I always take a walk down the book aisles to see if anything catches my eye when shopping at my local Goodwill. The other day, something did: a nearly new copy of Wreck This Journal.

I imagine you’re either thinking “how cool?!” or “what the heck is a wreck journal?” If you’re in the latter group, allow me to explain. Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith is a guided book on how to wreck the book. Each page has a new prompt to follow. A few examples include “poke holes in this page,” “bring this book in the shower with you,” and even “spit here.” It’s seriously a book you get to seriously wreck, creatively!

I had a Wreck This Journal when I was younger (that I, of course, wrecked), so finding this book at the thrift inspired me to take on the challenge again. I’ve made some good progress so far, but there are still plenty more prompts to take action on.

Here’s a look at my copy, thrifted to now:

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Working on this journal is a good practice in combating perfectionism and thinking about things differently. And, it makes for a great cozy hobby during the winter season! I’m happy I found a new-to-me copy to enjoy.

Moral of the story: don’t skip the book section of your local thrift store! You never know what you might find.

Did you ever wreck a copy of Wreck This Journal? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

I visited one of my local Goodwill NCW stores in Green Bay and scored some amazing finds! My goal on my latest thrift shopping trip was to find some nice tops that I could wear to work with warmer temps just around the corner. I found what I was looking for plus a few fun extras.

Sometimes, before I tackle the racks of clothing, I like to take a peak in the aisles of books, glasses, games, etc. You never know what you may stumble across! On this day, something shiny caught my eye. That something shiny was a RuPaul Little People set! I had no clue this was even something that existed. For $3.99, I added it to my cart. Everyone needs some fun desk decor, right?

In the board game aisle, there was another fun surprise: a Parks and Recreation themed game. I figured this would be a fun item to bring along to family gatherings, so I also added it to my cart.

Next, I got into the racks of clothing and started sorting through the neutral colors. I wear mostly neutrals, so those are the sections I tend to stick to (with a few exceptions).

I got lucky and found 2 cozy sweatshirts. The first was an Abercrombie & Fitch brand crewneck. The second was a Garage brand cropped hoodie. If I’m being honest, I didn’t absolutely need 2 new sweatshirts in my wardrobe, but both had a nice fit and quality material. I knew I could find room for them.

I also found a few pieces that satisfied my mission of finding work-appropriate tops! The first was a navy blue button-up. I love the shape and flowy feel of this top. Plus, it’s Express brand, so I knew it would be decent quality.

Next, I found a black button-up. This top is a 1X (I’m typically a medium), but when styled with a tie in the front it’s a perfect fit!

Last, I found a black long-sleeve top. It is a simple top, but it’s elevated with knot details at the end of the sleeves and a cinched fit. The material is breathable enough that I think I could get away with wearing it in spring!

Overall, I’d say it was a successful shopping trip!

What’s your best thrift shopping find? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

Whether you are just jumping on the thrifting bandwagon or want tips for a better thrift shopping experience, you are in the right place! In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my best practices. I hope this helps you find some new-to-you favorites!

Audit Your Closet

First, look at what you currently have before heading to the thrift store. Set intentions for what you’d like to find: What are your needs and wants? It’s important to be mindful of what you currently have so you can purchase items that will serve a purpose and enhance your wardrobe.

Bring a Friend

I find that it’s more fun to thrift when you have someone to chat with. Also, it’s great to have someone who will give an honest opinion when you’re unsure about an item.

Fuel Up Before You Go

Thrifting can take some time. You have to go on a bit of a hunt for your new favorites (but that’s the fun of it!). Before heading to your local thrift store, stop by a cafe for a caffeinated beverage and snacks. Yes, this is an excuse to treat yourself – You’re welcome.

Shop Off-Season

If you plan ahead, you can score great deals on off-season items. For example, shop for sweaters in summer and tank tops in winter. Off-season items are typically marked at lower prices since there’s less demand for them.

Shop By Color

You know the colors that make you feel great? Focus on those colors while thrifting. This will help you narrow your search and not get overwhelmed by all of the options.

Shop a Variety of Sizes

I usually wear a size medium, yet when I thrift, I look at sizes small and large too. Depending on how clothing has been washed and cared for in the past can impact the size it is on the thrift store rack. Of course, different brands have unique sizing too. The size ultimately doesn’t matter – what matters is that the fit is comfortable for you!

Don’t Pass on Quality Basics

Black and white tank tops are items I always need to wear under blouses or cardigans for work. When I find basics from brands I like, I make sure to add them to my cart! They may not be items that I need immediately, but I know they will come in handy when my current basics get worn out.

Don’t Forget Accessories

Belts, bags, glasses, scarves, and other accessories are great to look for at thrift stores. You’re sure to find something unique!

Don’t Forget the Deals

Check out the clearance section, make sure you know the color tag of the week, and be on the lookout for other promotions on social media! While thrifting is a good deal already, you can maximize your savings.

What do you hope to find on your next thrifting trip? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

Over the weekend, I enjoyed exploring a variety of resale and consignment shops in the Green Bay area. There were quite a few shops on the 2022 Fall Shop Hop list that I had never visited. It was great to discover local businesses to shop for pre-loved clothing, accessories, furniture, decor, and more!

I began my Shop Hop journey at Three Lil Birds. This shop had lots of home decor as well as clothing. If you are in the market for second-hand designer purses, this is the place to go. They had lots of Dooney and Bourke and Coach bags. Three Lil Birds also had a big selection of Harley Davidson gear (including boots, shirts, leather jackets, belts, pants, etc.).

Next, I visited Uniquely Yours Antiques. This shop had lots of home decor items. I loved the teacup candles that one booth was selling. Another item that caught my eye was a wooden croquet set (if I had a yard, this would’ve come home with me).

Wonderland Vintage Market was a short stroll away from Uniquely Yours. This shop featured decor, collectibles, antiques, and some vintage clothing booths.

I loved when I found a Beavis figurine at Wonderland, but the booth that stood out to me the most was BLK & WHT. All of the prints were so fun and gorgeous. I adored the drinkware, the gold decor items, and the overall vibe of the booth. I will have to revisit it.

One of my favorite shops, the Green Bay ReStore, was on the Shop Hop route. This place has been my go-to for furniture and frames since I moved into my current apartment. I always enjoy looking around the ReStore to see what’s new.

Across the street from the ReStore is The Mixed Basket. They have lots of home decor items, as well as some larger furniture pieces. You can also depend on The Mixed Basket for unique glassware and drinkware.

The last shops I made it to were the Allouez Cottage and Interior Motives. Allouez Cottage offers a unique shopping experience since it’s an old house that was turned into a vintage shop. They had decor, some clothing, and other vintage finds. Interior Motives had lots of larger furniture pieces and upscale home decor. They also had perfect candles for fall, along with a large selection of Berres Brothers Coffee.

I didn’t make it to all of the shops on the Fall Shop Hop list over the weekend, but I’m happy to explore more another time! If you are in Green Bay, I encourage you to do the same. We have so many unique small businesses to shop and support!

Where is your favorite resale store? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

August has been a month full of live music! I couldn’t imagine a better way to wrap up summer.

Back in June, I wrote a blog post with Goodwill NCW that covered four thrifted concert looks and discussed the beginning of the festival season. In the post, I talked a bit about attending an Eric Church concert, a Jason Derulo concert, and Freedom Country Festival. It feels like it was just yesterday since the piece was published, but I’ve been to three more concerts since then.

Early in August, I saw 3OH!3 perform in Green Bay’s Titletown District. I have to admit that I listened to them quite a bit in middle and early high school, so it was cool to see them live. Yes, I fangirled when they played “Don’t Trust Me.” I wore a “black dress with the tights underneath,” (*wink, wink*) paired with a black denim jacket and faux snakeskin booties.

Last weekend, I saw Oliver Tree perform at The Rave in Milwaukee, WI. His openers were Huddy and Jawny. The whole show was incredible, energizing, and engaging. If Oliver Tree is ever in your area, go to the show! Just be prepared for lots of jumping up and down and screaming. Also, be prepared to join in on a few chants. Did I mention that Oliver also likes to open up the mosh pit? Oh, and he has a cow statue and other props handy. It’s an absolute blast.

For this show, I went for a casual yet accessorized look. I threw on some white tennies and a white tank with my black denim shorts and jacket. I brought my completely bedazzled purse along and put on a fuzzy black bucket hat. With how warm the venue got, I definitely could’ve left my jacket in the car; but hey, fashion over function.

Last night, I attended the “Sounds of Nashville” show at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens. This concert was unique since it featured a few country songwriters. JT Harding and the Warren Brothers played #1 country songs that they wrote. You may know the song “Alone With You” performed by Jake Owen or Blake Shelton’s hit, “Sangria.” Well, those were both written by JT Harding! The Warren Brothers wrote Chris Young’s “Sober Saturday Night,” Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup,” and more (of course)!

This concert was also unique because the songwriters shared stories of how the country hits came to be. They shared a bit about their journeys as artists as well. It was a very relaxed, conversational, and good show.

For this concert, I kept my outfit country with my tall black cowboy boots and a little black dress. I can’t wait for another excuse to break these boots out.

I think that’s a wrap on concerts for me this summer, but I’m excited to see what fall may bring for events!

Do you have any upcoming concert plans? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

The way I styled my shirts changed after I saw this Reel in my Instagram feed. In the reel, @torylleigh shares how she cuts her crop tops with a curve rather than a straight across cut. While this may not sound like a huge difference, it actually creates a unique look. If you sometimes feel like t-shirts or basic crop tops make you look “boxy,” you have got to try this cropping method.

Step 1: Try the shirt on to see where you would like it cropped. This ensures that you don’t cut it too short or too long. It may seem like an obvious step, but it’s one that I occasionally regret skipping.

Step 2: Lay your shirt down on a flat surface. Make sure there are no wrinkles; this will cause you to get a jagged cut rather than a clean one.

Step 3: Start cutting the shirt. As you cut, you’ll want to create a half circle. You can fold the fabric over once you are to the center of the shirt to mirror your cuts on the other side. Pro tip: Use fabric scissors. These are sharper, easier to use, and they give you a better cut!

Step 4: Cut down the center of the neckline. This is an optional step depending on the look that you are going for. You can have a plunging v-neck cut, just a slight cut, or no cut. It’s up to you!

Step 5: Pull along the fabric that you cut. When you pull along the fabric, it naturally “curls”/folds over. This helps to clean up any slightly jagged cuts.

And finally, your crop top is ready to wear! I love how chopped-up tops only get better with age. Once you wash and dry this t-shirt a few times, the cuts will soften even more and it’ll be perfectly worn in.

Do you have a different cropping method? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

On my latest Goodwill thrifting adventure, I found eight new pieces for my wardrobe for just $50 and some change. In my haul, I scored brands like Madewell, BDG, and BB Dakota. I adore each piece and think they will compliment my wardrobe well. Also, I believe this haul contains a lot of nice wardrobe staples/basics. If you need some ideas of what to add to your thrift shopping list, you’ve come to the right place.

First up, I found a striped button-up and some classic ripped jeans. The cut of the top is perfect for me, and I love the button detailing on the side. Thrifting jeans is my favorite thing to do because then they are already a bit worn in. Uncomfy jeans are just not for me.

Next, I found a blouse-style black tank and three cozy cardigans. Wintertime in Wisconsin is chilly, as you may imagine, so I knew I wanted a few new sweaters in my closet. The light grey, dark grey, and green cardigans will go nicely with many of the tops already in my closet.

Lastly, I found one of my new favorite outfits: a simple grey tank and black wide-legged paper bag waist pants. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t squeal with excitement when I tried these pants on. The fit, the style, and the look was spot on for me. I will definitely be wearing them out soon.

What’s your favorite thrifted find? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

UK-based artist and author Florence Given has a gorgeously unique and defined style. I admire her bold attitude and confident self-expression. You may recall a few times on the blog where I have quoted her book, “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty.”

As a way to play around with my personal style, I recreated three of Florence’s in-feed outfits. This allowed me to mix and match items that I already had in my closet in new ways. This also forced me to jump outside of my comfort zone.

First up, I copied this little black dress look. This was fairly simple to put together since it just required a black dress, black boots, and a scarf. I think this is the perfect simple yet elevated outfit to go out in.

Second, I put my own twist on another one of Florence’s slip-dress looks. This outfit was a lot of fun to put together; it challenged me to mix up various patterns, textures, and colors.

Last but certainly not least, I recreated this black and denim look. As with the first outfit, the “recipe” is pretty simple. All you need is a black tank, black boots, jeans, and a black belt. This is a great outfit for looking effortlessly put together.

While I have my personal style preferences, recreating Florence’s outfits helped me to explore. I believe that when it comes to style, you have to be open to trying new things whether it’s a new trend or aesthetic. Through trials and the occasional errors, you are able to learn a lot about yourself and what your style truly is.

Which look was your favorite? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

I always like to visit my local thrift store with the intention of curating my style. This helps me to focus on what clothing items I want to take home as well as which items to leave. On my latest thrift trip, my goal was to find a few more dresses to compliment my wardrobe. I got a bit lucky and found three new-to-me dresses for under $30.

First, I found this asymmetrical olive green dress. It was originally from J.Crew where dresses can easily cost more than $100. I scored this dress for just $8.99. I really enjoy the unique cut and color. This dress pairs perfectly with just tennies, but I could also dress it up with heels.

Next, I found a simple little black dress with lace detailing for $3.99. While browsing the clearance rack, I found an oversized vintage blazer to go with it for just $1.99. I think this look would be perfect for grabbing dinner.

Last but certainly not least, I found this casual denim dress. It’s Loft brand and cost just $8.99. It’s simple, comfy, and effortless. I adore dresses like this for mornings at the farmers’ market or for grabbing coffee and running errands.

If you live in northern Wisconsin like me, I’d definitely recommend checking out your local Goodwill NCW. That’s typically where I thrift, and that’s where I got all of the items featured in this blog. Also, before your next thrifting adventure, check out this blog post for a few tips and tricks!

What’s your best thrift find? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

I have found that I do my best thrifting when I know what I want. Obviously, you never know exactly what you will find at your local thrift store, but you can set some intentions.

Pinterest is a great tool to gather style inspiration from as well as create mood boards on. Before my most recent thrift trip, I took some time to add to and review my 2021 style board (you can check it out here). This helped me to develop a general list of “wants.” Based on my pins, I knew that I wanted to add pieces to my wardrobe that were flowy and feminine. I also knew that I wanted to lean into a pastel and neutral color palette.

Because I did a bit of homework before hitting the thrift shop, it became less intimidating to go through the racks. I could immediately look at a piece and say “yes, I love this” or “nope, it doesn’t fit my description of flowy, feminine, pastel, or neutral.” When you understand your style and how you want to curate your closet, it makes it easier to find pieces that you will absolutely love.

The first piece that I found on my Pinterest thrifting adventure was this long yellow dress. I completely adore it and can’t wait for an excuse to wear it. It’s made out of relaxed linen material, and it has dainty ties on the sides that cinch the waist.

The next piece I scored was this pink cardigan. As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with the cut and the thick knit stripes. I paired it with a simple tank and some light pink shorts for a monochromatic look. I think it will pair beautifully with jeans in fall.

Lastly, I picked up this v-neck knit sweater. It’s a lighter knit, so I could comfortably wear it in winter, fall, and even spring. The colors are neutral and simple, so the sweater will pair nicely with a variety of pants, shorts, and skirts. This sweater definitely looks like a combination of sweaters and tops that I pinned.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t know where to start when thrifting, try creating a Pinterest board to thrift from! It’s a great first step in defining your style and aesthetic.

What styles have you been loving lately? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!