Best Thrift Shop Buy - Jeans

The best thrift shop buys for me are jeans. I love to buy jeans from thrift and consignment  shops because they are durable and hold up well, and still have a lot of life left. If you choose jeans that are still in great condition - you can still get tons of wear out of them!
In fact, this is a great way to keep the kids in good pants - it's thrifty and still fashionable.

Always check zippers, buttons, and snaps for functionality, and check the seams, knees, and seat for excessive wear or signs of stress. It may be designer and a great price but if the seat splits on you after a few times wearing it you won't get your money's worth!

Happy Thrifting!

For more Thrifting tips, Designer on a Dime Showcases, and upcoming events - Follow me on Facebook - www.Facebook.com/TheAtomiccitymomConcierge

Designer on a Dime

Hey Everyone - Here's a sample of what I do - and my new Designer on a Dime post for the New Year!

Designer on a Dime - Feeling Wonderful in Winter White!!

It's a New Year - and for my new followers the Designer on a Dime series is something that I do to showcase my shopping skills and to show you all that looking lovely is definitely in your budget!

How can designer be so affordable? This is because ALL of my signature pieces are shopped entirely from local thrift shops, consignment, and online yardsales.

Featured in this series All about ANN TAYLOR! Signature pieces include my Ann Taylor top and snow white Ann Taylor corduroy slacks - both of these FABULOUS finds are from Cutie Patootie's Repeat Boutique in Jackson Square. Owner Wendy Holloway only procures the choicest finds - and makes designer affordable... Even for this mother of five! Currently she's running a 50% off sale on Winter stock - which is where I snagged these gorgeous pants at a steal!! Visit her today and check out her wonderful selections.

Oooh - and I just can't go without mentioning my bombshell red leather bag. I love unique finds like this - the little cha cha circles give a little shake and are real leather! I love that the bag adds a pop of color to the outfit.

Need some new designer pieces to spice up your wardrobe for the New Year? Contact me for a closet consultation - atomiccitymom@gmail.com

Follow me on Facebook for more Designer on a Dime Looks - www.Facebook.com/TheAtomiccitymomConcierge

Poppin' Tags for My Midcentury Fix

This is what my latest thrifting escapade has lead to... My lovely green couch acquired at a bargain basement price of $28!!! You might be saying to yourself- what's so great about that? It's just an old couch... No, my friends - it's a little bit of lovely in my basement! This gorgeous, classy lady is straight out of the 70s, and someone took great care to maintain her beauty despite her age. This baby probably spent its early years covered in plastic, and was barely sat on, or so it seems because the seat cushions are pristine. Finds like this just make my day. This is how I say Happy!

Here are some tips for buying furniture from the thrift shops: 

• Note the overall condition of the piece -

Does it have a good bone structure? Is it a piece you love enough that you might consider possibly spending extra time & money to give it new life - if it requires reupholstering - that can get expensive so this should factor in your buying price. Can you get it for a good price?

• Make sure it's in good CLEAN condition! A few spots here and there are to be expected, however, you definitely don't want to bring home little beasties that might be more expensive to get rid of than the price of the furniture piece. Look under cushions or open the dresser drawers and check for any evidence of critter activity. Check to see if any spots or stains can possibly be removed with a good cleaning. 

• Pay attention to the sales.... Yes, thrift stores have sales! Incredible, I know, because you're already getting a deal - but usually thrift shops will have a color coding or some similar system where certain colors will go on sale and the price will be reduced by a percentage. You might get an additional 50% off on pink tag items, or 25% off on blue. This makes the item you are buying an even better deal!

Lastly- make sure you have help getting your new item home! Especially if you are hunting a big furniture piece... Like a big green couch! Happy Thrifting!

My Frugal Finds

Love is... This red hot little beauty that I found at Goodwill for a steal. The circles are made of real leather! Perfect find for Valentine's Day fun.

So Many Little Things...

So little time left! I know I have been a bit neglectful lately. I have three little ones, and we have just been hit hard this season with back to back illnesses... Just when one starts to feel better, another one will have a fever... UGH! I hate being sick myself, and it's just miserable to watch your kids struggle through a fever or stomach virus. Yikes!

Anyway, not to be a little ray of sunshine, but I thought I was actually going to be ORGANIZED this holiday season, well, one big HA_HA on me. We decided to give homemade preserves for Christmas this year to some of our lucky friends and family, this was done by my hubby back at summer's end, so I thought- wow- I can actually coast now... AND here's how the trouble always begins right? You know you have one less thing to do, you take it for granted now that you have that extra bit of time now and you get lackadaisical about everything, then BOOM- you suddenly realize that there are only 9 shopping days left until Christmas... and the panic sets in! Did I mail a card to cousin Eddie, why didn't I buy that scarf for Granny when it was on sale, will my brother really appreciate that gift certificate to the "man spa"... and it goes on like this until the tree is trimmed, all the presents are wrapped, stockings stuffed, and Christmas dinner is on the table...

I have found that now more than ever this year, I am really trying to shop local for gifts, or buy homemade crafty gift items online. I have been surfing Etsy like crazy for unique treasures and awe-inspiring baubles at an amazingly affordable price. I am even going to *Gasp* crochet a hat for my sister (at her request!) I think that this year, in light of the economic situation we are facing, it is so important that instead of just arbitrarily buying gifts just to be giving something to a person, that we really take a moment to think about the person that will be receiving this gift. I have found that just by going to Etsy and browsing all of the wonderful and creative items up for sale, that inevitably I see something that reminds me of someone, or that inspires my direction somehow. This is really an incredible site that you should visit when you have the time to sit down and really browse. Another great blog for crafts and ideas is Jessica Jones' How About Orange.

Another feeling that I have, which I mentioned before, is that I wanted to try to support local artisans and the community by buying things made locally here in Tennessee or even just made the USA... Do you know how hard this concept is becoming?! Commercially, you can forget it with the big stores, I read that four out of five toys sold here in the US are made in China. I know that kids are always going to want that fabulous toy they've seen on tv. However, for the adults in your life, there are a few local shops that will pride themselves on supporting local arts and crafts. In Oak Ridge, you can start by perusing the shops at Jackson Square, where you can always stop for a yummy snack and well-earned hot cuppa coffee at Moondollars Cafe (where I actually bought one of my Christmas gifts - a print by the artist & mathematician Stacey Kite,) and then perhaps make your over to the Corner Gallery at Grove Center. Believe me- compared to battling the mob in Wal-Mart, it's a much nicer way to spend an afternoon of shopping.