Bleeding Heart

Ok...not really.
But what kind of clever title am I suppose to come up for this one?

This outfit totals approximately $15.00.

The sweater I got at Target a week ago on clearance.  The website lists it at $8.00, but I'm pretty sure I paid less than that.   I want to say it was $6.50.  I think it is super cute.  It is light weight.  Perfect for this time of year when you think you might still be a bit chilly.

I paired it with the shorts from Old Navy that I bought on clearance in the fall.  I paid $2.97 for them.  The color will be cute for day or night.  I'm thinking they may make an appearance at Speigeltent this summer.  I wish I had though to take a photo of the back.  They have pockets.

The shoes also came from Old Navy.  I got them this winter some time and paid $3.97 for them.
They are actually pretty comfortable.  They are the 2nd pair of shoes I've purchased from Old Navy and loved.  They are not a work shoe or an every day shoe.  Maybe they are to someone who wears heels.  I do not.  Heels and wedges are 'special' shoes.  I wore these to take a walk with a hot guy on his lunch break.
He walked behind me most of the time and I'm pretty sure I know why. $3.97 well spent!

So, for less than $15.00 I got 3 really cute pieces that I can wear for several seasons.

I should have a show on Bravo.

I love you, Mary Jane.

I've been super busy and have not had much of an opportunity to SHOP let alone BLOG!
But today I made it to the Well.  The first order of business is always shoes.  I have scored so many beautiful  pairs of shoes in there and have never paid more than 5 dollars.
Today I scored these.

How adorable are these Mary Janes? 

The perfect work shoe.  I can be on my feet all day in them.  Dark brown will go with almost anything.

They are Merrell's.  I imagine they will be quite durable.

It doesn't look like they were worn very often.  Which is the best part!  

No.

The best part is that they were ONE DOLLAR.

Then I found these. 

I don't think I've ever owned a pair of blue shoes.  Another great pair to work in.

Yeah...I know what you are all thinking.  And if you aren't...you should.

Black and blue make a bruise.  

The blue shoe/black sole combo isn't ideal.  

But again, hardly worn.  And also just ONE DOLLAR.

Not ba for Aerosole's.  

My trip today made me happy.  

I hope you have some second hand shoe luck, too!

So much to blog about....

...so little time.
I started blogging about Rocco two years ago.
And then I realized I love to talk about myself almost as much.
So, I started another blog.
And THEN I decided if I'm not talking about Rocco or myself, I want to talk about money.
Thus, the 3rd blog was born.

I've gotten quite a response.
People tell me they 'love to read' my blog.  They 'follow' me.  People have started frequenting my thrift store (yes, it is mine) and following my thrifty tips.
And I've left you all hanging.

I FINALLY have internet which I HATE paying for but don't know any of my neighbors well enough to ask them for their security code.
So, I have alot of catching up to do.

Keep an eye out for the latest and greatest news about everyone's favorite toddler over at  roccobyebaby. My little man is about to turn 2.  No longer my baby.  He is all boy.  Stomping in puddles. .Crazy about cars.  Sometimes mistaken for a girl because of his long locks.

I have tons of new things to brag about on THIS blog.  A three dollar dress....a three dollar pair of boots...and much more.

And I always have things to rant about on my more serious blog.  Leaving my job of 5 years for a new one....buying a home by myself...asking for help...losing my appetite...getting it back.  Delicious.

So, hang in there.
I know you're all dying to hear what I say next...

Penny Pinching Preppy

This outfit is a little bit preppy.  It is more conservative than my usual taste.
But I love each piece and have been complimented both times I've worn them all together.

The sweater is a hand me down.  I don't often wear white.  But it is super soft and I love the neck line and the sleeves.  It is not a name brand.

I am IN LOVE with these pants (and my mini model, Rocco).  I got them at Old Navy a while ago.  I think I paid $5.00 for them on clearance.  They are polyester but super silky feeling.  They have zipper up the side which I love because I don't have a bulky waistline.  

The shoes came from Salvation Army.  I almost did not get them.  I wasn't sure if I would actually wear them.  I was not sure about the preppy factor.  But I love them.  Super comfy.  Most of the scuffing I did myself.  I paid $3.99 for them.  I didn't realize they were 'fancy' until I got home and googled them.  According to the Etienne Aigner website, they are 'luxury'.  

The most expensive thing I'm wearing is my underwear (not pictured).  My girlfriend bought me a pair of Hanky Panky panties for my birthday after having a discussion about who makes the most comfortable pair. She went on and on about Hanky Panky.  I must say they are the most comfortable pair I own.  And I only own ONE pair because they are $20.00 each!  I've been searching for a way to get them cheap....I'll keep you posted.

I love when I'm dressed for under 10 bucks.  Thought I would share...

Oh, the Humanity!

One of my best thrift store scores is my pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans.  It is also a pretty rare find for The Salvation Army in Kingston.

Sal's has a special on Wednesdays.  A certain tag color is 50% off.  There is usually a sign right inside the door indicating which color is on sale that day.  So, I tend to only go on Wednesday and and look for only those tags to get the best bang for my buck.  

I was there over the summer looking at jeans and came across this pair.  I'm not really big on labels but I thought the pocket design looked familiar.  I remember reading the label and thinking "I think these are expensive".  They are a size smaller than I normally wear but decided to try them on anyway.  I got in them and my ass looked great.

They were labeled $7.99 and I got them for 50% off.  

When I got home I Googled 'Citizen of Humanity' and found out that these jeans are usually $170 - $200 a pair.  I could buy 15 outfits for $200.  I can't IMAGINE spending that much on ONE article of clothing. 

My then husband said I should sell them on Ebay.

I asked him, "Have you SEEN my ass?"  No wonder people pay that much money.  They do amazing things for your back side.

The shirt is a no namer that I LOVE and got 2nd hand for  25 cents.  The scarf is was a gift that came from Old Navy.  

They are definitely worn.  I'm not sure how much longer it will be until my knee makes an appearance.  But they will probably be the only $200 pair of jeans I ever own.  And they are fun while they last.

Saturday at Shoprite.

I love food shopping.
Not only because I love food but I love to see how much I can get and how much I can get for free.
I have not always used coupons.  I remember my mother clipping them as a kid.  I just never really bought the Sunday paper and when I had coupons they just got lost or forgotten about in my purse.
After Rocco was born I needed to start spending less money on the things we needed so I started clipping coupons and looking for sale.  A good friend of mine has mastered the art of coupons and she taught me a thing or two.
One year later I have a bit of an obsession with food shopping.  It totally relaxes me.  And it is a bit of a high to buy something on sale with a coupon that doubles and only pay a few cents for it.  Maybe I should mention this in therapy sometime.
But anyway...tonight I went to Shoprite.  Which aside from Adam's, it is my favorite place to shop because the prices are reasonable and coupons double.

This is what I bought.
The produce, loaf of bread, and organic yogurt I did NOT have coupons for.  I did for the rest of the items.  My total purchase was $21.76.  Had I NOT purchased the produce, bread, and yogurt I would have paid about $10.00.

The Purex was $1.99 and I had a $1.00 coupon making it $0.99.
The eggs were $1.97 and I had a $.35 coupon that doubled making them $1.27.
The Juicy Juice was 2 for $5.00 and you HAD to buy 2.  So, I used two $1.00 off coupons making them $1.50 each.
The French's Mustard, which is the best condiment on Earth, cost me $0.30.
Nothing spectacular but decent deals.
I'm most excited about the following.

Happy Baby organic fruit and vegetable purees were on sale for $1.09.  I had two coupons for $0.50 and paid $0.09 for each one.

Beechnut Fruities on the Go.  They were $1.00 each.  I had one $0.75 on 3 (which doubled) and two $1.00 on 1.  So I ended up paying $1.50 for all 5 of them.  

Finally, my favorite deal of the day.  Beech Nut Stage 2 baby food was on sale 12 for $3.30.  i had four coupons for $1.00 off 3.  So, the store paid ME $0.70.  Rocco does not need pureed baby food any more. But he hates vegetables and the only way he gets them is by dumping puree into his pasta sauce or mac and cheese.  

So...this was my Saturday night.  And I look forward to doing it again next week.  

People roll their eyes and say they don't have time for this.  

But I'm so good at it now, it takes me longer to check out at the register than it does to do the clipping and shopping.  

Going down?

Ok, try not to look at my face since I'm making a horribly unflattering expression.

Photo credit goes to dear friend and coworker, Jessica Conklin.

The shirt is new and one of my favorites.

It is Express but I bought it at The Well on Partition Street in Saugerties.  I believe it was 50 cents but it could have been a dollar.  It is polyester and clings to everything so I need to bust out a bottle of Static Guard from the 80s.  

The pants are another favorite.  They are Ann Taylor Loft, however I paid $2 for them at The Salvation Army in Kingston.  They are black with pinstripes which you can not see in the photo.  

The shoes I bought new.  They are Dr. Scholls and I purchased them last spring at The Shoe Department for $15.  They are super comfy.  

Dressed for under 20 bucks.  You gotta love that.