I've been such a bad girl!

I can't even count how many projects I've taken on, without posting them on here...I've been a terrible little blogger! (LOL)

40-50hrs/wk at work & keeping busy has found me forgetting to post....I promise I'll be posting more soon!

Got a much needed confidence boost after spending some "mother/daughter" time today, & my mom helped me find some wonderful new outfits for work...might even have to post a "lookbook" for them soon :)

A million thanks to the space lady.

Keep an eye out, lovelies!

xxx

Alyssa Marie

What if animals ate fast food?

Taking a break from the serious discussions on fast food affecting our diets, this cute little animation I found takes a guess at how fast food might affect wild animals (meant more comically than anything).

Hope you're all having a great week...new post coming soon!

xxx

Alyssa

DIY : Custom Jewelry Display

Hey lovelies!

After taking a slight "mental break" to get a few things settled, I'm back.

I know, I know...you've missed me.

Now that some of the craziness has died down, I'll be getting back to my post here at OTS.

I've finally started settling into my apartment, in terms of deciding on my "decor path." Learning more about my own personal style, & having more opportunity to actually develop it, I've really enjoyed going "outside the box" on projects to make my place "more mine." I've got a many projects I'd like to take on to help personalize my space, & I've only just begun this list.

The first of these projects is a relatively easy one...considering the fact that most of the materials used were "leftovers."  Having had the same jewelry box since I was about 16 years old, I had grown tired of it (wanting something a bit more stylish & "grown-up"). This was pretty easy to accomplish when using a simple picture frame (purchased at T.J.Maxx for $7.99). You can do this with multiple frames if you want, I only did one.

For this project you will need:

-  Picture frame(s)

-  A thinner piece of fabric, the size of the glass (with about 1.5 inches extra around each edge)

-  6 or 7 pieces of felt, measured to fit the glass (from inside the frame)

-  Scotch tape

-  3MM© Brand (Sticky) Small Hooks (like for X-mas lights)

1. The most difficult part of this project is choosing your frame & your fabric.

2.  Turn over the frame & remove the backing. Stack the felt sheets on top of each other.

3. Wrap the fabric over the felt/glass & around the back of the cardboard.

Tape into place & put piece back into frame.

4. Replace frame cover (on back). There will be some volume from the felt under the fabric.

5. Use jewelry to measure custom lengths/spacing for sticky hooks.

Finally...a custom jewelry display that goes great with your decor!

Try it out & let me know what you think.

Have you worked on anything similar?

Email me at:  OneToSpare@gmail.com

Hope you're all having a wonderful week!

xx

Alyssa

OTS Mailbag : Jenny

I love receiving email from you guys! Write me at:  OneToSpare@gmail.com

On Feb 12, 2013  Jenny wrote:

Hi! I came across your blogs on thrifting and was wondering if you could share some of your favorite thrift stores around Cincinnati? I’m new to thrift shopping and was hoping to do some exploring.

Thanks!

Jenny

Jenny:

I'm so glad you're finding your way into the wonderful world of thrifting! I won't lie to you, there are a ton of "ups & downs" when it comes to thrift stores. Fortunately you don't have to be some kind of aficionado to have good luck with your finds. Cincinnati isn't a terrible place when it comes to thrift stores....but I've learned this city takes a bit more patience & digging than others. 

While any local Goodwill seems like a smart move, they're typically more "miss" than "hit" when it comes to anything that isn't a book.  Every now & then you might get lucky enough to find a cute frame (once you change the terrible picture it already holds), or even a piece of furniture. Shoes are usually in sub-par condition & clothes are mostly basic t-shirts/bad 80's clothes (the ever-present demons of thrifting, somehow magnified at most Goodwill stores). The location in Tri-County does have a small jewelry/accessory area inside it, which is run by a separate organization. Some of the prices are reasonable, but (for the most part) you're better off leaving this area to a local TJ Maxx. The biggest redeeming quality of Goodwill (aside their obvious contribution to the community) is that their website shares a calendar for you to view any discounts for specific days. Speaking of TJ Maxx, stay away from Goodwill's Montgomery branch "boutique"...while they carry more brand names, they charge prices similar to TJM for their used merchandise (definitely a rip-off).

Though the inside can sometimes look discouraging, the Valley Thrift Store in Reading is one of the better in the area. While I have had many occasions of leaving empty-handed, I've had more luck finding clothing items (sometimes even shoes) that are still BNWT (brand new with tags). They also have a wide range of denim, the most popular/stocked brands being Ann Taylor Loft & Levis. Even though the pockets were cut out, I found a pair of BCBG jeans there last week for 69 cents...I washed them & stitched the pockets shut, now they're almost as good as new (at a much better price than new). Every Monday they offer an extra 25% off purchases for their weekly "customer appreciation day"...it can be worth a stop, but plan on the place being mobbed after 1:30-2pm. If you have a free Monday I highly recommend getting there as close to open (10am) as possible. I have yet to explore their location in NKY, but that is on my "to-do" list in the next month or so.

The only other local thrift store I can think of worth mentioning is the St. Vincent De Paul on Este Ave. Don't be fooled, though...this place is pretty big, but it's definitely high on the "hit or miss" list. I'm not sure if they run any kind of specials (as I've never heard of any from them) & sometimes their prices can be a little high. It's slightly better when it comes to clothing (versus any other category) but it's still semi-slim pickings. My best luck here was 2 years ago when I found a cute plus-size Ralph Lauren button down shirt & a torn vintage Chanel shirt. Since I re-tailored the plus-size shirt into a size 4/6 shirt dress & repaired the Chanel shirt, they became some of my favorite pieces.

At any thrift store (unless you don't mind, or are trained in spotting real v. fake when it comes to branded purses) I would stay away from the purses. Honestly, just assume every major brand purse you come across is a fake unless you can be certain...because most of them are. Even thrift stores are guilty of price-jacking because of a brand image. Don't be afraid to alter clothing, either. That cute long dress could make a great mini & fabric dye is fairly easy to use on mostly anything.

Hope this helps....have a fun exploring (& share any awesome finds you come across!) :)

- Alyssa

One To Spare

OTS Pro Tip: Save On A Monthly Sample Subscription

   After seeing so much of the publicity many monthly sample subscription services, I've been doing a bit of research...&, though I'm still looking around, I actually joined a program!

    Ever heard of Julep? A Seattle-based nail salon, they develop their own products...pretty cool, right?

   You can join their Julep Maven program for $19.99/mo...this means every month you'll receive a kit containing $40+ worth of nail polish & mani/pedi products from their company. Seeing as how their actual (individual) prices range from $6-48/per item, this is a pretty decent deal. Once you take the style quiz (which you can retake until you get results you like) posted on their site, this determines the first 2 nail colors you will get (each Intro box is specific to these profile results). You even can skip months if you want, & can order more (of the samples you like) straight from their website.

   **Now, here's the tip you've been waiting for**

   Hesitant to try this particular site/service at $19.99/mo.? I don't blame you, I was too. But I can help you get your Intro box for just ONE CENT. Yes, you read that right. One penny. $0.01. 1¢. Read on!

   I'm pretty hesitant to commit to a monthly service, especially for beauty products, because I'm very particular about the products I use & like. When I found this trick, though, I couldn't resist trying it out.

Here's how their site explains the process:

         I took the "Style Profile" quiz a few times, & (after seeing all the selections offered) decided to go with my original results of "Boho Glam."After receiving my results I selected the option to start a subscription (with those selections) at $19.99, with a future cost of $19.99/mo for each kit.

    Underneath the item list in the cart, on the left, I entered the discount code "PENNY".

Next, I input my shipping selections...don't let this section fool you, their shipping is free!

Once I applied my discount code, $19.98 was discounted...& my final total came to 1¢!

How awesome is that? Just like winning a mini-jackpot!

    Just for reference...the FAQ's on Julep's website tell you that you can select a "skip a month" option in your account, so you aren't charged monthly.

   I'm going to wait for my Intro box, & see how I like the program...if you decide to try it out, I'd love to hear from you about your experience!

   **I'm not affiliated with Julep in any way, aside from now being a new member.**

 **OTS is not responsible for any issues anyone may have with this service/vendor.**

   To let me know what you think, email me at:   OneToSpare@gmail.com

- Alyssa Marie

xx

The easiest DIY I'll ever post...

( Supplies:   - Bottle cap     - Mod Podge Glue     - Push-pin  )

Seriously. This is beyond easy.

This bottle cap is from a bottle of one of my favorite beers: Stone Brewing Co.'s Arrogant Bastard Ale

From my first ABA ever, I loved the slogan enough to hold on to it all these years...& wanted to do something with it to get it out of my craft drawer. Giving it a spot on my inspiration board seemed like a pretty good idea.

If you've got a bottle cap of your own, & you'd like to give it the same sanctuary, here's how:

1. Use Mod Podge, or some other stronger craft glue. This stuff holds up over time.

2. Clean your bottle cap, & make sure the top is as flat/flush as possible.

3. Apply a small amount of glue to the flattop of a push-pin.

4. Press push-pin to back of bottle cap, using enough pressure for the pin to stick/excess glue to pool.

5. Let dry.

Found your favorite bottle caps? I'd love to see them!

Share them at:

OneToSpare@gmail.com

Happy crafting!

- Alyssa Marie

xx

DIY: Revamping A Tired Tray

   I've taken on the task of re-doing my (smallish size) bedroom lately, & during this process have made a lot of changes to my decor & personal pieces. I hate to waste great decor items, & always love putting a new spin on seemingly tired things....but, hey, isn't that all the rage these days?
   This post is about a great little revamp I've done...that's really "oh, so" simple (& turned out to be "oh, so" inexpensive!).

I purchased this decorative tray for 70cents (during a sale) at a local thrift store (with the original tag of $15)...& already knew I wanted to redo it, as I'm no fan of the "streaky/tacky gold" sheen that was on it.

    As for my supplies...I found a cute animal print Macbeth adhesive shelf liner (sold as a double roll) at T.J.Maxx for $5.99...picked up some Martha Stewart satin acrylic paint (in Wild Blueberry) at Michaels for $1.99...& paid nothing for the black acrylic paint & sandpaper I already had hiding in my craft gear. 

    For ease, I used a small rounded brush to apply the blue paint on the inner/outer sides & a small flat brush to apply the black paint on the edges around the tray/handles.

   Even though the tray is actually a plastic composite, I used the sandpaper on it...not so much to give the paint something to stick to as to try & remove as much of the gold lacquer as I possibly could. I really only sanded the surrounding edges & the outer sides, but it made it much easier to apply the paint in fewer layers (in total, it took 2 layers of black & 3 layers of blue).

    After the paint dried (which didn't take very long), I measured out the inside of the tray & cut the adhesive shelf liner to size. When it came to application...it was a little tricky to get it completely flush at first, & I'd recommend peeling the adhesive vertically & having quite a bit of patience (take your time & start at the top 2 corners, peeling the adhesive back as you go to make readjustments easier).

And, violà...a beautiful new display tray!

Looking at the math...since I only used a small portion of the shelf-liner (& that I already had most of my necessary supplies), this project came in under $5.

There are so many great uses for these things...be it displaying jewelry, cosmetics, magazines, etc. To be honest, I'm not 100% set on what I'll use it for yet, but it will definitely have a spot in my room :)

Have you decided to tackle a version of your own? I'd love to see it!

Send a picture to me at:

OneToSpare@gmail.com

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

~ Alyssa Marie

It's a strange frame of mind...

It's strange when you come to the conclusion that you've never really been a rational thinker, & you resolve to be....then you're faced with a situation that causes you to feel/react in a certain way....& you realize that the way you're feeling/reacting is also how you would've reacted in the time period you deemed yourself an irrational thinker...& you wonder if you're acting irrationally....or if your reaction (then/now) is one that isn't so irrational after all, that it's acceptable to feel/react as such.

I realize there's a huge chance I just over think things, & that there's no reason for me to be thinking so much about this current dilemma....but it's tough when you're nervous to come off, now, as you would have then ("irrational"). Especially when you're nervous that someone wouldn't take it as genuine confusion on your part.

When we take the approach of "changing ourselves"...why is it so hard for other to realize that it may cause us to feel a genuine confusion, versus us coming off in a downright terrible way?

Ugh. I really do think too much.
Someone shut my brain off, please.

Just had to get that thought out there, as my level of social interaction has been pretty lame as of late.


I've got a few new DIY projects coming up this week, & have been working on a big "DIY room remodel"....so (I promise) more normal posts are to come! (Thanks for understanding.)

- A

Window Shopping: Basic White Tee

Ever since I can remember, I've always had a major aversion to wearing plain white t-shirts...probably something to do with my incredible ability to have something spilled on me within the hour I first put the shirt on. I've always been very, very fond of the dark gray/black t-shirt...both, for their polished look, & for the fact that dark shirts are much more slimming on my busty figure.

I do appreciate the quality & classic appearance of the "basic white tee"...

especially the slightly fitted version that gives certain men that effortlessly sexy look...

I mean, *cue jaw drop*, right?

Oh, boy...now, to get back on topic...

Here's a new way to spruce up that basic white tee to look a little less "frump" & a little more "fab":

-  Pain White Tee ($4.50-$5.75)

- GAP Super Skinny Dark Wash Jeans ($34.95)

- Alexander McQueen Skull Jacquard Silk Chiffon Scarf in Black ($294)

- Tylie Malibu Sub Terra Satchel in Olive ($589)

- Le Metier de Beaute Red Hot Tango Limited-Edition Nail Lacquer ($18)

- Thin 2.5inch Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings ($36.99)

- Maison Martin Margiela 11 Ring ($235)

- Michael Kors Gunmetal Leather Wrap Bracelet ($37.99)

- Jimmy Choo Papyrus Suede Cork Wedge Sandals in Purple ($237)

What's your favorite compliment to your basic white tee?

Let me know!

OneToSpare@gmail.com

xxx

Window Shopping: Fancy A Night Out?

    I'm a huge fan of high heels (though I don't get to wear them nearly as often as I'd like to) &, more recently, a big fan of dresses. When faced with the dilemma of what to wear, it's pretty easy for a woman to spend a minimum of an hour digging through her closet. If it's a "night out" you're dressing for, it's not that difficult to look great (without looking like you'll fall out of your dress)...so ditch that dress that looks like it belongs at a high school dance - I mean, keep it classy, ladies!
    Here are a few new picks this week that caught my eye...the great thing about this outfit is how easy the day/night transition would be:

-  Milly Imara Dress  (£189)

- Steve Madden Faame Booties ($110)

- Marc by Marc Jacobs Calamity Rei Leather Shoulder Bag (£490)

- Tuleste Market Rosette Stud Earrings ($36)

- Vintage Chanel .5" Silver Tone Bracelet ($1,800)

- Bobbi Brown Limited Edition (Twilight Night/Turquiose) Nail Polish ($18)

    You might not be able to tell on here, but these shoes have the cutest triple-bow detail on their front. For fun with the nail polish I'd recommend a 4:1 style with the colors, you choose the color ratio.

    Throw a cute blazer over the dress for a day at the office, & go without it for drinks with the mailroom eye-candy ;)

OneToSpare@gmail.com

xxx