If you remember, a few weeks ago I shared My 10 Favorite Outfits of 2023 and I really used that post as an exercise to determine what outfits felt like ME. And what I found was:
I’m a big fan of whimsical, fun floral patterns, and bright colors. I typically prefer natural materials, like cotton and linen, however the magpie in me also loves velvet, sequins and tulle! For my silhouettes, I like a nice fit-and-flare with a fitted waistline and a flowy skirt.
So, to start off 2024, I tried to keep that in mind when getting dressed for the office:
We’ve got some natural fibers (cotton and linen), some tulle (x2), some sparkles and all of the fit-and-flare you could want. And I LOVE it! Looking back, I’m happy with each outfit that I wore to work this month and would absolutely wear them again.
And when it comes to my new vs. secondhand tally, I count 7 items I purchased retail (the beaded sweater was a Nordstrom Rack purchase when I was pregnant, 12 years ago!) and 9 items I purchased secondhand.
The start of the year means a whole clean slate for thrifting fun. Crossing my fingers that I learned from my mistakes of the previous year (I probably didn’t….), and looking forward to all the new treasures to find!
DRU Holland Dutch Oven, $6.99
This was a ‘start the car’ moment for me while out thrifting a few weeks ago. In fact, they hadn’t even put this adorable dutch oven out yet when I yoinked it out of the bin and put it in my cart. Within 60 seconds, another lady started sniffing around and asked if I really wanted it… BACK OFF LADY!
Anywho, DRU Holland Dutch Ovens were made between the 1930’s and 1960’s and many pieces were distributed as premiums in grocery store sin the 1950’s. Most of their pieces are enameled in pastel colors with contrasting trip and adorned with depictions of tulips or other flowers.
I love it so much and it fits right in with the rest of my mid-century collection! PS, you can see I also have a smaller blue tulip version too (another thrift find).
Glitter Converse One-Star Shoes, $8.99
Before scrubAfter scrub
I’ve been casually looking for a pair of glitter Converse for a couple months now, after falling in love with a bejeweled high-top version on Poshmark. These are super silvery sparkly, but not actual glitter (so it won’t be shedding while I walk). They were a little dingy, but a bleach wipe and a magic eraser cleaned them right up and now they’re looking as good as new!
A New Day rain boots, $5.99
Before ScrubAfter Scrub
Another pair of shoes – but these weren’t on my list at all. However, they were new with tags ($26 retail) and my size, so I figured I’d try them on. They are super comfortable and I don’t have a pair of rain boots, so I figured I might as well buy them. A quick wash with some dish detergent and they look fantastic. So far, these have come in really handy as ‘leave by the front door’ boots, since I can step into them for hands-free ease to run out to the mailbox.
Athleta Arrival skirt, $13.49
I love Athleta, so when I saw this super lightweight skirt in a cool pattern I scooped it up. It’s the “arrival” skirt (retail price $89) and it’s made for hot days and traveling, since it won’t wrinkle. This will be great for the summer paired with a tank top and some sandals. I washed it in the laundry on cold and let it hang dry — now it’s waiting in my closet for the spring to come.
Over the years, I’ve been getting much better at applying a daily sunscreen to my face. It can’t just be ANY sunscreen though, it had to be Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen. I’ve written about my obsession with it before in a few different posts (you can find one here, but it really comes down to the fact that it isn’t greasy AT ALL and goes on for an invisible layer of SPF. Once it’s on, you don’t see any cast, smell anything, or see any difference– it’s absolutely perfect. It’s pricy though, at $38 for a 1.7 Fl Oz container. So, when I heard that there was a dupe at Trader Joe’s, I had to give it a try.
I don’t have a Trader Joe’s near me, so I made a note to stop by one the next time I was in Columbia. Thankfully, they had plenty of the Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen on the shelf… for just $8.99! It’s also available on Amazon, but you’re paying a premium for the convenience of adding it to your Amazon order (right now, it’s marked at $15.30, which is still much cheaper than the Supergoop).
So yes, it’s cheaper. But honestly if it didn’t work as well as my favorite SPF, I was going to keep buying the expensive stuff. It’s just worth it to me to have a face sunscreen that I don’t hate – so that I’ll actually wear it every day.
Here’s what TJ’s says about their sunscreen:
This weightless feeling, translucent gel sunscreen is specially formulated for quick absorption, leaving behind a soft and silky, matte finish – no greasy residue or whitish cast in sight. It makes a marvelous primer under makeup and offers oxybenzone-free SPF 40 protection that’s suitable for all skin types.
And what do I think? It’s perfect. It’s absolutely perfect. It feels almost identical to the Supergoop sunscreen that I have loved for years, for a much lower price. It’s so good, that I won’t mind making an extra trip to Trader Joes when I need to stock up. However, a little pea-size goes a long way… so this tube will last for a really long time!
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