Thrifty Thursday

Alright. So it's been a month or two... I didn't anticipate only having $1.48 for half of college. That's right. I haven't bought anything. It's a new saving plan I like to call "Food Frugality". I mean, I've been able to survive alright. I've just eaten fiber bars, soup, and cereal everyday for a while. It gets bland after 48 days. But I've managed. Who knew I'd be more broke in college than I was as a 4 year-old! It's kind of adventurous in a way; trying to do everything without spending any money. You know, if I live like this forever and actually get a job, I'll be rich from saving so much! It's a great.
This past week I've been trying to get college boys to hire me as a maid for "white glove" cleaning to earn a little cash. Everyone has to do it and I figure some people don't want to and wouldn't mind paying me to do it for them! It is intense cleaning. I'm pruny from so much pine sol. So, today I had my first job as a maid. I had the experience of......college boys' bathroom.
Ew.
Probably the nastiest thing I've ever seen. Now I know why men need women. There were seriously things growing across the entire floor. How do they live?!?!?! After I left and felt mold growing on my hands and in my nose and I threw out my back from cleaning I realized I should have charged a lot more. Sometimes I am so thankful I am a girl and have a natural tendency for cleanliness.
I digress.
The point is, I haven't really gotten any thrifty things. Because, even though thrifty things are cheap, (that's the point of being thrifty) I still don't have enough money for something! Plus, with finals and school and the flu and a cold, I seem to have had less time to blog. And I'm starting to wonder if school zaps your creativity... It certainly seems to.
I did buy one thrifty thing that I absolutely LOVE. This was about two months ago, but, I finally have time to sit down and show you my awesome find. I've been searching for something like this for ages.
Behold:

Alas, I've used it so much it tore a little and I had to get Hannah to sew it for me. But, I love it. It was 20$ (imagine how long I could survive on that... probably 6 months if I'm careful ;). Pretty good for a leather satchel.
Maybe, when I move to Florida I will have some Thrifty finds for you.
But, that's all for now!

Happy Thrifting!

P.S. SCHOOL IS DONE! I don't have to have a class for four months! Can you believe it?! Woo. Straight A's, Baby. This college thing...not so bad :D

Thrifty Thursday

Sorry, I'm a day late. I have a special guest for Thrifty Thursday....well; two.

First,

Meet Miranda:

She my California Cutie. We'll keep her. 

Especially since she has fantastic style. See this dress? Thrift store. $4. That's my girl.

This guitar is even a thrift item. I'm pretty sure it plays in tune as well. $35! 

I'm not sure about the shoes....but, they're cute anyway!

So, the strap wasn't thrifted. It's actually handmade just for Miranda at the Farmer's Market down the street! We were there together when I hear the sultry sound of Ella Fitzgerald playing and dragger her away to talk to this old fart about Ella for forty minutes. Some girls would leave, but Miranda is a real pal. I think we will go to the Farmer's Market more in the future if they keep playing Ella. It feels like everything here has to do with Farmer's. Or Potatoes. Or the Horticulture department. Or the Ag Center. Or lack of boys.

Maybe it's just me, but I think all those things relate ;)

Because of the lack of male specimens; I've gone back to my rebound. I admit, I have one. We all do. I love him. Really, he's been with me through the good and the bad. He is my North Star. My constant. He is the kindest most patient, loving, huggable, soft, wonderful person alive. This is my second special guest. Meet:

Ol' Brown Eyes.

I know the name isn't much. Actually, I hate it. But, Hannah named it and it stuck and I just couldn't change it because that's who he is now. So, deal with it.

Apparently, most people don't bring their stuffed-animal boyfriends to college. I didn't realize this until I had a girls night (well...every night is a girls night) and my roommate decided to tell everyone I slept with a monkey.

(Laughter)

Is it really a crime?! NO. I mean, a real man wouldn't let you stain them with mascara and pen.

"I think Ol' Brown Eyes is better than a real man",  I told them.




Then I spent the next three hours how I was going to live a life of celibacy.


Joy.

Thrifty Thursday

Yesterday, I had a Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Shake (Yep. That's right.) at Sammy's (this wonderful local band joint/shake and fry place/vintage hangout). It was karaoke night. I'm considering participating next week. As I stepped out the door away from the horrific sounds of karaoke and into the splattering rain with the taste of pumpkin still melting in my mouth; I began to dance.

Fall is here, ladies (and gentlemen?). Fall is here.

So, I decided for my Thrifty Thursday today, I'd bust out all my fabulous scarfs. They are quite thrifty. And a necessary Fall/Winter(or all year round if you live in Idaho) accessory.

Here's my tutorial on: 

Different Ways to Tie a Scarf.

Enjoy.

1) The Turtle Tie

Scarf: Free! Christmas Gift.

This is probably my least favorite on me. But a lot of people pull it off. You wrap the scarf all the way around to loop around your neck and pull it tight so it looks like a turtle neck!

2) Classic Winter

Scarf: Free! Gift.

Throw one end of the scarf over your shoulder. Simple as that. Then go make a snowman.

3) Braided Beauty

Scarf: Free!.....again. Free is the best way to go.

This one is more complicated to do but it's my favorite! You loop the scarf before you put it around your neck then slip one of the ends through and then the other overlapping like a braid!

4) Hang Loose

Scarf: 3 Euros. London.

Definitely the easiest look. Just put on a scarf.

5) Simple Slip

Scarf: 1$ Thrift Store

I like this one with thin scarves. You just tie a knot VERY loosely.

6) Pull It Through

Scarf: 12 Euros. Paris. OK...not extremely thrifty. But, French.

This one is like the Braided Beauty, except you pull both ends through the loop instead of braiding the two.

7) Retro Thin

Scarf: 1$! Woo! Thrift Store.

This is exactly like the Simple Slip except tight! It reminds me of those 50s scarves. This is a more summery look.

8) Drape Around

Scarf: 3$ at Chinatown, NY

This is like the Turtle Tie except I use large cloth scarves and don't pull it tight. You just wrap it all the way around and then fix it to lay the way you want. This is a popular way to wear winter scarves.

Let me know your favorites :)

Thrifty Thursday

Scarf: $1.00

Skirt? $4.00

Shoes? $3.00. Amazing.

I have a guest appearance for Thrifty Thursday today.

Meet Bernard:

Yes, Bernard is a Hermit Crab. He's the fifth roommate here at Kerr Hall.

Sometimes we hold races in our living room.

Emi is a frequent visitor. She's Bernard's friend.

Or maybe she just wants to eat him.

Who knows?

Thrifty Thursday

Puritan shirt? $3.00

Pants that USED to be $70.00....$10.00

And awesome shoes. The brand is Mushrooms? What?! $4.00

Hate the hay,

Love D.I.

That's where my outfit it from today. Even though it took 30 minutes to walk there. On the way home
I shouted at a bunch of cars: "HEY YOU! YA, YOU! GOT ANY CHARITY, HUH? CAN'T GIVE A POOR COLLEGE GIRL A RIDE HOME FROM THE STORE? WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY!?" I don't think anyone heard me. I just had to keep saying to myself, "Just over the next rise, Shelby". That inspiring statement was actually written on my shirt. I was in the 10000 FT Hiking Club. And that was our motto. Too bad I never actually went on a hike with them. Maybe it would have prepared me for college.

College life is different...yet, adventurous.  For instance:

I ate a huge box of raspberries from the Horticulture department while walking to my next class. 15 minutes: 200 raspberries. Hopefully, my stomach handles that alright.


I shoved a roommate into my closet. And legitimately tried to keep her there.

I burst into tears during class when my choir teacher from High School texted me.

I keep waving to everyone...but hardly anyone waves back. Maybe it's a Utah thing?

I heard today from a boy in my Book of Mormon class that Idaho has bigger mountains than Utah. EXCUSE ME?! But, WHAT mountains? That little hill you can see when you climb on the roof? Ya, no. No mountains.

I walk into my dorm and my roommate hides her frosting/nutella/ice cream behind her back. I think she's downed a can of each.

I bang my head on my bunk bed/desk contraption every day. Hopefully, I don't loose too many brain cells.

I have too look at my creepy Child Development textbook each day. That alone gives me nightmares.


I jumped onto a desk in my Children's Literature class pretending to be a monkey. There are no Freshman in that class and I'm pretty sure there were arrows pointing at me, blinking lights, and a creepy computer voice monotonously repeating "FRESHMAN. FRESHMAN. FRESHMAN." I realized I was a bit large for desk hopping when three chairs crashed over and one hit me in an incredibly and painfully uncomfortable spot. I don't think people normally act like a monkey in college.


I bought a 5$ movie from Wal-Mart instead of other crucial needed products for survival. I'm not really sure why, because it's only going to give me a good dose of heartache each time I see it.

I danced silently in my kitchen while a boy was giving a flower to Hannah in the living room.

I listen to Billie Holiday and vacuum. Then lay on the couch and stare at the ceiling in between classes.

I save all the envelopes I receive and hang them on a clothes line in my room.

I keep creeping on people when they exchange numbers and try to inconspicuously take a picture. Awesome.


I had a Sunday Breakfast Party.

I held the sun in my hands.


There are probably a plethora more oddities I didn't mention. Living on my own I realize I love cleanliness. I love being independent. I LOVE having my own kitchen and living room and bathroom. So wonderful. I'm thinking of making a peach pie soon.

I sorta like this college thing.

Thrifty Thursday

Ta-Duh!!!

My fantastic outfit I wore to school today.

I must admit though, it's not exceptionally thrifty. I got it at a thrift store, but...it was 20$.

I COULDN'T RESIST. I LOVE IT.

Plus, it's my birthday tomorrow and, I say, I get to wear whatever I want this thrifty-thursday-before-my-birthday day. Yup yup.

These shoes are the awesome shoes I'm wearing. Besides the unmatching socks, fat looking ankles, old-manish quality; my shoes only have one downside.

They smell like the zoo.

No joke. Not like poo. Just the zoo. I didn't notice when I bought them, but when I wore them the next day I couldn't figure out why 'zoo' was following me. And when I went running, ZOO. It was everywhere. It wasn't bad. Or good. Just Zoo.

Then I went to stats and some boy I was sitting by said "Why does it smell like the zoo in here?"

Oh no, oh no. It must be me. I ran over to him and put my shoe on his desk and secretly described the odd odor of zoo that had been following me around. Ya, zoo.

I think it's because the shoes are so incredibly leather. And the leather is SOOOOOOO strong, it's smells 'zoo'. Who knows?

I tried taking these suckers to Europe to see if walking long distances would tame the zoo smell.

It sorta did.

Sorta.

But they're the best shoes I've got for college for walking purposes.....

Anywho. I have no car. No money. No boys. No family. Only canned food. No time to blog. Not many friends. Just zoo.

But it's alright. I'm getting along well. I mean, it's mostly my fault for not meeting lots of new people, as I have been extremely studious. And sleepy.

BUT. I have an EXCELLENT idea! I have no friends, right? And it's my birthday tomorrow right?

So....I'm sticking sticky notes. Everywhere. That look like this:

I know: Brilliant.

Perfect way to make friends. I wrote this on........hundreds, of sticky notes. And my plan today is to stick them. Everywhere.

I'm really hoping this works out because I've never had a birthday party with a bunch of people I don't know and no family and no balloons and games and a big cake and an actual house and people who adore me and make me feel like a million bucks.

Perhaps, it will be a fiasco.

But, I won't know unless I try.

Wish me luck.

Thrifty Thursday

Round two:

One of my favorite places EVAH: Target.
Or Target (pronounced like Ballet).

Cheap. Yet, delicious. Look at these finds.

New College bag?! Woot! $8.00

Mmmm. Yummy blue shirt: $4.00.

Sorry my pictures aren't absolutely fantastic today. They will get better. Part of the problem is I can't take pictures of myself, myself. I had my sister try and do this weeks. She can't take pictures. At all. They were all blurry. Except these two. But hey, I have a photography major in my dorm (Roomate #2) so perhaps they will improve.
So....guess what?! I moved in today. That's why you have this special COLLEGE EDITION Thrifty Thursday.

Yesterday was officially my last day in Utah. No car. No money. So visits will be once in a blue moon. I kept saying things like "This is the last time I will be in the shed...", or "This is the last time I will see the sunset in Utah", "This is the last time I will see the view at the three story park", "Or eat Orange Leaf", "Or have a sleepover with my sisters".

Ya, ya. I know. I'm four hours away. And I'm coming back for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I will definitely do ALL those things again. And soon. But still, weird? Yes.

My parents decided to throw me into the real world, um, alone; and took a trip to Lake Powell a couple days ago so I got to move in with my best friend and her parents. Two peoples' stuff REALLY fills up a car...

Basically, Hannah and I could hardly fit in the car ourselves. I tried to nap, but Hannah's clothes were magnetically drawn to my head. It was a little difficult.

Five hours later, lots of sweat, realizing I shouldn't have worn my PJs on move-in day, and boxes and bags emptied:

My room. My new "home".

And my bestie. :)

I am so glad she is here with me. It's like bringing home along.

My other roomates are great.

Roomate #1: Pokes her head into our room as we are unpacking. Roomate #2 has yet to arrive and Roomate #1 timidly asks "Do you think my roomate would like Hermit Crabs?".

I now have a pet next door.

Roomate #2: Borrows some butter.



Ya..........anticlimactic. Maybe I'll have some more stories on Roomate #2 later.


Even though I've been complaining about the nothingness of Idaho, it really is wonderful. I mean, it's full of nothingness. But it's wonderful. We passed "Bear World" on the way over here. Date, anyone? Or maybe I could go kiss somebody on top of a water tower. Or roll through hay. Nevermind....I'm allergic to hay...


It's an odd thing to say goodbye to your friends and family. I think I went through over fifty goodbyes last week. I would say "It's not REALLY a goodbye! Just a See-You-Later". But, in some cases as I watched people walk away, I was pretty sure it was goodbye. All my excitement for Idaho didn't change the sadness of that.

But, I was welcomed to BYU-I by Henry J. Eyring. Yes, J. He's a son. And I have a picture of Christ right next to me to look at. And I'll never be alone that way. I can do it.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

Well,

I know I can.

Here, here! To college.

P.S. I didn't realize posting about lipstick would get me free lipstick. Mmmm. Sassy Spontanee. Thanks Madie. Delicious. I wore Coral Crush today.

Thrifty Thursday

I'm starting something new.
Like most women, I like new clothes.
Unlike most women, I hate shopping for them.

Main reason: Money. (Also the trying-on kinda stinks. And sometimes things just don't fit right. Or it takes more than 2 hours to find ANYTHING you like. Bah.)

I just can't spend it! It's...painful. Now, when I was a greasy 5th grader this was no big deal. Don't spend money (don't take showers either, for that matter...) and don't worry about my clothes or the way I looked!

Thankfully, I think my hygiene has improved since then. And I'd say my style has too. No sweatshirts and sports shorts for me every day.

But, alas! My new style came with a price...literally. I'd venture to say a good portion of the money I own goes into clothing. Call me a tight-wad, but I just don't think a shirt is worth 80 dollars. Or more. I like my ten and under rule, find something under ten dollars, that LOOKS like it could be 80. Don't beleive me? It's a fantastic trick. Frugal. So I have gotten into this trend of going to thrift stores. Or sale racks. Or yard sales. All work. All are cheap. And really, when it comes to fashion, you just have to wear it right.

This is where Thrifty Thursday comes in. I really am proud of my cheap, yet stylish, outfits. Why not share the joy? And the skill. Shopping cheap will come in handy. (basically, it's been handy my whole life and will continue to be untill I marry my future rich husband, right? ;)

So here's week number 1:

My first Thrifty Thursday. Take note of the clothes, and most certainly, the price.

Enjoy! :)

Little Black Dress. $6.00

Shoes: $4.00

Belt: $1.50

Shelby: Priceless.

Ha. Just Kidding. The pink lipstick is nice though, ya?

How bout it? Good idea? Let me know what you think. Hopefully, these improve as time goes by. Tune in for next week :)