Welcome Abbie from Five days 5 ways!

I’m so excited to be guest-blogging for Rachelle and want to say a huge thanks to her for having me here at FOTF!

Before I tell you a little about myself, I thought you might want to know that I’m hosting a Pleated Poppy giveaway, and you can find out all of the details here.

See? I told you you'd want to know!

And now that you’re back…Hi there! My name is Abbie, and I’m a thriftaholic.

But that's not all I am. I’m also a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mama to three kiddos under six, an exercise instructor, a writer, and a DIY fanatic.

Oh yeah. And I run not one but two blogs (I think that makes me a blogamist):

1. Five days…5 ways, my everyday blog where I like creating thrifty projects like these:

2. Secondhand or Bare Bottom—my smart-mouthed style blog where everything I wear or carry (accessories, bags, shoes, everything) is 100% thrifted.

Obsessed much? Why, yes, I am.

So obsessed, in fact, that I wrote up a little post for you to answer some of the FAQ's I get on Goodwill Hunting in hopes that you too will join the Super-Thrifty Chicks club (I'm considering making capes! :)).

1) When do I go?—Early in the week and early in the day. I like to go on Mondays or Tuesdays in the morning since they’ve had time to get themselves organized from the weekend rush. DON’T go on a Saturday at 11 or you’ll get nothing but picked-over racks and a headache.
2) Where do I even begin?—Ignore the racks that are always there at first, and, if your store has them, start with the racks that they roll out on the floor every 45 minutes or so. Some stores will even make announcements when they roll out new racks so you can do your best Usain Bolt impression beating all the other bargain-obsessed chicks to that mint condition Anthropologie skirt huddled behind those pleated maroon polyester pants from 1984.
3) What do I pay?—Most Goodwill items are reasonably priced to begin with, but all of them are priced by separate people in the back who sometimes get bitten by the random bug and pop a $7 price tag on a pair of cute-but-hardly-worth-it flip-flops. If you find something you think is overpriced, don’t be afraid to ask management to lower it. Especially if you have a comparable item that is already marked lower that you can show them.
4) How do I decide?—Goodwill’s return policy only applies to clothing and that can only be exchanged within seven days of its purchase. So, even though you may only be spending $4 on a skirt, it wouldn’t hurt to ask yourself, “Will I REALLY wear this, or am I only buying it because it’s cheap?” Keeping an open open mind is crucial to finding amazing clothes, but try not so open that you get home what you were thinking buying this junk!
5) How often do I go?—It depends. If want to overhaul your closet, once-a-week trips are best since frequency yields the best awesome-finds scores. If you just want a good deal every now and then, wander in on your lunch-break during the week sometime, and see where it goes from there.
6) What if it’s not perfect?—If something I love is flawed, I ask myself two questions: 1) Can I fix it/how long will it take me? and 2) How much can I get them to lower the price because of the flaw? If the answers are 1) Yes/not too long, and 2) Enough that it’s dirt-cheap…I buy it and turn it into a project.
7) How much time should I expect to spend per visit?—I hardly ever get in and out of Goodwill with much to show for it in less than 2 hours. But I almost always have all three of my children with me, which means multiple bathrooms trips, toy aisle browsing, and usually at least one nursing session with the baby. If you’re on your own, an hour of happy browsing could produce some pretty incredible results.
8) Don't shoes gross you out?—Shoes can be tricky for the germ/other people’s feet averse. I’m not really one of those, but I only buy the ones in great condition and have a big, fat can of Lysol waiting for them when I get home! : )

Here's a portion of my GW shoe collection. This is just a glimpse of my master closet makeover if you want to see more.

9) Where do I go?— Wherever's closest. Don’t assume that, because you live in a small town, your GW isn’t worth checking out. I find almost all of my best treasures in two small-town stores.
10) Can I actually expect to find anything decent?—Yes! It’s amazing what you can stumble upon right in the midst of the kitsch and the appliqued jean jumpers. And if the shoes didn't convince you, let me treat you to a few more of my favorite 100% (including shoes, bag, and jewelry) Goodwill outfits:

Have I talked you into give thrifting a shot, yet? It’s quite the thrill when you score that mint condition Marc Jacobs skirt (it’s right there in the bottom left corner of the collage) for $4.

You'll be hooked in no time!

Just please don’t send me your therapy bills or leave me nasty comments on my blog if you end up as addicted as I am! : )
Speaking of comments, I’d be tickled practically any other color but pink if you’d stop by and say, “Howdy!” at Five days…5 ways and/or Secondhand or Bare Bottom!

Guest Post with Marie from Lil Pink Pocket!

Hi friends! My name is Marie and I blog over at Lil Pink Pocket. Come visit me and say hi while you're there! I'm so excited to be guest blogging here today! I'm a wife to my best friend and stay at home mommy of two adorable little girls that keep me busy.

In my free time I love creating! I'm a do it yourself kind of girl and I'll try to do just about anything at least once. I love all things fancy and beautiful, but live a thrifty lifestyle and can't find it in me to pay full price for anything. I'm excited to share some of my most recent projects and a tutorial with you.



Dresser Makeover



Green to Coral Shoe Makeover



Little Girl's Room



Children's Table Makeover

Lima Bean Wreath Tutorial

Here's what you need:

Styrofoam wreath (you know I love to be thrifty so use a 40% off coupon to get it)

baby lima beans - 1 16 oz package was perfect for a 12 inch wreath

hot glue gun and glues sticks

spray paint

ribbon to hang

• Start by gluing beans around the inside back of the wreath. The beans have a straighter edge on one side, glue that edge along the back of the wreath on the inside circle and outside circle.
• Continue gluing to fill in entire wreath. I found it easiest to put the glue on the wreath about a 2 inch radius and then add the beans.

• When the entire front of the wreath is done and glue completely dry add a couple coats of spray paint. I used Krylon Ivory in a glossy finish.
• Add ribbon and I also added the cute letter I found at Hobby Lobby for $3. I also might use this for other holidays by just changing the ribbon and adding other embellishments.

And that's it! I absolutely love how it turned out and I hope you do to! If you make this project I'd love to see it! Come stop by Lil Pink Pocket follow me and say hi! Enjoy!



Feature Yourself Friday

Bless my little heart I was too busy fist pumping to remember FYF! Whoops!

Okay pretend I didn't admit that.

But seriously? Yeah. I know.

;)

I'll make up for it with.. Um. Pinterest love? Yes.

Swoon. I could spend all day on there.

Okay buddies.. party hard!

Welcome Lisa from Before Meets After!

Hi FOTF readers! I am so excited to be guest posting for Rachelle! Her blog is amazing and I get a lot of great ideas from her. She needs some extra bloggy love right now so make sure you send her a quick note of encouragement! I have one of my favorite projects ever to share with you today! you can visit my blog, Before Meets After, for even more too!

I love garage sale-ing. I love going through people's things and finding something I KNOW can look good.

I found this dresser at a garage sale. It was your typical UGLY brown boys dresser from.....let's say from 1988.

It even had those horrible handles that should be outlawed!

I got home and was so excited to show it to the hubbs. He immediately wondered why I even brought it home! This thing is a beast! It weighs a ton, but it's built very well with dovetailed drawers.

But he's not complaining now :)

I chose to paint this Duck Egg blue, a chalk paint by Annie Sloan. No sanding, priming, etc. I put only 1 coat on it and it looked amazing! After it dried, I waxed it with a clear wax.

I distressed it using my 5 in 1 Purdy tool.

When you open the drawers, there's even a sweet little surprise inside! They are lined with scrapbook paper that looks like vintage newspaper articles!

I just love this piece so much!

But of course, there's no such thing as a perfect DIY project.

The hardware on this piece gave me so much trouble :(

It was an awkward size so I decided to fill in the holes.

I then found these for half price at Hobby Lobby.

They only look like they have 2 holes, but it's the best hardware invention ever...they only have 1 center hole!!!

So other then hardware, I could turn pieces over pretty fast. But I guess it would be TOO easy then!

I hope you like it! It's for sale so click on the store tab for more info.

I'll leave you with another Before Meets After.

A real beast turned into a beauty!

After looking at this post, I realized the color looks really off. It's more of a light turquoise color!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a necklace from Crissy's Crafts!

Guest Post from Amanda from Kuzak's Closet!

Hi! I'm Amanda from Kuzak's Closet.  I am a professional organizer living in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband and our little pooch named Harper.  I started my blog at the end of 2009 where I share my latest recipe, organizing advice, fashion tips, and tons of before and afters.

I love to help my clients organize spaces within their home like closets, kitchens, bathrooms, children's rooms and much much more.  Today I want to share how I organize my makeup with velcro but before I get to that I wanted to give you a taste of what my blog is all about...

 Home Organizing, (Kitchen Makeover with Before & Afters)

Day in the Life Posts (Moving Day with a Client)

DIY Projects (Easy Fall Wreath)

Trash to Treasure

Recipes (Baked Sopressata)

Organize Your Makeup With Velcro

Velcro is my #1 tool when it comes to organizing my makeup.  In the house we are living in I am lucky to have a lot of drawer space in the bathroom vanity so I set up an easy to use makeup drawer.  You could also set something up in a cabinet. All you need is velcro and inexpensive containers.

Walmart carries white drawer organizers in packs of 3 for only $0.99 so I picked up about six sets in a few different sizes. I like these because they are inexpensive and if they get yucky you can throw them in the dishwasher. You can find velcro in any craft department, I like to use the velcro dots because they are perfectly sized and precut.

Measure out the drawer and plan where you want the organizers to go before you use the velcro, once the velcro is attached to the drawer it is not easily removed. Once you have each drawer mapped out, place both of the velcro pieces to the bottom of the organizer. The bottom of the velcro once it is attached should be sticky, once it is applied, firmly place them in the drawer. Doing it this way you can guarantee your velcro dots match up. After they are attached you can pull the organizers out at anytime and then simply reattach the velcro when you put them back. 

See the velrco on the bottom of the bin and on the bottom of the drawer...

I also like to line my drawers to add a bit of pizazz!  This is a junk drawer from my client's house 

that I turned into a little piece of makeup heaven, isn't it pretty!

The Lifespan of Makeup...

It is important to sort through your makeup every month to get rid of the products you are no longer using and toss products that are out of date. If you are wondering how long you should keep products around, here is a guide I use...

• Mascara : Every 3 months.
• Eyeliner: 1 year unless you use it with water, then it should be tossed after 6 months.  Be sure to sharpen your pencils after each use to keep them clean.
• Foundation: If you use your fingers to apply it every 6 months, if you use a sponge every 12 months.  Remember to wash your sponge out each week and replace it every three weeks.
• Cleansers & Moisturizers:  Most of these products contain fatty acids which means they should be thrown out after 6 months.
• Nail Polish: Every 12 months, remember to store it in a cool dry spot.  The best place is actually the fridge.
• Blush: Every 6 months.
• Makeup Brushes need to be washed every 2-3 months.
• Concealer: Up to a year.
• Eyeshadow and Pressed Powder: 2 years.
• Lipstick: 2 years if stored in a cool place.
• When in doubt sniff it out!  If you don't remember how old something is try smelling it, if it smells funky you know it is time to replace it.
• The clock on your makeup begins when you open it.  I suggest storing a sharpie in your makeup drawer so you can write the date you started using on the bottom.

  Thank you so much Rachelle for having me guest post!  Fingerprints on the Fridge is one of my favorite blogs for inspiration and I always look forward to seeing what you all are up to on Feature Yourself Friday so keep up the good work!  

Yay! Thank you so much Amanda! You rock! 

Feature Yourself Friday

Why hello there friends! Is everyone else baffled that July is long gone now and it's AUGUST?! I know! Trust me, I know. It was a glorious 75 degrees today and I swear I could start to smell fall in the air. But that could be because I want it..bad.

Anyway.
Oh yes! Thank you for all the emails for guest posts! I'm going through the emails and just going by who sent one first and I will get through all of them. Can't wait.. YA'LL ARE THE BEST!

Want to know what else you're 'mazin at?

Gallery Walls..

Coolest rocks evvah..

And awesome furniture makeovers..

Just to name a few! :)

Guest Post by the famous Mrs. Nato!

*i have to hijack real quick and tell you how amazing mrs. nato really is. She lets me call her and ask the same questions over and over and over..even at 2 am when she's at a club. Just kidding, she doesn't club..or does she. Bwahaha. but really she's been my heaven sent through this whole mess that I call life. and I heart her. A lot. I asked her and her sisters to adopt me into their clan. Still waiting for the paperwork. Besides being amazing at telling me over and over that I'll be okay, she makes me laugh, the kind of laugh where you snort..and it's always in public and people stare. Enjoy her. I sure do.*

hey friends,
my name is jami nato. i craft. i'm married. i have some kids. i cuss sometimes, but i really love Jesus.

here is my family. we are perfect. we have no flaws and we wear 50's clothes everyday.



ok kidding. we only wear 50's clothes every other day.

let's stop talking about me and talk about rachelle. do you love her? one of the strongest women i know. and funny too. she has a lot going on right now and needs some encouragement and love. because she is walking through some pretty rough waters. let's all try and shower her with a little extra love the next couple of weeks.
*************

alright, i have no transition from that to the sweater pillow tutorial. so ya...

anyway, i saw these glorious sweater pillows on the mighty intranet for sale. wait, what? no tutorial plus you want me to buy things? pshhhh, ruuuuuuuuuude. so i had to be creative and figure it out. and i also had to convince my husband that some of his brand name sweaters were looking pretty ratty. because really, they were. and then he was like,
hold up, why do you want my sweaters so bad?
i caved and told him i just had to make a sweater pillow. now picture rolling eyes from said husband.

so here's what i did. i mean, it doesn't look exactly like the flower pillows i got the inspiration from so i'm going to try again because i used way too much sweater. shwhatever, who cares. and they kind of look like pillows i've made on here before. but, double shwhatever. go with it.

sweater pillow tutorial

1)steal a sweater from your husband. cut it into 1 inch-ish strips. the longer the strips, the better.


2)find a pillow in your basement. if it's square(which it probably will be), sew the corners back, like so. (again, super jimmy rigged because i didn't want to buy a round pillow).


3) start on your flower. the center, i just folded it until i thought it looked like a bud of a flower. at first i sewed this part into the pillow. then i just kept sewing around every so often. but this got too time consuming. i got out the hot glue gun. much easier. i just glued the fabric down as i went. um, jimmy rigged to the max, but uhhh-mazing.


you can see how i folded my strips of fabric so that the rough edge of the cut shows.


4)keep going tediously around the pillow. towards the end, i just layed the strips flat because it was faster and it still looked cute.


5)cover until you get to the back. cover the back if you want. or don't. i did, but man, i got crazy in the back and it looks hilarious. it's the thought that counts, right?

now you could definately sew this. i just jimmy rigged it with hot glue because i hate sewing.
so go with it.

ok, ready. set. go cut up your husbands sweaters!

They call me mellow yellow.

My super sweet friend Diane (shop owner of Something Diane Made) sent me the cutest gift the other day! Oh my gosh ya'll.. It made my day.

Enjoy my instagram quicky. 

And a pretty one with a lovely one of the little holding it..

Whats that? A classic photo bomb. Yes, yes it is.

First off it has polka dots and it's yellow. Can it get any better? Yes, yes it can. With a teal zipper and flower and gray interior. Holy smokes! It's gorgeous. I love it.

The best part is the SIZE of these things! It's a tad bigger on the clutch side which is perfect for a momma on the go. It fit, my cell phone, my wallet (which is big and fat because I'm a semi-hoarder don't judge me), my sun glasses, keys and some ponies. 

That's awesome eh? OR you could fit a travel wipes case in it I think. It seems about that size. But this Momma doesn't have any itty bitties that use wipes anymore even though sometimes they need them, I'm always that mom that forgets to have anything to clean faces off. 

I digress. 

But it would be cute for a diaper bag so you could keep YOUR stuff in it and not have to carry a diaper bag and another purse, that was my biggest pet peeve back in the diaper days. This fits in both, and fits on your wrist. Love..love love that. 

But there's a ton of cute ones to choose from and they're on sale for ONE MORE DAY ya'll. For an awesome price of 20.00 with free shipping. Holla! 

Make sure you stop by.. tell her I sent ya and check out her lovely assortment of purses and get one while they're on sale! The price goes up a bit once the sale is over and then that shipping deal goes back on.. So! Get them while they're hot hot!

Purse purse buy a purse!