How I Thrift: Tips & Tricks

I told you this post was coming! haha I have truly fallen in love with thrifting and I am so excited to finally talk more about it with you. I know initially I was going to have my friend Margaret (@margaretellenhess) write this post, but she opened a thrifted/antiqued/new shop (@edgewoodplaceoccasions) within an antique store, and her plate became very full. Instead I’m going to have her talk a little bit about her shop on here soon, so those of you who are local to the Jackson/ surrounding areas, can go visit her shop if you’d like!

Majority of my inspiration and love for thrifting has come from Margaret and also my friend Mercedes (@mercedesrichelle). Thank you ladies for bringing this fun hobby into my life that allows me to re-purpose items that are still good (aka reduce my waste) and tap into a whole new way to express my creativity!

Get a cart the second you walk in the door.

The first time I thrifted with my best friend Margaret, she insisted I get a cart when we walked in. I remember thinking like ‘WTF Margs, we’ve been here for 2 seconds, I haven’t even found anything”. BUT GUYS. It makes perfect sense! If you don’t get a cart, you have to carry things in your hands as you find them. This means you don’t have both hands free for searching through racks and that you’re more likely to get tired and overwhelmed because it will feel like a lot of work. If you have a cart, you can throw in whatever you want and don’t have to hold anything! For this reason I also suggest a cross-body purse so that you don’t have to hold that.

If you are drawn to the fabric, fit, whatever, PUT it in the cart.

This is the other MAJOR tip my friend Margaret taught me. If you gravitate towards a piece for a certain reason, just throw it in the cart. It’s impossible to know exactly how it’s going to fit until you try it on and you might be pleasantly surprised by items you never thought would work. Plus sometimes you can figure out a way to style something a certain way that makes it better than what it looks like on the hanger…but more on this in a little bit.

Go with plenty of time to move slowly. It’s not a race.

One of the worst things you can do is go in a rush. I find myself feeling more anxious and overwhelmed when I am rushing myself through racks. Thrifting is not always quick and there’s no guarantee that you will find anything, so it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to treasure hunt.

Bring a friend.

I love thrifting on my own, but it’s always easier and more fun when I bring a friend. I love weird prints and sometimes it’s hard to tell whether something is cute or too dated. Having a friend to give you a quick yes or no can move the process a long faster. Also it may help you to say yes to certain things and step out of your comfort zone!

Keep a running list of items you are looking for on your phone.

Since you don’t always know what you’re going to find at the thrift store I like to always have a list of the general types of pieces I am looking for, for my wardrobe. This helps me keep ideas in the back of my head so that I’m not trying to search every inch of the store every time I go in. Sometimes I really want graphic tees so I’ll head to that area first. This makes me feel like I have a plan in an environment that can sometimes feel a little unorganized and chaotic.

Don’t expect to find everything in one day. Go often.

Thrifting is definitely a marathon hobby. You cannot expect to walk in every time and find 20 new items for super inexpensive prices. If you have the right mindset and work to appreciate the process. It makes the thrill that much better when you find amazing items. I like to go often but only for about 30-60 minutes so that I’m never reaching the point of getting sick of it, any time I go. Also, depending on your thrift store, they might put new items out frequently. So it’s always in your best interest to go often.

Ignore sizes.

This one is so important because sizing is not a universal thing between clothing lines. The standard of sizing within a brand has also changed over the decades, so it’s impossible to know exactly what your size would be. There will most likely be a mix of vintage and current pieces so don’t only go for racks in your size. Some stores are organized by size and some are by color, so it’s important to make sure that you’re looking at everything! I just found a blouse that I am obsessed with and guess what… it’s a size 22W! While I knew it was going to be too big, I had to try it on because I was obsessed with the pattern of the fabric. Fast forward to the fitting room, and after a tie in the front and slight tuck into my high-waisted, tight Levi’s, it became the most ADORABLE over-sized top for super hot days this summer.

Try things on.

Some people get weirded out by trying things on, but I cannot tell you how crucial it is. There are so many pieces that I probably would have bought had I not tried them on because I thought they’d look great when on the hanger. There’s also so many pieces I would have never bought (i.e. that floral size 22W top) had I not been able to put it on and style or tuck it exactly how I’d want to wear it. I obviously wash everything when I bring it home on a deep wash or sterilize washing machine setting, but I think the trying on process is so key to making sure things fit right and you aren’t wasting money. Remember, just because things are inexpensive DOESN’T mean we want to waste our money. A shirt you never wear is still a waste of money, no matter how much you paid for it.

Some of my favorite pieces to get at the Thrift Store:

1. Blazers

2. Denim

3. Button-Down Blouses

4. Workout Tops

5. Basics

6. Skirts

7. Jackets/Coats

8. Accessories (Belts, bags, scarves, etc.)

I think this is all I’m going to talk about for now because I want to talk about thrifting on a more regular basis on my blog. I have truly fallen in love with every part of it, so I’m excited to share my finds with you all. I asked on Instagram if you’d like to see monthly thrifting hauls and how I style the items with those I already have and got a very postive response. More than half of you wanted to see them as IGTV episodes, but a good amount of you wanted them as blog posts, so I think I’ll still post on here every time I make a video that corresponds for those of you who just want to read!

If you have any additional tricks for thrifting leave them below! Also tell me your favorite thing you’ve EVER thrifted below.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Dre Does a Fresh Fall Start

There's something about the fall that I absolutely love in terms of productivity. I don't know if it's because the start of a new school year was ingrained in me for so many years, but I always feel like come September, you get a fresh start. 

I have recently made some changes in my life that have helped me feel like I'm more organized and getting more done, so I thought I would share what I have been doing in case you would like to take some ideas and incorporate them into your own daily life. 

1. Establish a morning routine. I have always loved starting my days with productive mornings but the older I've gotten the busier I am and the easier it is to hit that snooze button and skip things that I know I should be doing. A few months ago I decided to change up my mornings and start with a workout. I always feel more productive and energized throughout the day when I get my butt out of bed early and get to my gym. I leave myself enough time to get ready and plan my day when I'm done which sets me up for an accomplished day. I like working out in the morning because even if the rest of my day doesn't go as planned, I don't have to worry about fitting a workout in. I find that doing this every morning makes for a more productive week. So whatever you choose to do in the morning, try to establish a routine so that you get in the habit of starting your day successfully. 

2. Get a planner. This may not seem like a necessity once you enter into post-grad life, but I find that there's even more to keep track of in my life now that I am no longer in school. Having a planner helps me make sure I'm staying up to date in every aspect of my life which can get rid of a lot of unnecessary stress.

3. Adopt a new habit. This is a trick I learned from my dad. He took something he wanted to improve at and challenged himself to be disciplined enough to do it for a little bit every day. This is actually how his blog was born, but I think it's a great way to introduce something you want to get better at, or just get back to doing. I'm sure you have plenty of things you wish you had more time to do, so I challenge you to create a list and then tackle the one most important! You could even change it up every month. For me it's reading. I started reading just 15 minutes a day (sometimes longer if my schedule allows for it and I don't fall asleep first...haha). Whether it's right when I wake up or before I go to bed, I try to get my 15 minutes in every day.

4. Do it at night. I do this all the time. I have a million little things I want to get done at night and then I tell myself I'll do it in the morning because I just want to get to bed. But then morning comes along and you run out of time or completely forget to do it so it gets pushed off until night time again and then the  cycle continues. Just do those little things at night. Whether it's putting away my laundry that I've just folded or unloading the dishwasher, if you simply get these tasks done at night, you can start your day with a shorter To-Do list and a clearer head in the morning. 

When do you feel like you get a fresh start? At the beginning of the year in January or during the fall?

Please share your tips below for creating a fresh start!

Have a beautiful start to your week,

Dre

 

Dre Does A Necklace Trick

If you know me at all, you know that my brain is constantly going. I'm always thinking of new things and am a bit crazy at times but it just fuels my creative side...right...? Haha anyways I have this one area on my counter where I always throw my jewelry when I'm taking it off at night and too lazy to put it where it goes. Well one morning after I did this I noticed that my necklace was flipped over and the back of it looked like a completely different necklace but still looked good...? (Now you understand the crazy brain reference). Well this got me thinking. Geometric necklaces and shapes are huge right now in the statement necklace world, so I wonder what would happen if I just wore my necklaces turned around... Turns out they look pretty cute! I really like how I can have a huge statement with the normal patterned side of the necklace, but if I want to I can just flip it over and have a more subtle gold necklace that is still the same shape as the original necklace. So I recommend going through your statement necklaces. You might be surprised what you find! I've been honestly wearing my necklaces more on the plain gold sides instead of the original sides.

Here are some examples of the two necklaces I have been doing this most with!

Don't be afraid to look at jewelry, fashion, makeup, anything with an open mind. There are no rules and the only person who has to like what you're wearing is you! If you want to rock necklaces backwards do it! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Quick Tips

Some of my favorite posts to share are my quick tips. I love being able to share tricks I've discovered with you all! So here are two new ones for you:

1. This is an awesome trick I learned in school for getting hair out of your hairbrush. Simply tap it firmly bristle side down, against the palm of your hand. This will cause all if the hairs to gather at the tips of the bristles and make it easier to remove them. 

2. If you have a hard time getting your eyelashes to curl try heating your eyelash curler with your blow dryer for a few seconds. However, ALWAYS test the temperature before you use it to make sure you don't burn yourself! Think of it as a mini curling iron for your lashes!

I hope these help! Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Makeup of the Day

I posted this a sneak peek of this makeup look yesterday. I think it's the perfect Natural makeup look. It's also really quick and easy. I did my normal face routine, but I wanted to point out some key aspects of the look. First off, whenever I'm doing a super natural look I always make sure to fill in my brows. It's a simple way to give your face structure and make you look polished and put together without much makeup on. I use the color Faint (a medium to dark brown) from my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette and a small angled brush. Then I just set it with a clear mascara so my brows stay put and the color lasts longer. 

Next, I did all of the tips from yesterday's post on making your eyes look bigger and brighter. You can especially see how I defined my eyelids. I applied a Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow in Barely Branded (70) and then on top I used my Naked Basics palette again (I wasn't exaggerating in that post a couple of weeks ago about how much I loved it haha). I added the lightest shade Venus in the middle of my lids, added Faint in the inner and outer corners, and blended everything together nicely. That's it! Even though they're matte shadows, I love the glow it gives my eyes. They really pop and look bigger! 

All I did after this was apply my Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara and add some Chapstick and I was done! I've listed all the products below to achieve this look. It's seriously my go-to easy makeup when I'm rushed and still want to look put together! 

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronze

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation in buff beige

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette in 07 light

NYX Wonder Pencil in 01 Light

tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess

tarte Amazonian Clay 12 hour blush in treasured

tarte Amazonian Clay Highlighter in Champagne

Revlon Photoready Transulecent Face Powder

Maybelline 24 HR Color Tattoo Metal in Barley Branded

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette (colors Venus and Faint)

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Clear Transparent (for brows)

Rimmel Lash Accelorator Mascara in Extreme Black

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Quick Tip

Happy Monday!

I'm here with a quick tip dealing with dehydration and exfoliation. As I previously wrote about, you can check your skin to see if you're dehydrated. Click here if you missed that post where I show you a cool trick to do it yourself. I recommended water intake of at least half your body weight in ounces every day. If you're drinking this much water but still finding that your skin seems dehydrated, this is a sign that something else is the issue. A huge reason for this could be that you need a good exfoliation. If you have a lot of dead skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin, it doesn't matter how much water you drink, you will not hydrate that top layer. So I recommend giving your skin a good exfoliation. I also recently did a post on exfoliation that describes it's importance and what happens to the skin cells as they reach the surface. Click here if you'd like to read about that!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does 5 Quick Mascara Tips

If you ask any woman if she wants longer and fuller eyelashes I guarantee the answer would most of the time be yes. I don't know what it is about mascara, but I find myself on this continuous search for the holy grail mascara that will change my eyelashes forever (tad dramatic? Maybe...but don't we all agree?).

While I don't have the answer for you because we are all unique when it comes to what products work for us, I can give you a few tips that will help you improve whatever mascara you currently love. 

1. Wipe the wand off with a tissue every time you use it. Yes you read that right... Every. Time. It's collecting dried up chunks of mascara that are hindering the wand from doing whatever it's designed to do. I know this seems like a waste of product but it really helps. Plus, mascaras are only meant to be used for 3 months then tossed due to bacteria. 

2. Do not move the wand in and out multiple times in attempt to 'load as much product as you can'. This causes more air to enter the tube and your mascara will dry out faster.

3. Never curl your lashes after you have applied mascara. This is never a good idea because you can break or damage your lashes in the curler. Always curl prior to mascara application. If you were ever a preteen experimenting with makeup like I was, I'm guessing you know what this feels like...(and if not, trust me).

4. If you get any mascara on your upper lids or under eye area when applying mascara let it dry! I know it's hard to leave it there when we are all tempted to rub it off, but it will most likely smear causing the makeup already applied there to need to be touched up. If you let it dry, you can easily flick it off with a Q-tip.

5. One of the easiest tricks to make your lash line look fuller doesn't involve mascara at all! Simply line your upper water line (that little watery rim under where your eyelashes are attached) with a black eyeliner. Careful though, because if you are not used to it, it can tickle and take some getting used to. 

I wish you much success on your quest for the perfect mascara, but in the mean time, I hope you enjoyed these tricks to getting the most out of those beautiful lashes you were already born with!

Have a beautiful day, 

Dre