Tracy on the Cheap

B&B On The Cheap

2012-02-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

Sweater: Banana Republic (via Goodwill)
Jacket: Yanuk (via Goodwill)
Scarf: Payless
Boots: Nine West (via Goodwill)
Jeans: Ann Taylor (via Goodwill)

Right before Christmas my husband and I were able to get away for a night. If you have little kids, you understand how exciting this is. We went to our favorite Bed and Breakfast, the sister property to a Zagat rated restaurant. Guests are treated to a stay in a completely updated former Gold Rush era boarding house (now a pub with the B&B upstairs) PLUS a gourmet breakfast. How can we afford such finery, you may ask? Well, its a whopping $90 a night. It's a place worth keeping a secret!
It was freezing on our last trip, so I got to wear my nifty new sweater and jacket. During dinner I looked down and realized everything I had on came from Goodwill (except the scarf).
And I also realized that my dinner cost more than my outfit.

Meet Margot

2012-02-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

At Home Goods after Christmas, I came across this dress form. I've always wanted one, and clearly this was my lucky day. The clearance price drew me in, and before I knew it she was mine.
I have decided to call her Margot.
Margot was a friend I had, briefly, in college. Margot smoked Parliaments and made bad decisions. An evening with Margot could begin at a party in a beach front mansion and end at a dive bar with an illegal poker game in the back room. Margot was equal parts awesome and terrifying. If I had an alter ego, she'd be it.
And plus, she's French. See?

My hope is that Margot can sport some of my awesome thrift store finds and add a little excitement to this here blog.
Plus it's just fun to play dress up and give inanimate objects names.
Au revoir!

Ode to the Sticker Chart

2012-02-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

Can I just tell you about the amazingness that is a sticker chart?
Two year old couldn't sleep without a milk bottle. We were up two to three times every night, getting more milk, changing a milk filled diaper, or replacing sheets when said diaper blew out. It was getting old.
And then there's the baby waking up, too. Fun times.
Enter the sticker chart. At the end of our milk filled ropes, we make a deal with Itty Bitty: go five nights without a milk bottle, and you can pick out a dolly at Big Lots.
And she rocked it. Five night in a row, no milk bottle. No waking up. Whoo hoo! And she got a dolly.
So then we start thinking...we can't buy a dolly every five days. Also, what can we do where we get something, too? (Are we the only parents who think this way? I doubt it).
Mommy: "How about if you are a good listener and get a sticker for 5 days in a row, we can all go to Chinese food?"
Win/win!
So the point is, we are now on the "take a nap every day for 5 days" sticker chart. This is day 5. Tonight, Chinese food. Today, mommy sanity. After 3 months of NO NAPS, we're rolling on 5.
It's the little things.
PS I just bought this shirt today. And I own those boots, and I'm kind of in love with that purse.

Can You Believe It?

2012-02-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

I blogged.
Boo ya.
Here you go internets.
(I don't know how much this dress is, but it's pretty cheap I'm guessing. Thus no total, and no need for me to do math.)
And now the baby is awake. Thank you, dear children, for sleeping long enough for mommy to waste some much needed time. I highly underestimated the need for time wasting until there was no time to waste.

Someday I'll be 40

2011-09-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not working today.
I didn't work yesterday, either.
If the babies are sleeping, I'm working. That's just how it goes around here lately. But yesterday I made a choice to not work. Instead I blogged for the first time in almost six months, I read my blog roll all the way through, I cleaned the kitchen, put away laundry, spray painted a chair on the lawn (which is apparently not a good idea, according to the husband. Who knew spray paint kills grass? Plus, it's red. It looks like I killed a bear.)
And today, when the kids went down for naps and I sat down to work, it just didn't happen. I think perhaps my brain is telling me to take a break for a minute and just be happy for today. That sounds cheesy. But I got to thinking after my post yesterday. A few of the comments said "Hang in there!". I worried that I sounded like I was complaining about my kiddos. Sure, things are crazy around here, but my life is AWESOME. Really. I know that in 10 years I am going to look back on these few years I am lucky enough to be home with my babies and remember them as the best time in my life. I know, as a 40 year old, that I will curse my 30 year old self for worrying so much about work, money, what's next, etc. 40 year old Tracy will tell 30 year old Tracy to relax and enjoy her wonderful kids, her crazy old house, her sweet husband, and her amazing life. 40 year old Tracy will tell me to stop worrying about losing baby weight, getting the house "done", and figuring out what the next step is. (40 year old Tracy will probably tell 30 year old Tracy to stop pulling out her gray hairs, too.)
So today I'm not working. I'm not worrying about the work that I have to do. I'm watching my son sleep in his swing, waiting for my daughter to wake up from her nap, and appreciating how truly lucky I am to be here, right now.
Take that 40 year old Tracy.

Some Observations On Motherhood

2011-09-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Blog.
I couldn't stand that my last post was something so boring. So I'm back.
I started another blog. I thought I could write there, without the time suck of putting together outfits.
But you know what, blog? I can't write without a stupid outfit up there to get me started. Considering that I make my living as, you know, a writer, that kind of blows. Seriously. I'd think of something funny and clever to write, and then I'd change a diaper. And make a snack. And pick raisins out of the carpet while wiping spit up out of my hair. And by the time I even thought about blogging, whatever clever thing I'd thought of had been replaced by something else in my brain, like the theme song from Pinky Dinky Doo. Which has to be the most annoying children's show of all time, followed closely by Clifford the Big Red Dog. (Best kids show? Word Girl. Husband informed me this morning that it is no longer on at 6:30 am, which is sad because we both enjoy Word Girl's humor. We need lives.)
On a different note, I thought that having two kids would be simply twice as much work. Ha ha! Funny mommy!
Holy Shit.
Having two kids increases your crazy level exponentially.
So my vision of reading sweetly to the 2 year old while the 4 month old sleeps soundly in his crib looks more like cleaning the 2 year old's poop off the bathroom floor while holding the screaming 4 month old against my chest. The 4 month old who decides it's a good time to vomit into my cleavage.
On the bright side...I have cleavage!

More great thrifting next week!

2011-02-18T14:17:00.000-08:00

And another sale that's not to be missed! Thrift Town is beyond awesome...they source their stuff from many different places (as opposed to Goodwill, where all the stuff is donated to just them), so there's an eclectic mix of really neat finds. And even better, this sale lasts a WHOLE week! So Hutch and Katie (and everyone else to has to work Monday) can get their thrift on! Check out their locations here and their fun blog here!

How do you like them apples?

2011-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

This Monday (President's Day), Goodwill is having one of their oh-so-wonderful 50% off sales! I'm not sure if the sale extends beyond the Northern California area, so make sure you head over to the Goodwill website and locate a store in your area. As long time blog readers know, I swear by the 50% off sale for stocking up on baby/kid clothes. The day after Thanksgiving I spent $165. At a half price sale. (You should have seen my cart!) So think about $330 not half price. My husband and I figured that we scored about $3,000 (retail price) worth of baby clothes for the new little bean and his big sister. Holla!
So if you've got the day off and are hankering for some new (to you) cheap duds, head on over to your local Goodwill. Maybe I'll see you there!

New Kitchen on the Cheap!

2011-02-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

Before we move into our new house (yay!), it's our plan to remodel the kitchen and dining area. The current set up is pretty bad...a galley kitchen with beat up cabinets, a carpeted formal dining room, and a living room that connects to one end of the kitchen. Basically, it's a segmented, maze-like mess. It's our vision to break down the kitchen wall and turn it into an island, and then open up the dining room and living room, making the whole space into one "great room".

Which brings me today's blog post. We've been thinking a lot about cabinets, color schemes, etc., but I haven't really put anything down on "paper" until today. Our style is pretty laid back...we want a kitchen we can live with for a long time, that can grow with our family, and that won't look dated in 20 years. We like color, clean lines, and a modern meets vintage feel. Here's what I've come up with so far. Everything comes from either Overstock or Ikea. Although not exactly cheap, it certainly won't break the bank, either!

Or the second option...

Which do you prefer?

Reader Request!

2011-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

Over on the TOTC Facebook Page, Katie was looking for some ideas on how to wear these cute crops from Old Navy. Since she works in retail, she has to wear flat shoes, but still look stylish. She wanted to keep her rocker/edgy look...which I think I totally missed the boat on. Shoot. The tank hidden beneath the white jean jacket is kind of edgy, and white denim is kind of rocker-ish, right? But boat shoes? Scarves? I may have struck out. Anywho, I think I need to get myself to the ol' O.N. and buy those earrings. LOVE!

It's all from Old Navy today...
Earrings
Tote
Scarf
Jacket
Tiered Tank
Boat Shoes
Cropped Trousers

Anyone out there in blogland have a request? Hopefully I can nail your style better than Katie's! (No guarantee though, I am currently living in my husband's thermal long sleeve shirt and ultra stretchy pregnancy jeans. Fashion has left the building).

Before and After...

2011-02-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

Our new house was built in 1963. It has popcorn ceilings and a carpeted formal dining room. It also has a patio that has been converted to a huge bonus room, which would be cool if I was a teenager and it was, say, 1975. The point? We're going to have lots of remodel and decor challenges in our new pad. Which thrills me to no end, because I love painting and demolition as much as a great Craigslist or garage sale find. PLUS...I'm hoping to showcase more cheap home related projects on this here blog. Which brings me to today's post. I'd always wanted to do a before and after of our old house, but felt weird putting my home on the internet. Now I can!

Here's the before of our formal living room. The whole house was like a time capsule from 1966. The couches behind those rockin' marble tables were covered in plastic. Awesome.

The living room after. We made the best of the mint carpet by pairing it with a purple couch ($200 on Craigslist!) . Purple brocade curtains were $10 at Big Lots, and the chairs and ottoman were another Craigslist find.

Hello, ugly kitchen! From the chiffon curtains to the ornate hardware, this kitchen screamed old lady, which makes sense because the previous owner was a 97 year old lady who had built the house as her retirement home. In 1966. The fridge was full of white wine and ice cream. My kind of woman!

The stove that burnt everything we tried to cook. Wouldn't you love to have a built in convection oven?

After. We didn't change much (new hardware, bye bye wallpaper, new paint) because I wanted it to still have that 60's charm.

More kitchen after. Containers courtesy Grocery Outlet, and art from Big Lots. Oh, and the curtains were on clearance at Walmart.

The den before. The indoor/outdoor brown floral carpet was particularly charming. I loved ripping that stuff up (as well as removing those iron banisters).

The den (or the "step down lounge" as I liked to call it) after. Red couch, another great $300 Craigslist find. You can't really see it, but the table on the left is repurposed as an entertainment center. My husband scored that for $10 from the Catholic church rummage sale and attached half of an old coffee table to the bottom to hold our dvd player, etc.

Master bedroom before. Notice how there is no carpet? There's a reason they had to tear it out...be glad I didn't include the photo of the patched hole in the floor where the previous owner "expired" (what can I say? The house was a GREAT deal!)

Master bedroom after. Never one ghostly experience.

2nd bedroom before. People who stayed in this room did claim to have some vivid nightmares and hear strange sounds.

So that's where we put our kid. She never complained. (Of course, she couldn't talk yet, either).

Dining room before (that's me holding the previous owner's circa 1960 wedding dress. That I did NOT get to keep. Shoot).

Dining area after new flooring, paint, etc. Once again, furniture from Big Lots. That place is a treasure trove of bargain finds!

So that's the tour of the old casa. I hope you're up for some fun new projects in the future, because I'm all about branching out (while still staying in the realm of cheapness) and sharing the transformation of our new house with you guys!

Red Dress Love

2011-02-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

My friend (the one who is getting married in July) and I found this dress on Modcloth the other day while looking for bridesmaid's dresses. Our conversation via email went something like this...
Her: "Do you see that red dress?"
Me: "Good lord, that's a GORGEOUS dress! I would so wear that"
Her: "Why can't that come in my colors?"
Me: "Red works for me!" (I'm such a bad bridesmaid...)

Anywho, it's quite a stunner, don't ya think? It's the perfect type of dress to wear to a summer wedding, a fancy Valentine's date, a Christmas party, or perhaps...

dressed as a pin up girl to go bar hopping on Halloween with your husband dressed in drag.
(Many years ago, before kids, before shame).

The scoop:
Clutch, Payless
Peep Toes, Forever 21
Mod Hoops, Forever 21
Frankly I Don't Give A Dress, Modcloth
Ring, Target

There's a Bun in the Oven

2011-02-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

Around about the time we decided to try and sell our house, we also made the decision to put off having another baby. We figured the responsible thing to do was wait until we knew what our housing situation was going to be before bringing another little Cheapster into the world. Because you usually can't buy another house for at least 2 years after a short sale, the wait could have been pretty long. Both my husband and I were bummed, but felt we were being really grown up about the whole thing. It's always nice to feel grown up, isn't it?
We put the house in the market July 8. August 1st I found out I was pregnant. I'm due in late April.
"Ha ha!" said Karma.
We'll be moving in to our new house right before the baby is born. I think he must have known it would all work out. (Yep, it's a boy).

Everything today comes from Old Navy. I have a non-maternity Old Navy striped shirt that I am wearing the heck out of. Surprisingly, horizontal stripes while pregnant help to say, "Hey look, I'm not getting fat, it's actually a baby!"

Bridesmaid Dress Re-Do

2011-02-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

I'm currently bridesmaid dress shopping, along with some other fine gals, for the wedding of a dear friend in July. I shared this quest for dresses with the EG bloggers while we waited for dinner the other night, and was regaled with the stories that so many of us 20 to 30 somethings have in common. Heather described her after childbirth, 2 sizes too big dress that fastened in back (perfect for nursing a newborn!). Hutch (of Be Awesome Instead) told us of her bag full of bridesmaid dresses that need to go to the cleaners, and also of her reluctance to do so because they will never get worn again.
Which begged the question...what could we, as a group of fun having, young-ish women, do to give these dresses the second chance they deserve? (Well, some of them...I'm sure some of them are just plain ugly). A cocktail party? Fun. A cocktail party followed by a game of mud football? Even MORE fun.
Then as I was looking for pictures of ugly bridesmaid dresses, I found this. Now, for reasons that I haven't shared yet, I'm not exactly up for a pub crawl (or a satin dress, for that matter) at the moment, but once summer hits, I'm totally rounding up the girls for some bridesmaid-y fun.
Have any of you done anything fun with old bridesmaid dresses? Any other ideas to throw in the mix? Who else want to join in? Anyone else regretting that they donated their bridesmaid dresses to Goodwill? (What was I thinking?) I'm sure Hutch has one I can borrow...

Where I've been...

2011-01-31T15:36:00.001-08:00

I'm going to try for the short version.
In 2005 we bought our first house. We were 25, newly married, and wanted to start a family. We needed a nest before we had babies. We bought the cheapest house to sell in our town in months, a 2 bedroom ranch that we absolutely loved. I was 25, self employed, yet able to qualify for a nearly $300K loan (first red flag!). The bank couldn't understand why I didn't want to borrow more (second red flag!). Since my husband didn't have a long credit history, I was the only one of us one the loan. This would end up being our saving grace. Our mortgage payments were high, but we were assured that we would be able to refinance to a lower, fixed rate within a year. Should we have just rented? Maybe. Should we have waited until the market went down? To that I say, Who knew it was going to go down? Hindsight is 20/20.
Fast forward 3 years. Our house was worth $100K less than we paid for it. Our adjustable rate mortgage was set to re-adjust with no chance of refinance in sight. With the tanking economy had gone not only the equity in our home, but 2/3 of my freelance work, and my teacher husband was facing furloughs. We were still paying our outrageous mortgage, but after 3 years of simply maintaining, it was clear that we soon would be in trouble.
This was about the point where I stopped blogging. I realized that I needed to do something to save my family from what would ultimately be our financial ruin. I looked at our hand. What cards did we have? How would we play them? I started researching for hours a day. We agreed that a short sale was our best option. If we were able to short sell our house, with no missed payments (practically impossible), there was a small, itsy bitsy chance that my husband might be able to qualify for a loan after all was said and done. It was a long shot, but it really was our only hope. The Obi Wan Kenobi to our Princess Leia.
We hired the best short sale real estate agent in Sacramento. I spent hours on the phone with the bank, oftentimes followed up with more hours of research to see what to expect next. I haunted real estate forums. I Googled and Bing-ed until my eyes hurt. It was easily the most stressful period of my life. Banks are NOT your friends. Our bank (which rhymes with mace) is staffed by life sucking zombies from hell. We were current on our payments throughout the whole process, yet made to feel like schmucks for even trying to sell our house. They were beyond terrible at every turn. You know that "I love my bank" commercial? I hate my bank.
We listed our house in July, got an offer a week later, and closed escrow November 24th. It sold for $110,000 less than we paid for it. After childbirth, that day ranks as the biggest accomplishment of my life.
The end result? We now have an offer on a new house, are in escrow, and close in early March. It's one block away from our old house. Our new mortgage payment will be approximately 1/3 of what we were previously paying, for a house that's twice as big.
I know that not everyone in this situation is as lucky as we were. It took hours and hours of hard work, research, pleading, patience, and dedication. Not everyone starts out with the same set of circumstances. BUT, if you are in a tight spot, please know that there are options. Do your research. Don't think you have to stop paying your mortgage. And feel free to ask me any questions. I am by no means an expert, but I learned a thing or two throughout the process.
And now that the dust has settled, my family is soon to be in a new home, and life is calm again, I can BLOG!

The Blog is BACK!

2011-01-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

The blog is BACK, for good this time! Having been inspired by the hometown bloggers I so luckily joined for dinner last night, I'm back to blogging. See a really great write up of our evening, here, at Heather's blog (still one of my fav's). Getting to know these girls through their blogs has been fun, but in person they are ten times better. I was actually kind of nervous to meet them all again, but through the common thread of blogging we discovered we have a ton in common (and all can make each other laugh!)
Instead of bore you with a long story of where I've been on this first post, I thought I'd just put together an outfit. I'll wait until later this week to tell the story of what I've been up to since August 27th, which was the last time I posted. The horror!
I have all sorts of things to write about, including how this little ol' blog will be different going forward, new additions, and big life changes, but in the meantime, enjoy some spring inspired cheapness on this rainy, rainy day.

Sweater, Modcloth
Haute Pink Top, Modcloth
Jeans, Overstock
Bag, Forever 21
Flats, Target
Bracelet, Old Navy
Sunglasses, Forever 21

FYI-Does anyone know how to make links in blogger just show the words you typed, not the HTML? For some reason all my links make big lines of HTML in my posts since my return...grr...

Frugal Friday...Wedding Edition!

2010-08-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Via Design Sponge

Check out Design Sponge (another of my favorite blogs!) today, and feast your eyes on this AMAZING $5 wedding dress and gorgeous vintage inspired wedding. (And I thought my $20 wedding dress was cheap!)
If I had it to do all over again, I'd borrow lots of these ideas. What's your favorite part? Was your wedding dress a frugal find or a special splurge? Do tell!

Bachelorette with Class

2010-08-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Loyal TOTC blog reader Tonja said, "I have a request! So I am a typical pear-shaped lady, about 5'5 and average size... bachelorette party in South Lake Tahoe on Labor Day weekend. Apparently the cute black dress I'd like to wear is too fancy for the late 20-something er's I'll be partying with (me being almost 33 and all). What the heck do I wear? I can't wear super high heels (bad feet) and want to be comfy, but still look like I am out to party.. any ideas?"
Tonja, I'm with you...I would have totally opted for the cute black dress. But apparently the trend is towards something a little more, um...trampy. Have you seen some of those bachelorette party photos on Facebook? Skkkaaanky. I don't want you to dress like a tramp, so I hope this outfit fits the bill. I think it's casual, but still put together and chic enough for dinner and drinks out with the girls. Do you agree bloggy readers? Or have I missed the boat on bachelorette fashion?
Here's the scoop about today, everything comes from Old Navy because there's a 30% off coupon! that you can use through Sunday! What up!

Fall Fashion Picks...

2010-08-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you in need of a cheap fashion fix while I whip up the next blog post, head on over to Lily Jane. She's one of my favorite bloggers.
I want one of everything she's posted today...especially the mustard sweater and floral dress. Swoon! And check out those $25 jeans!
Enjoy!

By the Side of the Road, Dressed to Kill

2010-08-20T11:49:00.001-07:00

I am just so excited about today's post...When Katie wrote me, asking for advice on what to wear to a Jackie Greene concert, I knew I'd have a blast creating a look. Why? Because we're major Jackie Greene fans in my house. Right after we were married five years ago, my husband and I took a road trip and listened to all the CD's we'd burned for our wedding. Somehow Rusty Nails, Jackie's first album, was in the mix. We must have listened to that CD 20 times. We were certain he was an old black guy from the south, with his blues meets rock meets folk vibe. WRONG! He's a skinny white kid from Sacramento. Who had a concert coming up. The American Myth album release concert at Empire is still the BEST concert I've ever been to. Fast forward to now, and we've been to more Jackie concerts than I can count. Really, I tried the other night and lost track.
Just so you know, there are two kinds of people at a Jackie Greene concert: Regular folks, and crazy dancing cougars. You have to watch out for them, with their flailing arms, empty drinks, and jungle print skimpy attire. They go nuts for "Mexican Girl". If Jackie was a man whore, he could have his pick of 50 year old divorcées every night. But I'm pretty sure he's an upstanding guy (and can probably get a gal his own age just as easily). Too bad for the cougars. Katie has a boyfriend, and is nowhere near cougar territory, so she'll be just fine rocking an indie inspired, folk/blues/rock worthy getup.
In summary, Katie, please have a blast for me at the concert. If you find at the last minute you have an extra ticket, I know someone who'd make the trek to Santa Cruz with you. (Wink wink!)
Oh yeah, everything today comes from Tilly's. Word!

Stay at Home Moms...Put DOWN the Sweatpants!

2010-08-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got an email from Becky, who said, "I'm so glad that you're back! Any ideas for a business woman turned new stay at home mommy? I'm lost!"
Hi Becky! First off, kudos to you for being a stay at home mom. It's my humble opinion that spending at least part of the workweek home with your kids is extremely important. Watching your kids grow, getting to take part in their day, being there when they wake up from their naps, feeding them lunch, playing with them outside...that's all stuff a parent would miss if that kiddo was in day care. Luckily for me I'm able to work part time from home and be here with my little one. I know there are mom's who probably don't agree with me or who would get bored (or go crazy) home with their kids all day. To each her own.
Moving on, this is a request that I'm actually an expert on. When I quit my corporate job to work from home, I went from heels and dresses to a limited wardrobe of yoga pants and hoodies. And sweatpants. Oh, the sweatpants. Did you know you can wear them all day and they then transition into pajamas? Therein lies the problem. Wearing the same thing for a couple days in a row can really make you feel frumpy. After my daughter was born (and I stared this blog) I began to realize that the way I dressed directly affected the way I went about my day. Sweatpants and hair in a pony tail? I'm probably not leaving the house. An accessorized outfit and my hair-did? I'm most likely to get the heck out of here today! And as any stay at home mom can tell you, getting out of the house is muy importante.
So, my prescription for the stay at home mom. Start with the basics. (See below). We've all got some form of these in our closets. Think cardigans, tank tops, long sleeve shirts, jeans, khakis, jean jacket. Start there. (These all come from Old Navy).

But don't stop at the basics! Now the fun begins. Get thee to Target, Old Navy, and Payless, and blow a hundred bucks. For a Benjamin, you'll get enough fun accessories and shoes to make it easily through next Spring. Here's my accessory trifecta: Scarves, earrings, and flats. I LOVE scarfs. From about September through April I'll wear a scarf almost every day. Usually one with a loud print. I pair it with some cha cha earrings and colorful flats, and I'm good to go.

Hope this helps, Becky! What do you other stay at home mom's think? Anything you'd add to the list of must-haves?

In Neutral

2010-08-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend my uber-chic cousin Cyndi wore an amazing dress to the bridal shower. (It was kind of like this one from Modcloth.) So today I'm shamelessly stealing her look.
I sure have been a bad blogger. Things are both great and crappy at the same time right now, and I've been busy researching myself silly lately on the interwebs trying to make things right. Which they are slowly on their way to becoming. Cryptic, eh? It's like one of those Facebook status postings that says "I'm having a really bad day, don't ask why". In short, I miss the blog, and being an adult on the computer and being all responsible is not near as fun as shopping online and putting fun outfits together. I think I need more of this in my life.
Thanks for all the nice comments yesterday! Anybody have anything they'd like to see? Going anywhere and need outfit ideas? Have a hankering for some new accessory and don't want to spend a fortune? Let me know!

Clutch
Shoes
Earrings
Necklace
Belt
Dress

It's Been Awhile...

2010-08-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

I should be doing housework. But, the baby is sleeping in the room which houses the mountain of unfolded laundry. Thus, I decided to sit down and revisit the blog I abandoned. Remember me? I used to throw outfits together and write (what I hope was) witty commentary. Alas, life gets in the way, and my blog got thrown by the wayside. I'm hoping to get back to it.
So, this weekend was our family reunion and a bridal shower for Kristin, my soon to be cousin in law, who is going to be a librarian, which made me think of this awesome pin I saw awhile back, which inspired me to want saddle shoes. Which brought about a long overdue blog post.
Blogger is being weird and won't let me post links. Or maybe I've been away so long that things have changed and technology has passed me by...whatever. If you want to know where something comes from today, just email me.
The baby is awake. Off to fold laundry.

Your Other Left...or Why I Don't Go to the Mall

2010-06-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Next week I'm going to Forever 21 for the first time since I started this blog. In fact, I haven't been to Forever 21 since I worked downtown and used to play hooky during lunch. I didn't even get a lunch (I worked through it in order to get out of work faster) but some days I would need to go to the "printer" or "take some photos" or someplace equally fake. Instead, I either drove around aimlessly trying to figure out why I was wasting my life working in a windowless office with a boss who was a cross between Martha Stewart and Hitler, or I'd go shopping. And feel guilty about it the whole time. Long story short, I haven't been to Forever 21 in a long, long time. Part of that is because the only one's around here are in malls, and I hate the mall. I hate the smell...the mix of Cinnabon, Bath and Body Works, and teenager. But the main reason I hate the mall is because of my (self diagnosed) directional dyslexia. Anyone who knows me, has traveled with me, or ever asked me for directions knows I am hopeless. I can't tell my right from my left, or North from South, it's that bad. (Isn't that sad? I should be in a support group or something. Hello my name is Tracy and I'm really lame).
So anyway, I walk in to a store, shop around, then leave. And can't remember which way I came in. I literally end up walking in circles, completely lost and eventually frustrated. Plus the people there walk way too slow. SO...I don't go to the mall. But next week, I'm going to a Forever 21 that's in an old Gottschalks, completely non-mall. And it's close to the beach. Life is good. (Plus when you're close to the beach, it's really easy to tell which way is West!)

The scoop, all from Forever 21:
Earrings, $7.80
Floral Tunic, $19.80
Linen Pants, $22.80
Sunglasses, $5.80
Sandals, $19.80
Purse, $29.80

The Dangers of Being Cheap

2010-06-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes being cheap isn't the best route to take. Take this wine, for instance. I snagged two bottles at Walmart for $1.97 a piece. Thinking I had scored the deal of the century, I chilled a bottle of Chardonnay to drink whilst watching Mad Men. (Netflix, not cable...if a bottle of two dollar wine did not already alert you to the fact that we are incredibly cheap).
Long story short, one glass was all either my husband or I could drink. Think white grape juice mixed with rubbing alcohol and vodka. The rest of the bottle went down the sink.
End of the story, you may think. Wrong! We both woke up with killer hangover headaches...from one glass of wine! If I'm going to have a hangover, I better have had a whole lot of fun getting it.
Moral of the story...there are some things worth spending money on. At least more than 2 bucks.

Colored Denim on the Cheap

2010-06-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

Lindsay sent me an email the other day which said, "Hey Tracy-I have a mission for you. I love the colored denim trend, but can't find anything that is actually affordable! I am looking for teal or turquoise skinny leg jeans- have any ideas?"
You bet I have some ideas! What do you think about those jeans up there? I know the purple ones are a little out there, but I thought I'd throw them in for fun. The best part is they are all under 30 bucks!
What trends are you jumping on this summer?
The scoop:
Skyscraper Colored Jeans, Roxy $30.99
Victoria's Secret Low Five Capri's $14.99
Element Daryl Denim, Swell $19.99
Zipper Pocket Twill Pant, Forever 21 $13.50

New Place for Cheap Clothes!

2010-06-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Our haul from this morning's shopping trip!

Just got back from a totally blog-worthy shopping trip with my friend Alyssa, and must share! Alyssa and I are two peas in a pod. We pick out the same stuff constantly. That scarf up there? We both bought one at Payless. I had that ring in my hand and put it back, then she picked it up (without knowing I had almost bought it) and added it to her pile. What can I say, we must have great taste! (or at least very similar taste!)

When it comes to clothes, a successful shopping outing for us is a trip to the Cancer Society Thrift store and Payless Shoes. Imagine our delight when a consignment store opened just blocks from our houses! (We're neighbors, too...so much fun to have your friend right around the corner!) The new store is called the Clothesline, and it ROCKS. Those jeans? Paige Premium Denim, retail price $198. My price? $29.99**! And the cocktail ring was just $3.95. But the coupe de grace, the best deal of century, are those Donald J Pliner Couture heels. Neither Alyssa nor I knew who the heck he was, we just knew they were very "cha cha"! But the owners Sy and Cathy (who has an awesome photography business as well) informed us that they are $400 shoes! These suckers have basically no wear and are amazing. Alyssa scooped them up for just $29.99**! If you're in Elk Grove, head over...they buy, sell and exchange and are totally worth a trip!

**I originally had these both down as $39.99 but remembered last night that they were an even BETTER deal than that!

I'm a Big Ol' Meanie...

2010-06-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

So the other night my good friend Jenni came over for dinner, along with a bunch of other good friends and my just ok brother. (See how I put veiled insults in my blog to see if my family reads it?) Anywho, Jenni said that some of her law school friends read my blog, and some of those friends were afraid to write me to ask for fashion advice. I totally understand this, as I am quite the imposing and scary individual. As evidenced from this blog, you can tell that I am serious, no nonsense, and wicked mean. You would not want to send me an email asking for cheap fashion ideas, because I might yell at you. Or worse. So don't send me emails asking for advice, or where to find cheap stuff, because I'm not into that. See that outfit I made up there? Just killing time. Putting red and yellow together, with awesome flower punches, is SO not my style.
So get it straight: no emails. Don't send them to tracyonthecheap at gmail dot com. Just don't.

The scoop: Pulsar Watch, Overstock Tank, Modcloth Skirt, Modcloth Necklace, Modcloth Heels, Modcloth Bag, Target

Shoe Envy

2010-05-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Are you seeing these shoes? Arghg! Shoe love! It would have been too easy to pair these with a LBD, so I tried to make them work-friendly. Would you wear them?
So I keep seeing that clip from the new Sex and the City movie where Carrie is blown away by the concept of $20 shoes. Umm...I think Carrie and I might not be shopping buddies. I passed up a pair of $13 shoes yesterday because I was feeling cheap (these red flats). Not that I wouldn't love a pair of really expensive shoes. I would. As long as someone else was paying.
Tell me blogland...what's the most you've ever spent on shoes? Was it worth it?

The scoop...all from that great place called Forever 21:
Heels
Jacket
Wooden Belt
Cami
Wire Cuff
Dome Ring
Ruffle Purse

Wedding Wear on the Cheap

2010-05-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's how you outfit yourself and your spouse for a glamorous wedding, on the cheap:

Husband
Suit, Target: $50 on clearance
Shirt, Goodwill: $2.50
Tie, Target clearance: $12
Vintage Florsheim Shoes, Cancer store: $10
Total: $74.50

Me
Max and Chloe Dress, Ross: $40
Earrings, Walmart: $4
Jacket, Walmart, $4
Gold Wedges, Payless, $20
Total: $68

I'd like to think that it looks like we spent way more than that on our outfits than we really did. AND...I bought the dress with a gift card, so it hardly even counts. Score! My husband (isn't he a cutie?) is way proud of his $10 shoes. It's hard to find size 13's that aren't super ugly, so when they're quality and cheap, it's really a banner day.
Can I just add that my cut and color ran me only $35? Yeah, my hair lady is the bomb (even if I'm subjected to 45 minutes of conspiracy theories and town gossip, it's still worth it).

Well hello!

2010-05-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while since I fired up PhotoShop and put together an outfit. Doesn't it suck when real life gets in the way of your hobbies? Argh. Please forgive my mixed fonts in the image. This is the inaugural (holy cow that's a hard word to spell!) post on my new iMac. I've moved off my little laptop PC and onto a formidable 24" screen. I LOVE it. Why the move? Thanks to this little ol' blog here I've learned that I love design, working with colors, and creating things on my computer. Thus I've made the decision to launch a new career path very soon. Exciting stuff! My summer is devoted to learning everything I possibly can about the Adobe Creative Suite. Luckily I have a teacher husband home from school to provide child care and an office where I can sequester myself and study, study, study. When I emerge in August I hope to have a working knowledge of all things design. Bring it on, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, and InDesign. I love you PhotoShop, but I'm sure there's lots more to learn about you, too. Any advice as I widen my horizons and embark into this exciting new chapter?

The scoop:
Nautical Earrings, Max & Chloe
Tank, Old Navy
Cardigan, Old Navy
Trouser Bermudas, Old Navy
Scarf, Old Navy
Sunglasses, Old Navy
Slingback Flats, Payless
Whale Tote, Etsy Via lalunedesigns

The Parental's

2010-05-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

Those are my parent's. Aren't they cute? I have their permission to blog about them today (remember that Mom and Dad? Not sure if that was before or after the open bar). They were quite proud of their on the cheap wedding attire, so here's the scoop:
My dad got that tie either a. (mom's version) from an office supply store that was going out of business for 10 cents or b. (dad's version) he stole it from a box of them that a union was using to hang their signs. Either way, it's a pretty awesome tie, and he has a collection of them in other colors to boot. The mint green one is especially nice.
My mom's dress is vintage, and she bought it when I was seven, when it was over 30 years old. Doing the math makes it from the late 40's/early 50's. And knowing my mom she didn't pay more than $10. Her necklace was her mother's day present from yours truly, so I won't tell you how much it cost, suffice to say it was less than $10 and more than $5. Proud, Mom?
Some things I learned about my parents that night:
-Dad likes margaritas. A lot. He also likes to refresh his drink and chat up strangers when my mom decides it's time to go. He's a hoot.
-Mom hates nylons. She took them off and threw them in the trash. That's where I get my class. She also has a two beer limit. The volume of her voice is directly related to the number of beers she's consumed. That's what makes her fun.
Really though, my parents have been married for thirty years and are the most moral, upstanding, hard working people I know. They both have an amazing work ethic, and they truly enjoy each other. Without setting out to, they have taught my husband and I countless lessons on marriage and life. Love you guys.

Once upon a time I had this blog...

2010-05-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

I made the image above for my friend Rebecca, who was married this past weekend in the most beautiful, loving, and fun-filled wedding I've ever been to. Becca, I hope it's ok I used your wedding images on my blog. And a side note: I totally jacked all those photos off Facebook and Flickr. So if you took them, please don't sue me.

It's been a long month. Many times during the past 30 days I've considered ending the blog. No more. Kaput. But then, my dad (of all people) told me I shouldn't quit. Maybe, he said, just post once a week. (This was after I'd been introduced as "Tracy on the Cheap" to two different people at the aforementioned wedding...I guess there are people out there who read the blog after all!)
So, I'm back, and things are going to be different around here. I've got some new kettles on the stove to tend to, some exciting changes coming my way (and some other not so exciting ones), so there may be more snarky posting and less outfit putting together than in the past. Which reminds me, I'm sorry to all the people I promised outfits to. I'm fired. Seriously. I'm planning to get them out, slowly (although I understand that I totally dropped the ball on the events in May. Oops).
So there you have it. I'll post some more about the wedding later this week, including my parent's on the cheap wedding outfits and the dress I found at Ross that totally made my year.
And oh yes, I made a bet with my husband back at the beginning of April that I wouldn't buy any clothes until the end of August. I'll tell you all about that, too.

Hideously Beautiful Birthday Gifts, and other Musings

2010-04-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

1. Last Saturday was my birthday, and after an amazing spa day, we went to my parents for dinner, where I opened this gift:

At first glance, you may think what I thought..."That is the most hideous purse I have ever seen." But then it grew on me. Seriously grew on me. And now? I LOVE it. The huge tacky flowers. The seaweed like tentacles. The glitter. Turns out it's a Mary Frances purse (I'd never heard of her, but now I'm a big fan) and it still had it's $160 price tag. What'd my momma pay? Twenty bucks! I wore it to Trader Joe's and out to dinner yesterday and fully enjoyed all the "Oh my god look at that ugly purse!" looks it received. What do you think? Would you rock the tacky flower seaweed monstrosity?

2. I've got lots of requests to get to. This week I did my "real" job...doesn't it suck when real life gets in the way of your blogging life? So please be patient with me, I'm looking forward to some fun Photoshop action next week.

3. I'm hoping you guys can help me make a decision (not a big, important decision, but a cheap fashion decision). I've got a wedding to go to in May, and I've made a bet with my cheap husband that I wouldn't buy any new clothes until the end of August. AUGUST! So I'm left with what I've got (or what I can borrow). I bought this Sue Wong dress over 10 years ago for $40 (with the $250 price tag still on it...what up!). I've worn it to almost every important event I've attended since then, but now it doesn't fit anymore (amazing what more lunges and less tater tots will do for a gal). I need to get it altered down, but I' wondering if it's worth it. Has anyone ever altered an expensive dress? It's got some complicated embroidery and pleating, do you think it's possible? Or, should I cash in some Ross gift cards and just get a new dress?

4. And finally, a shout out to my buddy Sharlene, who had a Tracy on the Cheap moment last week when she scored last minute tickets to a Black Eyed Pea's Concert. All she had was her conservative work suit, so she walked down to the mall and scored herself a top, leggings, belt and accessories for $70. Score! Go Sharlene!

Roaring 20's...on the cheap!

2010-04-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

Today I'm killing three birds with one outfit. Or something like that.
1. Tiffani wrote recently and said, "So I saw the fabulous job you did for Jane of I Really Suck At This and her maternity-chic outfit, and I could really use some help. I am graduating (Bachelor's) in May and I really want to have a sophisticated, but sexy and adult party-like outfit. My friends suggested doing a 'flapper' themed party, but I took a look on the internet...anything I found reminded me of cheap hookers or was really unflattering, which I figured out was the actual style of the 20's LOL. But I like the idea of having something vintage, and 1920/30/40's are good eras for 'chic' and 'sophisticated' ."
2. And then my friend Anna said, "I've got a Tracy on the Cheap assignment for you. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks and her wedding is "roaring 20s" theme. I'm at a total loss of what to wear. I don't want to spend money on something I'll never wear again so I'm hoping to do modern twist on the 20s. Help!"
3. And have I mentioned that I'm going to my friend Becca's Art Deco themed wedding in May, and have yet to find an outfit? (Check out the deco look I did for Becca's gorgeous mom Diana, here!)
Tiffani, I hope this look doesn't remind you of cheap hookers. And if it does, then stay tuned for next week, because I'm planning on working up a 40's/50's look for you, too! Anna, I think the accessories (and possibly the dress) can all be worn again, and for only $85, it's a steal!
And did I mention that everything comes from Forever 21? That store constantly amazes me with it's repertoire of chameleon-like fashion finds.

The scoop:
Fringed Flapper Dress
Flapper Dreamer Headband
Cut Out Rhinestone Bracelet
Jeweled Cobra Chain
Rhinestone Drop Dangle Earrings
Crackled Metallic Heels

Of bridal wear, apple pie, and psychological thrillers....

2010-04-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

This is, hands down, the BEST WEBSITE EVER. Make sure your volume is turned on.
I'm already planning a trip to Panama City.

Full of Glee!

2010-04-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs of the moment is What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear? (As in Emma from the show "Glee". Love it!) There's hours of clicking pleasure over there, with outfit after outfit of tightly wound 50's inspired guidance counselor goodness. One of the sets from today used this Modcloth top with some uber expensive items, so I decided to cheap it down a bit with some pattern mixing thrown in to boot. This is one I would most definitely wear! What about you? Is it your cup of tea?

The scoop:
Coca Cafe Top, Modcloth
Ribbed Fitted Skirt, Forever 21
Sequin Polka Dot Handbag, Tillys
Myrtle Pump, Endless
Silk Bow Headband, Forever 21
Darling Earring Set, Forever 21

And I'm back!

2010-04-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

I'm back to blogging after a great trip to Texas to visit the in-laws. This is what we did a lot of:

Yep, that's me, eating. (Why did I choose such an unflattering picture as my first appearance on my own blog? Good question.) Taco Cabana, Sonic, BBQ, Velveeta & Rotel, fried Allsup's Burritos....you name it, we ate it. My husband and I both missed Texas food (but our waistbands are quite glad we live in California).

Onward! Check out my guest post on Urban Darling from last week, where I take on BCBG and restyle an $800 outfit. I've got loads of reader requests coming up, including a look for an Anthropologie dress scored on eBay, a vintage themed graduation party outfit, and attire for a Swedish wedding.

Do you have a reader request? Let me know, I'm always up for a fun fashion challenge!

Tracy gets Twisted

2010-03-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

While in college I worked at a swanky jewelry store. As employees, we got to wear anything we wanted on our shift....$5,000 cocktail rings, $1,000 strings of pearls, $10,000 chandelier earrings, tennis bracelets and Rolex watches. It was every girl's dream.
I hated it.
You put "real" jewelry on me and I don't feel ritzy and chic, I feel like a nervous imposter. One day I left for an errand wearing those crazy chandelier earrings and nearly had a heart attack. Give me Target baubles any day. (But I did score a great employee discount on our wedding bands, so that was a bonus!)
Which brings me to my point. The other day I discovered Twisted Silver, a store full of beautiful, yet affordable, jewelry. Rarely do I click over to a site and love every single thing they have for sale, but that's the case here. Love love love! So, I decided to use them in a post (along with my cha cha shoes that I went back and bought at Burlington Coat Factory with a $10 off coupon!) Click on over to their site and let me know what your favorite thing is! (These are my favorite!)

The scoop:
Hepburn Earrings, Twisted Silver
Retro Bracelet, Twisted Silver
Metal Bead Skinny Belt, Forever 21
Paisley Floral Skirt, Forever 21
Slouchey Leatherette Tote, Forever 21
Thekkady Vest, Modcloth
Crochet Lace Trim Shirt, Old Navy
Wedges, Burlington Coat Factory

(And no, Twisted Silver did not sponsor me to do this post, I just love their stuff!)

Give me Liberty!

2010-03-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Head on over to Urban Darling to check out how I recreated this outfit featuring Target's Liberty of London line worn by Naomi Watts, on the cheap. (And bonus nerd points if you can tell me the significance of "Give me Liberty!" on this day, March 23rd!)

Jenni's Blue Leather Jacket

2010-03-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

Jenni's screen shot...she's serious about finding this jacket!

The other day Jenni, my daughter's godmother, law student extraordinaire, stylish gal and wonderful friend said, "I think I remember you saying you watch the Good Wife, and I remember you did an outfit based on the show for your blog...well if you watched last week and need an idea sometime for Tracy on the Cheap, Kalinda was wearing this awsome deep blue leather jacket and I would love to find an affordable version of it!"
First off, I'm so honored that Jenni asked for my help. She is always dressed to the nines, and I often steal ideas from her to use on the blog (thanks Jen!). She sent me some screen shots of the jacket since I haven't stayed up past 10 pm in, oh, almost forever. Here's the options I found for the the blue leather jacket, both under $100. Hope you like them, Jenni!

The scoop:
Ruched Trim Crop Jacket, Arden B $68
Jolene Leatherette Jacket, Forever 21 $32.50

Guest Post on Urban Darling!

2010-03-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Remember back in the day when I'd take a designer outfit and make it over so us regular people could actually afford it? Click on over to Urban Darling to find out how I cheaped down this look from Dolce & Gabbana...for under $100!

Adventures in Bargain Shopping

2010-03-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I tried on these shoes at the new Burlington Coat Factory in my town. (Which was surprisingly clean, well lit, and well stocked. At least when I went during the day. My brother and his girlfriend went later that evening and said it was a little sketchy...that's bargain shopping for you. Brings out the cheap and the scary.)
Anywho, I fell in love with these shoes, but since I couldn't think of anywhere I could wear them this summer (balancing a baby on one hip in 4 inch wedges? I think not) I passed them up in favor of a coat. From the coat factory. So original. But it's a cute white faux leather coat, so I'm happy. (Plus I got to use a $10 off coupon. Whoop!)
Then today I heard that Charlotte Russe is taking 50% off sale stuff online. I clicked over and found the same shoes for $13.49. Go check out the sale here! I have yet to buy them...I'm still debating. Should I?

Simple Saturday

2010-03-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

It's Champagne Saturday at BonBon Rose, where bloggers share the outfit they're wearing and what they are drinking while enjoying their Saturday.
The outfit above is what I'm actually wearing today, right down to the Payless earrings. My big job of the day was grocery shopping at Trader Joe's for just six things, but instead I left with six full grocery bags. Oops. Like my momma always says, don't grocery shop while you're hungry. I drank some fantastic tangerine juice on the way home, so that's my drink of the day.

The scoop:
BCBG Sunglasses, Ross (I know! 5 bucks!)
Old Navy Diva Jeans, Discovery Shop
Earrings, Payless
Purse, Payless
Flats, Target
Shirt, Old Navy clearance
Cardigan, Old Navy
Scarf, Old Navy

Double Dose of Modcloth!

2010-03-12T11:52:00.000-08:00

I've been a bad blogger lately, so I'm doubling up on you today! Modcloth has these gals they call Modstylists, who basically act as online personal shopping assistants. Lately they've been going head to head, styling different looks with one common item. I thought, "I could do that, too!" So here's my attempt at being a Modstylist. Although they're not cheap (you don't even know how hard it was for me to type a number that started with a "3" after the dollar sign), they are fun. (My husband says the second one reminds him of Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps...)
So here's the question...which one do you like better, look 1, or look 2?

**On a side note, I'm only 6 fans away from 200 on the Facebook fan page, and 2 followers away from 50. If you haven't joined yet, click over and make it happen! Thanks!**

The scoop for look 1:
Fabray Cardigan
Blooming Beauty Top
Photographer's Muse Skirt
In Stitches Heels
Wishing Well Bag
Edie Earrings in Muse
Necklace of Happiness
I Wove You Belt

The scoop for look 2

Nectar of the Gauze Tunic

The Style Solution Skirt

Morning Train Heel

Antoine Watcheau Necklace

Rose Around the Ring

Train Hopping Bag

SJP's Pearls

2010-03-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make...I've never understood the whole Sarah Jessica Parker thing. Perhaps it's because I've never really had cable, and can count the number of Sex in the City episodes I've seen on one hand. But the other night, I finally got it. On that new show "Who do you think you are?", SJP (now that I get it I can refer to her by an acronym) wore the same strand of pearls throughout the whole show. In New York. In Northern CA (hey, ya!). In Boston. In Salem. She was never over dressed...in fact, she dressed very casually, save the strand of pearls. That's my kind of fashion, wearing the same thing every day and still looking good! So I found some cheapo fake pearls on Ebay and threw together a casual look for less than $100. (Also my kind of fashion...cheap.)
What do you think? Does it work? Would SJP approve of TOTC?

The scoop:
Vintage Felt Hat, Forever 21
Skinny Jeans, Old Navy
Ballet Flats, Target
Scarf, Forever 21
Rose Dome Handbag, Tilly's
3/4 Sleeve Beaded Shoulder Tee, Forever 21
Skinny Faux Leather Belt, Forever 21
Faux Pearl Necklace, Ebay

Bon Bon Saturday Fun

2010-03-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

Bon Bon Rose is a blog I'm totally digging lately, and they have a cool theme called Champagne Saturdays...basically, you share what you're wearing (and drinking!) on Saturday!
The outfit above is what I'd be wearing if I weren't still in my pajama's. (It's not noon yet, so I still have some time to change before I'm really a lazy bum). And we have a fridge full of Guinness, so that's my drink of choice. (Really I'm drinking my third cup of coffee...but sipping a pint of Guinnessy goodness in that cute outfit above would make for a great Saturday afternoon!)

The scoop:
Sunglasses, Forever 21
Three Piece Metal Earring Set, Payless
Stella Gladiator Sandal, Payless
Origami Applique Cardigan, Old Navy
Distressed Bootcut Jeans, Old Navy
Epoxy and Rhinestone Bangles, Charlotte Russe
Whipstich Tassel Hobo, Charlotte Russe
Ring, Forever 21
Top, Forever 21

Guest Post on Urban Darling!

2010-03-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

Click on over to Urban Darling to check out my latest guest post, which features an amazing deal that can't be missed! What you think blogland?

At the Opera

2010-03-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

Have I ever been to the opera? No. Would I have any idea what to wear to the opera? No. Did I just want to use the word "opera" in a post? Yes.
I've had an uninspired blogging week, and I'm sorry for my absence. Some weeks I can't wait to fire up Photoshop and throw outfits together...some weeks the ideas flow and the colors match and I'm inspired and creative. This was not that week. This week the baby was cranky and mommy was cranky, too. Funny how that works out.
Today everything comes from Forever 21. Maybe someday Forever 21 will catch on to the free advertising I'm giving them by using their cheap clothes in fun ways. Hear that, F-21? Want to put an ad on my blog? That would be awesome. (That's probably not the way to go about getting advertisers, but hey, I'm not doing this for the money. If I was doing this for the money, this week would have gotten me fired.)

The scoop:
Metallic Bubble Dress
Ruffled Satin Shrug
Vivianne Jewel Earrings
Flower Burst Ring
Satin Bow Pumps
Embellished Satin Clutch

It's Summer in Australia!

2010-03-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

Amiee said, "I'm attending a 'cocktail style' wedding here in Australia in a month and am a bit ashamed to say I'm not sure what the difference is to a 'normal' wedding (apart from obviously it's not a sit down dinner). Any help with suitable clothing would be appreciated! And we are coming to the end of a very hot Summer at the moment!"
An international request? How exciting! As I was looking through W magazine the other day (don't worry, I'm not going all high fashion on you. My mom started getting W sent to her for some unknown reason, and since giving my mother a fashion magazine is like sending Playboy to the Pope, it sits there, unread, until I visit.) I digress. W had a ton of pages that featured black and cream with hints of red and mint. So I did my best to be all trendy and make Amiee an outfit befitting an Australian cocktail style wedding. (Which I think must be a little less dressy than a regular wedding, perhaps?)
What do you think blogland? Does this work for a cocktail wedding? What is a cocktail style wedding, anyway?

The scoop:
Tile Hoop Earrings, Nordstrom
Straw Hat, Kohls
Contrast Floral Linen Dress, Forever 21
Patent Leather Belt, Kohls
Peep Toe Pumps, Target
Flap Satchel, Target
Flower Disc Ring, Charlotte Russe

Boots for Becky

2010-02-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

Cell phone photo of cute boots

I got this email the other day, "Hi Tracy-It's me, Becky, the girl you helped out in Payless with the black ruffled shoes. I was in Truckee last weekend and this girl was wearing these adorable boots! I asked her where she got them and she said someplace in Reno. She didn't even give me a name of a store. So, if you have time for a challenge, I'd love to find these cute boots! Let me know what you come up with!"

Here's why Becky is awesome...a. She wasn't afraid to ask a complete stranger for their opinion in Payless shoes. (And she then went to that complete stranger's blog and left nice comments!) b. When the girl didn't tell her where she got the boots, she whipped out her cell phone and took a picture of them. Love it!

So here you go, Becky. Although I wasn't able to find the exact boots, I rounded up a few similar options for you...on the cheap, of course! Hope you find something you like!

Wanted Triumph Boot, Endless
Matisse Chopper Boot, Shoebox
BCBGeneration Acorn Boot, Bluefly
Rocket Dog "Chain Gang" Boots, Overstock
Rocket Dog "Chain Gang" Boots Macy's (or Amazon )

Spring, Baby!

2010-02-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

Jane from I Really Suck at This (one my favorite new blogs) said, "Hi Tracy! Now that I am pregnant again, I need help with cheap and cute maternity wear. Can you help me find something I could wear to work? My work environment is "business casual." Thanks so much!"
I have a few friends who are pregnant right now, so hopefully you guys can find something you like from this look, along with Jane! I've never been very good at "business casual", so hopefully this look is dressy enough for the office. Everything today comes from Old Navy...because the last thing you want to do while pregnant is schlep your wide self to more than one store on any given day! (Check out another Old Navy maternity look I did here)
So what do you think pregnant people...would you wear this?

The scoop:
Cropped Denim Maternity Jacket
Real Waist Stretch Twill Pants
Pleated Tie Back Top
Watercolor Print Scarf
Flower Bud Drop Earrings
Ribbon Trim Ballet Flats
Beaded Cluster Ring
Aviators

40's Chic on the Cheap

2010-02-25T08:31:00.000-08:00

Dear red peep toes,
I love you so. I wish I had a reason to wear you. Really, I do. Even though you're under $20, I know that you won't go with yoga pants, and would be completely wrong for chasing a small child throughout the house. Yet I still want you. (You too black dress.)
Love,
Tracy

Outfits like this almost make me wish I still had a job downtown. Almost, but not quite!

The scoop...all from Forever 21:
Reminiscent Career Dress
Erin Bowtie Patent Pump
Portrait Silhouette Clutch
Petite Bow Studs
Triple Beaded Necklace

Guest post...Mixing Metals

2010-02-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Head on over to Urban Darling to check out my guest post for today!

What do you think...mixing metals...yes or no?

Floral Dress...Now and Later

2010-02-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

It's that weird in between time, weather-wise. It's not quite winter, but not quite spring. So, acting on a request from Katie awhile back, I decided to use a floral dress (from my Spring must haves!) in two ways...one that you can wear now (when it's kinda warm but still winter-y) and one you can wear once the weather heats up.
I don't know what I think about this dress...or maybe it's my matching abilities that are lacking. You certainly cannot accuse me of using too little color today. Oy vey. What do you think blogland?

The scoop:
Garden Brunch Woven Dress, Forever 21
Cardigan, Dillards
White Patent Peep Toe's, Target
Flower Earring Set, Forever 21

Latika Beaded Necklace, Forever 21
Lucille Faceted Ring, Forever 21
Braided Wedges, Old Navy

Ask and ye shall receive...

2010-02-20T20:33:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I asked blogland, "Hey blogland, where did the lady in the front row of the Tiger Woods' press conference get her sweater?"
Boy did blogland deliver! Tonja sent me a link to a darling Victoria's Secret sweater that was pretty darn close, and comes in great colors. Then Kristin (you may remember her from here or here) sent me the link to the shirt above. Success! It's on sale on the Down East Basics website (check it out here), but Kristin saved me shipping and $8 off the online price by going to the store and buying it for me (and one for herself, too, in black.) Can you believe it? Too cool! Thanks Tonja and Kristin! I'm seriously loving the blog tonight. :)

Tracy Takes on Tiger

2010-02-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

So I just finished watching the Tiger Wood's "press conference" (if you can call it that), and I have just one question...

Where did the lady in the front row get her sweater?
Yeah, you lady! You in the uber cute beige ruffle wrap sweater! Where did you get it? Anyone out there in blogland know? If you can tell me, I'll make a style post just for you! (I'd make one for you anyway, but this way it's kind of like you win something!)

***Yeah, I know this is a lame excuse for a post...I was all set to blog about my great finds at the Discovery shop, as promised last week. Then I got sick. Being sick I can handle...being sick with a teething 9 month old? They don't tell you about that in "What to Expect". ***

Guest post on Urban Darling!

2010-02-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

Click on over to Urban Darling to check my guest post for today! (If you've been following my blog for a while, you may be amazed that I was able to resist the urge to throw something red in the mix!)
So what do you think blogland? Did I succeed in the art of pattern mixing?

An AWESOME Reader Request!

2010-02-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

Hutch (check out her blog, Be Awesome Instead) said, "So here's a post idea for ya if you need one and want to help me out :) I have a baby shower in early March and a wedding back east in May, which means weather could be questionable for both. The wedding is at the Hyatt Regency in Boston so kinda fancy, but not AS much so for the shower. Since the budget is tight and I'm not big on spending anyway, any suggestions on a dress/outfit that could be worn to both?"

I'm the girl to talk to if you've got a tight budget! This outfit actually comes in at $92...score! So what do you think? Will it work for both the wedding and the shower?

The scoop:
Origami Applique Cardigan, Old Navy
Versatile Top, Forever 21
Floral Lace Skirt, Forever 21
Elegant Beaded Necklace, Forever 21
Flower Discus Ring, Forever 21
Satin Florals Headband, Forever 21
Ruffled Platfrom Sandals, Target

Cha Cha on the Cheap

2010-02-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

What's better than a trip to the mall with a friend? How about a trip just down the street to a thrift store and Payless shoes? Much better in my book! On Saturday a girlfriend and I did just that...she scored about $350 worth of designer merchandise from the Discovery shop for $50 (and now knows the secret to great cheap clothes in our town!) and we both did some major damage at Payless shoes, which is right next door. It's BOGO time, and we took full advantage of the buy one get one half off promo. After picking out the same pair of "cha cha" earrings above (her word, LOVE it) she ended up with those awesome silver sandals and me with that cool yellow purse. We're a bad-in-a-good way combination when it comes to discount shopping!
And that outfit (minus the shoes) is what I wore yesterday on our hot Valentine's date...to Home Depot, Target, Bev Mo and Mexican food. Running errands while the baby has a sitter is pretty darn close to romance these days!

The scoop:
Sandals, Payless
Jupiter Mid Satchel, Payless
Chandelier Cabashan Earrings, Payless
Tiered Voile Skirt, Old Navy
Cropped Denim Jacket, Old Navy
Grommet Neck Top, Forever 21

Guest post on Urban Darling!

2010-02-13T07:26:00.000-08:00

Head on over to my guest post on Urban Darling to check out two new looks, both using a lacy tweed skirt that's under $25! Let me know, which one do you like best, day or night?

DIY Embellished Tank Top

2010-02-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

So in Wednesday's post, one of my Spring must have's was an embellished tank, which I claimed was "totally easy to DIY!" Well I got to thinking about that statement, and decided to find out if it was as simple as I thought. Here's my result:

I used an old Target tank top, beads from a costume jewelry pearl necklace, and some scrap muslin to make the flowers. I finished the whole thing while the baby was eating her lunch, so not too shabby! I had so much fun, I decided to make another one:

This time I used a piece of the necklace and made rosettes out of some scrap white fabric. (I was inspired by this Charlotte Russe necklace). I'm thinking of wearing it on Valentine's Day with a cardigan. Yea or nay?

So...what do you out there in blogland think? Did I capture the trend, or am I just wearing scraps sewn on a ratty old tank top? (Which is kind of how I felt when I took these pictures...)

***Stay tuned next week, when I detail another amazing trip to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. Seriously, if you live in my town, you should go there asap!***

Spring Must Haves...On the Cheap

2010-02-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

Casey asked, "Can you post a few must haves to add to our closets for the spring?" Like I've said before, I know beans about fashion. My style equates as such....What I like - What I can afford = My style. So my must have's for spring are a collection of things I would actually wear and can afford...hopefully you'll find something you like to add to your closet, too!

My spring must haves...

1. Denim Pearl Snap Shirt Roll Up Chambray Camper Shirt, Old Navy

2. Embellished tank...totally easy to DIY with an old tank, too! Rosette Tank, Old Navy

3. Lacey feminine shirt Lace Capsleeve Top, Forever 21

4. Floral Dress Garden Brunch Woven Dress, Forever 21
5. Purple Shoes Ruffle Ballet Flats, Target and Braided Faux Leather Wedges, Old Navy
6. Ruffled Cardigan Ruffle Cardigan, Forever 21

What's are your must have items for spring? Anything else you think I should add to my shopping list?

Wine Tasting on the Cheap

2010-02-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

Yippee for my 100th post!
Yesterday we went wine tasting...we're lucky enough to live about 40 minutes from a slew of great wineries (and luckier still that the grandparent's live on the way so we can drop off the baby!) It wasn't raining so I got to wear my new purple flats. I'm absolutley loving these shoes...I think I'm going to use them in another post very soon, because they are just that awesome. Reader Casey asked about my "must haves" for spring over on the Facebook fan page, and I'd have to start with these flats, hands down.
Thanks to the internets, I was able to find a picture of this Old Navy cardigan I've had since my days in the corporate world. (Ahh, memories...) I'm finding more and more fun ways to wear my old work clothes that don't involve high heels, cublicles or commutes. Delightful.
And I must confess...that is not my purse. Although I wish it was my purse, so that's good enough for me.

The scoop:
Motorcycle Handbag, Tilly's
Purple Ruffle Ballet Flats, Target
Black Scarf, Forever 21
White Necklace, Newport News (mine is "vintage" from my Grandma)
Lucky Sundown Jeans, Ebay
Cardigan, bought 2 years or so ago at Old Navy
Black Shirt, Target a while back

Check it out!

2010-02-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

I'm the guest blogger today on Urban Darling...how exciting! Click on over and check it out!
Working on another guest post as we speak, but need some help from blogland...what are your go-to pieces that work for both day and night? I'd love your input!
Thanks again for reading this little ol' blog...you have no idea how much fun I'm having. :)

Valentine's Date

2010-02-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

So Valentine's Day isn't a huge deal around these parts...last year we celebrated by eating sandwiches from a fancy French bakery....in a Walmart parking lot. And you know what? We were happy as clams. So needless to say, I probably won't be needing a special outfit for the 14th. But if I did, this is what I'd love to wear. That shirt-adorable! Those shoes...oh my goodness, I could write a sonnet to those shoes, I love them so. I may have gone overboard on the whole rose theme, but I couldn't pass up those earrings. Too perfect for Valentine's Day! (And at less than 3 bucks, who cares if you only wear them once a year?)

The scoop:
Ahoy! Sailor Tee, Conversation Pieces
White Flounce Back Skirt, Charlotte Russe
Steve Madden Rose Platform Wedges, DSW
Love Rose Earrings, Forever 21
Gold Trim Carry All, Forever 21
Red Flower Ring, Fred Flare

*Shout out to my little brother, who turns 26 tomorrow. I dedicated a post to him here. (If you go read the post, please keep in mind that I forgot to include the fun fact that my little brother also took ice skating lessons. And he was really good.) Love ya broski!

Mmm....Ruffles.

2010-02-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

So yesterday while I was being nosy on Facebook (honestly, what are you doing if not being nosy?), I saw that my friend Lindsay had posted a link to the above Anthropologie tank top with the tagline "I must be frugal, I must be frugal...NO MORE SHOPPING". Being the ever frugal friend that I am, I suggested she try Modcloth. Success! She found this similar top for a lot less dough. Since it's such a blog worthy swap, I'm going all Look 4 Less on you today (have you been to The Look 4 Less? Ah-freakin-mazing...she's the blogger I want to be when I grow up. Go check it out, add it to your blog roll, etc., etc.) I'm partial to the color of the Anthropologie top, but, like always, the price of the Modcloth one wins out. Which one do you like? Do you have an expensive item you're lusting after that you'd like me to take a cheap crack at? Do tell!
In other news, I'm working on an exciting new (non blogging) project this week, so I'll be in and out...but still on the lookout for great deals!

Friday Cheapdown

2010-01-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Image via Emersonmade.com

A few days ago Denise said, "Tracy - I'm loving these wearable flowers and clutches at emersonmade.com, but can't see paying that much. Think you can find a cheaper version? They seem easy enough to make... maybe we can start a business. :)"

I'm pretty sure the Denise in question is an old friend from Texas. (Blogger won't let me see your profile, so if it's you, let me know in the comments!) Denise, I agree...I love those flowers, but not the prices. I did some searching on Etsy and found some great options. The first one is Poppy Chic Designs...she has some awesome flower pins and hairclips that won't break the bank. Supah also has some cool looks (like the one I used above!).

And since it's Friday, I decided to cheap down an outfit from Emerson's website. I don't know how much the original look costs, but I'm willing to bet it's a bit more than $115. (The big flower brooch alone is $84!)

And heck yes I'd start a business with you Denise! I'm ready for a new gig! :)

The scoop:

Lime Ballet Flats, Target

Tote Bag, Lands End

Boyfriend Jeans, Tilly's

Floral Engraved Belt, Forever 21

Chancellor Career Jacket, Forever 21

Fab Pocket Tank, Forever 21

Flower Pin, Etsy via Supah

Cheap Outfit Throwdown!

2010-01-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Katie challenged me to a cheap outfit throwdown. She created an outfit for $69, and then challenged me to create one for less. Challenge accepted!
Since Katie went with blacks and greys, I thought I'd go the other direction with some big colors. There's a great article in the February issue of Sunset Magazine called "Beverly Hills for the rest of us"...basically, how to do this ultra ritzy area on the cheap. Thus my inspiration for this look. (If you haven't checked out Sunset, you should....it's an awesome resource for affordable and chic decorating, food, restaurant, and lifestyle finds. Be still my cheapskate heart!)
My outfit comes in at just under $65, thanks to some creative clearance shopping from Old Navy and Target. (I absolutely love those white pants from Old Navy...they don't have my size left online, so if they have yours, buy them and think of me, ok? ) The coral vintage necklace from eBay is my favorite find. I just love the way it looks with the gray top. And that etsy clutch...I get so excited when I find something that ties it all together!
Big thanks to Katie for the challenge, I had fun! So, how did I do on the cheap outfit throwdown? Do you have a challenge for Tracy on the Cheap? Do tell!

The scoop:
Cotton Twill Wide Leg Trousers, Old Navy
Patent Green Sandals, Target
Padded Zipper Clutch, Via GetSassy on Etsy
Mod Essential Woven Shirt, Forever 21
Wrapped Metal Cuff, Forever 21
Sunglasses, Forever 21
Vintage Necklace, eBay (listing expired)

I've been challenged!

2010-01-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

I've been challenged! Katie over at Suicide Blonde had a great post yesterday about her "cheap ass" outfit she put together. She's got all the items linked over at her blog. I Photoshopped them into a complete look because, well, I'm a sucker for Photoshop. Check out Katie's look!

And then, at the bottom of her post: Tracy from Tracy On The Cheap - I challenge you to an outfit "Throwdown"!! Create an outfit for that amount above or less!! I know you can.............I'd love to see what you can come up with!!
It's so on! What do you think of Katie's outfit? Do you think I can come up with an outfit for less than $69? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Spa Day

2010-01-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

A while back Nikki from Down on the Farm suggested an outfit for a spa day. Great idea! Then I thought: I've never had a spa day. Heck, I've never even been to a spa. (This would be the part of my post where I'd drop a little hint about an upcoming 29th birthday and how dearly I'd love a spa day. That would be if my husband read my blog, which I'm pretty sure he doesn't. Anyone who knows my husband is more than welcome to send him a link to this post. Thanks in advance).
So what do you wear to a spa? I'm not sure, but I bet you need some clothes and shoes that are easy on/easy off, and a big old tote to carry magazines and stuff in, and you'll want to look cute to boot. Am I right, or am I way off on the whole spa thing? What would you wear to a spa day? (You know, just in case someone gets the hint...)

The scoop:
Cracked Coral Ring, Charlotte Russe
Sunglasses, Forever 21
Bamboo Large Wooden Tote, Ruche
Stacked Hoop Earrings, Forever 21
Gypsy Tale Dress, Forever 21
Sandals, Old Navy

An Education in Cheapness

2010-01-25T16:46:00.000-08:00

This swell little college inspired outfit from Antropologie will set you back $537. It's cute, but not 500 bucks cute. What kind of faux college student has that kind of cash to spend on clothes from Antropologie, anyway? (The answer is a kid with a credit card paid for by the parents). I was not that kid.

Here's the cheapskate's version. At about $400 less, you can afford to buy the books you'll never open for the class that you don't need! (I transferred colleges three times...I could make a whole second major out of classes I took that didn't count!)

The scoop:

Blazer, Old Navy
Camp Shirt, Old Navy
The Diva Skinny Jeans, Old Navy
Woven Waist Belt, Charlotte Russe
Steve Madden Tuxedo Flat, Nordstrom

What I Know About Australia

2010-01-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

As promised, how to embarrass yourself in front of Australian.
Last week we went to dinner at the home of a teacher friend who was hosting an Australian teacher at her house. Delightful lady! I learned quite a few things about Australia....

A Back, Sack and Crack is a wax job that is popular among Australian men. It's just what it sounds like.
"Oi" is used for just about everything, depending on your voice inflection. Very useful word.
Friends are "mates". Don't call a lady a "shiela" (despite what you may have learned from the Crocodile Hunter).
Us Americans would say "doucebag", but in Australia they say "wanker". Brilliant.
The only people who wear their Uggs outside their pants (or Uggs with skirts) are "boguns" or "westies"...or as we Americans would say, white trash.

This, of course, would be the night I finally get up the courage to wear my new mini skirt...and fake Uggs.

The scoop:
Necklace, Ebay (The one I wore was from Target clearance awhile back. I found this one on Ebay yesterday and bought it for just $1.38...with free shipping!)
Skirt, Old Navy (in store clearance)
Scarf, Old Navy
Fake Uggs, Payless
Sweater, Forever 21 (Mine came from the Nordstrom Rack forever ago, but this one is pretty darn cute)
Cami, Forever 21
Hoohobbers Diaper Bag, Overstock (I made my own diaper bag, but this one is an ultra cute alternative, albeit a little expensive.)

Purple Power

2010-01-19T15:52:00.000-08:00

I'm sending some love to my favorite blogs this week. One of my go to style blogs is Uber Chic for Cheap. (A cheap chick after my own heart!) Thankfully, yesterday's post was a reminder of the ultra amazing 50% off clearance stuff sale at Old Navy. I scored three skirts, a shirt and a pair of maternity pants (no that's not an announcement...I just can't pass up pants for $2.50!) for only 20 bucks. Too bad I got there right after the little old lady who was obviously working hard to fill up her booth at the Galt flea market...why else would you buy four carts full of Old Navy merchandise? It obviously was not for her (unless she needs about 100 camisoles and 50 mini skirts) I considered taking a white denim mini off her pile while her back was turned, but her shrewd flea market scowl made me think twice.

One of the aforementioned items I bought is this dark denim pencil skirt. It's $30 online, but I paid just $6.50. My opinion? It's worth way more than 30 bucks. It's quality stuff. As a curvy girl, a good pencil skirt is a wardrobe staple. This one is perfect, falling just below the knees and hugging all the right curves. It's one of those things that I know I'll wear again and again.

Tune in tomorrow when I tell you how to embarrass yourself in front of an Australian. Good times.

The scoop:
Denim Pencil Skirt, Old Navy
Burnished Strappy Wedge, Old Navy
Sunglasses, Forever 21
Whipstich Tassel Hobo, Charlotte Russe
Morisot Top, Modcloth
Leaf Earrings, Forever 21
Antique Studded Knit Vest, Forever 21

Sequins and shampoo...

2010-01-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

I've been jonesing for a sequin top, but hadn't found one that fit the bill (or the budget) This weekend I spied this Miley/Max (that would be Cyrus/Azria...I know, what a pair!) top on the clearance rack at Walmart. The best part? It was only 8 bucks! I threw it in the cart along with the diapers, Suave, and dogfood. I just love a place where I can get all the stuff I need and score a cheap fashion find. I must have redneck roots.

Long story short, this is a great shirt. The fabric is high quality, thin but not see through, stretchy and soft. The black on black sequin bow is classy, and because it's understated, may outlive the sequin trend. One drawback: this top runs small. I'm usually an extra small or small, and I bought a medium. Other than that, it's super! Get thee to Walmart!

Ok, here's my question for you, blog readers...what do I wear this with? I'm a sequin virgin, and need your help!

Alter Ego

2010-01-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me in real life can attest to the fact that I rarely dress like I blog. My closet, sadly, is not full of cute denim mini's, chic belts, and teal purses. But...I do own those boots. And they are, in the words of Barney Stinson...AWESOME. I've owned my fair share of imitation Uggs, and these are the best by far. (Especially since I got them on sale for $25). I do wish I had the guts to pair them with a mini skirt for a funky look like this! (I should just get over it and order the darn skirt!)
Ok blog world, your turn...what would you like to see in my next post? More dresses? More sequins? Less witty commentary? (I crack myself up...) Let me know!

The dish:
Tote, Target
Braided Belt, Charlotte Russe
Floral Teardrop Earrings, Charlotte Russe
Crochet Open Cardigan, Forever 21
Flying Bird Necklace, Forever 21
Denim Mini, Old Navy
Shirred Jersey Top, Old Navy
Airwalk Regan Boot, Payless

Study in Browns

2010-01-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

Katie over at Suicide Blonde suggested a one stop shopping post from Ruche (thanks Katie!). I used them back in November for this post, but they've got bunches of fun new stuff since then!

I'm in a very brown mood today (obviously). Yet I kind of like the way all the browns mix together. And yes, that skirt is not cheap. I didn't look at the price until I had attached it to the sweater in Photoshop. I guess that's kind of like not looking at the price until after you've punched in your credit card number and clicked "confirm". Good thing it's cute! I even have a hard time spending fake money. My poor kids when they get to be teenagers...only knockoffs and hand me downs for you! (We are all destined to become our mothers, aren't we?)

The scoop:

espresso bean short cardigan
empress golden jewel ring
espresso large hobo bag
peacock feather scarf
ivory lace mini skirt
military studded suede boots

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

So this is the outfit I was supposed to wear on New Year's Eve. Those shoes...those amazing, vintage inspired Betsey Johnson Betseyville shoes that I scored for $21...were too small. How did I end up buying shoes that were too small you may ask? Didn't I try them on? Well, I did, but fell victim to an affliction that takes down many a cheapskate...bargain blindness. I knew they were a good deal, I knew they were cute, and somehow this overshadowed the fact that they were just a teensy bit too small. So now I have a pair of shoes that retail for $100 that I must return to Ross. (Unless someone out there in blog land wants to buy them...size 7!) I wore tall black suede boots instead. They were cute, but not as cute that those pumps. Darn.
The dress, on the other hand, fit like a dream. I think those people took my exact measurements when they made that dress, because it was perfecto. And at only $15, I'm not heartbroken that my itty bitty's bottle leaked apple juice all over it around midnight. To the dry cleaners we go!
This necklace comes from Forever 21, but mine came (clearance, of course) from Target about 2 years ago for $4. It's much chunkier (and cuter), but this one would do in a pinch as well.
A big thanks to our friends for playing along and dressing up for our little party!

And now for something completely different...

2009-12-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a break from Tracy on the Cheap today to simply be Tracy. I realized yesterday that writing about clothes and Photoshopping outfits can be viewed as pretty darn shallow. The truth is, the outfits and posts are simply a vehicle I use to more effectively express myself, both visually and verbally. I'm glad to have found a creative outlet.
Heather over at alis grave nil answered these 2009 Reflection Questions most beautifully this morning...I thought I'd give it a go as well.

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
There is nothing more amazing than welcoming a baby into your life. It’s a joy beyond words. She’s perfect.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
See #1. Becoming a mother requires a new definition of patience. This is convenient because, along with a baby, childbirth bestowed upon me a new sense of peace, calm, and purpose. This does not change the fact that being a mom is the single most challenging thing I have ever experienced. (I took a break from typing that last sentence to say, “Don’t put that leaf in your mouth!” I rest my case.)

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
This little blog. Finding a creative outlet. Learning how to do something, and being pleasantly surprised with the results. Allowing myself to write incomplete sentences. Using ellipses to excess...and then some.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Balancing being a mom with trying to earn a living and not falling victim to the guilt machine that is my conscious was a far larger obstacle than I had anticipated.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
Daughter, love, euphoric

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009
Baby, blog, happy

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009
Papa, proud, achievement

8. What were the best books you read this year?
Gone With the Wind and Middlesex. Middlesex has completely ruined any book for me in the near future. Damn that was a good book. (Don’t you like my literary critique skills?)

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My husband, my daughter, my parents, my brother. Family.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
Can anything change one more than motherhood? I love who I am becoming as the mother of this amazing, delightful little girl. The personal growth that accompanies my growth as a mother is a surprising and welcome change.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I became so much stronger this year. I tolerate far less bullshit. I’m not (as) scared to let people read what I write and see what I create and open myself up for critique. I’m more centered and happy than I’ve ever been.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
My personal beliefs have become more concrete in the past year. I’ve realized that having different views, ideals, and beliefs than others doesn’t make me wrong. You know what? Anyone who makes you feel that your beliefs are in anyway beneath their own seriously needs to evaluate their own set of principals.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I’ve always been one of those people who said, “I’ll start when”. I swore I’d start working out before I graduated from college, before I got married, before I got pregnant, etc., etc. So finally I said, “I’ll start working out after I have the baby.” And you know what? I did. A-freakin-mazing.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
Relationship lessons I’ve learned in 2009:
1)When two people work equally hard towards a common goal of a joyful marriage, the results are blissful.
2) On friends...true friends choose camaraderie over competition. Friends accept you without the asterisk that someday, some way, they will change you. Friends are able to emerge out from under the umbrella of their own ego to admit when they are wrong and sincerely apologize. Ending a friendship sucks, but life’s better on the other side.

15. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Ye old blog and that thar Facebook.

16. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Kissing a little head, completely lacking in hair, over and over again. Telling an itty bitty girl how much I love her, time and time again. Allowing myself to be still, happy, and content with the moment at hand.

17. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
Whenever someone asks my husband how he’s doing, he always says, “Fantastic!”And you know what? He means it. I’ve learned that by simply choosing to be happy, you create happiness.

18. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.
Best year yet.

New Year's Eve...

2009-12-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I'm going shopping for a New Year's Eve outfit...I've got a Ross gift card burning a hole in my pocket, and I'm going to spend the entire thing on stuff I don't need! (Unlike Target gift cards, which go towards diapers, diapers, and more diapers.)
Since Ross doesn't have clothes on their website, I used Forever 21 for some one stop shopping today. If I had a Forever 21 nearby, this is the outfit I'd choose to spend the evening in. I LOVE these blue shoes....love love love them! And that peacock clip...classy!

Take a Memo...

2009-12-28T20:57:00.000-08:00

When I was little, I loved playing office. My dad would bring home office supplies from the school he taught at, and I'd be in imagination heaven stamping, stapling, and hole punching. If only work was really that much fun!
If I had to dress up for work, I'd definitely be rocking some wide fishnet tights with some vintage inspired booties like these. And some funky reading glasses, even though they would just make my eyes hurt. Fashion is pain, people. Fashion is pain.
(I adore this typewriter necklace from Etsy...I've been eyeing it for quite a while now, and think I'm going to go ahead and make the purchase. And H is a special letter, indeed!)

Anyone out in blog land have any requests? I love ideas and would be just tickled to create a post for you, just leave me a comment here or on Facebook!

The scoop:
Skirt, Forever 21
Tights, Forever 21
Tote, Forever 21
Brooch, Forever 21
Sweater, Forever 21
Capped Sleeve Shirt, Old Navy
Typewriter Key Necklace, Etsy
Oxford Booties, Payless

Twas the night before the night before Christmas...

2009-12-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

So the other day, after looking at a very stylish friend's photos on Facebook, I had a non-cheap moment.
"Santa", I said to myself, "This year, I would really, really like some nice jeans. Perhaps some jeans that I don't have to order sight unseen off eBay. Perhaps some jeans that don't have tattered hems and are just a teensy bit too short. Perhaps some jeans like this:

Or maybe this:

With this uncharacteristic, non cheap thought dancing in my head, I went out Christmas shopping with my mom. After a successful trip to Big Lots (Have you been to Big Lots? Oh how I love a great trip to Big Lots!) we popped over to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. The Discovery Shop is a great little thrift store that always has a good deal or two (plus it's staffed by incredibly cute and helpful volunteers who you just want to make your Grandma). With the thought of nice jeans still with me, I walked over to the "finer things" rack. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but five pairs of designer jeans in my (almost) size!
This is about the point in any good story where we get to the antagonist, the villain if you will. We will call her Skinny Butt Mother* (or SBM for short). When I hold a particular pair of pants up and ask if they look like they will fit me, SBM says, "They look like they will fit ME!" She promplty takes all five pairs to the dressing room, from whence she declares, "They all fit!".
Then I enter, try on the jeans, (which fit ok, but will fit great very soon, damnit). I ask SBM if one pair looks ok, and she says "They look a little tight across the middle of your butt". (What are mothers for, if not complete honesty?) In the end, I ended up with two pairs, and she ended up with two pairs, and we were both happy. She even offered to keep the pants I bought until they fit me better. Isn't she the best?
So what did I get, you may be wondering. Well here ya go:

(Yes, that is my carpet. Isn't it awesome? Mint green is coming back into style someday, and when that day comes, won't we be trendy.)

And my best find of the year, the coupe de grace of cheapness...

$18 for hardly worn designer jeans that would cost $198 new? I'm a happy girl.

*You may ask...how can I say such things about my mother? Well, I'm pretty darn sure she can't figure out how to comment on my blog, so I feel secure. Yes mom, that's a challenge. Love ya!

It's My Party...

2009-12-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Forever and a day ago Liz said, "How about an outfit for a company party? This year will be my first one and I have no idea what to wear!"
First, Liz, I'm so sorry it has taken me this long to put this post together. Here's to hoping it's a between the Holiday's party, eh?
(Stay tuned for tomorrow's post...the deal of the century, a veritable Christmas Miracle!)

The scoop...everything comes from Forever 21 today!
Hair Comb
Sequin Wedges
Necklace
Mesh Tights
Basic Tank
Beaded Cardigan
Tu Tu Mesh Skirt

Oh black sequin mini, how I love thee...

2009-12-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

My 80th post! Boo ya!
So I'm not a big follower of trends, but I'm totally lusting after a black sequin mini skirt. New Year's Eve is the only occasion I can think of where I might actually have the opportunity to wear it, but I still want one nonetheless. So in my shopping for said black sequin skirt, I came upon the following...

This Sequin Skirt doesn't look all that special, does it? Appears to be just like the $12 ones I've spotted in TJ Maxx...except that this one costs $370.37. Really? I'm pretty sure that the sequin skirt is not destined to become a wardrobe staple along the lines of jeans and white button down shirts. I'm farely certain that, by this time next year, the sequin skirt will be as out of style as shoulder pads and fanny packs.

So this BCBGeneration Cheap Mini seems a bargain at $29. (Marked down from $58!).

Yet I'll still probably end up with the $12 TJ Maxx version. Why? Because I'm cheap like that.

Target One Stop Shopping!

2009-12-18T21:16:00.000-08:00

Hello blogging world! It's been quite a while, I know.
Today it's all about Target. Have you noticed that I rarely use clothes from Target in my posts? That's because all the stuff on Target.com is shown on models...and it's darn hard to Photoshop models out of clothes. I had to hunt for stuff that flowed together just the right way...luckily it matched! (So if you're some Photoshop whiz, please don't make fun of my lack of skillz...)

The scoop:
Brass Big Brass Band Bracelet
Red Wedges
Green Jacket
Multi Strand Necklace
Beaded Wristlet
Trouser Jeans
Ruffle Top

Hot Cocoa Time!

2009-12-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

I've never been skiing, but I can safely bet I would not be good at it (severely lacking in the coordination department here). What I would be good at is drinking hot cocoa by the fire in a lodge while everyone else went out and got wet and cold. My kind of winter day. I'd throw a good book in that cool mustard tote, slip on those blue slippers, and curl up for a good, long read.
Sorry for the intermittent posting lately...crawling babies (who also climb stairs!) are just a whole bunch of ~~work~~ fun!

The goods:
Wooly Plaid Scarf, Forever 21
Lobster Front Hook Tote, Forever 21
Flirt Trouser Jeans, Old Navy
Cable Knit Hoodie, Old Navy
Racerbank Tank, Charlotte Russe
Cable Knit Boot Slippers, Charlotte Russe

Seriously Walmart?

2009-12-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

When I decided to use Walmart for my one stop shopping today, I fully expected to be able to keep everything under $100. Actually, I was shooting for $50. You know what I discovered? Walmart's whack. I'm certain I could walk in to any Walmart in America and leave with an outfit for less than $50...but not on walmart.com. Sure, I found a $20 dress, but that was it. Where are my standby fake diamond earrings? Where are the cheap purses and $10 shoes? Nowhere to be found.
You know what they do have? $250 shoes. You know what, Walmart? If I'm going to spend 250 bucks on shoes, it certainly isn't going to be on walmart.com. Heck, I don't even want to spend $46 on shoes, but the pickings were pretty slim. What up, Walmart? Think you're Macy's or something?

The overpriced goods:
Chiffon Party Dress
Black Satin Shoes
Satin Clutch
Black and White Diamond Earrings

Cheap Holiday Cheer

2009-12-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

Lauren of the little things we do (uber cute blog alert!) said, "My suggestion is how to look chic/warm. It's freezing here! Layers are a necessity, but most sweaters are bulky and unflattering so I avoid them at all costs. Ugh! Plus, most anything with ribbing is awful on me. I would love suggestions for how to bundle up and not look like I'm headed for the North Pole."
I hear ya, Lauren. I actually kinda miss working in an office this time of year, because I loved layering up my work clothes in fun ways. Tights, sweaters, skirts, and boots were my corporate uniform from November to February. With some creative layering, I managed to wear my funky skirt collection year round!
I thought I'd make today's post a little more fun by throwing in some holiday cheer. (I've managed to resist the black, red and white urge for a quite a spell!) I think the key to not looking too bundled up is light layers (like the collared shirt and cardigan) and a bright colored coat with a belt to cinch it all in. Hope you like it, Lauren!

The scoop:
Cashmere Gloves, Target
Beret, Target
Erika Felt Coat, Forever 21
Belted Skirt, Forever 21
Shimmer Tights, Forever 21
Glitter Belt, Forever 21
Ruffle Cardigan, Old Navy
Cap Sleeve Top, Old Navy
Tara Tall Shaft Boot, Payless

Goodwill to All!

2009-12-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

My annual Black Friday trip to Goodwill was a great success! I walked out with $60 worth of half price merchandise (including a 100% silk shirt with the $99.50 price tag still attached!). I decided to include a few things I bought in my posts this week, starting with this Target shirt dress. I loved this dress when it was in the stores a while back, but not enough to spend $35. Three bucks at Goodwill? I'll take it! Since it's a summer dress, and I want to wear it, like, NOW, I'm layering it over a turtle neck and wearing a cardigan. For some reason, the layered look is a lot easier to pull off in real life than it is in Photoshop. Thus the kind of mis-matched, old lady look above. Trust me, it's much cuter in person!

The goods:
Merona Shirt Dress, Thrifted
Turtle Neck, Arden B
Toggle Cardigan, Forever 21
Hobo Tote, Old Navy
Gilded Goldfinch Necklace, Modcloth
Buckle Your Bootstraps Boots, Ruche

Turkey Day!

2009-11-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

Well hello! It's been quite a while since I've fired up Photoshop and done some good bargain shopping! A lack of baby naps has severely hindered my blogging. (But given me some really enjoyable mommy time!)
I had a request for something to wear on Thanksgiving. Great idea! Considing last year I wore pajama pants and a ratty sweatshirt (thank you, pregnancy for making me feel awesome) I think I'm going to dress up a bit this year. I like this outfit from Old Navy because the sweater, shirt, and jeans are great wardrobe basics, and the whole shebang is under $150.
Just FYI, if you're in need of some good shopping, I know that the Goodwill in my city has a half off sale on Black Friday. Last year I bought a whole shopping cart full of baby clothes for $50. Each item was a whopping $1.17. And, amazingly enough, baby has outgrown almost everything I bought. Time for another trip! (Are you one of those people who think shopping for your kid at Goodwill is gross? If so, I'm sorry. We ain't rollin' in dough around here.)

The scoop:
Headband
Perfect V Neck Sweater
Sateen Camp Shirt
Lizard Print Flats
Diva Wide Leg Jeans
Faux Leather Satchel
Necklace, Check in stores, no longer online

BCBGee That's Expensive!

2009-11-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

Hello up there, trendy model! You look pretty chic in your BCBG outfit.

What's that you say? You spent $866 on your clothes? Gee...that's quite a bit of money! Well, it must cost that much to look stylish these days...

Oh wait...never mind. It actually only costs $75 to look stylish! You really didn't need that extra $800, did you trendy model?

The scoop...all from Forever 21:

Platform Heels

Sunglasses

Belted Fleece Coat

Satin Tiered Skirt

Mod Thursday

2009-11-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Modcloth's the word here on One Stop Thursdays! I love Modcloth. If I had a million dollars, I'd order one of everything they have. They aren't super cheap, but they are certainly affordable. As it is, I don't have a million dollars, so I just "window shop" vicariously through this little blog.
Any recommendations for tomorrow's post? Stores or designers you want to see Tracy on the Cheap take on? I'd love suggestions!

The Scoop:
Best Friend Tank
Butter Pecan Cardigan
Last Dance With Mary Janes
The A-Maze-Ing Skirt
Snake, Rattle and Roll Bag
Burst of Spring Ring

Mommy Muscles!

2009-11-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

Way back in August I did a post about the mom and kiddo fitness class I go to with my little one. It's called StrollerFit, and it's GREAT. It's a fitness program for moms of strollerage kids. It combines cardio, strength training, singing to the kids, and fun! What mom wouldn't want to exercise with her kiddo, get out of the house, and talk to other moms?

I was scared to join a group fitness class, but I'm so glad I did. After improving my mile run time by over a minute (and increasing my strength by 114% and losing over 5 inches!) I'm sold. (It's my blog, right? I can brag a little.) Even better, I know I'm setting a good example for my little one and making great friends in the process. Our instructor, Wendy (check out her blog here) is incredibly motivating and energetic. She makes you want to keep coming to class! If it sounds like fun, check out the StrollerFit website to see if there is a group near you.

The scoop:
Camo Mommymuscle shirt, come to a class!
New Balance Shoes, Overstock
Gym Bag, Endless
Danskin Fleece Pants, Walmart
Knit Tank, Old Navy
Peace Sign Hat, Tilly's

Dinner & Dancing

2009-11-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

On Saturday night Mr. Cheap and I went to a dinner dance fundraiser (where I may or may not have had a LOT of fun). How excited was I for a reason to dress up? Very.
At the fundraiser (where I may or may not have got on stage to sing Loveshack) I got a ton of compliments on my Target shirt that I've had forever, so I thought I'd try something a little different today, a "what I wore" post. I had to fudge a little on the boots (mine came clearance from Victoria's Secret) and the necklace (I can't for the life of me remember where I got my black pearls) and Target doesn't carry my favorite shirt anymore, but for the most part it's what I had on. I love me some Lucky Sundowner jeans, and I can usually find a good pair on Ebay for around 20 bucks instead of their insane $130 asking price. I just added some $3 cubic zirconia earrings (I have one real diamond, and it's all I need) and I was good to go for under $100!

The scoop:
Freshwater Pearl Necklace, Ebay
Cubic Zirconia Earrings, Ebay (listing expired)
Ruffle Top, Forever 21
Lucky Brand Sundown Jeans, Ebay
Shaft Boots, Payless

Alexander McCostly

2009-11-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

Here's what I know about Alexander McQueen:

1) When you Google "top designers", he's the first name that appears.

2) If you have an extra $4,215 lying around, he can help you look like the chick above (and that price is without the fur stole).

3) He really likes jaunty hats.

Here's what I know about Tracy on the Cheap:
1) I don't have four grand to spend on clothes. Hello, mortgage!
2) My version costs $4,000 less than Alex's.
3) I could never pull off that jaunty hat.

The scoop:
Wool Blazer, Overstock
Booties, Endless
Felt Fedora, Target
Racing Gloves, Urban Outfitters
Vintage Mink Stole, Ebay
Riding Pants, Charlotte Russe

Budget Boho

2009-11-05T14:51:00.000-08:00

Well hello there, bloggy world! I took a technology sabbatical the last few days...felt like I was staring at the computer just a wee bit too much. But I'm back for One Stop Thursday with a great store I discovered called Ruche. They call themselves "a modern boutique with a vintage look". I call them swell...It's like Antropologie, but cheap! Well, $250 isn't exactly cheap in my book, but it's a whole lot less than you'd spend for a similar look at ol' Antro. I'm in love with the grapes and berries drop earrings. So far I've resisted whipping out the credit card, but I'm tempted.

Do tell...have you ever bought anything you saw on this here blog? Perhaps next week I'll share the things I've blogged about and decided I couldn't live without.

Oh yes, a few of you have asked how to find the things I feature here...see those purple descriptions right down there? They are all linked straight to that item. Genius, eh?

The Goods:
mykonos vacation flowing cardigan
monsieur tillier chiffon tank
cinnamon floral flannel skirt
grapes and berries drop earrings
geranium stone embroidered clutch
cognac buckle tall riding boots
wool newsboy cap