Funny Story

{I’m sure there will be more to come}

As you may know, I’m a sucker for a good deal. Like, I live for them. I’m a bargain shopper and I pride myself at it. I love looking like a million bucks but knowing I only spent $30 {maybe even less} head to toe. Being a true bargain shopper I often find myself browsing the ilse of Savers or DI looking for something to guiltlessly bust a few bucks on. And I often find something wonderful, amazing, original, unique, old, and most importantly: CHEAP!

Bargain shopping is an art.

And I’ve learned from a wonderful teacher: my mother.

A few tips to successful, anti-binge, bargain shopping:

1. 1. First things first: go directly to sales racks in the back of the store.
2. Have an open mind: be creative and innovative when looking at something. Don’t look at it for what it is but for what it could be!
3. Don’t go clearance crazy: just because something is cheap, does not mean it is worth your buck! Don’t buy something unless you really love it.

So last Saturday, I walked into the local DI with these helpful tips stored carefully in some pocket in my brain.

I found:

• The exact vases I want for my reception (50 cents a piece)
• beautiful glasses for B’s and my future home (75 cents a piece, but the guy only charged me 50 J)
• 2 wonderfully patterned vintage pillowcases (50 cents each)
• and a dress.

But not just any dress.

A wedding dress.

Now before you gag, start throwing up, gouge out your eyes and the thought of me wearing a dress from DI to my wedding, please keep in mine that I wasn’t sane in the moment.

No, not sane at all.

I had followed only 1 and 2 of my mothers well meant advice. Somehow my innovative/thrifty mind got the best of me and I totally overlooked the fact that this dress, although beautiful in it’s own way (c’mon, you really think I’d buy something ugly) was NOT the dress I wanted to get married in.

How could I forget rule 3? The most important of all the rules?!

IF YOU DON’T LOVE IT, DON’T BUY IT!

No matter how cheap it is, or how thrifty you think you are.

Needless to say I took the dress back. Only to find out that “clothing" returns can only be exchanged for “clothing”. {whatever} So I spent 15 minutes running through DI finding $50 worth of clothes to thrift and stitch.

I DID find some treasures, of which I’ll share with you as soon as I find time to pull out the old sewing machine and give them a little special touch.

Anyway, I hope you haven’t lost respect for me due to this almost disastrous dress incident. I mean, we all have embarrassing stories right?! And stories like these are priceless right?!

Oh wait…I guess mine cost me $50 bucks….

Here's some photos of recent thrifty finds:

{to prove I'm sometimes somewhat sane}

Baby Ben! love him. He's the perfect "tick-tock" -er

scraps of vintage fabric!

{what shall I make of them? Headbands? a coin purse?...?}

this fancy hanky! {this may or may be some inspiration for my wedding....}

more findings for headbands and such!

and....

This lovely vintage apron! It makes me feel like I should sing and dance and cook meatloaf.

{only minus the singing and cooking part...}