Thrifty and Shameless Finds: Vol 1

Hello my loves!

I am soooo excited to be blogging once again. I've had a million and one things going on but all of it brought me back to my first love of writing (blogging). I've been battling with myself about what direction I wanted to take with the blog-beating my brain up because I felt that I should choose one thing and focus on it but then I decided against that because my life is so diverse-hence the reason this is a lifestyle blog. 

In case you all didn't know, I've been running an online boutique for upwards of a year now. My shop, Miss Rockwells Racks, specializes in bringing you your favorite name brands and designers for a fraction of the cost. Currently I'm on Instagram as well as Facebook. I also sell on Vinted, Poshmark, and Ebay. I'm truly passionate about fashion and I do believe that I find good enough deals wherein I'm able to offer my customers a great price while still making a decent profit for myself. 

Once a week I want to dedicate a post to the exciting things that I've found/sold in the shop. And that is why I'm so excited to be blogging again today. 

For the first couple of installments I will be posting old things that have been in the shop just to give you an idea of my style and the types of things I like to look for when I shop. I tend to focus on the more trendy, smaller size items just because there are already so many vintage sellers out there already. Trendy sells too-maybe not as fast as larger sized, more unique pieces but it sells all the same. 

I thought this Roxy brand colorblock sundress was everything. It was brand new with tags and a size XL. The cutouts on the back and sides instantly drew me in. It sold less than 24 hours after it was posted.  Only $22. 

I originally purchased this romper for myself. See how I styled it here. As you can see, I'm a sucker for prints and details. This ruffle sleeve had me at hello. This baby sat in the shop for quite some time before it sold on Vinted for $15. 

These wedges are so different. They were an online return at one of my favorite places to source so I got them for a steal. They sold less than an hour after I posted them in The Frugal Stop Shop. $22

I had these new Ralph Lauren gingham rain boots in inventory for over a year before they sold. I just knew that people would jump all over these but they didn't. They were a size 6 so maybe that's why it took so long for them to go. Nevertheless, they finally went for $35 on Vinted. 

Lastly, this bow front gingham cocktail dress had me swooning. Surprisingly this also sat in inventory for over a year before someone on Vinted grabbed it up. Only $15.

That concludes Vol 1 of my favorites thus far. 

Please feel free to visit the shop, like and follow on Facebook and Instagram, and stay tuned for awesome deals and daily updates.

My inventory gets posted first on Ebay, then I move on to Instagram, Vinted, and FB groups. I usually post new things on Sunday and Thursday give or take a day or two. 

If you have specific styling questions or concerns leave them in the comments section or email me directly at missrockwellsracks@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you and I hope to fulfill your styling needs somewhere in the near future. 

I hope you enjoyed my segment. 

Thanks for reading.

XOXOXOXO

Savings Cravin': How To Save Money on Printer Ink

So my HP ran slam out of ink right in the middle of printing my coupons for the HT Super Double event last week. Usually I'm able to run out to Office Max to pick up another cartridge but that began to get costly, besides the fact that it was 2AM.  I searched my trusty 'ole Ebay for refill ink and ended up saving myself about $110. This is the best thing since sliced bread IMO.

Here's how you can get your own. 

If you're a fan of Ebay, you can start there, however, I'm sure mass merchants like Amazon will have the same thing if you prefer ordering there. 

You will need to type the exact name of your printer in the search bar along with the words 'refill ink'.  You can then make the best selection to fit your needs. I ordered this 3 pack.  

Each pack will refill my cartridge 3 times. That's 9 cartridges of ink for $7.96!!! The ink that I would have normally purchased is anywhere from $13-$17 per cartridge so you do the math.

My package arrived in 2 days. I was super excited!

And installation was the easiest part of all. The refills came with an 'instruction manual' that was a cinch to read and understand. 

 After about 4 easy steps and 5-10 minutes of my time.....

 I was back up and printing and I didn't even have to leave the comfort of my own home. 

Trust me when I say as long as Ebay is in business, I won't ever buy ink from Office Max again unless they are practically giving it away.

 Let me know if this tip helped. 

And stay tuned for more deals, savings, and thrifty and shameless shenanigans. Please feel free to follow my Instagram as well as Facebook pages for additional info.

Thanks for reading. 

Thrifty Threads: My Couponing Outfit

I don't just coupon to save money on grocery items; my first love is shopping for clothes. Even then, "if it ain't got a #sale sticker on it, my money ain't buying it"!! I went couponing today in my clearance ChuckTaylors that I scored from Target when they had the smoking hot $5 off Converse coupon out. I got them for only $6.98. Believe it or not, the t-shirt came from Dollar Tree-check out the other t-shirt that I scored from there in this post. Last but not least, my boyfriend shorts were on sale for $5.99 a couple of seasons ago at Aeropostale. Talk about dressing on a budget. Yeah, I'm totally about that life!!

 I'm thinking of making this a regular feature here on the blog, which I've totally abandoned lately. Please forgive me. Would you all be interested in reading?

Follow along on my Instagram page as I post most of my hauls and deals there. You can also like my FB page to stay updated on other freebies and deals. 

Thanks for reading!!

My Kind Of Holiday: Black Friday Shopping

***This post is sponsored by Target but all opinions and views are my own***

One of my most favorite parts about the holidays is the shopping that goes along with it. I love gifting and I love giving.
This year's Black Friday was incredibly different because most stores actually opened up on Thursday, which was a complete bummer because those of us who are serious about our Black Friday shopping more than likely left our families early to be able to make it to our store of choice before the lines got too out of hand. 
I had my game plan figured out way in advance. I've been a loyal Target Black Friday shopper for the past 3 years now, this year being no different. 
I had my mind set on a brand new TV, which by visiting their Black Friday ad, I saw they were having a great doorbuster deal on. I even went so far as to map out my exact route once in the store so that I could be in and out and on to my next deal within a decent time frame.

The store wasn't scheduled to open until 8PM on Thursday evening so I figured if I got in line by 5PM I would be fine. Seeing how Thanksgiving dinner began at 3PM, I couldn't fathom leaving my family any earlier than that. 
Being that I am in my 9th month of pregnancy, I made sure to take a lawn chair, blanket, and earmuffs that were able to hook up to my phone so that I could listen to my favorite music and be semi-comfortable while waiting in line. 
When I initially arrived in the parking lot I saw that there weren't many cars nor were there many people standing in line. Awesome!!! I'm gonna be able to get in and out of the store in no time-TV in tow!!!
NEGATIVE!!!!!
About 30 minutes after waiting in the line, an associate came through to notify us that they had handed out all of the tickets for the TVs and that we should no longer waste our time in line because all 24 of them had been accounted for. 
Though I think it was very nice of her to notify us so that we wouldn't stand helplessly in line for hours, I'm very disappointed in Target for not having more of this advertised doorbuster in stock. I mean at least 50 would have been a more reasonable number. So now, not only am I frustrated with the fact that I lost out on valuable family time, I have to get my pregnant self up and search for another TV deal because unlike Walmart, Target did not offer an 'in stock guarantee'.
This Black Friday was a total bust for me-totally NOT #MyKindofHoliday.

Friday Favorites: Vol # 31

Hello and Happy Friday my loves.

 

Just a quick post to share some of my favorite things with you all. Lately, I've been reading lots of blog posts and editorials stating how you shouldn't bombard your blog readers with the exact same things that you post on your Instagram feed. With that being said, I assure you that with the exception of a very few of the things that I post here during my Friday Favorites segments, my Instagram feed is a totally different animal.

 

For instance, this Levi's clutch didn't make it to Instagram but I got it for FREE with a Levis.com that was gifted to me through an app on my phone called Wrapp. Yay for freebies!!

 

 

Packing and shipping purchased items from my shop, Miss Rockwells Racks, is always the highlight of my week.

 

Target has a really bad habit of clearancing their entire shoe section at one time. It gets on my nerves because it tempts me to spend money that I would rather keep in my wallet; but because I love shoes so much I end up spending it anyway. Ughhh!

 

This month's FREE mag swag!!! Make sure to 'like' my FB page as I post about all of the great deals and freebies there.

 

 

As a member of Old Navy's Style Council, I was sent coupons for myself and a girlfriend to try a pair of their new white denim jeans-absolutely FREE. I'm super excited about this opportunity.

 

My growing accessory obsession. I feel totally naked without some type of jewelry on when I leave the house.

 

OMG. I'm not a huge fast food conossieur, however, this new Jim Bean Bourbon Thickburger from Hardees is so heavenly. Lately, I've been dying for a really good burger and this one takes the cake. If you're a fan of Hardee's you should definitely give this baby a try. They even sent out BOGO FREE coupons for this very burger. Yummm!

 

I had the opportunity to attend one of very few fashion shows in my area and I had quite the experience learning about my city and how much talent I have floating around me in terms of style and fashion. More pics will be posted on my Instagram feed.

 

I've been wanting to try some type of makeup primer for a while now and I was finally able to make that happen using a Victoria's Secret gift card that I was given by my friends over at Wrapp. After the gift card, I only spent $4 for this lovely primer.

 

Last but not least I'm totally excited to be participating in my very first Trunk Show hosted by my lovely friends over at Yours/Mine Secondhand Thrift. The event will be located in DC next weekend and I'm so happy to finally be living out my dreams of having my own boutique. Here's more info about the show if you would like to attend. There will be lots of secondhand and vintage goodies there for the taking.

 

 



What were some of your favorite things this week?

 

I can't wait to hear from you!

 

Thanks for reading!

XOXOXOXO



Savin' Maven Monday: Budget Style Tips

Happy Monday my loves!

I hope each of you had a very wonderful and productive weekend.

I was finally able to relax for a change-needless to say, I didn't post anything in the shop, I didn't do any fun DIY projects, and I didn't hang out with friends-just plain ole relaxation mode.

I really look forward to creating weekly DIY projects but this week I just didn't have the energy.

Since most of my readers look forward to my regular Monday posts, I figured I would fill this spot with 'Budget Style Tips' when I don't have a DIY project to post.

So here goes nothing....

Introducing....

This series will cover my shopping habits and tips, as well as answer shopping/style questions from you, my readers.

So get your questions ready and ask on! Go ahead, ask me anything.

Within this series, I'm also looking to feature some of my favorite budget fashionistas.

That means YOU!!!

If you have questions and/or you would just like to share your latest budget savvy OOTD, please feel free to email me at thriftyandshameless@gmail.com.

I look forward to getting your questions and submissions.

Thanks for reading.

XOXOXOXO



Savin' Maven Monday: DIY Valentine's Day Inspired Sneakers

Happy Monday my loves!

I hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend!

Mine was very productive. I got new items for my shop, began promoting the February 'Lover's Lane' Blog Hop that I will be hosting here (more info on the home page of the blog), and I got started on my Valentine's Day projects.

The first of which is a pair of V-Day inspired sneakers. I'm not sure how much I will actually wear these but I felt like it would be a fun and festive project to attempt so why not. The sneakers were only $3.50 from the clearance rack at Target so I figured even if I messed them up, I wouldn't be losing out on tons of money.

 Here's what you will need:

*plain white sneakers (hurry and get yours from Target-mine still had tons left)

*painters tape

*various shades of pink/red acrylic paint

*small foam brush

That's it! You're ready to begin.

Step 1: Use the painter's tape to section off the portions that you want painted. I chose to do a semi-chevron type design.

Step 2: Begin painting with your choice of acrylic paint. Allow 1-2 hours for paint to dry.

Although I have about 5 colors shown at the beginning of my post, I only used 3 colors (red, pink rose, and a coral shade)

Step 3: After the paint has dried, remove the painter's tape. Use a cottonball soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove any excess paint that may be on the sides and/or soles of the shoe.

Step 4: Put the shoelaces back into the shoes and viola, here you have a brand new pair of shoes for Valentine's Day.

As I stated before, I'm not exactly sure how often I will wear these but the thought was fun.



What types of crafts are you creating for Valentine's Day?

I can't wait to hear from you.

Thanks a bunch for reading.

XOXOXOXO

Linked to:

The Pleated Poppy

Random Wednesday

Thrifters Anonymous

Savin' Maven Monday: Holiday Shopping Tips

Happy Monday my loves!

I hope all of you had an enjoyable weekend. I really got a lot of things done. I cleaned, took some items to Goodwill, added some super cute items to my shop, and, here's the kicker, I finally put my Christmas tree up! I know we're all of a week and a half away from the big day but hey, better late than never, right!?

Speaking of the big holiday, how many of you have finished shopping for gifts? I'm clearly soooo behind this year-I haven't even started yet!!! Is it just me, or do you all find that things are 100 times cuter when you're supposed to be shopping for someone other than yourself? And each time the cashier asks you if you've finished shopping your response goes a little like this-"I haven't even started yet" or "I'm supposed to be gift shopping now but I keep finding things for myself". 

If either of those responses are even remotely close to something that you have said over the past weekend then you're at the right blog! Today I want to share with you some holiday shopping tips that may, or may not, help you to curb those additional spending urges.

Make A List (Holiday Shopping Tip) by sherockwell featuring graphic tees

Make a list. This is true. I make a list for everything-outfit inspirations, goals, books to read, bills to pay, etc. Not only do lists help you keep everything organized but writing things down will make you accountable for them. So make a list of everyone you need to shop for.

Set a budget. This will vary depending on how many people are on your list. Once the budget is set you can divide that by how many people you have on your list. Be certain to keep in mind those people like mom, dad, or a significant other,  for whom you may spend a little bit extra.

Use reward cards. Shop at stores where you have "frequent flyer" rewards cards so that the money you are spending now will net you some type of reward in the future. For example, New York & Company gives out a $20 gift certificate to platinum card holders for every $200 spend on the card.

Take advantage of daily deal sites. Search sites like Groupon and Living Social for last minute deals that no one else will think of. This way your gift can be inexpensive AND unique.

Shop those clearance racks. Many stores are preparing for their winter/spring lines (crazy right) so lots of summer/fall items are marked down very cheap. Now is the perfect time to purchase coats and boots.

Price Match. This is especially true for toys and electronics. Visit stores like Target and Wal-Mart where you may be able to scratch a number of things off of your list in one visit. Don't forget to take the sale ad with you too.

Get creative. Dig into your personal stash of craft supplies to create hand made gifts such as picture frames and/or scrapbooks. Not only are these types of gifts more personable, but they save a ton of money and stress.

And there you have it. I hope these tips will be helpful to you during your shopping escapades. Let me know if you think of any additional tips that I may have left out.

I can't wait to hear from you!

Thanks for reading.

XOXOXOXOXO

Savin' Maven Monday: Black Friday Gone Bad

Happy Monday to you all!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Mine was full of leftovers, resting, relaxing, and more leftovers.OH! And I can't forget Black Friday shopping! 

So let me tell you guys...my original plan was to get myself a new TV this year during Black Friday. I mean I had been planning this trip since last year. Since I knew there was no chance in hell of me getting a huge TV into the car by myself, I enlisted the help of my 'ole faithful honey! He's so sweet! Might I add that I warned him ahead of time that we would be standing in line for a looong time-I'm talking the several hours type of long time. I even suggested that he just stay home and set his alarm for 5:30AMish, that way he could sleep in until I really needed him. He insisted that he wanted to stand in line with me. Again, such a sweetie!

UNTIL.....

The time came for us to stand and wait. Mind you we get in line around 10:30PM-which is actually late by my watch; the TV that I wanted didn't go on sale until 5AM the next morning so to say we had a long wait was an understatement. Somewhere along the way the honey must have-he had to have-misunderstood the whole concept of Black Friday-the thrill, the crazy people, the deals, and ultimately the wait. As soon as we set foot in Wal-Mart the honey turned into SHOPZILLA-he began to become claustrophobic and frustrated telling me that Black Friday is overrated and that this is the dumbest thing he had ever seen. Of course he wouldn't get it-men never get it when it comes to shopping and getting great deals.  I had to keep reminding him that he agreed to brave the nonsense with me. That didn't work!

He began to have anxiety attacks to the point where he just suggested that I get a regular priced TV and let him pay the difference of 200 some odd dollars just so he wouldn't have to stand in line all night. With that being said, I got myself a regular priced TV only to get it all the way to my vehicle to find out that it wouldn't fit. Easy fix, right!? 

WRONG!

We took the TV out of the box and found that not only was it missing a remote and a base but also the power cords. I immediately demanded a refund. Needless to say by this time I was fuming, not willing to get back in line so I left without a TV this year. 

PISSED BEYOND BELIEF because my Black Friday had  now gone bad!!!

ALL WRONG!!

 I continued to tell myself that all hope was not lost, when I woke up the next morning and drove myself to the  nearest mall. I was in desperate need of some retail therapy. I was so happy to find that Forever 21 was offering an additional 50% off of their clearance merchandise. I rarely ever shop there because it's way too overwhelming for me and their regular clearance is usually nothing to call home about so I couldn't pass this up.

I got these 2 hats, a graphic tube top....

flared oxblood denim and short overalls...

for $23.61!!!

Next, I went to my favorite spot-where else but Target!

There I found several pairs of patterned skinnies for $7 each...

techie gloves B1G1 FREE...

Aztec inspired accessories...

miscellaneous items (including a travel journal, yay! I love journals)...

and these shoes for $9!

I spent about $55 in Target bringing my Black Friday shopping total to approximately $78!

Not bad at all. Not one Christmas gift purchased. Not one thing marked off of my Christmas list. I would feel bad but the shoes I just purchased make everything better.

How was your Black Friday experience?

What did you buy?

I can't wait to hear from you!

Thanks for reading!

XOXOXOXO