And The Winner Is...

A week ago I offered up an hour of 'Personal Thrift Shopping' with myself as a giveaway.

Today was the draw.

And the winner is....

Melissa Fletcher!

Congratulations Melissa, I SO look forward to shopping with you in any second-hand store(s) of your choice!

Thank-you to all who entered and shared my post!!

Blessings.

New Giveaway- An Hour Of 'Personal Thrift Shopping' Time With Yours Truly!

I realized that I hit the 60,000 views on my blog and I hadn't yet considered what my next giveaway would be. I like to have a giveaway every 20,000 views.

At 40,000 views The Edit shop here in Hamilton donated this beautiful Vintage Necklace.

At 20,000 views JustOne donated an item from their gorgeous African accessory line.

Because I didn't think ahead to ask about a donation....I will donate... MYSELF.

For those that are too overwhelmed by even the NOTION of thrifting- I will spend the time to help find items that would work for you.

For those that HAVE thrifted, but never seem to find anything, maybe I have some ideas that you haven't thought of.

For those that are looking for a certain outfit for an event- 2 sets of eyes are better than one!

And for those that just want a girl to go thrift shopping with...I can be that girl! 

Even if you don't want to buy second hand clothing- we could go looking for second hand furniture....or anything second-hand that you'd like!

The winner must live in the Hamilton area, or be willing to travel here.

Simply share this post on any social media site. If we are friends on facebook, tag yourself or someone else in order to nominate that name to go into the draw. If you share on another site, or we are not facebook friends, simply comment in the section below for nominations, and let me know that you've shared .






 Contest will run from today, June 22, to a week from today, June 29.

Good luck and blessings, friends!

In My Closet- Thrifts Ahoy!

Thrifting one day, this shirt caught my eye. Maybe it was the orange rope, or the overall nautical feeling...I'm not sure. But, I snatched it up and bought it without trying it on.

That was about 10-15 lbs ago. I've been working diligently to lose the last of my baby weight from baby number 3. I did NOT enjoy the way this top seemed to hug my middle when I first bought it, but I hoped that once a few pounds were shed- I would love it.

And happily, now I do.

Nautical Top- $5.99 Salvation Army Thrift Shop

Black Maxi- FREE from last Clothing Swap

White Sweater- FREE castoff from friend

Purse- $5.99 Salvation Army Thrift Shop

Black Flats- $7.99 Value Village

White Beaded Bracelets- JustOne

It's great to have an outfit that cost me less than $20, including accessories! (My JustOne bracelets were a birthday gift).

If you haven't yet, try thifting! I recently did an interview with JustOne on why I only buy second-hand and about my second-hand lifestyle. You can read it here.

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Blessings.

Colours I'll be Thrifting For This Summer (2015)

I'm always curious to see what the hot colours are for the season to come. I find the easiest way to find out what those colours will be is to check out Pantone's Colour Report. This year, for spring/ summer the report indicated earthy, airy, colours found in nature.

Now, I am by NO means a slave to fashion, and I MUCH prefer to buy timeless items that I feel good in. But, I also like to add some thrifted items to stay current...and to prove to others that you can live a completely second-hand lifestyle and not look like you are stuck in the last century. ;)

Here are some examples of the colours that liked from the report, and will be looking for while I'm thrifting:

Aquamarine:

I just love this colour- it reminds me of the crystal clear waters in the Carribean and I am instantly relaxed. I think it really IS a perfect colour for summer.

Tangerine:

I have ALWAYS loved orange (tangerine, if you prefer). In grade nine, I wore a pair of baggy orange skater-type jeans, and they were my most FAVOURITE thing ever. Tangerine looks best on sun-kissed skin (but don't forget your SPF!), so again- I think this is a perfect pick for a spring summer colour.

Lucite Green:

 

This is another beautiful, soft and earthy colour. I'm not someone who EVER buys anything green (seriously- I NEVER have anything to wear on St. Patrick's Day), but I would consider a maxi skirt in this shade. ;)

And The Neutral- Glacier Gray:

 

 

 

It's always nice to use a neutral colour that isn't black. Since that is still pretty much ALWAYS my go-to, I should probably look for at least one gray item this season. I wish I could pull off this silvery hair-colour....maybe AFTER my wedding....

Thanks for reading, I hope this post gives you a little colour inspiration to keep in mind while thifting this summer!

Peace.

Some DIY Kimono Ideas

So, I am basically OBSESSED with the look of these beautiful, flowing kimonos.

I thought that I would add some of my favourite tutorials that I've found for any of my readers that are wanting to make one (or more) for themselves. Most of these I found on Pinterest- naturally.

I found this easy-peasy tutorial on Earnest Home co. :

 

For the complete tutorial- click here.

I especially love this one- no sewing machine required! Found this one on Verily:

 

 

Click here for the complete tutorial.

And here is a video tutorial of a really cute kimono:

And another video tutorial- this one is a truly no-sew scarf- kimono tutorial:

Hope you were inspired to try a little DIY, readers!

If you can make your kimonos out of scarves or fabric that you already own- that is spectacular. If you can find some extra large thrifted scarves to use, I would say that is just as good! ;)

Peace and blessings, friends.

Confessions Of A Single Mom- Who Won't Be Single Much Longer!

Friends, I have to admit- when I wrote my blog entry on finding out about my pregnancy in October 2013 (There's Something New In The Never New Home), I had no inkling of WHAT the next year and a half would have in store for me and for my boys. I was still in shock and wanted to blog about how humans can make mistakes and yet find redemption from those mistakes.






  A few months later, I shared about the struggle of how I was feeling like I just could not go on (Feeling Like The Big Engine That Couldn't)- working my 2 jobs, my sore hips, and finding babysitting just seemed overwhelming. I shared about how I was:

Feeling alone, but very loved.

Feeling depleted, but still breathing.

Feeling hopeless, but somehow connected to something greater than me.

A few weeks after I wrote those words, I shared my dilemma of considering adoption for the tiny life that I was carrying. Considering The Adoption Option- Self-LESS Or Self-ISH? was probably my most raw, transparent, this-is-me blog post to date. 

When I wrote Dirty Fingerprints Keeping Me Sane, I was still feeling overwhelmed, but I knew that I had a solid support system to lean on. Three Week To Go And Feeling... was when I shared that I had decided that my baby would be a part of our family for good, and about the fears and intimidation that I was experiencing from that decision.

But then when I wrote Three's A Crowd, I blogged about my 'babymooning' time and how wonderfully and beautifully crowded those moments felt:

 

During the long nights, as I have my quiet one-on-one feeding time with my son, and he caresses my skin with those tiny fingers, I am so thankful that for now my bed is a bit crowded.

When I sneak into my other sons' room after they are supposed to be asleep and my middle child hears me and asks to cuddle, and proceeds to kiss and hug me over and over and tell me he loves me- I am so thankful that I don't have free space in my home. Every room in my house is filled with family- what a comfort that is to me.

After that I wrote about a Celebration Of Life that I had attended....and that seemed to be the end of my Confessions Of A Single Mom.

In the past decade I have endured the heartbreak of infertility, but that was redeemed with the births of each of my sons. Almost ironically, 10 years later I found myself a pregnant single mom, and was redeemed by the support of my family, friends and my church community.  I have lived through the pain of separating from my husband when I was 7 months pregnant with my second child, and found redemption and strength through discovering myself again.

Now when I am stronger, now when I am wiser, now when I am completely content in myself... NOW I feel I am at a place to share my life again.

It's interesting the things that are important to you, when you decide to get married for a second time.

I have found someone who I believe is loyal-beyond-measure. I have found someone who is honest (sometimes refreshingly, sometimes painfully so), and I have have found someone who truly loves me and my boys. And I have found this someone in the father of my baby. How blessed am I?

Finding the strength to make it through life as a capable, settled, single Mom-  fantastic and rewarding.

Finding redemption in the love of an amazing man, a beautiful life and a 'complete' family-  how surprisingly priceless. 

"He has made all things beautiful in His time."

-Ecclesiastes 3:11

Blessing, friends.

In My Closet- From Our Last Clothing Swap

While talking to some friends recently, we decided that it was time for another Clothing Swap. 

We had one in the fall, and now that the weather was getting nicer- it was a great time to get rid of items that we didn't want and snap up some warm-weather treasures from someone else.

Here was a favourite score of mine:

 

 I snapped up this dress at the Clothing Swap, along with many other great finds.

Floral Dress- FREE

Boots- Value Village $19.99

 

 

 Black Sweater- Thrifted many years ago

Purse- Salvation Army $4.99

I think this dress would be really cute with the addition of a scarf in cooler weather and a skinny belt- like the photo below.

I was having such a blast looking for clothing that I forgot to take many photos at the Swap. Here are the few that I took:

I seriously hope that Evelyn took this steller adult onesie. 

I felt it was time to part with this beloved sweater. I hope Sharlene enjoys it as much as I did. ;)

Leanne ended up using this dress in a school production that she is directing of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

At the end of the night we even let the little's go through the clothing.

By shortening the straps, this shirt became an adorable dress for this young lady. I absolutely love that.

And this dress (?) stayed a dress, but with shortened and cris-crossed straps. :)








To all of my readers- try a Clothing Swap with your friends! It's a fun night out, and a way to swap out some clothing you don't wear for some fabulous new-to-you items. :)


You can read about other items that I have picked up for free a swaps here and here.



Blessings.