What the World Brings Us

It’s been almost a year since I last wrote a post on here. Wether it be about life or just thrifting in general. It has been a crazy rollercoaster since I graduated back in May and it would have helped tremendously if I hadn’t let go of this beauty.

Man, Life is really hard. The world out there is not pretty and will give you a big slap in the face if you aren’t ready for what it is going to hand you. I have literally gone through the craziest months of my life this past year and I can honestly say that I never thought I would be where I am now. I think that’s a good thing though? I’m still settling in. By now I thought I’d be traveling, be a journalist or be in some type of career based off my degree, or heck even still be working at good ol’ Chilis.

I did do two of those things up until December when everything weirdly fell into place.

After I graduated I went with my internship for a full time position as a journalist. —–WOWZER. As much as I was told it wasn’t a good idea from colleagues and family, I simply felt like I had to pursue this huge drive to I don’t know do something more, make a name for myself, really prove something? But what did I prove? NOTHING. Instead I got stuck in what was a catastrophe of a newspaper and making crap pay for an overload of writing that quite possibly has made me a horrible person towards reporters. Yet, I still long to get the ‘new’ updates on Top stories and news articles every morning. Nevertheless, I met a ton of inspiring, famous, and very critical people during those 7 months. It was wonderful. It was awful- but it helped me see clearly. During writing, I witnessed first hand how much you DON’T get paid, therefore I juggled three jobs. Chili’s, the newspaper, and what was supposed to be a fantastic marketing opportunity.

Honestly guys, I think I’m just too gullible.

I have never been so broke in the past 5 years than I have in 2013. It really is quite hilarious the experiences I have been through this year, but hey, I am still alive and breathing. That is all that matters.

Now, I have a career with great people and the foundation that I have ultimately been looking for since the beginning of my Senior year in college. I have traveled this year, not as much as would like but I was able to mark two new States off my list. That’s a plus right? Life is crazy, but it is sooo unbelievably good to you when you least expect it.

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.

The Beauty of LIFE

Hello, finally.

It has been an incredibly long time since I have written anything on the site and I am glad to be finally strumming my fingers across my keyboard. This summer has been quite eventful for me. I finally am taking a slight break from serving and really focusing on my ‘big girl’ jobs and enjoying life. I have had a wonderful time relaxing by the pool and learning new things from some great people.
I have recently gotten the privilege of co-editing for a great nonprofit newspaper in Nashville. Its a nonprofit newspaper called In Phase News, that is committed to helping those affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as the homeless, and unemployed. They also have a wordpress account that post all of the newspaper articles and some personal pieces by the writers. I encourage everyone to go check it out, and read up on the latest news!!

Now on to Thriftsense news!!!

With the newspaper job and my Marketing adviser position, I of course had to go shopping for business clothes. The other day I was told that Old Navy was an awesome place to find work outfits at a cheap price and still have the latest trends. So what did i do ? I went to Old Navy and Goodwill of course, just to put the cherry on top of my shopping spree day. Old Navy had some good deals on shirts and work blouse’s. I was able to snag a deal for just two plan v neck t-shirts for $5.99, and a long white satin blouse for $13.99. They had those wonderful ‘editor’ style capris/skinny jeans that I was able to get for $25, and last but not least a plain collared tank top work dress for $20. So overall I spent maybe $68 after tax and everything! I was pretty pleased.

Then I hopped on over to Goodwill next door and spent $14 on a clear trash can for my bathroom, a pair of great grey suede booties that were originally from Forever 21, and two pairs of pants from J.Crew and Ann Taylor, both were $4.99. The suede booties were five dollars and the trash can was two dollars. So with both shops and going from having no work apparel, I went to having three pairs of pants, a dress, and three shirts that I could wear.

My Shopping Day was a success.
Enjoy the Pictures!!!!!!

A Thanks to “The Settler” staff and Clay Scott

This year has been a rollercoaster.

I attended my last year of college while working full time, writing two articles per day for my internship, I was on the Newspaper staff at school and I still managed to find time to breathe..barely. Yet, it was one of the most influential and amazing years that have happened to me. When I transferred from MTSU to Vol State in 2010, I really didn’t know what I was planning to do. I just assumed I would get a degree in Business and continue on my dream to becoming a flight attendant so I could travel across the world. But something happened to me my fall semester of my senior year.
I attended a class that was strictly about Mass Communications and it entitled you to write articles for TV, print, and online. I have always liked the idea of writing. I was the typical girl that kept journals to write down her thoughts and draw on the blank pages about what I was currently day dreaming about, but I never thought anymore about writing then that. During this class, I had learned the steps and proper edict in writing for a newspaper company or establishment. I was taught everything you needed to know about legality issues with your subject and what you should do if the cops were ever called on you and so forth(call Clay Scott). It was a very challenging and interesting class to be apart of. The teacher, Professor Clay Scott had a lot more influence on us students, then he believed. He made it very clear throughout the Fall semester that he was the adviser to the publications staff at school. With multiple other journalist in the room, a lot of our topics in class were based off of Newspaper articles and/or breaking stories from Vol State. Naturally, I became intrigued.
It wasn’t until the Spring semester that I joined Publications and became fully aware of what I was about to do with my degree. Thanks to Clay Scott, my Spring semester was the biggest challenge in the fact that I had to learn very quickly what a newspaper consisted of. I have never been apart of such a great group of people that I continuously learned from, yet had the best time while doing so. So the meaning of this post is to simply Thank the very ones that I had the opportunity of learning with along my Spring semester. Professor Scott, as much trouble that I gave you, you were ultimately the one that helped me get to where I am as a graduate and as a writer. So to the few that were left behind because so many of us graduated this past weekend, I wish I had joined sooner rather than later. You all made this year incredibly special and for that, I thank you.

I officially became apart of Nashville

I have lived in Nashville since I was three years old.

Within this whole timespan of me growing up and partaking in many occasion downtown that classifies as country, I have never worn a pair of Cowgirl Boots. I know… How in the world can I be from Illinois and never have worn them, been in Nashvegas for 18 years and never have worn the infamous cowboy boots either? Who does that!?

Well I took my Aunt, cousin, and my Uncle from California downtown to see the night life and all the Nashville attractions. We went into the boot store off 2nd and they were having a kick butt sell on boots that were buy 1 get 2 free! At least an hour went by and my Aunt and I finally decided on what boots we were going to buy! Our final price after three pairs of boots…$400. If you know
Cowboy boots, then you know that was an amazing deal!

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I could get used to surprises.

Happy Wednesday!

A’las, I am finally writing a post since Graduation, and I just had to share what I found today. So I had some interviews with some Marketing agencies this week and wore this really cute outfit for both interviews. I wore a purple jacket (shown in a post earlier this year) with high waisted black slack capris, a white full neck t-shirt and plain black satin stilettos. Well, today while I was putting away clean clothes, I check the pockets just to make sure I had gotten my Chapstick and such and I pull out this small brooch. I normally don’t find any of these slightly attractive, but this one would pair really well with another dress that I own. So of course naturally what happens? I begin to have a frenzy with trying on clothes to see what It matches with! I now officially have a Goodwill itch going on!!!

The end is nearly the beginning.

This officially marks 30 posts from the beginning of this Semester. I am finishing up my last week of being in school since Pre-School, and It is a marvelous feeling. As you guys know, I started this blog for class homework/participation for my Audio course. It has been such a great experience writing and sharing with you guys, and I have learned a great deal. This will not be the end of “Thriftsense”, I will continue to write for this blog but it will be a little more personal here on out. I thank everyone for following and the 700 likes that I have gotten in the past 3 months!!! 

  The end is nearly the beginning with this wonderful site. I plan to do great things with thrifting and sharing my finds from the many stores I find in Nashville and the surrounding areas. For now, I am writing my last post for a couple of weeks, simply because I plan to be free of everything and actually breathe. I am sure most of you can relate. So I leave you with this quote… 

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin

 

 

Treasure Hunt Video

It makes me so happy that I am not the only one that calls getting great finds at Goodwill the “Treasure Hunt” !!! If you shop at Goodwill, you must watch this video. This women gives great tips of shopping at the store and even goes through with a video camera showing you how she chooses her stuff!

Earring Hoarder

I am a hoarder of earrings.. and maybe just clothes,shoes, and jewelry in general. So basically everything.

I am not seriously a hoarder though.

Yet, I do have so many earrings that I cant seem to find enough events, occasions or anything in between to wear them to. Lately, I feel that the fashion is druzy earrings or a 9mm bullet stud. Both adorable, and can be used with anything. I mentioned etsy in one of my earlier blogs because they have some of the cheapest jewelry, clothes, books, literally everything. My favorite is their antique section. I found some earrings today that were a bright yellow with a blue stud on the top of them. Super cute and only $12. I recently just had a friend of mine buy her antique wedding dress off the site for a total of $200. Can you say SCORE!

When I went to North Carolina with my best friend Meghan, we went into this cute little bohemian store that sold tons of druzy earrings but they were name brand. I didnt get them because they were so ridiculously expensive, one tiny stud druzy was $95. Crazy right? Well below are the earrings from etsy and a mock up version of the druzy earrings!

Vases , Vases , and more Vases.

I have been recently searching for some decorative vases for my home that I could possibly do a quick DIY project on. For my final exam, I had to interview a Dean at my school that was recently interviewed for a Goodwill Commercial. As I interviewed her she gave me some great ideas on some DIY projects that she was working with at home. She was quite the nifty one. Her DIY project was to make one of those suitcase or luggage holders out of old leather belts from Goodwill. Though my DIY project has nothing to do with that, I thought you guys would enjoy the awesome idea.

Anyways, back to the project. So Mothers Day is coming up , and I was looking for some good ideas to potentially give me the opportunity to make something since that always seems to bring a smile to any mothers face. I found some of these great vases that I thought I could either spray paint like a bright blue or Red, but on both of them the paint began to chip off and I was scared even if I could sand them, the paint would continually chip off. Here are the three vases I found that I really wish I hadn’t left at the store!

Watch Duo

Hey Guys!

Here is the finished product so far on my watch duo. I went looking today for more bracelets that could possibly go well with my graduation dress. So far, nothing.