that for $6, this blouse would make a great statement piece.  I pictured it with olive slim pants and a pufffy vest.  When I went back to get it, I found the BOGO sale on capris, so that was particularly auspicious.

Mister Leonard.  Hoighty much?

Love the rope!!

These is a sad story behind these three tops.  I purchased the light blue one, and the Zara leopard print top.  I took them home, and accidentally spilled bleach on them when I washed them.  They are now in my DIY/makeover pile.

I didn't buy the middle, peasant blouse.  I looked like an ox in it.

RIP Zara.

Oooh, what do we have here?

White vintage top, kissing doves, and berry shirt.

 I love finding 1980s vintage in stores.  Sometimes the quality is shockingly superior to the dreck being sold in fast-fashion stores today.  Sadly the white top was far too small. Next!!

The berry colored top on the right was a crisp, well-made shirt, perfect for  summer travel and office professional.

The top in the middle is a long, sleeved shirt.  Made of cotton and silk by JC Penny.  Here is a closeup of the print.

Kissing doves!!

I. Love. This. Shirt.  It has made an appearance at the office, and whilst running errands on Saturday.  Love.  Whoever thought of this pattern is seriously brilliant.

It's never too early to think about winter getaways.

The lilac top on the left came home with me.  It was part of the bundle that I wrecked with bleach.  Sigh.

The dark burgundy shirt came home with me too.  It's Office Professional, annnnd wrinkle resistant!!  Yesss!!!

The flowy oversized top with medallions is really a plus sized top. I'm going to call it a bathing suit cover up.  This top is already packed in my "Winter Getaway" bag.  I'm gonna be READY when I getaway sometime in 2016 :)

happy thrifting.

Massive thrift store clothing haul

Have you ever had one of those dreams, where you are trapped inside a candy store and everything is calorie free?

Well, there have been not one, but two, 50% off sales that I attended.  Before I show you what I got, let me show you what I (somewhat reluctantly) left behind.

These ceramic bookends were wayyy to light to be practical.  Still, these poodles were sitting up and begging to come home with me.  But I walked away.

OMG!!  How did I live without this lamp?

I used a lot of willpower to walk away from these treasures. I have too much stuff as is, and I don't want to be a future participant/patient in Hoarders.  Sometimes ya gotta walk away.

I was severely tempted by this tribal pattern shirt...but you guessed it, I kept walking.

Here is what I walked home with.  A bevy of shirts, Anne Klein zebra print jacket, blanket skirt, printed skinnes and more...all for between $3 and $4.  The green shirt was NWT for $7.50.  

happy thrifting.