Coffee and Conversation #19

Welcome to Coffee & Conversation Thursday Party #19!

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 It's time to say goodbye to 2011, can you believe it! As we say hello to a new year let's remember all the wonderful projects 2011 bought us!! Please share any of your favorite projects of 2011!

Thank you to everyone who linked up last week and
shared your creative and crafty projects with us.
Now grab your favorite cup of Joe and let's see what you got!

Blog Spotlight

Drab to Fab: A Dresser Makeover by Honey Sweet Home

From Yellow to Hello by Urbane Jane

Conversation Rules:

1) Follow Passionately Perfect and With a shot of Brandy 

2) Link to your specific post, not your blog homepage and please no giveaways or etsy shops.

3) Grab a button and post it somewhere on your blog.

4) Please keep things appropriate! I have

the right to delete anything that would be offensive to others!

5) Have fun and show lots of {love} to your fellow bloggers!

Good Luck!!

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href="http://www.withashotofbrandy.com" title="With A Shot Of
Brandy"><img
src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x470/B_TasteTouchSee/WithAShot%20Of%20Brandy/ShotLinkyPartyTile.jpg"
alt="With A Shot Of Brandy" style="border:none;"
/></a></div>

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Special Note: By posting to my linky party, you understand and
give permission that I use any part of your post and you may be selected

and featured on a upcoming blog spotlight.

NIfty Thrifty: 5 tips for sucessful thrifting!

Today I'm going to share with you a few tips to help ensure successful trips to thrift stores!

No matter what you may be looking for, I think there are some key things you can do to help you spot awesome finds!

I enlisted the help of my uncle who is the guru of all things thrift!

His wardrobe and garage is filled...literally, with some of the most amazing finds! He can spot a deal miles away, and never takes more than $5 each trip! If you are looking for something, he is your go to guy!!

So we sat down and together wrote down some tips we think are the most important!!

Tip #1 Constancy

You have to be willing to stalk your local thrift stores. Know what days they get the most donations and find out when their discount days are. Find a few of your favorite stores and visit often, this way you will be able to know which stores are best for what you are looking for. Some may have great deals on clothing, while others will be great for home finds! Don't be scared to talk to the employees, and never be scared to ask if your item's price can be reduced!!

Tip # 2 If you see something you like, grab it!

I have done this many times, when I pick up something, like it, but put it down because I'm either not exactly sure what I would do with it, or I just think maybe I don't need it! Only to dream about it and the next day it's gone! So if you keep eyeing something, get it! Most thrift stores have a return policy just in case you get home and realize you really don't need it!!

Tip # 3 Know what you need

As awesome as thrifting can be, you can quickly become addicted, which can result into an overload of things!! So before each trip take in inventory of things you want and need. If you have an idea of what you are looking for your trips will go by a lot faster! 

Tip # 4 Keep up with the latest trends

I'm a believer that style comes before trend. As wonderful as trends are they fade fast and may not be suitable for everyone. But when it comes to thrift shopping you can inexpensively keep up with the latest trend report! Look in magazines, or on TV to see what colors are in, what styles are popular and what are some designer faves! Remember trends don't just apply to clothing, Furniture and home accessories can also be on the current trend report!

Tip # 5 BUDGET

Thrifting is fun and rewarding, but if you're not careful you can easily find yourself spending just as much money as you could in a regular store! Always set budgets for yourself!!

Here are some of my awesome finds!!

All this week I will be showing you some of my other amazing finds!!

Happy Tuesday!!



Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

This week will start Nifty Thrifty!

A week deciated to fashion on a serious budget!

Also I will be sharing 5 tips to sucessful Thrifting!

Stay tuned!!

Top: Thrift find ($2.38)

Vest: Wet seal

Pants: Forever 21

Necklace: Frockcandy.com

Hope you all are having a Great Christmas!!

 

Coffee & Conversation Thursday Party #18!

Welcome to Coffee & Conversation Thursday Party #17!

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 Only a few more days until Christmas!!

 Is it just me or did this month go by way super fast?! I haven't even finished all my shopping yet, but I'm so excited to get to spend this time with family!
I can't wait to see all the wonderful projects you have been working on and your last minute gift ideas! Thank you to everyone who linked up last week and
shared your creative and crafty projects with us.
Now grab your favorite cup of Joe and let's see what you got!

Blog Spotlight

Check out are two awesome mini Christmas tree link-ups from last week!

Dryer sheets tree by Petites Passion

Driftwood Christmas tree by The space between

Conversation Rules:

1) Follow Passionately Perfect and With a shot of Brandy 

2) Link to your specific post, not your blog homepage and please no giveaways or etsy shops.

3) Grab a button and post it somewhere on your blog.

4) Please keep things appropriate! I have

the right to delete anything that would be offensive to others!

5) Have fun and show lots of {love} to your fellow bloggers!

Good Luck!!

<div align="center"><a
href="http://www.withashotofbrandy.com" title="With A Shot Of
Brandy"><img
src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x470/B_TasteTouchSee/WithAShot%20Of%20Brandy/ShotLinkyPartyTile.jpg"
alt="With A Shot Of Brandy" style="border:none;"
/></a></div>

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Special Note: By posting to my linky party, you understand and
give permission that I use any part of your post and you may be selected
and featured on a upcoming blog spotlight.

Guest Post: Christmas decorations!

 We have a guest today!! Olga over at Stardust, I'm so happy to have her here posting today! When I first seen her blog I fell in love with her hallway transformation {here},

Be sure to go check her out, she has some great stuff and I know you are gonna love her too!!

 Christmas is all around us....la la la ...

To get into the spirit, my lovely stardusted readers, I give you some snippets of my Christmas decorated house.

During the day

{F.T.H.B} Holiday house tour

Only a few days away from Christmas and I'm suppose to be in the holiday cheer!

Instead my daughter and I have been sick in bed the past two days, but the show must go on! 

Decorating the house for the holidays has always been special to me because it was the something me and my dad did together every year before I got married! My dad is the biggest kid when it comes to the Christmas! He loves baking, is the BEST gift giver and decorates the house no matter what every year and I was always his go to girl! Even when I moved out the house he would call and ask when I was coming over to help hang the lights or put up the tree! Some of my best memories are decorating with my dad during Christmas time, it was a time when I think I always felt the closest to him! We would talk, listen to Christmas music and just enjoy each others company!  It was our thing! 

I'm looking forward to creating some of those special moments with my children!

 My goal this year was to make Christmas beautiful on a budget! I think I did a pretty good job, using things I already had, the amazing Dollar tree and the Goodwill! I spent under $50 on all our decor!

Here is a little tour of our holiday home!

Entry way

 Living room

 Dinning room

 Eden's Room

 Hope everyone has an awesome Friday...definitely hoping this sickness comes to an end soon!