Hope Hiding In A Broken-Down Bookshelf

One of my favourite things in life is when I come across an ugly piece of furniture while thrifting, but I can see potential in it.

That's when I strut up to that checkout like I just won the lottery.

And that's how I looked while buying this ugly bookshelf a couple of weeks ago.

I'm sure people wondered WHY I would pay money for this monstrousity. Even if it was only $8.99.

The shelves were peeling and cracked. But I liked the dark wood. And I had a plan.

A few years ago I used some 'Stainless Steel' Contact Paper on my dishwasher (see post here).

I had some of that Contact paper left over, and that I what I had planned to use to fix up this bookshelf.

Above- Top shelf done.

You just have to be careful to smooth out the bubbles as you go.

Here is the finished product. I'm SO happy with how it turned out!

Not bad for $8.99!

It will be perfect in my home Lash and Beauty Bar once I get it all set up!

Thanks for reading friends!

Blessings.

Somtimes Tuesdays Feel Like Mondays

I hope everyone enjoyed their (hopefully) long weekend last weekend and had time with loved ones celebrating Easter!

When I was heading out the door on Tuesday, I was feeling like I had it all together, considering that it was a Monday! It wasn't until later that morning I realized that it was actually Tuesday. Some days are just like that, haha.

BUT, I wanted to share this outfit because as I headed out, I realized that it was half FREE!

I also wish that I could have gotten my grey booties in the photo because I love them AND they were $7.99!

Purse: $12.99 Value Village

Black Tee: $4.99 Talize

Black Jacket: $12.99 Talize

Scarf: Christmas Gift from my step-daughter

Dark Wash Jeans: Castoff from a friend

 I realized that I do not wear this scarf enough! I absolutely love it!

Decided on Hazelnut LipSense (one of my ride or dies) and some Seafoam Shimmer ShadowSense on my eyes.

Thanks for reading!

 I have ONE Seafoam Shimmer in stock if you'd like to snag it! Check out other beauty tips/ tricks in my VIP Beauty Group: 

Courageous Beauty with Melissa 

Have a great weekend, friends!

Blessings.

Thrifting For My Senegence Seminar

The other day a friend asked me if I was still thrifting.

It surprised me, actually. OF COURSE I'm still thrifting.

When you have a value that is SUCH a huge part of you- I don't know how I could ever go back to my old ways!

I thrift for SO many reasons. For one thing, I do it for the earth- I can't stand how much waste we as North Americans make. I refuse to contribute to the 'disposable' mentality that we are encouraged to live by. The FAST FASHION movement is one of the worst movements for our planet. BUT, I won't get into a rant over that today. 

But her comment did make me realize that I obviously am not sharing my thrifting finds the way that I used to - And I pledge to get better at that again. This blog needs some serious cleaning up- and I WILL get to it. Hopefully soon.

My recent thrifting trips have been looking for clothing for my upcoming SeneGence Seminar in Calgary, AB.

We are asked to wear "Seneblue" (Cobalt Blue) business attire to the sessions and we have 2 evenings where we need to dress up.

I do have a number of things to wear, but I did need some shoes. My absolute FAVOURITE booties that I thrifted years ago broke on me. I will definitely fix them (NOT disposable in my mind), but I wouldn't be able to get them fixed by Wednesday when I leave.

I found some really cute beaded black pumps, a pair of nude pumps, a clutch, some fip-flops (since mine broke in the Dominican in January) and a blazer that I am in love with!

And I got ALL of those items for under $40!

Here is my haul:

 I am REALLY in love with these beaded black pumps. 

Just a hint of the 80's but oh so glam.

Pumps: Talize $9.99

I am always on the hunt for a pair of nude pumps. So happy that I found a pair to bring with me to Calgary! And this clutch was too cute to leave behind!

Pumps: Talize $14.99

Clutch: Talize $3.99

I'm very picky when it comes to blazers. They're usually too tight in the arms or too loose in the waist area. I don't want to look boxy.

This blazer is perfect. AND it was $7.99. 

And yes, I needed some flip-flops for the hot tub (assuming there will be one- I should probably double-check on that! Haha.

Pretty sure these were brand new and were $1.99. 

I do realize, of course, that Old Navy sells some for dirt cheap, but I would much rather save a pair from the landfill than buy from them. Also, I strongly disagree in the manner that they run their company/ have their clothing made- so I won't buy from them (and many other companies).

So there you have it. My pretty sweet scores for under $40! I'm pretty pleased.

Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy your Monday!

Blessings.

Thrifting Thursday! Halloween Costume Edition

Okay, so this second-hand 'Morphsuit' that I found at Once Upon A Child felt like SUCH A WIN! My midde had just mentioned the day before that he would like to either be Thanos or wear a morphsuit. Since Thanos looked pretty much impossible to recreate on my own- I almost danced for joy when I found this blue morphsuit for $7.99!!

Anyhoo, sady for me, my middle decided he ONLY wanted to be Thanos. More on that to come.

On that same day that I found the morphsuit, I found a Mr. Peanut costume while thrifting at Talize. I was not LOOKING for a Mr. Peanut costume- but I immediately fell in love and paid the $4.99 in hopes that ONE of our 5 kids would wear it.

THIS costume was the biggest hit of any costume that any of my kids have ever worn! No joke!

His teacher's loved it and STILL bring it up when I see them weeks later! Strangers on Halloween night commented on the cuteness- I mean, He WAS adorable. I couldn't find a thrifted Top Hat, but found one at a Halloween specialty store for $1.25. So, my youngest son's costume cost less than  $6.00!

My oldest finally decided on a costume a couple of days before his first Halloween party. He decided on a werewolf, which was pretty easy because of his already-crazy-hair and he already owned a plaid shirt, jeans and used my vest. I painted his face and hands and used grey hairspray in his hair. Oh, and he borrowed my vest.

(Products used: Rustic Brown, Granite, Snow Shadowsense.)

I decided on Halloween day to be a Werewolf Mama, to kind of match with him. Low and behold, he changed his mind COMPLETELY for Halloween night and decided he needed to be a mime. Yep, a mime. He wore a black sweater out that he already owned and a black hat as well. At least this last minute costume was completely FREE.

(Products used: Snow, Onyx Shadowsense. Blu-Red LipSense)

Back to my middle. I was at a loss as to what to do to make a big purple bald-headed bad guy. With a magic gold gauntlet. My friend Leanne suggested a purple hat for the bald head. That felt doable.

So, I grabbed a lavender coloured hat from Value Village for $2.99. I found gold gloves and gemstones at the dollar Store to make the Gauntlet. Sloan actually enjoyed glueing the gems into the proper places on his 'Gauntlet'. I found a muscle-y undershirt at Talize, and used felt to make the gold accents on Thanos' outfit. Thank goodness he's 7 and likely did see Thanos when he looked into a mirror after I painted his face purple.

(Products used: Amethyst Shadowsense, Black EyeSense Pencil)

I grabbed my step-son a Spiderman Costume from Talize as well. I have a few around the home but wanted him to have his own, AND it was only $5.99.

Since my oldest would not go out as a Werewolf with me, I dressed my husband up as one with me. He hated it, but was a good sport anyway. Haha.

(Products used: Rustic Brown, Granite, Snow Shadowsense, Blackberry LipSense, Black Eyesense Pencil)

I have to say, I have painted my kid's faces for many years now- and I absoloutely LOVED that the SeneGence shadows, pencils and lip colours were smudgeproof and stayed all day/night!!

So, thanks to thrifting, Halloween cost me a whopping $22.25!!! Not bad for 7 costumes!!!

Thanks for reading friends! If you have any questions about WHY I thrift or for tips on thrifting send me a message!

I realize now that when I changed the name of my blog from NeverNew to Courageous Beauty Co.- all of my links that I had set up are now wrong..so I need to go through my last 7 years of bogging and fix that!!

Happy Thrifting Thursday! 

Blessings.

Who Am I Anyway??

I realized today that I have never really introduced myself. Or told my story- an abbreviated version, of course!

Over the last 20 years I have had the following terms used to describe me:

Pastor's Wife. Divorcee. Infertile. Knocked-up. Engaged three times. Runaway bride. Depressed, unable to get out of bed. Independant home owner. Single Mom. Step Mom. 

I think some of you may have the incorrect impression that I have it all together. It’s true that I may appear that way.

But here’s a little about me…

I moved to Calgary when I was 20 from Thunder Bay. I became certified as an aesthetician and got married there. We moved to Hamilton in 2003 so my (then) husband could get his Master’s Degree in Divinity at McMaster and I finished Hairstyling School in 2004.

We struggled many years with infertility. Then we had my oldest son (now 11). I still remember those dark times of wanting to be a mother SO BADLY- but they were somehow forgotten, as well. While I was pregnant with my second son, my (then) husband and I split up.

Those were difficult times as a single working mother. I remember nursing my baby in a sling while I gave my clients pedicures in my living room. But you know what? That time makes me SO PASSIONATE about helping other women.

As if dealing with Infertility and Divorce were not enough- I then had an unexpected pregnancy while I was a single mom! (Blog post here) Ooops. When I had my third son I was not even on speaking terms with his father. Shortly after my youngest son’s birth, we tried hard to make it work and to be a family- even to the point of getting engaged. But I called off the wedding 5 weeks before walking down the aisle (Blog post here).

Fast forward to now.

I am married to a man that I adore AND I have struggled through a heart-breaking divorce. I now have 5 kids/ stepkids, AND I wept my way through years of Infertility. I have been a Single Mom who was able to buy 2 houses ON MY OWN- AND my ex-husband and I went to Food Banks when we were young, newly married and broke.

I have always LOVED mountains. They are why I wanted to move to Calgary (and also my friend Danielle!). The wonderous immensity of them- they always take my breath away!

That is probably why this quote resonates so much with me- "You have been assigned this mountain to show others it can be MOVED."

I have battled through. I am strong. But I have also felt weak.

And I am SO privileged to be able to have found a  job that lets me encourage, cheer on, and watch other women work toward their dreams. And find strength in themselves.

If you are curious about what it is that I do, or just feel like you are ‘looking for more’- contact me! I’d LOVE to chat!

Blessings, friends.

A 50% Off Top, Plum Lips, and 7 Items for under $23

After church a couple of Sundays ago, I brought my two oldest into the Value Village that is located across the street. I cannot deny that that MAY have had an influence on WHY I chose my church 7 years ago....haha. ;)

Anyhoo...the place was PACKED! I didn't realize that it was a 50% off day (What is WRONG with me??), and quickly went into 'SURVIVAL MODE', lol. One eye on the boys, one eye on the deals.

I ushered my boys into the Boys Shoe section and quickly perused the shoes. My oldest found a great pair of Air Jordan's, but there was nothing in my middle son's size worth purchasing. BUT since it was 50% OFF Day, we decided to look around a bit more.

I found this cute Kimono-type top. It was priced at $4.99. So guys.... it was $2.50!!

It is light and flowy and the perfect topper to a tank in late summer.

The first time I wore this top, I paired it with my PLUM LipSense colour. Now if I could ONLY figure out where to look when I take a selfie of myself. ;)

I would also likely pair this top with the following colours:

Razzberry

Mauve Ice

Purple Reign

 Or maybe even this FUN combo:

Blu-J & Razzberry

Oh, and the 7 items for under $23?? Here they are:

For my oldest: A T-Shirt (Which for some reason HE LOVES!!), sneakers and sandals- now he can stop stealing MY flip-flops, lol.

For the middle son: An Avengers hat.

For me: A Chambray top, my top featured in this blog, and some super adorable grey booties.

For $23 including tax! Amazing.

Thanks for reading friends.

As always, you can check out more tips and tricks in my VIP Group:

Courageous Beauty With Melissa

Blessings. 

A Thrifted Kimono and Coral Lips

A few weeks ago, I snagged this adorable Kimono at a nearby Value Village.

I LOVE those days- days when you just run in to see if anything catches your eye- and then an item like this- which I have worn COUNTLESS TIMES SINCE- jumps out at you....AND it's only $7.99.

I've paired this with many of my LipSense Lip Colours so far. Like Samon:

I've worn it with Summer Sunset:

And these are the other LipSense Colours that I will likely pair with it in the future:

As you can see, there are SO MANY colours, tones, and finishes to play with. And that is just with ONE item of clothing!

Thanks for stopping in, friends!

If you are interested in seeing more colours and/or watching makeup tutorials- please join my Facebook Group:

Courageous Beauty with Melissa

Blessings.