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update your wardrobe
Beauty & StyleLifestyle

4 Ways to Update Your Wardrobe On The Cheap

by Guest Post
written by Guest Post

I don’t know about you, but it can be hard reconcile my two passions of saving money and looking super stylish. Especially for moms, it can be tough to carve out the time to bargain hunt and ensure you’re getting the best deal all while juggling the responsibilities of motherhood! Luckily, I consider myself somewhat of a know-it-all when it comes to making sure I’m getting the best deal when shopping – and spending very little time doing it! Here’s four ways I’ve found that allow you busy mothers out there to get the best style deals.

update your wardrobe

1. Shop Small and Ask For Discounts

You’d be surprised by how many local boutiques there are out there. I love discovering new, independent boutiques and stores – and the owners or associates in the stores often provide a level of warmth and assistance that is hard to get from the larger chains! Not to mention that your money goes towards helping local businesses stay afloat. As a first time customer in a lot of these local stores, you can often get new client deals not offered to the general public. I just stopped by a new boutique I had never heard of before – the assistants were so kind and helpful, and even offered me a 30% discount as a first time customer! Don’t be afraid to ask if there are any new customer discounts–– you never know what they may offer!

2. Follow Brands and Stores On Instagram

A lot of the time, brands and stores that have a small to medium following on Instagram enjoy rewarding their followers with in-the-know deals. Especially if you engage with their brand on Instagram, they sometimes give you great deals or let you know the good sales ahead of time! Be sure to follow you favorite brands and check frequently for discount codes and sales you might now know about otherwise.

3. Pay Attention To Ads

Ads get a pretty bad rap in general – but I found out about one of my favorite dress brands, Tobi, from a Facebook ad! New brands often want to get their name out there and win over potential customers, and so will often provide new clients really good savings on their first couple of purchases. I got my first Tobi dress for 50% off just by clicking on the ad I saw. Instead of dismissing those ads, take a few moments to check out if it’s something you might actually be interested in.

4. Be Patient and Wait For Sales

This one may be obvious, but it’s really worth remembering this when you see something in a store that you just have to have. If you can hold off on making that purchase, many stores will offer promotions every few weeks. You can probably snag that piece for up to 40% off if you’re willing to wait a bit! This is one of the easiest ways to save money while shopping – and if you can wait for the inevitable sale, it’ll be well worth it!

 

Author Bio

Anjolie Kulkarni is the founder of Pixt Fashion, a fashion technology company that allows users to take a picture of an item of clothing and find similar styles located in local boutiques nearby. Anjolie is based in New York City and loves exploring new coffee shops and fun workout classes in her free time. Get in touch at anjolie@pixtfashion.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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7 Shopping Tips For Mastering Your Next Clothes Shopping Trip

4 Ways to Update Your Wardrobe On The Cheap

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Beauty & StyleLifestyle

5 Scripted Tees For Moms On Amazon

by Amanda Foust
written by Amanda Foust

(This post contains affiliate links.)

While shopping for my kids, I am always drawn to the adorable sayings on t-shirts such as: “I look up to Mommy!” “Be Kind.” or “Be the hero of your story!” I find myself buying any t-shirt that has an inspirational phrase I love. What’s comical about the entire thing is that neither of my children are old enough to read. Recently, I’ve found that there are t-shirts with printed phrases on them that are just for moms! Since I enjoy the encouraging phrases and am OBSESSED with Amazon, I was on the hunt for a few t-shirts to add to my mom uniform.

Here are five of my favorites:

scripted tees

Source: Amazon.com

1. Just winging it!

I’ve seen this on memes across social media, but I was excited to see the phrase on a t-shirt. “Just winging it” is a great way to describe motherhood. Sometimes I wonder, “Do my kids have any idea how clueless I actually am?” I had all the right answers before becoming a parent, but now that I’m a mama, let’s face it, I’m just winging it.

scripted tees

Source: Amazon.com

2. Motherhood fuel!

I never drank coffee or wine before becoming a mom, and now I always have one or the other on hand! Don’t worry, I’m responsible, but I’m not going to lie and act like I don’t use these beverages as fuel sometimes. You do what you’ve got to do, right mamas?

scripted tees

Source: Amazon.com

3. The Boss

This shirt is particularly funny to me because I work from home. So my boss really DOES wear diapers! Or, at least he did last week before we started working on potty training. Now my boss wears pull-ups if he even decides to wear pants that day…

I also like the #motherhood at the end. This shirt will for sure make other mamas laugh and nod their heads! Totally relatable.

scripted tees

Source: Amazon.com

4. Mom of BOYS!

Calling on moms of boys…you NEED this shirt! There are few braver than boy moms. They have seen it all. Their patience and tolerance stretch far and wide, and they are the ones on the front lines ready for whatever comes their way. All the respect for you boy moms out there! Don’t be afraid to use this shirt as a way to brag!

scripted tees

Source: Amazon.com

5. Chaos coordinator

I remember when I first saw the “Chaos Coordinator” shirt and I thought I had never heard motherhood described more accurately. Every day is spent trying to survive and step through and over the chaos that surrounds us. We may not be able to coordinate meals or a daily shower, but us moms know how to coordinate the chaos!

Tell us in the comments what phrases you’d like to see on a t-shirt!

 

scripted tees

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capsule wardrobe for kids
Beauty & StyleLifestyleTips & Ideas

How To Start A Capsule Wardrobe For Kids

by Amanda Foust
written by Amanda Foust

Capsule wardrobes are not just trendy, they are practical! For over a year, I have created seasonal capsule wardrobes for my children. Getting ready in the morning is now easier than ever and they get a “say” in what they want to wear without me worrying about a mismatched outfit. Before I create the capsule wardrobe for each season, I began by sorting through what we already have while making a list of what we still need.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

According to Collins Dictionary, a capsule wardrobe is “a collection of clothes and accessories that includes only items considered essential.”

 

Why should you do a capsule wardrobe?

Less stress getting the kids dressed in the morning.

More closet space.

Gives kids the freedom to choose their outfits without worrying if they will match!

Laundry is easy because the kids don’t have enough clothes to be changing 2, 3, or even 4 times a day like they would do if they had more clothing options.

Helps you stick to a budget (best reason of them all)!

 

1. Design a process that works for you.

The first tip for starting a capsule wardrobe is to always try to buy a size bigger than normal to give yourself the chance to use the items for more than one year. Also, never shop without seeing what you have first!

Pick tops and leggings that match each other so your children have the freedom to put their outfits together without worrying about how they will look together. My daughter is in a phase (probably for life) where she wants to pick out her clothes, so this works great for us. Each legging she has can also be worn under her dresses. She is not a fan of jeans, so I didn’t even mess with buying those this year. We wasted our money on really cute jeans last winter she would never even touch. Only buy what you know your kids will wear! 

To get the most use out of your children’s summer items during the winter, buy a neutral patterned zip-up sweatshirt. That way, your children can wear it over all their short-sleeved shirts and tanks.

Shoes are tricky because there are so many cute options, and I always want.them.all. But I really try to limit both kids to two pairs of shoes per season until the snow really hits, and then we add in boots.

 

2. Choose practical options.

My son could probably win the most-basic-wardrobe award (if there was one). He is rough on his clothes, so we choose practical and durable pieces. When he was first born, I spent a lot of money on the most adorable little sweaters, hats, and patterned leggings. But then, I would be devastated when his clothing would be destroyed the first time he would wear them. Now I can guarantee a longer “life” for his clothes.

 

3. Plan ahead.

Find stores with discounts and look for promo codes!

Take a well-thought-out list with you to the stores so you buy what you need and don’t come up short at the end of your capsule.

Look online at SEVERAL options before finalizing a purchase. You might just find a better deal!

Are you a mama looking for her own capsule wardrobe? Check out this post and be sure to print off our Capsule Wardrobe Planning Guide.

 

capsule wardrobe for kids

Amanda Foust

Amanda Foust

Amanda is a wife, mother, writer/editor, and certified life coach. Pen and paper make her spirit come alive. She spends her creative time reading, decorating, and handwriting fonts. Her world is better with an assortment of chocolate and a stack of books packed and ready for travel. She works each day to be a creative maker and a light bringer. You can find more of her writing at Downs, Ups & Teacups and TheDailyPositive.com.
Amanda Foust

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shopping tips
Beauty & StyleTips & Ideas

7 Shopping Tips For Mastering Your Next Clothes Shopping Trip

by Leena Kollar
written by Leena Kollar

Now that I’m a mom, I find shopping for clothes to be a lot less enjoyable. When I was younger, unmarried and without kids, I would go shopping almost every weekend. I’d take my time, hit several stores and try on anything I found that I liked. But now, I’m either too exhausted or just don’t have the time to dedicate to shopping for clothes. I do some shopping online because it’s easier to do.

However, sometimes it’s nice to get out and do something on my own. It’s also helpful to actually try clothes on instead of risk having to send them back when I order them online. Since our time as mamas is valuable, and shopping for ourselves should be enjoyable, I’ve come up with a few shopping tips that will make your next trip a lot less painful. You’ll be able to shop quicker, better and find pieces that are worth spending money on. So grab that wallet, tell your hubby he’s on kid duty and head to your nearest department store!

shopping tips

1. Love It Or Leave It

If you’re going to spend money on clothes, you want to spend it on pieces that you love- pieces that you’ll actually wear and that will make you feel good. If you try on something and it doesn’t “wow” you, or you don’t feel completely sold on it, don’t take it home. That sliver of doubt is telling you that lukewarm feelings are not ones that should guide your shopping experience. Only splurge on items that you can’t live without.

Store

2. Hunt For Bargains

You don’t have to be a crazy coupon lady, but it never hurts to look for great deals when you shop. I always hit the clearance racks first. You can actually find decent pieces that are less expensive than new arrivals, and most people won’t know you scored them at such a bargain. You can get much more for your money when you shop sale items, and if you have coupons or rewards cards to use too, that’s even better!

Sweaters

3. Choose Practical Pieces

I find many pairs of pumps that I would love to try on. But realistically, I have nowhere to wear them. And while that makes me a bit depressed, you’ve got to be practical when shopping as a mom. Look for pieces that you can wear multiple times, multiple ways and for multiple occasions. Everyday basics like jeans, tees or cardigans are all pieces that you’ll wear again and again. But a pair of metallic stiletto heels? Save your money for a night out with your husband instead.

Winter Coats

4. Shop Out Of Season

You know why swimsuits are so cheap in the winter? Because nobody buys swimsuits in the winter! But that’s the best time to buy one. Just like summertime is when you should stock up on winter sweaters. You’ll find racks full of pieces that are out of season that stores are trying to get rid of and thus sell them at ridiculously low prices. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the items, it just means they can’t be worn again until next year. And when next year rolls around, you’ll be ahead of the game and have more money to spend on that beach vacation.

Clothes

5. Buy Your Best Colors

Sometimes you’ll find pieces that come in more than one color an it can be tough to decide which color(s) to go with. An easy way to choose is to go with the color(s) that bring out your best you. Once you know which season you are, you’ll know which colors to look for and which ones to avoid. This is especially true for clothing like tops, sweaters or coats that are worn close to your face.

Stylish Woman

6. Stick To Figure Flattering Finds

I have a very straight, rectangular shaped body, so lots of tops make me look “boxy.” I have to shop for pieces that give me a more defined waistline and create the illusion of hips. Don’t buy clothes just because they’re cute. Buy pieces that flatter your figure. Determine your body shape and then you can easily look for items that accentuate your best physical features.

Clothes

7. Consider The Rest Of Your Wardrobe

Oftentimes when I’m shopping for clothes, I find pieces that I love, but that don’t go with anything else I own. It’s pointless to buy a shirt if you have no bottoms to wear with it. Yes, you could buy something new to wear, or you could only shop for pieces that you can mix and match with what’s already in your closet. This goes for colors, styles, separates, shoes and outerwear. Instead of spending money on additional clothing just so you can wear one item you really like, go with more versatile options that will give you more bang for your buck.

Leena Kollar

Leena Kollar

Contributing Writer at Life As Mama
I'm a wife, mother and everything else associated with domestic life. I can often be found hiding from my kids to sneak treats (especially ice cream). I love rainbows and naps, and I find any excuse to go to Target. When I actually make it out of the house in real clothes, I document my outfits on my fashion blog, Leather & Lip Gloss. My love for fashion also inspired me to start my own comprehensive style website, The Style Spectrum.
Leena Kollar
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