DIY sweater scarf & thrift-store treasures

I realize I haven't posted a DIY in a long time, so here's a quick and easy one. It doesn't even really require you to do anything. Hahaha. Those are the best kinds of projects, am I right?

Step 1: Go to the thrift store and find an OLD-MAN VEST in a pattern that you fancy.

Step 2: Throw the whole old-man vest over your neck and wear it as one of those circle scarves that still seem to be pretty popular this winter season (until people start shunning them a few seasons later, like UGGS). But when that happens, you can take it off your neck and start a new trend by wearing it like the old-man vest that it was always meant to be.

Optional (and recommended) Step: If you really don't care for the old-man sweater trend anyway and don't mind permanently ruining the vest, you can turn the thing inside out and hand-sew a line down each side of the vest to close the arm-holes and basically transform it into one long tube. This way, you can wear it as a circle scarf without people asking you why there are weird holes jutting out the sides. 

Speaking of thrift stores, I also have not blogged about my recent thrift finds in awhile. Well, actually I have not been shopping much lately (saving money for greater and more important things!) but here are a few items that I've accumulated over the past few months. 

***************************

I found these gold & pearl earrings at a thrift store and even though I would totally just wear them like that, they are a bit heavy so I think I'm going to cut them and make a few separate pieces of jewelry instead. The gold chain necklace in the back was $1 and I like that I can wear it with both casual and formal outfits (versatility!).

 Sometimes, I also use jewelry for other purposes... haha...

 Another interesting piece I got was this white blouse that was only 50 cents. Although I will have to sew the sides to make it more slim fit, the collar of this blouse caught my eye and I could easily wear it under sweaters and cardigans. 

 The shirt below I actually got from Value Village awhile ago, but since I haven't worn it that many times I suppose it's still "new". I like the black and white chevron print and the material is super silky. I would probably pair this shirt with a cozy-grey cardigan, gold necklace + watch, a high-waisted large-floral print skirt, and bright teal shoes. Can you imagine that? Sounds random but I swear it would work. How would YOU style this shirt? 

I saved the cardigans for last because I always think they're the best finds and I definitely wear them the most often! I found this cute doily-looking scallop-edged grandma cardigan at Value Village and even though I have another similar cream-coloured cardigan, I justified my purchase because this one is 3/4 sleeves and the other is long-sleeve. Yes... help me validate my reasoning. haha... 

And finally, my favourite recent purchase: this was the only clothing item I bought in the month of December so I guess it was a Christmas present for myself. It was $5 and I found it at the Vancouver Salvation Army on Granville Street. I saw it and said, "this will make me look like GINGERBREAD!!!" and immediately pranced to the cashier. 

I actually decided to wear this sweater the very next week during an engagement photoshoot with Mr. Potatohead. As I said before, I will be posting those pictures soon... but for now, here's a preview:

Haha... that tagline was just to shock my parents. Hi Mom & Dad. =) But they probably didn't get shocked anyway since they're used to my jokes by now. 

That's all for now. Hope you enjoyed this random post! =)

-Laura

thriftstore find: $5 bookshelf

Hello my dears! This is the first time I've gone on my computer in almost a WEEK! It's just been so busy and then right on Remembrance Day, I somehow got sick with a fever which left me bedridden for all of yesterday. But now I'm feeling well enough to drag my sickling-self those grueling two metres from my bed to my computer, so you shall get a blog post (or two?) today! =)

Last week I had a super awesome thriftstore find at the "thrift store with the red door" at Steveston Village. This place always has really unique furniture and it just so happened that all furniture was 50% off on the day that I went! I had been looking for a bookshelf (to put my shoes on, actually) and I found one that was deep enough to use as a shoe-shelf! It was an antique cream which perfectly matches my vintage dresser (acquired from another thrift store in Steveston). The best part was, the bookshelf was only $5!!!

So the next day, I borrowed Mr. Potatohead's SUV and then I borrowed my DAD to help me lug the ginormous thing back home. We got there and my dad started using his hand width in an attempt to measure the shelf. Consequently, I went over to the staff in the back and asked them for a measuring tape. In the end, after walking around the bookshelf for about half an hour hmm-ing and pondering about whether the massive thing would make it home, we shoved it into the back of the SUV and luckily, it JUST fit. We drove home with the entire trunk open, at the pace of a snail, until we safely arrived in our front yard with the bookshelf, me, and my dad still intact. =) Success!

good ol' BEAST was such a handy vehicle in our predicament...

(lurker below) not creepy at all... not creepy at all...

The turquoise shirt I'm wearing was also thrifted from a Value Village in Toronto for... $3.99? But really, nothing beats the $5 bookshelf. Except for those shady free couches on Craigslist...