Highlights From 9/29/13

Apparently a good fashion blogger should post a daily (or at least regular) OOTD ( outfit of the day). Since I am not particularly good, nor strictly a fashion blogger, I make no promises, only attempts. You will rarely, if ever, see glamour shots of me in designer digs and stilettos staring off onto the distance on a sidewalk or posed ever so casually against an iconic building. If you've expected this, you are reading the wrong blog. I don't have the patience to pretend I'm that perfect.

What you will see is a bunch of instagrammed iPhone selfies. Refer to below.

 

Today's OOTD

Cardi: Walmart $12.88

Belt: Goodwill Thrifted $2.00

Gold Lamè Dress: TJ Maxx $16.99

Fleece Lined Tights: Ross $5.99

Leopard Ballet Flats: Payless sale $12.99

Bag: random boutique in WV $40.00

Cocktail Ring: Prize Claw! $.50

Also, here are today's purchaces, in case  you hadn't deciphered them from the previous meme filled post. Are you tired of seeing this bird dress yet?

Old Navy Women's Long Sleeved Wrap Dress: Original Price $32.94, Sale Price $29.00, with 25% off coupon code I paid $21.75.

Old Navy Women's Long Sleeved Wrap Dress: Original Price $32.94, Sale Price $19.99 with 25% off coupon code I paid $14.98.

Women's Gauze Scarf in Smoke

Original Price $12.94, Sale Price $8.00,

I paid $6.00.

Oh, and since I'm sort of a travel blogger (and why not, a food blogger too) here's the trucker equivalent of dining with a view in Chicago.

Pic of delicious noms courtesy of my hubby. Basically, we had Panda Express at a Chicago Skyway Oaisis. It's a cool rest stop that is situated several hundred feet above the I-80, so one can fufill his or her lifelong dream of dining above Chicago's rush hour traffic. Scintillating.

And for all you naysayers (fancy word for haters) out there who say Panda is just  Americanized Chinese "fast food," I don't CARE. It's damn good.

So, does this fortune bode well for my blog? I think yes!

My "Life Here At Twentysomething" Miniseries

Good people of the blogosphere, I have been cheating on you. *Gasp*

When I first began traveling, I started guest posting on another blog. But as you are my first love, and I believe in full disclosure, this is what I wrote during the period when I could barely get beyond sweatpants some days.

Life At 13'6.

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/11/07/life-at-136/

The Things I Miss

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/11/12/the-things-i-miss/

The Things I Enjoy

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/11/13/the-things-i-enjoy/

A Passion For Words

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/11/20/a-passion-for-words/

Thanksgiving, Not Wallowing

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/11/22/thanksgiving-not-wallowi

Is The Economy Harming Our Futures?

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/12/01/is-the-economy-harming-our-futures/

Let It Snow...

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/12/19/let-it-snow/

Home For The Holidays

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2012/12/16/home-for-the-holidays/

New Today, New Tomorrow

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2013/01/01/new-today-new-tomorrow/

A Worthy Pursuit

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2013/01/17/a-worthy-pursuit/

Time To Set Some Goals

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2013/01/24/time-to-set-some-goals/

Life Through A Lens: February Photo Challenge

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2013/01/31/life-through-a-lens-february-photo-challenge/

Public Art And The Twentysomething

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2013/02/25/public-art-and-the-twentysomething/

Inspirational Blogger Award: This Contributor's Thoughts

http://lifehereattwentysomething.com/2013/03/03/inspirational-blogging-award-this-contributors-thoughts/

How A Traveling Trucker's Wife Shops

Step 1

Troll the internet for "just that one perfect item!"

...

Step 2

"Oh Hai, Old Navy"!

Step 3

"Bird print wrap dress, you say?"

Step 4

"And it's on SALE?!"

Step 5

Gets 2 in different prints, because they're

Step 6

Throws in scarf to earn free shipping and because "Gray is the perfect neutral."

Step 7

Realizes she won't go home to pick up the package for 2 more months. 

Step 8

Finds quite possibly the only Old Navy Outlet in the world with truck parking. Hello, Williamsburg, Iowa!

Step 9

Puts together a simple yet fabulous OOTD that said "I'm not trying too hard," for making contact with the outside world.

Step 10

Rereads items' fine print. Realizes the items are all "online only."

Step 11

Searches the interwebz again for coupon codes.

Step 12

Comes up empty handed and reluctantly places order.

Step 13

8 minutes later, a 25% off coupon arrives via email. *facepalm*

Step 14

*Politely* calls the Old Navy customer service dude at 4am...

Step 15

...and gets the total knocked down from $61 to $45.

Step 16

Begins counting the days until home time.

Only 53 more to go...

Fall Bargain Wishlist 2013 Edition

I'm baaaaaack!

Hi, good people of the interwebz! I realize I took a bit of an abrupt 2 year hiatus, but a lot has happened since I last posted. I am now a full time traveling trucker's wife (yes, that is a thing). This basically means a wildly fluctuating schedule mixed with exhaustion and a dash of insanity thrown in for good measure. Not especially conductive to blogging, ya dig?

But I've realized a lot about myself recently, out here on the lonely open road. Among other things; I still love writing, I still love fashion, and in turn, I love blogging. I was feeling a bit unmotivated for a while, but inspiration can be found almost anywhere, in almost any circumstance. Hold onto it with a death grip.

 Well, without further adieu, here's my must have bargains for Fall 2013.

1)Women's Faux Leather Zipper Crop Motorcycle Jacket: Walmart $34.88.

 2)Womens Wool-Blend Military Double-Breasted Coat: Walmart $34.88.

 3)Women's French Terry Peacoat Jacket: Walmart $19.88.

 4)Women's Surplice Front Knit Jersey Dress: Walmart $16.88.

5)Faded Glory Women's Military Shirt Dress: Walmart $18.88.

6)Women's Twist Front Cowl Neck Dress: Walmart $16.88.

7)Stitch Women's Cutout Detail Ponte Dress: Walmart $14.00.

8)Old Navy Women's Long-Sleeved Wrap Dresses $29.00.

9)Old Navy Women's Long-Sleeved Wrap Dresses $19.99.

10)Faded Glory Women's Snaz Riding Boots: Walmart $29.87.

11)Mo Mo Women's Tina Pixie Boot: Walmart $29.00.

12)Faded Glory Women's Essential Button Down Cardigan: Walmart $12.54.

13)Signature by Levi Strauss & Co Women's Denim Shirt: Walmart $14.98.

14)No Boundaries Juniors Colored Skinny Jeans: Walmart $13.88

15)Leopard Finished Edge Scarf: Wet Seal $10.90.

Playing Catch Up: So Many Huge Scores!

With the magic and madness that is the Christmas season, the pace unfortunately has not been conducive to blogging. So brace yourselves; here comes the mega catch up edition of Vintage Meets Modern! This fabulous post will include many of my favorite ways of saving money, including couponing, free samples, and thrifting. Be prepaired for the most magnificent descriptions and images of how to save money! Enjoy dear readers!

Couponing
The point of frugallity has come to where I don't even shop at department stores without coupons. Why pay retail for anything on products with such high markup?! This line of thinking came in especially handy for Christmas Shopping. :) In one store we purchaced 5 gifts for friends and family members. The gifts would have totaled over $80 but since we had $30 off in coupons, it was like getting two gifts for free! Here are a few of the fun gadgets that we saved serious cash on.

From left to right: Flexible LED Tripod Light/Camera Tripod, Remote Key Finder, MP3 Speaker Dock

Were you aware that coupons can also be applied to fine restaurant dining experiences? I know many people occasionally recieve coupons from burger joints, sandwich shops, and pizza places in the mail, but nicer sitdown restaurants such as Applebee's, Chili's, and Sweet River often release dining coupons online. Freebies websites (like the ones I've listed in previous blogs) are an excellent way to find out about these coupons, often the day they are released, so you can take advantage of these great opportunites before they expire or become out of stock. Another excellent source to save money and locate restaurants in your hometown is Restaurant.com. They often have sales where you can get $25 gift certificates to specified restaurants for as little as $2! Check with the website often for these sales. On Christmas Eve, my husband and I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Sweet River Grill using ourt $25 certificate. We had to spend a minimum of $40, but we still spent only $17 out of pocket; over half off on a fabulous meal including beverages, appetizer and HUGE entrees! The food and overall experience was superb! Here are pics of the scrupmptious bacon cheddar potato skins and prawns dinner that I enjoyed!


*Another fun bonus of the holiday season the giving and receiving of... GIFT CARDS! We gave a couple gift cards this year, and also received several. In a way, it is an ideal gift. It's like recieving free money to pick out your favorite things at your favorite stores. Wonderful gift cards we received this year: $50 Walmart Card, $25 Target Card, $30 Applebee's Card, $15 Starbucks Card. Wow, $120 to be spent on fun things and special experiences that doesn't have to come out of our hard earned wages! I heart giftcards!

Free Sampling
See my previous blog on free samples for the list of websites through which I've received the following AMAZING samples! A few tips when signing up for free samples:

• Do NOT ever give out your phone number! If a free sample requires you to give out your phone number (required fields are usually marked with an * or in red) pass on it because you WILL receive incessant telemarketing calls.
• If you do not wish to recevie spam email offers in your main inbox, create a seperate email account for signing up for such offers.
• Beware of scams. A sample offer from a legitemate company needs only your name and address (and will usually ask for your email) to send you a free offer. If they ask you for any other personal information, do not sign up for that offer, and beware of sites that will send you a free item only if you agree to sign up for a service with a fee. Read all fine print carefully!

With the proper precautions in mind, there are many wonderful freebies that you can get and enjoy! Look at all that I've recieved in the last two months!

Thrifting

I usually stop in at a thrift store every couple of weeks, but hadn't been having much luck recently. That's the way it usually goes; for the most part you'll buy one thing or nothing, and then you'll just have a crazy day where you find so many awesome things! Well, I had my mega score day a few days ago. For a grand total of $34.50 (the most I've ever spent in one trip to a thrift store) I got a whole new wardrobe of clothes some home decor items and two popular novels. Check out the following:







The following is a cost breakdown of my awesome finds!

• Purple Blown Glass Lamp: $5.50
• Mercury Glass Hand Sculpture: $1
• The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Book: $2
• The Girl Who Played With Fire Book: $3.50
• New Forever 21 Rose Skirt: $3
• Black Ruffled L.E.I Dress: $2
• Purple Studded Top: $2.95
• 3 Sweaters: $2.95 each

Whew, so many awesome things! I hope you've enjoyed this special holiday edition of Vintage Meets Modern, and feel free to share your awesome finds with me!

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